Page 31 of The Christmas Cowboy

She muttered something he couldn’t hear.

“Val?” He glanced at her then back to the road. “Why were you rude to her?”

“I just was.”

“Why?” He turned his head to stare at her.

“Watch the road,” she told him.

He dragged his gaze back to the road. A short time later they pulled up to Logan’s apartment. He parked and turned off the ignition. Val started to jump out, but he grabbed her arm. “Hold on. Tell me why you were rude to her. It didn’t seem to bother her at hers and Logan’s wedding.”

“Of course not. It was her wedding day. She had more important things to think about. I only told you because I didn’t want you to be shocked if she was standoffish to me. So drop it, okay?”

Luckily, telling Logan and Cici about the marriage wasn’t hard. His brother was so wrapped up in his new wife that he hardly seemed surprised by the news. They all hugged, and Liam was pleased to notice that Cici seemed fine with Val. Maybe Val hadn’t been as bad as she’d feared.

It dawned on him that Logan might have had another reason to not be surprised. “Did you already know we got married?” Liam asked Logan. “Did Connor tell you?”

“I told you your poker face needed work,” Cici told Logan.

He shrugged. “We knew but it wasn’t Connor. Mom told us. Of course she said not to tell you we knew. Who wants a beer?”

Liam and Cici asked for beer. Val asked for water.

Logan passed out the drinks.

“Who all knows about your wedding?” Cici asked.

“Our parents, Riley, Connor, and Letty. Velma and Mercy and all the ranch hands and both ranch managers,” Val said. “I’m not sure who else knows.”

“Since the ranch hands know the whole town probably knows by now.” Liam laughed. “No, make that the entire county.”

“True,” Logan said. “So it’s okay to confirm it when people ask us?”

“Sure, why not.”

“And when they ask us why it was secret and so quick?”

Liam glared at his brother. “Tell them it’s none of their damn business.”

“I’ll just play dumb.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard for you,” Liam said.

“Now, now. Is that any way to talk to your beloved brother?”

“It’s how I talk to my pain-in-the-ass brother.”

“Enough, you two,” Cici said, laughing. To Val she said, “I’m sure you know since you’ve known them forever that they can do this all night.”

“Yes. And add in my brother or Connor and it’s even worse.”

They talked some more until everyone had finished their drinks. Val had excused herself and gone to the bathroom. When she came out, a good bit later, Liam was certain she’d been sick. She was pale and she’d apparently splashed water on her face.

“Are you okay?”

“Not really. I’d be better if I had some crackers.” They’d been talking quietly but Cici must have heard them because she went to the kitchen. A few minutes later she returned with a sleeve of crackers.

“I have soft drinks too if you need one.”

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