Page 4 of Piece Of Me

He pulled his rig into the driveway and parked behind his mother’s vintage jeep. He’d barely cleared the truck when two bundles of energy came flying at him.

“Daddy!” They squealed in unison, one with arms wrapped around his right leg, the other planted square in front of his left. As always, his heart melted at the sight of them, two little girls who’d come into his life because of tragedy when their parents, his sister Taylor, and her husband Matt Weaver, were killed in a car accident. They’d been six months old with no one but a brother who’d been named as guardian. A brother who still grieved the loss of his little sister.

Back then he’d been the reigning bull rider champion, a title he’d held for two years, with a career and all the money and perks that came with it. It was a good life, something any cowboy would envy. But the death of his sister changed everything. He quit the rodeo circuit and had come to Montana.

The fact the twins called him Daddy was never questioned. The day he came to Big Bend and claimed them as his own, Uncle didn’t seem to fit. The girls filled up his heart and for the past two and a half years, his world.

“We thought you forgotted about us,” the one on the left said. Ryan, with her blonde hair and big brown eyes, was a Weaver through and through.

“I know’d you didn’t.” That was from Cameron, who still clung to his right leg, her heart-shaped face wide open in a smile as she gazed up at him. She was the complete opposite of her sister with long brown ringlets and Pullman green eyes. “Gammy said you had important business.”

He laughed at that and scooped both of them under his arms and headed toward the front porch. His mother stood just inside the doorway, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, the blonde now shot through with silver highlights. An attractive lady who’d had her own share of heartbreak, she’d come to Montana with him and had never left. He dropped a kiss on her cheek and when she moved aside, set down the giggling girls.

“I thought you’d be by an hour ago,” Martha Pullman said, leading the way back to the kitchen where he smelled fresh baked apple pie. He would have taken a piece for himself, but one look from his mother made him think twice.

“That’s for a friend.”

“Noted,” he replied with a chuckle.

“Did you get everything?”

He nodded and grabbed an apple from the bowl on the kitchen table. “Sure did.”

“Perfect.” She smoothed a piece of hair that had come loose from her ponytail. “I’ll be out to the ranch early to help set up.” She looked at the twins. “Okay ladies, you two need to tidy your room.” She raised both eyebrows. “All toys in the box. Grab your bags when you’re done, I’ve already packed them up. It’s time to go home.”

Cameron and Ryan flew down the hall toward the room they shared when they slept at his mother’s place, their giggles light and infectious.

“Hard to believe they’re going to be four on Sunday.” Martha’s eyes were shiny when she turned to Taz. “Taylor and Matt would be so damn proud of the job you’ve done with them.”

A knot formed in his throat, and he had to work at it to loosen. “They make it easy, and I have you.”

She studied him for a few moments, mouth pursed. She looked as if she had something on her mind. He knew his mother well enough to know whatever the heck it was would come out eventually.

“Just say it,” Taz said, sliding onto one of the chairs. He took a bite from his apple and waited.

“I heard something is all.”

Shit. Here we go.

“Mom, you know better than anyone not to pay attention to town gossips.”

She gave him a look. Not just any look, but the look. “It’s not gossip. I got this from Noni Baxter and she’s not one to spread rumors. You’re keeping company with Nikki Salter, and everyone knows it. Your truck was in her driveway last night. Second time this month.” She paused. “All night.”

Irritated at the turn in conversation, Taz considered ignoring his mother altogether, but that notion lasted about as long as it took him to swallow the piece of apple in his mouth.

“Nikki’s a nice girl.”

“She’s got three different baby daddies.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Nothing.” Martha Pullman threw her arms un in exasperation. “Everything.”

“Geez, Ma, I thought you more than anyone wouldn’t throw shade at a woman for something like that.”

“I’m not,” she responded sharply. “Nikki Salter can have babies with whoever she wants to have babies with. That’s not what I’m getting at.”

“Then what?”

---