The Texas Cowboy's Quadruplets

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  His sarcasm fell on deaf ears. Frank aimed a thumb at his chest. “Hey, like you, son, I call ’em like I see ’em. And what I see now is a little bit of hypocrisy going on.”

  “Hypocrisy!” Chase echoed. Him? He strode over to the kitchen sink to wash up. Asked, over his shoulder, “How the heck do you get that?”

  His mother followed him, adding with equal disapproval, “Any other deal could have, probably would have, waited, Chase. Until the owners were in such deep distress they had no choice but to sell. Isn’t that the way you usually work?” She tilted her head. “Only by the bottom line? So you can maximize your own profit?”

  Chase didn’t like being made to sound like some kind of Scrooge, with only money on his mind. “Hey! I’ve ended up saving a lot of companies that way, and making them very successful as part of my conglomerate.”

  Frank squinted. “That’s true,” he conceded thoughtfully.

  “Then...?” Chase dried his hands.

  His father looked him in the eye. “There is a lot more on the line here than a future of a custom saddle making company.”

  Rachel touched his arm gently. “We’re talking about your future. And Mitzy’s. The boys’.”

  “Mitzy and the quads mean the world to me.” Chase’s throat grew taut. “But she doesn’t want me, Mom.” It was as simple and complicated as that.

  “Since when have you walked away from something you wanted with all your heart?” his father challenged.

  Never—if you didn’t consider his broken engagement and broken reconciliation to Mitzy, that was.

  Had he given up too soon?

  Let his pride stand in the way?

  His parents definitely seemed to think so.

  “It’s not too late to fix things,” Rachel advised gently.

  His dad nodded. “If anyone can come up with a Christmas miracle, son, it’s you...”

  * * *

  Chase thought about his parents’ advice the rest of the day and into the night. By morning, he knew what he had to do. A few phone calls later, and the solution was set in motion. Now all he had to do was convince Mitzy to give him another chance.

  Deciding to admit he’d screwed up in fashioning a solution without her input, and get down on his knees and beg if he had to, Chase went off to shave and shower. He was dressed in his best sport coat and tie and on his way to the front door, when the bell rang.

  Frowning, and hoping it wasn’t his family there to give him more unsolicited advice, he went to get it.

  Mitzy stood on the other side of the portal. Looking incredibly sexy in heels and a cranberry-red cashmere dress, white wool coat, gloves, and scarf. Was it his imagination? Or was she as nervous as she was determined, just like him? His mouth went dry as he surveyed her. “I was just headed into town to see you.”

  Her face lit up with a hopeful smile. “Then I’m glad I caught up,” she said softly, lifting the “hostess” gift for him to see. She took another quick, tremulous breath. “May I come in?”

  Heart pounding, he held the door.

  Their fingers brushed as she handed him a holiday basket filled with a bottle of wine and gourmet food. “Courtesy of Judith and Walter. They wanted to thank you for playing Santa at the quadruplets’ Dallas debut.”

  His skin tingling from the brief touch, he thanked her and carried it to the kitchen. “Although, I don’t think I did a particularly good job that day.”

  She peered at him admiringly as she set down her oversize handbag and stripped off her gloves, scarf and coat. “Oh, I think you managed to accomplish quite a lot.”

  Glad to be focusing on happier memories, he slanted his head, said, “I remember kissing you.”

  “And I kissed you back.”

  He felt a catch in his throat. “Mitzy...”

  Leaning forward, she pressed a finger to his lips. “I need to talk first, Chase.” Her lower lip trembled. “I need to apologize to you. For losing sight of what was really important and thinking the worst of you.” Sudden tears glittered. Huskily, she said, “It wasn’t your ambition that got in the way this time, it was mine.”

  Wordlessly, she took him by the hand. When they were settled comfortably on the sofa, she tightened her grasp.

  “I thought I could run the company without really doing anything, just because I was Gus’s daughter,” she said, while he savored the warmth of her slender body snuggled next to his. “When the truth is,” she continued, holding on to him like she never wanted to let him go, “like my father, I don’t really have a head for the accounting side of business. My dad was an expert craftsman and a people person who excelled in sales, and that carried him and the equally talented people he hired for a long time. But the truth is, MCS was always on the verge of bankruptcy.”

  “How did you...?”

  She drew a breath and continued in a low, tremulous voice, “I had a long talk with Buck Phillips and some of the other employees after the party wrapped up. It turns out they’ve been worried for years that one day the company would just flame out.”

  He let out his breath slowly, glad she finally recognized the hard truth. And didn’t fault him for seeing it, too.

