Sweet Home Montana (The McKaslin Clan) (8 page)

Too much sugar for breakfast, that’s what. Lauren righted herself on Tasha’s broad back. “Thanks. I appreciate the rescue.”

“Anytime.”

Down deep, a little part of her sighed. Get a grip, Lauren, and not just on the horse. She was definitely going overboard when it came to Caleb. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to be president of his fan club.

She straightened up and he released her. “Why aren’t you married? I know you had a bad breakup. But a guy like you, one who isn’t afraid of commitment, I don’t get it.”

“There’s nothing to get. It might come as a shock to you—brace yourself—but I’m not that attractive of a guy. Women aren’t flocking around hoping I’ll propose to them.”

“I don’t believe that. You don’t have a hard time finding dates.”

“You’ve met me, right?” He chuckled and it was endearing that he was honestly humble.

Again, not the kind of trait in a man she was used to.

“Do you see any flocks of women around?” He shook his head. “I’m a little too serious for most women.”

“Too serious? I didn’t know that was a flaw.”

“I work. I have chores. I take care of the horses. My place. Mary’s place. Help out my brother and his family when they need it. I don’t have a big house. Or an expensive one. Wouldn’t want one even if I could afford it.”

“Well, then I like serious.” If she were the marrying type, she’d be interested. And how scary was that? “I grew up in not the best part of the city. It wasn’t east L.A., but it was just above desperate. I saw too many families torn apart by substance abuse, abuse, violence, you name it. Mostly I saw a lot of men who didn’t want to take on the serious part of being an adult. Well, to be fair, women, too.”

“Yeah, I see that part of life, too, in my work. We don’t have a lot of that here. We’re a pretty sheltered town, but we have hardship and poverty. And I saw my share in Seattle.”

“Do you regret your decision to go there? To leave?” Why she wanted to know that, she couldn’t say. It was too personal of a question and she didn’t do personal, right? At least, she’d never felt comfortable enough before. Caleb made her feel safe, even when she was out of her element.

“Not at all. It was a good experience for me. As for my broken engagement, it was meant to be. She wasn’t as flexible. Jayna was—is—a bank vice president. She grew up along the waterfront near downtown Seattle. Her family belonged to the country club and had a slip at the most prestigious marina. That kind of thing. I know what you’re thinking. What did a classy woman like that see in a guy like me?”

“Oh, I think it’s pretty obvious.”

Caleb hung his head. She said it like a compliment. Like he wasn’t such an average Joe and pure country. Well, he was. He wasn’t ashamed of it. He’d had to come to terms with who he was when Jayna gave him back the ring. “When my granddad fell ill and Nana couldn’t cope on her own with everything, Jayna thought I should hire someone to help out. She didn’t get why I objected to that. I wouldn’t budge and neither would she. That was that.”

He shrugged, as if it were no big deal. Easy come and easy go. But it hadn’t been. Not for him. He was the kind of man who loved hard and stuck. “Maybe Jayna’s decision makes a whole lot of sense to you, but I’ve never been able to wrap my mind around it. She just didn’t love me enough is the way I see it.”

She didn’t say anything at first and to Caleb it felt as if she probably thought the way Jayna had. Lauren was used to a faster paced lifestyle, all kinds of choices in amusements and entertainment, shopping and opportunity.

Did she look at him and see less, too? Less because he was happy starting every day riding a horse through the long low slants of dawn’s light. Less because he was a man of simple wants. In jeans and a worn T-shirt and riding boots, instead of a tailored suit with a designer label.

She broke the silence between them. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but then I’ve never had a reason to think family was so important. Not until the last few days.”

“Trust me. A good family is worth more than any riches in this world.”

“I never used to understand that. I don’t mean that I didn’t agree, just that I couldn’t put myself in those shoes. My mom was always a painful part of my life. I couldn’t remember my sisters and brother. Or my dad, although I guess he came down to try to see me, but I don’t remember what happened. I just thought I wasn’t wanted.”

“That’s a hard way to grow up.”

“I saw it often enough all around me. Like I said, we didn’t live in the best part of the city and there were a lot of broken families everywhere I looked. Unwanted kids. Broken women. It made sense. But now, all this—”

“It’s a whole new perspective?”

“In one way, no. I worked my way into a better life. I might not be living in a place like this, but I have a clean little apartment in a much safer part of the city, at least safer than where I grew up. It’s pretty close to campus. I can see a whole different life and I have been able to for a long time. And coming here makes it real for me. Right now.”

