SWEET CALLAHAN HOMECOMING (17 page)

A
SH
RODE
HARD
through the canyons to Sister Wind Ranch, snow flying from the horse’s hooves. She knew her brothers were hot on her trail and that was fine. They should be with her. This was the moment for which they had come to Rancho Diablo. Just knowing that someone had intended to burn it down—with her family in it—pushed her past the point of reason.

There was no forgiveness for Wolf now.

She leaped off Jace’s horse at the mouth of the tunnel she and Xav had gone in. Hurrying through the maze of cold dark passageways, she didn’t even try to be silent and unseen.

As she’d expected, Wolf was in the tunnel.

“Hello, niece.”

“Get out of my way, Uncle Wolf.”

He smiled. “You’re here because of my housewarming gift.”

Housewarming
. He was laughing at her, at her family. “My children were in that house, you miserable scum. I don’t know why Grandfather won’t let us kill you. You have no soul.” She wanted to murder him in the worst way, felt her grandfather’s spirit settle over her, taking the edge off her boiling rage.

He shrugged. “Running Bear protects me because he is weak. My father is always hoping the prodigal son will come back to the family fold.”

“He certainly gave you enough chances to do so. Why didn’t you?”

“Because,” Wolf said, his voice deep with determination, “my brothers are in hiding. They can never claim anything. Everything will come to me. All that’s standing in my way is Running Bear—and you. Running Bear is old. He can’t last forever. And you,” Wolf said calmly, “you’re just a girl. And in spite of your brave words, you won’t go against Running Bear’s teachings. You won’t harm me.”

He smiled, confident and chilling.

“You could have
killed
my children,” Ash said. She thought about the gown burning away, a sure warning; she thought about the Diablos being trapped to be sold for God only knew what purposes, and she thought about this man almost killing Jace. She thought about her parents’ suffering and the Callahan cousins’, and she thought about the family life they’d never had—and she pulled out a gun and pointed it at Wolf’s boots. “Run.”

“You won’t shoot. All this dynamite will go up in a fireball.”

“Let’s not test her,” Xav said behind her. “She’s not in the best of moods. In fact, her mood is distinctly not favoring you at the moment. And neither is mine. So if she doesn’t get you, I probably will.”

Her brothers suddenly appeared around her.

“She doesn’t have to shoot you,” Dante said. “I’ll do it.” He drew a gun, as did his brothers.

Wolf’s eye widened. “You’d all die with me.”

“Then we’ll all go to Hell together. Run
fast,
” Xav said again, and Ash fired one single shot between Wolf’s boots, and Wolf took off running.

“Follow him, Jace,” she said, her voice cold. “Everybody out of the tunnel. Get far, far away.”

“Let me handle this part, sister,” Jace said. “As you know, this is something of my specialty.” He looked at the neatly stacked contraband. “In fact, the Great Spirit probably let me live just so I could enjoy this moment.”

She nodded. “Give us to the count of sixty. And you get the hell out, too. Don’t piss me off by dying or getting some fingers blown off.”

They hurried from the tunnel, Xav pulling her along.

“The wedding’s going to seem a bit anticlimactic for you,” Xav said as they ran.

“Anticlimactic sounds heavenly.” She looked behind them, then mounted Jace’s horse. “Everybody ride like hell for the canyons.”

She glanced around for Wolf. Sure enough, his bony body was running as fast as he could in the chewed-up snow, hightailing it for safety.

She wanted to ride him down, but didn’t. Focused on the rules Grandfather had given them, reminding herself that his spirit resided inside her.

On a high mesa visible now in the dawning sun, she saw Grandfather, realizing she’d expected him to be there. Knew he would be there. He stared down at them, watching the battle unfold, waiting.

She turned, waiting for Jace to make it out.

“He’s going to be fine.” Xav pulled up beside her. “Fireworks are never going to seem quite the same after Jace sets his off.”

“Come on, Jace,” she murmured. “Get out of there.”

She saw Jace riding like the wind, galloping hard toward the canyons on the back of the silver mare, swifter than any horse she’d ever seen run.

“Go,”
she said under her breath. “Come on!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, knowing it couldn’t be much longer before Armageddon let loose.

