Sweet Callahan Homecoming. Tina Leonard

Bear say when you called him?”

      “That things happen the way they are meant to. That I should take care of the babies now.”

      “He wants you to return to Rancho Diablo?”

      “We didn’t discuss it. But I know it’s time.” Ash wanted her brothers to meet their new nieces and nephews; she wanted to hug Fiona and Burke. She’d been so homesick, though she wouldn’t say that out loud. “I’d like to be home for Christmas.”

      “Consider my truck your sleigh, then,” Xav said, and Ash nodded, glad that her children’s father could be with them.

      But she had a niggling feeling she’d brought darkness to Xav’s soul.

      * * *

      MALLORY CAME OUT to say goodbye, and help them put the babies in the SUV the sheriff had lent Ash and Xav to get home with their babies.

      “I’ll miss them,” Mallory said.

      “Come with us,” Ash said. “I could certainly use the help.” She would miss Mallory, too, and terribly so. The two of them had grown close during the months they’d spent together.

      “I would love to come with you,” Mallory said, “but I’m better staying here. Feel free to return whenever you want to. Holidays, weekends, weekdays, whenever.”

      Ash smiled and hugged Mallory. “I’ll remember that.”

      “Keep up the fight,” Mallory whispered against her ear. “The fight is all that matters. And remember that so often what we think we see hides what we really should be seeing.”

      Ash hesitated. “The fight?”

      Mallory pulled away and thrust a bag into Ash’s hands. “These are snacks for the road. You’ll find just about everything one needs for good nutrition between here and Rancho Diablo without having to stop for fast food.” She smiled at Xav. “Thank you for keeping an eye on Ashlyn. She’s very special to me.”

      “You won’t be worried to stay here by yourself?” Xav asked Mallory. Ash watched his gaze sweep the property before he shook Mallory’s hand.

      “No. I’m not afraid. All is well with me here. Drive safely. Let me know when you arrive.”

      They got in the truck, waved goodbye. “I don’t know what I’ll do without her,” Ash said.

      “I know. She treats you like a long-lost daughter.” Xav started the truck and drove off. They waved to Mallory as she stood on the porch, watching them go.

      “She said something about keeping up the fight,” Ash said. The rest of Mallory’s words echoed in her head, but she didn’t repeat them. “She’ll be safe, won’t she?”

      “Sure. The sheriff will keep a tight eye on her.”

      “I don’t understand where the bodies went. It worries me.” Mallory’s life had been uncomplicated before the Callahans had arrived.

      “She’ll call if she needs help. She has my cell number.”

      Ash looked at Xav, grateful for his calm strength. “Thanks.”

      “No problem.” He glanced at her. “Are you all right?”

      “Yes. Just a little worried about Mallory.”

      “She knew what she was getting into when Running Bear asked her if you could stay there, babe.”

      “I wish she’d come with us.”

      He put his hand over hers, lightly squeezing her fingers. “We’ll bring the babies back to see her soon.”

      She looked at him. “Thank you for understanding. And for being here.”

      It felt strange to be in a car with Xav, with their four children, considering the many years she’d spent chasing after him. “You know, in all the years I’ve know you, you never asked me out.”

      A smile creased his nicely shaped lips, lips that Ash had loved kissing, wanted to kiss now. “You’re right. I didn’t.”

      “Why not?” For so long she’d despaired of ever “catching” Xav. “It always felt like you were avoiding me.”

      “I was.” He laughed at her gasp. “I could see no good reason to allow my employer’s wild little sister to seduce me. And it was clear that was what was on your mind.”

      “I don’t know that you put up that much of a fight.”

      He laughed. “I liked letting you catch me, I’m not going to lie.”

      She arched a brow. “I don’t believe for a moment that you were afraid of my brothers.”

      “Not afraid. Wary. Then again, I was faced with one tiny, loud, adorable lady who had a penchant for lovemaking while I was on duty. What’s a guy to do?”

      Ash looked out the window. “Exactly what you did.”

      “That’s right. And now I plan to marry you, make an honest woman of you. I’m not sure that’s entirely possible, but we’ll give it our best shot.”

      “I never agreed to that.”

      “You will,” he said cheerfully, “or no more lovemaking for you.”

      She turned to him. “That’s your best bargaining chip?”

      “It was good enough to get you into the canyons, beautiful, it’ll be good enough to get you to say ‘I do.’”

      “We’ll see,” Ash said.

      “Yes, we will,” Xav said, and kissed her hand like an old-fashioned prince in her personal fairy tale.

      But he wasn’t. He’d shot her uncle and his thug, and they’d disappeared. He’d done that for her, and nothing was right about the price he’d had to pay for her.

      She needed to talk to Running Bear in the worst way. Only he would understand that she couldn’t bring evil to her own family, and certainly not to the man she loved.