Читать книгу: «Her Secret Twins»

Chapter One

That familiar Ford pickup rumbling up the long drive could only mean one thing.

Grant Young had arrived.

Lifting her hands from the sudsy dishwater, Kallie Shore braced herself against the kitchen counter as the rusty blue truck came closer and closer. Was she ready for this? Nearly two years ago, she had stood in this exact spot, watching through the flowery curtains as this pickup’s taillights left her South Dakota farm for what she thought had been the last time.

Now he’d returned. Not because he wanted to—she was certain of that. But because he was summoned by the tragedy that would change both of their lives forever.

Wiping her hands on a towel, she dropped her gaze to the envelope on the counter. At their last meeting, the attorney had given it to her while they had discussed the contents of Dad’s will. Inside the envelope was a typed note, composed at the end of Dad’s life when he had lost the use of his hands. It was his final wish to her, his only child, and it made her ache for him every time she recalled it. I love you, Kallie Bug. Carry on a better family legacy for the kids than I left behind for you.

His opinion of himself was skewed, of course. Frank Shore had left her a wonderful legacy. He had been a gentle and hardworking man, who’d loved his farm and had loved his bird dogs. And most important, he had loved her and her thirteen-month-old twins, Ainsley and Peter.

She would do her very best to leave behind a legacy for her kids that Dad would’ve been proud of—caring for this spread of land until her dying days, then leaving it to the kids. It’s what he would have wanted.

A low growl sounded beside her. “Shh, it’s okay, Ruby.” Kallie reached down to rub her hand over her Llewellin’s silky orange ears. “It’s only Grant.”

Except he wasn’t only Grant. He was her ex-fiancé. Dad’s best former employee. Father to her children.

And unfortunately for Kallie, Dad had willed him half of Bitter Creek Farm.

“He is not coming for us, Ruby. The sooner we remember that, the better,” Kallie whispered. “He’s only here to make arrangements for his half of our stuff.” Whatever he had meant by arrangements over the phone, she didn’t know. “Hopefully this meeting is quick and painless.”

Ruby regarded Kallie with her coppery-brown eyes as if she didn’t believe a word Kallie said.

“Truth be told, girl, I don’t believe me, either. Now that he’s here, we have way too much history to unravel and sift through.”

Including the kids she’d never told him about.

Taking in a deep breath, Kallie stepped through the screen door off the kitchen, Ruby on her heels. For this first meeting, Kallie had sent the kids to spend the afternoon and early evening with her friend Rachel in the town of Bitter Creek, a twenty-minute drive from the farm. It was best this way, Kallie reasoned. She needed to find the right time to tell Grant about them—and, truthfully, a part of her didn’t know if she should. Dad had introduced Grant to her as his employee, and they’d hit it off immediately. Fell into a whirlwind romance like nothing she’d ever experienced.

But after one passionate night where they’d gone too far, Grant had left. He’d confessed he wasn’t ready for commitment or for life on the farm.

His leaving had felt like betrayal. Like he’d never loved her like she’d loved him.

Kallie descended the porch steps, a breath of summer wind warm on her skin. Maybe she’d only loved him with the excitement of young love. If she had been realistic at the time, maybe she would’ve realized it never would have worked. He didn’t want kids, and his wanderlust would have driven him crazy if he’d lived here—the place that had captured her, heart and soul.

But honestly, what scared her most was the possibility of rejection. What if she told him about the kids and he only rejected them like he had her? Then would it have been better if they’d never met him at all?

The pickup rolled to a stop in the front yard and the driver’s-side door opened. She faltered as her foot met gravel, and she clutched the railing.

A boot and pant leg showed beneath the pickup’s door, and then a second boot and leg. Grant stepped into view and Kallie’s eyes traced the length of him. Faded denim knees. Trim waist and a button-up Western shirt. Lean muscular arms beneath sleeves rolled to the elbows. Short dark hair framing angular cheeks and green-brown eyes that appeared fierce and wild even if he smiled.

Not that he was smiling yet. He stared back at her with an unreadable expression that made her toes curl inside her slip-on shoes. Inhaling, Kallie tucked a strand of her long blond hair behind her ear. Now or never.

The breeze teased the hem of her sundress as she took the gravel walkway. A backdrop of South Dakota pastures waved green beyond the yard, long-forgotten dog kennels and outbuildings.

“Hey,” she said, feeling a little silly sounding casual when she hadn’t seen him in so long. If only her voice didn’t sound so small.

Grant had one thumb in his jeans pocket, head tilted to keep the sun from his eyes. “Hey, Kallie.”

Oh, that voice. Sounded even better in person than it did over the phone. “How was the drive?”

“Not too bad.”

“Well, hopefully this trip won’t take much of your time. I’ll try to keep things brief. Who would’ve thought we’d end up owning property together? I guess Dad forgot to update his will after we split.” She was rambling now—why couldn’t she stop? “I guess I just, I don’t know—”

“Kallie?”

Pausing, she met his gaze.

“I’m sorry about your dad.”

The past two years’ struggles came over her in waves and she barely managed to keep eye contact. Pressing her lips together, she finally glanced away. “Thanks.”

“What happened?”

“Wait—the attorney didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

“Well, Dad was getting worse every month. I mean, sharp as a whip mentally. But his body was giving out on him—”

“But what was it? Cancer? Parkinson’s?”

“ALS.”

Grant fell silent, closed his eyes, knit his brows together.

A dreaded weight pushed down on Kallie’s shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spring the news on you the moment you got here.”

“I was only gone two years.” His voice sounded scratchy all of a sudden.

“He was diagnosed two Christmases ago.”

