The Stolen Suitor (4 page)

“You need to learn how to ride better. Like
me
,” Janie helpfully put in. She sat atop her gray dappled pony, Annabelle, and watched him as if no place could be safer than the back of a horse. Despite her big blue eyes and blonde pigtails, she was clearly demon spawn.

“Janie! That’s not very nice,” Trix said. “Unca Chris clearly has mad horse skills.”

“‘Mad’ being the operative word,” Chris muttered.

“So you’re good? We still heading out for our picnic?” Trix looked him over with one raised eyebrow.

Chris looked at the big brown horse calmly eating clover, at the stone fence, at Trix’s doubtful face, and at Janie, the little judger, sitting on her pony. He should get back on the horse and go. He really should. He especially didn’t want to disappoint Janie, who hadn’t warmed up to him yet as much as he’d like.

But. The horse. He looked at the horse again, and every nerve in his body screamed “Oh hell no!”

Chris turned his back to Janie and spoke low to Trix. “Sorry, but my back is smarting from that fall. Don’t think I’m up for a ride. How ’bout I take the picnic basket and walk over to the pond? There’s a nice spot there by the tree. You can take Janie on a ride and meet me over there in a bit?”

Trix looked at Janie, then at Chris, and sighed. “Chris, you know you don’t have to ride for my sake. If you really don’t like it.”

“No, I do! I just… can’t afford to miss work this week. Dad’s still down from the surgery. Okay?”

“Sure,” Trix gave him a genuine smile and tugged on his front bangs, which he wore spiked straight up. “Chris-a-doodle-doo.”

“Nice, Trixie Sticks. Mock a man when he’s down,” Chris groused, but he smiled.

AT
the pond, Chris spread out the blanket, put the picnic basket on it, and sat next to it in the warm June sun, waiting for Trix and Janie.

Part of him was relieved as hell not to have had to get back on that horse. And part of him knew it was not good at all. Trixie had loved horses as long as Chris had known her. In high school she was always doing horse competitions of some sort. And, of course, Big Basin Ranch boarded and bred horses. It was Trix’s dream. And Janie looked like she was following right along in her mother’s footsteps.

Janie was right. She was four years old and was already the Lone Ranger compared to Chris.

He was never going to be a cowboy, but he had to at least not be totally lame, not if he was going to marry Trix Stubben. The trouble was, he didn’t want to look like a fool in front of Trix and Janie. Maybe if he could find someplace else to get in some practice, he could relax and focus on learning. Then he could impress Trix once he was more comfortable.

This was Montana. There had to be places he could take riding lessons. He promised himself he would look into it as soon as he got back to the store.

Trix and Janie arrived and tied their horses to a tree near the blanket. Trix looked relaxed from the ride, and Janie’s face shone with excitement. Chris got up to help, though there wasn’t a whole lot for him to do.

“Unca Chris, guess what we saw? Guess!”

Chris pretended to think hard. “Hmmm. A rabbit?”

Janie shook her head.

“A deer?”

“No, we saw a baby possum! He was only this big!” Janie spread her hands about an inch apart.

Chris thought that was awful small for a baby anything, except maybe a zygote, but he whistled as if impressed. “That’s pretty little. Was it cute?”

“Uh-huh.” Janie nodded.

“How’s your back?” Trix asked.

“Fine. Just sore.” Chris rubbed his shoulder, which really was aching. “You guys ready to eat? Because I could eat a… baby possum!” Chris teased, looking at Janie.

Janie glared at him with a frown.

Oh my God, I suck! Way to traumatize the kid. Geez.

“Or better yet, peanut butter and jelly!” he said to cover his ass. “That sound good to you?”

“Yes.” Janie gave him a wary look, like she didn’t quite trust that he
wouldn’t
make her eat baby possum, and went over to the blanket. She sat down crossed-legged on it and began pulling things out of the picnic basket.

“Sandwich before cake, Bug!” Trix called.

Janie unerringly found the PB&J sandwich and started to unwrap it.

“Sorry, that was a stupid thing for me to say,” Chris apologized. “I guess I’m trying too hard.”

Trix laughed. “Oh, don’t worry about it. Janie is used to our whacked sense of humor. John used to—” She stopped, a look of pain crossing over her face. She swallowed. “Well, you know how John was. Morbid and silly.”

“Yes. He was that.”

