Ranch Manny - B.A. Tortuga Page 0,12

eyes around the kitchen. “Apples and peanut butter for afternoon snack?”

“Oh.” Caro clapped her hands. “Please?”

“Totally.” He fed the baby another bite. “What do you need me to do today? Watch kids? Make supper?”

Brent sighed and rubbed his forehead like he had a headache. “Bald Harold is making brisket, so we’ll need sides, if you’re interested. I really do have to deliver that horse, but then I can come back and we can watch the kids and hammer out some sort of plan.”

“Fair enough.” Potato salad, corn, coleslaw if there was cabbage. He could do that. Cornbread even.

“Holler at Harold if you need anything from the grocery. He’s at the store now, I think.” Brent scribbled a number down for him.

“Harold. Got it.” This baby girl liked her food and ate like a dream. She smacked her lips and giggled at him, and Trace was in love already. “Oh, you are a sweetheart. We’re going to have such fun.”

“She’s a doll, but when she melts down it’s nuclear.” Brent winked, and there was pure wickedness in the twinkle in the bright blue eyes, then he popped the last of lunch into his mouth. “You got this?”

“Yes, sir. I’m on top of it, and I’ll have Curly’s help.”

That earned him a rolling of the eyes and a smirk. “You will. I’ll be back in about two hours. Honestly, call me or Harold if you need anything.”

“I will. I could handle thirty kids in a classroom. I ought to be able to do four in a fenced-in area.” He gave Brent a smile, hoping that it was a comfort.

“Okay. I gotta go.” Brent stood, then passed around kisses, including a loud one on top of Jakob’s head and one on Susannah’s cheek. “Be good for Mr. Trace. He’s going to help out, okay? Mind him better than you would me.”

Jakob laughed a little maniacally.

Brent actually sort of ran out of the house, and Trace chuckled.

“So, how’s the itching? Better?”

“Yeah. Caro got more than me,” Jakob said. “She fell into the new clubhouse and got stuck.”

“She soaked well. Caro, if you start itching, let me know. I’ll put salve on it.” He cleaned the baby’s face. “Do you know if Daisy takes a bottle, Jakob?”

“Um. Yes? There are some in the fridge. Daddy Brent does them every morning.”

“Good deal. Thank you.” Jakob was on it, he had to say. Kids who lost people did tend to grow up fast, he guessed. Maybe it was ranch kids. Maybe it was just when he wasn’t having to deal with thirty at a time. He’d figure it out. The kids would help, no question. “How’s the mac and cheese?”

“Good.” Jakob grinned. “I like it better after.”

“Me too. The flavor settles and it’s cheesier.” Trace thought that was what Jakob meant by after. Second day. Like soup. Mmm. Soup.

“Yes!” Jakob reached out to fist-bump him.

“Is there more?” Caro asked. “’M hungry.”

“Sure. Anyone else?” He took Caro’s plate and added another spoonful of mac and cheese.

“Me, Dad-O!” Susannah brought him her plate.

“Okay, but just half a spoon, huh?” She’d had a big breakfast, and she would get a tummy ache if he let her eat too much.

“Do y’all want to get your coats on and play outside after lunch or watch a movie?”

“Movie!” That was quite a chorus. Even Daisy waved her little arms like she knew what they were saying. That was definitely a quorum. He hoped Curly liked cartoons.

“No more plants,” Jakob said darkly.

“No more plants.” He kept a straight face, but it was tough. He could understand them wanting to take it easy after their hard morning, though. “What do y’all want to watch?”

“Fraggle Rock, Dad-O?”

“That’s an option for sure.” He hated to just say yes and have someone throw a fit. Kids could be very show specific, and he wasn’t interested in a three-child temper tantrum.

“What’s Fraggle Rock?” Caro asked.

Trace chuckled. Oh, this was going to be fun to explain. “It’s a show with puppets and—”

“My favorite is Mokey! She’s nice and sweet and she sings songs!”

“Let’s watch that.” Jakob ducked his head, his cheeks pink, and Trace thought maybe Jakob was in love with his girl a little. Who wouldn’t be? Susannah was the light of Trace’s life.

“Sure. Let me check on Curly and run out to the car and grab the DVDs.”

“Curly will have a nap with us,” Caro said.

“I’ll watch Daisy,” Jakob murmured.

“Let me put her bouncy chair on the floor. I’ll be right back.” It would take him five minutes