A Valentine for the Cowboy

by Rebecca Winters

  Eli didn’t like hearing that. “You’ve never minced words, Mom. Don’t do it now.”

  “After Tessa put Libby down yesterday, she asked me to come over to the house for a talk. I thought it had something to do with your daughter, but nothing could be further from the truth.”

  He waited.

  “Tessa told me she wishes she was still married to you. She says she knows she made a mistake in divorcing you and insists her feelings for you have come back even stronger than before.”

  Eli shook his head. “No. That’s her fear talking because she’s still afraid to be alone with Libby. This insecurity will pass with time.”

  “Wait before you say anything else, honey. She asked me to intervene for her.”

  Anger built inside of him. “In what way?”

  “She begged me to talk to you about breaking it off with Brianna.”

  He bristled.

  “You told her yourself you’ve only known Brianna a month. Tessa doesn’t believe your feelings for Brianna could be anything like your feelings for her when the two of you got married. She wants the chance for the three of you to be a real family again. Being with you these last three weeks has been a revelation to her and—”

  “Mom?” he broke in on her. “Do you hear yourself?”

  “I’m only repeating what she said to me. She wishes she hadn’t gotten sick, but she swears she’s all better now and she wants her life back. She wants her daughter and her husband.”

  Eli flew out of the chair. “I’m not that man anymore.”

  “Just finish hearing me out, son.”

  “There’s nothing more to hear.”

  “Except this... Remember when she told you she didn’t want to be married anymore and how much that hurt you? Well, think about it—a year later she’s come out of her deep depression and now that she’s in her right state of mind, she knows what it is she truly wants. And now it’s you who’s saying you don’t want it. All I’m asking is that you think about this long and hard. I just want you to be sure you won’t change your mind down the road and wish you’d kept your family together.”

  “I’m desperately in love with Brianna.”

  His mother cocked her head. “Isn’t it interesting that Brianna was the one who urged you to try again with Tessa?”

  “Which I did. Nothing’s there, believe me.”

  “I hear you. All I’m doing is conveying the message that Tessa wanted me to give you.”

  “It’s too late.”

  “Eli—”

  “She shouldn’t have asked you to interfere. It’s not fair for her to fall back on your love for her to try to fix a problem that can’t be fixed. I’ve been doing my best to help her bond with Libby, but that’s as far as things go between us.” He gave his mother a kiss and left the bedroom.

  Instead of rejoining his brothers, he found his parka and left through the back door. The short walk to his house helped him get his emotions under some semblance of control.

  Tessa was cleaning up the kitchen when he walked in. She darted a glance at him. “Libby had her lunch and I put her down for a nap.”

  “Good. That gives us the time to talk.”

  She acted nervous. “I...take it your mother said something to you.”

  “Yup.” Eli removed his parka. “Let’s go in the living room.”

  He perched on the arm of the couch while she started picking up toys off the floor and putting them into a basket. She finally met his gaze. “I can tell you’re upset and I don’t blame you, but I was afraid to approach you.”

  “None of that matters, Tessa. Our marriage is over and has been for a long time. Last night I flew to California and gave Brianna an engagement ring.”

  “That’s where you went?”

  He nodded, registering her shock. “We’re planning to be married soon. She left three weeks ago in order to give you and Libby a better chance to bond, but she’s coming back tomorrow. Once she and I have returned from our honeymoon, we’ll work out visitation.”

  “But you and I were a family once.” He heard tears in her voice.

  Eli got to his feet. “A year ago we were in a totally different place. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that you want to be a mother to Libby. But you and I have changed. One day you’ll meet a great guy who will make you happy and whole again. Someone who will learn to love Libby as much as you do.”

  She got up from the floor. “So Brianna’s the love of your life.”

  He eyed her frankly. “Yes.”

  “And you’re ready to get married so soon after meeting her? Aren’t you afraid it might not last?”

  “No. What we feel for each other is deep and real. My only concern is that you and Libby continue to get comfortable so that she’ll be fine staying overnight with you, without me being there. That’s the goal, right?”

  Tessa’s cheeks grew flushed.

  “As long as Libby is still asleep, I have an errand to run. I’ll be back at dinner.” Without waiting for a response from Tessa, he walked into the kitchen to retrieve his parka before leaving the house.

  Once in the truck, he drove into town and pulled up in front of the saddlery to talk to Clark Frost. This was a visit he couldn’t put off.

  Brianna’s uncle had two customers. Eli checked out some of the saddles on display. The minute the last person left the store, he walked over to the older man, who smiled at him.

  “Eli! Haven’t seen you in a while.” They shook hands. “What brings you in here?”

  That question told him Brianna hadn’t told her uncle about their engagement yet. She probably planned to phone later that day after her aunt and uncle came home from work.

  “I got here as soon as I could to tell you something important. Last evening, I flew to California and celebrated part of Brianna’s birthday with her.”

  “You what?”

  “It was a very short trip because I had to be back for a business meeting at the ranch this morning. To get straight to the point, Brianna and I are now officially engaged. I know how much she loves you so I came right away to tell you. Besides my mother and ex-wife, you and her brother and his wife are the only other people to know yet.”

