Callahan Cowboy Triplets

by Tina Leonard

  River tried to walk faster, telling herself that the sooner she got off the mountain, the sooner her babies and her man would be safe.

  * * *

  THEY GOT TO the bottom without mishap, then Tighe texted Ash that he planned to have River rest until Operation Rescue Fiona began. He was seriously worried about River. She was putting on the bravest of faces, but it didn’t escape him that occasionally she stopped, rubbed her belly and took long breaths.

  Anyone would be winded walking down a mountain in heavy snow, but River was in excellent condition. He remembered when he and Dante had thought the nanny bodyguards walked like panthers, strong and graceful, with long, purposeful strides. Her steps had changed, and while that was to be expected, given the circumstances, Tighe felt certain she was in pain. She wasn’t the kind of woman who would complain very much when there was nothing that could be done about it, when a mission was in play.

  Rage against Wolf filled him, as it always did lately, a gnawing, burning sensation that focused him on what he had to do, and also sharpened his desire to kill his uncle. He’d been forbidden to do so by his grandfather, and Tighe only hoped he would remember Running Bear’s warning. The urge to end the curse that was Wolf burned strong in him.

  “Sit,” he told River, helping her to a fallen log well hidden from the snow-crusted path the off-road vehicle had taken up the mountain. “Someone will be here soon to help you get to the truck. Then if you need to go to a hospital, all you have to do is say the word.” He knelt to look in her face. “I know this isn’t the right time to tell you this, but you’re beautiful, babe. The most beautiful, amazing woman I’ve ever known.”

  She smiled, her eyes glowing for just a moment. “It’s a great time to hear those words. Thank you. I know it’s not true—I haven’t even washed my hair in three days—but you’re a prince for trying to make me understand that the end is in sight.”

  “It’s in sight, all right.” He heard the sound of tires crunching through the snow behind him and turned. “Of course my sister has to spit in the eye of the tiger,” he said, helping River to her feet. Ash pulled the jeep up, and he heard a door open. “Come on.”

  “How do you know it’s Ash?”

  He escorted her forward. “Because she’s just a little closer to crazy than the rest of us. When I told her that I had you and was ready to go, I didn’t mean for her to drive a vehicle right up where Wolf and his men could see it.”

  River giggled. “Ash is awesome.”

  “She is. And so are you.”

  Darkness enveloped the forest and the jeep, hopefully covering their movements. If the dirtbags on the mountain were still out like lights, then they wouldn’t have notified Wolf that River had escaped and might not have a sentry posted at the front of the cabin. Maybe, just maybe, we can get away with this.

  Ash appeared at his side, and took River’s other arm to guide her over the snow. “Long time, no see,” she told her. “Let’s get you home.”

  They piled River into the jeep, and Tighe wrapped her in a blanket. Dante and Jace were posted in back, with long rifles aimed at Wolf’s cabin.

  Okay, so Ash hadn’t completely thumbed her nose at the devil. For the first time, Tighe began to breathe a little easier.

  “Here we go,” his sister said, and without turning on the lights, slowly drove toward the stakeout location. “How are you doing, River?”

  “Fine. Thanks for providing the rescue party.”

  Tighe held River to him, keeping the blanket tight around her. She was starting to shake, from either the aftereffects of stress or the severe cold, or both. “When we reach camp, I’ll get you a cup of tea.”

  “Sounds like heaven,” River said, and laid her head against his chest.

  He met his sister’s gaze in the mirror. Ash appeared worried, her brows raised, then she looked back at the road.

  Tighe held River, stroking her hair.

  They couldn’t be back at Rancho Diablo soon enough.

  * * *

  THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Tighe had River bundled up in the back of the truck, a cup of tea in her hand. “It’s not as hot as it could be, but we’re using the lighter plug instead of building a fire.”

  “It’s perfect.” She gave him a wan smile.

  “I wish you’d lie down.”

  “I can’t. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

  Fiona’s rescue would begin in a few minutes. His brothers and Ash were gearing up and checking their weapons. They’d texted Fiona one final time: Get ready. 0400.

