Carson laughed. “Give me the days you’ll be gone. We’ll ignore his calls. Though, I gotta say, I feel for him. Carolyn left me with all six kids for five days once.”
Her look of surprise was there and gone. “Really?”
“Yeah. Keely was…two. Cord was fifteen. Back then Caro did all of the house stuff. I mean, it wasn’t that she raised the kids by herself while I ranched, it’s just—”
“Carson, it’s okay.” Domini patted his leg. “No judgment from me. So what happened?”
“The better question is what didn’t happen?”
She groaned.
“So when Cam is feelin’ all kinds of cocky about how easy it is keepin’ six kids in line with no break from the other parent for days on end, ask him about the time his mother left me in charge because I guarantee he’ll remember.”
Domini smiled. “Thank you. One of these days I’d like to hear what happened straight from the horse’s mouth. I have a feeling I won’t get the whole story from my husband.” She stood. “I won’t keep you. I do have munchkins to herd.”
“Thanks for comin’ by, Domini.”
She crouched in front of him. “I know you have a dozen people you can call. But if there’s anything you need, day or night, or even if you just need someone to listen to you, remember you can call me. Being married to Cam, being part of the McKays, has given me everything I ever wanted and if I can pay that back, even in a small way, let me know.”
“I might take you up on that.”
“I hope you do.” She patted his hand. “And if you want to eat all those cookies in one sitting? It’ll be our little secret.”
Carson limited himself to two more cookies. The sugar buzz wore off and he started to crash. He stretched out, his mind flipping back and forth between what dumb thing Cam might’ve said to the mother of his children and that summer Carolyn had left him in charge…
Five days. With all six kids. By himself.
He could do this.
Couldn’t he?
You deal with five hundred head of cattle every day. Wrangling six kids? Piece of cake.
Famous last words.
Carson stowed Carolyn’s suitcase behind the driver’s seat. The boys were lined up by age on the walkway to the porch, as Mama McKay said goodbye to her cubs. At fifteen Cord was already taller than his mother. A gangly kid, all arms and legs, and a deeper voice, but not yet to the stage where his mother’s affection embarrassed him. At age thirteen Colby was almost the same size as Cord, with a stockier build, and he was obsessed with all things rodeo. Ten-year-old Colton was the instigator of the bunch, but he managed to charm his way out of trouble. The kid was also a brawler—such a chip off the old block; he and Cal had to bust up fights between Colt and Kane at least every couple of weeks. Eight-year-old Cameron and six-year-old Carter were still too young to be much help on the ranch, but they found trouble more often than not, which meant they were tasked with entertaining Keely.
Oh, his two-year-old baby girl had her five brothers twisted around her chubby little fingers. All she had to do was bat those big blue eyes, flash her dimpled smile, toss those black ringlet curls or stomp her foot and her protectors came running.
When Carolyn said, “Listen up,” Carson refocused.
Carolyn picked Keely up and propped her on a hip. “You boys will bathe when I’m gone.”
“Aw man, do we have to?” Colt complained.
“Yes. And dunking each other in the stock tank doesn’t count.”
Colby nudged Cord. Cord shoved him back, knocking him into Colt and Cam.
“Boys,” Carson said sharply. “Quit horsin’ around and listen to your mother.”
“You will be respectful to each other, to the house, and most importantly you will help your father with whatever he needs.”
“Hey, wait. Who’s cookin’ for us?” Colby asked suspiciously.
“Dad is,” Cord said with a snicker.
“Dad?” Colt looked horrified. “But he don’t know how to cook nothin’.”
“There’s plenty of sandwich fixings and meals in the freezer.”
“And cookies?” Cam asked hopefully.
“Yes, cookies, but just like when I’m home, cookies only after chores are done.”
“Mama, do I have chores?” Carter asked.
“Yes. You’ll be in charge of feeding the dogs. Have your brothers show you what to do.” Carolyn looked over at Carson and he tapped his watch. She nodded and kissed the top of Keely’s head before she set her down. “Now, come and give me hugs.”
They swarmed her. Then they shouted goodbye and raced inside, Cord bringing up the rear after he’d scooped Keely up and carried her into the house.
She stared at the closed door for several long moments before she walked over to him.
Carson pulled her into his arms. “Sorry about your Aunt Hulda, sugar.”
“Thanks. I’m sure it’ll hit me that she’s really gone when Kimi and I are dividing up her belongings.”
“You think you can get it all done in five days?”
“Aunt Hulda was very organized. Everything is in a storage facility, boxed and labeled where it’s supposed to go. Kimi and I just have to contact the recipients. And meet with the lawyer to hear her will.” Her shoulders shook and a sob escaped.
He rubbed circles on her back and rested his chin on her head, feeling so helpless and wanting to make her sadness disappear.
She tilted her head back and looked at him. “Sorry to be blubbering on you.”
“I don’t like wearin’ your tears unless they’re happy ones, but you’ve a right to your grief. I know she meant a lot to you.” He curled his hands around her face and wiped away her tears.
“It’ll be good for Kimi and me to be able to talk about her on the drive.”
“Are any of your brothers goin’ to the funeral?”
“No. That makes me sad because she’s the only family we ever had besides each other.”
“I know how that goes. My dad was my grandparents’ only child to survive to adulthood. My mom’s entire family got wiped out in the flu epidemic and she ended up an orphan. It’s good you had your aunt as long as you did.”
“You are such a sweet man.” She pressed her mouth to his. “I’ll miss you.” Another couple of soft kisses. “So, so much.”
“Don’t know how I’m gonna function with my heart gone,” he murmured gruffly against her mouth. “I love you, Caro.”