A Match Made in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 2)

Maude winked, which looked so incredibly sweet to him.

“Very good job, Toby.”

Heath moved in front of Toby with his hands held high. “Mama dried our hands, Daddy.”

“Looking good, young man,” he said, sending a wink back to Maude.

“Steaks should be ready,” Grant said, heading out the back door.

“Okay, boys. Get in your chairs.” He pulled out the two with their booster seats.

“But, Daddy, I want to sit by Mama,” Toby said.

“I want to sit by Mama, too,” Heath added.

Foiled again. “Do you mind?” he asked her.

“Of course not. I would love to sit between these handsome boys.”

He moved the seats around to accommodate Toby and Heath’s wishes. And without being prompted, they got into the seats. He filled the boys’ plates with macaroni and cheese, peas, and fish sticks.

Maude sat down just as Grant returned with the steaks. “Everything looks and smells delicious. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Let’s dig in,” he said.

She grinned. “That must be a saying in Wilde. That’s what Carol always says before a meal.”

“That’s probably where we got it,” Grant said, passing her the platter of steaks. “They’re all cooked medium like you like your steak. So any of them you want will be fine.”

“In that case, I’ll take them all.” She grinned.

“No you don’t,” Grant said, smiling. “Greg and I need one each, too. We have to keep up our energy.”

“I bet you do.” She took the smallest steak and passed it back. “How long have you had this ranch?”

“It’s been in our family for three generations,” Grant said, placing one of the steaks on his plate and then passing it to him.

“Would you like to see more of the ranch?” he asked, taking the last T-bone. “It’s the most beautiful place in the entire state, in my humble opinion.”

“Yes, I would love to see more.”

“Have you ever been on a horse before?” Grant asked her.

“Once, as a kid.” She loaded up her baked potato with sour cream, cheese, and bacon bits. “Why?”

“To get the best view of the ranch, some spots can only be reached on horseback.”

“Mama, I need more ketchup,” Toby said to her.

He looked at his son. “What do you say, young man?”

“Please, Mama. Ketchup.”

“That’s better.”

“Me, too,” Heath chimed in, though his plate was still covered in the red stuff. “Please, Mama.”

Maude grinned and squirted more ketchup on each of their plates.