Stand-In Rancher Daddy. Renee Ryan

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      But then Cookie met him at the barn door and wasted no time with pleasantries. “I read the note Ned left.”

      CJ pulled in a tight breath, pounded a fist against his thigh. “I think he really means to stay gone.”

      “This ain’t your fault, CJ.” Cookie placed a hand on his shoulder in a fatherly gesture. “You did all you could.”

      “Did I?”

      “Your brother made his choice. If he doesn’t want to be here, then I say it’s a good thing he left.”

      CJ couldn’t bring himself to agree. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—give up on his brother. Like the prodigal son, Ned could still mend his ways and come home a changed man. For the twins’ sake, CJ prayed that was exactly what occurred. Soon.

      Anna and Sarah had already suffered enough. CJ would do everything in his power to provide a good life for the twins. He would give them a safe, happy home. No sacrifice would be too great. He might have failed Ned. He would not fail the girls.

      He would rise above the Thorn legacy.

      At the bunkhouse, he and Cookie parted ways. CJ washed off the trail dust before entering the main house. Little-girl squeals of delight met his arrival.

      “Pa! Pa, you’re home.”

      The children rushed to greet their father. When they realized it was CJ standing on the threshold instead of Ned, their footsteps ground to a halt.

      Sarah’s face scrunched into a frown. “You’re not Pa.”

      The disappointment in her voice was mirrored in her sister’s downcast expression. CJ’s heart took a quick, extra thump. He’d never felt more inadequate in his life. “Your pa won’t be home tonight.”

      “Will he be back tomorrow?”

      Furious at his brother, CJ forced out a calming breath, placed his hands on his knees, leaned over and gave the girls the truth. “I don’t know.”

      Identical lower lips trembled.

      He swallowed back another wave of anger at Ned. “I was hoping I could eat supper with you two girls.”

      Sarah’s face tightened. Anna angled her head. Then both children gave him a small, tentative smile.

      “Would you like me to eat with you?”

      They nodded slowly, their little minds clearly working furiously behind their clear, rounded eyes.

      They looked so forlorn, so disappointed, CJ’s heart twisted in his chest.

      “Are you going to stay with us in the house tonight?” Anna asked.

      “That’s the plan.”

      Twisting the fabric of her skirt between her fingers, the child drew in a shaky breath. “Okay.”

      Without pause, with one single motion, he lowered himself to his knees and opened his arms. “How about a hug for your Unca Corny?”

      Anna launched herself at him. He caught her against his chest, hugged her close. She smelled of flowers and everything good in this world, and he thought his heart might burst with love.

      Shifting her slightly to his left, he reached for Sarah, who’d been studying him very closely. She hugged him just as fiercely as her sister. Emotion swept through him, convicting him. He would do right by these children. Whatever it takes.

      He set them away from him and searched their precious faces for any sign of distress. It was there, of course, shimmering in their wide, sad eyes, but with the resilience of youth, they chattered over one another in an attempt to tell him about their day.

      How could Ned have walked away from these sweet girls? It boggled the mind.

      “...and then Miss Molly showed us how to make cornhusk dolls.”

      “Did she?” He looked up and found Molly watching him with soft, watery eyes. Her expression was almost wistful.

      He didn’t understand that look. Yet he knew it had something to do with him. His heart pounded against his ribs. His breath clogged in his throat. His mind reeled.

      Her, a whisper in his mind seemed to say. She’s the one for you.

      CJ shoved aside the thought with a hard shake of his head. There’d been a time when he thought Molly had a special affection for him. But her interest had waned right before she’d gone off and married a preacher.

      “All right, girls, give your uncle a chance to catch his breath.” Molly clapped her hands together. “Supper’s ready.”

      She herded the twins toward the table, then paused when CJ didn’t follow. “You are joining us, aren’t you?”

      “A home-cooked meal with three beautiful females? Try to keep me away.”

      They shared a laugh. It felt good to laugh with Molly.

      Despite Ned’s noticeable absence, supper went smoothly. CJ credited the easy atmosphere to Molly’s calming presence.

      When the dishes were clean and order was restored to the kitchen, she said her goodbyes to the girls. “I’ll be back in the morning. We’ll spend the day making clothes for your new dolls.”

      “Will you read to us before you go?”

      She glanced out the window, seemed to consider the question thoughtfully. “For five minutes, but no more.”

      That was CJ’s cue. “I’ll saddle your horse and bring her around to the front of the house.”

      “Thank you.” She gave him one of her sweetest smiles.

      He found himself smiling back.

      He was still smiling as he made the trek to the barn. He located his foreman and asked him to make sure Molly got home safely.

      “You got it, Boss.”

      CJ would have preferred to escort her himself, but he couldn’t leave the twins alone and felt confident sending Duke in his place. By the time he stepped back inside the house, Molly was sitting on the sofa between the girls, reading from a small, worn Bible.

      The three made a cozy scene, the very essence of family. A yearning so deep shot through CJ that for a moment he couldn’t seem to catch his breath.

      He pulled the door shut behind him, but stayed where he was, watching, hoping, praying for something so far out of reach he couldn’t make the image form in his head.

      “Sadie is saddled and waiting for you outside.”

      Molly shut the Bible and kissed each girl on the head. The twins immediately protested her departure. After another round of hugs, and more promises to return before first light, Molly joined him at the door.

      They walked outside in silence.

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