Hawk's Way: Callen & Zach (9 page)

“You had some help.”

“Yes. Sam isn’t without blame. What am I going to do now?”

“Get a good night’s sleep and go home tomorrow.”

“It isn’t that simple. Sam threw me out.”

“He what?”

“He’s got this crazy idea that Daddy is responsible for E.J.’s death.”

“That’s hogwash.”

“He says Daddy pointed E.J. toward those investments on purpose, because he wanted him to lose the Double L.”

“Why?”

“So Daddy could buy the Double L when it went into foreclosure and replace the land he gave to you.”

Zach remained silent, and Callen’s heart fell.

“I knew he wanted to buy some more land,” Zach mused quietly. “But I thought he had Abel Johnson convinced to sell.”

“You’re not suggesting Daddy might have done what Sam’s accused him of, are you?”

“No. Dad and E.J. were too close for that. I think if Dad had wanted E.J. to sell to him he would have come right out and asked.”

“What if E.J. said no?”

“Then I think Dad would have looked elsewhere.”

Callen sighed. “I thought the same thing. But Sam refuses to believe me. And he refuses to listen to anything Daddy has to say.”

“Then I guess we’ll just have to catch him and hogtie him and make him listen.”

Callen laughed at the image Zach had conjured. “Oh, I’d like to see you try.”

“You think I couldn’t do it?”

“I think you’d have your hands full trying.”

“Seriously, Callen, what are you going to do now?”

“Can I stay here?”

“You’re welcome for as long as you want to stay.”

“I’ll have to find a place of my own soon,” she said.

“You’ll be no bother here.”

“Yes, but I have a feeling you may draw the line at hosting a squalling infant.”

She heard Zach take in a breath.

“You’re pregnant?”

“Nearly three months.”

“Sam Longstreet is a fool.”

“Right now, I’d have to agree with you.” Callen felt like crying.

Zach must have sensed it somehow because his arms
tightened around her and he ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry, Callen. Everything will turn out fine. You’ll see. First off, I’m going to see Dad and explain the situation. I may not be able to make Sam listen, but surely Dad can find a way to make him hear the truth.”

“Oh, Zach, I hope you’re right.”

“You’d go back to him if he asked?”

“In a heartbeat. I love him, Zach. More than my own life. More than anything.”

“Then why aren’t you at the Double L right now?”

“Because Sam has to realize he loves me the same way. Until he does, until he realizes that nothing is more important than our love for each other, it’s better that I stay away.”

Zach eased her back down. “Get some sleep, Callen. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

Zach didn’t go back to his own bed. He dressed and left the house, arriving at the imposing front door of Hawk’s Way a half hour later. He let himself in and made his way upstairs to his parents’ bedroom. The door was closed and he knocked.

He heard the rustling of bedcovers inside and then his father’s voice. “Who’s there?”

“Zach.”

His father and mother both appeared at the door a moment later. “What’s wrong?” they said together.

“It’s Callen.”

“Is she all right? Has something happened to her?” his mother asked.

“She’s fine, Mom. She’s at my place, sound asleep in the guest room.”

“If that bastard has done anything—”

“Hold on, Dad,” Zach said. “You’d better be sure
Callen doesn’t hear you bad-mouthing Sam like that. She’s likely to scratch your eyes out.”

“What the hell is going on, Zach?” Garth demanded.

Zach turned to his mother. “I need to talk to Dad. Could you leave us alone for a little while?”

“There’s nothing you have to say to me that your mother can’t hear,” Garth said.

“All right. I’ll wait for you both downstairs.”

It didn’t take long for Zach to relate everything Callen had told him. Except the fact that she was pregnant. He figured she would rather tell them that herself. “So you see, Dad, you’re going to have to make Sam listen to the truth.”

“You don’t think Sam’s version of what happened is the truth?” Garth questioned.

“No, Dad. And neither does Callen. But I’m curious. Just what did happen?”

Garth sighed. “I believe I’ll save that explanation for Sam. But I don’t think he’s going to want to hear it.”

“When are you going to see Sam?” Candy asked.

“Is tomorrow morning soon enough?”

“I guess it’ll have to be,” Zach said. He rose with a stretch, and yawned. “I guess I’d better get back home and get what sleep I can. I’d advise you to do the same.”

