Callahan Cowboy Triplets

by Tina Leonard

  Wolf’s expression turned peeved, though he shrugged. “Just a thought.” He walked away, went inside the Books’n’Bingo Society bookshop and tearoom. Up the main street, Tighe saw a few of Wolf’s merry stragglers staring them down.

  “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he said under his breath.

  “So do I,” Ash murmured. “For one thing, Wolf’s gone into Fiona’s tearoom, which means he plans to stir up trouble. But that bit about Running Bear—”

  “Is a trap,” Jace said.

  “Agreed. Head for home.” Tighe shoved his hat low on his head, settled his leg more comfortably, trying to ignore the sudden yawing pit in his stomach. No one could get to Running Bear; their grandfather was part of the canyons and the wind and the sun.

  They knew Running Bear wasn’t immortal. He just seemed like it.

  Closing his eyes, Tighe tried to envision his grandfather as Ash sped toward Rancho Diablo. Searched his mind for the old chief’s spirit.

  Something didn’t feel quite right. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.

  It felt as if change was coming.

  * * *

  THE RANCH WAS alive with women when Tighe returned with his siblings. Ladies of all shapes and sizes filed into the house, carrying bags and boxes and notebooks.

  “Wow.” Ash parked the jeep, staring. “Has Aunt Fiona got one of her meetings today?”

  Jace grunted. “Looks like every woman in Diablo is here. Maybe she forgot to tell everyone the meeting is at the Books’n’Bingo tearoom, as they always are.”

  Tighe got down out of the vehicle, ignoring his brother’s help. “I’ve got a crutch,” he snapped. “Anyway, my leg is almost healed.”

  “Not until Galen examines it and says so. No heroics. We’ve had enough of those.” Jace headed toward the house with Ash, leaving Tighe to stump along behind.

  Inside, the ladies were an excited gaggle of happy faces and energetic voices. His aunt was in her element in the middle of the crowd Tighe estimated to be somewhere around thirty. He kissed her on the cheek. “Aunt Fiona, did you forget to send me an invitation to the party?”

  River stood nearby, gorgeous but not pleased, if he gauged her mood correctly. She wasn’t smiling, though to be fair, she was beautiful even when she frowned. “I sure do have a thing for you,” he said to her, and she shook her head and drifted into another room.

  “What’s going on, Aunt Fiona?”

  “I think you better talk things over with River,” Fiona said.

  His heart fell into his boots.

  “You always were the unpredictable one,” his aunt said with a grin.

  “Oh, no, Aunt Fiona, this baby shower isn’t for River, is it?” River already had a tiny touch of cold feet. This wouldn’t help. He strode out of the room to follow her.

  “River?” She was putting some small, crustless sandwiches on a tray in the kitchen. “What’s going on?”

  “Well,” River said, “apparently we’re definitely pregnant.”

  His heart leaped for joy. Yet she wasn’t smiling, so he sensed a heartfelt “Hurray!” wasn’t appropriate. “And Aunt Fiona already planned a baby shower?”

  She shook her head. “This isn’t for me, although the word is definitely out and plans are in full swing. I’m surprised you weren’t mobbed with congratulations when you walked into the house.”

  He glanced over his shoulder to where the women were corralled in the den, chatting. “You could have called and let me know. I’d have liked to be first and not last.”

  “Don’t worry. This is just a planning meeting for the upcoming Christmas ball.” River handed him the tray. “Six months is hardly enough time for Fiona to get everything done she wants, so the planning must begin now. Volunteers must be pressed into work, committees formed.”

  “Yes, yes,” Tighe said, impatient, “but what did the doctor say?”

  River shrugged. “That I’m healthy. The pregnancy is right where it should be, considering.”

  He frowned. River really wasn’t happy about carrying his child. Somehow he was going to have to fix this. “That’s good. We’ll get you on some good prenatal vitamins, make sure you get lots of rest....” He glanced out at his aunt, who had called her committee to order. “It’s quite a coincidence that Fiona gathered all these ladies on the spur of the moment, just for an advance meeting about the Christmas ball.”

