Caleb (Seven Sons Book 3) Read online

At exactly six, Caleb pulled up in front of the store. She walked out front, locked up, and hurried out to get in the truck with him. That’s when she noticed he had two boys in the backseat of his truck.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi,” one of the boys said.

  “Hello,” said the other.

  “We have chaperones,” Caleb told Natalie. “I hope you feel safe with their eagle eyes watching our every move.”

  Natalie nodded uncertainly. “Very safe. I’m Natalie.”

  “I’m Hunter,” said the boy on the left.

  “I’m Nick,” said the other. “You’re too pretty to date a dweeb like Caleb. You need to find someone else.”

  Natalie couldn’t help but grin. “Is Caleb a dweeb?”

  “Definitely,” Nick responded. “You haven’t met him before? Because he kind of made it sound like you guys were going to be a thing. Are you going to be a thing?”

  Caleb groaned. “I knew I shouldn’t have brought you two.”

  “Why?” Hunter asked. “Because we tell it like it is?”

  “He hums while he brushes his teeth,” Nick added. “And he sings in the shower. But not any normal songs. He sings this really old music, and we all hate it.”

  “Why do you think I do it?” Caleb asked, picking up speed as they got outside the city limits.

  Natalie felt like she’d stepped through the looking glass. “So you three all live together?”

  “Actually, there are eight of us living together. Six of us hooligans and two McClains. But I think Benjamin’s moving out, cuz he’s getting married, but he’ll still come in the evenings and early mornings. He can’t leave Caleb alone with us, because you never can tell what Caleb will do. He’s a loose cannon.” Nick grinned at the look on her face.

  Natalie bit her lip to avoid laughing. “Hooligans? Who even taught you that word? Do kids know that word now?”

  “Mr. Lacey, my world history teacher, keeps calling me a hooligan. I don’t like him, but I like the word, so I use it.”

  “Have you done something to be called a hooligan?” Caleb asked, immediately switching into work mode.

  “Not really. But he knows I live at the boys’ ranch, so I’m automatically a hooligan in his eyes.”

  Caleb sighed. He’d had Mr. Lacey as a teacher many moons before. “I’ll have a chat with Mr. Lacey. You’re not a hooligan, and no one but me is going to call you one. You got that, you little hooligan?”

  Nick laughed. “Just don’t get me in trouble. If I get extra homework because you know he called me a hooligan, I might have to short-sheet your bed or something.”

  Caleb shook his head, pulling into the driveway of the ranch. “My parents’ house is the biggest and oldest building on the ranch. It’s been here since right after the Texas War of Independence. It’s been updated repeatedly over the years.” He didn’t know why he felt the need to give her the ranch history, but he hoped she found it interesting. He wanted her to love the place as much as he did.

  When they pulled up in front of the house, he jumped down and hurried around to open her door. It was a habit his mother had always insisted upon with her boys, and he was happy to display the manners that he’d been taught. “I hope you like Mexican. Mom asked me what kind of food you like, and I didn’t know. All I know is you make candy!” And he knew a little more because of what his dad had told him, but he wasn’t ready for her to know they were destined to marry. Not many women could handle information like that on a first date.

  “Isn’t that enough?” she asked, smiling sweetly at him.

  He felt his heart start going a mile per minute. Her smile made him weak in the knees. “Ready to meet my parents?”

  “Aren’t you going to make sure the boys are following us?”

  “No need. They love my mother’s cooking, and they don’t get to be spoiled by her often.”

  “We’re here,” Hunter said. “He’s right. We wouldn’t miss eating here for anything.”

  Caleb opened the door, and let her precede him. When Hunter tried to follow right behind her, Caleb shook his head. “We’re here!” he called out.

  His mother hurried from the kitchen, smiling at Natalie. “I’m so pleased to meet you. I hope you like Mexican, because I made a small feast.”

  “We like Mexican,” Hunter announced, indicating himself and Nick.

