Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

Margaret nodded, slid her arm through the bend of his elbow, and followed his lead as he walked with her up the hallway, through the foyer, and onto the front porch of the lodge.

Her steps slowed as they emerged into the sunlight and a small gasp escaped her as she looked at the open field before them. White chairs adorned with fresh, spring flowers were lined up in perfect rows and squared off on both sides, creating a center aisle made of lush, green grass that led to a high, floral wedding arch. Beyond this, the scenic Smoky Mountain range provided a breathtaking, natural backdrop of green mountain peaks dotted with colorful spring flowers.

“Oh, it’s so beautiful,” Margaret whispered, her voice thick with tears of joy. “Hannah must’ve worked on this all night.”

“She was happy to do it. We all were.”

Travis smiled, recalling the laughs he, Hannah, and Red had shared into the early morning hours as they’d worked under floodlights in the warm spring air, unloading and arranging chairs in the field, folding swan napkins, and decorating outdoor tables for the reception. He’d even managed to sneak off with Hannah for an hour, sharing soft whispers and passionate kisses on the grassy bank of the stream beneath the full moon and bright stars in the night sky.

Last night had been the first evening since Summer’s birth six months ago that he and Hannah had managed to steal a few minutes for themselves. Liz, settled comfortably in her renovated cabin with Zeke, had offered to babysit for the weekend, and Travis, eager for time alone with his wife, had accepted. And though he’d enjoyed every second of having Hannah’s beautiful smile and flirtatious laughter to himself, he found himself missing his daughter after only one night away from her.

Wife. And daughter. Travis grinned as he thumbed the silver wedding band on his finger, his gaze seeking out Hannah as she stood beneath the floral arch beside Red, Summer in her arms, smiling and bouncing with excitement when her dark eyes spotted him. She had his eyes, and Hannah’s auburn curls, and she was the most gorgeous baby girl in the world.

Man, he was lucky, and couldn’t possibly be prouder.

Margaret pointed a manicured nail toward the big blooms of spring flowers creating floral curtains between rustic, wooden posts lining the aisle. “How’d you manage to hang the roses?”

Travis laughed. “Red’s fishing line. When it came to you, he was happy to offer up his entire tackle box.”

Margaret laughed and some of the nervous tension eased from her expression. She lifted to her toes and kissed Travis’s cheek. “Thank you for walking me down the aisle. You won’t let me fall, will you?”

Travis tucked her hand tighter within the crook of his elbow and kissed her forehead. “Never.”

After his return to Paradise Peak with Hannah one year and six months ago, Travis had asked Hannah to marry him, and she’d happily accepted. Red had been overjoyed, and Margaret had been ecstatic—she’d already begun planning the wedding before Travis had slid the engagement ring on Hannah’s finger. He and Hannah had married on the ranch a month later, choosing to wed simply and quickly rather than wait to arrange a lavish ceremony, and the ceremony had been beautiful. A month after returning from their honeymoon, Hannah had surprised him with the happy news of their pregnancy and Margaret had sprung to action, planning a baby shower months in advance.

The months that followed had been a happy whirlwind, and a period over which Red and Margaret had become engaged and carefully planned a simple but elegant ceremony for the following spring. Travis and Margaret had grown even closer after Summer’s birth. Margaret had taken up the role of grandmother—though she preferred to be called Gammy—and showered Summer with love every day.

And more surprisingly, Margaret had, over time, grown to regard Travis as a son. Her motherly pecks on the cheek and caring advice had warmed his heart, and the heavy ache he’d carried for years continued to slowly recede. His life had never been more full of laughter and love. For the first time, he knew he was right where he belonged.

“Well,” Margaret said, meeting Red’s eyes across the field and smiling, “let’s not keep the love of my life waiting.”

Thirty minutes later, after a sweet ceremony and heartfelt vows, Red, clad in a tux, swept Margaret up in his arms beneath the floral arch and kissed her soundly in front of a cheering crowd of family, friends, and new ranch guests who’d been eager to attend and celebrate the happy event.

“Red,” Margaret gasped, gripping his shoulders. “Put me down before you break a hip.”

Laughing, Red hefted her higher up on his chest, her long hair spilling over his shoulder. “Darling, if I put you down, it’ll break my heart.”

Margaret smiled, cradled his face, and kissed him.

Travis crossed the aisle and lifted Summer from Hannah’s arms and into his own, kissing her soft auburn curls before hugging Hannah close to his side. He laughed as Red carried Margaret up the aisle, across the field, and onto the front porch of the lodge, pausing to allow his bride to wave once more at the cheering crowd of guests before carrying her inside.

Hannah laughed. “You think we’ll see them again any time soon?”

Travis grinned. “I seriously doubt it.”

“Then take me home,” Hannah whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist and smiling up at him. “Our little girl’s eyes are getting heavy, and I’m in the mood to celebrate with my husband. An entire night together, undisturbed, would be heaven.”

Travis bent his head and kissed her. The warm press of her soft lips against his, the comforting weight of his daughter in his arms, and the peaceful breeze sweeping across Paradise Peak stirred his soul and lifted his spirits higher than he could have ever imagined. “Yeah,” he whispered, thinking of their cabin by the peaceful stream with the best mountain view in Tennessee. A place with more love and happiness than he’d ever hoped to find. “Let’s go home.”

Please read on for an excerpt from the first in

Janet Dailey’s exciting new series,

The Champions!

WHIRLWIND

CHAPTER 1