by Sara York
"The colt we all want is going to be gone soon. Maybe you and I should just go get him."
Mike smirked. "What, and risk Duff being mad?"
Tucker laughed and shook his head. "I don't know."
Mike threw his arm around Tucker's neck and pulled him close, rubbing his knuckles over Tucker's heard. "He'll get over it. How about after we finish here we sneak off the ranch and pick up that little darling. We can stop in town, grab some coffee, and maybe flirt with some girls. It'll be fun."
Tucker tried not to have a reaction but by the look on Mike's face he knew he'd revealed more than he wanted to. "Yeah, let's do it."
Mike's eyes narrowed, his lips opened like he was going to talk but he just nodded and moved to the cab of the truck. Billy opened the truck door and gave Tucker a look that sent chills down his back. Billy wouldn’t mind the other guys knowing. No, he was the hang up, the one who didn't want anyone knowing about his adventures in gay sex. But it was more than just an adventure, he really liked Billy, might even love him, but he wasn't ready to say that out loud, not the love thing. Maybe he was ready for the guys to know he'd switched teams.
Heat washed over him and his stomach turned. Just thinking about mentioning the relationship with Billy had him feeling sick. God, what if his parents found out? He wasn't the type of man to hide the truth, but admitting he was gay was more than he could deal with. But was he really gay? Maybe it was just Billy. As he drove across the pasture to the wild mustangs they'd saved three years ago, preventing them from going straight to the slaughterhouse, he examined his feelings about women. He couldn’t say that he'd never be attracted to another woman in his life, but as sure as he was alive, he loved the feel of Billy's hot cock in his hand.
His jeans grew tight and he adjusted in his seat, hoping Mike wouldn’t notice. It was useless, they were all highly trained men, each one of them so well versed in reading non-verbal cues he was amazed no one had said anything yet.
The pressure was getting to him though. His heart sped up and his head pounded. "I'm with Billy."
"What?" Mike threw his arm over the back of the seat, his fingers tapping at Tucker's shoulder. "Stop the truck."
Tucker pressed down slowly on the brake, not wanting to have this conversation, delaying it as much as possible though he was the one who'd started it all.
"Is that what's been bugging you?" Mike asked.
"Hell, I'm not supposed to be gay. I…this is hard." Tucker threw the truck into park and rested his head on the steering wheel. The slide of Mike's butt across the bench seat was loud and he flinched, wondering what would happen, but he needn't have worried. Mike wrapped his arms around Tucker and held him tightly, fully accepting the pain and worry that went with coming out. It was worse than he'd expected and in a different way nowhere as bad. Mike didn't tell him he was sick, nor did he blow it off. Tucker only hoped the rest of the guys would be as supportive.
"You know, we all really like you and Billy. You don't have to fear our reactions. No one is going to be angry or mean. I'm sure we'll rib you with a few pranks, but you do know everyone will be happy for the two of you. Billy has loved you for a long time."
Tucker sat up, pushing Mike away. "Billy has loved me for a long time? How many of you knew this. Did he tell you all?" Anger flashed hot and Tucker wanted to punch something.
"Calm down. He didn't say anything to anyone. God, you do understand that we all know how to read people, right?"
"Yeah, but…how did I miss Billy being in love with me?"
"We never see those cues directed at us."
"I feel like such a dork." Tucker put the truck in gear, not wanting to spend time talking about his relationship.
"Hey, there's all ranges of sexuality."
"What do you mean?" Tucker glanced over at Mike wondering what the hell he was talking about. He'd grown up hearing that there were two types of men, real men and pansy-assed faggots. Just thinking about his dad made his stomach ache.
"Some guys like guys and girls. It's just how it is. You know, you don't have to be a label. You can just be you."
"But my dad won't understand."
"Ah, worried about what your parents will say. You know, they don't run your life. You don't have to do what he says."
