Gone Away (5 page)

“To be honest, I needed a break, and I was hoping you’d be a friendly face.”

Riece laid one hand on Mason’s arm. “Thank you.” He looked up at the sky. “Feel up to staying here until it’s dark so I can get some more night shots?”

“We can spend the night out here if you want,” Mason said.

“You have camping gear?”

Mason rolled his eyes and made a face. “I
always
have camping gear with me.”

Riece picked up another pebble and bounced it off Mason’s forehead before going back to his camera. Mason had to admit Riece was very good at ignoring his laugher.

AS THE
night wore on, Riece became more engrossed in his project and decided he was definitely going to shop for the special equipment he’d need for photographing the moon and stars.

“Sure you don’t want to get the camping gear out? We’ll be more comfortable,” Mason said. Riece heard him moving around near his Jeep.

“I won’t be much longer. We have a nice hotel room to use.” Riece moved the tripod and camera to another spot. He was getting cold but didn’t want to stop yet. “Is that…?” As he turned to Mason, Riece’s voice trailed off. He stood and stared before the corner of his mouth turned up.

Mason had pulled bedrolls and extra blankets from his Jeep and was leaning against a stadium chair. A second one was set up beside Mason’s. His boots were sitting to the side. “I put the cooler back inside. We can’t leave it out at night. The food might attract something we don’t want to attract.” He pointed up. “Check it out.”

Riece turned around and looked up. Gasping, he leaned back so far he almost toppled over backward. Small points of light flickered across the sky.

“Look at them all!” Riece twisted around, following the bits of light as they blazed tiny, brilliant trails across the sky.

“We might as well stay and watch. The best parts aren’t until after 2:00 a.m. If we wait till after they peak, we’ll be back at the inn in time for the breakfast service,” Mason said. He patted the spot beside him and nodded to the bedroll he’d spread out. “I think October is one of the best months for stargazing. It’s not frigid cold, but the air is clear and the humidity is low.”

Riece decided he’d gotten enough photos and settled on the ground beside Mason, who spent the next few hours giving Riece a mini-astronomy lesson. As the night wore on, the temperature dropped further, and this time Riece gave in to his desire and nudged closer to Mason, encouraging physical contact. Mason took his blanket and wrapped it around both of them.

The sky was clear, the meteors were streaking across the shimmering backdrop of the Milky Way, and Devils Tower loomed behind them. “This is like being in something magic,” Riece said. “I’m sorry I didn’t come here sooner, and I’m glad I was able to see it with you.”

Mason shifted closer and turned to look at Riece. His expression was soft, open in a way it rarely was. He seemed genuinely moved by Riece’s simple statement. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

“You know, what happened between us in college? I wish I could change how badly I handled things then.”

Mason drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “You’re here now, and we’ll have some time to work things out, see what happens. Just remember what I said. There’s nothing wrong with you, Riece. Not as far as I’m concerned.”

They spent the rest of that night watching how the sky changed and sparkled. Eventually the sprinkling of meteors waned and the sky began to lighten. It didn’t take them long to pack Mason’s Jeep and head back to the inn.

“I must be getting old,” Riece murmured when he was snuggled under the thick comforter in bed with Mason. “Used to be I could stay up half the night and not need a nap.”

Mason chuckled and kissed Riece’s forehead. “Party animal.”

“Not anymore,” Riece grumbled.

It was early afternoon and the sun was streaming through the big window in their room when Riece woke up alone. He had a few moments of panic, thinking Mason had changed his mind and gotten his own room again, until he heard the toilet flush, then the shower go on. Rolling to his side, he pulled some brochures from the night table and glanced through them.

By the time Mason came ambling out of the bathroom, Riece had thoroughly read through the pamphlets. “There is a real ghost town near here.”

“Uh-huh.” Mason sat on the bed and took the brochure. “It’s not far, twenty minute drive or so.”

“Do they have stores there?” Riece asked.

Mason nodded. “Sure they do. It’s sort of a tourist trap.”

“Good.” Riece threw the covers off, stood up, and headed for the bathroom. “I want a cowboy hat and some boots.”

Mason groaned and rolled his eyes when Riece stopped and peeked over his shoulder. Shaking his head Mason said, “Oh God. Tourist.”

