Authors: Judy Christenberry
“I really need a favor,” Chad said, offering a big grin. “I promised Megan that I’d show Camille how to ride, but I keep missing our sessions because of problems on the ranch. Could you give her lessons while you’re here?”
“No!” both Camille and Griffin exploded.
Chad frowned as everyone at the table stared at the pair of them.
“I don’t want to take up Griffin’s time,” Camille, hastily added.
“And I don’t know your stock. I might put her on something inappropriate,” Griffin said. Damn. Just what he needed, spending time with Camille.
“I can show you which horses to use,” Chad assured him. “And from what Pete says, you’re better handling horses than any of us. Must be those Randall genes.” He took a bite of food as if everything were settled.
Jake leaned toward Camille. “You’d better take the opportunity, Camille. I bet Griffin is a good teacher. And he won’t be here long, since I can’t convince him to stay.”
Griffin turned to look at her struggle for an answer. You’d think she wanted nothing to do with him. And maybe she didn’t. But she sure hadn’t kissed him like she hated him, he reminded himself grimly.
“Um, we’ll see. If—if Griffin has time and I’m not needed here at the house.”
Griffin told himself to keep silent. But he didn’t. “What do you do with yourself all day long?”
Four ladies jumped to Camille’s defense. Jake held up his hand, and three of them were silent. But B.J. said, “She’s been invaluable. I’m busy with my animal patients, Anna with her female patients, Megan with her store in town, even though it’s only open half a day, and Janie does all the paperwork for the ranch, as well as riding out when they need her.
And
we have a few babies to take care of.”
“Sounds like you’re busy,” Griffin said, arching one eyebrow in Camille’s direction.
She kept her gaze on her plate and nodded.
“That’s why I wanted her to have riding lessons. She should have some fun while she’s here,” Megan added.
He watched Camille smile at her step-sister.
“You know I’m enjoying myself, Megan. I love all the babies, and you’ve all become like my family. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Shoot,” Pete said, smiling kindly, “you don’t have to thank us. We’re the lucky ones.”
There was a general assent before everyone turned their attention back to their dinner. Griffin, somewhere in that conversation, had decided that he would teach Camille how to ride. Whether she liked it or not.
CAMILLE HAD DISCOVERED, upon her arrival at the Randall ranch, that cowboys got up early. And all the babies took after their fathers.
But when she cuddled sweet Victoria in her arms as she fed her her morning bottle, or helped Elizabeth and Caroline get ready for the day, giggling with them when they tried to dress themselves, she never regretted the loss of sleep. Even Richard and Russell were still baby enough to enjoy hugging.
Only Toby had reached the macho stage. But at night, he liked to listen to the stories someone read to the babies each evening.
Before her father’s death and her fiancé’s betrayal, life had seemed so simple. She’d expected to be a wife and mother, to spend her days as she had since her arrival here. The idea of a career hadn’t really entered her mind.
Now she was faced with earning a living. The other night she’d suggested she might become a stockbroker, with the intent to shock Griff. But the idea was gaining in her thoughts. At least she would be a trustworthy one.
Until she made up her mind, or wore out her welcome, however, she was going to enjoy the warmth of the Randall family and take each day as it came.
So she faced the morning with a smile, reaching the kitchen after all the men had left. Or that’s what she thought.
“Morning, Red, Mildred,” she said, coming through the door with Victoria in her arms. Anna had had an early call shortly after rising.
“Morning,” Red sang out, and Mildred smiled.
Then a deeper voice repeated the greeting. “Morning.”
She whirled around, and baby Victoria’s eyes widened at the sudden movement. “What are you—? I mean, aren’t you riding with the others?”
Griffin was sitting at the breakfast table, a cup of coffee in front of him. “Nope. Jake suggested I take it easy. Said I should start giving you lessons instead of spending all day in the saddle.”
“No! I—I have to help with the children. Megan can’t manage all of them by herself.” She gulped air as she turned away.
“Come on and sit down, Camille,” Mildred ordered, carrying a plate to the table. “And after, I can take care of Torie.”
“It’s not just Torie. Everyone’s busy except for me and Megan.”
