Jake Randall has stopped at nothing to get brothers Chad and Pete married off—but that’s nothing compared to the mess that brother Brett gets
himself
into in
Cowboy Groom!

The Randalls are about to walk down the aisle and populate their Wyoming ranch with herds of little ones. You’ll read all about this family in 4 BRIDES FOR 4 BROTHERS!

I love big families who care about each other, and I love cowboys. Out there on their ranch, the Randall brothers fill both bills. Their stories will make you laugh out loud and make you want to join them in their pursuit of love.

I hope you’ll join me and the Randall brothers for all four books in the 4 BRIDES FOR 4 BROTHERS series.

Happy reading!

Cowboy Groom

Judy Christenberry

Chapter One

It felt good to be home. After several weeks in Casper, Cheyenne and Washington, D.C., Brett Randall was happy to be back on the Wyoming ranch he shared with his three brothers.

All the glittering lights and famous people he’d seen couldn’t top the feeling of coming home.

And the anticipation of sharing his news.

Brett stood alone in the dark of the kitchen. His family hadn’t expected him to return for a couple more days, but he couldn’t wait to tell them before they read about it in the newspaper.

Just as he started toward the stairway, he heard a car coming up the driveway. Who would arrive at two in the morning? Except himself, of course.

He made it to the window in time to see a small economy car approach. Before its headlights could reach the house, the driver shut them off. The new arrival obviously didn’t want to be seen. Which meant he probably wasn’t up to any good.

Crime was unusual out on the ranches of Wyoming—other than a cowboy drinking too much and getting rambunctious—but it wasn’t unheard-of. Brett, however, had no intention of letting anyone rip off his family if he could prevent it. He eased over to the back door, thinking he’d slip outside and follow the thief to whichever barn he intended to enter.

When he heard the intruder step on the back porch, anger filled him. This guy was brazen enough to break in to the house?

Brett stood behind the door, ready to leap on him as soon as he entered. Slowly the door opened, and Brett felt his adrenaline surge. Even as he leapt, he realized the guy was either small or hunched over. No matter. He shouldn’t have tried to invade Randall territory.

With a cry of triumph, Brett landed on the thief.

And then landed on his back.

Shock left him unmoving briefly. Then, as he struggled to his feet, he found himself rolled over on his stomach, his right hand twisted behind his back.

And the intruder sitting atop him.

In spite of his embarrassing position, he noticed something strange about this intruder. Perfume. And slender thighs gripped his hips with a sensuous feel that had nothing to do with a man.

What the hell was going on?

L
IGHT FLOODED
the kitchen as the Randall brothers poured into it.

Anna O’Brien, holding the thief captive, was grateful for the reinforcements. She’d discovered he was a big man and knew she wouldn’t be able to hold him for long.

“Anna, are you all right?” Jake demanded. The oldest Randall brother, he’d been the first through the door.

“Someone broke in?” Megan asked as she clutched the arm of her husband, Chad.

Pete stepped forward. “Here. I’ll help—Brett!”

All the hubbub subsided, and everyone stared at the figure on the floor. With a sinking feeling, Anna also looked at the irate face of the man on whom she was sitting. She’d heard about the fourth brother, Brett, but she’d never met him. “Brett? This is Brett? I thought he was a thief.”

“Me?” he roared. “You’re the thief!. Who are you?”

He bucked beneath her, signifying his desire to be released, and Anna relaxed her hold on his arm so they could both stand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who—You came at me so suddenly, I—”

“Wait a minute,” Chad, the youngest Randall brother, interrupted. “
He
jumped
you?
Then how did you end up on top?”

Anna wished the kitchen were still dark. She knew Brett Randall wasn’t going to easily forget the humiliation she could see on his face. “I’ve taken several self-defense classes,” she hurriedly explained, hoping to minimize his embarrassment.

His brothers, however, weren’t about to ignore an opportunity to tease him.

“Anna? Little Anna took you down?” Jake roared, grinning at Brett. “Man, city life must’ve made you soft.”

“It’s about time he got home,” Pete Randall agreed, his grin just as big.

“What’s happening?” came a female voice from behind them.

“Janie? I told you to stay in bed,” Pete protested. “You’re not supposed to use the stairs, is she, Anna?”

Anna smiled for the first time since she’d arrived. Pete’s overprotectiveness was the reason she was here in the first place. “Not often, Pete, but I’m sure one trip down them won’t hurt. Are you feeling okay, Janie?”

“Wait a minute. Why are they asking you?” her captive demanded. “I know we have a female vet, but did we get a female to replace Doc Jacoby?”

Anna truly looked at Brett for the first time, noting his resemblance to his brothers. He was a little shorter than the other three, but still over six feet. And just as handsome.

“I’m not a doctor. I’m the midwife.”

He seemed startled by her words, reminding her again how long it often took to be accepted. Her size, just topping five foot five, wouldn’t be so bad except that she didn’t carry much weight, and her hair was red with the complementary freckles scattered across her nose. Most people thought she was too young to take care of expectant mothers.

Jake filled the silence. “We told you Anna was living here until Janie has the twins, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, but I pictured…someone different,” Brett finished lamely.

Anna raised her chin. “I assure you I’m perfectly competent.”

At her words, the Randall clan spoke en masse, their reassuring words embarrassing her. She’d only been there a little over a week, and already she knew she would miss them when she left.

In the midst of their protestations, she noticed Brett said nothing. He simply stared at her while he listened to his family.

“Why was she sneaking in?” he asked abruptly when the rest of them fell silent.

“What do you mean?” Jake asked.

“She turned off her lights before she reached the house. And she tried to be real quiet.”

Anna started to answer, but Pete beat her to it. “Janie doesn’t sleep well right now. The least little noise distracts her, so Anna tries not to awaken her.”

“Maybe she should come home at a reasonable time, instead of staying out so late.” Brett glared at Anna.

“I wish I had, but Mrs. Stokes’s baby wasn’t in any hurry,” she replied. “The poor woman was in labor for fifteen hours.”

Both the pregnant women in the room—Janie, huge with twins, and Megan, only a little over four months along—rubbed their stomachs in a reflex action.

“Don’t worry,” Anna hurriedly added. “She made it just fine. And the baby, too. An adorable little girl.”

“Glad to hear it,” Jake said, “but I suggest we all get to bed. The ladies need their beauty rest, and we have a full day in the saddle as soon as the sun comes up.”

“Uh, Jake,” Brett said, interrupting the general movement to the door, “don’t you want to hear why I came home early? Isn’t anybody interested in my news?”

“Anything wrong?” Jake asked, concern in his eyes.

“No. No, it’s good news.” A smile broke across his face. “I’m saving you the trouble of matchmaking for me, brother. I’m engaged!”

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