The Belt Buckle Ranch Collection, Volume 1 (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove)

by Olivia Black

  Blowing out a breath, the sheriff whispered, “You’re going to be okay.”

  He helped Jared onto a cot and covered him with a blanket. Once the tears slowed down and the shaking subsided, Jared realized that he was lying inside a cell. Closing his eyes, he rolled into a ball, trying to comfort himself.

  Over the years, he’d played that night through his mind and the story always seemed to change and evolve. The gun was there and so were Tim and Benny. But before, he’d wanted to kill the monster to save Gabe. He’d wanted to protect the boy he loved from the same abuse he’d suffered. Now, he realized what the truth really was. There was a fight and the gun went off by accident.

  His mind was a mess, but he clearly pictured his old friends, Tim and Benny.

  They had all sworn to keep that night a secret and for years, he’d done just that. But over time, those secrets piled up, making it hard to let go of the past or to move on and have a life of any kind. He wanted a future, but in order for that to happen, he had to admit his role in killing a man, even if the man in question deserved it.

  I’m sorry, guys.

  Chapter 12

  Jacob stretched out his body and opened his eyes. Looking around, he realized that once again Jared had abandoned him. He tried not to take it personally, but it was hard when his heart ached from the loss. Letting out a groan, he rubbed a hand down his face before kicking the covers back and climbing out of bed.

  He wasn’t sure what had sent Jared running this time, but had to wonder if the intimacy was too much, too soon.

  Shuffling his feet, Jacob went into the bathroom and started the shower. It didn’t take long before steam was billowing from the stall. Climbing under the spray, he closed his eyes as the water pounded against his flesh, massaging his tense muscles.

  “Knock, knock.” Tyler called out.

  “Hey…give me a couple of minutes and I’ll be out.”

  “Listen, I’m a little worried about Jared,” Tyler said, and Jacob immediately shut the water off.

  “Why?” His heart rate spiked and he grabbed a towel. Wrapping it around his waist, Jacob climbed out of the shower and stared at Tyler.

  “I spoke with him right before he left. He said he needed to take care of something. When I didn’t hear the truck start, I got curious and followed him. I saw Jared walk into the sheriff’s office. I’m not sure if it’s anything serious, but…” Tyler shrugged.

  “When did he leave?” Jacob rushed past Tyler. He quickly dried off and got dressed, keeping his back toward Tyler.

  “A little while ago,” he admitted.

  “Why didn’t you wake me up?” Jacob demanded, shoving his feet into an old pair of work boots.

  “Because he said in order to have a future with you, he needed to face the past. This is something he needs to do and I didn’t want you to stop him.”

  “Damn it!” he shouted, marching toward the front door. “If anything happens to him…” He didn’t finish the threat. He let it hang there in the air between them.

  Pulling the front door open, Jacob jogged down the stairs and out the front door.

  * * * *

  Sheriff Hank Ramsey sat down behind his desk and picked up the phone. He listened to the dial tone, thinking about his options. Should he follow the letter of the law and call San Diego PD? It was obvious that Jared had suffered for years, not only with the guilt of accidentally killing someone, but also with the abuse he’d endured at the hands of an adult that he should’ve been able to trust.

  Hanging up the phone, Hank pushed his fingers through his hair and groaned. He was having a serious ethical dilemma. He could conduct an investigation and close the case due to self-defense. He didn’t want this to haunt Jared for the rest of his life. With his mind made up, he grabbed the phone once more and dialed.

  “This is Wyatt,” Wyatt Thompson, the foreman at the Belt Buckle ranch answered.

  “Hi Wyatt. This is Hank. How are you doing this morning, man?”

  “Good, just heading to the house for breakfast. What can I do for you?”

  “Jared Carter is here.” Hank leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

  He didn’t plan on telling Wyatt too much about what he’d learned. Between Jared’s sobs, he was able to put together a timeline of what happened. In his own personal beliefs, he was glad the man was dead. He’d assaulted, raped, and taken advantage of teenaged boys. Professionally, people like Jared went to jail for murder. Hank couldn’t let that happen, not after all he’d suffered.