She could see his jaw muscles working. He looked around as if for an escape, then turned his attention to Ruby, who intently sniffed his tailgate. “Hey, there,” he murmured. “You smell my dogs, do ya?” Two kennels stood in his truck bed. Grant worked his fingers through Ruby’s hair, his movements showing both his fondness and familiarity with her breed and his intense effort to come to terms with Dad’s diagnosis and death.

Truthfully, she hadn’t come to terms with it, either. Though she trusted in God’s goodness, she didn’t understand why He’d allowed such an ugly disease to consume her own father. Dad had been all she’d had. Mom had traveled so much for work as a medical sales rep when Kallie was a kid, and she saw even less of Mom after her parents’ divorce. Mom hadn’t even come to the funeral.

Sure, she’d tried calling Kallie a few times lately, but Kallie couldn’t bring herself to listen to the excuses anymore.

Dwelling on all of that now, however, wasn’t going to solve the dilemma she and Grant faced together. They needed to sit down and figure out what to do about the farm.

“So, um…” Kallie swallowed the lump in her throat and jutted her thumb back toward the house. “You’re probably beat from driving all day. Why don’t you come inside and I’ll make up some coffee? We can sit down and discuss everything.”

Grant gave Ruby one final rubdown, then stood. “Thanks, but I should get settled in town. My dogs need to eat, and I still need to stop at the dog park to let them release some energy before going to the hotel.”

“You’re not staying at your parents’?”

Hesitating, he glanced down the road. “No.”

She heard the meaning in his voice, his implication that the house was just a shell now that his mom wasn’t there.

At four hundred people, Bitter Creek wasn’t exactly a metropolis. People’s business was often out in the open. She knew his dad—who’d never been able to hold down a job—had drifted off somewhere shortly after Grant left town, and then his mom had moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, to live with Grant’s sister, Jill.

“How is your mom?” she asked.

“I’m sure she’s doing well—she’s a tough cookie.” His gaze dimmed a bit. “I don’t get down there to see her as much as I’d like.”

One of his dogs barked, which seemed to wake Grant from his thoughts.

“Shouldn’t even have their house still,” he said, rounding the pickup bed to check on his animals. “It’s old and falling apart. Probably more expensive to keep than to sell. But you know Mom—can’t let go of anything. And my sister isn’t helping.” The twinkle in his eye showed he was obviously not as annoyed as he pretended to be. He and Jill had always teased each other, and both loved their mom. Anything of hers would be hard to sell, even if no one lived here anymore. “I’d better head out.”

“Wait.” Kallie couldn’t postpone until later. Rachel only had the kids until their bedtime. “What about discussing the will?”

“It’s been a long day. We can do that tomorrow, can’t we?”

“But you’re already here. You might as well stay. Feed your dogs and let them run.”

“Well—”

“It’s a farm, Grant. There’s plenty of space. And half of it is yours, remember?”

“Kallie, come on.” He silenced her with his words, and suddenly she understood.

He’d intended to stay and talk things out, but being here overwhelmed him. She saw it in his eyes, the way he kept glancing at the road. Was he remembering how they’d left things? Or was thinking about Dad so painful that he needed to do it alone? Dad had been more like a father to Grant than his own had ever been.

Kallie glanced at her watch. Half-past four o’clock. She raised her gaze to meet his, hoping she could instill him with courage. “Please, Grant? Can you come inside for just a minute? It shouldn’t take long to figure things out. Then tomorrow, you can be on your way back to Iowa, if you’d like.”

Hands in pockets, he worked his jaw muscles again. The telltale sign he was thinking things through and was uncomfortable with the situation. Kallie wanted to scoff at the irony. Whatever tension he felt right now, she was pretty sure she could top it.

Finally, he conceded. “I guess it would be good to get it done tonight. I have some business in Bitter Creek tomorrow, and then I need to get on the road.”

He freed his dogs from their kennels, allowing them to roam while he followed her to the house. The screen door closed against its frame with a knock as they entered the kitchen, where the aroma of slow cooker chicken thickened the air.

Grant’s gaze wandered. “The place hasn’t changed much, I see.”

“No, it hasn’t.” At least, not the house itself. And she’d stashed away all the baby memorabilia for the time being—until after she knew what Grant was all about.

“I keep thinking Frank’s going to come around the corner, though.”

At Grant’s words, Kallie felt her throat begin to close. If this had been years earlier, she would have sought refuge in his arms. But things were different now. Turning to a cabinet, she took down a coffee mug. “Still like it black?”

“Yep.”

She reached for the fresh carafe of coffee.

“Do you still train Llewellins during the summer?” he asked.

“No, we quit when Dad’s health worsened. All we have left now is Ruby.”

“Oh.” She heard him take a seat at the table.

Honestly, it was fine by her that there weren’t a bunch of dogs on site all summer anymore. It added a lot of extra work—Dad enjoyed it, and for that reason, Kallie had been happy to help. But for her, Ruby was the only Llewellin setter she needed. A loveable couch potato who occasionally wanted to run and explore the fields. Nothing complicated or high-maintenance. And right now with the kids so little, Kallie couldn’t afford any more painstaking tasks.

“I saw you in Bird Dog magazine.”

He chuckled, sounding a little embarrassed. “Yeah, well, you’d better frame that because it’ll become a limited edition. You’re not going to see another one.”

“I’m sure with your growing popularity you’ll get into it again.” Crossing her arms, she leaned a hip against the counter. “Honestly, I’m surprised you came out here, rather than finalizing things over the phone. Your life is busy. And being the first of June, surely you have a whole schedule of training clinics to get to, right?”

Her moxie surprised her. As a general rule, she avoided confrontation at all costs. But having Grant here put her on edge, which apparently caused her to lose control of her words.

He traced his finger along the rim of his mug, taking a second to answer. “I’m on my way to a clinic this weekend, actually. In Wyoming. Figured the farm was on the way.”

