Vetting the Cowboy

by J. P. Bowie

  “Hey, you!” Whoever it was turned, startled, then ran out of the back door. Shit… Seth gave chase. Randy, because Seth could now see who the interloper was, flew like the wind toward the perimeter fence and dived through a hole in the wire. A hole way too small for Seth to follow, and by the time he got to the main entrance, the kid would be well gone.

  The little fucker… Regardless, he started running that way and saw Clint crossing the yard. “Clint! See if you can head Randy off. He was on the premises again.”

  Clint nodded and ran for the gates. As Seth reached the driveway, he heard a screech of brakes, and Clint shouted something. When he caught up with him, he groaned. Randy lay on the tarmac, a crumpled heap, while the car that must have hit him was burning rubber down the road.

  “My God.” He and Clint hurried over to where Randy lay. Seth pulled out his cell phone and dialed nine-one-one.

  “He’s still breathing,” Clint muttered. He knelt by the boy’s side and lifted his head onto his lap. “Poor dumb kid. What in hell was he tryin’ to do?”

  Seth shook his head while he gave instructions and the location of the accident to the emergency operator. “Why’d that guy take off like that?” he snapped, hanging up.

  “I recognized him…and the car,” Clint said. “It was the guy that was tryin’ to take Mike away with him yesterday. What are the odds?”

  “He must’ve been staking out the place. I better call Mike, make sure he’s okay.”

  Alex screamed every curse word he could dredge up—some he hadn’t used since his marine days. Of all the fucking stupid things to have happened. He couldn’t believe it. His worsening headache had blinded him and he hadn’t seen the kid until it was too late. He was almost certain the ranch hand who’d been chasing the boy had recognized him, or at least the car, after their confrontation of the day before.

  It wouldn’t be long before the cops had all the information they needed to track him down and arrest him. The worst they could charge him with was hit and run, but Michael would tell them the rest and, knowing Victor the way he did, Alex was already under the bus.

  “Fuck,” he screamed over and over as he headed for the freeway that would take him to the airport. All he could do now was get the hell away from there and go to ground once he was back in Seattle. Or maybe not Seattle. LA or Vegas might be better choices until the heat died down.

  First thing is to ditch the car. There was probably an APB out with its description. Gritting his teeth, he pushed down on the accelerator and sped up the onramp that took him onto the freeway and, with any luck, out of this unholy mess.

  * * * *

  Mike listened to Seth’s call on his cell and couldn’t believe his ears. “Who is the boy he hit?”

  “Randy Newton, local kid, worked for Parker for a couple of months till he got fired for being a no-show too many times,” Seth told him. “He’s in the hospital. Pretty bad, I’m afraid. His parents have been contacted. Parker and Royce are going over there to see if there’s anything they can do.”

  “Jesus, Seth. Any word on Alex? Clint’s sure it was him?”

  “Pretty sure, about the car anyway. The sheriff’s put out an APB and we’re guessing he’d head for the airport.”

  “It’s not like him to screw up like this. Victor will not be happy with this result.”

  “Can’t say I’m cryin’ over that. Good thing is, he won’t be able to show his face here again. You’re safe, thank God.”

  “I’ll see you later, Seth. Okay if I stop by your place?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want you to be anywhere else. I’ll get somethin’ in for us to eat.”

  “You’re the best. Talk to you soon. Bye.”

  “Bye, Mike.”

  Mike hung up and punched in Victor’s office number. “Hey,” he said curtly after Victor picked up. “Just wanted you to know that your buddy Alex screwed up royally today trying to do what you sent him out here for. He ran over a young man and took off. He and his car were recognized and the information passed onto the police. Maybe now you’ll give up on this ridiculous idea that you can force me to come back. No way, Victor, no way.”

  There was a prolonged silence on the other end before Victor said, “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

  “Oh, I know all right. And the cops will know too, when Alex is arrested for the hit and run and he tells them he was working for you. There are several witnesses, and me, of course, who will corroborate his story.”

