A Dad for Her Twins. Lois Richer

him.

      “Maybe Ivor worked with him,” Cade said dourly. “Then he could help me fix my sled.”

      Abby chuckled, then smoothed her hand between Liberty’s eyes, whispering soothing words. She winked at him.

      “Maybe Ivor would like to brush a horse,” she mused in a speculative tone.

      “I’m not sure he likes animals.” Which was a relief since Cade wasn’t sure he wanted Ivor anywhere near his prized horses. Sensing that Abby was wearying, he called a halt and put Liberty back in her stall, placating her whinny of complaint with another apple.

      “It’s coffee time,” he said as he closed the stall door. “Let’s go see what Mrs. Swanson baked today.”

      “Does she bake a lot?” Abby asked. She slid her hand through the arm he offered and daintily picked her way over the snowy path toward the house.

      “She usually makes something special every day. It’s her way of trying to tempt my dad to eat a little more,” he told her.

      “Has she been here a long time?” Abby wondered.

      “Since my mom died. She practically raised me.” He cleared his throat and said the words that had nagged at him for hours. “You were with my father for a long time this morning. I really think it’s better if you stay away, Abby.”

      “Your father and I were playing games.” She stopped when he paused outside the back door and studied him. “Ed seemed to really get into them, so I didn’t want to cut it short. But if you’d rather I didn’t interact with him—” She stopped, waited.

      “I don’t want you hurt,” Cade said firmly. “I heard his cane banging several times. When he gets riled he sometimes loses control—”

      “He wasn’t riled.” Abby laughed. “He was celebrating. He beat me at every game of checkers. Ivor told me he’d lost to Ed earlier, too.”

      “He didn’t get upset?” Cade frowned when Abby shook her head.

      “Your father seems to enjoy winning.”

      “Yeah, he loves winning,” Cade told her with an ironic grin. “Understatement of the year to say he loves winning. My father has to win.”

      Winning was all that mattered to Ed. At least it was all that seemed to matter in his relationship with his son. Since Cade had often overruled him in regard to decisions about the ranch, he’d assumed that accounted for his father’s worsening behavior.

      Confused by the different view of his dad, Cade held the door for Abby to precede him inside. They shed their outer clothes and boots in the mudroom that adjoined the kitchen.

      “Something smells wonderful,” Abby said, following her nose. “I can’t believe I’m hungry again. I ate a huge lunch.”

      “Ranch life does that to you.” Cade accepted two cups of coffee from Mrs. Swanson and set them on the kitchen table. “It’s the fresh, unspoiled air.”

      “It’s also the wee ones wanting a snack,” Mrs. Swanson said with a knowing glance at Abby’s midriff. “Some cinnamon rolls might quiet them.”

      “They certainly would.” Abby sat next to Cade, then accepted a steaming cinnamon roll. She nipped a bite between her pink lips, closed her eyes and smiled. “Delicious,” she said, much to Mrs. Swanson’s satisfaction.

      A few moments later Ed and Ivor joined them. Ivor pushed Ed’s chair to the table as if he’d done it a thousand times before. As they all sat around the table sharing the delicious treat, Abby teased Ed about winning and then Ivor about almost sinking the snowmobile.

      For the first time in memory, Cade realized that he and his father were seated together at the table without the usual tension. Everyone seemed to find harmony, fun and pleasure in one another’s company. Cade had no doubt that was Abby’s influence on them. She seemed to bring out the best in everyone she met.

      Cade’s gaze slid to Ivor. According to Marsha’s call this morning, the kid was going to be here a while. None of the relatives she’d spoken to seemed ready to add the orphaned boy to their menageries, which meant Cade needed to find a way to connect with Ivor. His horses had reached Abby. Maybe they would Ivor, too.

      Cade spared a moment to wonder why it was so important for him to connect with Ivor, then decided he was just being a good host.

      “Maybe tomorrow you’d like to go for a horse ride,” he offered. “I could teach you if you don’t know how to ride.”

      “No, thank you.” Ivor didn’t even look at him. He did turn to Ed and ask him for a rematch. The pair left the kitchen with Ivor teasing the older man and Ed thumping his cane as he rolled along in his wheelchair, just for effect.