Page 59 of The Christmas Cowboy

“Have you thought about the baby? About what’s best for the baby?”

“I’m the father. I’m what’s best.”

Not a chance. “Do you plan to ask for shared custody?”

“What I do is none of your business.”

“You’re wrong about that. I’m married to Val. And until the baby is born and paternity is established, the baby is legally mine. So yeah, it is my business.”

“From what I hear you and Val got married about five minutes after she told me about the kid. Which means you only married her because she was pregnant. With my baby.”

“The baby you denied was yours. Think about it, Trent. Do you have any idea how to care for a child? Do you really want a child? Or are you just mad because you don’t want me to have something you consider yours?” He was thinking of the land. He bet Trent was too. He walked to the door. “Think carefully before you do something you can’t undo. And one other thing. Stop telling people Val is pregnant and you’re the father. Not everyone knows she’s pregnant and we’d like to keep it that way.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I asked you to. If you continue, I’ll have to say you’re lying. Now who do you think people around here will believe?” He knew his credit was a lot better than Trent’s.

He couldn’t guarantee Trent would listen to him but at least he’d tried.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The weekend beforeChristmas was a busy one. Val and Liam had been invited to a party at Dylan and Sam Gallagher’s. Val had been half afraid Liam wouldn’t be able to go but he got the horses situated early and had checked with Les who said he’d be around to keep an eye on things.

Val wasn’t really showing yet, but her waist was thicker, her boobs were bigger, and she swore she could see a tummy pooch although Liam said he couldn’t. She wore black pants that she could still zip up—barely—and a sparkly red blouse. Liam wore jeans and a dark green sweater that brought out the green from his hazel eyes. Sometimes when she looked at him, she still couldn’t believe they were married. Then he’d turn and look at her and smile and her heart would turn over.

She was so in love. The night before he’d told her he loved her and she badly wanted to believe him. But a part of her held back. Because she couldn’t quite believe it. She couldn’t possibly be that lucky.

Liam didn’t lie. But maybe he’d convinced himself he loved her. Or maybe he meant it and she should accept it and quit being a chicken.

The Gallaghers’ two-story white farmhouse was decked out in Christmas decorations. Lights were hung on the porch railings and the huge spruce tree in the front yard was lit up as well. There was a wreath on the front door and a Santa Claus beside the door that ‘ho-ho-hoed’ at them as they approached. Sam opened the door and welcomed them inside.

“Everything looks so pretty,” Val said.

“Thanks, but Glory deserves more thanks than I do.” Glory was the Gallaghers’ longtime housekeeper. “Here, let me have your coats. In the dining room there’s beer and soft drinks in an ice chest and wine and wassail on the sideboard. Food’s on the table so help yourselves.”

She disappeared with their coats, and they went to the dining room where they ran into a number of people they both knew. Marietta was a small town and the ranching community even smaller, so Liam and Val knew a lot of the guests. There were also a bunch of folks from the medical community, since Sam as well as the other three Gallagher brothers were doctors.

Everything was great until later in the evening. Val was talking to Cici and Logan when Angie Zimmerman joined them. Val had known Angie forever, having gone to school with her since they were tiny. She liked Angie, but Angie had a fatal flaw. She always wanted to be the first to be ‘in the know.’ More so than Carol Bingley or Sally Driscoll or anyone else in town.

Angie greeted all three of them, then said, “Val, I heard something a few days ago that I could hardly believe.”

Suspecting what was coming, Val said, “Then don’t believe it.”

Naturally, Angie ignored her. “I saw Trent Harvey and he said—”

Cici interrupted at that point. “Angie, is it true you’ve been dating a lawyer from Billings? I thought for sure you’d bring him.”

“Oh, well, yes, we’ve been dating but Ford had a business dinner with a client tonight.”

“That’s too bad,” Cici said, taking her arm and leading her away.

Val watched them go. “Have I told you I adore your wife?”

Logan laughed. “She’s pretty great, isn’t she?”

“She really is.” But Val knew it was only a temporary reprieve. She left Logan to find Liam, who was talking to Dylan and Sean Gallagher over by the fireplace. She went to his side and touched his arm. He looked down at her and smiled, putting his arm around her as he finished talking to Dylan and Sean.

“What’s up? You look upset.” He led her away as he spoke quietly.

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