Chris knew why she’d faltered. The words
morbid
and
John
didn’t go together easily these days. It was true, John had had a dark sense of humor. But the way he’d died, kicked in the head by a stranger’s horse when they tried to get it out of the trailer, was all too real and too horrifying.

Chris didn’t know what to say, so instead he put both hands on Trix’s shoulders and rubbed. She relaxed under his firm grip with a sigh. “Oh Lord, that feels like heaven. It’s been a tough week.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Let’s sit here a minute.” Trix sat right where they stood on the lush grass beside the pond. Chris sat behind her, getting more comfortable to give her a real shoulder massage. They were far enough away that Janie wasn’t paying attention to their conversation, but Trix could keep an eye on her.

“Roger’s last day was Tuesday.” She groaned as his fingers worked. “Poor man stuck with me as long as he could, even though he wanted to retire before John passed. I’ve gotta find someone else fast. It’s killin’ me, trying to keep up with everythin’ and Janie too. Hemmy’s not good for much but mowin’ the lawn these days.”

Chris left off her shoulders to run his knuckles down her spine. “Is there anything I can do?”

Trix snorted. “Can’t really see you muckin’ horse stalls. Anyway, I need someone full time and you’ve got the Merc.”

Chris didn’t respond to that. Would he keep working at the Merc after they’d married? Or would Trix expect him to work on the ranch as John had done? Did he want that? There were so many things they hadn’t discussed. Chris felt like he had to tiptoe around things for fear of upsetting Trix. There was no handbook on how to woo your best friend’s widow.

But they’d been doing things together since Chris had returned for John’s funeral, nearly a year ago now. It was friendly at first, but the past few months it had definitely become dating. Chris was sure both of them had expectations of where it was headed. They just hadn’t talked about it out loud for fear of treading on John’s grave.

Chris stilled his hands. “You know I want to be there for you and Janie. Permanently.”

Trix covered one of his hands with hers. “I know, Chris. I want that too. I really do. But… can we give it a little more time?”

“Of course,” Chris said, relieved.

I want that too
. That was that, then. They both agreed they were going to get married. There was no reason to rush to get there.

Chris leaned over and kissed the top of Trix’s blonde head. She was a good-looking woman. Hell, she was Trix Stubben, homecoming queen. She practically had the figure of a boy anyhow, with her slim hips, long legs, and modest breasts. And she had a cute face that looked younger than her years, even though she was a mother now.

She tilted her head back in invitation, and Chris glanced at Janie. She had her back to them, tossing bits of her sandwich to the ducks on the pond, so he kissed Trix on the mouth. They allowed their tongues to play together softly, leisurely. They hadn’t gone past this, and Chris was okay with that. He knew Trix was still grieving over John. And anyway, it took the pressure off him.

Trix broke the kiss. “Come on, Unca Chris. Let’s eat our lunch before the munchkin gets it all.”

JEREMY
sipped at his cup of black coffee in Coffee in the Corner, the coffee shop across from the Merc. It was the third time this week he’d sat here before his shift at Nora’s, watching the comings and goings at the store and trying to build up his nerve for another try.

A red Ford pickup truck pulled up in front of the Merc, and two fine-looking men got out—Joshua Braintree and Ben Rivers.

Jeremy sat up straighter and peered out the window shamelessly. Seeing them was like spotting a rare bird or a white moose. They were legendary in Jeremy’s mind—the only openly gay ranching couple in the small town of Clyde’s Corner.

The Braintrees and the Rivers both were old ranching families in these parts. Joshua and Ben were living together on Joshua’s family’s ranch, “out” to all and sundry. From what Jeremy had heard, Joshua had made a big deal about it, announcing it at the town Christmas planning meeting. And Ben… shit, everyone knew Ben had spent some time doing gay porn in Vegas.

The pair might as well have been moon men for all Jeremy could relate to them. He admired them to death, even if he would never dare to be like them himself.

They were also both so good-looking, they made Jeremy want to whimper and fall to his knees. He pictured it for a moment: him in front of the Merc’s front door, whimpering and landing on his knees like a felled tree of lust. But even in his fertile imagination, Joshua and Ben ignored him and walked right on into the Merc.

Jeremy sighed. Through the Merc’s windows, he saw Chris stop Joshua and stand there talking to him while Ben wandered off into the store. Without allowing himself to overthink it, Jeremy smoothed his hair back behind his ears, tossed his cup, and headed out the door of the coffee shop.

