“We’re married.”
Seamus’s mouth fell open, then clamped shut.
Kalli smiled. “I do believe this is the first time you’ve ever been speechless, Papa. Please—” She leaned toward him and laid a hand on his arm, her eyes beseeching him to understand. “Please be happy for us. For me. All my life, I’ve had no place to truly belong. With Shiloh, it’s different. We love each other.”
Seamus sighed heavily. “In a few days’ time, you fell in love and you—you married? And where did this marriage take place?”
“At Colbert’s Ferry. And we have a legal certificate, Papa. To answer your question, yes, we fell in love quickly, but it was due to the circumstances.”
“Which were?” Seamus raised a brow. “He took advantage—”
Kalli rose swiftly from her chair, anger at his accusations burning her cheeks. “No, he did not! If anything, I—put myself in a vulnerable position. He was bitten by a rattlesnake. His fever was so high…I laid with him to keep him warm when the chills wracked his body. He did not ‘take advantage’ as you claim—and I wish you’d stop saying that!”
Seamus was silent a moment, then, “Well, daughter, you’re here now, and it’s glad I am to have you, if even for a short time.”
“It won’t be a ‘short time’, Papa. We will have Christmas here. Shiloh and I will drive over to the Barretts’ and bring Mrs. Barrett back with us, to spend Christmas with all of us. She must be terribly worried about Asher. Then, you will return the deed to Shiloh as promised, and he and I will make our home somewhere nearby.”
Kalli gave her father a suspicious look. “What was Asher doing here, of all places, anyhow?”
“Dern fool boy was close to where our land borders and saw Baker and his men breaking camp. He was able to take cover and hear part of their conversation. They were planning to hit some of the wealthier ranchers—and the Rocking K was to be their first stop. Asher came to warn me, but by the time he got me to listen to him, they were bearing down on us.”
“So…he came to warn you, even after you gave him a black eye the last time you saw him. And…insulted him.”
Seamus nodded slowly. “Well, I ain’t proud of it, daughter, but yes, that’s what happened. The Barretts are honorable men—well, the younger two. And their pa was, as well.”
Kalli seized the opportunity to ask for the thing she wanted most from her father at this point. “Papa… please give Shiloh and me your blessing. He truly is a good man, as you say. And…I do love him. With everything in me, I love him.”
After a moment, Seamus gave a stiff jerk of his head. “So be it, then. But if he ever mistreats you, he’ll have to answer to me!”
Kalli leaned down and kissed Seamus’s forehead. “He won’t mistreat me, Papa. You’ll see.”
Chapter Nine
Kalli and Shiloh had taken Seamus’s buggy over to the Barrett homestead and brought Mrs. Barrett back to the Rocking K.
Shiloh’s mother had embraced Kalli immediately with a quick hug and, “Welcome to the Barrett family, daughter.”
Shiloh had quickly explained what had happened, and he loaded up the pies she’d made ahead for the Christmas dinner she’d planned to share with Asher the next day…when she was certain he would return.
“Take a ham from the smokehouse, son,” she’d told Shiloh. “We don’t want to go empty-handed. Christy sent word they won’t be home this year. She’s in the family way again. Do you think one ham will be enough?”
“Sure,” Shiloh said. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he was positive Mrs. Harrelson had everything in hand. And thinking on it, he figured after the hours she and Mr. Harrelson had spent hiding from Baker’s gang, Emily Harrelson might be able to use some help, after all.
When the gifts had been loaded, Shiloh helped his mother and Kalli into the buggy and they headed back to the Rocking K.
“I believe this is the first Christmas I’ve ever spent away from home,” Mrs. Barrett said, her tone a little melancholy. “How about you, dear?”
“I—have spent almost every holiday away from my home,” Kalli told her. “I attended boarding school almost all my life.”
“Oh, Kalli…I’m so sorry. Well, we’ll just have to make up for all those years, and more. This will be the best Christmas ever, for all of us, I hope.”
Kalli knew the woman must be thinking of her youngest son, worrying over his injuries.
“Ma, you don’t need to be worried about Ash,” Shiloh said, also picking up on his mother’s concerns. “He’s gonna be fine. Doc Lemons was right there with the posse, and Ash is in good hands. He’ll be up and around in no time. Especially when he smells that pumpkin pie you made.”
“I hope so, Shiloh. I couldn’t bear—well, I hope you’re right.” She fell silent a moment, then asked tentatively, “Kalli, dear…are you certain we’re all welcome at your father’s house?”
Kalli couldn’t miss the anxiety in her mother-in-law’s tone. And she couldn’t blame her, after everything that had happened.
