“Hi, Mr. Williams,” I said as I approached them.
“Hi, Marty.” He shook my hand when I got close. “How’s your dad?”
“Better. He’s got a doctor’s appointment next Monday, so we’ll see how he does afterward. It’s quite a switch for him to be so inactive. I think he’s hating it.”
“Yeah, I know the feelin’. I bet Randy would let him go back to work in another week or so. The leg shouldn’t impair his ability to use the computer.”
I nodded. “Going back on a reduced workload might help a little. And how’s Mrs. Williams and the other kids?”
“No complaints. Donna’s working at the elementary school now. Roy’s taking classes at Frostburg State, and Chris graduated high school last year, so he’s helping around the farm for now. Laura was crowned Farm Queen at the fair this year.”
“No way! That’s amazing!”
Colten’s dad swelled with pride. He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and showed me a picture. Laura stood on a stage, a crown on her head, the crimson sash across her chest. Her smile was beautiful—reminiscent of Colten’s.
“What an accomplishment,” I said. Back in school, all the girls had strived to be Farm Queen.
“Well, we better get going, Dad,” Colten said finally. “I’ll see ya later.”
“Have fun, boys.”
Colten and I walked back to the Tundra. I toyed with the idea of opening his door, but Mr. Williams’s watchful gaze kept me from it. Maybe I was a romantic, but I was also aware of the mindset of Garrett County. Colten said his family knew, but that didn’t mean they approved.
Once in the car, Colten turned to me and smiled. “Hiya, Marty.”
I grinned back. “Hi. Let me apologize again for yesterday.”
He held up his hands. “No. Let’s forget it happened, okay?”
“Okay.”
The Swallow Falls State Park was twenty minutes south. We drove down the 219, which lead through Accident, then past Deep Creek Lake, where the winter tourists spent their time and money at the Wisp Ski Lodge. From the lake, it was a curvy series of roads to get to the park.
The scenery outside drew my eyes as we went. I’d missed the green so much, the tall trees, the hint of moisture and pine in the air. I had blocked so much of this from my memory once I got to Arizona. The years here had been too painful after losing Mom.
“So, your sister’s Farm Queen,” I said.
“Oh, God. You wouldn’t believe the drama with the crowning. Laura and her best friend Sue were both entered. When Laura won, Sue had a public meltdown.”
I snorted in laughter. I remembered similar situations happening quite a few times before. The townsfolk took the title of Farm Queen very seriously. My mom had been one back in the day, too.
“And now she’s dating one of the Brown kids,” Colten continued. His tone suggested an overprotective nature.
“What about your brothers? They have girlfriends?”
“Yeah, Roy’s engaged, but he and Sara haven’t set a date. Chris is dating someone from Friendsville.”
“How are your parents with you?”
Colten knew what I was asking, probably expected me to ask sooner than now. “They’re fine with it, Marty.”
“How did you come out to them?”
Surprisingly, he laughed. “You sure you want to hear?”
His wording seemed ominous, but I nodded anyway.
“Well, I took a trip to Virginia Beach, right after senior graduation. We went down as a group, me, Ben Johnson, the Davis twins, and Carl Platter. Down there, I met an amazing guy. His name was Warren. We hit it off right away. He decided to come back home with me for a short vacation. He stayed for two weeks, and we went around town. He was so unabashedly free, Marty. He didn’t care who stared. He would hold my hand anywhere we were. He would kiss me out in public. I’d never been so out in the open.”
“So, you took courage from your boyfriend.”
He looked at me sheepishly. “That’s exactly right. I was able to see it from an outsider’s perspective. And I saw how much better it was to be proud than quiet and hidden. We didn’t last long. He hated it here. But I tried to keep that spirit of freedom.”
“And everyone was okay with it?”