  Tighe figured they were all as ready as they could be.

  “You love this, don’t you?” River asked with a smile.

  “I’m not going to say that my blood doesn’t speed up a little bit at the thought of getting Fiona out of there, and everybody home safe.”

  “You’re going, right?”

  “I’m sitting here with you. We’ll watch the proceedings together. I’ll be driving the truck when we haul ass out of here. You’ll be snug as a bug in a rug in the back, waving goodbye to Wolf.” At least that’s how he hoped it went.

  “Don’t stay here because of me. I don’t want you to miss anything.”

  He laughed. “I’ll be fine. Someone needs to cover the front, and someone with decent driving skills has to get us out of here. I feel plenty useful.” He patted her leg. “Besides, I’m not letting you out of my sight yet.”

  She smiled, and he went back to helping his brothers and sister gear up. Checked the sky, and the time on his watch. Watched the road, front and back, where they would clear out of the woods.

  “Remember Grandfather’s words,” he reminded them. “No killing unless absolutely necessary. I feel confident we have the skills to pull this off without a single shot fired.”

  They nodded in understanding. Tighe studied their faces, satisfied with what he saw. “It’s time,” he said softly, and for one final, brief moment, they came together as a team, as a family, and stood in a circle. Tighe felt no fear; they were too strong for that.

  “Here we go,” he said, and his sister and brothers disappeared into the thick woods. Galen would drive the jeep, so took watch at the top of the road, his eye to his weapon as he lay on the ground, ready to fire. Tighe sat in the back of the truck, his rifle pointed toward the hideout, checking for any snipers on the roof as his family approached.

  “Stay down,” he told River, and she obeyed—although he noticed she didn’t really lie down so much as crouch, so she could peer up over the window frame to see what was happening. Satisfied that she intended to stay put, Tighe went back to staring through the rifle sight.

  He tried not to think about what he was sending his family in to do. He hoped like hell that he hadn’t jinxed the mission by insisting on moving up the target date.

  He refused to doubt his gut instinct, and the knowledge that had come to his spirit, that danger lay in inaction just as much as in action.

  Tighe squinted, watching, waiting. Grateful for every moment of silence, because that meant his siblings might make it in and out without discovery.

  And then all hell broke loose.

  Chapter Eighteen

  He picked up his ringing phone. “Yeah?”

  “Fiona failed to mention she’s had a fall,” Ash said. “She’s not as ambulatory as we’d thought.”

  He could hear the sounds of fighting in the background.

  “How many operatives?”

  “Two women and at least five men. I’m not saying we’re pinned down, but we could use some help extracting the package.”

  He could hear Fiona in the background insisting that she was fine, that she could outrun all of them.

  “Coming.”

  He handed River the rifle through the back window. “Aim for anything that comes through that door that isn’t a Callahan.”

  She put down the window and aimed toward the hideout.

  He took off through the woods, circling the open clearing in front of the cabin, his heart th
undering. Loud noises seemed to shake the house; he could hear Wolf’s men yelling to each other.

  He didn’t hear his sibling’s voices, which was a good sign. When he slipped around back, the first person he came into contact with was Fiona. She was bent down behind a snow-covered barrel. “Fiona!”

  “Hello, nephew!” She beamed. “I’m ready!”

  She had River’s backpack on her shoulders, and a grin on her face. Her rubber-soled boots were on her feet, and her hair was covered with a black hood.

  “Where are you injured?” he asked her.

  Her chin rose. “As I told my bossy niece, I’m fine. Don’t you worry about your old aunt. I’m in better shape than all of you.”

  Okay. Feistiness still in place. The mission was still good. He took his aunt’s arm as Ash appeared.

  “Can she walk all the way to the truck?”

  “Of course I can!” Fiona was indignant. “Do you think I need to be carried out of here by flying monkeys? For heaven’s sake! It’s a twisted ankle, that’s all.”

  Tighe glanced at Ash. “We’ll get as far as we can. See what happens.”

  Thick snow started falling, coming down fast, and a fierce wind sprang up.

