Swept Away in Wilde [Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Chloe Lang

  Dillon was on his walkie-talkie with one of their ranch hands. “Come to the front of my parents’ house, Max. We need you to put our horses away. We have big news for Mom that can’t wait. Thanks.”

  She was surrounded by the Wilde brothers. “I hope you will all continue to ride with me. I really love it.”

  “You are definitely the woman for us,” Dan said. “No doubt about it, sweetheart.”

  “The transportation to our date tonight will be on horseback, angel,” Dillon said. “We have a special place we all want to show you.”

  “But you’ve each already shown me special places. There is more?”

  Craig smiled. “One more, sweetheart.”

  “We saved the best for last,” Dan said, grinning.

  “What are we going to do on our date?” she asked. “I’ve never been on a double date, let alone a triple date. Wait, that’s not quite right. What would a date with three guys and one woman be called?”

  “Heaven,” Craig answered. “When it’s with the right woman. Mary, you are most certainly the right woman for us. You’re the only one for us.”

  They arrived at their parents’ home.

  Max was by the steps.

  “Hey, buddy,” Dillon said. “Thanks for this.”

  “No problem, boss.” The ranch hand took the reins of all the horses and led them into the barn.

  “Come on. I can’t wait to tell Mom.” Mary bolted up the steps. Dan, Dillon, and Craig ran with her. “Mom. Mom. I came to tell you I’m in lov—” Her jaw dropped when she saw Maude sitting at the table with Carol.

  “Hello, sis.” Her sister jumped up from the chair and ran to her.

  They hugged each other.

  “I’m so glad you are here,” she said, holding her sister tight. “I have wonderful news. You need to sit down, Maude. And you, too, Mom. These are my three guys, and I love them very much. I’m staying in Wilde for the rest of my life with them.”

  Mom smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I am so happy. This is the most wonderful news. Exactly what I wanted.” Then the dear woman gave each of her boys a kiss before sitting back down.

  Still standing, Maude frowned. “Don’t tell me they’ve proposed already?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Dillon put his arm around her and turned to Maude. “But we all know what we want. We want your sister for our wife. We all love her.”

  Maude shook her head. “I don’t understand any of this. Three husbands? How is that possible?”

  “I don’t understand it either, sis, but I do understand how much I love them. The rest we’ll work out together.”

  “I think you are just on the rebound. Do these guys know about your engagement to Paul?”

  “They know. What you do not know is that I haven’t had feelings for Paul for months. I was trying to figure a way out of that mess for a very long time.”

  “No offense to any of you,” Maude said, “but this lifestyle isn’t for me and Mary.”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “That’s not your decision, Maude. I know you are only trying to protect me and have my best interest in mind. But this is my life and I’ve made up my mind. Nothing you can say is going to change it.”

  “Mary, why don’t you take your sister upstairs?” Carol smiled. It was clear she was trying to give them a chance to be alone and hash all this out with each other. “Maude’s room is the one across from yours. My boys and I will get supper started.”

  “Thank you, Mom,” she said. “Maude, follow me.”

  * * * *

  Craig watched Mary walk out of the kitchen with her sister. He wished he could be a fly on the wall to listen in on their conversation upstairs. The last thing he wanted was for Maude to put doubts into Mary’s mind about him and his brothers. “That didn’t go well.”

  “Not at all,” Dillon said.

  “Sit down, boys,” their mom said. “We have a little bit of time to talk before we start dinner. And I believe we have as much to talk about as those two lovely girls.”

  They all sat down at the kitchen table.

  Dan sighed. “I guess we won’t have our date tonight with Mary since Maude is here.”

  “I’m not worried just about the date, bro,” Craig said, feeling his gut tighten. “Mary’s only real family is her sister. They are so close.”

  “I’m not surprised.” Dillon sat down at the table. “They both grew up with self-centered parents who showed them no love.”

  “In fact, she really is her only family since her parents nearly disowned her for moving in with her ex,” he said. “I can understand why she did. Obviously she wanted to get out of her parents’ cold home.”

