Too Tough to Tame

Chapter 1 Caleb glanced at the emailed instructions next to him and pulled over to the side of the road. He checked the GPS, slid the screen on the phone, and then read the email Sebastian sent him. The sun’s glare bothered him even though he wore sunglasses, so he put the visor down to help him see ahead and double-checked that he had read the email right. Caleb guessed that if he followed the dirt road past the arborvitae, he’d be at his destination. The arborvitae must have stood close to fifteen feet high. He tried to peer in the small opening where the red clay road led. He didn’t see a mailbox with any numbers on it and he didn’t see a post with a street marking. He moved forward, then drove his truck through the opening in the tall greenery, passing the “beware of goat” signs. As soon as he drove into the clearing, the dirt road ahead wound about fifty yards to a small, ranch-style house. He passed by cabbage palms and palmetto stands. As he got closer to the dark brown home, the red clay driveway ended and the natural Myakka sandy soil appeared, covered by a layer of pine needles. He parked his truck and didn’t even bother locking it. As he approached the small screened-in patio by the front door, the wooden door opened. A thin woman stepped outside, her dark red hair pulled back behind her head. A small girl, maybe two years of age was cradled on her hip and Ginny Rush, Sebastian’s mom greeted him. “Caleb, honey. What a pleasant surprise!” “Hi, Mrs. Rush. Hope I didn’t bother you by just calling you out of the blue since I was in the area.” “Stop calling me Mrs. Rush. I hear that and I think my ex mother-in-law is behind me.” Ginny moved forward and angled the young girl to face Caleb. “Now Mindy, this is Uncle Caleb. Say hello.” The two-year-old shook her head and then Mindy buried her face on Ginny’s chest, shaking her head back and forth as she did so. “So this is Sebastian’s niece?” “Yes, one of them. Her older sister will make a better flower girl. You’ll have to meet her.” Ginny walked toward the house. “Come on in! Can I offer you a glass of sweet tea?” The Florida heat and humidity didn’t make Caleb hesitate. “Yes, that would be nice.” Caleb stopped at the doormat, wiped sand off his shoes, then followed Ginny. Ginny put Mindy on the ground as Mindy took off for a toy in the corner, scurrying far from Caleb. Ginny called out from the kitchen. “So what brings you to Lake Wales, Caleb?” “I was out here to meet a few citrus growers about a marketing campaign for orange juice.” “Oh? That’s why Sebastian said you were going to be in the area!” Ginny handed Caleb a glass of ice tea in a plastic tumbler. “Here you go.” Caleb nodded and smiled. “Thanks.” He noticed as Ginny drew closer that Sebastian had her blue eyes: a light robin’s egg color with a dark blue ring around it. “I also came to ask you to forgive me.” Ginny c****d her head. “For what?” “I kinda did things the wrong way. I should’ve come to you and Sebastian’s father for permission to propose—” “You didn’t need my permission.” Caleb gulped his drink, and after he had swallowed, he spoke again. “I know we’re not getting a traditional marriage in many folks’ eyes but I wanted to know if you would give me permission.” “Honey, you don’t need my permission,” said Ginny in a flat tone. She sipped her own tea then put the glass she had down. “Sebastian seems very happy and I haven’t seen him that happy in a while. So if you can make him happy, then yes, of course, I give permission even though I don’t think you need it. It is sweet that you are asking though.” Caleb relaxed his shoulders when he heard her give her blessing. “I’m very honored that you approve. Is there any advice you can give me?” Ginny curled her lips for a second. “You’ve only been with Sebastian eight or nine months. I know you’ve got a date in September that you’re both been talking about. You know there’s no rush, right?” “We want to be married.” Caleb’s eyebrows scrunched. He then realized his response might have sounded too curt. “Do you think we should put off the wedding?” “No. That’s not what I’m saying.” Ginny shook her head and crossed her arms. “Let me just spit it out.” Caleb watched Ginny as she looked off in the distance away from him, away from Mindy who ran behind him, her little bare feet slapping the old linoleum that lined the kitchen floor as the toddler ran. “Before Sebastian met you, he was in a very serious relationship.” Caleb nodded. “I know. He told me.” “Did Sebastian tell you that his ex, David, also proposed marriage and that they had set a date?” Caleb’s face flushed. Sebastian had told Caleb that his ex and Sebastian had talked marriage but Sebastian had never said they had been engaged. Or had set a wedding date. “No. He never told me that.” Ginny came closer and put her hand on one of Caleb’s shoulders. “You’re a good man, Caleb. I know Sebastian loves you. I just think you need to let your engagement run a little longer.” “Because of his ex?” “Yes, because of David. It’s for your sake as well as Sebastian’s.”