Page 54 of Haunted

I’ve been rude, haven’t I?

Robert didn’t deserve that. Sol had liked him from the start, and seeing the way Toby appeared so relaxed in his presence went a long way to cementing that opinion.

He raised his glass to Robert. “Thanks for a great supper, and even better company.”

Robert gave a wry smile. “I’ll accept the first, but I call bullshit on the second. I don’t think the company made much of an impression. Your mind was elsewhere all through supper.” He cocked his head. “Is everything okay?”

Toby took the chair next to Robert’s. “And that was going to be my next question too.”

Sol pushed out a sigh. “I think I owe both of you an apology. Ihavehad something on my mind, it’s true.”

Butch Buchanan had taken root the moment Sol had laid eyes on him.

“Anything you can share? Maybe we can help,” Toby suggested.

“Thanks, but…” Then he reconsidered. He didn’t intend letting Butch continue with his Hey-we-don’t-know-each-other performance, even if it meant confronting him. And that could raise eyebrows around the place.

Sol needed someone to understand what was going on.

He took a sip from his glass before twisting to face Robert.

“You and me, we’re the same generation.”

Robert smiled. “Which is probably why I invited you to eat with us. After everything Toby told me about you, I had a feeling we’d get along.”

Sol had experienced pretty much the same feeling.

“So there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Sure.”

Sol stared out at the landscape below them. “Nowadays it seems as though every time you turn the TV on or read posts on social media, someone’s coming out.”

Toby chuckled. “An exaggeration, but I know what you mean. That has to be a good thing, right?”

“Oh, I agree, but you have to know it wasn’t that easy for guys like Robert and me. It wasn’t something you did, especially if you lived someplace like my hometown.”

“And isn’t that the truth?” Robert’s face tightened. “Good Lord, how I hated all the secrecy.”

Toby reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Yeah, but now everyone knows.”

“When did you first know you were gay?” Sol asked Robert.

He leaned back, his head resting against the painted wood. “I was eighteen, I guess. You have to understand, I grew up surrounded by men, ranch hands of all shapes and sizes. Not that I’d have ever said a word to one of them. But yeah, I started to notice them round about then.” He smiled. “And then two years later, one of them noticedme.”

Sol chuckled. “Man, I love that smile.” It spoke of pleasant memories.

Robert’s expression grew sad. “It only lasted a couple years. He left kinda abruptly, and just recently, I found out why that was. Not going to go into it, but my daddy had a hand in it.” His gaze met Sol’s. “His name was Clay Kirkham, and he’s dead now, but he loved me once, a long time ago.”

Sol raised his glass. “To Clay.” Robert clinked with him. Then Sol peered at Toby. “And what about you? When did you first know?”

Toby grinned. “In high school. And I most definitely had a thing for jocks back then. All those lithe bodies…” His eyes gleamed. “Especially after practice. Some of them had no problems strutting naked around the locker room. And oh my God, the showers…Talk about a feast for the eyes.”

“You were a horny little fucker, weren’t you?” Sol said with a smile.

Toby blinked. “What do you mean, Iwas? I’m still a horn dog and I’m not ashamed to admit it.” He peered at Sol. “Your turn. What’s your story?”

Sol took a gulp of Jack, his heartbeat quickening.

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