by Tina Leonard
“Honorable of him,” Fiona grumbled. “What if Sawyer’s up to no good? And she snags Jace?”
“Then you’ll welcome her to the family, just as you have welcomed me.” River patted her hand.
Fiona sniffed. “Yes, we have. I guess we could welcome Sawyer. Although perhaps not.”
“Anyway, I’ve given up subterfuge. Didn’t you know?” River smiled. “I gave up on plotting over Callahans when I tried to keep Tighe off his dream bull. You see how that turned out for me. He still rode that animal, nearly got himself squashed, and now I’m married to him.”
The two of them shared a laugh. “And in that regard, what’s this I hear about another wedding?” Fiona asked.
River smiled. “Tighe wants to do it again. He thinks we need our marriage vows on video, and pictures of it for the children when they grow up.”
“A fine idea, indeed,” Fiona said. Her expression turned cagey. “I imagine you’ll want to borrow the family fairy-tale frock?”
“I’ve already borrowed it once,” River said with a fond smile. “Although it was all-weather gear and black, I certainly appreciated the chance to wear it.”
“Clearly, it’s meant to be,” Fiona said, “or the gown wouldn’t have transformed itself for you. If anything, I believe you should try it on sooner than later, my girl. There’s no time to waste.”
“No time to waste?” River blinked. “Certainly there’s no rush. We’re already married, so it’s not like I need the fairy dust and the vision of my one true prince, right?”
Fiona sucked in a breath. “Oh, my dear, there can never be enough magic in one’s life. You just remember I told you that. Magic is the stuff of dreams. It’s the air we breathe, and the hope that keeps our hearts beating. Now,” she said, her expression hopeful, “can I help you plan this wedding?”
River smiled. “I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather have helping me plan the perfect wedding.” She hugged the woman she’d come to know so well over the long months in Montana. “Thank you, Fiona, for everything.”
“Thank you,” she replied crisply, “for wrangling my nephew to the altar, and for bringing these three adorable Callahans to our family.”
Tighe strode in, a little sunburned from working outside, a bit rumpled in his nicely fitting blue jeans, straw Resistol and blue work shirt. He was the sexiest man River had ever seen, and when he mouthed I love you to her over Fiona’s head as he hugged his aunt, River felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
She smiled at Fiona, then at her babies. From plot to stop Tighe from riding, to happily married wife, her life as a Callahan was magical indeed.
Epilogue
The day of their wedding—second wedding—River hadn’t yet tried the magic wedding gown on again. Fiona had told her to but there was no need. Hadn’t she already worn it?
It would be perfect.
Any bride would be anxious not trying on her wedding dress until the big day, but River trusted the gown.
Now was her moment. Outside, white tables basked in sunshine for guests, who’d arrived on this beautiful balmy day to celebrate another Callahan wedding. The cousins had arrived from Hell’s Colony, and Rancho Diablo literally crawled, hopped, jumped and squealed with children.
River’s babies were being passed around by delighted guests eager to get their hands on them. There were lovely cakes and enough food to feed all of Diablo.
It was a perfect day—if the dress worked out.
She had the pictures she’d taken on her cell phone in Montana to dream by. So now she was in the attic, ready to step into the magical Callahan world of enchantment.
She pulled the zipper on the bag down, and gasped when she saw twinkles inside. Soft music played somewhere, enticing her to lift the gown out. She did, gasping with joy when she realized the dress looked exactly as it did in the photos—and the way it looked in her most fervent dreams. Elegant, white, long, gorgeous, the gown beckoned her to step into it.
River did, easing the garment slowly up her body, breathing in the fairy tale. No black fatigues this—this dress was meant to be worn by her, casting her in softness and beauty. Even her dreams of this had never been so beautiful.
She went to the cheval mirror, her eyes widening at the splendor reflected there. It seemed that light and sparkles bounced off the fabric, scattering twinkles of magic across the floor.
Tighe walked into the attic, and she whirled to face him. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
He smiled, her handsome, wild-man husband, who would forever be hers. “If I never told you that I love you,” River said, “I do love you, Tighe. When you came to rescue me, I knew you were a prince among men, but I fell in love with you when you were tossed off that stupid bull. Actually, I’ve been in love with you for a very long time.”
She drank him in with hungry eyes, her tall, handsome husband who looked fiercely sexy in his tux. But she thought he was sexy all the time—and never so much as when he was holding their babies.
“I just wanted you to know,” River said. “I couldn’t wait another moment to tell you.” She went to kiss him, show him that he was the man of her dreams—but then he was gone.
River smiled. She’d had her vision of her dream man. She was finally a real Callahan bride—and she would be, forever.
* * *
TIGHE LOVED IT when River said I do at the altar. It was a moment that would forever be burned into his memory. He’d waited so long to win her—and when she said her vows in front of all their friends and family and their three tiny babies, he laughed out loud from joy.
He’d hired two videographers to capture that moment from every angle. He didn’t want to miss a single word of her becoming his.
“I have a gift for you,” River told him as they walked toward the canyons so they could be alone for a moment.
“I know you do,” Tighe said, “and believe me, I can’t wait to collect on our honeymoon.”