“Hell no! It took a while for Dad and Mom to come around. But they did, eventually. I think my reputation helped. Most see me as a good, solid worker. I was valedictorian of my high school class. Then I graduated from Frostburg with a degree in ethnobotany and a minor in animal behavior. And I got a masters in conservation biology. I worked hard to prove I had worth. I forced them to see me as a person with value.”
I glanced off the road to look at him. I hadn’t realized he was so academic. I knew he was intelligent—he’d been in advanced classes—but I thought after graduation, he would have started work on his dad’s farm. Like most of the farm kids did. I dismissed him as simply following in his father’s footsteps because that was what people expected. Now I saw he loved the work, loved the animals, loved the science behind it all.
My view of him shifted once again. From the slightly obsessed, mud covered cow enthusiast, to a kind and hardworking farmer, to a man with a clear set goal who had reached it. It was easy to admire him, and I found my heartbeat speeding up.
“Why don’t you have a boyfriend?” I asked. The guy was obviously a catch.
He grinned at me. “Why don’t you?”
“I haven’t been able to find someone with the same set of ideals.”
“What type of ideals?”
“I want someone I can feel comfortable with. I find I have to try too hard, sometimes. Easy conversation. Good sense of humor. A person who will accept me as I am.”
“That’s not too much to ask for.”
“I didn’t think so. But I haven’t found the right fit, yet.”
Colten nodded, and then he ran his hand down my thigh, coming to rest on my knee. “The reason I don’t have a boyfriend is because I can’t find one who likes my lifestyle. I guess we’re kinda in the same boat, Marty.”
I put my hand atop of his and entwined our fingers. “I guess.”
We pulled into the Swallow Falls parking lot, paying a three-dollar fee to get in. Outside, the air was crisp and chilly, a combination of the trees’ shade and the air coming off the water. I was glad I had my jacket.
Hand in hand, we started down the trail to the falls. We passed a gift shop, but didn’t look inside. Maybe on the way out. I could pick up a souvenir for Rick and Tony.
During the summer, this place was packed. The cool shade offered a respite from the heat, and the water was free to swim in. But now, on the cusp of autumn, it was nearly deserted. Most everyone we saw was decked out in hiking gear, or went dashing by with a dog on a leash. Not the tourist season, after all.
“Marty,” Colten said as we walked along the path. “Will you tell me what happened with your dad yesterday? Did he find out?”
“No, he didn’t find out. He already knew. Mr. Harris, the counselor at Northern, told Dad he suspected I was gay. Dad’s known for at least ten years.”
Colten’s mouth fell open. “And he never mentioned it to you before?”
I chuckled. “He said he thought I was uncomfortable. I think he was uncomfortable. He claims to have punched Harris in the face.”
Colten whistled softly. “I told you your dad was impulsive. Sounds like he came around quicker than my parents.”
“I don’t know. I bet he’s saying that cause it happened so long ago. You know how they were raised. I’m not saying it’s an excuse, but at least you can see how they’d been ingrained with certain beliefs.”
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But I also believe people are capable of thinking for themselves. They shouldn’t follow along with everyone else.”
The path led to a jagged outcrop, the first of the waterfalls in the area. This was the top of it. We made our way carefully out onto the rocks and looked down on the water below. There were a f
ew people at the bottom, taking pictures, or gazing at the beauty of it.
“It’s so pretty,” I said. “I’ve gotten used to desert sand and cacti.”
“I’ve never visited Arizona before. I’d love to see the Grand Canyon.”
“It’s impressive. Last time we went—Dad and I—it was foggy, and it looked like the end of the world. Plumes of swirling fog covered up all the rock, then it slowly disappeared as the day warmed up. More and more of the canyon came into view.” I sighed deeply. “Gorgeous.”
“Sounds amazing.”
“Come on. Let’s head down.”
We went back on the path winding its way through the trees in a downward slope. After about five minutes, we made it to the bottom. Not the most impressive waterfall—probably only thirty feet or so. The Muddy Creek Waterfall, a little way down the river, was twice that. Still, this one was majestic. The sight put life into perspective: no matter what happened to humanity, nature always prevailed.
