Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Triple J Ranch (Section)
Note: Tired of waiting for JL Langley to give me more of her cowboy series, so...I was forced to take matters into my own hands. I'll full admit to stealing underlying plot and Royal's first name. But the rest is all me, I swear. (If you haven't read Tin Star or The Broken H...you need to. You can borrow them from me; god knows I've read them enough times myself...And if they sit in my room, I just read them over again). Also, too lazy to format right now. Will come back and fix later.
___
Walking across the yard of the Triple J Ranch was difficult, pushing against the brisk December snow that had decided to fall. There had already been a decent layer on the ground that morning before Royal had gotten out of bed. When he’d been doing his morning chores, it had apparently started up again. He sighed, shoving his hands further into his jacket. He hated the snow –more so when it was coming down, then when it was actually on the ground. It just made it harder to get his work done.
“Hey—” Royal turned to the disembodied voice coming from the porch of the main house. “You want some coffee?”
“I gotta go feed the cattle in the South Pasture,” Royal called back.
“They ain’t goin’ no where,” the voice called back.
Royal sighed. He couldn’t feel his toes…a cup of coffee would be nice. He grumbled before making a dash for the enclosed porch. He stomped the snow off his boots as best as he could before stepping onto the mat by the kitchen door.
“How’s things?” the dark haired owner of the Triple J Ranch pressed the hot mug of coffee into his hand after he pulled off his gloves that shoved them into his pocket.
“It’s fuckin’ cold outside!”
Jacob laughed, “Yeah, I figured. That’s why I’m glad I’ve got you around to do all of that physical shit outside.”
“I hate the snow,” Royal grumbled, sipping the hot coffee. He recoiled at the bitter taste and shook his head. “Goddamn, warn a man before you hand him a black cup.”
“I figured you knew,” Jacob shrugged, moving to sit down at the table. “Would you like something to eat? I think there are some muffins? Or, I could make you something.”
Royal raised an eyebrow but shook his head, “No, I’m good. I’ll eat after my work is done.” He took a few tentative steps onto the clean kitchen tile to pour some sugar and creamer into the coffee. He leaned back against the counter to take a sip of the doctored drink and grinned. “Much better.”
“What’s on your agenda today?”
“Well, if it keeps snowing, a whole hell of a lot of nothing. Gotta make sure the cattle have feed in the sheds so they don’t freeze themselves out in the cold, and maybe working on that damn tractor. Why?”
“You want to go over some paperwork with me later?”
“Sure,” Royal nodded, sipping down more of his coffee. He was starting to regain feeling in his fingers, which was nice. “I’ll come in after I finish up in the pasture.”
“Okay,” Jacob nodded. He had an intoxicating smile that made Royal rethink wanting to be alone with him. He gave himself a mental shake before putting down the nearly empty cup.
“I better get back out there. Thanks for the coffee.”
“Any time,” Jacob nodded.
Royal let himself back out onto the porch, taking his time pulling his gloves back on. He straightened his hat down over his ears and took a deep breath before stepping back out into the blistering wind.
An hour later, even more chilled then before, and damp to the bone, Royal stepped into the foreman’s house, situated off to the side of the main house. He kicked his wet boots off by the door, and hung up his jacket. His socks peeled off his feet and he shivered, taking off clothes as he made his way to his bedroom for dry duds. He lay the wet things to dry over the curtain rod in the bathroom, and pulled on some thicker, new jeans that hadn’t quite been broken in yet, and a thick green sweater. Heavy work socks warmed his toes right away. He pulled on a pair of old work boots, warm enough to get him to the Main House, and his thick down jacket. He tugged his hat back onto his head and shoved his hands into his gloves before making another dash back across to the Main House.
“Jacob?” He called, stomping off his boots by the back door. He shook out his pant legs before kicking off the boots and stepping into the kitchen. He shoved his hat and gloves into the pockets of his jacket before hanging it up.
He didn’t hear a reply back, so he tiptoed through the kitchen. He’d been working on the ranch for almost three years now, but that didn’t make him any less uneasy in the Main House. When he’d started working, Jacob’s daddy had been “in charge”, so to speak. He’d hired him behind Jacob’s back –something Royal hadn’t known anything about at the time. He’d just answered the help-wanted ad in the newspaper. He’d found out later that Jacob’s brother, Jeremy, had been the previous foreman and been run off by Papa Trenton for being gay. While Jacob hadn’t had a problem with it, it had caused some drama between father and sons. Jeremy was now comfortably situated at a neighboring ranch, totally in love with his childhood crush, and co-owner of the Bar-T.
Now though, Jack Trenton had died almost a year ago, and there weren’t many sad faces about it. He’d made life living hell for his kids the last two years of his life and while there was the whole, “He’s our Dad” feeling, they hadn’t wasted too much time mourning over him. Jacob took full control of the ranch as the oldest son, and though he had invited Jeremy to come back, his brother had declined, perfectly happy where he had made his new home.
“Jacob?” He called again. He had stopped in the entry way. He could hear soft music coming from somewhere, but he couldn’t tell what exactly it was. “Jacob!”
There was a sound of a bump and a crash, followed by a curse, “In the office, Royal.”
Royal’s face flushed red and he leaned against the door as he opened it, “Sorry –bad time?”
“No, no,” Jacob was brushing coffee out of his lap, “You just surprised me.”
“You want me to get you a towel?”
Jacob sighed, shaking his head, “No, I’ll just go change quick. I’ll be right back. –Get me another cup of coffee though, would ya?”
“Sure thing, Boss.” Royal nodded, picking up the mug. He followed Jacob out of the office, trying not to watch as Jacob unbuttoned his jeans as he made his way for the stairs. He glanced away quickly and darted for the kitchen as he caught a glimpse of underwear. He gave himself another mental shake. Jeremy was the gay one in the family, not Jacob. He should know better.
He started to pour some of the caramel liquid into a fresh mug before he stopped, glancing back at the stairs. “Hey, Jacob?”
“Yeah?”
“How do you take your coffee?”
He heard Jacob laugh, “Thanks for the consideration –I expected pay back for earlier!”
“Yeah, well, what can I say? I’m not an asshole.” Royal grinned.
“Just put in some of that pumpkin spice creamer from the fridge –that should be good enough,” Jacob called back. His voice sounded closer now, and Royal could hear him moving down the stairs. He finished pouring the mug before moving to the fridge. He glanced in the door for the creamer, and found it just as Jacob entered.
“This it?” He held up the copper colored Coffee-Mate bottle. Jacob nodded, pulling open a cupboard to pull out a box of cookies.
Royal poured a bit of the creamer in, before replacing the bottle in the fridge. “Here you go –sorry for startling you.” He offered him the cup.
“It’s OK,” Jacob shrugged. “It happens. Cookie?”
“No thanks,” he shook his head.
“Okay then,” Jacob shrugged. “Grab your own cup and come on into the office then.”
Royal nodded, pouring himself a cup before following after Jacob into the office.
“All right,” Jacob set his coffee and cookies on the coffee table in the middle of the office and grabbed his laptop and a few files off of the desk before settling down on the couch. “Lets get to work then…”
The two worked quietly over the next hour or so. Outside, the snow had started to cease, though you couldn’t tell with the way the wind kept whipping it around. When they’d finished, Jacob stretched his arms over his head and yawned.
“Well, glad that’s done with,” he set his computer aside. “And in time for lunch too.”
“Oh good; I never did get around to breakfast this morning,” Royal pushed himself up from the couch. “I better go make sure the boys have got things under control.”
“Okay,” Jacob nodded. “Oh hey, umm…what are you doing on Friday night?”
Royal shrugged, “Don’t got any plans that I know of. Why?”
“Jeremy and Dan invited us over to play poker –I just forgot to mention it to you.”
“Oh,” Royal nodded. “Sure. Sounds like fun. Do they need me to bring anything?”
Jacob laughed, “Jeremy knew you’d ask that –he said just to bring your cute butt… His words, not mine.”
Royal failed to hold back the red flush that crept up his face, “Oh, well…I think that can be arranged.”
“I’ll let him know you said so,” a small smile tugged at Jacob’s lips.
Royal shoved his feet back into his boots, lacing them up before pulling on his jacket and gloves. He took his time, not really ready to leave the warmth of the Main House. Finally, taking a deep breath, he stepped back into the brisk wind.
Friday was a much better day. The wind had died down, the snow was tamped down enough in the main pathways that he could get away with just wearing work boots, rather than snow boot and still keep his feet warm. No major catastrophes occurred while the cattle were widely left to the elements, and all looked to be happy and healthy –actually enjoying the snow. Crazy bovine.
“You ready for poker tonight?” Jacob had decided to come out to help with some work, rather then hole himself up in the house. He had grabbed an extra pitch fork and was helping one of the hands, Kennedy, muck out stalls, while Royal mended a bridle, seated on a sawhorse in the opposite corner of the barn.
