Page 73 of The Backup Bride Proposal

“Now you’re just messing with me.”

He laughed. “I’m really not. This is our road.”

She sat up straight and stared through the windshield as Kane came up to an impressive-looking steel gate with the wordsDouble A Ranchabove it. Kane’s phone buzzed. He picked it up, smiled, then replied to the text. The gate miraculously opened, as if the gates of heaven had just parted to welcome them.

“Someone knew we were here?” she asked.

He nodded. “Yup.”

They drove through and Mae turned around to watch the gate close behind them.

Impressive.

“There must be cameras I missed.”

“Yeah, they’re in the trees. It’s better to keep things like that hidden. Makes folks feel welcome. Then neighbors and local folk just beep their horn and Grandpa can let them in.”

“Whereas other people…?”

“Are given more scrutiny.”

She blinked. “I had no idea that ranchers needed that level of security. Then again, I honestly know nothing of ranching.”

“We house and train several thoroughbred racehorses,” Kane said as he made the turn and pulled in front of what was a surprisingly impressive two-story home. “Some of these horses are worth a lot of money. We take our responsibility to protect these animals very seriously.”

“I’m not going to see armed guards patrolling the stalls, am I?”

He laughed. “No, we don’t go that far.”

It was obvious he wasn’t going to elaborate on just how far they did go in protecting the horses.

They got out of the SUV and Mae stretched, very happy to be standing. A woman who looked to be in her midfifties came out of the house and down the steps, throwing her arms around Kane. Slender, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, she had short blond hair and the same blue eyes as Kane’s. Wrinkles lined the corners of her eyes, but she was beautiful.

“You don’t come around enough,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.

“I know. I’m sorry. Aunt Tess, this is my friend Mae Wallace. Mae, this is my dad’s sister Tess.”

Mae held out her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Tess.”

Tess gave her a very hearty handshake. “It’s so nice tomeet you, too, Mae. Come on inside. I made some lemonade and iced tea. We also got whiskey if you’re ready for something harder.”

Mae watched Tess turn and bound up the stairs in her tight jeans and cowgirl boots.

“Wow, she’s something.”

Kane grinned. “She’s my favorite aunt.”

“You have more?”

He nodded as he pulled their bags from the back of the SUV. “My dad is the second oldest of four, and the other three are all girls. Tess was born two years after him and is the only one who stayed to work at the ranch, along with her wife, Donna. If you think Tess is a live wire, just wait until you meet Donna.”

“I can’t wait.”

She heard barking and turned to see two beautiful dogs bounding toward them. One was black and white with fur flying and the other a short-haired solid black.

“That’s Shadow and Lucky,” he said, bending down to receive the brunt of the attention. The dogs were extremely enthusiastic in their greetings and Kane seemed to love it. After they had been thoroughly petted, they made their way over to Mae, who gave them both copious amounts of love.

“Aren’t you two the sweetest things?” Mae asked.

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