Addy’s dark brown hair hung down her back in a single long braid, and like Mia, she was dressed in sweats—only her top and bottom matched—and thick, fuzzy socks, one blue and one red.

Pearl and Sonny came into the kitchen. “We were glad to get that note from you before you lost cell service. We would have been worried about you and a baby cria stranded out in the middle of the blizzard with no help or warm place to hole up until it blew over. We’ve called around and made sure everyone on this side of Honey Grove has what they need. Jesse went out yesterday in the tractor and delivered some supplies to two of our neighbors.”

Sonny’s sickness had taken its toll on Pearl. Her face seemed a little more drawn to Stevie than it was the last time she had been at Sunflower Ranch to check the cattle before the fall sale. Her hair had more salt than pepper in it these days, and somehow, she seemed even shorter.

“That’s so sweet of y’all, and thank you for everything you’re doing for me,” Stevie said.

“Got to take care of our favorite vet.” Sonny leaned heavily on his cane, but he had a smile on his face. “Did our boy here behave while y’all were stranded?”

“You should ask if she was good instead of me,” Cody teased. “She was a cranky butt the whole time, and I even gave her the bed.”

“Tattletale,” Stevie said.

“See, Mama.” Jesse carried in two infant seats and set them at the end of the table. “I told you that he tattled all the time when we were little boys.”

“Pot and kettle, both black.” Cody went over to the twins and dropped down on his knees. “They’ve both grown a foot since I left on Wednesday.”

“That’s what babies do. You’d be worried if they weren’t right on schedule at two and a half months old,” Mia said.

“How do you tell them apart?” Stevie was drawn to them like a bee to a honeypot. She’d always loved babies and made quite a bit of money with her babysitting jobs from the time she was fourteen. “Look at those blue eyes and all that dark hair. They’ll have to have a haircut before they’re a year old.”

“Sam has a dimple on the left side.” Mia bent down and touched the baby on the chin, and he gave her a big toothless smile. “Taylor’s got two. I’ll show you.” She made a face at the other baby and he showed off his double dimples. “Other than that, they’re identical.”

“And I’m their favorite person,” Cody declared.