Saddle Up

by A. M. Arthur

  Miles also avoided meeting Reyes’s eyes the entire time it took to break camp, feed the horses, and hit the trail to the summit. Its awe-inspiring view of Garrett lands never ceased to arrest Reyes when they reached it, week after week, year after year. Thousands of acres spread out in front of them, all wild lands with distantly roaming creatures great and small.

  The group dismounted for a while, and Miles went off to take pictures. Reyes told the story of how, from this point, Wes Bentley had gone off-trail and eventually discovered the ghost town. The first time he’d told the story, it had been off the cuff, and when he’d mentioned it to Mack later in the week, Mack thought it was brilliant cross-promotion. So it became a habit.

  It hurt a bit that Miles was keeping a deliberate distance now, and Ernie even quietly apologized for hurting his friend’s feelings with the joke. Reyes told Ernie to apologize to Miles, which he promptly did.

  Behind a cluster of their horses, the sniggering voices of the college guys rose a bit, and Reyes swore he heard the word queer. He stepped closer and heard Miles’s name mentioned. Reyes stiffened.

  “...actually thought I was interested,” Steve said. “Some skinny-ass nobody who lives in the middle of nowhere.”

  His friends laughed again. “If you don’t want to hit it, I’ll take a go,” Brock said, and Reyes bristled with anger. “No rules about a vacation fling.”

  Reyes stepped around Valentine’s flank to glare at the four frat boys who’d been a pain in his ass all week. “You’ll speak respectfully about the ranch’s staff and residents,” he snapped, just loud enough for them to hear without blasting their business to the rest of the campers. “Or you will be sent home, deposit nonrefundable.”

  Steve put his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “No disrespect meant, man. Just locker-room talk.”

  “Then save it for the locker room back at school.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  Job done, Reyes stalked away to the cliff and allowed the view to calm some of his anger. Sure, those guys were young idiots, but he didn’t like how they’d spoken about Miles, as if he was some ass to use and leave behind. He had a feeling Miles had gotten a lifetime of that crap from Dallas, and the thought didn’t do much for his overall mental state.

  Reyes hated very few people. He’d only met Dallas Ward once, briefly, but every time Miles gave him another scrap of information about their history, it stoked Reyes’s hatred of the man. And his burning need to somehow make it right for Miles.

  But Miles had made it clear he didn’t want Reyes to interfere, and he continued making it clear he wasn’t interested in Reyes romantically, either. Except last night...maybe there was hope. Not that Reyes deserved someone like Miles.

  I don’t deserve him, but I want him, anyway.

  The rest of the trip was uneventful, and they returned to the ranch by noon on Thursday. Miles seemed unhappy to leave Tango behind in her stall, but he didn’t linger. He’d taken the morning off from the saloon in order to go on the trip—Reyes might have called Mack ahead of time to make sure Miles didn’t have that excuse not to go. Miles headed straight for the shed and an ATV to get him up to Bentley. Shawn was capable of executing the menu on a quieter weekday, but Miles did love his kitchen. Much in the same way Reyes loved this ranch.

  I can’t fall for him. I can’t.

  Reyes stood near the corral and watched the wilderness swallow Miles up, certain he was fighting a losing battle against letting Miles Arlington steal his heart away.

  Chapter Eight

  Miles and Reyes had been cordial roommates since returning from their trip last week, but it was a tense sort of cordial. Miles was completely over Ernie’s careless remark about them getting a tent, but ever since that night, Reyes had gotten quieter than usual. They didn’t talk about anything more personal than work, and Reyes had even started reading in the sitting area, instead of his bed, adding another layer of distance. It kind of irritated Miles, because he thought they were friends. But Miles wasn’t the confrontational type, so he put up with the weirdness and threw himself into work.

  Miles had been playing with the saloon’s business plan, figuring out a way to add a meat chili to the menu using ingredients he already had on resupply without increasing cost too much. He’d wait until Monday to show it to Mack; tonight was about hanging with their friends, not work.

