Page 75 of The Christmas Cowboy

That evening, aftercleaning up dinner and watching football and basketball on TV, Liam put on his jacket and, armed with sugar cubes, left the house for the barn. He figured since it was Christmas the horses needed some sugar.

But when he stepped outside he saw a beat-up old pickup pull up and Jasper Fletcher get out of it.I guess Christmas dinner of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made him rethink his attitude.

“Can I help you, Mr. Fletcher?”

“Might as well call me Jasper, since you’ve married my daughter.”

“What do you need, Jasper?”

“I need to see Valerie.” When Liam didn’t move he said, “Are you going to let me seemy daughter?”

“That depends. Are you going to upset her? Because if you are you can turn right around and go back home.”

Jasper shook his head. “You always were a protective cuss.”

Liam shrugged. “Val’s my wife. It’s Christmas and she’s happy and I intend to see she stays that way.”

“Simmer down, Liam. I’m here to apologize.”

Liam noticed he choked a little on the last word. Not surprising since he’d never heard of Mr. Fletcher apologizing for anything.

“Are you going to let me in, or do I have to stand out here in the cold?”

Liam opened the back door. “Come in. I’ll go get Val.”

Val was talking to her mother when Liam went looking for her.

“Hey, I wondered where you went. Did you go see the horses?”

He still wore his coat, not having taken the time to take it off. “I was headed that way but I got sidetracked.” He held out his hand. “Come with me.”

“You’re very mysterious,” Lorraine said. “I thought you’d already exchanged presents.”

“It will all be explained before long.”

“What’s going on?” Val asked him.

He stopped outside the kitchen door. “Your dad is waiting for you in the kitchen.”

“My—my father? He’s here? Why?”

“In the flesh. I’ll let him tell you why.”

“I hope he doesn’t plan on yelling at me.”

“Do you really think I’d have let him in if he was going to yell at you?”

She looked at him and smiled. “No. But I’m afraid to hope.”

“Don’t be.” He opened the door and ushered her in, following her and shutting the door behind him.

“Dad? What are you doing here? I thought you didn’t want to see me.”

“I’ve been a damn fool, Valerie.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Liam said, assured that her father was intent on mending fences. “I’ve got horses to see.” He gave Val’s hand a squeeze and went out the back door.

*

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