Love Under Two Benedicts(2)

Still, she made her response border on the edge of grudging. “All right. If it’s important, I’ll go with you.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

Kelsey tried not to think how the sound of that endearment warmed her belly or how good it felt having her hand in Matthew Benedict’s as they set out to walk the few blocks to the Lusty Historical Society’s building.

She’d noticed the museum, of course, and passed it every day on her way to work. In the six months she’d been living in the small town of Lusty, Texas, she’d never once visited the place.

“Hey, there.”

Kelsey hadn’t noticed the Jeep pull up to the curb just ahead of them, nor had she noticed the tall, broad shouldered, dark-haired man who stepped out of it until he greeted them.

“Hey, bro, good timing,” Matthew said.

Steven Benedict was as handsome as his fair-haired brother and, for reasons Kelsey had never looked at seriously, just as appealing to her hormones. No one could be more surprised than she that those pesky female bits had begun to emerge from their five-year long slumber. She’d thought to never feel attraction to any man again, let alone experience it for two at the same time.

“Where are we off to?” Steven put himself on Kelsey’s other side and took her left hand in his right.

Oh, my. She’d never before had both hands held by men who were too damn handsome for their own good. They had been dropping in for meals, or to flirt, or to give her gifts for the last couple of months.

She could admit to herself they were nice to look at and that she even enjoyed their company. She just wasn’t planning to date, let alone get serious about anybody. Not ever again.

There was only so much heartbreak and loss a body could stand.

“We’re off to the museum,” Matthew said.

“’Bout time,” Steven said. Then he turned and smiled at her. “How you doing today, sweetheart?”

“I was doing considerably better until Matthew said the two of you want to share me.”

She didn’t know what she expected Steven Benedict to say to that, but she was pretty certain she hadn’t been expecting his eager nod of agreement.

“That’s right,” Steven said quietly. “It’s the Benedict way. Why do you think this town was named Lusty?”

“I…I guess I’ve never really given it a lot of thought. I’ve heard of some interesting town names. I guess I just figured Lusty was one of them.” Kelsey had the feeling that everyone knew something about her new home town she didn’t. They passed several people on the street, and every one of them took note of the way the three of them were walking—hand in hand in hand—and smiled.

“There’s a reason for this town’s name,” Steven said.

“It’s an interesting story. That’s for certain,” Matthew said. “One that we’re eager to share with you.”



* * * *



Matthew wasn’t ashamed to admit the museum was one of his favorite places in Lusty. To step through the doors of the small building was to step back in time.

He smiled as he always did at the photograph that greeted every visitor on their arrival. How fitting that this would be the first image everyone saw. In the photo, two women sat in chairs, each with two men behind her. Those men touched their woman with a proprietary grace Matthew appreciated.

Kelsey stepped forward and read the caption aloud. “Caleb, Joshua, and Sarah Benedict, with Adam Kendall, Warren Jessop, and Amanda Jessop-Kendall. July 4, 1883.” She turned to Matthew. “There are a lot of Benedicts and Kendalls and Jessops in town.” She shot a glance at Steven likely, Matthew thought, to be sure she included him in the conversation. “Your ancestors?”

Matthew nodded. One quick glance at his brother and he knew Steven believed what he did—that Kelsey still didn’t understand.

“Caleb and Joshua were Sarah’s husbands, just as Adam and Warren were Amanda’s.”

“Husbands? Oh. You mean, she was married to one, and then got married to the other?”

“No,” Matthew said. “She belonged to them both at the same time.”

“The Benedict way,” Steven confirmed. “It started with them. Caleb and Joshua were twins—another family trait. Sarah fell in love with them both and knew she couldn’t choose between them, and that was just fine with those brothers Benedict.”

Kelsey looked from Matthew, to Steven, then put her gaze back on the photograph.

“I thought…When I had dinner with your family, I thought how civilized it was for your mom, dad, and step-dad to all live together.”

Steven chuckled. “No, baby. Our mom lives with our dads. Period.”