Newcomer On The Ranch

Nanny to six-year-old twin girls isn’t exactly the position Brittany Gorman is looking for. But she needs a job. And the twins’ struggling single dad, rancher Parker Watson, needs all the help he can get. Soon Brittany is not only assisting with the girls, but also helping Parker make peace with his past. It seems Brittany’s finally found a place to belong. And with two little matchmakers on the loose, there’s no telling what the future holds. As her time on the ranch runs out, can Brittany and Parker find the strength to face that future—together?

“They really want you to be their new nanny.”

“Yeah, I guess I’d have to be pretty clueless not to know.”

“Well, what do you think? Have they convinced you?”

And what about you? The phrase flitted through Brittany’s mind. Thankfully, she hadn’t voiced the thought aloud. Brittany held a smile in place, hoping that her thoughts weren’t transparent as she found herself wishing Parker showed as much enthusiasm about her taking the job as the girls did.

“Does your silence mean you’re going to turn us down?”

“It means I haven’t made up my mind.” Brittany continued to stare out the window. She didn’t want to look at him for fear that he could tell how his nearness made her insides a jumble. If the choice was only about Rose and Jasmine, the decision would be easy. But the fact that her boss would be a handsome man who made her heart trip gave her pause.

MERRILLEE WHREN

is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award, presented by Romance Writers of America, for best inspirational romance manuscript. In 2004, she made her first sale to Steeple Hill Books. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas and Chicago but now makes her home on one of God’s most beautiful creations, an island off the east coast of Florida. When she’s not writing or working for her husband’s recruiting firm, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking the beach, where she does the plotting for her novels. Please visit her website, www.merrilleewhren.com.

Montana Match

Merrillee Whren

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Love Inspired!

2012 is a very special year for us. It marks the fifteenth anniversary of Love Inspired. Hard to believe that fifteen years ago, we first began publishing our warm and wonderful inspirational romances.

Back in 1997, we offered readers three books a month. Since then we’ve expanded quite a bit! In addition to the heartwarming contemporary romances of Love Inspired, we have the exciting romantic suspenses of Love Inspired Suspense, and the adventurous historical romances of Love Inspired Historical. Whatever your reading preference, we’ve got fourteen books a month for you to choose from now!

Throughout the year we’ll be celebrating in several different ways. Look for books by bestselling authors who’ve been writing for us since the beginning, stories by brand-new authors you won’t want to miss, special miniseries in all three lines, reissues of top authors and much, much more.

This is our way of thanking you for reading Love Inspired books. We know our uplifting stories of hope, faith and love touch your hearts as much as they touch ours.

Join us in celebrating fifteen amazing years of inspirational romance!

Blessings,

Melissa Endlich and Tina James

Senior Editors of Love Inspired Books

I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of my mother Gladys Luft. She instilled in me the love of a good story when she read to me at bedtime.

I would like to thank Barbara Lea Campbell for giving Bogey his name.

* * *

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

—Luke 6:37–38

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

Thud. Thud. Thud. Books hit the floor all over the fifth-grade classroom, shattering the relative quiet. Brittany Gorman gathered her survival instincts and forced herself not to react. She tightened her grip on the chalk and continued to write the math homework assignment on the chalkboard. This bratty group of kids pulled some kind of stunt every time she substituted for their regular teacher. Today Brittany was determined not to let their misbehavior bother her.

Brittany wrote as slowly as she could. She didn’t want to turn around and see the feigned innocence on their faces until she was sure she could face them with a stoic mask in place. There was no doubt that the instigator of this little trick was the class clown who called her “Miss Carrot Top” or “Miss Freckle Face” under his breath, just loud enough that she couldn’t miss hearing his remarks. She always pretended not to notice.

Finally, she set the chalk in the tray and glanced at the clock before turning to the group. Some of the students had already retrieved their books, but other books still lay on the floor. She looked at the students, making eye contact with as many of them as she could before speaking. “You have twenty minutes to work on the assignment. If you have any problems, raise your hand, and I’ll be glad to help you.”

A few snickers drifted through the air, but Brittany chose to ignore those, too. Without making mention of the book incident, she roamed up and down the aisles between the desks. She breathed a sigh of relief as further conflict faded. Despite situations like this, substitute teaching was still the best of all the bad temp jobs she had tried since she’d lost her position as a financial planner. Glancing out the window at the snowy Montana landscape, she prayed that all would go well until the final bell. While she waited for that sound of freedom, she vowed to double her efforts to find a real job—one that didn’t involve kids.

Half an hour later, Brittany fled out a side door and searched the school’s parking lot for her ride. She spotted her roommate’s sporty silver compact car and dashed toward it. She opened the door and hopped in.

Glancing at Brittany, Heather Watson maneuvered her way to the main road, her dark eyes full of curiosity. “You seem to be in a hurry to get away.”

Brittany leaned back on the headrest. “What a day! It didn’t end soon enough.”

“Want to tell me about it?”

“No. I don’t want to relive it. I can sum it up in one word. Dreadful.”

“That bad?”

“Worse. I’m beginning to think I’m just not good with kids.”

“Not true. The kids in the church youth group love you.”

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.” Brittany smiled halfheartedly. “I guess it’s just that one horrible class of fifth graders that drives me crazy.”

Heather nodded. “Is your car ready?”

“Yes, but I’m afraid to see the repair bill.” Brittany released a harsh breath. “That car is falling to pieces one part at a time. It’s a money pit, but without a regular job, there’s no way I can buy a new one.”

“Well, at least they could fix it.”

“I guess I should look on the bright side.” Brittany forced a smile. “It’s a good thing that today is your day off. Thanks for picking me up.”

“No problem.” Heather turned onto the street where the car dealership was located. “Are you subbing tomorrow?”

“Not yet, but I could get a call early in the morning. After today, I’m not sure I could bring myself to say yes.”

“Then don’t. Come skiing with me.”

“You know I can’t afford to go skiing, especially now with the added expense for my car.”

Brittany wished Heather could understand the stress of not having a real job. The need to find steady employment constantly weighed on her mind. And now that she’d broken up with Max, the one reason for staying in Billings no longer existed. She needed to widen her job search.

“I told you that won’t be a problem. My uncle Parker pays for everything, even guests. He does this every year for our family on the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.”

“I thought I’d met all your dad’s siblings. How come I’ve never met your uncle?”

“Because he’s a reclusive bachelor who lives on a ranch about fifty miles from Billings. I call him my mad scientist uncle because he’s always working on some kind of invention. We only see him on this ski trip and maybe out at his place on the Fourth of July. And at Christmas. Otherwise, he keeps pretty much to himself on that ranch.”

Brittany thought the guy sounded pretty weird, but she didn’t want to say anything bad about him. “I’d hate to impose.”

Heather gave Brittany a challenging look. “You won’t impose. You need a change of scenery, so you can forget about the loss of your job and the breakup with your worthless boyfriend.”

Brittany shook her head. “Going on a ski vacation isn’t going to help me find a job or make me forget Max.”

“Max is very forgettable. You shouldn’t waste time thinking about him. You never know. Maybe you’ll meet someone who’s looking to hire a good financial planner or accountant.”

“You are such an optimist.”

Brittany was beginning to question her decision to stay in Billings after she’d lost her job, but she had wanted to remain there because of her relationship with Max.

More than ever, she wanted to prove to her parents that she could make the right choices. She had to show them that they hadn’t wasted their money on her college degree. That meant widening her search for a good financial job. From the beginning, they’d wanted her to forge her own path rather than follow Max to Montana. Would going home to the Spokane area mean she’d have to admit they’d been right? Could she make the right decision this time?

Giggles floated through the air as Parker Watson entered the kitchen of the six-bedroom, cedar-sided house he’d rented for the annual family ski trip. He relished the sound of harmony coming from Rose and Jasmine, his six-year-old twin daughters, who were having breakfast at the table in the eating area off the kitchen. He stared at the cup of coffee sitting on the counter and wished that somehow a nanny for his girls would appear out of the steam rising from it—like a genie from a bottle.

He was working on a big project that could lead to more medical writing jobs. He was already behind schedule because he’d had to take over the homeschooling duties that had been Jenny’s domain. If he was going to give full attention to his work, he had to find a good caregiver now.

He picked up the cup and moseyed over to the table. “Are you girls finished with breakfast? The ski slopes are waiting for us.”

