The Rancher's Twin Troubles Read Online Free PDF

normal if the notion hadn’t at least crossed his mind.
    For the twenty minutes while the kids were at recess, Josie had suggested they hang out in the teachers’ lounge. The room was unremarkable save for a pleasantly efficient window air-conditioning unit and grown-up chairs. Dallas hadn’t realized how many muscles in his back could possibly ache until he’d spent his morning pretzelled into munchkin chairs.
    â€œSince you asked…” Her eyes narrowed. Was she fixing to yell at him again? “I didn’t invite you here to throw a party, but observe your daughters in their daily setting. My hope is that they’ll soon grow comfortable enough with you being in their surroundings to revert back to their usual naughty behavior.”
    â€œWhoa. What you’re essentially saying is that you’ve set a trap you hope they spring?”
    She at least had the good graces to flush. “I would hardly call a long acknowledged child psychiatry technique a trap. More like a tool. I can sit here telling you about the girls’ sins until I run out of breath, but that still won’t make you a believer. I want you to catch them in action. Only then will you understand how disruptive their pranks are to my class.”
    â€œAnd if they turn out to be the good kids I expect them to be?”
    She damn near choked on a carrot stick. “Not that I’m a betting woman, but if I were, I’d put down a hundred on Bonnie and Betsy finding some form of trouble by the end of the day.”
    â€œYou say that with such glee,” he noted, wadding up his trash. “Like you want my daughters in hot water.”
    â€œFar from it. They need to understand that school is for learning, not horseplay. But wait—with this morning’s stunt, you’ve pretty much blown that lesson out of the water.”
    â€œFor the record—” he eased his legs out in front of him to cross at the ankles “—Cookie and Cinderella aren’t horses, but ponies.”
    J OSIE WAS BEYOND MORTIFIED when Thursday morning had come and gone and still the twins hadn’t so much as dropped a pencil shaving. Had she been wrong about them? Overexaggerated their penchant for mischief?
    â€œHungry?” Dallas asked as twenty-one squirming bodies raced for the door.
    â€œI am,” she said, motioning for the line leaders to guide them to the hand-washing station. “It’s fried chicken day. Want to brave the cafeteria?”
    â€œIs it safe?”
    She laughed. “On turkey tetrazzini day,” she wrinkled her nose, “not so much, but you’re actually in for a treat. Mashed potatoes and white gravy with big yeast rolls. If we’re really lucky, chocolate cake for dessert.”
    â€œI’m in.” His white-toothed grin was made brighter by faint golden stubble. Not enough time to shave before beating the first bell?
    After getting everyone through the line, Josie turned to Paula the lunch lady and said, “Please give Mr. Buckhorn a double serving and put it on my tab.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Heaping on gravy, the bosom-heavy brunette asked, “How’s your cat? Heard he had a sick spell.”
    â€œBetter, thanks.” Josie loved how everyone in the school was an extended family. What she lacked for company at home, she more than made up for at work. “How’s Teddy’s job hunt?”
    â€œGreat.” Her sixteen-year-old had been saving for a car. “He starts at the drive-in on Friday.”
    â€œWonder—”
    â€œI hate you, Thomas! Take your stupid cake!”
    Josie peered through the serving-line door just in time to see Bonnie fling a chocolate square at poor little Thomas Quinn. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she then smashed it into his hair.
    â€œI hate you, too!” Betsy hollered. “Bonnie’s a princess and you should’ve just given her the stupid cake.”
    â€œGirls,