“Sure did.”
“Why didn’t you come out to help me?”
Brandon shrugged. “You seemed to have everything well under control, so I didn’t want to intrude.”
“You wouldn’t have been intruding.”
“Are you sure about that?”
David glanced out the window and frowned. “Of course I am.”
“Who is she?”
“Matthew Murray’s sister, Caroline. She’s just here for a visit.” He shook his head. “There has to be someone I can hire.”
“Maybe, but not locally. Have you checked the newspaper? That’s where you found the first nanny, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s the first thing I did. I found the latest papers from Houston and Waco at the general store. None of the personal ads mentioned anything remotely close to a nanny, nurse or governess.”
“Governess.” Brandon held up a finger, then rounded the desk to open a drawer. “I saw something in an Austin newspaper about a governess.” He pulled out a newspaper and rifled through it. “Here it is. ‘Former governess of good reputation and character seeking Christian...husband.’ Oh. She’s a mail-order bride.”
“I didn’t say anything about marriage.” His ma had, though, countless times. She wanted her son to be happy and for her granddaughter to have a mother. Why she thought marriage would ensure his happiness after what he’d been through was beyond him, but there was no denying Maggie would love to have a mother.
“Now hold on. Don’t reject the idea without thinking about it first. You need someone to take care of the triplets until they find a permanent home, but you also need someone to help out with Maggie. This woman may have the experience you’re looking for.”
David gave him a doubtful look. “What else does the ad say?”
“‘Please inquire at—’ She doesn’t give a name. Just a PO Box in...” A wistful look flickered across his face. “Boston.”
“Well, that’s certainly straight to the point, isn’t it? Almost businesslike in a way. It doesn’t mention anything about love or feelings.” Hope started building in his chest. “Maybe I don’t have to, either.”
“What do you mean?”
“If she’s willing, we could have a marriage in name only.”
Brandon frowned. “David, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
That was too bad because the idea had real merit—not the least being the woman wouldn’t be able to run away as soon as Maggie got into trouble. If she did, she wouldn’t take his heart with him. Of course, there was a chance Maggie would get hurt if that happened. He could do his best to rule out that chance, though. In talking to this potential bride first and laying out all the parameters, they would both know from the start where they stood with each other and the marriage. There would be no passion or emotions getting in the way to confuse things. It would be a nice, straightforward marriage of convenience.
Decision made, David glanced up at Brandon. “May I borrow a pen and paper? I have a letter to write.”
Caroline had lost her mind. There was no other explanation for why her thoughts kept straying to a man she’d barely met—a stranger...with the most amazing green eyes. The comfort she’d found in David McKay’s embrace had been a blessing in the moment and downright disconcerting in retrospect.
“Caroline, the potatoes.”
Blinking away her thoughts, she refocused on the skillet filled with potatoes in danger of being burned to a crisp. She removed it from the fire and stirred frantically. “I told you I’m a disaster in the kitchen, Emma.”
“You are not.”
“I am, but you’re much too sweet to say so.” She scooped the potatoes onto the serving dish and sent her sister-in-law a smile as Matthew breezed into the room just in time for lunch. “Matt, tell your wife I’m hopeless when it comes to cooking.”
Matthew stopped in his tracks. “She has you cooking? And for Sunday dinner, too? Oh, Emma, sweetheart...no.”
Emma frowned at them both. “It’s just takes practice.”
“No amount of practice will help my sister.”
“Well, thank you for the support, Matthew. I’m not sure if I should be grateful or insulted.”
Matthew patted Caroline on the back, then kissed his wife’s cheek. “I still can’t believe we’re finally all together in my favorite place.”
“I’ve visited here before, Matthew.”
“Once. Three years ago for the wedding.”
She lifted a brow. “That’s still more frequently than you visit Austin.”
“I have a ranch to take care of.”
“And I have a job, too...” She bit her lip. She’d given up her position at the prestigious Harmony School of Music to marry Nico. “I had a job.”
Emma’s voice was soft with sympathy. “Maybe they’ll let you have it back.”
“I doubt it. Not after I handpicked my replacement. That’s fine, though. I don’t need the work.”
“You needed it,” Matthew interjected. “Just not for the money.”
She smiled. “It did give me a sense of accomplishment, I suppose, and something to do while Mother and Father were involved in their rehearsals.”
“Well, then,” Emma said. “We’ll all pray that a new opportunity presents itself soon.”
“Yes, I think we’d better.” Caroline clapped her hands. “Now, my lovely potatoes and the actually palatable food Emma cooked are getting cold. Let’s eat.”
Lunch was a simple and delicious affair. Caroline did her best to listen while Matthew and Emma conversed about the everyday ins and outs of ranch life. Her mind kept wandering back to Austin. Had the men who’d gone after Nico captured him? If so, what had happened to Lucette and that sweet little baby? She hoped they were on their way to France and that their family would welcome them. It wasn’t her concern. She knew that. Yet she would forever be grateful that Lucette had shown up to put a stop to the wedding, as harrowing as that experience had been.
Caroline couldn’t keep thinking about it, though. It would drive her crazy just as surely as her thoughts about—
“David.”
Glancing up from her plate, she met her brother’s gaze across the table. “What?”
He nodded toward his wife. “I was telling Emma that our neighbor David McKay rode by to ask how we were handling the drought. The creek that cuts through both of our properties has been running low. He has another spring closer to his ranch house. He wanted me to know he would be keeping his cattle closer to that so as not to tax the creek.”
“Oh. I...I didn’t know he was your neighbor.” So much for taking comfort in the fact that she’d likely never see the man again except for across the aisle at church like she had this morning. “Does he stop by often?”
“Now and then.” Matthew tilted his head to survey her. “I didn’t know you knew him.”
“I don’t.” Watchful silence descended on the table until