  Mitzy’s soft lips twisted into a rueful smile. “Or as Walter says, it’s not enough to just have talent. You have to know how to harness it. I don’t. You do. And because of you, Chase, and all the hard work you’ve done, everyone who worked for my dad over the years will continue to have jobs.”

  He looked deep into her eyes, determined to do whatever he needed to, to make this right. “I’m glad you understand that,” he said quietly, aware he needed a lot more out of their relationship than they’d had. He sensed she did, too. “But you’re not the only one who made a huge mistake, Mitzy.”

  He shook his head in regret. “I was equally blind to think that emotion never has any part in business. In any successful organization, loyalty, a passion for excellence and a love of what everyone is doing plays a huge part. MCS has that in spades,” he told her hoarsely, shifting her onto his lap. Knowing that even though the company her father had founded had torn them apart—twice—it was also bringing them back together again.

  He stroked a hand through her hair. “And your familial connection to the company is as much an integral part of the MCS legacy as Gus’s memory.”

  She swallowed but her gaze didn’t waver. “So what are you saying?” she asked, confused. “You regret buying MCS? Firing me?” She shifted toward him, a pulse throbbing in her throat. “Because I have to tell you, in retrospect I think you were completely right to do both. It’s a relief not to have the weight of the company on my shoulders. To know it’s in good hands. That everyone who works there is going to be just fine.”

  He nodded, understanding. “I still regret structuring the deal the way I did. I knew how much Gus’s legacy meant to you, that MCS was a connection to him, and I didn’t take that into consideration as much as I should have. Which is why I’ve taken steps to make amends, too.”

  She settled more intimately against him, curving one hand over his shoulder, placing the other over his heart. “How?”

  He grinned, happy to admit, “I bought out all the other shares of MCS. I’m putting it in trust, so it’ll always carry Gus’s name and be there for you and your kids.”

  Mitzy blinked. “All of it?”

  “The entire company.”

  Her soft breasts lifted as she jerked in a surprised breath. “That’s one hell of a gift, cowboy.”

  He slanted her a comically provoking look. “Well, I guess it doesn’t hurt to admit,” he confessed wryly, teasing, “there are a few strings...”

  “Now this sounds like the wheeling and dealing Chase McCabe I know.”

  He sobered. “You have to give me another chance to make things right between us, too.”

  “I already have. It’s why I came out
here today. Because...” She went over to her oversize handbag and pulled out two gaily wrapped presents.

  The first contained an old-fashioned scrapbook bearing the title “Mitzy and Chase, The Beginning,” and was jammed with all the mementos of their past.

  Hope swelled in his heart. Thinking this could only mean one thing, that she was ready to give them a second chance to remedy the foolishness of their original breakup, he said, “You’re giving this to me?”

  She hitched in a breath. “I thought we’d share it.” Her smile meshed with his. “Along with...” She handed him the smaller gift. Beneath the paper was a familiar velvet jewelry box that brought up a new wealth of emotion.

  She swallowed, determined, it seemed, to own up to and fix every mistake the two of them had made.

  “I’m calling off the end of our engagement. And asking...” Lower lip trembling, she slid off his lap and dropped to her knees. “No, begging...you to let us go back to the point where everything began to go wrong...and let us pick up...and go from there.”

  Aware it was all about to work out the way they’d both always wished, he got down on his knees beside her, prepared to completely humble himself, too.

  “You want to get married?” he rasped.

  She gripped his biceps, then hugged him fiercely, ready to be vulnerable in a way she never had been before. “As soon as possible.”

  They kissed, sweetly and tenderly.

  Gallantly, he stood and helped her to her feet.

  “So, if you say yes—” she opened up the ring box to reveal the diamond solitaire he had given her years before “—I’ll put this back on my finger.”

  “Nothing would make me happier, darlin’.” Chase took it from her and proudly did the honors. It was as it had been before, a perfect fit. And a portent of their future.

  “And we can start sending out the invitations...” Mitzy said giddily, holding out her hand to admire the glittering stone.

  He caught her by the waist and tugged her close. “This is quite a Christmas gift!”

  Mitzy wreathed her arms about his neck and tilted her face up to his, all the love he had ever wanted to see reflected in her pretty eyes. She whispered affectionately, “I love you, Chase. I’ve always loved you...”

  Talk about every Christmas wish he’d ever had coming true! “I’ve always loved you, too, sweetheart,” he murmured hoarsely. “And I always will.” He lowered his head and they kissed again.

  “So it’s official? We’re on again?” Mitzy asked, at long last.