Rose took the last gulp of milk, then nodded her head, her dark braids swinging across her shoulders. “I’m done.”

“Me, too.” Jasmine jumped up from her chair.

As Rose joined her sister, Parker patted each of them on the head. “Then you need to put on your ski clothes.”

“We will.” Their voices echoed around the vaulted ceiling as they raced for the stairs.

Parker cupped his hands around his mouth. “Don’t forget to brush your teeth.”

The girls stopped and leaned over the balustrade that surrounded the loft at the top of the stairs. “We won’t.”

“Sounds like they’re pretty excited about today.” Delia chuckled.

Parker turned to his housekeeper. “I hope they get along. All I’ve done the past couple of weeks is break up fights.”

“You know it started right after Jenny, Mark and their kids moved away. The girls lost an important person in their lives, and it’s upset their whole routine.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean they should misbehave.” Parker sighed. “I wish Mark hadn’t taken that job in Colorado, but I can’t blame him for taking a better opportunity. It’s tough losing a foreman and the girls’ teacher and caregiver all at once. Since I started advertising for a nanny, I’ve had exactly one inquiry. And as soon as the woman found out that the position was on an isolated Montana ranch, she wasn’t interested.”

“You know what I’ve said about that.” Delia gave him a no-nonsense look—the kind she always gave him when she was trying to make a point. “Folks who live closer to the ranch won’t have a problem with the location.”

“I don’t know why you think I’ll find a nanny in Stockton. The people in that town have no use for me, and I have no use for them.”

Delia’s wrinkled face brightened, and she winked. “Heather might know someone. Maybe that friend she’s bringing with her?”

“You are such an optimist.” Parker rubbed the back of his neck and gave Delia a wry smile before turning his attention to the noisy footsteps on the stairs. “Sounds like the girls are ready. Tell Heather and her friend to head up to the slopes when they get here.”

Hours later, Parker stepped into the ski lodge and, as he’d promised Heather minutes before, searched the room for a petite redhead. The color of her hair should make her easy to find. He wasn’t looking forward to meeting Heather’s friend, but he was doing this to please his favorite niece.

The smell of burgers and fries wafted his way as he walked farther into the Main Lodge restaurant. Finally, he spotted an attractive young woman with bright coppery hair that fell around her shoulders. She sat alone at a table near the wall of windows looking out at the mountain.

Her expression told him she was deep in thought about something that didn’t make her happy. He could relate to that look.

He stepped forward. “Excuse me. Are you Brittany Gorman?”

She stared up at him, her appearance still somber. Her light brownish-green eyes held a puzzled look. “Yes. How do you know my name?”

“I’m Parker Watson, Heather’s uncle.”

“You’re Heather’s uncle?” The pitch of her voice rose along with her eyebrows.

“I am. Is there a problem?” Parker tried not to frown.

Could she possibly know about his past—seen him on the news when he’d been falsely accused of an inappropriate relationship with one of his high-school students? According to Heather, Brittany had moved to Billings about six years ago, after the scandal had subsided, but that was no guarantee. He knew firsthand how malicious gossip could linger.

Despite being innocent, he’d never gotten his life back. In the beginning, he’d tried to repair his reputation, but the hushed conversations and whispered innuendos had followed him. Frustrated and hurt over the way his former friends and colleagues had turned against him, he’d decided things would be easier if he gave up teaching and kept to himself on the ranch.

She grimaced, a blush creeping up her freckled face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so abrupt. It’s just that…well, I expected you to be older…much older.”

“So that’s why you seemed startled?”

Nodding, she placed a hand over her heart. “When Heather was talking about her uncle, I had this picture in my mind of a man about the age of her father with a salt-and-pepper beard.”

Realizing that she didn’t know anything about his past, Parker let his relief come bubbling out in a chuckle. “I’m twenty-five years younger than Heather’s dad and only seven years older than Heather. She seems more like a cousin than a niece. I figured out a long time ago that I was my parents’ ‘oops’ baby.”

“Oh.” She looked away, as if his statement had embarrassed her.

He’d probably given her more information than she wanted to know. He had a bad habit of speaking his mind, no matter what the consequences. Better change the subject. “Heather told me you took a ski lesson this morning?”

“Yeah. Where is Heather?”

“Still on the slopes, but she sent me down here to check on you. How did the lesson go?”

Brittany shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I learned how to snowplow.”

“That’s a good start. Are you ready for lunch?”

Brittany nodded. “I thought Heather was meeting me.”

“She is, but she wanted to do a little skiing with Rose and Jasmine first before the girls did their afternoon thing.”

He was out of practice talking with single women who were close to his own age. What did it matter? He wasn’t going to see Brittany again after this weekend. Even if she was pretty, he didn’t need to impress her. “Do you mind if I join you while we wait for Heather?”

She looked up at him in surprise. “I’m sorry. I should’ve invited you to sit with me. I don’t know where my manners have gone. Please, join me. In fact, I’m glad to have a chance to talk to you. I want to thank you. It’s really generous of you to pay for everything, especially since I’m not family.”

“Think nothing of it.” Parker smiled. He pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

Now what did he say? He hated small talk, especially since he seldom had face-to-face interaction with anyone except the people on the ranch and an occasional family member. It was better for him and the twins to be surrounded by people who supported and accepted them. But in his efforts to shield his girls from malicious gossip, he’d gotten out of practice at making conversation with strangers.

Parker tried to lasso his thoughts, but her cute freckled face had his mind in a dither. Maybe that’s why she had him noticing things about her that he shouldn’t be noticing at all.

“Heather tells me you live on a ranch.”

“Yeah.” An invitation to talk about himself—one of his least favorite things to do. When he was with his family, all he wanted to talk about was his girls, but he didn’t want to explain to a stranger why he was a bachelor father.

“Do you raise cattle?”

“I’m more of a gentleman rancher.”

“A what?”

“I don’t actually do any ranching. I only live there.”

“Oh.” The word was wrapped in curiosity.

Hoping to avoid giving her any other information, he ignored her questioning look. “What about you? What do you do?”

Brittany stared at him for a moment, then glanced away toward the windows. Sighing heavily, she looked back at him. “I’m currently a substitute teacher. I lost my real job a few months ago. I tried some temp jobs, but they were short-lived. Then a teacher I know from church suggested that I sign up to be a substitute, but that still makes for a rather unsettled life—not knowing how much will be in my next paycheck. It’s hard to find regular work of any kind.”

Parker couldn’t help remembering Delia’s speculation about Brittany being a prospect for the nanny position. His desperation to find someone to care for his daughters was making him have irrational thoughts. He knew very little about this young woman. “What was your previous job?”

“I worked for a financial-planning company, and they were downsizing. I was the last hired and the first fired.” Brittany laughed halfheartedly.

“Any job prospects in your field?” Now Parker knew what had caused her troubled look. He’d like to commiserate, but he certainly didn’t want to explain the false accusations that had cost him his job. The unfairness of it all still troubled him.

She shook her head. “I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do next. Kind of puts a damper on trying to have fun.”

“Maybe we can get you up on the slopes and take your mind off it for at least a little while.” And his mind, too.

“Heather said the same thing.” Brittany smiled.

“Then we’ll try not to mention it again.” Taking in that smile, Parker tried to ignore the way his heart bumped against his ribs. Another reason not to entertain the idea of her as a nanny. Having a nanny he was attracted to would be a big mistake.

“I’m not sure that will help. I keep thinking about it. Can I find a new job in Billings, or should I go back home? If I choose to go home, how will that affect Heather, since I share an apartment with her?”

Parker took in the fact that Brittany, despite her own troubles, was still concerned about Heather. Brittany’s thoughtfulness said something very good about her. “So where’s home?”

“Pinecrest, a little town north of Spokane, Washington.”

Glancing toward the door and hoping to see Heather, Parker nodded. “Yeah. I know Spokane. I’ve been there several times.”

“But I’ll bet you’ve never been to Pinecrest.”

“You’d be correct.”

“Not many job prospects there, but maybe I can find one in Spokane.” Brittany sighed. “I think my parents want me to move back. My dad’s checking out jobs in Spokane for me. He says the sooner I get back into finance the better. Temp jobs and substitute teaching don’t exactly enhance my resume.”

“What brought you to Montana in the first place?”

Brittany sighed. “My boyfriend Max. He came to college here on a football scholarship.”

A boyfriend. That bit of information ought to keep his wayward thoughts in check. “So what does he do?”

