Page 61 of Claimed By the Cowboys
“You don't mind?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.
My twin grinned at me. “You’ll owe me one.”
That felt suspiciously like a trap, but I wanted to go see our girls, so I would worry about that later.
“Thanks!” I shouted as I sprinted out of the barn. “This is why you’re my favorite!”
His laugh could be heard as I fled.
The barn I'd been working at was only a five-minute drive from the main house, so in what felt like no time at all, I was pulling up and moving into the house where Maisie and Piper were doing something in the kitchen.
Turned out, they were making fresh bread. Maisie was standing on a little stool next to Piper as the pair of them wore matching aprons, kneading a large lump of dough.
Piper’s hair was piled on top of her head, and she was wearing another sundress.
I needed to send Emmy a thank-you card.
“How’s my girls?” I said warmly, walking over to them and kissing Piper on the cheek. She leaned into the touch but didn't remove her hands from the ball of dough she was kneading.
“Hi, Daddy D!” Maisie greeted me, holding out her sticky, dough-covered fingers for a hug.
The way she beamed up at me with such love, I almost fell for it.
“Give Daddy a hug after you wash your hands; you’re all sticky!” Piper explained.
Maisie paused, then nodded. “Daddy D, stay there. We hug soon.”
“Of course, I’m going to stay right here,” I informed her as I rested a hand on Piper’s back, unable to resist touching her. She faced me, a soft, graceful smile on her face. The new angle was perfect to peck her on the lips, and my action was rewarded with a bigger smile.
“Mommies and daddies kiss—is Piper my mommy?” Maisie asked curiously, cocking her head.
Piper stilled, and my eyes widened so far, I was surprised they didn’t fall right out of my head. That was a loaded question if I ever heard one.
“Well…that depends,” I said. Piper was now a bonded member of our pack, so it wasn't like she was going anywhere, and she had expressed several times that she was interested in being a mother to Maisie. But we hadn't really discussed how we would approach that when it came to the little lady herself. “Do youwantPiper to be your mommy?”
Maisie's brow furrowed for a second, as if she were deep in thought. Piper's dough-covered hand reached for mine, and below the counter, we grasped at each other. I was nervous enough, so Piper was probably spiraling, just waiting for an answer.
“Think I like that.” Maisie nodded before turning back to the bread she was making.
Was it really that simple? Piper and I looked at each other with matching expressions of confusion on our faces.
“Okay…” Piper said, her words slow as she thought about what she was saying. “That’s good. Now, shall we put our bread in the oven?”
Maisie nodded, and I stood back and watched as the pair of them continued their task.
When the door opened again, and I saw Montana, I grabbed Maisie, who giggled maniacally and strode over to him.
“Daddy Montana!” she shouted excitedly.
“You need to go clean up, little miss. I think it’s bath time.”
My twin took our daughter, not caring about the sticky fingers, while shooting me a confused look. “What have you been up to, Maisie Moo?”
“Bread!” she declared excitedly.
“Making bread,” I agreed. “But now Daddy D and Mommy need to go get cleaned up…”
Montana’s face turned from confusion to disapproval to mild disappointment. If it hadn't been for Maisie, I assumed he would have asked us to join.