“I’m real glad you came.” He couldn’t deny the connection of understanding that swung like a rope between them.

She took a shaky breath. “I guess I’m trying to say that I think you made the right decision. A good family is one of the greatest things there is. But don’t forget that a good man is, too.”

“I needed to hear that. Thanks.” He tipped his hat to her and tried hard to hold back the tide of regard for her washing right through his heart. And failed.

She tossed him that sweet grin of hers. “I’ll race you back, cowboy.”

“Don’t think I’ll let you win, city girl.”

But he kept the horses neck and neck, letting her beat him by a smidgeon. He hoped he didn’t look as smitten as he felt.

Chapter Eight

I
n the warm sunny kitchen of Ava’s bakery shop, Lauren sat with the twins and sampled another bite of cake. She tried—really tried—to be objective about which type of cake Ava should bake for little Tyler’s birthday party tonight. But, truly, what on earth could be better than a triple chocolate cake?

“It’s going to be a disaster,” Ava predicted from the other side of the large metal work table in the center of the room. She had her hair tied back. Her apron and her T-shirt were streaked with every color of frosting and she seemed totally stressed. “Gran is going to be so disappointed with me. She’s going to pull the business loan I talked her into and, voilà, I’ll be back to working in the bookstore for a living.”

“Hey, I like working in the bookstore for a living,” Aubrey pointed out. “And I work here for you for free.”

“Yeah, you know I love you for it. I’m just saying, it’s like an act of goodwill that I’m not at the bookstore anymore. Haven’t you noticed that Spence is in a much better mood because I’m not there?”

“It’s an incremental improvement, nothing major. Sadly.” Aubrey took a bite of the fudge cake. “I think we should do your peppermint cake. It’s different and fun.”

“Are you trying to confuse me on purpose?” Ava rolled her eyes. “I finally get it decided between these two and you go and make me doubt everything all over again.”

“It doesn’t take much,” Aubrey teased, leaning closer to Lauren. “Spence really is hard to get to know. He’s been like this forever. You shouldn’t take it personally.”

“I know.” Spence hadn’t actually spoken to her. It was a little intimidating, but mostly she didn’t want to push him. “He looks at me and sees Mom. He thinks I’m like her.”

“Just give him time.” Aubrey seemed quietly assured; it was easy to have faith in her.

Lauren knew Aubrey was right. “I will. Besides, I’ll be gone before you know it, and he’ll have all the time he needs to adjust.”

A spoon clattered to the tabletop. Ava gaped at her wide-eyed. “You’re coming back for Thanksgiving, right?”

“And Christmas,” Aubrey chimed in.

“And New Year’s. Easter. Birthdays. Oh, and my wedding. It’s in April. I think. I keep changing it.”

“That’s because you’re a nut.” Aubrey grabbed the fallen spoon and placed it in the huge industrial sink.

“Easy for you to say.” Ava went in search of a clean spoon and found it in the third drawer she opened. “You haven’t set a date. You just wait and see how hard it is to plan a wedding.”

“Maybe I’ll wait to learn from your mistakes and then elope.” Aubrey’s words sparkled with amusement and joy.

Lauren leaned forward and cut another bite of cake. She’d definitely stepped into an alternate reality, some kind of weird world where everything turned out just peachy. How nice was that? “Is everyone here engaged?”

“A year ago none of us were even dating anyone serious,” Ava explained. “Wait. I was dating that chef. Talk about a disaster.”

The twins laughed together. Feeling a little on the outside in more ways than one, Lauren watched the sisters share a look. She had no clue what it meant, but Aubrey shook her head and went to the sink to wash her hands.

Ava went back to frosting the cake in front of her. “It’s like a family pattern. We go from dating disaster to true love and happily ever after. Katherine did it. I did it. Aubrey did it. Now it’s your turn, Lauren.”

“No way. You’re starting to scare me.”

“Nothing’s more terrifying than true love. Wait, some things would be. Being on a plane in the middle of engine failure.”

“Crow’s feet,” Aubrey added.

“Mortgage payments. Now that’s majorly scary.” Ava deftly slathered icing across the top of the square layer cake. “How many dating disasters have you had, Lauren? We need to know if we’re going to help you.”

