by Tina Leonard
Until, it seemed, a hundred people flowed out of the house, coming to greet them. Creed opened his door, turning to help her out. A tiny, older woman made it to the van first.
“Aunt Fiona, this is Aberdeen Donovan,” Creed said. “Aberdeen, this is the brains of the outfit, Fiona.”
“Hello, Aberdeen,” Fiona said. “Welcome to Rancho Diablo.”
Fiona’s smile enveloped her. Aberdeen thought that the same wonderful navy eyes ran in the Callahan family. She felt welcomed at once, and not nervous as she had been after listening to the men discuss their “tyrant” aunt. “Hello. Creed’s told me so many wonderful things about you.”
“I doubt it.” Fiona smiled. “But you’re sweet to fib, honey. This is Burke, the family overseer. He’s the true brains of the outfit, as my rascal nephew puts it.”
A kindly white-haired gentleman shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure, Aberdeen. And Fiona, I think we have some extra guests.” Johnny had unstrapped Lincoln Rose and handed her out to Aberdeen. Fiona gasped.
“What a little doll! Creed, you didn’t tell us you were bringing a baby!”
His brothers came forward, eager for their introduction and to catch a glimpse of the baby. Johnny handed out the last two, and Aberdeen smiled.
“This is Lincoln Rose, and Suzanne and Ashley. These are my nieces, and this is my brother, Johnny Donovan.”
Johnny finally made it from the van and introduced himself to the rest of the Callahans. Fiona shook her head at Creed. “You told Rafe you were bringing bombshells, you ruffian.”
“I couldn’t resist, Aunt Fiona.” Creed grinned, clearly proud of himself.
“These are the prettiest bombshells I’ve ever seen,” Fiona said. “I’ll have to send out for some cribs, though. And anything else you require, Aberdeen. We don’t have enough children at Rancho Diablo, so we’ll be happy to gear up for these. You’ll just have to let us know what babies need. My nephews have been a wee bit on the slow side about starting families.” She sent Creed a teasing smile. “Is there anything else you’d like to spring on us, Creed?”
“Introductions first, Aunt Fiona.” He went through the litany of brothers, and Aberdeen felt nearly overwhelmed by all the big men around her. Johnny seemed right at home. But then, another woman came forward, pushing a big-wheeled pram over the driveway, and Suzanne and Ashley went over to see what was inside.
“Babies,” Ashley said, and Creed laughed.
“This is Pete’s wife, Jackie. Jackie, this is Aberdeen Donovan.”
Jackie smiled at her; Aberdeen felt that she’d found a friend.
“We’ll have a lot to talk about,” Jackie said.
“Yes, we will,” Fiona said. “Come inside and let’s have tea. I’m sure you’re starving, Aberdeen.” She took Lincoln Rose in her arms and headed toward the house. Aberdeen and Jackie followed.
“I’m starving, too,” Creed said, watching the ladies walk away.
Sam laughed. “Not for love.”
Jonas shook his head. “Did you buy that big diamond she’s wearing?”
Creed shrugged. “It isn’t that big.”
“You’re getting married?” Judah asked. “You were only gone a few days!”
“It feels right,” Creed said, grinning at them.
“You’re trying to win,” Pete said. “You’re trying to beat me.”
Creed clapped his brother on the back. “Nope. I’d have to go for four to win, and I’m pretty good at knowing my limits, bro. The gold medal is all yours.”
Pete grinned. “I hope you warned Aberdeen.”
“About what?” Creed scowled as he and his brothers and Johnny walked toward the house, each carrying a suitcase. Burke tried to help carry one, but the brothers told him diaper bags were their responsibility, and Burke gladly went to park the van instead.
“About the bet. Which is a really dumb bet, if you ask me,” Pete said. “I wasn’t even trying, and look what happened to me. I just wanted to get married.”
“It’s almost like you got hit by a magic spell,” Sam mused. “Who would have ever thought you could father three adorable little girls?”
“I don’t know what to say about that,” Pete groused. “I think it was more like a miracle. But besides that, I’m more than capable of fathering adorable, thanks. You’ll be the one who has ugly.”