Riece snickered and continued on his way to the bathroom.

They had a late dinner at the ghost town, and it was close to nine when they returned to the inn. Riece was determined to make their final night together here romantic and memorable. The next morning they’d have to drive the final leg of the trip to Jewel Cave, the city of Custer, and Riece’s new job.

THEY LEFT
Big Rock Inn early the next day, and by afternoon they were in Custer. Mason helped Riece get settled in one of the hotels near his home. Riece was sort of hoping Mason would extend an offer for Riece to stay with him but wasn’t surprised when that didn’t happen. He didn’t blame Mason one bit, considering what’d happened the last time he and Mason talked about moving here and sharing a home.

“I’m going to go visit my dad,” Mason said. “Will you be okay here? I’ll pick you up around eight tomorrow morning. You have all my phone numbers. Call me if—”

“Can I go with you?” Riece cut Mason off. “I’d love to see your dad.”

“I….” Mason stopped and rubbed the back of his neck, looking out the hotel room window and sighing. “He probably won’t remember you. Hell, he barely remembers me some days, and I have no idea what he’ll say.”

“The Alzheimer’s, I know. But I kept you from spending time with him the last few days, and I
do
remember him from when I met him before. Maybe he’ll enjoy seeing one of your friends.” Riece shrugged.

Mason nodded. “All right, if you’re sure. That’s nice of you. I’ll swing by in an hour or so, good? I’ll warn you, he’s not the same guy you met a few years ago.”

Riece smiled. “I’ll be ready.”

It was only an hour, but the time dragged by. Riece spent it unpacking and arranging his belongings for his stay. Having no real idea how long he’d be in South Dakota, he’d given up his apartment before taking this job and moved the bulk of his possessions into a small storage unit near his mother’s house. Now he was wondering how to get things moved to Custer. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his mother, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to discuss with her why he wanted to move to South Dakota. It was likely she’d figure it out and try to intervene. He’d let her do that once. Now the fates had been kind, and he’d been given another chance at a life with Mason. Riece was determined not to screw it up again.

An hour later when a text appeared announcing that Mason was waiting outside, Riece breathed a huge sigh of relief. A small part of him feared Mason wouldn’t show up. He should have known better. Mason generally said exactly what he meant. There was nothing passive/aggressive about the man.

Their drive was quiet, but pleasant. They were comfortable together despite their hiatus from one another. There was almost no one Riece knew—or had ever known—who he could say he was this relaxed with other than Mason, and he was pleased Mason’s feelings seemed on the same track.

The care facility where Mason’s father lived was a single-story structure with several different wings off a central area that housed offices, a cafeteria, and a common sitting area complete with a big-screen television, piano, and pool table.

“His room’s down this way.” Mason motioned to a corridor after they’d signed in at the front desk, exchanged a few pleasantries with the duty nurses, and received a report from them. “Don’t get offended by anything he says.”

“Don’t worry. You act as if I’ve never met him before,” Riece reminded Mason with a grin. He’d known the man as Mac. It was short for something, but Riece had never learned what. He wasn’t sure Mason knew. Compared to his father, Mason was warm and fuzzy.

Mason knocked on the door and opened it at the same time. “Hi, Dad,” he said.

The man Riece remembered was not the one he saw now. He’d met Mason’s father a few times when Mac had been in the area of the college they’d both attended. Mac was a nice-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair and dark eyes, a stark contrast to Mason’s deep blue eyes. Riece didn’t know what First Nations tribe Mac called home, but his ancestry was more prominent. In Mason’s case his French-Canadian heritage blended equally with his Indian half. They had—or at least once had—the same midnight-dark hair, and though Mac was a few inches shorter than his son, he was just as powerfully built.

Now Mac Arquette was wheelchair bound and hunched. He’d lost a lot of weight; his arms and neck were too thin, with folds of skin hanging from his frame. His once lush hair was now thin and limp. He looked frail and helpless.

“I’ve been sitting here all day.” Mac’s voice was raspy.

“I’m sorry,” Mason said gently. “I had to work, but the nurses said you’ve been outside for a while every day and you enjoyed sitting with the residents during meals.” Mason knelt next to the wheelchair and rested his hands on the armrest, nodding at Riece. “Dad, you remember Riece Burrell? He went to the same college I did when I was studying for my masters.”