“Sure.”

She should have known that’s why he’d stopped by. It was on the way to something else.

Time to get ahold of herself and remember he’d only come to discuss the will. Grant had a successful life outside this place. According to the magazine interview, he’d been living in Iowa all this time as the executive director of a nonprofit rescue dog facility dedicated to helping setters in desperate need. And when he wasn’t at the facility, he was on the road putting on bird dog training clinics. Traveling a lot, and loving every minute of it, the article clearly pointed out. He obviously worked hard living his dream, and becoming so successful in a matter of two years was likely the reason behind his publicity.

And it wasn’t a career sustainable for a family man. Grant wasn’t a family man.

“At any rate,” he continued, “I’ll be out of your hair as quickly as possible. I just wanted to come out here and tell you I’m sorry about Frank and that I’m not going to accept the inheritance.”

Kallie’s brows shot up, her thoughts derailing. “Are you serious? You don’t want your half?”

Grant shrugged and for a second, it looked as if his thoughts warred behind his gaze. “I don’t know what I would do with it. I can’t keep it. I mean, you and me owning the same spread of land…” He trailed off, then seemed to gather his thoughts and head in a different direction. “It’s just not a good idea. You can understand that, right?”

She straightened away from the counter. “I guess I can.”

“Great. Glad that’s settled, then.”

“Yeah, great.”

Settled. Is that what they were?

It sounded so cold, so final. But then, wasn’t that how their relationship was now? And thankfully, he hadn’t claimed his inheritance only to turn around and sell his half. She’d been afraid that would happen—because if anyone bought the land, it would have to be her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to afford to stay here, either. Not that she could afford this land if it went up for sale. Money was already tight, due to Dad’s medical bills and the loan he took out to pay for seeds this year. She still needed to sit down and calculate everything—his assets compared to his outstanding balance.

Coffee mugs in hand, they lingered in silence. Kallie watched Grant as her heart squeezed. All their memories, a few triumphs and many regrets, floated between them. Present yet unacknowledged. Was she supposed to ignore them like they’d never mattered? She’d almost married this man.

One thing was certain. No matter how quick this meeting went with Grant Young, it certainly wasn’t going to be painless.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Hello?” Rachel’s voice carried through the screen.

Kallie’s heart dropped. She rushed to the door. Rachel stood there with a baby car seat carrier placed on either side of her on the porch.

“Rachel,” she hissed, hoping Grant couldn’t hear her—though hiding was futile at this point. “You weren’t supposed to be here until seven.”

“Seven?” Rachel’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding! I thought you said by five.”

Five? Dear Rachel Whethers had always been a little scatterbrained, but this was over the top even for her. “No, I need longer than that.” She heard Grant’s chair shift. “Please, Rach. Take them somewhere. Anywhere.”

Concern crossed Rachel’s face, a slight breeze picking up strands of her dark hair. “What’s going on? You okay?”

“That Rachel Gunsing I hear?” Grant appeared over Kallie’s shoulder.

Rachel made eye contact through the screen, and suddenly understanding bloomed across her face. “Grant Young. Well, that’s a surprise I’d never expected.” She glanced at Kallie as if in question, and Kallie shook her head in response. Rachel turned back to Grant. “I’m actually Rachel Whethers now. Got married to Kyle eighteen months ago.”

“That’s great, Rach.” He reached around Kallie for the door. “Why don’t you stop in and catch up?”

Kallie’s heart rate tripped. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not necessary. She’s probably pretty busy—”

Grant eyed her. “She drove the twenty minutes from town to stand on your doorstep for thirty seconds? I don’t think so.”

“Actually, I do need to be going.” Apology slashed her friend’s gaze. “Kyle’s taking me out for my birthday tonight since I have to work on the actual day.”

Just then, Peter began to cry, no doubt eager to get out of his seat.

Kallie cringed. Grant glanced at the babies for the first time, and his brows rose. She closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer for mercy.

Grant Young glanced between the two car seat carriers on the porch, then back up at Rachel Whethers. No doubt about it, things sure had changed in the span of two years. Last time he saw Rachel, they were all newly out of high school, and she’d been full of life and totally disinterested in settling down.

And now it seemed she’d become a mom.

“Twins?” he asked.

Rachel began to pale before glancing at Kallie. “Yep.”

And Kallie. Grant couldn’t believe how seeing her again had nearly knocked him flat as he’d stepped out of his pickup.

He wasn’t exactly sure why he’d traveled all the way out to the farm just to tell her his simple plans regarding his half of the inheritance. He supposed a piece of him really wanted a reason to see the place again, to remember Frank in the environment the man had loved so deeply and to offer his condolences to Kallie. And, of course, he was curious how she had fared these past two years and what she was up to these days.

But now, after sitting in her kitchen and drinking from a random mug he actually remembered, he realized it was a huge mistake. Emotions he’d assumed were long buried had begun to resurface the instant he saw her standing on the walkway, her sweet blue eyes and waist-length blond hair tucked behind her ear. Man, she still looked good. Sounded good. Still fit snugly into a pocket he hadn’t realized lay open in his heart.

A pocket he knew he needed to close forever. Because he and Kallie would never work. He’d left here a young man scared of commitment and full of big ambitions—and he’d always regretted it.

Growing up with a bum for a father had scared him into believing he’d repeat the man’s mistakes. That he wouldn’t be a good husband to Kallie and wouldn’t be a good father if they ever had kids.

So at the time, it was easier to run away. But he’d been wrong to do it. She deserved better treatment than that. Now here he was, a bit washed up and lost, looking to regain his sense of direction. But he needed to remember he wasn’t going to find that here.