  “I know you two do!” Lillian hurried over to hug each boy in turn. “Happy to see both of you!”

  Hunter accepted the hug and returned it, but Nick, as the newest boy on the ranch, squirmed a little under her loving touch. “When do we eat?” Nick asked after suffering through the hug.

  “Ten minutes, if I can get some help from my favorite boys!”

  Nick and Hunter hurried into the kitchen to help her, while Caleb took Natalie to meet his father. “Dad?” he called, pushing open the office door. “This is Natalie.”

  “Ah, you’re the girl who immediately recognized that the boys’ names were from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. My wife is excited to have you here for supper. And to be totally honest, so am I.”

  She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. McClain.”

  “We don’t stand on ceremony around here. If you say Mr. McClain, you could mean any number of people, and that messes with our heads. I’m Peter, and my wife is Lillian.”

  “All right. I think I can remember that.”

  “Where are my manners?” Peter waved toward the couch. “Sit!” Once Caleb and Natalie were sitting side by side on the couch, he asked, “What do your parents do? I know you run a candy store.”

  She grinned when he mentioned her store. “It’s been my dream for a long time, and I’m so glad I finally opened it. My parents are both lawyers, and they didn’t think a lot of their only child not following in their footsteps. When I announced I was opening a candy store, I think my mother almost had a heart attack.”

  “Are they all right with it now?”

  She shrugged. “They love me. I don’t think they have any idea what’s wrong with me, but they love me.”

  He grinned. “I guess that would be like if one of my boys decided to be a lawyer. I wouldn’t know what was wrong with him!”

  She laughed softly. “I can see that. Do you only have sons, sir?”

  “I do, but having seven of them probably makes up for not having a girl.” He shrugged. “I’m happy to report that my son Adam is now married, so I have a daughter-in-law, and my son Benjamin will be marrying on Saturday.”

  Caleb looked at her. “You should come as my date.”

  “I have to work.”

  “You don’t have anyone who will be working with you? Who can take over for the day?”

  She frowned. “I do have an assistant, but…why don’t we see how this first date goes before we make a decision about another?”

  Caleb nodded. “All right.” His eyes met his dad’s, and he remembered how Tiffani had found out that she was destined to marry Adam. She hadn’t been pleased. He didn’t want to go through that with Natalie.

  His mother popped her head in the door then. “Time to eat. I hope you’re all hungry.” She looked at Caleb. “Did you eat all that candy? Or are you hungry?”

  “I didn’t eat all the candy, and I am hungry.” He looked at Natalie who had a big grin on her face. “I promise I’m not ten years old.”

  Without thinking about what she was doing, her eyes traveled slowly down him and then back up. “I didn’t think you were.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she blushed profusely. She couldn’t believe she’d been that bold. Especially in front of his parents!

  He grinned at her, letting her know immediately that he didn’t mind the look she’d given him. “Let’s go eat. You’re going to love Mom’s enchiladas.”

  When they got to the table, everyone bowed their heads to pray, and Natalie followed suit. She hadn’t been to a home where everyone automatically prayed in a long time. It was a bit surprising, but she liked it. Even the two boys knew they would pray before the meal.

  Food was passed, and Natalie all but drooled over the smell of the food. She’d always been good with candy, but never in her life had she been able to make enchiladas. She couldn’t quite get the hang of rolling them. After taking her first bite, she smiled. “These are absolutely delicious. You’ll have to teach me to make them sometime. I’ve tried repeatedly, but they never turn out quite right.”

  Lillian smiled. “I’d love to teach you. I think enchilada-making is something that should be passed from one generation to the next.”

  A look passed between Caleb and his mother that had Natalie wondering what she was missing. She decided not to ask. She’d heard stories about how odd this family was, and here they were, proving it.

  She looked over at the boys. “I take it the two of you like enchiladas?”

  Hunter nodded, carefully waiting until his mouth was empty before answering. “We love them. But really, we love anything Lillian makes. She’s an amazing cook.” As soon as he finished being polite, he shoveled in another huge bite of enchiladas.

