The Circle Eight: Caleb Read Free Page B

with my brothers though.” Nicholas made a face.
    “It’s never boring, but I’d much rather use my fists than my gun. I don’t like killing any more than the next man. Taking a man’s life will haunt you for a mighty long time. Possibly the rest of your life.” Caleb knew that firsthand, but he wasn’t about to discuss it with his younger brother. There were better stories to be told, ones that didn’t involve a river of blood and the stench of death.
    “Listen to him, Nicholas.” Hannah patted his hand. “Being a Ranger is dangerous work and definitely not one where you have a clean bed or a hot meal every day.”
    Nicholas patted his stomach. “I do have a liking for regular meals, especially ones Eva cooks.”
    “One day you will find a woman who will cook you tortillas instead of me.” Eva ruffled his hair. “I won’t be cooking for you when you’re an old man.”
    “I ain’t in no hurry to find a woman.” Nicholas backed away from the table and Eva’s touch. “Women are trouble, no offense to any of you, and with a house full of Graham females, there ain’t no need to add more. We’re already outnumbered.”
    Hannah smiled. “I have a feeling this baby is a girl too.”
    “Dammit, that’s another confounded female.” Nicholas sidestepped Eva’s smack for cursing. “I’ve got to get back out and finish my chores. With Javier and Lorenzo gone, I won’t get finished until late anyway.”
    Caleb got to his feet. “You need a hand?”
    Matt joined them. “We’re checking all the calves we cut in March and counting the heifers that are pregnant.”
    “I can count.” Caleb didn’t know what possessed him to offer to help with chores. If he did go out with his brothers, it would be hours, full dark, before they finished. He didn’t want to be there the entire afternoon but now that the words were out of his mouth, he couldn’t get them back.
    “Nah, we can manage. Will you be gone when we get back?” Matt caught his gaze, a bit of wistfulness in his eyes. “Off to bigger and better things?”
    “Nothing is bigger than a ranch in Texas.” Caleb grinned but he didn’t feel it. “I have orders to evict a squatter on government property.”
    “Sounds riveting.” Hannah rose to her feet with a groan. “I hope you will come back before this baby turns a year old.”
    Caleb pushed back the guilt her remark brought. “I will be back soon.”
    “Dare I ask for a date?” Hannah pulled Caleb into a hug and he allowed himself to hug her back.
    “I’ll be back this summer. Is that close enough to a date?” He had no idea what was in store for him in the next three months but he could try to plan on coming back to the Circle Eight.
    “No, but I’ll take it.” Sadness painted her expression. “We miss you, Caleb.”
    He nodded, not knowing what to say. In a way he missed them but in other ways, he was glad to be out in the world on his own.
    “You need to lay down, hija .” Eva took Hannah’s arm. “The baby will pop out if you don’t get your rest.”
    “Pop out? The baby’s going to pop out?” Matt’s panic made his brothers chuckle. “Shut up, both of you. Not funny.”
    “ Pobrecita .” Eva ignored the men and led Hannah to the master bedroom.
    “Having the twins was hard on her but she’s strong. Eva says there’s only one baby this time but I worry.” Matt stared after his wife, love and concern evident in his gaze.
    “She’ll be fine.” Caleb didn’t know if that was true or not but it seemed like the right thing to say.
    “C’mon, Matt, we’d better get moving.” Nicholas hugged Caleb briefly. “Next time stay for more than tortillas and beans.”
    Caleb punched his arm hard before his younger brother escaped out the door with a grin, slapping his hat on his head. Matt shook his hand with a serious expression on his face.
    “Be careful out there. Don’t forget you’re part of the circle here. It’s not whole until we’re all together.” What