  “You got engaged...” Clark repeated it as if he was talking to himself. His reaction wasn’t reassuring.

  While the older man stood there, visibly stunned by the news, a couple came into the store. Eli would have to make this quick.

  “I adore your niece and I gave her a ring with a blue sapphire from the mine. We’re hoping to plan our wedding soon. But you’re busy now and I have to get back to Libby. We’ll talk again later after Brianna calls you with the news. Give my best to your wife.”

  Eli walked out of there, realizing he’d dropped a bombshell.

  Her family knew why Brianna had gone to Marysville. No doubt they had ideas that, after Eli spent time alone with his ex-wife and daughter, the three of them might end up a family again, leaving Brianna on her own.

  The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the people closest to him were probably thinking, maybe even hoping, that that would happen. He couldn’t blame them. A year ago, he would have given anything for Tessa to recover and come back home.

  But not anymore. His heart was with someone else.

  He got in his truck and headed to a drive-through to get a coffee. After finding a parking space around back, he phoned Brianna, needing to hear her voice.

  She picked up on the third ring. “Eli?”

  “Sweetheart?”

  “I’m so glad you called,” she said softly. “I’ll be coming in on the five-thirty evening flight.”

  “I’ll be there to pick you up. But first you need to know I just dropped by the saddlery to tell your uncle we’re engaged. I’d assumed he a
lready knew, but I was mistaken.”

  He heard a slight gasp. “I was waiting to tell them tonight when I phoned to let them know I’ll be home tomorrow.” Brianna knew her uncle wouldn’t be thrilled about the news.

  “I’m glad he knows,” Eli said.

  “You’re right that he had to be told. Oh, Eli, do you really think it will be okay for me to come home now?”

  “I know it will be,” he assured her. They’d followed the doctor’s advice for these past three weeks. But the game plan had changed because Eli hadn’t expected that Tessa would start to get ideas about rekindling their marriage.

  “Is Libby acting like a daughter around Tessa?”

  “To some degree.”

  “That’s good news.”

  “The good news is that you’re coming home. I can’t live without you any longer.”

  “Same here. As soon as we get off the phone I’ll call my aunt and uncle and let them know I’m coming.”

  “I love you,” Eli said in a husky voice. “We need to start working on those wedding plans.”

  “I’m way ahead of you.”

  His heart leaped. “Phone me later. I’m heading back to the ranch now. I’ll be listening for your call.”

  “You’re my whole world, Eli.”

  “Oh, Brianna.” He sighed. “You don’t know how good it feels to hear you say that.”

  Chapter Ten

  Later that afternoon, Brianna grabbed her suitcase off the carousel and hurried out the main doors of the Missoula airport into the freezing cold air.

  She spotted Eli’s truck right away and headed in its direction. The tall, gorgeous rancher saw her coming and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Her heart thudded out of control.

  “You’re home!” he cried, picking her up and swinging her around. In front of all the other cars, he kissed her long and hard.

  “I’ve been living for this,” she whispered against his cheek.

  “Come on.” He reached for her suitcase and walked her to the truck with his arm around her shoulders. “Someone’s waiting to see you.”

  “You brought Libby?”

  He opened the rear door and there sat his adorable daughter all bundled up in her car seat. The second she saw who it was she cried out, “Bree! Bree!”

  The joy in her voice warmed Brianna’s heart. She hadn’t forgotten her. “Darling girl. It’s so wonderful to see you!” She leaned in and kissed her on both cheeks.

  Libby wanted to get out and held up her arms for someone to pick her up, but Eli intervened. “You have to stay where you are until we take Brianna home.” He kissed her brown curls. After putting the suitcase on the other side of the seat, he closed the door and helped Brianna into the truck, kissing her again before starting the engine.

  He clasped her hand all the way to the Frosts’ house. Meanwhile, Libby had a meltdown in the backseat.

  “I’m right here, Libby. Oh, Eli. She’s so upset.”

  “She’ll get over it in a hurry as soon as we reach your aunt and uncle’s house. I want them to realize the three of us are going to be a family. Libby adores you, and I want them to see that.”

  Between Libby’s crying and Taffy’s barking, the reunion with the Frosts was noisy and chaotic until Brianna finally picked Libby up. Then her tears magically disappeared.

  Everyone gathered in the living room in front of the fire. Brianna removed Libby’s parka and sat down in the easy chair with her. The dog crept closer to sniff and lick both of them, causing Libby to giggle. Then the little girl caught sight of the sapphire ring and grabbed Brianna’s hand.

  “This is something new, huh, Libby? Your daddy gave it to me. That big blue heart came from your family’s sapphire mine.” Libby looked up at her. “It’s my ring. Can you say ring?”

  “Reen.”

  Brianna’s gaze collided with Eli’s. He said, “That’s the seventh word to come out of her mouth. She can say ring now. And notice how she’s pronouncing the n?”

  “That’s right! Good job, sweetie.” She kissed her again. “Ring. Do you want to hold it?” Brianna slipped it off her finger and let Eli’s daughter examine it. Libby kept trying to put it on her own fingers with no luck. Everyone laughed. “It’s too big. We’ll have to get you your own ring one of these days.”

