The day before the wedding, Gemma tried to convince Coralee to stay home instead of going out with the wranglers. "Your wedding is tomorrow, you don't want to hurt yourself, you should be careful and stay home. Have a spa day for you and Monica."

"No way, Mom," she said, she looked to Travis for support, but he refused to look at her, concentrating on eating his breakfast and washing his food down with coffee. He stayed out of it, refusing to take sides.

"I need to get out," she tried to explain but knew her mother wouldn't buy it, "I'd rather be herding cows than sitting around twiddling my thumbs. You've hired people to take care of the setting up, I'm not needed."

"Thanks a lot for your support," she muttered to Travis as they left the table, but he only laughed which irritated her more.

"I'm not getting in between you and your mother, I know better. You want to be out with the wranglers, that's what you should do. If you want to indulge your mother, do that. I'm not making your decision for you." He leaned over and kissed her.

She chose the cows, they were easier to deal with than her mother. Back at the house, the tables for the guests were being set up. Things would be frantic the morning of the wedding, the tablecloths, dishes, and silverware would be laid out, and the wedding cake and flowers would be delivered. Today Gator would get the barbeque going so the dinner would be ready for the guests.

So much pointless trouble yet she wanted this. She had consented to the courthouse wedding because that was what Travis had wanted. He wanted to take her with him but wouldn't do it without being married to her because he knew it would upset her parents. To make up for it he had promised her a wedding and she was having it at last.

She couldn't wait for him to see her in the dress she had chosen. She wanted to walk down the aisle with her father and her uncle because she couldn't decide between the two, Uncle John had raised her as much as her parents had. She was luckier than most, she had two homes, two places where she belonged. One family melded into the other and she often could not distinguish between the two.

"Coralee, get on that damn cow," Travis was yelling at her, she must have let her mind wander. "If you can't pay attention…" he started to say, but she interrupted him.

"Momentary lapse of reason, I'm getting it." She rode after the cow and turned it around. It was nice being on Best Boy again, it was like being reunited with a best friend. He had been a good reining horse, but he was also cowy and a good horse to ride when on the herd. He hadn't been her first horse, but she'd ridden him for a long time and knew his ways.

She was tired when they finished, but it was a good tired. She'd worked away her nervousness and could look forward to a good night's sleep. Spending the day in the house would have done her no good, she wouldn't have been able to sleep.

Her mother had tried to persuade Travis to sleep in another room, but Coralee would have none of it. She wanted to spend the night with her husband, she needed to be with him. She wanted to make love before they went to sleep, there wouldn't be time in the morning.

She opened her eyes at first light. Today was the day of her wedding, her real wedding. The wedding at the courthouse had been for convenience, this was the wedding that Travis had promised her, and Travis was as good as his word.

He smiled at her when he woke up. "Guess I better head to the bunkhouse, you have a wedding to get ready for, it won't take me as long. Your ma is in full wedding mode, she'll want to oversee your getting ready. Eat a good breakfast, drink some coffee, it's going to be a while before we get to eat again. I'll meet you underneath the tree." He kissed her and went out the door.

She didn't want him to go, she wanted him to make love to her and stay with her until it was time for the ceremony. But Gemma wouldn't have liked it.

Monica, Laramie, and Teeter arrived at the house, ready to help. Gator fixed a breakfast that was more of a brunch, complete with champagne. After she ate, she soaked in a bubble bath, and the girls sat with her, drinking champagne and giggling.

Gemma had bought her a body butter that was scented with lilies of the valley. "It's the traditional wedding flower," she explained, "Women in my family wore the perfume and our bouquets were made of forget-me-nots and lilies of the valley. But you've chosen yellow roses."

"It was Travis's idea. I wore a yellow dress one day and he called me his yellow rose of Texas, so I decided I wanted the bouquets to be made of yellow roses."

She finished her bath and dried her hair. Laramie took a curling iron and put in some soft curls around her face. Monica took the garment bag out of the closet and removed her dress.

Gemma made a hissing noise, "Coralee, what is this? Don't tell me you're getting married in this!"

"Yup, it's my wedding, my dress. I like it and I know Travis will like it too. And it looks good on me. I like it because it's different, I saw a picture of a bride wearing it in a magazine and I fell in love. Nothing shows that shouldn't, and it's not too tight.

The dress hugged her body but not tightly. It had a princess neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. It was simple, comfortable, and sexy. It looked more revealing than it was, but she liked it because it was daring, and non-traditional.

The girls helped her with her makeup and set the cowboy hat on her blond head. The last touch was her white boots and looking at herself she felt like a cowgirl bride.

Kayce came to the door. "Five minutes, Coralee, your dad and your uncle are waiting for you!"