She glanced toward Wolf, seeing that he’d stopped, too, was watching behind him—then gasped when he raised a gun to his eye to fire on Jace.

“Xav! He’s got a gun!”

They were all carrying pistols. Wolf had brought a long-range rifle with him or he’d had it hidden among the rocks, and he sighted Jace, too far from the Chacon Callahans to do anything about it. She knew Jace couldn’t possibly see that he was in the crosshairs.

Xav took off, his horse streaking across Wolf’s line of vision. Ash stared, horrified, as Xav drew Wolf’s attention, the rifle following Xav now, Wolf sighting him. Her heart shriveled, her breath stopped—and suddenly, a fierce dust storm rose from nowhere, a sweeping funnel skirting and driving along the ground toward them.

She glanced at Running Bear, saw him watching, his arms raised high. The funnel danced on the ground, gathering speed and power, swirling with dark wind and dust and rotational kinetic energy. A sudden horrific boom rose from underground, shaking everything around her and her brothers, startling the horses. Dust and snowy dirt clumps flew as the tunnels collapsed, and Wolf lowered his rifle for a moment, staring at the hellish vengeance Jace had unleashed.

Ash momentarily worried that even the canyons might fall in, their walls, strong for thousands of years, not capable of withstanding the force.

But they held, as did the mesa where Running Bear rose on the back of his horse, his arms stretched high. An eerie cry, a wordless keening song, filtered to them on the winds from the gathering tornado wall.

“Damn, Jace,” Galen said. “That was a beauty,” he said as his brother gained their side.

“Have to say she was a sweetie,” Jace said proudly. “I can still set a charge like a pro. He had everything I needed to take out a good many of the tunnels. All I needed was fast feet and a prayer.”

“You’re a pro,” Dante said, high-fiving him.

“Nobody better,” Jace bragged proudly.

Ash screamed, realizing Wolf had raised his rifle again, his momentary disconcertment gone in his eagerness to take out a Callahan. Xav rode toward Wolf, his purpose clear. He was going to force Wolf off the edge, send him into the canyon below, and Ash’s heart barely beat as she watched Wolf squeeze off a shot at the man she loved. Unable to take it another second, she rode at Wolf hard, hearing her brothers yell for her to stop.

She could get to Wolf first, drive him into the canyon before he hurt Xav. It was time, the moment was on her, and the knowledge urged her on.

The funnel burst in a fury of hot, dry desolation, blowing sand and grit and the heat of unholy fire into her, driving her back. She gasped against the power of it, saw Xav riding strong despite the funnel’s fury—a fury which suddenly engulfed Wolf, sucking him into its vortex and sending him into the canyon below.

The funnel danced along the bottom of the dry arroyo, swirling and magnificent. Ash rode to Xav, jumped off her horse to pull herself up on his horse and into his arms. He held her, wrapping her against his big, strong chest.

“It’s over,” Xav said. “Babe, it’s over. He’s not coming back.”

She looked back at Running Bear atop the mesa. The chief sat there, proud and strong, unmoving as he watched the funnel leave the canyon, a spirit wind guiding itself to places unknown.

Then he turned and rode away.

Chapter Eighteen

Christmas Eve came frosted with light snow that dusted the tops of the corrals amidst the white holiday lights, and snowflakes that glittered on windowpanes, giving Rancho Diablo a fairy-tale glow. Ash smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, her knee-length blue dress paired with tan suede boots, and a bridal bouquet of white roses tied with a silver ribbon.

“Your hair looks lovely, if I do say so myself,” Fiona said, twining a silver ribbon through the fall of Ash’s platinum hair. “You’re a beautiful bride. I wish you could wear the magic wedding dress, but all the same, this is a magical day for you.”

Ash turned to hug Fiona. “Thank you for agreeing to be my matron of honor, dearest Aunt.”

“Have I ever received a greater honor!” Fiona beamed, and they looked at the babies wrapped in matching white blankets with tiny silver ribbons glimmering throughout. The babies wore darling onesies of soft velour, an ivory color Fiona said was fit for a wedding.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” Ash murmured, looking at her children, thinking about how they’d benefited from Fiona’s plentiful caring. “You and Burke have been the parents I never really had.”

