Cowboy Sam's Quadruplets

by Tina Leonard

  She blinked. “Sam, I apologize for offending you. I just searched public records. It wasn’t like it took me more than five minutes to look through records that are open to anyone—”

  He shoved his hat on his head. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Thanks, though.”

  He departed, and Seton thought she’d never seen Sam move so quickly. She sighed. It was going to be awkward now every time they ran into each other in town. He hadn’t wanted to know anything about his life—had run from learning anything at all.

  How did a woman accept a man’s offer when he claimed he didn’t know who he was?

  Seton turned back to the case she’d accepted yesterday, involving a woman who thought her sister was siphoning off her funds by using her identity. Identity theft wasn’t as interesting as missing persons work, but Sam didn’t want to be found, and this job paid, so Seton sent Sam out of her mind.

  She had to stop thinking about how very much she’d actually considered saying yes to his outrageous proposal.

  “MAYBE AUNT CORINNE HAD a point,” Sabrina said when Seton called her that night. “Maybe you should have played it out awhile, at least until you’d figured out what he really wanted. The Callahans are crazy, but they’re crazy like foxes. There’s a method to their madness. And I think Sam wasn’t being honest with you or himself about his true motivation.”

  Seton shifted on her hard wooden chair in her office. “He’ll have to find someone else to fill the check box on his life list.”

  “Maybe that’s not all Sam wants.”

  “It’s all he thinks he wants,” Seton pointed out.

  Sabrina laughed. “I don’t remember any of the Callahan brothers going down easily.”

  “We have nothing in common,” Seton assured her older sister, “and I don’t want a second failed marriage.” She idly rearranged the pencils and pens in her desk. “What would you do if Jonas came to you with the same proposition?”

  “Why do you bring up Jonas?”

  Seton heard the sudden tension in her sister’s voice. “Sam seems to think Jonas is calling you for a reason.”

  “Probably. The Callahans do very little without a reason. It’s usually nothing that reveals itself to a serene mind, though. And I aim for serenity, as you know. So I don’t think about why he calls. I just chat with him for a minute or two until he gets it out of his system, and then I make an excuse to get off the phone.”

  Seton wrinkled her nose. “Still, what would you do if Jonas offered you what Sam offered me?”

  There was silence for a few moments. “Well,” Sabrina said, “since I’m pregnant, I’d very likely say yes.”

  “What?” Seton was so flustered she didn’t know what to say. It was impossible to imagine her sister being pregnant. Sabrina hadn’t had a boyfriend in— “Is it Jonas’s?”

  “Yes. But you can’t tell him.”

  “Wait.” Seton leaned back in the chair, stretching her feet out in front of her and slipping off her pumps. Her head ached, her feet ached and her whole world seemed to be spinning on a twisted axis since she’d returned to Diablo. “When you did you two have a thing?”

  “A fling,” Sabrina said, “and it happened when I was living upstairs at the Callahans.”

  Seton frowned. “You two were certainly quiet about it. No one seems to know that you and Jonas were even interested in each other.”

  “We’re not. Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean it was a serious relationship. In spite of my best efforts and my diaphragm, I seem to have fallen under the Callahan charm.”

  “Congratulations,” Seton said. “What do you mean, you’re not going to tell him? You’re planning to, right?”

  She waited with some alarm for her sister’s answer. Which turned out to be exactly what she’d feared.

  “No, I’m not. Jonas doesn’t want children, and he doesn’t want to get married. He was having a grand time watching his brothers rush to the altar, and planned on being the sole Callahan bachelor. He’s already bought his own piece of property, Dark Diablo. I’m not sure anyone knows he’s actually made the purchase. I can’t tell you how many times Jonas told me that Fiona might run his brothers around with her Grand Plan, but he’d figured out the best way to avoid the whole thing altogether.”

  “I can’t believe this,” Seton murmured. “I’m going to be an aunt.”

  “Not if you give away my secret,” her sister said. “I’ll revoke aunt privileges.”

  Seton frowned. “I think your pregnancy will be obvious when you come back to Diablo, Sabrina.”

  “I don’t plan on coming back. Ever.”

  “You have to tell him sometime.” Seton felt as if the tables had been turned between the older sister and the younger, and now she was in charge of the scolding. “It’s not fair to the baby not to know his father.”

  “That comes later,” Sabrina said. “Trust me, I have a plan. After the baby is born, I’ll tell him.”

  Seton frowned again. “Why after?”

  “Because all the Callahans have managed to get married before their babies were born, as I recall, or very shortly thereafter. I don’t want Jonas suffering a similar attack of conscience.”

  “That’s terrible,” Seton said. “What about the poor child?”

  “The poor child will be fine. I’m sure that he or she will later appreciate that I didn’t try to tie Dad down.”

  “I don’t know,” Seton murmured slowly, and Sabrina said, “Back to your question.”

  “What question?”

  “About Sam’s proposal.”