Where had the time gone? Suddenly the air of calm she had felt disappeared, and her nerves returned. She picked up a small box and handed it to Monica.

"Hold this for me, it's a surprise for Travis," she told her. Monica nodded and the girls went down the stairs where John and Benjamin Dutton awaited them.

She took each of their arms and they walked through the crowd of people that surrounded them. It seemed like forever to reach the tree where Travis stood waiting for her, although it was only a short distance. When she arrived, she kissed her father and her uncle and took the hand that Travis held out to her.

They hadn't talked about writing vows, opting for the traditional ceremony but Travis surprised her by saying:

"Miss Coralee, I've had the pleasure of knowing you since you were twelve. I've watched you grow from a high-spirited young girl to the woman who stands next to me. I never dreamed that we would be standing here today, and it's a privilege to call you my wife." He kissed her, "I love you, my little cowgirl."

She burst into tears. The justice of the peace asked her if she'd like to say anything, but she shook her head. He proceeded with the ceremony and when he asked if there were any rings, she turned to Monica who handed her the box.

Inside was a gold wedding band made from a gold nugget. "I had this made for you, Travis, it's a nugget that was taken from a mine not far from here. It's the only wedding gift I have for you."

"Then put it on his finger and say, 'with this ring, I thee wed'," said the justice, and Coralee said the words and slipped it on his finger, grateful that the size was perfect.

"I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss your bride," said the justice.

Travis took her in his arms and kissed her, and people burst into applause. Travis shook the justice of the peace's hand and he and Coralee walked out to where the people were waiting for them.

Coralee didn't want a receiving line, she and Travis strolled among their friends and families, shaking hands, hugging, and receiving congratulations. It felt surreal like it wasn't happening, she had waited for this day, but she could not quite believe that it had happened.

The band Uncle John had hired started to play her favorite song, "All I See Is You," and she almost started crying again. The day was too perfect and she a part of her could not bear it.

When they finished the first song, the lead guitarist said, "And now we'd like to play a song that the groom requested for the first dance," and they began to play "Wild Horses."

"Childhood living is easy to do

The things that you wanted, I bought them for you

Graceless lady, you know how I am

You know I can't let you slide through my hands

'Cause wild horses couldn't drag me away

Wild horses couldn't drag me away

And I watched you suffer a dull aching pain

Now you decided to show me the same

But no sweeping exits or offstage lines

Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

'Cause wild horses couldn't drag me away

'Cause wild horses, couldn't drag me away…"

When the dance was almost finished, they were joined by the others. Waiters passed through the crowd with glasses of champagne, and beer for those who wanted it. The dancing went on for a while until Gator rang the triangle and announced that dinner was ready.

The crowd fell on the excellent barbeque he had prepared and busied themselves with eating and drinking. The bride and groom were toasted, and speeches were made by the father and uncle of the bride. Coralee felt overwhelmed by the emotions she was feeling, and Travis took his handkerchief and dabbed the tears from her eyes.

The dancing resumed after the meal and went on until the cake from the best bakery in Bozeman was cut. Travis was a gentleman and put the cake delicately in her mouth. Gemma had chosen a chocolate strawberry cake and it melted in the mouth.

Dancing and eating went on until it grew late. At last the band put their instruments away and were tipped handsomely by the bride's father. Travis and Coralee were eager to escape the crowd and be alone, so it was announced that the bride would throw the bouquet.

She stood on the front porch of the lodge and threw the bouquet over her shoulder. To her delight, it was Teeter who caught it. Colby looked embarrassed, but he put his arm around Teeter's shoulders and kissed her cheek.

"Maybe, baby," he said, and everyone laughed.

Travis and Coralee said their goodnight's then were able to slip away from the crowd. They went upstairs and shut and locked the door to ensure their privacy.

There was a bottle of champagne and strawberries sitting on the bedside table, along with two champagne flutes. Travis picked up the note that sat next to it and read out loud, "To Coralee and Travis, with all our love."

He looked over at Coralee and saw that she was crying again. "What is wrong with you, girl?" he teased. and she shook her head.

"I don't know. Little girls dream of their weddings, but they have no idea of the emotions that go along with it. I have no idea why I'm so weepy, I wish I wasn't, you know?"

"You looked beautiful today, and I love that dress, I bet Gemma wasn't happy though." He smiled at her.

"No, she wasn't, that's why I wouldn't let her see it until I put it on. She'd have me in a ballgown and a long lace veil. She wants to be in charge of everything, but that's Mom."

He poured champagne for them both. "To my little wild horse, I love you more than you could ever imagine."

"I can imagine a lot," she replied and they clinked their glasses and drank to each other, and to the wedding day they had somehow managed to survive.