Page 119 of My Cowboy Trouble
"No going back," they agree.
And lying there in the barn, surrounded by the men I love, I know I wouldn't want to go back even if I could. This is messy and complicated and completely unconventional.
And so perfect.
Three hours later,we're in town for supplies, and I'm trying very hard not to think about hay in uncomfortable places or the fact that I can still feel all three of them. We're walking down Main Street like a small parade with me in the middle, flankedby three cowboys who can't seem to stop touching me in small ways. A hand on my back here, fingers brushing mine there, the kind of casual contact that speaks of possession and contentment.
"You're all being very obvious," I murmur as we approach the feedstore.
"Good," Gavin says, his hand finding the small of my back. "Want everyone to know you're taken."
"Thoroughly taken," Asher adds with a grin that makes my cheeks turn pink.
"By all of us," Trent finishes, like he wants to make sure there's no confusion about the arrangement.
I'm about to tell them they're ridiculous when I hear a familiar cackle from across the street.
"Well, well, well! Look what the cat dragged in!"
Clara Mae is standing outside the post office, hands on her hips, like the town bigmouth she is. She marches across the street with the determination of a woman on a mission, and I instinctively move closer to Trent.
"Here we go," Asher mutters.
But instead of the confrontation I'm expecting, Clara Mae stops in front of us with the biggest smile I've seen on her face since I arrived in town.
"About damn time!" she announces, loud enough for half the street to hear. "I was starting to think you boys were never going to get your act together."
"Clara Mae," Trent says carefully.
"Don't you 'Clara Mae' me, Trent Mercer. Thewhole town's been watching this dance for weeks, waiting for y'all to stop being idiots and figure out what was right in front of your faces."
I blink at her. "The whole town?"
"Honey, you think we didn't notice the way these three have been circling you like wolves since the day you arrived? The way you light up around them? The way they all went to pieces when you ran off yesterday?" She waves a dismissive hand. "Please. We might live in a small town, but we're not blind."
"But the bet—" I start.
"The bet was stupid boy nonsense that everyone knew would end the minute one of them caught feelings. Which I imagined happened about five minutes after you arrived." Clara Mae looks between the four of us with satisfaction. "Besides, half the town had side bets on when you'd finally make it official."
"Side bets?" Gavin asks.
"Oh yes. Darla won fifty dollars betting it would happen before the month was up. I said it would take longer because y'all are stubborn as mules, but I'm happy to be wrong." She beams at us like we're her personal achievement. "The important thing is you figured it out."
"So the town doesn't think..." I trail off, not sure how to finish that sentence.
"Think what? That you're a smart woman who landed herself three good men and a ranch? Honey, half the single women in the county are plotting topoison your coffee." Clara Mae laughs at my expression. "Oh, don't look so shocked. You think Mrs. Patterson runs her mouth because she disapproves? She's been telling everyone how well you've fit in, how hard you work, how those boys have been happier in the past month than they've been since John Mercer died."
"Really?"
"Really. You've been good for them, and them for you. Anyone with eyes can see it." She pats my arm with surprising gentleness. "Besides, unconventional doesn't mean wrong. Just means interesting. And Lord knows this town could use more interesting."
"So everyone's okay with... this?" I gesture vaguely at the four of us.
"Honey, as long as y'all are happy and not causing problems for anyone else, nobody cares what you do behind closed doors. Well, except for old Mrs. Hendricks, but she disapproves of everything on principle." Clara Mae winks. "’Course, now that it's official, I expect an invitation to the wedding."
"Wedding?" all four of us say at the same time.
"Oh, don't look so panicked. I don't mean tomorrow. But eventually. A woman doesn't commit to three cowboys and a ranch without making it legal somehow." She starts walking away, then turns back. "And when you do, I want to plan the reception. Gonna be the social event of the decade!"
