Page 18 of Big Daddy Bull Riders

He was by himself for a few minutes until he heard Slater slip out of the back door and then ease into the chair a few feet away, even with him.

They had a clear view thanks to the bright, blazing springtime moon that hung high in the sky, surrounded by shimmering stars.

“Might be the prettiest country I’ve ever seen,” Jackson said.

“Amen.” A few beats of silence passed before Slater added, “And Mina might just be the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

“Make that the prettiestwe’veever seen,” Jackson agreed. “I’ve been thinking about her.”

“Figured you were.”

They both stared out at the tranquil terrain for a few moments. Somewhere nearby an owl hooted. The scent of pine reached Jackson’s nostrils, and he wondered if he was in fact in heaven.

“You think she could be the one?” he asked.

What he wasn’t saying, but assumed was understood, was,Do you think she could be the one to accept this crazy arrangement?

The only issue was, he and Slater hadn’t actually addressed the specifics of what that crazy arrangement might be. They just sort of always danced around the issue.

Slater’s voice was contemplative as he answered. “She might be. Did you see the way she twirled once she tried that frilly dress on? Kept looking back at us, making sure we were watching.”

“Oh, I noticed,” Jackson said. “And it wasn’t lost on me that she was calling usUncleJackson andUncleSlater by the time we finished.”

Jackson took his eyes away from the mountains and looked at Slater, just in time to see his friend nod.

“Yep. Daddy could be next,” Slater said.

Jackson chuckled and returned his gaze to the beautiful, rolling, tree-covered slopes.

“Tonight is so clear it might as well be noon,” he opined.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes.

Jackson cleared his throat. “If we are going to do this… court a Little of our own, shouldn’t we figure out what this thing between us is going to be?”

Slater shrugged. “I guess I always figured it would go where it went. I thought you knew I was open to it, but I’m not going to force anything. You’re my best friend, like a brother to me. I love you either way. If whatever this is stays exactly the same as it’s always been, or if it goes… somewhere else.”

“So just… see what happens naturally, I guess?”

“Best way to do it.” Slater nodded.

Jackson felt like he’d been waiting years to have this conversation. And it didn’t quite look the way he’d imagined it, but relief settled deep in his bones at Slater’s acquiescence.

He could wait and see what happened naturally. But to him, anything with Slater would be natural, and Jackson felt like he’d been waiting his whole life. So he took a deep breath, said a prayer, dipped his head and kissed him.

And Slater kissed him back. The kiss was short and sweet, but tender and full of emotion.

After a minute of liplock, Jackson pulled away, his hands lingering on Slater’s cheeks for just a moment longer.

Neither of them said anything, and just like that the moment passed. But it wouldn’t be put back in the box. The conversation had been had, and the kiss had only served to increase Jackson’s curiosity.

But now…nowhe could wait to see what happened naturally.

They sat beside each other in silence, until finally Jackson broke it. “ Well. Now that that’s settled, I expect we need to see her again tomorrow.”

“I reckon so,” Slater agreed.

They fell quiet again, lost in the possibilities of the soon to be blossoming relationship. Both with Mina, and between themselves.

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