by Tina Leonard
“Who’s going to watch her?” Galen asked, tipping his chin toward River. “If something has happened to Fiona—”
“Where’s Burke?” River suddenly asked. “I checked their room, but he’s not there.”
“I just saw him out in the corral,” Sloan said. “I’ll go tell him.” He trudged off, not eager to relay bad news.
The brothers divided up the rest of Rancho Diablo to search for tracks, and they all took off. “I’ll be right back,” Tighe told River, who favored him with another scowl. “I’m sorry. You can’t ride with us. It’s dangerous, and this isn’t your fight. Be home base for us, and let us know if Fiona shows up here. All right?”
River nodded. He brushed a swift kiss against her lips, and she threw her arms around him. “Find her, Tighe.”
“We will.”
“Do you want me to call Sheriff Cartwright? Just in case she’s been in town for some reason?”
Fiona wouldn’t have left a mess. Yet Wolf had been frequenting town more and more. “It’s a great idea. Thanks.”
Tighe kissed her one final time and headed out.
Chapter Eight
By nightfall, everyone in the town of Diablo and the surrounding county knew Fiona Callahan was missing. They also knew she hadn’t simply wandered off—the sheriff and his deputies had pointed out signs of struggle in the dirt outside. Running Bear had come by, gravely examining the scene in the kitchen, then standing quietly for a long time, his eyes closed. River hadn’t known what to say—she’d felt guilty every time the sheriff or his deputies had asked her if she’d heard anything strange.
She hadn’t noticed a thing. Lost in her daydreams of Tighe, she’d been focused on the gown, and him. Not doing her job of guarding the Callahans.
Worse, she’d left the twins with Sawyer Cash—and no matter what Kendall said, River couldn’t help wondering if Sawyer might have signaled to her uncle Storm or someone that no one was on duty except her, making it the perfect time to strike.
If the Callahans weren’t worried about Sawyer, why should she be? Anyway, it seemed as if Jace was keeping a fairly close eye on Sawyer.
River sank onto a bar stool in the kitchen, considered the counters she’d scrubbed until they shone. After the sheriff and deputies and Running Bear left, she’d cleaned the room, throwing out the ruined food and mopping the floor. It was still a pretty sad space without Fiona’s cheerful mess in it.
Ana walked into the kitchen and plunked down next to her. “You should be sitting in the den, relaxing on that nice comfy leather sofa.”
“I can’t relax. I’m so worried.” She looked at Ana. “I feel terrible that Fiona needed me and I was up in the attic.” She closed her eyes for a moment. Being utterly, wonderfully seduced.
“Don’t fixate on that. Whoever grabbed her had been watching the house, saw an opening. Everybody here is some kind of operative or bodyguard, and still, they managed to grab the one of us nobody expected would ever be under threat. Fiona isn’t exactly new to this rodeo. She knows how to be careful.” Ana hugged River. “There’s nothing you could have done.”
“Except be in the kitchen with her. Where I should have been, and not in the attic.”
“All of us visit the attic on occasion. And the basement, to find the holiday lights and Fiona’s delicious preserves. Basement, attic, makes no difference. We had our guard down, and someone noticed. We can’t beat ourselves up about it.” Ana sighed. “It will all work out, anyway. The Callahans aren’t going to let anything happen to their aunt.”
“I feel horrible for Burke. He looked like he aged five years when they told him she was gone.” River felt as if she might cry, forced the tears back. “He’s in his room right now. The sheriff told him to stay put. I think he’s afraid Burke might have a heart attack from the stress.”
“I’ll check on him in a minute.” Ana looked at her best friend. “Come on. I insist you lie down on the sofa.”
“I can’t.” Still, she followed Ana into the other room, glad to get away from the kitchen, which was depressing without Fiona. “Wait. You’re here to guard me, aren’t you? Did Tighe send you?”
“Yes, and yes. And don’t argue. Lie down.” Ana forced her to do so, then tossed a soft afghan over her even though it was hot as blazes outside.
