Natalie bit her lip. “He isn’t pressuring me into marriage.”
“When did you meet him?”
“Yesterday morning. He came in to get some sweets.”
“Yeah, Caleb has a huge sweet tooth. What man in his right mind would mention marriage to a girl on the day he met her? Of course he didn’t say anything, but I think you’re the next target.”
“That makes me feel like something’s wrong. Are you sure?” Natalie didn’t like the picture of the family Sheila was drawing for her.
Sheila shrugged. “I just know how it’s been in the past. My dad was in school with the generation before this one. He said that it was the same. Seven sons. Sometimes odd things would happen. And they all married in birth order, like they were dominoes toppling one after the other. Kinda creepy if you ask me.”
Natalie nodded. “Sounds like it.” She was still going to see Caleb that evening, so she could ask him about everything that had been said. Truthfully, though, she couldn’t imagine anything odd going on around the family she’d met. They seemed like salt-of-the-earth kind of people to her.
“Just be careful. You don’t want to be the next bride who can’t seem to help herself marry…”
“Do you mean that they’re being forced or coerced into marriage in some way? That doesn’t sound like the family I met last night, either. Lillian seemed to genuinely love her husband and sons—and she treated the foster boys as if they were her own grandkids. I was impressed, to be honest.” Natalie wondered how much of what Sheila was saying was fact, and how much was supposition made by small town people who liked to gossip about each other. As much as she’d loved her small town, the gossip had always bothered her.
“Lillian does seem happy. My dad says she didn’t want to marry, though. She went to the ranch to be a cook, and two weeks later, she was married to the youngest son.”
“I’ll talk to Caleb about it.” Natalie didn’t know what else to do. She wasn’t going to believe a bunch of gossipmongers, but she also needed to know that she’d be safe with Caleb.
“I don’t know if that’s smart…”
“You mean to tell me that you think people should just talk about them without ever finding out the facts? I should just believe what you say because you said it? I don’t think life works that way.” Natalie turned away to get some of the taffy packaged.
“Not exactly…I guess I should have asked them myself instead of spreading rumors, huh?” Sheila frowned.
“I think so. But to each his or her own.” Natalie nodded at the front of the shop where the bell over the door had just dinged. “Why don’t you go help out the customer.”
Sheila hurried from the room, obviously worried she’d said too much. And as Natalie watched her go, she wondered if Sheila had said too much as well. She’d find out all of the truth later that night when she talked to Caleb. He’d give her the answers she needed.
Caleb was daydreaming about what his evening with Natalie would be like as he rode his four-wheeler much faster than he should across the open plain. Suddenly, he stopped short. He sat for just a moment before he turned his four-wheeler around and took off for the ranch at break-neck speed.
He went straight to Adam. “Nick’s going to get into a fight at school today. He’s going to hit his head, and it’s not going to be good.”
Adam didn’t question his brother’s pronouncement. Instead he jumped to his feet, quickly scribbling out a note on his official stationery. “Go get him.”
Caleb didn’t bother to look down at the note. Instead, he ran to his truck and headed for town. He pulled up in front of the school and ran to the office as fast as he could. “I need to pick up Nick Stewart. He has a doctor’s appointment, and I forgot about it.” He pushed the note Adam had given him at the secretary, who nodded.
“I’ll get him out of class, Mr. McClain.” She got to her feet and walked out of the office, hurrying down the hall. She looked like she’d caught his sense of urgency.
She was back five minutes later with Nick in tow. Nick looked angry enough to spit nails, and he gave Caleb a strange look. “Time for your doctor appointment,” Caleb said, taking Nick by the arm. “Do I need to sign him out?” The secretary pushed a piece of paper at him, and he quickly signed. “Let’s go.”
As soon as they’d left the school, Nick glared at him. “What are you doing here? I’m not supposed to see Adam until five.”
“You were going to fight, weren’t you?”
Nick looked shocked for a moment, but then shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is someone teasing you? Bullying you? What’s going on?”
Nick walked beside Caleb silently. “Nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. If you can’t tell me what’s happening, then I can’t help you.” Caleb sometimes hated the point Nick was at. He didn’t trust anyone around him, and he was still defensive. He was settling in a lot better than he had the first few weeks, but he wasn’t ready to completely conform yet. All of the boys went through it, but it was a tough stage for those trying to help them.
Nick sighed dramatically. “There’s just a kid who is making fun of me. Saying that I have to live at the ranch because no one else wants me. Says that you guys don’t even want me except for the money you get paid to keep me.”
Caleb slid behind the wheel of his truck and Nick climbed in beside him. “Do you believe that? Do you really think there’s enough money in the world to get me to live with you six boys if I didn’t want to do it?”
“I guess not…”
“There’s not. Trust me. I love what I do. And believe it or not, I love every boy that is under my care. I’m not going to let bad things happen to you, and I’m not going to let you self-destruct. You’re going to be happy if it kills me.”
Nick chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess I sort of believed him.”
