Greg laughed. “Hell, we’re only twenty-nine. We have plenty of time. Maybe when the boys go off to college.”
He grinned, driving through their ranch’s main gate. “I hope sooner than that.”
He and Greg had never dated the same woman since they each had slightly different tastes. He liked blondes and Greg brunettes. But when the Dalton sisters had arrived in town, he and Greg had fallen hard, going against their previous preferences. His amazing wife had long dark hair and Greg’s sported a short blonde hairstyle. Both were beautiful. You could see in each of the four boys a little of their mothers.
Greg sighed. “But I don’t think I will ever find anyone who can fill my Kathy’s shoes.”
“Or my Kimberly’s either, but that doesn’t mean we both can’t find someone to love and to share our lives with. When we do start dating again, we’ll search for women who we feel chemistry and a real connection, just like we did with our beautiful wives.”
Once he did decide to settle down again, he wanted to do it for the right reason. For love.
Chapter Three
Maude gasped when her sister walked out of the dressing room. Mary was wearing jeans that fit her figure perfectly and a cute Western top, which was cut just right for her chest. One thing about her sister and her was they definitely didn’t lack in the breast department. God, Mary is gorgeous. And seems so happy.
“How does this look for my horseback riding date?” Mary asked her and Carol Wilde, the mother of the three cowboys who had swept her sister off her feet.
“You look beautiful,” Carol said. “I particularly love the Stetson you picked out.”
“I agree.” Maude wondered how in the world she was going to talk some sense into her sister. She’d been in town twenty-four hours, and she was still completely at a loss how to proceed. The Wilde brothers weren’t monsters. In fact, the three of them were quite nice and were complete gentlemen. After having gone through all the hell with Paul, it was very clear why Mary was so attracted to them. “Annie Oakley has nothing on you, Sis. Would you mind if I bought a pair of boots like those?”
“Sure. Would you like to learn to ride? Carol’s horse Rosie is a great teacher. So are Carol’s sons.”
“Don’t you mean your boyfriends?” Maude teased, hoping to get Mary to see how crazy this whole thing was. A date with three men at the same time. Completely nuts.
Not taking the bait, her sister didn’t respond.
After meeting the Wilde brothers and their parents, Carol and her three husbands, and seeing how charming the town was, Maude understood the spell her sister was under. She herself was feeling its tug on her own heart. But even though the natives of Wilde were able to form such unusual families, that didn’t mean that Mary was suited for the same.
Mary faced her and Carol. “I think I’d like to try on that blue top before I make my decision.”
“Of course, Mary.” Carol looked at her watch. “Oh my. I had no idea it was this late.” She turned to Maude. “Would you mind doing me a quick favor?”
“Sure,” she answered. “Anything.”
It was so easy to like the woman. Carol was so sweet. First she opened up her home to Mary. And now me.
Maude thought about her mother and how she would have reacted to two strange women showing up at her doorstep. There would be no way her mother would ever swing the front doors to her home open so freely.
Still, Maude didn’t understand how in the world Carol could be married to three men and had made it work for years. Crazy as it sounded, the four Wildes seemed totally in love with each other.
“I’ve ordered lunch to go for my husbands at the Horseshoe Bar & Grill just across the street. I need to run to the bank, or I would do it myself. Would you mind picking up my order?”
“I don’t mind at all.”
Leaving the Western clothing store, Maude headed across the street to the restaurant. When she got to the door, she heard crying. Turning to her left, sh
e saw a little boy sobbing by a bench.
She looked around to see any adult that was taking care of him. But there was not a soul around. She went to the little boy and got down to eye-level with him. Before she could say anything, he immediately wrapped his arms around her.
“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. Where’s your mommy?”
“Daddies.” He pointed to the restaurant’s door.
She lifted him up in her arms, and he leaned his head against her chest. Her heart swelled for him. It was love at first sight. “Everything is going to be okay. What’s your name?”
He sniffled. “Toby.”