Callahan Cowboy Triplets

by Tina Leonard

  Tighe gulped hard, his throat so tight he nearly couldn’t draw a breath nor swallow with ease. “I can’t agree to that. I’m going back, either alone or with help. If no one here wants to go with me, I’ll hire mercenaries.”

  “No,” Running Bear said again. “Time is on our side. Eventually Wolf will make a mistake.”

  “I don’t have time to wait for mistakes! The mistake has already been made, by me.” Tighe looked around at his brothers. “What would you do in my place?”

  “Listen to Grandfather,” Jace said. “He’s suffering more than anyone.”

  Tighe looked at the old chief, realizing he was, indeed, extremely grieved over this situation. He looked older, sadder, no longer serene. His dark skin seemed to sag a bit with age, and Tighe couldn’t remember their energetic grandfather ever looking defeated. But it made sense. Fiona was his best friend in the world. They’d been a united front for years, plotting and keeping lots of people alive. Keeping the land alive, and the Diablos safe. Making sure no one ever tore the family apart. “I’m so sorry, Grandfather,” Tighe said. “I spoke in haste. Forgive me.”

  “I understand,” Running Bear said. “We always knew the fight would be difficult and long.”

  That was true. No journey was ever easy. Tighe’s Callahan cousins had been fighting the good fight longer than he. For that matter, Fiona and Running Bear had been trying to save the family and the land for even longer, and before that, Jeremiah and Molly, and Julia and Carlos. “I’m sorry,” Tighe said again, the words inadequate. He sat back down on the long leather sofa, forcing himself to take a deep breath. “I am hotheaded.”

  “It’s only natural,” Dante said. “When family’s in danger, the reaction is to rush in where angels fear to tread.”

  “Still, we need to have a plan.” Ash rubbed Tighe’s back. “We’re just going to have to wait until the right time comes.” She looked at Running Bear. “I do agree with Tighe on a couple of things, Grandfather. I don’t want Fiona to be up there during the winter. It would be too hard on her. And I don’t need to tell anyone that River needs to be here, resting.”

  They all took that in for a long time. There was no good answer. Tighe could hear his own heart beating with stress.

  “Calm,” his sister said. “We all must stay calm. Wolf is expecting us to come back, guns blazing. It’s a pretty good trap.”

  Tighe paced to a window, stared at the dark landscape beyond. There had to be a way out of this he wasn’t seeing.

  “By Christmas,” Running Bear said, “they will be testing each other’s patience.”

  Tighe whipped around. “Christmas! That’s five months from now!”

  “There’ll be no Christmas without Fiona and River,” Ash said sadly. “There will certainly be no Christmas ball.”

  He couldn’t worry about holidays and matchmaking balls. “Grandfather, we can’t wait that long!”

  “How much time until River probably needs bed rest?” Sloan asked Galen, the doctor among them.

  “It won’t be longer than December. Not with triplets,” Galen replied. “Possibly January, if her weight stays down and she stays healthy. We can always ask our cousins how they fared. There are two sets of triplets in their family.”

  “Christmas,” Running Bear said again, more definite this time. “We plan our raid for Christmas. They won’t be expecting us then. The roads will be more difficult.”

  “Can’t we make it Thanksgiving?” Tighe asked. “The sooner I get them home, the better.”

  “If we go now,” Falcon said, “people are going to get hurt.”

  Tighe feared someone was going to be hurt even if they waited. He thought about River’s backpack of surprises and thought he was going to lose his mind. “Am I the hunted one, Grandfather?”

  Running Bear’s gaze settled on him. “Why do you ask me?”

  “Because you said the hunted one would bring danger and destruction to the family. And I have.”

  His siblings stared at him with sympathy. The chief closed his eyes, shook his head before turning his gaze back on Tighe. “I don’t know.”

  “Sure feels like I am,” he muttered.

  “Oh, brother.” Ash laid her head against his shoulder. “You’re a prince.”

  “I’m not a prince. I’m a guy who’s lost the only thing he ever wanted.”

  “But you’ll get her back,” Ash said. “It just won’t be any quicker, I guess, than when Falcon lost Taylor.”

