The Tin Star (7 page)

“Yeah. Let’s go.” He held his hand out toward the door for Jamie to go ahead of him. He told himself he was not going to notice that fine ass encased in those tight jeans, in front of him. Unfortunately, he never had been very good at following his own advice.

* * * * *

Jamie sat in the passenger seat of Ethan’s truck, listening to the radio and watching the land pass by through the windows. After he’d greeted George, he and Ethan had gotten a list of supplies from Bill and taken off in the truck. They hadn’t said much yet on the drive. And Jamie was afraid the silence meant Ethan was regretting not just this morning, but last night as well.

Jamie had been embarrassed in the bathroom at first, but he’d taken Ethan’s reaction as a good sign. Now he wasn’t so sure. At least Ethan hadn’t started babbling about how they couldn’t do that again. Jamie reached over and turned the volume down on the radio. He had to know where they both stood. “Ethan?”

Ethan glanced over at him, a dark eyebrow arched under the straw hat, before he looked back at the road. “Yeah?”

“I’ve been thinking. We’ve definitely got something between us. I think we should pursue it. I can --”

“I agree.”

“-- be very discreet and ... What?”

Ethan chuckled. “I said okay. I agree with you; we should just go with it and see where it leads.”

Jamie felt like he’d been hit with a sledgehammer. He’d fully expected to have to argue his case. “You do?”

“Yeah, I do. Am I speaking English?” He smiled.

Jamie chuckled, feeling better than he had in a while. “Smart ass!”

Ethan laughed with him.

“Ethan?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks ...”
Thank you for taking me in, for getting my horse, for giving me a job, and for giving me the chance to be with you.
“... for everything.”

Ethan glanced over at him again, then held his hand out. Jamie looked at the big, callused hand for a second, then put his in it. Ethan squeezed. “You’re welcome ... for everything.”

The gesture and words were intimate, held promise. It said everything they didn’t ... all the questions, the reservations and finally the acceptance. Jamie smiled and finally relaxed. For the first time, he thought that getting kicked out of the only home he’d ever known might not be such a bad thing. Maybe it had happened for a reason. He savored the feel of Ethan’s hand holding his for a few more moments, then let go. “So, what all are we doing in town?”

“Other than the long list of supplies Bill gave me, you mean? We are getting you more tack.”

“Excuse me? I have a saddle and --”

Ethan shook his head. “Not anymore. Your dad wouldn’t so much as give me a rope to load George with this morning. Fortunately, I had some in the back of the truck. And with Fred there, George didn’t need much coaxing. Fred herded her right on into the trailer.”

“Godammit!” Jamie took a deep breath. “Will it ever not hurt?”

“I don’t know, Jamie ... I don’t know, but we can hope.”

Chapter Six

The saddle was beautifully made, hand-tooled leather and would really put a dent in his savings, but it was well worth the cost. He picked out a new hackamore bit, bridle, halter and saddle blanket, plus all the things he needed for the saddle. Ethan had told him not to bother with anything to do with grooming, had even offered to buy all his tack, but there was no way he was allowing that.

Jamie went ahead and grabbed a currycomb. He had the money now that John had brought him all his belongings and personal effects; he could only take so much charity. Jamie knew he was a hard worker and hiring him wouldn’t hurt Ethan’s budget in the least, but he also knew darn well that Ethan hadn’t been looking for another hand. Charity was still charity. Jamie was going to do his best to make sure Ethan never regretted hiring him on, especially since he’d cost Ethan two experienced workers.

He hauled all his stuff to the front counter.

Ethan was just finishing up his order with Tom Cooke, who had been manager at Hatcher’s Feed for years. They were discussing the new gazebo/bandstand that was being built in Town Square.

Tom looked at Jamie. “Why are you still in town?”

Jamie blinked and glanced at Ethan, then back to Tom. “Excuse me?”

“You don’t belong here.”

Jamie was dumbstruck. He hadn’t thought his being gay would matter to the people who knew him. After all, he was still the same person. He gaped at Tom.

Ethan, however, was scowling something fierce. The expression on his face was enough to make Jamie want to step back. No intelligent man would continue talking with a man Ethan’s size glaring at him like that. But Tom was clearly not a smart man.

“You should just hightail it on out to California with all the other freaks.”

