Ten Acres and Twins by Kaitlyn Rice Read Free Book Online Page B

the kitchen.
    Her helpful new friend was well on her way to becoming a cherished old friend. She had appeared on that very same porch the morning after the accident, and she’d been just asobstinate then about lending a hand. She’d pushed her way in behind a pierogi casserole, explained that she was the wife of the farmer down the road, and had commandeered the babies and the kitchen duties so Abby could deal with the tragic news.
    That morning, Abby had been too stunned to argue. She’d been baby-sitting the twins the night before, and had waited up all night for Paige and Brian’s return. She’d thought they must have decided to stay out overnight, and reasoned that they’d been having too much fun to let her know.
    She had only learned the grisly truth at dawn, after their overturned car was discovered near a dirt road just two miles from the farmhouse. The white-tailed deer Brian had swerved to avoid was found dead a few yards away, and the furrowed path in the steep embankment told the rest of the story. At first, Abby blamed herself. If only she’d thought to call someone, perhaps they could have been saved. But the coroner had said their death was immediate. He’d called it merciful.
    Abby didn’t know if a healthy young couple could die a merciful death. She only knew they were gone forever, leaving her behind with a couple of babies who would never be orphans as long as she was around.
    That night had created a deep and unhealing chasm in her memory. Everything before had become part of a past that was already lost. Everything since was the future.
    Uncertain. Frightening. As important as air.
    The delicious sound of baby cackles broke into her thoughts and led her down the hall. She discovered her neighbor and the twins—vital components of her new life—cavorting in one of the rooms she had emptied for Jack.
    Sharon now held a baby in each arm, and she was spinning lazy circles in the middle of the room. “Looks funny without Brian’s exercise equipment,” she said. “You sure about this living arrangement?”
    Abby glanced around at the generous space, unwilling to voice her turmoil. “Sure I’m sure,” she said.
    And she was, in a way. At least she was glad to know that Wyatt would be here, in this house, with her and Rosie. Abby might have snagged a rather large stray in the form of Jack Kimball, but since the baby boy she’d tried to lasso was included, it should be well worth it.
    â€œSince I volunteered to baby-sit the twins during the funeral, I’ve never met Jack,” Sharon said. She stopped turning, and caught Abby’s eye. “I assume you know what you’re getting into.”
    â€œI think so,” Abby said with a shrug. “Besides, this was the only way to keep Wyatt for the time being.”
    â€œDidn’t you say Jack was granted permanent custody?”
    â€œI did.” She pulled Wyatt away from Sharon. “He’s a bachelor, though. He has no idea what he’s getting into. I’m predicting that he’ll want out within three months.”
    Sharon frowned. “You know they can learn, right? Most men start off clueless when it comes to their first baby.”
    â€œBut Jack isn’t like most men,” Abby said with growing confidence. “He’s like Tim, my ex-husband.”
    â€œHow’s that?”
    Abby counted off the similarities on her fingers. “He likes women, he spends too much time in bars and he buys expensive, big-boy toys.”
    â€œSounds like a typical single man, if you ask me,” Sharon said. “My Earl rode a Harley before we got married. He only traded it for the tractor after our third son was born.”
    Abby swung Wyatt to her opposite arm and used her other hand to continue her tally. “Well, now I’m just guessing on these,” she said. “But I’ll bet that Jack bores easily, avoids commitment and hates