Tina Leonard - A Callahan Outlaw's Twins (16 page)

He shook his head. “Amazing what Rancho Diablo does to a person.”

“If Mom could see you, she’d faint.” Kendall shrugged. “Oh, well. If you want to live like a dirty dog, that’s your choice. But I think you’re hiding out here for a reason.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“It’s dangerous,” Kendall said, feeling a chill of something she couldn’t name drift across her. “I don’t like it here.”

“You’re not supposed to be away from the ranch house,” Xav reminded her. “Sloan would be very tense if he knew you’d gone off where there’s no cell service. How’d you know where to find me?”

“Lucky guess.”

“If I hadn’t spotted you, you’d never have found me. Don’t come down here by yourself, Kendall. It really isn’t safe for a woman.”

“I’ve already been dragged off by Sloan’s stupid uncle. What’s the worst that could happen to me now?”

“I don’t know. But worse.”

“I’m safer than anybody at Rancho Diablo. You have no idea how safe I am.”

“How is everybody at the ranch?” he asked, and Kendall knew exactly who he was asking about, because he was her twin, and she recognized the sound of longing in his voice.

“You’re an idiot,” she said. “I know what you’re doing.”

“You might, but I don’t. It just feels right, and I accept that.”

She sniffed. “If you want to know about certain people, you’ll have to come back to find out. I’m living in Jonas and Sabrina’s house now, so look for me and the boys there.”

“Wait,” Xav said, following her as she got into the jeep. “Throw me a bone here.”

“No.” She started the jeep. “It’s not a bone you need. It’s a haircut and a woman.”

“You know, sis,” he said, propping one boot up on the jeep’s running board, “you’re not exactly in better shape than me. Word on the street is that your marriage may not be of the lasting variety.”

She looked at Xav. “How would you know? You haven’t been near a street in weeks.” She pushed his boot off the jeep runner and drove away with a wave.

She was working on her marriage the only way she knew how, by being right here on Rancho Diablo. Whatever it took, she was going to win back her place in the Callahan clan.

And she just might have been on that path, except for the tall man suddenly standing in her way. Wolf. She could drive around him, but if he wanted to talk, he’d make that happen eventually, anyway.

Besides, she’d never been one to back down from a fight.

Chapter Seventeen

“Let me guess,” Kendall said. “You’re here to return my boots.”

Wolf grinned. “No. But I will say that you’re a tough cookie, almost tough enough for me to admire.”

She glanced around. “Where are your goons?”

“They sent their regrets. They said they’d miss getting to chat with you.”

Kendall grimaced in annoyance. “Look. Just cut to the chase. I know that you’re the bad uncle, the black sheep of the family. You’re trying to make trouble, and so you’re hanging around. What do you want from me?”

“Maybe I like talking to you.”

She gazed at his scarred face and big frame. “Whatever information you seek, I don’t have it, Mr. Callahan.”

“Chacon. We’re all Chacon, even Jeremiah. He took his wife’s family name to elude the cartel that wanted to talk to him. Let me ride shotgun,” Wolf said, getting into the passenger seat. “I’ll show you something.”

“We’ve already spent far too much time together, Mr. Chacon. Get out.”

He sighed. “I mean you no harm. If I had, I would have already made it happen.”

“You do mean me harm, because you’re after the Callahans, who are my family. I don’t care what you want with me. I’ve had twins since our last meeting. I’m too busy to care about your family tree. Do you have children, Wolf? Well, it doesn’t matter,” she said, going on without waiting for an answer. “Once you’ve had kids, all the world may be a stage, but all a mother can think about are her own little actors. And now, if you don’t mind, I must end this meeting. It’s about time for my sons’ dinner, and they don’t like to wait.”

Wolf got out of the jeep. “We’ll chat again.”

“I hope not. I have nothing you need, and you know that. Quite frankly, you’re wasting your time.”

“Then I’ll try someone else in the future.”

Chills of foreboding teased Kendall. “I don’t know how anybody can help you if no one has the information you’re seeking.”

“You’d be surprised what people will share when they’re...convinced.”

“Now you’re threatening me. And I don’t like to be threatened,” Kendall said with some heat. “Look, you can hang around the ranch all you want, but I’m pretty certain you’ll die here and get picked apart by the vultures.”

“I’ll find Jeremiah and Molly, and Julia and Carlos, eventually,” he said, his voice soft.

“You’d sell out your own brothers?” Kendall asked in disbelief. “Where I come from, family is everything.”

“I know. You know, Ms. Phillips, after you so kindly shared all that information about your family, I had it looked into. I have to give you credit for finding a place to hide the Callahans where they are almost safe. Everything has gated access, and there are private guards. I even detected a sniper on the roof,” he said, his tone deceptively admiring. “Which at first astonished me, but then I remembered that your corporation is international, and you’d be familiar with travel that involves armed guards. Even if one takes a simple trip to the more scenic and remote areas of South America or Africa, there are armed guards. And then I realized that you’re a formidable ally.”