“We? Who’s we?” Aubrey wanted to know as she reached for the paper towels. “I am not a part of this. Don’t answer her, Lauren.”

How fun was this? She was absolutely sure she was going to love having sisters. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any dating disasters to report.”

“No! I don’t believe it.” Ava looked astonished. “You don’t have any disasters? How lucky are you?”

“Maybe it’s just that she wasn’t around us for our bad dating luck to rub off on her, huh?” Aubrey suggested.

Lauren already loved these two, hands down. “I don’t have any disasters because I don’t date.”

Aubrey sighed and placed her hand over her heart. “I didn’t date, either. Well, until William, and I tried not to date him.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “Don’t we all try that? But when true love is in a girl’s path, she has no choice but to crash headfirst into it. So, tell us about Caleb. We’ve heard through the grapevine that you’ve been meeting him early in the morning. You could have mentioned that last night. What’s up?”

Didn’t she know this was coming? Lauren took a sip of milk to wash down the chocolate. “If I tell you the truth, you won’t believe me.”

“Try us.” The twins said in unison, both leaning on the edge of the table in great anticipation.

“He’s teaching me to ride. I’ve been learning on Tasha.”

Ava looked a little disappointed. “You’re taking riding lessons from him? That’s all? No, that can’t be right. It’s more than that.”

It wasn’t hard to see that Ava all too easily believed in love. And why wouldn’t she? Evidence of it was all around her. In her family, in her extended family, in Dad and Dorrie’s example of marriage. How could they understand? Caleb was only…a friend. “Really, it’s
only
about the horse riding. I’m leaving in a few days. How could it be more? Besides, riding horses is awesome. I don’t understand why you two don’t do it all the time.”

Ava tsked. Aubrey gently shook her head from side to side. Apparently, neither of them believed her.

Ava spread the last uncovered spot on the cake. “It sounds like denial to me.”

“Oh, you.” Aubrey disagreed with a cheerful grin. “Not everyone goes through denying things like you do. Okay, quick change of subject. Only one thing comes close in importance to romance and that’s horses. I’m with you, Lauren. If I didn’t have to make a living, I’d spend all day, every day, riding my Annie.”

“You have a horse?”

“She’s not just a horse but my best friend. Do you want to meet her? I’ve got time, as soon as I finish Tyler’s birthday shopping. I have one more thing to get.”

“I need to shop, too. I don’t have anything for him.”

“Okeydoke. We can go shopping together. This will be so fun.”

Ava tossed the spatula into the sink. “Hey, we haven’t finished talking about Caleb. We need to tell Lauren his finer selling points.”

Lauren filled up with happiness. It was a cozy feeling being with them. “I don’t need a list of his finer points.”

“You mean like drop-dead gorgeous?” Aubrey asked.

“Totally together and dependable?” Ava added.

“Kind and trustworthy?” Lauren winced. Had she really said that?

“Ha! I knew it.” Ava grabbed a rolling pin. “Lauren’s sweet on Caleb.”

“Well, of course she is.” Aubrey cut more slices of cake and trayed them. “We’ve all been a little bit sweet on Caleb.”

“He was my first crush,” Ava admitted. “I was five. Remember? It was at school. He gave me his cookie at snack time when I dropped mine on the floor. I was hooked. Of course, he was always hanging out with Spence. So, that was the reason I could never actually fall for him. Too brotherly.”

“Yeah, but kind. Trustworthy.” Aubrey sighed fondly. “More men should be that way.”

Lauren’s soul sighed in agreement. He’d said women weren’t flocking around him hoping to marry him. He seemed to think he wasn’t such a great catch. He was humble. But then he’d taken a hard blow. It hurt when someone you loved loved something else more than you. This was the story of her childhood, over and over again. So she knew a little bit of how deep that could cut at a person. Caleb deserved so much more. He was a fine man. Not for her, sure, but for someone.

Aubrey turned toward the door. “I think I hear the munchkins!”

The pound of little-boy feet echoing in the front room confirmed it. The door swung open and a little boy with brown hair sticking straight up dashed into the kitchen. The birthday boy wore a plastic fireman’s hat and a badge on his blue T-shirt. “I got to drive the fire truck an’ honk the horn an’ see
everything!
”

Okay, she was charmed. Not only by the little boy so cute and excited, but also by Danielle. A pretty, slim woman with dark hair and little Madison on her hip.

