by Tina Leonard
“Galen! For the babies! And Dad. Of course, the babies want to shop for their father, too.”
“I don’t need anything,” he said gruffly, thinking he had everything he needed. A wife and three sons—what man wouldn’t feel complete?
He was more complete than he deserved to be. Somehow he had to make her understand the danger she faced now. It was something that kept him up at night, fear eating at his soul. “I know you’re ignoring what I said about moving, and I don’t want to rain on your parade while we’re going to see Riley, but we’ll have to talk about this, gorgeous.”
“I’m not going into hiding.”
He didn’t know how to respond when she put it in such stark terms.
“I’ve had a steady stream of aunts, uncles and well-wishers at Dad’s house. No one is going to get to us. Our house has become a regular hotspot, and I have a calendar full of folks who want to either bring meals or watch babies. There’s no way I’m giving that up just because you’re having a tiny bit of dad blues. And for the record, I think Fiona’s going to hand you your head when you bring up your idea.”
Rose leaned over and kissed his cheek as he pulled into the hospital parking lot. “My suggestion is you take a deep breath, relax, do one of those meditation poses you like and try to realize that you’re not the man who’s responsible for a bunch of young, parentless teens anymore. I can take care of myself, and I know Fiona can.” Rose hopped out of the truck, eager to see her son.
Galen followed, knowing full well his brave wife meant every word she’d just said—which didn’t do a whole lot for his comfort level.
* * *
AN HOUR LATER, Rose’s dreams were dashed. She let Galen guide her back to the truck, her heart heavy with sadness. “It won’t be Christmas without little Riley.”
“I know.” Galen stopped in the parking lot and hugged her. It felt good to stand in the shelter of his arms, but nothing could truly make her feel better.
“I really had my hopes up. He looked so small lying there. Oh, Galen, I just feel so sorry for him.” Rose burst into tears, unable to hold them back any longer. From the moment the doctor had said Riley was still underweight and needed further monitoring, she’d been batting back her emotions.
“It’s going to be okay, babe. It will all work out. This is best for his long-term health.” Galen rubbed her back, comforting her, but she knew he felt it, too. His voice was raw when he spoke, even though he was doing his best to reassure her.
“I’m so sorry.” She pulled away, looked into his eyes. “I know this is just as hard on you as it is on me.”
They stood silently a few moments, holding each other, and then Galen finally spoke.
“Babe, I know very well that if the house hadn’t come under siege that day, if you hadn’t gotten up to try to help your father, the babies wouldn’t have been born so soon. You might even still be carrying them. I’ll always blame myself for that, but—” he kissed her hair and stroked it “—I can’t allow anything further to happen. I want you and the children and Mack to go away.”
She cried again, unable to help the tears as she pressed against Galen’s chest, wishing she wouldn’t ever have to let him go. He murmured soft words to her, but as she stared across the parking lot at the hospital where Riley was, where he’d be for Christmas, Rose knew Galen was right. It wasn’t fair. It felt horrible to know that she would be separated from him, and the children from their big strong father. But it wasn’t a destiny any of them had chosen, and Galen was doing his best to protect them. She’d noticed even little Riley had his own guard outside the neonatal nursery, even though she hadn’t said a word to Galen when she’d realized with maternal dread that the guard was for her tiny, struggling son.
Even though there were many blessings she could count—and did—it wasn’t going to be Christmas without them all together as one happy family. Certainly not the Christmas she had dreamed of.
With a heavy heart, she let Galen help her into the truck. Rose was sure that the worst feeling she’d ever experienced—and likely ever would—was when they drove away from the hospital, leaving Riley behind.
Chapter Thirteen
“Psst!”
Galen sat up at the urgent summons, staring into the darkness as he reached for his gun on the nightstand.
“What is it?” Rose asked sleepily beside him.
“Nothing. I’m going to get a snack. Go back to sleep.” He got out of bed, pulled on some jeans, grabbed his 9 mm and moved stealthily to find who had whispered in their bedroom. Mack never did anything like that, and the babies were asleep in the room with them. The skin on the back of Galen’s neck prickled as he walked into the kitchen.
His sister sat at the table, munching on cookies.
“Ash! What the hell?”
Her platinum hair was wild about her face, making her appear more pale than usual, more fey. She waved him over to the table, as if her breaking into their home at 4:00 a.m. was a normal occurrence.
He slid the gun lock on and laid the weapon on the table as he took a seat. “You could put the coffee on if you’re going to rob a guy of sleep.”
“Good idea.” She got up and headed to the coffeemaker. “Fiona and Burke have left. I’ll let that be the starter topic.”
“Left?” Maybe it was sleep deprivation from having newborns, and a wife who was upset that he wanted her to go away, but Galen’s brain was moving like a turtle. “Why?”
“She heard about the ‘perfidy of your plans.’ That’s what Fiona said.” Ash grinned at him. “I doubt very seriously you’ll receive a remembrance in her will.”
“That’s fine. Where’d she and Burke go?”
