Free The Cowboy's Triplets by Tina Leonard

better if you knew that Mr. Jenkins hadn’t yelled three years off the life of your new friend. Or shot her.” Darla shrugged and turned the lamps down. “The thought crossed my mind, too. She must have some strong magic or Fiona wouldn’t have sent her to the bear’s den.”
    Jackie got up to follow Darla to the door. “I don’tthink she has any mystical powers at all. I think she’s just one of Fiona’s friends.”
    â€œThat’s not saying much. I’m one of Fiona’s friends, or at least my mother is, and I don’t have any powers. Shall we stop at the drug store on the way and pick up a test for you?”
    â€œNo, thanks.”
    â€œWouldn’t it be funny if the fortune-teller was right?”
    â€œNo,” Jackie said, “it would not.”
    Ten minutes later, Jackie and Darla stood on Mr. Jenkins’s porch, stamping their feet to get the snow off. They could see Sabrina’s old truck in the gravel drive.
    â€œI can see them through the window,” Jackie said.
    â€œNot that we should be spying, but scoot over so I can see.” Darla stepped up to peer inside. “They look like they’re having a friendly chat.”
    â€œYeah.” Jackie was surprised Bode Jenkins had let Sabrina into his house. He was known for being rude to visitors and stingy with his hospitality. “Are they drinking tea?”
    â€œAnd eating brownies, I think. Those are Julie’s brownies,” Darla said. “I recognize the frosting on top and the tiny white chocolate chips. She gives them out every year for Christmas.”
    A flash of indigestion hit Jackie, surprising her. She, too, looked forward to the judge’s brownies, so why had her stomach suddenly pitched?
    Fear. “We should go,” she murmured. “We don’t want Mr. Jenkins to think we were—”
    â€œBeing nosey, which we are. Maybe we should ring the bell and see if we can get ourselves invited in for tea and one of those brownies, though.”
    â€œHi, Jackie! Darla!”
    Jackie swallowed a gasp, whirling. “Julie! Hi!”
    Darla had jumped a foot beside her, but now all she said was, “Hi, Julie. We were just about to ring the bell.”
    Julie’s brown eyes twinkled. “Come on in. Dad’s got a visitor, but he won’t mind a few more.”
    â€œWe wouldn’t want to bother anyone,” Jackie said, and Darla said, “Sure, we could come inside for a minute.”
    â€œLet me help you with that firewood,” Jackie murmured, taking a few sticks of it from Julie though the judge clearly had it handled.
    Darla pulled the door open for Julie. “Was there anything special you were stopping by about?” Julie asked.
    Darla’s eyes met Jackie’s. “We were going to get your thoughts on a business matter,” Jackie said. “We should have called first.”
    â€œWe always have visitors, and you’re always especially welcome,” Julie said, including both of them in her gracious words.
    It was true. Julie did get lots of callers, mostly men who weren’t afraid of Bode waving a shotgun at them. Cakes and pies were known to make their way with some frequency to the Jenkins’s household, particularly if a grievance had been settled in someone’s favor.
    â€œJackie, Darla, this is Sabrina McKinley,” Julie said. “She’s a home-care provider who’s come to visit Dad. Please come in and sit down, and have some tea with us.”
    â€œHello, Sabrina,” Jackie said. Darla murmured a greeting as well. Sabrina smiled at them, and the indigestion Jackie was suffering turned up a notch. “Good evening, Mr. Jenkins.”
    â€œYou’re interrupting,” Bode said. “Do you know what time it is? Past time for a social call!”
    Jackie and Darla backtracked to the door. “You’re absolutely right, Mr. Jenkins. We’re so sorry.