Page 5 of Hanging Horseshoes

“Only once, but they all seemed like pretty great folk,” I say, shrugging. “I really didn’t get to talk to them much.”

“Looks like we're here,” I say, turning into the familiar drive, stopping and parking on the right side of the gate. I hop out of the truck before rushing around to her side and helping her down.

“Easy, Sweet Pea,” I tell her, grabbing her arm as she stumbles. The little girl in her arms turns her head from her mother's chest and looks at me with the most stunning blue eyes I’ve ever seen. When she gives me a soft smile, I swear she takes half my heart at that moment.

“Take care of Mama, alright, pumpkin?” I whisper, letting go of Ophelia's arm.

“You're not leaving yet, are you?” She asks with a panicked expression crossing her face. I smile softly.

“No Sweet Pea, I’m just going to stand over to the side to give you some privacy. I’ll be waiting right here if you need me.”

She lets out a breath of relief before giving me a small smile, still not meeting my eyes. I need to fix that. Before she can turn from me, I bend at the knees and look up at her from under her hair. When she peeks at me, I give her my most charming smile while slowly rising. She keeps her eyes on me this time.

“I won't leave until you ask me to, okay? I promise.” I tell her again. She must see the truth in my words because she gives me a small smile before holding her chin up and squaring her shoulders.

“Do you want me to walk up there with you?” I ask, hating the thought of her all alone, nervous. She shakes her head.

“You’ve done so much for me already, this part I should probably do alone.” She tells me.

A lot? I feel like I haven't done enough. Hell, all I did was give her a ride. If she gave me a chance, I might….

What the fuck? Where in the hell are these thoughts coming from? What the fuck is up with me? I shake my head and give her another encouraging smile before she turns and walks toward the gate. I walk closer to her, keeping my distance but still ensuring I’m at her back.

As she walks to the gate, I can't help but run my eyes over her petite body. This woman has been through something unimaginable. She’s way too skinny and not in a natural sort of way, a starving kind of way. My family used to run a foster therapy camp at our ranch, and I have seen all too many people come through with that same look. I shut the program down when they died and the town turned on me. Too many people spreading shit about my gayness, influencing some poor foster children and confusing them.

I swear, the more I think about it, the more I hate that town and its people. My sexuality is not a sickness; it is who the fuck I am, and the last thing I would do is ‘force’ that on anyone.

Andrew made sure to cut that shit off, though, as soon as he heard it, telling them he expected to see every family in town host a foster dinner or give back in some way because while they were sitting on their asses in their own oblivious world, my family and I were saving and shaping our future. While I appreciated him so much for that, unfortunately, it was too late. I couldn't risk any child safety or my ranch if the townspeople decided to have a witch hunt, and believe me… With their eighteenth-century mindset, it wouldn't have been a stretch.

I come back to the moment when I realize I am staring straight at Ophelia's ass, watching it sway softly side to side and I feel my dick twitch. Huh? I look down at my crotch before my head shoots back up and I probably look like a deer in headlights. Luckily, no one seems to notice I’m even here as Ophelia makes it to the guy manning the gate, and he takes out his phone, shooting off a text.

What the hell is going on with me?

Chapter Five

Rodeo

Opening my eyes, I wince at the sharp pain behind my eyes. Damn, I’m not that fucking old. I should be able to handle my alcohol better than that. Though I’m not too sure the headache is due to the alcohol or my own wayward and, frankly, depressing thoughts. I sigh before pushing myself up off the head. As soon as I got back to my room at the compound, I stripped down to my black boxers and face-planted on the bed, not in the least bit worried about covers.

I head to my bathroom, still feeling the bad all along my skin. I turn the hot water on and hop in. As much as I want to make this a quick shower, my dreams have my dick rock fucking hard. I step into the enclosure, leaning my face back into the water. My hair has gotten longer, nearly down to my shoulders, and I think I need to holler at Jade for a cut soon.

Though Halle always catcalls me when I have my hair in a bun while working on my bike. I roll my eyes every time, giving a not-so-hidden glance around for her old man, Loki. Ain’t no secret that fucker is batshit crazy on a good day; add in his Ol’ Lady, and he’s straight suicidal. No thanks, I'm too young to die.

I give my hair a tug as my dreams flit through my mind. Fuck, I was really hoping my big ass problem would go away. Instead, reach my hand down and grab my cock in a deliciously tight grip.

My dreams started like they always do: me sitting under that magnolia tree, staring up through the branches. Just as I go to sit up, my girl, my fucking world, leans over me, placing her soft lips on mine.

“Ophelia, baby.” I groan as she slides up and down on my hard cock. Fuck yes, so soft and warm. She gasps and stops, sitting straight up and looking at the land around us.

‘someone's coming.” She whispers, afraid. I’m about to stand up and protect her from any potential threat when she relaxes.

“Oh, it's only Trip.” She smiles his way, and when I turn, I see the sexy as fuck rancher heading toward us on the white of a big white mare.

“Riding in on a white horse to steal my girl?” I ask playfully.

‘steal you both.” He says, staring intently into my eyes.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I bang my hand on the shower wall, feeling frustrated and cold at the want in my dreams. My want. I want them both more than anything. I want to run back to my hometown and steal my girl back, but I want to stop by and pick up Trip, too. How crazy is that? I met the man once, have no clue where he’s even from, and will probably never see him again. Plus, Ophelia is probably married with two kids now and hates my guts for leaving her behind. I got up the courage a couple of years back to write her a letter and mail it off. I wanted her to know I would always love her, but I couldn't be who I was in that town or family. I needed to find my way. Did it help me? Fuck no, but it wasn't meant to. It was meant to heal Ophelia and make her realize she was amazing, sweet, and perfect.

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