  “Yeah, but this is my fault. I let River go with me.” Tighe played every moment over again in his mind, wondering if there’d been any way he could have stopped Rhein and his men from taking her. There wasn’t. He’d done the only thing he could to ensure her safety. He went to stare out the window again, thinking hard. “Where’s Sawyer?” he suddenly demanded.

  “Watching little Carlos and Isaiah with Kendall,” Sloan said. “Why?”

  “Just wondering.” Tighe watched a tall man ride up on horseback, settle his horse near a tree, tie the reins to a post. “Storm’s here.”

  “Storm?” Dante asked. The family crossed to the window to stare out at their neighbor.

  “Reminds me of the night the rock got tossed through our window up here,” Galen said. “We never did prove that he didn’t do it.”

  “I was thinking the same thing.” The doorbell sounded, and Tighe said, “I’ll go see what he wants.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Ash said, scrambling to his side. “And I’ll bring up a plate of cookies for the rest of you when we come back. We have a lot to discuss.”

  They went down the long, beautifully carved staircase.

  “Brother, you’re going to have to keep it together, for River’s sake.”

  “I’ll try. But I’m making no promises.”

  “I figured as much.” Ash bounced to the front door, flinging it open. “Hello, Storm. What brings you here?”

  Tighe stood behind his sister. Storm eyed them both, his wide, handsome face framed with silver-gray hair and stubble-rough cheeks.

  “I’ve come to offer to sell you the land your aunt Fiona wanted to buy,” Storm said. “I feel I’ve gotten involved in something I want no part of, and this is the only way to make things right.”

  Chapter Twelve

  River was annoyed, and when she was annoyed, she wasn’t the friendliest person to be around, which Rhein quickly found out when he tried to carry her backpack.

  “Do I look like I need help?” she snapped.

  “Sorry,” Rhein said. “Didn’t know if pregnant women were supposed to carry stuff.”

  “Look, you’re kidnapping me, right?” She stomped toward the house with five men on her tail. The other two—she knew there were seven, because Xav Phillips and Ash had been tied up in the canyons once by what Ash referred to with great disgust as “the seven birdbrains”—were likely off keeping an eye on Rancho Diablo, reporting back to wicked Wolf. “As long as I’m a hostage, don’t even look at me. Don’t try to help me, don’t be nice to me, because I’m not going to be nice to you. Deal?”

  “Sure. Whatever.” Rhein went off with his band of uglies, and River sat down on the porch alone, irritated beyond belief that she was now good and stuck.

  On the other hand, it was a great opportunity for spying. And it would be easy to report back to Rancho Diablo, because in her backpack she had a cell phone. She looked at the surrounding woods and deep violet twilight sky, and shivered a little as cold tendrils of breeze touched her. She had one change of clothes, a couple of pairs of panties and lots of things Wolf wouldn’t be too happy about if he knew she was carrying them.

  Fiona came out and joined her on the porch. “At least I have company now.”

  “You were supposed to be rescued. I botched that.”

  “No need for a rescue. I sort of like it here.” Fiona turned her head up to look at the stars just peeking out in the velvety sky. “I keep everybody in line. I’ve taught the guard girls to cook a little. They’re pretty
useless otherwise, not trained to Callahan standards as bodyguards, or in general protection. Nobody is allowed to wear their boots and shoes in the house, and everybody has to make their bed. The toilet lid is always to be put down, and no one leaves water spots on the mirrors.”

  “How did you accomplish all that? They strike me as a pretty thuggish crew.”

  Fiona laughed. “Listen, I’ve raised six wild nephews, and have crewed for seven Chacon Callahans. You get the hang of herding cats. Anyway, if my rules aren’t obeyed, I don’t cook. Or bake. Not one cookie, not one batch of chili. Trust me, nobody wants to go back to the slop they were eating before my coerced arrival.”

  “That’s awesome.” River smiled. “Fiona, you amaze me.”

  “It’s easy when you know what people want.” The older woman looked at her. “So, I never did hear what happened when you tried on the magic wedding dress.”

  River wasn’t certain how much to tell. There was a fairy-tale element to the Callahans’ precious gown, and maybe that was all it was supposed to be: fairy dust and romance. “Not much,” she hedged.

