Prince Charming (61 page)

“I keep forgetting that,” Taylor admitted. “I do try to reason with them.”

“You try to placate them, too,” Victoria told her. “They're old enough to understand certain rules. They're very intelligent.” She sighed and added, “And adorable. It's difficult to say no when one of them is looking up with those big blue eyes and the tears start rolling down her cheeks.”

Taylor knew what she was talking about. It was difficult not to give in.

“They are intelligent, and you're right, Victoria. I am going to have to be more assertive. They'll be completely out of hand if I don't.”

After her friend went to bed, Taylor thought about the changes she was going to have to make to get the twins' attention. She fell asleep fretting, for the truth was difficult for any mother to admit, even an inept, thoroughly inexperienced one.

Her babies were brats.

 

Callaghan moved in the following night. Taylor rolled over in her bed, opened her eyes, and very nearly died of fright. The mountain man was sitting at her kitchen table, shoving day-old biscuits in his mouth two at a time.

A scream gathered in her throat, and her heart felt as though it had just stopped beating. Then his scent hit her, and she knew she wasn't going to die of fright at all. His smell would do her in. It was vile and rank and reminded her of skunks.

Taylor had never smelled anything like it. The stench made her eyes water and her stomach lurch. She didn't dare scream now. She'd have to take a deep breath first, and she simply didn't have the courage. She held the covers tight over her nose and her mouth and took tiny little pants of air while she stared at the deranged-looking man.

Callaghan. She remembered his name. She remembered Lucas's warning as well. He'd told her his stench would knock her over. He'd been right about that. He'd also told her he wasn't dangerous. She hoped to God he was also right about that.

He looked dangerous and wild. He was a good-sized man, but because he was hunched over the table, she couldn't guess his exact height. He wore dark brown buckskin pants and shirt and black boots with fur around the tops. His hair was long, stringy, and brown. She didn't know if that was his true hair color or if it was just as filthy as the rest of him and stained from years of going without a good scrubbing.

He turned and looked at her. She stared back. She wasn't at all afraid now. She knew that if she needed help, all she had to do was shout. Hunter was sleeping outside under the stars. He'd come running.

Callaghan wasn't a deranged maniac. His eyes were clear as day. She saw curiosity in his gaze and something else that started her temper boiling. There was a definite sparkle in those golden brown eyes.

“Aren't you going to scream?”

He asked her the question in a raspy voice filled with amusement. She shook her head no. He smiled, displaying brilliant white teeth, then turned back to the pan of half-eaten biscuits. He popped one into his mouth. “Needs salt.”

Taylor finally got her wits back. She jumped out of bed, snatched the robe from where she'd left it draped over the back of one of the rockers, and hurriedly put it on.

Her gun was on the mantel. She edged her way close to the hearth to get the weapon just in case he turned hostile when she told him he was going to have to leave.

“Why did you think I would scream?”

“Most do,” he answered with a shrug.

“And then what happens?”

“Their men throw me out. I don't stay out though. I come back inside. Yeap, I always do.”

“When do you go back to the mountains?”

Taylor reached up to grab hold of her gun and only then noticed the bullets were all neatly lined up in a row behind the weapon. Callaghan was a whole lot more clever than she'd realized.

Her reaction surprised her: She started smiling.

“I leave when I'm ready.”

“You're the real thing, aren't you, Callaghan?”

“Real what?” he asked.

“Mountain man.”

She edged her way around the table with the intent of opening the door. If she didn't get some fresh air inside soon she feared she would faint.

“I'd appreciate it if you didn't call to your man until I finish my breakfast.”

“I'm not going to call to anyone,” she promised. “I want fresh air. That's all.”

Taylor opened the door and both windows. It didn't help much. She leaned against the entrance and stared at the intruder. He had the manners of a hog.

“I'll be wanting coffee tomorrow morning,” he announced. “And a proper breakfast.”

He kept giving her quick glances to judge her reaction. Taylor kept right on smiling at him.

“It's all right if you want to scream now. I'm finished,” he announced. He made the bench scrape against the floor when he stood up.

“I bet you have lots of stories to tell about life as a mountain man.”

“Thousands,” he agreed.

“Do you know who Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett were?”

“I'm not ignorant,” he snapped. “Of course I've heard of them. They're dead, woman. I know that, too. They weren't from these mountains neither,” he added with a nod. “We got our own tales to tell from our hills. Men like Tom Howard and Sparky Dawson and Montana . . .”

Victoria's scream interrupted Callaghan. Taylor jumped a foot in reaction. She had been so engrossed in the conversation, she hadn't noticed the bedroom door open. Her dear friend took one look at the back of the stranger and let out a screech that could wake Redemption.

Taylor moved out of the way in the nick of time. Hunter came running through the entrance with his gun drawn. “Callaghan,” he roared.

“Morning, Hunter.”

Callaghan called out the greeting. Taylor hurried across the room to help Victoria. Her dear friend was gagging now and looked like she was going to faint.

“He's harmless,” Taylor whispered to Victoria. “If you go back in your room and close the door, the smell shouldn't bother you too much.”

“That's what woke me up,” Victoria whispered back. She gagged again. Taylor pulled the edge of her robe up to cover the lower part of her face. “Hold this close and take little breaths.”

Victoria quickly did as she suggested. Her eyes were still wide with fright. Taylor left her friend sagging against the door frame and went to fetch her gun. She noticed her children peeking down from between the rails of the banister and smiled up at them.

She picked up her gun from the mantel and quickly loaded it. Hunter was threatening to kill Callaghan.

“You've got ten seconds to get out of here,” he ordered. “And if I ever see you again, I'm going to kill you.”

