Page 31 of Caleb’s Cause (Broken Wheel Ranch #12)

Ryan looked over at Caleb and sighed heavily. “I’m sorry.”

“For?”

“Your father not being here today.”

“I’m not worried about that,” Caleb waved that off. “I know he’s home keeping Katherine’s mother safe.”

“Then why the long face?” They were in Caleb’s cabin where Ryan was getting ready for his wedding, that was due to start in a couple of hours. Reid, his best man, would be joining him soon. “Are you upset that I asked Reid to be my best man?”

“Uncle Ry, stop. I’m fine. I’m a big boy.

If you want to get technical, you’ve known Reid longer than you have known me.

We both know that Karen refused to allow you to see me.

You were only allowed to spend time with me if Dad got us together.

I’m not worried about that, nor am I worried about Dad not being here. ”

“Then what are you worried about?”

Caleb remained silent for several minutes, then sighed heavily. “Is Katherine really going to be safe today? I know we have all these extra people, and I know we’re locked in here, but people from town will be here also. Do we have to worry about them?”

“No,” Ryan said with such conviction, that Caleb raised his brows.

“One, there is a guest list. People from town will be on the list, and they will be checked against driver’s licenses when they arrive.

Hank’s men will be checking the list. Two, ten of the men invited, are former military.

They were informed of the situation. Three, with Erin’s permission, there will be two dogs present today.

They are search and rescue dogs, but they are also trained in protection.

The man who trained his dog is former military and his dog is huge. ”

“What type of dog is it?”

“Bull mastiff.”

“Oh, wow. Okay.”

“Correct, and four, some of Hank’s men will escort you and Katherine from the wedding to the reception barn.

We’re not saying she has to stay inside at all times, but it will be highly suggested to her.

Five, one of the women helping get Pru ready is a deputy sheriff.

She’s read the entire file, the original one Hank made a copy of and brought back with him.

She’s also married to Stone, a member of Jake’s team.

She knows Katherine’s innocent. She was the one that brought up the fact that Katherine can’t be tried again.

If she is, it’s called double jeopardy.”

“Which is?”

They looked up when Reid entered the cabin after knocking once. He looked spiffy in his black button down, black jeans, and his hair cut in a fresh military high tight.

“Hey, you’re not supposed to look better than the groom,” Ryan laughed at him as he swung his black leather vest on over his own white button-down shirt, tucked into his black jeans, and he even had cowboy boots on his feet. He too had a fresh high and tight haircut.

“What were you talking about when I arrived?” Reid asked.

“Caleb was worried if Katherine would be safe over at the reception barn.”

“Yes, she will. We will make sure of it. One of Jake’s guys found a different way to the reception barn from Broken. They will take you and Katherine in that way, and you’ll be away from the crowds. I don’t think there should be any problem with the guests.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because Jake and his men went to Ryan’s guests and talked to them about the news reel, and the truth. I know these people, and I trust them to keep their mouths shut.”

Caleb nodded, not knowing what else to say. He didn’t see Reid and Ryan exchange looks. He didn’t look up until Ryan spoke.

“Caleb?”

“What?”

“Do you like Katherine?”

Caleb drew in a deep breath and sighed heavily.

“I do. I know we share this cabin, but she has her own room. There have been nights, especially since that Patterson guy came last week, that she wakes up screaming. I rush into her room, and hold her until she can get herself under control. I tuck her beneath the covers, and I sleep on top of them. As much as I want to have a sexual relationship with her, that’s not what she needs right now.

She needs someone to keep the demons in her dreams away.

If I can do that by holding her while she sleeps, then I’m all for it.

” He shook his head sadly and rubbed the back of his neck.

He finally looked directly at his uncle.

“If Katherine hears me say this, she’ll probably kick my ass.

She’s a tough woman, and I admire her for it, it’s when she’s vulnerable in her sleep that the demons come out. ”

“Okay, but why would she kick your ass?”

“I think she needs to talk to someone. I mean professionally.” He watched as Ryan and Reid exchanged looks. “What am I missing?”

“Do you realize what that office building next to yours is?”

“No, just an empty building.”

“It won’t be for long,” Reid said. He looked at Ryan with a nod. “Sara called Julie yesterday. She’ll try to be here for the ceremony, but definitely in time for the reception.”

“Great. I know Julie will be happy.” Ryan turned to Caleb with a grin. “You know who Julie is, correct?”

“Isn’t she Erin’s assistant? I forget who she’s dating.”

“Yes, and she’d dating Scott, Duane’s brother.

” He held up his hand with a shake of his head.

“Long story. Anyway, Sara is Julie’s sister.

She’s a licensed therapist, and had to be in Denver for the summer for some extended classes.

Her specialty is working with PTSD patients. That’s what the extra help was for.”

“Oh, wow. When will she be back here permanently?”

“Soon, we don’t have an exact date yet. We might be able to find out when she comes today.”

“Good, I won’t step on Katherine’s toes, but if this Sara doesn’t stay, I’ll talk to Katherine about it and have her talk to Sara when she returns.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” They all looked at their watches when an alarm sounded and Reid looked at his fancy watch, turned it off, then looked at Ryan.

“You ready?”

“Yes, I can’t wait to make Prudora my wife.”

The three men left the cabin, and because Katherine had taken the golf cart over to Pru and Ryan’s cabin earlier, and someone had dropped Ryan off at their cabin, the only vehicles outside were Reid’s and Caleb’s trucks.

They opted to take Reid’s, stating Caleb could ride back with Katherine.

When they arrived at the area that had been set up for the wedding, Caleb was amazed at all the work that had been done that morning.

As of last night, it was just a big open field, the area everyone referred to as the future garden.

