The Rebel Cowboy’s Quadruplets

Chapter Four (#ulink_d5f97298-6995-532f-94a1-48b11f133a9d)

“These fellows here,” Ty said, grandly waving his arm to indicate his friends, “go by the names of Sam Barr, Squint Mathison and Frog Grant.”

“I’m sorry.” Mackenzie stared at the last big man who’d been introduced. He was a broad-shouldered man with bright blue eyes and a shock of saddle-brown hair that wouldn’t lay flat even if he used molasses on it. “Frog?”

The men laughed. “Gets ’em every time,” he said, not minding the attention. “That’s not my real name.”

“We call him Frog because he looks like he’s hopping around like a frog on the back of a bronc.” Ty slapped the man on the back. “Anyway, he kind of looks like an amphibian, so it fits.”

“I don’t see any frog about him,” Jade said, and silently Mackenzie agreed.

“These gentlemen have come to apply for the position of hanny,” Ty said, delighted to have a stage to sell his snake oil from.

“Hanny?” Mackenzie tried not to laugh. “Is that what you call a working hand now?”

“It means, Miss Mackenzie,” Squint said, his brown eyes earnest, “that Ty tells us you need hands to work this place and sometimes some occasional babysitting.”

“Oh, a manny,” Jade said.

“No.” Ty shook his head. “A manny is a male nanny. These men are hands. They’re also willing to help out with Mackenzie’s munchkins.”

“That wouldn’t be necessary—” Mackenzie began, but Ty shook his head.

“These men haven’t seen the inside of a home in so long that a little babysitting would make them happy as clams.” He looked at his friends. “And they don’t have any problems cleaning up stuff.”

“Stuff?” Mackenzie echoed.

“Oh,” Jade said. “You promised you wouldn’t mention what I told you on the phone, Ty.”

Mackenzie glanced at Justin, who shrugged, his whole demeanor screaming, I had nothing to do with this.

“Baby spit,” Ty said helpfully.

“Upchuck,” Squint elaborated.

“Hurl,” Sam said.

“Giveback,” Frog said, and Mackenzie held up a hand.

“Thank you, but I have it under control,” she said with a glance at Jade.

Jade looked guilty. “She handles poo just fine. It’s the other that gives her a little trouble.”

Embarrassment swept Mackenzie. She couldn’t meet Justin’s gaze, though she could feel him looking at her. “It was tough in the beginning, but I’m fine now. Anyway, I don’t need help with my children.”

“And I’m not going anywhere,” Justin said.

Mackenzie glanced at him. “You don’t have to stay if you need to go with Ty. I’ll totally understand. But I haven’t got a need for three hands, fellows. Sorry.”

“Darn,” Jade said. “I wish I’d known that all I had to do to get three handsome hunks to show up in their black truck was have babies. I’d have given that a shot.”

The three newcomers seemed to appreciate Jade’s comment. Some of the bravado had gone out of them at Mackenzie’s refusal of their services, but at Jade’s words their air of jauntiness returned.

“You could always give us a free trial,” Frog said.

Mackenzie shook her head. “I don’t need any help. But come into the kitchen. Let me at least feed you lunch before you go.”

“That’s an offer I won’t refuse,” Sam said.

All three gentlemen grouped close around her as she turned to walk to the house.

She looked at them. “I’m okay, guys, really I am.”

“You should be resting,” Squint said.

“We’ll take care of you,” Frog told her.

“Guess you’re stuck with me, beautiful,” Ty told Jade. He put his hand around Jade’s arm as they walked.

“I’ve got some work to do,” Justin said, and Mackenzie turned.

“Lunch first. Then you can work all you like.” She didn’t want him leaving her with Ty. His buddy was working on a plan—maybe big plans—and anyone from Bridesmaids Creek knew that when plans were afoot, you’d better have backup around.

Justin was really handsome backup.

“Sure. I’ll come along.”

She flashed him a grateful smile. The group went inside, crowding the kitchen, and Mrs. Harper smiled at them.

“Are these the hands Ty was telling me about?” she asked. “I’m Jade’s mother, Betty Harper. It’ll be nice having more help around here. Now sit down and eat before Mackenzie puts you to work.”

Mackenzie started to say that she wasn’t hiring anyone, but Jade gave her arm a light pinch.

“What?” Mackenzie said.

“Don’t send them away yet,” Jade whispered.

“It’s not fair to keep them here when I don’t have work for them!”

“You have work for them. You could hire a dozen of them and it wouldn’t be enough.”

Mackenzie looked at the five strong, large men sucking down huge quantities of food. “If I hire these hannies—really harebrained idea of Ty’s, by the way—I’d have to pay them. And that’s not in my budget.”

“We’ll figure something out. An idea will come to you,” Jade said, comforting her.

“No, it won’t.” She went into the den to check on her babies, who were all asleep except Hope, who was gazing at the mobile over her playpen. Mackenzie picked her up. “If I had spare money, I’d be putting it away for college educations. Besides, I’m selling the Hanging H.”

“Don’t be so hasty.” Jade took Hope from her. “Give Justin and Ty a chance to help you.”