Table of Contents
Title Page
Praise for Mitzi Pool Bridges
Promise Them
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
A Note From The Author...
Other Books You Might Enjoy
Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
“Now you’re a mess.”
Nell didn’t have a dry stitch on her. His mouth went dry, his heart pounding an uneven rhythm when he took in her perfect-for-him figure. His gaze drifted from her figure to her face. She had a dab of mud on her cheek. He swiped at it with his thumb—and fought the urge to kiss her.
She laughed again. “You should see yourself.”
Beau looked down at his mud-encrusted body. “I think I’ll take a swim.” He splashed back into the pond, paddling out until he came to clear water.
“Better?” Nell called out.
“Much. You should try it.”
“Think I will.”
The next thing he knew she was next to him, laughing and splashing water at him.
He felt like a kid as he splashed water into her perfect face.
Throwing back his head, he roared with laughter. Now he knew why he’d bought the ranch. Despite the problems, despite his grief over his children, he was right where he wanted to be.
Nell kicked off and headed for the bank. He grabbed her foot and hauled her back. Here was the woman he wanted to be with.
When she was next to him again, he was unable to stop himself. He pulled her close and kissed her.
Heat, swift and unexpected, shot through him.
He wanted her. He deepened the kiss; let the want spread.
Nell gasped. Pushed away. Looked at him with fear in her eyes.
Turning, she swam away.
Praise for Mitzi Pool Bridges
“FIND MY BABY is a rip roaring good mystery, with a surprising twist at the end...I loved the plot and characters, loved the mystery and Mitzi Pool Bridges is now one of my new favorites.”
~Manic Readers
~*~
“FIND MY BABY is highly recommended for being unique, well written, and a story that is nearly impossible to put down.”
~Sizzling Hot Reviews
~*~
“FIND MY BABY is riveting romantic suspense at its best. With an emotional subject that will touch any heart, the pace only grows stronger as the book continues. I’m adding this author to my watch list!”
~Storm Goddess Book Reviews
~*~
“If you love a good solid romance with strong family ties set in rural Texas, PROMISE BROKEN will be one of the highlights of your year.”
~Night Owl Reviews
~*~
“PROMISE HER...is an extremely good book and I would recommend it to those romance readers who love a strong heroine and a hero that would do anything to protect her... I also recommend reading the other books prior to this one in this series to get to know the secondary characters.”
~The Romance Studio
Promise Them
by
Mitzi Pool Bridges
The Callahan Series, Book Six
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Promise Them
COPYRIGHT © 2015 by Mitzi Pool Bridges
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information: [email protected]
Cover Art by Kim Mendoza
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
PO Box 708
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708
Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com
Publishing History
First Last Rose of Summer Edition, 2015
Print ISBN 978-1-62830-780-1
Digital ISBN 978-1-62830-781-8
The Callahan Series, Book Six
Published in the United States of America
Dedication
For all romance readers of a certain age
No matter your stage in life
There can always be love
Chapter One
Candlelight danced across the beautiful woman sitting across from him. Though he had dimmed the overhead lights, the candles on the table put her face in shadows one minute, glowing the next. Emerald green eyes sparked with love and contentment; mostly because of her family, he expected.
Beau Chandler envied Nellie Callahan her contentment. Not for the first time, he admired how she’d managed to raise five children on her own and have them turn out so well. Each of them had excelled in his or her field. How did she do it and maintain such grace?
The dinner he had used as an excuse to get her here was going better than expected. Donovan’s wife Phyl was delightful, and Donovan was as comfortable and easy here as he was on his favorite horse. Their two children were well behaved and pleasant to be around.
Beau was a lucky man to have the Callahans as neighbors. Their ranches, though large, were adjoined. Having kind and caring neighbors was a blessing.
“Did you decorate? Or did you hire someone?” Phyl asked with a smile.
“I don’t have a decorating bone in my body,” Beau admitted over laughter. “The credit goes elsewhere.”
A pang of regret shot through him at the thought of how unlike the Callahans his children were.
His glance once more went to Nellie. If he’d had a woman like her by his side, would his children have turned out differently?
But it wasn’t to be. Their mother had chosen a bottle, then a fast and fatal car ride instead of her family. His children had been the ones to suffer. Not that their attitude was her fault, mostly they were his, but that’s when the downhill spiral started.
He let out a silent sigh of regret.
Donovan laid down his fork. “Delicious.”
