Page 96 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Buthe’sa…”

“Bear?”

“Yeah.”

“Brady’s abeartoo.”

“Mack told me theyallare.”

“It comes in handy sometimes. Especially when it’s time to cut logs for thewinter.”

Madison asked, “Isn’t it scary? I mean, how do you know he can control hisbear-self?”

“Brady can control it most of the time. The only time he can’t is when someone he loves is in danger. I heard Mack almost mauled your ex in the middle of the night. That had to be scary towatch.”

“That’s part of why I’m so confusedrightnow.”

“Are you having the heart versus mind war? I do that all the time. I try to listen to my heart, but my mind likes to jump in and complicatethings.”

Madison nodded. “That’s exactly howIfeel.”

“When it comes to matters of love, go with your heart. Based on my experience, when I followed my mind instead of my heart, I got myself into a total mess. It took my son almost dying before Brady and I decided to stop listening to our egos and listen to our heartsinstead.”

“How isyourson?”

“Jimmy’s doing great. He needed a bone marrow transplant, but it worked. Thank God, because I don’t know what I would have done if I’dlosthim.”

“Where ishenow?”

“He’s back at the main house with Brady right now. We got in late so I’m letting them sleep in. I have to get going in a minute. I’m going to wake them up in time for breakfast. I just wanted to pop over and meet the woman who kept Mack up worrying allnight.”

“He was up allnight?”

“Sitting in the dark when we got home. Scared the shit outofme.”

Madison frowned. “He wants me to staywithhim.”

“What do you wanttodo?”

“I don’t know. I have my ex to deal with, and I’mpregnant.”

“Congratulations?”

“It’s my ex’s baby. Part of me is hesitant to drag Mack into my life. It’s a mess. I don’t know why hewantsme.”

“I’ve known Mack for years. Trust me when I say I thought he’d be single forever. If he’s asking you to stay, then he’s fallen head over heelsforyou.”

Madison gave her a skeptical look. “In the course of afewdays?”

“Why not? When you know,youknow.”

“It just seems fast. Like maybe my hormones are making mecrazy.”

“Or maybe you’re fated mates and meant to betogether.”

“You really believeinfate?”

“Yes. We all have the ability to decide our own fates, but why fight something that just feels right? That’s how I felt about Brady. The whole time we were apart, I thought about him. I didn’t really date anyone else. I didn’t feel that pull in my heart. No one can make me feel the way Brady does because he’s my fated mate.” Rachel stepped in to give her a sisterly hug. “Anyway, I have to get going. Don’t think about it too hard. Sometimes love is totallyirrational.”