Page 73 of Cowboy Seeks Husband
Walker’s eyes softened when he looked at Roan. “Like you said, that’s an understandable reason.”
Roan wished he could turn back the clock by half a minute and tell Walker the truth. But now that he hadn’t, he didn’t know how to take it back. “We should head back before we piss the producers off so much that we blow both of our chances at getting the money we need.”
Walker nodded and opened his mouth to say something more, but then he closed it again. “Home now,” he said to Whiskey, turning him around.
Roan was grateful when Callie followed.
Andy, dressed inpink shorts and sleeveless tank, stood outside the barn with John, Molly, two camera guys, and with his hands on his hips. “Anyone going to tell me what you two were thinking?”
“We wanted to go on a ride,” Walker said.
“I see that. Just what were you off doing together?”
Roan plastered on his most innocent face. “Who says we were together?”
Andy snorted. “Right. Like you saddled that horse all by yourself. For fuck’s sake.” He shook his head and wagged his finger. “If I didn’t have so much time and energy invested in this thing already, I’d put an end to this right now. We could be sued by the other contestants, you realize, for allowing this. Giving Roan an edge.”
“He already had an edge,” Walker said.
Andy ignored him. “Whatever. I swear I’d put an end to this entire thing, and I should after what you’ve done here today. But my husband would kill me! He’s wanted me to do a gayBachelorfor years and this was going to be my anniversary present for him! You—and you—” he said, pointing at them hysterically. “Don’t fuck this up for me. Understand?” Then he stomped off, screaming at John and Molly to follow him. The camera guys stared off after them in confusion, having apparently never been ordered to start filming. Probably Andy didn’t want evidence of what had happened in case his worst-case scenario came about.
“You think we’re going to be okay?” Roan asked.
Walker nodded but kept his eyes on the ground and his hat pulled low. “Seems like it. Without me and you, he doesn’t have a show, and I think he really wants one.”
“Yeah.” Roan’s stomach churned. He hadn’t considered the implications of how the other contestants might react to him sneaking time alone with Walker.
They took the horses into the stables and the camera guys followed, filming, but there was no boom mic and they still weren’t wired up with body mics. One camera guy stepped into some shit that Whiskey had dropped while Andy was yelling, and the other stopped to steady him.
Walker pulled Roan closer and said, “Look, my dad’s going to be in the hospital later this week.”
“What?” Roan gasped, surprised. “I’m sorry. What’s going on?”
“It’s okay. He was diagnosed with diabetes not so long ago. He hasn’t been sticking to the diet or taking his meds like he should. He had a scary episode earlier this week,” Walker said, frowning. “The diagnosis has been tough on him because he’s never been sick, and now suddenly he has to adapt his whole life around it.”
“I bet it’s tough on you and your step-mom too.”
Walker didn’t say anything to that. He glanced back to where the camera guys were still struggling with the horse shit. He leaned in closer and went on quietly, “The point is, my folks will be out of the farmhouse for a night while my Dad has some tests done at the hospital in LaFayette.”
Roan’s brows arched up.
“So maybe while they’re gone you could slip out and—”
Roan’s throat went dry. “Why, Mr. Reed, you haven’t even taken me out on a proper date yet.”
“Roan, we don’t have time to joke.” He looked pointedly toward the camera guys who were steadying themselves, wiping their shitty shoes in the dirt, and starting toward the stables to resume shooting, sound or no sound. “Will you meet me?”
Roan stared at Walker’s sun-lightened brown eyes and tried to say no. After what Andy had just said, the legal potentialities for them all if the other contestants found out… “Yes, okay. What time? Where?” His heart thundered with excitement.
“I’ll leave the farm house kitchen entrance open. Ten o’clock late enough?”
Roan nodded. “They’re usually out of the suitors’ house, except for a skeleton crew, by nine. What day?”
“Wednesday.”
The camera guys were on them then, so Walker led Whiskey into his stall and pointed toward Callie’s. “Just lead her in there, I’ll be with you in a sec.”
“Can I take off her saddle already?”
