"Uncle J.T.!" the two little blue-eyed girls chorused as they neared. A moment later they clamored around him, and J.T. obligingly squatted so they could smother him with hugs and wet, smacking kisses.
He grinned, receiving his penance for his absence with obvious relish. "How are my favorite nieces?"
"Uncle J.T.," one of the sprites chided, eyes sparkling. "We're your only nieces!"
He tapped her on the nose and received a girlish giggle in response. "You're getting too smart for me."
Standing, he approached the other woman and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Hi, Deb."
"Hi yourself." Tilting her head to the side, she shoved her fingers into the back pockets of her jeans. "You really had everyone worried. When Kirk left at dawn to search for you I knew it was serious."
His quick, devilish smile was meant to reassure. "Your brother wouldn't dare leave you with a ranch to run and an extra hellion to raise." He punctuated that statement with a wink to his daughter.
Debbie's mouth curved with sibling fondness. "He'd better not."
Caitlan marveled at how at ease J.T. was with his family, so openly caring and warm, a direct contrast to the temperamental man who'd just accompanied her from the line shack-the man with a melange of emotions churning within him.
"Who's that, Dad?" Laura asked, nodding toward Caitlan, her eyes shimmering with questions and blatant interest.
"This is Caitlan Daniels, and I'll explain the details once we get up to the main house," he said, then began a round of introductions. "Caitlan, I'd like you to meet my daughter Laura, my sister Debbie, and my two nieces, Brittany, who is eight, and Alisha, who just turned seven," he added, pointing to the girls peeking at her curiously from his side.
Caitlan accepted each of their greetings of hello with a smile. "It's nice to meet all of you."
"You have pretty eyes," Alisha said shyly, moving closer to her mother.
"Thank you," Caitlan replied softly, too aware of J.T.'s eyes on her.
Brittany swept Caitlan with a head-to-toe inspection. "Were you with my uncle last night?"
"Honey," Debbie interrupted, trying not to grin at her young daughter's impudence, "that's not a polite question to ask."
Brittany frowned at her mother. "Why not?"
"It's okay," Caitlan said before Debbie could dredge up an appropriate answer to appease her daughter's innocent query. Addressing Brittany, she replied, "Yes, I was with your uncle last night, but only because he needed my help."
"Oh. Are you and my uncle getting married?" Brittany's delicate features were etched with solemn seriousness. "Mom is always saying that Uncle J.T. needs a wife."
Caitlan glanced at J.T. and found him staring at his niece as if he couldn't quite believe what he'd heard. Then he glanced at his sister, speculation glittering in the depths of those striking eyes. Laura giggled, and Debbie looked decidedly uncomfortable.
Brittany waited patiently for Caitlan's response, childishly ignorant of the discomfort she'd cast among the adults. "Uh, no, we're not getting married. We're just friends," she told the little girl.
J.T. cleared his throat and lifted an inquiring brow at Debbie.
"What?" she said defensively, an embarrassed flush sweeping across her cheeks. "I only mentioned it once or twice to Kirk in casual conversation. You know how the girls repeat everything they hear."
J.T. gave her a pointed look, but an amiable smile teased his mouth. "Then watch what you say," he said, his tone a gentle rebuke.
"Oh, Dad, it's not a big deal," Laura cut in, slipping her arm through his. "I'm just so glad you're home. I missed you last night." She glanced at Caitlan with a sly smile, then looked back at her father. Standing on tiptoe, she whispered into his ear, loud enough for everyone to hear, "But I understand why you stayed out, and I want to let you know that I don't mind at all. Next time, just make sure you let us know so we don't worry."
J.T.'s groan of defeat rolled into a deserving chuckle. Shaking his head, he looked at Debbie. "What happened to that angelic little girl of mine?"
"I grew up," Laura replied with a self-important smile.
"It does happen," Debbie agreed with a sigh, then offered Caitlan a friendly smile. "You two must be exhausted and hungry. Why don't we go on up to the house where it's warm?"
"Uncle Kirk said you saved my father's life. I want to hear all about it," Laura said eagerly, eyes shining.
Caitlan didn't have to see J.T.'s warning look to know he wanted her to tell his family the story he'd fabricated. As they followed the paved walkway to the house, she relayed the same story J.T. had told Kirk and Frank, with J.T. adding in the "accident" that had happened before she'd found him. Debbie and Laura expressed their gratitude hat J.T. had been so fortunate, and his life had been spared.
The group clamored into the entryway of the ranch house. A cozy warmth greeted them, mingled with the thick, fragrant smell of spicy chili, heavy yeast, and a sweeter scent of pastries.
"God, that smells good," J.T. said, shrugging out of his jacket. Hanging it in the coat closet, he helped Caitlan out of hers and added it to the rest.
"Paula's been so nervous since they started searching for you this morning that she's been cooking all your favorites," Debbie told him.
J.T. grinned, the skin around his eyes crinkling with humor. "I was hoping she would." Then, to Caitlan, he explained, "Paula cooks like there's no tomorrow when she's nervous or worried."
A woman in her mid-forties with soft blue eyes and short brown hair bustled out of a doorway, the worry on her brow vanishing when she spotted J.T. Frank followed close behind. "I thought I heard J.T. talking about me," Paula said, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist.
"I sure was," he admitted unabashedly, accepting her light, caring embrace. "I was just telling Caitlan here what a wonderful cook you are. Couldn't manage without you, Paula."
She looked him over, as if to reassure herself that he really was fine. "I'm relieved to see a black bear didn't get your onery hide."
He grinned. "Nope. They wouldn't dare mess with me."
"And this must be Caitlan." Paula grabbed Caitlan's hand and gave it a congenial squeeze, bonding an instant friendship. "Frank told me the exciting story of how you saved J.T.'s life. I'll tell you, J.T. must have had a guardian angel sitting on his shoulder!"
"I believe he did," Caitlan replied with a smile.
"Caitlan will be staying with us for a while," J.T. said brusquely, his tone suddenly businesslike.
Caitlan noticed she wasn't the only one who'd caught J.T.'s abrupt shifting of mood, as if she was stepping too close to his territory and he didn't like it and wanted distance.
Giving J.T. a purposeful look, Caitlan transferred her gaze back to Paula. "I'll try and keep out of your way while I'm here."
"Nonsense!" Paula waved a chiding hand through the air. "It'll be nice having another woman around the house."
J.T.'s lips thinned at that remark, but he remained silent.
"Hey, what about me?" Laura jumped in indignantly.
"Excuse me." Paula's gentle smile placated Laura. "I sometimes forget you're not a little girl anymore. Come on, everyone, there's plenty of food to eat."
The group started toward the kitchen. Caitlan grabbed J.T.'s shirtsleeve. He stopped, his gaze traveling from the hand on his arm to her eyes.
"Yes?" he asked tightly, moving his arm so her fingers fell away.
Caitlan ignored the tingles on her palm and the odd yet deliciously exciting shivers racing down her spine. "I need to call Parson's. May I use your phone, please?"
"Laura," J.T. called, and his daughter stopped at the doorway connecting the foyer to the dining room to look back at him. "Would you show Caitlan my office so she can use the phone?"
"Sure, Dad." Smiling, Laura nodded her head down the connecting hall. "Right this way, Caitlan."