Fiona looked pleased. She patted Ash’s hair one last time and turned to pick up a baby.

“Where will you go now, Fiona? Will you stay here?”

“I don’t know. The Callahans will come home, and that’ll give this heart something to be overjoyed about. And you will all build on Sister Wind Ranch, so you’ll be settled nearby.”

“We’ll build you and Burke a house,” Ash said suddenly. “I couldn’t bear it if you went too far away. And my children should know their wonderful great-aunt and great-uncle.”

“I’m sure we’d be pleased to take you up on that offer.” Fiona nodded. “I’m glad you’re marrying Xav. He’s taken on the Callahan way of life without any doubts.”

“I’m so in love with him, Fiona.” She remembered the panic in her heart as Xav had raced to save Jace, and knew she’d found the only man whom she could ever love.

“He’s in love with you, too, my girl. Good things come to the good,” she said happily.

“I’m not good,” Ash said, her voice soft.

Fiona touched her cheek. “Dear girl, you were always good. We fight the battles we must. Anyone who puts themselves on the line for the greater good is deserving of peace and calm in their soul.”

“I didn’t think I would feel peace and calm,” Ash said, “but not only do I feel peaceful and happy, I feel secure. Blessed. Like everything happened for a reason, even if I couldn’t understand that at the time.”

Fiona smiled to herself. “Let’s go find your handsome groom.”

Ash looked one more time at the blue dress. It was pretty, she’d loved it when she chose it, but it did seem strange to be the only Callahan bride never to wear Fiona’s treasured gown.

“I wish I could have worn your magic wedding dress, Fiona,” Ash said, reaching out to hug her darling aunt who’d done so much for her.

And no sooner did she speak the words but a melody began playing, soft and lilting, surrounding her with its joy. Tiny trembles of magic bounced and glittered along her hem and the sleeves of the blue dress, and as she watched, the dress transformed itself into a beautiful white wedding dress, a sweeping train and a lovely sheer veil shimmering and evanescent. She gasped, looking at her feet, adorned in sexy pumps that sparkled with enchantment.

“Fiona, look!”

“I see,” Fiona said, laughing with delight.

And if Ash hadn’t known better, she would have thought she saw her aunt tucking away a wand, hiding it from view as she smiled at her, as if dresses so beautiful appeared out of thin air every day.

Of course there was no wand. That would be a fairy tale—and Ash was already living one of those.

“Thank you, Fiona,” she whispered, hugging her aunt to her. “I love you so very much. I’m the happiest woman in the world!”

And suddenly, in the mirror, Ash saw Xav smiling at her. He reached out to take her hand, and when she expected to feel his touch, she felt only his warmth and love before the vision in the mirror disappeared.

It was all magic, of course. The magic of love and the belief that anything could happen—any miracle at all.

Whatever your heart could conceive of, that was the dream you had to fight for. And Ash knew she’d been blessed with Xav, and her children, and a family who loved her.

Forever.

* * *

“W
OW
,” X
AV
SAID
when Ash came down the aisle, escorted by her six brothers, which might have freaked out a lesser groom, but now just seemed normal. Callahan-normal.

Besides which, his bride was so gorgeous he couldn’t even look at her tux-wearing escorts. He knew instantly she was wearing the magic wedding dress—she glowed with happiness and joy. A few people he didn’t know held his babies in the white chairs Fiona had put in the house for the occasion, but if Fiona trusted these folks, then they had to be all right. He recognized Mallory McGrath from Wild, Texas. Ash would be delighted that Mallory was there. Their Callahan cousins and their wives and children could have filled up a small church on their own, and Xav was amazed by all the people from the town of Diablo who had come out on this Christmas Eve to see them married.

Ash came to stand beside him, and he couldn’t help himself. He kissed her soft pink lips right in front of the deacon and all the guests. “You are the most beautiful bride in the world.”

She smiled. “Not the world.”

“My world, babe. Yes, you are. And all mine, at last.” Xav drew in a heavy breath. “I can’t believe it’s finally going to happen. You’re going to become my wife.” He looked at the deacon. “Am I the most fortunate guy in the world or what?”

The deacon smiled. “I’ll begin the ceremony now, if you’d like, Mr. Phillips.”