“He’s in graduate school, but, actually, he’s not my boyfriend anymore. We just broke up last weekend. So that’s why I’m thinking about moving back to Washington.” Brittany’s green eyes shimmered, and she looked away toward the window. “That’s another reason Heather invited me to ski. She thought it might help me forget the breakup.”

No boyfriend after all. He knew the hurt of a broken relationship—what it meant to have people you trusted turn away when you needed them the most. Did he detect unshed tears? He was surprised to find himself wanting to comfort her. The urge to reach out to strangers, to help people in need, had been very rare in recent years—but Brittany seemed to bring it out in him.

“Are you okay?”

Parker’s question made Brittany flush. How could she admit to this virtual stranger that part of her was glad that she and Max had finally faced the truth? She hated admitting that the breakup was inevitable, but she’d finally come to the conclusion that the relationship was at a dead end. “Yes. It was for the best.”

As Brittany said the words, she was even more certain that her statement was true. But she couldn’t forget that Max had been a part of her life for eight years, and his absence left an empty place in her heart.

“So, I suppose there’s nothing keeping you in Billings anymore.”

Before Brittany could respond, Heather approached the table as she waved a hand above her head. “I see you two found each other.”

Parker stood and pulled out a chair for her. “Yeah, we were getting to know each other.”

“Thanks.” Heather gave her uncle a pointed look. “I’ll bet you were asking all the questions, weren’t you?”

“Did Rose and Jasmine get to their afternoon activity?” Parker ignored Heather’s inquiry.

“They did. They settled in nicely. No problem.”

“Good. I hope they enjoy themselves this afternoon as much as we did this morning. Pretty soon they’re going to be skiing better than me.”

Leaning back, Brittany took in the exchange. Heather was right. Parker had asked most of the questions, and he certainly looked relieved when Heather had walked in. Brittany figured that Parker wasn’t exactly excited about entertaining his niece’s friend. But the fact that he’d made the effort told Brittany that he was a considerate man.

After talking with Parker, Brittany concluded that he hardly seemed like the recluse Heather had described. After all, he’d apparently been skiing with Rose and Jasmine while Brittany took her ski lesson. She wondered about the two females that she hadn’t met but didn’t dare ask about for fear of seeming nosy. She was already worried that she’d seemed impolite by waiting so long to invite him to join her.

She’d forced herself to look out the window in order to keep from staring at him or the intensity in his coffee-colored eyes.

His handsome face, covered with dark stubble, gave him a rugged appearance. His tobacco-brown hair, in need of a trim, only added to the persona. His good looks probably went a long way in explaining the presence of Rose and Jasmine.

“So what do you think? Are you ready to try your hand at skiing after lunch?”

Brittany suddenly realized that Heather’s question was aimed at her. She needed to quit thinking about Parker and pay attention to the conversation. She shrugged. “I don’t know. One lesson hardly seems like enough.”

“Sure it is. Besides, Parker will take you out and give you some instructions, won’t you, Parker?” Heather glanced at her uncle with a sly smile.

Brittany tried to get her friend’s attention, so she could signal her disapproval. “Your uncle doesn’t want to be stuck skiing with me.”

Heather laid a hand on Brittany’s shoulder. “He doesn’t mind.”

Parker cleared his throat. “Ah…you’re talking about me as if I’m not here. I can speak for myself.”

“Okay, but you can’t deny that you’re a great ski instructor.”

“I won’t.”

Heather grinned at Parker. “Then it’s settled. You’d be happy to help Brittany this afternoon.”

Brittany had no idea how to respond. Parker didn’t look exactly thrilled, but he also seemed too polite to go against Heather’s wishes. He was the ever-accommodating host.

Brittany didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but she didn’t want him to feel obligated to spend time with her, either. “I’d hate for you to be tied down with a beginner like me when you could be out skiing with Rose, Jasmine and Heather.”

“Rose and Jasmine are occupied for the afternoon, and I’m going to do a little snowboarding. So Uncle Parker is all yours.” Heather grinned again, making no attempt to disguise her triumph. “And when the slopes close, I’ll meet you two at the lodge.”

“That works for me,” Parker said.

Manufacturing a smile, Brittany knew she was trapped. “Okay, if that’s the way you guys want it.”

“Good. Then it’s settled.” Heather stood, shrugged out of her ski jacket and hung it over the back of the chair. “Now, let’s get something to eat.”

Soon they were eating a hearty lunch. At least Parker and Heather were. Brittany barely nibbled on her hamburger and fries. Her appetite had fled as her mind buzzed with thoughts of Parker, skiing and her dicey job situation. All of them gave her something to be nervous about.

Chapter Two

Thirty minutes later, Brittany held her ski poles with a death grip. She felt as though she was headed for some other world in her helmet and goggles. Her stomach churned as she followed Parker to the chairlift. Thankfully, she’d left most of her lunch on the plate. The thought of skiing down a real hill, not the bunny hill where she’d practiced earlier, terrified her.

“Why so grim? You look like you’re headed to the electric chair.” Chuckling, Parker stopped next to the chairlift.

She squared her shoulders and looked up at him. Should she let him know how scared she was, or should she tough it out? Who was she kidding? He probably already knew she was quaking in her ski boots. “I’ve never been on a lift before.”

“You’ll do fine. There’s nothing to it. You hop on and hop off.”

“Easy for you to say. You can probably do it with your eyes closed.”

“Not quite.” He chuckled again. “Remember. I’m here to help you.”

Somehow that didn’t seem reassuring at all. The whole scenario intimidated her. “So what do I do?”

“Just follow my lead. You step out here and wait for the chair to come to you.” He moved closer to the lift.

“Okay.” Brittany followed, holding her breath until she was seated beside Parker in the chair.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

She let her breath out in a big whoosh when they swung out over the snow-covered hillside, awash in sunshine and glistening snow. Pressing herself back against the chair, she hoped she wouldn’t fall out. She didn’t think she had a fear of heights, but she was beginning to wonder about that as they dangled on a cable far above the ground. She tried not to look down.

“When we get to the top, put the tips of your skis down and push out of the chair.” Parker’s voice cut through the fear clouding her mind for a moment, but anxiety quickly returned.

“Okay.” Her pulse pounded in her head.

“Ready. Here we go.”

Brittany tried to put her skis on the ground. In the next instant, she sprawled face-first in the snow as the lift ground to a halt.

“Are you all right?” Parker rushed to her side.

Mortified, she scrambled to her feet with the help of Parker and several bystanders. When she was standing upright, she wished she had somewhere to hide. Did she dare look at him? He was probably wishing Heather hadn’t suggested he spend the afternoon giving ski instructions, especially with a klutz for a student. Finally, Brittany drummed up enough courage to glance up. A little smile played at the edges of Parker’s mouth. She supposed he was trying not to laugh.

“I’m okay.” Brushing snow off herself, Brittany wished everyone would quit fussing over her. She hated being the center of attention, especially this kind of attention. “Let’s go.”

“If you’re sure everything’s okay.”

“It is.”

“Good. Follow me.” Parker slowly skied ahead of her to the beginning of a trail.

Brittany followed and tried to remember what she’d learned in her lesson. “Are you going first?”

“No. You go, and I’ll ski behind and watch.” Parker stopped at the top of the trail and glanced her way as he pulled his goggles into place.

Oh, great. He was going to watch her. Just what she didn’t need. She couldn’t see his eyes behind the goggles, but she feared they were probably still full of laughter. Letting out a harsh breath, she put on her goggles.

“Okay. Here I go.” Her voice sounded strained even to her own ears. She pushed off with her ski poles and glided across the packed snow. She skied from side to side on the trail so she wouldn’t pick up too much speed.

“Hey, you’re doing great!” Parker’s voice sounded over the shush, shush, shush sound the skis made on the snow.

Brittany tried to ignore the way his praise made her pulse quicken. She tried to convince herself that her reaction had nothing to do with the fact that he was a handsome man. After all, her experience with Max had taught her that planning her life around a man had been a mistake. His inattention had broken her heart. She’d had it with men. So why did her first encounter with another handsome man have her feeling this way?

She shook away the question and focused her mind on her technique. If she wasn’t careful, she’d wind up face-first in the snow again. She had to give her full attention to skiing and forget about men.

When she reached the bottom of the trail, a true sense of accomplishment brightened her thoughts. Parker joined her and smiled. His smile took her breath away. Or was it the sudden gust of wind?

