Bode remained silent, his eyes glittering.
“That doesn’t make sense. If Mom was alive, she’d be here with us. She would never have given us up,” Sam said slowly.
Bode took a long drink of whiskey. “Unless she had to. And that’s all I’m going to say.”
Sam swallowed more spirits himself. The idea that their mother might still be alive tantalized him. He wondered just how cruel the old buzzard, Bode, could be. Sam had never known Molly Callahan. Over the years, he’d hungered for whatever details he could learn about his parents from his brothers and friends in town. “Bode, here’s the thing,” he said finally. “I don’t care what promise you made. You can either tell me now or tell me after I’ve done you a physical mischief, but trust me when I say that I’ll pound your head in if you don’t start talking.”
“That’s against the law,” Bode told him, and Sam shrugged.
“We’re not in court anymore. Your daughter’s not the judge on the case, and she’s married to my brother. You want to keep things nice and smooth between our two families, neighbor, because as I understand it, you really like those three little granddaughters of yours.”
Bode sighed. “I’m betting your parents are still alive,” he said, rocking Sam’s entire world, “because they were when they left. But you didn’t hear it from me, you heard it from your little fact-finding wife. Or someone else, I don’t care who. Maybe you figured it out on your own. More information than that you’ll have to dig out of your busybody aunt.”
Sam’s breath came in gulps. He wanted to believe what Bode was saying, but wasn’t sure he could trust him.
“Why would Fiona lie?” He shook his head. “Anyway, everybody in town probably remembers the same thing you do. How can you know what nobody else knows?”
“One—” Bode said, holding up a finger “—and you’re really trying my patience here ’cause my TV dinner’s getting cold and they only re-warm well once—my dear wife spent a whole lot of time over there helping your mother, especially after she got pregnant with you. Your mom had a helluva case of morning sickness, and with five other boys, she needed help.”
Sam knew something about bad morning sickness, because for a while Seton’s had lasted what seemed all night and all day. It had worried him sick to see her that miserable, and he’d been racked with guilt that she was suffering so much. “All right, I’m with you so far.”
“So my wife knew a bit more than other folks in town. And Fiona showed up one day with Burke, before your parents left. She spent a couple of days with them. My wife said your mother was showing her the ropes about caring for you kids.”
Sam blinked. “Dear sweet Jesus, you are a lying son of a bitch.” The idea that their parents might have deliberately left them chilled him.
Bode shook his head. “When they left, Fiona cooked up a tale about how your folks had gone on a long summer vacation together, before the new baby was born. Suddenly,” Bode said, drawing from his glass, “one day Fiona told folks in town that there’d been a tragic accident. People came rushing to help her and Burke, of course, and they never questioned—or never thought to question—the fact that suddenly Fiona had rearranged the details and was claiming that she was your father’s sister.” Bode laughed to himself. “I always thought that part was funny as hell. It was the bit that set off the alarm bells for me. I knew why she did it, of course. She wanted to bury the trail. Only we knew Fiona was really Molly’s sister, because my wife had spent so much time over at their place.”
“What trail?” Sam demanded.
“As I figure it, the trail leading to your parents.” Bode handed his glass over for a refill, and Sam poured generously.
“You tell one hell of a crazy tale, old man.”
Bode laughed, not taking offense. “It’s only crazy because of your aunt. Trust me, if anyone ever needed someone to cover their ass, their hide and their whereabouts, she’s the one to do it. I’ve never known a woman for such plotting.”
Now that, Sam knew, was a true statement.
“My wife swore me to secrecy, of course, because she was an angel,” Bode said, reminiscing, his TV dinner forgotten. “She didn’t want any harm to come to your aunt and you boys. I made that promise, and I kept it, until today.”
His eyes gleamed at Sam over the glass. “I knew one of you would come asking someday. I thought you had to start figuring things out. When you didn’t, I decided I might as well have your ranch. I figured I could beat Fiona. It should have been mine, anyway, but the Navajos considered your father family, even though he was from a different tribe. I don’t know which one.”
Bode set his glass down and crossed his arms over his chest. “I also underestimated you boys’ survival instincts. You put on a helluva court case, and I don’t mind saying getting my daughter knocked up was brilliant.” The older man shrugged. “Once Julie told me she was pregnant, I knew the game was up. You boys inherited your aunt’s skills.”
“Rafe did not get Julie pregnant on purpose,” Sam said, irritated as hell.
His neighbor laughed. “It doesn’t matter anymore. You’re right. Those three granddaughters of mine are my wife come back to me, and I’m not about to screw up anything, even if that means sharing a drink now and again with you. Now get out, and next time, don’t bring the cheap stuff.”
