Rory's Rock, page 23
“Hold your horses!” Rory called out as he moved down the aisle with the feed cart, tossing a couple of flakes of hay into each rack. “I’m moving as fast as I can.” It was still fucking early. Dawn wouldn’t break for a couple more hours.
Things were a great deal quieter when Rory moved down the aisle a second time with grain and food supplements.
Rory gathered his muck bucket and pitchfork, put them in the muck cart, and started down the aisle once again.
“You finished breakfast already?” Rory asked Moonlight Shadow when the big stallion popped his head over his stall door and nickered for attention as Rory approached.
Shadow was a rescue horse who’d been badly mistreated by his previous owners. No one had been able to get near him without being bitten or kicked. But for whatever reason, Shadow had taken an instant liking to Barry and would do anything for the man.
Before Barry had gone on vacation to England, he’d brought Rory to Shadow’s corral and told the horse that while he was away, Shadow had to play nice with Rory. Rory had been highly skeptical that Barry’s words would have any impact on the highly strung animal. But amazingly the horse had seemed to understand and permitted Rory to pet him, feed him treats, groom him, and even exercise him. However, Rory hadn’t pressed his luck by trying to put a saddle on him and ride him.
Barry had had a similar conversation with his dog Rex. During Barry’s absence, Rex had stuck pretty close to Rory, but the moment Barry returned, Rex only had eyes for his master once again. Rory had believed something similar would happen with Shadow, but was pleasantly surprised when the horse remained friendly upon Barry’s return.
“Hope you had a better night than me.” Rory fed the horse a piece of carrot and rubbed his neck.
Shadow nodded his head a few times.
Rory yawned. “Yeah, couldn’t have been worse.”
Rory opened the half door. “You gonna let me muck your stall?” The horse dutifully moved to the side and Rory entered with his muck bucket and pitchfork. “Good boy!” If he didn’t know better, Rory would swear Shadow understood everything he said. Setting down his tools and facing the large stallion, he asked, “You ever been in love?”
Shadow hooked his head over Rory’s shoulder and pulled the man in closer to his chest. Rory had only ever seen the horse do that to Barry.
Rory wrapped his arms around Shadow’s neck and breathed in the animal’s scent. “If you haven’t, then you’re missing out. And if you have, then you know how complicated it is.” Rory sniffed and tried to collect himself.
Shadow snorted a couple of times, although Rory took it to mean understanding rather than derision.
It wasn’t Zane’s fault the guys had come back early. It was just…Rory didn’t know. He just hated constantly being embarrassed around his fellow hands, whereas Zane seemed to take it all in stride. Maybe he should try and be more like Zane and let it all wash over him. He made a silent vow to try.
Zane had been a jock in high school, so would be used to being naked around other guys. Rory on the other hand had hated sports and did his best to never be nude around others in the locker room.
Rory asked himself if he was embarrassed by the noises he made when they had sex. At that moment, yes, but at the time…no. Yep, love sure was complicated.
Rory heard a quiet cough and turned his head to see Liam standing in the aisle. “You gonna clean that stall or just love on the horse?”
Shadow released Rory, moved forward a step, bared his teeth, and shook his head.
“Whoa there, big fella.” Liam put up his hands and stepped back.
“Shadow, behave,” Rory said, patting the horse’s flank. “Liam’s not gonna hurt you.”
“Liam’s not gonna come anywhere near you,” Liam added. Then, to Rory, he asked, “Why the early start? Thought you’d still be tucked up with lover-boy.”
“No.” Rory blushed. “Sorry, uh, about last night. We didn’t know you were back.” Not wanting to meet Liam’s eye, Rory picked up his pitchfork, stabbed at a clump of dirty straw, dumped it in the bucket, and grimaced at the ache deep in his ass.
“No need to apologize, son.” Liam laughed. “God, when I was your age, I got up to all kinds of shit.”
Rory felt his blush deepen but kept on working.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a good-looking kid who should be proud of his body. Although when you first showed up you were so thin a stiff breeze would have blown you away. But you’ve filled out some, thanks to hard work and Barry’s food.”