  “He won’t tell them anything,” Victor snarled. “It’s more than his life is worth to involve me. I have so much dirt on him. I—”

  “Shut up, Victor. Don’t you think that Alex has dirt on you too? How will it look for a super successful lawyer to be mixed up in an attempted abduction that resulted in some young kid being mowed down by the would-be abductor? Not very good for your firm or your reputation.”

  “Michael, listen to me…” Victor lowered his voice to an almost pleading tone. “It doesn’t have to be like this between us. I just want you to come back to me. I miss you. I-I’ll do anything you want. I’ll give up the BDSM scene if that’s what it takes…I promise. Hey…” His voice lightened. “We could take that river cruise up the Rhine that you said you’d love. Remember? That time we talked about taking a trip together. We can do it, Michael…just come back, please.”

  Mike sighed. No way would any of this happen. Mike knew Victor too well. If he agreed to go back, Victor would see it as a victory for himself, might even lose whatever regard he had for Mike. But that wasn’t even part of the equation. He would be an absolute idiot to fall for anything Victor promised. He’d learned his lesson the hard way, and only a fool would want a repeat performance of what their life together had been.

  “I’m sorry, Victor, but I’ve moved on. I have a life I love here. You and I…we’re too disparate. You have a lifestyle I just can’t get into. I’m sorry, but you’d grow to resent me for not wanting to be a part of it, and I can’t, Victor. I just can’t. It would be best if you found someone to share that life with you. Let me go, Victor.”

  It took Mike a few seconds to realize that Victor had hung up without any more cajoling, without saying goodbye. Somehow, he knew he would never hear from him again.

  * * * *

  Alex swore under his breath when blue and red flashing lights appeared in his rearview mirror. He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment to clear his vision. The headache was getting worse by the minute. What in hell was wrong? He’d had headaches before, but nothing like this. It was as if red hot needles were being driven into his skull ― and what a fucking awful time for it to happen. His hands trembled as they clutched the steering wheel. A numbness started to spread through his legs and feet. He couldn’t feel the brake or the accelerator.

  What’s happening?

  He screamed as he lost control of the car and it careened over two lanes, side-swiping an SUV and plowing into a barrier wall. The Mustang rolled, once, twice, ending upside down on the shoulder.

  By the time the police and the paramedics arrived, Alex was dead.

  * * * *

  Parker took the call from Joel Harper, Denton’s sheriff. “That guy, Alex Brand, you reported earlier.”

  “What about him?”

  “Had a call from SPD,” Joel told him. “Brand totaled his car on the freeway heading for the airport. The paramedics say he had some kind of a stroke that could’ve caused the accident.”

  “Wow. I guess we won’t have to worry about him coming after Mike anymore. Wait, was that cold?”

  “Well, it’s not like he was a close friend or anything.” Joel chuckled. “Anyway, I left a message for Mike to call me soon as he’s able to get to a phone. Oh, and some good news. I heard from Randy’s folks. He’s banged up pretty good, but he’ll make it. Broken legs and collarbone, but no internal damage to speak of.”

  “That’s good, but still, poor kid. Maybe this’ll straighten him out some.”

  “On
e can only hope. Okay, Parker, take it easy. Talk at ya later.”

  “Later.” Parker disconnected and, after checking the stable, locked it up and walked back to the house.

  Royce was in the kitchen, fixing himself a drink. He dragged Parker in for a kiss. “So,” he said when they came up for a breather. “Quite the day, I hear through the gay-vine. Pour you one?”

  “Please. Yeah, I’m glad we were between guests today. Not the kind of excitement I have in mind for them.”

  Royce added a splash of soda to Parker’s scotch over ice. “Mike the vet must have some kind of backstory, I’m thinking.”

  Parker grinned. “You never can tell about the quiet ones. One day we’ll have to get him drunk so he’ll confess all.”

  “I’ll drink to that.” Royce clinked his glass against Parker’s. “I love a lurid tale.”

  “Hey, I was thinking.”

