The Circle Eight: Caleb (26 page)

After she finished the coffee, only Eva, Martha and Hannah were left in the kitchen. The rest of the Grahams had disappeared to do chores or whatever they had to do. Hannah smiled at her over the cup in her hands.

“You can go check on him.” She gestured with her head. “Second room on the right.”

Rory opened her mouth to say no but shut it without speaking. She did want to see him and make sure he was healing well. After all, he’d saved her life, more than once. It was the least she could do to repay him for his services.

If there was another reason, her buried emotions for the man, her hope he meant what he said about loving her, well, she wasn’t going to admit it to anyone. Even herself.

Caleb woke up in an instant, as though someone had poked him with something. His eyes flew open to find Benjy sitting beside his bed. The boy was quiet and still, watching him.

“Benjy, how long have you been here?” Caleb didn’t expect the answer but the question slipped out.

“A while.” Benjy’s voice, deeper than a five-year-old’s but not as deep as a teenager’s, startled Caleb.

He stared at his brother. “Holy shit, did you just answer me?”

Benjy shrugged. “I didn’t want to talk before.”

Caleb tried to sit up and pain sliced through him. “Oh, fuck, that hurt. I mean, oh pretend you didn’t hear me cuss.”

Benjy, as expected, was silent. Caleb decided lying down was a better option. He managed to smile at his youngest brother.

“You doing okay? Being back at the Circle Eight?”

“I remember some stuff, but I forgot a lot.” Benjy looked at the floor, shuffling his feet. “Everybody’s staring.”

“They missed you is all. Nobody wants you to feel uncomfortable. Give it time and it’ll feel like home and family again.” Caleb sure as hell hoped that was true. This boy deserved that and more. It would take time to find out exactly what had happened in those last five years, if ever.

“Cat laid in the sun with me in the back.”

Caleb had a flash of a memory of the two youngest Grahams, thick as thieves, always hiding and playing together. They used to lie in the grass while Mama worked in the garden, too small to help, and she’d convinced them the sun would make them grow bigger. He smiled, pleased to know that Catherine had broken through Benjy’s shell a little.

“She’s tall, isn’t she? Pain in the ass too. She can outride any of us, a natural rider on a horse. Gonna break her neck if she’s not careful.” Caleb noted Benjy’s interest in their sister’s riding ability. He would tell Matt to pair them up, provided Catherine didn’t try to talk Benjy into something stupid.

A soft knock on the door preceded Rory sticking her head through. She smiled at Benjy and the smile faded when she caught sight of Caleb. He didn’t know whether to be insulted or pleased she’d come to see him.

“Supper is on the table, Benjy. You need to eat.”

Supper? Caleb had arrived in the morning. It was already six o’clock in the evening?

“It’s my turn to sit with him.” Rory stepped into the room wearing a dress. A pink one he’d seen Hannah wear. A dress!

Caleb tried not to gape but it was damn hard. He didn’t even contemplate what she looked like in anything but her trousers and, except maybe her leather apron. Now she was dressed as a female. The soft lines of the dress accentuated her curves. Her short hair just emphasized how feminine she was.

Benjy got to his feet and left the room without a word. He might be talking but it wasn’t much. God only knew how long he would be a stranger to his family. Caleb hoped it wasn’t very long.

“I’ve been lying here eight hours?” He groused as she sat down in the chair Benjy had vacated.

“You needed to sleep.”

“You made me sleep.”

“Six of one, half dozen of the other.”

“Hmph. You wouldn’t see it that way if the situation were reversed.” He dared her to contradict him.

“I wouldn’t take laudanum even if someone forced it to my lips.”

He clenched his teeth to keep the chuckle inside. She amused the hell out of him at the same time she drove him crazy.

“I’ll remember that.”

“You do that.” She crossed her arms, pushing up those breasts, straining the buttons on the front of the dress.

He tried not to look but hell, he was a man and she was the woman who had taken over his life and his heart. Now they were safe from the threat and he could focus on figuring out what they had and what to do about it. Her tits would be a distraction though.

“Stop staring at them.” She dropped her arms and huffed at him. “They aren’t a private show for you to ogle.”

He tried to look innocent. “I can’t see well in here, what am I looking at?”

Her gaze narrowed. “You are full of shit, Caleb Graham.”

At this, he couldn’t stop the laugh from escaping, then his belly hurt and he gasped in pain rather than amusement. She dropped to her knees beside the bed, concern in her gaze.

“Don’t rip out those stitches by acting foolish.”

He frowned at her. “Don’t make me laugh.”

“I assure you that was not my intention.” She put her hand on the bandage and peered at it. “I don’t see any fresh blood coming through.”

He didn’t want to talk about his wound but he did want more of her touch. Caleb wanted her to stay and not just for now. How could he tell her? She was tough and valued her independence more than any woman he’d ever met.

“I’m hungry.”

She got to her feet. “That’s a good sign. Be right back.”

When she left the room, he was very much alone. For the first time in a long time, while he was by himself, he was lonely. Is this what she’d done to him? Made it so that he didn’t enjoy his own company any longer? It was disconcerting. She had power over him and he was helpless to control her. It would be the height of foolishness to let her know.

She came back with a bowl and a spoon. When she sat in the chair, he caught a whiff of what could only be beef stew. He made a face.

Rory raised one brow. “You said you were hungry.”

“That’s beef stew.”

“I am aware of that.” She scooted closer to the bed.

“It has carrots in it.” He could almost taste their gritty flavor already and shrank back into the pillow.

“Are you afraid of carrots, Ranger?” Amusement lit her features. “Big, strong you?”

“I’m not afraid of anything. And did you just call me big and strong?” He smiled at her. “I like that.”

