A CALLAHAN CHRISTMAS MIRACLE (5 page)

Galen shrugged. “I guess I’ll head to the bank and start working up funding. First I’ll need to talk to Storm and make certain he understands I’m not going to pay a king’s ransom for land he just bought and never worked. Not to mention that the only livable dwelling just burned to the ground.”

“Oh, that termite pile should have been razed a long time ago,” Fiona said, sounding crankier than he’d ever heard her. “The land itself is the only thing of value there.”

Land with a maze of tunnels dug by dangerous smugglers running under it. “It’s not just me my sibs are going to be annoyed with. They love their families, but they’re going to think you planned this all along.”

She gasped. “I did no such thing! Running Bear is off his rocker! I can’t be responsible for your grandfather’s deviations. I’m just the handler around here. And most of the time it’s like herding feral cats, I can tell you.” She went off, highly annoyed. Galen grinned and finished his pie.

Rose came in and took Fiona’s chair. “Howdy, stranger.”

He looked at her, his whole being suddenly filled with happiness for some stupid reason. Why this woman affected him this way he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Yes, she was cute, adorable, even. Had a sparky personality, and was brave as a tiger. Had sexy curves he’d love to get to know. But that wasn’t enough to get his engine revving in overdrive every time he saw her, was it?

Who am I kidding? It’s more than enough. I’m about to break into a cold sweat just looking at her.

“Fiona made apple pie. Want a slice?”

She shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m going riding with Somer in a bit.”

He hesitated. “Somer?”

“Yes. Why?” Rose gave him a curious look. “Something wrong with that?”

“No. Nothing at all. Just weren’t aware the two of you were on such friendly terms.”

She smiled. “We’re the two new girls. Gives us a bond.”

“Oh. I see.”

“Yes. But then again, I’m on friendly terms with everyone.”

He could believe that. Even he tended toward more-than-monosyllabic when Rose was around. “You girls just checking out the scenery?”

“I did that last night with you.” She winked at him, and his stomach gave a little twist. Which was dumb, because women didn’t usually make him nervous.

This one did.

“Anyway,” Rose said, “we’re doing a little training.”

“Training?”

“You know, horse training. Get them a little more acclimated to Rancho Diablo.”

He stared at Rose, wishing he could kiss her. He couldn’t, of course. She was a ranch employee.

He’d been in her bed last night, and he’d liked it—even if not a darn thing had happened.

“Somer knows a lot about horses. Apparently, she and Sawyer grew up near each other, and both of them—”

“What?” Galen asked, tearing his concentration away from Rose’s lips with supreme effort. “What do you mean, Somer and Sawyer grew up near each other?”

“They’re cousins,” Rose said. “Didn’t you know?”

An uneasy feeling came over him. “They can’t be. That would have had to be disclosed on the ranch application.” Now that he thought about it, he recalled that Fiona had been in charge of reviewing the applications and making appointments for interviews.

Rose smiled at him. “I don’t like spilling beans. I better get a slice of pie before my mouth gets me in trouble.”

He’d like to get her mouth in trouble. Galen shook his head and carried his dish to the sink. “Feel free to spill anytime. I’m on my way into town to do some bank paperwork. And about last night...” he said, turning to face her.

“I know. Not a word. I wouldn’t tell a soul.” She smiled, and he grinned back, unable to help responding to the mischief in her eyes.

“No, what I was going to say is that we probably shouldn’t have sent you down in that cave. It was a terrible idea. I shouldn’t have let Jace talk me into it.”

“Oh, so he’s the adventurous brother. I’ll keep that in mind.” She bit into her pie. “You have no idea how lucky you are that your aunt Fiona bakes and cooks. Home cooking is a luxury.”

“Well, she’s annoyed right now, so if we get dinner, it’ll be a miracle.”

“Annoyed?” Rose raised a brow. “Did you make her mad?”