  Going to Mack and Wes’s cabin for a movie and drinks several nights a week was quickly becoming a tradition, and they were going over again on Friday night to watch the latest Marvel superhero movie. Tango seemed pleased to see Miles again, and he was glad she hadn’t been taken out on tonight’s camping trip by a guest.

  The horse ride up to the Garrett/Bentley cabin was quiet, but instead of enjoying it, Miles was annoyed. He wanted to go back to their easy existence from before the camping trip. When the porch lights of the cabin shone dimly in the distance, Miles reined Tango into a stop. It took Reyes a few steps before he noticed and turned Hot Coffee around to face him.

  “What is it?” Reyes asked.

  “You tell me,” Miles countered. “For the last week and a half, you’ve practically been ghosting me every chance you get, and you barely look in my direction. Did I do something wrong?”

  Is it because of how much I wanted to kiss you that night?

  “You haven’t done anything wrong,” Reyes replied, his eyebrows going up. “I apologize for making you think you had.”

  “Then what’s been up your ass all week? Ernie makes one shitty joke about us hooking up, and suddenly we aren’t friends anymore?”

  “Of course we’re friends.” Reyes urged Hot Coffee closer. His dark eyes glimmered in the dim moonlight, and he looked genuinely upset. “I’m not angry with you, I promise. I’ve been distracted, and I’m sorry.”

  That could have been the end of the explanation, and it was a good one, but now that Miles had found his courage to confront Reyes, he wanted the entire truth. “Distracted by what?”

  Reyes hesitated. “Last week, I overheard some of the guests saying disrespectful things about you, and it angered me. I confronted them over it, and I haven’t dealt with that anger properly.”

  “Let me guess. Steve and his frat friends?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did they say?”

  “One of them suggested that if Steve wasn’t interested in your, um, ass, then he was.”

  Miles sighed. “While I appreciate you defending me, guys are going to say shit like that around their friends. I’m a young, reasonably okay-looking gay man. It doesn’t really bother me.”

  “You shouldn’t be disrespected like that.”

  “Reyes, you’re doing that knight in shining armor thing again.”

  “I can’t help it. I care about you, Miles.” Even in the bad light, Miles saw the undisguised truth of that in Reyes’s expression. He didn’t even try to hide his feelings, and it socked Miles right in the heart.

  “I care about you, too, but you don’t have to defend me against idiots and trolls. Save that defense for when it really matters, like when you pulled Dallas off me that night.”

  “If he touches you again, I’ll break his arm.”

  The violence in Reyes’s voice made his gut squirm with unease, but Miles knew without a doubt that Reyes would never lay a hand on Miles in anger or retaliation. “He won’t ever touch me again,” Miles said gently. “He has no way of finding me. I feel safer here than I’ve ever felt in my life.”

  Thanks to you.

  “I’m glad you were able to find peace here,” Reyes said. “Truly.”

  “Me, too. Now if you’re done being angry on my behalf, you want to go watch aliens fight other aliens?”

  “Definitely.”

  They approached the cabin with a newly easy air between them, and Miles was glad he’d forced the issue. He didn’t need a defen
der, he needed a friend, damn it.

  Keep telling yourself that.

  Wes and Mack were on the porch waiting and drinks went around before they all settled into their usual seats for the film: Mack and Wes on the love seat, Reyes and Miles near each other on the couch, no longer separated by an entire cushion. Miles had missed this one in theaters, and he hooted his way through the movie before shedding a few tears over the bittersweet ending.

  “I’m Mary Poppins, y’all!” Wes shouted once the credits rolled.

  “Oh my God,” Miles replied. “Now I understand all the memes. Hah!” Maybe Miles had drank a few too many glasses of wine, because he couldn’t get rid of his giggle fit. Wes, thankfully, seemed to be having the same problem.

  “How about we let these two laugh it out,” Mack said to Reyes.

