A CALLAHAN CHRISTMAS MIRACLE (17 page)

She smiled and went to talk to some of the nurses about Riley, delighted to be taking her son home. Galen watched her, his heart huge with happiness and pride. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on, and she’d given him the dreams of his heart.

Yet the mysterious guard bothered him.

“Jace,” Galen said when his brother answered the phone. “There’s a bodyguard that was assigned to Riley by a Mr. Callahan, supposedly. He’s been out here every day. When we came to take Riley home, he disappeared into thin air. I know for a fact that no bodyguard on the Rancho Diablo payroll was assigned to Riley. Do you know anything about this?”

After a moment, Jace chuckled. “I bet I know who hired that bodyguard, Galen.”

He blinked. “Who?”

“Think outside the box, way outside the box. See if you come up with the same idea I did.”

Galen turned over possible options in his mind. “A Callahan, of course, because the nurse thought I’d hired him.”

“It would have to be a Callahan. The hospital doesn’t allow just anybody to stand in the hall and say he’s guarding a baby. He has to have credentials, and approval from the administration. Aren’t you supposed to be the brain in the family?”

“I am the brain in the family.” Galen looked at Riley as he lay happily in his mother’s arms, saying goodbye to all the nurses who’d taken such good care of him. “But if not you, then—”

“Didn’t the nurse say it was a Mr. Callahan, bro, who had assigned the guard? How about Chacon Callahan. Our father, Carlos.”

Galen’s eyes went huge. “How can that be?”

“Ask the chief. He won’t confirm our guess but you’ll know by the stoic expression he always wears. But you and I are old enough to remember our father. You know the kind of man Dad was, and I don’t doubt for a minute that protecting the next generation of our family would be second nature to him.” Jace laughed again. “Just call it a Callahan Christmas miracle, and take your family home. Merry Christmas, big brother.”

Shivers ran over Galen as he thought about Jace’s words. Of course. It made perfect sense. Carlos wasn’t going to leave any member of his family behind. They were a team; they were together forever.

In spirit and in heart.

And it was a miracle, a gift from the past that told him the future was going to be wonderfully blessed.

* * *

O
NCE
R
OSE
PUT
Riley in his bassinet next to his brothers, it was as if the pieces of her heart suddenly fit together again, a puzzle completed.

“This is how it should be,” she whispered. “This is Christmas.”

Galen put his arm around her shoulder. The boys calmed, seemed content to be close together once more. Rose’s heart filled with more happiness than she’d ever known, and tears welled up in her eyes. “They’re perfect,” she said. “It’s a miracle.”

Galen’s arm tightened on her, then he turned her toward him and kissed her gently. “It is a miracle. A Callahan Christmas miracle.”

“I’d almost stopped believing,” she said, staring into his eyes. “Christmas never really filled my heart. But now I feel it, Galen. And I know everything’s going to be all right.”

He hugged her to him, wrapping her against his strong chest. She could hear his heart beating, feel his arms tighten around her. “It’s going to be all right. It’s going to be better than all right,” he said. “This is the first day. Everything from here on out is special, because we’re all together.”

She looked up at him, hope blossoming in her heart. “We can’t let anything, or anyone, split up our family.”

“I know. You’re right. I shouldn’t have doubted you. Next time, we’ll work together on everything.” He kissed her forehead, then her lips. “Now that Riley’s home, I can see the future so much better.”

Her face glowed with happiness. “Oh, Galen. You feel it, too. You know we belong together as a family.”

He did know. He couldn’t surrender to the fear. Ash had once told him he was making decisions from fear.

His sister was right. His wife was right.

He would never again make that mistake. The past few weeks of distance between him and Rose had been so hard on him. He belonged with his family. They made him strong, made him a better man. “I do know.”

“Does that mean—”

“Yes. It means we’ll all live here, or at Rancho Diablo, wherever you want to be. You, me, the babies. Mack, even, if he wants to be part of the clan.”

