Page 111 of The Texas Sterling Collection
* * *
Later that morning, they left their Hill Country home, planning not to return until after their trip to San Francisco. At three o’clock, Wyl took a left turn in downtown Blackfield and drove west toward the ranch.
“So, Smiley, you gonna let me in on the secret?” Rod’s curiosity finally got the best of him.
“What secret?” Wyl tugged his lower lip between his teeth to keep a grin at bay.
Rod punched his shoulder. “You are hiding something, and I figure I will discover it when we get to the ranch.”
“You think I have a surprise for you?”
Rod huffed. “I don’t think, I know. You’re horrible at hiding things.”
“Okay,” Wyl winked. “I’ll tell you. My surprise surrounds safety and security on the ranch. I mentioned my dad’s intention to put up a new ranch gate. Walt considered following through on Dad’s idea, but died before he did anything about it. I decided to make that idea a reality. While we were in Kerrville, contractors built a new gate at the entrance to the ranch. On either side are stone walls about four feet high. In the center is an automatic solar gate we can activate from our vehicles, a keypad at the entrance, or the house. Nobody can get in unless we let them in. Above the gate is STERLING RANCH in big letters, and beneath in smaller lettering is Wyl and Rod Sterling.”
“Oh, my God.” Rod gasped. “I can hardly wait to see it.”
As they neared the entrance to the ranch, the white limestone walls came into view. Wyl slowed down so they could see the new addition.
Rod gasped, and Wyl said, “What the…”
Chapter Fourteen
Spray-painted slurs marred the white limestone on either side of the new gate. On one side, the wordfagitsin big red letters. On the other,dik sukers.
“Whoever did this can’t spell worth shit,” Wyl growled, his knuckles white from squeezing the steering wheel. “And I think I know who the fucking culprit is. Goddam Shifty. I’ll call Jack when we get to the house and ask him to investigate.” Wyl stared at the vandalized new entrance, meant to honor his husband, but it instead struck fear and anger in both of them. “After I talk with Jack, I will call for a crew to come out here to sandblast the paint from both sides.”
Rod stared open-mouthed at the vandalism. “So, burning down the barn wasn’t fucking enough. The son-of-a-bitch made it his mission to destroy the thing you did to help me feel safe. We went to the Hill Country to escape the drama, and it waited for us to return.”
At the gate, Wyl entered the code on the keypad. “I gave the installation company the code when I arranged installation. 7075 - our birth years.” The wrought-iron gate slowly moved to the left, and Wyl pulled the truck through the opening. As they drove toward the house, the gate closed behind them. “At least you can rest easier knowing nobody can get to the house through the main entrance without us authorizing access.”
Rod stared ahead, speechless. A mixture of anger, frustration, and hopelessness on his face. Wyl parked in the garage, They both got out, and Rod opened the back passenger door to grab the insulated bags. Wyl took the remaining bags, shoved the truck door closed with his hip, and followed Rod into the house. In the kitchen, Rod robotically began unpacking and putting away the food.
Wyl set down his bags and pulled Rod into his arms. “Babe, I know the slurs on the new gate shocked you. It’s the prank of an unstable man with a sick mind. If we cower in fear, he accomplishes his mission. You and me? We’ve got to sayfuck youto the bastard and let him know he can’t intimidate us.”
Rod snaked his arms around his husband and buried his face in Wyl’s neck. “You’re right.”
“I remember you telling me about the encounter with Dusty and how you felt powerful when you stood up to him.”
Rod chuckled into Wyl’s shoulder. “Yeah. Telling Dusty off did feel good.” Rod leaned back to look in Wyl’s eyes. “And I was defending you.”
“Babe, I know gay persecution still haunts you. We will deal with it for the rest of our lives. It’showwe deal with it that matters.”
Rod tapped a fingertip to Wyl’s nose. “When did you become so philosophical?”
Wyl kissed Rod’s soft lips. “I fell in love with a much smarter guy than me, and I picked up a thing or two along the way. I wish I could take your fear away, but all I can do is hold you, love you, and protect you.”
“…and tell me to put on my big boy pants and deal with it.”
Wyl chuckled. “I love you without pants, too.”
Wetness pooled in Rod’s eyes. “You always know the right things to say. I am so glad you are mine.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m better after my dose of husbandly comfort.” He stepped back and wiped the wetness from his cheeks. “You go call Jack while I finish putting things away.”
Wyl kissed his husband before picking up the phone to dial the Sheriff’s office.
