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“Nice. Thanks,” he nodded. “Well, do you want to know what Lucy was telling me, guys?”
“What’s that?”
“She told me that she was in town because she was meeting her in-laws.”
“Oh, boy.” Ranger stood up and shook his head. “I told you this was not a good idea, Amelia.”
“Nonsense, Ranger, you don’t know that—”
“Mom, what’s going on?” Beau spoke up. “I’m really confused. She said she is here to meet her in-laws, who we’re assuming means you and Dad, but she doesn’t actually seem to be dating any of us. Is there another brother that we don’t know about or something? What’s going on?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m curious about. Although …” Austin paused and walked over to me, “didn’t you tell me, Lucy, that you were engaged to the oldest son? So that would seem to indicate that you’re engaged to Beau.”
Beau looked at me, confused. Oh shit, I had no idea what to say. “Well, no. I mean, I didn’t mean it like that. I—”
“And didn’t you say that he loved you very much?” Austin continued, a wide grin on his face. “So, Beau, have you been keeping this a secret? Why didn’t you tell me? I thought I was your favorite brother.”
“Austin, I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about. I’ve never seen this woman before in my life.” He looked at me. “Is this true, Lucy? Did you tell Austin that we were dating?”
“No, I didn’t. I didn’t give Austin any names.” I shot Austin a dirty look. “How could you?”
“How could I what?” he laughed.
“You know.”
“I know what?”
“Amelia!” I looked pleadingly at their mother, and she sighed.
“Okay, fine, children. Fine. Lucy is here as a mail order bride.”
Austin started laughing, and Beau just groaned.
Ranger stood up. “I’m going to go and check on the—”
“You’re not going anywhere, Ranger. Sit back down,” Amelia said.
“Fine,” he huffed. “I told your mother it wasn’t a good idea, but she insisted because she wants to have grandkids before she’s 80. And I too would like to have grandkids before I’m 80, but I said that you’d figure it out. But your mom—”
“Mom, what is going on here?” Beau walked over to his mother. “Please do not tell me that you signed me up for some sort of mail order bride.” He looked back at me. “And honestly, I can’t believe that you responded. Are you crazy?”
“I think she might be,” Austin said with a laugh. “I really think she might be.”
“I’m not crazy,” I interrupted. “And you just shut up!” I poked Austin in the arm. “Why did you have to go and spill everything? Couldn’t you keep your mouth shut?”
“Couldn’t I keep my mouth shut?” He looked at me like I was crazy. “You’re the one that showed up at a local bar asking for the address to my home because you said your boyfriend lived there who was soon to be your fiancé and you were meeting your in-laws, and I’d never heard about you before in my life. And this is a small town, so now everyone knows that someone at Horseshoe Ranch is about to get married. And you’re asking why I let everybody know?” He turned to his mother. “And Mom, this was a ridiculous idea. How could you do that to Beau?”
“I just wanted the best for him,” she said softly. “You know I’m getting older.” Her voice was feeble now and I wondered if she was putting it on. “Forgive your mother. Sometimes I don’t think through everything,”
“Mom, quit acting.” Beau frowned at her then looked at me. “This is absolutely ridiculous. I’m guessing that’s why you didn’t want to tell me how you knew my mom?”
“Yeah, kind of.”
“So you just decided to fly to Montana from New York City to marry me even though you don’t know me?” He looked me up and down. “Are you a psychopath? Are you on the run from the law or what?”
“Or what,” I muttered, not even sure how to explain why I’d accepted such a ridiculous idea.
“You look pretty normal,” Austin chuckled. “I guess it’s the normal-looking, beautiful ones you have to worry about.”