Mac leaned forward and peered at Riece. “You’re the little twit who broke my son’s heart.”

“I… I’m sorry, I didn’t want….” Riece looked at Mason, a little horrified.

Mason twisted around, standing at the same time. “Dad, Riece came to see you with me. He’s our guest.” He moved around to the back of the wheelchair. “Do you want to take a walk?”

“I can’t walk, you damn fool. I’m thirsty,” Mac said.

Mason took hold of the wheelchair handles. “Well, I can walk and push your chair, so let’s get out of here for a bit. We can go to the cafeteria and get something to drink,” he said and smiled. He looked down for a few seconds before scratching at his neck and glancing at Riece, mouthing the word “Sorry.”

Riece walked along beside Mason as they navigated the corridors back to the cafeteria. After they settled at one of the tables with their drinks, Riece sat holding his plastic cup in both hands, staring into the liquid while Mason tried to talk to his father. It was amazing that Mason could change subjects and keep talking to his father even though Mac didn’t seem to manage to stick with one thought for more than a minute or two. It struck him that Mason showed the same patience and understanding with his father he’d always demonstrated with Riece.

“I’m sorry,” Riece blurted out. Mason and Mac stopped their offbeat conversation and turned to him.

“Riece, don’t be—” Mason began.

Riece cut him off. “No, your dad is right.” He folded his hands on the table in front of him and faced Mason’s father. “Mac, I made a mistake, and I wanted you to know I’m sorry for what happened.”

Mason narrowed his eyes and studied him but didn’t say anything. Mac scoffed and waved one hand at Riece, then turned to Mason. “Who the hell is this and what is he talking about?”

“He’s a friend, from college, remember?” Mason patted Mac’s arm, and Riece realized he did that to make sure he had Mac’s attention.

Twice more during the time they were there, Mac asked who Riece was and then snapped at Riece for hurting Mason. When Mac asked Mason who he was, Mason said, “You’re getting tired. How about I take you back to your room so you can rest up before dinner?”

Walking slowly while Mason pushed the wheelchair, they made their way back to Mac’s room. Right before they were ready to leave for the day, Mac grabbed Riece’s hand and gave it a shake. “Study hard and don’t pay any mind to my son when he’s a jerk. He’s that way sometimes.”

Riece smiled and nodded. “I’ll do that, sir.”

“That was nice of you,” Mason said as they walked back to his Jeep.

“I was only being honest.”

“Yeah, I know. You always are,” Mason said. “I appreciate you coming with me to see him. Thank you.”

Riece took Mason’s hand and squeezed lightly but didn’t say anything further as they settled in the Jeep. Their drive back to Riece’s hotel was quiet and subdued. When they pulled into the parking lot, Mason put the Jeep into park but didn’t turn off the engine. Riece was dearly hoping he’d be invited back to Mason’s house, but deep down Riece knew that wasn’t going to happen. At least not yet. There was nothing preventing him from extending the offer he was hoping to receive.

“Do you want to come up? We can order room service or get a pizza or something?”

Mason offered him a small smile and shook his head slightly. “I’d better get back. I’ve got some stuff to do at home. Thanks, though.” He leaned across, took Riece’s chin in one hand, and kissed him softly. “See you in the morning?”

Riece nodded and wasn’t ashamed to let his disappointment show. “I’ll be ready.”

“Call me if you need anything,” Mason called after Riece as he climbed down from the Jeep. He turned and waved at Mason, then watched him drive away.

MASON BOLTED
upright in bed, ran his hands through his hair, and shuddered. Gulping in giant breaths, he pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. The thin T-shirt and boxer shorts he wore were drenched in sweat.

Flicking on the light, he swung out of bed, heading for the bathroom. During the nights he’d spent with Riece, he hadn’t had so much as a hint of a nightmare. Maybe all the sex had left him too exhausted to let his subconscious do much overtime. Or possibly it was simply the fact he had the warm body of a man he cared for—loved—in bed with him providing some kind of assurance or security. Usually it was Mason who provided the protection and haven to others. He didn’t consider he’d ever be the one needing emotional shelter. Ever since they’d first met, Riece had had a calming and stabilizing effect on him.