  “They’re almost finished,” Ash said, her finger pressed to her earpiece. “Let’s move.” She took Fiona’s other arm.

  “Just a moment,” their aunt said.

  “We can’t wait,” Ash insisted. “The team is departing and about to head out. We can’t get left behind. Wolf and his men will return soon.”

  “That’s all right. I’ve been here long enough. I’m in no hurry to leave just yet.” She took off the backpack, rooted around inside, came up with Jace’s just-in-case surprise.

  Fiona looked at Ash and Tighe. “I’ll be right back.”

  She disappeared inside.

  “Great Spirit,” Tighe said, and it was a prayer. “If our parents were like her, we’ve got some catching up to do.”

  “I think about that sometimes. Hurry, Aunt Fiona!” Ash yelled toward the house.

  “You think she knows how to set that thing?” Tighe asked.

  “I wasn’t about to ask, and neither were you. Because I’m pretty sure the answer is yes.”

  He sighed. “It was a fairly simple device. Jace sent it along for River’s use. I’m pretty sure she’s baked cakes more involved than that.”

  Fiona reappeared with a big smile on her face. “Race you to the meet-up point.”

  Tighe looked at Ash over their determined aunt’s head. She smiled, and they helped Fiona walk as fast as she could into the woods, Tighe covering their backs.

  Once they made it deep into the woods, the snow wasn’t as thick. Fiona stopped. “Just a minute.”

  She took out a device and pushed it.

  An explosion rocked the house, and Tighe could feel the ground trembling below his feet. Fiona grinned.

  “Nobody throws a party like I do,” she said with satisfaction as they watched fire envelop the structure. “I’m sure Wolf will kidnap me again, because I’m the only one besides Running Bear who knows the information he wants. But I’ll never be here, nor will any of the other Callahan women, ever again.”

  She started walking, then turned around to glance at Ash and Tighe, who were studying her handiwork. A fireball blew toward the sky when the gas stove exploded. Fiona looked pleased. “Running Bear will be so proud. Now let’s go home. I can’t wait to bake cookies in my own kitchen and drink my own coffee.”

  At the truck, Tighe handed his aunt over to Dante, and his siblings all grabbed their seats. Tighe didn’t think he’d ever been so glad to leave a place. “Everybody good?” The question was generic, but his gaze went to River in the rearview mirror.

  “Yes,” she said. “What caused the explosion?”

  “Fiona left a party favor. When we get home, take your backpack from her, will you?”

  River smiled. “Some party favor, Fiona. Good thing the snow will keep that little campfire in check.”

  Sitting in the front seat, Fiona looked out at her destruction as they drove away. “Wolf, you ornery son of a gun, you’ll never, ever beat this family. It will happen over my cold, dead body,” she murmured.

  Chills shot all through Tighe. His glance met River’s in the mirror, and he knew she’d felt chills, too.

  * * *

  AT RANCHO DIABLO the next day, Tighe felt as if he was in recovery mode, but River was just excited to be home. She ate anything he brought her, and said her stomach felt better—though he’d insisted on taking her straight to the hospital for a thorough checkup. They made an appointment in Santa Fe with a doctor who specialized in multiple births and high-risk pregnancies.

  Tighe also bought the largest bottle of prenatal vitamins he could find, and several plump oranges for her to eat. “Every time I see you, I expect you to be in that rocker, with an orange and a glass of water in your hand.”

  River shook her head. “Will you quit worrying?”

  “Absolutely not.” He’d installed her in the main house, so everyone could keep an eye on her. She was next to a window, so she could sit and enjoy the warmth and the sunshine. River insisted she didn’t need so much attention, that she felt like an old turtle sunning itself on a rock. The family responded by backing off a little, but making sure she was never without something to eat and drink.

  River seemed thin to Tighe, but then she’d always been athletically built. He’d missed her body and he’d missed her smile like mad. It was so good to have her home.

  “Fiona baked gingerbread,” Tighe said.

  “Oh, good.” River looked expectant. “I’ll get up and grab some when the timer dings.”

