Page 69 of The Christmas Cowboy

“Bet that was fun.”

Connor knew and respected Mr. Fletcher as the whole family did. He was a good man and a good neighbor, even if he was old-fashioned. “Yeah, not so much. Her mom has been great, though, and she’s working on Val’s father. And of course, Riley is working on him too. Our mom wasn’t shocked. She’d already heard talk.”

“That’s not surprising. Either Mom or Velma hears all the gossip in Marietta. What are you going to do about Mr. Fletcher?”

“Hope that he comes around. Preferably before Christmas.” Although that didn’t leave much time. “Val tries to act like her father’s attitude doesn’t bother her, but I know it does. When she goes to the Fletcher ranch she sees her mom and Riley but her father refuses to have anything to do with her.”

Connor winced. “Damn, that’s harsh.”

“Tell me about it. But it hasn’t been that long since we told them. He loves Val so I bet he’ll come around.”

He had a Christmas present for Val. A painting of Starlight that he’d commissioned Mia Gallagher to paint. But there were two other things that would be the best presents ever. Getting Val’s father to forgive her and getting Trent to either sign over his rights, or failing that, decide he didn’t want the hassle and expense that would go with him claiming Val’s baby.

Or he would claim paternity because he knew Liam would hate that. If he did, though, they’d work it out. Because he wasn’t giving up his family. Not for any reason but sure as hell not because of anything that bastard Trent did.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Val did herbest to put all her worries out of her mind. She was only partially successful. Liam thought everything was settled and that they wouldn’t break up, but she wasn’t so sure that would be possible.

But Christmas Eve was a special time. That afternoon they had plans to go downtown and listen to the carolers. The shops would still be open and giving out goodies—cookies, candies, hot chocolate, and spiced cider. After that they planned to go to the early candlelight service at church. Her family and Liam’s all attended the same church. She wondered if her father would be there, and if so, if he’d finally talk to her.

Not that she had a lot of hope that he would.

As for Trent, she refused to worry about him today. It was Christmas Eve. The baby wasn’t due for six more months. Plenty of time for Trent to grow tired of harassing them and rethink what he really wanted.

Or, plenty of time for him to get a lawyer on board to try for full custody. She pushed that thought away, knowing thinking that way was pointless. She knew it was extremely unlikely he’d get full custody, but that didn’t mean it was impossible. Even Trent having partial custody wasn’t what she wanted, but she might have no choice about that.

“I’m really glad you could get away this afternoon,” Val told Liam later that day. “I know you’ve been taking a lot of time away from the ranch because of me. I appreciate it, but you know I’m a rancher too, and if anyone understands those demands, I do.”

Liam stopped walking, smiled down at her, and kissed her. “Stop worrying. I’ve got things under control.”

“If you think I haven’t noticed you’re burning the candle at both ends, think again. You can’t keep that up, Liam.”

He tucked her arm through his and began walking again. “I’m fine. I haven’t done anything I didn’t want to do.”

Clearly, he didn’t want to talk about it. “You know, I’m used to working. I can easily do more than I’ve been doing.”

“What do you want to do that you’re not doing?”

“Well, you know, I can still train horses.”

“Didn’t the doctor say she didn’t want you to ride after your first trimester?”

“I don’t have to ride to work with them in the round pen. And before too long Penny can start being halter-trained.”

“Will that make you happy?”

“It’ll help. But I’d also like to help with breeding. Obviously, since Starlight is a quarter horse paint, I know something about quarter horses. But I’ve been reading up on them so I’ll know more, and checking around to see who I might breed Starlight to, if we decide to go with another stallion rather than Blackjack. Although I think Blackjack would be the best. You know I always helped Riley and my dad with our horses.”

“I know. I can use the help. Not that you aren’t already helping. But I understand you want to do more.”

They didn’t talk any more about it and went back home to change for church. It was a beautiful candlelight service, reminding her of the many times she’d gone with her family over the years. She didn’t see them this year. She figured they were either going to the late Christmas Eve service or maybe they weren’t going at all.

She wondered if she could ever celebrate holidays with her own family again. She’d asked her parents and Riley to come for Christmas dinner. Her mom and Riley said they were coming but her mom told her not to count on her father. As her mother put it, “He’s being an ornery old coot. Don’t you worry about him.”

But of course, she did.

*

---