“He's not going anywhere.”

Taylor had to repeat her decision a second time before she gained the men's attention. Hunter was certain he'd misunderstood her.

“What did you say?”

“He's not leaving.” She smiled at Hunter. She wanted to laugh. He looked dumbfounded. “He told me he'll only just keep coming back.”

Callaghan slapped the tabletop with his hand and started laughing. He stopped just as abruptly when she pointed her gun at him.

“You going to shoot me?”

“No,” she answered. “But you aren't leaving until I say you can leave.”

Callaghan turned to Hunter. His expression showed his concern. “She crazy?”

Hunter nodded. “She must be.”

“She's overworked and exhausted and not thinking straight,” Victoria cried out. Her voice was muffled by the fabric she held over her mouth. “Taylor, are you out of your mind?”

“Probably,” Taylor answered. She laughed then and turned her gaze to the loft. “Daniel David?”

“Yes, Mother?”

“You know what we just captured?”

“What, Mother?”

“A real live mountain man.”

The look of joy on Daniel's face made all the work she was going to have to do well worth the trouble.

“Hunter, get the tub.”

Callaghan was their dream come true.

 

Lucas was away for three full weeks. He arrived home late Friday afternoon. Hunter met him in the yard. He knew something was wrong. There was lather on the horse's flanks. Lucas wouldn't have pushed his mount unless there was trouble.

“Where are Taylor and the others?”

“Inside,” Hunter answered. “They're fine. What happened?”

“The judge agreed. I've got the signed papers.”

He didn't need to explain further about the custody issue, for he had told Hunter all about Taylor's uncle so he would be forewarned if anyone came searching for the twins when he was away.

“Glad to hear it's settled,” Hunter said, waiting for Lucas to tell him what else had happened.

“I trailed two men from Rosewood to South Creek. They're hired guns. They stopped in Cameron and were asking the quickest way to get to Redemption. I cut across and figure they're still a day's ride away.”

“The rain we had last night should have slowed them down,” Hunter Interjected.

“The son of a bitch sent gunmen to take the twins.”

“Are you going to tell Taylor or are we just going to take care of it and not bother her with the worry?”

Lucas didn't want to frighten his wife, but he knew he had to tell her. “She has to be on her guard. I'll tell her after supper.”

“Guess we better stroll into town and talk to Frank,” Hunter suggested.

“Guess we better,” Lucas replied.

He was staring across the yard when he agreed with Hunter. He'd just spotted a stranger dressed in yellowcolored buckskin. The man turned the corner and started toward the front door. The fading sunlight dappled the stranger's face and the distance was too great for Lucas to get a good look. There was something vaguely familiar about him.

“Evening,” the man called out.

Lucas took a step back. “Callaghan,” he whispered in disbelief. He continued to watch the man until he disappeared inside the house. He acted as though he was used to coming and going during the daylight hours.

He said his name again. He bellowed it this time.

Hunter started laughing. “You didn't recognize him, did you?”

Lucas shook his head. “What in thunder happened to him?”

“Taylor happened to him,” Hunter answered. “I'll take care of your horse. You go on inside.”

Callaghan must have told the family Lucas was back because the front door suddenly opened and Taylor came running. She was followed by the children. Victoria stood in the entrance, looking happy and relieved to see him.

Taylor waited until Lucas had greeted the children before stepping forward to kiss her husband.

“Welcome home,” she whispered. “Did you . . .”

He nodded. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed the breath out of her. The three children were all talking to him at the same time. He reluctantly pulled away from Taylor, whispered, “Later,” and then turned to the most demanding of the three.

“Yes, Georgie?”

“You know what, Papa?”

“No, what?”

“We got a man inside.”

“So I heard.” Lucas looked at Taylor when he made that comment.

“He tells us stories every night,” Daniel interjected. “About real mountain men. There's one who lives real close, and Callaghan says I might meet him one day.”

“Mama won't let him go home. He told me so,” Allie blurted out.

Taylor turned to cross the yard and go back inside. Lucas grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her back.

“Why haven't you let him go home?”

“Daniel hasn't chosen a name yet,” Taylor explained. “Callaghan sleeps outside, Lucas. He isn't any trouble at all. I understand why you don't like him. He explained he's been a thorn in your side for years.”

“If he sleeps outside, why doesn't he sneak away during the night?” Lucas asked, his exasperation apparent in his tone of voice. He knew the answer. Callaghan was getting hot meals and plenty of attention.

“Mama told him she'd hunt him down and drag him back if he left before I chose my name.”

“When's that going to happen, son?” Lucas asked. With an effort he was able to keep the irritation out of his voice. He didn't want Daniel to think he was annoyed with him.

“Soon,” Taylor promised. Lucas's jaw was clenched tight. The telltale sign indicated his anger. “He's leaving soon.”

“Supper's ready.”

Callaghan shouted the news from the doorway. Lucas looked at Hunter. His friend quickly turned away but not before Lucas saw him smile.

“Shall we go inside?” Taylor asked.

He frowned over her eagerness. She was acting as though the president of the United States was having supper with them.

He let himself be pulled along. And when he finally went inside and shut the door behind him, he could have sworn he heard Hunter's laughter.

He was able to control his temper all evening. He listened to the outrageous tale Callaghan told his wife and his son and only interrupted a couple of times.

“That isn't how it happened,” he snapped. “If you're going to tell it, then tell it right.”

His sharp reminder didn't stop Callaghan from continuing to tell one outrageous story after another. Taylor couldn't understand why Lucas was getting so upset.

Callaghan seemed to understand. When the mountain man started another story involving a black bear, Lucas knew where it was headed. He threw up his hands and stormed out of the house.