Once Zach was gone, Garth and Candy walked arm-in-arm back up the spiral staircase. They went through the motions of removing robes and returning to bed. Garth turned out the bedside lamp and pulled his wife into his arms.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

“It wasn’t your fault, Garth,” Candy whispered in the dark. “There was nothing you could have done.”

“I’m not so sure,” Garth said. “He was my friend. I
should have been able to prevent what happened. I should have done more. I should have done
something
.”

“You did what you could. You did more than most. Don’t blame yourself.”

“Sam blames me.”

“Sam needs someone to blame.”

“What if he won’t listen?”

“He’ll listen. And he’ll recognize the truth when he hears it.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Try to sleep, Garth. You’ll need your strength tomorrow.” Candy pressed her cheek against Garth’s chest and let her hand twine in the hair at his nape. “You’re a good husband, Garth, and a good father and a good friend. Don’t ever doubt it.”

“Thanks, Candy. I needed to hear that.” Garth pulled his wife close. She was the treasure of his life. The light that burned bright in his soul. He hoped his children found the same wonder in their spouses that he had found in his.

Garth lay for a long time staring into the dark. He felt Candy’s breathing deepen and steady into the rhythm of sleep. At long last, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

N
O DOUBT ABOUT IT
, S
AM
L
ONGSTREET
was a changed man. And it was all the result of his marriage to Callen Whitelaw. Sam stood on his front porch, which no longer sagged, and looked around him. Not only had the rotting boards been replaced on the barn, but it had been painted a rust red. There were six sleek quarter horses in the corral, waiting to be worked. Two of those cutting horses belonged to the Double L. The rest were being trained for clients he had advertised for in quarter-horse journals. He had written the ads himself and read them when they appeared in the magazine.

He brushed a hand across his clean-shaven jaw and wiped the polished toes of his boots against the back of his jeans. There wasn’t a piece of clothing in his drawers with a rip or tear, not a button missing on one of his shirts. He owed that to Callen, too.

In the distance he saw a windmill twirling like mad, but no screech of unoiled metal carried to him on the wind. He could see his cattle near the stock tank, munching contentedly on hay he had planted and reaped himself. He would be taking them to market soon, and because he was a lucky man, the price of beef was up.

The Double L had never been so profitable as it was now. He had made his mortgage payments the past few
months with money earned by the sweat of his brow—and Callen’s. He mustn’t forget his wife when he was counting his blessings. Because she was the greatest one of all.

Sam knew what his wife had given to him. His ranch. His self-respect. Her love.

What had he offered her in return? Dishonesty. Duplicity. Deception.

He had never once told her his true feelings. Although, perhaps that wasn’t surprising, since he had lied to himself almost from the first. He must have loved her even then. He couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t. Only he had never told her. He had never said the words aloud. Not when she married him. Not when she made love to him. Not when she gave him back his ranch or offered him a chance to read and write when he thought such feats impossible. Not even when she made him believe there was nothing he couldn’t do if he set his mind to it.

Had he made her happy, as he had promised he would on the day he proposed to her? He thought perhaps she was. Or had been, before he insisted on having his revenge against her father. If he had it all to do over again, he would do things differently. Oh, yes, he would. He would recognize the prize he had found in his wife and cherish her and protect her from anything that threatened her happiness.

He couldn’t live the past again. But there was always the future. Sam headed back inside the house for breakfast. There were no days off on a ranch. Despite everything, he had work that had to be done.

He wasn’t hungry enough to cook himself a breakfast, settling for two cups of coffee while he stared out
the curtained window in front of the sink. It was almost painful to be in this room without her. He wanted her here. Needed her here. Wished she were here.

Callen had lavished her attention on everything from the shiny hardwood floor to the new coat of paint on the cabinets to the flowery wallpaper. She had made the room hers, made it light and lovely. It wasn’t a bachelor kitchen anymore.

Sam remembered a story Callen had told him about what it was like to grow up with two older brothers. They had gotten into so much mischief the neighbors had dubbed them the Three Whitelaw Brats. She was always tagging along behind them.

“But they didn’t want me there,” she said wistfully. “I was in their way. They had to be more careful when I was around—although I got hurt often enough even as it was.