“Well, stop! His parents got stuck with him. I chose to take you on. Make sure you tell him that next time. And no fighting. You know what the punishment on the ranch is for fighting, right?”
Nick shook his head. “No…”
“You get to be the one to clean out the horse stalls for a month. Trust me…it’s not a job you want.” Caleb pulled up in front of the candy store. “Come on. You can pick one treat, and we’ll go to the park and eat them.” Some people would tell him not to reward Nick’s bad behavior, but he didn’t feel like that’s what he was doing. The boy had finally opened up to him, and he was going to take advantage of it.
Chapter Six
Caleb looked past Sheila, who was at the front counter to the kitchen, spotting Natalie. She was working hard, and she didn’t appear to notice him, which pleased him. He could look at her unnoticed for a moment or two.
“What can I get you?” Sheila asked. Caleb had never been fond of the woman. They’d been in school together, and she’d chased after Benjamin with everything she had inside her, but he’d never been even the slightest bit interested. She’d gossiped about their family in a way that made him shake with fury. When he’d heard Natalie had hired her, he’d almost said something, but he wouldn’t let himself become the same type of person she was—someone who would gossip at the least provocation.
Nick looked over the food in the display case. “Anything?” he asked Caleb. “You sure?”
“I’m sure. Pick what you want. One thing only. I’m not going to have you hyped up on sugar all day.”
“Yes, sir.” Nick contemplated the decision with the single-mindedness of a toddler trying to decide which toy he wanted. “I want peanut butter fudge.”
“Good choice!” Caleb told him, grinning. “And I’ll have raspberry fudge. I haven’t gotten to try that yet. And two bottles of water.” He looked up, feeling Natalie’s eyes on him, and he winked at her.
She blushed for a moment with confusion, but then she smiled. Caleb couldn’t possibly be the kind of person Sheila claimed, but she’d find out for sure. “W
hat’s Nick doing out of school? He’s not sick?”
“No, he’s fine. He has an appointment this afternoon that he couldn’t miss.” Caleb hated lying to her. He promised himself that just as soon as he could, he would tell her absolutely everything. As soon as the time was right.
Sheila rang him up and gave him his total. After he’d paid, he waved to Natalie. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She smiled and nodded. “I’ll text you my address.”
“I didn’t even think of that. I guess you don’t live at the candy store.”
“Too much temptation. I’m not willing to run twelve miles per day!”
He laughed, wishing he could get closer to her. There was something a tad bit off about her face, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Sheila had told some half-truths. It was her specialty, after all.
He drove to the park at the corner of Fifth and Main and got out of the truck. “Let’s just walk for a minute while we talk.”
Nick shrugged. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Your place in the world. I know the last couple of months have been confusing.”
“You can say that again!” Nick shook his head. “I haven’t seen my mom since I came to the ranch. Did you know that?”
Of course Caleb knew that. He knew everything about the six boys that were currently under his care. “I did know that. Do you want to see your mom?”
Nick shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, she yelled at me a lot, and I never liked my stepdad…but she’s my mom. I should want to see her, shouldn’t I?”
“You tell me. Was your mom ever mean to you?”
Nick stared straight ahead. “Isn’t every parent mean sometimes?”
“Sometimes. I thought my parents were the meanest people alive when I didn’t get the video game I wanted for Christmas, but I think you and I both know that’s not really mean, don’t we?”
Nick shrugged. “She was always that kind of mean.”
Caleb nodded. “Most parents are. Was she ever any other kind of mean?”
“Only after she married my stepdad. And he was the real mean one, not Mom.”
“How was he mean?”
Nick shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Then you don’t have to. I can understand not wanting to talk about that kind of thing. But I also want you to know that if you ever do want to talk about it, I’m here. And if you don’t want to talk to me, then talk to Adam. Or any of the other people on the ranch. We all care about you and have your best interests in mind.”
“Whatever.” Nick took a bite of his fudge, and Caleb handed him the bottle of water he’d gotten for him. “Thanks.”
Caleb kept walking on in silence, knowing from experience that he’d said enough for now.
“Would you think less of me if I’d let people be mean to me?” Nick finally asked.
“Nothing would make me think less of you. I see the young man you really are…not what life made you before.” Caleb waited again, wondering if Nick would finally tell them how he’d been treated. They had an idea of what had transpired to make him act out the way he had, but there was no proof.
“I don’t think anyone should treat kids the way they treated me.” Nick kicked a rock as he spoke.
“How long was your mom married to your stepdad?”
“They got married when I was ten.” Nick rubbed his arm, and Caleb looked at it more closely. He saw a small scar that looked like it could have been made by a cigarette. He’d look more closely when Nick didn’t realize he was being observed later.
“And he was never nice to you?”
Nick laughed, but the sound wasn’t at all humorous. “Nice? It felt like a good night when he didn’t lock me in my room.”
“Did he do that a lot?” Caleb asked, continuing his pace. He’d heard a lot of stories of abuse over the years, and he hated to listen to stories like this. But he was so glad Nick was finally opening up.
“Sure. Usually at least four nights a week. The other nights, he used me to put out his cigarettes.”