  “I’ll bring you some, and a nice glass of milk.”

  “I’m not bed-bound yet, Tighe. Don’t make me be still before it’s my time.”

  “You’ve recently walked down a mountain. You’ve had plenty of exercise to last you for the next four months. Right now you’re staying in this room with this nice fire.”

  “He’s going to be insufferable until the babies are born,” Fiona said, strolling into the room. She waved a calendar. “In view of our recent adventures, and our coming new additions,” she said with a smile for River, “I am proposing moving the Christmas ball until after the babies are born.”

  “Don’t change schedules on my behalf,” River said. “I’m fine! Tighe is just being overprotective.”

  “It’s not just that,” Fiona said, “although your pregnancy is a big consideration. I’m a bit tired from all the travels, I must say. I wouldn’t want to do a Christmas ball without my usual vigor.” She gave them both a sly smile. “Besides, I’m thinking that a wedding might occur sooner than later? Perhaps around Christmas?”

  She gave them a pointed look.

  Tighe glanced at River, who slowly met his gaze. He grinned at her. “Aunt Fiona thinks we should get married.”

  River didn’t say anything.

  “Yes,” Fiona said. “Since you were wearing the magic wedding dress yesterday, which I thought looked lovely on you—”

  “What magic wedding dress?” Tighe demanded. He hadn’t let River out of his sight, and he hadn’t seen a sign of wedding white. He wished he had.

  “I’ll let River tell you,” Fiona said, leaving the room with a flourish of her calendar.

  River gave him a slight smile. “You didn’t notice?”

  “Notice what?” He was truly adrift. “As much as I’d love to see you wearing any wedding dress at all, I must have been asleep. We were on the road for so long after we left Montana, I must have conked out when Ash was driving.”

  “Yes,” River said, “and I was wearing the magic wedding dress. Do you think it’s a bad sign that you didn’t notice? Isn’t it supposed to be obvious to my one true love that I have it on?” she teased.

  “All I was thinking of was you and the babies.” He frowned.

  She held out her hand, and he took it. When she pulled him closer to her,
he knelt beside her.

  “Tighe, I agree with your aunt Fiona.”

  He perked up. “About a Christmas wedding?”

  “Not exactly.” She kissed him on the lips. “I think a wedding as soon as you can find Running Bear. I’d like to do it while I can still stand.”

  Tighe felt shell-shocked. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you?”

  He pressed her palm to his lips. “Thank you for marrying me. I’ll be the best husband I can be.” They’d been through a lot; she’d been through more than he ever thought a fiancée of his should have to endure. “I’ll make everything up to you.”

  “There’s nothing to make up.” She frowned at him. “I wish you didn’t feel that there was.”

  He didn’t know what to say. “I’ll see if I can hunt up Running Bear. In the meantime, I...” He looked at her. “Did you really have the magic wedding dress on yesterday, or is Fiona pulling my leg? Because I went looking for it one day, and I couldn’t find the thing. I was beginning to think it had gone AWOL and wouldn’t make an appearance to work its magic for me.” He blew out a breath. “I don’t feel very lucky these days.”

  “Did you feel lucky when you rode Firefreak?”

  “I felt lucky—and then I felt broken. In pieces. But I’ve healed. And I’m not going down that road again. Firefreak will torture other cowboys, but not this one.” Tighe knelt down beside her. “You marrying me? Now that’s lucky.”

  “Oh, Tighe.” She leaned forward to kiss him. “I would support you if you decided to ride Firefreak again. I really would. I shouldn’t have plotted against you.” She smiled. “I had a lot of time to think about that night while I was gone, and while I shouldn’t have ganged up on you, I’m glad you spent the night with me. That was a lot of fun, being seduced by a wild-eyed daredevil cowboy.”

  He felt his chest puff out a little. “You think I’m a wild-eyed daredevil?”

  “A sexy, wild-eyed daredevil.”

  “Well, then.” This was looking up indeed. “I think being a dad will be adventurous enough for me. I’ve given up Firefreak for good.”