Page 42 of The Christmas Cowboy

“I heard a ‘but’ in there.”

“I don’t regret marrying you at all. But I’m still worried about the future. How things are going to work out. What happens if I see Trent again and he’s changed his mind about the baby? He’s not going to believe I lost his baby and got pregnant again so soon with yours. Although, he could think I lied and you were the father all along.”

“He doesn’t know you at all if he thinks you’d lie about something like this.”

“That’s the thing. He doesn’t know me.”

But Liam did. “Would you feel comfortable letting him think you lied and I’m the baby’s father?”

“No.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“I wish I could.”

“It would be easier. But you’re way too honest to do that.”

“Could you do it? Lie to Trent, I mean.”

“Probably not.” He wished he could. No, what he really wished was that the baby really was his biological child. Not that he wouldn’t love it no matter what, but their lives would be much easier if he was the bio dad.

*

Early one morninga few days after Thanksgiving Liam found his mother at one of her favorite places on the ranch. The pasture nearest the barn where Liam’s stallion, Blackjack, grazed. It didn’t matter to her which horse or horses were there, she loved that pasture. The Gallatins were visible in the distance, snowcapped already. The grass in the pasture was covered in frost, which Maureen always said made her think of a winter wonderland—even more than snow did.

“Hi, Mom,” he said when he reached her side.

“Hi, honey. Where’s Val?”

“She’s with Starlight.”

“You two seem to be getting along well. Married life must agree with you.”

It sure as hell had since Thanksgiving. It might have taken them a while to get there, but once they’d made love, they hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other. He changed the subject, rather than continue down that road. Not something he wanted to think about around his mother.

“Val wants to go to the Stroll and the tree lighting this weekend. Are you planning on going?”

“No. Do you want me to take care of things here?”

“I’ve got it covered.” Les had told him he planned to be available. Since his new full-time hand had moved to the ranch, to the apartment over the barn, Liam’s life was a lot easier. Adding Melody, the new ranch manager, made things run even more smoothly. In fact he wondered why he hadn’t worked harder to find people to fill those positions. He guessed he’d been gun-shy after the problems with his last manager and full-time help.

“Why don’t you go with Val and me to the Stroll?” His mom hadn’t gone to the Stroll in years, not since his dad died. He knew Clint had tried to get her there, but she’d turned him down every time.

“You don’t need your mother tagging along with you two newlyweds.”

“Val specifically asked if you’d go. She’s worried people think you don’t approve of her.” Not true, but Val had okayed it if it would help get his mom to go.

“That’s ridiculous. Why wouldn’t I approve of Val? I’ve known her since she was a little girl.”

“Don’t ask me. I’m just the messenger. So can I tell her you’ll go?”

His mother looked out at the horses grazing in the pasture. “If it’s so important to Val I guess I have no choice. I’ll go.”

“Great. I’ll let her know.” His mother had gone back to staring out at the pasture. “Tell me something, Mom. Why is this pasture so important to you? I remember when we talked about expanding the barn and horse stalls you vetoed using it—or even a part of it. But you never explained why.”

She turned her head to look at him with surprise. “I thought you knew.”

“No. None of us do.”

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