The path followed close to the water now. We walked on, listening to the steady trickle of the rapids along the rocks. It was peaceful, and I felt more relaxed than any time since I’d been home. Colten’s fingers tightly held in mine helped. There was something about physical touch that calmed me. I could take in his heat through my skin, make it circulate through my own body.
“What do you do for fun in Arizona?”
“I have a group of friends I hang out with. There’s usually always something going on. One of our favorite places is called the Film Bar. They play independent movies. It’s a lot of fun. We try to see spring training games as often as possible. A lot of teams play out there.”
“You have…like-minded people within your group?”
I chuckled. “You mean gay people? Yeah.”
“Must be nice, having someone who understands. I thought if I was open about myself, I might inspire others to do the same. There has to be more people like us here.”
“I don’t know. Even if there were, I don’t think anyone would want to admit it. Colten, that’s one of the reasons I left. I never felt like I could be who I was meant to. This place squashes anything different.”
“They haven’t squashed me.”
Maybe the people here had evolved. Maybe there was hope for change. “I guess you’re stronger than me.”
“Don’t say that, Marty.” The pressure of his grip on my hand increased. “The world is changing. Slowly in certain parts, but it will get there eventually.”
“You’re optimistic, like my best friend, Rick,” I said.
“An ex?” Colten inquired with a grin.
“No, just a friend. We met at ASU. He and his partner, Tony, got married last month. Now they have a dog. They’re settled into domestic bliss.”
“Sounds sweet.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
We reached the base of the main waterfall, Muddy Creek. I remembered coming here in the winter, when the water froze over, the trees dead and covered in snow. It had been breathtakingly beautiful. Now, it flowed with life. The trees still a fresh green, with birds and squirrels among the branches. Mushrooms sprouted along the ground, growing beside moss and other little sprouts. The water rushed over the drop, spraying up mist as it hit the rocks fifty feet below. The roar of the falls pounded my eardrum, blocking out all other sound.
Colten and I stared at it in silence, standing close to each other, hands clasped together.
“Marty,” Colten said. He put his mouth right next to my ear so I could hear him over the noise of the water. “I had a crush on you in high school.”
I turned to him, studying the lines of his face, the curve of the smile on his lips, the sparkle lingering in his eyes.
“You did?”
He nodded. “That was the reason I showed you all my pictures. I thought it would be an easy way to strike up a conversation with you. Something common and ordinary that wouldn’t raise suspicion.”
“It definitely didn’t raise suspicion. I never realized.”
“I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to see you again. To be with you like this.”
My heart thumped in my ears, louder than the crashing of the falls. “I’m happy too, Colten.”
“Let’s go back to my house.”
Chapter 12
I pulled the Tundra out of the parking lot, all thoughts of souvenirs pushed from my mind by the promise glimmering in Colten’s brown eyes.
As we drove, I kept sneaking glances at my passenger. Colten seemed to hum with energy, or maybe I was super keyed up. Either way, I felt the hairs on my arms stand on end, as if static electricity coursed through me instead of blood.
“Why on earth did you have a crush on me?” I asked. The scenery flashed by, and for once, I hardly noticed.
“Oh, are we asking for compliments now?” His tone, like a playful caress, made me shiver.
“Honestly, I’m curious.”
“You had an aloof nature. That’s what drew me first.”
“Distancing oneself is usually seen as a bad thing.”
“No, not in the animal world.”
I snorted. “So now I’m a wild animal to you?”
“Is that what I said?”
I glanced at him and admired the half smirk on his lips. “It’s what you implied.”
“When someone is aloof, people assume it’s because they’re stuck up, or bored. But with you, you refrained from interacting unless you had to. You observed first. Maybe it’s the filmmaker in you. I liked the way you looked at the situation from all sides. It showed your intelligence.”
My cheeks heated. God, I was blushing!
