Page 34 of Mad About Her Cowboys

Everything in him protested, and he met Connor’s eyes over the top of her head. His brother shrugged, as if to say, What can we do?

“Whatever you need,” Franklin told her, tamping down his own need. “We’ll be ready when you are.”

Chapter Fifteen

The Quists had started a campaign of courtship. One or more of them was in the doctor’s office or on Madison’s doorstep every day since Saturday afternoon. That first day, Franklin and Connor had stayed with her for hours, the three of them talking and cuddling on her couch. She stopped the action whenever it seemed to be edging for more, though. And it wasn’t without guilt. Neither were the next days guilt-free as they brought her gifts that ranged from baked goods to fancy coffee—decaf, Neal was quick to point out—to flowers to small thoughtful gifts, like a pregnancy notebook from Franklin and a funny mug from Eds.

She’d told them repeatedly that they didn’t need to give her things, but they insisted they liked it. All she wanted was their time. Connor had let her know she’d get more than she could handle once Wednesday rolled around. That worried her a little. It excited her more.

And today, their ranch guests had left. Tonight, she was having dinner with them at Leena’s Diner. Glancing up at the clock, she saw it was almost time for the medical center to close. Butterflies started in her belly. Sure, she’d seen her cowboys, but not like this, and not all at once. As much as she’d told them, she needed to go slow, she was anxious to see them.

“You’re practically bouncing in your seat,” Doc said, coming up behind her and laying a file on the desk. “There’s notes in here I need typed, but they can wait until tomorrow. Lock up your desk and get out of here before you make that baby seasick from your fidgeting. I can close up the place.”

Her hand rested on her belly. “You’re sure.”

“Completely. Go on.”

“Okay. Thanks!” She would have hugged him, but he was already headed back toward his office. Quickly, she closed down her workstation then grabbed her things. She had a date to get ready for!

Grinning, she headed out then hurried up the steps to her place. The stairs were perfectly clear. After that first day, when she’d come home to find them snow-covered, the guys had kept them cleared and so well-salted that ice wouldn’t dare form on them. She shook her head, touched by their thoughtfulness.

She’d just gotten inside when her phone pinged with a message. Thinking it was one of her guys, she pulled it out quickly. Her brow furrowed when she saw it was one of her old co-workers, Marmie.

You won’t even believe it! Dr. Bradley was fired today! No one knows why, but I thought you’d want to know.

Holy…

Madison’s fingers covered her open mouth as she stared at her phone screen. Martin got fired? Fired? She’d never thought it would happen.

Wow, she typed back. That’s a shock. Thanks for telling me.

Her old friend responded back, asking how things were with her new job. They chatted a few minutes while Madison leaned against her closed front door, still aghast at the news. Even with the time out to catch up, she was ready to go and meet Connor, Franklin, Neal and Eds twenty minutes later. It was still a little early, but she decided to head over to the diner. It was only half a block away, so she pulled on her coat and gloves to walk down there.

The weather had turned mild since the weekend, with temps reaching back toward the fifties, though it had never quite gotten there. Still, Madison was used to bitter, Michigan winters so the high forties felt almost balmy. She smiled up toward the orangey sun and wide blue skies. Daly, Wyoming was truly beautiful. She loved it here.

Other than the small speedbump this weekend, it had been quiet and peaceful. Everyone she’d met since arriving had been friendly. It wasn’t the back-biting, dog-eat-dog world she was used to. The women were kind, and the men, despite barely veiled interest, were polite. She had a feeling that was because they all knew the Quists had put out their claim.

River had told her last week that everyone lived by a set of unwritten rules here—women were respected at the cost of disappearing somewhere on the thousands of acres of nearby land if one didn’t. And you sure as hell didn’t infringe on another man’s property. She didn’t so much appreciate being referred to as property, but it warmed her to belong to her strong men.

And they’d made it clear she was theirs, even with her request to slow things down. Her pregnancy hormones were screaming at her that it was the stupidest thing she’d ever asked for, but she couldn’t regret her decision to know the Quist men better before moving forward.

She was drawn to Franklin and Connor, but she needed to develop her relationship with Neal and Edison, too. If she was going to be with them, the bond needed to be fair. She wouldn’t be the cause of a rift. But she would heed River’s advice and not wait years either. If anything, her friend’s situation drove home the reality of grabbing onto life and living, not waiting and thinking you had forever. Sometimes, you didn’t.

The cheery façade of Leena’s greeted Madison before she could get too far into thoughts of River and her situation. As the sun sank low in the sky, the lights of the diner shone like a beacon into the coming twilight. The red and white curtains lining the windows gave a homey feel, and everything inside was bright white and gleaming stainless. Somehow, the place still managed to have an old-fashioned soda-shop feel to it.

“Hey, hon,” Leena greeted her as she’d entered. Madison had gotten to know the woman since she’d arrived, having eaten plenty of meals and gotten a coffee or two here. Leena’s coffee could compete with and beat Starbucks any day of the week. Leena also carried some of the essentials a girl needed over in the small store attached to the eating area. “Your men called ahead, and I have a table ready for you. It’s chicken-fried night so we tend to get pretty busy.”

“Busy? That’s an understatement,” Devon scoffed, taking the menus from the owner. Devon had waited on Madison a few times and seemed to be Leena’s only waitstaff, though Mads had seen Leena’s husbands Brian and John in here helping a time or two.

“Even I’ve heard about the chicken-fried,” Madison laughed. “I didn’t realize it was today.”

“Every Wednesday night,” Devon confirmed. “We even have extra cooks come in to help and set up extra seating in the open space in the store. We have you five over here in the corner.”

“Thank you.” Madison slid into the circular corner booth, set for five. She moved to the back, knowing she’d end up with two men on either side of her. Pretty soon, she wouldn’t be able to do that. Her baby belly would be in the way. Smiling, she rested her hand on the slight swell. She couldn’t wait. As each day passed, she got more excited for her little one.

Devon set down the menus. “Can I bring you anything besides water to drink?”

“No, water’s fine for now.”

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