“Do you have dessert?” Mark, Donovan’s son, asked.
Nellie, sitting beside her thirteen, going on fourteen-year-old grandson, frowned her disapproval. “That’s rude, Mark.”
Beau laughed. “No it isn’t. It’s just the right question. Lela!” he called out.
His long-time housekeeper, now in her early seventies, came into the dining room. Her back was bent, her hair gray. “Ready for dessert?” she asked, a grin on her wide, wrinkled face.
“What’s on the menu tonight?” Beau asked.
Lela smiled. “Something I made
up. Hope you like it.”
He introduced her around the table. “Couldn’t make it without Lela. She’s the heart of the family.”
Lela’s smile grew wider. When she started to remove plates and cutlery, Nell and Phyl stood to help.
“Sit,” Beau ordered. “You’re guests.” He got up to help Lela himself.
“Mr. Beau is right. I’ll have this out of here faster than that young man can lick a bowl of chocolate icing.”
“How did you know I liked to lick bowls?” Mark asked, his eyes wide.
“I can see it in your eyes. You’re a champion bowl licker.”
Mark laughed. “Uncle Dugan is the champ. I come in second.”
Laughter erupted around the table again. Beau watched with pleasure, felt their love for one another wrap around him like a warm embrace. This was what life should be like. Friends and family gathered together with nothing on their minds except enjoying the moment. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed such a moment with his children.
“You didn’t have to do this, Beau.” Donovan frowned. “But it was nice of you.”
“Didn’t have to—wanted to. You’ve been more help than my high-priced foreman. Couldn’t talk you into a job, could I?”
Donovan chuckled. “Have my hands full, but you know I’ll help any way I can.”
“Your sound advice has saved me a bundle. You should write a book on how-to-run-a-ranch for dummies.”
They laughed again. Even the smallest Callahan, Susie, clapped her hands; though Beau doubted at the age of five she knew what the heck they were talking about. What she did know was her family was happy, and that was enough for her.
“More wine?” he asked.
They shook their heads, but Beau poured a small amount into Nellie’s glass.
“I’ve had enough,” she said, but lifted her glass for another sip.
His heart did that same slow roll it had months ago on their first meeting.
Nellie Callahan might be the mother of five, grandmother of five, soon to be six, but with her smooth skin, bright eyes, and slim body, she could easily pass for a woman in her forties.
Lela brought in a tray laden with dessert plates piled high with a chocolate concoction that smelled heavenly. Beau jumped up to help. Lela should be taking it easy, but it was like talking to a wall. She’d outdone herself tonight, and he hoped she wasn’t tiring.
The first plate went to Mark, whose eyes glowed with anticipation.
“Wait until everyone is served,” Nellie whispered.
“Let the boy dig in.” Beau chuckled. “I haven’t seen anyone look at dessert quite the way he does.”
Phyl gave her son a stern look. “Mark has a sweet tooth.”
Mark spooned the first bite. “Gran, you have to make this. It’s awesome.”
Pleased, Beau took the last plate for himself.
“Thought you’d like it,” Lela said.
“What do you call this?” Nellie asked. “I really do have to make it for the family. I taste chocolate chips, pecans. It’s a warm brownie with ice cream and whipped cream. Dugan will love this, won’t he, Mark?”
Mark was spooning chocolate into his mouth as fast as possible but managed to nod at the question.
“I call it monster cookie surprise.”
“Wow!” Mark paused long enough to exclaim.
Nellie chuckled. “Could I have the recipe, or do you guard favorites with your life?”
“You have it figured out already.” Lela sailed out of the room with a grin.
“She’s a wonder,” Nellie said. “How long has she worked for you?”
“Since my wife died. Over twenty years now.” He paused. “It’s time for her to retire, but she won’t hear of it. I’m afraid she does too much.”
“You’re lucky to have her,” Phyl said. “I’m sure she enjoys the work.”
“Age hasn’t made her lose her cooking skills,” Donovan added.
The Chandlers were lucky to have her. Lela had raised his motherless children almost single-handedly. Maybe that was one of the reasons they were the way they were now. She let them get by with murder. Though he was their father, he hadn’t bothered to act like one. He’d been too busy with his career, then with politics. Once he won the senate seat, he hardly saw them. Before he knew it, they were grown.
When Rey graduated college, Beau realized the errors he’d made.
“Lela was God sent. I could never have made it without her.”
Roaring motors and screeching tires on the front drive broke up the quiet dinner party. All eyes turned to their host.