Tucker was silent the rest of the way out to the pasture. When they'd procured the mustangs, none of the horses wanted anything to do with them. It had taken months to get even one of the horses interested enough to investigate the bales of hay while the truck was still in the pasture. Another four months passed before the bravest one would eat feed from a bucket. Now, all of the horses came to the truck looking for food. A few of the more shy ones hung back, still not trusting the men, but none of them were so afraid that they hid like they'd done in the beginning.
Of course, they'd debated for weeks about clipping the males, rendering the herd non-viable. In the end, they'd decided that it would be less cruel to neuter all of the males that were staying with the herd. Wild mustangs usually chased off their young to prevent inbreeding. Since they were now pinned, forced to stay in a herd instead of running wild, they'd not be able to exercise their instinct, agitating the others. Breeding the animals for sale had been an option, but most of the horses they had were older and out of prime childbearing age. Now they had twenty-eight horses that seemed to get along well enough. Two of the older ones had passed on while he'd been away on a mission.
His favorites were two mares that seemed to be best friends, kind of like he and Billy. Jazz and Beatle were beautiful girls that liked to tease him. They would nose him in the back then run away, like they were playing their own brand of tag but he'd never catch them.
"You ready to talk about it?" Mike tossed the last bale of hay off the truck then jumped down and snipped the wire holding it together.
"I know I'm old enough to not have to do what my daddy says, but I'm afraid. What if he never wants to see me again?"
Mike leaned against the side of the truck. A small mare came to him, nosing his pocket. He pulled out a carrot and gave it to her, gently scratching her nose after she finished eating. "My question is, do you really want them in your life if that's how they are going to act?"
Tucker gazed up at the foothills, his brain ached and his body hurt. He didn't want to deal with what his father would do, not right now. Rhetoric on the subject had been his dad's favorite dinnertime diatribe. He didn't need to guess what the man would say. Thinking about how disappointed his father would be made him ill.
"I can't think about this now."
"Then let's get in the truck, hook up that horse trailer and head into town."
"Sounds good."
"We can flirt with boys in town, not girls."
"I thought—hell, never mind. Doesn't matter if you're gay or straight." Tucker climbed behind the wheel and cranked the engine.
"I'm bi—you know, if you wanted to know."
"I guess I'm not surprised. Though I swear I've only seen you with girls."
"Just because I like an occasional romp with a good-looking guy doesn't mean I advertise it. I was in the Army when gays were hated. I may be okay with myself, but I'm still a chickenshit when it comes to being out in public."
Tucker didn't say anything. Judging Mike for being partway in the closet would be the pot calling the kettle black. The hypocrisy would be too much. He'd been fully in the closet. He only hoped the rest of the men on the ranch handled it as well as Mike had. Later tonight he'd tell Billy about the conversation. After Marshal, James, and Grant returned from England they'd reveal their relationship to the group and hope for the best.
Chapter Twelve
The proof against Craig had piled so high that Billy felt he needed a ladder just to climb out of the room. They didn't have the final nail that would have sealed the coffin shut on the matter, but they had enough circumstantial evidence to bring him in for questioning. Of course, they weren't an official law enforcement agency so they wouldn’t bring him anywhere
, they'd just set up a mission to take him out, cleaning up the problem before any lawmen even knew who Craig Jenkins was.
Money bought their time and expertise, but they did take on a few odd jobs that needed to be done on pro-bono basis. The recipient of the work never knew who had taken care of their problems, only that someone had. If they had the hard evidence, they'd take care of Craig, mainly because they'd worked on creating part of the problem.
"I'm starving." Zander pushed away from the table and wiped his hands over his face before standing. "It's lunchtime."
"Yeah, I need a break." Roger stood and stretched.
"I need to find Grant." Duff got up slowly and shuffled to the door. "Who is putting together the food?"
"I'll make something," Zander volunteered.
"I can cook." Roger followed after Duff, leaving Billy alone in the control center.