“Yeah, I’m always lookin’ to take more of your money,” Royal looked up for a second to give him a grin. “And your brothers, and that best friend of yours, as well as Timothy Janes and anyone else who might be playing.”
“Pretty big mouth for a guy who loses four-out-five hands,” Jacob elbowed Kennedy who laughed.
“Yeah, but I always make sure that hand I win, wins me big,” Royal raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah…well, I suppose I can’t argue with that, eh?”
“You guys don’t even play for money, do you?” Kennedy asked, taking a short break to lean on his pitchfork. He was a younger guy, probably around twenty or twenty one. He lived with his parents in town and worked part time on the ranch while going to school at the neighboring tech school.
“Naw,” Royal shook his head. “Mostly we play with peanuts, or gummy worms…”
“Or whatever else happens to be in Jer and Dan’s kitchen…”
“Last time, didn’t we play with raisins?”
“Yeah, and Tim kept eatin’ them,” Jacob rolled his eyes. He poked Kennedy in the butt with the end of his pitchfork. “Hey boy, I’m not payin’ to stand about…”
“Oh, right, sorry…” Kennedy shook his head, getting back to work.
The group worked quietly once more, Royal finishing the bridle, just as Kennedy and Jacob finished up the stalls.
“Alright, I’m going to go check on the South Pasture. You want to leave around seven?” Royal asked, putting away his tools.
“Sure,” Jacob nodded. “You want to drive?”
“Sounds good,” Royal nodded back. “Kennedy –get the horses settled for the night and then you can get on home, all right?”
“Thanks Royal,” Kennedy nodded, tipping his hat. “See you tomorrow?”
“Bright and early,” He nodded.
Kennedy waited until Royal was gone before holding his hand out for Jacob’s pitchfork, “I’ll put that away for you, Boss.”
“Thanks,” Jacob nodded.
Kennedy replaced the forks back on their wall pegs before moving for the door that separated the warm barn from the outside coral where the six horses were gallivanting around in the snow. “So…do you think Royal is seeing anyone?”
Jacob raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think he is, why do you ask? Did you hear something?”
Kennedy shrugged, “He just looks like he would be popular with the ladies…and the guys for that matter.”
Jacob’s eyebrow inched higher, “You got somethin’ you wanna say, Kennedy?”
He laughed, shaking his head, “No, no...Royal isn’t my type thanks.”
“Well, I’m not sure if you’re his, so…I guess that’s OK,” Jacob shrugged.
“What about you?” Kennedy started leading the horses into their stalls while Jacob started dishing out feed.
“What about me?”
“You think you’re Royal’s type?”
“I don’t even know if I want to be Royal’s type,” Jacob laughed. “I’m not a bigot or anything like that…I’ll admit to fooling around in college, and I know Jer and Dan enjoy that whole scene…but,” he shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s for me. Plus, Jer would probably kill me for stealing his thunder.”
Kennedy laughed, “Yeah, you’re probably right.” He closed the gates after the horses and then started to dish them each out sections of hay. “But…if he was interested, would you?”
Jacob shrugged, “Can’t say I haven’t thought about it…but I don’t know. Maybe. It might be awkward, what with him being my foreman and everything.”
Kennedy nodded, “ ‘Spose I didn’t think about that.”
“It wouldn’t stop you though,” Jacob nudged him with the edge of the feed scoop. “I mean, he’s sorta your boss, but…I wouldn’t say anything.”
He laughed, shaking his head, “No, no…that’s all right. Thanks anyway.”
Jacob shrugged, “Alright, don’t say I didn’t offer to turn a blind eye though.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, should the situation ever arise,” Kennedy assured him. He threw the strings from the bales into the growing pile of them for reuse. “I’m going to head out, unless there was something else you needed me to do?”
Jacob shook his head. “No, I think that the other guys and Royal have everything else covered.”
“G’night then,” Kennedy tipped his hat and zipped up his jacket. “See ya, Boss.”
“Night, Kennedy!”
Jacob patted his horse on the nose as she pushed against his shoulder, “Sorry Girl, no treats today.” He pressed a kiss between her eyes. “Maybe tomorrow. Stay warm.” He patted her head before making sure the doors to the corral were tightly closed and made his way out.
He made his way back up to the Main House for a shower and a quick dinner. He paused to watch Royal park the old cab-John Deere tractor in the shed across from the house. He shook his head, kicking off his shoes outside of the kitchen door and making his way into the house. He started shedding clothes as he made his way upstairs to the bathroom. He turned on the water to get warm before pulling out a towel.
The water felt good and hot against his chilly skin. He shivered and tipped his head back to relish in the new heat before running his fingers through his thick auburn hair. In the think-tank of the shower, he couldn’t help but think about what Kennedy had brought up in the barn –in so few words. Was he interested in Royal? Sure he was, in a way. He was hot. Thick dark hair, well toned body…hard worker, fun to be around, good business mind when it called for it. Dependable. Sexy as hell. But, he hadn’t slept with another guy since college –hadn’t even looked at another guy since then. He’d always been a ladies man –he liked the girls; all shapes and sizes. But something about Royal had irked him, in a good way, ever since he had first laid eyes on him, three years ago.
After he was good and clean, he scrubbed his hair mostly dry with his towel before wrapping it around his waist. After pulling on some comfortable jeans and a nice fitting t-shirt, he made his way downstairs to heat up some left over pasta from the night before. Just as he was finishing, Royal gave a short knock on the door before letting himself in.
“I’m a little early, but do you want to stop into town and pick up some extra beer or chips?”
“If you want,” Jacob nodded. “We can pick up some of those fancy import beers you like so much.”
“Hey, you like them just as much as I do,” Royal shook his head.
“Maybe,” Jacob shrugged, shutting off the kitchen light and pushing Royal back onto the porch. “But I’m still good with a good old Milwaukee Brew.”
“So am I,” Royal shrugged back. “Those Cheese Heads know how to make a good beer.”
Jacob laughed, “You can be such a dumbass.” He shoved his feet into his sneakers and shrugged into his old, worn leather jacket. “It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
“Oh really?”
“Really,” Jacob nodded. “Kennedy thinks so too.”
“Does he?” Royal shoved his hands into his pocket, linking his fingers around his truck keys.
“Yeah, I think so,” Jacob pulled his black Stetson hat onto his head before reaching up to pull Royal’s stocking cap down over his ears. “He asked me if you were seeing anyone.”
“Oh.”
“…Are you?” Jacob’s hands trailed down his foreman’s shoulders before he pulled them back to himself, and shoving his hands into his thin knit gloves. He made his way for the screen door off the porch, making his way towards Royal’s bright blue pick-up.
“I’m not,” Royal shook his head. “I haven’t really had time. ‘sides, the only people I know around here are ranchers and farm hands. I’m pretty sure anyone in town found out I was gay too—“
Jacob stopped, turning around at the truck, “So, you are?”
“Are what?”
“Gay.”
There it was. The word that no one seemed to ever want to say…
Royal was stumped for a second. The intense look that Jacob seemed to be staring at him was throwing him off entirely. Finally, after a good mental shake down, he gave him a pointed look, “Does it matter if I am?”
“I’m just curious. I don’t care who you sleep with –my best friend and my brother have been together for three years. I’m a homophobe; I’m not going to fire you or something.”
“I like girls…I just like guys more,” Royal got into the cab of the truck, and shoved the key into the ignition. “Besides, you were just flirting with me like crazy, so no way can you claim to be straight as an arrow.”
Jacob shook his head, “I never said I was. I experimented in college, like everyone else.” He looked Royal in the eye. “I like guys. I just like girls more.”
A smile tugged at Royal’s lips and he shook his head, “Smart ass.”
The drive into town was quiet. They were almost to the local grocery store when Royal cleared his throat, “So, you think Kennedy likes me, huh?”
Jacob laughed, shaking his head, “I don’t know. I think he was fishin’. Or playin’ matchmaker. One or the other.”
“Fishin’ after me, or fishin’ after you?”
“Well, he asked about you.”
“But he got you to talk about yourself, didn’t he?”
“Maybe a little,” he nodded.
Royal bit his tongue for a second as he threw the truck into park, around the back of the grocery store. After cutting the engine and the lights, casting the two of them into the dark, he shifted to look at Jacob in the hazy darkness. “Be honest…you got a crush on me, Jacob Trenton?”
Now Jacob was the one dumbfounded into silence. It took him an extra second but he finally gave a slight half nod, “Maybe just a small one. But damn if you don’t make it easy –walking around my ranch in those ass-hugging jeans.”
