Always a McBride (24 page)

He made it sound so simple…and that, more than anything, convinced Phoebe they had a chance. He knew what he wanted to do with the rest of his life—and so did she. She wanted to spend it with him. Somehow they would make it work.

Tears once again filling her eyes, she stepped back into his arms. “Yes. Yes. Yes!”

“I
t was a beautiful wedding,” Phoebe sighed, lying in her husband's arms as she watched the snow fall outside the cabin they'd rented in Vail for their honeymoon.

“You were beautiful,” he said huskily, kissing the side of her neck. “Did I mention that?”

“At least a dozen times, but a bride never gets tired of hearing it,” she replied solemnly, her blue eyes twinkling.

“I'll remember that,” he said just as solemnly, and kissed her again.

“It was worth the wait.”

Taylor liked to think he was an agreeable husband, but he couldn't go that far. “I wanted to marry you the same night I proposed. You were the one who wanted to wait.”

“Only because we both had some business to take care of. And it was for the best. I found a buyer for
Dad's business. When the sale closes next week, I can invest in my grandmother's bed and breakfast and my partnership with her can become permanent.”

“I'll draw up the papers whenever you say, sweetheart,” he replied. “Now that I've convinced the government they don't want the McBride ranch, after all, I've got some time on my hands.”

“Oh, speaking of the McBrides, I forgot that Sara and Joe gave me a couple of things they wanted me to give you. I put them in my suitcase. I'll be right back.”

Giving him a quick kiss, she jumped up and hurried into the walk-in closet to retrieve the items from her suitcase. When she returned to the bedroom, it was to find Taylor pulling a sealed envelope from the top drawer of the dresser. “What's that?” she asked in surprise when he held it out to her.

“I have no idea. Your grandmother asked me to give it to you.”

“It looks like our families are up to something,” she said with a grin as she exchanged the items she held for the envelope from her grandmother. “You go first.”

Settling on the bed with her, Taylor reached for the box that was wrapped in white. “It's from Sara,” he said, reading the small card lodged under the edge of the bow. “She's been really great. Ever since we made peace, she's treated me just like one of the family.”

“I always liked Sara,” she replied. “She doesn't hold grudges.” Watching him tear off the paper, she started to smile, only to frown when he lifted the lid off the box and reached out hesitantly to whatever was inside. “Taylor? What is it?”

“It's pictures of my father,” he said huskily, stunned. “Look! There's some when he was a boy, and when he graduated from high school. And later, fishing with all
the kids.” Flipping through them, he shook his head in amazement. “I can't believe she gave these to me. How did she know I needed pictures?”

Tears glistening in her eyes, Phoebe smiled. “She's a wonderful woman.”

“You can say that again.” Picking up the envelope from Joe, he grinned ruefully. “I'm almost afraid to open this. What do you think it is?”

“I have no idea. Open it and find out.”

She didn't have to tell him twice. Lifting the edge of the sealed flap, he carefully tore it open and pulled out several folded pieces of paper. Surprised, Phoebe said, “That looks like a legal document.”

“It is,” he said, unfolding it. “My God, it's a deed to part of the ranch!”

“You're kidding!”

A slip of paper fell out with the deed, and he picked it up with a hand that wasn't quite steady. “Dad would want you to have this and so do we,” he read. “Not for saving the ranch, but because you're our brother. Love, Joe, Janey, Zeke and Merry.”

“Oh, Taylor, that's wonderful!” she said, hugging him. “What a fantastic thing for them to do for you.”

“I'm shocked,” he said huskily. “I had no idea they were going to do something like this. Did you?”

“No one said a word to me. After all this, what do you think is in the envelope from my grandmother?”

“There's only one way to find out,” he replied, grinning. “Open it and find out.”

Her heart pounding, Phoebe opened her envelope as carefully as Taylor had his. Unfolding the contents, which looking incredibly similar to what Taylor had just opened, she gasped. “Oh, my goodness!”

“What is it, sweetheart? It's looks like a deed.”

Tears flooding her eyes, she couldn't speak. Without a word, she handed it to him, along with a short note from her grandmother. Smiling tenderly at her, Taylor slipped his arm around her shoulder and began to read.

“Oh, no! Taylor, I can't let her do this!”

Grinning, Taylor continued to read.

Stunned, Phoebe wiped at the tears in her eyes. “I can't believe she did this. I never expected anything so generous.”

“She loves you,” Taylor said huskily, tightening his arm around her to pull her close for a kiss. “So do I. So are you?”

Her blood heating from his kiss, she blinked, trying to keep up with the conversation. “Am I what?”

“Happy,” he replied. “It's what your grandmother wanted for you.”

Overcome with joy, she laughed, “Oh, I'm way beyond that. I've never been happier in my life.”

“Me, either,” he said with a grin, and pulled her back into his arms.