A CALLAHAN CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

by Tina Leonard

  Chapter Ten

  “Fiona’s here,” Galen told Rose the next morning. “Do you feel like company?”

  Rose nodded. “I’d love to see her. Can you hand me something to wear?” Even though she was sore, she didn’t want to been seen in the oversize T-shirt she had on.

  “I’ve always been partial to this Dark Shadows T-shirt you were wearing the night we sent you down into the cave.” He grinned, and she caught a flash of the wild-eyed man she’d fallen in love with. “I don’t suppose that’s what you want, though.”

  “Something with buttons. I don’t want to pull any stitches. I’m still moving pretty slow.”

  He nodded and left the room for a moment, returning with a white box with a big pink bow on it, which he gave her with a wink. “Maybe this will fit.”

  She shook the box. “Magic wedding dress? Do I finally get my turn?”

  He seemed thunderstruck. Rose laughed. “Don’t look so scared.”

  “I’m not scared. I’m surprised.” He sank onto the bed, smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear. “You never said you wanted to be married in the magic wedding dress.”

  “I heard that a woman hasn’t really caught her Callahan until he’s seen her in the Callahan dress of dreams.”

  “You’ve caught me,” Galen said, kissing her hand. “Oh, you’ve caught me. And I like it.”

  “That’s what I want to hear.”

  They gazed at each other, and just for a moment, Rose thought she could feel the sparks of affection they’d shared before. She wanted to feel those sparks—wanted her husband to be in love with her.

  “Well, go on. Open it,” Galen said. “If you don’t hurry, Fiona will probably come busting in here to hold the baby.”

  Rose undid the box, lifting out a beautiful white nightgown and robe with tiny pink roses in lovely lace scattered down one side. “I’ve never seen anything so pretty. Thank you, Galen.” She leaned over and kissed him on the lips, seeming to surprise him.

  “Well, the saleswoman assured me it would be easy to wear after a C-section,” he said gruffly. “I personally like you naked the best, but I realize social conventions must be observed.”

  “Yes, they do.” Rose slipped on the gown, buttoning the front. “I feel like a princess.”

  “That’s because you are.” He helped her into the matching robe, and smiled. “I get to take it all off of you later, and that’s the part that makes me happy. Enjoy your visit.”

  He called for Fiona as he left the room, and it was like a whirlwind of pink swept in, instantly chasing off the gloom Rose had been feeling lately. “Fiona!”

  “The cavalry has arrived!” Fiona exclaimed, kissing her on the cheek and then spying the baby in his bassinet. “Don’t you worry, handsome. Aunt Fiona’s here to take care of you. And I know a thing or two about what little boys like.” She ran a slow, gentle palm over Ross’s back and grinned at her most recent niece-in-law. “Looks just like Galen. A little prune-faced and puckery around the mouth, but otherwise human.”

  Rose giggled. “You wouldn’t be secretly bragging about your movie-star-handsome nephew, would you?”

  Fiona sat down in the chair across from the bed, settling herself in and setting the basket she’d carried with her on the floor. “Bragging’s unseemly, my girl. Luckily, in our family we just tell the truth, and that seems to be good enough. Galen’s handsome, if you like them tall and rangy and eggheaded.”

  Rose laughed. “Oh, don’t make me laugh, Fiona.”

  “Laughter is what cures the soul. Now,” she said, leaning forward, “tell me everything.”

  “Everything about what?” Rose looked at the Callahan matriarch. “Is there something I should know?”

  “What happened the day the babies were born? You weren’t expecting to have the babies that day, I know. The Christmas ball is next weekend, and as I recall you’d planned your C-section for after that. Galen said there was a furious hubbub out here, and you went into labor early.”

  “It’s true. But I don’t know as much as I should, I guess.” Rose shook her head. “I try not to think about it. My dad’s back to normal, and Galen’s got this place loaded with bodyguards, so I just stay in my gentle cocoon of ignorance.”

  Fiona nodded. “A good thing indeed.”