“Hey, that was a good job. Ready to go again?”

“Sure.” The triumph of her first downhill trip had made her forget the embarrassment at the ski lift. Now another ride loomed before her. She wasn’t going to let a ski lift intimidate her, and she certainly wasn’t going to let Parker sense any of her fear. Straightening her shoulders, she headed back to the ski lift, determined to get in and out of the chair without falling.

“Hey, wait up.” Parker skied up beside her. “You’ve taken to skiing very well.”

Brittany basked in his praise, then wondered why. She shouldn’t need his approval. Moving closer to the lift, she tried not to think about it. “That was fun.”

“Ready for another ride on the lift?”

Brittany joined Parker in the line that waited to take the lift to the top of the ski run. “Yeah, I think I’ll get it right this time.”

While they waited, Parker made very little attempt at conversation. She worried that he was bored silly being with her and skiing on these easy slopes when he could readily conquer the difficult runs. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t need to hang around with her, but she feared he would take it the wrong way.

So she spent the rest of the afternoon skiing on the easiest trails, either following Parker’s lead as he showed her something or having him follow as he watched her. Occasionally, he gave her a simple tip or complimented her on her progress. She had to admit that he managed to keep a perfect balance between instruction and praise. Heather was right. He was a good teacher.

At the end of one of their runs, Parker stopped her as she headed for the lift. “You’re going to wear yourself out. Don’t be surprised if every muscle in your body is sore tomorrow.”

“Really?”

Smiling, he nodded. “You’ll discover muscles you didn’t know you had.”

“That doesn’t sound very encouraging.”

“Just letting you know what to expect.” He glanced toward the lift. “It’s almost four o’clock. They close the trails on the mountain at four, so we ought to head back to the lodge.”

“Sure.” Despite her worries, Brittany had enjoyed herself.

When they reached the lodge, Brittany began removing her skis and boots, all the while keeping an eye out for Heather. As Brittany unbuckled her boots, her cell phone buzzed, indicating a text message. She pulled it out and glanced at it. Max. She’d completely forgotten about him. Heather’s plan was working.

Max wanted to know where she was. Too bad he hadn’t been that concerned these past couple of years while they’d been dating. He’d been too engrossed in his studies to bother with her. Now he didn’t seem to get the message that their relationship was over. Maybe he’d finally figure it out if she didn’t respond. Frowning, she shoved the phone into her pocket.

When she glanced up, Parker was staring at her. “Problems?”

Brittany sighed, wishing Parker hadn’t noticed. “Yeah. Someone I didn’t want to talk to.”

Parker’s brown eyes studied her face. “That old boyfriend?”

Brittany nodded and lowered her gaze, hoping to avoid any other questions about Max.

“I didn’t mean to pry. It’s none of my business, but I couldn’t help noticing your frown.”

“That’s okay.” Brittany shrugged. “Thanks so much for spending your afternoon with me. I appreciate your help.”

Parker gave her a wry grin. “You’re welcome. I enjoyed our afternoon together. You have the makings of a good skier.”

“Thanks, but I don’t plan to take up skiing, especially since I don’t have a regular job.” Brittany wondered whether Parker was just being polite, or whether he’d really enjoyed her company. What difference did it make? After this weekend, she’d probably never see him again. For some reason that thought made her sad.

“You can head to the lodge to meet Heather, while I pick up Rose and Jasmine.” Parker gathered his boots and skis. “Tell Heather that you guys can go ahead to the house. I’ll see you there.”

“Okay, thanks again.” Brittany made her way to the lodge while she contemplated meeting the mysterious female duo.

When Brittany arrived, Heather was already waiting. She hopped up from her chair. “Did you and Parker have a good time?”

Brittany shrugged. “We survived.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means that I managed to stay upright most of the afternoon, and Parker tolerated boredom while skiing on the easy trails.”

“I’m sure he had a good time. He loves to teach.” Heather gave Brittany a cheesy grin.

“You’re right. He was very patient with a bumbling beginner.” Brittany tried to ignore Heather’s speculative grin. “He told me we should go ahead to the house while he picks up Rose and Jasmine.”

“Okay.” Heather opened the door and headed toward the parking lot. “You’re going to adore them.”

As Brittany followed, she decided the time had come to ask Heather about them. “You keep talking about them, but you’ve never told me who they are.”

Stopping, Heather looked at Brittany. “I haven’t?”

“No.”

“I’m sorry.” Heather shook her head. “I don’t know why I thought you knew. They’re Parker’s six-year-old twin daughters. To tell you the truth, those little girls are all that keeps him from completely turning his back on the outside world.”

As Brittany walked across the parking lot, her mind spun with the information. His daughters? How totally wrong her thoughts had been. “But you said he’s a bachelor.”

“He is. He adopted the girls when they were babies after their mother died.” Heather pulled her keys from her pocket. “She was killed by her stepfather while trying to protect her mother.”

“Oh, how terrible.” Brittany placed a hand over her heart. She didn’t know what else to say, though her mind was full of questions. Did Parker have some connection to the deceased woman? Why didn’t her family take the children? Why would a bachelor adopt two little girls? But surely it would be rude to ask.

Finally gathering her thoughts, Brittany looked at Heather over the top of the car. “Your uncle certainly has a compassionate heart.”

“Yeah, he does, and it’s caused him nothing but trouble.”

After that, Brittany couldn’t contain her curiosity. “What kind of trouble?”

“It’s a long story. And a sad one.” Heather opened the door to her car.

Brittany slid into the passenger seat.

The hum of the motor filled the silence while Heather drove toward the main road. She glanced at Brittany, who waited as patiently as she could for her friend to collect her thoughts. “I think you should know the story. Then you’ll understand why Parker has become a recluse.”

“Are you sure he wants you talking about him? After all, it’s his life, and I’m a stranger. You don’t have to make explanations to me.”

Heather shrugged. “But I want you to understand Parker and like him.”

Brittany knit her eyebrows. “You aren’t trying to push the two of us together, are you?”

Heather chuckled. “That would be rather presumptuous of me, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah, it would.” Brittany took in the little smile that curved Heather’s mouth. Her expression didn’t ease Brittany’s suspicions. “So what were you going to tell me?”

“Sydney, Rose and Jasmine’s mother, was one of Parker’s students.”

“He’s a teacher?”

“He was a teacher, but he’s not now because of what happened.” Heather was quiet for a few seconds, then glanced Brittany’s way. “Parker was a very dedicated teacher. He spent lots of extra time helping students. Sydney was one of those kids. He was helping her study for her college-entrance exams, so they spent a lot of time together after school.”

“Was that a problem?”

“Not until Sydney turned up pregnant. Once her pregnancy was evident, someone started a rumor that Parker was the father. It spread through the school like a cattle stampede and wound up in the ears of the school board and the superintendent. Despite Parker’s and Sydney’s adamant denials, he was suspended from his teaching job. The woman he was dating ended their relationship. People in the community condemned him—even people from his church.”

“How terrible for him! Why didn’t people believe him?” Brittany frowned.

“Good question, especially after the girls were born and paternity tests proved that Parker wasn’t the father.” Heather shook her head. “After that, he moved out to the ranch, and he’s never been the same.”

“What did your family think?”

“We never doubted Parker. Not for a minute. We couldn’t believe he was being accused of such a thing.” Heather shook her head. “It was really hard on Grandma and Grandpa Watson. They were in the process of moving to Arizona and almost decided not to go, but Parker insisted that they not change their plans. He always thought about others and not himself. Because he was that kind of person, no one in the family could fathom the reaction of the community.”

“Me, either, and I barely know him.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.” Heather smiled.

After listening to Heather’s explanation, Brittany tried to process the information about Parker and reconcile it with the man she’d gotten to know this afternoon. No wonder he’d seemed so distant at first, so reluctant to talk about himself. Later on the ski slopes, he’d seemed more comfortable. Had he started to trust her not to judge him?

A few minutes later, Heather parked her car in front of a huge, two-story house, surrounded by snowy pastureland and hillsides covered with Ponderosa pine. Brittany followed Heather up the walk with snow piled high on either side. As she stepped onto the covered front porch, she took in the view. “The Beartooth Mountains are spectacular.”