Caleb could picture what he was saying, but he had to clarify. “You mean he’d have you put it out for him?”
Nick shook his head. “No, he liked to burn my skin with them. And he’d call me a baby if I cried.” His voice was steady, as if he was telling a story that had happened to someone else.
“Is that how you got that mark on your arm?” Caleb asked, keeping his voice calm. He couldn’t let on that what Nick had faced was anything terrible, or the boy might clam up.
“Yeah. And my back is covered. Sometimes it hurt too much to wear a shirt, and he’d make me stay home from school.”
“And your mom never tried to stop it?” Caleb asked. That’s what bothered him the most. The boy’s mother hadn’t stood up for him.
“At first, she did, but it only made it worse, so she stopped.” Nick shrugged. “He hit her a lot, too.”
“So he burned you, and he hit you?”
“Sure. He said that I was a mouth he shouldn’t have to feed. He never liked me at all, and he made that really clear.” Nick shrugged. “So I started getting in trouble. I hoped that someone would notice and help me and my mom get away.” Nick stopped walking and looked at Caleb. “My mom isn’t ever coming to get me, is she?”
Caleb looked into the boy’s face and saw that he could take the truth. He was getting no pricks of danger coming their way. “No, she’s not. We get to keep you.”
“Get? You mean you’re stuck with me forever.” Nick’s eyes had tears shining in them, and he looked at Caleb defiantly. “No one wants a kid like me.”
“We do. I hope you know that we love you. You have a forever home with us.”
“Why would you keep me?” Nick truly couldn’t understand, and it was clear on his face. “I didn’t want to live when I first came here, but y’all said I should. You think that I’m worth something?”
“I know you’re worth a lot. My mom thinks you’re wonderful. Can’t you tell?”
“Lillian loves everybody.”
“She does. But she thinks you’re special.” Caleb looked at the boy for a moment. “I think what you need is a day with her. I’m going to talk to her and see when is good for her.”
“She’s too busy to spend a whole day with me.”
“No, she’s not. Not at all.” Caleb started walking again, this time toward his truck. After Nick got in, he said, “Hang on a second. I’ll be right there.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, tapping on a number.
“Hello?” His mother’s voice helped calm him. He had so much anger raging through him after what Nick had told him.
“Hey, Mom. I have a boy in need of some love.”
“Nick?” she asked.
“You always know.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “He just told me that his stepdad used him to put out his cigarettes. I saw a burn on his arm, and he said his back is covered with them.”
“No!” Lillian had seen a great deal of horrific things in the boys who had come through her house. But she felt for each boy, and she never became jaded. “Not my Nick!”
“He needs a day with you. Soon. I know you can’t Saturday, but when you can.”
“Adam told me you were pulling him out of school today. Have you done that?”
“Yeah, I have him now. We just went for a walk through the park, and he told me things I never wanted to know.” Caleb took a deep breath. “I have a feeling there’s a lot more to it, but that’s all he’s said so far.”
“Bring him to me. I’ll keep him until bedtime tonight. I’m going to be making some food for the reception, but he can help me with that.”
“Are you sure? I’m not trying to dump him on you.”
“I know you’re not.” His mom sighed. “He needs me today. I understand that perfectly. Bring him over and come get him right before bed.”
“All right. Love you, Mom.” Every time he heard a horror story from one of the boys, he remembered just how
fortunate he’d been to be raised by two people who loved him unconditionally.
“Love you, too.”
Caleb got into the truck and started it. “I’m taking you to Lillian. She said she needs someone to help her cook.”
“You told her what I said,” Nick’s voice wasn’t accusing.
“I did. I needed her to understand what you’ve been through. I’ll tell Adam too, but I won’t tell anyone else unless you want me to.” Caleb would like to tell all of his brothers so they’d be able to help him better, but he would keep his word if that was what Nick wanted.
Nick seemed to think about it for a moment. “Don’t tell the other boys. You can tell Benjamin and the other McClains. Just not Hunter or any of the others.”
“Will do. And thanks for letting me tell my brothers. We’ll all be able to help you better when we understand exactly what’s happened to you.” Caleb drove toward the ranch. He wanted to punch someone or something, but taking care of Nick was so much more important. “I’m going to cancel your counseling with Adam today, too. He might come to the house and bug you while you and Mom are cooking, though.”
Nick shrugged. “That would be all right if he wanted to.”
“I’ll tell him that.” Caleb was surprised Nick was being so easy about it all. It wasn’t like him at all.
“There’s more.” Nick said the words softly, staring out the opposite window.
“Do you want to tell me?”
Nick shook his head. “Not today. No one needs to know everything yet.”
Caleb felt like he knew what was coming, but he simply nodded. “All right. When you’re ready, you’ll be surrounded by McClains, and we’ll all listen.”
After a moment, Nick said, “Thank you.”
It was the first time Nick had really acknowledged that being listened to was important to him. Caleb smiled. “Remember what I said. We all love you, and we’re keeping you. No matter what’s happened to you in the past, you’re ours now.”
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