“Somewhat. I guess so.” He sighed. “Because of what we found, I’m going to buy Storm’s land.”

“All on your own?”

He nodded, glad to have someone to tell about it.

“You’re going to be the black sheep in your family,” Rose said, laughing. “Jace told me that if Sawyer hadn’t disappeared, he might have talked her into a fake marriage just so he could get his ticket in to win the ranch.”

“That would be cheating.”

Rose put her plate down, poured them each a glass of tea. “Not cheating. Maximizing his chances.”

“Cheating.” Galen took a sip. “Jace told you that?”

“Sure. Just like your sister told me that she’s gone off Xav Phillips.”

He choked on the tea, set the glass down. “Gone off? As in isn’t trying to herd him to the altar anymore?”

“I guess not.” Rose looked thoughtful. “So maybe the field is completely clear for you now, after all.”

“Why does everybody tell you everything? I should know these things.”

“Maybe I’m a little easier to talk to you than you are?” she teased. “Or they don’t want to let big brother down.”

“It’s still no reason to make you the resident advice columnist,” Galen groused. He was thunderstruck by everything he’d learned. “Does Somer know where Sawyer’s gone? Or why she left?”

“No. Didn’t say anything to me about it. I’d better go, though. Don’t want to keep her waiting.” She put her plate in the dishwasher.

“Just a minute,” Galen said, wishing she would stay a little longer. “Anything else I need to know?”

Rose smiled. “Perhaps.”

“I’m listening.” He wanted to kiss her in the worst way. Hopefully, he didn’t look like his brothers had when they’d been all slobbery about the women who were now their wives. That was the thing about watching his siblings fall like rocks to the bottom of a well—the process had been ugly.

He sure didn’t want to do ugly. “I’m listening, if there’s something I should know.”

“Here’s something you should know,” Rose said. Then to Galen’s utter astonishment, she walked over and pressed her lips against his in a gentle kiss that happened so quickly he didn’t have time to pucker up. She went out the back door, leaving him glued to the floor, his whole body humming like a divining rod.

She’d just kissed him. She wanted him to know she liked him—that could be her only meaning. And he’d missed the moment, like a giant doofus stuck on stupid. Hadn’t even kissed her back, or put a hand on her to drag her close to him. The way he would have if he hadn’t been frozen with shock.

If she ever does that again, I’ll pucker up like a girl in a kissing booth. I won’t be like my brothers. I’m not going down hard.

No, if that little gal wants me, I’m pretty sure I’ll fold like a cheap seat at a picnic—fast and easy.

Chapter Five

The last thing Galen wanted to do was talk to Storm Cash, but thanks to his grandfather’s directive he saw no reason to linger—even if he’d rather chase after Rose and find out if she had any more sugar with his name on it.

“Hi,” Storm said, when Galen drove up in his truck and got out. “It’s not often that I see a Callahan at my place. Is this a friendly call?”

“I hope so. It’ll start out that way. Could go either direction, depending on the weather.”

Storm laughed. “You Callahans are moody cusses, that’s for certain. What’s on your mind?”

“I may take you up on buying the land you offered us,” he said without stalling.

Storm picked up a bale of hay and tossed it into his truck bed. “Might you?”

“Is the offer still open?”

“Sure it is. I’m not the kind of man to go back on my word.”

Sometimes Storm seemed honest to his bones. Galen couldn’t say why he and his siblings felt a sense of unease about the big man. They just did. But then again, they didn’t trust many outsiders. “Why do you want to sell it? You didn’t buy it that many moons ago.”

“Let’s just say that I’m uncomfortable with the undercurrents attached to that land.”

That was a signal to dig deeper if he’d ever heard one. “Storm, you might as well get it off your chest. Skeletons don’t go away, you know. They have a disturbing tendency to hang around and rattle when you least expect it.”

“True,” his neighbor said, “but it’s not the skeletons I’m worried about.”

“So it’s the mercenaries,” Galen stated, and Storm looked him straight in the eye.

