Page 24 of For the Love of the Bull Rider

“Got no family to speak of, as a matter of fact. Mr. Kessler told me about Mr. Simmons and what a good man he believed him to be, so I looked up the website for Katydid Farm at the library. It’s a small operation, which is nice, but it’s got a good reputation for prime horseflesh. It’s my first pick of places in the area.

“I figure if I can get a job here, the boss might let me camp for a few days till I get myself a place to sleep.” Mickey’s explanation surprised Tim a little.

“It’s damn near Thanksgiving, and we’ve been lucky with the weather, but I’d imagine it won’t be so warm much longer.” It was late fall in southern Virginia, and he didn’t know many people who wanted to camp there.

“I’ve got a truck and a sleepin’ bag. I just need a place to park, and I’m not particular,” Mickey stated as he continued to inspect Chester’s feet. “Good shoes.” He put down the rear left leg of the gelding and patted it on the ass.

“Thanks. I appreciate someone who admires my handiwork.” Tim turned to see Matt walking into the barn with Josie following closely behind. Ryan was on her back and had a grin on his face like the cat that ate the canary. Timreallywanted to laugh.

“You Mr. Simmons?” Mickey asked the bull rider.

Matt stopped next to Tim and smirked without looking at Mickey. “I thought you and Ryan were gonna ride?”

“We are, but Mickey came in as I was saddling Chester. He’s looking for a job. I thought Ryan was going to get Uncle Josh to come down to meet with him.” Tim cocked his eyebrow at Matt.

“Oh, Josh said he’ll be ready to meet him in a few minutes, but I thought I’d see if everything was okay. You gonna be ready for tonight? I’m droppin’ Ryan at Momma’s at six. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty, okay?” Matt said it loud enough for Mickey to hear… clearly.

Tim felt the flush of his face, and then, without warning, Matt placed his right hand on Tim’s cheek, turning the younger man’s head. “I don’t deserve someone as handsome as you, but I’m not gonna push my luck by questionin’ anything. Now, you two go ahead and ride for a while. Josh will be here directly, but I’ll wait with the cowboy. I need to run home and meet Doc Grant for a bit to inseminate a dozen head of cows, but I’ll be back to get Ryan at five, okay?” Matt spoke quietly, stepping into Tim’s personal space.

“Okay. I’ll make sure he’s fine and have Aunt Katie feed him a snack before you pick him up. Make sure you leave Doc’s invoice on the desk so I can pay it on Monday. Terri has her sonogram, so I agreed to work for her. Make sure the vet leaves me a list of the semen he used so I can update the database, and this time, make sure you know which cows get which semen. No guesswork.” Tim’s tone was scolding as he stared into those blue eyes that filled his dreams, but Matt only grinned.

“Got ya. Anything else, babe? You’re gonna stay the night, right?” Matt’s request was quiet, meant for Tim’s ears only. Tim hadn’t anticipated Matt would want him to stay that night, but then the bull rider had gone so far as to make sure Ryan was staying at his parents’ place, so it should have been expected.

Tim’s face and neck flushed again as he smiled at Matt, nodding in complete agreement. When Chester pawed at the floor, it snapped Tim out of the fog of love Matthew Collins often put him in when he was anywhere around.

Mickey, with a tender smile on his face, walked over to Tim and Matt and put his arms on both of their shoulders. “I knew there was somethin’ special about this place. I’ve got a boyfriend back in Kentucky, and I told him if I found a place for both of us, I’d come get him. He’s goin’ to community college and worked at the Bar K part-time. Unfortunately, when Mr. Kessler sold out, Mr. Leslie didn’t like queers, so we were both fired. I do, however, think I’m gonna like it here.”

Much to Tim’s surprise, Matt laughed and stuck out his hand as he pushed Mickey’s arm from Tim’s shoulder, wrapping his own around Tim’s neck to draw him closer. “Matthew Collins. The boy is mine… well, this boy, too, I hope.” He turned to Tim and grinned. Of course, Tim was irritated at the possessive show, but he smiled in return. He was a lovesick fool to be sure.

Matt and Mickey shook hands. “Nice to meet ya, Matt. You do the shoes on this gelding? Nice job. He has a cleft on his…”

Mickey discussed Chester’s hooves with Matt as Tim turned to see Ryan smiling at him from the doorway. The little shit actually winked before he turned Josie out of the barn.

Tim knew he’d have to watch the kid. He had the potential to be dangerous—which only captured Tim’s heart more.

Matt finished saddling Chester as he and Mickey talked about horses. It sounded more like a job interview than Tim believed he’d be able to give.

Once Chester was ready, Matt turned toward Tim. “Go ahead and take Ryan for a ride. He’s been chompin’ at the bit since he found out we were comin’ over. I’ll take Mickey up to the house to talk to Josh and Katie. I’ll see ya later.” Matt placed a gentlekiss on Tim’s needy lips, surprising him, but then again, Matt Collins surprised him all the time.

As Tim climbed up on Chester, Mickey waved before he followed Matt out of the barn. “Nice to meet ya, Tim. Hopefully, I’ll get to see ya again.” Without waiting for a response, Mickey and Matt went in the direction of the house.

Tim hoped Mickey impressed Uncle Josh because he liked the guy. The tall, slim cowboy seemed decent, and it sounded like the pair might have things in common. At the end of the day, it appeared to him Mickey was another guy for Aunt Katie to mother. Tim had the feeling she’d welcome Michael Warren with open arms.

Chapter Ten

“Aunt Katie, do I look okay?” Tim felt like an idiot asking her for wardrobe advice, but he’d tried on everything—literally—in his closet. Nothing seemed right, and he was a nervous wreck for more reasons than his mind could process.

Earlier at breakfast, Tim had sat down with Aunt Katie and Uncle Josh to explain to them that he and Matt were going ona date. Neither of them had been surprised, and it seemed like Aunt Katie had planned it herself, telling him she knew he and Matthew “would have a wonderful, special friendship and be great co-parents to Ryan.” Tim had insisted she shouldn’t get ahead of herself, though the beauty of the idea made him a little wishful.

“Give me that shirt, Timothy. I need to teach you how to iron if you’re gonna be takin’ care of Ryan and Matt. There will come times when all y’all will need to be pressed and polished. I might not be around forever, you know.”

Tim wanted to laugh at the comment because Aunt Katie always reminded her family of her impending demise. They all knew she was too stubborn to go anywhere before she had everyone on the straight and narrow.

After his cranberry-colored shirt was ironed, Aunt Katie proceeded to give Tim a lecture regarding saving a little “something for the honeymoon,” or so it sounded. Again, he wanted to laugh at her, but he loved her so much and as he listened to her, the advice was sound. If he gave everything away on the first date, why would the man make a repeat trip to Tim Town?

When they finished dinner, the two men went back to the Circle C. Tim was a little uneasy regarding how far to go with the blue-eyed god, but he wanted more than just a kiss goodnight on the front porch steps. Especially since they weren’t Tim’s steps!

Apparently, Matt picked up on it. “I know I told you this relationship would go at your pace, but please, can I at least see ya nekkid? It’s been drivin’ me crazy.”

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