Rachel coughed softly into her fist, standing there awkwardly, like she wasn’t sure what to do next, which only served to make Grant suspicious. What was going on and why wouldn’t she come in?

He was about to ask when the phone in his pocket chimed. Cell service was nonexistent out here, so it had to be Kallie’s Wi-Fi. Hmm, an email. How about that? His phone remembered this place and had automatically connected.

Quietly he excused himself to check the email. As he did, Kallie scurried out onto the porch, her voice hushed as she asked something of Rachel.

Who knew what they were discussing. Turning his attention to the phone, Grant opened his inbox. The email was from Will Parker, his contact for the Helping Hands board of directors, responding to Grant’s question of whether or not they’d held their meeting yet—the one they were supposed to have last week in order to okay the plans for the facility’s office rebuild, which they’d lost in a fire earlier this year. Something had postponed last week’s meeting, though he didn’t know what, and they’d promised to hold a new one today.

Grant,

No meeting yet. Waiting on some measures to finalize before we meet. Perhaps next week.

—Will

Grant frowned. Not the answer he’d anticipated, for sure. He tapped out a reply.

Finalize measures? What kind of measures?

Kallie opened the screen door, so Grant slipped his phone into his jeans pocket. He froze in his movement, though, when he noticed her hefting one of the carrier seats. Rachel came in behind her with the other one.

Okay, so maybe she was staying for a visit after all.

Grant stepped out of the way, watching the two women head to the living room and unload two dark-haired babies onto the carpet. A boy crawled toward a stuffed giraffe Kallie handed him, and a girl toddled quickly after him before also dropping to her knees.

“Well,” Rachel glanced hesitantly at Grant before sending Kallie a look, “I’ll see you Sunday.”

“Thanks for watching the kids, Rach.”

Grant blinked. Wait, what?

Rachel brushed thick hair over her shoulder, and inched back toward the screen door, peeking at Grant as she retreated past him. “Safe trip back to Iowa.”

“Um, thanks.” He watched her go before turning back to the living room.

Was Kallie a mom?

And was she married? Grant glanced around the kitchen for any sign of a male’s presence. A work coat or muddy boots or even a family photo taped to the fridge. But nothing.

His focus returned to the babies making themselves at home, and he was suddenly aware of the muscles tightening in his stance. Stiffly, he made his way into the living room, lingering just inside the doorway, eyesight never leaving the twins.

This made no sense. Was there a guy? There must not be because otherwise, why would Frank will half of the farm to Grant? Actually, regardless of whether or not Kallie was seeing someone or married or whatever, he had no idea why Frank had left Grant in the will. But especially if some guy’s kids were involved. Unless Grant was…

No. No. That couldn’t be the case. These kids were little, and he’d been gone two years. He had no real experience with babies, but he’d guess they were only seven or eight months old.

After a couple of long, deep breaths, he found his voice. “So—they’re yours?”

Kallie looked into his eyes. She nodded, and even though that was the answer he’d expected, something in Grant’s world still knocked sideways.

Who…?

No, he couldn’t ask that question out loud. It was brash. Besides, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. Didn’t keep his mind from scrolling through the possibilities. There weren’t many—Kallie hadn’t dated anyone before Grant. Someone new must have come to town.

Oh. Except for Brendan Millard.

Grant clenched his jaw and lowered himself onto the sofa, the same one he’d used when he’d worked here, and Frank would encourage him to take a quick nap after lunch before returning to the tractor.

Brendan Millard’s parents ran the neighboring farm, and he’d grown up with Kallie. From the beginning, he hadn’t been a fan of Grant, who’d moved to Bitter Creek in high school and was a grade older than both of them. Grant suspected, though, it was because Brendan’s feelings for her ran deeper than friendship.

Grant rubbed at his temple and then down his shadowed jaw. The kids had to be Brendan’s. She would have told Grant if they were his.

Right?

“This is Peter,” Kallie said, her voice soft, bringing Grant’s thoughts around. “And this is Ainsley. Peter’s older by nine minutes, but Ainsley acts like she’s in charge.”

Peter threw a burp cloth over his head, and giggling a silvery laugh, Ainsley joyously yanked it off, causing them both to squeal.

Grant couldn’t help but smile a little. “They’re cute.”

“Thanks.”

Watching, Grant felt pummeled. Kallie had always insisted Brendan was just a friend, but what if that hadn’t been the case? Had he stepped in after Grant left? It would make sense. Brendan loved to farm. And he had a bunch of siblings. He was built for family.

Two things that weren’t in Grant’s blood—no matter how hard he’d searched for them years ago, when his relationship with Kallie had depended on it.

But where was Brendan now?

“We should feed the dogs,” Kallie said suddenly, rising to her feet, Ainsley in her arms. “I’ll grab the stroller from the truck bed if you don’t mind bringing Peter.”

“Oh. Sure.” He scooped up the little boy, so light he worried about squashing him. Relax, Young. He’s not a newborn pup.

He followed Kallie outside, heading for her truck parked in the turnaround. “I’m surprised Peter’s doing as well as he is, since he doesn’t know you,” she said over her shoulder.

“Why? Is he generally shy?” And why had she asked him to carry the child if she knew that about him? Grant looked at Peter in his arms, but the boy only squinted in the sun, distracted by the outdoors.

“Generally.” Kallie placed Ainsley on the grass so she could open the tailgate and pull out a folded double-wide stroller. “He loves people, but he has to warm up first.”

Ainsley quickly approached the stroller, seemingly recognizing it. Kallie unfolded it and lifted her daughter into one of the seats, then buckled her in. Grant brought Peter over and followed suit, albeit awkwardly.

“Do they like this thing?”

“They love it. I do, too.”

“Is it hard to maneuver around here?”