  “What the hell happened?”

  “He came here to confess to a crime, but I don’t feel right about putting in a report. I can’t in good conscience send the man away. Can you come and pick him up?”

  “Yeah, sure.” Wyatt sounded concerned. “Is he okay?”

  “It might be beneficial for him to talk to someone, like a counselor,” Hank suggested, hoping Jared would get the help he needed.

  “Yeah, that won’t be a problem. I’ll do whatever it takes to help him. Thanks, Hank.”

  Hanging up the phone, Hank stood up and poured himself another cup of coffee. He took a drink and walked back to where Jared was lying still on one of the cots. A blanket was pulled up over his head. He wasn’t sure if the man cried himself to sleep or if he was awake. It was hard to look at Jared and not think about Oliver.

  The two men didn’t look alike, but their stories were similar, and he wondered if Oliver had been abused. Both men had grown up in the system. He knew about Oliver’s past run-ins with law enforcement when he ran the man’s name through the system.

  Shaking Oliver from his mind, Hank went to the waiting area and sat down. He took a drink of his coffee as guilt grew inside of him. Had he been too hard on Oliver? Placing the cup on the table, he sat there, staring at the wall. When the front door opened, he stood up, surprised to see Jacob Monroe stroll in.

  “Where is he?” Jacob demanded, looking around.

  “Are you here for Jared?” Hank asked, raising a brow.

  “Where is he?” he asked again, a wild look in his eyes.

  “He’s down the hall in one of the cells,” Hank told him.

  “Jesus.” He pushed a hand through his wet hair. “Is he under arrest?”

  “No.” Hank shook his head. “It was self-defense. I just got off the phone with Wyatt a little while ago. He’s coming to pick Jared up.”

  “I’m taking him with me.” Jacob strode past Hank and went down the hall.

  * * * *

  Jacob spotted Jared right away. He was in a little ball on one of the beds with a blanket thrown over his head. Walking into the cell, he knelt next to the bed. He reached out a shaky hand and pulled the blanket back, revealing his baby boy.

  Jared’s eyes were closed, but he could still see streaks of tears. Touching Jared’s face, Jacob wished he could take the man’s pain away. Bright blue eyes blinked open and stared at him before moisture filled their depths once more.

  “Hey.” Jacob stood and picked Jared up in one swoop. He placed the young man on his lap and wrapped his arms around, rocking him slowly. “What am I going to do with you, baby boy?”

  “I don’t know.” He nuzzled Jacob’s chest. “I wanted you to keep me.”

  “I want to keep you. You have to stop running away from me, though. Is my bed that uncomfortable?”

  Jared’s body shook as he laughed lightly. “I just have so much shit in my past.”

  “We all do,” Jacob stated, and Jared shook his head.

  “Not like me.” Jared admitted. “I think I’m broken. And I keep wondering if I’ll be able to have a normal relationship with you. Because I really, really want to be with you, but there’s just…” He stopped and sniffled.

  “Baby, you’re not broken.” Jacob kissed the top of his shaved head. “I don’t want to have a normal relationship with you. I don’t even know what that means. We’re the ones that define our relationship. I want to take care of you and love you. But in order fo
r that to happen, you have to stay put.”

  Jacob heard footsteps and looked up. Wyatt walked around the corner. He looked at Jacob and he could see the concern written all over the man’s face. He waved him off and mouthed, he’s mine. Wyatt nodded, turned on his heel, and strode away, giving them privacy.

  “I’ll be staying put in a jail cell somewhere.”

  “No, you’re not.” At his words, Jared jerked his head up and stared at him. “It was self-defense. He’s not sending you to jail.”

  “But—” Jacob put a fingertip to Jared’s soft lips.

  “You were a kid,” he said bluntly, and Jared nodded, swallowing hard. “You did the right thing as far as I’m concerned. You protected yourself against a man that was causing you harm. It’s time you forgave yourself.” A lone tear dripped down Jared’s cheek and Jacob wiped it away. “How would you feel about seeing a counselor?”

