The Rancher’s Surprise Triplets

Another example of a good father. Was God sending them as reminders that he hadn’t known that kind of fathering? That he had his father’s blood flowing through his veins and would most certainly fail to be the kind of father a child deserved?

“Thief. Thief. Stop that man.” He jerked around in time to see a figure dart out of sight and like many others, joined in the chase. Jeb came around the corner, alerted by the call. He reached out and caught the culprit.

It was but a young boy...maybe twelve or thirteen.

“Pa?” He looked around for his father.

Bo watched a man duck back, prepared to let his boy stand on his own. Perhaps even had sent the boy to snatch the money, knowing it would go easier with a youngster. In fact, Jeb dragged him back to the leathersmith display and had him return the money, then let him go with a warning.

If Bo needed any evidence to prove the evil of bad fathering, this was it and he strode away. The rest of the afternoon sped away quickly as he spoke to each vendor and visited with his friends and neighbors. It was especially heartening to see Molly and CJ Thorn with their baby son, Isaac. They had married recently, brought together by the matchmaking efforts of CJ’s twin nieces, who giggled as they chased after a bit of red bunting. He wished them nothing but happiness in their life together.

Several times young ladies came up to him and gave a dime in exchange for a dance with him on Saturday night. There was one woman who did not offer him a dime. Louisa. Of course, she was too busy, but still, he wished it otherwise.

He paused to order coffee and two cookies at a booth and deposit the required coins. “How are sales?” he asked Mrs. Carson, who was taking her turn running the booth.

“Brisk.” She seemed pleased.

Finished with his coffee, he returned his cup and turned in time to see eighteen-year-old Annie Hill and nineteen-year-old Jamie Coleman slip behind a tent. So that was the way it was. Perhaps it would be the means to ending the feud between their families. His jaw tightened. More than likely it would simply increase the tension in the feud.

The shadows lengthened and people began to drift away except for those who would stay and watch the animals. The fair was over for the first day.

Jeb called him over and together they went from booth to booth collecting the money that would go to the league. Bo’s grin widened with every stop. “We’ve done much better than I could have hoped and two more days to go.”

As they left the grounds with the heavy money bag, Bo noticed a man watching them from the protection of the trees and pointed him out to Jeb. “He’s the father of the lad you caught stealing.”

Jeb studied the man carefully. “I’ll be keeping an eye on him.”

“Let’s get this money into the safe.” They hurried to the bank, where George Henley waited to lock it up for the night.

Bo let out a relieved sigh when the safe closed and George locked it. His tension eased marginally as George double-checked the locks on the front door and the windows then let them out the back and locked it securely.

The worst thing Bo could imagine was having that money stolen.

“It’s safe,” George assured him.

“I’ll post a guard to make sure,” Jeb said.

“I’ll stay here until you get someone.” Bo had no intention of letting anyone try to get into the bank even if they weren’t able to crack the safe.

“You don’t have a gun.”

George pulled a derringer from his side pocket and handed it to Bo. “It’s not much but it’s all I have.”

“I’ll be back shortly.” Jeb trotted away.

George paused a moment then leisurely walked away...as if to communicate to anyone watching that he had no concerns.

Bo wished he felt half as confident. He palmed the little gun and remained alert to every sound and movement. There was no sign of the man he believed to be a danger, but still he did not relax until Jeb returned with two men carrying rifles and wearing sidearms. One stood at the front door, the other at the back. Even then Bo hesitated to leave them.

Jeb gave him a little push. “Trust us to do our job.”

“Put that way...” He made his way around to the front of the building and stared up and down Main Street. Lights glowed in some of the businesses as if the owners had last-minute things to do. He followed the same path he had yesterday in his desire to catch up to Louisa and convince her to be involved in the fair.

His steps slowed. Was that only yesterday? It seemed much longer ago.

He reached the doctor’s house and stood on the sidewalk studying it. How was Louisa doing with the triplets? Were the babies feeling any better? Was it too late to go to the door and ask?

A lamp burned inside. He crossed the street and hesitated in front of the house.

A demanding cry reached his ears and he made up his mind. She might well need someone to help her. He rapped on the door and waited. His toe nudged something and he bent to pick up three worn toys—a stuffed bear, a stuffed rabbit and a stuffed cat. How odd. Who would have dropped the toys there?

He glanced up and down the street but saw no one. At that moment, Louisa opened the door holding one squalling baby. Another cried from behind her.

He handed her the toys. “Could you use an extra pair of arms?” He might not be the sort of man to be a good father, but he could at least help Louisa care for the babies until further arrangements were made.

Chapter Four (#ulink_10d218fa-0bba-5b33-938b-fa5e69d00d2c)

Louisa couldn’t remember ever being so relieved to see someone come to the door. Father had been home a couple of hours ago but was called away again almost immediately. She struggled alone trying to cope with the babies growing increasingly fussy. Now Bo was here and she meant to take advantage of another pair of hands. She grabbed his arm and dragged him inside. “They’re all crying at once.” She handed him Theo. “Sit in the big chair and hold Jasper too.” Thankfully he obeyed her request without comment. Likely he took in her ruffled appearance, her hair in untidy strands, and decided she needed rescuing. She hurried to explain her desperation. “They’ve napped. They’ve eaten and consumed their milk. I’ve treated their earaches and sponged them to take down their fevers, but they are more and more unhappy. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” She’d wiped noses and changed diapers. She’d sung. Most of all, she felt like joining them in a good cry.

He jostled the two babies on his knees as she put more warm oil in Eli’s ears. He wailed a protest.

“What makes babies unhappy?”

“Being sick. Having earaches.”

“What else? Maybe missing their mama?”

She stared at him. How had he seen the problem so clearly? “Of course. The poor little mites.” Every bit of fatigue and frustration ended. “Maybe these little toys you brought will comfort them.” She handed one to each of them. Only Jasper took the offered toy.

“I didn’t bring them. They were on the step. I thought maybe you dropped them or—” He bolted to his feet, a baby in each arm. “Their mother? I must look. You sit and hold them while I try and find her.” They traded places and she sat with the three babies squirming and sobbing in her lap.

As he dashed out the door, she sang to the babies. “Safe in the arms of Jesus.”

A little later, he tapped on the door and reentered. Eli slept but the other two continued to fuss. Seeing that Louisa had made a bed for them on the floor again, he took Eli from her arms, laid him down and covered him with a light sheet. Then he took Jasper and left Theo with Louisa.

“They seem to like my singing,” Louisa said somewhat apologetically.

“Then sing.”

She cleared her throat and began the song again. “‘Safe in the arms of Jesus.’”

“Good choice.” He grinned at her then joined his voice to hers, his deep and rich, like finest chocolate, and even the fussing boys grew quiet as if they wanted to hear him better.

Soon the two babies slept in their arms.

Louisa didn’t want to put Theo down. Didn’t want to end this moment of sweet harmony. Bo made no move toward putting Jasper down. Perhaps he too felt the stir of something peaceful between them.

“How was the fair?” she asked, her voice low so she wouldn’t disturb the sleeping baby in her arms.