A grin tugged the corners of Royal’s mouth and he licked his lip, “That’s all I wanted to know. C’mon, we’ve got beer to buy.” He slid out of the truck and held back the laugh that almost burst forward when he heard Jacob’s quiet curse.
They made their trip into the grocery a quick one, and arrived at the Bar T Ranch just after seven o’clock.
“Wait a second,” Jacob stopped him before he could open up the door. “Before we go in…all the flirting and the teasing… Not in front of Jeremy and Dan, okay?”
“Not a problem,” Royal shook his head. “I’m good as the Strong Silent type.”
“Don’t I know it,” Jacob rolled his eyes.
Jeremy opened the door to them before they could even get onto the porch.
“Hurry the fuck up assholes, it is freezing!” Jeremy grabbed his brother’s sleeve yanking him into the kitchen. “What took you so long?”
“We stopped for more beers,” Royal held up the two extra six-packs which Jeremy grinned at and took off his hands.
“Awesome. I’ll pop these in the fridge. You want one to start?” He offered.
“Sure, thanks,” Royal grabbed one of the long necks and made his way over to the table where Dan Evans, Timothy Janes –one of Dan’s hands, as well as Stephen Jerico, the town Sherrif and Winston Colt, the Native American foreman of Sheriff Jerico’s parent’s place, the Circle-Eight. “Hey guys –what’re we playing with tonight?“
“We got dried black beans –at least Tim won’t eat those,” Dan stared pointedly at Tim who shrugged and took another plug off his beer.
“Hey man, if it’s just sittin’ in front of me…of course I’m gonna put it in my mouth!”
“I hope I’m not the only one to catch that innuendo,” Royal pulled his cap off and shoved it into his pockets, followed by his gloves. He hung his jacket over the back of his chair before sitting down.
“No man, it’s innuendo all over the place here today,” Dan reached out to pat Jeremy on the ass he walked past with bowls of chips and dip.
“Keep your hands to yourself, asshole. I’m still mad at you,” Jeremy slapped his hands away.
“What’d he do now?” Jacob turned a chair around, sitting down on the other side of Royal. “Forget to hang up his towel in the bathroom again?”
“Among other things,” Jeremy took a chair on the other side of his brother.
“Is this a bedroom issue? ‘Cause I really don’t want to hear about that…” Jacob shook his head.
“No, the bedroom is fine. It’s the only thing he’s got going for him at the moment.
“Shut up,” Dan shook his head. “You love me and you know it. You’re just mad because I paid for your tuition for school next semester.”
“Christ, is that what this is about?” Jacob rolled his eyes. “Damn, Jer, let the man pay for school. You’re workin’ for him, aren’t you? You’re getting the degree to help out, right? Dumbass little brothers…” he smacked Jeremy in the thigh before picking up the deck of cards from the middle of the table. “Dan, you got those beans divided?”
“Yep,” He tossed everyone a full sack of the black beans.
“What the hell are you gonna do with all of these?” Stephen laughed, taking the bag.
“I figured we’d hold on to them for next time,” Dan shrugged. “You know, since we’re too cheap to go buy real chips.”
“Tell me about it,” Winston rolled his eyes.
“Shut up, Chief,” Stephen shook his head.
“All right boys,” Jacob began a fancy shuffle. “The game is Five Card Draw…”
A few hours later, and a couple of empties each, the sheriff and Winston had decided to call it a night. Timothy was stretching, getting up from his chair.
“I’m done for the night, guys. See you in the morning.”
“Night Tim,” Dan tipped his head at him, still shuffling the deck of cards. “How about you two? You up for another game?”
Royal shrugged, “I am, if Jacob is. It’s still early.”
“Well, you three can play another hand if you want, but I’m going to bed,” Jeremy got up and pressed his lips to Dan’s cheek. “Don’t get too drunk down here.” He whispered something secret, just for Dan, before giving him a little smirk and ruffling his hair before making his way for the stairs.
“I swear that boy is going to kill me…” Dan shifted in his chair, dealing out another hand. “What about you? You find a girl yet?” He raised a pointed eyebrow at Jacob. “Your Daddy will be rolling over in his grave if you don’t get workin’ on that soon.”
“Fuck my Daddy,” Jacob rolled his eyes. “I hope that bastard is rollin’ in his grave. I don’t have to live up to his expectations anymore.”
Dan shrugged, “To each his own.”
“Fold,” Royal shook his head, pushing back his chair. “Either of you want another drink?”
They each gave a brief nod and Royal moved to the kitchen to grab a couple more beers from the fridge.
“What about you, Grebe? You got a lady friend yet? You been in town long enough to get some eyelashes batted in your direction,” Dan asked as he came back, uncapping the beer easily.
“Royal is gay,” Jacob informed him.
Dan glanced up at Royal, taking it in for a second before he burst out laughing. He put his beer down before he spilled it and pushed his chair back from the table to lean down on his knees.
“What the hell is so funny?” Royal raised an eyebrow.
Dan leaned up, pressing his palm against his chest. “Oh man…I think I’m gonna have a heart attack. How long?”
“How long what?” Royal furrowed his eyebrows.
“How long has this fool known that you’re gay?”
“About three hours,” Jacob took a sip of his beer to hide the red flush that threatened to creep up his jaw.
“Oh, damn! That is sweet…” he reached across the table to pat Jacob on the arm. “I have to go tell Jer that he lost our bet. I’ll be right back.”
“What…what the hell?” Jacob furrowed his eyebrows. “We’re in the middle of a…a fuck it,” He threw down his cards and crossed his arms. “This is ridiculous.” He cracked open his own fresh beer, taking a long swig of it. “How the hell could they know and not me?”
“Gay men are all born with honed gay-dar. How else do you think we used to find each other?”
Jacob took another swig, albeit a smaller one this time. “Whatever. This is ridiculous.”
“I’m more curious as to what the bet was…confirmation that I was gay, or how long before you figured out that I was gay. Or…”
“Or?”
“Maybe they know you have a crush on me.”
Jacob snorted, “Like my brother would bet on something like that…actually, he would. Never mind.“
“You drink that any faster and I’m going to have to carry you home.”
“Wouldn’t you just love that?” Jacob raised an eyebrow. “Takin’ advantage of a poor drunk guy.”
“I prefer my guys sober,” Royal shrugged, taking his seat across from him at the table. He picked up the cards and started shuffling. “Besides, there hasn’t been anyone special in years. I wouldn’t waste all that pent up frustration on your drunk ass.”
Jacob hummed, giving a nod. “What about if I wasn’t drunk?”
“I thought you said we weren’t going to flirt tonight, Mr. Trenton,” Royal started dealing out cards. “You warned me pretty heavily against it when we got here tonight.”
“That was about four beers ago; I’m not thinkin’ straight anymore.”
“And there is more of that innuendo that’s been so popular here tonight.”
“Shut up,” Jacob picked up his cards, taking a glance at them. “I don’t think you’ve had enough to drink yet.”
“I think you’ve had too much.”
“I ain’t drivin’.”
Royal hummed, turning cards. He collected the small pile of beans as Dan re-emerged from the stairs.
“So…what’s going on?” Dan flipped his chair around to take a seat.
“Nothing’s going on,” Royal shrugged.
“Oh c’mon…you don’t just come out to your boss in this part of the country without some reason.”
“It just…came up,” Royal shrugged. “I don’t lie about it; I never saw the point.”
“So nothings going on?”
“Not for his lack of trying,” Royal raised an eyebrow at Jacob who flushed red again.
“Shut up, you asshole. Don’t you know you should suck up to your boss –not piss him off.”
“Innuendo…” Royal sang.
“Fucker.”
Dan laughed, “Oh man, this is even better then I imagined.”
“Shut the hell up,” Jacob kicked him underneath the table.
“Hey man, I went to college with you. I know what you’re all about,” Dan shrugged.
“You don’t know shit,” Jacob shook his head. “Besides, if anyone is interested in this lunk-head. It’s Kennedy. He’s the one that was asking questions today.”
“Uh huh,” Royal rolled his eyes. “More like, he want to see you laid so you’ll feel friendly with the Christmas Bonus.”
Jacob scoffed, “I am always more then generous with the holiday bonuses.”
Royal hummed again continuing to shuffle the cards, “All right…you’re getting argumentative. I think it’s time to get on home.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Dan nodded. “See you guys next week?”
“Sure thing,” Royal nodded. “C’mon Boss.”
Jacob sighed, pushing back his chair, “Fine. But I’m taking the rest of my beer. Damned if I’m gonna leave it to my queer bestie and brother.”
“Okay, okay,” Royal nodded. He pulled his jacket back on over his shoulders and tugged his hat on. “You grab those, I’ll go start up the truck.”
“Good,” Jacob took his time getting up from his chair.
“…You okay?” Dan raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I’m fine why do you ask?”
“You just look…I don’t know, disappointed or something.”