  “There’s so much I don’t understand,” Rose said. “Like why Sawyer Cash and her cousin Somer would be on opposite sides. Why Galen hired Sawyer if he doesn’t really trust Somer and Storm Cash.”

  “You have to ask him,” Fiona said, handing her a pink fabric bag that smelled like chocolate chip cookies.

  Rose could feel her resolve melting. “I told myself no sweets after the babies were born, so I could get my figure back. I gained forty pounds! But I can’t resist your cookies, Fiona. You’re trying to get me off the subject.”

  “You can ask Galen those questions,” Fiona said, making Rose hesitate as she reached for a cookie.

  “No, I don’t think I can.”

  “He’ll tell you. You have a right to know,” his aunt said gently.

  Unease settled over Rose. She looked at Fiona. “He was trying to protect us.”

  “Of course he was.” She pulled a knitted cap and booties from her basket. “Look at these. Turned out fine, if I do say so myself.” She handed the booties and cap to Rose. “I’ve got a set for each baby,” she said proudly.

  “They’re lovely,” Rose murmured. “Stay on your point, please.”

  “Galen didn’t know Somer was planted here by Storm. I think everything’s gotten out of hand with our neighbor,” Fiona said. “Wolf’s got him by the...by the scruff of his neck, I think.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  “My guess is that Storm was trying to get his nieces out of there, both of them.” Fiona leaned closer. “He told me that he was afraid they were in danger from Wolf, that Wolf had threatened to use his nieces as leverage if Storm didn’t do what he was told. Storm’s a big, tough man, but we knew he wasn’t happy with his role in the attack on Rancho Diablo the day you and I were threatened.”

  “So Storm asked Galen to hire Sawyer? Then why would Somer have ended up on the bad side?” Rose stared at Fiona, her heart beginning to pound uncomfortably hard.

  “Not exactly,” Fiona said. “Galen hired Sawyer because she’s been keeping in contact with Galen while she’s staying away from Jace. Jace has annoyed her on some matter, and I’m not certain about all that at the moment. Anyway, only Galen knew where Sawyer had gone off to. He thought she did good work, that he could trust her with you, so he hired her. Good decision,” Fiona said, nodding. “But then Storm sent Somer out here, as well.”

  Rose blinked. “But I’ve defended Somer to Galen. Told him I didn’t think she would have harmed my father or me. I consider her a friend. We were the new girls at the ranch.”

  Fiona looked sympathetic. “Sometimes it’s hard to know who our friends are. Galen knows this. He feels very guilty about not having this place locked down better.”

  “Why wouldn’t he have told me?”

  “My guess is Galen doesn’t want you to know he was the reason you and your father were shot at. He knows your dad was hesitant about you working at Rancho Diablo in the first place, and that the sheriff warned you against falling for a Callahan.” Fiona settled back in her chair. “Storm is beside himself that Somer shot at her cousin, Sawyer. That’s how I know what I’m telling you is true.”

  Rose’s heart seemed to shatter into a million pieces. “This is so hard to believe.”

  Fiona shrugged. “Stranger things have happened. Still, you need to talk this over with Galen. If my stubborn nephew isn’t going to cough up the truth, you must make him. It’s the only way you can make decisions.”

  “Decisions about what?” Rose asked, feeling sad
and a little sick.

  “There are many you must face,” Fiona said. “You have three sons. They’ll be raised to fight the Callahan fight. It’s something you’ll have to accept, Rose. There’s no halfway mark on the race we run.”

  Rose thought about the cave she’d seen, and the painting of Running Bear. There were tunnels running under the canyons back of Rancho Diablo that were fortified, an underground city whose occupants might crush the Callahans if they weren’t careful.

  And now Fiona was telling her that her sons were part of that legacy. That her husband had hired a traitor as a bodyguard to protect her.

  That her marriage might not be the stuff of dreams.

  * * *

  BY THE TIME FIONA LEFT that afternoon, the house had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Decorations and lights graced practically every corner, and a tree that looked as if it had been created for a Hollywood set glowed in the den near the fireplace. Galen doubted Mack had seen such a holiday extravaganza in his home in years.

