Colt

They say fools rush in. But I had been a damn fool for most of my life, I would hate to start changing my ways. Not when it led me to the woman sitting across from me now.

The truck's windows were open, causing Grace's beautiful hair to whip around. I chuckled as I watched her struggle to get ahold of it and braid it, but to no avail. I hit the button to roll her window up and her wild strands immediately calmed. She glanced over at me with a sheepish smile.

"I could have done that."

"You could've...but you didn't."

Her eyes narrowed in on me, and damn, if it still didn't light a fire in me.

"Maybe I didn't want to."

"Oh, so you just wanted to struggle with tying your hair up? Okay, gotcha." I pushed the button to the window down, causing her hair to go wild again and a groan to escape her.

She tried rolling it up, but I hit the lock button so the window wouldn't budge.

"Okay! Okay, Colt! You win! Roll it up please." She was laughing as she gripped her hair in her hand.

I rolled it back up, earning me both a grin and a slap across my chest. I rubbed the spot, feigning pain.

"Now, now. You keep that up and I'll turn this truck around."

"You wouldn't! You're more excited than me. Of course, maybe I would be more excited too if you would just tell me where we are going!"

"Now, you know it's a surprise babe. And I ain't one to ruin those."

She leaned across the console and planted her delicious lips on my neck. My cock twitched with the words she breathed in my ear.

"If you want me to beg, I will."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened, and I let out a small groan.

"I promise you this. If you beg, the only thing that's happening is me pulling over and spreading those legs. My lips are sealed and only opening to be buried between you."

Her breath hitched and she slowly backed away. "Damnit Colt! I was supposed to tease you, not the other way around. You suck!"

"Nah, baby, that's your job."

Her cheeks were crimson in an instant, and I loved how easily I could still rile her up. It had been a year to the day that we had gotten lost together. But we have both agreed, that was when really, we had been found.

She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes as I turned the volume up on some classic George Strait.

🎶I cross my heart, and promise to

Give all I've got to give to make all your dreams come true...🎶

I sang the lyrics to Cross My Heart as she peered over at me smiling. She joined in with me and we spent the rest of the drive blasting the radio and giving most songs our own poor rendition.

When we got close, I turned the radio down and Grace sat up in her seat with her eyes fixed on the road. I turned on a dirt road; the crunch of the rocks underneath the tires and them popping up hitting the truck were the only sounds as a look passed over Grace's features.

She looked toward me, then at the road, snapping her head back to me as she looked at me in both shock and confusion.

I pulled over and put the truck in park. We sat there looking out at the pasture for several minutes before she spoke.

"How did you know Colt? How did you know where it was?"

I hesitated a moment. "Your mom. I called and asked if she would remember how to get here."

She nodded and looked back out at the pasture.

"I never told you this, but I came out here when I turned eighteen. I wanted to see him. To feel close to him again." She turned to face me. "But Colt, the owners wouldn't allow it. I couldn't get on the property."

I shook my head at how horrible some people could be. It angered me beyond belief that they wouldn't let a daughter see her father's grave.

"I'm so sorry to waste your time Colt. But it means the world to me that you thought of this."

I turned the ignition off and hopped out of the truck. I walked over to Grace's side and opened the door. She slowly took my hand and hopped out, and I led her in the direction we were going.

"Colt, didn't you hear me? They won't let us on their land."

"Well, you're right about that. They didn't. But I don't suppose they can really stop me now. Considering it's my land and all. Actually, make that our land."

Her hand pulled out of mine as she stopped in her tracks. I turned to face her as she stood motionless, her features morphing from one emotion to the next.

"You--you bought this land?"

I nodded. "Remember about a month ago, when I told you I went on that camping trip with my buddy?" Her eyes narrowed in on me but her lips remained in a thin line, keeping me guessing where her head was at. "Now babe, don't be mad. I wanted it to be a surprise. And I didn't want to tell you in case it didn't work out. But I came out here to speak to the owners. Just to see if I could bring you out here. Well as you know, they weren't polite folks, but I've learned the right amount of money easily buys those type of people."

Her eyes roamed my face before stepping forward and wrapping her hands around my neck. She pulled me forward and kissed me like we were stranded again, and I was the water to her thirst.

When she pulled away, the smile she wore was worth what I paid times ten.

"I can't believe you did this for me. You are the most amazing man."

"I would do anything for you Grace. I mean it." I cupped her cheek, pulling her in for another kiss, and then grabbed her hand and began our walk again.

