Sunset Ridge (13 page)

Ted’s lips thinned. “Have it your way,” he said before storming off.

Gray stuck his change in his pocket before taking the pretty pink sack from the clerk. “Thanks.” He gestured towards Ted’s retreating back. “Sorry about that.”

The young woman smiled. “Don’t be. You handled yourself remarkably well. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been quite as polite if I were in your shoes.”

Gray glanced down at his size eleven cowboy boots. “You might look a little funny in my shoes, but I have a feeling I’d like you anyway.”

The woman chuckled. “Have a Merry Christmas.”

“You too.” Despite his bravado with Ted, Gray felt unsettled. Nevertheless, he still had a few items left on his list. He left the department store and headed to the farm store. It was his last stop and the one he’d dreaded the most.

The moment he stepped into Weaver’s he was uncomfortable. Although not packed, there were still quite a few customers milling around the store in search of supplies and presents.

Gray made his way to the hat section and pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket. He and Ram had decided to get their newest full-time employee geared up. When Ram had mentioned sizes to Ben, the veterinarian had happily provided them. Ben offered to order Jesse a pair of good cowboy boots from a supply house he often used, but Gray wanted to be the one to buy Jesse his first Stetson.

“Hey, Gray, can I help you find something?” Ned Weaver asked.

Gray braced himself for another run-in. He pointed towards a black felt Stetson with a silver and turquoise band around the brim. “You have that in a seven and a quarter?”

“I’m sure I do. I’ll go look in the back,” Ned said.

Pleased by Ned’s reception, Gray moved to the clothing section. He found Jesse’s size and put three pairs of Wranglers into his small cart.

“I heard some disturbing news the other day.”

Gray turned towards the speaker to find Pastor Hallowell. “Pastor,” he greeted.

“I’d like you to come back to church,” Hallowell said.

Since he was a boy, Gray had gone to the First Presbyterian Church in Wellington. Although he didn’t go every week, he’d always tried his best to get into town a couple of Sundays a month. “We’re planning to attend Christmas service if that’s what you’re asking.”

“If by
we
you’re referring to you and Raleigh, I’d be delighted to see you there.”

“And if I’m planning to bring a few others?” Gray enquired, already knowing the answer.

“Church is a place for family worship. I don’t know that most people would feel comfortable if you brought your friends.”

Gray rubbed his jaw. “Well, I sure wouldn’t want to corrupt the congregation, Pastor. Of course you might want to ask Deacon Williams to at least try to hide his lust for your wife during the service. I’m sure that makes the congregation nervous as well.”

With those words, Gray returned to the hat section. Ned was already helping someone else at the register, but Gray spotted the hat box on the counter. He loaded the jeans onto the counter and waited his turn.

“I take it you had the right size?” Gray asked when it was his turn.

Mr Weaver took the top off the box for Gray’s inspection. “Sure did.” He started ringing up the jeans. “You don’t pay these folks no mind, ya hear? You’re always welcome in this store.”

“Thank you, sir.” So far Gray’s luck was running fifty fifty with the residents of Wellington. He didn’t imagine he could ask for more than that.

“Just wanted you to know.” Ned handed Gray his sack and the box. “Have a Merry Christmas.”

Gray wanted to hug the elderly man. If an old-timer like Ned Weaver could accept him, Gray had hope for the future.

He climbed into his truck and headed home. He pulled out his phone and called Ram.

“Hey,” Ram answered.

“Where’re you at?”

“Getting ready to sit down for lunch. Why, you on your way home?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there in ten. Wait for me.”

“Will do.”

Gray hung up the phone and clipped it to his belt. He spent the rest of the drive thinking about his experiences in town. When he arrived home, he took off his boots and his hat before joining Ram at the table.

“You’d better eat before your soup and sandwich get cold,” Ram told him.

Gray took a bite of the grilled cheese sandwich. “Ran into some trouble in town.”

“You weren’t surprised, were you?” Ram blew on a spoonful of homemade tomato soup.

“Not really. I can tell you I won’t be going back to the Presbyterian Church anytime soon though. Pastor Hallowell suggested I leave my friends at home if I want to attend.”

Ram nodded. “So we’ll find another church if you want. Who else?”

“Well, the bad news is that we’ll have to also find a new hardware store to spend our money, but Weaver’s Farm Supply still happily welcomes our business.”

Ram reached for another sandwich. “So we find a new hardware store. No big deal.”

Gray wished he could accept the change in his old friends so easily, but then Ram hadn’t grown up in Wellington. “Easy for you to say, they weren’t your friends.”

“Don’t think they were yours either. Do you?”

“What if it starts to affect the ranch? If we lose Andrew Carlson, we’re screwed.”

“Weren’t you the one who told me if the Carlson deal fell through you could always sell them to someone else?” Ram asked.

“Maybe, but what if I can’t?” Gray hated that the future of Sunset Ridge rode on the gender of who he chose to share his life with.

“Then I guess you need to ask yourself what’s more important, having a life with me or the ranch?”