“…NEW
adult class startin’ up this weekend. You’re welcome to come.” Joshua’s deep, rumbly voice was friendly as he talked to Chris.

Jeremy’s ears perked up as he walked toward them. His gaze drifted to Chris, and Chris’s gaze flickered to his face. Chris’s eyes widened as if he was surprised to see Jeremy, but he nodded a “hello” before he turned his eyes back to Joshua.

“Sign me up,” Chris said. “I really need help. I’m afraid ‘pathetic’ doesn’t cover it.”

“Welp, Ben likes a challenge.”

Jeremy passed them and took a few steps down the aisle before turning his head to see if Chris was watching. He wasn’t, but there was a high spot of red on the cheek that was turned toward Jeremy, and he seemed to be looking at Joshua very… intentionally, like he was trying
not
to look at Jeremy. Of course, that could be wishful thinking.

He stopped halfway down the aisle and pretended to browse the aspirin selection. He let his hair fall forward in a curtain on his right side so he could sneak glances from under it without being obvious. Chris looked good. This was as close to him as Jeremy had gotten since that day at the cream case two weeks ago. A lot of fantasies had floated under the bridge since then. And maybe Jeremy was seeing him in a different light, but he looked less like a too-good-looking, fussy guy Jeremy would never think twice about and more like a guy Jeremy could imagine being with.

A low thrum of excitement picked up in his belly. Probably not a good idea to imagine being with Chris right
now
, in the medicine aisle of the Merc. He picked up a package of Tylenol and pretended to study the back.

Do ya think she
could
like me?
Eric’s hopeful words echoed in Jeremy’s head.

“…six weeks? What should I wear?” Chris was saying.

Before Jeremy could hear Joshua’s answer, someone spoke over his shoulder. “Jeremy?”

Jeremy turned to find Ben Rivers standing there, smiling at him.

“Jeremy Crassen! Haven’t seen you in a long time. How are ya?”

Ben had always been friendly to everyone in school, even to Jeremy, who had done his best to disappear. And Jeremy had certainly noticed Ben. Blond, good-looking, exuberant, and funny, Ben had starred in a number of Jeremy’s high-school fantasies. But, as usual, what went on in Jeremy’s head stayed in Jeremy’s head. In real life, they’d said hello to each other in the halls and that was about it.

Now, Jeremy felt the automatic urge to lower his chin so his hair fell forward. But then he remembered Chris might be watching. He closed his eyes for a moment, calling forth the confidence of Gary Prince. Then he tucked both sides of his hair behind his ears, straightened his back, and raised his chin.

He looked Ben in the eye. “Hi, Ben. I’m good. How have you been?”

Ben rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you’ve heard all about how
I’ve
been. You and the entire state of Montana. Hey, you look great! I like your hair like that.”

It was only tucked behind his ears, for God’s sake. It wasn’t like he’d styled it or dyed it blue. But still, Ben reached out and tugged on a lock that hung on Jeremy’s shoulder. “It’s nice to see your eyes.”

Before Jeremy’s confused body could react, Ben took his arm. “Hey, come ’ere a minute. I want to introduce you to my man.”

Jeremy was too astonished to resist as Ben tugged him over to Chris and Joshua.

I want to introduce you to my man.
Lord, how could anyone be that confident? Ben didn’t even know Jeremy was secretly gay or that he didn’t have any objections to Ben’s lifestyle. He didn’t seem to give a crap what anyone thought. In fact, the sexy grin on his face as he looked at “his man” was full of nothing but pride.

“Hey, Josh, you ever meet Jeremy Crassen? I went to school with ’im. Jeremy, this is Joshua, sexiest man who ever sat on a horse, and he’s all mine, so don’t go gettin’ any ideas, ya hear?” Ben laughed at his own joke while Jeremy felt his face heat up.

Be cool. Be sexy and sophisticated, damn it.
As if he would know sophisticated if it slapped him in the face with a white glove.

“Hey, Joshua.” Jeremy held out his hand, thankful it wasn’t shaking. “I don’t believe we have met. It’s an honor.” Okay, that was a bit much. Though it was an honor, honestly.

Joshua shook his hand. “’Lo, Jeremy.” His voice and his handshake were both gruff in a good way. Joshua looked at Ben. “Find what you were lookin’ for?”