  “They’re holding an emergency meeting because we’re expecting a baby. Which makes you ineligible for the Christmas ball raffle. If you recall, Dante was the grand prize last Christmas. Your aunt had already determined that you were this year’s sacrifice—I mean, prize. They’d planned advertising on barn roofs and everything, with slogans for you.” River smiled. “Too bad you’ll miss the fun.”

  “Not at all.” Tighe was secretly relieved. “Who’s the backup sacrifice?”

  She shook her head. “I didn’t ask.”

  “It’s Galen’s turn, if you ask me.” He looked at Ash, who’d just walked into the kitchen. “You realize your turn at Fiona’s chicanery will arrive one day. The bachelors will swarm this county.”

  His sister blanched. “I don’t want to be swarmed. Don’t talk about it.”

  “Don’t worry. It’ll be Galen or Jace on the griddle this year.” Tighe looked at River. “Good to hear about the baby. I’ll have Galen make you up a holistic protocol, if you’d like.”

  “Oh, you told him!” Ashlyn grinned at River, then Tighe. “Congratulations!” She threw her arms around his neck, giving him an octopus-like squeeze.

  “Ash—” River began, and he gazed at her over his sister’s shoulder.

  “How does it feel to know you’re going to be the father of triplets?” Ash asked, and Tighe watched River close her eyes as if she was in pain.

  “Triplets?” He put Ash away from him gently.

  River nodded, distinctly uncomfortable.

  Joy swept Tighe fast, and amazement, and maybe even a little light-headedness, so that laughter burst from him. He couldn’t stop laughing even if he’d tried.

  “Whew,” Ash said, “he’s finally gone around the bend. One tap too many to the old brain stem.”

  River looked concerned. “Is he going to be all right?”

  He wrapped her in his arms, kissing her on the forehead. “This is great! I win!”

  His sister shook her head as if he were mentally slow. “This isn’t Firefreak. You didn’t just win a buckle. I’m pretty sure you haven’t won anything—yet.”

  “Three kids—that’s more than anybody else in the family. Just call me ‘straight shooter’ from now on.” He laughed with delight. “If I was playing the one-armed bandit, I just hit Jackpot!”

  River pushed him away. “Tighe, I have to get back to the gathering.”

  “We’re going to visit later,” he told her. “We have to talk this out, River.”

  She disappeared into the den. Ash looked at him. “I remember the days when you claimed you had her in the bag.”

  He did. Surely he did. He had to. “Are you part of Fiona’s whiz-bang planning committee?”

  “To give away my brothers? I wouldn’t visit any of you on some poor unsuspecting female.”

  He shrugged. “So let’s head out to find the chief.”

  River walked back into the kitchen and put teacups on the counter. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not leaving me here with the gang of matchmakers. I’m going, too.”

  Tighe blinked. “I don’t think the babies should ride over rough terrain, do you?”

  Ash took his arm, led him toward the door. “I think it’s best if we head out before your feet get permanently stuck in your mouth, brother. Come on, River. We’ll put him in the back.”

  * * *

  RIVER WAS PLENTY annoyed with Tighe, but more than anything she was annoyed with herself. Triplets! She still hadn’t gotten over the shock. The physician said if she was very careful, she might last until February or even March. That meant giving up her bo
dyguard position soon. The doctor wanted to take every precaution.

  She looked at Tighe, who’d chosen to seat himself next to her where he could situate his leg most comfortably. He grinned at her from under the brim of his cowboy hat.

  “It’s awesome, babe.”

  “It is not awesome. I mean, it is, but you’re not, so don’t tweak me.”

  He laughed. “In a week or two, you’ll be trying to drag me to the altar.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  His navy eyes practically danced with pride. He was really impressed with himself. River sighed and looked away.

  “I’m so amazed by you,” Tighe said.

  She turned to face him. “Why?”

  “Because you’re such a fertile goddess. I would never have suspected you’d be the Callahan woman to turn up a three-in-a-row.”

  He grinned again, the handsomest man she’d ever seen, and River wanted ever so badly to smack him. She went back to perusing the scenery as it rushed past. “Why are we checking on Running Bear, Ash?”

