Bushedwhacked Groom by Eugenia Riley

that the Dempsey Gang may be riding again,” Jessica interjected.
    “And we’re hoping the boys aren’t just saying these things to cover their own tracks,” their father added grimly.
    “I’d bet on those no-account Hickses,” pronounced Dumpling.
    “And I’d bet on my brothers,” Molly put in cynically.
    “Now, Molly,” scolded Uncle Billy, “you know your ma and pa raised your brothers righteously, even if they is full of prunes.” He smiled at Jessica. “They’ll settle down in time, Jessie, you’ll see.”
    “Let’s hope so, Billy. For now, I’m just praying old man Trumble won’t kill them for going courting in the middle of the week.”
    Amid laughter, Dumpling turned her beaming smile on Lucky. “ So, young fella, how exactly did you come to be among the Reklaw clan?”
    Molly almost chortled as Lucky appeared to go blank, but her pa quickly spoke up. “ As I mentioned earlier, Molly found Lucky out on the range. Evidently he’d taken a bad fall from his horse. She and Sanchez fetched him home so the women could care for him.”
    Dumpling gasped ecstatically, turning to Molly. “And you decided on the spot that you wanted to marry him? How romantic. Love at first sight and all that?”
    “Yeah, love at first sight.” Molly smirked at Lucky.
    “She means love at first sight of the lower five hun dred,” he drawled back.
    “Huh?” asked Dumpling.
    Cole shot Lucky a dark glance, then told Dumpling and Billy about the contest he’d established—and ex plained how Molly was, so far, first at the draw.
    Afterward, Dumpling hooted her delight. “Good for you, honey,” she declared, patting Molly’s hand. “We females gotta win out over these menfolk, even if it kills us.”
    “Yeah, I know,” grumbled her husband.
    Batting Billy’s arm, Dumpling turned back to Lucky. “Where you from, young fella?”
    “He’s from these parts,” Molly answered for him.
    “And your people?”
    There Molly hadn’t a clue; she waved a hand at Lucky.
    “My grandma and grandpa raised me, but they’ve both passed on now,” he grudgingly explained to Dumpling.
    “Why, bless your little heart.” Dumpling reached out to pinch his cheek. “All you’re needing now is a fine new family like the Reklaws.”
    “Yeah,” Lucky muttered, “they’re a swell bunch of folks.”
    Her husband spoke up sternly. “Dumpling, quit pes tering this young man and let him eat his vittles, will you? You’re preening at him so, I’m suspectin’ you’ve taken a shine to him.”
    As the others laughed, Dumpling guffawed. “Billy Reklaw, hush your mouth. You know darn well my heart is yours alone, especially after putting up with your temper these twenty-odd years, not to mention bearing you ten young ‘uns.”
    “Just don’t forget your place, darlin’,” he teased back. “I can still wallop that pretty behind of yours.”
    “And I’ll smack you good for that comment once we’re alone,” she retorted.
    He winked. “You mean a kiss, darlin’?”
    “No, I mean a slap upside the head!”
    Amid gales of merriment, Dumpling spoke again to Lucky. “Don’t fret, sugar. I know a virile stud like you needs a feisty young filly like Molly here to keep him satisfied. Can’t wait to see the two of you hitched—and the sooner, the better, I’m saying.”
    At this, even Molly winced, realizing her aunt had gone too far. She watched as, face burning, Lucky shot to his feet, his fingers trembling as he hurled down his napkin. “Look, will all of you please just stop it? Since yesterday I’ve had my body busted up, my dignity as saulted, and I’ve landed among a passel of lunatics who think good old Teddy Roosevelt is still charging up San Juan Hill . But that isn’t the half of it. Why in hell do you crazy people keep assuming I’d want to marry a manipulative little she-devil like her?”
    Fixing a glare on Molly, Lucky turned and stormed out the back door as fast as his hobbling legs could carry him,