  “That might be a good idea,” he whispered.

  “Tyler is a psychiatrist. He works with troubled youths and also adults that have suffered from trauma and abuse. Would you be willing to talk to him?”

  “I don’t know. He’s your brother.” Jared looked a little uncomfortable.

  “He’s also a professional and takes confidentiality very seriously. But, if you’re not comfortable talking to him, I’m sure he can give us a referral.”

  “I just…I don’t want him to think…”

  Jacob shook his head. “He’s not going to think badly of you.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Can I take you home?” Jacob asked.

  He nodded as a look of relief crossed his face. “I’d like that.”

  “Wrap your legs around my waist,” he instructed and Jared complied.

  Keeping the blanket securely around his boy, Jacob stood up. He kept a strong hold on Jared, carrying him in his arms. He wasn’t about to put the man down, not after feeling like he might lose him. Nodding his head toward Hank, he managed to open the door and walk out.

  “I love it when you hold me close. I feel safe.”

  “I’ll always keep you safe,” he vowed.

  When he reached the bar, Tyler was pacing the parking lot. He took one look at Jacob and ran to the door, holding it open. Jacob walked straight into Marilyn’s and up the stairs to his apartment without breaking stride. He gently placed Jared in the center of his bed and followed him down on the mattress, pulling the young man’s back against his chest.

  “I’m tired, always so tired,” Jared said, and Jacob tightened his hold.

  “Go to sleep, baby boy. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Chapter 13

  When Jared opened his eyes, he was still in Jacob’s bed. He slowly sat up and looked around, relieved that it all hadn’t been a dream. He wasn’t going to jail. That bit of information still stunned him, especially after all he’d been through. Keeping such a big secret since he was a teenager was tougher than he’d ever thought.

  He felt better now that he’d spilled his guts and opened up to Gabe, Jacob, and the town sheriff, Hank Ramsey.

  He pushed himself to a standing position and looked around. Walking into the kitchen, he came in just as Jacob looked up and smiled. Jacob opened his arms and Jared didn’t think twice about going into his strong embrace.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded. “Thank you for coming to get me.”

  He couldn’t put into words how truly grateful he was to have someone care about him. When he was at his lowest point, Jacob came in, picked him up, and held him.

  Being safe, protected, and loved—all those feelings were new to him.

  “You don’t know me that well, not yet, but I hope you believe me when I say that I will always come for you. As long as you’ll have me, I’m here.”

  Looking up, Jared stared into Jacob’s warm brown eyes. “I’m so lucky I found you.”

  “I’m the lucky one, baby boy.” Jacob leaned down and took possession of Jared’s lips.

  Soft, plump lips moved in a slow rhythm against his own and Jared opened up. Jacob’s tongue pushed into his mouth and Jared moved his own, their appendages dancing together. After a few minutes, Jacob pulled back and licked his lips.

  “What do you think about having a relationship? We can take things slow, one day at a time—spend time together, date, and have sleepovers.” Jacob grinned mischievously.

  Jared nodded, “I would really like that.”

  “Me too.” Jacob kissed his forehead. “Take a seat. I’ve got some food for you. Are you hungry, baby boy?”

  “Yeah,” Jared made his way to the small table and took a seat. His stomach growled loudly when Jacob set the plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables in front of him. “I guess I’m a lot hungrier than I thought.”

  “When did you eat last?” Jacob asked, pulling out the chair across from Jared and sitting down.

  “Last night. I had dinner at the ranch.”

  “It’s been a while since you’ve eaten, considering it’s dinnertime again.”

  “What?” Jared looked around, trying to find a clock.

  “You’ve been sleeping all day.” He stared at Jacob in shock. “It’s okay, baby. You needed the rest.”

  “I don’t usually sleep that well. Before I moved here, I only slept a few hours a night and then got up and played my guitar until I had to go to work.”