“Mrs. Barrett—” She turned to face her, not quite certain how to begin. Finally, she smiled and took the other woman’s hand. “Yes. I’m positive. Please, have no worries about my father—”
“Oh, your poor little hands! No gloves!” Mrs. Barrett fussed. “I wondered what on earth I might give you for Christmas on such short notice, and now I know. I’ll knit you a pair of warm mittens—that’ll be faster than gloves—”
“Mrs. Barrett, that is so kind of you. I—didn’t have a chance to fetch my gloves, Shiloh and I left so—so suddenly.”
Kalli’s teasing gaze met Shiloh’s dark eyes, and he winked at her.
“We’ll fix that, my dear,” Mrs. Barrett assured her with a pat.
• ♥ •
Could his homecoming have been any better? Aside from his encounter with Henry Baker, Shiloh didn’t think so. As he lay awake, Kalli sleeping on his shoulder, he let himself remember all the events of the day. His mother had wept upon seeing Asher’s bruises, embarrassing his little brother to no end.
Seamus had surprised them all, calling a meeting of Shiloh, Kalli, and Mrs. Barrett in his room, where he sat up in bed and declared that Shiloh and Kalli had his blessing on their marriage. He thanked Shiloh for bringing Kalli home safely, and let them know he’d had a telegram sent to Kalli’s mother to let her know their daughter was safe, and would be contacting her soon.
Then, he thanked Mrs. Barrett for coming, and abruptly dismissed Shiloh and Kalli, saying he wished to speak to Mrs. Barrett alone.
Shiloh could only surmise he wanted to tell her privately what had happened between Dirk and himself…and to apologize for what he’d been forced to do.
Tomorrow, there would be gifts exchanged…and Shiloh felt a pang of regret that during these past several days, he’d not given Christmas much thought—and gifts for everyone had weighed even less on his mind.
Lord knew he had plenty of money. Once he’d had a free moment, he’d gone back to the spot where he’d buried his cache to keep it safe from the Baker Gang and retrieved it, putting it back in his saddlebags that he kept in the room where he and Kalli were staying. Seamus had assured him the deed would be restored to him the next day, along with the other half of the payment he had promised.
Shiloh had nothing to give Kalli. Not tomorrow, anyway. It would be the day after Christmas before he could buy her a gift. But maybe it was better that way. She could go with him and pick out what she wanted. What did he know about buying gifts for women?
Which reminded him of the fact that he had nothing to give his mother, or his brother, either.
“What’s wrong?”
Startled, he glanced down at Kalli, who’d been watching him, he realized. “I—don’t have any gifts. Not one thing for you.”
She smiled. “Is that all? I thought something was really wrong.”
“Our first Christmas, though. And—hell, I should’ve thought, Kalli.”
She came up
on one elbow, her skin warm against his where her bare breasts met his chest. “Silly man. We have a whole lifetime ahead of us for gifts. We’ve been a bit busy with other things these past few days, you know. Like staying alive from snake bites and dodging outlaws’ bullets.”
She bent to put her lips to his, her dark hair falling around them.
Shiloh’s lips curved under hers.
“What pleases you so much, husband?”
“You do. And I’ve been selfish, it seems.”
She pulled back slightly and quirked a brow at him. “How so?”
“I gave myself the best gift of all when I kidnapped you, my Kalliroe.” He pulled her down once more and she laughed softly.
“I have a sneaking suspicion,” Kalli whispered, “that we are a gift to each other—from Seamus Rory O’Connor.”
As her lips found his, Shiloh whispered, “Merry Christmas, my love.”
Her tender kiss, full of promise, was his answer.
Cherokee Fry Bread
(Kalli’s Cherokee Confection!)
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
½ tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
¾ cup milk
Directions
Stir in dry ingredients. Add milk and mix well. Fold in a little more flour, then pour out onto a floured surface and knead to “pastry” consistency. You may want to flour your hands to make it easier. Pat out flat on the floured surface. Cut into squares/rectangles approximately 2x2 inches, or 2x3 inches.
Fry in oil in hot skillet, turning several times. Squares will “puff up” and eventually turn golden brown. Take out when golden brown and drain. Eat with honey, jelly, or brown sug-ar/cinnamon mixture for breakfast or dessert. Can also be used to make Indian tacos—just cut your squares/rectangles of dough a little bigger.
About the Author—Cheryl Pierson
Cheryl is a native Oklahoman with ten novels to her credit as well as numerous short stories and novellas. Founding Prairie Rose Publications with Livia Reasoner is a dream-come-true for her—there’s something new every day. Helping other authors is at the top of her list, and she enjoys every minute of it. In the past, Cheryl has served as President of Western Fictioneers, a professional organization for western authors. She has two grown children and lives with her husband and her rescue dog, Sammy, in Oklahoma City.
See Prairie Rose Publications’ website for more of Cheryl’s work: http://prairierosepublications.com/
Amazon link: www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.pierson.92
The Devil and Miss Julia Jackson
Outlaw's Kiss
A Hero for Christmas
A Marriage of Convenience
Kidnapping Kalli Page 7
