A Valentine for the Cowboy by Rebecca Winters

Author:Rebecca Winters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2017-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Taffy was waiting when Brianna entered the house and removed her parka. Then her uncle came walking toward her. She didn’t have to guess what he was thinking. Her disheveled hair, her flushed cheeks and swollen lips told him everything.

“I saw headlights in the driveway. I’ll bring in your equipment. Why don’t you go rest by the fire?”

Yup. He’d been waiting up for her. She sensed a talk coming on. Because she loved him so much, she didn’t resent him behaving like a father, even if she was twenty-three.

While she waited for him, she took off her boots and stood in front of the hearth. The only parts of her body not burning up were her feet.

“Were you able to get in some skiing before the storm hit?”

She turned toward him. “Yes. We did four runs. Eli is such a good skier, I can’t believe he wasn’t an alpine champion.”

“He was an even greater bull rider.”

She nodded. “I’m sure of that, but he insists Toly is the true champion of the family. After we left the ski resort, we went to Rudy’s for dinner and line dancing. I don’t think there’s anything the guy can’t do. I had the time of my life.”

Her uncle scrutinized her. “Your eyes are shining with a light I’ve never seen before. I dare say my niece is in love.”

She took a steadying breath. “I know I am.”

“Brianna—”

“Yes?”

He was unusually hesitant. “Nothing.”

“Come on, Uncle Clark. You didn’t wait up this late for nothing.”

“I don’t have the right.”

“Yes, you do. What are you trying to tell me?”

“That your aunt and I love you and want you to be happy.”

“I know you’re concerned. You told me Eli was the complicated one of the Clayton boys. What did you mean by that?”

He shifted his weight. “It’s something his father once said to me.”

Brianna swallowed hard. “What was that?”

“Everything always came easily to Eli. For that reason his dad worried there’d come a time when he had to face something all his talents couldn’t fix.”

She folded her arms in front of her waist. “When did he tell you this? After Eli’s marriage to Tessa?”

“No, before. He came into the store one day to buy some boots and mentioned that Eli was getting married.”

“Wasn’t he happy about it?”

“Not exactly. He felt uneasy because Eli and his fiancée hadn’t known each other long and he thought they were rushing into it.”

“You don’t think that he was just a loving father who was worried about losing his son?”

“No. He had a real concern.”

“In other words he felt Eli wasn’t ready but didn’t give you the exact reason why.”

“I suppose that’s it.”

She thought of how wonderful Eli was with his daughter. “Who is truly ready when it comes to marriage?”

He took a deep breath. “I’m sure I don’t know.”

“It seems to me Eli did everything to try to make his marriage work and has proven himself to be a great dad. If his father were alive, I should think he’d be proud of him.

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