Jamie was so astounded, he couldn’t think of a word to say, much less a proper comeback. He’d been coming to Hatcher’s Feed since he was a kid. The owner’s daughter, Melissa Hatcher, had gone to school with his sister. And he’d known Tom all his life.

“Put the stuff down, Jamie, and let’s go.” Ethan’s eyes met Jamie’s and he jerked his head toward the door.

Jamie set the saddle and tack on the floor by the counter and followed Ethan.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the manager’s angry face. “Fuckin’ faggot,” Tom spat out as he walked by.

He was still so amazed at the manager’s attitude that he hadn’t realized Ethan had stopped short; Jamie’s boots slid on the smooth concrete floor as he tried to avoid colliding with him.

Ethan caught his arm, steadying him. Then he let go and looked past Jamie’s shoulder with an icy stare. “You go ahead and cancel my order, Mr. Cooke. You can also tell Melissa Hatcher that I’ll be taking my business elsewhere here on out.”

Once they stepped outside, Ethan turned to him. “You okay?”

Jamie nodded, too flabbergasted to speak.

Ethan tilted his head, looking Jamie up and down as he did so. “Good. Get in the truck. We’ll go out to Robert’s Feed and Suppl--”

“Ethan! Jamie! Wait!” Melissa Hatcher ran out of the store, her blonde ponytail swinging behind her. “Please don’t go. I heard --”

Tom stormed out of the store, grumbling under his breath. He walked right past without acknowledging them. Jamie and Ethan turned their heads in unison to watch him go.

“Sumbitch!” Jamie’s eyes widened and his hand flew to his mouth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Please pardon my language, Melissa.”

Melissa giggled. “It’s all right, sugar. He
is
a son of a bitch!”

Ethan chuckled. “Did you fire him?”

She shook her head. “Not this time. Just made him take his break. But I sure will if he pulls a stunt like that again.” She looked Jamie in the eyes. “I heard the rumors, too, but it don’t make no difference to me. You’re good people and that’s all I care about. I gotta tell you, though, you’re gonna catch some flak around here. It ain’t right, but it’s God’s honest truth.”

Jamie nodded. “I’m beginning to see that. I’m thinkin’ Ethan was right and I should’ve kept my fool mouth shut.”

Melissa glanced at Ethan. “Yeah, well, hindsight and all that, but it still don’t give anyone the right to treat you like crap.” She huffed and shook her head. “I mean, really, and over something so unimportant. It floors me the things that people take offense at. People’s sex lives are private and that’s how it should be.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I don’t know what got into him. You are always welcome here. Please come back in and let me make it up to you. I’ll give you a huge discount, darlin’.” She winked and went back inside.

Jamie once again found himself without words as he stared after her. Ethan nudged his arm and stepped into the store. “Well, come on.”

All the things Jamie had put the floor were now on the counter. Melissa smiled at them. “So, Jamie, how is Julia? I heard she’s working at University Hospital in San Antonio.”

“Yes, she is. She seems to like it. I talked to her yesterday and she was tired but doing good, otherwise.”

“Good, good. You tell her I said hi and to call me sometime.”

“I will.”

Melissa grabbed a business card off the counter and started writing, then looked up again. “Now, Ethan, you’ve been coming here forever. I’d sure hate to lose your business. What if I give you this --” She slid the card across the counter. “-- and you call me directly to place your orders. That is my cell phone number and my home number. I’ll make sure that I’m here when you come in to get them, too. What do you think?”

Ethan tipped his hat. “That would be perfect, Melissa, thank you. Go ahead and put my order in and give me a call me when it’s ready.”

“I certainly will. Thanks for the second chance, Ethan.” She winked again and started ringing stuff up.

Jamie looked at Ethan, who was grinning. He caught Jamie looking and smiled wider.

Oh, damn!
The man was just too sexy for words! Jamie’s cock jerked to attention, stiffening. He couldn’t wait to get back home. He was pretty sure where he’d be sleeping tonight, given Ethan’s easy acceptance in the truck earlier. And that thought was enough to give him butterflies in his stomach. He closed his eyes, willing his prick to behave. He damned sure didn’t need to be walking through town with a boner. With the attitudes he’d gotten so far, the townies would probably string him up. Either that or they’d run a mile in the opposite direction to avoid getting near him.

Melissa cleared her throat. “All right, Jamie, I gave you fifty percent off the saddle and twenty-five percent off everything else. How’s that sound?”