He stood slowly and glanced around at the walls where they'd tacked evidence, written notes, and developed a timeline showing just how far Craig had fallen. He wanted a shot of Craig talking to the guys in Ireland, or a note tying both parties together. So far, they hadn't been able to get that one piece of evidence that would give them a solid conclusion. All circumstantial so far so none of it would be enough to get them to act.
After a good meal, he'd have more focus. With a heavy heart he followed after the guys, hoping that a break from the investigation would be enough to give him the energy to keep looking for more evidence. He stepped into the kitchen just as Tucker and Mike came in, both of them were laughing. Mike pulled Tucker close, rubbing his knuckles on the top of Tuck's head. Jealousy shot straight through him, anger rising with each second that Mike kept his hand on Tucker.
The anger didn't go unnoticed. Tucker paled visibly and stepped away from Mike who shot Billy a glance then rolled his eyes.
"Down, big boy. We're just friends," Mike chirped before pulling Tucker back for another razz on his head.
"Stop," Tucker cried out.
"Go kiss your man before he throws a fit." Everyone froze. Mike opened his mouth then closed it. "Shit, I can't believe I said that out loud."
Every other man in the room stared openmouthed at Billy then Mike and Tucker. His face heated as the words Mike had said sank in. Tucker was red-faced now and shaking. Billy wanted to punch Mike in the face for embarrassing his man. It looked like Tucker was going to bolt so Billy stepped around the table and grabbed his arm.
"Don't run. Let's just tell them and get it out into the open."
Tucker's eyes were wide and he looked like he was in full freak-out mode. They'd talked about coming out and how scared Tucker was. He feared losing friends and gaining enemies, even amongst the guys at the ranch.
"You're safe here, Tucker. None of these guys are going to hate you." Billy cupped Tucker's cheeks, smoothing his thumb over the rough stubble. "Trust me."
Tucker turned his head and for a moment he feared that the homophobia Tucker had grown up in would be too thick for him to see the good thing they had. Then he felt a warm puff of breath on his wrist and the slide of Tucker's lips on his flesh. He exhaled and pulled Tucker to him, holding him so his face was hidden from the others.
Billy looked each one of the men in the eyes, making sure they all knew he'd defend Tucker to his dying breath. All of the men nodded then smiled. Roger turned away first, heading to the refrigerator and pulling out a bowl of potato salad.
Grant stumbled in and Mike's eyes went wide. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Um, I think it's more interesting that Tucker and Billy are making out. When did that happen?" Grant whistled and winked at Billy.
"God, we're just standing here." Tucker turned and swatted at Grant. "You're supposed to be in England. Why are you here?"
"I've been waiting over a year to see you two kiss. I didn't want to miss the show."
"They haven't kissed yet," Duff said, "or maybe they have and we just don't know about it."
"Damn it, can we just eat?" Billy grabbed the plates from the cabinet, wishing they would stop talking about he and Tucker.
"I'll start the grill. We can do burgers and hotdogs." Zander headed outside then stopped at the door. "What the hell? You didn't—but you did."
"Oh yeah." Mike pulled at his chin, his eyes full of merriment. "We bought the colt."
"What?" Duff bellowed.
The rest of the men whooped and ran outside, slowing as they crossed the yard so as not to scare the horse. Billy appreciated fine horseflesh and this young colt looked amazing. They stayed away from the trailer as Mike led the young horse out, taking him to the paddock where he'd spend the next few weeks until he was ready to join a herd.
"Damn, he's one nice looking horse," Grant said.
"Why?" Duff complained.
"We all wanted him. He'll make a great breeder." Billy walked over to the fence, wondering which one of them would take the lead on breaking the animal. He was already halter broken and looked calm enough, but soon his testosterone would kick in and he'd be all stallion.
"Which one of us has time to breed horses?" Duff asked.
"We won't even think of breeding him until he's four. By then, who knows what will happen," Mike offered.
"Who paid for him?" Duff had calmed a bit, but he was still simmering.
