Page 21 of Snowed in with the Rancher

“Good. Let's go on in and let everyone know.”

Tate followed the older man up the stairs to the porch. He felt relieved to have an excuse to get away from the house—and then guilty for being relieved. It wasn't that he didn't like being around Olivia and the kids, but he spent every second worried that he was going to mess something up. Even if everyone went out to the woods together, at least they'd have an activity to keep them occupied, and other people around to keep an eye on the twins so the responsibility wouldn't feel so heavy on him.

Frankly, compared to fatherhood, wrestling a frightened deer out of a couple of feet of snow sounded easy.

* * *

Olivia smiled as she rode on the back of Tate's ATV. Each of the Andrews had taken a twin behind them on their ATVs, and Lobster had been left at the cabin because no one wanted him to frighten the already distressed deer.

When the guys had said where they were going, Olivia's heart had leaped at the possibility of getting out of the cabin. While she'd enjoyed the chance to talk to Tate, and telling him about the girls had been a relief of sorts, she needed a break from the intensity of being locked up in the cabin with the man she thought she'd never see again. She needed a chance to get out and take a breath. Luckily, Marjory had seemed to intuit Olivia's needs and informed the men that everyone was going to come along to rescue the deer.

Marjory was a cheerful, caring woman who reminded Olivia a bit of her late mother. She'd come bustling into the cabin upon arrival, asking after the girls, checking out Jackie's ankle, and taking Olivia aside to make sure she was comfortable with Tate as a host. She'd started to give a full testimonial about how long she'd known Tate and how trustworthy he was, but once Olivia explained that they'd actually known each other from years ago, Marjory had seemed to relax.

Now, Vince slowed his ATV down and pulled over under a grove of trees. Up ahead, Olivia could see where a big slab of snow had slid off the edge of the trail they were following.

“That'll be where she is,” Vince said as the rest pulled to a stop. Olivia couldn't help noticing the way Tate's arm muscles flexed beneath her hands as she climbed off the ATV.

“All us girls will just stay here unless you need more help,” Marjory said. Vince and Tate agreed and walked off to the site of the snow slide to assess the deer's situation.

“Mommy, can we make a snowman?” Jackie asked.

“Of course, hon, just stay where I can see you,” Olivia answered.

Marjory smiled as the girls headed a few feet away, and then she opened a thermos she'd pulled from the case on the back of her ATV. Next, she pulled out two tin mugs and poured steaming, dark liquid into each one.

“Here you go,” she said, handing one to Olivia.

Oliva smiled as she lifted her cup to let the steam rise to her nose. “Oh!” She jerked in surprise.

Marjory laughed. “Yes, it's coffee with a kick. That whiskey will warm your toes, and you're not driving.” She winked as she took a sip of her own Irish coffee. “So you say you and Tate met on a cruise a few years back?” she asked.

“Yes,” Olivia answered, wondering just how much of their past to reveal. She didn't want to step on Tate's toes by oversharing with people he worked with, but she also knew that eventually, in such a small town, everyone would find out that the twins were his. She decided to stick to the simplest version of the truth. “We met the first day and then hung out, did some shore activities together, had dinner most nights. But we didn't stay in touch afterward because I had to leave the cruise very suddenly due to a family emergency.”

Marjory watched the girls playing as she murmured, “Mm-hmm.” Jackie tossed a handful of snow at Melissa, who stood, serious expression on her face as she appraised the rudimentary snowman they'd made so far.

“How many years ago did you say this was?” Marjory asked.

“Five.” Olivia buried the answer in another mouthful of coffee, but she saw a keen look in Marjory's eye.

The older woman watched the girls for another moment, then turned and gave Olivia a kind smile. “You know I retired from the local school district a few years ago.”

Olivia waited, wary.

“I started in the health office of the elementary school, then moved to being secretary at the high school. I've known Tate since he was a tiny little mite. Five or six years old.”

Olivia's breath caught at the calculating gleam that entered Marjory's gaze now.

She gestured at Melissa. “He used to get that very same expression on his face when he was working on something on the playground. That little scowl, and the same set to his chin.”

Olivia's heart raced as she cleared her throat.

“Does he know?” Marjory asked.

Olivia words were momentarily stuck, so she nodded.

“Has he always known?”

“No! Oh, no, I wouldn't want you to think… He had no idea, honestly. We didn't know how to find each other. I tried, but…” Her voice faded as her cheeks heated. “It was a vacation, you know?” She shrugged. “I knew the state he was from, but not the town. Knew his first name, but not his last. Knew a handful of details about his family, but nothing that gave me any leads.”

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