“Maybe I am,” Jacob pulled on his jacket and gloves. “But I can’t tell you what exactly it is that I’m disappointed about.”
“Oh?”
“I’m not talking about this anymore,” Jacob shook his head. “G’night.” He gathered the left over six pack. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay,” Dan nodded. He leaned in the door way, watching Jacob take his time to the warming truck…and wished he could be fly on the wall in the cab of that truck on their way home.
“Hurry up, it’s freezing,” Jacob pushed the six pack across the seat before hoisting himself up into the truck. “Why the hell is your truck so high up off the ground?”
“Sorry. You need a hand?”
“I got it,” Jacob slid into the seat and jerked the door closed. After he had clicked on his seat belt, Royal pulled the truck into reverse to start on the way home.
They were quiet for the first couple of minutes. The truck was finally starting to heat up, which was nice. Jacob warmed his hands against the vent and tried to keep from sneaking sideways glances at his foreman, who was having a hard time keeping the smirk off his face.
“So…do you want to just come out and say it or what?” Royal finally asked.
“Say what?”
“That you like me,” Royal’s drawl put a little western inflection on the word ‘like’, and Jacob shook his head.
“I find you attractive. That doesn’t mean that I…like you.”
Royal hummed, “All right.”
“And even if I did, it doesn’t change that I’m straight. Everyone is a little gay in their own way.”
“All right.”
“Just like you’re a little straight in your way,” Jacob shrugged.
“Sure, sure.”
Jacob crossed his arms, turning his head to stare out the window. After a moment he finally let what had been flitting about in his head pass his lips, “It would be different if you liked me.”
The smirk won out, and Royal reached across the cab prod him in the thigh, “Did I ever say I didn’t like you?”
“You never said you did either.”
“Sure I like you,” Royal shrugged. “You’re cute; sexy, even. You’re a hard worker, a good boss. You basically let me run your place, aside from all the paperwork, which is fine with me. What’s not to like?”
“That’s not exactly what I meant.”
“I know what you meant,” he nodded. “I do like you…I like lookin’ at you, I like teasing you even when you don’t get the joke. I like hanging out with you. I like those discrete little touches that happen then you do things: like hand me a cup of coffee. I like working for you, ‘cause it means I get to do all of those things any time I want.”
“Flatterer,” Jacob scoffed.
“Look,” Royal turned into the winding drive way of the Triple J, “I like you…you like me. But, the thing is, that…you’re mostly straight and I’m mostly gay. You’re my boss, I’m your employee. What kind of message would it send to the guys if we suddenly started shackin’ up?”
“That their boss is getting to be in desperate need of satisfaction,” Jacob scoffed.
“Careful there, sarcasm is a bitch to get out of leather.”
“Up yours,” Jacob jerked off his seatbelt as Royal parked his truck in its usual spot by the foreman’s house. He jerked open the door and made to slip from the cab.
“Be careful—“
The warning came too late and Jacob found himself with a face full of snow.
“You okay?” Royal, with a little more agility, made his way around the truck.
“I’m fine,” Jacob got up onto his knees, and shook his head. “Just a bruised pride is all.”
“Hey,” Royal squatted down next to him, and tilted his face up, brushing snow away from his cheeks. “I’m not saying that I don’t want to, or that I wouldn’t sleep with you. I’m just saying that…if we do, it probably shouldn’t turn into a thing.”
“A thing?”
“You know what I mean,” Royal stood up, holding out a hand to him. Jacob took the hand up, and began to brush the snow off his jeans. He watched him for a second before he nodded towards the house. “You want a cup of coffee?”
“Sure,” Jacob nodded. “I suppose you owe me one.”
“Suppose I do,” Royal nodded. “Grab your six pack –you don’t want that to freeze.”
Jacob grabbed the cardboard box out of the cab before shutting the door roughly behind him. Royal opened up the door to the small house and kicked off his boots by the door and hung up his jacket after stuffing his gloves into his pocket.
Jacob did the same, setting the case of beer by the door to grab on his way out.
“Damn, this looks as plain as the day you moved in, man.”
“What can I say, I’m not one of those artsy gays,” Royal rolled his eyes. He filled the coffee carafe with water and put in a fresh filter and grounds before flipping the switch. “Besides, I like it kind of plan. It’s sort of rustic.”
“Sort of boring as all hell.”
“I spend ninety percent of my day outside, why do I need to have a ton of shit laying around that I don’t even get to look at half the time.”
Jacob hummed, “True I suppose.”
“Besides, it’s just me and the less I have, the easier it is to clean up.”
“Ah, so you’re just lazy.”
“That might be part of it,” he nodded with a small smirk.
“You’re still wearing your hat,” Jacob slid onto one of the stools at the bar counter between the kitchen and the living area.
“Oh yeah,” Royal reached up, running his fingers under it to pull it off. “I sort of forgot.” He laid it down on the other end of the counter. “You want anything to go with your coffee?”
“No thanks.”
“You sure?” Royal leaned on his arms across from him, putting the narrow counter between them.
“There’s just one thing I want, and it has little to do with coffee.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
“And what’s what?”
Jacob leaned up on his palms, moving a little faster than Royal anticipated. Their lips pressed together for just a brief moment at first, tentative; then again with a little more vigor. Royal’s palms pressed against his side of the counter, pushing up and across the surface. It had been…too long since his last kiss. Much more since he’d had one this good, with a guy who made him feel so…
“…Sorry,” Jacob hesitantly broke the kiss. He was still a breath away from the foreman. “I’m not sure what came over me.”
“I think I have an idea,” Royal cocked an eyebrow and licked his lips. Jacob had tasted of the night’s beer and faintly of Jeremy’s fantastic homemade salsa, as well as slightly salty from the chips. “But you don’t need to apologize. If you hadn’t done it, I would have.”
“Oh really?”
“Really, just like if this bar wasn’t in the way, I’d be fucking you on the floor already.”
“Is that all that’s stopping you?”
“It’s the biggest obstacle at the moment,” Royal gave a slight nod. “But the most easily rectified.”
“Oh?”
“The biggest question right now is…would you let me?” Royal’s breath was warm against Jacob’s cheek as he brushed his lips against the rancher’s ear.
“Why don’t you pour me a cup of that coffee first…and then see what happens?”
Royal nodded, backing away from the counter, “All right, whatever you say.” He turned his back on him, reaching up to pull two clean mugs from the cupboard. He set them down in front of the still dripping pot, which he then flipped off before pouring some of the hot caramel colored liquid into the mugs.
“Sugar or milk?”
“Just some milk,” Jacob slid back onto his stool, clasping his hands on the top of the counter. He watched Royal pull the carton from the fridge and pour a little into each mug before setting one in front of him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Royal pulled out a spoon to stir some sugar into his own mug before leaning against the counter top across the kitchen from him.
They sipped the coffee in silence until Royal tossed the last few dregs of his into the sink, and set the mug upside down in the steel basin and leaning back against the counter.
“So…we going to end it at that tonight?”
“I don’t know, are we?” Jacob got up from the stool to set his mug in the sink next to Royal’s.
“It’s up to you, Boss.” Royal raised an eyebrow. “You’re the one who isn’t so sure about his sexuality at this point.”
“I know I find it really hard to say no to you, sexuality be damned,” Jacob looped his thumbs through his own belt loops, standing closer than necessary to Royal. He hadn’t noticed before that the foreman had a couple of inches on him, height wise. He was also a little broader in the shoulder, and his hair was a rich brown color. This late in the day, he was starting to show a little more than a five-o’clock-shadow.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think that was an invitation,” Royal reached up to put his hand against Jacob’s chest.
“You going to accept it?”
“I just might,” Royal stood up tall and pressed his lips to Jacob’s again. Without the bar-top between them, he could grab Jacob around the waist and hoist him up onto the clear counter top. While their mouths pressed together, their hands got to separate jobs. Jacob’s began to unbutton Royal’s shirt, pulling it out of the waistband of his jeans. He pushed it back over his shoulders and Royal let it fall to the floor before picking Jacob back up off of the counter.
“Where are we going?” Jacob wrapped his arms around his neck, surprised.
“Couch,” Royal found his mouth again after dumping him rather unceremoniously onto the dark burgundy sofa. “Hmm, you’re hard.”
“You too,” Jacob nodded, his hands moving down to unbutton Royal’s jeans. “We should do something about that.”
“I’m patient. I’d rather help you out first,” Royal sat back for a second, pulling Jacob’s t-shirt over his head. He paused, his fingers slowly unbuttoning the well-fitting denim. “This is sort of your last chance to escape. Second thoughts?”