“We’ll go when they take a nap. Babies do still take naps, don’t they?” Griffin suddenly asked.
“Don’t you know?” she returned, her tone slightly superior.
“I’ve never been around babies before,” he admitted.
She hadn’t, either, until she arrived at the ranch, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “Yes, they take naps, but Megan has to go to her shop this afternoon.”
“What kind of shop?” Griffin asked.
“Interior design. She—”
“We’ll be around this afternoon, Camille,” Red interrupted.
“But you already have so much work to do.”
“Jake and I were talking this morning. We’re hiring some more help for the house and the babies. Mavis Benson and her sister Ethel are going to come in to clean.”
Camille fought to keep her smile bright. “That’s wonderful. I was wondering how you’d manage after I leave.”
“Hey, we’re not pushing you out the door,” Red returned. “But you deserve some fun. And that’s not possible while you’re trailing after the babies all the time.”
“When do these ladies start?” Griffin asked.
Camille had almost forgotten about his presence as she realized her justification for staying on at the ranch had just been taken away from her.
“They’re coming tomorrow, so we’ll leave the heavy cleaning to them,” Mildred explained. “We can keep an eye on the babies while they nap and Toby’s at school. You can have your riding lesson.”
“Thanks,” Camille muttered.
The grin on Griffin’s face was victorious, as if he’d known she didn’t want
him
teaching her. Determined to get her own back, she set little Tone down in his lap, surprising him.
“You don’t mind holding Torie while I eat, do you?” she cooed.
The laughter that welled up in her helped relieve some of her stress. The man couldn’t have looked more surprised if she’d handed him a rattlesnake.
“But—I mean, I don’t—What do I do?” he asked desperately.
Mildred and Red exchanged a glance and said nothing.
Camille worked at portraying a look of calm, though she watched Griffin out of the corn of her eye. She wasn’t about to endanger Torie, even to get back at the difficult man.
“Why don’t you put her on your shoulder and pat her back. She just had her bottle.” She watched those big hands maneuver the baby to his shoulder. He patted gently, as if afraid he’d do some damage.
Torie, who was hiccuping, suddenly got rid of the bubble in her tummy, and some of the formula, as well. The sour smell that emanated from Griffin’s shirt was most satisfying to Camille.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I should’ve given you the cloth to put on your shoulder. Let me help you,” she said, jumping up and taking the baby from him, carefully wiping those smiling little lips. “Poor Torie,” she cooed, ignoring the man.
Mildred, with a sharp look at Camille, crossed to Griffin’s side. “That’s one of the difficulties with babies, Griffin. You’ll probably want to change your shirt. Just toss it in the laundry room.”
After he left the room, a disgusted look on his face, Mildred smiled at Camille. “I hope you know what you’re doing, young lady. That’s not how to lead a man down the garden path. You let the babies spit up on him
after
you marry him.”
Camille beamed back at her. “Exactly. But since I’m not interested in garden paths, I think I’m okay.”
Red poured Mildred and himself cups of coffee and joined Camille at the table. “True. But I think you’re going to be in that cowboy’s power when you start your riding lesson. So watch out.”
She hadn’t thought of that.
TWO O’CLOCK.
Griffin checked his Rolex again. He’d told Camille to be at the corral at two, so they could have their lesson.
There was no sign of her. If she stood him up—
The back door opened and she appeared. He watched her walk to the corral, grateful there wasn’t a slew of cowboys about. They’d stampede over his body for the opportunity to put their hands on this little lady.
And he had every intention of avoiding touching her.
“Well, I’m here,” she said stiffly when she reached his side.
“Right. And almost on time.”
She glared at him. “One of the babies needed to change her clothes. She spit up. You know how that goes, don’t you?”
The little witch was reminding him of his awkwardness this morning. Well, now the shoe was on the other foot. He was the expert this afternoon.
“How far did you get with Chad?”
She swallowed and looked away. “He—he showed me the equipment, and we petted some horses.”
“That’s all?” he asked, frowning.
“I—I haven’t been around horses much.” She paused, then took a deep breath. “At all, actually. I lived in Denver.”