  Her aunt Joanne walked over and hugged the two of them. “Congratulations on your engagement. You too, Eli.” He was sitting on the chair next to them and she hugged him, as well. “We couldn’t be happier with the news, right, Clark?”

  “Absolutely. By marrying Eli, we’re going to have our niece living close by for the rest of our lives. There could be no greater blessing. Welcome to the family, Eli.” Brianna was overjoyed that her uncle was taking the announcement so well.

  “Thank you. Libby and I have been waiting for this day from the first time the three of us met. It was love at first sight. I intend to love your niece for the rest of her days and make her as happy as she makes me.”

  “Have you two set a date?” her uncle asked.

  “Not yet, Uncle Clark.” She put the ring back on her finger. “We’ll have to look at a time that’s good for everyone on both sides of our families.”

  “We want it to be soon,” Eli added.

  Brianna let Libby get down off her lap so she could pet the dog. “I told Doug we’d probably get married at the church here in town and have a reception. He and Carol offered to hold an open house later in the year for our friends in Marysville, but nothing’s been decided for sure.” She looked at her uncle. “Will you give me away, Uncle Clark?”

  His eyes misted over. “It will be a great honor.”

  “Can I offer your daughter a cookie, Eli?” Aunt Joanne asked.

  His smile turned Brianna’s heart over. “She’d love it.”

  “Okay, let me just run to the kitchen. Be right back.”

  Her aunt returned quickly and knelt next to Libby, who was patting Taffy. Clearly the dog loved the attention. “Would you like a treat?” The sound of that word caused the dog to lift her head.

  Libby studied the sugar cookie before taking it from her. After biting into it, she broke off a piece to feed the dog. Then she took another bite and the whole process began again.

  Eli chuckled. “I’m afraid she thinks eating is a game. I take a bite and she takes a bite. We do it all the time.”

  “She’s precious,” Brianna’s aunt murmured.

  “Guess what, Aunt Joanne? Libby has spotted your pink sapphire ring and can’t take her eyes off it.”

  Her aunt put her right hand in front of Libby, who touched the stone. “Do you like my ring?”

  “Reen,” Libby said again.

  “It came from your family’s sapphire mine, too.” She smiled at Brianna. “We’re two lucky women.”

  “You can say that again.” Brianna was so happy that she felt as if she could burst.

  By now Libby was toddling around the living room inspecting everything. The dog followed close behind, causing them to chuckle. Eli’s little girl had won her family over to the fact that a wedding was going to take place. Eli’s decision to bring her to the house had been the perfect way to break the ice with her uncle.

  When Libby started removing magazines from the basket in which they were housed, Eli scooped her up in his arms. “I think my little cowgirl has had enough excitement for one day and needs to go home for dinner and bed.”

  Brianna’s heart fell. She didn’t want the evening to end, but she knew this was one time she had no choice. She was acutely aware of the fact that Tessa would be waiting at home for them. Reaching for Libby’s miniature parka, she helped Eli put it on his daughter.

  Eli said good-night to her aunt and uncle and then Brianna walked him to the foyer with Taffy at her side. He kissed her, but
it didn’t last nearly long enough. “I’ll phone you in the morning and we’ll make plans for tomorrow.”

  “It’s getting harder and harder to say good-night.” She half moaned the words.

  “I know. It’s close to impossible,” he ground out. “We need to pick a date tomorrow. I’m crazy in love with you.”

  “That’s how I feel, exactly.” She kissed him again and then Libby, but she didn’t say good-bye in the hope that his daughter wouldn’t cry because they had to leave.

  No such luck. The second he opened the door and walked outside into the cold, Libby protested and cried all the way to his truck.

  Brianna’s heart couldn’t take much more. Their wedding day couldn’t come soon enough.

  * * *

  ELI SANG ONE song after another to entertain his daughter on the drive home. When they arrived at the ranch, he carried her into the house and discovered that Tessa was still awake. She got up from the couch, where she’d been watching TV.

  “Hi. You’re back kind of late.”

  “Yeah, sorry. She’s ready for dinner. Then it’s bedtime right away.”

  Tessa reached for her, but Libby hid her face in Eli’s neck. It was the first time Libby hadn’t gone to her since Tessa had started staying the night. He carried his daughter into the kitchen and put her in her high chair. Tessa got out the jars of baby food and fed her without a problem.

  When Libby had finished eating, they walked through the house to the nursery.

  Together they got her changed and tucked her into the crib with the new stuffed bunny Tessa had given her. To his relief Libby hugged it. The action had to please her mother.

  Eli left the room first and went to the kitchen to make some coffee. “Would you like some?” he asked as Tessa walked in.

  “No, thank you, but I’d like to talk to you.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “I smelled perfume on Libby’s outfit. Just how close is our daughter to Brianna?”

  The question had been inevitable. He chose his words carefully. “In her own way Libby loves her, and vice versa.”

  “That explains why she wouldn’t hug me when you arrived back here.”