Page 51 of In Love with a Ranger

As she stood up, several smiling faces began to walk forward in greeting as Austin was calling out names.

“Curly hair is Georgia… cueball is Greg…”

“Hey!”

“The lady with the chili bowl is Gemma…”

“Oh my gosh, Austin! For the fifth time now, it’s not a chili bowl haircut but a bob. Giselle, if he keeps this up, I’m going to grow out my hair just to spite him.”

“This little goddess is the light of my life, Giselle – and we’ve got Mama Beck, Papa Beck, and the Beckinator…”

“Dang it, Austin – stop with that!”

“Hey, Mom, Dad, everyone…” Gideon began, laying a hand on Christina’s lower back. His voice seemed proud, so happy, and so excited to be bringing her home to show her off, that she couldn’t help but look up at him and smile. “This is my bride, Dr. Christina Beck.”

“This little woman is the cow doc?”

“Hush up, Gary.”

“Y’all are just mad because I’m stomping you in Scrabble.”

“Because you cheat!”

“How’s it cheating?”

“A-t-e-m-o-y-a is not a word…”

“No, it’s not, Gary. I have to agree with Gemma on this one…”

“Actually,” Christina spoke up, causing everyone to grow quiet. “It is a word. It’s a fruit in South America.”

“SEEEEEE? Guess who’s my favorite sister-in-law?” the man crowed in delight, sticking out his tongue amidst several defeated groans.

“Oh-em-gee… another nerd in the family.”

“We’re not nerds if we are educated, you troll…”

“I’m a paramedic and not a nerd.”

“Nobody knows what ‘Cyanotic’ means… except a nerd.”

“It means you're blue because someone is throttling you within an inch of your life...”

“Get him, Gizzy!” Sparky jeered in delight, and Christina chuckled at the bickering between the brothers and sisters. It reminded her so much of the Bradley family reunions she’d been to over the years – and put her right at ease.

“Wear gloves, Giselle,” Christina called out, holding up a hand and wiggling her fingers. “Fingerprints – and nerd solidarity!”

“Uh, THANK YOU!” Giselle laughed as Gary turned and darted into the house after shoving his sister on the shoulder playfully. Christina was about to say something else – and jerked back as something popped up right in front of her face.

“What the…”

Austin held up a wooden spoon almost an inch from her nose, causing Gideon to laugh easily, as did several others.

“We’re going to break you in right. There are no rules, no shame, and every song imaginable is on the table for karaoke. You can be our backup singer until you are ready to belt it out like Celine Dion. If you do that, I’m getting the leaf blower, and we’ll make it epic…”

Christina blinked, processing what he said, as he shoved the wooden spoon in her hand and turned it around. There, in little wooden letters glued to the spoon, was her name.

“Here’s your mic, sis – canna I get a beat?”

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