“Cheap!” Sam glanced at the bottle. “You old buzzard, that’s some of Kentucky’s finest you put in that cheap glass you probably got at a gas station.”
Bode sniffed. “I prefer Crown Royal. Remember that the next time you want something from me.”
Sam stared at Bode, watching him close his eyes and prepare—or pretend—to nap. It was a fantastic fairy tale the old man told.
The old jackass didn’t have a reason to lie anymore. As he said, he’d do anything to keep on good terms, because now his goals had changed. Instead of their ranch, he was focused on little Janet, Julianne and Judith.
It didn’t matter. Sam had gotten a lot of what he’d come for.
He stood. “Thanks, Bode. It’s a pleasure keeping neighborly relations so neighborly.”
The old man shrugged. “I’ll deny it if you ever breathe my name concerning anything you heard here today.”
“Don’t worry. No one would believe me.” Sam left, his mind whirling, his whole body tense as a guitar string. How? How could what Bode was saying be true?
But it made perfect sense. It explained so much—and now Sam knew.
He was one of the Callahans. He was family.
He belonged.
Chapter Twelve
Sam took a day to mull over what he’d learned, then decided not to think too hard about it anymore. They’d probably never know the whole truth, and he had more important things on his mind at the moment.
Like his wife.
“So that’s what you dug up, gorgeous,” Sam said as he finished relating his adventure with Bode to her. He cast an appreciative eye over Seton. There was something to be said for having a wife who knew how to find answers. “Why are you all dressed up? Did I miss a doctor’s appointment?”
Seton smiled. She pulled him from the bunkhouse kitchen, where Sam had found her, and led him down the hall. He thought she was going in the right direction if she had in mind what he had on his.
“That can’t be all of the story,” Seton said. “There are too many questions. Such as what
did
happen to your parents?”
Sam grabbed his wife, halting her as he realized she was about to take a wrong turn into a room that wasn’t their bedroom. “That’s Jonas’s problem. I’ve done all the work for this lazy family that I intend to.” He tugged her close to him and gave her a thorough kissing. “I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me. A weight the size of a horse.”
Seton touched his face for just a second with her cool, gentle hand. God, he loved the feel of this woman, especially round and cutely plump as she was becoming. “I’m glad you’re happy.”
“Remember when I told you I didn’t know who I was?” Sam asked.
She nodded. “I knew who you were, though.”
“So you said.” He planted a kiss on her nose and tried to edge her a little closer to the bedroom. For some reason, he thought he detected a wee bit of reluctance on her part to be led astray for some early-evening romance. “But now I know who I am, and it changes everything for me. Although I’m not exactly swallowing Bode’s entire tale, he did seem pretty definitive about a lot of details that make sense.”
His wife smiled at him. “I told you Mr. Jenkins wasn’t the bogeyman you boys made him out to be. He’s got his good side, too.”
“No, he doesn’t. He tried to work me over for better liquor. Trust me, for a man who won’t part with a penny, he sure does like his spirits to be of the finest quality. Why do you keep trying to get me into another room besides the one I know you know I’m trying to take you to? Has my evening with Bode left a stench on me?”
“No.” Seton laughed. “Are you sure you’re through with all your news?”
“Yes.” Realizing their dance wasn’t getting him toward the bedroom, he settled for running his hands over his wife’s derriere. “As I said, Jonas is in Ireland hunting for the redoubtable aunt and uncle. Once he finds them, he can lay Bode’s story on them. I’ve given the pertinent details to my brothers, and they’re as stunned as I am, and last I saw, trying to figure out if Bode was trying to mess with our heads.” Sam grinned. “My gut tells me he likes those little grandbabies of his too much to try any shenanigans at this point.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Seton took a deep breath. “All right, if you’re done with your news for the moment, because I have a feeling this will be a developing story,” she said with a smile, “I have something to show you.”
“Will you be naked?” Sam asked hopefully. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you nude, if you care to take a hint, wife.”
Seton laughed and pushed open the door to a room Sam realized had been made over into a nursery. “Holy smokes,” he said, his gaze going at once to the four white cribs—four of everything—centered in the room. “What have you been doing while I was gone? Turning this place into a baby factory?”
Seton looked at him proudly. “My sisters-in-law and sister gave me—us—a baby shower.”
He blinked. “Did they ever. We’re going to be showered with babies, and snowed under baby crapola.” His heart thundered as the visual reality hit him. “This is actually happening. We’re going to have four babies.”
Seton laughed again. “Yes, Sam. Isn’t this a fabulous nursery?”
“I guess so.” He gazed around at all the stuff. “Good thing we moved into the bunkhouse. I think it’s the only property we own with a room big enough to hold four babies at once.”
