Page 115 of Wilde Hearts

“What’s going on?” I asked, wrapping my arm around Ensley. I’d missed whisking in and saving the day in moments like this. I’d happily be her hero for the night.

“My mother and grandmother have this crazy idea that I’m pregnant.”

My eyes widened as I glanced between the two of them. “How did you know?”

“Colt!” Ensley shouted. “Why?!”

Vivianne started to jump up and down, right along with Nellie.

“I can’t believe all three of my girls are pregnant at once!” Vivianne shouted—before slamming both hands over her mouth.

Ensley gasped. “What? Lilibeth and Emeline are pregnant again?”

“I’d really like to know what’s in the water on this ranch?” I interjected, and was promptly ignored by all three women.

“What’s going on in here?” Ladd asked, as he walked into the kitchen with Gus.

The four of us all cried out, “Nothing!”

Ladd held up his hands and took a few steps back. “Oookay. That’s our cue to head back out, Dad.”

Both men slowly started to back up, retreating from the kitchen.

I turned back and looked at Ensley. “Just so you know, no one in your family can keep a secret to save their life.”

She nodded. “That’s the truth.”

Ensley

“This is my favorite family tradition,” Emeline said, as she put everything for the hot chocolate on the trays. We had crushed candy canes, shaved chocolate, cinnamon sticks, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and shredded coconut. It was something our great-grandmother, Lilith, had started.

“Too bad your uncles couldn’t all make it this year,” my mother said, as she poured hot chocolate into one of the three carafes.

Emeline stepped back and looked at her handiwork on the tray as she said, “Caden told me that Uncle David and Uncle Mike are retiring at the end of next year.”

Surprised, I asked, “They are?”

Mom nodded. “They told Caden and Gatlin they’ll be officially handing over the running of the ranch to them. They’ll stay on through the end of next year, but will be taking a pretty big step back.”

Emeline and I exchanged a smile. If I knew my two brothers, they were most likely flying high at the prospect of being in charge of running the ranch.

“And the horse side of the ranch?” I asked.

My mother looked at Emeline, then me. “Well, I mean, Emeline runs it now, but if you’d like a bigger part in—”

“No!” I said, cutting her off. “I don’t want anything to do with the running of the horse side of the ranch. I mean, of course, I’m always here to help you, Emeline. You know that.”

She smiled and nodded.

“But Colt and I are going to merge our businesses and make it one.”

“How exciting!” my mother said. “When did you decide this?”

I shrugged. “A couple of weeks ago.”

“And have you decided where you’re going to live?” Emeline asked.

I shook my head. “Not yet.”