“I grew up thinking I could do anything they could do. Mostly, I could. It wasn’t until much later that I realized I didn’t want to do all the things they were doing, that there were other things that interested me more. Only, if I did those things, I wouldn’t have my brothers’ company. I would have to do them alone.

“It’s hard to believe that with everything I had at Hawk’s Way, I could have been lonely. But I was. I was too much of a tomboy to get along with the other girls when I was younger, and by the time I realized I wanted to be just like them, it was too late. I couldn’t seem to go along with the crowd. I was too much my own person.

“I spent a lot of time alone. That was what drew me to you at first, you know. I saw that same look of loneliness in your eyes. And I knew we could be friends.”

“Why did you marry me, Callen?” he had asked.

“I wanted someone to love. I wanted to be loved by someone. And I wanted a home and a family of my own.”

She had expected so little from their marriage. And so very, very much.

Sam’s neckhairs stiffened when he heard a knock at the front door. That alone announced it wasn’t a friendly visit. He made his way through the house to the front door. When he opened it, he found Garth Whitelaw standing there.

“I want to talk,” Garth said. “And I won’t take no for an answer.”

Sam hesitated before stepping back. “Come on in and say your piece.”

Garth took a quick look around and saw that more improvements had been made since the last time he had been inside. The house had a warmth and coziness that proclaimed it a home. Unfortunately, his daughter was no longer living here. It was a situation he hoped to remedy.

Garth turned to Sam and found the other man’s face unreadable. Which meant he didn’t detect the loathing that had been there the last time the two of them had conversed. But there was no liking evident, either.

“I knew about those investments E.J. made,” he began.

Sam’s hands balled into fists, which he pounded against his thighs. “Damnation! I knew it! I knew you were to blame!”

“I didn’t say I was to blame,” Garth corrected in a terse voice. “I said I knew E.J. invested in those deals. He came to me and asked me what I thought. I advised him against it.”

“The hell you did! If you’d told him not to invest, E.J. wouldn’t have invested.”

Garth shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. E.J. was sick, Sam. He had prostate cancer. He knew he was dying, and he wanted to leave you more than what he had. He was hoping to make a killing, since all those deals offered a substantial return. Only E.J. got burned. I think he was afraid to face you and tell you the truth.” A muscle in his cheek jerked. “Just like I was.”

Sam’s face had bleached white. “You’re lying.” E.J. sick? E.J. dying of cancer? It was all so improbable. So unbelievable. Only, Garth’s words had the ring of truth.

“I wouldn’t have cared if he lost everything,” Sam said in a hoarse voice. “I wouldn’t have blamed him. He didn’t have to kill himself!”

“He was afraid of the cancer, Sam. I think that was as much the cause of what he did as losing his fortune.” Garth sighed deeply. “I know it wasn’t my fault, and yet I still felt responsible when I heard E.J. had killed himself. I felt I deserved whatever scorn you heaped on my shoulders. I should have interfered. I should have argued more against those investments E.J. made. I should have made him tell you about the cancer. Maybe then…”

Sam put out a hand to stop Garth’s speech. “You knew E.J. as well or better than anyone. Do you really think you could have stopped him once he got an idea fixed in his head?”

“No. You’re right. He was one stubborn cuss.” Garth paused and added, “And you take after him. I came here today to tell you the truth. And to tell you you’re a fool if you let Callen slip through your fingers. I haven’t figured out why, but my daughter loves you enough to take your side against her own father. She
threatened to leave my house if I said a word against you.”

“She did?” That was news to Sam.

“I suggest you get yourself on over to Zach’s place and get your wife and bring her home.”

“I already have.”

“What?”

At that moment a sleepy-eyed, tousle-headed woman came walking into the room. She walked right into Sam’s open arms.

“Hi, Daddy.”

“What are you doing here, Callen? Zach came over in the middle of the night to tell us you’d left Sam and were sound asleep in his guest bedroom.”

“I had. I was.” She shoved her bangs out of her eyes and yawned.

“Then, what the hell are you doing here?”

“Oh. Sam came and got me.” She smiled a Cheshire grin and looked lovingly up at Sam. “He near pounded the door down. I guess that must have been when Zach was gone to Hawk’s Way, because when I answered the door, Sam threw me over his shoulder and carried me away. It was very romantic.”

