The Manning Sisters

by Debbie Macomber

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you more beautiful,” he said, sliding his hand around her waist and drawing her close. His eyes shone with a light that had been transmitted straight from his heart, a message of joy.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you more handsome,” Taylor told him.

  His eyes didn’t stray from her. “What would you like to do next? Have dinner? See a show?”

  Taylor chuckled. “You’ve got to be kidding. You know what I want because it’s the same thing you want. Besides, we’ve only got a few hours.”

  “A few hours. Why?”

  “Because,” she said, leaning forward to press her mouth over his, “the drill team is scheduled to perform at eight, and Mandy would never forgive us if we weren’t there for her big moment.”

  Russ grumbled something under his breath and quickened his pace, leading her back to the hotel.

  “You seem to be mighty eager, Mr. Palmer,” she said as they entered into the hotel elevator.

  “Move your hips like that one more time and I’ll show you how eager I can be.”

  “And I’d let you.”

  Russ reached for her then, dragging her against him. His mouth took hers, and he gave her a glimpse of the pleasure that awaited her. The elevator had stopped at their floor, and the doors had glided open before either of them was aware of it.

  As soon as they stepped into the long, carpeted hallway, Russ lifted her in his arms. “You didn’t get the big fancy wedding, with the bridesmaids and orange blossoms and the organ music, but there are some traditions I can and will provide.”

  However, opening the door with Taylor in his arms proved to be awkward, and after a frustrating moment, Russ tossed her over his shoulder like a bag of grain.

  “Russ,” Taylor cried, “put me down this minute.”

  “Be patient,” he said, crouching down in an effort to insert the key into the lock. Apparently he was having trouble, because it was taking him forever.

  A middle-aged couple strolled past, and mortified, Taylor covered her face with both hands.

  “Dear,” the woman whispered to Taylor, “do you need help?”

  “Not really,” she answered. “Just don’t ever let your daughters grow up to marry cowboys.”

  “You’re recently married?” the woman asked as if that was the most romantic thing she’d ever heard. “Did you hear that, John? They just got married.”

  The door finally opened, and Russ walked inside with Taylor still dangling over his shoulder. “We’ve been married for all of about fifteen minutes,” Russ told the couple. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to have our honeymoon.” With that he shut the door.

  “Russ Palmer, put me down,” she ordered him again.

  “With pleasure.”

  He walked to the bed and released her. Taylor went flying backward, a cry hovering on her lips. Chuckling, Russ lowered himself over her.

  “Was that really necessary?” she asked, feigning indignation.

  “If I wanted to get you inside this room, it was. And trust me, I wanted you in this room.”

  A smile twitched at the edges of Taylor’s mouth.

  “Oh, Taylor,” Russ groaned, “I’m so crazy about you.” He set his long fingers in her hair and pulled up her head to receive his kiss. His mouth was hard over her own, hard with passion and with need.

  “Oh, sweet Taylor,” he murmured as he tore his mouth free and nestled his face in the delicate curve of her neck. He kissed her there, his lips hot and moist. His hands were gentle as he helped her stand and slip out of her dress. It fell to the floor in a pool of silk and lace. He picked it up and set it aside.

  Their mouths met once more in another kiss, a kiss that promised passion about to be assuaged—and a love that would last through all the seasons of their lives.

  An hour later, just before they left for the drill team performance, Taylor used the phone in Russ’s room to call her family.

  Russ stood behind her, his hands caressing her shoulders. Without her ever having said a word, Russ seemed to know how difficult this discussion would be for her.

  “Mom?” she said excitedly when her mother answered. “If Dad’s home, get him on the other phone. I’ve got some important news.”

  Taylor heard her mother’s hurried call. Within a minute, Eric Manning was on an extension.

  “Taylor,” her father’s voice boomed over the long-distance line, “what is it? Is anything wrong? Listen, I’ve been reading between the lines in your letters, and I’m worried about you and this cowpoke. Christy said you called and talked to her, but she never told us exactly why. Just said you were having trouble with that cowboy.”

