Captured by Cowboys (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 1)

Then like a pack of wolves, they filled their plates and began devouring food at a breakneck pace. She’d finished about half her plate and they were all refilling their plates.

“Not bad, guys,” Emmett said. “You two have been holding out on me. Who taught you to cook like this? Wait. I remember.” His face darkened with an apparent heavy weight.

Cody frowned. “Mom.”

“Right.”

Bryant pushed his empty plate forward. “Saturday mornings.”

“She would’ve been proud of this spread, guys.” Emmett grabbed the carafe. “More coffee, Amber?”

She didn’t know what had happened to their mom, but it was obvious to Amber they all missed her very much. “No, thank you. I’m so full. It was amazing. Thank you, guys. I can at least manage the cleanup.”

“Not a chance,” Cody said, standing. “We’re going to wait on you, princess.”

“I agree.” Emmett brushed the hair out of her eyes, causing a little tingle to shoot up her spine. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal, Amber. Give it a few days before you try to get back to normal.”

“What’s normal for me, cowboy? I sure don’t know what that is.” In her mind, the wall she’d imagined earlier appeared again. It mocked her, keeping her from her memories, which were just on the other side. How to get over the wall?

“Sweetheart, you have to be patient.” Bryant’s tone was firm but comforting. “We all have to be. I’m sure whatever is locked away in your pretty little head won’t be for long. Trust me.”

“I wish something would trigger a memory.” She thought about how their demeanors had changed when they’d been talking about their mother. What about her family? Maybe if she asked them questions, it would help her recall something. “Do you have a picture of your parents? I’d like to see what this woman who taught you guys how to make such an amazing breakfast looked like.”

“That’s a great idea.” Cody grabbed up the empty plates and placed them into the sink. “Bryant, go get their wedding picture. It’s on the bookshelf in our bedroom.”

“Got it.” He jumped up and headed down the hallway.

“What was your mom’s name?” she asked Emmett, who was still sitting next to her.

“Beverly,” he said with a tinge of awe. “She was from Texas.”

“Did your dad meet her there?”

Before he could answer, Bryant was back with the framed photo. He handed it to her.

She stared at the picture. An auburn-haired bride stood between two men in tuxedos. “Which one is your dad?”

“They both are,” Emmett said flatly. “This is Dad Rich.” He pointed to the man to the left of his mother. “And this guy is Dad Trevor.”

“I’m confused. You have two dads?”

“Had. Yes, sweetheart. Have you ever heard of plural marriages before?”

Her muddled mind was able to call up a single word that told her she did. “Bigamy.”

Cody continued to clear dishes from the table. “That word usually implies something different than what we grew up with. There were no secrets between our dads and our mom.”

“Amber, things are quite different around here than in the outside world.” Bryant’s eyes were fixed on her. He clearly wanted her to understand what this picture she held meant to him. “Love comes in every shape, size, and configuration in Destiny.”

“Destiny? You mean your hometown?”

“Yes. Our dads were brothers. Our granddads were brothers, too. Even our great-granddads. Sharing a wife isn’t abnormal here. In truth, it is the customary practice.”

She gazed down at the smiling faces of their parents in the photo. “They sure look happy.”

“They were.”

She wasn’t about to ask these cowboys if they planned on the same kind of family as their parents had had. It made sense they would. How could a woman deal with such an arrangement? What about jealousy? She wasn’t sure but couldn’t deny how joyous their three parents had looked in the black-and-white picture.