Judy Duarte – The Cowboy's Double Trouble (страница 2)

Heck, even if he and the kids spoke the same language, having Beto and Bela with him for the next three weeks was going to be a real challenge.

But he had a plan. Once Jason and his new bride returned from that business trip, Braden was going to suggest that the twins live permanently with them. After all, kids their age would be better off with a married couple. And the fact that Juliana would be having a baby soon made it all the better.

And if that didn’t work out, his half sister, Carly, had just gotten married, too, and would return about the same time Jason did. She was also pregnant, so there was another opportunity for the twins to join a real family.

In the meantime, the poor kids were stuck with him. Only trouble was, he needed to focus on running the ranch he’d just inherited from his grandpa Miller. Unlike his wealthy and womanizing father, Braden took his family responsibilities seriously.

But how in the hell was he going to get any work done while they were here? Babysitting was turning out to be a full-time job—and one he hadn’t been prepared for. He’d been raised on the Bar M as an only child, so he didn’t have any experience with kids. He’d do his best to do right by them, of course. But these two, as cute as they were, would be much happier with someone else—preferably someone who could communicate with them.

If they were in school, it would be easier. But it was still summer.

Maybe he should hire a nanny to look after them so he could get some work done.

The more he thought about that idea, the better it sounded. Unfortunately, he didn’t know where to begin to find someone qualified. And that was crucial. The woman who’d looked after the twins in Mexico had proven to be cold and rigid. As willing as he was to pass their care on to someone else, he had to be careful.

The poor little orphans had been through enough already, and he was dead set on making sure they were well cared for—and loved. They definitely deserved someone more qualified than a bachelor who was more comfortable around horses and barbed wire than around people, especially those who bore the Rayburn name.

“No!” Beto called out. “Vengan gatitos!”

Braden turned toward the child’s voice, just as the two cats dashed out of the barn, the little boy and girl in hot pursuit. He didn’t blame the animals for running off.

Hell, he’d only had the kids for three days and he had half a notion to run away himself.

* * *

Elena Ramirez unlocked the front door of Lone Star Hay and Grain, then set about to welcome the first customers of the day.

She’d already checked on the baby ducks and chicks that were for sale, as well as the rabbits. Her dad was running a special on the small animals this week, so she wanted to make sure the coops and pens, which she’d put on display near the front door and by the register, were clean and that the food and water had been replenished.

Elena had shopkeeping in her blood, and she knew all the best sales strategies. But recently, the merchandise she sold was the kind to grace the covers of fashion magazines instead of agricultural catalogs.

Now, as she studied her father’s store, she realized not much had changed in the years since he’d bought it, something she intended to remedy while she was here.

She’d been a senior in high school at the time her father purchased the store and moved the family to Brighton Valley. She hadn’t been happy about leaving all her old friends and making new ones, but she was glad her dad finally had the opportunity to be in business for himself. He’d been one of eight children and the first to no longer have to work for someone else.

Taking over a floundering feed store had been tough for him in the beginning. There hadn’t been enough money coming in to hire an assistant, so Elena had worked with him after class each day and on the weekends. By the time she’d gone off to college in Austin that next fall, he’d finally been able to afford to pay an hourly employee.

On the upside, Elena’s retail experience had enabled her to get a job at a dress shop near the university, where she usually had the highest commission of all the other sales associates.

In fact, when she’d graduated in May, she’d continued working in Austin, but between her student loan payments and the cost of rent and utilities, life had eaten into her earnings. Since she had plans to open a store of her own one day soon, one that specialized in trendy fashions and quirky, unusual items, she’d moved back to Brighton Valley until she could sock away some money.

Working at the feed store felt like a step backward, but Papa was so happy to have her home again that she didn’t mind.

“I missed my little girl,” he’d said when he helped her carry her suitcases into the house.

She knew her absence bothered him, but since she was the oldest of his children by seven years, and with six younger siblings, there were still plenty of little ones in the house.

