With Family In Mind (Saddle Falls Book 1) Read Free Page A

better explain why I’m here.”
    “It is necessary,” Jake insisted with a grin destined to speed up any woman’s heart. “And I know why you’re here.”
    “You do?” That took her by surprise and she blinked up at him. Even in her strappy three-inch heelsshe had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. He had to be at least six feet four inches tall. A very well proportioned six feet four to boot.
    He continued to hold her hand, much to her chagrin. She would have felt better if he wasn’t actually… touching her. His hand was strong, warm, callused and incredibly gentle. It was doing unusual things to her normally calm heart.
    He nodded. “My brother Jared told me to expect you.”
    Relief flooded through her as she slipped her hand free of his. Edmund Barker, the editor in chief of the Saddle Falls News, had promised to call the Ryans and tell them she’d been assigned to interview the entire family for a series of feature profiles to run in the Saddle Falls newspaper during the town’s weeklong golden jubilee celebration, to be held at the end of the month.
    With her credentials, Rebecca hadn’t had much difficulty convincing Mr. Barker to let her do the interviews, in spite of the fact that the Ryans were notoriously publicity shy.
    She’d merely explained to the gruff, crusty editor that she was on leave from her own paper in Reno due to family business, would be in the area for the next month or so and would welcome an opportunity to do some freelancing.
    He’d been thrilled to get a reporter of her caliber even temporarily, and she’d been thrilled to have a cover that allowed her to get close enough to the Ryans to do some digging, and hopefully get to the truth.
    “Uncle Jake?” One of the twins gave his uncle a poke in the stomach to get his attention. Reluctantly, Jake turned to the boys. “Grandpop says you’re not s’posed to call us delinquents.”
    “Yeah, Uncle Jake.” The other twin scratched his nose again, then looked at up his uncle. “Grandpop sez we’re not delinquents.”
    Jake laughed. “Yeah, well, that’s cause Grandpop never has to baby-sit for you two.” He reached out and ruffled their matching mops of gleaming black hair. “Miss St. John, this is Terry,” Jake said with a nod to the boy wearing the blue T-shirt. “And this is Timmy.”
    Rebecca made a mental note that Timmy was missing the tooth. Except for their T-shirts, it was the only way she was going to be able to tell them apart.
    With a smile, she reached out her hand, taking first Terry’s grubby one and giving it a small shake, then Timmy’s sticky one.
    Not to be left out, the mop of fur lifted his paw toward her with a weak bark, making her laugh.
    “You too, girl?” With a laugh, she shook the dog’s paw.
    “Girl?” The boys broke into giggles. “Ruth’s a boy dog,” Timmy stated in an offended voice.
    “Ruth…Ruth is a boy dog?” Confused, Rebecca gazed from the boys to Jake, who merely grinned. “You named a boy dog Ruth?”
    “Yep.” It was Terry’s turn to bob his head up and down. He poked his brother with his elbow and they both broke into another fit of giggles. “She thinks Ruth’s a girl dog.”
    “Ruth’s a boy. Wanna see?” Timmy asked. “Grandpop showed us how to tell boy dogs from girl dogs.”
    “Yeah, we could show you, cuz see, boy dogs have a—”
    “Boys, I, uh…don’t think Miss St. John needs an anatomy lesson,” Jake said, trying to suppress a grin as Rebecca turned beet-red. “Ruth stands for Ruthless,” Jake explained with a wiggle of his brows.
    “Got it.” She nodded, smiling in spite of the heat suffusing her face.
    “Now, boys, what do you have to say to Miss St. John?”
    The twins exchanged perplexed glances, then turned to Jake with a shrug.
    “Dunno,” Terry admitted, looking at his brother for an answer. None was forthcoming.
    “I do believe an apology is in order,” Jake stated with a lift of his brow. “We don’t normally pelt our