  “Actually, the question that got us here was what would you say if Jonas offered you the same proposal. You said you’d accept!” Seton exclaimed with delight. “Therefore, it only makes sense for you to tell him.”

  “The proposal under consideration,” Sabrina reminded her, “is ‘marry me, Seton, and it’ll be a name-only thing, just to satisfy the family requirements.’ I would take that deal. But I’m not being offered anything by Jonas.”

  “But you might be!” Seton felt compelled to fight for her niece or nephew’s sake. After all, aunts were meant to be advocates, weren’t they? “If you’d tell him!”

  “The difference is, your deal is that there’ll be no babies, no sex,” Sabrina pointed out. “I can assure you that Jonas and I could never strike that bargain. Obviously, we’ve already had sex, and if we got within a mile of each other, we probably would again. But you and Sam—”

  “Never would,” Seton said, somewhat morosely. “He made that pretty clear.”

  “Exactly. So you’re in a stronger position.”

  “Why?” Seton flexed her feet and shoved them back into her pumps. Her head was spinning, and she was ready to head out into the already dark street of Diablo. “You’re having a baby. I want a baby, and won’t get one from Sam.”

  “I’ll leave you to figure out those details,” Sabrina said.

  Seton flipped off her office lights and locked the door, stuffing her keys into her briefcase as she walked down the hall, cell phone to her ear. “Don’t you want to wear the magic wedding gown? It’s yours, Sabrina, after all.”

  “No, I don’t. It was Mom’s, Seton. It’s only magic because it was Mom’s. I had nothing to do with that. I’ve been thrilled for other women to wear it and know their true love. Me? I’m just happy I’m going to be a mother, to be honest.”

  Seton headed out into the brisk night air and glanced up at the stars. “I miss you. I can’t bear that you won’t ever come back to Diablo. Why didn’t you tell me that when I was in D.C. with you?”

  “Because I had a strong feeling there was someplace else you belonged. And I’ve really gotten into this animal activist stuff,” Sabrina said. “That undercover investigation we did with the circus really fired me up. There’s a whole lot I can do, Seton. Next week, I get to speak before a committee on animal abuse. I like it here in D.C. And it’ll be a great place to raise a child.”

  “Sure,” Seto
n said, not convinced. “Thanks for the chat, sis.”

  “No problem. Go get him, is my advice.”

  “I don’t want—” Seton began, but Sabrina had already hung up. “I don’t want him,” she murmured, walking to her car, not noticing the figure leaning against the door.

  “Working late?” Sam asked, and Seton gasped.

  “Sam!” She tossed her cell into her briefcase, feeling a little guilty about talking about him. She hoped he hadn’t heard anything she’d said. “What are you doing?”

  “Waiting on you. How about we discuss things over a drink at Banger’s?”

  Seton looked at Sam, thinking about her sister’s pregnancy. She couldn’t have a drink with Sam. If she did, she might start talking and unload Sabrina’s secret. It weighed so heavily on her now. “I don’t think so.”

  “C’mon,” Sam said, “you look like you could use a chardonnay.”

  “I could,” Seton said, “but I think Aunt Corinne is waiting on me with tea and cookies.”

  “Nah. She’s playing bingo. I just saw her at the Books’n’Bingo with the blue-haired crowd. That means,” Sam said, with his trademark Callahan smile, “that I’m all yours for the evening, doll.”

  Chapter Three

  “I owe you an apology for my behavior earlier,” Sam said. Seton rattled him more easily than anyone he could remember, and that included judges and fellow lawyers.

  “No need to apologize. I shouldn’t have looked for your family records.”

  “You were trying to help. I appreciate that. Like you said, anyone could have found the same information,” Sam stated, ignoring her reluctance to accompany him by placing a hand under her elbow and guiding her toward Banger’s. “However, I need a wife more than a P.I. now.”

  Seton pulled her arm away from his grasp and gave him a stern look. “I absolutely refuse to discuss weddings, marriage or proposals of any kind.”

  “Suit yourself, doll,” Sam said as he led her into Banger’s. “Let me take that suitcase from you. It looks so heavy for such a delicate lady.”

  She snatched her briefcase away. “Don’t patronize me, you ape. Or you’ll be sipping chardonnay with someone else tonight.”

  He grinned. “I like a woman with spirit. I’m sure that’s obvious.”

  “Well, I don’t like you,” she returned as she slid into a booth. “So don’t push your luck.”

  Sam grinned and told himself that if he took things real slow with Seton, maybe, just maybe, he’d end up with her in his bed eventually. Of course, that would throw off the marriage-in-name-only angle. He studied her more carefully, and wondered if marriage-in-bed-only was more his game, anyway.

  SETON FELT AS IF a wolf was watching her all night long. Okay, maybe she and Sam had been at Banger’s for only two hours, but she felt as if he was waiting to pounce on her. He watched her every move. She drank her wine faster, and didn’t decline when he ordered taquitos and Southwestern wraps. And more wine.