“The sooner the better, Deacon. Thank you.” He grinned at Ash. “And you thought the magic wedding dress was gone forever.”

She smiled up at him, adorable and sexy and his true soul mate.

He kissed her hand. Whispered for her ears only, “Hottest bride in New Mexico.”

Ash blushed furiously. He grinned again, knowing her heart was his. Finally, after the years he’d spent tearing through her walls, she was going to belong to him. And he to her.

Her brothers eyed him with knowing smiles, understanding exactly the depth of his emotions.

“I’m going to have some help today in this blessing,” the deacon said. “Chief Running Bear has graciously agreed to officiate with me in a combined Navajo ceremony.”

“Grandfather,” Ash said, her eyes lighting with happiness, “thank you for this wonderful gift.”

Running Bear’s dark eyes shone on his only granddaughter and Xav knew the chief was thinking that his granddaughter had his spirit, his heart. It was perfect that he bless their wedding, and when the chief fed them both some blue cornmeal, Xav felt Ash’s joy. The deacon asked who gave this bride to be married, and her six brothers said, “We do!” in voices so loud and strong that the guests giggled.

Ash laughed, too, and Xav kissed her hand as her brothers took their seats.

A man stood up in the audience, his wife beside him. He held Valor, and his wife held Skye. “Her mother and I also join in giving our daughter in marriage.”

Everyone gasped. Ash whirled to face the people who’d spoken. She would have known Julia anywhere; she looked like her in so many ways. And her father was tall and strong, if a little gray around the temples.

She felt their life force as they smiled at her. Had felt it before—months ago in Colorado when she’d gone to see Sawyer and Jace. In the cabin in the mountains, where she’d had the strongest sense that the house they stayed in was a happy home, a sanctuary.

She had a family. Her brothers and she had a family.

“Oh, my God,” Ash murmured, trying not to weep tears of thankfulness. She beamed at her parents, and they smiled at her as they took their seats again.

“Here, babe,” Xav said, holding her close to him. Her hands shaking, her bouquet quivering, she proclaimed her love for her husband, and as Xav put the beautiful diamond-and-sapphire ring on her finger, Ash knew that dreams really did come true, dreams that were spun from hope and love.

And a little bit of magic.

* * *

A
FTER
THEY
WERE
pronounced husband and wife, Xav led Ash down the aisle to the applause of their guests—but he wasn’t surprised at all when Ash flew into her parents’ arms. He stood back, grinning, completely understanding the miracle Ash had received. He watched his beautiful bride and her brothers surround their parents, the family hugging and kissing each other, and he, like the other guests, knew they were witnessing a very special moment.

And if he hadn’t thought another miracle could come their way that night, a woman came over to them, hugging first Julia and then Carlos.

“Mallory McGrath!” Ash exclaimed.

Mallory smiled. “Actually, my name is Molly Callahan, and this is my husband, Jeremiah,” she said, holding Briar as Jeremiah held Thorn, and people rushed to welcome the Callahans and join in the reunion and the celebration as the Callahan cousins hugged their parents, too.

It was a miracle, a true miracle, and the seven-chimneyed house at Rancho Diablo practically filled with joy and laughter and tears and happiness. There was nothing more needed, no greater blessing could be had.

Ash held his hand, turning to look at him. “You gave me this moment.”

“Beautiful, this moment is all yours. Yours and your families’. You worked hard for it. I get to be the lucky man marrying you.”

“I’m so very blessed by you, and our children,” she said, her voice full of love. She looked around the room as everyone celebrated each other, long-lost friends and families sharing a special Christmas they thought would never come.

It had, at last.

She smiled happily at Running Bear, and he winked. In the distance she heard thundering hooves, running free and wild, and shimmers filled the room, even touching the Christmas tree with miraculous, beautiful light.

She and Xav shared a long, sweet kiss, knowing their love was truly blessed—by family, by friends, by everything that was strong and true.

Maybe in some other parts of the world, sand or dust mysteriously blown by ephemeral winds beat against hard unforgiving walls, helplessly yearning to get inside, but here, this night, the spirits danced with pure joy.

The Callahans kept the legend, always.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from IN A COWBOY’S ARMS by Rebecca Winters.