mother feels a bit helpless when she’s not sure if she can bring four babies into the world safely.”
“Come sit by Skye. She wants to hold your hand.”
She gave the hot cowboy a wry look, knowing very well who wanted to hold her hand. “She’s only going to sleep another five minutes. Then she’s going to wake up—and so will all of her siblings—and the circus begins again. I suggest you rest up, cowboy. You’re going to need your strength.”
* * *
IF XAV NEEDED STRENGTH, it wasn’t for the “baby circus” to which Ash referred. The strength he required was for going slowly, gingerly, trying to fit into her life, instead of trying to make her fit into his desperate wish that she’d marry him.
That conversation hadn’t gone off exactly as hoped, with an enthusiastic “Yes, I’ll marry you, Xav!”
But he’d been expecting that, and a man who planned well had backup paths to his desired outcome. After the circus—as Ash called it—was completed and the babies were snug in their bassinets and satisfied for the moment, Xav gestured to the babies who lay in the soft glow from the Christmas-tree lights. “I’ve been thinking, actually the children and I have been thinking. Skye suggests that if her mother is the hunted one, who is destined to bring hellfire and danger to Rancho Diablo and its inhabitants, you’re going to need backup. I’m applying for the job. Thorn said he thought it was about time I stepped up, and Briar said a father would make her feel safer than even the Marine Corps at her back. And Valor said it’d be good to turn the responsibility over to me until he’s old enough to handle it himself.”
Ash stayed far away from him at the other end of the sofa. “You’ve been conspiring with my children?”
“I’ve been conspiring with our children, yes. And we’ve come up with quite the remarkable plan. They’re very bright, you know.”
Ash let out a breath that sounded a bit exasperated. But he thought he was winning her over, because she said, “What is this remarkable plan?”
“You marry me, and we produce a formidable team that faces all challenges together. Including the damnation of being the hunted one.” He thought about that for a moment. “I’m still not sure about all the ramifications of that particular designation, but let the record reflect that I face it fearlessly.”
“I didn’t make the decision to come here lightly. I wouldn’t have left Rancho Diablo if I hadn’t known that it was best for everyone.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t make the decision to come here lightly, either. Let’s consider you stuck with me.”
“That’s your marriage proposal?”
“Sure. It’ll probably work better with you than the old-fashioned, hearts-and-flowers, on-bended-knee routine.”
“Maybe,” Ash said, sounding as if she might actually be considering his counterproposal, until the front door crashed open so hard the drapes at the window flew.
“Don’t move,” Wolf said, “or this time this kid gets it.”
He pointed a gun at Skye, and Ash gasped. Wolf’s right-hand man, Rhein, slipped in behind his boss, aiming his gun at Ash. “And little mama gets her payback for nearly killing you, Boss.”
Xav had never felt so helpless in his life. He’d taken off his holster after entering the house—not wanting to carry when he was around the children. That left him unarmed now, at the worst moment of his life. There was blood in Wolf’s eye and he was out for the prize, the biggest Callahan prize of all—the silver-haired only daughter of the Callahan clan—and right then Xav knew that Ash had been right all along.
She was indeed the hunted one.
Chapter Four
“Don’t even think about heroics,” Wolf said. “Here’s where you get lucky. I happen to be in a giving mood tonight. I take my niece, and leave you here alive with these bundles of joy.”
Ash looked terrified—and mad—as Rhein held her arms together, quickly binding them with nylon cuffs. Xav feared for her if things got out of control. Ash had a fiery temper and he hoped she didn’t unleash it. He started to say, “She’s nursing these babies, don’t be an idiot, take me instead,” then realized he couldn’t offer that deal because Wolf didn’t know these were Callahan children.
If Wolf knew, he’d be just as likely to kidnap them all.
“You don’t want her,” Xav said. “Taking her will bring down Callahan wrath on you.”
“I know what I’m doing. Thanks, though, for the generous advice.” Wolf jerked his head at Rhein to depart with Ash. She kicked Rhein in the shin, and he slapped her. Xav grit his teeth, reminding himself that the patient man left himself the most options.
“If you call the law, we’ll kill her,” Wolf said, waving his gun for emphasis.
“You’d kill your own niece,” Xav stated, his voice deadly quiet. Wolf had a hair-trigger temper as the door hanging by a hinge illustrated. He’d been spoiling for revenge for months.
“I probably will anyway, but that’s not your concern.” He glanced at the babies in the bassinets, sleeping soundly for the moment, thankfully. “Let me tell you how this is going to go down. This isn’t about you, it doesn’t concern you. If you come after us, we’ll shoot her on the spot. But if you give us an hour’s head start, she’ll live. Best deal I’ll offer you. Don’t make me have to shoot you, too,” Wolf said. “I’m kind of in a killing mood, to be honest. In case you don’t know, my dear angelic niece nearly killed me. She and I have things to talk about, but that’s none of your business.” He stared Xav down. “You get me?”
“I do. One hour head start, no more.”
“That’s all I need for the party I’m planning.” Wolf followed Rhein to his black truck.
Mallory peeked around the corner. “What is going on?”
“Just an unforeseen event that requires a bit of attention. Can you move the babies to the back of the house, quickly?”
Mallory grabbed up a baby, then another, and scrambled down the hall. Xav didn’t move, but watched Ash put up a helluva fight as Rhein and Wolf tried to get her into the truck. Mallory had the other two babies moved while Ash struggled, and Xav got his gun from the holster he’d laid on the sofa, unlocked it and checked the magazine.
“Do you want me to call the sheriff?” Mallory whispered from the kitchen.
“In a minute you’re going to hear two shots. After the second shot, you can call the sheriff.”
“Okay.”
He heard the kitchen door close and trained his eyes on Ash. Rhein and Wolf had finally managed to wrangle her into the truck, and were driving away when suddenly she fell out of the vehicle and started to run toward the woods across the street. The truck stopped and Wolf and Rhein ran after her, and from the front door, Xav fired once, twice.
He smiled.
Ash whirled
