lost,” Landon said. “I love being on a ranch. I like working outside with my hands. But if I was in your boots, I might have told you to hit the road. Our mother abandoned you and what attention she had to give anyone fell on me. You could resent me for that, but I’m glad you’re willing to give me a chance.”
“You’ve got a home here,” Pax said. “I’m getting married and moving over to the Bar C Ranch next door in a little more than a week, so even with a new baby coming, there’ll be plenty of room,” Pax said. “Your first job will be to make the tack room into your own living quarters. You should only have to sleep on the sofa a couple of nights.” As he finished talking Alana’s truck pulled into their driveway.
She parked, got out of the truck, and crossed the lawn to the porch. “Where’s Iris? I understand she’s coming over to my place. She didn’t say why, but if y’all have hurt her feelings, I’m here to whoop up on whoever did it.”
“Meet our half-brother, Landon Griffin,” Pax said, and then gave her the short version of what Landon had told them.
“We’ve got two extra beds out in the bunkhouse over on the Bar C, and Lucas is always looking for experienced hands,” Alana offered. “We could probably use his expertise a little later with the bookkeeping part of ranchin’ if things work out. Get your stuff together, Landon. I’m stealing you from the Callahans.”
Landon looked over at Pax with questions written all over his face. “Is your fiancée serious?”
“Yep,” Pax answered, and then turned to Alana. “Are you sure?”
“Yep, I’m sure,” Alana answered and turned to Landon. “I’ll call Lucas right now and tell him you’re comin’ in a few minutes. Pax and I will be married, so you’ll still be working for one of your brothers.”
“Don’t you need to check references?” Landon asked. “I have a list of them.”
“We’ll know by Tuesday night if you’re the real deal or a wannabe cowboy,” Alana said. “Two days with my foreman, Lucas, will tell the tale.”
“A word please.” Pax stood up, took Alana by the arm, and led her over behind her truck. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”
“Honey, he’s your half-brother, and that means our child has another uncle, which is good. You don’t really know him, and he could be some kind of con artist, so it’s best that he doesn’t live here on the Callahan Ranch with little Laela and your family. Lucas will see there’s a man behind his words, and if there is, we can use him on the Bar C.” She put her arms around his neck and brought his lips to hers. When the kiss ended, she said, “Let’s give him a couple of days to prove himself. I’ll feel better knowing he’s out in the bunkhouse with Lucas instead of in this house with Bridget and the baby. If he is on the up-and-up, then it’s all a win-win situation.”
“Hey, do you think I could get that ride back to town to get my things?” Landon hollered across the lawn.
“Go on and get in my truck,” Pax said and then turned his attention back to Alana. “Talk about tangled webs. Guess they extend farther back than the first of this month. I’ll call you and tell you all about it later. The crazy thing is I still got a lump in my throat at the idea of my mother being dead. I haven’t seen her since I was a little boy, but somehow, I never thought of her dying before I’d see her again.”
“She was your mother,” Alana said. “You only get one. Good, bad, or ugly, it’s natural that you’d mourn for her a little.”
“Woman, you’ve got a big heart, and you always know what to say and what to do in any situation.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll call you in a little while.”
“Don’t call me. Come and sit on the porch with me a little while when you get our television star delivered to Lucas.”
Pax chuckled and drew her close to him for another kiss. “Get us a couple of lemonades poured up, and I’ll try to be there in twenty minutes.”
“What’s goin’ on out here? Maverick said that there’s been a change in plans, and I’m not leaving tonight,” Iris asked as she stepped out onto the porch.
“Yes, ma’am.” Alana raised her voice. “I stole