Garth gawked. He couldn’t help it. “You two are crazy.”

“Crazy in love,” Callen said as she stared into the warm welcome in Sam’s green eyes. “It seems Sam can’t live without me. And of course he wanted to be around while our child was growing up.” She laid a hand on her belly, and Sam put his hand over hers.

Garth grinned as understanding dawned. “I’m going be a grandfather again? That’s wonderful news, Callen.” He leaned over quickly and kissed her cheek. He held out his hand to Sam. “Congratulations, Sam.”

Sam took Garth’s hand. “I’ll take good care of her, sir. You don’t have to worry about that. And about the other…”

“I should have explained everything sooner.”

“I should have been more willing to listen.”

It was as much of an apology or explanation as either man would ever offer. They shook hands once more before Garth stepped back.

“I guess I’ll be going now. Does your mother know about the baby?”

Callen shook her head.

Garth’s grin broadened. “I can’t wait to tell her. You can expect her to call, I’m sure.”

“Tell her to make it later,” Sam said as his arms closed once more around his wife.

“I’ll do that.”

A moment later Garth was gone.

Sam scooped his wife into his arms and headed back toward the bedroom.

“Sam!” Callen exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you back to bed, where I can make love to you to my heart’s content.”

“That sounds like a lovely idea.”

Sam knew he had made the right choice, the only choice in retrieving his wife from her brother’s house. He had sought vengeance against Garth Whitelaw to salve his own hurt. It wasn’t what E.J. would have wanted. When it came down to a choice between having his wife and hurting her father, Sam had known what he had to do.

Callen had made her capture and capitulation seem romantic when she related it to her father. But it had been far more difficult to convince her to come home
than Sam liked to remember. In fact, he felt lucky to have convinced her at all.

“Why do you want me back, Sam?” she had demanded.

“Because I need you.”

“That isn’t enough. I won’t be used as a pawn to hurt my father.”

He had swallowed hard and said, “I love you, Callen.”

“Oh, Sam.” She let one sob escape before she put a fist to her mouth to hold back the rest. “If you only knew how long I’ve waited to hear you say those words. But it’ll tear me apart to love you, if it means letting you destroy my father.”

“I don’t want to destroy your father. Not anymore.”

He had seen the hope in her eyes. “Really, Sam? Have you forgiven him?”

“I believe he’s responsible for what happened to my father,” he countered. “But I’m willing to forego my vengeance for your sake.”

“That’s not enough, Sam.”

“What do you want from me?” he had asked bleakly. “I’ve chosen you instead of revenge. I’ve chosen love instead of hate. What more can I do?”

“Stop punishing yourself for what wasn’t your fault. Forgive yourself for not knowing how upset and depressed E.J. was. Stop blaming yourself for your father’s death.”

“It wasn’t my fault!”

“I know that,” Callen had soothed. “And deep down, so do you. E.J. chose to die. He was the one who was responsible. Not my father. And not you.”

“Callen…I…” She had been sitting in a chair in the kitchen. He had fallen on his knees in front of her as she opened her arms to him. He had clutched her tightly and felt her arms fold around him.

He had grieved then, the bitter tears cleansing away his anger and his guilt and, along with them, the need for revenge. He was whole once more.

He had picked Callen up in his arms, and she had clung to him, sitting close to him all the way home in his pickup. They hadn’t made love last night, but had fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

Then Garth had come this morning and explained about E.J.’s cancer. Sam would always regret the way his father had died. But he would be able to look back now without the terrible hate and anger that had colored the past months.

As he laid Callen on the bed and slipped in beside her, he pulled her close. “I love you, Callen. More than my life. More than anything.”

“And I love you, Sam. I was just thinking…”

“What?” Sam asked as he nuzzled his wife’s throat.

“I know you and Daddy would really like each other if you spent some more time together. So why don’t we—”

Sam shut his wife up in the time-honored way, by covering his mouth with hers. He had the feeling he was going to spend the next few years going toe-to-toe with his bride. Which wasn’t such a bad fate, when he thought about it.

“Sam—”

He kissed her again.

“Sam…”

And again.

“Oh, Sam.”

“I love you, Callen.”

Sam grinned as he kissed his wife. At least he had gotten in the last word this time.