Page 27 of Mountain Rancher

The scene that greets us stops me in my tracks.

The massive oak table is perfectly set for Sunday brunch. Eleven place settings surround the table, each with my grandmother’s china and carefully folded napkins. Two empty chairs sit side by side, clearly waiting for Hunter and me.

They expected us. Together.

Wyatt notices us first.

“About time you two showed up.” He glances up from where he’s pouring coffee. “Melody was about to send out the cavalry.”

There’s no surprise in his voice, no shock at seeing his sister holding hands with his ranch manager. Just mild exasperation at our tardiness.

Melody turns from the stove with a knowing smile on her lips as her eyes drop to our joined hands.

“Well, don’t just stand there. The eggs are getting cold.”

I stand frozen, unable to process the casual reception. Hunter strokes his thumb across my knuckles as he leads us toward the empty chairs.

Brody looks up from his conversation with Luke, and his eyes twinkle with mischief.

“So, how was your meeting about those ranch improvements last night? Must have been quite a discussion.”

Heat floods my cheeks.

“Never got around to it,” Hunter says matter-of-factly as he reaches for the coffee pot at the center of the table.

Luke bursts out laughing as he holds his hand out to Brody.

“Pay up, brother. Told you he’d just come right out and say it.”

Brody sighs dramatically.

“Dammit, Thomas.” He pulls out his wallet and slaps a fifty-dollar bill into Luke’s palm. “Couldn’t you have played it cool for one more day?”

My jaw drops as my eyes flick between the two of them.

“You two werebettingon us?”

Savannah smiles sympathetically from across the table.

“Honey, you should see the way you two look at each other. We’ve all been waiting for you to figure it out.”

I look specifically at Wyatt, the most protective of my brothers.

“You aren’t upset?”

Wyatt snorts and passes Hunter a plate stacked with bacon.

“Upset that my sister found happiness with one of the best men I know? Try again, Abby.”

“But if you hurt her, we’ll have to kill you,” Jace adds cheerfully as he squeezes Lindsay’s hand. “Family code and all that.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” Hunter replies with equal seriousness, though I catch the slight quirk of his lips. “But it won’t be necessary. Your sister is everything to me.”

The simple declaration makes my throat tight with emotion.

After years of watching my brothers find their perfect matches, I’ve finally found mine. The financial analyst from Houston and the ranch manager from Cooper Hills. We’re an unlikely pair perhaps, but somehow perfectly right.

“So, when are you moving back to Wyoming?” Melody asks casually as she passes me a platter of bacon.

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