“We were invited to the fire station for a birthday visit,” Danielle explained as she pulled up a stool. Madison spotted the bright pink fondant on the table and tried to reach for the pretty frosting flower Ava was making. “Hi. You must be Lauren. It’s nice to meet you. That’s Tyler and this here is Madison.”

Lauren hopped up from the stool. A new sister. She liked Danielle immediately. “It’s good to meet all of you.”

Ava handed over one sugar paste flower to each kid and gave each a smacking kiss on their cheeks. “Okay, out of my kitchen now.”

“But Aunt Ava! Can I have a really big, big piece of cake?” Tyler pleaded, one hundred percent charming.

“Sure, kiddo, but only a very tiny, itty-bitty piece.”

Lauren took the tray and noticed there wasn’t a tiny piece of cake on any of the plates, but there was one huge slice. Probably Tyler’s, she figured; the boy gave a war whoop when he spotted it.

“All right!” Cute as could be, he thudded to the door, leading the way into the front. “Guess how many fires I put out today?”

“I don’t know,” she told him. “But a good fireman like you probably puts out a lot of fires.”

“Yeah. Lotz. Five whole fires. And next we get to go to the water park,” he explained as he picked out a table among the dozen or so in the little dining area and pulled out a chair. He climbed on, knee first. “The
water
park,” he repeated. “That’d put out
lotza
fires.”

She liked her little nephew. She slid the plate with the biggest slice on the table in front of him. “I suppose this is yours.”

“Yep!” He gave her a beaming grin.

Danielle started to drag over a baby seat.

“I’ll get it,” Lauren told her as she set the tray on a vacant table.

“Thanks.” Although Danielle seemed to hide it well, up close, she looked exhausted. “I’m sorry Tyler is so wound up. Caleb arranged for him to go to the fire station for a tour, so he wouldn’t miss his daddy so much today.”

Caleb. There he was again. There was a lot she didn’t know about Danielle’s situation, but she could also see the love the woman had for her husband and children. She was Dorrie’s daughter, so it didn’t come as a surprise. Lauren was happy to drag the wooden high chair to the edge of the table. “What else can I get you? Something to drink?”

“No, getting off my feet will be treat enough, thank you.” She slid her daughter into the seat, but the toddler started to protest and struggle. She tried reaching for the cake and gave a squeal of protest when Danielle gently latched her into place.

“Lauren, you and I haven’t had a chance to talk yet. I know my mom has been trying so hard for you to like her. Just as she worked so hard to make us a real family after her and John got married. She’s probably going to try to mother you, too, and I know you already have a mom. She means well. She’s held a place in her heart for you all these years. I don’t mean to sound—” Danielle shrugged. “Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Did she. A terrible sting swelled up in her throat so she couldn’t answer right away. Why wouldn’t Danielle assume that Linda had been a real mother? That it was one thing to be a mom with goals and a career to work on, but another entirely to do so with blind ambition. Lauren cleared the emotion from her throat. “I like Dorrie. I’ve never had a stepmom before, so I’ll just put a place in my heart for her, too.”

“Thank you.” Danielle blinked hard and slid into her chair. “I think it would be wonderful if you sat down and had some cake with us, so I can get to know you better.”

“I’d like that.” Tenderness welled through her, a steady slow rise of hope and caring. It sort of felt as if, for the first time ever, she’d found a place to belong—just a little.

For Caleb, his work shift hadn’t ended soon enough. A bank robbery kept them tied up for a big chunk of the day and that meant he didn’t have much time to give Spence the investigator’s report. He didn’t feel right about it. But he knew Spence needed reassurance. With that, maybe Spence could resolve some of his worries over Lauren.

Once home, and glad to be there, he hauled himself into the shower. Hot water went a long way to easing the tension that had set into his neck muscles. When he was done, he grabbed the phone to order pizza and caught the red blink on his message machine.

Lauren’s gentle alto filled the log house’s kitchen. “Hey, Caleb, I hope you know that you’re invited to Tyler’s birthday party tonight. Gran wanted me to remind you. So I am. See you soon.”

Caleb winced. He’d known that earlier in the day, but he was dog tired now and it had slipped his mind. He appreciated the reminder. The beep that ended the message was followed by another. Mary’s voice, this time, so warm and cheerful. “You’d best get your boots over here. I won’t accept no for an answer, young man. I’m making your favorite for supper. See you at six sharp.”