Page 26 of Head Above Water

“I don’t know. They said they wanted to talk to you alone. So have a good dinner, and if I can make a suggestion, just listen to them.” He turned away as Hazard rolled up on one of the four-wheelers with the carry box on the back. He jumped on, held tight, and Hazard took off down the drive and across the road, going through the gate and then out across the range.

“We’re going out there?” Bryce asked.

He slowed the machine. “Yeah. Now don’t ask any more questions.” He sped up again, and Bryce shimmied closer, the vibration of the engine revving his own motor. He pressed his hips against Hazard’s butt, knowing he was demonstrating just how turned on he was getting. Hazard didn’t slow until they reached the edge of the trees, then pulled in and cut the engine.

“I take it you have a thing about this place,” Bryce quipped.

Hazard turned on him, his eyes hard. “You do realize that this ranch belongs to your parents. It’s not mine, and it’s not yours, though it will be someday.” He took Bryce’s hand and half tugged him through the trees. “But this place, right here… feels like ours.”

Bryce shook his head. “No. What it feels like is yours. You were the one who brought it back to life—and you did the same thing for me.”

Hazard looked at him skeptically. “Come on.”

“I mean it,” Bryce told him as they stepped into the shade. “Do you think I could take over this place alone? The ranch would become a dust storm and completely consume me. I would cease to exist completely. But you’ve been there. You kept my head above water just as surely as you brought this back to life.” Bryce walked to the edge of the watering hole and dipped in his fingers, spraying a few drops at Hazard, who shrugged as though he was nuts. But at least he didn’t argue with him. Bryce took a moment to look around. “What’s all this?”

“Mom made us a nice dinner, and I brought it out before coming to get you.” He sat down on the edge of a large blanket that he’d spread out in the shade of the large trees. The shadows lengthened as he and Hazard sat down, and he opened the cooler, pulling out some of his mother’s amazing ranch salad and sandwiches with thick slices of ham and beef. “I know it isn’t fancy.”

Bryce sat next to him, their shoulders touching as they ate quietly, birds bedding down in the branches overhead or flitting to the water’s surface for a drink. A few squirrels chased through the overhead limbs. It was like the entire area was coming back to life right along with him. Bryce finished his sandwich and lay back on the blanket, looking up at the fading sunlight through breaks in the leaves.

Hazard popped open a couple of beers and handed him one before settling next to Bryce. “You’re quiet.”

“I know. I like it that way sometimes.”

Hazard sipped his beer and then set it aside. “I do too. That’s part of why I love working in the barn. Most of the time it’s just me, and I like the quiet.” He drew closer, and Bryce’s breath hitched as he kissed him. Hazard lifted the bottle out of his hand, and a second later, kissed him hard, building on the tension that had simmered between them for hours.

“There’s no one around,” Bryce whispered.

“I know. I’m going to make love to you, and neither of us needs to worry about being quiet.” He slipped his hand under Bryce’s shirt, those intense eyes meeting his with enough heat to send Bryce’s breath flying on the wind. He wrapped his arms around Hazard, drawing him down as what Hazard had said echoed though his mind.

“You love me?” he whispered, almost too scared to say the words.

Hazard nodded. “Yes. I think I’ve loved you for a long time, but I never did anything about it. You were the boss’ son.”

Bryce groaned. “What a pair, because I always thought there was nothing sexier than you on a horse. I used to watch you and wonder what kind of ride you’d give me.” He pulled Hazard down, their lips smashing together as they wrestled to get the hell out of their clothes.

Hazard smirked. “Then we’ll just have to see what we can do about giving you the ride of a lifetime.” He held Bryce tightly in those strong arms, making sure he knew that no matter what, Hazard had his back.

Bryce stroked Hazard’s cheek. “You do that, every time.”

The breeze caressed their naked forms as Bryce lay on his back, Hazard over him, their gazes locked as tightly as their bodies. “Jesus…,” Bryce cried as Hazard made the world contract to just the two of them.

“That’s it. Just let go,” Hazard told him, arching his back, giving Bryce an amazing view as he drove him out of his mind. Every roll of his hips sent Bryce on a gust of enthralling passion that threatened to overwhelm him.

“Not until you do,” Bryce countered, holding on to the last of his control by a thread. Hazard groaned, and Bryce knew they were both balancing on the edge of passion’s knife. Then they tumbled together, crying out their love and ecstasy with everything they had, the wind carrying it out of the land.

Epilogue

Winter, itseemed, had arrived overnight. Hazard slipped out of bed, the one he and Bryce had shared for the last four months or so. He went to the window, peering out over the white carpet that covered just about everything.

“You should come back to bed.”

“I can’t,” Hazard said. “I have this boss, and he’s a real stickler for making sure that everything is just right.” He grinned. “Besides, your father told me yesterday that if it snowed, he and your mother wanted to go out in the sleigh.” Hazard had found the sad carcass in town a few months ago, just waiting to be rescued, and had been working on it in the evenings. He’d repaired it and had painted it a few weeks ago. It was going to be a Christmas present for Bryce’s parents, but he’d showed it to Bryce’s dad a few days ago because he really needed his help with the repair of the back suspension.

Lyle, as he now called him, had seen excellent progress. After months of treatment, he had turned the corner. His energy had begun to return, along with his appetite. He wasn’t up to full strength, but every day saw improvement, and everyone on the ranch celebrated his road to recovery.

“I thought it was for Christmas,” Bryce said as he sat up, rubbing his eyes, the covers sliding down to reveal his strong chest. Hazard was tempted to get back in bed, but he had a job to do.

“It was. But I’m not going to make them wait. The snow is perfect, and an opportunity not taken is wasted. Especially for them.” He leaned over the bed and got a deep kiss that he felt to his toes. It took all his willpower not to jump Bryce right there. “Ihave to go before you tempt me further.” Hazard pulled himself away and got dressed before leaving the room.

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