Cowboy Come Home (9 page)

“Ask me what?”

“If you’ll help me take care of the babies.”

His eyes widened. “You just said you and Red could handle everything.”

“Griff, Red wants to go with Mildred. And she needs him to go. They’re distraught at being separated. It wouldn’t be too hard, if you’re willing. Parents manage a lot of kids all the time. And the cooking and cleaning wouldn’t be a problem. You’d have to give up riding out with the cowboys, but I think they can manage until the guys get back.”

“What did Red say?”

Camille seemed puzzled about his meaning. Then she said, “I didn’t say anything to them about Red going with her. I wouldn’t, not until I talked to you.” After a pause, she admitted, “It will mean us being together all day. You’ve already indicated an aversion to my company....”

He groaned, staring at her. “You know why I don’t want to be in your company. I’m trying not to lead you on. I’m returning to Chicago after the guys get back. But I’ll admit to a powerful attraction when I’m around you.”

“Okay, consider me warned. You’re leaving. Is that the only problem?” she asked, thrusting her chin in the air.

“Damn it, no!
This
is the problem!” He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, lowering his mouth to hers.

Camille should have been used to the effect of his touch on her, but she wasn’t. And she wasn’t sure she ever would be.

Just as she thought she’d never think again, she was suddenly thrust away from his warmth.

“That’s the problem!” Griffin muttered, glaring at her.

“So, we promise not to touch each other,” she snapped, trying to sound firm when her insides were all aquiver. “It seems selfish to let our difficulties keep Red and Mildred apart. Besides, she’s going to need Red to help lift her cousin. According to Mildred, she’s, uh, large.”

Griffin raked his fingers through his thick dark hair. Finally, he looked at Camille. “All right, you win,” he conceded with a sigh. “We’ll take over for them, but you’ll have to tell me what to do. I’m not experienced with children, like you.”

She grinned. Obviously, she was a good actress, since she’d only been caring for children for the past few weeks. But she wasn’t going to reveal her inexperience now. “Great. Can you come to the house with me now, to tell them? Mildred’s getting ready to make travel arrangements. That way they wouldn’t have to make them twice.”

He rubbed his chin, shaking his head. Then he turned back to his horse. “Let me finish taking care of Alberta,” he said, picking up the brush and returning to his work.

“Alberta? That’s the horse’s name?”

“Yeah. Jake said she came from Alberta, Canada.” He grinned over his shoulder. “I felt kind of funny calling her that at first, but I’m used to it now. She’s a good ride.”

Camille stepped closer and rubbed the mare’s nose as Griffin brushed her. It was a pleasant moment, a sharing, which hadn’t been a pattern of their acquaintance.

And it would probably be the last peaceful moment they would have for the next few days.

ANOTHER GOODBYE.

Griffin and Camille stood on the back porch and waved goodbye to Mildred and Red.

Camille smiled and assured the worried couple they’d be fine. Her insides were trembling again, but she wasn’t about to show her fears.

Griffin put his arm around her, and she froze. Surely he wasn’t going to break their promise already?

“Well, Ma, it’s just you and me now. Think we can make it?”

“Ma?” she asked, staring at him in surprise.

He grinned at her. “It just seemed appropriate.”

She hadn’t seen much of his lighter side, hadn’t even been sure he had one. She couldn’t hold back a return grin. “Okay, Pa. I think we’d best get back inside before the Indians attack the wagon train.”

He turned to walk inside with her. “Any smart Indian would run in the other direction. Five babies! At least Toby is old enough to talk to.”

“He’s also old enough to go to school. You go wake him up while I fix breakfast. Then you’ll need to drive him to the bus stop today.”

Red and Mildred had wanted an early start. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but as the pair entered the house, Camille could hear Torie already crying. “Oops, I guess I’ll make breakfast after I see about Torie.”

“Whoever gets to the kitchen first will make breakfast,” Griffin amended.

“You can cook?”

“You’ll be surprised what I can do.”

She went in the opposite direction when they reached the top of the stairs, glad she didn’t have to react to his innuendo. She’d already been amazed...every time he touched her.