"My daddy loved this field. We would ride the horses up here all the time. The most beautiful flowers bloom in the spring, and in the fall, the trees' colors make this place look like a dream. His great aunt owned this land when I was a kid and she was the sweetest. She allowed us to ride up here whenever we wanted. When my daddy died, we knew he would want to be buried here. So we laid him to rest under the tree we had picnics at. Unfortunately, his great aunt died a few years later. She left it to her son, but he chose to sell it."

She pointed in the direction we were to go, and we kept walking. I listened as she talked about the picnics they had as a family and the one time she fell off the horse into a pit of mud. Her eyes lit up as retold the story, and we were both laughing by the end of it.

She suddenly stopped, looking ahead at a giant red Maple tree. She brought her hand to her face and covered her mouth. I noticed her trembling and when she turned to face me, her eyes were glistening.

"Do you mind if I talk to him by myself for a minute?"

I ran my hand across her cheek to catch a tear. "Of course Star. You take all the time you need." She nodded her head and took a deep breath, before finishing the walk to underneath the tree. I watched as she leaned down and ran her hand against the small tombstone I could now make out. I wanted nothing more than to go to her when I saw her crumble, but I knew this was a moment she needed--a moment between just the two of them.

Several moments passed before she stood up and turned toward me, motioning me over. I walked up to her and grabbed her hand, wiping my other hand across her tear-streaked face. She sniffled, but wore a smile.

"Daddy, I would like you to meet someone very important to me. This is Colt. You would have loved him."

I cleared my throat, searching for the right thing to say. "Hello sir. I wish I could have had the honor of meeting you face to face and shaking your hand. Your daughter here is the most beautiful soul I have had the chance of knowing. You would be proud of her."

Grace looked at me with a heartfelt expression and squeezed my hand.

"There's uh, there's actually something I wanted to discuss with you sir." I could see Grace peer over at me out of the corner of my eye, clearly curious as to what I was going to say. "You see, Grace is every bit of a star you told her she was. I was in a dark place, and her light guided me out. I don't know where I would be without her." I scoffed, shaking my head. "Actually I'm sure I'd still be over-working myself during the day, and over-drinking myself during the night. The point is, I am a much better man with her by my side." I turned toward Grace and rubbed my thumb across the top of her hand. She was looking up at me in awe and appeared to be on the brink of tears again.

"It's true Grace. You were my saving grace, and I plan on spending the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me." I dropped to one knee and grabbed the ring out of my pocket to slip it on her shaking finger. "That is," I turned toward her father's grave, "if I have your permission sir," and then turned back to face Grace, "and if you'll give me the honor of being my wife. Grace, I am so in love with you. Will you marry me?"

She slapped her hand across her mouth, first staring down at me, then the ring on her hand, then down on me again with widened eyes. I held my breath, praying she would say yes. Fuck, I didn't know what I would do if she didn't. Probably throw her over my shoulder and not let her down until she came to her senses.

Seconds seemed to tick by like minutes, and I swear I was about to pass out from the nerves dancing around in my stomach and in my heart. Her eyes stayed trained on mine, and finally her heart kicked in because she slowly started to nod, and then quickly as a "Yes!" broke out through the air. I released the breath I had been holding, and stood up to scoop her up in my arms.

I kissed her with the purpose of never letting her go, and fuck, if it wasn't the best feeling in the entire world. I was hers and she was mine and there wasn't a damn thing better on this earth than that.

"Were you trying to give me a heart attack or somethin'?"

She jerked her head back and playfully smirked. "Now what kind of woman would I be if I just said yes right away without pause?"

I quirked my eyebrow. "The kind who knows she's gonna say yes anyway."

"And what makes you so sure that's the case? You don't think I thought about saying no?"

I playfully squeezed her side and she yelped. "Not if you know what's good for you. And baby, I'm the best." I winked.

She scoffed and slipped out of my grip. "Oh Colt, always the cocky one aren't you? Well maybe now I change my mind." She crossed her arms and stared at me, trying her hardest to hide a smile.

"No, you don't."

"Yes. I do."

"Always so stubborn Grace. You're maddening!"

"Always so hard-headed Colt." She prodded my chest. "You're infuriating!"

We held each other's glare for several moments until a huge grin broke out on her face, causing one of my own.

"Oh, I'm gonna get you for that!"

"You can try--", she said as she took off running, "--but you'll have to catch me first!" She squealed as I took off in a charge after her.

Baby, you can count on it. I'll always chase after you.