“Look, I’ll sell the land to you for a quarter less than I paid for it. I just want rid of it, Callahan. Take it or leave it.”

Galen watched his expression carefully. Storm had less of a poker face than he might have imagined. The man seemed concerned about something. Galen decided to be the needle that dug out the splinter. “That’s quite a loss you’ll take on the asking price.”

“I’ve got a beautiful fiancée. I don’t have time to oversee an enormous ranch,” Storm said.

“I think there’s more to the story.”

His neighbor gave him a dry look. “I don’t want to get caught in the middle of anything.”

“Nothing to get caught in the middle of. We’re the good guys.” A sudden thought occurred to Galen. “Wait a minute. You’ve come to our ranch a couple of times mentioning that you’d found stragglers camping on your land. That there were trespassers you couldn’t control. You haven’t been threatened in any way, have you?”

“If you want to buy the land across the canyons
and
my land, you’ve got yourself a deal, neighbor. We’ll leave it at that.”

Galen blinked, caught off guard. “You planning to move away, Storm? You haven’t been on this spread but about four or five years, have you?”

“Think I’ll move into town, to Lu’s place,” Storm said evenly.

The rancher
had
been threatened. Galen’s sixth sense was going wild with warning. “What does Lu think about that?”

Lu Feinstrom was Storm’s lady friend. She was a great cook and quite a woman. Storm had gone down like a sack of hammers for her and her cooking.

“She’d rather live here. But what can I do?” He glanced at the sky. “Looks like a storm is coming, Callahan. I’m going to have to bring some livestock in. Have your lawyer or agent send me an offer. Then we’ll smoke on it.”

“I’ll do that.” Galen watched as the big man headed off in his truck, then got in his and drove back to Rancho Diablo.

* * *

“I
T
’
S
BEAUTIFUL
, F
IONA
,”
Rose said, gazing at the wedding dress on her bed. “But I don’t know anything about modeling wedding gowns.”

“Sure you do,” Fiona said brightly. “Just hop in that one and let’s see what you see. I mean, let’s see how it fits you.”

“What is this big event Rancho Diablo is hosting?” Rose couldn’t say why she didn’t want to put the gown on, she just didn’t.

On the other hand, she couldn’t disappoint Fiona, whose face was bright and expectant.

“I’m just about out of bachelors, except for Jace,” Fiona told her. “So this Christmas, for the Christmas ball, I’m going to do a bride-a-thon. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

“You’re planning early.” Rose’s heart shifted a bit. “How can you be out of bachelors?”

“I just ran out of available options.” Fiona snapped her fingers. “I can’t raise enough money for the charity projects I’m working on by selling cookies and pies, you know. So this time I’m going to have a bride-a-thon to end all bride-a-thons.”

Rose backed up a bit farther from the gorgeous gown. “What about Galen?”

“Oh, Galen’s a pinhead and Jace is loosey-goosey. Couldn’t get much for either of them. No, this year we’re going for the bachelorette angle. Much more lucrative, I’ll bet. Sure you don’t want to try this on? It’s still got the price tag attached.”

Rose didn’t think there could be anything more lucrative than Galen strutting on stage in front of a couple hundred leering ladies. “I bid on Galen year before last,” she said. “I’d bid again.”

Galen walked into her room just as the words left her mouth. He grinned and gave her a sly wink.

“I really appreciate that vote of confidence, doll face. I’m sorry you didn’t win me. Maybe another time.”

“I don’t think so,” Rose said. “Your aunt says you’re unavailable.”

Galen raised a brow. “Am I, aunt?”

“I think it’s a terminal thing,” Fiona muttered, gazing at the dress with some sadness. “I had great hopes for you and Jace, but the truth is, you two may be runts.”

Rose laughed, the idea of this tall man being a runt too ludicrous to imagine. “Poor Galen.”