  Somewhere along the way, she found herself having fun. “I’ve had enough,” Seton finally said, waving away the waiter with the liberal hand at pouring. “No more for me or I’m going to sprout grapevines.”

  “The night’s still young.”

  Young enough to get in trouble. “I’d better be going, Sam.” But she didn’t move. It was cozy in Banger’s, and the booth they’d been given was private and lit by candles. Seton told herself to relax; Sam wasn’t going to spring on her. And the fact that her sister was pregnant by his brother shouldn’t make her uneasy.

  Of course, it did. She was worried for Sabrina, and Jonas, and the baby. The situation gnawed at her. Seton sipped at her wine, reminding herself that her sister’s life was her own.

  “Jonas is driving me nuts,” Sam said. “He spends all his time hanging around the ranch. He won’t go out. He’s about as much fun as wet socks. I don’t know what his problem is.”

  Seton shook her head. “Ask him.”

  “He grunts by way of pleasantries these days.” Sam gazed at her. “How’s Sabrina, anyway?”

  “Enjoying what she’s doing, I think.” Seton stared at Sam’s mouth and fleetingly wished they were kissing and not talking as if they were just friends.

  He drummed his fingers on the table. “I don’t suppose she’ll be coming back to Diablo anytime soon.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “That’s too bad. A little female companionship might be good for Jonas.”

  Sam seemed genuinely worried about his brother. Seton had nothing to say that would relieve either of them, so she shrugged. “Thank you for a lovely meal, but I—”

  He put a hand over hers as she clutched her purse. “Don’t go just yet.”

  “Sam.” The temptation was too strong. His warm fingers on hers sent waves of longing through her. She didn’t want to acknowledge any feelings she might have for him at this point. Those feelings she’d had before—the questions that had brought her back to Diablo—simply couldn’t exist any longer. Even if everything else could be waved away with a magic wand—such as his reluctance to have children and her strong wish for a baby—Seton couldn’t date Sam in good conscience, knowing that Sabrina was pregnant with Jonas’s child. “I really have to go.”

  She stood, surprised when Sam pressed her hand to his lips.

  “Thank you for spending this evening with me,” he said, his tone agreeable and a little wistful. “I really didn’t want to go back to the ranch to look at Jonas’s sour puss another night.” Sam laid money on the table and put his hand against the curve of her back to guide her from the restaurant.

  As they walked out, he waved to people he knew, and Seton was uncomfortably aware of the interested glances following them, especially from women. She wished Sam didn’t have his palm against her back; it felt so possessive. Yet wasn’t this why she’d returned to Diablo? To see if there could be anything between them?

  “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  Sam and Seton headed that way, crisp March breezes making them hurry faster than she would have liked. The thought made her feel a little guilty. She liked spending time with Sam, more than she should.

  Sam waited while she unlocked her car. “Good night,” he said. “Thanks again for having dinner with me.”

  Seton hesitated. “Sam, I really am sorry about digging into your family history.”

  He looked at her. “I think you were meant to do it,” he said. “Why else would I decide I needed Nancy Drew in my life?”

  Seton gazed back at him. “You mean all that proposal stuff was a ruse to get me checking into your family past?”

  “No,” Sam said, “the offer’s still on the table. What I meant was that there are a ton of other single ladies around. I had to pick the one with a nose for solving mysteries. Maybe it was my subconscious directing me.”

  Seton let herself sink into the driver’s seat. “Glad you weren’t attracted to me or anything.”

  “Yeah,” Sam said, “physical attraction usually has a short shelf life.”

  “What would you have done if I’d said yes?” she asked, curious in spite of herself. “Given that you’re not attracted to me for anything except my curiosity.”

  “Well,” Sam said, “first, I would have married you.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “And then?”

  “We would have stayed married until you got sick of ranch life, or decided that the long hours working as a lawyer got on your nerves.” He shrugged. “But you didn’t say yes, so you’re off the hook, lady.”

  “Good thing, that,” Seton said, thinking about Sabrina.

  “I guess that means you don’t plan to change your mind.”

  She thought he actually looked hopeful that she might. “No,” Seton said softly. “I won’t.”

  He grinned at her. “Too bad. I would probably have shown you a good time.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “After we were married? Why not before? You have such a strange way of going about things.”

/>   “That’s what makes me a successful lawyer,” Sam said cheerfully. “I never do what the opposition expects.”

  “Nice to know. Good night, Sam.” Seton closed the car door and pulled out of the parking lot, somewhat disappointed that he hadn’t tried to kiss her good-night. He hadn’t even looked as if he wanted to.

  Maybe he really wasn’t attracted to her. Could his proposal about a marriage-in-name-only have been sincere?

  “It doesn’t matter,” she muttered to herself. The Callahans were already adding another baby to the clan—they just didn’t know it.