She stopped by the small display pen that held baby ducks, picked up the smallest one and rubbed its soft down against her cheek. Then, after she set it loose again, she brushed off her hands on her oldest pair of jeans.

All of her good clothes—the ones she wore for her old job—were still in a suitcase under the bunk bed she was sharing with her twelve-year-old half sister. She arched her back, thinking of the small twin-size mattress that was much firmer than the one she’d been used to.

While she didn’t mind coming home to help out her family and save money, she definitely missed living on her own in the city.

The first twelve years of her life, she’d been raised by her mother as an only child, so it was only natural for her to enjoy her solitude.

When her mom died, she moved in with her dad and stepmom full-time. She’d tried to help whenever she was needed, and before long, she was babysitting, cleaning up spills and wiping tears.

These days, she often had to referee fights. She loved her siblings, she truly did. But she’d enjoyed getting away from them, too.

A truck engine sounded outside, announcing that their first customer of the day had arrived. She secured the hair clip that held the thick, dark mass of curls away from her face, neck and shoulders while she worked.

Moments later, a man and two children entered the store. The kids both appeared to be Hispanic and didn’t resemble the blond-haired cowboy in the least. So her interest was immediately piqued.

When the little boy noticed the rabbits on display, he immediately brightened. “Conejitos! Bela, mira!”

The girl—his sister, Elena guessed—hurried to his side, and they each found a bunny to pet.

Elena turned to the fair-haired cowboy, who stood about six foot one. When he noticed her, a pair of dazzling green eyes locked on to hers and sent her heart rate on a mad scamper to find a normal pace.

Too handsome for a local cowboy was the first thought that came to her mind.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Not unless you run a day care center out back.”

Elena laughed. “Only when my mom brings my younger brothers and sisters by the store. Why do you ask?”

He shrugged a single shoulder. “Just my attempt to find humor in a sticky situation.”

She lifted a brow, and he slid her an easy grin.

“I’m looking after these kids for my brother,” he said, “and they don’t speak English. So I’m in a real fix when it comes to communicating with them. I’m doing my best, but I have to find a bilingual nanny—like yesterday.”

Elena felt a tug on her sleeve. When she glanced down, the little girl with large brown eyes and lopsided pigtails pointed to the rear of the store, where the boy had wandered over to a display of straw cowboy hats. He’d apparently knocked several to the floor.

“Sorry about that,” the handsome cowboy said. “I’ll get those picked up.”

“Don’t give it a second thought.” Elena strolled to the table display and smiled at the boy. “No es problema, mijo.” She helped him restack the hats, then took one and placed it on his head. In Spanish, she asked if he wanted to be a cowboy.

He smiled, revealing a missing front tooth, and nodded, the oversize hat flopping forward and back. “Si, yo quiero ser un vaquero como Señor Braden.”

So he admired “Senor Braden” and wanted a hat like his. She glanced at the fair-haired cowboy, then back at the boy, who was pointing to the man. Then it clicked.

“Now I know why you looked familiar,” she said. “You’re Braden Rayburn. Your great-grandmother owned a ranch near here.”

“Yes, and my maternal grandpa owned... Well, I now own the Bar M.”

“I was sorry to hear about your grandfather’s passing,” she said. “My dad told me that he attended his celebration of life. I’m afraid I was still in Austin at the time.”

“Forgive me, but I don’t recognize you. But then again, my grandpa was the one who always picked up supplies or had them delivered. After my rodeo days, I spent most of my time on the ranch.”

She reached out her arm in greeting. “I’m Elena Ramirez, Paco’s daughter.”

He took her hand in his, enveloping her in a warm, calloused grip that sent her senses reeling. “No kidding? I knew Paco had a lot of kids, but I had no idea that he...” His voice trailed off, but she knew what he’d been about to say. He hadn’t realized Elena was one of them. Well, that’s not a surprise. She found it difficult to believe at times, too.