Page 7 of Her Cowboy's Valentine

“It’s not exactly last minute,” Johnnie pointed out. “It’s the very beginning of February.”

“I know, but…”

“There are other options. So many options,” Johnnie said, “but I’ll leave you to figuring out Valentine’s Day by yourself because this goes deeper.”

Liam nodded. “Any tips for making time for each other… especially with us both being so tired. It’s not like we can stay up later to solve that issue, and we already get up so early in the morning to that getting up even earlier to have time before the kids get up… That’s not happening during the school year at least. Maybe in the summertime, but then the kids basically live at the ranch with me, so…”

“It’s the little moments,” Johnnie said. “You can make connections all throughout the day. Texts, calls… Making dinner together, doing dishes together… Stolen little pockets of time. If that’s all you can manage, then make the most of it.”

“We do that,” Liam protested. “It just doesn’t feel like it’s enough.”

“It might not feel like it, but so long as you do what you can, it’s enough.”

“But it doesn’t feel that way,” Liam said, growing frustrated.

“Then see what you can take off your plate.”

“There’s nothing I can do. We own the place, and?—”

“I would never suggest that you sell it, but what about an assistant? Someone you trust who can handle enough responsibility that you can cut back on your hours some?”

“That could maybe work,” Liam said slowly.

“Then you could help more with the kids to take time off of Rebecca’s plate. Spread the wealth of time around, and it’ll give you more time to connect. Maybe you both won’t feel as tired so you can stay up a little later or get up a little earlier and enjoy your morning coffees just the two of you before the craziness of the day starts.”

“That won’t be a quick and easy fix, though,” Liam realized. “In fact, it would increase my workload because I would have to create a job listing and interview candidates and then train him or her…”

“But you two are married for life. This isn’t a small problem. Even if it takes time, don’t you think it would be worth it in the end?”

Liam nodded, but his mind was already racing. “There is one thing I wanted to run by you, something I think all of our families will enjoy. It’s spur of the moment, but we can pull it off.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

Liam grinned. “A calf-roping competition.”

“That city girl of yours does love rodeo competitions, doesn’t she? Sounds like fun! And if it’s not for the entire community, I don’t see why we can’t hold it before the holiday. What all do you have in mind?”

The two cowboys continued to plot and plan, and Liam felt a little better.

But only a little.

CHAPTER 5

One thing Rebecca could do was bake.

She hadn’t had much time in years, though, to make pies outside of for Thanksgiving, but Liam always loved her pies. It didn’t matter what kind she made—pumpkin, apple, coconut cream, strawberry…

They always said that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, but while she already had Liam’s love, wouldn’t it be something special if she could incorporate pies for Valentine’s Day?

Hmm. Which pie to make, though?

Rebecca was working at the ranch the next day when the idea came to her. Normally, she and Liam would try to time their schedules so they could eat together, but she just called him and let him know that she had to run an errand and that he could eat when he had the time.

He seemed a bit preoccupied, which she tried to push aside. Naturally he was busy. The bulk of the ranch ownership fell on him. If she had more hours in a day…

But she didn’t. All she could do was try her best, even though she felt like she was failing on so many fronts.

Soon, Rebecca pulled her jacket tighter against the slightly chilly February wind as she stepped into the grocery store. She plastered a smile on her face that quickly turned real as a spark of determination lit her heart. She didn’t have much time before she would have to return to the ranch to get back to work, and she did need to eat at least a little something too.

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