“You’re right, and so is the house. Wait till you see the inside. Parker rents this place every year. His housekeeper, Delia, will be here, so the house should be unlocked.” As Heather opened the door, a short, rotund woman with graying dark brown hair greeted them. Heather set her suitcase down and hugged the woman. “Delia, it’s so good to see you. I want you to meet my friend, Brittany Gorman.”

After the introductions, Brittany surveyed the spacious living room filled with leather sofas and chairs, a rustic coffee table and end tables. A Native American rug covered the plank flooring. The waning light streamed through a bank of windows on one wall that looked out on a deck and a nearby creek cutting a path through the snow-covered acreage.

“You’re the first guests to arrive. Your parents called and said they’d be here by supper.” Delia moseyed toward the open stairway that led to the second floor. “I’ll show you your room.”

“Good.” Heather picked up her bag and followed Delia. “We’ll have a chance to clean up before supper.”

Hauling her suitcase, Brittany tagged along and marveled at the vaulted ceiling and loft overlooking the first floor. This place must have cost a mint to secure for the long holiday weekend. More questions popped into Brittany’s mind. He lived on a ranch where he didn’t do any ranching. So what did Parker do that allowed him to rent this enormous house and pay for a large group of his relatives to go skiing? She’d discovered a few more pieces that needed to find their places in the puzzle making up Parker Watson.

After Brittany showered and put on a pair of tan corduroys and a green wool sweater, she looked at Heather, who was still blow-drying her hair. “Is it okay if I wander around the house?”

“Sure. I’ll be done in a minute and join you.”

Brittany strolled into the loft area overlooking the front room and leaned her forearms on the railing. Gazing out at the magnificent view of the snow-covered mountains, she wished life didn’t have to be so complicated.

As Brittany continued to take in the fabulous view, she couldn’t help thinking of the scripture she’d memorized as a child. She whispered it softly to herself. “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Did God have the answers?

Lately, she’d let her spiritual life slide. Was God trying to get her attention by filling her life with one problem after another? She should make everything a matter of prayer, but she didn’t understand why God had allowed her to lose her job. Now this thing with Max didn’t make matters easier.

Brittany closed her eyes and let a silent prayer form in her mind. Lord, please forgive me for forgetting to rely on You. Please help me understand about losing my job, and help me deal with Max in a loving way. I need to know where to go from here. Please guide my decisions.

High-pitched giggles caused Brittany to open her eyes. Entering the front door, Parker held a little girl under each arm, their dark braided pigtails hanging like ropes. “Hmm, where should I dump these sacks of potatoes?”

“Daddy, we’re not potatoes,” one of the little girls said through her laughter.

“You’re not? I thought I had two sacks of potatoes.” They wriggled to get down, and he set them on the floor.

“Daddy, you’re too silly,” the other child said as she stared up at him.

The scene stirred a myriad of emotions in Brittany as she remembered the way her dad used to play that same game with her and her brothers when they were kids. She tried to tamp down her reaction to Parker. She was letting emotions rule—not a good sign.

“Daddy, who’s the lady?” One of the little girls pointed toward the loft.

“Hello, Brittany.” Parker’s gaze met hers. “Come on down, and I’ll introduce you to Rose and Jasmine.”

Embarrassed that she’d been caught eavesdropping, Brittany nodded and trotted down the stairs. The trio met her at the bottom. Eager curiosity painted the little girls’ faces as they looked up at Brittany, yet they clung to Parker’s arms with shyness.

“This is Rose.” Parker tapped the top of the girl’s head on his left, then tapped the one on his right. “And this is Jasmine.”

“Hi, Rose and Jasmine. I’m Brittany.” Brittany glanced from one child to the other and wondered how she would ever tell them apart. Heather had failed to mention that Parker’s daughters were identical twins.

“I like your hair. It’s pretty.” Rose smiled shyly.

“Thanks.” Brittany returned the smile. “I like your pigtails. Did you braid your own hair?”

The girls shook their heads in unison, their braids swinging. “Daddy did.”

“Your daddy did a good job.”

“Thanks.” Parker’s eyes twinkled as he hugged his girls and looked at Brittany. “I’ve had lots of practice.”

Brittany took in the way Parker related to his little girls. Heather had been right. Their presence obviously brightened his life. Another piece of the puzzle fell into place, and Brittany had to admit that she was more intrigued than ever with Parker. Probably not a good thing when she suspected that Heather was trying to push her and Parker together. No matter how intriguing the man, the last thing she needed was a rebound romance.

Chapter Three

“Come on, Daddy. You have to come and play with us.”

Parker turned away from the kitchen counter and toward the sound of his daughters’ pleas. “Girls, I’m talking to Heather and your uncle John. You know better than to interrupt.”

“But you guys never quit talking.” Rose scrunched up her little face, her lower lip protruding.

Parker suppressed a smile and tried to look stern. “That doesn’t mean you should interrupt, does it?”

“No.” The girls shook their heads.

“So what do you say?”

“Sorry for interrupting,” the girls replied in unison again.

“Good. Please remember that.”

“We will. Are you going to play?” Jasmine waited for his answer, her dark brown eyes wide.

“Play what?”

Rose pointed toward the living room, easily visible in the house’s open-floor plan. “Chutes and Ladders with Brittany. We need one more person.”

Parker glanced over to see whether Brittany was watching, but she was talking with Heather’s brother, Mike. A flash of envy sparked through Parker’s mind. What a strange reaction—an uncalled-for reaction.

Before he could reply, Heather leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

He turned and scowled at her. “I know what you’re trying to do.”

“Yeah, helping Rose and Jasmine find a fourth.” Heather gave him a feigned smile of innocence.

“You’re not fooling me.” Parker stared at Heather and shook his head before he turned his attention back to his daughters. “Mike can be their fourth.”

“Oh, no. Hannah and Lexi have already challenged Mike and me to play Rook.” Heather grinned. “You see, the last time the cousins got together, Mike and I were the Rook champs, so they have to try to unseat us. We can’t let that happen.”

Parker tried not to frown. “Okay, I’ll play.”

“Yay!” Rose and Jasmine clapped.

“Calm down or I may change my mind.”

With the little girls tugging on his arms, Parker trudged across the room. First Heather, now his girls. Was this a conspiracy to push Brittany and him together? Maybe he was being paranoid. The girls were too little to have any romantic ideas. They just wanted to play with their new friend. They’d practically adopted Brittany the moment they met her.

Parker tried to focus his attention on the game board sitting on the coffee table. He forced a smile as he surveyed the situation. Where should he sit? Next to Brittany or across the table from her? Either way, his mind wouldn’t be on the game.

“Sit here.” Rose pointed to the spot opposite where Brittany had taken a seat on the floor.

“Okay.” Hoping to avoid looking at Brittany, Parker sat crossed-legged on the floor. “How do you play this game?”

Rose let out a huge huff. “Daddy, we’ve played this before. You should know.”

“Oh, yeah, I remember now. I go up the ladders and down the chutes.”

“That’s right.” Jasmine shoved the spinner at Parker. “We have to spin to see who goes first.”

“Ladies should go first.” Parker pushed the spinner back to Jasmine.

Jasmine giggled. “I’m a girl, not a lady.”

Parker tugged on one of her braids. “You and your sister are little ladies.”

Rose looked at Brittany. “And Brittany’s a big lady.”

“We say she’s a grown-up lady, not a big lady.”

Brittany chuckled. “It’s not every day that someone calls me big. It’s nice to be taller than someone for a change.”

As the girls and Brittany laughed together, Parker couldn’t help thinking about how the top of her head had barely reached his shoulder when she’d stood near him while they were skiing. There definitely wasn’t anything big about the petite young woman sitting across from him, unless it was her heart, as she showed kindness toward his girls.

While his daughters took turns spinning, Parker finally ventured another look in Brittany’s direction. She smiled again, and he couldn’t deny the way it made his heart jump.

This was nuts. True, he hadn’t associated with a single woman close to his age in a long time, so maybe his response was only natural. He was a man with an appreciation for a good-looking woman. That shouldn’t bother him, except that he kept wondering whether she would make a good nanny for his girls. He was letting his need for a nanny run away with his thoughts.

Brittany took her spin. Tiny freckles dotted the back of her hand as her slender fingers flicked the little arrow, making it whirl around and finally land on the one. She looked up at him. “Well, I’m certainly not going first. Your turn.”