“But together,” Rose said. “No more trying to send me and the children off?”

Galen shook his head, looking down at his sons. What other decision could he make? He couldn’t give this up for anything, and somehow, they’d make it work, even if he had to pay a platoon of bodyguards. “We stay together.”

“I just know your parents would want us to make an effort to be a family. They gave up so much so you could have a chance at happiness.” Rose laid her head on his chest, her heart practically soaring inside her. “Are you sure you’ll be okay with this?”

“Carlos and Julia do want us to be together, and I know that now. It’s not going to be easy,” Galen said. “You know Wolf’s going to make our lives miserable.”

“He won’t make mine miserable,” Rose said. “I’m raising three Callahans. He’d better watch out for my team.”

Galen closed his eyes and smiled. There was nothing he could do. It was just as Running Bear had said: he’d married a warrior. She wasn’t going to retreat, and she’d fight whoever tried to stand in her way.

“You know,” Galen said, “some people might think you’re stubborn, babe.”

She smiled against his chest. “Some people might, and they’d be right.”

The two of them looked down at their children. “Triplets. You gave me triplets,” Galen said, unable to help the wonder in his voice. “Three special little boys.”

“Yes, I did,” Rose said. “And I have something else you might like for Christmas, as well.”

“Oh?” He studied his darling wife, noting the sudden mischievous glint in her eyes. “What would that be?”

“I had my doctor’s appointment. And she told me...” Rose began. Then she whispered something in his ear, so that his sons couldn’t hear their mother proposing something of a delightfully naughty nature, a Christmas surprise, to their father.

Galen scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their room. “Good things come to those who wait,” he told his beautiful wife. “And then again, good things come faster to those who don’t want to wait another moment.”

Rose laughed. “Merry Christmas, husband.”

“Merry Christmas, wife.”

And they proceeded to enjoy Christmas as fast as they possibly could. As far as Galen was concerned, this was the best Christmas ever. It was magic. It was complete happiness—it was everything he’d been dreaming of before he’d even known that the dream existed in his heart.

Miraculous.

Epilogue

The thing about the magic wedding dress, as far as Rose could see, was that it was just so sumptuously beautiful. Of course, she didn’t give too much credence to all the fairy tales and legends surrounding it, but as she studied the dress in the bag—finally her turn in Fiona’s attic—she saw the moment she’d long waited for.

Her chance to be a true Callahan bride.

The guests were waiting downstairs, as was her husband, this lovely Christmas Eve. They’d opted to have a quick vow renewal before candlelight services, a romantic icing on the holiday cake. Rose could hardly wait.

“You’re lovely,” she whispered to the gown. “I’ve waited a long time to try you on. Fiona promises that you’ll be a perfect fit, which will indeed be a magical moment.”

Of course, she would have married Galen again if she’d had to wear a potato sack. After all the turmoil in the first few weeks of their marriage, she was more than ready to start over with vows of love, and their babies present.

She slipped the dress from the bag, then stepped into it, holding her breath as she moved closer to the cheval mirror. In the lamplight she could see twinkles and sparkles on the splendid fabric, and as she pulled the dress up to her shoulders, it wrapped around her with a whisper of perfection.

She smiled as she looked at the dress in the mirror. “You’re everything I ever heard, or ever imagined,” she told it. “Thank you for being the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.”

More sparkles seemed to glimmer, cascading around her. Rose did a little turn to see the back—and realized Galen was standing next to her, his eyes smiling with love and happiness.

“I love you,” she told her husband. “I’ve loved you from afar for so long, since the first time I ever tried to bid on you at the Christmas ball. I love the fact that we’ll always be together now. You and me, and the babies. Our wonderful family.”

He nodded, and she could see in his eyes that he completely agreed with her, that whatever happened in the future, they would always face it together.

And then he disappeared.

