Free To Wed a Rancher by Myrna Mackenzie

got the call this morning I asked him about Oak Valley and…you have toys? I didn’t know there were any children here.”
    â€œThere aren’t,” Rachel said, just as if she knew a lot about this ranch. “And they’re not exactly regular building blocks. More like sanded down pieces of wood. Maybe from when Shane was growing up. I’ve been told he was good at mathematical things, making things, engineering things. But no one’s using them now. Would it be all right if Ella and Henry played with them? After you’ve checked them over, of course. I don’t have much experience with children, so I’d want to make sure they passed the Mom safety test.”
    â€œI would love that,” Marcia said. “We had to throw things together in a hurry and already I’ve lost track of which box I threw the toys in. Not to mention that other people’s toys are always more interesting than what you have at home.”
    Rachel pulled out the box she’d found in a cabinet, revealing its contents. The pieces inside really did look like building blocks, but very unusual ones. They were carved in intricate shapes that locked together, the wood polished smooth.
    â€œThey’re beautiful,” Marcia said. “Maybe Shane won’t want the kids to touch them.”
    Rachel considered that. “No. Shane has told me that he’s selling everything here, lock, stock and barrel. He hasn’t forbidden me to use anything.” Except she wasn’t to enter Eric’s room. But that bit of information wasn’t for sharing, not even with someone as nice as Marcia.
    Within minutes, the two little cherubs were playing with the blocks of wood. Ella looked up at Rachel withexcited eyes, and Henry’s little body was wiggling with excitement. “We got goats,” he said.
    Rachel must have looked confused, because Marcia smiled. “Henry must really like you. We have a Nigerian dwarf goat, only one, and she’s his pride and joy, a present for them being so good when we dragged them across the country. He’s very possessive, so the fact that he would even share this bit of information with you is surprising.”
    â€œThat’s so exciting, Henry. I’ve seen some pictures of goats like that. They’re awesome,” Rachel said.
    â€œTunia,” Ella explained.
    â€œAh, your goat’s name is Petunia. I see.”
    Ella’s smile lit up her whole little face.
    â€œYou got it,” Marcia said with a laugh. “Most people don’t understand little-people talk and want to know what kind of name Tunia is.”
    â€œIt’s a great name. I really like it,” Rachel insisted, and Henry, who was trying to connect two pieces of wood, paused to show her his approval with a tiny smile that made her heart flip. Given the fact that she had decided she wasn’t ever going to repeat her parents’ horrific mistakes and marry, she would never have an Ella or Henry of her own, so moments like this were rare gifts.
    â€œSo, let me help you with this house,” Marcia offered, and Rachel gratefully accepted.
    The two women dove into work, Rachel peppering Marcia with questions and mentally recording the answers. By the time Shane showed up to announce that the cabin was now child-safe and Marcia could put the children down for a nap without worrying that they could get into anything dangerous when they got out of bed, the kitchen and dining rooms were both gleaming.Even if there was still a lot that needed repairing and dressing up in both of those areas.
    Rachel thanked Marcia and knelt down to whisper in both Ella and Henry’s ears. “All right?” she finished.
    Both of them nodded.
    â€œBecause, you know, this is Shane’s ranch, and Petunia is going to love it here, so I think we should tell him that he’s very lucky to be the landlord of someone as special as Petunia.”
    â€œElla, Henry? You