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 countryclub 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 fasterpaced 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 thecity 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. To my life. 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 blessings 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
“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 countryclub 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 fasterpaced 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 thecity 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. To my life. 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 blessings 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
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