Wrangled Mess

by Reese Madison

  “Your kind? I wouldn’t have worded like that, but it would be rather weird to have someone at my bachelorette party who slept with the groom.”

  “True.” Everyone seemed to agree. We moved the party to the back deck after that. Kris had me try on the dress twice more before she declared it ready. Bits finally passed out in my lap as the wee hours of the morning crept up on us.

  I lay in bed alone for the first time in over a week and felt incredibly alone. There’s no need to ask myself if this is what I really want. I don’t have one single doubt about marrying Trace.

  So, why can’t I sleep?? I’m excited to marry him. What will he be wearing? A suit? A tuxedo? I can’t imagine him in either. I can imagine him in a nice white shirt and black jeans.

  I reached for my phone and sent him a text so he knows I’m missing him. I know he’s asleep, or possibly still out with the guys, but I still want to text him.

  He responded within seconds.

  T: Why are you still awake? I want my bride well rested for her wedding day.

  Me: I’m too excited, can’t sleep. This bed feels empty. I miss your wandering hands.

  T: My wandering hands miss your soft body. Try to get some sleep love, it’a three in the morning.

  Me: I love you.

  T: I love you. XO

  15

  The deck was barely big enough to hold the wedding party, let alone the guests, so we opened the doors making one large space, half being inside.

  When my mother showed up for breakfast with the rest of my family in tow I couldn’t stop crying for an hour. Salina kept putting cold towels on my eyes so they wouldn’t swell.

  The ceremony was perfect. The man who married us has married a lot of members, and knew how to make everyone laugh as he led us through our vows. I found it very fitting to have humor mixed into the ceremony. Wrangler makes me laugh more than anyone I’ve ever met.

  Once the preacher pronounced us man and wife the party commenced. We cut a cake Red made earlier in the week, then had our first dance, before they let us go to change clothes.

  It’s the first time we’ve been together in almost twenty-four hours.

  He took my hand and spun me around like he had on the dance floor. “You my dear, are absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never been one for fancy things, but we might have to go to a ball once a year so you have an excuse to dress up.”

  I giggled, “I don’t see you going to a ball.”

  “I’d do anything for you sweet girl. Thank you for marrying me. I had no idea it was possible to be this happy.”

  I turned to give him my back, “Unzip me please?”

  “We have pictures, right?”

  “Yes, and I need to cut Sal a check for five hundred bucks for the dress.”

  “I’ll take care of that. You can pay for the honeymoon.”

  “What?? You pay for it!” I teased because I know he’s kidding. I’d be happy to pay for the honeymoon after all the thought and care he put into the surprise wedding. He even managed to find the perfect wedding rings.

  Our wedding bands are simple gold bands. At the end of the ceremony, after the kiss and before we left the makeshift alter, he put another ring on my finger. A simple princess cut chocolate diamond surrounded by smaller white diamonds. It’s almost too big, but not so big I’ll have to take it off very often. Just in the kitchen, or for yard work.

  “It’s really expensive. A 900 foot yacht for a week is pricey.” He continued to help me out of the dress. “What do we do with this now?”

  “Save it for our daughter.”

  “Oh yeah. I’m going to need more guns if we have daughters.”

  I stretched in my skivvies before helping him out of the black button up dress shirt. I’m glad he didn’t wear white, it would have made my dress look dirty. “Not in the house. No guns in my house, unless you keep them in a locked safe.”

  “We’ll put the one with the fingerprint reader in the safe.” He agreed. Good.

  It occurred to me that Trace is the kind of man that will go along with whatever I want as long as nobody gets hurt. It’s very sweet.

  “How long do you think we’re going to have guests?”

  “We could leave for our honeymoon?” I suggested.

  “This is our honeymoon. I arranged for the harbor master to get us a Captain and one crew member to sail us up to San Francisco. Have you ever been there?”

  “I did a radio interview there once. What little I saw, I loved. That’s a great idea Trace. Thank you.”

  “I’m glad you approve. The slip is already paid for with the slip package Georgia and Turner have. All we need to pay for is fuel and the charter.”

  “I’m happy to help.”

  “I got it. It was more affordable than I expected. Somehow I thought you’d prefer a honeymoon where we can take the child.” Meaning Bits.

  “You’re right.” I kissed his chest as he folded me into his arms. “I missed you so much.”

  “I miss you too my love.”

  I leaned back to look for those eyes, “What did you guys do last night??”

  “The local San Diego chapter took us in. The took over a local bar for the night. We listened to loud music, played poker for quarters. Shit like that.”

  “No strippers?”

  “No strippers, not really. Some of the girls ended up topless on the dance floor, but they stayed away from me. To be honest it was kind of funny when I turned around and saw all the bouncing tits.” She chuckled and shook her head.

  “I guess that’s okay. I was having nightmares about you putting dollar bills in g-strings.”

  He hooked his arm around my waist just after I pulled the sundress over my head. “The only g-string I care about is the one you’re wearing. Are you ready to face the masses?”

  “I’m going to need a kiss first.”

