Page 42 of For the Love of the Bull Rider

Matt walked into the house, absentmindedly reaching for his cowboy hat. When he realized it wasn’t there, he nervously ran his fingers through his hair. It was a nervous tick, he believed, but in the current situation, it was a calming habit.

The slender woman showed Matt into an elegant living room and offered him a seat on a sofa next to a grand fireplace. He admired the shiny, hardwood floors and the rug under the furniture, wondering if he should ask Tim about redecorating the small, ranch house. Bertie had picked out most of the furnishings, but after she left with Ryan, Matt hadn’t cared enough to think about changing anything.

“Can I get you some tea or maybe a coffee, Mr. Collins?”

Matt cleared his throat again. “Um, maybe a glass of tea, ma’am. I’m sorry to interrupt your holiday.” He wished the Colonel had mentioned he had a family, but their phone conversation lasted about three minutes, and it centered on Mona and her threats.

The lady laughed lightly. “Now, don’t give that any thought. Robert’s anxious to hear about Ryan. I understand the other two are causing you grief. We’d like to help you as much as possible.” The woman’s cheery tone was interrupted by the sound of running feet.

Just then, two girls came into the room with bright smiles on their faces. They were holding hands, and when they saw people in the living room, they stopped. “Sorry, Mom. Andy came over while you were doing home visits. We’re going shopping for sales. Can we bring you anything?” The young woman asking the question had long red hair and looked like Mrs. Stanford.

The other girl—Andy, he presumed—was a surprise. She was tall and solid, built like a softball player. She had brown hair, which was cut very short on the sides, showing the many piercings in her ears and the one in her eyebrow. The top of her hair was streaked with purple swatches, and the girl was in jeansand an old western-style shirt like Tim wore sometimes. She was relatively flat chested, from what Matt could tell, and she was wearing a nice pair of Ariat boots.

“Savannah, this is Ryan’s dad, Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins, this is our oldest, Savannah. Andrea is her girlfriend.” Matt was surprised to see Mrs. Stanford’s proud smile. Unfortunately, both girls frowned at him.

Matt quickly gathered himself and stood, feeling a reality he hadn’t even allowed himself to contemplate. “It’s a pleasure to meet ya both. Ryan’s at home with my partner, Tim. He’s gonna die when I tell him about your family.” Matt felt it was best to put it out there immediately that he was gay and had a male partner. If the Colonel’s own daughter was a lesbian, Matt thought he had a chance.

“Nice to meet you. Got any pictures? Daddy didn’t know much about Ryan.” Matt pulled out his phone and showed them some of the pictures he’d taken of Ryan on horseback. Helping Tim make breakfast. Feeding bucket calves at the barn. Posing by his drawing of Josie that won him an honorable mention in a school art show.

“Oh, he’s so cute.” Savannah handed the phone to her mother, who looked at the pictures with Robby looking over her shoulder. They both smiled politely, but Matt thought he noticed interest on Robby’s face.

He glanced at Matt, “How old is Ryan?”

DeAnne turned to her son, a look of concern on her face. When the boy smiled, she turned back to Matt, mirroring the smile. They were both interested.

“He’s seven now. His birthday was just after the Fourth of July. That donkey is his Christmas present, Josie. He’s just learnin’ to ride. My partner, Tim, has an aunt and uncle who own a horse farm, and they’re hidin’ Josie for us until Christmas.”

DeAnne handed Matt the phone and turned to her daughter with a smile. “Girls, you should go shopping. I don’t need anything right now, but maybe next weekend we can all go together. Robby, you and I are going to drop off the care packages at the base community center, so go change into a decent shirt.”

She turned to look at Matt. “I’ll be right back with your tea and some coffee for Robert. Please, make yourself at home, Matt.”

With that, she was out of the room as heavy footsteps traversed the wooden staircase. Matt prayed his orientation wouldn’t freak out the Colonel.

Matt hoped his assumption was spot on that the Colonel was far more accepting than he’d have guessed. The things Bertie had said about her father gave Matt the impression the man was a hard ass, but if the man accepted a gay daughter, the chances he’d be fine with a gay man—or two gay men—raising his grandson.

When a shadow cast tall on the gleaming hardwood floor, Matt looked up and shuddered. He watched the man stroll into the living room in a pair of khaki slacks and a green, plaid shirt. Out of deference, Matt stood from his seat, nearly swallowing his tongue.

Robert Stanford was as large as Matt remembered from the rodeo in El Paso a handful of years prior. He had a stern look on his face, but he walked over to where Matt was standing to extend his hand. “Matthew. It’s been a while.” There was no emotion in the man’s deep voice.

Matt suddenly had the urge to piss himself or run for the nearest exit, but he beat it down and drew himself up to his full height. He was a few inches taller than the Colonel when he didn’t slump, which made him feel minutely better, but the man was an intimidating presence, to say the least.

“Sir, it’s nice of you to take the time to meet with me. I hope it’s not too much of an imposition.”

Mrs. Stanford walked into the living room with a tray. A glass of ice with a small carafe of tea along with a small pot of coffee, cream, and sugar. It held sugar cookies shaped like turkeys with wild decorations on them, and there was some cut-up fruit. Matt imagined it was close to going to see the President.

The Colonel looked up and offered a smile Matt didn’t expect to see. “Sweetheart, I gave Vanna my credit card. Will you please text to remind her we’re not the Bush’s? Last time she and Andy went shopping, I nearly had a panic attack when the bill came. How much do you two need?” The man took out his wallet, pulling out a wad of cash.

DeAnne Stanford kissed his cheek as she took all the money in his hand. “We’re dropping off the care packages the kids put together on Wednesday. I’ll bring you change. Love you, Rob.”

She headed for the foyer but turned back to smile. “Get Matt to stay for dinner. I think the kids would like to hear more about Ryan.” Without waiting for a response, Mrs. Stanford headed off.

Pounding footsteps came rushing down the stairs as Robby skidded into the living room. “Pop, after this thing with Mom, can I ask her to drop me at Pedro’s house? His parents are havin’ a party with their family from Juarez this weekend. He invited me. His mom makes the best tamales.” The boy grinned.

The Colonel smiled and pulled his son into a hug. When they parted, the man reached into his front pocket and pulled out a twenty, handing it to the boy. “That’s fine. Have Mom stop and buy some flowers for you to take to Mrs. Mendes. Also, text your sister and tell her to take herself and Andy out for dinner on me. I’m gonna take Matthew and your mother out to the steak house tonight. You got your key?”

The kid pulled it out of his pocket to show his father, and the Colonel kissed the top of the boy’s head before Robby ran out of the house.

Colonel Stanford sat down and poured the drinks for the two of them. The Colonel started laughing as he doctored his coffee and reached for a cookie before he sank back into the seat of a nice leather chair.

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