  The pair of men did their regular routine of hanging out on the porch, and Miles couldn’t help wondering what they talked about.

  Then Wes said, “Trash panda,” and Miles lost it all over again.

  * * *

  “Good movie,” Reyes said once Mack closed the front door. He sat on the porch steps, beer hanging loosely between his fingers.

  “Yeah, it was, for what you watched of it.”

  Reyes stared at Mack, who’d sat next to him. “What?”

  “Dude, you spent more time watching Miles enjoy the movie than you watched the movie.”

  “So you spent half the movie staring at me? Creeper.”

  Mack snorted. “You wish. You still hung up on Miles?”

  “Trying hard not to be. He turned me down, and I’m trying to accept it.”

  “That can’t be easy.” Mack flashed him a sympathetic smile. “This is the most interest you’ve shown another person since we were teenagers. It really sucks Miles doesn’t feel the same.”

  “The weird part is I’m pretty sure he does, but he’s pushing against it.” Reyes wasn’t much for sharing personal details but maybe Mack could tell him if he was reading too much into this or not. “Last week during the camping trip, we had a moment. A real moment, and I swear to Christ, I thought he was going to kiss me.”

  “But?”

  “Ernie interrupted, and Miles and I didn’t really talk about it until today. I’ve got feelings for him, and I think he’s got them for me, but it’s just not the right time.”

  “For him, or for you? Because believe me, pal, you are years beyond due for a great partner in your life.”

  Reyes adored his best friend for not assuming Reyes was gay, simply because he was attracted to Miles. He’d been attracted to all genders of folk over the years; he simply hadn’t allowed himself the chance to fall for any of them. He didn’t deserve the luxury of love and a relationship, not when two people were in the ground because of him. And maybe he hadn’t meant to fall for Miles, but it happened, anyway.

  “It’s not the right time for both of us,” Reyes replied, “and for our own reasons. I respect that Miles needs to put time and distance between himself and his relationship with Dallas.” Just saying the asshole’s name tweaked his temper. “I’d never push him into anything.”

  “Sounds like you’re in a tough spot, friend, but good on you for respecting Miles’s choice.”

  “I’d cut my arm off before I ever hurt Miles.”

  “I know it. Just keep showing Miles the same thing. He’ll come around when he’s ready.”

  Reyes wasn’t sure if he wanted Miles to come around, or if Reyes was better off shielding Miles from his past. Because relationships meant sharing secrets, and he really didn’t want Miles to know some of the things he’d done. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if Miles ever looked at him with fear or distrust in his wide green eyes.

  Done with being the topic of conversation, Reyes switched it up. “Have you heard from your father recently?”

  “Not since opening day, no,” Mack replied with a sigh. “Not that I expected to. I love and respect my parents, but my family is here.”

  “Same.” Reyes considered admitting he’d been thinking about his blood family more and more recently, but he wasn’t in the mood to open that can of worms.

  He sipped his beer and looked up at the stars, not daring to wish upon one of them.

  “So did you hear Avery’s news?” Mack asked after a few minutes of silence.

  “No, what’s his news?”

  “Colt called a few minutes before you guys arrived, so maybe he just assumed I’d spread the word. Anyway, Avery defended his thesis and after the committee deliberated, Avery was greeted with ‘Congratulations, Dr. Hendrix.’”

  “That’s fantastic!” Reyes smiled. “Who would have imagined Colt Woods falling for a fucking doctor?”

  “Not me. Avery’s also officially taken the job out here at UCSF for the fall, so he’ll be closer to the ranch.”

  “Dude. No one ever tells me anything. Good for them.”

  Colt had been worried about romancing Avery long distance when they resumed their relationship last fall. But the man Colt was today wasn’t the same brash, impulsive, jealous man he’d been six years ago. He’d grown up, and they’d made their relationship work. An hour’s drive still wasn’t close, but it was better than a plane ride.

  “Avery’s flying out in a few weeks to start apartment hunting with Colt,” Mack said. “Maybe the six of us can plan on dinner in the city.”

