Page 77 of The Christmas Cowboy

“It seems silly to breed her to another horse when Blackjack is right here. I think they’d make beautiful babies.”

“I agree. I was hoping you’d say that.” Liam took her in his arms. “How did it go with your dad?”

“He apologized to me. I was so shocked I almost passed out.”

“I’m glad. I figured he would, but I wasn’t sure when. I’m glad it happened sooner rather than later.”

“It’s later enough for me. I’m sure it helps that you and I are married. And I told him about Trent. He told me we should ignore the gossip.” She looked up at him with her arms around his neck. “Everything is working out. I’m still nervous that something will go wrong.”

“You get your twelve-week ultrasound tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. We might be able to see the sex of the baby. Do you want to or should it be a surprise?”

“I’ll be good with whatever you want to do.”

“I want to know. Do you have a preference?” she asked him.

“Yeah. I just want a healthy baby and for everything to go well with the baby’s birth.”

“Good answer.” She sighed.

“What? Is something wrong?”

“No, everything is perfect. I love you, Liam.”

“I love you too.” And then he kissed her.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Six months later

Liam had seena lot of animals in labor and helped quite a few through the birthing process. Horses, dogs, cats, even a pregnant Barbary sheep that Riley had found wandering on his ranch. But none of that compared to what he felt watching Val go through labor. There was nothing he could do but be encouraging and remind her to breathe. Until she threatened to slug the next person who told her to breathe. The doctor and the nurses took it in stride. Apparently that sort of thing was common with women in labor.

“I’m never having sex again!” she panted during a break between pains.

He hoped like hell she was exaggerating and a glance at the doctor showed her smiling, so maybe she’d forget about that once she actually had the baby. In the meantime, he’d lost all feeling in his hand that she’d been holding and squeezing.

“How are you doing, Val?” Dr. Young asked.

She had another pain just then so she didn’t reply.Probably a good thing.

“Let’s check and see what’s going on.” The doctor began doing something to her that he couldn’t see. Thank goodness.

“Good news. The baby is engaged and you’re fully dilated.”

“What does that mean?” Liam asked.

“It means I get to push.”

“All right, Val, the next pain I want you to push.”

Of course, it wasn’t that easy. There were several excruciating pushes and a lot of screaming before the doctor said, “I can see her head. Now push, really hard.”

Val strained again with a long, drawn-out sound of pain and stress.

“Okay, the head is out. One more big push for the shoulders.”

Val bore down again. “That’s it,” Dr. Young said. “It’s a girl!”

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