  Feeling like he’d finally come home, Chase brushed his lips across her temple, her cheek, her ear. “You bet we’re on.” He found his way to her lips once again. “It’s time we started living our lives the way they were meant to be lived—together—as husband and wife!” He tunneled his hands through her hair and captured her lips in another ardent kiss.

  She kissed him back deeply, holding fast, finally prepared to let down her guard and take that final leap of faith with him. “And speaking of holiday miracles...!” she teased softly.

  Chase wrapped his arms about her. “Looks like we found ours, after all.”

  She flashed the enticing smile he adored. “You’re right about that, cowboy,” she murmured contentedly. “This is shaping up to be the Best. Christmas. Ever.”

  Epilogue

  “So this is what an at-home elopement looks like,” Mitzy murmured happily, six days later, after the vows had been said and congratulations were being made.

  Thanks to her mother’s hard work, the home she had inherited from her father had been transformed into a winter wonderland, the holiday decorations supplanted with garlands of cream roses, pale pink orchids and baby’s breath. The beautifully decked-out fireplace mantel was serving as the altar. Their immediate families and the quadruplets were all gathered around.

  Chase winked. “We’re lucky your mom is such a pro at pulling together social gatherings.”

  Judith hugged them both. “Actually, I think we’re lucky you and Chase found each other again after all these years.”

  “Which maybe,” Walter added kindly, “was Gus’s plan in asking Chase to come in and save the day.”

  Which he had done.

  The family company was safe, Gus’s legacy protected, the burden of trying to do a job that was out of her depth while simultaneously caring for infant quadruplets, removed.

  “You’re going to have to take Chase up on renovating that new home for you, though,” Judith murmured. “If he works at home at all this place won’t be big enough for the six of you for long.”

  Rachel said, “Or you can always move out to his ranch and expand that later. If you decide living in the country is what you want.”

  “What’s important,” Frank added, “is family, and being together.”

  “Hear, hear to that.” Walter raised a glass.

  Toasts followed.

  One after another.

  Finally, Mitzy and Chase left on their honeymoon, which was going to be conducted at the Knotty Pines Ranch. As they drove down the lane to the ranch house, Chase slanted her a glance and asked, “Worried about being away from the boys?”

  Mitzy waited for him to circle around and help her with the door. As he did so, she couldn’t help but admire how devastatingly handsome he looked in his dark suit and tie.

  The skirt of her cream-colored satin suit rode up slightly as she stepped out and onto the ground. She slid her arm through his. Together, they walked toward the house. “It’s only one night, and the boys have four grandparents, who are well acquainted with their routine, taking care of them in a very familiar place,” Mitzy reminded drily. “I think they’ll be okay.”

  Chase paused only long enough to unlock the door. “What about us?” He swung her up into his arms and carried her across the threshold.

  Inside, the Christmas tree lights were on, a fire had been lit and a private late-night supper awaited them.

  He set her down. Gathered her close and tilted her face up to his. “Are we going to be okay?”

  Knowing her happiness was as important to him as his was to her, Mitzy nodded confidently. She wound her arms about his neck. “More than okay, given that we’re finally together the way we were always meant to be. And have the family we always wanted, too.”

  He grinned, vowing softly, “No more wasting time, sweetheart. From here on out, we’re going to cherish and hold on to every incredible moment.”

  Mitzy nodded, even as the lump in her throat grew. The happily-ever-after she had always hoped for was finally happening. “You know I love you with all my heart and soul,” she whispered fiercely.

  “And I love you more than I ever thought humanly possible.”

  Mitzy rose up on tiptoe, pressing her body against the solid warmth of his. She kissed him sweetly. Once, and then again. And again. “To our future, then?” she proposed.

  Chase nodded joyfully and kissed her back, just as reverently. “Which starts right now.”

  * * * * *

  Please watch for the

  next book in Cathy Gillen Thacker’s

  Texas Legends: The Mccabes miniseries,

  coming April 2019, only from

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  SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM

  Keep reading for a sneak peek at New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne’s next

  heartwarming Haven Point romance,

  Season of Wonder,

  available October 2018 from HQN Books!

  Dani Capelli and her daughters are

  facing their first Christmas in Haven Point.

  But Ruben Morales—the son of Dani’s new boss—is determined to give them a season of wonder!

  Season of Wonder

  by RaeAnne Thayne

  1

  “This is totally lame. Why do we have to stay here and wait for you? We can walk home in, like, ten minutes.”

  Daniela Capelli drew in a deep breath and prayed for patience, something she seemed to be doing with increasing frequency these days when it came to her thirteen-year-old daughter. “It’s starting to snow and already almost dark.”