Her Cowboy’s Valentine (Valentine’s Sweethearts)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Rebecca Whitley couldn’t recall a day when she wasn’t more tired, but she wasn’t one to complain. She had married the love of her life in Liam Whitley. Together, they owned Shooting Star Canyon Ranch, and Rebecca juggled so many hats. Between raising their three young children, working part-time as a nurse, and working the rest of the time helping with horseback riding lessons or in whatever capacity was needed at the ranch, she was bone-weary exhausted.

That day was no exception.

Years ago, Rebecca had handed over the reins of the horseback riding job to Valerie Hays, but she had discovered after spending so many years at the ranch, she missed it, and Val needed the help as more and more people in the canyon—kids and adults alike—signed up for lessons.

Her years spent growing up in New York seemed so long ago. She had played at being a city girl, but her country roots had been shining through for so long that she could hardly remember what it was like to live in a massive city.

She sighed and rubbed a hand down her face. After the last lesson, she had driven to her mother-in-law’s house to pick up the kids. Throughout the ride, Mary, the oldest at eight, had bickered with Jacon, three years her junior. At least the youngest, Aaron who had just turned three, had slept, but that meant bedtime was going to be fun.

Not.

The normal sibling bickering had distracted Rebecca, and she hadn’t been able to figure out what to make for dinner.

Liam was still at the ranch, pouring his heart into it like he always did. There were times when Rebecca felt a pang there. She had worked with so many great cowboys, and now, most of them had moved on or only worked part-time like she did, so she didn’t cross paths with them daily anymore. Such good people. At least she saw them all the time around the canyon, whether at the grocery store or at Grace Community Church or at the elementary school.

“We played outside,” Mary said, stomping her boots on the welcome mat. “Jacob! You have to go like this! No, harder! If you don’t, you’ll get?—”

“Mom! Mary’s acting like my mom again!”

“No! I’m telling you what you need to do. Mom agrees, don’t you, Mom?” Mary asked sweetly.

Rebecca smiled wanly. “How about we take all of your shoes and boots off? Mimi let you guys jump in puddles, huh?”

Mud was caked on their shoes, and their socks were dirty, too, and up their legs…

“You all need baths before dinner,” Rebecca declared as she bent down to take off Aaron’s sneakers before he could run off. He had woken up the moment she removed him from his car seat, and he looked far too energetic so she doubted the bath would help to settle him.

After their baths, Rebecca was yawning. She had changed the kids into pajamas, and she wished she was in hers too.

“What’s for dinner?” Jacob asked.

“I hungry!” Aaron declared.

“Mom, I don’t understand my math homework,” Mary said.

Rebecca preheated the oven and came over to Mary. “Multiplication, huh? All that two times two means is that you have two sets of twos. So if you take…”

Aaron patted Rebecca’s thigh. “I hungry!”

“What’s for dinner?” Jacob repeated.

“Pizza,” she said. “Did you finish your homework?”

“I only had one worksheet,” he said. “Kindergarten is better than third grade.”

“That’s not true!” Mary said hotly.

“Both grades are good,” Rebecca said. “Why don’t you boys go play in your room?”

“I don’t want to,” Jacob whined.

“Well, you can play in your room, or you can clean it.”

“We’ll play!”

“Play!”

The two boys scampered off.

The front door opened a few minutes later, so of course the boys left their rooms, and the moments of peace helping Mary with math were over.

“My two golden-haired princesses,” Liam said, dropping a kiss on Mary’s head and then Rebecca’s cheek. He sniffed. “Smells good.”

“Just pizza tonight,” Rebecca said sheepishly. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I could’ve bought something home if you wanted.”

“It’s all right.” She patted his bearded face.

“Mom! Is four times two seven?”

“Four times two is the same as four plus four. What’s four plus four?”

“Oh, eight.”

Liam rubbed his hands together. “I’m going to shower. How about a movie tonight?”

“A movie!” Mary brushed back her blond hair from her face, her blue eyes sparkling.

“You really are your mom’s mini me,” Liam said, “although your hair has started to get a little darker over the years, Rebecca.”

She tugged on the ends. She had noticed that, too, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it.

“Always beautiful.” He kissed her temple and headed toward their bathroom. “And I meant the movie for your mom and me,” he called over his shoulder. “It’s a school night.”

“But, Dad,” Mary whined.

“Dad!”

“Dad!”

The boys clamored over their father, and Rebcca laughed to herself.

Soon enough, they were all gathered around the table. Liam led them in prayer, and they all dug in. Rebcca felt at peace with her family, but by the time the kids were all settled in their beds, her eyelids were already drooping.

Still, she curled up beside Liam on the couch as he turned on the TV.

“Do you have a—” A yawn cut her off.

“Are you too tired tonight?” Liam asked gently.

“I can try to stay awake.”

“Try to? No, honey. Just go to bed.”

She squeezed him, her head resting on his chest. “You could put on a movie you don’t think I’ll like, and if I fall asleep on you?—”

“The last time we did that, you woke up unable to move your neck because it had been pinched. It’s fine, Rebecca.”

“But it’s so early,” she protested.

“You’ll feel better in the morning if you go to bed now and rest up.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m sure I can keep busy. I won’t be up too much longer.”

“But a movie… You aren’t planning on going to the ranch tomorrow at the crack of dawn.”

He chuckled. “No, but it’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Rebecca sighed, relented, and kissed him before heading to bed. She hated that she was too exhausted to watch a movie with Liam. Their bond has always been as steady as the land they called home, but lately, life’s demands had left little room for the romance they once shared.

And the fact that the other side of the bed was cold and empty only served to highlight that fact.