Rachel nodded. “Yup. She wouldn’t admit it to me, but I think she’s been in labor since earlier this afternoon. She was bound and determined she was going to be here for this wedding. Speaking of doctors and hospital visits, did you hear what happened to poor Gage?”
Lydia’s ears perked up at the name. Gage Randall was Duke Rivers’s cousin and a dear friend of hers from San Angelo. Duke and Gage had been family friends since she was a child and were really more like brothers.
“No. What?” she asked, as Chance and Clayton drew near to hear the story.
Rachel grimaced. “He got shot in the ass with an arrow out at Campbell Lake. Some kid was playing around and accidentally hit him.” Lydia cringed as Rachel continued. “But it sounds like Doctor Guthrie got him all fixed up. Summer said Emma was nearby when it happened.”
“I didn’t know anything about it. I’m glad he’s okay, though.” Lydia turned to her men and said, “Well, let’s get this show on the road.”
They returned to the ranch, and the covered pavilion at the Rockin’ C Ranch was soon filled with people eating, dancing, and having a good time.
Lydia was particularly amused by Maya’s friends who had come from San Marcos, Texas. They were getting their groove on with several of the ranch hands from both ranches after Maya took them around and introduced all of them. The girls looked like they were in cowboy hottie heaven as the ranch hands took turns dancing with them.
Particularly satisfying to Lydia was catching a glimpse of her friend LuAnn as she danced closely with Robert Martin. The two of them had hit it off from the moment she’d arrived on the ranch. When the DJ put on Big & Rich’s “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” Lydia had to join all the girls for their dance.
Everyone laughed as one of the barn cats chased Mack through the assemblage, and Lydia was relieved they’d waited until after everyone had eaten and had cake before they’d resumed their little war for dominance.
Mack was convinced he was the alpha dog, since he was the only dog, and Jake the barn cat seemed bound and determined that he was the alpha dog, never mind that he was a cat. Mack now weighed thirty pounds and had doubled in size in the last month. But when Jake hissed and arched his back, turning instantly into a much larger-looking orange fur ball, it never failed to disconcert Mack.
Lydia’s gaze was drawn to Clayton, who stood speaking with Ace and Kemp. She was relieved that there were no ongoing conflicts between her brothers and her men. Lydia thought Summer was perfect for Ace and Kemp and looked forward to having her for a sister-in-law.
Chance snuck up behind Lydia and surprised her by sliding a hand around her waist from behind. “You’re thinking awfully hard there, ‘future Mrs. Chance and Clayton Carlisle.’ Making plans for your wedding already?”
They’d decided on a small November wedding, set in the large backyard of the ranch house, weather permitting. “It is occupying my thoughts a lot, but right now my mind is centered more on the immediate future after everyone goes home tonight.”
Clayton joined them, having heard the last part of what she said, judging by the big smile on his face. “Central in my plans is getting you off your feet and into the tub for a nice long, lavender-scented soak, then flat on your back in our bed with us.”
Lydia smiled and said, “I can’t wait.”
“So what’s next on your agenda?” Chance asked as she turned so she was centered between them like the filling in a delicious cowboy sandwich. The gathering was made up entirely of people who knew all about the polyandrous marriages that proliferated amongst this group she’d been lucky enough to join.
Lydia didn’t hesitate when she smiled at her men and said, “Right now, I want to dance with both of my men. Later on…”
Her men drew close to her and Chance asked, “Later on…what?”
They each took a hand as the DJ switched tunes and the opening strains of Shania Twain’s “Forever and For Always” started to play.
“Later on, how about we recreate page two hundred seventy-three of The Rancher’s Lady again, only this time without the interruption.”
Chance kissed her hand and rubbed his jaw as if he were remembering Ace’s fist connecting with it and said, “I reckon we could arrange that.”
Seeing the love in both her men’s eyes made her heart swell as Clayton murmured, “Lydia sure does love page two hundred seventy-three.”
“I do. And I love being the rancher’s lady.”
THE END
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The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 3 Page 88
