Swept Away in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 1)

Pappy handed out the beers.

“None for me,” Craig said. “I’m on antibiotics. Pass me a Dr. Pepper.”

“When did being on antibiotics ever stop you from having a beer?” Dillon asked, surprised by Craig’s sudden change of demeanor.

“Never. Until now.”

Pappy laughed. “I know exactly why your brother is acting the way he is, Dillon. And her name is Miss Mary Kincaid.”

Pop grinned.

Dad said, “She is quite the looker.”

Craig nodded. “And Pappy is right. She is the reason I’m seeing everything differently. Mary is the woman of my dreams. She’s the one that my brothers and I are meant to marry and spend the rest of our lives with.”

“Did you hit your head in the mine?” Dillon asked. “We just met her.”

“I’m with Dillon on this,” Dan said. “There’s no need to rush into anything.”

“No need?” Craig frowned. “She’s only here for a few days. That’s all. If we let her leave without knowing how we feel, we could lose her.”

Dillon was shocked at his brother’s tone. So very intense and serious. “Craig, Mary isn’t from Wilde. She wants to write a story about our family because she finds our ways so strange. Besides, how can you possibly know she’s the one for us? It takes time to fall in love.”

“Hold on there, Dillon.” Pappy Jack held up his hand, silencing him. “That might be true for most, but it isn’t for everyone. It wasn’t true for me, Tom, and Will. The moment we met your mom, we all knew. Instantly. I remember the day I met her like it was yesterday. San Francisco, 1951.”

Dillon had heard the story several times since childhood, but never tired of hearing it again.

“I had returned from Korea,” Pappy said. “Tom and Will had come to take me back home. They were exhausted from the drive and slept in. We had planned on heading back the next morning. Having been in the military, I always rose early in the morning. I was sitting at the counter of a café. I finished my coffee and got up to leave when my eyes locked with Carol’s. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Still is. I knew immediately she was the one we’d been searching for, the one Will, Tom, and I would spend the rest of our lives with.”

“What your pappy is trying to tell you, Dillon, is to trust your heart,” Dad said. “Of the three of you boys, you’re the one who always has to weigh things out, mull them over before you make a decision. Craig is the brash one, ready to dive in without giving a single thought to the consequences. Dan sits somewhere between you two on those fronts. Sometimes cautious. Other times adventurous.”

“Dad, if I wasn’t the way I am, these two would’ve been in so much more trouble than they had been.”

“Son, we’re not saying you should change,” Pop said. “You are who you are. We’re proud of all three of you.”

Pappy nodded. “But when it comes to loving a woman, all bets are off. A man must throw caution to the wind and risk everything when it comes to the heart.”

“Which brings me to my question, Dillon,” Dad said. “What is your heart telling you about Miss Kincaid?”

“She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“You can say that again,” Dan said. “Gorgeous. And that smile of hers. Wow.”

“Did you notice how much fun she had taking our picture by the entrance to the ranch?” Craig asked.

Dillon nodded. “And she was so sweet trying to pay for her coffee. By God, she is the whole package.” Filled with overwhelming emotions, he slapped Craig on the back. “You’re right. Mary is the one—the woman who we will meet at the altar and share the rest of our lives with.” He walked over to his dads and shook all their hands. “Thank you for helping me see the light.”

Dan raised his beer. “To our fiancée, Mary Kincaid.”

They all clicked their bottles together.

Pappy sat down his beer. “Boys, you have your work cut out for you winning that precious girl’s hand. Dillon is right about one thing. She’s not from Wilde. She doesn’t understand our ways.”

“Neither was Mom,” Craig said. “And she married you.”

“Because we are such handsome, charming men,” Dad said with a laugh. “Not like you three homely brutes.”

“The truth is that your mom thought she was only marrying Jack,” Pop said.