“Actually, it’s easy.” She checked the stroller’s visors so the sun wasn’t in the kids’ eyes, then pushed the stroller across the turnaround. “It’s a sport utility stroller, so the tires are really nice. We use it all the time.”

The kids kicked their legs and pointed out scenery as they rumbled over the gravel and dirt.

As they approached the barn, a Llewellin skittered out of the shadows and loped toward them.

“Hey, Chief.” Grant kept up with Kallie and the stroller, though a couple of yards to her right. “You remember Chief, right?” He motioned to the bird dog as Chief’s nose tugged him toward a stand of scrub oaks.

“I do. Took me a moment. He’s from the same litter as Ruby, I think.”

“Yep.” Grant slid his hands deep into his pockets, gravel scraping beneath his boots. When he’d worked here just out of high school, Frank held summer camps for training bird dogs, and in the winter, he guided hunters. The South Dakota prairie teemed with pheasants and grouse. One winter, some hunters had sold Frank a pair of Llewellins, and Grant had purchased Chief from their first litter.

He led the way into the barn where the dog food was kept, and Kallie followed, Chief slipping in between them.

“Do you remember where we keep the food?”

Instead of answering, he simply took keys from a nail on the wall and unlocked a cabinet beneath the worktable. Then he pulled out the tub of food.

Chief ran the length of the barn, joining Bella, his second setter who was too busy checking out all the new smells to acknowledge their presence.

“Did you get your other dog from your shelter?”

“Yep. That’s Bella. She’s gun-shy, but we do well together.”

He called her over and Bella approached with obvious fondness. Depositing the keys on the worktable, he knelt and buried his fingers in the tri-colored hair behind her ears. Bella closed her eyes and tilted her head toward him. Then he scooped food into a dish, and at the sound of food hitting metal, Chief was hot on Bella’s trail, looking for his own supper. Grant fed him, too.

“A previous handler spooked her while hunting. An all-too-common problem with our shelter dogs, I’m afraid.”

“Do you like working at the rescue facility?”

“I do. It’s fulfilling to witness so many success stories, you know?” He dropped some food in a bowl for Ruby. “We have it set up where setters are taken into foster homes for a while before they can be adopted. This helps us evaluate their true nature in a home environment. Plus, it gives them the comfort of a home while they wait for a permanent family.”

“Is that how you found Bella? Did you foster her?”

“Yep. And once I looked into her big eyes, I was a goner.”

Much like Kallie. He’d known she was special the moment he saw her.

Clearing his throat, Grant turned away and locked the dog food back in the cupboard, where it was safe from raccoons who sometimes explored the barn at night.

Call him soft but he had a love for the setters who needed extra understanding and attention. He’d found that passion while working here at Bitter Creek Farm, and when he’d gotten involved in Iowa training them and running the rescue facility, he’d realized he enjoyed caring for someone other than himself.

It had awakened an instinct he’d never thought possible.

The truth ricocheted down through his core as he straightened, letting the dogs eat. Because he feared becoming like his dad, he’d never wanted kids. And when he and Kallie had gotten carried away one night, the reality of marriage and the possibility of fatherhood had hit him hard.

That night had woken him up, made him believe that he couldn’t be what Kallie deserved.

But now…

He glanced at Kallie and her kids, at the life he could have had if only he’d had the courage. All of this could have been his—this simple life, with their own family to come home to rather than an empty apartment. But he’d missed that opportunity, and someone else had taken his place.

He only had himself to blame.

Chapter Two

“Thanks for letting me stick around for supper, Kallie.”

“No problem.”

Though honestly, Kallie didn’t feel as nonchalant as her answer indicated. Ever since Grant had arrived, she’d been flooded with guilt. Back when he left, she’d felt justified in keeping the kids a secret. He’d wanted to forget farm life and train dogs. Wasn’t interested in being a dad or a husband. Not to mention the teensy-tiny detail that he’d flat out left her barely a month after proposing.

She still worried that he wouldn’t care. That he’d shrug the kids off. So, she’d held her tongue through supper preparation and getting the kids into their high chairs. To keep her mind busy, she worked with her hands—grabbed various pots and bowls of food from the counter to bring them to the table.

Grant watched her from his chair. “Can I help you with anything?”

“No, I’m almost done.” The tasks didn’t need to be completed any faster than they already were.

Peter and Ainsley sat in matching high chairs beside her place setting. Cooked mashed peas littered their trays, and thankfully, they ate in pure delight—judging by their screeching and their attempts to share the peas across their trays.

More landed on the floor between them than anywhere else, which Ruby appreciated.

The oven timer beeped, so Kallie bent and pulled out the chicken potpie, the center boiling through a cracked edge of crust. She’d used the chicken from her slow cooker, thinking with Grant staying that the meal needed to be heartier than she’d originally planned. She set it in the middle of everything else like a centerpiece at a Thanksgiving feast.

She finally sat, and Grant said a prayer. And after saying “Amen,” she silently added another prayer for strength and wisdom. In high school and while she dated Grant, she hadn’t been very faithful in her spiritual life. But since the kids were born, and especially in recent months, she’d learned a lot about God’s everlasting goodness. And drawing from the deep well of His love comforted her like nothing else ever had. If anyone could help her know how to handle this situation, it would be Him.

“All this food for just us?” Grant eyed the smorgasbord. “You know my stomach’s shrank since I stopped working on the farm.”

A tiny smile tugged on her lips before she stuffed it away. She’d spent some of her nervous energy on cooking, and yep, one look around the table and she knew she’d gone a tad overboard.

She dished more peas onto her plate to squish with her fork for the kids. “Dig in.”

Apparently she didn’t need to tell him twice. He took a long swig of his ice water and helped himself to a steaming biscuit to slather with butter and honey.