An hour later, when he left to drive Toby to the bus stop, she sat at the table watching the twins feed themselves while she spooned cereal in Elizabeth’s and Caroline’s mouths. Torie had gone back to sleep after her early bottle.

“Richard, do not throw food at your brother.”

His only response was a grin before he blew bubbles of oatmeal at her.

“I need to sound more like Pete,” she muttered to herself. She turned back to the girls, realizing the boys were going to have to have a bath anyway.

“Young man, no! Do not put cereal in your hair,” Griffin ordered from the back door.

She was glad to see him. And to her surprise, Richard had halted his criminal activity. She was about to congratulate Griffin when Russell looked around expectantly.

“Daddy? Daddy?”

Griffin’s gaze met hers in consternation before he knelt beside the little boy. “Sorry, Russell, it’s just me, Griff. Daddy and Mommy will be—”

“Mommy?” Richard called. “I want Mommy!” Suddenly, the oatmeal was mixed with tears, first Richard, and then Russell.

It took about thirty seconds for the little girls to join in the crying. Breakfast ended in a shambles as they tried to console the children and clean them up at the same time.

Finally, Camille decided to resort to a Disney video. She carried the two girls and Griff took the boys. All of them settled on the couch after she put in the video. After fifteen minutes of
Cinderella
, the children forgot their crying and watched the mice and birds and old hunting dog.

Griff breathed a sigh of relief. “I guess I owe you an apology,” he whispered.

She looked over the children at him. “Why? It’s not your fault you sound like their daddy.”

He gave her a one-sided grin that made her want to caress his cheek. “Maybe I should sound like that fat mouse from now on.”

She couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Just as long as you don’t try to look like him.”

“Why, Miss Henderson, don’t tell me you wouldn’t appreciate me if I were roly-poly? Surely you can’t be so shallow?”

Her gaze roamed his sexy body, and she found her throat dry. Looking away, she tried to keep her voice even. “Of course not.”

Before he could tease her any more, they both heard Torie stirring through the baby monitor they’d brought along with them.

“Uh-oh. Can you keep an eye on them while I get Torie and feed her some breakfast?”

“I don’t think I have a choice. Go ahead, we’ll manage.”

And manage they did. All day long, between the two of them, they cared for the children. When the girls napped, Griffin took the twins to the barn to visit the horses. Camille thought she would have a minute to herself then, but Torie woke up, fussing.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Camille asked. She tried to make the baby happy, talking to her, giving her her favorite toys, but Torie was not her happy self.

Griffin returned with the twins, looking for a snack he said the twins wanted, but she noted he didn’t turn down the cookies and milk she offered.

Later they prepared dinner together, thawing out some of Red’s meat loaf, and after the children had eaten, Griffin suggested it was their turn.

“You’re hungry already?”

He grinned at her. “I think baby-sitting is harder than cowpunching.”

“I think you may be right.” She served the two of them while he transferred the children to their playpens.

“Is that why you stayed?” she asked as they began eating.

He looked up, frowning. “What?”

“Is that why you stayed instead of returning to Chicago right away? To punch cows?”

For a moment, she didn’t think he would answer her. Finally, he shook his head. “I stayed because Jake convinced me I should.”

“Why?”

“He said we were family. Family should stick together.”

“That sounds like Jake. I don’t know a man more concerned with family. But you’re still going back to Chicago?”

Griffin stiffened. “I belong in Chicago. My life is there.”

“You could work here. With all the computer developments, you wouldn’t have to be in Chicago to work the stock market, would you?”

He gave her a hard stare. “There’s no reason to move here.”

“But you could if you wanted to, couldn’t you?” she persisted.

“Yes, I guess I could if I wanted to.”

She wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily. “So why don’t you want to?”

He didn’t look at her, his concentration seemingly on his food. “I’m a loner. I’d be uncomfortable in the middle of a big family.”

Camille thought about her lonely existence before her arrival at the Randall ranch. She’d been an only child, so her only family member had been her father, since her mother’s early death. She’d accepted her life as normal. But once she’d been enveloped in the warmth of the Randalls, the family of Randalls, she knew there had been a void in her life that she hadn’t even recognized until it was filled.

