The Rancher’s Surprise Triplets. Linda Ford

Chapter Four

      Louisa couldn’t remember ever being so relieved to see someone come to the door. Father had been home a couple of hours ago but was called away again almost immediately. She struggled alone trying to cope with the babies growing increasingly fussy. Now Bo was here and she meant to take advantage of another pair of hands. She grabbed his arm and dragged him inside. “They’re all crying at once.” She handed him Theo. “Sit in the big chair and hold Jasper too.” Thankfully he obeyed her request without comment. Likely he took in her ruffled appearance, her hair in untidy strands, and decided she needed rescuing. She hurried to explain her desperation. “They’ve napped. They’ve eaten and consumed their milk. I’ve treated their earaches and sponged them to take down their fevers, but they are more and more unhappy. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” She’d wiped noses and changed diapers. She’d sung. Most of all, she felt like joining them in a good cry.

      He jostled the two babies on his knees as she put more warm oil in Eli’s ears. He wailed a protest.

      “What makes babies unhappy?”

      “Being sick. Having earaches.”

      “What else? Maybe missing their mama?”

      She stared at him. How had he seen the problem so clearly? “Of course. The poor little mites.” Every bit of fatigue and frustration ended. “Maybe these little toys you brought will comfort them.” She handed one to each of them. Only Jasper took the offered toy.

      “I didn’t bring them. They were on the step. I thought maybe you dropped them or—” He bolted to his feet, a baby in each arm. “Their mother? I must look. You sit and hold them while I try and find her.” They traded places and she sat with the three babies squirming and sobbing in her lap.

      As he dashed out the door, she sang to the babies. “Safe in the arms of Jesus.”

      A little later, he tapped on the door and reentered. Eli slept but the other two continued to fuss. Seeing that Louisa had made a bed for them on the floor again, he took Eli from her arms, laid him down and covered him with a light sheet. Then he took Jasper and left Theo with Louisa.

      “They seem to like my singing,” Louisa said somewhat apologetically.

      “Then sing.”

      She cleared her throat and began the song again. “‘Safe in the arms of Jesus.’”

      “Good choice.” He grinned at her then joined his voice to hers, his deep and rich, like finest chocolate, and even the fussing boys grew quiet as if they wanted to hear him better.

      Soon the two babies slept in their arms.

      Louisa didn’t want to put Theo down. Didn’t want to end this moment of sweet harmony. Bo made no move toward putting Jasper down. Perhaps he too felt the stir of something peaceful between them.

      “How was the fair?” she asked, her voice low so she wouldn’t disturb the sleeping baby in her arms.

      “A good turnout. We brought in more than I expected. That’s a good thing. Seems we’ll need more money than we originally thought.” He inclined his head toward the babies.

      “How sad that a woman feels she has to give up on her offspring.” Though her note suggested she expected to die. If they could find her, perhaps they could aid her so she would live.

      He nodded. “But an unselfish act, wouldn’t you say. I’m sure it was extremely hard for her but she loved them enough to do what she thought was best for them.”

      Louisa understood about sacrifices for the sake of love. “Love is a powerful compeller.”

      “I saw it in action today.” He told her about a lost boy being reunited with his parents and an older boy helped by his kind father. “Then to keep things in balance there was this other man.” A man who appeared to send his son to commit a crime then to abandon him when he was caught. “It reminded me so much of my father. Not that my father was involved in crime. Oh, no. He was an upright citizen with a successful business. All I can say is he must have treated his employees and customers better than he treated his family.” He shifted Jasper. “I find that odd. Shouldn’t those in your family deserve the best you have to give?”

      “I certainly believe that.”

      He studied her across the room, his pale eyes catching the lamplight and holding it.

      She wanted to say more. Wanted to learn more about him. Tell him about her family. But again, she couldn’t find the words.

      The door eased open and Father entered the house, smiling when he saw the triplets all asleep. “Bo, it’s good to see you helping.” He smiled at the baby sleeping on Bo’s lap then turned to Louisa. “Has their fever stayed down?”

      “It’s been two hours since it last spiked.”

      “Good. Good. Let’s pray it lasts.”

      Louisa’s conscience stung. She’d been so preoccupied she hadn’t thought to pray for the babies since earlier in the day.

      A quiet knock came on the door. Father opened it to Brandon Stillwater.

      “I thought I would check on the triplets and see if there is anything they need.” He glanced about the room at one curled up on the floor, another in Louisa’s lap and the third sleeping in Bo’s arms and chuckled. “Looks real good on you, brother.”

      “Don’t be thinking I’ll do something foolish. You know how I feel about this.” His glance included the babies and Louisa.

      Oh, yes, he included her. Not that he needed to. She was no more interested in marriage and family and him than he was in her and domesticity. She eased to her feet and lowered Theo to the quilt beside Eli, then lifted Jasper from Bo’s arms, doing her best not to touch the man but failing. Her hand slid across his chest, feeling the strength and warmth. Her arm brushed his shoulder. And her heart reacted with a kick against her ribs. She ignored her reactions and put Jasper down beside his brothers. She stood over them, smiling at how peaceful and sweet they were.

      Bo and Brandon stood on either side of her, fencing her in so she couldn’t escape. Escape? From what? She knew what she was—her mother’s caregiver—and who—the doctor’s spinster daughter. The plain one. But she was at peace with her role in life. The role God assigned for her. Except looking after the babies and sharing their care, even for a few minutes with Bo, triggered a deep maternal longing.

      “I’ve heard there is nothing more peaceful than a sleeping baby,” Brandon said. “And here we have it in threes.”

      Father stood to one side. “I hope they stay that peaceful throughout the night and their fevers don’t return.”

      “Why don’t we pray for that?” Brandon had his hat in hand and held it to his chest. “Father God, You see here these three little ones. We trust You have sent them to us for a reason. Help them get well. Help them sleep well.”

      Bo didn’t wait for his brother to finish. “Help us find their mother and be able to help her. And may the fair be a success.”

      “And may Your name be honored. Amen.”

      Louisa realized the two men finished each other’s speech and likely their thoughts. Wouldn’t it be fun to see the same thing, only with three little boys? Even now they interacted among themselves with a unity she found endearing.

      Bo and Brandon stepped toward the door in unison. “We bid you good-night,” they said as one. And in matching movements placed their hats upon their heads as they left the house.

      Louisa grinned. “Do you suppose they know their actions are like mirrors of each other?”

      Father chuckled. “I don’t suppose they do.” He looked at her temporary arrangement for the triplets’ bed. “Will they be okay here on their own for the night?”

      “I