“Leaving is the furthest idea from my mind right now.” Jacob gasped, tipping his head back as Royal dipped his mouth to suck the thing fabric still covering him. He didn’t protest as Royal sank back from the couch, tugging him along to pull off the rest of his clothes. The first gasp was matched when Royal’s mouth wrapped around pure skin.
“Don’t get too excited, Boss. We’re just getting’ started.”
___
Walking across the yard of the Triple J Ranch was difficult, pushing against the brisk December snow that had decided to fall. There had already been a decent layer on the ground that morning before Royal had gotten out of bed. When he’d been doing his morning chores, it had apparently started up again. He sighed, shoving his hands further into his jacket. He hated the snow –more so when it was coming down, then when it was actually on the ground. It just made it harder to get his work done.
“Hey—” Royal turned to the disembodied voice coming from the porch of the main house. “You want some coffee?”
“I gotta go feed the cattle in the South Pasture,” Royal called back.
“They ain’t goin’ no where,” the voice called back.
Royal sighed. He couldn’t feel his toes…a cup of coffee would be nice. He grumbled before making a dash for the enclosed porch. He stomped the snow off his boots as best as he could before stepping onto the mat by the kitchen door.
“How’s things?” the dark haired owner of the Triple J Ranch pressed the hot mug of coffee into his hand after he pulled off his gloves that shoved them into his pocket.
“It’s fuckin’ cold outside!”
Jacob laughed, “Yeah, I figured. That’s why I’m glad I’ve got you around to do all of that physical shit outside.”
“I hate the snow,” Royal grumbled, sipping the hot coffee. He recoiled at the bitter taste and shook his head. “Goddamn, warn a man before you hand him a black cup.”
“I figured you knew,” Jacob shrugged, moving to sit down at the table. “Would you like something to eat? I think there are some muffins? Or, I could make you something.”
Royal raised an eyebrow but shook his head, “No, I’m good. I’ll eat after my work is done.” He took a few tentative steps onto the clean kitchen tile to pour some sugar and creamer into the coffee. He leaned back against the counter to take a sip of the doctored drink and grinned. “Much better.”
“What’s on your agenda today?”
“Well, if it keeps snowing, a whole hell of a lot of nothing. Gotta make sure the cattle have feed in the sheds so they don’t freeze themselves out in the cold, and maybe working on that damn tractor. Why?”
“You want to go over some paperwork with me later?”
“Sure,” Royal nodded, sipping down more of his coffee. He was starting to regain feeling in his fingers, which was nice. “I’ll come in after I finish up in the pasture.”
“Okay,” Jacob nodded. He had an intoxicating smile that made Royal rethink wanting to be alone with him. He gave himself a mental shake before putting down the nearly empty cup.
“I better get back out there. Thanks for the coffee.”
“Any time,” Jacob nodded.
Royal let himself back out onto the porch, taking his time pulling his gloves back on. He straightened his hat down over his ears and took a deep breath before stepping back out into the blistering wind.
An hour later, even more chilled then before, and damp to the bone, Royal stepped into the foreman’s house, situated off to the side of the main house. He kicked his wet boots off by the door, and hung up his jacket. His socks peeled off his feet and he shivered, taking off clothes as he made his way to his bedroom for dry duds. He lay the wet things to dry over the curtain rod in the bathroom, and pulled on some thicker, new jeans that hadn’t quite been broken in yet, and a thick green sweater. Heavy work socks warmed his toes right away. He pulled on a pair of old work boots, warm enough to get him to the Main House, and his thick down jacket. He tugged his hat back onto his head and shoved his hands into his gloves before making another dash back across to the Main House.
“Jacob?” He called, stomping off his boots by the back door. He shook out his pant legs before kicking off the boots and stepping into the kitchen. He shoved his hat and gloves into the pockets of his jacket before hanging it up.
He didn’t hear a reply back, so he tiptoed through the kitchen. He’d been working on the ranch for almost three years now, but that didn’t make him any less uneasy in the Main House. When he’d started working, Jacob’s daddy had been “in charge”, so to speak. He’d hired him behind Jacob’s back –something Royal hadn’t known anything about at the time. He’d just answered the help-wanted ad in the newspaper. He’d found out later that Jacob’s brother, Jeremy, had been the previous foreman and been run off by Papa Trenton for being gay. While Jacob hadn’t had a problem with it, it had caused some drama between father and sons. Jeremy was now comfortably situated at a neighboring ranch, totally in love with his childhood crush, and co-owner of the Bar-T.
Now though, Jack Trenton had died almost a year ago, and there weren’t many sad faces about it. He’d made life living hell for his kids the last two years of his life and while there was the whole, “He’s our Dad” feeling, they hadn’t wasted too much time mourning over him. Jacob took full control of the ranch as the oldest son, and though he had invited Jeremy to come back, his brother had declined, perfectly happy where he had made his new home.
“Jacob?” He called again. He had stopped in the entry way. He could hear soft music coming from somewhere, but he couldn’t tell what exactly it was. “Jacob!”
There was a sound of a bump and a crash, followed by a curse, “In the office, Royal.”
Royal’s face flushed red and he leaned against the door as he opened it, “Sorry –bad time?”
“No, no,” Jacob was brushing coffee out of his lap, “You just surprised me.”
“You want me to get you a towel?”
Jacob sighed, shaking his head, “No, I’ll just go change quick. I’ll be right back. –Get me another cup of coffee though, would ya?”
“Sure thing, Boss.” Royal nodded, picking up the mug. He followed Jacob out of the office, trying not to watch as Jacob unbuttoned his jeans as he made his way for the stairs. He glanced away quickly and darted for the kitchen as he caught a glimpse of underwear. He gave himself another mental shake. Jeremy was the gay one in the family, not Jacob. He should know better.
He started to pour some of the caramel liquid into a fresh mug before he stopped, glancing back at the stairs. “Hey, Jacob?”
“Yeah?”
“How do you take your coffee?”
He heard Jacob laugh, “Thanks for the consideration –I expected pay back for earlier!”
“Yeah, well, what can I say? I’m not an asshole.” Royal grinned.
“Just put in some of that pumpkin spice creamer from the fridge –that should be good enough,” Jacob called back. His voice sounded closer now, and Royal could hear him moving down the stairs. He finished pouring the mug before moving to the fridge. He glanced in the door for the creamer, and found it just as Jacob entered.
“This it?” He held up the copper colored Coffee-Mate bottle. Jacob nodded, pulling open a cupboard to pull out a box of cookies.
Royal poured a bit of the creamer in, before replacing the bottle in the fridge. “Here you go –sorry for startling you.” He offered him the cup.
“It’s OK,” Jacob shrugged. “It happens. Cookie?”
“No thanks,” he shook his head.
“Okay then,” Jacob shrugged. “Grab your own cup and come on into the office then.”
Royal nodded, pouring himself a cup before following after Jacob into the office.
“All right,” Jacob set his coffee and cookies on the coffee table in the middle of the office and grabbed his laptop and a few files off of the desk before settling down on the couch. “Lets get to work then…”
The two worked quietly over the next hour or so. Outside, the snow had started to cease, though you couldn’t tell with the way the wind kept whipping it around. When they’d finished, Jacob stretched his arms over his head and yawned.
“Well, glad that’s done with,” he set his computer aside. “And in time for lunch too.”
“Oh good; I never did get around to breakfast this morning,” Royal pushed himself up from the couch. “I better go make sure the boys have got things under control.”
“Okay,” Jacob nodded. “Oh hey, umm…what are you doing on Friday night?”
Royal shrugged, “Don’t got any plans that I know of. Why?”
“Jeremy and Dan invited us over to play poker –I just forgot to mention it to you.”
“Oh,” Royal nodded. “Sure. Sounds like fun. Do they need me to bring anything?”
Jacob laughed, “Jeremy knew you’d ask that –he said just to bring your cute butt… His words, not mine.”
Royal failed to hold back the red flush that crept up his face, “Oh, well…I think that can be arranged.”
“I’ll let him know you said so,” a small smile tugged at Jacob’s lips.
Royal shoved his feet back into his boots, lacing them up before pulling on his jacket and gloves. He took his time, not really ready to leave the warmth of the Main House. Finally, taking a deep breath, he stepped back into the brisk wind.
Friday was a much better day. The wind had died down, the snow was tamped down enough in the main pathways that he could get away with just wearing work boots, rather than snow boot and still keep his feet warm. No major catastrophes occurred while the cattle were widely left to the elements, and all looked to be happy and healthy –actually enjoying the snow. Crazy bovine.
“You ready for poker tonight?” Jacob had decided to come out to help with some work, rather then hole himself up in the house. He had grabbed an extra pitch fork and was helping one of the hands, Kennedy, muck out stalls, while Royal mended a bridle, seated on a sawhorse in the opposite corner of the barn.
“Yeah, I’m always lookin’ to take more of your money,” Royal looked up for a second to give him a grin. “And your brothers, and that best friend of yours, as well as Timothy Janes and anyone else who might be playing.”