Even though she knew Griffin wouldn’t appreciate her interference, she had to make her point. In a low voice, she said, “If you leave, you’ll be giving up something most people would give anything for.”

“What?” His frown made it unlikely he really wanted to know, but she answered him anyway.

“Family. A warm, loving family. The Randalls are special.”

He put down his fork. “I’m a Randall by name. That’s all.”

She couldn’t hold back a grin. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? You’re a Randall by blood, for sure.”

His sexy lips slipped into a half smile. “I guess I can’t deny that. Some of the cowboys even forget and call me Jake.”

“That’s a high compliment.”

He seemed to recall his earlier stance. “But that doesn’t mean I belong here.”

“It’s a start.”

“Look, Camille, I have a life. A perfectly good life. And when they return, I’m going back to Chicago to get on with that life. They may be family by blood, but I’m not a part of their lives and they’re not a part of mine.”

Toby, who’d been watching television, wandered back into the kitchen. “Uncle Griff? Will you help me with my homework when you finish eating?”

“‘Uncle’?” Griffin demanded harshly, frowning.

Camille held her breath, wanting to reassure Toby, but realizing any such words would have to come from Griffin.

Toby looked apprehensive. “Are you too busy?”

“No, Toby, I just—I hadn’t heard you call me Uncle before.”

“Aren’t you my uncle?”

The child’s innocent question summed up their discussion, and Camille waited for Griffin’s response. Whether he intended it or not, his days on the ranch had made him a part of the Randall family. She suspected, even if he went back to Chicago, he would take memories of his visit with him that he would never forget.

To Camille’s relief, he gave that dazzling Randall smile to the little boy. “I’m not sure I’m really your uncle, but you can call me that if you want. And I’ll be glad to help you with your homework.”

“In fact, why don’t you get your books, while I clear the table,” she suggested. “We’ve about finished, and you two can work here while I do the dishes.”

“Thanks, Camille.” Toby hurried out of the room.

Later, after Toby’s homework had been dealt with and the children bathed and put to bed, Camille poured cups of decaf for the two of them. A mellowness had invaded Griffin after their earlier conversation, leaving her eager to talk to him again.

Griffin had gone to his room behind the kitchen to check the markets on his computer. He intended to sleep in Jake and B.J.’s room upstairs until the others returned, but most of his belongings were still in the other room.

“Griff?” she called.

“Yeah?”

“Coffee’s ready, and I’ve cut us both a piece of cake.”

“The chocolate one?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be right there.”

He joined her almost before she sat down. She grinned. “You must really like that cake.”

“It’s good. And I seem to need a lot of calories to keep up with all the kids. They’re sweet, though.”

“Yes, they are.”

“Do you want—? I guess that’s a silly question,” he said, and took a big bite of cake.

“What?”

“I was going to ask if you want kids, but it’s obvious.”

She nodded. “I’d like to have four children.”

He almost choked on his cake. “Four?” After a sip of coffee, he said, “Four’s not politically correct, Camille. The world is overpopulated, or haven’t you heard?”

“I’ve heard. But my children will be loved and provided for. I don’t think the world is overpopulated with those kind of children.” She raised her chin and stared at him, daring him to contradict her.

That elusive grin reappeared. “You could be right. But maybe you could have two of your own and adopt two others?”

“Maybe. But I’m not having only one, whatever I do.”

“You’ve thought all this out, haven’t you?” he asked with amusement.

She gave a tired sigh and looked away. “I thought I was going to marry.”

To her surprise, he reached across the table and clasped her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

She said nothing, but he continued to hold her hand. Then he said, “You’ll marry, I’m sure.”

Attempting to add a dash of levity, she added, “Yeah, but not to a Randall. After all, you’re the only single one and you’ve made it clear you’re not staying.”

He didn’t laugh. “Exactly,” he snapped, a frown on his face. “There are lots of other men around. The Randalls don’t have a corn on happy marriages.”

“True,” she agreed with a tired sigh. “But they seem to understand the importance of family, of trust, of—of true love.”