“There’s no such thing as an ugly baby.” Jonas opened the door. “Have you ever seen an ugly baby? They don’t exist. I’m a doctor, I know.”
“You’re a heart specialist, don’t overreach your specialty.” Creed shook his head. “But no, we’re not going to bring up the baby bet, and we’re not going to talk about ranch problems or anything like that. I’m trying to get the woman to marry me, not leave in a dust cloud.” It could happen. Aberdeen could get cold feet. She had that cold-feet look about her right now. Creed knew she was still annoyed about Rafe’s conversation with him in the plane. He also knew she’d been a bit rattled by the size of Rancho Diablo. Or maybe by its faraway location. Whatever it was, he needed time to iron it out of her without his brothers bringing up Callahan drama. “So just pull your hats down over your mouths if you have to,” he told his brothers, “and let’s not talk about anything we have going on that’s unusual.”
“Oh, he likes this one,” Sam whispered to his brothers.
“You’re talking about my sister like I’m not here,” Johnny said.
“Sorry,” Sam said. “You look like one of us. You could be a Callahan. We can be easily confused.” He grinned. “We separate ourselves into the bachelors and the down-for-the-count.”
“I’m not down—oh, never mind.” Creed shook his head. “Johnny, don’t listen to anything we say. We mean well. Some of us just blab too much.”
Johnny shrugged. “I hear it all the time in the bar. Yak, yak, yak.”
Jonas jerked his head toward the barn. “While the ladies chat, let us show you the set-up.”
Creed hung back as his brothers headed out. He was pretty certain that if he was smart—and he thought he was where women were concerned—he’d better hang around and try to iron some of the kinks out of his little woman. She had a mulish look in her eyes whenever he caught her gaze, and he knew too well that mulish females were not receptive to men. He sat down by Aberdeen and pulled Lincoln Rose into his lap. “Take you for a buggy ride around the property when you’ve had a chance to rest?”
Aberdeen looked at him. “Is it story time?”
“I think so.” Creed nodded. “Better late than never, huh?”
“We’ll babysit,” Jackie said, and Fiona nodded eagerly.
“And it’s romantic on the ranch at night,” Jackie said. “Trust me, Aberdeen, you want to take a spin on the ranch.”
Aberdeen looked at Creed, and he smiled, and though she didn’t smile back at him, he thought, she wasn’t beaning him with a baby bottle, either—and that was the best sign he had at the moment.
“Romance,” he said so only she could hear, “are you up for that?”
“We’ll see how good your story is,” she said, and Creed sank back in the sofa, looking at Lincoln Rose.
“Any tips on good stories?” he asked the baby, but she just looked at him. “I don’t know any, either,” he said, and Fiona said, “Then I suggest you get it in gear, nephew. Once upon a time, cowboy poets lived by their ability to tell stories. Live the legend.”
Aberdeen raised a brow at him, and he decided right then and there that whatever she wanted, the lady was going to get.
Chapter Thirteen
Aberdeen could tell Creed was dying to get her alone. She wasn’t entirely reluctant. Story time didn’t sound horrible—and in spite of the conversation she’d overheard between Creed and his twin, she was willing to give him a chance to explain.
And to kiss her breathless.
Burke entered the room with a tall, distinguished-looking guest, and the room went silent.
“Well, Bode Jenkins,” Fiona said, rising to her fe
et. “To what do we owe this unpleasant occurrence?”
Bode smiled at her thinly, then glanced at Aberdeen’s daughters. “A little bird told me that you were welcoming visitors. You know how I hate not being invited to a party, Fiona.” He sent a welcoming smile to Aberdeen, but instead of feeling welcomed, her skin chilled.
Creed stood, and Jonas stood with him. Sam followed, as did Rafe, Pete and Judah. Aberdeen glanced at Creed, whose face seemed suddenly set in granite. The brothers looked ready for an old-style Western shoot-out, which bewildered her.
“Now, Bode,” Fiona said, “you have no business being here.”
“You should be neighborly, Fiona,” Bode said, his tone silky. “When Sabrina told me you were expecting visitors, I just had to come and see what good things were happening around my future ranch. One day,” he ruminated, “I’m going to cover this place over with concrete to build the biggest tourist center you ever dreamed of.”
