Page 57 of The Christmas Cowboy

“Liam?” His motherwore her favorite coat, an ancient shearling that she swore was still warm. Liam didn’t think so. He thought she wore it because it was the last Christmas present she’d gotten from his father.

“Yeah, Mom. I’m with Blackjack.” Grooming his big stallion who had been very frisky lately. He and Val had talked about breeding him to Starlight once she was ready.

His mom came into the stall and watched him for a little while. She had a bit of a speculative look on her face. “At first I worried about you and Val. I hadn’t ever seen any evidence that you were in love with her. I was sure she was in love with you but—”

“Wait a minute. You thought Val was in love with me? Before we got married?”

“Oh, Liam, it was obvious. I’m sure I’m not the only one who knew. That girl always thought you hung the moon.”

He didn’t know what to say. Val loved him? Had loved him for a long time? Why didn’t he know? Why hadn’t he realized it? And if she did love him, why hadn’t she said anything when he’d told her he loved her?

“I was worried about you. You didn’t act like you were in love. Until recently.”

Because he hadn’t been. Not at first. But it hadn’t taken him long to fall for her hook, line, and sinker. Even though it had taken him much longer to admit it to himself.

“You are in love with Val, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then why do I feel like something’s wrong?”

“Let me finish up here and I’ll meet you inside.”

“So, there is a story.”

“Yeah.” Not one that he could tell her, though. Still, he had to tell her something.

When he went up to the house a short time later, he found Maureen in the kitchen. Velma had gone grocery shopping so they were alone.

“I need coffee,” Maureen said. “Do you want a cup?”

“Thanks.” What he really needed was a stiff shot of whiskey but since it wasn’t even noon that wasn’t happening.

His mother poured two cups, left one black and doctored hers with milk and sugar, and brought them to the table.

Liam took a big sip, burning his mouth in the process. “Val’s been having some trouble with a man she dated before we married.” His hands fisted. He hadn’t seen Harvey yet, but when he did, the first thing he was going to do was punch him for talking shit about Val, not to mention putting his hands on her.

“You look like you want to kill him. Or punch him at the least.”

“I do. I’m going to have a talk with him and explain that Val is married to me, and he needs to leave her the hell alone.”

“You didn’t love Val at first, did you?”

He didn’t answer her.

“Why did you marry her, Liam?”

“I had my reasons.” Reasons he wasn’t ready to tell his mother.

“How do you feel now? Was it a mistake marrying her?”

He shook his head. “Not for me. I love her.” He drank more coffee. “I didn’t expect or even want to fall in love again. After Caroline, I figured it wouldn’t ever happen again. Didn’t want to, honestly. But then I married Val and within a couple of weeks I was totally gone over her. I hadn’t expected it.”

“Does she know?”

“I told her, but she didn’t believe me. Maybe because she doesn’t want to believe it because she’s not in love with me.”

Maureen shook her head and laughed. “I had no idea you were so dense. Of course she loves you. And since you love each other you’ll work out the other problems.”

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