Page 131 of My Cowboy Freedom
I understood. Times were hard. Things change.
“What?” Foz’s brows drew together. “You don’t have to leave. Why would you think that?”
“I guess because of Rock. I mean, I get that Chandler might be pissed, and even though he’s in the hospital—”
“Don’t worry about Chandler.” He blew out a breath. “Rocky wouldn’t go anywhere unless Elena and I guaranteed your job at the Rocking C. I’m still foreman and—”
“Wait. Sorry, boy.” I released tension on the reins as soon as I realized I was gripping them too tight. I patted Ogre’s neck with my soaked glove, only half-convinced I was too good a rider to get ham-fisted with a horse. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Rock. About him going back home.”
I felt dazed, like someone had hit me from behind. Like I’d been stabbed or something. The Earth spun off its orbit and next thing I knew the trail came up and hit my face. I lay there, heaped in mud and misery. Stunned.
Even Ogre looked down at my sorry ass with pity.
I didn’t even try to keep the shock off my face.
“Rock left?” I shouted.
“This afternoon. His folks sent their driver. I thought—” He narrowed his eyes. “We came back here last night so he could tell you. Spend some time with you. Didn’t he—”
“Okay.” I had to get on all fours to stand—I was punch-drunk without a lamppost or a street sign handy. “I didn’t know.”
“That littlepissant. He didn’t tell you?”
Foz’s unexpected outburst had the effect of clearing my head. “He wanted to tell me something. I figured he needed his sleep.”
Heat burned my face beneath the layers of grime.
I’d stopped Rock from saying his piece last night and left him asleep before he had the chance that morning.
Shit.
“It’s all right.” I dug my phone out of my shirt pocket and turned it on. No signal. I turned it off because there was no point to wasting the battery. “I’ll bet he’s pissed as hell.”
“I’m sure.” Foz dismounted and took both horse’s reins.
Stupid to waste time standing in the rain.
“What’s he going home to?” I asked. “Is it as bad as he thinks? Or is he only borrowing trouble?”
“Hard to say.” Foz waited patiently. “Elena knows more about his family than I do. They believe being gay is some kind of choice.”
I nodded. “Figured as much.”
“Tough love, isn’t that what they call it?” He started walking, leading the horses. I fell in beside him. “They’re doing it out of love.”
I nodded. “So there’s always a chance they’ll work it out?”
“Sure.” He gave my shoulder a reassuring pat. “Lots of folks are overhauling what they believe about gender and sexuality now that it’s legal for everybody to get married. Psychologists say we’re all on some kind of continuum anyway, that gender and sexuality aren’t on-off binaries. Elena keeps up with the social justice blogs and whatnot. I like hearing her talk about it. Her eyes kinda sparkle, you know? It’s important to her. It lights her up.”
“At least one of us is doing okay in that department.” I muttered. “Elena’s good people.”
He chuckled sadly. “Right. Well, you might want to save your congratulations because I don’t think me and Elena are a couple anymore.”
“What happened? I saw you dancing last week and I assumed...”
“Yeah, well.” He took his hat off and slapped it on his thigh. Water and mud sprayed everywhere. “Shoot.Elena’s always had eyes for the boss.”