When Gray didn’t answer immediately, Ram stood. “Yeah, I guess you need some time to think about it,” Ram said before walking away.

“Wait.” Gray jumped up and followed Ram. “It’s not that easy. I don’t know how to do anything else. This ranch has been my life since I put on my first pair of cowboy boots.”

Ram stopped and leaned his forehead on the front door. “I don’t know how to do anything else either, but I’d work in a fucking grocery store before I’d willingly walk away from you.”

Gray wrapped his arms around Ram’s chest and held him in place. Although he’d only known the man for a matter of months, he couldn’t imagine a life without Ram in it. “Me too, although I’d rather do the cashier thing than bag groceries.”

* * * *

Ram shook his head at the pile of presents. The Conner family definitely believed in overdoing it when it came to Christmas. The upside to Gray’s indulgence was the look of pure joy on Jesse’s face as he settled the Stetson on his head for the first time.

“It fits!” Jesse proclaimed. Wearing a new pair of Wranglers, complete with a new belt and shiny silver and turquoise belt buckle to match his hat and a plaid pearl snap shirt Ram had given him, Jesse stood and spread his arms wide. “Do I look like a real cowboy now?”

“Nope,” Ben said, producing a large square box. “I think you’re missing something.”

Like a kid who had never experienced the joys of Christmas morning, Jesse sat cross-legged on the floor and ripped open the package. Tears filled his eyes when he withdrew one of the top-of-the-line brown leather cowboy boots. “Ben,” he whispered.

Jesse hugged the boot to his chest before leaning over to give Ben a deep kiss. It wasn’t the first time Ram had seen affection between the two men, but from the look of the kiss, Ram would guess Ben and Jesse’s relationship had moved to the next level.

At first Ram wasn’t sure how he felt about the older man having sex with an eighteen-year-old, but the love shining in Ben’s eyes when Jesse broke the kiss put Ram at ease. Jesse deserved every ounce of happiness he could get.

“Thank you. I’ll never take them off,” Jesse told Ben.

Ben winked. “You have my permission to take them off before you go to bed.”

Jesse blushed as he pulled the boots on.

“My turn,” Raleigh said, reaching for a present.

Gray’s hand landed on Ram’s thigh. He leaned towards Ram and kissed his neck. “That’s the present Rebecca sent,” he whispered.

Raleigh tore the paper off the package and handed it to Georgia who stuffed it in a trash bag. She opened the gift with a smile on her face until she saw the contents. Raleigh lifted a red Christmas sweater out of the box. At least three sizes too small, the sweater had a large decorated tree on the front.

Raleigh gently folded the sweater and returned it to its box. “She really doesn’t know me at all, does she?”

Gray’s grip on Ram’s thigh tightened. Ram opened his mouth to say something when Jesse jumped in. “Here, open this one.” Jesse passed Raleigh another gift.

Inside was a leather messenger bag that had to have cost Jesse at least a week’s pay. Ram wondered why Jesse would buy such an expensive gift for Raleigh.

“It’s for you to use when you go off to college next year,” Jesse explained.

Raleigh ran her hands over the soft leather. “It’s beautiful, but you didn’t have to do this.”

“Yes I did.” Jesse glanced around the room. “You’ve given me the greatest gift in the world. I just wanted to return the favour.”

Raleigh shook her head. “I hate to break it to you, Jesse, but I found that shirt on sale.”

“I’m not talking about the shirt. You didn’t have to accept me being here, but you did, and for the first time in my life I feel like I’m part of a real family.”

Raleigh dropped the messenger bag and launched herself at Jesse. She wrapped her arms around the boy and hugged him. “I’m glad you’re here.”

As far as Ram was concerned the rest of the presents could stay in their wrapping because no present could top the gift they’d all been given over the last four months.

After hugging Jesse, Raleigh stood and withdrew an envelope from the branch of the tree. She walked towards the couch and handed it to Gray. “I’m not sure if this qualifies as a present, but I wanted to share it with you today.”

Gray opened the envelope and pulled out several sheets of paper. Ram grinned as he read the University of Texas at Austin acceptance letter over Gray’s shoulder. “Texas?” Gray questioned. “I thought you said you wanted to go to California.”

“I decided Texas is still warm enough while being closer to home,” Raleigh explained. “Is that okay?”

Gray pulled his niece onto his lap and gave her a big hug. “More than okay although I’m not sure I can give up the Razorbacks to root for the Longhorns.”

“That’s all right. I won’t hold it against ya.” Raleigh kissed Gray’s cheek. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me. You did all the work. I’m proud of you, pumpkin, and your grandpa would be, too.”

Ram patted Raleigh’s back. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” she told Ram.

When she rose off Gray’s lap to accept Georgia, Ben and Jesse’s accolades, Ram swung his arm around Gray’s shoulder and pulled him in for a quick kiss. “Yep, best Christmas ever.”

* * * *

On January fifth, Ram’s phone rang in the middle of the night. He sprang awake immediately and answered the call. “Ram.”

“Charlotte Sue’s in labour,” Jesse informed him.