  “Dad…stop a minute, will you?”

  “Now you listen to me. If he gives you any more problems, I want you to let me know because your brothers and I will deal with him.”

  “Eric,” her mother interrupted, “Taylor called because she has some news.”

  It took Taylor a tense moment to compose herself.

  “Mom and Dad,” she said after swallowing hard, “congratulations are in order…. I was married today.” A second of stunned silence followed her announcement. “I’m afraid I married that cowboy.” She handed the receiver to Russ.

  Fourteen

  Russ took the telephone receiver, worried about the way she was frowning, wondering what her parents had said. It looked as if she wanted to advise him, but there wasn’t time.

  “Hello,” Russ said. “I’m Russ Palmer.”

  “What the hell have you done?” a loud male voice shouted at him.

  Russ moved the phone away from his ear. “I married your daughter,” Russ explained, doing his best to keep his tone even and controlled. He didn’t much take to being yelled at, but he could understand Eric Manning’s feelings.

  “Taylor’s just broken off one relationship, and the last thing she should do is get involved in another, especially with—”

  “A cowboy,” Russ finished for him. Taylor was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her blue eyes staring up at him.

  “That girl of mine should have her head examined. She doesn’t understand what she’s done and—”

  A soft, feminine voice interrupted the tirade. “Eric, dear, all this shouting isn’t going to settle anything. They’re already married. Didn’t you hear Taylor tell you that?”

  “And we intend to stay married,” Russ added, in case there was any doubt in the older man’s mind.

  “It’s too soon,” Taylor’s father continued, his voice less menacing. “Surely you realize she married you on the rebound. You may be a perfectly fine young man, but my daughter—”

  “Is twenty-six and old enough to know her own mind.”

  “She’s always been a hothead. No doubt her sister told her I was dead set against her having anything to do with you.”

  “I can understand your concern,” Russ said, now that his anger had worn off. “You don’t know me from Adam.”

  “What about your family?” Eric thundered anew. “What do they have to say about this?”

  “The only family I have is a younger half sister. We haven’t told her yet, but Mandy will be delighted.”

  “You don’t have any family?” Eric shouted. “How are you supposed to know what’s right? By the way, how old are you?”

  “Thirty-five.”

  “Thirty-five! You’re nine years older than Taylor—that’s too much.”

  “Now, Eric,” Elizabeth Manning broke in. “You’re being ridiculous. If you recall, you’re seven years older than I am. Russ, you’ll have to excuse my husband’s temper. It’s just that he loves Taylor and is terribly proud of her, except he has trouble letting her know that.”

  “You don’t need to go telling him that.”

  “Russ is family, dear.”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

  “Frankly, Mr. Manning,” Russ said firmly, “you don’t. The deed is done.
Signed, sealed and delivered.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  “Stop it now, the pair of you. Eric, either you be civil to Taylor’s husband or you can get off the phone. I won’t have you speaking to him that way.” Her words were followed by the click of a telephone receiver.

  Russ waited a moment to compose himself. Taylor had mentioned the type of man her father was more than once, but butting heads with him had been even more of a challenge than Russ had anticipated.

  “Mrs. Manning, believe me, I can understand your concern, and I can’t say I blame you. But I want you to know I love Taylor, and I have every intention of being a good husband.”

  “I’m sure you do. Please forgive my husband. Personally I think he was disappointed that he didn’t get to walk Taylor down the aisle. Only one of our sons is married, and I think Eric was looking forward to taking part in a wedding for one of his daughters.”

  “I’m sorry to have cheated him out of that.”

  “Don’t worry about it. There’s always Christy, and we expect she’ll be engaged to an attorney friend of hers soon. Now, before you think the worst of us, I want to offer you a hearty welcome to the family, such as it is.”

  “Thank you,” Russ said, and smiled reassuringly at Taylor, who was looking more anxious by the minute.