She laughed and shook her head. “No, I really have a gift for you. I hope you like it.”
He let her lead him to the getaway truck they’d parked near the bunkhouse, hoping his brothers and sister wouldn’t find it. They had, decorating it with streamers and Just Married signs. “They found our getaway vehicle, after all.”
“We didn’t really think we’d get away with a clean ride for our honeymoon.”
“No.” He studied his beautiful bride. “So that’s the magic wedding dress.”
“Yes, it is.” River smiled at him, her gaze full of sexy secrets.
“So...is it true?”
“Is what true?” River asked, and he knew she was tormenting him.
“Is the legend true? Did you see your one true love?”
She laughed. “Not telling.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said, drawing her into his arms for a sweet kiss. “I always knew I was your one true love, even if it took you a really long time to figure it out.”
“Oh, I knew,” River said. “I just wanted you to finish your journey thing.”
“I have. I found what I was looking for.” He kissed her, wanting to hold her forever. “I love you so much. Have I told you?”
“Yes,” River said, laughing. She pulled away from him. “Let me give you your gift.”
“You’re supposed to stay in my arms and give me a gift,” he groused, but he let her go. She reached into the back of the truck and pulled a large, brown-paper-wrapped frame from the truck bed. “What’s this?”
“The gift. Open it and see.”
He unwrapped the paper, and grinned.
It was a very large black-and-white photo of him on Firefreak, at the very moment the bull had burst from the chute. Tighe’s hat was on, his arm was up, and Firefreak was in full kick.
“The beginning of my journey.” Tighe smiled. “I can’t believe you took this. Thank you for capturing my moment of glory.”
“Believe me, I had to act fast. I only had three seconds,” River said with a smile, “but
it was quick enough to catch you.”
“Don’t I know it,” Tighe said. “Don’t I know it. And I do love being caught.”
He put the picture back in the truck and pulled his wife close. In the distance he saw a shimmering of color, a scattering of stardust or something that looked suspiciously like fairy dust on the wind. He heard the black Diablos thundering in the canyons, and then he saw Running Bear and his parents, smiling at him in congratulations.
They waved and disappeared, but the sound of hooves thundered on as he held River, etching the memory of what he’d seen into his soul. It was magic, and he believed again, every word and every way that he’d always known in his heart.
“Let’s go back and find our children, gorgeous,” he said, and they walked back home, eager to hold the next generation of Callahans close.
It was just the way he’d always known magic should be.
Enchanting.
* * * * *
Watch for the next story in
Tina Leonard’s CALLAHAN COWBOYS miniseries,
A CALLAHAN CHRISTMAS MIRACLE,
coming November 2013, only from
Harlequin American Romance!
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Navy SEAL's Surprise Baby by Laura Marie Altom.
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Chapter One
Pandora?
One glance at the next name on his nanny-candidate list told navy SEAL Calder Remington all he needed to know. She’d be a card-carrying unicorn lover or flake. He needed a Mary or Hazel. Someone not only dependable, but with impeccable references and the patience of Mother Teresa. The last four women had been nice enough, but they’d lacked experience. Ideally, he needed a grandmotherly type who’d successfully raised her own brood to be doctors, and now looked to pass along her vast parental knowledge to the next generation.
At twenty-eight, how much parenting knowledge could Pandora have?
Calder had pretty much resigned himself to not even let her in the house when the doorbell rang. He dropped his list and sighed. In light of the fluid situation, he adjusted his mission to ditching Pandora quickly enough to allow time for a nap before the next candidate showed.
Calder glanced at eight-month-old Quinn, who played on the floor with his favorite stuffed whale. “Might as well get this over with, huh, buddy?”
“Gah!”
Calder shook his head. “My thoughts exactly.”
He opened the door on a petite brunette whose black-rimmed glasses struck him as too big for her face. “Um, hello. I, ah, was sent by the Earth Angels agency to—”
“Appreciate your stopping by—” the August heat coming in the door already made him break out in a sweat “—but I need someone older.”
“Oh....” As if she were a leaky balloon, her shoulders deflated. “Maybe if you would just give me a chance? You know, like try my services for a week, then decide?”
Desperation fairly oozed from her pores. “Kind of you to offer, but—”
He didn’t think it possible, but when she glanced past him into the house, her complexion paled. He was shocked when she shoved him out of her way to sprint across the living room as if she’d just caught a Hail Mary pass and was intent on snagging a game-winning touchdown.
He turned to see what kind of nut-job stunt she was pulling, only to go weak at the knees. Quinn had turned blue. Pandora scooped him into her arms and turned him upside down. She delivered five raps on his back, then flipped him over to do the same in the front. No results.
Calder might be a navy SEAL and combat veteran, but he had never felt more helpless. Since May, he’d been meaning to take an infant first-aid class, but between work and single-dad duties, it was almost September and he still hadn’t found time.
She repositioned his son once more and then like magic, a grape popped from Quinn’s mouth onto the carpeted floor.
While Calder gaped, Quinn wailed.
Pandora hugged Calder’s panicked son, rocking him gently, calming him with a soft, sweet lullaby in his ear.