His sister finished fiddling with the coffeemaker and sat back at the table. “Isn’t the purpose of being in hiding having nobody know where you are?”
“You know. I know you know. Don’t fool around.”
Ash sighed. “She’s very upset with you.”
“I’m okay with that.” Everybody was upset with him. “I’m growing armor against those emotions.”
“Tough guy.” Ash bit into a cookie. “She sent these goodies along, but she instructed me that you’re not to have any. They’re for Mack and Rose, because you’re a treacherous nephew.” His sister beamed. “I do believe I’m the favored one now.”
He took a chocolate chip cookie and bit into it, anyway. “Nobody makes cookies like Fiona.”
“She’s moved into Storm Cash’s place.”
His jaw dropped. “What?”
Ash nodded. “Clever, huh? She can keep an eye on everything, and get away from your big opinionated self. That’s a direct quote.”
“That hardly protects her from Wolf.”
“Fiona said to tell you when you brought that up—and she said you would—that she and Burke can take care of themselves, and had for many years before you decided to insert your Captain Cowboy notions into her life.”
Galen groaned. “Who told her?”
“I did. I said that you’d discussed it at the meeting.” Ash joyfully munched another cookie. “I really think there were sparks shooting out of her head when I repeated your poorly chosen opinions.”
“Thanks.” He shook his head. “Her going to Storm’s isn’t what I had in mind. I meant go away go away.”
Ash shrugged. “I’m annoyed with you, too, you know. Let that be on the record. You bought land I intended to win. I was going to call it Sister Wind Ranch. I support why you had to do it, but I already told you I want naming rights.”
If he could, he’d give his siblings every damn acre if it would get him some peace and quiet.
“I’m following orders from the chief. Believe me, I didn’t see myself as the owner of a burned-out ranch house and several acres that’s home to traffickers.” Or worse.
Drones and reporters were bad. “I expected the Feds, the ATF, maybe some border patrol...but not drones.”
“The reporters are worse than the drones.” Ash rolled her eyes. “They ask questions. We all agreed that we won’t talk to them, not yet. It’s a shame. Used to be so peaceful at Rancho Diablo.”
“It was never peaceful at Rancho Diablo, Ash. Sorry to burst your bubble. We’ve been barely holding off attacks for a couple of years now.”
“Well, it’s too late to put the genie back in the bottle, for sure.” His sister looked at him. “We think you should come back home. I know you have a lot going on here, but we need a manager at the ranch. You’ve always managed us.” She glanced toward the bedroom. “I know the timing could be better.”
“The timing could be better for everyone. I’m sure the timing wasn’t perfect for our parents, either.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “Wolf probably knows to strike exactly when we’re stretched the thinnest.”
“With next weekend being Fiona’s pet project—the ball, in case you forgot—”
“No one forgets Fiona’s Christmas party,” Galen interrupted. “She wouldn’t let us.”
“Any luck in getting your wife to go into hiding?”
He shook his head. “Between Rose and Fiona, I’m pretty unpopular.”
“That’s not just limited to Rose and Fiona,” Ash teased. “And yet you’re the only one who played his cards right, Galen,” she said wistfully. “I give you heck about everything, but this one thing you’ve done exactly right.”
He looked at his sister, surprised by the unusual praise. “What did I do right?”
“You cut to the chase. You got married, then had children,” Ash said softly. “Organized and focused, just like you’ve been all your life. Our brothers had to race to catch their women, but not you. Always steady as a rock.”
It hadn’t felt very steady to him at the time. Sometimes it felt shaky. He was acutely aware that his wife didn’t completely trust him since he’d mentioned her going into hiding. “It’s not as smooth as it seems. I don’t think Rose is too pleased that her life feels like it’s been caught in a whirlwind since our marriage.”
“Rose knew what she was getting herself into.”
“Maybe.” It was one thing to know it, and one thing to live the life of a warrior.
Ash rose. “She’ll cheer up in a bit when the baby blues wear off.”
“Baby blues?” One of them was blue, but he was pretty sure it was him and not his wife. She was certainly the stronger of the two of them.
“Hormones. I think a couple of the Callahan wives suffered from them. Some ladies get them worse than others, so I hear.” Ash grinned. “I don’t intend to find out.”
If Rose was blue about anything, it was that tiny Riley might not be home for Christmas. Galen rose to walk his sister out. “So no luck with Xav, the canyon cowboy, I’m guessing?”
“I quit trying to break that particular stallion to saddle a long time ago,” she said. She tucked her light hair into a black cap and zipped her tight black jacket at the door, then patted his cheek. “You might want to be at the ranch tonight. Things really are cooking out there.”
He glanced toward the bedroom. “And what do you propose I do with my wife and kids?”
“I don’t know. What do you think our parents, and the Callahan parents, did with their partners and kids when things began to get out of hand?” She slipped off into the darkness, and he barely saw her walk away. He listened for a car to start up, or a vehicle of any kind, but there was no noise other than the wind gusting, blowing the snow off the roof. He shivered, forcing himself to relax against the sudden cold stealing over him.
