One Bride for Four Ranchers

I let out a big yawn as the movie’s closing credits start rolling across the screen.

“Do you want to go lay down?” Joshua asks, springing up from the other side of the couch where he was forced to sit since Tyler and Clay took the spots next to me, and Trey grabbed a spot on the floor in front of me, leaning back to touch me as we watched the chick flick.

“A nap does sound nice,” I admit. “Hospitals aren’t exactly a great place to catch up on your rest.”

All four of them insist on helping me up to my room, but when we get there, I stop in the doorway.

Shock reverberates through me when I see the bed. It’s not a king—this bed could eat a king size bed for breakfast. And tears prick my eyes at the site. They went to all of this trouble for me, so they could all stay close to me. The bed looks ridiculous in the guestroom—even though it isn’t a small room. But the show of caring touches me, and I have to blink back tears.

“This is amazing. How did you guys do this?” I choke out.

Trey shrugs, looking uncomfortable.

“We have our ways,” Tyler says with a wink.

I head for the bed and sit down, but before they start tucking me in, I have to talk to them about something.

“Can you shut the door, Clay?” I ask.

The men, taking in my serious expression seem to misunderstand. “Are you okay? Joshua asks, sitting next to me on the bed. His eyebrows knit together in concern..

“Do we need to call the doctor?” Tyler asks, placing his hand on my forehead as if he expects to find a fever.

“It’s nothing like that, you guys. Really, I’m fine.” I smile at them, trying to show them that I’m not lying. I actually feel okay. “I just wanted to take a minute and talk to you guys about us. I appreciate this bed, this room. But I want to know...” I close my eyes and shake my head. “I want to know how you guys feel about this situation. About the baby.”

When I see Tyler’s eyes widen, I quickly add, “I’m not asking you guys for a commitment—believe me, I’m not. But, this baby could be part of your lives for—forever. He or she is going to be a tiny little Hollister—whether we decide if he or she goes by Long or Hollister. I just wanted to see how you guys feel about that.”

“I think it’s awesome,” Tyler says, words rushing out of him in a fit of emotion. “A tiny little Clay running around? That shit is going to be entertaining as hell.”

Joshua reaches out and cuffs his brother, bringing a dramatic “Ow” out of Tyler. “As far as we’re concerned, you and this baby are part of the family now,” Joshua says, his expression far more serious than Tyler’s.

“We’ll treat him or her like our own. All of us,” Trey adds.

I swallow around the hard lump in my throat. “Do you really mean that?” I glance at them all in turn, making sure they all know they’re included in my question.

“Of course, we’re sure. We’re going to love the little cowboy or cowgirl,” Clay says. He bends down and presses a kiss against the corner of my mouth. “We’re here for you and this baby. I’m not saying that I’m not as nervous as hell, but we’ll figure this out together.”

I almost push. The words threaten to fly out of my lips. Will you love me, too? But I don’t say them. I’ve no right to expect that much from these men. So instead I offer them a smile. And I simply say, “Thank you.”

Feeling like a weight has left my chest, I lay down on top of the comforter. “That nap is sounding pretty good right now.”

A chorus of chuckles, and then something touches me. I open my eyes to find Trey covering me with a smaller blanket that he must have retrieved from the closet.

He sees my eyes open, and he flinches. “Am I smothering you? I’m sorry if I’m smothering you, I just can’t seem to help myself.”

I grab his hand before he can pull away. “Not at all. Trey, no matter how complicated this is, I don’t want to lose this baby. And I’m totally willing to let you pamper me while I get better.”

His uncertainty dissipates, and tenderness touches his eyes. He gives me a quick kiss, his gaze lingering on my face, before reluctantly pulling back. “Get some rest, then.”

I fall asleep before the four of them can even get out of the room. And I wake a while later to the sound of low voices. I blink a few times to clear my vision, and I see the Hollister brothers at the foot of the bed, talking.

They haven’t noticed that I’m awake, and they continue to talk in hushed tones. Had they come into check on me? That would be my gue

ss.

“What we really need to figure out is how we are going to handle Jed,” Tyler says.

“He has to pay,” Clay adds, voice tinged with anger.