  Reyes grunted. “The six of us including me and Miles, who are not a couple, by the way.”

  “I know you aren’t a couple. You’re two single guys who live together, enjoy each other’s company, and who share mutual friends. It’ll be fun.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine with it. Just make sure you ask Miles yourself. I don’t want him to think I’m tricking him into a date.”

  Mack winked. “Even better, I’ll have Avery ask him. They got to be pretty good friends while working on the saloon’s menu.”

  “Excellent.” Reyes drained the last of his beer. “Business good this week?”

  “Can’t complain. I even had one inquiry about us hosting a wedding in the town chapel.”

  “Someone inspired by Sophie’s wedding?”

  “Or they’re just die-hard Old West fans.”

  “What did you tell them?”

  “Well, I mentioned the lack of local motel bookings until fall, so we agreed to host them in October.”

  Reyes grinned. “Nice. Are they planning their own food?”

  “Dunno yet. It all just happened in the past few days, so we’re working out the details with the wedding planner. Doing a couple of these a year would be a great income boost to the area.”

  “Always thinking about Garrett.”

  “Garrett and Bentley,” Mack replied with a wink.

  “You sound like a law firm.”

  Reyes’s well-timed comment made Mack choke on his beer.

  Mack coughed hard. “Asshole.”

  “While on the subject of Wes, now that you’ve built a house together, given any thought to putting a ring on it?”

  “Wes and I have talked about it. We’ve made all the promises to each other that need making, and we’re both comfortable with the way things are now.”

  “Got it.”

  “Why? You suddenly jonesing to settle down and marry up?”

  “No, just curious. Building a house and putting both names on the deed is a lot bigger step than one guy moving into the other’s apartment.”

  Mack’s expression went distant. “Yeah, it is. Don’t know if it means I love Wes more than I loved Geoff once, only that my life is different now. I love Wes with my whole heart, and I want him with me.”

  “Makes sense. I don’t mean any offense.”

  “None taken. It’s a fair observation. And listen, if this situation with Miles gets too awkward, we can see about changing your living situation
.”

  “Nah, already offered. Miles trusts me. Can’t see him comfortable living with any of the other hands.”

  Mack shrugged. “We have two guest rooms.”

  “You don’t want another guy underfoot, this is still your honeymoon period. Enjoy your solitude with Wes for a while. Miles and I can find a way to coexist without driving each other crazy. Promise.”

  “Okay.”

  The cabin door opened, and their two giggling boyfr—nope. Wes and Miles tumbled onto the porch, still laughing and quoting the movie, and Reyes suspected they’d opened another bottle of wine. Time to get Miles home and put him to bed.

  Reyes didn’t trust him to ride alone, so with some help from Mack, he got Miles up into Hot Coffee’s saddle, and then climbed on behind him. With Tango’s reins in hand, Reyes set off toward home. Miles continued to giggle softly as his overheated body pressed against Reyes’s chest, and Reyes had to fight off arousal as they moved with the horse’s steps. The closer they got to home, the quieter Miles got. Probably dozed off. Reyes resisted the urge to lean closer and sniff Miles’s neck, to press a kiss to that exposed flesh.

  Saddle soap, horse blankets, mucking stalls, splinters, think about other things.

  The mantra helped him get back to the barn without springing wood, and he got Miles situated in his office before brushing down the horses and putting them into their stalls. Miles was snoring softly in his chair when Reyes returned, and he didn’t even think. He scooped Miles into his arms. Miles was nearly as tall as him, but thin all over. Carrying him down the path to the cabin was still a little awkward, even if Miles felt completely right exactly where he was.

  Opening the cabin door took a little jostling, but Miles slept on. Reyes got him into his bed and removed only his sneakers, unwilling to adjust any other article of clothing on his friend. He also put aspirin and a bottle of water on the little shelf above Miles’s bed for morning. Miles always looked so innocent when fast asleep, and tonight was no different.