  If his wife was cheered by his aunt’s elfish ministrations to the house, Galen wouldn’t have known it from the look on Rose’s face when he walked into the bedroom to help her feed and change baby Ross.

  “Looks like Mrs. Claus was here,” Galen said, kissing his wife and then his son. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine.” She looked at him. “Fiona’s energy has lifted me to the next level.”

  He grinned and sat next to her, taking the baby. “Think you’re going to have Thing Number Two tomorrow, by the way. I just went to see the babies, and they’re progressing nicely. They’ve got the nursing staff wrapped around their tiny fingers.”

  “Sort of the way you wrapped me around your finger.” Rose sighed.

  “That didn’t sound like a lady who’s happy,” Galen said, kissing her again. “Did my aunt wear you out?”

  “She brought up some things we should probably discuss.”

  “Uh-oh. That’s the last time my aunt passes through that doorway.”

  “Can we be serious for a minute?”

  “We can be serious for longer.” He nuzzled her neck. “In fact, I look forward to being very serious with you in a couple of months, or whenever the doctor green-lights you, whichever comes first.”

  “Galen,” Rose said, and he noted that she hadn’t responded with her customary eagerness. “Did you hire Sawyer Cash to guard Dad’s house?”

  He nodded. “I did. She’s a good bodyguard. She and Jace have gotten crosswise for some reason, and she wanted to get away for a while. I know that my brother could test the patience of a saint—”

  “It’s a Callahan thing.”

  “I don’t debate that.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “However, she asked if I knew anyone who might need a bodyguard, and I said I wouldn’t mind having someone out here keeping an eye on things. I thought it was a smart plan—until it wasn’t.”

  “What went wrong?”

  “I didn’t anticipate Storm sending Somer out here. Of course, having two cousins shooting at each other is a recipe for disaster on so many levels it’s scary.” He shook his head. “I hired Sawyer just as easily as I would hire Ash. Never crossed my mind to look at the job differently because she’s a woman. I knew Wolf would send a scout out here, but I didn’t think he’d send someone with orders to shoot.”

  “It’s horrible,” Rose said. “Coincidence?”

  “I believe so. Sheriff Cartwright has Somer in custody, and she certainly seems horrified she was shooting at her cousin. Somer claims she had no idea this was your house, either. That she thought she was protecting this house when she spied an intruder, which of course was no trespasser firing on her, but Sawyer,” Galen said. “I’m not sure how much of that I buy, but Storm’s her uncle. She wouldn’t doubt his instructions. And if Wolf told Storm he needed someone on this house, he wouldn’t have thought that his nieces would end up firing on each other—or you. I can tell you right now that Storm wouldn’t let anyone fire on a Callahan. He may have gotten caught up on the wrong team, and I know he’s frightened, but I believe in my heart that he wouldn’t try to hurt a Callahan.”

  “Not if he knew what was good for him.”

  “Anyway,” Galen said, “let’s not worry about this. We don’t have the full story, and I just want you thinking about healing and about little Ross. And we should celebrate that one of his brothers comes home tomorrow.”

  “All right. I think I’ll go to sleep now.”

  It wasn’t like his wife to be so withdrawn. Maybe she was tired.... Of course she was tired. Carrying triplets stressed the system, as did the C-section, from which she was still healing. Galen put a blanket over her lap and retreated to find Mack, hoping that if he left—and if baby Ross stayed quiet a bit longer—Rose might get some rest.

  She’d sounded so worried, and he couldn’t blame her. Any new mom would be scared of the situation Rose had found herself living in.

  He had moments when he admitted to gut-deep fear, not that he would ever tell her that. He’d added more coverage, and the sheriff had men keeping an eye on the house, too.

  But Galen knew very well that if Wolf was determined enough, he’d get to Rose and the kids. And he hadn’t yet—so that meant Wolf just wanted to keep them all frightened. In limbo.