  “There’s never been not much that happens with the dress. You might as well tell me. We’ve got a long time to sit here and rusticate.”

  River felt a small chill. “How long do you think we’ll be here?”

  “Well, if I had to guess, I’d say something will either happen quickly, or not till after winter.”

  River gasped. “After winter! My babies might be born here!”

  “Luckily, it’s a beautiful place for babies to be born,” Fiona said, trying to sound positive. “Although I’m sure it won’t come to that.”

  They couldn’t be sure of anything. “I’m not going to try to see the future,” River said bravely.

  “Wise choice. So, back to the gown. Tell me what happened!”

  Fiona looked like a young girl pleading for a treat. River decided to give in gracefully. “I took the dress out of the bag and hung it on a hook so I could unzip the zipper. But when I touched the gown, it changed.”

  “Changed?” Fiona repeated, her eyes huge.

  “It changed into combat gear. Like something a military operative would wear. Your basic little black dress, except very after-midnight casual.” River frowned. “I have no idea why.”

  “Odd,” Fiona murmured. “I can’t figure that out at all.”

  “Nor I.”

  “Well, did you see anyone?” she asked, eager for more details.

  “Not a thing. No one and nothing. I was a bit let down,” River admitted. “Actually, I was very let down.”

  “I bet.” Fiona looked into the distance. “It wasn’t in a very cooperative mood, was it? As wedding gowns go, it certainly was being cantankerous. Combat gear, indeed!” She looked at River. “What would a woman who’s pregnant with triplets want with that?”

  “I no longer try to understand everything that happens at Rancho Diablo. I just accept it and move on. Or try to.” River took a deep breath. “As much as I hate to say it, I have a bad feeling about this mission.”

  “Well, don’t. There’s no point in having bad feelings. We have to focus on what we need to do.” Fiona reached out and took her hand, and River felt the older woman’s fingers tremble slightly.

  And that’s when she realized the toll the situation was taking on Fiona. She was putting on a brave face to spit in Wolf’s eye and to control the way they treated her while she was captive. She might be a prisoner, but Fiona had them convinced that they had to please her; hence the clean floors and shiny mirrors. But she was also putting up a brave front for River’s sake. Yet her trembling hand gave her away.

  “It’s going to be fine,” River said. “We’re Callahans. And we’re the good guys.” She patted the older woman’s hand. “And when you’re absolutely ready to go home, Fiona, you just let me know.”

  Fiona’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

  “I brought a few magic wands with me,” River whispered. “I’m pretty sure I can cause enough distraction to give you time to get away.”

  “I’m not leaving you! You’re expecting my nephew’s children!” Fiona shook her head. “No, we’re in this together, my girl. All for one and one for all, as they say.”

  “Then if we have to, we’ll teach Wolf and his gang of miscreants Christmas carols.”

  Fiona laughed. “I can just see Scrooge and his seven dwarves singing carols.”

  River smiled, desperately hoping they wouldn’t be spending Christmas in Montana. Christmas should be at Rancho Diablo—with Tighe.

  * * *

  “WE HAVE TO have a Christmas ball,” Ash told her brothers as they slumped on the sofas in the library. Four weeks had passed since River and Fiona had been gone, and the mood was very low. Tighe thought they’d never been so dispirited. Falcon, Sloan and Dante had become so overprotective of their wives and children that the wives had finally snapped at them to quit being such horses’ asses.

  Everyone was on edge.

  Yet Tighe thought Ash was right: Wolf had what he wanted. The jewel in the Callahan crown was Fiona—it had to be. She alone, besides Running Bear, knew all the secrets of the vast ranch, and all its holdings. She knew where the fabled silver mine was, and where its treasure was buried. They knew this, too, now, but their aunt was directly in charge of the finances and all the sources of wealth Rancho Diablo held. Therefore, she was the most important fount of information Wolf could have happened upon.

  River was just icing on the cake. Wolf knew she was pregnant, and that the fact would eat at Tighe. Which it did, night and day. He didn’t think he’d slept decently since the day she’d been taken. He hadn’t, and if he had, he would have felt guilty, knowing that River was a prisoner. What man could ever sleep knowing his woman was a captive?

