Page 4 of Her Cowboy's Valentine

Sometimes Aaron went through phases about who he wanted to tuck him in.

“Come in in a few minutes,” Rebecca murmured to Liam. “Come here, Mary, Jacob.”

She kissed them, and Liam tucked in Jacob first.

“Why can’t I stay up later?” Jacob asked through a yawn.

“You can when you’re older.”

“But I want to be older now!”

“Trust me. One day, you’ll miss taking naps.”

“Never!”

Liam laughed and kissed his son before heading to his daughter’s room.

“Why do I have to go to bed with my brothers?” she grumbled.

“Someone was a little cranky this morning so some extra sleep tonight might help.”

“I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I’ll get up on the right side tomorrow if I can stay up for a half hour! Just thirty minutes!”

“Maybe you can have that half hour on Friday night,” he said. “Maybe. If you do your chores and get along with your brothers.”

“It’s so hard, though. They don’t get along with me!”

Liam managed to refrain from laughing until after he kissed her and shut her door behind him.

He grinned and went to Aaron’s room. “You don’t mind giving your dad another…” He trailed off as he realized Aaron was already asleep and so was Rebecca, curled up with their youngest on the toddler car bed. It was such a heartwarming sight, and he took out his cell to snap a picture.

Quietly, he shut the door and then sighed. He was so very thankful for the life God had provided for him, but he missed spending time with his wife.

He missed Rebecca.

He never thought they would stop having time for each other. What had happened? All of the late nights with crying babies were over. Aaron was three and a half and not really a toddler anymore. Shouldn’t he and Rebecca have more time, not less?

There had to be some way to reignite the spark that never should’ve gone out in the first place…

CHAPTER 3

Rebecca stirred and sleepily blinked her eyes. It was early in the morning, and she glanced at her watch. Her alarm was going to go off in five minutes. Quickly, she turned off, and only then did she realize she was crammed in Aaron’s bed.

Liam.

Their second chance at the movie.

She hadn’t thought she was tired enough that she would fall asleep in Aaron’s bed. She hadn’t done that in ages.

Clearly, she had needed the sleep. Maybe she was pushing herself too hard, or maybe she should have some bloodwork done. It was possible a vitamin deficiency was to blame for her fatigue.

Careful not to disturb her sleeping son just yet, she sat up gingerly. She felt so very guilty. God always came first, and then… should it be spouse and then children? Or children and then spouse? There had to be a way to better balance the two.

February first. Not even two weeks until Valentine’s Day. Hopefully, God willing, it would be possible for her and Liam to find their way back to each other by them.

If not sooner.

Aaron stirred. “Mom?”

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