“Okay.” Parker reached for the spinner, and their fingers brushed. Her touch sent a jolt straight to his heart. He hoped the reaction didn’t show on his face. Maybe it was her thoughtfulness toward Rose and Jasmine that had him feeling this way.

The arrow pointed to the number two.

“Yay!” Rose picked up the spinner. “I got the highest number, so I’m first.”

“Yes, you are, and we’ll go around the table this way.” Brittany made a clockwise motion with her hand. “So your dad goes next, and I’m last, since I had the lowest number.”

“But it doesn’t always work out that way, does it, Daddy?” Jasmine looked at him for confirmation.

“No, it doesn’t. Sometimes life isn’t fair.” Thoughts of the unfairness in his life threatened to darken his mood, but he wouldn’t let negative feelings dampen this time with his girls.

Rose patted Brittany on the arm. “Daddy always says that when he tells us we can’t stay up late, even though he does.”

Nodding, Brittany chuckled. “Daddies are like that. My dad says that all the time, too, when I complain.”

Parker didn’t say anything, but wondered whether she was thinking about losing her job. He wanted his girls to grow up with a realistic outlook, though he hoped his sometimesgloomy viewpoint wouldn’t unduly color their world. Still, life wasn’t fair. Sometimes it was downright unjust. There seemed to be a lot more chutes than ladders in his life.

As the game got underway, he tried to steer his thinking in a more positive direction. He was here with the family who loved him. That should be all he needed, but he sometimes wished he could have his old life back. That wasn’t going to happen. Too much animosity still existed between him and the people he knew in Stockton, and he had to protect his girls from any unkindness. That was a top priority.

After each of them had a few turns, Brittany landed on a square where a ladder propelled her to a square near the top of the board. “Wow! I liked that spin.”

“Now you’re going to win.” Rose stuck out her lower lip.

“You never know.” Brittany shrugged. “The game’s not over.”

“Yeah. She could land on that chute a few squares ahead and go way back.” Jasmine pointed to the place three spots away.

“That’s true.” Parker handed the spinner to Rose, so she could take her turn. He hoped her attitude improved. He hated dealing with her sour moods. Was it the result of the changes that had taken place on the ranch with Jenny and her family leaving, or had his less-than-sunny outlook rubbed off on Rose? He hoped he wasn’t to blame. Being a parent held a lot of responsibility, but he was still glad for the choice he’d made to adopt these little girls.

“Daddy, it’s your turn.” Rose poked his arm with the spinner.

He took his turn, realizing he’d been doing too much thinking, rather than enjoying the game. When Brittany had her next turn, she landed on the square Jasmine had mentioned earlier.

As Brittany moved her game piece down the chute to a place much closer to the beginning, she laughed and gave Jasmine a playful tickle in the ribs. “How did you know that was going to happen?”

“It almost always happens when we play.” Jasmine giggled.

Her high-pitched giggle joined Brittany’s laughter. The joyous sound touched something deep inside Parker. It felt like the warmth of a sunbeam on a cold day, but he steeled his heart against it. He would let his little girls work on his emotions, but he couldn’t let someone outside the family circle move him.

A little while later, Rose raised her arms above her head in triumph. “I won. I won.”

Parker smiled at Rose. “Good job.”

Brittany patted Rose on one arm. “You’re the champ this time.”

“I want to be the champ, so let’s play again.” Jasmine grabbed her game piece and plunked it down at the starting point.

Narrowing her gaze, Rose did the same. “Just cuz we play again doesn’t mean you’ll win. Maybe Brittany or Daddy will win.”

“That’s true.” Brittany nodded. “But she’s going to try, aren’t you, Jasmine?”

“I am.”

Rose tapped Brittany on the arm, then picked up the spinner. “I won, so I get to go first.”

“That’s right. You do.” Brittany picked up her marker. “Let’s get started.”

Parker glanced over at Brittany. What did she think of his competitive daughters? Maybe he was too worried about normal sibling rivalry, but hadn’t there been a lot more of it lately? That was another reason he needed to find a nanny. Isolated as they were, it was hard to gauge what was normal behavior. He needed another perspective.

Finally, the second game ended with Brittany as the winner. Parker reached over and put an arm around Jasmine’s shoulders. “Well, Jas, looks like you and I weren’t meant to be winners tonight.”

“Let’s play a different game.” Jasmine glanced around the room. “Can we play cards like Heather?”

Before he could formulate a response, Brittany picked up a deck of cards from the nearby end table. “Do you girls know how to play Crazy Eights?”

The little girls shook their heads.

“Then I’ll teach you. It’s easy. We’ll play a practice hand to help you learn.” As Brittany explained the rules of the game, she dealt out the cards, then with the cards exposed she showed them the strategies involved.

While Brittany helped Rose and Jasmine through the practice hand, Parker couldn’t help noticing how well Brittany related to his girls. She’d welcomed their attention and had been patient with their bursts of temper.

When they finished practicing, Jasmine placed the cards in front of Parker. “Daddy, since you won the practice game, you can deal.”

“Okay.” Parker shuffled the cards.

He tried to soak up his daughters’ joy while he dealt each person seven cards. But his thoughts didn’t linger on the happy interaction humming through the room. For some reason, being around Brittany made Parker think of the twins’ mother, Sydney. He didn’t know why. Brittany didn’t resemble Sydney in the least. Maybe it was the age. If Sydney were alive, she would be about the same age as Brittany. He’d tried to help Sydney, but he’d failed. All these years later, the failure still caused an ache deep in his soul.

While they played several games, Parker’s thoughts kept coming back to the idea of asking Brittany about the nanny position. She fit seamlessly into his family circle. He had to talk to Heather about it.

“I’ve won two games in a row.” Jasmine picked up the cards and started a clumsy attempt to shuffle them. “Daddy, you’re not doing so good now that we’re not playing a practice game. You need to pay better attention.”

“Okay, I’ll try.” Parker chuckled, knowing that his mind had been preoccupied with Brittany, rather than Crazy Eights.

Rose turned her attention to Brittany. “How come you got those brown spots all over your face?”

A blush colored Brittany’s cheeks, and Parker wanted to somehow take back his daughter’s question. He didn’t have a clue how to react to Rose’s blunt observation. Should he apologize for Rose or try to make light of it? He hadn’t thought about the fact that his girls had never been around anyone with freckles.

Brittany’s laughter rescued him from his embarrassment. “The brown spots are called freckles.”

“How come we don’t have them?” Jasmine looked first at Rose then at him.

Again Brittany saved him from having to come up with an answer. “You don’t have freckles because your skin has more melanin in it than mine.”

Jasmine knit her eyebrows. “What’s mela…nin?”

“It’s a chemical that protects the skin from the sun.” Brittany went on to elaborate about why she had freckles.

“I wish I had freckles like you.” Rose gazed at Brittany with adoration.

Shaking her head, Brittany smiled. “You’re the first person I know who wants to have freckles like me.”

“I want freckles like you, too.” Jasmine vied for Brittany’s attention.

Laughing, Brittany gathered Rose and Jasmine in a hug. “You girls are wonderful. We all need to learn to be happy with the way God made us and not wish to be like anyone else.”

The girls giggled, and Parker took in their joy. What did they think about the way Brittany talked about God with ease? Had he been wrong not to talk about God with them? He’d left that kind of talk to Delia and Jenny because he’d never resolved his own anger with God over what had happened with his job and Sydney.

As Brittany looked his way, he hated to admit that he was drawn to Brittany’s cute freckled face, too. “Okay, girls, we’re done playing games. Time for bed.”

“No,” the girls wailed in unison.

Parker stood. “Yes, you can play more tomorrow.”

“Your dad’s right. I’ll even teach you some new games, okay?” Brittany gave the girls another quick hug, then glanced in his direction, seeking his confirmation.

“Sounds like a good idea to me.” As Parker started to usher the girls toward the bedroom, he turned to Brittany. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I had fun.” Brittany waved.

While Parker led Rose and Jasmine up the stairs, he couldn’t help thinking that he was looking forward to tomorrow, too.

With Rose and Jasmine tucked into bed for the night, Parker sneaked away to the pine-paneled room that was listed in the rental brochure as the owner’s retreat. A small stone fireplace and a wall of bookcases filled with books of every description made for a cozy refuge. A dim glow emanated from a single floor lamp in the corner. The room offered Parker what he needed—a sanctuary and solitude. He liked the quiet because he was out of the habit of interacting with people.

