Page 96 of The Texas Sterling Collection
(remove hats and kiss).
They did four takes, and Rod wrapped up the video while Wyl watered the horses.
“Do you think we got a good take?” Wyl stood by the spring, remembering when he and Rod washed up on the cold morning of Walt’s accident. The memory made him shiver, not from the cold but from the specter of Walt’s death. Rod was his only family now, and he thanked fate for bringing them together.
“Yeah.” Rod packed the camera and tripod in the saddlebag. “I think we got a couple of great takes. We’ll review them back at the house and can pick the one we like and edit it to make it perfect.”
“I’m glad one of us knows how to do this stuff.”
Rod chuckled. “I know how to do the front end, and you know how to do the back end.”
Wyl saddled up on Sarge. “I happen to think both your front end and your back end are pretty special.” He winked at his husband.
Rod laughed. “How you can turn computers into sex, I’ll never know. But I like your front and back parts too.”
They rode side-by-side back to the house. “Do you think it will get our message across?” Wyl noticed how handsome his husband looked sitting in the saddle in his cowboy finest.
“Oh, I think so.” Rod’s cowboy hat bobbed as he nodded. “Once we get the video edited and uploaded, we’ll send a link to everyone we know and ask them to do the same. It won’t take long for it to spread.”
They rode into the barn. As they unsaddled their horses, Wyl shook his head. Outing themselves on the World Wide Web still made him jittery. Once posted, the whole world would know. “Do you really think this will work? I admit I’m still a bit uneasy about the whole thing. News sure does spread fast on the web.”
Rod led Princess into her stall and reached for the curry brush. “Yes, and I’ll link the video to our Facebook page.”
“That’s it?” Wyl brushed Sarge. “We don’t need to announce it or anything?”
Rod chuckled. “You just said things spread fast on the web, babe. We can sit back and watch the hits.”
They finished the currying and made sure the horses had ample feed and water, then latched the stall doors and walked to the house.
“Of course, there will be detractors,” Rod said. “Not everyone endorses the promotion of the gay lifestyle. So be prepared for backlash.”
“Backlash?”
“Remember Dusty’s harsh words and sneer? That’s backlash.”
Wyl sat on the couch to take off his boots. “Yeah, but Dusty is a grade-A number one asshole.”
Rod sat beside Wyl to take off his boots. “You could say the same thing about anyone who disagrees with our loving relationship. But the world is full of people with opinions. We just need to move on with our lives.”
“I survived Dusty…twice.” Wyl stood. “I suppose I can survive others.” He offered a hand to Rod. “Let’s go change out of these good clothes and have supper. I’m hungry!”
“How about you light the grill. I’ll wrap a couple of potatoes in foil to bake. You can prepare a couple of steaks to grill,” Rod said. “Then you make martinis we can enjoy on the patio while you grill the steaks.”
“You have everything figured out, don’t you? I notice you have one task, and I have the rest,” Wyl smirked.
“Pretty clever of me, I thought.”
Wyl wiggled his fingers and attacked Rod.
“STOP!” Rod screamed, wriggling away, falling off the couch, then standing and sprinting to the bedroom to change.
* * *
It was nearly dark by the time they sat on the couch again. Rod had his MacBook Pro in his lap. Wyl snuggled his husband, watching as he edited the video.
“I don’t know how you know how to do this,” Wyl chuckled. “I’m pretty good with computers, but I never did anything with videos.”
“You’re good with algorithms and programming. I don’t know anything about that stuff, but I am handy with a few useful applications, like this video editing program.”
