Country Romance - Carolyne Aarsen Page 0,24

a quick wave over her shoulder at Mrs. Flikkema, who was watching them leave, her arms crossed.

Adele wondered if she would rush back to her house as soon as they left and get the gossip mill going.

Don't think the worst. It’ll all be fine, she said to herself as she turned toward the grocery store.

At the grocery store no one acted like they knew Wyatt’s twins.

Half an hour later she was pulling up to the ranch, parking beside her little car.

It took her a few trips to get everything in the house. Wyatt wasn't inside, and she hoped he was okay. He was still shaky this morning. Once everything was put away, she figured she might as well take the kids outside and see if she could find him.

It took her a bit to get the kids dressed up to play in the snow, but they were patient with her tugging and zipping. Finally they headed out, the girls squealing like monkeys that had been let out of their cage.

"Can we go sliding?" Maya called out to Adele as Maria and Dean tossed snow at each other.

"Where?"

"I know where," Maya said, and without another word took off across the yard, Maria right behind her.

Dean, once again, was right with them, laughing as they ran.

"Hold off," Adele called out when she heard the tractor approaching the yard. Wyatt was probably feeding the cows again. "I hear your dad in the tractor."

They waited for her and she scurried to catch up, grabbing their hands.

"Snow over dere," Maya said, pointing with one mittened hand.

"Let’s go sliding," Maria called out when she saw the pile of snow by the shop. She ran ahead of them, her toque askew. Maya was right on her heels.

But Dean held back this time.

"It's okay, buddy, you can go with them," Adele encouraged him. He hesitated another moment and then, sensing something was wrong, Adele knelt down in front of him. "What's the matter, sweetie?"

"For how long are we staying here?"

"I'm not sure." She wished she could tell him more, but things were still so uncertain.

"Are you staying with my daddy?"

Adele's heart twisted at the question.

"Dean, come play," Maya called out, saving her from replying. For now.

"Why don't you go play with the girls," Adele said, cupping his cheek with her hand. She gave him a gentle kiss, then, satisfied by her gesture, Dean ran off to join the girls.

The twins were already clambering up the pile, squealing and laughing, their voices echoing around the yard. The sun shone, creating sparkles on the snow, catching twinkling glimmers of light from the snow the girls tossed about.

Adele stood back, watching, smiling at the sight of Dean playing with the girls. Despite their unfinished conversation, he seemed happy.

For a moment she envied him. If all went well, he would stay here. And if it didn't? If the results came back negative?

She slammed a door on those thoughts. She didn't dare think that far ahead. Sally couldn't have led her wrong.

The ponderous drone of the tractor's diesel engine grew louder, and Adele glanced behind her to see Wyatt driving the tractor up to the gate.

"You guys stay here," she called out to the kids. "I'm going to help your dad.”

The kids just nodded, more than content to stay where they were. Adele jogged through the snow across the yard and got to the gate just as Wyatt did. She made quick work of unlatching the chain hooking the gate together and swung it open, the gate screeching as she did. Wyatt waved his thanks, then drove through. She waited till he was on the other side then closed it up again.

Wyatt drove the tractor to the shop and again she was ahead of him, pulling on the heavy chain to open the large overhead door.

He drove it inside, the roar of the diesel echoing in the large shop. She let the door down, the chain clanking as she did, checking on the kids just before the door slid down. The kids were oblivious, sliding up and down the hill on their snow pants, still laughing and having a great time. The door slid shut and she couldn't see them anymore.

Wyatt got out of the tractor and pulled off his gloves, walking over to her.

"Thanks for the help," he said. "You know your way around the ranch."

"I’ve opened enough gates and enough shop doors. I know the drill. Stay a few steps ahead of the tractor and out of its way."

He smiled at