“Pretty big mouth for a guy who loses four-out-five hands,” Jacob elbowed Kennedy who laughed.
“Yeah, but I always make sure that hand I win, wins me big,” Royal raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah…well, I suppose I can’t argue with that, eh?”
“You guys don’t even play for money, do you?” Kennedy asked, taking a short break to lean on his pitchfork. He was a younger guy, probably around twenty or twenty one. He lived with his parents in town and worked part time on the ranch while going to school at the neighboring tech school.
“Naw,” Royal shook his head. “Mostly we play with peanuts, or gummy worms…”
“Or whatever else happens to be in Jer and Dan’s kitchen…”
“Last time, didn’t we play with raisins?”
“Yeah, and Tim kept eatin’ them,” Jacob rolled his eyes. He poked Kennedy in the butt with the end of his pitchfork. “Hey boy, I’m not payin’ to stand about…”
“Oh, right, sorry…” Kennedy shook his head, getting back to work.
The group worked quietly once more, Royal finishing the bridle, just as Kennedy and Jacob finished up the stalls.
“Alright, I’m going to go check on the South Pasture. You want to leave around seven?” Royal asked, putting away his tools.
“Sure,” Jacob nodded. “You want to drive?”
“Sounds good,” Royal nodded back. “Kennedy –get the horses settled for the night and then you can get on home, all right?”
“Thanks Royal,” Kennedy nodded, tipping his hat. “See you tomorrow?”
“Bright and early,” He nodded.
Kennedy waited until Royal was gone before holding his hand out for Jacob’s pitchfork, “I’ll put that away for you, Boss.”
“Thanks,” Jacob nodded.
Kennedy replaced the forks back on their wall pegs before moving for the door that separated the warm barn from the outside coral where the six horses were gallivanting around in the snow. “So…do you think Royal is seeing anyone?”
Jacob raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think he is, why do you ask? Did you hear something?”
Kennedy shrugged, “He just looks like he would be popular with the ladies…and the guys for that matter.”
Jacob’s eyebrow inched higher, “You got somethin’ you wanna say, Kennedy?”
He laughed, shaking his head, “No, no...Royal isn’t my type thanks.”
“Well, I’m not sure if you’re his, so…I guess that’s OK,” Jacob shrugged.
“What about you?” Kennedy started leading the horses into their stalls while Jacob started dishing out feed.
“What about me?”
“You think you’re Royal’s type?”
“I don’t even know if I want to be Royal’s type,” Jacob laughed. “I’m not a bigot or anything like that…I’ll admit to fooling around in college, and I know Jer and Dan enjoy that whole scene…but,” he shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s for me. Plus, Jer would probably kill me for stealing his thunder.”
Kennedy laughed, “Yeah, you’re probably right.” He closed the gates after the horses and then started to dish them each out sections of hay. “But…if he was interested, would you?”
Jacob shrugged, “Can’t say I haven’t thought about it…but I don’t know. Maybe. It might be awkward, what with him being my foreman and everything.”
Kennedy nodded, “ ‘Spose I didn’t think about that.”
“It wouldn’t stop you though,” Jacob nudged him with the edge of the feed scoop. “I mean, he’s sorta your boss, but…I wouldn’t say anything.”
He laughed, shaking his head, “No, no…that’s all right. Thanks anyway.”
Jacob shrugged, “Alright, don’t say I didn’t offer to turn a blind eye though.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, should the situation ever arise,” Kennedy assured him. He threw the strings from the bales into the growing pile of them for reuse. “I’m going to head out, unless there was something else you needed me to do?”
Jacob shook his head. “No, I think that the other guys and Royal have everything else covered.”
“G’night then,” Kennedy tipped his hat and zipped up his jacket. “See ya, Boss.”
“Night, Kennedy!”
Jacob patted his horse on the nose as she pushed against his shoulder, “Sorry Girl, no treats today.” He pressed a kiss between her eyes. “Maybe tomorrow. Stay warm.” He patted her head before making sure the doors to the corral were tightly closed and made his way out.
He made his way back up to the Main House for a shower and a quick dinner. He paused to watch Royal park the old cab-John Deere tractor in the shed across from the house. He shook his head, kicking off his shoes outside of the kitchen door and making his way into the house. He started shedding clothes as he made his way upstairs to the bathroom. He turned on the water to get warm before pulling out a towel.
The water felt good and hot against his chilly skin. He shivered and tipped his head back to relish in the new heat before running his fingers through his thick auburn hair. In the think-tank of the shower, he couldn’t help but think about what Kennedy had brought up in the barn –in so few words. Was he interested in Royal? Sure he was, in a way. He was hot. Thick dark hair, well toned body…hard worker, fun to be around, good business mind when it called for it. Dependable. Sexy as hell. But, he hadn’t slept with another guy since college –hadn’t even looked at another guy since then. He’d always been a ladies man –he liked the girls; all shapes and sizes. But something about Royal had irked him, in a good way, ever since he had first laid eyes on him, three years ago.
After he was good and clean, he scrubbed his hair mostly dry with his towel before wrapping it around his waist. After pulling on some comfortable jeans and a nice fitting t-shirt, he made his way downstairs to heat up some left over pasta from the night before. Just as he was finishing, Royal gave a short knock on the door before letting himself in.
“I’m a little early, but do you want to stop into town and pick up some extra beer or chips?”
“If you want,” Jacob nodded. “We can pick up some of those fancy import beers you like so much.”
“Hey, you like them just as much as I do,” Royal shook his head.
“Maybe,” Jacob shrugged, shutting off the kitchen light and pushing Royal back onto the porch. “But I’m still good with a good old Milwaukee Brew.”
“So am I,” Royal shrugged back. “Those Cheese Heads know how to make a good beer.”
Jacob laughed, “You can be such a dumbass.” He shoved his feet into his sneakers and shrugged into his old, worn leather jacket. “It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
“Oh really?”
“Really,” Jacob nodded. “Kennedy thinks so too.”
“Does he?” Royal shoved his hands into his pocket, linking his fingers around his truck keys.
“Yeah, I think so,” Jacob pulled his black Stetson hat onto his head before reaching up to pull Royal’s stocking cap down over his ears. “He asked me if you were seeing anyone.”
“Oh.”
“…Are you?” Jacob’s hands trailed down his foreman’s shoulders before he pulled them back to himself, and shoving his hands into his thin knit gloves. He made his way for the screen door off the porch, making his way towards Royal’s bright blue pick-up.
“I’m not,” Royal shook his head. “I haven’t really had time. ‘sides, the only people I know around here are ranchers and farm hands. I’m pretty sure anyone in town found out I was gay too—“
Jacob stopped, turning around at the truck, “So, you are?”
“Are what?”
“Gay.”
There it was. The word that no one seemed to ever want to say…
Royal was stumped for a second. The intense look that Jacob seemed to be staring at him was throwing him off entirely. Finally, after a good mental shake down, he gave him a pointed look, “Does it matter if I am?”
“I’m just curious. I don’t care who you sleep with –my best friend and my brother have been together for three years. I’m a homophobe; I’m not going to fire you or something.”
“I like girls…I just like guys more,” Royal got into the cab of the truck, and shoved the key into the ignition. “Besides, you were just flirting with me like crazy, so no way can you claim to be straight as an arrow.”
Jacob shook his head, “I never said I was. I experimented in college, like everyone else.” He looked Royal in the eye. “I like guys. I just like girls more.”
A smile tugged at Royal’s lips and he shook his head, “Smart ass.”
The drive into town was quiet. They were almost to the local grocery store when Royal cleared his throat, “So, you think Kennedy likes me, huh?”
Jacob laughed, shaking his head, “I don’t know. I think he was fishin’. Or playin’ matchmaker. One or the other.”
“Fishin’ after me, or fishin’ after you?”
“Well, he asked about you.”
“But he got you to talk about yourself, didn’t he?”
“Maybe a little,” he nodded.
Royal bit his tongue for a second as he threw the truck into park, around the back of the grocery store. After cutting the engine and the lights, casting the two of them into the dark, he shifted to look at Jacob in the hazy darkness. “Be honest…you got a crush on me, Jacob Trenton?”
Now Jacob was the one dumbfounded into silence. It took him an extra second but he finally gave a slight half nod, “Maybe just a small one. But damn if you don’t make it easy –walking around my ranch in those ass-hugging jeans.”
A grin tugged the corners of Royal’s mouth and he licked his lip, “That’s all I wanted to know. C’mon, we’ve got beer to buy.” He slid out of the truck and held back the laugh that almost burst forward when he heard Jacob’s quiet curse.
They made their trip into the grocery a quick one, and arrived at the Bar T Ranch just after seven o’clock.