She leaned in with a spoonful. “You’re going to like it less if I force feed you this stew.”

He scowled. “I really don’t like carrots.”

“You need your strength back. Eat.”

The spoon hovered an inch from his closed lips. In her eyes he saw she would not give up unless he ate.

“You are a bully.”

“You are a jackass so we’re even.” She pressed the spoon to his lips. “You can either eat the stew or wear it.”

At this he laughed and she took the opportunity to shove the spoon in his mouth. The delicious salty flavor was ruined by the orange chunks of demon root, but he dutifully chewed and swallowed.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” She scooped up another bite.

“It was actually. Nasty.” He knew he was acting like a little boy but carrots had always been the one food he couldn’t tolerate.

“Then you’d better eat fast so you can avoid the taste.” She proceeded to feed him with vigor, quick enough he had barely enough time to chew before the next spoonful entered his mouth.

When she scraped the side of the bowl with the spoon, he was surprised. He’d eaten the entire stew. Her tactics worked. Damn. Now he had carrots rolling around in his stomach.

“More?” She raised her brows.

“No. I’m full.” He was, indeed, full. Sleepiness knocked at his door and he slid the blanket up to cover him. A yawn escaped and she got to her feet like a shot.

“I’ll leave you to sleep.”

He caught her wrist. “No, don’t go.”

“You expect me to watch you sleep?” Her tone was unusual, and he couldn’t put his finger on why.

“No, I want you to climb in here with me.” He patted the mattress. “I’m cold.”

“I’ll find another blanket.”

“Please.” Caleb was surprised as she was to hear the word pop out of his mouth. “I want you here.”

She set the bowl down on the washstand and sat on the edge of the bed. Her expression was vulnerable and his heart skipped a beat.

“Why?” Her soft question made him smile.

“Hell, woman, I can’t imagine spending another night without you near me. Preferably next to me.” He reached up and cupped her cheek, the skin softer than a flower petal.

“I don’t understand why.” She looked as though she was about to run so he pulled on her until she tumbled into the bed.

His wound screamed but it was worth it when she stayed in the bed. Although she didn’t snuggle up beside him, she did take his hand in hers. It was enough. For now.

When he was healed, he would convince her to stay beside him for good.

Benjy sat on the stump and stared up at the stars. There were so many of them, like someone was up there poking holes in the black velvet of the night to peer down at earth. Fanciful notion but he often wondered who was looking at him.

He was home. Finally. Back at the Circle Eight, a hazy memory from so long ago. The scents, the tastes, were more familiar than the sights. His family had all changed, especially the girls. Olivia was off somewhere having a baby, so he hadn’t seen her yet. Liv would be the same, he just knew it.

Their parents’ graves were in the shadows of the big tree and he hadn’t brought himself to go visit them yet. Perhaps they wouldn’t remember him. He had been gone such a long time and he wasn’t the same boy.

He didn’t belong here. Yet he didn’t belong anywhere. Staying here would give him a safe place to be, clothes, food, and a family who tried too hard to make him feel at home. Yet, they knew it the same as he did. Benjy didn’t belong. The name didn’t either.

For a while he had been “boy” and then Garza decided he needed a name and started calling him Marcello. In truth, he had no name other than what he gave himself. Perhaps one day he could explain that to the Grahams but not today.

Eva would be looking for him if he didn’t get back in the house. He was more comfortable outside and didn’t want to be under a roof. Maybe he could sleep under those stars and let whoever was looking get their fill of him.

He stretched out on the grass and closed his eyes. Although he didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, he was free. Finally free.

Rory hadn’t intended to sleep in the same bed with him, but when the sun peeked into the window and tapped at her eyelids, she woke up beside Caleb. Perhaps it was the physical closeness of being on the trail together or something equally as annoying that drove her to act so foolishly. This was the man who had cost her all of her land. What was she thinking having feelings for him? Worse, having sex with him and wanting to do it again.

There was no help for it. She had officially lost her mind.

He lay on his belly, his arm across her middle, heavy and warm. The scent of man and of home surrounded her, made her want so much more than a lonely smithy. She wanted so badly to stay there forever, snuggle into his life and keep the wonderful spot for good. It was too soon though, much too soon, to make that wish or to make it happen. The ranger and she had plenty more knowing to do first.

She tried to climb out from beneath him and out of the bed, but his grip tightened. There was no help for it—she’d have to wake him up. That meant he might try to convince her to stay in the bed, in his life. She couldn’t let that happen, not yet.

“Wake up, Ranger.” She poked his shoulder.

One blue-green eye opened. “Hm?”

“I need to piss and you’re holding me down.” She would always be honest with him, that was her way.

He chuckled but he moved his arm. As she climbed out of the bed, his hand slid up her thigh. A shiver of pure arousal raced through her at the feel of his callused palm on her skin.

“I like the skirt. Easy access.”

She wanted to smack at the same time she wanted him to put his hand on her again. “You have smutty thoughts.”

“All the time.” He grinned at her and closed his one open eye. “Now hurry up and do your business then climb back in here with me.”

She headed for the door, slipping her boots on. He grumbled from the bed but didn’t protest her leaving the room. Rory crept out into the kitchen and found a pot of coffee on the stove but no one about. She went outside to the necessary and did her business. On the way back, she spotted Benjy asleep in the grass, his body damp with dew.

He looked like a little boy for the first time since she’d seen him. His face was relaxed in sleep, his cheeks still round with childishness. She used the outhouse, then returned to the boy. After contemplating what to do, she knelt down and gently touched his ankle, not wanting to startle him.

Benjy was instantly and entirely awake. He jumped to his feet in a crouch, his hands fisted and eyes wide. When he saw her sitting there, still as she could keep herself, he relaxed his hands.