“Excuse me. I’m not expecting anyone. I’ll see who it is.”
****
Nellie and her family continued to eat their dessert in nervous silence as Beau went to the front door and opened it.
“How could you?” a female voice cried out.
At the table, they couldn’t help but hear every word when more than one person entered the living room. Though unable to see, they could definitely hear.
“He doesn’t care a hoot about us,” a male voice added. “Just look at this place. This is all he cares about.”
Nellie looked around the beautiful room. Beau Chandler had done wonders with the old Adams place. It looked nothing like its former self. Now it had an elegant look, but not so elegant you wouldn’t feel comfortable.
Tall ceilings lent themselves to the newly installed crown molding and hardwood floors. The furniture wasn’t new, but fit well in their surroundings. Now she wondered who was in the next room and why they were so unhappy.
“We’re homeless,” the female cried. “And look at you, living the life of a gentleman rancher while we go hungry.”
“Aren’t you exaggerating, Dani? You’ve had a roof over your head all your life as well as a substantial allowance. An expensive roof, I might add. You have a car bought and paid for, not by any effort on your part, but as a gift.” He paused. “Don’t you think it’s time the two of you grow up and begin to take care of yourselves?”
In the dining room, the Callahans stopped eating. Donovan rose from his chair. “I think this is a family crisis. We should leave.”
“Yes,” Nellie agreed and stood to do the same.
The voices in the living room grew louder.
“But I wanted seconds,” Mark whined.
Lela re-appeared, a box in hand. “Here you go. I wrapped up the rest for you to take home.”
Mark’s grin expressed his feelings exactly.
They hustled through the kitchen and to the back door.
“Don’t leave, Ms. Nellie. Mr. Chandler so wanted you here tonight.”
“We should, Lela. This sounds like a private family moment.”
The voices from the living room grew louder. Nellie stopped her headlong flight.
“You sold our home right out from under us,” the female said.
“Where do you think we’re supposed to go?” the male asked, his voice full of sarcasm. “Here?”
“Definitely not here,” Beau replied, his voice smooth and in control. “Unless you’re willing to work.”
“Then where?” the girl cried.
“That’s up to the two of you. You’re a college graduate, Rey. Do something with your degree. Dani, you didn’t think you needed college, so I guess you’ll have to find something that makes you happy.”
“You mean work?” Dani asked, her voice rising. “I’m not trained for anything.”
Nellie could almost see Beau’s shrug. She should definitely leave.
Donovan waved for her to get in the Jeep.
Torn, she looked from Lela to her son. She didn’t know why, but something told her to stay. She walked over to the Jeep. “Take the family home, Don. Then come back for me.”
Once in the kitchen again, she heard the voices still raised in anger.
“I could use some help on the ranch, Rey, but only if you’re willing to work. I don’t hire slackers.”
“Yo
u did this on purpose. Sold our home, cut us off financially. I don’t want to work here. I can’t think of anything worse, especially if it means working for you. If you want the truth, I want to get as far from you and this ranch as I can.”
“There’s the door.”
The male cursed. Nellie covered her ears. Her heart went out to all of them. Beau’s children! They had to be. Little wonder he’d told her often how fortunate she was with hers. But why were his so angry?
“Our own father, turning us out,” the son said, his voice choking. “Bastard.”
“Are you staying or leaving?” Beau asked, his voice quiet and calm. Nellie could only imagine how hard that calm cost him.
“Leaving.” Nellie heard the sneer in the son’s voice.
“I’m sorry you have to hear this,” Lela said. “The children aren’t bad. Just spoiled.”
The voices continued as Lela put a cup of coffee in front of Nellie, motioned for her to sit at the kitchen bar.
“What about you, Dani? Are you staying or leaving? If you stay, you’ll get a job and pay room and board.”
It had been a mistake to stay. Nellie wanted to sneak out the back door and pretend she hadn’t heard a word.
“I’m going with Rey.”
“Do you have money?” Beau’s voice leaked concern.
Did the children hear it? Did they realize how troubled their father was?
Beau was trying so hard to do the tough-love thing. He obviously loved his children and was worried about them.
“We have the money we got when we sold the stuff you so generously left in the house,” his son said. “We’ll make it.”
“I’m glad. Would you like to spend the night and leave in the morning?”
“Not a chance,” Rey said, his words mocking.
“Do you have your things?”
Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) Page 1