His eyes shot open and he stared. He was about to tell her that that was too much when Ethan said, “Thank you, Melissa. That is very kind of you.”

Jamie looked at him.

Ethan dipped his chin ever so slightly. Those brown eyes peered out from under the straw cowboy hat, one eyebrow arched. Just enough to communicate that Jamie should accept graciously.

“Thank you, Melissa. That’s very generous of you. I appreciate it.”

“You are very welcome. It’s the least I can do.”

Jamie grinned and pulled out his bank card and paid while Ethan picked up the saddle and blanket.

Melissa smiled at him, eyes twinkling. “You sure you’re gay, honey?”

Jamie blinked. “Uh, yeah.”

“Oh, well, a girl can always dream.”

She looked over at Ethan. “I do believe he’s even prettier than John.”

Ethan laughed. “Yes, he is, Melissa! And a whole lot less ornery, too.” Ethan winked at him, and Jamie felt his cheeks heat.

Ethan thought he was pretty?
Wait a minute ...
“Men aren’t pretty!”

“
You
are.” Melissa dug around behind her, then put a large box on the counter.

Ethan took the opportunity to give him a good once over from head to toe, practically undressing him with his eyes.

Dang it!
There went his cock again. He sighed, loudly. Something told him that getting his libido under control with Ethan around was a lost cause. He wondered how many more errands they had to run and if Bill and the guys would notice if they spent the rest of the day in the house. Hell, he hadn’t even gotten to see Ethan naked yet. That just wasn’t fair. He was going to have to rectify that as soon as possible.

Melissa put the rest of his tack in the box and said goodbye, apologizing again for Tom’s behavior. Jamie thanked her once more for the discounts, then followed Ethan out to the truck.

Ethan put the saddle in the back seat of the quad cab, so Jamie stuck his box there, too. “Damn, Ethan! That was a hell of a deal. It was way too much.”

“It’s called good business. Besides, haven’t you ever heard you aren’t supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth?”

Jamie chuckled. “I look George in the mouth all the time.”

Ethan groaned, then shut the back door. “Get in, smart ass!”

“Thanks for lunch, Ethan.”

Ethan started the truck and put his seatbelt on. “You’re welcome. Speaking of food, what are you gonna cook me for supper?”

Jamie grabbed his hat by the crown, pulled it off, raked his hand through those dark curls, then put it back on his head. He caught Ethan’s gaze and grinned. “Well, I don’t know, Cowboy, what do you want?” He waggled his eyebrows.

Why that little ...!
Ethan grinned back. Oh, yeah, he was definitely gonna have some of him, but that hadn’t been what he was referring to. “I meant food, you tease.”

Those blue eyes widened in mock innocence. “What?” Jamie touched his chest. “Me, a tease? I am not. I put out ... thank you very much.”

Ethan shook his head as a chuckle escaped. He felt comfortable flirting and playing with Jamie, more relaxed in a long time than he had felt with anyone besides John. Of course, he and John didn’t flirt, and they’d both been too busy with their work to just go out and have a good time for a while now.

Ethan sobered. His attraction to Jamie made sense. He’d always felt at ease with Jamie, but he hadn’t thought further about it, because he’d always regarded him as John’s kid brother and off limits. In his mind, John had always been what linked him and Jamie together, but now that he’d had a little time to think about it, he and Jamie did have a lot in common.

Ethan smiled. This was looking more and more promising. He was getting hard just thinking about it. Wouldn’t it be great to have not only a lover, but a friend as well? That’s what he’d lacked with Cliff. When he wasn’t fucking Cliff, he’d always preferred John’s company. Cliff had been his lover, but never his friend. Now Jamie ... Jamie could be both.

He raised his eyebrows at the younger man. “I’m going to hold you to that, Blue Eyes.”

“I like that,” Jamie said quietly and looked away. His voice was so soft that Ethan almost didn’t hear him.

“Like what?”

Jamie turned his head back and those pretty peepers met his. “You calling me Blue Eyes.”

Ethan’s stomach tightened and his dick roused fully, throbbing against his suddenly too-tight jeans. He leaned across the space between them.

Jamie leaned in, too, those beautiful eyes staring into his with such longing it made Ethan’s breath hitch. Damn, he wanted, just wanted, to push that gray Stetson off Jamie’s head, grab those ebony curls, pull that sensual mouth to his and never let go.