Page 96 of My Cowboy Freedom
“More than I cared to.”
“When you were only a kid yourself, you put your stepdad down like the animal he was—”
“We fought.” Luna and I only ever told one story. Had Chandler somehow figured out what had really happened?Shit. Shit. Shit.He’d probably pieced it together from the many lies my mother comforted herself with. “He died.”
“He’s dead because he preyed on your sister. He’s dead because he needed killing. What’srightdoesn’t always coexist comfortably with the law.”
I waited for the boss to make his goddamn point.
“And sometimes the reverse is true. Just because a thing is legal doesn’t make it right.”
I saw where things were heading but it was too late to stop him. “What’s this got to do with Rock?”
“You didn’t know Rock back when he was a kid but he sure was something.” He took off his hat to wipe sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. “People packed in to see those boys. We watched them grow up on cable TV, Sunday after Sunday.”
“I never saw it.”
“They were so goddamn talented.” He jammed his hat back on and nudged his horse into a walk. We took a path down the other side of the little knoll to a flat spot where Robbie had gathered an armful of wood. Jason was building a fire.
“Are we camping?”
Boss smiled widely. “I thought we ought to celebrate your freedom. Welcome you to the Rocking C properly. There’s nothing better than a little aged whiskey and some tall tales under the stars.”
My chest tightened. “You know I can’t drink, sir. I’m on parole.”
“Yeah, well. I thought of that. We brought Coke. If you don’t want to take a chance—”
“I don’t.”
“Okay. Smart.” He nodded and led his horse to the site the hands were preparing. Foz, Tad, and Julio had dismounted. They were laying their saddles on the ground in a circle. “I told Elena you’re no fool. I’m sure you can see how it would be wrong to lead Rock on, under the circumstances.”
I stiffened so hard Ogre thought I’d meantwhoa.“Come again?”
“Oh, don’t play dumb with me now. I’m being respectful here. You owe me the same courtesy.”
My belly churned. “Yessir.”
“Folks around here got the idea somehow I hate homosexuals.” He spread his hands. “Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have no fight with the hands who quit or even Declan Winters, for that matter. But I have plenty to say about lying and infidelity and living in sin. It’s those things I don’t condone. You hate the sin, not the sinner. I wish Andi could see that.” He paused to let me speak. I didn’t. “You got anything to say right now? Before I have to make any more phone calls to Rock’s parents?”
I hesitated.
Agonized.
If I told him, I was probably out of there. If I lied, it’d be like taking a shit on Rock.
I licked my lips. “I’m queer.”
“I figured as much, frankly.” He nodded. “We’ve had bent cowboys at the Rocking C in the past. I didn’t say anything about it because they didn’t flaunt their lifestyle.”
My head bobbed as our horses walked. If the boss wanted to take that as me agreeing with him, I wasn’t going to set him straight.
“I want you to know I feel bad about losing Lucho and Tripp. They were a couple before they came here, but they bunked separately. Told me they’d keep their personal lives private. When I found out about Ryder I lost my head and shot off my damn mouth.”
No sound but the jingle of tack fell in the silence between us.
“I don’t believe in homosexuality, but I’m not a hateful man.” His expression was pained.
Probably from trying to believe in homosexuality and failing.
