Taking the Bull by the Horns (12 page)

Those words sucked the breath out of her.

"But I can be with you. Here, or in Alpine. I can be with you wherever you need me to be. Whatever you need me to be."

She shook her head. “Why? Why would you do that? You love traveling, you love going places. Why would you stop that because of me?"

"Because all those years I was looking for home. With you, no matter where we decide it is, I'll have found it."

Everything in her went tight. Would he stay? Could she believe he would? What had he asked her to do? Trust him. When had she trusted anyone?

When had anyone come back to take care of her?

"Are you sure?” she managed, her hand hovering over his where it rested on his jean clad thigh.

"That depends.” He pulled his hand away and looped it over her shoulders. “Is there something you'd like to say?"

Questions flew through her mind before three words crystallized there. “I love you, Taylor Craig. Or Creighton. Or whoever you are."

He turned her face to him, his palm resting on her jaw as he looked into her eyes, those gray eyes seeking the truth, softening when he found it. He kissed her softly, deeply, drawing her closer, until the telltale sound of a camera shutter echoed across the quiet lawn.

Taylor drew back, face tense as he scanned the garden for the offender, who had fled.

"How long will this go on?” Lavender demanded.

He stood and grabbed her hand, his grasp firm and strong. “Until we take the bull by the horns."

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4 months later, Alpine, Texas

"Come on, come on!” Taylor clapped, the sound echoing off the saltillo tiles of the open living room. He headed toward the low leather couch where Gertrude was already settled, but he kept his attention on the archway that led to the kitchen. “Two minutes ‘til show time."

The beeping of a microwave was his response, and then Lavender appeared, a big bowl of popcorn in her hands. Behind her, Mrs. Bennigan carried a tray of sodas.

Lavender stopped short when her attention landed on the big screen TV, causing Mrs. Bennigan to stutter to a halt behind her.

"I don't think I can do this,” Lavender said as Mrs. Bennigan righted the spilled ice and veered around her.

"The hard part's over.” Taylor reached for her hand and drew her into the room, maneuvering her between him and her grandmother.

"No, it's not. Watching myself is the hardest part."

"Cover your eyes, then."

"And then I'll hear myself."

"Are you kidding? You hardly said a word."

"Be quiet,” Gertrude snapped as the television announcer introduced the latest edition of
Celebrities Tonight, Where Are They Now?

Lavender squealed and covered her eyes when a picture of she and Taylor, smiling, laughing, sitting together on the interview couch, flashed on the screen. Taylor chuckled at her reaction and mimicked the pose, sliding his arm around her shoulders and dipping his head to touch hers.

The interviewer, Evan Zander, told the viewers about Taylor's years of celebrity, then eased into his rodeo career, showing footage of him riding Angelina at the Wayback Rodeo.

"There he met the woman who would become his wife,” Evan announced as the image returned to Taylor and Lavender sitting on the couch. “You married a kindergarten teacher, Taylor, and the rumor is she didn't even know who you were?"

"No,” Taylor laughed from the TV.

"You didn't see fit to enlighten her?"

"I wanted her to fall in love with me, not some poster boy."

"And she did."

On the screen, Taylor grinned at Lavender. “She did."

"Lavender, how did he propose to you?"

Lavender blushed to the roots of her hair. Taylor rubbed his hand over her back encouragingly and she leaned toward Evan. “Well, his horse does these tricks, you know? He got her to spell it out in the sawdust on the rodeo floor."

"And you could read it?"

Lavender sat back with a smile and tucked her arm through Taylor's. “It was surprisingly neat."

"The two married in Lavender's hometown of Wayback, Texas.” A video of their reception in the town square played on the screen. “And now they live on Taylor's Big Bend ranch, where Taylor continues training horses and steer wrestling in local rodeos. Lavender accompanies him when she can, and they cap off successful rides with a dance at the local honky-tonk."

Beside him on the couch in their living room, Taylor saw Lavender peek over her hand as she watched the two of them dance across the screen, Taylor whipping her in circles and Lavender not missing a step. She made a sound of admiration and he grinned.

"Those dance lessons paid off,” she murmured. “I need to thank Roxie next time we're in Wayback."

He opened his mouth to say something and she shushed him as Evan came back on screen, alone, addressing the audience. Taylor frowned, but she jabbed her finger at the television.

"Just prior to airing, we received an update on Taylor and Lavender. They are expecting their first child next spring."

Gertrude squealed, a girly sound, and Taylor's ears buzzed, those words spinning around and around in his head as he pushed Lavender away. He stared at his wife, whose cheeks were pink, eyes bright with happiness.

"You're—” His hand hovered over her belly.

"Uh-huh.” She nodded and pressed his hand down, holding it against her. “Twins."

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