They didn’t speak for a long time. Ana probably hoped she’d fall asleep, but River couldn’t, not while Fiona was in danger. Too many worried thoughts ran through her head. She tried not to think about the what-ifs, but it was hard.
“So, triplets,” Ana said. “That’ll put Tighe in the race for the ranch.” She laughed, shaking her head. “Not that any of us believe there is such a thing. But Fiona will do anything to see her nephews happily married.”
If Fiona came back. River could hardly bear to think of it. “Did you ever imagine when we came to work here that we’d end up married to two of the brothers?”
Ana shook her head. “Kind of nice, though.”
River got up from the sofa, paced to the window. “I wish we’d hear something.”
“Me, too.”
“You left Sawyer with the twins?”
“Kendall’s got them. She wanted to come over and keep you company, but Sloan said no. He’s too worried, since Fiona was kidnapped from here. Unless she wandered off...”
The comment hung in the air. They both knew Fiona wouldn’t have wandered off. Her mind was fully clear, and never more clear than when she was cooking for her nephews. “She didn’t. She had fresh dough for waffles, and eggs sitting out.”
Ana came to stand beside River. “Worrying won’t help, and it’s not good for the triplets.”
“I know.”
“Ever since Tighe found out you’re expecting, he’s been a different man.” Ana laughed. “These Callahans insist they’ll always be single, until they find out they’re going to be a father.”
“Don’t remind me.” She wanted to believe Tighe would romance her this way even if she wasn’t pregnant with his children.
He wouldn’t.
Running Bear walked into the den, and River saw pain on his face. “How are you doing, Chief?”
He looked drawn. “I know where they took her.”
River gasped. “Where?”
“They took Fiona to their hideout in Montana. Same place they took Taylor.”
“Oh, no!” River looked at Ana. “But why?”
“They mean to keep her through the winter. They figure she will break.” Running Bear’s face looked older with each word he spoke. “It’s far from her family. It will get cold early. Her family is her life, so they know this is her weakness.”
River went into the kitchen to get Running Bear a cup of tea. He’d probably spent hours sitting in this kitchen, chatting with his dear friend. Actually, Fiona did the chatting, and more often than not, Running Bear sat silently. It was their way.
He perched on the bar stool, his shoulders slumped a bit. River put the tea in front of him, rummaged around for some of Fiona’s cookies she knew he favored.
He touched neither, but nodded his thanks.
“So now what?” River asked.
“I am not sure.”
Tighe came in the back door, glanced at River and Ana, then Running Bear. “What’s happening, Grandfather?”
“Fiona is in Montana.”
“Montana?” He looked at River, his brows raised. “Wolf’s got her?”
Running Bear nodded silently. River looked at both men for a moment, then poured Tighe a cup of coffee and went back to the den. Ana followed, and they sat down to talk privately.
“If Fiona’s in Montana, Burke’s going to—”
“Don’t think about it,” Ana said. “The Callahans will figure something out. They did for Taylor.”
“We could go get her.”
Ana blinked. “Go get her?”
“Sure. We’re not Callahan. Wolf would never suspect us.” The more she thought about it, the more River was convinced it was a s
mart idea. “We’re both trained bodyguards. We can take care of ourselves.”
“You’re pregnant,” Ana reminded her.
“This is true,” River said, “but I haven’t noticed it yet. I’m still in fighting form.”
“Tighe would lose his mind if you left. He wants you resting.”
River nodded. “We wouldn’t tell him. Not immediately.”
“I want no part of this. None.”
“It may not be necessary. Running Bear always has a plan.” River thought about that for a few moments. “But Fiona’s not staying there for months like Taylor had to, not if I can help it.”
“River,” Ana said, sounding very worried, “Tighe would freak out.”
“That’s okay. He freaks out on occasion. It’s part of his psyche.” River crossed to a window, stared out. “I know she’s frightened.”
“I doubt very seriously Fiona is frightened. Mad as a hornet, but not frightened. After you’ve raised a basketball team’s worth of boys, you don’t scare easily.”