  “Because we just thought we would.” She was noncommittal, which was typical Callahan, and meant she wasn’t going to give the real reason for the drive to the canyons.

  “Hey.” Tighe gave River’s arm a little squeeze. “I couldn’t sleep after you visited last night. If that was your goal, you succeeded, gorgeous. I may not sleep for a week. And you know,” he said, his eyes laughing and devilish, “you’d best not waste any time visiting me again with the old naked-under-the-robe trick. I want to remember how you look now, before you’re big as a house.”

  “Whoa, Tighe,” Ash said. “Careful where you step with those big feet of yours.”

  “Course, you’ll be beautiful when you’re enormous, too,” Tighe said, and River glared at him. “But everyone knows the body changes forever once—”

  Ash slammed on the brakes, and Tighe pitched forward. “Nice driving, Ash.”

  His sister hopped out of the jeep. “Just trying to help you out, brother dearest. Come on, River. Peg leg can follow us at his own slow pace. That way we won’t have to listen to him.”

  “That will be a relief.” River sent him an irritated glance and went off with his sister. Tighe grabbed his crutch and made his way out of the truck toward the stone circle, aware that his sister was trying to warn him that he wasn’t scoring with River.

  He really didn’t know how to score. The woman had been distant toward him for so long—except the night he’d made his way into her bed—that he hardly knew how to woo her.

  But she was having his children—and that was nothing short of glorious.

  Chapter Five

  By the time Tighe caught up with his sister and River, he found them facing Wolf at the stone circle. River glanced at Tighe, watching for his reaction.

  “Didn’t we just see you?” he asked his uncle. “Not any happier about this meeting than I was in town.”

  “Just checking on the chief. Is it a crime to check on one’s father?” Wolf said.

  Tighe gave his uncle a long, level look. Perhaps this was the source of his recent sense that all was not well. “If you’ve harmed him, you’ll answer to me.”

  Wolf laughed. “You’re not exactly standing on two legs right now, nephew.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” Tighe glanced about, searching for any indication that Running Bear had been there before Wolf’s unannounced arrival. “Why are you hanging around so much suddenly, anyway?”

  “Just making sure all is right at Rancho Diablo. That’s what family does, isn’t it? Sticks together?”

  Ash squared her shoulders, jutted her chin. “You’re not family. Turns out blood isn’t always thicker than water.”

  “That hurts, niece.” Wolf smiled at River. “Heard you’re expecting, young lady. I hope you’ll accept my congratulations.”

  River didn’t say anything, but it was all Tighe could do not to lose his temper, which was what Wolf wanted. “We don’t need any congratulations.”

  “Oh,” Wolf said. “Is she having your children?” He gave a short, terse laugh. “I thought Jace had spent more time with the bodyguard—”

  “That’s enough,” Tighe stated, cutting in. “Move along, Uncle, before things get ugly. It’s getting close, if you know what I mean.”

  Wolf’s seven men appeared from out of nowhere. “Not too close,” Wolf said. “Think the odds are on my side.”

  Tighe heard the whistling sound of an arrow flying before it split the ground, shaft up, right between Wolf’s boots. His men backed up a pace, looking to him for direction.

  “Seems we’ve overstayed our welcome,” Wolf said. “Just remember, I’m keeping my eye on you. In the end, I’ll get what I want.”

  “Which is what?” Tighe snapped.

  “The land. The Diablos, the silver. All of it. Once again, the cartel will run this area.” Wolf grinned, but his expression didn’t have any warmth in it. “Don’t think I won’t sacrifice the lot of you for what I want.”

  Another arrow whistled, piercing the ground at the toe of Wolf’s boot.

  “We’re well-trained, Uncle,” Ash said. “We’ve trained all our lives for this. Running Bear’s kept us on a path to survive whatever you’ve got.”

  Tighe’s insides curled a bit as his blond-haired, gamine sister glanced at Wolf’s small army, her hands on her hips.

  “You don’t have enough men to take us out,” Ash said.