  He looked over at his mom and saw her eyes were welling up. “Mom, are you okay?”

  “Mary has been through so much. Her fiancé abused her.”

  “We know, Mom,” Dillon said, grabbing her hand.

  She smiled. “For a woman to share such a thing with anyone, especially a man, is very difficult. There must be trust. She does love you boys.”

  “But is that going to be enough, Mom?” Dan asked. “She’s not from Wilde. Can you imagine how her parents will react when they learn she’s in love with three men? You saw how her sister just reacted to the news.”

  “Poor things,” their mom said. “Growing up in such a home must’ve been very lonely. No wonder they cling to each other. But don’t worry about Maude changing Mary’s mind. I can tell that she’s stronger than any of us can imagine.”

  “I agree.” Craig grinned. “And I’m a Wilde. No matter what happens, I know Mary is the one for me and my brothers. I won’t let anything or anyone keep me from marrying her.”

  “You sound just like your dads, son.” She smiled. “Don’t you think Maude is a beautiful woman, too? She seems very strong. It’s clear to me that she only wants the best for her sister.”

  “She’s pretty and feisty,” Dillon said.

  “I have a plan for Maude that I’m positive will turn her around. Plus, if it works out the way I think it will, you three will be able to take Mary on that date tomorrow night.”

  “What plan?” Dan asked.

  His mom smiled and stood. “Leave that to me. I don’t want you teasing me about this idea.”

  “Teasing you?” Craig wondered what his mother was up to.

  She ignored the question. “Now, I do need my sweet boys’ help to get dinner ready. Shall we? I have a bunch of potatoes that need peeling.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Mary grinned as she placed the last of Maude’s outfits on a hanger in the closet, which was slightly larger than any of the ones in their parents’ home. Good thing, since it looked like her sister had brought enough to stay a month or more even though she had said she would only be staying a couple of days.

  This guest bedroom was just as nice as the one she was staying in, though the colors were more muted. Hers had a more feminine styling than this room, which could accommodate either a male or female guest.

  She took a seat in one of the two chairs by the large window, waiting for Maude to finish her shower. How do I convince her I know what I’m doing? She’d never been able to convince Maude of anything, so she guessed her sister would have to see for herself.

  “That was just what I needed, Mary.” Maude stepped out of the bathroom wearing a white terry cloth robe with her long hair wrapped up in a towel to dry. She came and sat down in the other chair next to her.

  “God, I’ve missed you, sis,” she said. “I really am so glad you are here.”

  “Me, too. And Carol is the sweetest lady to let me stay here. When I first got here, she immediately started a pot of coffee and gave me a piece of the most delicious pie I’ve ever had.”

  “What kind was it?”

  “Peach.”

  “I haven’t had that one, but her apple and chocolate cream are to die for.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that. I can see me putting on twenty pounds while
I’m here.”

  “Speaking of while you are here, you brought enough clothes to stay a month. Is that your real intention?”

  Maude leaned forward and grabbed both her hands. “I’m going to stay as long as it takes to convince you to go on to California.”

  She squeezed her sister’s hands. “I love you, Maude, and how much you care about me. But you will never convince me to leave. I’ve never felt at home anywhere until I came to Wilde. I know you don’t understand this lifestyle and quite frankly I don’t either. What I do know is I love all three brothers with all my heart. And they love me. Nothing can take that away from me.”

  “So you intend to marry three men?” Maude shook her head. “That’s not even legal, Mary.”

  “I told you I still don’t understand how it all works, but I know it does. Carol and her three husbands are living proof of that.”

  “Well, I haven’t even met her three guys. I reserve my judgment on that matter until I meet them.”

  “You’re going to have that opportunity at dinner. The only thing I ask you is that you be nice. They are wonderful people.”

  Maude grinned. “Aren’t I always, sis?”

  “Yes, but you are very outspoken.”

  “I would never insult the people who opened up their home for me.”