He grabbed his aunt to him and gave her a big smooch on the cheek. She squealed and wriggled out of his arms. “Who’s the victim that’s going in that white shroud, aunt?”

“I was trying,” Fiona said with some asperity, “to get Rose to put it on, but it seems she doesn’t fancy white shrouds, as you so illustratively call this delightful creation.” She sailed from the room, murmuring about needing to redo her victim list.

“I think I let her down.”

“I wouldn’t worry. My aunt will have another plot on her mind soon enough that she’ll want to snare you in.”

Galen smiled, and Rose felt her knees go slightly weak. She glanced at the gown again. “It’s not really my style. I’m a little more casual, I think.”

“I’m surprised at Fiona,” Galen said, peering at the gown more closely. “This is from the shop in town.”

“Don’t some of your cousins’ wives own the wedding dress boutique?”

“Yeah, but...” Galen studied the garment again, shaking his head. “Never mind. It’s not important. What time are you on duty?”

“I’m watching the kids for the next two days. Then I have two days off. I’m planning to go check on my dad.” Rose took a long look at the handsome man in her room, memorizing everything about him. “Did you need something, by the way?”

“Not really,” Galen said. “I got stopped on the way to my room by the mention of you bidding on me. I’m sorry you were disappointed.”

She raised a brow. “Did I say I was disappointed I didn’t win you?”

He grinned. “Maybe I was the one who was disappointed.” Then he kissed her, slowly and sweetly, and Rose felt her world shifting and changing. She leaned against him, curled her hands around his broad back and felt their bodies melt together.

A second later the storm that had been threatening all afternoon broke wide-open with a fierce thunderclap, blowing all the lights out without even a flicker. She gasped and stepped back from Galen.

Thankfully, it was pitch-black in the room, or he’d know just by looking at her face how much she wanted to toss that gown off her bed and drag him into it.

“Whoa,” Galen said. “Where’d you go, beautiful? Don’t leave a guy standing in the dark with empty arms.”

“I’m looking for a flashlight.”

“Don’t do that. I know where my mouth is. I can lead you right to it.”

His teasing finally coaxed away her nervousness. “Galen, don’t you have a match?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t ask. Now that you have,” he said, striking one and holding up the resulting flame, “I cannot by way of gentlemanly decree lie and say I do not have said match. But I liked what we were doing in the dark much better.”

“Maybe your aunt is right about you.” Rose groped in a drawer and found a flashlight, turning it on and setting it on the table with the beam upward. “Maybe you’re not raffle material.”

His laugh was low and sexy. “One thing you should know about my aunt is that she loves the theory of reverse psychology.” He blew out the match and took the flashlight. “Follow me. We’ll go make sure she has her flashlight. I worry about her and Burke falling.”

“You’re nothing if not a good nephew,” Rose said, following him down the stairs. “Maybe it
was
reverse psychology. That would mean she thinks you are worth bidding on.”

“Of course I’m worth bidding on. I’m the best catch at Rancho Diablo. Don’t let my aunt fool you, cupcake. She’s cast her line, and she’s trying to reel you in. My advice is run while you still can.”

Rose rolled her eyes behind Galen’s broad back. “Why ever would I want to run from the best catch at Rancho Diablo?”

“Because,” Galen said, “most ladies around here have found themselves with an empty hook.”

“That’s a shame,” Rose said. “But then, I’m not really worried about the quality of my bait.”

He laughed again, and she smiled, not worried at all.

“Jace,” Galen said, once they were in the den. “Glad you’re here. I’d like to call a family meeting tonight. We have a lot to discuss.”

“Like the fact that you’re planning to buy the ranch across the canyons?” Jace demanded. Rose heard the edge in his voice.

“Call the meeting if you have cell service,” Galen said tersely, no longer laughing and happy the way he’d been a moment ago, and Rose knew that after tonight, everything at Rancho Diablo was going to change.