  “That’s right,” River stated, and Tighe’s heart dropped into his boots. “The Callahans have backup.”

  “You?” Wolf laughed. “You won’t be doing much of anything in a couple of months. You’ll be lying in bed, no use to anyone. Just a host for your parasites.”

  Tighe started forward, but a war cry shattered the air, stopping him. Astonishment crossed the faces of Wolf’s men.

  “Time to go, boys,” Wolf said, and they trooped off to a black truck with a double cab. Two men rode in the back, their guns pointing at the Callahans, covering their departure.

  Tighe wanted to put his arms around River, but he could tell by the outraged expression on her face that all men were probably unwelcome in her space at the moment.

  “That goon insulted me,” she said, disgusted. “How dare he?”

  “Pay no mind to Uncle Wolf,” Ash soothed. “He’s all sound and fury.”

  River looked at Tighe. “It was all I could do not to shoot him.”

  “I know. I could feel you quivering. I’m glad you didn’t,” Tighe said. “He’s really not worth it.”

  “He doesn’t like you. I’m going to have to keep an eye on you while you’re incapacitated.”

  Tighe grinned. “Oh, darn.”

  “You can laugh,” she said, “but as we know, you don’t always make the best decisions. Witness your jaunt on Firefreak.”

  He felt his jaw drop. “That was the best decision I ever made!”

  Ash laughed. “Come on. Let’s go dig Grandfather out of the shadows and find out how he wants us to proceed.”

  “I’m serious,” River said. “You can’t fire a gun while you’re balancing on one good leg, Tighe.”

  He frowned. “I can shoot a needle off a cactus. You just start thinking about the rest of his conversation. That’s the more immediate problem.”

  “Which is what?” River glared at him.

  “You’re going to be bed-bound soon,” he pointed out, and Ash said, “Incoming. Lightning strike for brother with unfortunate mouth problem.”

  “And while we’re on the subject of your pregnancy,” Tighe said, feeling very righteous at the moment, “I don’t want anybody thinking Jace is the father of your children. We’re going to have to get married immediately.”

  “Why do I have the dumbest brothers on the planet?” Ash moaned.

  The trio made their way to a rock ledge, heading toward where the last arrow had originated. It was hard to tell where they might find the chief, since the arrows had come from opposite directions.

/>   “Your uncle was just trying to get your goat,” River said. “He succeeded. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything about it.”

  “The boys will want their parents to be married,” Tighe pointed out, doing his best to think of any reason to convince the beautiful woman at his side to think of him in a romantic light.

  “Grandfather!” Ash exclaimed. “Am I glad to see you! Break these two up, will you?”

  Running Bear smiled. “They are meant to be together. Hello, Tighe. River.” He looked at his grandson. “Now you understand the path of your spirit.”

  “Do I?” Tighe frowned. “She won’t cooperate.”

  “No, I won’t.” River matched his frown. “And the only reason I’m having your children is because you wouldn’t cooperate with what your family wanted!”

  “A marriage ceremony can be performed now,” Running Bear said with a pleased smile.

  River sent Tighe a startled look. “Now? As in, right here?”

  “I get to be the maid of honor!” Ash exclaimed.

  “Now, wait a minute,” River began, and Tighe took her hand in his.

  “Thank you, Grandfather. It would be an honor if you would join us,” Tighe said.

  “Hang on,” River said. “First, I never said I would marry you. And you haven’t asked.”

  “I did,” Tighe said. “You just said no.”

  Running Bear and Ash laughed.

  “She’s a good match for you,” the chief stated.

  “I know, Grandfather.” He considered the bodyguard with the whiskey-colored hair and the lifted brow challenging him. “She’s strong.”

  “And don’t forget it,” River said. “When I finally do have to stay in bed, I don’t want to hear one word about my delicate state or weakened condition. I’m a bodyguard, and I always will be.”

  “I know. Will you say yes now?” Tighe asked, hoping against hope that River would accept him. She could be stubborn, more so even than Ashlyn or Fiona, and that was saying something. His sons would inherit a huge stubborn streak! It would work well for them.