As he settled on the recliner, a knock sounded on the door. Tempted not to respond, he sat there a moment and willed the intruder to go away, but another knock followed.

“Uncle Parker, it’s Heather. May I come in?”

He couldn’t help smiling. Heather knew him too well. She wasn’t going to let him hide from his own guests. “Yeah.”

Heather peeked around the door. “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

Parker motioned for her to come in. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“A couple of things.”

Parker pointed toward the lounge chair on the other side of the rectangular dark pine table. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“I heard you telling Dad at supper that Mark and Jenny left the ranch right after Christmas.”

Sighing, Parker nodded. “Mark had an opportunity to run a bigger ranching operation in Colorado.”

“Are you going to take over the ranch?”

“No, Derek is.”

“What are you going to do about someone to watch Rose and Jasmine during the day?”

“I’m looking, without much success.” Parker wanted to ask Heather about Brittany, but he hadn’t had time to think the whole thing through. “I thought you were here to talk to me about something that’s bothering you, not about my problems.”

“They’re sort of related.”

“How?”

“I’ve been offered a research job in a small town near Boston, but I’m not sure about moving to the East Coast—so far away from anyone I know.”

“I didn’t know you had applied for a new job.”

“I wasn’t looking, but the company needs a nurse to work with a doc who is doing clinical trials. It’s just what I want to do.” Heather eyed Parker. “They want a decision by this coming Wednesday.”

“You must want this position if you’re thinking about accepting it without even seeing the place.”

“When I was in middle school, we went to Boston on vacation.”

Shaking his head, Parker chuckled. “I hardly think that counts, especially since the job isn’t in Boston itself. But it seems to me that you want this, so I say go for it.”

“Then I need your help.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

Heather grimaced. “My decision affects Brittany, and that’s how this is connected to you.”

Brittany. After the things he’d been thinking about her tonight, uneasiness hit Parker’s gut. “What’s the connection?”

“I’m worried about her. She doesn’t have a permanent job, and I hate to leave her without a roommate. If I take the job, I plan to pay off my portion of the four months we have left on our lease. After that she’d have to pay all the rent by herself, and she can’t afford to do that. I’m not sure whether I should take the job, or how I’m going to tell Brittany if I do.”

“So what does this have to do with me?”

Heather looked down at the floor, not meeting his gaze. “I thought you could ask Brittany whether she’d like to have the nanny position.”

Disquiet crept into Parker’s mind, as he got up from the chair and walked to the window. He stared into the night. Light from the full moon shimmered across the snow. The moon was like a hole in the blackened sky and reminded him of the hole in his heart that nothing seemed to fill—even his little girls. How could he invite Brittany into his troubled life? But he’d already considered it. Heather was asking him to make a decision—one he wasn’t sure he was ready to make, despite the pressing need for a nanny.

Turning from the window, Parker stared at Heather. “She’s an accountant and a financial planner. Why would she consider being a nanny? That’s a big comedown.”

“The way I see it, you two need each other. You need a nanny, and she needs a regular job and a place to live. You can offer her both.”

“This afternoon she mentioned something about moving back to the Spokane area.” Parker shook his head. “Besides, do you think she’d want to live on an isolated ranch? And how could she come live on the ranch when she’s tied down with a lease?”

“I don’t think she’ll move back to Spokane unless she gets a job there.” Heather narrowed her gaze as she appeared to be thinking. “As for the lease, you could pay her portion as part of your job offer.”

Parker let out a harsh breath. “I could do that, but what would she think?”

“You won’t know unless you ask.” Heather shrugged. “Anyway, did you notice how Rose and Jasmine immediately took to Brittany?”

Parker didn’t want to admit that he’d noticed, and he didn’t want this to turn into another disastrous attempt to assist a young woman. Brittany would have to know about his past because he couldn’t offer her the job in good conscience unless he told her about it. He wasn’t sure he was prepared to do that. If he mentioned his reservations to Heather, she’d tell him to get over it, as she did every time she saw him. But somehow he couldn’t let it go. The unfairness constantly ate at him.

“I hope your silence means you’re considering my suggestion.” Heather’s statement interrupted his thoughts.

Hoping to avoid Heather’s scrutiny, Parker looked out the window again. “Have you mentioned the position to her?”

“No. I thought I should talk to you first.”

“Good.” Conflicting thoughts raced through his mind. He wanted to help Heather, and he needed a nanny. So the decision should be easy, but the attraction he had to Brittany complicated the whole thing. “How will she react to my past?”

“I’ve mentioned it.”

Parker’s heart sank. He feared hearing about Brittany’s reaction. “What did you tell her?”

Heather walked over and stood next to him. “She asked about Rose and Jasmine, so I told her about the rumors, about your losing your job and about Sydney’s death.”

“What did she say?”

Heather raised her eyebrows. “She said you were a very compassionate person and immediately believed you were innocent of any wrongdoing.”

“That’s good.” Parker wasn’t sure why he was so relieved.

Heather nodded. “Since you’re going to ask her about the job, I suppose you should know I also told her you were a recluse because of what happened.”

A recluse. No wonder Brittany had imagined him as an old man with a salt-and-pepper beard. “The recluse part’s an overstatement.”

“Not much of one.”

Parker stopped himself before he tried to refute Heather’s claims. Arguing with her would only put more ideas into her head. True, he’d kept to himself and rarely went into town. He didn’t want to deal with the stares or whispered comments when he ran into people he knew—people who used to be his friends and coworkers. He didn’t have anything to say to those people now, especially the ones from church. Why had they been so quick to condemn him? Where had God been in this mess?

Parker didn’t have the answers.

Crossing her arms, Heather stared at him. “Since you seem to have lost your ability to talk, would you like me to run the idea by her?”

Heather’s question rolled around in his mind. “I’ll talk to her.”

“She has great references.” Patting herself on the chest, Heather grinned again. “Me. She’s got experience as a substitute teacher, and she’s terrific with kids, as you witnessed tonight.”

Parker chuckled. “Have you ever thought of going into sales? You’re very convincing.”

“I just know how to make a persuasive argument. I say don’t waste another minute.” Heather pointed to the door. “Get out there and talk to her.”

“You’re not that persuasive. I’m going to sleep on it and see whether it still seems like a good idea in the morning.”

“Hey, nerdly uncle, don’t think too long, or I’ll talk to her myself.”

“Okay, nerdly niece, I’ve been forewarned.” Parker couldn’t help smiling at Heather’s reference to him—a moniker that brightened his mood. They’d been teasing each other this way for years.

“You know you’ve got me beat in the nerd department. I always tell my friends that you’re my mad-scientist uncle.”

Parker turned to look at Heather. “Is that what you’ve told Brittany?”

“So you are worried about what she thinks?” Heather shot him a speculative grin.

Parker shook his head and gave Heather a wry smile. “I think you should go bother someone else.”

“Okay, but while you’re in here by yourself, why don’t you spend a little time talking to God about hiring Brittany?”

Parker frowned. Why did Heather have to bring God into it? He hadn’t helped before, so what reason was there to believe He would be there now? “You know my feelings about that, and they aren’t going to change.”

“I’m still praying for you. And so is the rest of the family.”

Parker knew that was true. Every time he talked with his mother, he heard the same statement. “You always say that.”

“I’m going to keep saying it until you get right with God.”

“I gathered from something Brittany said tonight that she’s a Christian, too.”

Heather nodded. “We attend the same church. That’s how we started sharing an apartment. But don’t let that stop you from talking to her.”

“Your breathing down my neck is the only thing that’ll stop me.”

Heather backed up toward the door. “Okay, I’m out of here, so you can make plans.”

“Thanks.”

As the door closed behind Heather, he sank onto the nearby chair. Brittany seemed like an answer to a prayer, even though he didn’t pray anymore. Was God working on him—pulling him in despite his resistance? Or were his thoughts getting way ahead of reality? Just because he asked her didn’t mean she would accept.

Chapter Four

On Sunday evening, following an afternoon of skiing, Parker sat at the dinner table with his family. Although the sunny day had turned into a clear, cold night, the conversation and laughter around the table warmed Parker’s heart. If he could capture this slice of happiness and take it home, maybe he could put the past behind him. That’s the way he felt every year during this get-together, but the feeling soon faded. He hadn’t learned to let go of the heartache or bitterness associated with his unfair treatment.

