A Cowboy's Promise

You're invited to the wedding of Chase Summers and Hailey Barnes Spencer - if you have four wheel drive and can get through the snow storm!

When Chase Summers and Hailey Spencer decide to slip away for a quick wedding in Vegas, their friends and family conspire to have the wedding at Redemption Ranch. But will a snowstorm ruin their plans?

This is a holiday short story set in the Redemption Ranch series and is set after Book 2: Coming Home to the Cowboy.

“A Vegas wedding? You’re kidding, right?”
Tara’s voice rose in pitch until Hailey was convinced the dogs down the street would start howling in protest. But all that happened was the patrons in Earl Lee Byrds Diner just turned and stared at them, then shrugged and went back to their waffles, burgers, and coffee as if it was just those crazy Redemption Ranch ladies. Just another day. Hailey sighed and sipped her coffee, sweetened just the way she liked it, and let Tara rant about Hailey’s choices until she ran out of steam. If the past few months had taught her anything about working with the other woman, it was to let her run her course.
Emma slid into the booth next to Hailey and jutted her chin at Tara. “What’s got her flipping out?”
“Chase and I want to go to Vegas and have a quick wedding and honeymoon this winter. It’ll be easier. Not as much impact to the ranch and we can slip away easily enough then.”
Emma stared at her as if she had grown three heads and one of them was an alien. “Aww, hell no. I have been waiting years to be a bridesmaid and you want to deprive me of that?”
“Hey!” Tara protested. “You’re going to be my bridesmaid in the spring.”
“As a bridesmaid, I’m entitled to hot, sexy groomsmen. Since men are in short supply in this town,” a couple of cowboys on the stools started to turn and Emma twirled her hand around, “men I don’t know and haven’t grown up with and waited on since I was sixteen, I need to meet new men. My friends are obligated to find me new options. Hence the bridesmaids. It’s the code, ladies. You owe me.”
Tara and Hailey exchanged amused glances, but Tara was the one who replied. “I’ve never heard of that code. And you know that we’re marrying guys from Granite Junction, brothers in fact. I don’t think they know anyone outside of town and neither do we. So, you might be out of luck.”
“So, Vegas would be her best option actually,” Hailey pointed out.
“If you had planned on inviting any of us, which it doesn’t sound like you were,” Tara pointed out. Hailey just frowned and looked away.
“Still, I want the dress and the opportunity for new men. Especially since I probably won’t be meeting anyone new anytime soon,” Emma muttered.
Hailey sighed. Leave it to Tara to make a huge case out of something that wasn’t even her business. She glared at her friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law. “You know, this is my wedding and Chase and I really want something small. I’ve had a wedding already and Chase doesn’t really care.”
Tara narrowed her gaze and pursed her lips, studying Hailey like an opponent in a chess match. Hailey took another sip of her coffee and ate her waffles. She may as well enjoy her food while Tara sought a way around her wishes. Emma snuck a french fry from Tara’s plate and that’s when Hailey knew it was serious because Tara never even snarked at Emma. Just let her have it. Crap. Tara was serious.
Finally, a sneaky smile crept across Tara’s face and she pulled out her phone and scrolled through a few things. She turned the screen to face Hailey, displaying an adorable picture of a young boy in a tuxedo, holding a ringbearer’s pillow between a bride and groom.
“Game. Set. Match.”
She was right. A.J. would look adorable in that tuxedo. Now she had to have the wedding in Granite Junction.
Damn it.