Two of a Kind Read online

  “Oh. Should we go get the eggs and let her sleep?”

  Did Trey let the little girls in the henhouse? What if there were skunks and snakes?

  “Uh—”

  “I can check for bad things and get the rooster separated.” Braden came to him, handing him coffee. “Then they can gather.”

  “No nap?”

  “I got all day.” Braden was so like Trey. So much. It made him grin. Bella, now—she was going to be his girl. Court too, he thought. Amelia was her own girl, down to the bone.

  “Thanks, buddy. The help is great.” He was letting them see he could use help without letting them see him sweat. He thought.

  “Sure. Can we have burgers for lunch? Like real greasy cheeseburgers?”

  “We totally can.” If the girls were still a little off, they could have something less whoa, but he was willing to give a little.

  “Cool. Come on, little girls. I’ll get Evil Eddie out of the way.”

  “Thanks, Bubba!” All three girls tripped along behind Braden, and Ap had to shake his head. His phone chimed, and he tugged it out to look.

  Hows it doing? Howre the kids? Heading home. Coffee?

  You sure?

  Shit, he had a feeling Trey would rip him a new one for letting the kids stay home.

  Already in my truck

  Coffee then. Pls

  His heart kicked into a heavy, hard beat. Trey—well, it was complicated, but he wanted to see the guy.

  k

  Fuck. Fuck. You know what? No. No, Trey left him to deal; he was dealing. It had been three days, and no one had died. He was fine, and he wasn’t gonna act like a naughty kid.

  Trey could come home anytime he wanted, but he wasn’t gonna scream and flail, and Ap wasn’t gonna be worried.

  He wasn’t gonna feel like a kid getting checked up on either, dammit. This was just as much his place as Trey’s. More. He paid for everything, didn’t he? He was the one living on Frito pie and cheap beer.

  He set his jaw and marched off to do the last of the feeding. The damn ostriches had to eat too.

  Motherfucker.

  Chapter Six

  TREY pulled into the driveway, a caramel something or other and his mocha latte sitting beside him. He’d slept and gambled all he could, and he was ready to come home. Breathe a bit. See his babies.

  He wasn’t about to miss Cole’s first homecoming dance playing varsity and having a girlfriend. Not a chance.

  He grinned a little at the sight of Ap’s truck sitting in the space by the back kitchen door. He had a deep feeling that the idea of Ap being home was going to be easier than the reality.

  Still, a man could dream, couldn’t he?

  He headed toward the barns, frowning at the sight of the kids in the chicken coop. It was a school day.

  “Uncle Daddy!” Courtney waved madly. “Braden got rid of the rooster.”

  “Good deal. Be careful with them eggs. Are you sick?”

  “Not anymore! We’re having a baby yak day! Uncle Ap says so!”

  A baby yak day. Christ. Cole had better not have taken a damn yak day.

  “Where is Uncle Ap?”

  “Ostriches,” Braden said, leaning against the fence by the chicken coop.

  “You’re all taking a yak day?” he asked, and Braden shook his head.

  “Not Cole. He’s got football and all the spirit, well, stuff.”

  “Uh-huh. Well, enjoy it. Tomorrow’s back to normal.”

  “Yeah.” Braden gave him a smile that was way too old for a thirteen-year-old. “Gonna nap.”

  Little shit.

  “Sounds good.”

  “Uncle Ap promised burgers too.”

  “Spoilt brats.”

  Braden grinned at him, eyes twinkling in the sun. “Yessir.”

  He shook his head, trying not to build up a head of steam. He found Ap watching the ostriches eat, his face a study in surprised disgust.

  “Coffee.” He held out the caramel one. “What’s wrong?”

  He left off the “asshole.” It seemed strong to start out with.

  “These guys are just… wow.” Ap smiled for him, making him blink. “Thanks. Jenny calved.”

  “I didn’t expect that. How’s it doing?” How big is it? Is it a cow or a bull?

  “He’s great. Already suckling madly. He’s just tiny.”

  “Bella’s got to be tickled shitless. I’m gonna check him out.”

  Damn, he was hoping for a cow. Still, healthy was better than having to take it out to the pasture and shoot it. Not to mention he might be able to sell it.