  Royce flinched. “You shouldn’t do a lot of that, y’know. Not good for you.”

  “Smart ass. Joel told me Randy’s gonna be okay and I was wondering if maybe we should give him another chance after he gets out of the hospital and he’s back on his feet. Could be he’s learned his lesson, coming so close to being dead or disabled for the rest of his life. What d’you think?”

  Royce nodded. “Up to you, really. You’re the one who’d be watching him, making sure he wasn’t screwing up again.”

  “Right.” Parker sighed. “Just somehow seems the right thing to do.”

  Royce leaned in to kiss him. “That’s why I love you, babe. You always know the right thing to do.”

  Parker snorted. “Now why do I think there was something dirty in what you just said?”

  “Must be your dirty mind.” Royce affected an air of innocence that was completely ruined when he dropped to his knees and undid the fly buttons of Parker’s jeans. “Now, here’s something I know how to do right.”

  Parker groaned as Royce’s warm lips caressed the head of his cock. But he was suddenly in no mood to argue the point.

  Epilogue

  One month later

  Mike looked Bonney in the eye as he stroked her muzzle. “Okay, now here’s the deal. I’m getting on you for my first riding lesson, and you are going to behave like the lady I think you are. No sudden stops or starts, and no trying to knock me off.”

  Behind him, Seth didn’t even try to suppress his laughter. “Mike, for Pete’s sake, this is Bonney, the gentlest horse in the world, and she likes you, so no problem. Now get up there and let’s go.”

  “All right.” He put his foot in the stirrup. “She’s just bigger than I remember.”

  “Go!” Seth clapped his hands under Mike’s butt and heaved him up onto the saddle. For a moment, Mike thought he was going to slide off the other side, but he grabbed the saddle horn and held on for dear life.

  “Take the reins,” Seth said, still laughing.

  “Oh great,” Mike groaned when Tim, Clint and some of the other hands gathered around to watch. “I thought you said we’d be on our own,” he hissed at Seth.

  “We will be once we’re out of the corral.” Seth mounted Blaze and walked him away from Mike and Bonney.

  “Wait.” Mike tried not to sound like a wuss, but from up there on top of Bonney, the ground looked a long way off.

  “She’s waiting for you to give her the go-ahead. Just click your tongue.”

  Mike made the appropriate noise and Bonney walked forward, following Seth and Blaze.

  “There you go,” Seth said encouragingly, coming alongside. “We’ll just go around a few times till you get comfortable with it, then we’ll head out to the pasture.” He glanced at Mike. “How does it feel?”

  “Like I have no control over anything. It’s not like driving a car, is it?”

  Seth chuckled. “No, it’s not, but once you get the hang of it, there’s nothin’ so great. Before you know it, you’ll want to her to trot, then canter, then just go like the wind.”

  “If you say so.” At the moment Mike didn’t even dare take his eyes off the back of Bonney’s head. The idea of flying like the wind was like a complete fantasy. He was glad to notice the guys had wandered off. Probably expected a few laughs with me falling on my backside. Sorry to disappoint you.

  “Watch where you’re going,” Seth said quietly. “Good way is to look between Bonney’s ears. So like when we’re on a trail, you can see the road ahead.”

  “Oh, right.” They went around a few times and Mike began to feel better. Having Seth riding next to him was nice, too. Maybe once he was proficient they could go for rides in the countryside, find a secluded spot, make love by a river bank…

  “Okay, now. Feeling better?” Seth grinned at him as if he’d guessed what Mike had been thinking. He reached over to take hold of the reins then led both horses out of the corral and headed toward the pasture. “We’ll let her get up some speed.”

  “Speed?” Mike all but squeaked.

  “Just a gentle trot. Nothin’ too fast.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Try to relax your back and sit up straight,” Seth said. “But don’t tense up. Move with the rhythm of Bonney’s body. Kinda sway a little from side to side. That way you won’t put too much strain on your back.”

  “Got it.” Following Seth’s instructions did make it all feel so much better. He leaned forward a little and patted Bonney’s neck.

