TMOBR1 Jay (6 page)

“Really?” scoffed Will. “What makes you think I’d go so easily?”

“Don’t be coy, mister. I know what you like.”

“I’m easy…easy to read.”

“Like a book.” It was a smart retort. He hugged Will. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You can count on it. I’ll have coffee waiting when you get here.”

They kissed one last time then he was off to Buckshot.

* * * *

It was just a little after nine when Will decided to go to bed. He started to unbutton his shirt when a knock on the door interrupted him. Who would
come
calling at this hour? It wasn’t Jay, and he knew no one else.

He fell back in disbelief when he opened the door. Steven.

“Steven? What are you doing here? How did you find me?” One question after another flowed out of him like a never-ending water spout.

“It wasn’t hard and none of that’s important. How are you, Will? May I come in?”

He stepped aside, still stunned by his unexpected visitor.
“Of course.”

“Quaint little place you have here.” Steven glanced around. “When you took off, you didn’t leave an address in case I needed to contact you.”

“I didn’t think there was any point in telling you the specific details. You have your life and I decided to start mine anew.”

“I was stupid. I need you.” Steven caressed his cheek.

“You need me? When did you decide this? Was it before or after the marriage? We had something, but it died. You discarded me like trash.”

“I wasn’t thinking. There was pressure from my father, my mother. People were asking questions about why I wasn’t married and about our friendship. What was I supposed to do?”

Feeling annoyed, Will backed away from Steven. “Why are you here? Do you want me to say I wasn’t hurt by your
actions, that
it was fine for you to do what you did to me?”

“I…love you. That’s why I’m here. Since you left, I have not thought of anyone else, not even my wife.”

“Oh, how is she?” asked Will, his voice thick with seething sarcasm. “Was it a nice wedding? Get lots of presents? I’m sure you both made the front page of the societal column.”

Steven turned from him. It was a sheer slap in the face. Will knew his words cut deep.

“I deserved that.”

“What do you expect? If you’re looking for me to welcome you back into my life with open arms, I can’t do it. I have a life…and
it’s
here without you.”

“You call this a life? This place is nothing more than a shack. And don’t get me started on this piss-poor excuse for a town. You can’t be happy here. This isn’t the place for you. You belong back in the city, with me.”

“There you go again, assuming you know what’s right for me. What would your wife think of me? Somehow, I don’t see her being that accepting.”

“Just stop!” said Steven, raising his voice, one hand shooting up to halt the conversation. “I’m divorcing her. It was a mistake, and I’m sure she will agree to it without any protest.”

“I’m glad for you, I really am.”

Steven hugged him, holding him tight. “Don’t reject me. Give me another chance. I can show you, I’ve changed.”

For a moment, he considered it. Everything came back in a fury of emotion. The good times, the dreams they shared and the future that would never come to be.

“No, don’t. It’s time for you to go.”

“I’m in town for a couple of days.” Steven paused at the door. “I’ll be back. I love you, Will. Remember that. I always will.”

Chapter Seven

“That kid, he took off last night,” said Cal. He sat behind his large desk, flicking through a stack of papers.
“Mark, the little fucker.
You spent a lot of time with him. Did he mention anything to you about leaving?”

“No,” lied Jay.
“Nothing at all.
I thought he liked it here. He seemed content enough.”

“Some of the others said he was a little off, you know, in the head.” Cal shrugged. “Who the hell
knows.
”

“He had some problems, family stuff. Maybe he went off to settle that.”

“You should have told me. I’m out a man. It costs money to keep you all here. I get it back out of working you all.”

Cal had a point. “You’re right,” he agreed.

“There is something else. I hate to ask this because I’m sure it’s just talk and speculation. One of the guys says he seen you with that Mark. He said you two seemed rather touchy-feely with each other. Is there any truth to that? You know that won’t be tolerated here.”

“Who said that?” asked Jay.

“Never mind who said it. Is there any truth behind it? Are you a…homosexual?” Cal stared at him with a steely glare. “Are you?”

Jay hated to lie but there was no other way.
“No, sir.
Whoever told you that is a bold-faced liar.”

“I thought so,” said Cal. “That’s all, you may go.”

Jay hid his unrepentant anger as he walked from the office. Who had seen them?

Mark had taken off. He hated to see the kid go, but he was relieved. If Mark had remained at Buckshot, chances were things would have become most difficult. He didn’t need that.

* * * *

Anxiety took over. Waiting for Jay to show, Will sat outside nursing his morning cup of coffee.

“How goes it?” asked Jay, coming up the path, looking ever so handsome. “Did you sleep well?”

“Not really. I tossed and turned for most of the night.” He left out the part where Steven showed
up,
and their little back and forth display of words.

“You should rest more. You look tired, pale.”

“I’m good, but thanks for your concern.”

“Of course I’m concerned. So, there is coffee inside?”

Will nodded. “Help yourself.”

“Only if you come with me.”
Jay winked.

“You are terrible. You know that, right?”

Jay shot a killer grin his way. “You love me like that. What can I
say,
I can’t get enough of you. Is that a bad thing, me wanting you?”

“The debate’s still out on that one. Come on in.” They went inside.

Jay kissed him. “I’ve been dying to do that all morning. I missed you.”