  “I know you wouldn’t. Just please look at this lovely family. It’s plain to see that Carol and her husbands are completely head over heels for each other. If you keep your mind open on this, you’ll see it just like I did.” She leaned back in her chair. “Maude, I can be happy here. With Dan, Dillon, and Craig. I know I can. I know I will.”

  “I want you to be happy, sis. I do. But you left home and moved in with Paul. You thought that would make you happy, too. But it didn’t. I just want you to think about this.”

  “You’re right. It didn’t make me happy. I really never loved Paul. At least my feelings for him don’t even compare with how I feel with my guys. I really only moved in with him to get as far away from home as I could. You know that. We talked about it. You’d been gone from home for over a year. I was so alone. Living with them. I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

  “I feel guilty about the Paul thing, Mary. I should have had you move in with me.”

  “Stop it. That’s all the past. I’m looking at the here and now. Besides, everything we have been through is for a reason. I would’ve never met the men of my dreams if I hadn’t left.”

  “You seem stronger somehow, sis. Definitely more confident than I’ve ever seen you before.”

  “And don’t forget happy, Maude. I’m so very happy. I hope you can see that, too.”

  “Sis, this is difficult for me. I worry about you.”

  “Just give it time. You’ll come around.” She stood. “And we both better be getting ready for dinner. I can’t wait for you to taste Mom’s cooking. When I told her that I’d only baked cookies, she promised to teach me anything I wanted to learn in the kitchen. Can you believe that?”

  “After tasting her peach pie, maybe I should ask her for lessons, too.”

  “Maybe you should.”

  * * * *

  Mary walked down the stairs with Maude. She could tell her sister was very uptight. More so than usual. But Maude looked absolutely beautiful, and she knew the Wildes would make her feel at home.

  Dan, Dillon, Craig, and their dads were setting the table together.

  Carrying a couple of plates of food, Carol came out of the kitchen and turned her gaze to Mary and Maude. “My goodness, don’t you two look stunning. Maude, I’d like to introduce you to my husbands. This is Jack.”

  Maude held out her hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”

  “I’m more of a hugger, young lady.” Pappy Jack gave her a sweet hug. “Welcome to Wilde.”

  “I’m Will, but you can call me ‘Pop’ if you’d like. And we’re all huggers here.” Pop Will put his arm around her, and Mary saw her sister start to smile.

  “Don’t leave me out,” Dad Tom said with a smile. “Come here, young lady.”

  Maude’s grin grew. “I guess you’re a hugger, too.”

  “You bet I am,” he said, giving her a hug. “The more of these you have in a day, the longer you live. It’s a scientific fact.”

  “But more importantly, it’s fun,” Pappy Jack said.

  Maude smiled. “I really appreciate you opening your home up to me and Mary.”

  “Didn’t your sister tell you?” Carol asked. “The pleasure is mine. I love having two women help me keep these men in line. You can see I’m outnumbered.”

  Dad Tom laughed. “You agreed to marry the three of us, honey. You’re part to blame.”

  “Oh I am, am I?”

  “Oh no, brother,” Pappy Jack said in a mischievous tone. “Sounds like you’re in trouble.”

  Carol giggled as if she were a teenager. “You three all stay in trouble. I don’t know why I love you so much.”

  “I do,” Pop Will said. “Because we Wilde men are irresistible. You’ve always told us we looked like movie stars, sweetheart. Jack like Gary Cooper. Tom like Tyrone Power. And me, the most handsome of the three of us, like Cary Grant’s twin.”

  “You’re hardly the most handsome,” Pappy Jack said.

  “I agree with you, Jack.” Dad Tom stepped back and folded his arms as if posing for a picture. “Clearly, I’m the best-looking brother.”

  “Just keep telling yourself that, Tom.” Pappy Jack grinned. “Our wife knows the truth.”

  Smiling, Carol shook her head. “Forgive my adolescent husbands. This argument has been going on for years.”

  “I can see why,” Maude said. “They certainly are handsome.”