  “I don’t give a flip about Christmas balls,” Tighe growled. “It won’t be a ball without Fiona, and there’s no point in pretending it is.”

  “That’s just the point,” Ash said crisply. “Fiona wouldn’t want us to act like anything is out of the ordinary.”

  “Everything is out of the ordinary,” Galen muttered.

  “No one can plan a party like Fiona,” Jace said. “I agree. No ball this year.”

  “Then Wolf wins.” Ash stared around at her brothers. “It’s about time we try to fill our cagey aunt’s boots. We can do it.” She took a deep breath, stared at Tighe. “There’s no point in sitting around here losing our minds.”

  “It’s not going to get better just because we party.” Tighe shook his head, filled with a gnawing agony over what his woman might be suffering. “I’m going back to Montana,” he declared abruptly, catapulting out of his seat.

  “No!” his brothers all said, and Falcon and Sloan pressed him back onto the sofa. Dante handed him a whiskey, and he gulped it, trying to collect his shattered wits.

  “You can’t, bro. Trust me, I know it’s not easy having your woman gone,” Falcon said. “It was hard as hell when Wolf had Taylor. The thing is, Wolf’s trying to get to us. This is how he does it. It’s a mind game. All he has to do is keep us rattled, and we’ll crack.”

  “I’m cracking,” Tighe said. “In fact, I think I’m past cracked.”

  “I assign you to finding volunteers,” Ash stated. “And you can do whatever deep thoughts and meditation and bookkeeping you need to do to consider Storm Cash’s offer to sell us the twenty thousand acres across the canyons.”

  Everyone stared at her. “What?” Tighe said.

  “When did you become the head of the household?” Galen asked.

  “Since we’re all too down in the mouth to be effective,” their sister snapped. “Since he’s turned pale and thin,” she said, pointing to Tighe. “Since nobody can think of anything but the fact that our aunt is being held by the enemy! And River, too!” Ash glanced around the room. “All of us need to keep busy. We have to live our lives. The die is cast, the way Running Bear says it should be. So we’re not going to attack. We’re not g
oing to try to get them back. We’re going to wait for Wolf to come to us, and that means doing what we have to do.” She glared at Jace. “I assign you to setting up cooking schedules. We’ll all take one day a week. Every night we all do KP,” she told Galen.

  “That’s probably a good idea,” Tighe said with a sigh, thinking that if they all had a healthy meal for a change, instead of the thrown-together grub they’d been snatching from the pantry and Fiona’s freezer—mainly cookies and pies, and some frozen casseroles—maybe they’d be able to think better. For his part, he’d mainly been on a liquid diet of whiskey, whiskey and more whiskey. Sips here and there, but he’d known when he got up and poured whiskey instead of sugar into his coffee mug this morning that he was going to have to back off the liquid courage.

  “Ash has a good idea,” Tighe said. “The more I think of it, the better I like it. We’ll each take a night of cooking. Basic meals, no desserts, no frills, but healthy, fresh, living food. An occasional salad would be cleansing.”

  “Oh, boy,” Jace said. “Here we go. Dr. Nutrition speaks.”

  “I’ll talk to Fiona’s friends at the Books’n’Bingo Society. They’ll be able to give us the blueprint for when invitations need to go out. We’ll need some victims,” Tighe said, considering his brothers. “Who’s going to be the grand prize this year at the bachelor raffle? And to what charity will we donate the proceeds?”

  “Fiona loves the school and library so much that I say we split it between them,” Galen suggested, and everyone nodded. “They always need supplies and equipment. Maybe we won’t make enough to buy a roof for the elementary school, like we did last year, but we’ll be contributing something.”

  “That’s right.” Falcon nodded. “And then Wolf isn’t beating us. We can’t allow him to cut the lifeblood of Diablo, or Rancho Diablo. That’s his goal.”

  “That’s right,” Tighe murmured. “The cartel will get to us when we’re weak. We have to stay united as a family, and as a community.” He felt strength surge inside him as his brothers and sister murmured in agreement. “Great. Then we’re together on this. Jace, you’re the grand prize. Galen, you’re going on the block this year. Who does that leave?”