“Your point?” Kendall said, beginning to think her best option might be to lay a few jeep tracks on this odious man. Secretly, she was horrified that he’d been so close to Jonas and the rest of the clan. But he wouldn’t have told her if he meant harm there—at least she hoped.

“This is a large ranch, with a few working oil wells and so much silver the wealth can be quantified as immense. The land value alone is astounding, not to mention the fine houses. And you’re doing such a good job on the new bunkhouse. Who would have ever imagined a bunkhouse needed a bilevel library?”

She shook her head. “You’re disgusting. You want to kill your brothers so you can take over Rancho Diablo? It’s in Callahan hands.”

“All that can be changed. This land was bought by the tribe. My father, Running Bear, turned this portion over to Jeremiah, who left it in his wife’s sister’s control. And don’t let us forget the mystical Diablos, spiritual wealth that is more important than gold. Still all under Fiona’s control.” He smiled. “Dotty old woman to be running such a large empire, I think.”

Kendall got his meaning. It was too hard to get to the Callahans, because the Phillipses’ compound was secure. Wolf’s reasoning was that Fiona would make a far better hostage. Kendall’s skin crawled. “You make me sick.”

“You could find out what I want to know. Where my brothers are hiding means nothing to you.”

“I thought they were all dead,” Kendall said, buying time. “Jonas believes his parents are deceased.” It wasn’t true, of course. But she didn’t have to admit that she knew anything. “And Sloan never mentioned his parents to me.”

“I figure you’re more valuable to me as an informant,” Wolf said. “I could take you as a hostage, but I think you can find out what I want to know without things having to get dirty.”

“If Jeremiah and Molly and Julia and Carlos were alive, how would anyone know where they were?” Kendall wasn’t sure on this point. Jonas had never taken her into his confidence about it, and Sloan barely talked to her about his parents. They didn’t talk much about personal things.

They didn’t talk much at all, which wasn’t good in a marriage. Even if she’d nearly destroyed their relationship by giving away family secrets, she loved Sloan. She wouldn’t hurt him.

“I assume your sons mean a lot to you,” Wolf said, lighting a small, thin cigar. “I bet you’re a good mother. I noticed that you hired two military-trained operatives to push their sweet little carriages.” He smiled. “It’s a touching sight, one that people don’t usually get to see—military operatives pretending to be nannies.

“You almost fooled me, Ms. Phillips. At first I was surprised that you had access to such well-trained help. But then I remembered the sniper at Hell’s Colony, and I did some checking. You had two brothers in the military. With your family’s fortune, you can afford the best so-called
nannies
available. But good help is harder to find than one knows.”

Wolf’s smile was ghastly, hideous and foul. “I need that information, and I need it soon. I believe your sons have a three-month birthday coming up, don’t they?”

Kendall drove off, her blood ice in her veins. She was a pawn. Sloan had to know what Wolf had in mind.

On the other hand, maybe his uncle was bluffing.

She couldn’t underestimate him. He’d threatened Fiona and her boys. She was going to have to tell Sloan.

He’d be mad as hell that she’d gone to the canyons.

Kendall didn’t have very long to consider her options, because Sloan met her as she pulled in, his eyes blazing as he sat astride a black gelding.

“I’ve got to go feed the babies,” she said, parking the jeep and heading in to her new abode.

The nannies looked up, smiling, but Ash shook her head at Kendall. “Fair warning, brother’s got a bee in his Stetson,” she said.

“Ana, River, do you mind feeding the boys? I’m going to my room,” Kendall said, and went up to take a bath. Anything to not face her husband until she’d gathered her thoughts. Calmed down. Tried to figure out Wolf’s ultimate plan and why he was determined to use her in his terrible scheme.

The bedroom door flew open. Kendall whirled around.

“Do you mind?” she demanded of Sloan.

“I do mind,” he said. “I mind having the mother of my children running around in places where it’s not even safe for armed men.” He crossed the floor and tipped her chin up so she had to look at him. “I’ve always admired your independence, but your independence isn’t your best asset here.”

“Your uncle isn’t after me. He’s after you.”

“And he’ll use you to get to me. Which will destroy me, Kendall. Our sons deserve to have their mother with them.”

“Wolf’s not going to hurt me. He knows I’m useless except as a messenger.”

“What’s the message?” Sloan’s eyes were hooded.

“That he wants Rancho Diablo.” She reached out to draw Sloan into her arms, then held him tight, worried more about her marriage than his uncle and his plans. “I, too, have a message for you, Sloan.”

“Which is what?” He waited, his gaze watchful.

“I want you in my bed,” Kendall said. “Make love to me. I’m so very scared I’m going to lose you forever.”

His eyes flared. He didn’t move a muscle. It was as if he was frozen, unsure.

She
was sure. And she was going to fight for her marriage. No matter what the mercenary in the canyons thought, she could beat him. Wolf’s plan to drive them apart couldn’t work, because she loved her husband more than she’d ever dreamed she could love a man.