But Colten wasn’t done. “Your gaze was so intense. It was as if you could read a person in a second, see exactly what made up their soul. I liked it when you looked at me. Which was why I brought my pictures. And even though I knew you weren’t interested in them, you never were rude about it. You treated me civilly.”
I barked a laugh. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard: ‘you treated me civilly.’”
“I was very taken with you. And to tell the truth, I still am. I always asked your dad about you. I always wondered how you were doing.”
Until the moment I recognized his face at the market, Colten Williams hadn’t crossed my mind in ten years. It felt like a betrayal somehow. Like he should have been in my thoughts too. But I’d never taken notice of him, besides being the boy covered in mud. Why would I dwell on a guy a year younger than me who never talked about anything but his cows?
“And now I know how you’re doing,” Colten continued. He moved a little closer to me, sliding along the seat. His hand went to my thigh and gave a reassuring squeeze. His lips brushed against my ear. “And now I’ve met you again, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get you out of my mind.”
I trembled at the words, and at the soft breath stirring across my skin.
Then he took my earlobe in his mouth and began to nibble.
I nearly swerved the car off the road.
“You better pay attention to your driving,” he said.
I grunted in reply, and tilted my head slightly to give him better access.
His tongue slid down my ear, to my jawline, then to my neck.
My eyes wanted to flutter shut, to absorb the sensations he was bombarding me with. But I couldn’t. Not without killing us.
“How much farther to your house?”
He laughed, his breath hot against my throat. “When you get to the 219, turn right.”
“Right? I thought you lived in Accident?”
“No, I’m in Oakland, which is why I usually stay at Mom’s and Dad’s. Saves me some drive time.”
“How long?” I repeated.
“Ten minutes. Five if you drive fast.”
I sped up.
Colten kept raining down affection on me. Fingertips gently ran up and down my thigh, lips pressed to my cheek, or temple, or neck, his nose nuzzled into my hair. The man was driving me crazy and I
was helpless before the onslaught.
“Turn left up ahead,” he said suddenly. We hadn’t entered the outskirts of the city yet. I remembered some of the farms in this area grew pine trees for Christmas.
I took the road Colten indicated and drove on. He kept up a string of instructions, in between small kisses or quick nips. Finally, he told me to pull up to the house on the left. I did, heedless of my surroundings. I didn’t even glance at the dwelling, I only parked the car, pulled the emergency brake, then turned my full attention to him.
I grabbed his shirt in both my hands and pulled him to me. He met me with equal ferocity. I devoured his lips, tasting him more fully than our first kiss outside Dad’s house. That had been sweet and playful. This was burning passion.
“Inside?” he suggested against my mouth. “More room to move.”
Room didn’t matter to me. Privacy didn’t matter. He’d worked me up into such a frenzy I could have taken him then and there. But at his prompting, we broke apart.
I climbed from the car, and when he did too, I tried to launch myself at him. He laughed and sidestepped me, pulling keys from his jeans pocket. I followed, impatient.
He unlocked the door and we went inside. The house had a chill to it, as if it hadn’t been entered for a few days. Colten deposited his keys on a table beside the door. He took off his shoes and set them on a bench. Despite my need, I had enough sense to remember my manners. I took my shoes off too and placed them beside his.
“Welcome to my humble home,” he said with a grin. “Would you like a tour?”
“Not right now,” I answered, advancing on him again.
He took me into his arms. With our lips joined, I forced him back, pushing him up against the wall. Though he was taller than me, and wider, I applied pressure and pinned him there. He moaned in response. He could have broken free if he wished, but obviously, he didn’t.
I returned the favors he’d paid me on the drive down. I nibbled at the skin of his neck, kissed along his jawline, ran my hands over every inch I could reach.
“God, Marty,” he said breathlessly. “Bedroom?”
“If you want. Couch is fine.”
I felt the vibration of his laugh along my lips as they pressed on the skin of his throat.
The Accident Curse Page 6