“You are.” An appealing grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
She grew suddenly tense. Something told her that she was in for a surprise and not the happy kind.
“I’m your substitute minister. Homer Foxworthy’s my great-uncle.” Owen set the toddler down to join her siblings. “I’m staying here for the next month, through Christmas, while he and your grandmother are on their trip. Along with my kids.”
She stared at him, every particle of her being resisting. Please, someone tell her this wasn’t happening.
* * *
“NO OFFENSE, BUT you don’t look like a minister.”
Owen didn’t blame Molly for doubting him. He wasn’t really a minister. And his three intent-on-misbehaving offspring were hardly aiding his image.
“I got ordained online,” he explained. “A buddy asked me to officiate his wedding a few months ago. We had this bet and, well...”
“Is that even a real thing? Getting ordained online?”
He corralled his children closer. They’d attempted to wander off in three different directions, and the room had far too many breakables for his comfort level. “I guarantee you, I can legally marry people. In Arizona, at least.”
“Do you have any credentials?”
“I didn’t bring my certificate. I figured Uncle Homer had vouched for me.”
“What’s his cell phone number?”
Owen chuckled. “You plan on calling him to verify my story?”
“Yes.” She squared her shoulders. “I do.”
“That’s funny.”
“Oh?” She drew out the word.
“You said ‘I do.’ Like in a wedding vow. And I’m an online minister.”
“Huh.”
All right, not funny. Ms. O’Malley apparently lacked a sense of humor.
Then again, Owen was a complete stranger, and he’d obviously caught her at a bad moment, when she was overwhelmed and not expecting him. Anyone’s sense of humor would desert them.
She lifted one side of the apron she wore and produced a phone from her jeans pocket. Swiping the screen, she raised her brows expectantly. “What’s your uncle’s number?”
Owen obliged her, and she quickly entered it. He might have spent more time losing himself in the depths of her incredible green eyes, but his son chose that moment to renew the squabble with his sister.
“Cody, that’s enough.”
Owen blocked his son’s hand right before it connected with his oldest daughter, Marisa. Cody was strictly forbidden to tease or torment his little sisters. Unfortunately, that seldom deterred him, and Marisa was his target more often than Willa, the youngest.
In response, Marisa dropped to the floor and resumed crying. “I wanna go home.”
Willa collapsed beside her sister, whining in solidarity, while Cody grabbed Owen’s arm and, lifting his feet, dangled in his best monkey impersonation.
Owen attempted to quiet the girls and sent Molly an apologetic smile. This wasn’t the auspicious beginning he’d envisioned.
The sad truth was Owen didn’t know his children very well or they him. He’d been away more than he’d been home in recent years and was sorely lacking when it came to parenting skills.
One of the reasons he’d agreed to take a month off and cover for his great-uncle was the perks that came with the job. He’d been promised a cabin and plenty of free time to connect with his estranged children.
Never again would he pick them up for a scheduled visit only to have Willa not recognize him. The blow Owen suffered had been the motivator behind him turning a new leaf, and he’d vowed from that day forward nothing and no one would come before his children.
“Homer’s not answering, either.” Molly disconnected and repocketed her phone.
“I’m sure they’ll call when they reach Flagstaff. Service is pretty iffy between here and there.”
“Did your uncle coerce my grandmother?”
He thought at first she might be joking then realized she wasn’t. “I doubt it. She seemed pretty eager when they came by my house on Thursday to ask if I’d cover for Uncle Homer.”
Molly’s gaze narrowed. “Just how well do you know my grandmother?”
“We’ve met twice. I’m all the family Uncle Homer has in Arizona. Which is why, I think, they chose to elope and take a long RV trip. Uncle Homer’s son couldn’t arrange time off work on such short notice to come to a wedding, and his daughter’s scared to death of flying. He wanted your grandmother to meet his children and brothers and grandchildren, and they’re spread out over six different states. Kind of romantic, if you think about it. Eloping and touring the country.”
“Except my mom and aunt haven’t met Homer, and none of us were invited to the wedding.”
Owen heard the hurt in her voice she tried to mask and felt a need to ease it. “The way Uncle Homer put it, they were trying to be fair. His family couldn’t come here and you’re not able to leave. Eloping was a compromise.”
Molly shook her head. “Grandma wouldn’t up and leave. Sweetheart Ranch is too important to her.”
“I’m sure she put you and your sister in charge because she’s confident in your abilities to manage the ranch without her.”
“We need her. Today’s our grand opening. The mayor’s coming. And a reporter from Channel 5.” Molly glanced over her shoulder at a clock on the fireplace mantel. “They’ll be here in three hours.”
Three and a half, to be exact. But Owen didn’t correct her as his kids were again demanding his attention.
“Daddy, I’m hungry.”
“Cody kicked me.”
“Where Mama? Want Mama.” Willa stuck her pudgy thumb in her mouth and sucked lustily.
Owen bent and scooped up his youngest. He simultaneously took hold of Cody’s shirt collar before the boy made a run for it. With her siblings restrained, Marisa was likely to stick close.
“I know you’re busy,” Owen said. “If you can show us to our cabin, we’ll get out of your hair.”
“Your cabin,” Molly repeated.
“Emily mentioned she’d reserved one for us.”
“Right.” Molly’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly, another sign of how hurt she was by the elopement. “I should have guessed. She’s