The storm had brought in dark clouds and knocked out the power. It felt as if a lot of energy had left, and anger and resentment had taken its place. A cold chill ran over Rose. She took the flashlight Galen handed her, and murmured that she was going to find Fiona.

But in the kitchen she found Running Bear, standing there silently, dark and tense. She stifled a shriek. “Hi, Running Bear.”

He nodded.

“The guys are in the den, if you’re looking for them.”

He didn’t move. “You went in the cave last night.”

“Yes. I did.”

“Come with me.”

There could be no harm in going with Galen’s grandfather. She followed him to the door.

“Not without me, Grandfather,” Galen said from behind them.

“I knew you would come.” Running Bear disappeared, and with a glance over her shoulder at Galen, Rose followed the chief.

“Where are we headed?” Galen asked.

“With Rose’s permission, I would like to talk to her father. He knows much that may help us.” Running Bear got into the jeep, waved a hand at Galen. “Drive, please.” And with that, they took off into the storm.

Rose sat in the front with Galen, since Running Bear seemed content in the back. “Dad would love to talk to you. I’ll let him know we’re coming.”

She dialed her father, relaying the information as Galen drove. “Dad says he’s home, and to come on over. He’ll enjoy having a visit from you.” She glanced at Galen. “He specifically said ‘the Callahans are welcome anytime.’”

“Good,” Galen said. “Always good to know the welcome mat’s out. So, Grandfather, why are we bothering Mr. Carstairs?”

“Sheriff Carstairs,” Running Bear said. “Once upon a time, Sheriff Mack Carstairs was a Texas Ranger. That was a while ago, but he knows many people here in New Mexico.”

“You’re going to talk to Dad about the tunnels?” Rose asked.

“We need counsel,” Running Bear said. “Government agencies are going to want to know that there are tunnels under our lands. We need advice on how to proceed before the government agents arrive.”

“Dad has a lot of contacts still, Running Bear. He’ll be happy to help.” Rose looked out the window as the rain poured down. “He’ll be pleased you’re taking him into your confidence.”

“Thank you,” Running Bear said. “We need all the friends we can get now.”

Rose glanced at Galen. His sidelong gaze met hers and she smiled at him. It seemed as if last night had happened forever ago.

And the kiss, even longer.

* * *

R
ETIRED
S
HERIFF
M
ACK
was a big man, bigger than Galen, who was no small fry himself. He was at least six-four in his boots, with long, shaggy white hair crowned by a worn straw Resistol cowboy hat. He enveloped his tiny daughter in a bear hug, and Galen saw at once that Rose was the apple of her father’s eye.

He didn’t blame the sheriff one bit for being very fond of his cute little apple.

“What you’re coming to talk about, Chief,” Mack said as he waved them to chairs, “is tricky business. The Feds are going to come in, make a mess of your property. It’ll be on TV. The whole stew will have everybody in New Mexico up in arms, because they’ll wonder where else tunnels are being dug.” The big man tossed his hat on a sofa and grabbed a couple bottles of tea from the fridge. “Sorry. Don’t have time to make my own.”

“Dad,” Rose said, “making tea doesn’t take any time. You just like this sugary stuff.”

“That I do.” He grinned mischievously. “Now that you’re gone and your sisters are married off, I can drink sugary stuff all I like.”

“Dad!” she protested. “I’ll brew up some real tea for you. Will you drink it?”

“I’ll drink anything you make for me. It’s hard not having her at home,” Mack told Galen. “Hope you folks are taking good care of my little girl.”

Galen was about to say,
Yes, indeed,
when Rose said, “Dad, I’m twenty-eight. No one needs to take care of me.”

“That’s what she always says.” Mack grinned and looked back at Running Bear. “You could always try to flush them out, Chief. The problem is, they’ll come back. And it’s sort of skirting the law not to mention that they’re there, you see. Smugglers and mercenaries and the like bring trouble, not just to your property, but surrounding ranches. Crime goes up. Soon you’ve got bigger problems on your hands.”