Read Taking the Bull by the Horns, a Cascade Texas novella Online
Authors: MJ Fredrick
Taking the Bull by the Horns, a Cascade Texas novella (12 page)
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.”
“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 Cascade 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 Cascade, 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 Samantha next time we’re in town.”
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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