To Marry a Texas Cowboy
Page 23
“We’ll start with the bad.”
McKenna tensed as Zane explained about the morning’s events and the missing shadow box. “The odd thing is there wasn’t evidence of a break-in. That’s what made me think whoever took it had a key. Since I didn’t take it, and you didn’t, I—”
“Oh, no,” Ginny said, her voice filled with anguish. “I wish you’d come right to me, because I did take it. Or rather, I had Amber take the shadow box. Stanley Hernandez called about the pin’s insurance. He needed an updated appraisal and photos. How could I have forgotten to tell you?”
“Turns out the bad news wasn’t bad, after all.” McKenna smiled at Zane. “You had the right theory. Someone with a key did take it. Now you won’t ever wonder.”
He squeezed her hand. His eyes filled with trust, love, and not a speck of uncertainty, warmed her down to her toes. “Even if we’d never found out what happened to the shadow box, I never would’ve doubted you again.”
Ginny glanced between McKenna and Zane, a wise, knowing grin spreading across her face. “Now what’s the good news? Is it that you two are dating?”
Zane linked his hand with McKenna’s. “We’re getting married.”
*
With their friends and Ginny waiting inside the Lucky Stars ballroom, Zane paused outside and gazed into McKenna’s warm brown eyes. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
McKenna smoothed a hand down the cream-colored lace cap sleeve dress Marjorie helped her pick out this morning.
“A time or two, but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.”
“You look incredible.” Then he kissed her deeply, unable to believe she’d forgiven him for all the mistakes he’d made with her.
“Are you sure the bet doesn’t bother you?”
Last night after their third round of make-up sex, Zane confessed about his bet with his friends the night he met McKenna.
Instead of being upset, she’d smiled and asked him if he’d learned anything about her from the bet. He’d said he discovered she wasn’t an empty-headed woman who could be swayed by a man who smiled and flattered her. He learned she knew her own mind, stuck to what she believed, and he wouldn’t want her any other way.
“That should teach you to bet against me.” Then grinning, she poked his Aggie maroon tie. “I guess I’ll have to get used to that color since you wear it so often, but you’ll have to get used to riding in my UT orange car.”
“If that doesn’t show I love you, nothing will.”
“I love you, too.”
Since he’d told McKenna he loved her, he couldn’t count how many times he’d repeated those words, and every time he felt the same wonder and excitement when she said she loved him too.
He clasped her hands in his. “Last chance to wait. There’s no rush. We can take our time.”
She laughed, and his bright smile disappeared.
“That wasn’t meant to be funny.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry, Zane. I was laughing because when we met, you were so spur of the moment. I was the cautious one who insisted on planning everything out. Seems like I should be asking if you’re sure?”
“I am.”
Hand in hand, he and McKenna stepped into the ballroom to greet Ginny, along with Cooper and Cheyenne, Ty and Cassie, AJ and Grace. His real family. The ones God blessed him with. The ones who’d saved him. “McKenna and I want to thank y’all for coming on short notice. While the road here has been bumpy—”
“Bumpy? More like pothole ridden after a major ice storm,” AJ teased, grinning at his own joke.
“Thanks, pal. That’s what a man wants to hear. Heckling on his wedding day.”
Pandemonium erupted as everyone tossed out questions.
“You’re getting married?”
“You skipped an engagement?”
“Wow, you moved faster than Cheyenne and I did.”
“For reportedly such a smooth talker, that was an interesting way to make that announcement.”
“It may not have been eloquent, but you’ve got to admit it’s memorable,” Zane countered.
“You’re a wedding planner. Don’t you want a big wedding?” Grace asked.
Zane shuddered at the thought. Beside him, McKenna giggled and patted his arm. “See how pale he got when you mentioned that, Grace? I don’t think Zane could handle us planning another big wedding, even our own.”
“You wouldn’t believe how hard McKenna and Ginny work.” Zane turned to AJ. “Whatever you’re paying them to coordinate your wedding, you two are getting a bargain.”
With Cassie and Grace also clustered around McKenna, Cheyenne asked to see her engagement ring and reached for McKenna’s left hand. “We decided on just matching bands.”
“I want you to have my engagement ring,” Ginny said as she walked forward. Unlike everyone else who appeared shocked by their announcement, his grandmother appeared unflustered. In fact, if asked, he’d describe her look as wise and knowing.
