Tina Leonard - A Callahan Christmas Miracle

“Probably because she’d be expected to ride here? This is a ranch, you know.”

It all sounded reasonable.

“Gorgeous piece of flesh, if you ask me.” Jace’s grin was so irritating Galen wished he could bean him one across the head as he had when they were children. He’d given up beaning his siblings when they went off to boot camp.

“Are you planning on asking her out or not?” Galen asked.

Jace gave him an annoyed look. “The horse was a gorgeous piece of horseflesh,” he said, emphasizing the word as if Galen were stupid. Then he grinned again. “Galen, my brother, has a woman finally walked into your path that stirs your quiet, hard-to-reach soul?”

“No,” he said, thinking, Yes, that petite blonde with big eyes, but I’m not about to give you anything to crow about.

The rest of their brothers filed in, as well as Ash, whose grin was big as the quarter moon.

“What’s going on with the fire?” Galen asked her.

“Sheriff says he’s got men over there checking it out. We’ll know soon enough.”

He studied his brothers, grateful that he’d been able to keep them on the right path, the path of men committed to the fight. Strong, brave, true. Of course, Grandfather Running Bear had set the path for all of them. When their parents had gone away from the tribe, Galen returned home from his medical studies and raised his brothers and sister. They’d been a headstrong bunch, fierce and courageous. All of them had opted to join the military—and then retired to quiet lives. Then Running Bear had reached out with his astonishing instructions that they come to Rancho Diablo and protect cousins they’d never known they had. Protect a heritage they’d never known was theirs.

That decision had been the turning point that marked them all, and changed their lives.

“Excuse me,” Fiona said. Their aunt poked her head into the library. “I know the family meetings are sacred, but Rose is about to head back to Tempest. Are there any objections to her being hired on here?”

Jace looked at him. “Yes, Galen, are there any objections?”

Galen grimaced. “Why would I care who is hired as a nanny here? I don’t have children.”

“Well, you always seem to have an opinion about everything, relevant or not,” Fiona replied. “And you’ve met Rose before, so I just wanted to make certain there’d be no awkwardness. Awkwardness is bad when we all live as closely as we do.”

His frown deepened. “Why would I feel awkward around Rose? I barely know her.”

The rest of the family was quick to sense that something was in the air.

“Are we roasting Galen about something, Aunt Fiona?” Ash asked.

“No. Just making sure his highness is consulted about the new hires.” Fiona looked pleased with her jibe.

“Ah,” Dante said, “you’re trying not to get on his bad side by hiring Rose.” He nodded wisely, as if he understood the entire situation. Galen felt pretty much in the dark. “So, Galen, what do you think about the new girl?”

Galen cleared his throat, realizing his family had him pinned against the wall. If he let on that he did have a weakness for Rose, there would be incessant teasing and subtle ribbing. “I couldn’t care less who is hired on at Rancho Diablo.” He pondered his words for a moment. “Though I do admit I’m not certain about Somer Stevens....”

Everyone said, “Ah!”

He sighed. “I guess I couldn’t convince you that there’s just something about her that puts me off. It’s not personal.” He glared around the room at all the smiling faces. “Never mind. I don’t care who gets hired. Can we get on to planning how to beef up security?”

They moved on with the meeting, shooting him a few knowing looks, sizing up his mood in a way that family does when they know you’ve got something on your mind. His family did know him—very well—but on the matter of his heart, Galen preferred to remain an enigma.

Then he could romance Rose without his family observing every single move he made, the way they had with his brothers when they were courting. Of course, Galen did the same thing to them, which was why he had no desire to have the matchmaking tongs applied to him. Once his family had you in their sights, the well-meaning interference never ended.

If Rose accepted the position, he’d begin to plan a different strategy, called Romancing the Nanny.

He didn’t want to be the Lone Ranger of Rancho Diablo for the rest of his life.

“What are you grinning about, bro?” Tighe asked, and Galen shook himself from his daydream of Rose’s delightful curves and big smile. “Look like you had something sweet on your mind.”

“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.”