The Rancher's Nanny

She worked all the time, and he also knew for a fact that she was awake most nights. She did sleep though. There had been a couple of occasions he’d seen her passed out, curled up on her bed. She’d left the door open, and he’d been unable to resist sneaking in, putting a blanket over her and spending a few minutes just watching her sleep.

“Well, fuck me hard,” Mike said, coming up beside him on his horse.

“No, thank you. That’s your wife’s job.”

Mike burst out laughing.

Caleb watched as his daughter circled the pen on her horse, where she was training with one of the more expert ranch hands, Ryan. In just a month of having Maddie in his home, his daughter had changed in a way. Her hair was no longer falling all around her shoulders, causing a mess and getting all manner of things in it. She had it neatly brushed and tight to her head in one of those fancy plaits that started at her head and ran the length of her hair. She also didn’t run everywhere in the house. She’d take her boots off, wash her hands, and he’d stand outside of the kitchen door, listening as she spoke to Maddie about her day.

The two had become close friends, and he liked that.

His mother had said to give Maddie a chance, and he’d even checked out her references from all of the families she’d been with before. Her work ethic was impeccable, not that he’d doubted it.

He found he wanted to know everything about her, to understand her more.

“That nanny you’ve got back at your place sure knows how to cook. My Martha was saying as well that Paige is growing up so fast, and she’d stopped many of her boy traits.”

Martha was Mike’s wife.

“I should have known she needed a woman’s touch.” Just thinking about Ivory left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“You can’t blame yourself for everything.”

“If the condom hadn’t broken, I wouldn’t have had to marry her.”

“If the condom hadn’t broken, Caleb, you wouldn’t have one amazing daughter. She’s a gem, and I see that she makes you smile. Now, none of us liked Ivory. She was a first-class bitch who only wanted to have fun, and we all know this is not how a ranch works. Without her, you wouldn’t have Paige.”

And without Paige, he wouldn’t have the few stolen moments with Maddie. They were few and far between. She always made sure he had a mug of hot chocolate to take to bed at night. His home was always sparkling clean, and his mother was so damn happy. She’d been struggling to deal with the keeping of the house and the cooking duties, not to mention taking care of Paige.

Within a month of Maddie being with them, that had all turned around. Even her principal had called him, and said that Paige’s attention had seen a marked improvement. He knew it was all to do with Maddie. The moment they got home, and Maddie was dealing with dinner, she helped Paige do her homework.

Once that was done, Paige would come out and find him, telling him all about her day. Of course, he loved hearing about it, but it was the time she talked about Maddie that got him curious.

She’d become the woman he thought about all the time. He wanted her; there was no doubt about that. He wanted her more than any other woman in his life.

“I know.” He nodded at his brother but didn’t say another word.

Time was getting away from them, and he waited for Paige to finish her lesson before they took their horses back to the stable. Maddie had already laid the table outside, and men were eating the food she’d placed on large serving platers.

All of the men adored Maddie as well, and they certainly appreciated her food. He saw Martha was there as well, and his brother’s kids.

When the ranch hands left, and it was only his family, they stayed outside as it was a Saturday evening. Maddie sat watching them all.

Mike and Martha were curled up in a chair together as all the kids laughed and danced. Moving his chair, Caleb sat down beside Maddie so she was no longer alone.

“It’s not always this crazy, I promise,” he said.

“I don’t mind at all. I like to keep busy.” She sipped at her iced tea and stared toward the fire.

“You like it here?” he asked.

“Yeah, I do. It’s so peaceful, and beautiful. I love watching the sun rise and set.”

It was the first time, besides his mother and Martha, that a woman liked being at his ranch.

“I never thought of moving, you know. Even when the work was so tiring, and all I wanted to do was drop into bed.”

“I imagine it’s not the easiest life for a lot of people. Getting up early, dealing with food, taking care of the animals. I love your chickens, and the cats and dogs.”