“I know.” Seton went over and turned on a motorized swing, setting a pink-and-white bear sitting in it rocking. “Almost everything in here is hand-me-downs from the other Callahan babies.”
Sam considered the stuffed animal with a frown. “Good. Because my boys aren’t going to play with pink bears.” There were four of them, in four matching swings, but only one bear was getting a ride. The other three sat with equally content smiles on their faces. Sam felt a little sweat start under his hatband. “It’s a lot of stuff, Seton.”
“Yes.” She laughed at him again. Sam knew his face was frozen, and he couldn’t seem to relax his muscles. “Anyway, the doctor hasn’t said we’re having boys, Sam.”
“It’s about time one of us Callahans did. We’re going to be having weddings around here until someone finally decides to rename our ranch Rancho Wedding-O.”
“No.” Seton gently tugged him over to a small settee and curled up in his lap when he collapsed. “And I have more news.”
Sam’s head was already spinning. “Please don’t tell me the doctor discovered a fifth taking up space in your tiny little stomach. Seriously, Seton, I don’t know how you’re going to hold four babies. You’re a little taller than some ladies, but you’re thin.” He looked at her expanding stomach with some concern.
Seton nodded. “As always, husband, you’re on the case. I had my appointment today, and the doctor says I’m on bed rest.”
He blinked. “Is everything all right? Do you feel okay? How come I didn’t know you had an appointment?” He glared at her, not happy that she’d left him out of something important.
She ran a soothing hand down his arm as she nestled against his chest. “First, you had your own important errands to take care of. Second, you don’t have to go to the doctor with me every time, Sam. It’s boring. You’re sweet to want to, though.”
“It’s not boring with those kinds of news bulletins.” Sam regarded his wife unhappily. “So if you’re on bed rest, why did you have a baby shower? I’m sure it was more excitement than you needed.”
“It was a surprise shower,” Seton said. “They didn’t tell you because they said you’d be underfoot if you knew, and I think your sisters-in-law might be right about you.” She gave him a considering look. “You are a bit of a control freak.”
“Oh, brother.” Sam closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of his wife in his lap. She was all curves and soft skin, and he loved holding her. “Wait,” he said, his eyes flashing open. “Does bed rest mean resting and nothing else in bed?”
She giggled. “I’m afraid so.”
Damn.
He had a situation of epic proportions in his jeans right at this moment, courtesy of his warm, sweet wife sitting in his lap. Sam groaned. “These four little sons of mine are selfish.”
“For the next few months, I guess so.” Seton kissed him on the cheek, then on the lips, and whispered, “But I still think we should celebrate your big news.”
“Which big news?” Sam asked. “I don’t know which news is biggest. It’s all changed my life.”
“Let’s celebrate it all,” she said, and Sam felt her cool, smooth hand reach into his jeans.
Maybe this bed rest thing wasn’t going to be as awful as it sounded.
“
T
HIS
BED
REST
THING
is terrible,” Sam told Seton the next day. “I hate leaving you here. I know you have to be bored. And I don’t like the term ‘high-risk pregnancy.’ You said nothing about high risk when you lured me into a sexual adventure yesterday.”
Seton smiled from where she lay on the sofa. He tried to think if she had everything she needed within reach. The worry was going to kill him.
“It wasn’t a sexual adventure, Sam, honestly. I’ve put more effort into whisking eggs.” She gave him a teasing wink.
Sam sighed. His wife did have quite an effect on him. She’d been growing on his heart ever since the day he’d proposed to her and realized he was really just looking for an excuse to tie Seton to him forever. “Don’t remind me. The more I have you, the more I want you.”
“Good. Now just hold that thought for another four months or so.”
Sam felt himself go pale. Literally felt blood rush from his head. “Four plus three equals only seven months, Seton.”
“I’ll be lucky if I go seven months, probably. That’s why it’s called a high-risk pregnancy, Sam.”
He staggered to the end of the sofa to sit beside her. “You’re going to stay totally still and not move a muscle until the doctor says you can. I’ll have Banger’s bring by food every night.”
“Our generous sisters-in-law said they’d take care of your garbage bin of a gut. Everything is going to be fine. Where’s my nerves-of-steel guy who strikes fear into the meanest hearts in the courtroom?”
“Gone,” Sam said with a groan. “Finished off. A shadow of his former self.”
“What a wienie,” Seton said with a laugh. “Go on, please. I’m trying to figure out how to knit a bootie. Today is knitting day, you know. Some ladies are coming to teach me, so don’t lock the door on your way out.”
Sam kissed her goodbye, not certain she should even be knitting. Not knowing what to do with himself, he made his way out into the sunshine.
And then, like a mirage, he saw the mystical black Diablos running, their hooves flying as they galloped across the horizon toward the east.
And Sam knew something was about to happen.