brides for brothers 15 - a randall hero by judy christenberry Page A

Camille got up to answer it. “Oh, how nice. Just a minute and I’ll ask her.” She covered the receiver. “Lucy, the ladies at the ranch wondered if you and me and Emma would like to come to lunch tomorrow.”
    “Do you think Emma is old enough to go out?” Lucy asked anxiously.
    “Of course she is. It’s better to go when all the children are in school and the men are out working. Then it will just be us ladies who want to hold her.”
    “Poor little girl’s going to come home exhausted,” Griff said with a smile.
    “Will it make her too tired?” Lucy asked.
    “Yes, but it won’t hurt her any. It just means she might sleep a little longer tomorrow.”
    “Oh, that’s all right. But what does Camille mean by the ladies at the ranch?”
    “She’s referring to the main Randall ranch, where my cousins live. There are four ladies married to the original Randalls and several of the next generation of Randalls, too,” Griff explained.
    Camille returned to the phone and made arrangements.
    When she got off the phone, Lucy said, “It’s very nice of all of them to invite us over.”
    Camille smiled. “Yes, it is, isn’t it? It’s been a couple of years since they’ve had a brand-new baby there, too.”
    “It’s probably time for Jim and Patience to have another one,” Griff said. “Their little girl is two, isn’t she?”
    “I think so,” Camille said. “She’s the cutest little thing.”
    “She’ll be there tomorrow?” Lucy asked.
    “Oh, yes, along with Patience and Jim’s sister, Elizabeth, too. They wanted to come see you at the hospital, but Caroline said she thought you needed your rest.”
    “I had no idea anyone wanted to visit me.”
    “That’s okay, Lucy,” John assured her. “You’ll get them sorted out tomorrow.”
    “I’ve never known such a large family,” she muttered.
    “I’m sure there are other large families,” Griff said, “but what makes this family special is that we all get along and help each other.”
    “Yes, that is special. My family is small, but we don’t get along.”
    “Harry is a really nice guy,” John said.
    “Yes. And you’ll notice he didn’t hang around his family,” Lucy pointed out.
    “She’s got a point there, son,” Griff said.
    “Oh, look. Emma’s gone to sleep. I’ll go put her in her bed,” Lucy said, getting up at once.
    She gently lifted the little girl from Griff’s arms, thanking him for feeding her, and hurried out of the kitchen.
    “She’s a cute little thing, isn’t she?” Griff asked to no one in particular.
    “I told you she’s a beautiful baby,” John said.
    “I wasn’t talking about Emma,” Griff said, looking at his son.
    “Oh, you mean Lucy. Yeah, I told you the baby looked like her mother. But Lucy doesn’t think so.”
    “And she and Harry come from the same family?”
    Camille nodded. “Yes, some women treat their daughters different from their sons.”
    “I think we should claim Lucy and Emma for our family. They deserve to be Randalls,” Griff said.
    John said, “They’ve got my vote. I don’t think Harry will object, either.”
    “I doubt that Harry has any idea of the life Lucy has led. He was six years older than her. He left home to go to college when she was twelve. He probably doesn’t know her very well.”
    “That still seems weird, Mom. I mean, didn’t he go back home for holidays and summers?”
    “I doubt it. He probably worked while he went to school. I don’t believe he was on scholarship.”
    “I forgot that some families aren’t as fortunate we are.”
    “True, son,” Griff said. “Not everyone has a trust fund.”
    “Or a dad who’s an expert investor to keep it growing.” John grinned at his father.
    “Thank you. I’ll take those words to heart, son. We’ll—” He broke off as Lucy came back in. “Did she stay asleep?”
    “Yes, Griff, she did. You did a very good job.”
    “Good. It was a pleasure, Lucy.”
    “You are all so good about Emma. I