  Nick didn’t say anything. He just sat there eating quickly. It made Natalie worry that they didn’t get enough to eat most nights. It didn’t seem to be the kind of family they were, so she dismissed it. “So are the two of you retired?” she asked Lillian and Peter.

  Lillian shrugged. “In a way we are. Until Gideon marries and moves into this house, we won’t officially retire, though. At this point, Adam mostly runs the ranch with the others helping out.”

  “I’m not sure I understand.” Natalie looked at Lillian in confusion. “Isn’t it usually the oldest son who inherits the house? If I understand your naming of them, Gideon is your youngest.”

  “That’s true. Our family tends to
let the seventh son inherit, though. It’s just what we do.”

  Natalie looked between the three McClains, waiting for one of them to offer more information. When they didn’t, she shrugged. “I suppose each family can make their own traditions.” How would they know if they would have seven children, let alone seven sons? Very few families had that many children these days.

  Caleb smiled at her. “You just have to accept that we do things a bit oddly at times. Sometimes there are no explanations, but things work out well for our family doing them this way.”

  “All right.” She wasn’t exactly sure what he meant by that, but she couldn’t keep pressing when obviously no one wanted to answer. It was as if the three of them had some sort of secret she wasn’t being let in on. The boys seemed oblivious to the whole thing.

  Lillian looked at her. “Caleb tells me you were able to figure out the names of all his brothers with just a couple of names. That’s very rare. How old were you when you first watched Seven Brides?”

  Natalie smiled. “My mother and I always watched it together. She enjoyed acting in high school and college, and she’d once played the part of Millie. It’s always been one of her favorite musicals. I think I can quote it from beginning to end.”

  “I don’t have that kind of connection to it, but it’s always been my favorite,” Lillian told her. “I’ve seen it scads of times, and my boys even know it well. I think sometimes they hate they have the names they have, but sometimes it makes them feel closer to each other.”

  “Oh, if someone told me I’d be having seven sons, I’d do the same thing in a heartbeat. I think a lot of women would.”

  Caleb shook his head. “You’re not supposed to tell her that! We’ve been telling her for years it was an evil thing to do!”

  “I know there’s some movie that you named all your sons after, Lillian, but what movie is it?” Hunter asked.

  Lillian sighed. “I think it’s time for us to have a movie night sometime soon. Why don’t I send you boys a copy to watch on your next evening off?”

  Caleb sighed. “Then they can run around the house singing ‘Bless Your Beautiful Hide.’ Just what we need!”

  It was all Natalie could do not to break into song right there and then. She wasn’t sure how her hosts would feel about singing at the supper table, though. Instead she turned to Caleb. “So is it Seven Brides songs you sing in the shower?”

  Caleb shook his head at the boys. “I sing a variety of songs, including the songs from Seven Brides and many of the other musicals Mom forced us all to watch umpteen times each.”

  Natalie couldn’t help but grin. “I think we need to have a musical day, Lillian. I’m sure there will be a musical showing in Austin sometime soon.”

  “I’d love that.” Lillian grinned. “I always wanted daughters, but silly McClains have very few girls.”

  “Why is that?” Natalie asked.

  Lillian shrugged. “Just the way the family works. I’ve got nieces, but no daughters of my own. I’m really looking forward to having granddaughters.”

  “I love the idea of having little girls. I want to play with American Girl dolls with them. And Barbies. I want a million Barbies to play with.” Natalie looked at Caleb, wondering if they were saying he couldn’t have daughters. But why would Lillian say that she was looking forward to granddaughters if that was the case? This whole meal had been a little confusing.

  “I like you, Natalie! I sure hope you’ll come back often.”

  Natalie smiled. “I’d like that.” She felt very attracted to Caleb, but she also felt that she wanted to hang out with his mother. She knew that was strange, but she didn’t know how to stop those feelings.

