Christmas Cowboy: Friendly Valley Romance, #3

By Braylee B. Parkinson

Laney McGee, dead set against celebrating Christmas, travels to her aunt and uncle's ranch on the edge of Friendly Valley for a peaceful—and isolated—holiday season. Eager to avoid the festive and cheerful time of year, Laney plans to hide out in the small town, but her plans are ruined by Riley Crist, a handsome cowboy who loves Christmas and everything that comes with it. Initially, Laney tries to keep her distance, but Riley is intent on sharing his infectious enthusiasm for the season. As Laney slowly falls under Riley's spell, she discovers that the best place to spend Christmas is in the arms of the one you love. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Braylee B Parkinson
• Release date: Feb 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215593233

Book preview

1

Laney McGee collected her luggage from the side of the train, dragging the heavy suitcase over to the small, snow-covered waiting area. The soft flakes crunched under her shoes, causing her to slip several times on her way to the dilapidated shelter. Visibility was low, and it didn’t help that the snow was creating a messy fog on her glasses.

Should have kept my contacts in. Actually, I should have stayed home all together.

The train station was nothing more than a small shack, and although it was ten in the morning, the place was locked up. Laney hadn’t put much thought into the trip. Her main goal was to get away from all the memories she’d shared with her ex-husband. But this was a little extreme.

Her mother’s words echoed in her head as she mulled over the decision she had made. A trip to Betty and Sam’s? In the winter? Laney, that is insane! They live in the mountains and my sister doesn’t believe in vacations. She’s going to have you cleaning tables, fixing tractors, and milking cows. I know you’re feeling down about Christmas, but you should stick around.

I’ll be too busy to think about anything. Sounds perfect, Laney answered. But now that she was standing on the side of a rundown train station, she was less sure of her choice.

Only six other people had exited the train at the Friendly Valley stop. Three had moved quickly to cars that were waiting in the parking lot, but Laney and two others were shivering on the platform, waiting for transportation. Was this a mistake? Laney shook her head in frustration and pulled out her cellphone.

Great. Only twenty-five percent power left. She quickly tapped out a text to her aunt. "Hey, Aunt Betty! I’m at the train station. It’s closed, so I’ll be on the platform when you get here."

Please hurry, Laney muttered to herself. She had dug through her luggage for her gloves before exiting off the train, but had no luck. She quickly put her phone and hands back in her jacket pockets, her fingers turning numb by the second. A strong wind blew across the platform, kicking snow up into Laney’s face. Her mother’s voice echoed in her head once more.

There is a reason we only visit your Aunt Betty and Uncle Sam in the summer.

I know it’s cold and everything is shut down during this time of year. That’s what I’m looking for. You two are practically Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the house is some type of little Christmas wonderland. I don’t want that this year. Not after everything that’s happened.

Okay, sweetheart. We’re going to have such a good time with your sister and her family. Do you really think you’ll find some happiness on that cold, lonely mountain? her father asked.

I was born and raised there. You’re going to be so bored and cold. And this train thing…Laney, this isn’t 1860. Why not just fly?

Mom, did you forget that I’ve been laid off for the past few weeks? There were deals on train tickets and besides, this is a perfectly fine way to travel. It’ll get me in the mood for the rugged vacay I have planned.

You think the train ride is going to be old-fashioned? Wait until you see the other passengers. I bet you’ll wish you’d booked a flight.

Laney had brushed off her father’s warning, but after the train ride, she realized her father had been right. The trip was horrible. Just plain horrible! Not only was there a seven-hour delay because of a track malfunction, but the electricity had also gone out for an extended amount of time. The train sat frigid and still amid the Nebraska prairie, stretching the trip beyond the original forty-two-hour trek. At that point, Laney accepted her fate, pulled her hair into a bun, dug out her old copy of The Wizard of Oz, and buried herself in her book for the next several hours.

In a way, the journey had done the trick. The goal of the trip was to pretend that Christmas was only a few days away, and that it would not be the one-year anniversary of her husband, Dalton, asking for a divorce. But now that she was shivering on the platform of a closed train station, Laney was questioning her judgment. Hopefully, things would improve once she got to her uncle and aunt’s place. Sam and Betty Thornton, her mother’s oldest sister, would allow Laney to do as she pleased without interjection.

Sam and Betty lived on the outskirts of town and kept to themselves, and since Laney had vowed she’d never celebrate Christmas again, it seemed like a great choice to distract herself from the tragic turn her life had taken in recent years. Her uncle and aunt didn’t decorate, and they weren’t religious, so they didn’t put up a tree or lights, or really even acknowledge the day at all. Instead, they tended their cattle and maintained the ranch. Special occasions weren’t really on their agenda. Things like holidays and birthdays meant nothing to them. In fact, none of their children bothered visiting during the holidays because they knew the days meant nothing to their parents, which was why she booked a ticket straight for Friendly Valley.

We just live our lives. Don’t need all that socializing and smiling. Just leads to a mess, Aunt Betty had told Laney once.

Laney breathed a sigh of relief as she stood on the snowy platform, remembering her aunt’s words. Then, her mind travelled back to the words Dalton had said one year prior.

It’s just not working out, he mentioned casually over a piece of pumpkin pie. He’d waited for the big dinner with his family to be over, and the dishes to be loaded into the dishwasher before he told Laney he wanted a divorce. It hadn’t been a complete surprise, but they’d been together since high school, and they’d known each other since they were in kindergarten. It was hard to comprehend. Divorce? End the marriage and leave each other’s lives? Laney had sat at the dining room table for hours after she got the news, but Dalton went up to their bedroom, packed a bag, and headed to his brother’s house for the night. It was like he’d been planning it for a while.

A man whistling, Walking in a Winter Wonderland, and sauntering through the snow interrupted Laney’s dire trip down memory lane. He was tall with a wide jaw, Roman nose, and deep blue eyes peeking out from underneath a cowboy hat.

Annoying! But cute, Laney thought. She stared at the parking lot, tapping her foot. Where is Aunt Betty? Laney hoped she would be there soon. She was losing feeling in her toes and regretted her decision to not wear the boots that had been gathering dust in her closet for years. She had packed them away in her suitcase, confident they’d finally be put to use, but didn’t want to spend the entire train ride in them.

Hey now! I’m looking for a City Slicker, the man said to a woman at the end of the train platform.

A City Slicker? What type of hick is he?

Laney pulled out her phone and checked the screen. The text message was still trying to send. Did she even have service here? She tapped out another text.

Hi, Aunt Betty. Can’t wait to see you! When should I expect you?

Laney needed her aunt to show up soon. She longed for a warm blanket and a piping hot bowl of some type of comfort food. Chicken noodle soup, beef stroganoff—anything to soothe her weary soul.

Why did I do this to myself?

She was shivering, but too drained to pull out a coat. It would require her to dig around in her suitcase, and her arms were tired and stiff.

The man whistling Walking in the Winter Wonderland headed her way.

Laney tried to ignore him and kept watching the parking lot for her aunt.

City Slicker, the man called out again, his hands cupped around his mouth.

There are only a few people on the frickin’ tiny platform! Why not just ask people if they are whomever he’s looking for? Laney turned and faced the man. Her arms folded and her brow creased.

The