“This was what Wolf wanted all along. He knew he couldn’t get any information out of the others. It was all scare tactics.” River looked up at Tighe and Running Bear as they walked into the den. “Wolf wanted Fiona all along.”
“I agree.” Tighe nodded, went to rub River’s shoulders.
“Don’t agree too much,” Ana said. “River wants to go get Fiona.”
Tighe’s hands tightened on her shoulders, then abruptly dropped. “Absolutely not. Out of the question.”
Running Bear glanced at her. “Maybe in the spring.”
“Spring!” River was horrified. “Why the spring? Fiona can’t stay there with those thugs that long!”
Ash walked in, looking depressed. “Whoever took Fiona covered their tracks well. I pride myself on tracking, but I’m not finding much to go on.”
“Running Bear knows where Fiona is,” River said.
“You do, Grandfather?” Ash looked surprised.
“She is in Montana.” Running Bear’s eyes were dark with some emotion River couldn’t really define.
“Montana? Where they took Taylor?” Ash demanded. “Let’s go get her! And this time, we’ll burn that shack down. I’m sorry, Grandfather, but we can’t go on living in fear.”
“Whoa,” Tighe said, going to comfort his sister, which River was glad to see. “We need a plan. We can’t just go burn Wolf out of there.”
“Yes, we can,” Ash said. “Yes, we most certainly can! I can, if no one else wants to.”
“I can, too,” River said. “I’ve got your back. In fact, I’ll drive.”
Jace and Galen came into the room. “Where are we driving?” Galen asked.
“I want to go rescue Fiona and burn Wolf right out of his lair.” Ash’s arms crossed, her posture stubborn. River silently applauded her, more than ready herself to drive the truck to rescue Fiona.
“Tonight,” Tighe said, “we’ll sit down as a family and discuss this. Right now, everyone go back to your posts. No one, and this means you both,” he said to River and his sister, “will be doing any sneaking off to do any burning, torching, rescue attempts or any other mission. Is that understood? We need a battle plan, not a herky-jerky attack.”
“It’s not herky-jerky.” Ash glared at Tighe, then turned to her grandfather. “Running Bear, we’ve always adhered to your rules. We understood we were never to harm Wolf. But this is troubling.”
The chief nodded. “Troubling, indeed. But it will not solve the problem of the cartel, and right now, Wolf is the liaison. My son is the devil we know.”
River went to warm Running Bear’s cup. Tighe followed her into the kitchen. “You will not be going to Montana.”
“I’m willing. Someone needs to get Fiona. I’m trained for this, Tighe.”
“And you’re carrying my children.”
“I’m barely showing. Not at all, really. An ounce of stomach I didn’t have before.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He pulled her into his arms. “You’re not putting my sons in danger.”
“Daughters.”
“Do we know that?” He leaned back to look at her.
“No. I just feel like torturing you because you aren’t already on the road to rescue Fiona!” Tears suddenly sprouted from River’s eyes. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry. I’ve never been a crier. I have no idea why I’m suddenly crying.” She grabbed a tissue from the box on the counter.
“Treading carefully here, but isn’t it normal for women to be emotional when they’re pregnant?” Tighe asked.
She blew her nose. “I’m a well-trained bodyguard. I’m not emotional. I’m simply annoyed with you.”
He smiled, held her against his chest. “Thank you for loving my aunt so much.”
“Well, I do.” River pulled away from him, not pleased that he was seeing her with her nose running and sounding like a dented trumpet. “I can’t bear the fact that they took her. I would trade places with her in a flash! She’s too old and fragile to be in Montana with Wolf and his minions.”
She blew her nose again and he laughed, kissed the top of her head. “Aunt Fiona’s the least fragile person I know.”
“She has you fooled.”
“I guarantee you she’s giving Uncle Wolf fits.”
“Good for her. I hope he has an infarction of epic proportions.” River looked up at Tighe. “I know the chief doesn’t want us to be violent, doesn’t want you to exact any justice on your uncle, but I would just like to say that I’m not part of this family. That makes me an obvious rule-breaker.” She gazed at him earnestly. “Send me up there, Tighe.”