  “I’ll come with. Cole went to school, but I called in everyone else.” Ap was looking a little… stubborn now.

  “I noticed. I talked to Braden and Court. I assume Bella and Amelia are in the house?”

  “Well, they were in the chicken coop.” Ap started moving fast, boots kicking up dust.

  Trey watched him go, chuckling softly. Oh, this was good. Really good.

  Almost as good as his coffee.

  Ap careened around the corner, and Trey followed, feeling like Pepe Le Pew, just wandering along, doo doo doo. The girls were with the baby yak.

  Bella was holding Amelia’s hand, both girls sitting in the hay a goodly way from Mama and Baby. When he walked in, Amelia burst into tears.

  “Uncle Daddy! You came back!” Then she flew into his arms.

  “I did! I wasn’t gonna miss Cole’s game, baby girl. You know that.” Silly girl. He hugged her tight. “Like I could leave y’all for anything.”

  “I missed you.” She snuffled and clung. When he glanced up, Bella was staring at them, nose wrinkled up.

  “How’s your new yak, Miss Bella?” She had nothing but disdain for her emotional little sister.

  “He’s so pretty, Uncle Daddy! And so strong already. I want to teach him to pull a cart!”

  “I bet you can, in the spring. Did you get the wet hay out of here and in the wheelbarrow? I don’t want to draw coyotes.”

  “Yessir. I put it with the trash you said you were going to burn, but it’s still in the wheelbarrow if you want me to move it.”

  She was amazing.

  “I got it.” He walked around to look at the little calf, which was busily nursing away. “You did good, Miss Jennifer. Real good.”

  The mama yak looked pretty placid and a lot tired. He got it. Parenting was exhausting. Hell, the first year after Tammy and Dan died, he thought he was going to turn into a puddle of goo.

  Instead, he’d gotten up every day and gone on with life.

  “Why didn’t someone stay with Courtney and the chickens?” Ap growled.

  Amelia glared at him. “Braden did. He’s old enough.”

  “Older than either of us, Uncle,” Bella pointed out.

  “Uh-huh.” Ap looked relieved, didn’t he? “Well, good.”

  “I’m going inside. I’m hungry.” Amelia was pissed, hurt in the way that only a nine-year-old in a snit could be. He couldn’t wait until she started having hormones.

  “What’s wrong with Amie?” Courtney asked. “I gotted eggs.”

  “Let me see.” He knelt down and admired the half-dozen eggs. “Go put them in the kitchen. Good job.”

  “Okay. I won’t run.” She headed off, carefully balancing the basket.

  Ap sipped the coffee Trey had handed him. “Oh, that’s good. We should all go have some food.”

  “Y’all didn’t eat? Did Cole?” God knew that kid had two workouts before he got home.

  “Cole made breakfast and had some, and I made a bag lunch with an extra sandwich for him last night,” Ap murmured.

  “Good deal. He works his ass off, that boy.”

  “He does. They’re good kids.” Ap walked next to him, never quite looking at him.

  “Yep. For the most part. Bella! Come eat!”

  “But—”

  “Now!”

  “Yessir.”

  Bella streaked past them like a lightning bolt. Lord, t
hat girl was all legs.

  Ap glanced at him sideways finally. “You pissed?”

  “Nope.” He didn’t let them argue. He didn’t have the luxury of that shit.

  “No, I mean at me. For letting them have a day off. We were just totally discombobulated.”

  He thought about it, but fuck, how many days had Cole missed until he’d got his feet under him? “I’ll forgive you, man. This once.”

  “Thanks.” Ap snorted. “I’m totally out of my league.”

  “No one’s dead. That’s a win.” At least usually. He walked into the kitchen, where four of the thirteen-and-under set were making oats.

  No one was dead. Still. Or burned. The eggs were where they belonged. Hallelujah.

  “So what’s happened since I was gone?”

  “There was a baby yak. The girls had a stomach bug. Cole and I are going to get his tux and mum. Are mums still butt ugly?”

  “Depends on who you ask, I guess. They’re sure more expensive.”

  “Damn.” Ap shook his head. “I guess they all need the hoopla just like we did.”

