Page 263 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

She tossed the luggage in the backseat, slid into the driver’s side, and then slammed the door. After locking it, she turned on the engine. It sputtered and coughed but she couldn’t complain. The man she’d bought it from hadn’t asked any questions and had let herpaycash.

As she turned onto the road, she adjusted the rearview mirror. She searched for trailing headlights. After crisscrossing and doubling back over several streets, she pulled onto thehighway.

She didn’t take a full breath until she’d crossed thestateline.

“Goodbye, Nebraska. Hello,Wyoming.”

She glanced at the odometer. Only 540 milestogo.

“Curvy Bear Ranch, hereIcome.”

* * *

Drew stoodnext to the wooden stand and inspected the dark brown leather on his favorite saddle. He’d spent an hour cleaning and conditioning it until it gleamed in the afternoon light. Usually, he’d work on tack maintenance in the barn, but being holed up inside seemed like a waste on such a clear February day. The next storm would blow in soon enough. Until then, he intended to suck up as much sunshine aspossible.

Footsteps crunched through the snow. He turned to find Mack striding toward him. Madison trailed behind. Her belly poked out so far he wondered if she was packing twins in there. She wasn’t due for another month, but he wasn’t sure she’d make it that long. Shifter babies could be unpredictable. Some came in as little as three months, but others took upwards of nine. Their unusual metabolism was toblame.

“How’s the cleaning going?” Mackasked.

“Good. I finished all the bridals and most of thesaddles.”

“Hey, Drew,” Madison said without meetinghisgaze.

Strange. She was normally so bubbly. Although she hadn’t been feeling well for the last few days and her cheeks were paler thannormal.

“How are you doing?” Drewasked.

When neither of them spoke, he set the sponge down in a tray and wiped his hands on hisjeans.

“What’s up?” he asked as he looked from his brother to his brother’s fiancéeandback.

“Madison has something she needs to tell you,”Macksaid.

She flashed a pleading look at Mack before dropping her gaze to thefloor.

“I was just trying to help,” shemumbled.

“Help with what?” Drew asked with a smile. “Come on, spit it out. Did you try to burn down the kitchenagain?”

“No,” shewhispered.

Drew frowned and stuffed his hands in his pockets. His brothersighed.

“Do you want me to tell him?” Mackasked.

Madisonnodded.

“She found you a wife,”Macksaid.

“Awife?”

“I was only trying to help,” Madison said again. “I didn’t mean to take itthisfar.”

“What do you mean?” Drewasked.

“She signed up for one of those online dating sites and found a woman who’s perfect for you,” Mack said while rollinghiseyes.

“Are you kidding?” Drew asked incredulously. He turned to Madison. “He’s kidding, right? What is this, an early AprilFools’joke?”

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