  Enduring the same fear Galen’s parents and his Callahan cousins’ parents must have felt, all those years ago.

  Chapter Eleven

  When little Mack Galen came home the next day from the hospital, the Christmas spirit finally hit Rose. “My boy is home!” she exclaimed. “It’s almost a merry Christmas!” She smiled at Galen and reached to take her son in her arms. “Although it breaks my heart that your baby brother is still at the hospital. I’ll go see him tomorrow.” She looked up at Galen. “How is Riley?”

  “Our mighty little mouse,” he said. “Not much bigger than a mouse, squeaks like a mouse and sometimes makes faces like a mouse.”

  “Galen!” Rose gave her husband a reproving look, even though part of her wanted to laugh. She knew he was teasing—and yet it felt mean to tease about little Riley when he couldn’t be home with the family.

  “I’m sorry. I think of Mighty Mouse when I think of that sprig off the family tree. You know he’s going to grow up to be a cattle puncher or a monster rodeo cowboy.”

  “I hope so.” She gazed down at Mack, her father’s namesake. “My sons are growing like tigers.”

  “Not tigers,” Galen said. “They’re growing like Callahans.”

  He handed her a bouquet of flowers—a beautiful knot of lilies and roses—surprising her. “What’s this for?”

  “Because you’re my wife.” He flung himself down next to her and grinned at the two babies she held. “A beautiful, patient wife.”

  “I’m not patient. Whoever told you that?”

  “Fiona.” His brow lifted. “Don’t believe me?”

  “There’s no telling what your aunt might say about anything, but I doubt she ever claimed I was patient.”

  “She did say you had the soul of a saint to put up with me.”

  Fiona’s earlier words lingered in Rose’s mind. She’d tried hard not to think about them in the last week, but they were hard to forget. “Galen, remember when you said we didn’t have to stay together? That you didn’t want our relationship to be like your brothers’, where they had to catch their wives after they’d gotten them pregnant?”

  “Yeah. You see that my way worked much better. You’re here with me, there’s no drama and the kids are happy. We’ll be a big happy family by Christmas.”

  “You do recall you mentioned something about us not needing to stay together if—”

  He kissed the words right off her lips. “I know what I said to convince you it was safe to marry me, doll. But it was al
l a pretty trap, I’m afraid, and you fell for the shiny object. You’re stuck with me.” He took Mack from her and lay back with the baby on his chest. “Yes, stuck like peanut butter to the roof of a horse’s mouth.”

  “Galen!” She laughed, relieved, happy to have her worries brushed away. But underneath the happiness, Rose knew she had decisions to make, for her sons’ sakes.

  * * *

  “HERE’S THE DEAL,” Galen told Running Bear when they met in the canyons that night. “Everything went wrong. And when it went wrong, it went really wrong. I can tell my little wife is having serious second thoughts. There’s got to be a way to fix all this, before it blows up in my face. My boys’ first Christmas, my first with my wife, our first Christmas as a family, is in two weeks. The last thing I want is Wolf’s shadow bunging up the holiday spirit. Help me, Grandfather.”

  Running Bear looked over at the canyons. They sat in his lair high above the deep arroyos. “They are coming closer all the time.”

  “I know.” There were days Galen wasn’t certain if he could hold them off any longer. “What do the cousins say?”

  “That they’re worried. They want to help you.” The chief chose his words carefully. “They feel they’ve abandoned you to fight their battle.”

  “No.” Galen shook his head. “My cousins didn’t abandon us. We understand the mission. They have families.”

  “You, too, have a family. Which is what makes them feel maybe they’ve asked too much of the Chacon Callahans.”

  “Not to worry.” He’d been on many missions, some longer than this one. “None of my siblings have mentioned leaving Rancho Diablo. Some go, some return. In the end, we all stay.” He didn’t mention that he’d felt Rose’s doubts recently. She hadn’t said anything, but he knew her well enough to figure out what she was thinking. Her fears were clearly written on her face—had been since the night her father and home had been attacked. Fear for her father, fear for the children—fear in not knowing what was to come.