Twins Under The Tree. Leigh Riker

the first time in that room across from the hospital nursery, he’d become a worrier. He supposed he’d carry that to his own grave.

      He and Clara went downstairs where, by habit, they settled at the kitchen table. Darkness had fallen while they bathed the twins, then wrestled them into their sleepers for the night and said their prayers for them.

      “Okay,” he said, stirring his coffee, “let’s talk. I’ve made a decision.”

      Clara straightened in her chair. “So have I.”

      Hadley stiffened. He’d sensed her earlier frown wasn’t about Gracie being fussy. He’d been right. Clara was exhausted. He’d known this moment would come ever since he had moved in and filled her tidy house to the rafters with all the babies’ gear. The twins seemed to outgrow their clothes every week, and he was now a regular customer at Baby Things. Apparently, so was Jenna Moran, who brought shirts and jeans and dresses and toys whenever she came to see them. Which, even once a week, was too often for Hadley. Fortunately, he was usually at work then.

      “I should look for another place, Clara,” he began, then held up a hand. “I know, you’ve told me you like having us here, and you’re great with Luke and Gracie, but we’re in your way.”

      Clara’s eyes filled. “Move out now? How would you manage, having to work and care for those sweet babies with no one to help?”

      Had he been wrong after all? Hadley tried to ignore a sudden mental image of Jenna. Why think of her? They were like oil and water. She had a sense of style that set off her auburn hair and blue eyes, liked antiques and probably other fancy stuff. Hadley preferred working in a barn. He was jeans and old boots. This was her hometown, but Hadley was already planning to move—on his terms, not like when he was a kid. “I can put the twins in day care. I know how tough this has been on you.”

      Her chin went up. “No, you do not. When I lost Cliff, I lost myself for a while. Then after you had those beautiful babies, I found out who I was again.”

      Hadley twirled his coffee cup. He’d never thought he was doing something for Clara. Quite the reverse.

      “I understand about Cliff,” he said. “But before you know it, the twins will be crawling around, then walking and running all over the place.”

      She frowned. “You’re saying I’m too old to chase after them.”

      “I’m saying you deserve a rest. I can’t ever thank you for everything you’ve already done, but Clara, we’re imposing. I can’t ask more of you.”

      “And where will you live?”

      A good question. He wasn’t foreman at the Sutherland ranch any longer and didn’t have the house that came with the NLS job. Hadley was now an ordinary cowhand there, hoping he wouldn’t be let go when winter came on again and the ranch hunkered down to wait out the snow. It was early spring now, and his job seemed safe; it was a busy season on any ranch except this one. He glanced out the window at the empty fields the McManns had worked for decades before Cliff died. “I’ll get an apartment in town again,” he said.

      “You’ve got this all wrong, Hadley.” Clara set her cup aside. “Does this have to do with Jenna Moran?”

      “Partly, maybe. Sure.” In his own place, she couldn’t surprise him with a visit. She’d soon get discouraged, then stop coming to check on the twins—and Hadley.

      “You’d let that sweet woman chase you off? When you’re far more comfortable here than you would be in a tiny apartment?”

      He blinked. He’d heard another note in Clara’s tone. Sorrow? It had never occurred to him that Clara needed them as much as they needed her. He was never good with women, Amy being no exception. He could never figure out Jenna Moran, either, who got under his skin every time he saw her.

      Clara struggled to continue. “I don’t want you and the twins to leave…” Before she said the rest, Hadley knew he’d lost control of the situation. It wouldn’t be his choice after all. “And I hate to do this, making matters worse, but with Cliff gone,” Clara went on, “and our land sitting fallow, it has become too difficult—even with the money you contribute every month—for me to stay here. Nothing will happen right away, but—” She took a deep breath. “I’ve decided to sell the ranch, unless…” She paused. “Why don’t you buy it?”

      Her question didn’t require an answer. They both knew Hadley had no money.

      JENNA RARELY STEPPED into the Baby Things store on Main Street without buying something. And considering the fact that she would never have children of her own, she was running up quite a tab for her new nephew and Hadley Smith’s twins. She seemed fated never to leave the shop without at least one package wrapped in colorful paper printed with elephants or lions, cupcakes or kittens.

      From the rear of the store, Sherry, the owner, called out, “You’re my first customer of the day. What brings you in this early?”

      Jenna’s gaze cut from the ever-tempting displays of children’s clothes. “I promised my sister I’d pick up her order on my way to work—as if she doesn’t have every possible item a baby might need.”

      “The order came in yesterday.” With a laugh, Sherry went back into the storeroom to find the box while Jenna stood stock-still in the center of the shop, determined not to notice the sweet yellow sundress on one table, or the pastel playsuit paired with the tiniest navy blue sneakers on another. When the bell jangled above the door, she turned to see…oh, no. Hadley I-don’t-need-your-involvement Smith.

      She’d actually run into him only a few times since that day in the hospital. Once she’d spotted him on the street here in town pushing a double stroller through the winter slush on the sidewalk. The twins had been bundled in adorable matching snowsuits covered with hoods so Jenna couldn’t clearly see their faces. Instead of approaching, she’d hurried into Olivia McCord Antiques, telling herself she was late for work and couldn’t stop even to coo over the babies.

      Jenna shot a look at the storeroom, but Sherry didn’t reappear from behind the curtain with its colorful pattern of sailboats and sand pails.

      “Sherry here?” he asked.

      “In the back. She’ll be out in a minute.” Now would be even better. “I don’t work here,” she added in case he’d thought she did.

      “I know. You help at the store down the block.”

      “I used to manage it,” she corrected him, surprised to think he’d been keeping tabs on her. Her friend and now former employer Olivia had two shops, one in Barren and the other in Farrier, the next town over in the county.

      Jenna had enjoyed the job, but it wasn’t what she wanted long-term. Having just completed her studies to become an interior designer, she’d served her notice to Olivia a couple of weeks ago and was starting her own business—Fantastic Designs—or trying to this first week. She had to support herself now. But she saw no need to share that with Hadley.

      “Don’t have much use for old furniture,” he said, running a hand over the nape of his neck, “or new, for that matter.”

      Jenna didn’t respond. She still missed her upscale house in Shawnee Mission, an affluent suburb of Kansas City, where she’d lived with her ex-husband. Her apartment now in Barren was crammed with treasures she’d brought with her, although she and David still had a few things left to decide on.

      “You waiting for something?” Hadley said.

      She shrugged. “A quilt with sewn-on activities and noisemakers. For my sister’s baby.” Which was none of his business.

      Hadley scowled. “I wasn’t home the other day, but Clara says you came by.”

      Which sounded to Jenna like a challenge. When she did drive out to the McMann ranch to see the twins,