“No. But I can tell that I’m going to have a really interesting married life.”
“No, you’re not,” River said. “I’m not agreeing to marry you until you get Fiona back. I feel quite stubborn about this. It wouldn’t be a wedding without your aunt.”
“No, it wouldn’t.” He looked thoughtful. “I’m going to order some dinner for this crowd. Then I want you to rest.”
Her jaw dropped. “How can you think about food at a time like this?”
“Easily. No one has eaten all day.” He allowed her to move out of his arms, went to poke around in the fridge. “I’m nothing if not practical. I’ve always been practical.”
She followed him to the refrigerator. “I think you’re in shock.”
“No.” He shut the fridge door. “I just know that this will be a long mission. Planning will need to be done carefully. And that requires food.”
She sighed. “Why do I get the funny feeling that you’re trying to give me a subtle hint that I should take over Fiona’s kitchen duties, or else everyone on this ranch will starve?”
He laughed. “No. We’re all capable of scrambling eggs for ourselves.”
“We really are going to starve.” River perched on a bar stool, watched him rifle through the cabinets, searching for containers Fiona had stored. “If you get your aunt back—like, say, tonight, tomorrow—you won’t have to worry about your stomach.”
“Good point,” Tighe said, “but—”
He froze suddenly and looked at her. “This is my journey.” He sounded stunned.
“What journey?”
He pulled out some cookies, crackers, fruit. River watched with astonishment as he prepared a large snack for the family.
“The journey I’m supposed to take. I learned about it during my time with Running Bear.” He made a small plate for her. “Eat, please.”
She didn’t really feel like it, but picked up a piece of fruit to pacify him, keep him talking. “The journey?”
“It started on Firefreak.”
“Quick journey,” River observed with a wink.
He waved a cookie in her direction. “Sarcasm isn’t allowed when one speaks of their visions.”
“Sorry. Truly.” She ate a cherry and then a strawberry. “So, in the beginning, there was Firefreak.”
“Actually, in the beginning, there was you.” He sat by her
, started a different kind of journey leisurely kissing a trail down her neck. “You put me on that bull.”
“I was part of the plot to keep you off, if you recall. Continue.”
“Believe me, I will.” He kissed the cradle of her collarbone.
“Tighe, someone’s going to come into the kitchen.” Still, she didn’t push him away.
“I know. I think it excites me. If I compromise you, you’ll have to marry me.”
“I think we already compromised each other.” Regretfully, she pushed him away. “Can we stick to the journey? Stop trying to change the subject.”
“Soup’s on!” he called into the den. “Or at least all you’re getting to eat without you fixing it yourselves.”
The family trooped in, stared at the repast.
“Thank you, brother,” Ash said. “You tried. I can tell you made a sincere effort.”
Tighe smiled. “Thank you.”
“We think we have a plan,” Galen said. “Running Bear?”
“I will go,” the chief said. “Wolf is my son. He will not harm me.”
River saw concern jump into Tighe’s eyes. “You’re exactly the one he would harm, Grandfather,” he said. “I’ll go.”
“I’ll go with you,” River said quickly.
“No,” he stated, and she bristled.
“Listen, you don’t get to have all the harebrained plans in this relationship, Tighe.”
“Harebrained?”
“Harebrained. Like riding Firefreak as the beginning of your journey.” She glared at her handsome cowboy, whose ego could barely fit in the same room with his body. “Riding Firefreak was an ego thing. You were trying to keep up with Dante. So you hurt yourself, just like your family knew you would, and went and sat in the desert for a few weeks. I’m not sure if you had an epiphany of the soul out there or not, but what I do know is that on this journey to Montana, I am going with you.”
Tighe opened his mouth to protest, and she looked at the chief.
“She has a strong heart. She will go with you,” Running Bear said.
“She is also pregnant with three babies. Did she tell you that, Grandfather?”
Running Bear smiled. “All the more reason River should go.”