“So, I’ve been thinking. Have you thought about hiring a farm hand for the summer?” He spooned potpie onto his plate. “Come July, it’ll be way too hot to cart the kids everywhere for hours on end.”

Free advice often fell flat, and this was no exception. Kallie didn’t look up from distributing more peas to the kids. “We have air conditioning in the work truck.”

“That old thing? You can’t rely on it working when the temps hit over one hundred.”

“We did last year when Dad was sick.”

“Well, last year you didn’t have a choice. But no kids should ride around the farm in that old beater, not in the middle of summer.”

She stared at him. “The truck is fine, Grant.”

“You say that now. Wait until it’s noon, and you break down in the middle of a pasture. It could become a bad situation very fast.”

“Enough, okay?”

She gritted her teeth to not say any more. He couldn’t just leave her one day and then waltz back into her life two years later giving orders. She left the table for more milk from the fridge. While she refilled Ainsley’s and Peter’s sippy cups, heavy silence weighed her down. This was going to be even harder than she’d thought.

“Sorry, Kal.”

Kallie turned from the counter, sippy cups in hand. “What?”

He ran his hand over his brow, then down his face. “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, so I’m just on edge. The last few months have been brutal. A fire destroyed Helping Hands Kennel, the rescue I run.”

Kallie’s eyes widened, her skepticism falling away as she sank into her chair. “Oh, that’s horrible. Where are all the dogs?”

“Some are still with their foster families. But some families pulled out. Those dogs are at a friend’s animal sanctuary outside Waterloo, the next city over. I’ll get them back once I have a facility again.” He exhaled. “We have nineteen Llewellins and English setters waiting for permanent homes right now. Nineteen. And the adoption process is slower when we’re working out of a makeshift facility.”

“That’s a lot of dogs. How will the facility make a difference if your policy is for dogs to stay with foster families?”

“Well, I can’t take on new dogs until we have places to foster them. But I’ve called around, and I keep getting the same answer from potential foster families—they don’t see us as a legitimate business. I mean, I can’t blame them. You should see the run-down office we’re using right now. We need a bit more professionalism before people will take us seriously.” He sighed. “I’m hitting some snags getting the new facility up and running.”

Peter tossed his spoon. Kallie bent to retrieve it. “What kind of snags? Can’t you simply rebuild?”

“I guess not. My board of directors wants to meet before they’ll allow the funding to be used for the facility. My contact at the board said they’ve got some stipulations they’re looking into.” He shook his head. “I have no idea what that means, and so far, my contact hasn’t returned my latest email. I’ll have to call tomorrow on my way to Wyoming.”

He returned to his meal. Kallie put the spoon back on Peter’s tray.

Ainsley squawked and pounded her tray, out of food. Kallie dumped some more peas in front of her, feeling Grant’s eyes on her. Peter called out for more peas, too.

“Can’t I help you with anything?”

Ainsley dropped her sippy cup, and Kallie bent over.

The cup touched Grant’s foot. He stooped over and grabbed it. Kallie sat up in her chair again, stretching out her hand over the table to get it back.

Grant eyed both kids, and the nerves piled up inside her as she set Ainsley’s drink on her tray. This charade was pointless—he was bound to figure things out and she’d been stupid to hide it from him.

“How’s Brendan Millard these days?”

Blinking, Kallie frowned. “What? Fine, I guess.”

Peter tossed his empty cup and cried for more.

“What’s he up to?”

Kallie disappeared beneath the table. “Running his farm, like everyone else around here.” She snatched Peter’s cup and stood to refill it.

“He’s not hanging around here?”

“Why would he?”

“I just figured he’d be available for you and the kids.”

Ainsley cried out, out of peas again.

“Here.” Grant pushed his chair back. “Let me help.”

“No, you’re a guest. Sit down.” Kallie shoveled peas onto the tray. But Ainsley waved her arms, batting away Kallie’s spoon, sending her cup over the edge again.

She gasped as the lid came off, spilling milk across the floor.

Grant popped up from his seat.

“I’ve got it.” Kallie darted for the paper towel roll on the counter, but he snatched it first. He swooped in on the milk spreading over the linoleum.

She knelt beside him. “Let me do it.”

“I can handle a spill…”

“But—”

“Go eat. You’ve hardly touched your food.”

“No. I’m going to do it.” She snatched the paper roll from him. “Now tell me why Brendan Millard would be here for me and the kids?”

“Aren’t these his kids?”

“No, Grant.”

Freezing, he raised his gaze to meet hers. “Then whose are they?”

Her eyes widened. Did he honestly have no idea? She took a couple of deep breaths, then stood. She set Ainsley’s sippy cup on the table with a distinct tap and turned to the counter, tugging saran wrap off a pan of dessert. “Brownie?”

“Kal.”

He wasn’t playing around. Turning, she met his dark eyes and willed herself not to flinch. Time for the truth. “They’re yours.”

“Grant, stop.”

The screen door shut behind him as Grant stalked down the steps. He needed air.

Returning to Bitter Creek Farm had already been hard, dredging up memories of training setters with Frank and learning about life. Falling in love with Kallie—hard and fast. But this? Finding out he’d been a father all this time? That was harder still.

“Grant.” Kallie followed him outside. “Let me explain.”

“What’s there to explain? I understand what’s going on here. You lied to me about everything. That about covers it, right?”

“Please.”

He paused to face her, spying her on the porch—slip-on shoes, breeze tossing her long blond hair. Her slender wrists and fingers. The freckles dotting her bare shoulders. He distinctly remembered touching those shoulders as they danced in the moonlight together…

That night when their perfect world had completely ruptured.

“I wanted to tell you so many times. But—”

“But what? The timing never felt right?”

“No.”

