“Naw. I knew they weren’t going to hurt me. If they’d wanted to do that, they could have just done so the day they chased Quintus out here.” Caleb watched the way the two men reacquainted themselves, and McBride observed his reaction. Caleb was genuinely happy that he’d done something nice for someone else. But as soon as Timon looked over, Caleb looked away. Just as he had before, he wanted no thanks for his good deed. It was a curious quirk of his nature that made McBride love him all the more.
“I’ll have to make sure he’s good enough for my adopted son.”
“He is.” Caleb nodded, darting his gaze to them and away. “I’ve never met a man more devoted to another.” After a moment’s consideration, he looked at McBride. “Well, except for you.”
“Me?”
“You’re the most devoted man I know.” Caleb lifted his hand as if to include all the men in the parlor. “You swore you’d take care of us, and you’ve done that even when it cost you dearly.”
The praise made McBride a little uncomfortable, but in the end he simply accepted what Caleb said. “I think the most important thing was that I kept my promise to you.”
“You did?” Caleb asked.
“I got you a mate, didn’t I?”
Caleb’s easy laughter filled him with joy. “You did indeed. The very best mate in the land.”
THE END
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