A Callahan Christmas Miracle

“Just wondering how you dolts ever ended up with women. Proceed.” He waved a hand imperiously. “Let’s hear all your plans for securing this ranch, especially if that fire over there was set by our renegade uncle, Wolf. Because if it can happen across the canyons, it most certainly can happen at Rancho Diablo. And I refuse to allow the work of our father and Uncle Jeremiah to go up in smoke.”

Chapter Two

Rose knew immediately she was going to like living at Rancho Diablo, and it wasn’t just because of the long-term crush she’d had on Galen Callahan. He was just about the biggest hunk of delicious cowboy she’d ever seen. Tall, strong, with dark hair tumbling over his forehead and down the back of his neck—she got shivers just thinking about him.

She’d tried desperately to win him at the ball year before last, but Sawyer Cash had outbid everyone else. Rose figured Sawyer had needed a job really bad if she’d tried to grease the skids with winning bids.

Or maybe she’d just wanted a man. Rose thought about that. She could definitely see Sawyer Cash trying to catch a cowboy that way, by appealing to his ego.

Ego was something the Callahans didn’t lack, for sure.

Fiona bustled into the kitchen. “You’re hired!”

Rose smiled. “Thank you!”

“Now, when can you start?” Fiona pulled out a workbook and began inputting information.

“I can start as soon as you need me.” Rose knew her father wouldn’t be thrilled that she was taking this job—he said the Callahans were surrounded by danger and he didn’t want his little girl around them—but she needed work, and this was perfect for what she liked to do best.

“That would be today,” Fiona said. “We always need help, and we know you’re hardworking and that we can trust you. I’ll show you your room.”

She followed Fiona up the stairs, amazed by the size and beauty of Rancho Diablo as they passed a large window. The working ranch was almost like a museum, but every building was styled by a decorator with an eye to classic comfort. “Your home is beautiful, Fiona.”

“Your home, now, too.” The older woman opened a door, revealing a spacious bedroom decorated in blue and white, with toile curtains. “If this suits you, this will be home sweet home. I picked this room because it’s far enough from all the others that you can have some peace and quiet.”

Rose wondered where Galen’s room was. “This is perfect,” she said. She gazed at the white crocheted duvet on the bed, and immediately wanted to sit at the pretty vanity and enjoy the beauty of the room. “Thank you, Fiona.”

“No. Thank you,” Galen said, as he stepped past them in the hall, continuing on to another room. He grinned back their way, then went inside, closing the door.

Rose blinked. If that was Galen’s room, then they were less than twenty feet apart. She realized Fiona was watching her reaction, and Rose hurriedly said, “I’ll drive to Tempest and get my things, then be back tonight, if that’s all right.”

“Fine, fine.” Fiona beamed. “There’s just one thing I should mention before you formally accept the job. And we’ll all understand if you decide not to work here.”

Rose wasn’t about to turn away from this employment, not when it was everything she wanted, including having a big, handsome cowboy sleeping just feet away from her. “What is that?”

“We do ask, especially for the sake of the children, that you never go near the canyons, and that you never ride without an escort.” Fiona looked sad about her words. “It’s just the way it has to be for the sake of liability and the protection of our employees.”

“That’s fine,” Rose said. “I completely understand.”

The older woman beamed. “That’s it, then. I’ll let Jace go over the paperwork with you. Mealtimes are posted in the kitchen, as is what’s being served.”

Rose glanced one last time at the door Galen had passed through. All the Callahans had been rumored to be hard to tame—but once tamed, they made wonderful husbands and fathers.

If any man needed taming, it was Galen Callahan.

* * *

ROSE’S EYES SNAPPED OPEN in the night and she pulled the crocheted duvet up to her throat, telling herself she was nervous for no reason. She’d gone home and retrieved her things, and her father had sent her off full of dire warnings: Don’t go anyplace by yourself, and don’t let any of the Callahan men turn your head. They were rascals and scoundrels, and loved women like bees loved honey.

Her dad had no idea how much the thought of a rascal Callahan appealed to her. But the other warnings had scared her a bit. She’d heard tales of the danger that circled Rancho Diablo.

The door eased open, and she held her breath.

“Knock, knock,” she heard a man’s voice say softly.

“Yes?” At least it was a friendly visitor.

“It’s Jace. Got a second?”

Rose wondered if this was a Callahan ritual. “Do you always make nocturnal visits?”

“Sometimes. Depends. She’s in here, Galen. She says we can come in.”

She hadn’t said anything of the sort, but since Galen was around, Rose pushed herself eagerly to a sitting position. “What’s going on?” she asked, flipping on the tiny lamp on her nightstand. “Oh, my goodness! What did you do to yourself?”

Both men were covered in mud from head to toe.

“Don’t you dare get near my bed!” The pretty white coverlet wouldn’t stand mud on it—she’d never get it out. “Step on that rug, and don’t either of you move!” She hopped out of bed and pulled a robe from her closet, putting it on over her smiley-face pajamas.

Galen grinned at her. “Cute.”

“Thanks.” She wished she was wearing something sexier than the pajamas she’d had for the past two years, but she hadn’t expected two handsome cowboys to visit her in her bedroom. “What have you been into?”

“We want you to come down to the canyons with us,” Galen said. “We need a small, delicate person like you to do something.”

Rose eyed the mud that covered their jeans and smudged their handsome faces. “You two are nothing but trouble, I can tell. It’s written all over you.”

“That’s what they say,” Jace said, and he looked so pleased about it that Rose wondered if either of these men could be tamed. She looked carefully at Galen.

“If I come with you, and I’m not saying I will, what is it that you want me to do? Because I don’t want to come back looking like you. I don’t think crawling around in canyons was in the employment contract I signed.”

“We’ll give you combat pay,” Jace said. “Fiona baked fresh chocolate chip cookies tonight. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven.”

“I bet. Occasionally, my dad sends me to Diablo to the Books’n’Bingo Society tearoom for cookies. We have a bakery in Tempest, but Dad likes what your aunt and her friends make better.” Their cookies were lures, and the Callahans had other lures, too. Her gaze longingly touched on Galen’s biceps, his broad chest, his lean hips in blue jeans.

Even caked in mud, he was so sexy she ached.

“So anyway,” Rose said, “I assume this outing is dress-down?”

“Something a little less bright than smiley faces,” Galen said cheerfully, and his brother glared at him.

“We’ll step out while you change,” Jace said, dragging him from the room.

Rose dressed quickly. Even though it was June, it could be cool in the canyons. She pulled on jeans she wouldn’t mind getting filthy, a dark sweatshirt that read Dark Shadows, boots and a dark hat.

Galen’s gaze widened when she joined them in the hall.

“I didn’t expect you to wait on me right outside my door.”