How many of them have someone to watch their kids? Probably none. Rachel’s old enough—”
“Frankly, Mr. Rider, I’m not convinced that you’re able to provide a stable environment for the children without a wife.”
“Without a wife…?” Jon looked bewildered. “I can’t help it if my wife died. I’m taking care of my kids.”
Listening to the heated exchange, Kaycee was hesitant to leave until she knew what was going on. Even though Jon’s personal matters were none of her business, she had a soft spot for children and wondered if a man who had doggedly brought a stillborn calf to life would neglect his family.
“I don’t see evidence that you’re caring for the children today.”
“It’s calving season. Life around here gets hectic. It’s got nothing to do with wife or no wife.”
“Nonetheless, your children should be your first priority—”
“They are my first priority!” Jon practically shouted. “I am taking care of them. How dare you—”
“Do you have an anger management problem we need to address? I’m beginning to consider removing the children from your home until a hearing can be arranged.”
The color drained from Jon’s face as he stared at the social worker.
“Like hell you will.”
“Mr. Rider, profanity and anger won’t help. Now, you can calm down or I’ll take measures to remove the children today.”
In front of Kaycee, the children looked at one another with wide eyes and gaping mouths.
“What’s she talking about, Wendy?” Michele asked in a low voice.
“She said we need a mother or she’s going to take us away from Daddy,” the sister said in disbelief.
“That’s what I thought.” Warily, Michele glanced up at Kaycee. She leaned and whispered in Wendy’s ear.
Wendy shook her head fiercely, her straight blond hair whipping back and forth. “That won’t work,” she whispered back loud enough that Kaycee heard.
“Well, it might. You got any better ideas?” Michele’s eyes locked on the arguing adults as Jon grew more upset with everything Mrs. Hawthorn said.
Kaycee didn’t know Jon other than the few hours she’d spent with him, but she felt the urge to help him—she just didn’t know how. There was a lull in the argument, and Kaycee heardWendy’s agitated voice. Tears welled in the girl’s brown eyes as she clutched her sister’s arm.
“You’re going to get in trouble, Michele. I just want Mama back.”
“Get real, Wendy,” Michele said. “You know she’s not coming back.”
“My children are not leaving this ranch!” Jon’s shout echoed off the walls, the effect of his words clear on the small, pale faces and eyes dark with fear.
Mrs. Hawthorn took a step backward and pulled a cell phone out of her briefcase. “If I have to call the authorities and have you arrested, I will, Mr. Rider.” Her voice left no room for doubt that she would follow through on her threat.
“Make ’em stop fighting,” sobbed one of the twin boys. “I don’t want to go away. Make ’em stop, Michele!”
Michele looked boldly at Kaycee, her face determined despite the apprehension imprinted there. She grabbed Kaycee’s hand and pulled her down to eye level. “I’m Michele. What’s your name?”
Startled, Kaycee replied, “Kaycee Calloway.”
“Hurry!” Michele dragged Kaycee until she stumbled forward—straight into the fray. Jon jerked toward them in surprise. Mrs. Hawthorn eyed her over the rim of her glasses. Kaycee’s sudden intrusion shut them both up instantly.
“This is her,” Michele announced firmly. “This is our new mother. We don’t need a housekeeper anymore.”
CHAPTER TWO
“MICHELE!” JON SAID.
“Kaycee’s shy like Wendy,” Michele rushed on. “But Mrs. Hawthorn needs to know we have a mother so you can take care of us. Well, here she is and now you can.”
Mrs. Hawthorn narrowed her eyes and looked suspiciously from Kaycee to Jon and back to Kaycee. “Aren’t you the veterinarian?”
“Well, I…I…yes, I am a vet.”
“And you’re married to Mr. Rider?”
Jon looked at his four kids with a stricken expression. Kaycee recognized sheer desperation when she saw it. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to his side, his strong arm squeezing the breath out of her so that she had no chance to speak. She could feel his body humming like a strand of barbed wire pulled too tight. Dangerous.
“We’re not married yet,” Jon said without hesitation. “But we soon will be.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Mrs. Hawthorn pressed, her skepticism obvious.
“You didn’t give me much chance,” he answered, then gazed down at Kaycee with adoring eyes that melted her to his side in spite of the tenuous situation—and the fact that the look was faked.
On her other side, Michele squeezed Kaycee’s hand so hard it hurt. There was no way she should involve herself in this family’s problems, whatever they were…. But there were three more little kids panicking behind her.
Kaycee held out her right hand—thank goodness she’d washed it already. “I’m Katherine Calloway.”
Hesitantly, Mrs. Hawthorn took it as if it might be contaminated, pulling away as quickly as she could. “And you plan to marry Mr. Rider?”
Kaycee swallowed hard. “We’ve been seriously discussing it lately. The children do need a mother, I agree. Everything will be back to normal before you know it.” Kaycee spoke carefully. She wasn’t exactly lying. She was only filling the role for a few minutes, until this social worker left. Then Jon Rider would have to figure out his problems on his own.
“I see. When?”
“When?”
“We have to get calving season behind us,” Jon said quickly. “But as you can see, Kaycee’s here today and between the two of us, the housekeeper and my oldest girls, we’ll make out until the wedding.”
Good line, Kaycee thought, but was the social worker buying it? She didn’t seem to have much of a case against Jon. If he’d kept his temper, the woman might have been gone by now. Kaycee’s gut feeling told her the children weren’t in danger of anything other than a messy house and a missing nanny, but she would make sure before she left.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to fix lunch for these hungry mouths.” Mostly, Kaycee wanted to escape before she said something wrong to cause Jon more trouble. And get the kids away