If there was war on the ranch, then she intended to use all her weapons. She pulled off her boots, took off her summery tank top, slid off her blue jean skirt.

And that was all it took to get her husband back in her arms at last.

* * *

T
IGHE
AND
D
ANTE
STARED
at the two bodyguards as they rode around the indoor corral, amazed at the sight of the two women riding. “I didn’t know they did anything besides protect Kendall and our nephews,” Tighe said.

“Look at the seats on those fine ladies,” Dante said, his voice full of longing. “Too cute for words.”

Jace came up behind them. “You beat me to it.”

“To what?” Tighe asked, barely glancing at his brother. The three of them stayed concealed behind a low wall, letting their eyes take in the poetry in motion in front of them.

“I was going to see if I could give them a lesson or two in staying in the saddle,” Jace said. “Looks like this isn’t their first time.”

The three men stared, watching the bounce and sway of female body parts as they went around the ring in the indoor arena. Tighe thought morosely that three was a crowd. There were enough women for him and one other brother, and one brother was going to be disappointed. He kind of had his eye on the little redhead. He’d never had a redhead before, and that one seemed a bit sparky. But the brunette was real easy on the eyes, too.

“How’d you know they’d be riding?” Tighe asked.

“Kendall gave them the night off.” His brother’s head was like an oscillating fan as he watched them go around.

“Is Ash watching Kendall and the babies?” Dante asked.

“Apparently, she’s been sent to keep an eye on Fiona and Burke. Sloan is with Kendall,” Jace said, and they all went, “Oh.”

“Family time,” Tighe said. “The four of them, finally.”

“I didn’t think Sloan was going to be able to resist Kendall forever,” Jace said. “Just like I’m not going to be able to resist those two.”

“Two?” Tighe glared at his brother. “There’s a shortage of women around here, dunce. You don’t get two.”

“I can have two,” Jace said. “I’m the only one in the family who really wants to settle down. Even Sloan doesn’t really want to settle down. He’s still wild in the head. Not me. I
know
the value of a good woman. I figure I’ll go out with both those bodyguards, and let them raffle me off. And then I’ll get the land. I’m going to name it Navajo Wind Ranch. Haven’t decided if I want to raise cattle or veggies. Or both.” Jace sighed with contentment as he finished his soliloquy.

Tighe shook his head. “You’re an idiot. You’re not going to get the ranch.”

“Got more of a chance than either of you do,” Jace retorted, but then they both realized that Dante wasn’t there anymore. Tighe’s twin had saddled a horse and joined the ladies, determined to figure out a way to grab some female company for himself.

“Look at him go,” Jace murmured. “What a showboat.”

Dante
was
a showboat, Tighe thought, watching his brother do tricks on the back of his gelding. Though they could all ride like the wind, had been born in the saddle, Dante was the master of tricks. And he was certainly showing everything he had, practically turning himself into a pretzel weaving over and under his horse as it cantered. At one point he even stood on his hands on the saddle.

“Dang,” Jace said, “what a show-off.”

Yeah, but Show-off had gotten the girls to stop and admire him. Tighe realized he was about to be outgunned, and that would leave only one lady on the loose. He had his eye on the one with the dark cherry hair, so he went to the barn office, while Jace was still complaining about some brothers being attention hogs.

Grabbing a large rubber band, Tighe fitted an impressive “wasp” to it, a tightly twisted wad of paper that would sting nicely on impact. Casually, he stood in the shadows, and the next time Dante’s horse cantered around, his showboating twin balanced perfectly on his hands on the back of his mount, Tighe took aim at his brother’s wrist.

Fired hard.

Dante went flipping off his horse, with a satisfying yowl when he hit the ground. Whistling, Tighe went to mount his own horse, to do a little strutting of his own.

* * *

T
HE
RANCH
WAS
QUIET
. It was a dark, hot evening; much of New Mexico was suffering. There was talk of fires burning in parts of the state. Ash felt so fortunate that fire hadn’t started here.

But nights like this were long and torturous when she didn’t have to work. Kendall and Sloan had given her the night off so they could have alone time together with their boys. Ash hoped her brother was smart enough to work things out with his bride. She wouldn’t put money on it, but sometimes Sloan surprised her.

Since she didn’t have to guard Kendall or the boys, she went to check on Fiona and Burke. They, too, shooed her off, telling her that they were boarded up in their bedroom for some Saturday night romance. Which had made her laugh at first, until she realized Fiona was probably just plucky enough to still run Burke around the bedroom plenty.

“Sheesh,” Ash said. “Now what do I do with myself?”

She knew exactly what she
wanted
to do. She wanted to go to the canyons and find Xav, ask him why the heck he was avoiding her. Okay, she wouldn’t be that obvious about it, but she definitely wanted to find him and give him something to think about. She had eyes for that cowboy, and she had a funny feeling Xav knew it.