Page 6 of The Christmas Cowboy

Val suspected Letty knew how she felt about Liam, even though she’d never come right out and said it. But telling Letty she and Liam were getting married was bound to surprise her. Especially since Letty didn’t know she was pregnant.

She called Letty early the following morning, after she did her ranch chores. Val’s brother Riley ran the ranch now that their father’s health had caused him to semi-retire. Her brother had a lot of hired help, but Val had always been involved in breeding and caring for the horses. They raised paints.

Last night it had dawned on her that she was leaving Riley in the lurch by marrying Liam. She needed to talk with him about what she could do until he found more help.

“Are you going to be home for a while?” she asked Letty. “Could I come see you?”

“Sure. I’m off today. Is something wrong? You sound funny.”

Of course she sounded funny. She was going to marry the man she’d loved forever. A man who didn’t love her. Oh, she hoped this wouldn’t be a disaster. “I’ll tell you when I see you.”

Letty was a tiny woman with short, dark brown hair cut in a pixie style. She had big blue eyes, sharp with intelligence, and an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the contents of the library. Val sometimes wondered just how many of the library’s books Letty had read.

Letty opened the door at her knock. “Hi, Val. Come on in.”

Letty’s apartment was a tiny one-bedroom apartment. It was cozy and welcoming, decorated a bit haphazardly but it was very much Letty’s. Val walked in and took a seat on the couch. She usually didn’t have a problem talking to Letty about almost anything, but she wasn’t sure what Letty would say about her plan to marry Liam. Letty was forthright and, while she was supportive, she also didn’t mind telling it like she saw it. And something told Val that Letty would see this as a giant mistake.

“Want something to drink?” Letty asked.

“No, I’m good.”

She settled on Letty’s sofa, trying to get comfortable. Which was difficult given the subject matter she was here to discuss. “Remember the guy I met a few weeks ago at Grey’s?”

“You mean the one you disappeared with? Trent something or other.”

“That’s him. We hooked up.”

“Okay. Not a surprise. He was damn good-looking.”

“On the outside.”

“But not inside,” Letty guessed.

“You got that right.” She sighed. “The condom broke. I’m pregnant.”

“Oh, damn. From one time?”

“Yup.”

“Did you tell him?”

“Yes. He blew me off. Told me to have an abortion. Said he wasn’t sure the kid was even his.” Or that she’d really been pregnant.

“Turd.”

Val shrugged. “It doesn’t break my heart. I don’t have to deal with him now.”

“You’re sure? Have you been to the doctor?”

“Yes. I’m sure and I also got tested for any nasty diseases he might have given me. Thank God I’m clean.”

“That’s good, at least. But your dad is going to freak.” Letty knew that as well as Val did. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to marry Liam.”

Letty stared at her with her mouth open. “Liam McFarland.”

“Of course. What other Liam do I know?”

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