“Uh, thanks.” Could his cheeks get any redder?
“It’s serious…you and Zane?” Liam asked after a while.
Rory nodded, stepped out of the stall, and dumped the contents of his bucket into the muck cart. “Very.” Despite his confusion, his feelings for Zane were still as strong.
Liam sighed. “Just hope he doesn’t end up hurting you.”
“He won’t.” Rory was certain of that. Or at least as certain as he could be. In an effort to change the subject, he asked, “How come you’re up so early?”
“These old bones of mine ache sometimes, especially in the winter. So I get up and move around.”
Rory looked over at Liam, who was leaning against the stall door, Shadow eyeing him carefully. “You’re not that old.”
“Ha.” Liam shook his head and smiled. “I’m old enough to be your father. Oh, shit. I forgot your dad passed recently. I’m sorry.”
Rory waved that away. “I’m not offended.” In many ways, Liam had been more of a father to him than Garry Brown ever was.
“Look, if it’s serious between you and Zane, have you thought about living together, I mean, in your own place?”
Rory froze. Was this Liam’s way of saying they should leave the ranch? Rory could hear blood pounding in his ears as panic started to set in.
“…foreman’s house is empty. I never wanted to live there on my own. It’d probably take a lot of work to make it livable but with not much going on around here because of the weather…Anyway, give it some thought. You don’t have to decide anything now.” Liam turned to leave.
“Do you want us to leave the ranch?” Rory couldn’t get past that thought.
Liam spun around, look of shock on his face. “Why the hell would you think that?”
“Zane and me being so loud, disruptive, and, as you said, the ranch doesn’t need as many hands to work it at the moment.”
“What?” Liam stepped into the stall and Shadow stamped his hooves. “For fuck’s sake, horse, I’m not gonna touch you.”
Rory patted Shadow’s neck then moved to the open stall door, putting himself between Liam and Shadow.
Liam opened his arms and Rory accepted the hug. “I’ve lived and worked on this ranch for over thirty years. And no one has ever been kicked off of it.”
“Sorry. I just…”
Liam tightened the embrace. “Don’t know why, but this place has always attracted strays. I quit the rodeo circuit after…Well, I quit and needed work. I happened on this place and Jake’s dad took me on. When Wayne left the army he drifted for a while, happened on this place, and again, Mr. Pierce offered him a job. Then you showed up. Then there was Zane. Although it’d be fair to say that you had a hand in making that happen, eh?”
“Uh. I’m gonna take the Fifth on that.”
Liam chuckled, patted Rory on the back and stepped back. “So, nobody’s leaving. We’ve had a few hard times. Ranching isn’t easy, but we’ve always pulled through because we stuck together.”
“Like a family,” Rory said quietly.
Liam nodded. “Exactly. For some of us this is the only family we have.”
Rory could agree with that. But before he could get too emotional, he felt the strange sensation of his hat being lifted off his head.
Liam laughed. Turning around, Rory saw his hat in Shadow’s mouth.
Despite laughing at Shadow’s antics himself, Rory did his best to glare at the horse. “Give it back!” He held out a hand but Shadow took a step backwards. “Shadow!” Rory warned softly.
The horse eyed Rory for a moment then stepped forward and, ignoring Rory’s outstretched hand, put the hat back on Rory’s head, backwards.
Rory turned the hat around. “Who’s a clever boy!” he praised, amazed Shadow had performed such a trick.
Shadow evidently was proud of himself because he tipped his head back and curled his upper lip to show his teeth in an equine equivalent of a smile. His nickering sounded a lot like a laugh, too.
Kissing Shadow’s head, Rory whispered, “Love you, you crazy horse.”
“I don’t fucking believe it,” Liam said. “You have a real connection with him. With all the critters. If I haven’t told you before, I’m telling you now. You’re a fucking credit to this ranch.” He turned to leave. “Think about what I said about the house.”