He waited another few minutes, listening for any sound, but Ash was long gone. She had stolen away, unnoticed by any shooter that might be out there, which didn’t surprise him.
Going back inside, he picked his gun up off the kitchen table and went into the bedroom to snuggle his wife for another thirty minutes, before it was time to get up and help Mack with the chores. Galen shucked his jeans and slid into bed, pleased when Rose butted her backside up against him and pulled his arm around her waist.
“I don’t want to freeze you,” he whispered, wishing he could do more than hold her.
“Feels good. Go back to sleep,” she said. “I’ll yell your ears off in the morning.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Yell? Not kiss?”
“No.” Rose sighed. “I heard every word you and Ash were saying. And I’m not happy with you, handsome. You go to sleep, get some rest and dream sweet dreams of me and the babies living right here in this house, with or without you.”
* * *
THE MORNING OF FIONA’S Christmas ball dawned dark with rain. It slashed against the windows and seemed to pour from the sky in a ceaseless torrent. Rose looked out at the water saturating everything, and shook her head at her husband. “The weather’s dreadful.”
“It’s okay. We’ll move everybody inside the auditorium. I’m sure Fiona has half a dozen backup plans.”
She watched Galen place his hat on his head and his gun in the holster at his back. “I’ll miss you, but I don’t envy you getting to go dancing tonight.”
He glanced up at her. “I won’t be dancing. I’m just going along to keep an eye on things.”
Rose poured him a thermos of coffee for the road. “Has Fiona forgiven you yet for suggesting she needed to leave Rancho Diablo?”
He looked out the window at the storm. “Not so much. I didn’t expect her to. Nor was I expecting her to just move to the next ranch over. But I get zero respect from all the Callahan women.” He sat and pulled Rose into his lap so he could nuzzle her neck.
“I respect you,” she said.
“Sure you do.” He kissed her with more heat, and Rose felt herself falling for her husband’s charms.
“I’ll get the okay any day now,” she said, loving it when she felt Galen pause behind her. She turned to face him and wound her arms around his neck. “It won’t be much longer.”
“I’m patient. You just heal properly, and then I’ll—”
A baby’s wail reached them, and a second wail joined in. Rose giggled. “You were saying, husband?”
“I was saying,” Galen said, pushing her gently off his lap, “that this is going to be a very busy Christmas. I’ll help you feed them, and then I’ve got to run. Not that I want to leave you.” He glanced at the fireplace. “I’ll make sure there are enough logs inside today, too, for the fire.”
He was always so sweet, so considerate. Rose followed him into their bedroom. She picked up baby Mack, and he cradled Ross to his chest, then changed his small son’s diaper while she began to nurse his brother.
“I love watching you do that,” Galen said.
She smiled a little sadly. “It just never feels right to me that Riley isn’t here to be with us all. It’s like a family that’s missing an important piece of its heart.”
“Before you know it, we’ll all be together.” Galen’s brows knit together suddenly.
“What is it?” Rose asked.
“I don’t suppose if I offered to send you to Hawaii or someplace warm for a few weeks, that you and your dad would take the babies and go?”
“No. And quit worrying. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“I’d feel better.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You’d miss us. Go enjoy the ball and get your mind off of everything for a night.”
“That’s exactly when Wolf will strike—wh
en I get my mind off everything.”
Rose frowned. “Galen, I understand that the ranch and its problems weigh on you. But I think it’s important for you to leave all that at the door when you come home. When you come here.”
He nodded. “I’ll try.”
“Okay, then. I’m going to think about Hawaiian beaches right now and relax for both of us.” She didn’t look at him again as he laid little Ross next to his brother to nurse. Instead she closed her eyes and tried to think of sunshine and sand, coconut-scented sun-tan oil and satiny waves that rolled in and out with a hypnotic, timeless rhythm.
An image of the magic wedding dress popped into her mind instead. Rose’s eyes flew open.
Galen grinned at her.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said as he lounged on the bed, watching her feed his sons.
“You do?”
“Yes. You’re thinking one day we’ll move these boys into their own little bunk beds, and then it’ll just be me and you. And you’ll seduce me like you did at Rancho Diablo—”
She laughed, startling the babies. “Go away. Please. I can handle it from here.”
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving now. This is the best part.” He leaned back, a sexy grin lighting his face. “You’re absolutely beautiful when you take care of my boys.”
She felt a little embarrassed. “Anyway, I wasn’t thinking about you at all.”
“Whoa. Easy on the ego, wife.”
“For some reason, I was thinking about the magic wedding dress,” she confessed. “Which is kind of silly, because I don’t remember ever having a great urge to wear it.”
“Oh, that gown gets every Callahan bride eventually.” He didn’t look disturbed by that fact at all. “I just didn’t bother to succumb to the dress.”
“I didn’t think it was the husbands who succumbed.”
He put his hands behind his head. “My brothers had no choice but to succumb to Fiona’s fairy tale.”