  “Caleb, just because I like her so much, I am going to make your father take the boys back to the cabin. He can stay there with Benjamin until bedtime. You take her home alone.”

  Caleb looked at his mother, excitement in his eyes. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”

  “Not one little bit. Of course, I’m not the one who will be taking responsibility for the boys.”

  Caleb looked at the boys who were under his care. “Do either of you mind if my dad takes you back to the cabin and not me?”

  Both boys shook their heads. “He’s nicer than you!” Nick said. “He always lets us have a few extra minutes before bed, and you don’t!”

  “You need your sleep more than you need a few extra minutes before bed.” Caleb looked at his dad. “Don’t they?”

  “We’ll see.”

  Natalie shook her head, enjoying the family dynamic. She wondered if there were a lot of foster homes that had as many boys as this place did. It was interesting to her. “I’ll help you wash up,” she said as Lillian stood up to clear the table.

  “No, you won’t. Maybe Caleb can take you to Braum’s for some ice cream on your way home.”

  “I’d love to do that!”

  Natalie looked back and forth between mother and son. “I guess that would be all right.” She’d have to run an extra mile in the morning, but it wasn’t a big deal. With making candy all day, she ran three miles every morning anyway. It was a necessary part of her life if she didn’t want to blow up like a balloon.

  Caleb got to his feet and followed his mother into the kitchen, kissing her cheek. “Thanks for letting me bring her to supper. And for giving me a chance to take her home alone.”

  “Anything for you.” She put some glasses into the commercial strength dishwasher she’d had installed before Adam had left for college. “Make the most of your time with her.”

  “I will. Thanks again!” He hurried out of the kitchen, looking at Natalie. “Are you ready?”

  “Sure.” She got to her feet and grabbed the light jacket she’d brought with her. It was chilly at night, even though most people had a very different perception of Texas. The late fall and winter nights were cold. Following Caleb out to his truck, she inhaled the scent of fall. “I love this time of year.”

  Caleb grinned. “Me too. It’s always been my favorite.” He opened her door for her and waited for her to get in before closing it again. “Are you really okay with stopping for ice cream? I think Mom was just looking for something we could do without Hunter and Nick.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  Caleb started the truck but looked over at her, giving her his full attention. “Yeah, sure.” He hoped it wasn’t about any of the strange things about the McClains, because he wasn’t ready to answer yet. He felt like both of his older brothers had spilled the family secrets too quickly, and he didn’t want to follow them down that path.

  “Why did you really take me to your mother’s for supper?”

  Chapter Four

  Caleb shrugged, not sure what Natalie meant. “I invited you because I wanted to get to know you better.”

  “But to your mother’s house for a first date? No man does that!” She was sure there had to be something wrong with him if he thought that was the right thing to do.

  He shrugged. “I haven’t had a first date since high school, so I don’t really know what men are supposed to do for a first date. I knew I liked you a lot, and I wanted you to meet my mother, because I thought you would get along…well, like you did.”

  She stared at him for a moment. “What do you mean you haven’t had a first date since high school? Surely you’ve dated. Were you in a relationship that whole time?” He was a handsome, sexy man. Why would he not have dated?

  “Nope. I haven’t had any dates at all since high school because I’ve been too busy concentrating on the boys who come to our ranch for help. My whole life has been my job.”

  “But…no one at all?”

  “No one. I don’t believe in casual dating. If you meet someone, even if you’re attracted, and you don’t think you could ever marry that person, then you shouldn’t date them. Period.” He reached out to cover her hand with his. “When I saw you, I saw my future. I know that sounds crazy, but I know that I’m willing to see where our relationship leads. If I thought you’d say yes, I’d ask you to marry me right now.”

  Natalie stared at him for a moment as if he was a crazed maniac. “I don’t think I’m quite ready for a marriage proposal. After hearing that, even Braum’s seems like it might be too much of a commitment.” Braum’s had the best ice cream in all of Texas, so it was hard to not want to go there.