Ephraim: Seven Sons, #5

By Kirsten Osbourne

Maria Villanueva is still unhappy that her brother was taken from her and put into a foster home—which was really a boys' ranch—four and a half years before. When she finishes her education, she moves to the town closest to his location to start a business and be close to her brother. She expresses her unhappiness for the situation with one of the brothers running the ranch, and he makes sure she spends more time there to see what the ranch is really like.

Ephraim McClain knows within minutes of meeting Maria that she is the woman he's destined to spend his life with. He offers her the first client for her new business, and does his best to make sure she's always around him. As they get to know one another, he loses his heart.

 

Will she be able to understand that the ranch is a good place? Or will she continue to battle with her feelings for him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unlimited Dreams
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201062118

Book preview

Chapter One

Maria Villanueva glanced over at her dog, Jasper, as she pulled onto the grounds of the McClain Boys’ Ranch. The ranch was situated outside the Texas town of Bagley, and her brother had lived there for the past four years.

When their parents had first died, she’d been determined to keep him with her and forgo her scholarship to UT Arlington, but she hadn’t been able to get custody. The social worker had considered her too young and medically frail to keep him, and he’d ended up at the boys’ ranch. He loved it there, but she always worried, because she’d heard a lot of stories about how kids were treated in foster care.

She circled around the main ranch house and followed the drive toward the cabin her brother lived in. A four-bedroom, four-bathroom cabin. They could call it what they wanted, she guessed.

When she pulled up in front of the house, the door was slammed open and her brother ran out to meet her, scooping her up in his arms and swinging her in a circle. I’m so glad you’re here!

Maria and Michael had always been very close, and the unexpected death of their parents had only served to bring them closer. Maybe they didn’t live together any longer, but they saw each other when they could, and they emailed daily, even when they had nothing to say except, Everything is the same. Love you.

One of the things Maria hated about visiting him on the boys’ ranch was that she wasn’t allowed to ever see him alone. She could visit with him as often as she wanted, but it was always supervised. She understood the rule for the other boys—the ones who had been removed from their homes for abuse or whatnot—but that wasn’t the case with Michael.

He linked his arm with hers, and they walked toward the house. So did you really get a place to live in Bagley?

I really did. I found someone who was renting out a room in her house. It’s not great, but it’s a place to start. When you finish school and get out of this place, we’ll find a house together.

Michael shrugged. "I keep telling you, I like it here."

I know. But I also know they’re listening, and they’re probably checking all of our emails.

There was a man standing inside the house, and he immediately squatted down, taking Jasper’s face in his hands. Jasper was a Brussels Griffon, and the sweetest dog she’d ever known—and he was her lifeline.

Michael waved a hand toward the man who was interacting with her dog, and said, That’s Ephraim. Ignore him, because he has this thing with animals. He’s a vet, but more than that, he seems to be a kind of Dr. Dolittle.

Ephraim got to his feet. I like your dog. He held out his hand. You must be Maria. I think I’m the last of the McClain brothers to meet you.

Maria nodded. Yes. It’s good to meet you. She was polite, because she knew that she should be, but she was immediately on edge around him. He was handsome, sure, but he had custody of her brother, and she didn’t like that.

You too. Do you want a glass of water? he asked.

She shook her head. No, I’m fine. I just want to talk to my brother.

Go for it. I’m sorry that I have to be in the room with you, because I know that’s a pain, but it’s ranch policy for a good reason.

Maria frowned at him. I can understand the policy for boys who have been abused by their families or who have been in a lot of trouble, but Michael’s not one of those boys. Why can’t the rules be bent for him?

Because we care about him. That’s why we don’t bend the rules. Ephraim couldn’t believe he was having this argument when all he wanted to do was drown in her big brown eyes. Why had none of his brothers told him how amazing she was?

Maria decided not to argue any longer, so she sat down on the couch beside her brother. How’s school? Are you playing football this year?

Michael nodded. Season just ended. I had some scouts come and see me play, and I think I may have some chances at a scholarship, but I won’t know til next year. I think I want to go to A&M.

"You want to be an Aggie? She shook her head. My brother, an Aggie? I’m not sure I could take it!"

Ephraim came into the room with a bottle of water for all three of them. He’d stepped out for just a minute to clear his head. Hey, don’t knock it! I got my doctor of veterinary medicine at A&M. It’s a great school.

She sighed. I’m not denying it’s a great school, but Dad went to UT!

So did my brother. It’s a lot of fun to argue about it, Ephraim said with a grin as he took a chair across from her. He needed to be able to look at her.

Maria glared at him. I’d appreciate it if you’d let me speak to my brother. I know you have to be in the room with us, but does that mean you have to talk?

Shutting up. He didn’t mind how she spoke to him, because he truly did understand. If he’d been in her shoes, he’d probably feel the same way. Besides, if he wasn’t required to pay attention to the conversation, he could just look at her. Never in his life had he seen a woman who drew him like Maria did.

Maria immediately felt guilty for the way she’d spoken to him, but she still didn’t want him to interrupt. Instead of apologizing—as she knew she should—she turned to her brother again. I’m starting my practice as a nutritionist here in Bagley. I want to be as close to you as I can.

I think that’s great, Michael said, looking back and forth between her and Ephraim. It’ll be really nice to have you close.

Ephraim drifted away a bit, happy to just look at her. It took Jasper three tries to get his attention. What is it, boy?

The thought that came back to his mind wasn’t a full sentence, but it never was. Animals didn’t think the same way humans did. He heard the word sick and then he got an image of a glass of juice.

Ephraim shot to his feet, hurrying to the kitchen. Why hadn’t she said the dog was an assistance animal? He carried the juice to her just as Jasper was putting his paws on her knees, crying at her.

Maria accepted the juice from him with a frown. How did you know? Jasper was just now telling me. She took a deep drink of the juice, knowing that Jasper’s reaction was because her blood sugar was dropping. How had Ephraim known even before the dog told her?

She waited a minute and felt the sugar rush through her system, perking her up a little and taking her out of the foul mood she’d been in. Thank you for the help, she said, looking Ephraim in the eye for the first time. I’m sorry I was rude earlier. This is a situation that’s been bothering me for years, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.

Are you better? Ephraim asked, looking at her closely. If Daniel had been there, he would have known immediately, but