Page 8 of Claimed By the Cowboy
She's massive—twice as wide as any goat has a right to be, mustard-colored and clearly living up to her name.
She headbutts a planter off the porch, barrels toward me, then launches herself onto Tom's truck tailgate like she's been practicing.
“Not again,” Tom groans. “I just washed that.”
“She missed you,” Shay deadpans.
“She misseddestruction,” Angus says, stepping instinctively closer to Luna like the goat might come for her next and he’s ready to throw down with livestock. His shoulder brushes hers, and she leans in as though pulled to him like a magnet.
Ben sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “We’re really selling the ranch experience today, boys.”
I can't help it—laughter bubbles up, unstoppable. For the first time in forever, the knot in my chest loosens.
“I like it,” I say honestly, still crouched beside Jingle. “All of it. It’s chaos, but the good kind.”
Ben glances between Delaney and me, and I see the subtle flick of his brow. “You said Marlie was sending one woman,” he says to Tom. “Unless I missed something.”
Tom shifts his weight, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that…”
“It was my choice,” Delaney cutsin, firm but not defensive. “I wasn’t going to leave my sister behind.”
Ben nods slowly. “Wouldn’t expect you to. We value family around here.” A beat of silence as everyone absorbs this. “Two it is. You're both welcome.”
But I catch the looks—Angus giving Tom awe’ll talk later glance, and Henry’s assessing gaze flicking between Delaney and me.
They all feel it. Something’s already shifted.
Angus arches a dark eyebrow. “So, are you gonna introduce these ladies properly, Tom?”
Tom straightens, tension radiating from his powerful frame. “Right. Formal introductionsh.” His jaw works like he’s testing the numbness. “Everyone, thish ish Delaney Phillipsh, my”—his tongue catches on the words, slurring worse than before—“intended bride.”
He pauses, his blue eyes finding mine. Something soft flickers across his face, and I feel the inexplicable draw toward this man I barely know.
“And thish ish her shishter...” He turns fully toward me, that crooked, swollen smile so welcoming, clearly wanting to make me feel included.
“Klitty.”
Dead silence.
Everyone freezes.
Tom’s expression shifts from tender to horrified as he realizes his dental numbness turned my name into something mortifying.
Delaney’s face flames scarlet.
I want to crawl under a rock and disappear forever.
Then Luna snorts.
The sound breaks the dam, and suddenly, everyone’s laughing—not at me, but at poor Tom, who looks like he wants to die on the spot.
“Oh, my God, I almost peed,” Shay gasps between giggles.?
“Kitty,” Tom tries again, over-enunciating. “Hername ishKitty.”
“We got it the first time,” Angus says, grinning wickedly. “But your version has a certain… ring to it.”
“Angush!” Tom's voice cracks with mortification.
