Page 12 of The Christmas Cowboy

“She’ll be here. She’s just running late.” He hoped.

“Val is never late,” Riley said. “Maybe Connor’s right. She could have changed her mind.”

“She’s with Letty. Maybe Letty’s late.”

“She’s not,” Riley said decisively.

Luckily Val and Letty showed up before he had a chance to clock either Riley or his brother. He wasn’t usually so irritable. Maybe he was nervous.

“Sorry I’m late,” Val said a little breathlessly. “Getting out of the house with my stuff was difficult. Dad was at the barn, but Mom wanted to chat. Letty took some of it to her place yesterday or I’d never have managed.”

“What did you tell your parents?”

“I’m visiting a friend in Wyoming. Letty’s taking me to the airport.”

“Sounds good. We’ve still got a little time before the minister is ready for us.”

“Can I talk to you, Liam? Alone?”

Had she changed her mind? He hoped not. He’d discovered in the last few days that he was looking forward to marrying Val. Even if it did still freak him out.

Val stepped outside and he followed. She must really not want anyone to hear. It was pretty cold outside and she wasn’t wearing a coat. At least this time she wore long sleeves.

“I feel like I should give you one last chance to back out,” she said.

“You look beautiful,” he told her. She wore a long-sleeved, white button-down, very short dress and a pair of boots—not cowboy boots—that went to her knees. Her blond hair was loose around her shoulders and flowing down her back. Her eyes were blue, like the Montana sky, and he realized her lashes were amazingly long. When he saw her Saturday, she’d cried off most of her makeup.

“Thank you, but that’s not an answer.”

“I don’t want to back out. Do you?” How many times were they going through this same question? One good thing. After they married it would be a done deal so they could quit having the same damn conversation.

“No.”

He took her face in his hands, leaned down and kissed her. Her mouth opened, in surprise, he figured. But then she kissed him back. Her tongue tangled with his. She tasted sweet, with a hint of spice. He made himself stop before they became too involved.

“Let’s go get married.”

*

It wasn’t thewedding of her dreams, even if the groom was the man of her dreams. She was likely crazy to marry Liam. What if he fell in love with another woman? What would happen then? Would he leave her? Would he stay, wishing he hadn’t? He sure as hell wasn’t in love with her. But maybe he could be sometime down the line.

Shortly before the ceremony was about to begin Val started feeling nauseated. Realizing she had no clue where the restroom was she started to panic.Great. I’m not only going to barf at my wedding, I’m gonna do it in the middle of the sanctuary.She sent Letty a frantic look. Her friend grabbed her arm and quickly led her out of the sanctuary and to the restroom. Which was nearby, luckily.

“Thanks,” she told Letty after she finished and washed out her mouth.

“You’re welcome. I was afraid that might happen, so I scoped it out ahead of time. And I brought crackers.” Letty gave her a penetrating look as she handed her the crackers. “What’s wrong?”

Val ate a cracker and leaned back against the sink. “I’m afraid I’m making a huge mistake.”

“Then don’t do it.”

Pragmatic. But… “I want to.”

“Because you’re afraid of what your dad will do?”

“Partly. But mostly because I want Liam. Is it just dumb of me to think it might work out?”

“Not dumb. But I’d be careful about getting my hopes up. At least at first.”

---