“So, I lived in Chicago, and I learned about horses.”
Her chin came up. He almost smiled as he watched stubbornness fill her features. “I wasn’t interested.”
“But you are now?”
“I thought, since I was here, it would be a good thing to learn, but if you think I can’t, if you don’t want to teach a raw beginner, well, then, I’ll—”
“I promised Chad and Jake I’d teach you.” Under his breath, he muttered, “I just didn’t realize how much I had to teach.”
“What did you say?” she demanded, her features stiff with pride.
“I was trying to figure out where to start our lessons,” he said coolly, hoping she didn’t question him further.
“Oh.”
He opened the corral gate. “Come on in here and I’ll introduce you to the horse Chad recommended.”
He promised himself he hadn’t intended it. How was he to know she was so green she didn’t know to watch where she should step. When her boot came down in a pile of manure, however, he couldn’t resist.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I should’ve warned you. That’s one of the problems with horses. Kind of like babies,” he added with a big grin.
Chapter Five
S
he had to leave.
Camille scooted farther down into the steaming water, allowing her muscles full access to the heat. Her head needed some relief, too, she decided, as tears filled her eyes.
She didn’t want to leave. The Randalls were so wonderful, welcoming her, treating her like family. She hadn’t felt so centered, so whole, in years.
As long as she’d felt she was contributing, she hadn’t thought about leaving. But now, with the two ladies coming in to help, they wouldn’t need her.
And then there was Griffin.
She winced as she shifted her legs in the steamy water. It was his fault she was indulging in the decadence of a bath in the middle of the afternoon. Megan had taken one look at the way she walked after her lesson and immediately insisted on the hot bath.
It was also his fault that she had to leave. She might’ve been able to find something else to do to help out around the house. But she couldn’t find a way to avoid Griffin Randall, no matter how she tried. If the Randalls thought there was a problem, they’d want to fix it.
And today had made it very clear she had to avoid him. Especially his touch. Not that he’d intentionally lingered with his hands. No, after the first time, he’d tried to avoid her as much as she tried to avoid him. Because something happened when their skin came into contact.
Lightning.
Tornado.
Earthquake.
Or something very similar. Something neither of them wanted. After he’d helped her clean her boot, he’d led her to the placid animal Chad had chosen for her to ride. He’d explained about mounting the horse. From two feet away.
Camille, however, didn’t quite grasp the essentials. After placing her foot in the stirrup, which seemed awfully high to her, she tried to step into the saddle, as Griffin had said. Gravity got the better of her, however.
Griffin to the rescue. He had molded her hips in his large hands and pushed her up, almost across to the other side. Fortunately, he’d taken her gasp as alarm that she might fall.
She knew differently.
That recognition of desire filling her, enticing her to slip back into his arms, frightened her more than the horse did. What was wrong with her? She knew now was not the time to even think about a man.
And Griffin had made it clear that even if the time was right, he was the wrong man.
A knock sounded on the door. “How are you doing, Cammy?” Megan asked. The use of her childhood nickname touched Camille’s heart.
“Fine, Megan. Do you need me?”
“No, the babies are sleeping. When Anna gets home, she’ll give you a massage. That will help.”
“I’ll be all right. I’m just not cut out for horseback riding.” That was her only hope. If she could stop the lessons, maybe—
“Don’t be silly. Everyone feels that way at first. Now more than ever, you need lessons every day.”
That was what she was afraid of. Camille closed her eyes again. “But I don’t have time—”
“Nonsense,” Megan said briskly through the door. “All you’ve done since you got here is work. It’s been such a relief to the four of us,” she said, referring to the Randall wives, “but we want you to have some fun, too.”
Fun.
That wasn’t how Camille would describe her contact with Griffin. “Well, I’ll be leaving soon, anyway, Megan, so I won’t have time to—”
“I don’t want you to leave, Cammy. Stay just a little longer. We won’t work you so hard.”
“Megan, I love playing with all the babies. I never had brothers and sisters. It’s been fun.”
“I know, but—Oops, there’s one of the twins calling. I’ll check on you in a minute.”