Cowboy ala Cart, #NaNoWriMo writing challenge.

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10 What happens in Vegas

Las Vegas, Thursday...

Cody and Cordell were headed out to the next whatever thing ranchers did, so Colt and Meri could have a sort of honeymoon before he joined them. Meri woke up slowly. Her body felt liquid. A snore ruffled her hair. Waking up yesterday morning to discover she was married had been a shock. She closed her eyes vaguely remembering being drunk at a western bar with Colt and several of his fellow PBR buddies. They all decided to head back to where their horses were and go riding together. Ending up in the desert with a bonfire, someone started chanting for him to propose so he did.

"I was in love with you from the first moment I saw you. I knew you were amazing, and you have put up with more than your share of bother from Sam and Cody. Meredith, my darlin', will you be my wife and make cookies for my horse for the rest of our days?"

The crowd went wild with chortles and laughter as Meri stood in front of him, stunned and staring into his dark eyes. Sinner Sam I Am took that moment to shove her forward and she fell into Colt's arms. His embrace was so strong, safe, but she had had it with the cookie monster.

"Dammit Sam, I don't have any cookies," Meri yelled as she slapped at Sam's nose. Wretched and sad, the horse looked disappointed while Colt and Cody's rodeo friends roared with laughter.

Colt laughed and held a ring in front of Meri, in a low tone he said, "Ya didn't answer my question, darlin'."

"Where'd you get that?" Meri gasped, her drunk mind was too addled to properly process how he had just pulled a beautiful antique ring out of thin air.

"I asked my dad if I could propose with my mama's ring." He looked at her with all his hope.

Staring at the diamond twinkling in the fire light, Meri smiled so wide she thought her cheeks would split. "Yes, I'll marry you, cowboy, just keep that damned horse out of my kitchen."

The witnesses went crazy cheering. They even staged a wedding because one of the cowboys claimed he was an ordained minister. He performed the ceremony then everyone got more drunk.

Monday morning, so hungover she could barely think, she tried to give Colt the ring back when he drove her home, but he refused. Colt took her hand and kissed it gently, before putting the ring back on her middle finger because it was a size too big. "Darlin', I meant every word I said, and I am not good at this sort of thing. I want to marry you. I know it sounds crazy, but I think I'm in love with you, I ain't never felt this way about anyone. If you want to take things slow we can but... Meredith, I lost my mama when I was eight. When you love someone, you want to spend time with them, and you want it to start as soon as possible. Daddy asked Mama the first day he saw her, and they were happy until she passed. I know I can take care of you and keep you happy. Just give me a chance."

Meri had felt like she was in some crazy cowboy romance novel since. She wanted to put the brakes on hard, but her heart or maybe her hormones said, "Okay."

"Really?" He looked so happy and relieved at the same time. She kissed him, it was like skydiving. When they stopped to breathe, she realized she was sitting, straddled on his lap.

He begged, "Can I see you tonight before we leave?"

"You better or I'll get Taggert to unwed us!" Meri threatened.

Colt laughed. "I think he's been thrown from one too many bulls and landed on his head, but it was good practice for our real wedding. I can't wait to take you home to meet Gramma and see the ranch at Christmas."