Once his son’s cries had been reduced to occasional shuddering huffs, she held out her hand for Calder to shake. “I’m sorry. In all the excitement, I failed to properly introduce myself. I’m Pandora Moore.”
Still shaky, Calder shook the woman’s hand. This certainly put a new spin on the situation. How did his conscience justify sending her on her way when she’d literally saved Quinn’s life? Did he repay that debt by flat out giving her the job? “Nice to meet you. Calder Remington.” Pointing to his son, he asked, “Where’d you learn that—the baby Heimlich thing?”
“Basic Infant Care 101. Choking is a leading cause of infant mortality—which is beyond tragic considering most cases are preventable.” She took the bowl of grapes from the coffee table, placing them on the mantel.
“Yeah, well, you made me feel pretty stupid.” He rammed his hands into his jeans pockets.
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean to imply you’re a bad parent.”
“I get it.” Whether she’d meant it or not, her words stung because Calder knew them to be true. He may be good at a lot of things, but raising a kid wasn’t one. He tried, but even after having had Quinn for a few months, nothing about it felt natural. Bottom line, Calder had wearied of the whole nanny search. Unable to shake the guilt telling him the least he could do for this woman who’d saved his son was give her a chance, he asked, “How soon can you start?”
Her eyebrows rose. “You mean you want me for the job?”
“Sure. We’ll give it a try.” He still didn’t wholly trust a woman named Pandora, but guys on his team were always giving him crap for his name. Didn’t seem fair for him to turn around and do the same. “Can you start first thing tomorrow?”
She pushed up her glasses and shyly smiled. “Sure. The agency said it’s a live-in position, right?”
“Yeah.” He gestured down the hall. “Follow me. I’ll show you your room.”
* * *
STANDING IN THE sunshine-flooded bedroom with its own private bath and even a bay window peering out on the grassy, tree-lined backyard, Pandora fought the urge to pinch herself. A hardwood dresser, nightstand and headboard all matched and the tan carpet was clean enough for the baby in her arms to crawl wherever he wanted—assuming there weren’t more grapes lying around. The queen-size mattress was bare, but new enough to still wear furniture-store stickers.
After all she’d been through, this felt surreal. As a bonus, Calder even seemed like a great guy. Though he possessed beyond steal-your-breath good looks, her gut told her he was a gentleman. As for the indefinable jolt of awareness stemming from just shaking his hand? She was determined to push that from her mind.
“Don’t blame you if you hate the color,” he said in regard to the mixed shades of lavender, orange and lime green polluting the walls. “The last owner went a little crazy with their sponge painting. We’ll pick out something more to your liking.”
“Yellow,” she automatically said. “I’ve always wanted a room the shade of lemon sorbet.”
He laughed. “You got it. As for the bedspread, towels, sheets and everything, I figured you’d be more comfortable using your own.”
“Yes. Thanks.” Only trouble was, she didn’t have her own. But she
had managed to save some money. It wouldn’t hurt to spend a smidge of her precious savings on the perfect floral comforter set to match her soon-to-be newly painted walls.
Quinn had fallen asleep in her arms.
The sensation of once again holding an infant struck her as sublime.
For the past year, she’d held a steady after-school child-care position until the Norfolk naval family had been transferred overseas. Pandora’s charges had been two little girls aged five and seven. During that time and up to the present, she lived at a halfway house in a gloomy basement bedroom no bigger than some closets. The enormity of this job and all the secondary perks it entailed were too great to presently absorb, so she held them close as she might have a secret gift she wouldn’t open until she had some privacy. No, she wouldn’t even think about the full ramifications until Calder signed the agency paperwork that officially brought her dream one step closer to fruition.
“Want me to take him?” Her new boss nodded to his son before leading Pandora into the hall.
“Thanks, but I’m good.” And she was. Nuzzling the infant’s downy hair, she drank in his familiar baby smells of lotion and powder. If this angel were truly hers, she’d never let him go. “If it’s not too personal, where’s Quinn’s mom?”
Calder’s expression darkened as he said, “Not to be evasive, but that’s a long story best told over a few beers.”
“Oh.” He drank? She’d hoped he didn’t, but that was probably expecting too much.
“Come on. I’ll show you Quinn’s room and the rest of the house. We’ve only been here a few weeks. My schedule made it tough to nail down the closing date.”
“You work a lot of overtime?”
He snorted as he led the way into a surprisingly drab nursery. “Guess you could call it that. Sorry—I’m still off my game from the whole choking thing. I’m a navy SEAL. A big part of my job is being called out with little or no notice. Like, I might tell you I’ll be home for dinner, but then get assigned a mission and won’t be back for six months—granted, it’s usually not that long, but it can happen. Technically, for just that reason, my mom has shared custody of Quinn. But since she’s in North Carolina, I need you here for any and all immediate contingencies. That’s why it was important for me to hire someone through an agency. I need to know you’re not only reliable and great with my kid, but have the kind of stable history and experience in caring for children that allows me to be one hundred percent certain you’re doing a great job. That way, I can fully focus on what I do, which makes my life a helluva lot saner.”