“Why’d you keep them a secret, Kallie?”

Her gaze turned steely, arms crossing over her middle. “Why’d you leave me a month after asking me to marry you?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t tell you.” Her eyes misted over. “You left me. And you did not want kids. I didn’t know what to do.”

Twins. The news still shook through him. He’d seen the kids, the color of their hair, but he’d reasoned away any chance they could’ve been his. Kallie’s gaze pleaded with him to understand, but it was a whole lot of information to take in at once.

“I did do that. And I’m very sorry. But you should have told me. I still have my same phone, or you could have called Jill—”

“I don’t know. I guess I figured you were better off not knowing.”

“That’s the problem, Kallie. You decided this important thing for me. You can’t do that. You can’t control everything. I had a right to know.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, and he fell silent. Was she just now feeling bad about all of this or had she tormented herself for years? He closed his eyes against the regret shuddering through his chest. Regret over their past mistakes and the mistake he was making now. No matter what she’d done to him, he didn’t need to belittle her.

The way she stood there, hand nervously gripping her opposite bicep, she looked exactly the same as when he left years ago. Alone and scared. Needing him as he walked away.

He was guilty of hurting her, too.

Grant rubbed the back of his neck. One little statement: They’re yours. Suddenly, his life would never be the same. His mind swirled with hurt, with anger, with questions. But one thing he knew for sure. Those kids needed a dad. Grant had one physically, but not actively. He was scared to death of repeating the man’s mistakes.

In fact, he’d already started. He’d been absent for their entire lives. But not anymore.

He headed for his pickup.

She followed him. “Where are you going?”

“To find some cell service to call my hotel.”

“Why?”

“To cancel my reservation.”

He heard her feet skid to a halt on the gravel. “You’re leaving already? You’re mad that I didn’t tell you about the kids and yet you’re already leaving?”

“Hardly.” He hopped into his truck and shut the door, staring down at her through the half-rolled window. “Just the opposite. I’m coming out to the farm.”

Her brows shot up. “I don’t think so. You’re not staying here.”

“You’re right, I’m not. I’ll be in the employee cottage.”

She stared at him.

“What? It’s still standing, right?”

“Yeah, it’s still standing. But it needs work. I don’t think you want to stay there.”

“There you go making decisions for me again,” he said. “I’m not worried about the work. Just want to be close to my kids.” He stuck his key in the ignition and turned it, revving his engine to life. “See ya in a few.”

Kallie didn’t look happy, but she’d just have to be okay with it. Starting today, she was going to see a whole lot more of Grant Young. He wouldn’t let his kids grow up like he had—without a relationship with their dad.

The white broken line down Interstate 90 stretched to the horizon. Grant hadn’t expected to see this section of South Dakota prairie again so soon. But when you had to drive to the next exit in order to find a cell signal, that’s what you did.

Once he sat on the side of the road, just after the off ramp, he called the hotel and canceled his reservation. Then he called the hosts of every clinic he’d planned to give this summer to cancel until further notice. Until he could figure out what was going on in his life.

Even with his phone calls completed, though, he wasn’t ready to go back to the farm. Not just yet. He still needed to process this new load of information for a few more minutes. He wound up calling his sister, Jill.

“Well, that’s just about the craziest news I think I’ve ever heard,” Jill said.

“Yeah.” Grant ran his finger along the edge of his pickup’s radio, wiping away dust that had collected there since he’d last detailed this old thing. “I’m still stunned.”

“Me, too. And I’m just your sister. I can’t imagine how you feel.” She paused. “So, I’m not trying to be rude here—but are you sure they’re yours?”

Grant shrugged, even though he knew no one could see him except the rolling prairie out his open window. “They have brown eyes and brown wavy hair. The more I think about it, the more I’m realizing Peter looks a lot like me in that picture of us. You know, the one that used to hang in Mom and Dad’s hall.”

“Are you going to get a paternity test?”

His brows scrunched. “Do I need to?”

“I would.”

“Why would Kallie tell me they’re mine if they aren’t? She doesn’t accept help from me, and she clearly doesn’t want me here. The only reason I even found out is because Frank left me in his will.”

Which certainly made him wonder. He’d been added as a beneficiary when he and Kallie got engaged, but he figured with their breakup he’d been taken off—like normal ex-fiancés. Had it slipped Frank’s mind or had he left Grant in the will on purpose, so he’d learn about the kids one way or another?

Reality hit him hard and heavy. “What rights do I even have to them anyway? We’re not married. I know they’re mine, but I’ve been absent all of their life. They know and trust Kallie, and that’s it.”

“Not knowing about them isn’t entirely your fault, though. She should have told you,” Jill said. “Listen, I was talking with a friend of mine here in Norfolk, who’s going through something kind of like this, and he said fathers have rights, too. You’ll have to check South Dakota laws, but I think all you have to do is establish you’re their biological father. Then you’ll have all the rights and responsibilities of a parent.”

His sister, hairstylist-turned-lawyer all of a sudden. “Like child support and visitation?”

“Yeah, and like, custody.”

Custody. Wow, this was getting real. And fast.

He exhaled. Turned his gaze to the setting sun. “This is a lot to process, Jill.”

“I’m sure it is.” Jill paused. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Don’t let Kallie push you out of their lives again, okay? You’ve already lost precious time you can’t get back. Make the most of the time you have now.”

Grant exhaled. “That’s my plan.”

“Okay. Hey, Grant?” Jill’s voice softened. “Congratulations. I’m excited to meet them. I’m sure Mom will be, too.”

A smile slid up Grant’s face. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

When he hung up, he started his pickup. Jill was right. Kallie had already denied him access to important milestones. He wouldn’t let that happen again.

