Page 21

Chapter Twenty-One

M aureen, Meg, Regina, and Hope sat on top of the picnic table to get a better view of their men overseeing the end of the competition.

“Is there anything hotter than a man in motorcycle boots, thigh-hugging blue jeans, a T-shirt, and his cut?” Meg asked.

“Is it hot out here? I mean, it’s eight p.m. at night, but my heart is racing, and my face is flushed,” Regina said.

Maureen giggled. She loved getting to spend time with them, and she almost wished she and Compass were here at Bluff Creek. But she loved the ranch, and she and Compass planned on traveling, so they’d be back.

“So, I want to say thanks to you ladies. Two weeks ago, I never would have dreamed that Compass and I would be married,” she said.

“Are you ready for your wedding night?” Stella asked as she sat down beside her.

“I am, but Ellie loaned us her room at the bar. We’ve already consummated our marriage multiple times. That man is a machine,” Maureen said, her face heating a little.

“Woohoo, get you some,” Regina yelled, high-fiving her.

Maureen glanced up to see if Compass heard her and found his hot gaze on her and a smirk on his face. She decided to go with it and blew a kiss at him. Her hot biker, who could be so serious, caught the kiss in his hand and then held it to his heart.

“Umm, wow, it is definitely hot here, and I so need someone to relieve my stress,” Stella murmured.

Sarah and Remi walked over with lawn chairs. “Can we join you ladies?”

“Of course! So Scoop and War are in the finals against Dex and Halligan, it seems,” Regina said.

“Is it bad I almost want them to lose so we can stop talking about the pickleball tournament?” Sarah muttered.

“Oh no, I agree. The last week of them trying to strategize a game where who the heck knows where the ball will end up or who they would play,” Remi said.

Maureen loved the found family she and Lexi had gotten when Lexi and Booker reconnected. She glanced around and didn’t see Lexi or Booker. Knowing Lexi and Booker, they were having some alone time.

“What’s that smirk for?” Stella asked.

Maureen chuckled. “I wondered where Lexi and Booker were, which made me think of them having alone time and remembering some of their alone time on the ranch.”

“Spill it, woman. This kid is jumping on my bladder, and I can’t reach the bottom of my legs to shave them easily. I so need tales of other people’s shenanigans,” Sarah said.

“Obviously, the ranch has a lot of buildings and space, but it seems that Compass has radar of going to the wrong place at the wrong time. The last time, he went out to check that the barn was locked down for the night. He walked in and got to see my lovely daughter bent over two stacked hay bales with her husband’s bare ass clenching as he powered into her. At least that’s how Compass described it,” Maureen said.

The women’s laughter brought Winnie, Phoebe, and Blake over.

“What’s going on?” Phoebe asked.

“Just old woman stuff,” Regina said.

“C’mon, Blake, let’s go get a snack. That’s code for they’re talking about adult stuff,” Phoebe said, air quoting.

Maureen tried to quit giggling, but these kids were hilarious.

“Here’s some cash. You and Blake stay in this area where you can always see me,” Winnie said, handing the money to Phoebe.

Phoebe started to walk away, then turned around. “We need to update some of the bail bonds codes because I have some ideas. We’ll talk later, Remi.”

Phoebe turned back and she and Blake walked off.

“Umm, how old is she?” Maureen asked.

“Six and a half going on thirty,” Winnie said, sitting down and putting her head in her hands.

Faith walked up with Hope and sat down on the ground beside where Winnie had dropped. Sliding her arm around her, she asked, “Are you okay?”

Winnie looked up. “I just realized Phoebe is a combo of Remi, Beth, and my traits, and it friggin’ scared me to death.”

Maureen giggled along with everyone else. Faith patted her shoulder.

“But what a great problem to have. You’re raising a strong, fierce girl who will turn into a woman who will know her worth. She’ll help others. Even though Deborah’s older, I see her picking up some of the confidence that Phoebe and Blake exude from being cherished by everyone. It’s a gift, and we need to treasure and nurture it,” Faith said.

“Well said, Faith, but I hate crying, so no more mushy stuff right now,” Remi said.

“I was just thinking how last year at this time, Meg came into our lives, and the first of the Originals without women found their one. Now, a year later, Locks and Compass have the love of good women,” Regina mused.

“Yeah, about that. Umm, I was thinking we should start finding women for Peck, Burt, and Bill because the Nelson men deserve the happiness our guys have found,” Remi said.

“Oh, I really want Dex to find someone since Bear told me all about his saying he’d never need a house on the property,” Winnie said.

Maureen listened to them all talking and planning while watching Compass over by Locks, Baron, and Rascal. They were discussing something before the last match started. She was thankful she’d found him at this stage of her life. Lexi wouldn’t feel she needed to have Maureen with her all the time. Maureen was so ready for this chapter of her life.

After riding the trip to Dodge City and back, she couldn’t wait to plan a longer bike trip with Compass. Life was perfect, and she was so happy.