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He walked past his brothers and out the door, never looking back.
Thirty minutes later, Seth pulled into the drive of his parents’ home. Anticipation quickened his steps as he headed toward the front door. It had been too long since he’d been home. This was where he was most comfortable.
Before he could open the door, it swung open and his mom flung herself at him, wrapping him in her embrace. He braced himself and chuckled.
“For such a small woman, you pack a wallop, Mom. ”
“I’ve missed you,” she said fiercely. “You waited entirely too long to come home. ”
He winced at her admonishment. “Yeah, I know. But I’m here now. ”
She smiled and patted his cheek. “Yes, you are. Come in. Your fathers will be thrilled to see you. ”
She tucked her arm through his and herded him inside. His dads were sprawled in the living room, and the television was on. Adam punched the mute button on the remote and tossed it aside while Ethan and Ryan both stood.
“It’s about damn time,” Ryan said as he walked toward Seth, his arms outstretched.
Ryan hugged him and then scrubbed his hand over Seth’s head. “How are you, son? How’s the shoulder?”
“Good. I’m good. Should be back on the job soon. ”
Ethan enfolded him next and caught him in a headlock. Seth laughed and allowed himself to be led over to the couch. Adam stood and locked arms with Seth before yanking him into a hug.
“Damn good to have you home,” Adam said gruffly.
Seth pulled back and frowned as he stared around the room. “Where’s Lily?” he demanded.
“Callie took her riding,” Adam said.
Seth’s mouth fell open. “Have you lost your minds? You let Lily go riding? Hell, she’s been shot!”
“Calm down,” Ryan said. “Callie’s not stupid. She put her on a good ride. Adam tended her arm. ”
Seth grabbed the back of his neck and shook his head. “You all are crazy. Would you have let Mom on a horse right after she was shot?”
Ethan scowled. “Of course not. ”
Holly rolled her eyes.
“Then is there any reason you let Lily go riding?”
“Relax,” Adam said. “I lifted her onto the horse. She’s got the gentlest mount we own, the one we reserve for kids when they come with their parents hunting. She can totally hold the reins one-handed and Callie’s horse will lead. They’re just going down to the meadow and back. Lily was so damn excited about the prospect of riding, I couldn’t tell her no. ”
Seth sighed. “How did she take the family? Was she overwhelmed?”
Ethan chuckled. “A little nervous maybe, but not overwhelmed. ” He paused for a moment and then looked up at Seth. “I like her, son. Ryan told us about her situation. ”
“Yeah, it sucks. I don’t want her out there. I want her with me. ”
Adam raised an eyebrow. “As does Michael, apparently. ”
“And Dillon,” Seth murmured. “It’s so crazy I can’t even wrap my brain around it. I left Dillon and Michael in town because we were getting nowhere. I get so pissed off at them because they only just met her, so how the hell can they be so convinced? But then I have to remind myself that I only met her two days ago. ”
His mom looked at him with worry in her eyes. “She means a lot to you already. ”
“Yeah, she does. ” He moved toward his mom and then sank onto the couch in front of her. “Tell me something, Mom. We’ve all heard the dads’ version over the years. We know they knew you were the one and that they took over, took charge, all that not very politically correct stuff men aren’t supposed to do. Did it scare you? Did you ever think about walking away? I’m scared to death of pushing Lily too hard, and yet I can’t let her just go back to her life without showing her what her life could be like with me—us. ”
She sat beside him and wrapped her arm around his waist. “I don’t know that I was frightened. I never got the idea that your fathers would ever hurt me. Quite the opposite. I felt very safe with them. They made sure I felt safe. I was nervous and confused, though. I didn’t understand what they wanted from me, and when I did, I didn’t know how it could possibly work. ”
“So how did you get through all that?”
“It came down to trust. And they simply asked me to give them and us a chance. It sounds so basic, but when put like that, what else could I say but yes? They weren’t making demands of me. They weren’t forcing me to make decisions I didn’t want to. They just wanted to take care of me and for me to give our relationship a chance. And so I did. ”
“You do make it sound simple, like I’ve completely over-thought every aspect of this,” Seth said ruefully. “Maybe that’s all anyone can do is ask for a chance. ”
“I just want you to be happy,” his mom said in her gentle, sweet voice. “I want all my children to be happy, no matter how it has to happen. I don’t doubt for a moment that the three of you could make Lily happy. But I want you to make sure you’ll be happy with this kind of arrangement. ”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Mom. And thanks. It helps to get your point of view. ”
“Where are your brothers now?” Adam asked.
“Probably right behind me. Michael’s pissed. Dillon isn’t much better. Dinner ought to be interesting tonight. ”
His mom rolled her eyes. “Like the three of you bickering and carrying on at the dinner table is anything new?”
“I was your good child,” Seth reminded her. “Michael and Dillon were the demon spawn. ”
“We can’t even argue that point,” Ryan said wearily. “Those two. I hope to hell Lily knows what she’s getting into. ”
“How long have they been out riding?” Seth asked. He tried not to be anxious, but he was eager to see her again and see for himself that she was all right.
“Walk with me out to the barn and we’ll wait on them,” Adam said. “I need to talk to you anyway. ”
Seth followed his dad out to the back, and they leaned on the fence so they could see the path the girls would take back up from the meadow.
“Have you given any more thought to taking over Lacey’s term as sheriff?”
“Hell,” Seth muttered. “I haven’t thought about it at all. This thing with Lily happened so fast. I mean one day I was looking forward to next week, getting my psych evaluation done with and getting back to the job. The next thing I know, I’m bowled over by a woman who’s in the worst sort of circumstances, and worse, I don’t know anything about her. And yet, she’s mine. And if that’s not crazy, I don’t know what is. So no, I haven’t given any thought to Lacey’s job. ”
“Well, it seems to me it might be a godsend and fell into your lap at just the right time. ”
Seth’s brow furrowed as he stared back at his dad.
“Think about it. Dillon and Michael are here. They both have businesses here. You’re three hours away in Denver. How the hell is that going to work if you’re all trying to work things out with Lily?