The brothers folded their arms, standing silent. If this man’s visit was about her arrival, then Aberdeen wanted no part of it. She grabbed Lincoln Rose and held her in her lap, either for comfort or to protect her from what felt like an oncoming storm, she wasn’t certain. Her sisters naturally followed Lincoln Rose, hugging to Aberdeen’s side for protection.
But then Ashley broke away and went to Creed, who picked her up in his big, strong arms. Bode smiled, his mouth barely more than a grimace. “Looks like you’re growing quite the family, Fiona,” he said, glancing at Pete’s and Jackie’s three daughters. “Another birdie told me that you’re paying your sons to get wives and have babies so you can make the claim that Rancho Diablo has its own population and therefore shouldn’t be subject to the laws of the nation. It won’t work, Fiona, if that’s what’s on your mind.”
“Never mind what’s on her mind,” Creed said, his voice a growl. “If you’ve stated your business, Jenkins, go.”
Bode looked at Aberdeen. Her skin jumped into a crawling shiver. She clutched her two nieces to her. “I’m not going without giving my gift to the new bride-to-be,” he murmured, his gaze alight with what looked like unholy fire to Aberdeen. “Will you walk outside with me, my dear?”
“I’m sorry that I can’t,” Aberdeen said. “My nieces wouldn’t like me leaving them. We’ve just gotten in from a long day of traveling. I’m sure you’ll understand.”
Creed shot her a look of approval.
“That’s too bad,” Bode said. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Is Sabrina outside?” Fiona frowned. “Why don’t you bring her in?”
“Sabrina says she thinks she’s coming down with a cold. She didn’t want to give it to anyone.” Bode shrugged. “I’ve just learned Sabrina is a fortune-teller. I wanted her to tell your fortune as a gift, Miss—”
“Donovan,” Aberdeen said. “I don’t believe in fortune-telling, Mr. Jenkins. Please tell your friend I’ll be happy to meet her at another time when she isn’t under the weather.”
But then she realized that Fiona was staring at Bode, her brows pinched and low. Aberdeen sank back into her chair, glancing at Creed, who watched Bode like a hawk.
“Sabrina is a home-care provider,” Fiona said, “who happens to have a gift. Why do you sound so irregular about it, Bode?”
He smiled at Fiona, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. “I think you’ve tried to set me up, Fiona Callahan. And I don’t take kindly to trickery.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Fiona snapped. “Don’t be obtuse.”
“Then let me be clear. You hired Sabrina McKinley to spy on me.”
“Nonsense,” Fiona shot back. “Why would I do that?”
“You’ll do anything you can to save your ranch.” Bode tapped his walking stick with impatience. “My daughter Julie figured it all out,” he said. “She learned from one of your sons that Sabrina had been here one night.”
“So?” Fiona said, her tone rich with contempt.
“So it was an easy feat for Julie to run a background check on Sabrina. Turns out she was traveling with some kind of circus.”
“Is that a crime?” Jonas asked. “Last I knew, a circus was a place for hard-working people to have a job with some travel and do what they like to do.”
“I’d be careful if I was you, Jonas,” Bode said, his tone measured, “your little aunt can get in a lot of trouble for helping someone forge documents of employment and employment history.”
Creed snorted. “How would Aunt Fiona do that?”
“Why don’t you tell them, Fiona?” Bode stepped closer to Aberdeen, gazing down at the little girls she held. “I’d be cognizant, my dear, were I you, that this family loves games. And not games of the puzzle and Scrabble variety. Games where they use you as a pawn. You’ll figure out soon enough what your role is, but only you can decide if you want to be a piece that’s played.”
“How dare you?” Aberdeen snapped. “Sir, I’ll have you know that I’m a minister. I’ve met people from all walks of life, heard their stories, ached with their troubles, celebrated their joy. You know nothing about me at all, so don’t assume I don’t know how to take care of myself and those I love.”
“I only wish to give you the gift of knowledge,” Bode replied.
Aberdeen shook her head. “Gift unaccepted and unneeded. Creed, I’d like to take the girls to their room now.” She stood, and Burke materialized at her side.
“I’ll take Miss Donovan to her room,” Burke said. “The golf cart should carry everyone nicely.”