“Wait a second,” Jacob stopped him before he could open up the door. “Before we go in…all the flirting and the teasing… Not in front of Jeremy and Dan, okay?”
“Not a problem,” Royal shook his head. “I’m good as the Strong Silent type.”
“Don’t I know it,” Jacob rolled his eyes.
Jeremy opened the door to them before they could even get onto the porch.
“Hurry the fuck up assholes, it is freezing!” Jeremy grabbed his brother’s sleeve yanking him into the kitchen. “What took you so long?”
“We stopped for more beers,” Royal held up the two extra six-packs which Jeremy grinned at and took off his hands.
“Awesome. I’ll pop these in the fridge. You want one to start?” He offered.
“Sure, thanks,” Royal grabbed one of the long necks and made his way over to the table where Dan Evans, Timothy Janes –one of Dan’s hands, as well as Stephen Jerico, the town Sherrif and Winston Colt, the Native American foreman of Sheriff Jerico’s parent’s place, the Circle-Eight. “Hey guys –what’re we playing with tonight?“
“We got dried black beans –at least Tim won’t eat those,” Dan stared pointedly at Tim who shrugged and took another plug off his beer.
“Hey man, if it’s just sittin’ in front of me…of course I’m gonna put it in my mouth!”
“I hope I’m not the only one to catch that innuendo,” Royal pulled his cap off and shoved it into his pockets, followed by his gloves. He hung his jacket over the back of his chair before sitting down.
“No man, it’s innuendo all over the place here today,” Dan reached out to pat Jeremy on the ass he walked past with bowls of chips and dip.
“Keep your hands to yourself, asshole. I’m still mad at you,” Jeremy slapped his hands away.
“What’d he do now?” Jacob turned a chair around, sitting down on the other side of Royal. “Forget to hang up his towel in the bathroom again?”
“Among other things,” Jeremy took a chair on the other side of his brother.
“Is this a bedroom issue? ‘Cause I really don’t want to hear about that…” Jacob shook his head.
“No, the bedroom is fine. It’s the only thing he’s got going for him at the moment.
“Shut up,” Dan shook his head. “You love me and you know it. You’re just mad because I paid for your tuition for school next semester.”
“Christ, is that what this is about?” Jacob rolled his eyes. “Damn, Jer, let the man pay for school. You’re workin’ for him, aren’t you? You’re getting the degree to help out, right? Dumbass little brothers…” he smacked Jeremy in the thigh before picking up the deck of cards from the middle of the table. “Dan, you got those beans divided?”
“Yep,” He tossed everyone a full sack of the black beans.
“What the hell are you gonna do with all of these?” Stephen laughed, taking the bag.
“I figured we’d hold on to them for next time,” Dan shrugged. “You know, since we’re too cheap to go buy real chips.”
“Tell me about it,” Winston rolled his eyes.
“Shut up, Chief,” Stephen shook his head.
“All right boys,” Jacob began a fancy shuffle. “The game is Five Card Draw…”
A few hours later, and a couple of empties each, the sheriff and Winston had decided to call it a night. Timothy was stretching, getting up from his chair.
“I’m done for the night, guys. See you in the morning.”
“Night Tim,” Dan tipped his head at him, still shuffling the deck of cards. “How about you two? You up for another game?”
Royal shrugged, “I am, if Jacob is. It’s still early.”
“Well, you three can play another hand if you want, but I’m going to bed,” Jeremy got up and pressed his lips to Dan’s cheek. “Don’t get too drunk down here.” He whispered something secret, just for Dan, before giving him a little smirk and ruffling his hair before making his way for the stairs.
“I swear that boy is going to kill me…” Dan shifted in his chair, dealing out another hand. “What about you? You find a girl yet?” He raised a pointed eyebrow at Jacob. “Your Daddy will be rolling over in his grave if you don’t get workin’ on that soon.”
“Fuck my Daddy,” Jacob rolled his eyes. “I hope that bastard is rollin’ in his grave. I don’t have to live up to his expectations anymore.”
Dan shrugged, “To each his own.”
“Fold,” Royal shook his head, pushing back his chair. “Either of you want another drink?”
They each gave a brief nod and Royal moved to the kitchen to grab a couple more beers from the fridge.
“What about you, Grebe? You got a lady friend yet? You been in town long enough to get some eyelashes batted in your direction,” Dan asked as he came back, uncapping the beer easily.
“Royal is gay,” Jacob informed him.
Dan glanced up at Royal, taking it in for a second before he burst out laughing. He put his beer down before he spilled it and pushed his chair back from the table to lean down on his knees.
“What the hell is so funny?” Royal raised an eyebrow.
Dan leaned up, pressing his palm against his chest. “Oh man…I think I’m gonna have a heart attack. How long?”
“How long what?” Royal furrowed his eyebrows.
“How long has this fool known that you’re gay?”
“About three hours,” Jacob took a sip of his beer to hide the red flush that threatened to creep up his jaw.
“Oh, damn! That is sweet…” he reached across the table to pat Jacob on the arm. “I have to go tell Jer that he lost our bet. I’ll be right back.”
“What…what the hell?” Jacob furrowed his eyebrows. “We’re in the middle of a…a fuck it,” He threw down his cards and crossed his arms. “This is ridiculous.” He cracked open his own fresh beer, taking a long swig of it. “How the hell could they know and not me?”
“Gay men are all born with honed gay-dar. How else do you think we used to find each other?”
Jacob took another swig, albeit a smaller one this time. “Whatever. This is ridiculous.”
“I’m more curious as to what the bet was…confirmation that I was gay, or how long before you figured out that I was gay. Or…”
“Or?”
“Maybe they know you have a crush on me.”
Jacob snorted, “Like my brother would bet on something like that…actually, he would. Never mind.“
“You drink that any faster and I’m going to have to carry you home.”
“Wouldn’t you just love that?” Jacob raised an eyebrow. “Takin’ advantage of a poor drunk guy.”
“I prefer my guys sober,” Royal shrugged, taking his seat across from him at the table. He picked up the cards and started shuffling. “Besides, there hasn’t been anyone special in years. I wouldn’t waste all that pent up frustration on your drunk ass.”
Jacob hummed, giving a nod. “What about if I wasn’t drunk?”
“I thought you said we weren’t going to flirt tonight, Mr. Trenton,” Royal started dealing out cards. “You warned me pretty heavily against it when we got here tonight.”
“That was about four beers ago; I’m not thinkin’ straight anymore.”
“And there is more of that innuendo that’s been so popular here tonight.”
“Shut up,” Jacob picked up his cards, taking a glance at them. “I don’t think you’ve had enough to drink yet.”
“I think you’ve had too much.”
“I ain’t drivin’.”
Royal hummed, turning cards. He collected the small pile of beans as Dan re-emerged from the stairs.
“So…what’s going on?” Dan flipped his chair around to take a seat.
“Nothing’s going on,” Royal shrugged.
“Oh c’mon…you don’t just come out to your boss in this part of the country without some reason.”
“It just…came up,” Royal shrugged. “I don’t lie about it; I never saw the point.”
“So nothings going on?”
“Not for his lack of trying,” Royal raised an eyebrow at Jacob who flushed red again.
“Shut up, you asshole. Don’t you know you should suck up to your boss –not piss him off.”
“Innuendo…” Royal sang.
“Fucker.”
Dan laughed, “Oh man, this is even better then I imagined.”
“Shut the hell up,” Jacob kicked him underneath the table.
“Hey man, I went to college with you. I know what you’re all about,” Dan shrugged.
“You don’t know shit,” Jacob shook his head. “Besides, if anyone is interested in this lunk-head. It’s Kennedy. He’s the one that was asking questions today.”
“Uh huh,” Royal rolled his eyes. “More like, he want to see you laid so you’ll feel friendly with the Christmas Bonus.”
Jacob scoffed, “I am always more then generous with the holiday bonuses.”
Royal hummed again continuing to shuffle the cards, “All right…you’re getting argumentative. I think it’s time to get on home.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Dan nodded. “See you guys next week?”
“Sure thing,” Royal nodded. “C’mon Boss.”
Jacob sighed, pushing back his chair, “Fine. But I’m taking the rest of my beer. Damned if I’m gonna leave it to my queer bestie and brother.”
“Okay, okay,” Royal nodded. He pulled his jacket back on over his shoulders and tugged his hat on. “You grab those, I’ll go start up the truck.”
“Good,” Jacob took his time getting up from his chair.
“…You okay?” Dan raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I’m fine why do you ask?”
“You just look…I don’t know, disappointed or something.”
“Maybe I am,” Jacob pulled on his jacket and gloves. “But I can’t tell you what exactly it is that I’m disappointed about.”
“Oh?”