  “Really? You play the guitar?” Jacob’s eyes lit up. “We should do an Open Mic night at the bar. Would you play for me sometime?”

  “Of course.” Jared chuckled. “I love to play. I’m not much help around the ranch when it comes to the outdoor chores. I tend to spend most of my time indoors, helping Susan around the house.”

  “Where did you work when you lived in Portland?”

  “I worked in a coffee shop. Gabe and I shared the apartment upstairs. I really liked the place. It always smelt like fresh ground coffee.

  “Did you grow up around here? In this area, I mean,” Jared asked.

  “No.” Jacob shook his head. “I grew up in Denver and moved to Boston. I used to be a detective and before that, I was a police officer. I moved to this area looking for a little bit of peace and quiet.”

  “Wow.” Jared put down his fork and stared at Jacob. “I had no idea.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t look so shocked. Most of my family still lives in or near the Denver area. I thought I wanted the excitement of working for the Boston PD, but after a while, I just wanted to be surrounded by silence. Every day in Boston was filled with drama and I didn’t love my job anymore. It was time for a change. I found this place because of my buddy, Trent.”

  “Holy shit…Trent Weston…William’s executor and my neighbor?”

  “Yeah.” Jacob laughed, his shoulder shaking. “We were partners in Boston. When his brother died unexpectedly, he quit the job and moved back here to run the ranch, Twin Acres. I came out here to visit him and decided to stay.”

  “I think this day-to-day thing is a good idea. I guess we really don’t know each other that well.” Jared picked up his fork and took a bite of his meatloaf.

  He started to question his emotions. He was falling in love with a man he didn’t even know. How could he care about Jacob so much? How could he want him so badly, when he didn’t know anything about the man, not really, anyway?

  “I’m not saying that we take this one day at a time to get to know one another, although that’s a good idea.” Jacob smiled kindly before continuing. “I want us to take this slow so that you can be sure I’m the man you really want.”

  Caught off guard by what Jacob meant, Jared choked on a piece of broccoli. Coughing, he picked up a glass of water and took a drink as he shook his head.

  “I know what I want. I’ve always wanted a daddy and you’re the man for me.” His voice was strong, pushing out any doubt he’d initially had.

  “There’s no finish line to rush to. Eventually in a long-term relationship, I would want my baby
boy to move in with me, but like I said, there’s no rush.”

  “Oh…I don’t think I can.” Jared shook his head. Damn, he really hadn’t thought this whole thing out at all. “William said we all have to live and work at the ranch for a full year. I wouldn’t be able to move in with you until then.”

  “I’m really glad you’re thinking long term, baby, but I’m not overly worried about that right now. If it comes down to it and you’re ready to move in, I can always talk to Trent. Now, finish your dinner.” He winked. “Tyler is downstairs working and I need to get down there and help him.”

  Jared took another bite and grinned. He didn’t want their time to end, but Jacob needed to get to work and he had to head back to the ranch. Thinking about the ranch brought a picture of Gabe to his mind. He felt guilty for not being a better friend.

  “What’s wrong?” Jacob asked as he carried his empty plate to the sink.

  “I was just thinking about Gabe. He came here to spend time with me and I’ve been a complete disaster.”

  “I’m sure he understands that you’re dealing with a lot right now.” He leaned his hip against the counter and Jared’s eyes traveled up and down the man’s gorgeous body.

  He was wearing a pair of jeans that hugged his thick thighs and outlined his growing erection. Licking his hips, all rational thought fled. What was it about Jacob that made him lose his mind? Pushing his plate back, Jared sank to his knees and crawled toward where Jacob was standing.

  “What’s on your mind, baby?” Jacob’s voice grew gruff, a clear sign that he knew exactly what Jared’s intentions were.

  When he reached Jacob, he knelt at his feet and unbuttoned Jacob’s jeans, sliding the zipper down slowly. Reaching inside the denim, Jared pulled out Jacob’s long, thick cock. Holding his dick at the base, he rubbed the mushroom-shaped crown over his lips, smearing drops of pre-cum across his mouth.