A Home With The Rancher. April Arrington

of wood and clearing the lower hayfield. And because Tim might turn his back for a second and you’ll run off. Get lost. Hurt. Or worse.

      Mac frowned and tapped her small chin with a knuckle. “I’d rather you and Maddie stay here where I can keep an eye on you.” Or at least try to. He grinned. “I promise when the weather’s right and things settle down, I’ll take you, Maddie and Jaxon hiking myself. We’ll climb and—”

      “Fish?” Nadine asked.

      “Yes. And have a campfire and—”

      “Roast marshmallows?” Maddie piped from the twin bed across the room, grinning. “I like the marshmallow part better than the fishing part.”

      Mac laughed then stood. “First, we’ll go fishing.” He bent, kissed Nadine’s forehead then crossed the room and kissed Maddie’s. “Then, we’ll roast as many marshmallows as that little belly of yours can hold.”

      “Did Mama like roasting marshmallows?” Maddie leaned up on her elbows, brushed the ever-present pink bow from her eyes and blinked up at him. “Is that why I like them so much?”

      Mac’s breath caught in his throat, making it difficult to speak. Roasting marshmallows was one of the few things Nicole had liked about hiking and camping. She’d never been a fan of the outdoors. Not even when they were teens. But she’d loved snuggling by the campfire and sharing marshmallows with him. That part’s the sweetest, she’d always said.

      “Yeah,” he whispered. “She did. That was always her favorite part.”

      Mac cleared his throat and walked to the door.

      “Dad?”

      His hand stilled on the doorknob. Nadine smiled gently at him, a hint of sadness in her eyes. As though she knew...

      “It’s okay if we don’t go hiking tomorrow.” She shrugged. “We’ll find something else to do.”

      Mac’s smile returned. “I’m sure you will. But please check with me before you do it and no running off without telling anyone. Now, go to sleep.”

      He made his way through the family wing of the lodge to the next bedroom then hesitated, fist lifted, at the closed door. Nadine and Maddie might not be stress-free but at least they were easy to talk to. Jaxon, not so much.

      “Jaxon?” He knocked then cracked the door open. “You ready for bed?”

      A bed creaked and sheets rustled. “Yeah.”

      Mac entered, stooping to pick up a pair of muddy jeans, several baseball cards and a glove then toss each in its proper place. “Thanks for cleaning the cabin floor today. You did a good job.”

      Jaxon sat up in the bed, a small smile appearing.

      Mac’s throat thickened. Lord, it’d been so long since he’d seen Jaxon smile, he’d forgotten how much it eased his mind and brightened the day. It’d hit him hard earlier this afternoon when he’d watched Jaxon share a laugh with Dani. That was the first time Jaxon had laughed in ages.

      “Think you could clean up just as well in here tomorrow?” he asked, glancing around.

      The lamp’s low glow highlighted little-boy clutter from one corner of the room to the other. Darts, baseballs, rumpled papers and toy guns littered the nightstand, dresser and chest of drawers. And dirty clothes, comic books and socks were strewn across the carpet.

      “It’d be a tough job. But...” Mac narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin. “I think a hardworking man like you can handle it.”

      Jaxon’s smile widened. “Yeah. I can do it.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Does that mean you’re gonna increase my allowance?”

      “Don’t push it.” Mac grinned, ruffled his hair then reached for the lamp switch.

      Jaxon grabbed his wrist and peered up at him. “Ms. Dani did a good job today, too. Didn’t she?”

      Mac hesitated, studying the hopeful gleam in Jaxon’s eyes. “I suppose she did.”

      “Then why’d you make her clean the stalls instead of chopping the wood?”

      “Well, she was obviously worn out. And sunburned. And...”

      Sweaty. So sweaty that her clothes had stuck to her. With the sun at her back, her every swing of the ax drew more male attention to her enticing curves. Almost every hand he employed had lined the fence to gawk, crack lewd jokes and mock her. And, even though she’d seemed oblivious to it, he’d been damned if he’d allow it to continue.

      “She’s got good aim, you know?” Jaxon said, leaning forward. “Better than Mr. Cal. And she likes baseball, too. Said she watches the Mets. I told her she’d be killer at bat. Did you know she’s from New York?”

      Mac frowned as Jaxon paused to catch his breath. “New York?” She hadn’t listed any prior residences or work experience in New York on her application. “What makes you think that?”

      “She told me so.” His face lit up. “I bet she’d play ball with me. She said she liked having me around and could use my help. So can I help her again tomorrow? You are gonna hire her, aren’t you?”

      “Slow down, Jaxon.” Mac placed his hands on his shoulders and eased him back against the pillows. “We just met her and I can’t say for sure if I’ll be able to hire her or not. Besides, I think you’re spending too much time with her as it is.”

      All afternoon, in fact. Jaxon had trailed after Dani the entire day, only returning to the lodge when she’d knocked off for the night and joined the other hands in the commons for supper. Mac stiffened. His intense attraction to Dani unnerved him enough on its own. But the contradictions surrounding her and her dodgy mannerisms caused him even more concern. Especially when it came to Jaxon and Nadine who were both clearly taken with her.

      “Why? I ain’t bothering her. I’m helping.”

      “I know but I’m telling you to ease up.” Mac braced his hands on the mattress and leaned close. “And I expect you to obey me when I ask you to do something. As in earlier this afternoon, when I asked you to come inside with your sisters and you disobeyed me instead.”

      The last remnants of Jaxon’s smile vanished. His face flushed and he burrowed deeper into the bed, pulling the sheet up to his chin. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to hang out with her.” He bit his lip. “She listens to me and...likes having me around.”

      Unlike you. Mac flinched, the unspoken phrase darkening Jaxon’s gaze and thickening the air between them.

      “I like having you around.” Mac cupped a hand around Jaxon’s head. “And I promise you—” Jaxon moved to speak and Mac firmed his features. “I promise that when things slow up, we’ll spend more time together.”

      Jaxon stared up at him, eyes doubtful. “When?”

      “When I get this place back in order. But for now, I need you to be patient and do as I say.”

      Jaxon nodded reluctantly then rolled over, his back and shoulders stiff.

      Mac kissed the top of his head. “Good night, Jaxon.”

      He received no response. As expected.

      Mac turned the lamp off and left, striding swiftly down the winding staircase to the front porch. He leaned on the porch rail, the screen door slamming shut behind him, and sucked in a ragged breath.

      Damn. He’d screwed up. Again. He hated dictating orders to Jaxon. Arguing with him. Offering weak platitudes in place of actually spending quality time with his son. He was a weak, pathetic excuse for a father and Nicole would be disappointed in him.

      Head pounding, he rubbed his forehead and stared at the starlit sky above him. But what was he supposed to do? Call it quits? Sell the ranch, uproot his kids and hope he had better luck elsewhere?

      He’d