* * * *
Rory was finishing off mucking Star’s stall, which thankfully was the last one. Star was a sweet old pinto mare, who was kept on at the ranch purely for sentimental reasons. She’d been Jake’s mom’s horse and was considered part of the fabric of the place.
Rory was getting hungry and his arm muscles were starting to ache more than those in his butt. Resting for a moment to give Star another sugar lump, he heard the side door to the barn creak open. Poking his head into the aisle, he saw a bareheaded Zane entering. The man wasn’t even wearing a jacket.
“There you are. Woke up and you weren’t there,” Zane said, closing the door behind him and strolling down the aisle.
Rory leaned on his pitchfork. “Couldn’t sleep so I got up and made a start on morning chores.”
Zane looked down the aisle and frowned. “I’d have helped. You should have woken me up.”
Star nuzzled at Zane’s shirt pocket, no doubt after more sugar.
“How’s my best girl!” Zane petted her neck then pulled out a browned piece of apple from his jeans pocket. Star took it, although Rory could tell it wasn’t what she was really hoping for. Maybe Liam had been right about how he had a connection with the critters.
Zane then turned back to Rory, kissing him then pulling him into a hug.
“I stink!” Rory protested, although did nothing to extricate himself from the embrace.
“Don’t care.” Zane kissed him again.
“It’s like, ten degrees out there. Why aren’t you wearing your hat, gloves, and a coat?”
Zane shrugged sheepishly. “Don’t feel the cold.”
Rory rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Was missing you so came to find you.”
“Zane.” Rory shook his head again and felt guilty at leaving his sleeping lover. “I’m sorry.” He touched Zane’s cheek. “Just had stuff on my mind is all.” Knowing he shouldn’t hide anything from his man, he mentioned his conflicted feelings about parading around nude. “I know I’m just as bad with the noises and dirty talk when we have sex.” He wanted to say make love, but was unsure how Zane would react.
Back came Zane’s frown. “Is your ass hurting?”
Rory was momentarily confused by the change of subject. “A bit, but it’s a good kind of hurt if you know what I mean.”
Zane didn’t seem convinced but got back on topic. “We can keep our clothes on more around the bunkhouse if it’d make you feel better. It’s just…I’ve never had a boyfriend before and, well, never really had a girlfriend either. So I just get excited about having one and I just wanna show you off to everyone, ’cause you’re so awesome and special and mine and—”
Rory silenced him with a kiss. “You’re all those things to me, too. I haven’t had a boyfriend before either and I wish I could tell everyone that this huge hunk of hotness is mine.”
Zane blushed.
“But getting back to us walking around naked and being loud and shit.”
Zane’s face fell again. Rory hated to see his man unhappy because Zane’s brow wrinkled and…Reaching up to smooth Zane’s forehead, he said, “Liam was here earlier and he mentioned about the foreman’s house being empty and how we could move into it if we wanted. It might need fixing up but—”
Zane picked Rory up and stepped into the aisle.
“What are you doing? Put me down!” He batted ineffectually at Zane’s arms.
Zane kept walking. “You said if your ass was sore, you’d let me carry you and take care of you. So that’s what I’m doing.”
“Where are we going?”
“The foreman’s house.”
“Zane! I haven’t finished mucking Star’s stall.”
“It can wait.” Zane opened the barn door.
“No it can’t. I need to at least take out the muck bucket and pitchfork and close the stall door.”
Zane reversed course, Rory removed his equipment, apologized to Star, told her he’d be back soon, and closed the stall door.
“Couldn’t this have waited until after breakfast?” Rory asked as Zane walked as briskly across the yard as the snowy conditions would allow. Although he couldn’t deny, Zane’s excitement at getting a house of their own was contagious.
“Nope.” Zane kept on going.
Rory chuckled when they tried the house’s front door but found it locked.
Zane turned around and headed for the ranch house. “We’ll get the key.”
“We’ll have breakfast first,” Rory said, patting the side of Zane’s stomach.