  “Would you mind putting Taylor back on the line?”

  “Of course not.” Russ’s eyes found Taylor’s as he held the receiver out to her. “Your mother wants to talk to you.”

  “Was it bad?” she whispered, sounding guilty when there was no reason for it.

  “No, I think your father and I will get along just fine.”

  “The two of you are quite a bit alike.”

  Russ figured it was probably a good thing that he’d first been introduced to Taylor’s father over the phone. Had they met in person it was entirely possible that they would have swung at each other.

  Taylor took the phone and relaxed visibly as she started talking to her mother. Russ was relieved to see her good spirits return. This was their day, the one he’d been thinking about for weeks, and he didn’t want anything or anyone to ruin it.

  The problem, Russ decided an hour later, was that he’d reckoned without Mandy, his cantankerous younger sister.

  “You did what?” the teenager shrieked in outrage.

  “We got married,” Taylor explained softly, holding out her ring finger, adorned with a simple gold band, as proof. He could tell that she was equally surprised by his sister’s response. “I thought you’d be pleased.”

  “You did it without even talking to me?” Mandy cried. She stood with her hands on her hips as though she were the adult and they were recalcitrant children. “I can’t believe the two of you.” She whirled around and confronted Carol Fischer. “Did you hear what they just did?” Mandy demanded.

  Carol had trouble containing a grin. “Yes, I did,” she said, and stepped forward to hug Taylor. “Congratulations.”

  “You didn’t so much as consult me,” Mandy reminded him, her eyes narrowing. “Can you imagine how I feel? I’m your sister, and I should’ve been in on this! Good grief, you wouldn’t have even met Taylor if it hadn’t been for me!”

  “Do you mind our getting married so terribly much?” Taylor asked softly.

  “Of course I don’t mind. Marrying you is the smartest thing Russ has done in his whole sorry life. It’s just that…” She paused, and tears clouded her pretty green eyes. “I would like to have been there. You couldn’t have waited until after the drill team performance?”

  “Yes, we could have. We should have,” Russ agreed, stepping closer to his sister. “I’m sorry if we offended you. That wasn’t our intention.”

  “We were so lost in each other that we forgot everyone else,” Taylor said.

  “I can’t believe it. When we left this morning, you were barely talking to each other, and the next thing I know, you’re married. I just don’t understand it.”

  Taylor placed her arm around Mandy’s shoulders. “I’ve been in love with your brother from the first, but I was fighting it because…well, because I didn’t think I’d fit into his life. Then we started talking and I realized I couldn’t even remember why I was fighting him so hard when I love him so much. This probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to you, and I’m sorry.”

  Mandy lifted one shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “In a way it does make sense. I just wish you’d waited a little longer. I would’ve liked to throw rice or birdseed or something.”

  “We were just thinking about going out for a wedding dinner. We’d like it if you came.”

  With her arms folded, Mandy cocked her head to one side. “Are you sure I wouldn’t be intruding?”

  “More than sure,” Russ told her. “I’m going to order a bottle of champagne and you can have a virgin daiquiri if you want. It isn’t every day a brother can share his wedding dinner with his sister, and we have a lot to celebrate, don’t we? In fact, Taylor’s and my wedding day wouldn’t be complete if you weren’t here to share part of it with us.”

  “You’re just saying that,” Mandy said with a regal tilt to her chin. “However, I’m going to let you get away with it because I really am pleased.” She dropped her arms and threw herself against Russ with such force that he nearly toppled backward. “Hey,” she cried, wiping tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, “did you see how great the team did? Aren’t we fabulous?” She didn’t wait for a response, but reached for Taylor, slipping an arm around her waist and the other around Russ. “Now listen,” she said, serious once more. “A wedding is one thing, but if you’re going to start having babies, I want to be consulted. Understand?”

  Three weeks later, early on a Saturday morning, Taylor nestled close to her husband under a layer of quilts, seeking his warmth. When she’d first arrived in Montana, Russ had warned her about the winters, but nothing could have prepared her for the bitter cold that had descended upon them in the past ten days.