"I did," Tucker answered.
"So he's Tucker's responsibility." Duff spun away and huffed back to the kitchen. "We have work to discuss as soon as we finish eating. Zander, is that grill hot?"
"Sure is, burgers and dogs are going on now."
Tucker slid in next to Billy at the fence. "I got him for us. I put your name on the ownership transfer."
Billy's heart skipped a beat, his brain fuzzing as he tried to process the information.
"I know it was probably way too presumptuous of me and you can take my name off the records if you want, but I thought…"
Without even thinking about who was watching, Billy yanked Tucker close and plastered their lips together. Tucker opened and Billy slid his tongue in then pressed Tucker up against the fence, sliding one knee between Tucker's legs. After he came to his senses he ended the kiss but stayed pressed in close, his breath still mingling with Tucker's.
"What are we going to call him?" Billy asked.
"Beauty."
"Really?"
"Yeah, because he's so beautiful."
"I like it. Beauty it is.
Billy glanced out to the pasture, proud of the horse Tucker had bought them. He had work to take care of. Craig was most likely guilty, Marshal and James could be in danger so time was of the essence, but all he could do was hold onto Tucker, keeping him close, because if he ever lost this man he might not make it.
*~*~*
Grant's anger boiled into a hot mess that was more like rage. How dare they start investigating Craig? He'd been ready to give Billy a piece of his mind when he'd entered the kitchen, then he'd seen Billy and Tucker holding each other. Ripping into Billy right then wouldn't have come off well for any of them.
He watched Billy press Tucker into the fence and knew what they had was love. Craig had never held him that way. Not once in the five years they were together, had Craig ever shown that much passion toward him. After running into Craig in London, he'd begun to question everything.
"Okay, the boys are done outside so let's get this lunch on." Zander set the platter of hotdogs and hamburgers down on the table.
No one talked other than to arrange food as needed then the eating began. That ensured silence for a few more minutes. Duff was done all too soon and his reprieve ended. Before Duff could stand, Grant was on his feet. "I ran into Craig in London, that's why I'm here."
Mike and Tucker gasped, but everyone else was aware of the situation. The guys settled in, Zander and Billy both pushing their plates away, placing their napkins on the table. Roger sat straighter, his face a study of control. The one perfect moment, just after they'd woken and before either of them moved, they'd been searching each ot
her for truths and Grant believed he found a few, but now, that part of Roger was cut off from him and probably for a good reason.
Grant fought to keep his voice even. "This morning, Billy, Duff, Zander, and Roger have been combing through evidence, looking for any link between Craig and the bombing in central London."
"What?" Tucker's gaze shot to Billy's. "Tell me it's not true. Craig? He was one of us."
Grant gritted his teeth before speaking. "Yeah, he was." He looked at the floor, unable to meet their eyes. "Fuck. As much as I hate to admit it, it's not looking good for Craig. I listened to what Duff had to say and I agree with their investigation—sort of." It hurt to admit the truth. He hated himself for not believing in Craig, because that meant he didn't believe in what they had.
"Well shit." Mike stood up and went to the fridge that held the beverages. He grabbed a Coke from inside and cracked it open, taking a long swig before coming back to the table. "I want to see this evidence before any action is taken."
"I think now would be a good time for anyone who wants to look to come to the command center and plough through the data." Billy took his dishes to the sink then turned to face the rest of the group, his expression serious. "Every stone needs to be turned over, every avenue researched. If Craig is innocent, then I wish him my best, but if he is guilty, I know I'll want to be on the mission."
Grant nodded and left the room, heading to his bedroom. Hearing Craig get ripped to shreds would gut him. The knock on his door surprised him and he opened, shocked to find Roger. They stared at each other for a moment, the naked emotions were hidden but there was something that made him want to know this man on a deeper level.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure." Grant stepped aside and resisted the urge to touch Roger as he passed by.
"Are you feeling better than you were last night?"
"Yeah, for the most part."