  “That’s better.” Seth reached across and slid his hand over Mike’s thigh. “I knew you’d be a natural.”

  Mike had to admit he was enjoying this. He was also enjoying small-town living and meeting more of the locals. But most of all, he was enjoying his deepening relationship with Seth. There had been no more calls from Victor to get in the way of their happiness, for which Mike would be eternally grateful. It meant he could put all that behind him and concentrate on being the best boyfriend for Seth.

  They’d actually said the ’L’ word the other night. Yes, it has been in the middle of hot and sweaty sex, something he’d read somewhere a person never should do—say the word, that was—but God, it had felt so good and right. There had been no awkwardness between them afterward and, to be honest, he’d been wanting to say it for some time. And it had been thrilling to hear Seth say the words back to him and admit he’d been longing to tell him from practically the first time they’d kissed.

  “Where were you?”

  Mike gave Seth an evil smile. “With you in bed, your legs over my shoulders, my tongue in your butt, among other things.”

  Seth gasped in mock surprise. “You are a horny guy, aren’t you?”

  “Only around you. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “No, don’t mind. As a matter of fact, now that you’ve got me goin’…see that thick ridge of trees over there?”

  “I see them.”

  “Well, if we do a gentle trot over there, it’ll give you a bit more experience in the art of riding. We could take a rest after. I know a place where you could show me what you meant by those dirty words you just used.”

  Mike chuckled. “Well, you’re the teacher. So I say, giddy-up, cowboy.”

  “Nobody says giddy-up, Mike.”

  “Wait till I have your legs over my shoulders… You’ll be saying it all right, and a whole lot more.”

  Want to see more from this author? Here’s a taster for you to enjoy!

  Hot in the Saddle:

  Teaching the Cowboy

  J.P. Bowie

  Excerpt

  Parker Jones watched the black Jeep Wrangler drive through the entrance to the Seven Plus Ranch. He was expecting the driver, a guy recommended by Jed Miller, Parker’s friend and foreman over at the neighboring Double R Ranch.

  ‘You’ll like Jordan,’ his friend had told him once Parker had set up the appointment. ‘He’s younger but he’s a born horseman. Just what you need, right?’

  Parker had agreed. He’d been lucky so far with his hires, and he appreciated that the success of his and Royce’s dude ranch was
due in part to the affable and attractive bunch of cowboys who added some spice to the riding and roping lessons his customers came from far and near for. And ‘far and near’ wasn’t an exaggeration. Thanks to his husband Royce Chandler’s imaginative advertising, they’d recently had guys showing up from France and the UK, and last week a couple from Iceland.

  Parker walked over to the Jeep pulling to a stop in the guest parking lot. “Morning,” he greeted the driver. “Jordan Hendricks?”

  “That’s me.” Jordan unfolded his long legs out of the vehicle and extended a hand to Parker. “You must be Parker Jones.”

  “Guilty as charged,” Parker said, taking in Jordan’s height and physical attributes. The man was tall and built, with wide shoulders and narrow hips. He had a pleasant face, emphasized by the ready smile he now displayed. His dark blue eyes searched Parker’s for a second or two before he looked around at the ranch’s well-maintained grounds and buildings.

  “Nice place,” he murmured almost to himself.

  “Come on inside and we can talk some.” Parker touched Jordan’s arm then led him toward the rustic timbered ranch house. “Like some coffee? I just brewed it fresh.”

  “Thanks, I’d like a cup.” He followed Parker into the kitchen and took the mug of coffee Parker handed him.

  “Anything in it?” Parker asked.

  “Nope, black’s good. You have a nice home.”

  “This is all Royce’s doing. He designed it, helped with the construction and conned friends into helping him with the painting and tiling.” Parker followed Jordan’s gaze as he studied the Western prints on the living room walls.

  “He do these too?” Jordan walked over to get a closer look at one depicting a bronco and rider.

  “From photographs he took at the rodeo. He had them blown up then they go through some kinda process he knows all about, and you get that vintage look.”