Page 29 of The Christmas Cowboy

“We’re back. Where’s Mom?”

“How did the Fletchers take the news?”

“Too soon to tell,” Val said.

“Guess that’s no surprise. Mom’s in the tack room.”

“We don’t need your help,” Liam said as Connor got ready to follow them.

“If you think I’m gonna miss this you’re crazy.” He grinned.

Liam sighed and shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He squeezed the hand he still held and said, “Come on, Val.” He gave her a reassuring smile.

Mrs. McFarland was now her mother-in-law. She’d always been nice to Val. But Val hadn’t been married to her son then. What would she think? Especially the fact that they’d gotten married so quickly, with hardly anyone knowing, and no parents attending.

*

Liam flung openthe door to the tack room. Maureen was cleaning a saddle and when she looked up a smile lit her eyes when she saw Liam. “Liam! When did you get back?” She glanced at the two of them, noticed their linked hands, and she raised her eyebrows. “Why, Val, it’s good to see you.”

“You too, Mrs. McFarland.”

“Mom, we have something to tell you.”

“Apparently you do. And I seem to be the only one here who doesn’t know, judging from the laughter Connor is doing a poor job of trying to stifle.”

He’d deal with Connor later. “Val and I got married over the weekend.”

“You—” She looked at him blankly.

“Got married. Yes.” He was fucking this up badly, but he couldn’t seem to help it.

“I…see. This seems rather sudden.”

“Not really. We’ve had feelings for each other for a long time.” God knows that was true. On his part anyway. “Logan’s wedding made both of us realize it.”

Maureen looked at Val. Liam could tell by the way she squeezed his hand how uncomfortable she was. “Was there a reason you didn’t tell me? After all, Connor knew.”

She gave Connor a look that should have warned him he was up shit creek with her. Connor, in turn, mouthed the words:You owe me big-timeto him.

Val told her the same thing she’d told her own parents. Finishing, she said, “So rather than have a big fall-out with my mom and take forever to plan a wedding, we decided we’d just get married.”

“You didn’t invite anyone from either family to the wedding?”

“Connor stood up for me,” Liam said. “Riley was there and Val’s best friend, Letty. That’s all.”

Maureen shot him a look that said she was far from finished with him. She held out her arms and said, “Welcome to the family, Val.”

Val hugged her. “Please don’t be upset with Liam about keeping it secret. He only did what I asked him to.”

Oh, no way. He wasn’t letting her shoulder all the blame. “It was a mutual decision.”

“Are you bringing any horses with you?” Maureen asked Val.

“Just my mare, Starlight.”

“And Murphy, I imagine.” Maureen knew all about Murphy’s story.

“Yes. Liam said it was okay.”

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