  “Yeah. Cole’s over the moon about this little girl. It’s nuts.”

  “Is that not like him?” Ap raised an eyebrow.

  “This is the first serious one. We’ve had a few crushes, but this one? She met me.”

  “Huh. I’m supposed to meet her today for, uh, a cupcake I think. Is it true we have a cupcake food truck?”

  “Yep. We’re fancy now.” He was going to the Range for breakfast tomorrow. By himself.

  “Wow. Did Braden tell you I said burgers for lunch?”

  “He did. He was excited.” Skip day from school, burgers for lunch, new mini yak—the kids had to be out of their minds.

  “You’re coming, right? I thought we’d go to Blake’s.”

  “Of course I’m coming. I’m not missing hooky baby yak day.”

  Ap peered at him, clearly wondering if he was pissed off.

  Christ, was he that big of a jackass? What had the kids said about him? “I’ll go grab my sh… stuff from the truck and start some laundry.”

  He headed outside, his head down. He needed to burn off that hay and check horses. That would require his work boots.

  “You need some help?” Ap had followed him out to the porch, watching him. “Did you have breakfast?”

  “I didn’t, no. The buffet at the Tamaya is pricey, and I wanted to come home.”

  “Well, come on and eat. I can make eggs if oats are too oaty.” Now Ap was smiling again. It was like a swing. Up. Down.

  He didn’t get it. Then again, what did he get? He wanted Ap. He wanted the little bastard to ride him like a prized pony. That had never changed.

  He admired that lean, compact body as Ap moved back inside, and he followed like he’d forgotten what he’d gone out for to begin with.

  What the hell was wrong with him?

  He sat at the kitchen table, where Braden handed him toast and a bowl of oats. Ap moved around, scrambling eggs he’d cracked into a bowl. Somewhere, Trey had veered off to la-la land.

  “Uncle Daddy, did you have fun on your vacation?” Amelia asked.

  “I did, but I wanted to come home. I missed y’all.”

  “We missed you too! Uncle Ap doesn’t know how to divide the TV time!”

  “Does he not?”

  “Nope. Cole tried to help, but Braden hogged.” Courtney was happy to throw her brothers under the bus if it got her in good with Amelia.

  Amelia nodded happily. “He was a butthead.”

  “I was not,” Ap shot back, then laughed when Amelia squealed.

  Amelia went to Ap when the man opened his arms. “Love you, Uncle.”

  Bella rolled her eyes. “Can I go back to the barns, Uncle Daddy? Please?”

  “If you’re careful. Take one of the walkies with you.” They had a ton of little walkie-talkies set to the same frequency. Easier than phones.

  “I will. I’ll see you out there.” And she was gone.

  Courtney stared between the door and Amelia, over and over.

  “Why don’t you and Ames go watch Princess Sofia?”

  “Can we watch Moana?” Amelia asked.

  “Sure, baby. That’s fine.”

  “Yay! Amie, come help me set up the TV!” They thundered off, giggling.

  He pushed away the oats. “Smells good.”

  “I can make some sausage too.”

  “Please. I didn’t even get my bag. Christ, I swear I didn’t drink all that much.” A few beers, not even enough to be a thing.

  “Huh?” Ap’s eyebrows both went up. “I don’t care if you swam in a pool of beer, man. Taking time off always makes a man feel weird when he comes back.”

  “Yeah. I wonder if you can do that, swim in beer.” It had bubbles, he guessed.

  “I have no idea. They put people in giant champagne glasses in Vegas.”

  “Yeah? That’s all cool.” He stood up and headed for the truck again. He didn’t need to be imagining Ap’s little ass in a champagne glass.

  “Uncle Daddy?” Braden followed him this time. “What can I do to help?”

  He smiled at his youngest boy. “Help me unload the car? I got y’all some goodies.”

  He’d stopped and found the three little girls Pendleton blanket horses and Braden a new hoodie. Cole he’d found a pair of silver earrings for his girlfriend.

  “Oh, thank you! You didn’t go far, did you?”

  “You know me, son. I need to be able to see the ranch at all times.”

  “I know.” Braden grabbed his bag and his boots. “Uncle Ap is cooking for you.”

  “Is he a decent cook or should I be careful?”