  Russ stirred, rolled over and pulled her into his arms. Taylor smiled contentedly as she repositioned herself so that her head rested on his shoulder. She settled her hands over his chest. Married life certainly seemed to agree with him—and she knew it agreed with her. From the moment they’d said their vows in Reno, Russ had been a devoted and loving husband, with the accent on the word loving. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her, which was fine with Taylor, since she couldn’t get enough of him, either.

  With Mandy living with them, it sometimes became embarrassing. More than once after their wedding, Russ had insisted he was exhausted and dragged Taylor upstairs practically before they’d finished clearing the dinner dishes. Mandy loved to tease Russ about his sudden need for extra sleep since he’d returned from Reno.

  At one point Taylor had felt it was necessary to talk to Russ’s sister. Her fear was that Mandy would feel excluded, and that was the last thing Taylor wanted.

  “Are you kidding?” Mandy had said, exchanging a smile with Taylor. “I think getting married is the best thing that’s happened to Russ. He should’ve done it years ago. He’s too mellow to fight with me anymore. Keep him happy, okay? Because when he’s happy, I’m happy.”

  Keeping Russ happy made Taylor feel delirious with satisfaction herself. Every now and then they clashed over some issue, but that was to be expected. Both seemed willing, however, to listen to the other’s point of view.

  “Good morning,” Russ whispered. His hand found her breast, and she sighed at the instant surge of pleasure.

  “They seem fuller,” he whispered.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” she said, snuggling closer. “But it’s much too soon to make that kind of assumption.”

  “Taylor,” Russ groaned, kissing her hungrily. “We haven’t used any kind of protection. Not once. Have you…you know, started yet?”

  “Not yet, but I’m often a few days late.”

  Russ smoothed the hair about her face. “You know the problem, don’
t you?”

  “The problem is you and your sexy ways,” she muttered.

  “You’ve never complained before.”

  “I’m not complaining now. I’m just telling you.”

  “Actually, the problem I’m talking about is your parents. They’ll be here next week for Thanksgiving, and you don’t want to have to tell them you’re pregnant.”

  “My father will assume the worst.”

  “Let him. We know the truth.”

  “My father’s always been ridiculously protective of us girls, and if he even suspects I was pregnant before we were married, he’s going to raise the roof.”

  “Do you think I care?” Tenderly he rested his hand on her abdomen, and the smile that came to his face was filled with an abundance of pride. “I bet this baby’s a boy.”

  “What a terrible, chauvinistic thing to say.”

  “I can’t help it. Every time I think about you having my son I get all warm. I still have trouble believing we’re really married. It seems like a dream.”

  “We could very well have a girl. In fact, I’d be pleased if we did.”

  “So you’re willing to admit you might be expecting.”

  Taylor was expecting, all right, but not the way Russ meant. She was waiting for trouble, and the minute her parents arrived there was bound to be plenty of it. Not once since she’d phoned to tell her mom and dad that she and Russ were married had Taylor spoken to her father. Her mother had phoned about the possibility of visiting for Thanksgiving, and Taylor had readily agreed. But she knew the real reason for this visit, and that was so her father could confront Russ about their rushed marriage. Several times in the past three weeks Taylor had tried to prepare Russ for the meeting, but he seemed to let everything she said roll off him. Either he really wasn’t concerned or he was living in a world of his own. After doing battle with her father for most of her life, Taylor was nervous. Seldom did she back down from Eric Manning, but this was different. She wanted her family to love and appreciate Russ the way she did.

  It wasn’t that her father was such a monster, but he tended to be opinionated and hotheaded, especially when it came to his daughters. After Taylor had broken up with Mark, her father had taken pains to introduce her to a handful of eligible young men. All of them were professionals. Taylor didn’t doubt for a moment that her father would consider Russ an inappropriate husband for her.