Parker looked across the table. Rose and Jasmine were laughing with Brittany and Heather. Their interaction reminded him that Saturday and Sunday’s flurry of activities had never given him a chance to talk to Brittany. The whole weekend he’d watched her having fun not only with Rose and Jasmine, but also with the rest of his relatives. Brittany had charmed them all, including him.

Was that a good thing when he wanted to offer her a job? Doubts and questions floated through his mind.

As Parker finished eating, the jangling sound of a cell phone echoed through the room and interrupted his thoughts. He knew immediately who was receiving a call. That distinctive ringtone belonged to Brittany.

“Excuse me.” Brittany jumped up from the table and grabbed her phone and a jacket. She answered the phone as she went out on the deck at the back of the house.

Picking up his plate, Parker tried not to appear interested in what Brittany was doing. “Delia, thanks for the great meal.”

“Thanks. It was nothing.” Delia waved a hand in his direction.

“Rose, Jasmine, let’s help clean up.” Parker motioned for them to follow.

Without protest, the little girls helped carry the dishes into the kitchen while the rest of the family also pitched in. As Parker loaded dishes into the dishwasher, he tried to ignore Heather. Every time he looked up she was staring at him.

Heather came up behind him and nodded her head toward the door leading to the deck. “Time’s running out. I’ll keep an eye on the girls so you can ask Brittany about the job.”

Parker glanced out the window. Brittany paced back and forth across the deck as she talked on the phone. Her breath formed a cloud in the cold air—a cloud that matched the cloud of doubt forming in his mind. He wasn’t sure about this, but he needed a nanny now so he could meet the deadline for his latest project. He needed someone to take care of his girls. “I can’t interrupt her phone call.”

“I didn’t say you should. But as soon as she’s finished—”

“I’ll talk to her when she comes inside.” Parker turned and looked out the window again as Brittany slipped her phone into her jacket pocket. She leaned her forearms on the railing and made no move toward the house.

“Looks like she doesn’t intend to come in right now.”

“Maybe she wants some time alone.”

“No excuses.” Heather smiled wryly. “I’ll get your jacket, so you can join her.”

Heather headed to the closet. Since she was on a mission, trying to stop her was pointless. After she returned, she handed him the jacket, then ushered Rose and Jasmine into the family room for a game.

Brittany continued to lean against the railing. Even in the dim light, her coppery hair shimmered. Putting on his jacket, he took a deep breath, then opened the sliding door. It made a whooshing sound as he closed it.

Brittany turned as he stepped toward her. “Hi. Sorry. I didn’t mean to skip out on the cleanup.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” Should he ask her about her phone call, or jump into the reason he was standing here in the cold? He shouldn’t have let Heather push him into this until he was ready.

“That was my parents. They wanted to know how things were going.” Brittany lowered her gaze and kicked at a chunk of ice that stuck to the floorboards of the deck. “I was hoping my dad had some good news about a job, but he found out that the position he’d mentioned to me last week has been filled.”

“That’s too bad. Do you have any other prospects?”

She looked up but faced away, her shoulders sagging. “No.”

He shouldn’t have been worried about how to approach his job offer. Her responses practically begged for him to ask her, but doubt made him hesitate.

“Did you want me for something?” She looked up at him, moonlight reflected in her eyes.

His pulse ricocheted in his head as he tried to figure out what to say. “Yeah, actually, I do.”

“What?”

He could do this. “I need a nanny for Rose and Jasmine. Would you be interested?”

A little frown knit her eyebrows. Without saying anything, she turned away from him and placed her gloved hands on the deck railing.

Had he totally insulted her with the offer? He joined her at the railing and looked out on the moonlit landscape. “Hey, I know this probably isn’t what you’re looking for, but—”

She turned abruptly. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything until I explain what the job entails, and all the circumstances surrounding my girls and me. I know Heather told you some of the story.”

“She did.”

“I couldn’t help their mother have a better life, but I intend to do everything in my power to make sure her daughters have a good life.”

“Okay.”

Parker turned back to the moonlit landscape. “Stop me if I repeat what Heather has already told you.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

He gripped the railing and took in the snowcapped mountains barely visible in the distance. “Sydney, Rose and Jasmine’s mother, was a smart young woman, but she came from a troubled home. I saw her potential when she was in one of my classes and wanted to help her, so I started tutoring her.”

“Heather mentioned that.”

“I thought if she did well, she could probably get a college scholarship, get away from her difficult family situation and have a chance in life.”

“But she got pregnant.”

“Yeah. She came to me at the beginning of her senior year and told me that she wanted an abortion, but I talked her out of it.” Parker sighed. When he looked at those precious girls, he knew he’d been right to do so. But the heartaches that came with Sydney’s pregnancy still troubled him.

“What about the father?”

“Not in the picture.” Parker slowly shook his head. “She pretty much indicated to me that she didn’t know who the father was.”

Brittany’s eyes widened. “You mean Sydney was sleeping with more than one guy at the same time?”

“Probably.” Parker nodded. “Her mother and stepfather used to be on the rodeo circuit, and their place was a flophouse for itinerant cowboys all the time. Who knows what went on there? Sydney didn’t talk about her home life much. I always thought she did well in her studies because they were her refuge from the chaos in the rest of her life.”

“Was there any cause to report the family situation to authorities?”

“There were never any signs of physical abuse, and I felt I would lose her trust if I meddled in her family life.” Parker grimaced and shook his head. “I was hoping Sydney might confide in someone other than me, so I mentioned my concerns to a couple of her female teachers. But Sydney never opened up to anyone.”

“Did you try to fight the school board’s decision?”

Brittany’s belief in him touched Parker’s heart. “Yeah, in the beginning, but they’d made up their minds. I was tried and convicted without much of a chance to defend myself. The fact that I wasn’t the father of her children didn’t quell the rumors or the speculation, because Sydney couldn’t name the man who had fathered her children. Everyone still concluded that I’d been sleeping with her.”

“So what did you do?”

“Decided to quit fighting it and kept to myself on the ranch. I still stay away from Stockton, where I used to live and work. And I very seldom venture into Billings.” Parker couldn’t keep the resentment out of his voice. “Stockton’s not that far from Billings, and I don’t want to run into any of those people again.”

“How did you come to adopt the girls?”

Parker took in Brittany’s expectant expression and almost wished that Heather could have explained the whole story. But Heather didn’t know everything. He had to do this himself.

Parker remembered the day Sydney had come to him for help. Looking at Brittany, he took a deep breath. “When Rose and Jasmine were almost a year old, Sydney brought them to the ranch and begged me to keep them there. She was afraid that her stepfather would harm them.”

“Is that when you got them?”

“No. I tried to persuade her to let me take her and the girls to a women’s shelter in Billings, but she wouldn’t go. She told me she was afraid to leave her mother alone with her stepfather.”

“Had she mentioned this problem before?”

Parker shook his head. “I knew people were coming and going at all hours of the day and night and that Sydney lived in a circus atmosphere, but I had no idea she was afraid of her stepfather or that he was violent.”

“What happened then?”

“She shoved an envelope into my hand, then ran to her car and left. I couldn’t stop her.”

“What was in the envelope?”

“Her last will and testament—the kind you can make on the internet. She’d named me as the girls’ guardian. It was quite a shock.”

“So that’s how you came to adopt Rose and Jasmine?”

Parker nodded. “But right then, I wasn’t thinking about that. I was worried about her and those little girls. I immediately called the sheriff’s office and asked them to check things at her house. A deputy went out there, but they found nothing wrong. So they couldn’t do anything. Two days later Sydney’s stepfather shot her as she attempted to wrestle the gun away from him. She was trying to protect her mother.”

Brittany said nothing, only stared at him with sadness in her eyes. Laughter sounding from inside the house belied the solemn discussion outside.

“Of course, when I took in Rose and Jasmine and eventually adopted them, the rumors started again.” Telling this story made him shiver more than the cold night air. “As I said, that’s why I don’t go into town.”

“Don’t people have other things to occupy their minds by now?”

“Maybe, but I don’t want to take the chance that Rose and Jasmine might hear any unkind remarks.” Brittany sounded like Heather and his family. They expected him to be over the thing that had turned his world upside down and inside out. But they’d never had to deal with the looks of contempt and derision he’d endured. He was in no hurry to interact with the people who had made that time of his life so difficult. Still, despite the troubles, he’d adopt the girls again in a nanosecond. “Rose and Jasmine mean everything to me.”

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