  “He’s actually real good at breakfast. Cole was the one who wanted oats this morning.” Braden pulled a face.

  “I need to teach him omelets.” Every kid should know one egg dish.

  “Yep. He needs to branch out. Uncle Ap can make dutch babies.”

  “No shit?”

  “Uh-huh. He says Gran used to make them when him and…. Dad? Daniel is my dad?”

  “Yep. Tammy was your momma. Daniel was your dad.”

  “Cool. He says Dad knew how too. He said he would teach us all.”

  “That would be neat. You can teach it to your kids one day.”

  Braden groaned. “You keep saying that.”

  “Do I?” He opened the door and grabbed his bag. “I’m going to start laundry.”

  “Aren’t you gonna eat?”

  The smells coming from the kitchen were amazing. Sausage and eggs and toasted bread.

  “You know what? I am. It smells so good.” And he was starving, and all his kids but Cole were home. Hell, if he didn’t know Cole wouldn’t thank him for it, he’d pull his eldest out for lunch.

  Maybe they could drop off a hamburger. That would make Cole both embarrassed and pleased.

  He dumped the dregs of his sweet coffee in a mug and added another hot black on top. “Smells great, Ap.”

  “Thanks.” Ap handed him a piled-high, steaming-hot plate.

  “Oh damn, look at this, Braden. It’s a feast!”

  “Do I get—” Braden laughed when Ap handed him a plate.

  “Thank you. I’ll share with the girls if they come in.”

  “I made a big batch. Eat up.” Ap leaned against the kitchen counter with a plate and a fork.

  “You’re allowed to sit at the table, Ap. I swear.”

  “Huh? Oh, sorry.” Ap tugged out a chair with his foot. “I forget there’s tables and chairs sometimes.”

  “I know, this whole house thing is strange and odd…,” he teased.

  “It totally is. No damage deposit….” Ap winked over.

  “Oh man, is that a thing? I should charge Bella.”

  “It is in a lot of places cowboys frequent. I think we might be a bit careless.”

  “Rowdy.” He knew all about trouble, or he had, once upon a time. Obviously he’d forgotten how to get into that.


  “Ass—uh, jerks.” Ap laughed when Braden rolled his eyes.

  “Bella wants to be a cowboy when she grows up, you know.” Hopefully she wouldn’t ride the rodeo, although she could fly in the saddle already. She’d won a couple junior events.

  “I know. I thought I might work with her a little.” Ap said it casually, but there was hope in it.

  “She would love that, if you have time.” Part of him wanted to tell Ap not to overpromise, though. The man wasn’t staying.

  “Cool.” Ap beamed, and he realized he wanted Ap to be careful on his own behalf too. If he got too close, he might compromise his ride.

  Lord, he needed to stop thinking and eat. Men like him didn’t have enough brain cells to worry on their… well, Ap was like a child-rearing partner or a silent partner or something. See? No thinking. Eat.

  Braden was right. Ap was a pretty good breakfast short-order cook. Yum.

  He ate every bite with gusto, looking up to see Ap staring at him. His cheeks heated, but he had damn near eighty pounds on the pocket cowboy. Eighty pounds and twelve inches, for chrissake. He needed his energy.

  Ap didn’t do more than smile, so maybe he was just being paranoid. This whole thing was weird, and it was his fault.

  He should have just sucked it up, but that day had been the last straw. He hadn’t even been able to shower without interruption.

  The three nights at the hotel had been a balm to his soul. Trey found himself blinking at his empty plate. “I reckon I ought to get to work.”

  “I’m going to nap. That’s okay, right?” Braden asked, and Trey nodded.

  “Just this once, I guess. I’m going to be in the barns if y’all need me.” He needed to look everything over.

  “I guess I’ll keep an eye on the girls.” Ap kinda looked deflated.

  “What are they going to do, Uncle? They’re right here. No one wants to be stuck in the house.” Braden was so sure of himself, still young enough to not worry about what everyone thought.

  “True.” Ap brightened. “Want some company?”

  “Surely. I need to get out there before Bella decides to burn the trash.”

  “Well, shit. I’m coming.” Ap had stuck all the dishes in the washer, so that was good.