Rose shivered. It had been so real! Galen had been standing next to her—she hadn’t imagined gazing into his eyes. The moment had been for the two of them alone.

And yet he wasn’t here now. The attic door had never opened.

Rose turned back to the mirror, and smiled at the dress.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you so very much for showing me the man of my dreams. I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”

All her dreams had come positively, blissfully true.

* * *

C
HRISTMAS
MORNING
,
the moment Rose had long been waiting for, bloomed bright and sunny over the house in Tempest. Icicles dripped as they melted, and the sun beamed on the white snow.

She had her three sons and her husband—and it was a beautiful, amazing day.

“Merry Christmas!” she said, waking Galen with a kiss.

“Merry Christmas, wife.” He snuggled her against him, holding her as close as he could. “The babies are so quiet. I think they were worn out from the wedding. They got passed around by half of Diablo.”

“It was the most beautiful wedding ever.” Rose smiled at him. “That was a pretty romantic idea you had, husband.”

He grinned, pleased. “It was, wasn’t it?”

She straddled him with a wicked smile. “So tell me, what’s this rumor that Callahans are hard to get to an altar—and yet somehow, most or all of you seem to do it twice?”

“Yeah, we haven’t quite figured that out yet.” He pulled her down to him for a kiss. “But it’s working for us.”

“That’s true.” Rose kissed her husband, then rolled out of bed. “Your Christmas surprise comes later. I’m dying to see the babies. And give you your present.”

“I had a present in mind,” he said, getting out of bed, “but it involved unwrapping you, not a box.”

She giggled. “I’ve got Mack and Somer babysitting all afternoon. You’re getting a mini-honeymoon today, don’t worry.”

“That’s better.” A pleased smile lit Galen’s face. “I like this sexy side of you, Mrs. Callahan.”

She loved knowing that. She dragged him out of the room by the hand to find the babies.

“Look at them,” he said.

The three little boys lay next to each other in the jammies that Fiona’s friends had made them, like tiny Christmas elves. “I never thought I’d be so happy,” Rose said.

He put an arm around her. “I never thought I’d have three sons. You never fail to amaze me, beautiful.”

She smiled. “I believe you provided the necessary ingredient.”

He grinned hugely. “Love?”

“Exactly.” She winked.

“I do love you so much,” Galen said, and she could hear his heart in his words.

“I love you, too.”

They stood watching their babies for a few more moments, enjoying their first Christmas together. The tree twinkled and the fire crackled, and it felt so wonderful to be a family that Rose couldn’t imagine anything better in her life.

“I have a gift for you.” Galen went to the tree, pulled out a tiny red box with a big gold ribbon on it. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

She smiled, shook the box. “Hmm. No sound. Must be air.”

He sat on the couch and pulled her into his lap. “Must be. Open it and see.”

Rose undid the bow and unwrapped the paper, to find a velvety jeweler’s box. She looked at Galen.

“Well, I figured you deserved something very small for giving me three fine sons,” Galen said, kissing her. “Let’s see if it fits.”

She opened the box, and smiled at the engagement ring with three oval diamonds on it. “It’s beautiful, Galen. Thank you.” He slipped the ring on her finger, and, of course, it fit perfectly.

“I never had a chance to get you what I really wanted to. We settled for bands the first time around. So I wanted to make sure you knew how much I truly love you.”

She kissed him deeply, melting against him. “I love you, too.”

It felt wonderful to be in his arms, together forever.

“But you know,” Rose said, hopping out of his lap, “we need to get dressed. I have a family photographer arriving soon.”

“On Christmas Day?”

“Yes.” She nodded definitively. “You’ll need blue jeans, white shirt, hat optional. I want it to be comfy, a family portrait of our first Christmas together. I hope you don’t mind.”

“That’s a great idea. How did you think of it?”

Rose smiled, unable to keep the teasing note from her voice. “Well, it all came about when you talked me into going into the cave.”

