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“Mean what?”
“When you said you loved me. Did you mean it?”
She smiled, love warming her heart. “I did, Mama. I’m forgiving you. I will always love Daddy, and he was my real daddy in every way that mattered. You did what you felt you had to do at the time. It will take some time for me to deal with it, but I love you.”
“Angie, what’s this about?” Rafe asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Mama, this is Rafe Grayhawk.”
“Yes, hello, Rafe. We’ve met. How are you?”
“I’m fine, ma’am.”
“Rafe is here because…well, because he’s the man I love. We’re getting married.”
“Angie! That’s wonderful! But you don’t have to now. I’ve—”
“I’m not getting married because I have to. I’m getting married because I want to. Rafe and I are in love. But we can’t be married for at least six months.”
“Why not?”
Rafe stepped forward. “Because of me, ma’am. I’m real sorry I couldn’t save Angie’s ranch. To make a long story short, I made a decision five years ago and didn’t consider all the consequences. I married someone else to help her out of a bind. It was never a real marriage. I’ve got an attorney and we’re dissolving the marriage. But it won’t happen in time to save the ranch. I’m very sorry.”
Maria Bay touched his forearm. “Do you love my daughter?”
“With all my heart, ma’am.”
“And Angie, you love him?”
“Mama, I love him something awful. I can’t imagine my life without him.”
She smiled and wiped her eyes. “Then I’m so very happy for both of you. And I have more wonderful news. Tell them, Jeff.”
Jefferson Bay stood. “I have decided not to take the inheritance away from you. Since you are my rightful heir anyway, even if I did, it would go to you eventually. So I want you to have it now.” He handed her an envelope. “Here’s a document signing over my interest in the ranch to you. Your brother drafted it. It’s all legal.”
“Jeff is staying here at Cha Cha with me,” Maria said. “We’ve decided to put the past behind us and try to recapture our friendship.”
“Mama, you don’t have to do this for me.”
“She’s not,” Jeff said. “It was my idea. I thought long and hard and decided I didn’t want to live out the rest of my life as a bitter old man. I know you don’t think of me as your father. Maybe you never will. I understand if that’s the case and I will respect your wishes. I would love to cultivate a relationship with you, but I’m willing to do it on your terms. And if you’re not interested, I will accept that.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Angie said. “Thank you, I guess.”
“Please don’t thank me. I’m ashamed of the way I’ve acted. Even if you weren’t my daughter, I’m not sure I could have gone through with it. I always envied Wayne. It’s time to put those bad feelings to rest.”
He stepped forward and held his hand out to Rafe. “I’m Jefferson Bay, Angie’s uncle…and biological father.”
Rafe’s eyes widened. “Oh?”
Angie wrapped her arms around him. “It’s a long story, Rafe. I’ll tell you all about it tonight, okay?”
“Okay, baby.”
“What do you do, Rafe?” Jeff asked.
“I’m a ranch hand for Chad McCray, Angie’s brother-in-law. I also give riding lessons.” He winked at Angie.
“Then I’m sure you’ll be a huge help to Angie at Bay Crossing,” Jeff said. “You all can move out there anytime and get settled.”
