Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
Robyn
The truck door had just closed when the front door of the house before her opened and two tiny people ran out only to stop short and look up at her.
“Is Mister Rooster your Daddy?” the little boy asked, lifting his hand to point up at Winston.
Evidently not to be outdone, the little girl lifted her finger but pointed it at Robyn’s ankle. “Do you have a boo-boo?”
“George, Gloria, it’s not nice to point.” This was said by a woman Robyn had seen a few times and she realized the twins belonged to her.
“It’s okay, Moira, they are just precious,” Robyn said before looking down at the twins. “I hurt my ankle and this nice cowboy is helping me.”
“Yeah”—George gave a nonchalant shrug—“my Daddy always says we have to be extra nice to girls.”
Winston chuckled. “Your Daddy is a very wise man.”
“Thank you,” Jagger said as he stepped out of the house to join his family. When Gloria lifted her arms, he scooped her up and even before George’s rose, he was also lifted to sit on his Daddy’s other hip.
“Or else you’ll have to sit in the corner and that’s boring,” George stated as if it was a simple fact of life.
Robyn found it hard not to laugh at the look of dislike puckering the boy’s lips. “I imagine it would be. I heard you have some horses?”
“We have lots!” George said, throwing his arms wide.
“Mr. Rooster helped Daddy and Mister Derek and Mister Moses save them,” Gloria said, her beautiful blue-green eyes round with wonder.
“He did. It’s awfully nice of your Daddy and Mommy to take care of them. I’d love to see the horses. Can you show me?”
Both twins’ strawberry-blond heads bobbed as they directed their Daddy to take them to the horsies. For a man who looked as if he could fell a man with a simple glare, Jagger was like a giant gentle bear when it came to his kids.
While Jagger carried his twins, Rooster carried her. When she insisted on being set on the top rail of the corral, he’d allowed it but stood behind her with his hands at her waist ready to yank her back to safety if needed.
Robyn had seen lots of horses while in Montana, but seeing wild mustangs was a totally new level of amazement. They were regal in their posture. When they milled around a brown mare, she smiled.
“They remind me of my friends,” she said.
“Because she has a boo-boo too?” Gloria asked as she pointed to the horse.
Robyn laughed as she realized the horse had a brace wrapped around her foreleg. “She does, but I meant all of them. See how they circle around but stay close to each other? It’s like they want to make sure they are near in case anyone needs help.” She looked over to where the kids sat on the rail beside her, Jagger’s hand on each of their waists. “Just like your brother and Daddy are always ready to help you and your Mommy.”
“I’m a big girl,” Gloria said with a pout.
“I know you are. Want to know a secret?”
The pout disappeared as she nodded emphatically. Leaning toward her, Robyn spoke softly, “I’m an even bigger girl but it sure is nice knowing that if I get scared or need help I’m not alone. Mister Rooster and my friends are ready to come help any time I need. Isn’t that nice?”
Gloria didn’t even hesitate. She lifted a small hand and patted her Daddy’s cheek. “It is, right, Daddy?”
“It sure is, sweetpea.”
Robyn giggled. This tiny tot had her Daddy wrapped completely around her little finger. Just like Sadie, Hayleigh, Wren, Moira, and even Nanny J had their husbands ready to defend them to the death if need be. It was something Robyn had always wanted and when she felt Rooster’s hold tighten around her, she finally began to believe she could have it too.
Lunch was hamburgers and hotdogs along with chips, apple slices and grapes. Lemonade was served in the cutest little glasses that had dancing lemons on them. When Robyn remarked on them, she and Moira spent a half hour discussing their best finds at garage sales.
“There’s a huge community sale coming up in Porter’s Corner next weekend. It started out small but word spread and now people from all over come and set up tables. There’s even vendor booths selling food and drinks and a bouncy house for the kids.”
“Well, I don’t think I’ll be doing much bouncing, but I’d love to go. I swear I can lose track of time just digging in old boxes and trunks.” Robyn turned to where Rooster was talking to Jagger, waiting for a pause in the conversation before asking, “Do you like rummage sales?”
“I do if you do,” he said.
It might be silly, but she totally believed him. “Great! Then it’s a date.”
“A double date,” Moira said. “We were already planning on going. We’ll let the kids do some bouncing to drain some of that energy and then take them over to Gram’s house. We can meet you at Leroy’s Place for lunch if you’d like?”
“That sounds perfect. By then my guests will be fed and off to do whatever they wish.”
When Moira announced it was naptime, the twins insisted that they needed a story and that Miss Robyn should read it. Robyn had no objection and wound up sitting on Rooster’s lap in the rocking chair in a large, sunny nursery reading not one book but two, because George informed her that they each got to choose a story. By the time she closed the second book, little eyes were drifting shut. Rooster stood and carried her back to the living room while Moira and Jagger put their children to bed.
“Do you think everyone in Montana has swings on their porches?” Robyn asked as Rooster carried her outside.
“I’d sure hope so. There is a lot to be said for having a comfortable place to just sit and watch the world go by. A swing or some rocking chairs scream ‘stop and visit a while’. Out here people know their neighbors by name. In the city, I find that people might know they have neighbors but couldn’t pick their faces out of a line-up.”
Not wanting to think about sad things, she said, “It’s much better to have neighbors who are true friends.” Pushing the urge to hesitate aside, she looked up at him. “The only thing I can think of that would be better would be to have a friend who turned into a Daddy.”
Rooster looked down at her, his lips slowly curling into a smile. “Does this mean you’re ready to take that step?”
“It cock-a-doodle does,” Robyn managed before giggling.
“Little bird, you just made me the happiest man on the planet.” He bent down and kissed her which made Robyn pretty much the happiest woman on the planet as well.
She had no clue Jagger had stepped out onto the porch until she heard, “Nix on the coffee, baby bear. I think our guests are leaving.”
Breaking apart, Robyn blushed but didn’t bother to even try to hide it. Jagger knew what happiness was. Rooster stood as Moira joined her husband, her smile wide.
“Thanks for everything,” Robyn said, waving as Rooster did what roosters do. He strutted all the way back to the truck.