* * * *
It had to be one of the quickest breakfasts on record. Within ten minutes Rory found himself being carried across the yard once again, key in hand.
“Okay, you can put me down now,” Rory said once they’d reached the front door.
“Nope.” Zane got a shit-eating grin. “I’m gonna carry you over the threshold.”
Even though Zane had still not used the L word, it was obvious such romantic gestures meant the big guy did love Rory.
* * * *
Liam had been correct, the house needed work. A thick layer of dust covered everything, the windows needed re-puttying, there were a few spots of damp, and everything needed a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. Thanks to Barry making sure the heat had been set on low, there were no frozen pipes. The kitchen appliances looked ancient and rust spotted. Even though they’d most likely still be eating their meals in the big house, Rory wanted to be able to cook his man the occasional supper. Or maybe breakfast in bed.
Rory tried to tamp down his disappointment at knowing it’d be some time before the house would be habitable. Plus, he could only guess at how much it would cost to buy all the stuff their home would need. His spirits were lifted however when Jake and Jimmy told them that as the house was ranch property, the ranch would pay to replace or repair the fixtures and fittings. Jimmy, Jake, and Barry, plus Wayne and Liam, would pitch in to help get the place ready. Rory suspected part of the latter two’s reason for helping was to hasten the day they could have the bunkhouse to themselves again.
Rory had suggested buying a new bed, even though they could have taken the one from Zane’s room in the bunkhouse. Zane thought about it but when they looked at the various prices of king size beds, they decided to wait until they could afford a quality memory foam mattress.
* * * *
They’d made love several more times, each time Zane offering up his own ass. However, Zane agreed—somewhat reluctantly—to Rory’s suggestion Zane save his cherry until they moved into their house. Rory knew part of the reason why he’d delayed topping Zane was because he’d really gotten to enjoy bottoming and feared he’d fuck up topping, wincing at the unintended pun.
“Hey, and if we get tested, you can fuck me without rubbers,” Zane suggested.
Rory nodded, although privately he feared it’d put even more pressure on him on his first performance.
“Our next afternoon off we should go into the city and get tested.”
“Okay.” Rory liked the idea of Zane making love to him without barriers. And if Rory wore a butt plug afterward, he could carry a little bit of Zane around with him for a while. Kissing Zane on the lips, he added, “Great idea.”
Zane smiled, obviously pleased at Rory’s praise. “And after we get tested we could visit a gay bar. I looked them up on the computer.”
Rory gulped but nodded his agreement. He didn’t do well in crowds or where there was loud music. He’d coped okay in the local bars, especially when surrounded by the other guys from the ranch. But the idea of visiting somewhere unfamiliar and potentially noisier filled him with dread.
“Wanna show everyone what a cute little guy my boyfriend is.”
Rory rolled his eyes. “Once everyone gets a look at my big, buff boyfriend, they won’t notice me.” He didn’t know how he’d handle anyone coming onto Zane. Nor did he know how Zane would take being hit on.
In addition to all of that, Rory was also concerned at leaving the ranch while the others worked on his and Zane’s house. Barry soon set his mind at rest on that score, telling him to go and enjoy himself.
“It’ll be your first real date, won’t it?” Barry asked.
Rory was embarrassed to realize it was. Yes, they’d gone out before, but only as part of a group. The few meals they’d eaten out when Zane had driven to be with him in Kansas didn’t really count.
* * * *
The tests at the clinic had been a non-event. Both he and Zane were clear of all STD’s. The visit to the gay bar had started out okay. Evidently mid-week afternoons didn’t attract many customers. And there was no loud music. In fact, no music at all. This was perfectly all right with Rory, who quickly settled into a booth with his mug of surprisingly good beer that Zane had said was the bar’s own special brew. Zane sat next to him with a Bud Lite. He didn’t want anything stronger because he was driving.
The two men talked, mostly about sports, but also about Zane growing up, his days on the football team, and his sister, Betsy. Rory had opened up some about life in the group homes, telling Zane it wasn’t all bad and how he’d made a couple of friends and they looked out for each other.