“I’m not talking about this anymore,” Jacob shook his head. “G’night.” He gathered the left over six pack. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay,” Dan nodded. He leaned in the door way, watching Jacob take his time to the warming truck…and wished he could be fly on the wall in the cab of that truck on their way home.
“Hurry up, it’s freezing,” Jacob pushed the six pack across the seat before hoisting himself up into the truck. “Why the hell is your truck so high up off the ground?”
“Sorry. You need a hand?”
“I got it,” Jacob slid into the seat and jerked the door closed. After he had clicked on his seat belt, Royal pulled the truck into reverse to start on the way home.
They were quiet for the first couple of minutes. The truck was finally starting to heat up, which was nice. Jacob warmed his hands against the vent and tried to keep from sneaking sideways glances at his foreman, who was having a hard time keeping the smirk off his face.
“So…do you want to just come out and say it or what?” Royal finally asked.
“Say what?”
“That you like me,” Royal’s drawl put a little western inflection on the word ‘like’, and Jacob shook his head.
“I find you attractive. That doesn’t mean that I…like you.”
Royal hummed, “All right.”
“And even if I did, it doesn’t change that I’m straight. Everyone is a little gay in their own way.”
“All right.”
“Just like you’re a little straight in your way,” Jacob shrugged.
“Sure, sure.”
Jacob crossed his arms, turning his head to stare out the window. After a moment he finally let what had been flitting about in his head pass his lips, “It would be different if you liked me.”
The smirk won out, and Royal reached across the cab prod him in the thigh, “Did I ever say I didn’t like you?”
“You never said you did either.”
“Sure I like you,” Royal shrugged. “You’re cute; sexy, even. You’re a hard worker, a good boss. You basically let me run your place, aside from all the paperwork, which is fine with me. What’s not to like?”
“That’s not exactly what I meant.”
“I know what you meant,” he nodded. “I do like you…I like lookin’ at you, I like teasing you even when you don’t get the joke. I like hanging out with you. I like those discrete little touches that happen then you do things: like hand me a cup of coffee. I like working for you, ‘cause it means I get to do all of those things any time I want.”
“Flatterer,” Jacob scoffed.
“Look,” Royal turned into the winding drive way of the Triple J, “I like you…you like me. But, the thing is, that…you’re mostly straight and I’m mostly gay. You’re my boss, I’m your employee. What kind of message would it send to the guys if we suddenly started shackin’ up?”
“That their boss is getting to be in desperate need of satisfaction,” Jacob scoffed.
“Careful there, sarcasm is a bitch to get out of leather.”
“Up yours,” Jacob jerked off his seatbelt as Royal parked his truck in its usual spot by the foreman’s house. He jerked open the door and made to slip from the cab.
“Be careful—“
The warning came too late and Jacob found himself with a face full of snow.
“You okay?” Royal, with a little more agility, made his way around the truck.
“I’m fine,” Jacob got up onto his knees, and shook his head. “Just a bruised pride is all.”
“Hey,” Royal squatted down next to him, and tilted his face up, brushing snow away from his cheeks. “I’m not saying that I don’t want to, or that I wouldn’t sleep with you. I’m just saying that…if we do, it probably shouldn’t turn into a thing.”
“A thing?”
“You know what I mean,” Royal stood up, holding out a hand to him. Jacob took the hand up, and began to brush the snow off his jeans. He watched him for a second before he nodded towards the house. “You want a cup of coffee?”
“Sure,” Jacob nodded. “I suppose you owe me one.”
“Suppose I do,” Royal nodded. “Grab your six pack –you don’t want that to freeze.”
Jacob grabbed the cardboard box out of the cab before shutting the door roughly behind him. Royal opened up the door to the small house and kicked off his boots by the door and hung up his jacket after stuffing his gloves into his pocket.
Jacob did the same, setting the case of beer by the door to grab on his way out.
“Damn, this looks as plain as the day you moved in, man.”
“What can I say, I’m not one of those artsy gays,” Royal rolled his eyes. He filled the coffee carafe with water and put in a fresh filter and grounds before flipping the switch. “Besides, I like it kind of plan. It’s sort of rustic.”
“Sort of boring as all hell.”
“I spend ninety percent of my day outside, why do I need to have a ton of shit laying around that I don’t even get to look at half the time.”
Jacob hummed, “True I suppose.”
“Besides, it’s just me and the less I have, the easier it is to clean up.”
“Ah, so you’re just lazy.”
“That might be part of it,” he nodded with a small smirk.
“You’re still wearing your hat,” Jacob slid onto one of the stools at the bar counter between the kitchen and the living area.
“Oh yeah,” Royal reached up, running his fingers under it to pull it off. “I sort of forgot.” He laid it down on the other end of the counter. “You want anything to go with your coffee?”
“No thanks.”
“You sure?” Royal leaned on his arms across from him, putting the narrow counter between them.
“There’s just one thing I want, and it has little to do with coffee.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
“And what’s what?”
Jacob leaned up on his palms, moving a little faster than Royal anticipated. Their lips pressed together for just a brief moment at first, tentative; then again with a little more vigor. Royal’s palms pressed against his side of the counter, pushing up and across the surface. It had been…too long since his last kiss. Much more since he’d had one this good, with a guy who made him feel so…
“…Sorry,” Jacob hesitantly broke the kiss. He was still a breath away from the foreman. “I’m not sure what came over me.”
“I think I have an idea,” Royal cocked an eyebrow and licked his lips. Jacob had tasted of the night’s beer and faintly of Jeremy’s fantastic homemade salsa, as well as slightly salty from the chips. “But you don’t need to apologize. If you hadn’t done it, I would have.”
“Oh really?”
“Really, just like if this bar wasn’t in the way, I’d be fucking you on the floor already.”
“Is that all that’s stopping you?”
“It’s the biggest obstacle at the moment,” Royal gave a slight nod. “But the most easily rectified.”
“Oh?”
“The biggest question right now is…would you let me?” Royal’s breath was warm against Jacob’s cheek as he brushed his lips against the rancher’s ear.
“Why don’t you pour me a cup of that coffee first…and then see what happens?”
Royal nodded, backing away from the counter, “All right, whatever you say.” He turned his back on him, reaching up to pull two clean mugs from the cupboard. He set them down in front of the still dripping pot, which he then flipped off before pouring some of the hot caramel colored liquid into the mugs.
“Sugar or milk?”
“Just some milk,” Jacob slid back onto his stool, clasping his hands on the top of the counter. He watched Royal pull the carton from the fridge and pour a little into each mug before setting one in front of him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Royal pulled out a spoon to stir some sugar into his own mug before leaning against the counter top across the kitchen from him.
They sipped the coffee in silence until Royal tossed the last few dregs of his into the sink, and set the mug upside down in the steel basin and leaning back against the counter.
“So…we going to end it at that tonight?”
“I don’t know, are we?” Jacob got up from the stool to set his mug in the sink next to Royal’s.
“It’s up to you, Boss.” Royal raised an eyebrow. “You’re the one who isn’t so sure about his sexuality at this point.”
“I know I find it really hard to say no to you, sexuality be damned,” Jacob looped his thumbs through his own belt loops, standing closer than necessary to Royal. He hadn’t noticed before that the foreman had a couple of inches on him, height wise. He was also a little broader in the shoulder, and his hair was a rich brown color. This late in the day, he was starting to show a little more than a five-o’clock-shadow.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think that was an invitation,” Royal reached up to put his hand against Jacob’s chest.
“You going to accept it?”
“I just might,” Royal stood up tall and pressed his lips to Jacob’s again. Without the bar-top between them, he could grab Jacob around the waist and hoist him up onto the clear counter top. While their mouths pressed together, their hands got to separate jobs. Jacob’s began to unbutton Royal’s shirt, pulling it out of the waistband of his jeans. He pushed it back over his shoulders and Royal let it fall to the floor before picking Jacob back up off of the counter.
“Where are we going?” Jacob wrapped his arms around his neck, surprised.
“Couch,” Royal found his mouth again after dumping him rather unceremoniously onto the dark burgundy sofa. “Hmm, you’re hard.”
“You too,” Jacob nodded, his hands moving down to unbutton Royal’s jeans. “We should do something about that.”
“I’m patient. I’d rather help you out first,” Royal sat back for a second, pulling Jacob’s t-shirt over his head. He paused, his fingers slowly unbuttoning the well-fitting denim. “This is sort of your last chance to escape. Second thoughts?”
“Leaving is the furthest idea from my mind right now.” Jacob gasped, tipping his head back as Royal dipped his mouth to suck the thing fabric still covering him. He didn’t protest as Royal sank back from the couch, tugging him along to pull off the rest of his clothes. The first gasp was matched when Royal’s mouth wrapped around pure skin.
“Don’t get too excited, Boss. We’re just getting’ started.”
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