“I’m going out to see Sabrina,” Jonas said, and Bode said, “She’s not up to seeing—”
“She’ll see me,” Jonas snapped.
Judah trailed after Jonas. “I’m not being a bodyguard or anything,” he told Bode as he walked by him, “I’m just damn nosy.”
The two men left. Creed handed Lincoln Rose to Burke. Fiona stood, looking like a queen of a castle.
“You’ve caused enough of an uproar for one night, Bode. Out you go.”
“We’re at war, Fiona,” Bode said, and she said, “Damn right we are.”
“That’s enough,” Creed said. “If you don’t go, Jenkins, we’ll throw your worthless hide out.”
Aberdeen followed Burke outside, with a last glance back at Creed. He’d stepped close to Bode, protectively standing between his aunt and the enemy, and Aberdeen realized that Creed was a man who guarded his own. He looked fierce, dangerous, nothing at all like the man who romanced her and seduced her until she wanted to do whatever it took to make him happy.
Yet, looking back at Creed, Aberdeen also realized she had no idea what was going on in this family. It was as if she’d landed in a strange new world, and the man she’d agreed to marry had suddenly turned into a surly lion.
Johnny took one of the girls in his arms, following her out, and as their eyes met, she knew her brother was re-thinking her cowboy fiancé, too.
“BUSTED,” SAM SAID, and Creed nodded. Bode had left, his demeanor pleased. Whatever he’d come to do, he felt he’d succeeded.
“I think you are busted, Aunt,” Creed said. “He knows all about your plan. I don’t think Sabrina would have ratted you out unless he threatened her.”
“Oh, pooh.” Fiona waved a hand. “Bode is my puppet. He jumps when I pull his strings.”
Creed crooked a brow at his aunt. “You told Sabrina to enlighten him with the fortune-teller gag?”
“Seemed simpler than having him fish around and find out she’s actually an investigative reporter.” Fiona shrugged, looking pleased with herself. “Now he thinks he knows something he probably won’t go digging around in her background. At the moment, he thinks he stole her from me, so he’s pleased. It’s not that hard to do a search on the computer for people these days, you know.”
Creed shook his head. “You deal with her,” he told his brothers. “I have a fiancée and three little ladies to settle in to the guest house.”
His brothers looked as though they wishe
d he would keep on with the line of questioning he’d been peppering the cagey aunt with, but he had promised romance to a pretty parson, and he was going to do just that.
CREED WALKED INTO THE GUEST HOUSE right after Aberdeen had finished tidying the girls up and putting them in their jammies. The girls were tired, too exhausted for a bedtime story, so Aberdeen kissed them and put them in their little beds with rails—except for Lincoln Rose, who had her own lovely white crib. “Your aunt is amazing,” she told Creed, who nodded.
“She amazes everyone.”
“She’s thought of everything.” Aberdeen pointed around the room, showing the toys and extra diapers and even a tray of snacks and drinks on a wrought-iron tray on the dresser. “How did she do all this so quickly?”
“A lot of this is Burke’s doing,” Creed said, “but Fiona is the best. We were spoiled growing up.”
“I could guess that.” Aberdeen looked around the room. “It’s clear that she spent a lot of time thinking about what children need to be comfortable.”
Creed frowned. Aunt Fiona hadn’t known about the girls. He hadn’t told anyone, not even Rafe. He’d wanted them to get to know Aberdeen and the girls on their own, and not from anything he mentioned on a phone call.
Somehow Aunt Fiona had figured him out. He sighed. “No moss grows under her feet.”
“Well, I’m very grateful. And now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to bed.” She turned her back on Creed, letting him know that he need not expect a goodnight kiss. She wasn’t ready to go into all the details of everything he was keeping from her, but at this moment she was bone-tired. And her nieces would be up early, no doubt. Tomorrow she’d make Creed tell her what was going on with the scary neighbor and Rancho Diablo.
At least those were her plans, until she felt Creed standing behind her, his body close and warm against her back. She closed her eyes, drinking in his nearness and his strength. He ran his hands down the length of her arms, winding her fingers into his, and Aberdeen’s resistance slowly ebbed away.