A Cowboy's Christmas Proposal

“She kicked me.”

“It appears the guests are growing restless,” Owen said. “We can try again later.”

Molly checked her watch. “Can’t. Too much to do. The bride and groom’s family members are staying at the ranch through Tuesday. As of this morning, we have all five available cabins rented.”

“That’s great.”

“We’re taking the entire wedding party on a hayride after the ceremony to the Poco Dinero for a barbecue dinner and line dancing. Most of the family has never been to a ranch before and they want the full cowboy experience.”

“I can always practice by myself.”

“Record yourself with your phone and play it back,” she suggested. “Better yet, video yourself if you can.”

He could do that. He had before when called on to give a speech at work functions. “Okay, you two, let’s go.”

Cody and Marisa immediately bolted from the pew. Owen bent and lifted Willa into his arms. She woke up only briefly, falling back sleep the moment her head found his shoulder.

She was cute like this, thumb in her mouth, wispy curls framing her face. Shame on him for leaving her and going on the road so much. He could have enjoyed countless more moments like this one.

That, too, was going to change this month at the ranch. He’d make sure of it. Nothing mattered to him more than Cody, Marisa and Willa. Even finding a new job came second. At least until after Christmas when the kids went back with their mother.

“Do you have a lot of couples like Tasha and Wayne,” Owen asked, “requesting the full cowboy experience?”

“A few.” Molly fell into step beside him as they left the chapel. “They want their wedding to be unique, out of the ordinary. Especially if it’s a second wedding or vow renewal.”

“Makes sense.”

He’d do something entirely different if he ever married again. And at the moment, that was a big if. He was in no place to consider dating, much less a lifelong commitment.

“I suppose that’s why Grandma and Homer eloped,” Molly mused aloud. “Something out of the ordinary.”

“Imagine how many weddings Uncle Homer’s officiated. A tacky chapel in Reno probably appealed to him.”

“I wish you hadn’t said ‘tacky.’ Poor Grandma.”

“What do you bet she doesn’t care? When you’re in love, you see the beauty in everything.”

Molly sent him a skeptical look. “That’s a rather romantic sentiment for a guy.”

“I recently started marrying people for a living. Comes with the territory.”

They stopped in the foyer. Cody and Marisa immediately descended on the bowl of birdseed packets.

“Hey, hands off,” Owen scolded.

“Daddy, can we feed the birds?” Cody begged.

“Please,” Marisa added.

He supposed they deserved a small reward for behaving reasonably well during his practice session with Molly, but it was up to her. “Do you mind?”

She bent at the waist, putting herself on eye level with the kids. “Two each. Okay?”

Ah. More softening around the edges. Nice. “You heard Miss Molly. Two each.”

Jackets donned and their treasures clasped tight in their hands, Cody and Marisa dashed outside, competing to be the one to open the heavy front door. Owen and Molly followed. They stood on the veranda watching as the kids tossed handfuls of seeds onto the lawn, their loud antics scaring the birds instead of enticing them nearer.

Owen followed Molly’s gaze as it wandered to the distant mountains. This time of year, at the start of winter, the greens and yellows that had previously blanketed the slopes were now a dull brown. Even so, the mountains were majestic, with Pinnacle Peak like a giant hand reaching heavenward.

“You look like you’re somewhere else,” he observed.

Molly shook herself. “I was, I guess.”

“At your grandmother and Uncle Homer’s wedding?”

She exhaled slowly. “It’s hard for me to accept that she chose eloping over a wedding at Sweetheart Ranch with all her family and friends there. I keep telling myself it’s her special day, she can do whatever she chooses.”

“Except she chose to exclude you.”

“I’m being selfish.”

“No, you’re not.” Owen absently adjusted the blanket he’d thrown over Willa. “You love her. You want to be there. It’s natural.”

“I’m so glad they’ll be home for Christmas.”

“The holidays aren’t the same without family. I’d hate to spend mine away from the kids.”

“Grandma and Homer are going to renew their vows on New Year’s Day and throw a big party.”

“I know. Uncle Homer asked me to officiate.”

“Why did I not see that coming?”

Molly laughed and, all at once, Owen glimpsed the vivacious and engaging woman hidden behind the guard she diligently maintained. Almost immediately, he began reconsidering his commitment to avoid any romantic entanglements. She was that appealing.

“Speaking of exchanging vows.” She checked her watch again, and the moment vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “I have someone else’s to coordinate.”

“And I need to practice.”

Owen called for Cody and Marisa to hurry up. They’d run out of birdseed and were climbing an antique pony cart used for a lawn ornament. No sooner had they reached the veranda steps than Nora threw open the front door.

“Molly! Hurry. We got big trouble.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The wireless internet’s down.”

Everyone rushed inside, Willa bouncing awake in Owen’s arms. They all crowded around the registration desk and stared at Molly’s computer with its ominous message in the center of the screen.