  “You got it, wife.” He came down for an all-consuming kiss. the kiss at the alter was perfect, just enough to make people hoot and holler. This kiss would make women fan themselves, and men look away.

  Once again it was a late night. Trace was very sweet, as usual, and said we didn’t need to make love on our wedding night. I insisted we fall asleep trying. It was the sweetest love making yet. Even exhausted I can’t get enough of this man.

  The yacht is empty once again except for a little piglet who has to pee. He’s snorting and making a horrible whining noise. I groaned, “Why did we have children so early?”

  “We could have let Kris take him. She offered to babysit.” He reminded me, climbing over me, with kisses as he left to take Bits to his putting green to go potty. It’s fake grass, but he doesn’t seem to care. It sits inside a frame that lets the liquids go through to a pan that’s easy to empty. I flush it. Trace scoops and rinses the poop residues.

  I like that I don’t have to ask him for help cleaning up after the little guy. His actions speak for the kind of man he is. Trace is a very good man. A little rough around the edges at times, like when he snaps at me with a little too much testosterone in his tone.

  Maybe that should bother me more, but it doesn’t. I know he’s just venting his frustration over a situation, or a problem, not at me. I’m a strong believer in people being able to express themselves. It helps knowing that if I ever took issue with how he spoke to me, all I have to do is say something to him. Trace would take his words outside to the backyard if he thought I couldn’t handle it. I prefer to be his sounding board versus shutting him out.

  While he was tending the child I got up and put on the pretty silk gown Salina said came with the wedding dress. It’s supposed to be for the wedding night, but we barely survived our sweet union, there was no way we had the energy to dress up for it.

  It’s a little chilly, so I pulled my robe around me and went to find Trace raiding the fridge. “Hungry?”

&
nbsp; “Very. I started coffee.”

  “Thank you. Do you feel different this morning?”

  “Not really. Do you?”

  “Kind of. I realized something last night when I was talking with the girls.”

  “What’s that?” He’s piling eggs, cheese, sausages (sorry Bits), onions and peppers on the counter.

  “I haven’t ridden with anyone since Slider. More importantly, my dad. I don’t know if I can do it again. It scares the shit out of me.”

  “I know. We’ll get there. You’ll ride again when you want to. In the meantime you’ll have to suffer me giving you a hard time for not riding with me.” He gave me a playful look, but I know he’s not really kidding.

  Salina told me I would be wise to get past my fears. She didn’t say I needed to do it tomorrow, but she said it’s a very important part of being with a biker. Trace may not be at the club all the time, and he misses more runs than he wants because of work, but he’s going to want me there, not standing on the sidelines.

  “When we get home I want you to take me around the block. Baby steps, in case I have a panic attack.”

  “I was thinking about renting a bike and going to Napa Valley for a night.”

  “Were you just going to spring that on me?”

  “Probably, but not on purpose. I kept forgetting to bring it up. Are you that afraid to ride?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you married me, but you don’t trust me enough to ride with me?”

  “I don’t want to fight this morning Trace. We’re going to need a car if you want to go to Napa Valley. I’m offering you baby steps because I don’t want to shut the idea of riding out completely. Even though that’s what I had done before you came along. So cut me some slack, okay?”

  “Fine. But I’m getting a convertible.” He pouted for about five minutes before getting involved in making us some Denver-style omelets.

  “What scares you the most about riding?” Trace asked while we were walking Bits around in the real grass. Our Captain and his one man crew are due in about an hour, so we figured we’d let Bits romp in the grass before we left. I think it will take a good bit of the day to get up there. Not that we’re in a hurry.

  “Aside from getting hit by a giant truck and dragged nine hundred yards, the fact that we’ll be hurt like my father was. He looks a lot better now, but his pain level will always be a 6, even with medications. I can see it in his eyes.”

  “My sister rides with me now and then. I like having the extra pair of eyes in the back of my head.”

  “Are you trying to guilt me into riding with you?” I teased.

  “No, but I believe it’s safer with someone watching your back. We’ll start out slow, I don’t want you to be afraid. It’s too important to me.”

  “I know. Everything has happened so fast we didn’t get a chance to talk about it before we got married.”

  “It wouldn’t have changed anything. I’m very happy to hear you’re willing to try. It would be kind of sad not having you with me on runs, or long lazy Sunday drives. I think you can get past it. The fact that you want to is proof of that. I’ll try not to rush you, but you’ll probably end up yelling at me to stop begging after a few months.” He wrapped his arms around my middle and kissed my neck from behind. “My wife. My beautiful wife. You’ve made me the happiest man on earth. You know that?”

  “I can’t believe I’m married to the sexiest man on earth. I’m going to be a giddy fool when I get to introduce you as my husband the first few times. That sounded horribly selfish.” I scolded myself and laughed at the same time.

  “Not at all. I’m happy to show you off as well my love.”

  When the Captain showed up with his crew member my first thought was father and son. Sure enough the son is helping out since he’s off school for the day and needs the money. That’s their story anyway.

  I believed it until the prospect known as Polar Bear showed up on deck.