  Mary liked seeing her sister start to open up.

  “It’s time to eat before the food gets cold,” Carol said.

  Craig pulled out a chair. “Mary, you’re next to me.”

  “Wait a second, bro,” Dan said. “I’m sitting next to Mary.”

  “You can sit on the other side of her, but I’m sitting here. The other night I sat across from her and you and Dillon got to sit next to her.”

  “I say we draw straws,” Dillon said.

  “No. It’s your turn to sit across from her,” Craig said. “Tomorrow night, Dan will have to.”

  Maude laughed. “Looks like you do need a couple of women in your house to manage these Wilde men.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Dad Tom pulled out a chair for Maude, which was directly across from hers.

  They all sat down, and the conversation and delicious food worked magic on her sister. By the time dessert was served, she seemed completely at home with the Wildes, just as she had been her first night here.

  Carol said, “Maude, I’d love to show you and Mary around Wilde tomorrow.”

  “That sounds great to me.”

  “Don’t forget, Mom, we’re taking Mary on a date tomorrow night,” Craig said.

  “I’m sorry, guys, but my sister is here. I can’t go horseback riding with you.”

  “No, Mary,” Maude said with a devilish grin. “Go on your date. See how it turns out.”

  “That’s wonderful. Maude, you and I can spend some time together,” Carol said. “That is if you don’t make other plans.”

  Carol and Maude were cut from the same cloth.

  “Are you sure, sis?” she asked Maude.

  “Very sure. Have fun.”

  She looked at Dan, Dillon, and Craig, who were all smiling broadly. “I’m sure I will have fun with these three.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Mary walked out of the dressing room. “How does this look for my horseback riding date tonight?”

  “You look beautiful,” Carol said. “I particularly love the Stetson you picked out.”

  Maude nodded. “I agree. Annie Oakley has nothing on you, sis. Would you mind if I bought a pair of boots like those?”

  “Sure. Would you like to learn to ride? Carol’s horse Rosie is a g
reat teacher. So are her sons.”

  “Don’t you mean your boyfriends?” Maude teased.

  “I think I’d like to try on that blue top before I make my decision.”

  “Of course, Mary.” Carol looked at her watch. “Oh my. I had no idea it was this late.” She turned to Maude. “Would you mind doing me a quick favor?”

  “Sure. Anything.”

  “I’ve ordered lunch to-go for my husbands at the Horseshoe Bar & Grill just across the street. I need to run to the bank, or I would do it myself. Would you mind picking up my order?”

  “I don’t mind at all.”

  Carol pulled out some money from her purse and handed it to Maude. “Mary, you try on anything else you like.” She sent her a little wink. What was she up to? “Maude and I will meet you back here in a few minutes before my boys show up to drive us back to the house.”

  “Sounds good to me,” she said.

  When her shopping buddies left the store, she tried on the blue top but decided to stick with the red one, which had a better fit. She walked back out of the dressing room, and to her shock, she spotted the last person on earth she expected to see in Wilde. Paul, her ex.

  He grabbed her arm tightly. “Thought you could get away from me so easily, M.”

  She hated when he called her that. “Let go of me before I scream.”

  “No one here to hear you, baby. The clerk just stepped out back for a smoke break.” He pulled her to the door. “You’re coming home with me now.”

  She tried to break free of his hold. “How did you find me?”

  “I followed your sister all the way here.” He squeezed her arm until it hurt. “I knew she was lying to me when she said she didn’t know where you were. Who are those people you are staying with?”

  “None of your damn business, Paul. Now let me go. It’s over between us.”

  “It’s over when I say it’s over and not before. No one walks out on Paul Holstead.” He jerked her out the door.

  For months she’d suffered silently, trying to keep up appearances just like she’d been taught by her parents all her life. He’d slapped her around outside a club in an alley back home because he thought she was looking at another man instead of him. She hadn’t screamed for help then, feeling helpless and ashamed. Instead, she had just taken his abuse. No more.