“Here we go,” Galen said.

She laughed. “No, really. And while I was down there, I saw that portrait of Running Bear. Remember?”

“I know you mentioned it. I was out cold when I was taken there, so I never saw it.”

“I know,” Rose said. “And that’s too bad. But I started thinking about how important it is for family to be commemorated, and how much it means to remember the important moments. So I decided I wanted our first Christmas together to be captured. We’ll put it in your office at Rancho Diablo.”

Galen grinned. “Thank you. Come here and let me thank you properly.”

“Actually, I’m not quite done with your present,” Rose said. “The family portrait we’re having taken is a companion piece to something else I want to hang in your office.” She pulled a big, brown-wrapped package from behind the tree and handed it to him. “This is your real gift, Galen. Merry Christmas.”

“Those are my real gifts, over there,” he said, pointing to his sons. “Rudolph, Donner and Blitzen, according to the names on their outfits.”

She laughed. “Open your gift.”

He unwrapped the brown paper, and held up a newly framed portrait of Running Bear. “This is amazing,” Galen said, staring at the likeness. “The artist did a fabulous job capturing Grandfather. How did you ever...” He turned to look at her, his eyes wide. “Oh, no. You didn’t get this out of the cave.”

Rose smiled and got in his lap for a fast kiss he was too stunned to return.

“Tell me you didn’t go back to the cave to get this out. Rose, promise me you’ll never go back there again.”

She got the giggles just looking at the astonishment on her husband’s face. “I will never go back there again, unless you decide you need me to help you on another Callahan escapade.”

He put the portrait down, held her close to him. “You’re going to drive me mad, aren’t you?”

“I plan to keep our marriage exciting.”

He shook his head. “You didn’t—”

“I didn’t. I promise.” She kissed Galen. “I told Running Bear I’d seen his portrait in the cave, and it dawned on me that I hadn’t seen any pictures of him around Rancho Diablo. And since he’s the heart and soul of the ranch, I want our sons to know him, and be able to remember him always. So I asked him to sit for a portrait for your Christmas present.” She shrugged. “One day I came into the house, and this was in front of the tree with my name on it.”

Rose looked at Galen, then said, “It’s the one from the cave. I recognize it. Of course, I didn’t ask him where he’d gotten it, but I knew. I just thanked him, and told him this was exactly what I wanted to give you for Christmas.”

Galen shook his head. “My grandfather is definitely a spirit of his own understanding.”

“Yes.”

“I think I’ll put it in the boys’ nursery, along with this,” he said, getting down the Christmas stocking with her name on it. “There’s something in here I want you to have.”

She pulled out the little silver statue of a Diablo mustang she’d taken from the cave so long ago. “Thank you, Galen.”

“Thank
you,
” he said. “If it hadn’t been for your bravery, none of this would have ever come into my life. Not the babies, not you, nothing.”

She kissed him, and they held each other for a long time, there in front of the fire, until the babies began moving, ready to share Christmas Day with their parents.

It was the most wonderful day of their married life, and Rose wanted to remember it forever.

And that’s the way the family portrait looked, two months later, in its place over the mantel in the house in Diablo: Galen, Rose, little Mack, Ross and Riley in front of the Christmas tree, with Running Bear’s portrait leaning against the lovely wrapped presents, and the silver filigree Diablo mustang placed on a tree branch. It was all there in the picture that was taken that day, alive for posterity—and every time Rose looked at the wonderful portrait, she smiled at the miracle of Christmas framed forever.

It
was
a Callahan Christmas miracle, and Rose and Galen celebrated that miracle each and every day of their lives.

Together.

* * * * *

Jace is the last Callahan bachelor up for grabs.
Find out who tames him in
HER CALLAHAN FAMILY MAN,
coming January 2014
only from Harlequin American Romance!

Keep reading for an excerpt from HIS CHRISTMAS SWEETHEART by Cathy McDavid.