  Trace left with the other two guys to show them around.

  I stayed with Polar Bear to introduce myself, “Celeste Skye, or is it Colson. Celeste Colson. I like it. Anyway, nice to meet you.”

  He took my hand with just enough firmness to be polite. I think he’s checking his own strength. The man is a huge bear-shaped man. “Polar Bear, or PB for short. My real name is Philip Greyson. I work security for the San Diego and Phoenix chapters when they have joint council meetings or large events.”

  “Good to know.” I noticed he was packing two guns like a cowboy from the old west. “Let’s hope you won’t be needing those.”

  “I doubt it. Slider didn’t like the idea of strangers taking you up to San Francisco, so he called and asked for someone to watch over you.”

  “Is there something else?” I have a nagging suspicion he’s leaving something out.

  “You should call Slider, Mrs. Colson. I’m not permitted to discuss the reasons for my being here.”

  “Figures. Come with me, I’ll show you to your room.” This yacht has four bedrooms and an office with a pull-out couch. The living room couches also pull out, and there are several cots down below. You could sleep twenty on this boat easily.

  Once PB had his bearings we parted ways so I could call Slider. Trace caught up to me about the time Salina answered the phone.

  “Hey girl. Everything okay?”

  “We’re good. The charter crew is here and ready to take us up the coast. Polar Bear is settled in and talking to the crew. I’m wondering what’s going on.”

  “Jackson skipped town. The IRS guy you chewed out did some digging of his own. Turns out you’re in the clear, although some of the fines will remind you to pay better attention to what you sign.” She scolded.

  “Yes mother. Where did Jackson go?”

  “We’re not sure yet. We have a hearing scheduled for next Monday at ten to get this cleaned up in court. I need you to be here. If Jackson doesn’t show, that’s even better. The problem with him not showing is, he’s probably going to drop off the map with the money he stole from you.”

  “I pretty much figured that would be a loss. Maybe I can use this story as a learning experience for my listeners when it’s all said and done. People don’t like to be victims alone.”

  “Try not to be a victim again will ya?”

  “I’ll see to that.” Trace chimed in from behind me. He seems to like resting his chin on my shoulder with his arms around my waist. We’ve been watching the sunset standing just like this for days.

  “Good. Alright. Watch your backs, and have fun. Joe ran checks on your crew, you should be okay there, but money makes people stupid.”

  “Polar Bear will squash them in one hand. That’s a big dude.”

  She laughed, “I know. For some reason he’s not a Colson.”

  “Different kind of big.”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’m a happily married woman.”

  “Salina!!” I laughed.

  “Get off this phone and go make love to your husband doc. I’ll call you if anything else happens.”

  “Thanks. And thank you for the party and the wedding. I’m still reeling from the whole experience.”

  “I’m still drunk.” She complained making me laugh. “Bye girl.”

  “Bye.” I disconnected feeling happy in a way I don’t remember feeling before. Salina is my friend. Sure, I have some girlfriends, but Salina feels different. She put together the biggest event of my life. We’ll be bonded for life, like sisters. She and the rest of the girls there for my bachelorette party will always be my sisters.

  The guys too. They’re Trace’s brothers. My brothers. Our family just got huge in the last few days. It’s a wonderful feeling to know I’m surround by so much love.

  It was a little too chilly and windy to sit up on the front deck once we got moving, and we couldn’t see w
hat was directly in front of us from the back deck. So we chose to hang out at the bar which is located about mid-deck inside.

  We can see all around because the walls are made of tinted glass. The coastline is far enough away we can see the change in landscape, but not so close that we need to jockey around other smaller more busy boats.

  Trace found a flatscreen TV and surfed the channels to discover this boat has security cameras almost everywhere. One of them is located on the upper deck facing forward. It was a nice wide unobstructed view of the open water in front of us.

  I topped off my wine, “This is amazing. I can’t imagine a better wedding or honeymoon. It still amazes me you were able to pull all this off. I was just starting to wonder what you were up to when they showed up.”

  “It wasn’t easy, but thankfully Sal is a pro at these things. Then you throw in Red, Stacy, and now Kris. I can’t believe she made him a whole wardrobe. That chick was sewing during the ceremony.”

  I chuckled, “I know. She really loves Bits. I don’t have the heart to call her off. He seems to love the attention. Besides, this way I know he’ll always have new clothes.”

  “True. She should make him a little patch for his leather. We’ll make him the mascot for the club.”

  “Slider will blow a gasket. Do you really think he’d go for that?”

  “The look on his face would be priceless. How are we supposed to make love all over this boat with all these people on board now?”

  “We have a bedroom.”

  “I know, but I was looking forward to making memories all over Turner’s boat. If we go out together I can point out all the places we made love. He’s fun to mess with.”

  “We’ll have a couple days before we head back to play so you can aggravate your brother.” I scolded him playfully. Brothers. Men. More than not I see how much they truly enjoy messing with each other. Most of the time it’s all in good fun.

  “I really just want to be alone with you.” He stepped up between my knees. “I’m sorry about the money. I was hoping to get that back for you.”