McKenna shook her head. “I can’t take yours. I really didn’t need one.”
“I insist.” Ginny slipped off her engagement ring, and placed the delicate diamond in Zane’s palm, and closed her hand around his.
McKenna held out her left hand, and Zane slipped his grandmother’s diamond on her finger.
Ginny grasped their hands in her own and gazed at Zane. “A few months ago, I went to the wishing well because I was worried about you. The older you got, the more you cut yourself off from people.”
“No, I don’t. I’m extremely selective, that’s all, because I’d trust anyone here with my life.”
Ginny smirked and shook her head at Zane’s comment. Then she turned to McKenna, her gaze filled with love. “You, my dear, are the well’s answer to my wish. When I returned to my office, I checked my email. The first one I read was from you with your resume.”
“I remember I was surprised how quickly you responded and that you asked me to call. When I did, you wanted me to come for an interview the next day,” McKenna said.
Ginny nodded. “The minute I met you, I suspected you and Zane were right for each other.”
Zane chuckled as the pieces clicked into place. “We did agree to me simply handling the finances at first, didn’t we?”
His grandmother nodded. “If I’d asked you to help with everything, you’d have balked. But to get to know each other, to really work together, you and McKenna had to be at events together.”
“Why didn’t you simply introduce us?” McKenna asked.
Ginny shook her head. “That wouldn’t have worked. You two would’ve smiled, exchanged a few pleasantries, and avoided each other. You’re both too blasted stubborn. I needed to force you together. Then if nothing came of it, I’d know it wasn’t right.”
Ginny’s odd conversations with them the day McKenna tried to convince her his help wasn’t needed made sense. Ginny had been matchmaking but hadn’t wanted them to know.
He turned to his grandmother. “You played me. Both of us.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Ginny teased.
“I would.” Zane looked around at his friends. “What’s everyone else say?”
“Miz Logan, you sure would,” Ty said.
“Got to agree,” from Cooper.
“You’re a true master,” Cassie said.
“I helped, locking them in my office,” AJ added.
“Yes, you get some credit,” Grace said, patting her fiancé’s arm.
McKenna wrapped Ginny in a huge hug and kissed her cheek. “You are one smart woman, and I’m so thankful you are, but whatever made you think we’d end up here?”
“Comes from years of watching couples and being a good judge of people. McKenna, you remind me so much of myself, and I can’t see Zane without thinking of my dear Paul.”
Zane cleared his throat and called for everyone’s attention. “Now, if it’s okay with everyone, McKenna and I would like to get married, and Reverend Jacobson is waiting in the
chapel to start the ceremony.”
A few minutes later, Zane stood in the chapel beside McKenna, a bouquet of yellow and white roses grasped in her hands. Cooper stood with him as his best man, and Ginny stood with McKenna as they promised to love and honor until death parted them.
After the ceremony, Zane grabbed a bottle of champagne from the ones on ice and turned to his bride. “You ready for a toast?”
“Only if you let someone else open the bottle,” McKenna teased.
“Are you ever going to let me forget that?”
“I’m not taking any risks today of all days. I have no intention of having a swollen nose and black eye in my wedding pictures.” McKenna kissed Zane on the cheek before taking the bottle, and handing it to Cooper, who opened it without incident and poured everyone a glass.
Zane raised his glass. “McKenna, here’s to never letting our past dictate our future again, and may our hearts continue to sing as they do today.”
The End
Want more? Check out Cassie and Ty’s story in To Love a Texas Cowboy!
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If you enjoyed To Marry a Texas Cowboy, you’ll love the other books in….
The Wishing, Texas series
Book 1: To Love a Texas Cowboy
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Book 2: To Catch a Texas Cowboy
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Book 3: To Tame a Texas Cowboy
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Book 4: To Marry a Texas Cowboy
View the series here!
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About the Author
An avid daydreamer, Julie Benson doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t creating stories. After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Sociology, she worked as case manager for a social services agency before having her children. Three boys, and many years later, she started actively pursuing a writing career to challenge her mind and save her sanity. Now she writes full time in Dallas, where she lives with her husband, their three sons, two lovable black dogs, a mischievous brown one and a turtle. Julie says, while her house is never quiet or predictable, it is full of heroes.
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