He didn’t know all the details yet, but as surely as he drove back to Bitter Creek Farm, he was bound and determined to never let Peter and Ainsley go.

After finishing supper and bathing the children, Kallie strapped Peter and Ainsley into the stroller and trekked down to the cottage.

As she’d expected, she found Grant’s truck parked out front, and Chief sitting on the front porch, soaking up the sun and taking in the change of scenery. He ran to greet them as they neared, and Kallie gave him a few quick rubs behind the ear.

Peter squealed and pointed at Chief, and Kallie managed a smile. Her kids held a wonder for the world that she’d lost in recent years. What would it be like to feel that way about life again?

The door to the cottage swung open, Grant leaning on the doorframe. Bella scurried over after him, greeting the kids and Kallie. “Well, hey there, neighbor,” Grant said with a wink. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

The smile slid off Kallie’s face. Just how long was he planning on staying?

But her lack of enthusiasm didn’t seem to faze him. “Come in.” He approached the stroller. “Hey, bud.” He unstrapped Peter and lifted him into his arms.

But Peter squirmed and reached out for Kallie, trying to wriggle from Grant’s grip.

“Like I said, he’s pretty shy around strangers.”

Grant bounced Peter a little, probably in an attempt to cheer him up. “We won’t be strangers for long.” He turned and headed into the house, calling for Chief and Bella to follow him. Kallie stifled a sigh as she unstrapped Ainsley and followed. Stopping by the cottage was probably the wrong thing to do, but if she hid from whatever issue was building between her and Grant, then it would grow and grow. Much better to nip it in the bud right now, rather than let it get out of control.

You can’t control everything…

She didn’t want to think about Grant’s words, so instead, she stepped inside and focused on the cottage’s aged surroundings.

“I think this place will work well.” Grant glanced back at her before surveying the room. “Though I might need to borrow some sheets until my online order gets here.”

Online order? What did Grant Young think he was doing—moving in?

Looking around, she suddenly felt weary. The last time anyone stayed here was about a year ago—an employee working for Dad about a year after Grant left. The man had only stuck around for a few months before going someplace warmer. Texas or Oklahoma, she couldn’t remember. Though a few months had apparently been long enough to put a hole through the wall, destroy some window blinds beyond repair, chip the counter and knock the screen door off its hinges.

Rachel had watched the kids so Kallie could at least surface clean this place after the employee left, but that’s as far as she’d gotten. And unfortunately, by then, she’d been the only one who could’ve worked on the cottage because Dad wasn’t able-bodied. She could have hired someone to help, but that had just been too much to deal with at the time.

No way could she handle a list of repairs right now just because Grant had decided he didn’t want to stay in town.

Then again, she reminded herself she didn’t need to repair things right now, because Grant wasn’t going to be here that long. Obviously longer than she’d thought, but not for forever.

Grant shifted Peter higher in his arms, but the poor boy wasn’t interested in staying with him. Grant set him on the floor and let him toddle into the living room. Kallie wrinkled her nose. “I haven’t had a chance to clean that carpet.”

“He should be fine, right?”

She eyed Grant, not amused. He seemed to get the message and picked Peter up again. They moved out to the porch and let the kids down to look around. A faint breeze whispered in the cottonwoods nearby, intermingling with the distant song of sparrows and finches. Kallie longed to relax into it, but how could she when Grant rattled her?

“So…” Breaking the silence, his voice came quietly as they stared over the expanse of prairie and trees. “When’s their birthday?”

“May third,” she said.

“What are their full names?”

“Peter Allen and Ainsley Elise.”

“When did they take their first steps?”

Her heart began to tug. “Eleven months.”

“First words?” His voice sounded gravelly this time, and a burn started behind Kallie’s eyes.

“Ainsley says ‘Mama,’ but Peter hasn’t said anything discernible yet.”

“Well, soon, they’ll learn ‘Daddy,’ too.”

Kallie closed her eyes. “It takes a while for them to learn new words at this stage, Grant.”

“I don’t mind.”

“How long are you planning to stay, exactly?”

“Oh, I’m not leaving.” He matched her stare. “I just found out I’m a dad to twins. You couldn’t drag me out of here with a crowbar and a winch.” He turned to face her full on. “And another thing. I’ve decided to keep my half of the inheritance. I’m planning to pay child support, and I’m getting a paternity test and seeking joint custody.”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

Fear rippled through her, the surety of his list shaking her foundation. Everything she knew was changing so fast. Too fast. Turning on her heel, she scooped up the children, then marched down the porch steps and deposited them inside the stroller.

Her hands shook as she tried to secure their harnesses. Grant’s boot falls sounded behind her.

“You can’t hide from this, Kal.” This time, his voice was soft yet firm. “We’re going to have to talk about things like custody at some point.”

She whirled toward him. “Don’t you dare take my children away from me!”

His gaze narrowed. “They’re our children, and who said anything about taking them away? I’m staying right here on the farm, remember?”

Yes, she remembered. But how long until his wanderlust got the better of him and he decided to take off? He was only here for the kids, not for her. There was nothing keeping him on the farm. “What about your job in Iowa? I thought you loved it.”

“I do.” He shrugged. “I’ll try working it from here for a while, see what happens. I’ll figure something out.” His sobering gaze met hers. “I’m not taking them out of your life. It’s not right for them to grow up without a dad, but it’s also not right to be without a mom. We need to be serious about coparenting and somehow making this family thing work.”

Family? Kallie’s mouth ran dry. How could they possibly become something like that?

“Okay, Kal? You’re going to have to trust me on this.”

What could she say? Nothing made sense in her jostled thoughts. She said good-night and pushed the kids back toward her house. Because the truth was, she had trusted him to stick around—after he’d asked her to marry him. He’d broken that trust. And with it, her heart.