Now there were several chairs, an arch with flowers woven through it, and a white runner had been laid out for Pru to walk down.

Instead of standing around, Caleb was informed that he had to go to the groom’s side and sit in the front row.

He was the only family on Ryan’s side there.

When he took his place, he looked over and smiled at Katherine.

“I hope you don’t mind that I’m sitting with you?”

“Not at all. Thank you.” He leaned over and kissed the side of her head, then looked up when there was movement ahead of him.

He nodded to his uncle as he stood tall next to the man Caleb assumed was the preacher.

He looked handsome, confident, and at first glance, you could fail to see his eye patch.

Caleb made a mental note to make some calls and to talk with Ryan in the coming days.

When music started to play, everyone in the chairs turned to look and they smiled when Naomi walked down the aisle toward the front.

With her in position, the music changed, everyone stood, and Caleb sucked in his breath when he looked back and saw Pru standing there on Ducky’s arm.

“Damn,” he whispered, and when Ryan cleared his throat, he turned and grinned at the other man. “Your wife is beautiful.”

“I know, but thanks.” Ryan concentrated on Pru as she approached, and it was over before it even begun.

Not really, but Caleb had been so enthralled with the couple getting married that he didn’t pay attention to the vows being said.

He remembered Pru taking Ryan’s hand, then it was over, and the couple were walking down the aisle.

At the end, there was an area where the four people stood and everyone went out and congratulated them.

Instead of standing around before going over to Erin’s Way for the reception, Caleb jumped in and helped the hands close up the chairs and load them in the back of several pick-up trucks.

As they left, the people from Broken waited for Pru and Ryan’s photos to be taken and Caleb stood off to the side with Katherine’s hand in his.

“You should get a picture with your uncle, send it to your father,” Katherine said with a nod, and Ryan must have thought the same thing because Ryan called out for him to join him.

After ‘family’ pictures were taken, the younger couple didn’t realize that when those pictures were sent to Kevin, there were also several of Caleb and Katherine together, at the ceremony, reception, and even dancing later.

Several hours later, Caleb walked up to Katherine and stood before her. “How are you holding up?”

“Good, but getting a little tired.”

Caleb looked at his watch and nodded. “I know it’s early by some standards, but it’s going on eight and since the wedding was at eleven this morning, and we’ve been going strong all day, I’m ready to pack it in if you are.”

“I am.” She paused and looked around. “You don’t think it would be rude to leave?”

“Not at all.” Caleb took her hand, helped her to her feet, and they made the rounds, leaving the bridal party for last. Once they were outside, one of the men from Jake’s office came up to them and told Caleb the best way to get back to Broken Two where their cabin was.

In minutes they were underway, and though it was still warm out for the end of September, he appreciated the fact that there was a windshield on the golf cart.

It took roughly twenty minutes to reach their destination.

As he parked the golf cart on the side of the cabin, he looked over at Katherine, and his smile turned into a frown. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just tired,” she said sadly, and he rushed around to help her out, and let her lead the way into the cabin.

Once inside, she kicked off her shoes, and headed toward her bedroom.

He didn’t want to be offended, but from her expression and demeanor, he knew something was on her mind.

Instead of bothering her, he knew she would come to him if she needed anything.

He went into his own room, changed into a pair of shorts and tee, and went back out to the kitchen with his laptop.

He knew it was probably wrong, but he made a pot of coffee and as he waited for it to brew, he fired up his computer.

Caleb jerked when he heard a small scream, and looked at the clock, noting it was two in the morning.

He quickly shut down the computer, and when the sound came again, he rushed to Katherine’s room, eased inside, and walked to the other side of the bed.

Instead of waking her, he climbed on top of the bed, and wrapped his arms around her.

In seconds she turned into his embrace, and for the first time since he started doing this, she burst into tears.

Without saying a word, he gathered her closer and let her cry.

It was almost an hour before she leaned back, looked up at him, and whispered, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He paused, drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“It’s stupid.”

“Nothing is stupid, especially if it makes you cry like that.” He didn’t force her to look at him, or to talk, he figured when everything was right in her head, then she would speak.

He was just starting to fall asleep when she spoke, “Why is Michael’s father doing this?”

“Doing what?” He knew he should have said something different, especially when she rose to look down at him.

“Why is he lying? Why won’t he accept the truth about his own son? Why is he trying to make my life miserable. I can’t tell you how many times someone came up to me today to try to get my story.”

“Do you think they’ll call that number on the news?”

“I don’t know. I do know that I saw Erin and that deputy talking with everyone. I’m sick and tired of not having my life.” She burst into tears again, and Caleb sat up to wrap his arms around her. When she started to kiss him, he returned it, then pulled back.

“I’m sorry, but I’m probably going to be the asshole here, but this isn’t what you want.

As much as I want to make love to you right now, I don’t want you to wake in a few hours with regrets.

I want us to be together with no pressure from the outside world dictating we should do it in order to make you feel something.

” He studied her and when he didn’t see anger on her face, he breathed easier. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re right,” she said after several minutes of silence. “I would have regretted it. Though I am totally over Michael, I don’t want you to think I’m using you, Caleb. Will you hold me as I fall back asleep, and this time, we can be under the same blankets, I won’t attack you.”

“You’re sure? Not that I don’t want you to, but I don’t want to put any pressure on you.”

“I’m sure.” She nodded and after getting up to use the bathroom, she returned to find him beneath the blankets.

She smiled when she cuddled against his bare chest, and sighed in contentment when his arms came around her.

“Thank you for making me feel safe,” were the last words she spoke before falling into a deep sleep. Caleb quickly followed her.