“You missed me?” He was taken aback with Jay’s sheer honesty.

“Yeah.
I would have preferred to spend the night here, with you.
If you would have had me.”

“Wouldn’t they wonder about you at the ranch?”

“That’s the one thing I haven’t figured out yet. But give me time. This is all rather new to me, so if I’m doing something wrong or making you
feel
uncomfortable, you will have to tell me and I’ll stop.”

Will didn’t want him to stop. This was genuine, this was real,
this
was love.

“I don’t want you to stop. This is different. I never expected to find this when I came to this town to teach. I was looking for a new life, a fresh start to get away from my past.”

“I’m here for you and I’m not going anywhere.” Jay stopped. “I never thought I would ever find anyone like you, someone to—”

“Love,” finished Will. “Is that what this is?
Love?”

“I think so. Ever since we met, I’ve thought about you and it feels right. Heck, we’d be taking a hell of a risk. But I’m willing if you are.”

Everything was moving fast, very fast. “What if people find out? I can’t see this town being accepting. Hell, it’s even hard in the city. I know it from personal experience. I’ve been down that road before.”

“Is that why you left the city? Was there someone else before me?”

“I didn’t want that brought up.” Will sat down on the settee in the parlour. “There was another man.”

“He hurt you?”

“He was my first, ever. I mean, I’ve always known about myself, even when I was still a young boy. I knew I was different and had to hide that part of myself from everyone. When Steven came into my life, it was great to be open about it in just the smallest way with him.

“At first, it was just a friendship, and then it became more. It continued into adulthood and I thought we had something…until he decided to marry, leaving me out in the cold. That’s what led me here.”

Jay shook his head in a display of disgust. “I would never do that to you.
Never.”

“He’s here, in town. He came last night. Somehow he managed to find me.”

* * * *

The bed.
It was lumpier than the cook’s mashed potatoes back in the city. And the dust permeated through everything including the pores in his skin.

Steven sat on the edge of the bed and wondered what the hell he was doing in this hick town.

Last night, he had practically begged Will to come back to the city with him, to be his lover once again. He never begged anyone for anything—he wasn’t the begging type. It was beneath him.

Yet, some unseen force had brought him here. He did love Will, that was for certain, and he’d try again once more to win back the man’s affections. This time, he’s make him see reason, and hopefully it would work out.

 
He couldn’t imagine going about the rest of his life without Will. The thought was unfathomable.

“Breakfast is ready,” called Mrs
O’neil
from the bottom of the stairs. “All hands down who intend to partake.”

He stifled a yawn and stood up. After he’d eaten, he’d go to Will and leave it all in the hands of Providence.

* * * *

The roof looked good as it neared completion. Jay paused, wiping the sweat from his brow, looking off into the near distance.

Someone was coming up the path, a stranger. He scooted down the ladder and walked around to the front of the house. “Can I help you?” he called out to the stranger as he approached.

“Who are you?” asked the well-dressed man.

“
It’s
okay, Jay,” said Will, appearing behind him. “Steven, this is Jay. Jay, this is Steven, an old friend from the city.”

“How do,” said Jay, tipping his hat slightly. He sure as shit wasn’t shaking that bastard’s hand. If first impressions meant anything, then already this guy wasn’t making a good one. He’d known guys like this over the years. Slick assholes who thought they could buy the world with their money and fake charm.

“I’ll be getting around to that window in the kitchen, Will. You know where to find me if you need me.”

Will nodded. “Be careful with that broken glass. You don’t need another accident.”

“Like I said, you know where I am if you need me.” He glared at Steven. “I won’t be far.”

* * * *

Will waited until Jay was out of sight before he spoke. “If you think coming here again is going to change my mind, you are so mistaken. Nothing’s changed since last night and it never will.”

“Who is that?” asked Steven, his eyes straying to the open front door where Jay had entered.

“The school board hired him to repair the house,” explained Will. “He’s quite good at it.”

“I see. And good at other things too, I bet. He’s rather protective over you. Are you fooling with him?”

“How can you even ask me that?” Outrage sluiced through him. “My life isn’t any of your business. All that went out the window when you dumped me.”

“You doth protest too much, Will. What have you got going with him? Is he what’s keeping you here?”

“What if he is?” snapped Will. “Am I not entitled to a little bit of happiness? Maybe he can give me that much. You certainly couldn’t.”

Those last three words appeared to hit Steven hard, the look on his face, one of hurt and anger, rose to the surface.

“What if the school board were to find out about your little romance? I don’t think they are the kind of folks who like to have a homosexual teaching their precious children. They would lynch your ass right out of town along with his.”

“I think you need to leave,” said Jay, coming outside. He clenched both fists at his side, his face reddened.

Steven took two steps backwards. “I’m not looking for trouble.”

“You may not have been, but you have found it. Now, I suggest you take your person along with your threats and get the hell out of here before I take to beating the living daylights out of you,” snarled Jay, stepping forward.

Will
looked
to Steven. “You heard him. Go!”

* * * *

“How could you have ever loved him?” asked Jay.

“I was a love-sick fool, blinded by my own stupidity. I like to think it was love, but now I am not so sure. I think it was pure desperation and not wanting to go through this world alone.