Rough Ride CV4 (6 page)

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

38

Without opening the door, he reached in the back and pulled out the come-along.

Richard was on his way back when Wyn couldn’t take any more. He pulled down his dad’s battered cowboy hat and stepped out into the pounding rain.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

No one answered him, both men either too busy or unable to hear because of the storm.

Standing next to the truck, Wyn watched as Ezra stuck his hands inside the heifer.

Wyn watched in awe as Ezra seemed to use all his strength to manoeuvre the calf still inside its mother. After ten minutes of working, Ezra dug his heels into the muddy soil and began to pull.

He heard Ezra’s grunts and groans above the storm as he continued to try and free the calf. When at last the calf slipped free, Ezra and Richard both worked quickly to get it cleaned. Ezra took off his shirt and wiped the small animal’s face as Richard worked on its body.

A few minutes later, Ezra stood and said something to Richard. Richard pointed to the truck. Ezra gave him a nod and walked towards Wyn. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Is the calf going to be okay?”

“The calf will be fine,” Ezra answered. “You need to get back inside.” Ezra opened the door and fished behind the seat.

Wyn went to his side. “What’s going on?”

“Get inside the goddamn truck, Wyn!” Ezra yelled, pulling out a gun.

Wyn shrunk back at the verbal attack. His arm automatically went up to shield the blow he knew was coming.

Ezra stopped in his tracks. Wyn had never seen that particular look on Ezra’s face. It was somewhere between mad and sad. Ezra started to say something but shook his head and walked off, carrying the rifle.

Wyn was frozen to the spot. He couldn’t believe he’d just done that. He knew Ezra would never strike him. Maybe he wasn’t as over Brian Doles as he’d thought.

A gunshot ringing in his ears made him jump. He turned around in time to see Ezra pull the barrel of the rifle away from the dam’s head.

Ezra handed the rifle to Richard and sat on the ground, pulling the calf into his arms.

Wyn felt his eyes sting as he watched Ezra’s shoulders shake as he rocked the newborn.
Was
Ezra crying?

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

39

Richard came back to the truck and lowered the tailgate. He motioned for Wyn to get in as he got into the cab.

He didn’t know what to do. Should he do as Ezra had asked, or should he go to him and apologise for the way he’d acted?

Ezra stood, still cradling the calf in his arms and carried it to the truck bed. After depositing the calf in back, Ezra climbed in after it and lifted the baby into his arms once again. The look on his face told Wyn not to approach him yet.

Turning away, he got into the truck and shut the door. He said nothing as Richard manoeuvred the truck around the dead heifer and back onto the farm road. Wyn felt numb.

How could he have screwed so much up in such a short time?

“Do you know if your dad has any colostrum in the freezer?” Richard asked.

“Uh…” Wyn shook his head and tried to clear his mind. “I think so, maybe. Hell, to be honest, I don’t know.”

“When we get back to the house, see if you can find some. If he doesn’t have the real thing, he might have some supplements in the barn, I’ll look for that.”

“Is the calf going to make it?”

“I don’t know. It’s weak. We’ve got to get some food and colostrum inside it fast though.”

“And the dam?”

Richard shook his head. “The damage had been done before we got there. She was pretty torn up inside.” Richard shrugged. “It’s sad, but it can happen with first time dams.” They pulled up to the barn and both hopped out. Wyn went to the back of the truck to help Ezra with the calf, but Richard was already there.

“I’ve got this. Why don’t you see if you can find that colustrum. If you find some, put it in the microwave at sixty-percent power and stir every minute or so.”

“If I find some, how much do I thaw?”

“Two quarts if you’ve got it. Put another two quarts out on the counter to thaw. If you don’t have any and I can’t find any out here, I’ll go to Beahm’s and see if they have any.” Richard picked the calf up and carried it inside the dry barn.

Wyn was left alone with Ezra. “I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step forward.

Ezra held up his hands, in a warning not to get too close. Wyn wasn’t sure if it was because they were messy, or because Ezra was still angry with him.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

40

“We’ll talk later. Go on up to the house. If we don’t get some nutrients into the calf, she won’t make it through the night.”

Wyn looked at Ezra for a few more moments, before turning to do as he was told. He no longer noticed the rain as it battered against his face, soaking the bandages.

* * * *

“I can’t thank you enough for all your help,” Ezra said shaking Richard’s hand.

Richard shrugged. “That’s what neighbours are for.” Richard reached down to pet the wobbly calf. He looked towards the house and back at Ezra. “Why don’t you go on inside. I’ll get the next bottle into her and take off.”

He wasn’t sure if he was ready to face Wyn. “That’s okay. I can feed him.” Richard took off his battered black hat and ran his fingers through his short brown hair.

“I’m not sure what happened, but it won’t get any better by putting off the inevitable.” Ezra shook his head. “Naw. I need a little more time to think things through. Why don’t you come back for dinner and that beer I promised you the other day.” Richard set his hat back on his head. “Okay. I appreciate the invitation.” He watched Richard get into his pickup and pull down the drive. After giving the house one last glance, he shut the barn door.

He’d thought about Wyn’s reaction to his anger a million times and it still hadn’t gotten easier. He’d been trying to shield his lover from the gruesome task set before him, and he ended up yelling. That was bad enough, but to see the look of genuine fear on Wyn’s face had pierced his heart like nothing else could.

When he was young, he didn’t have many friends. For years he thought it was something inside of him that caused people to avoid him. Then one brave kid told him the truth. No one wanted to get close to ‘the giant’, and he was too. He’d always been a lot bigger than the other kids, but at the age of twelve he started growing even more.

Remembering the days of lying in his bed in agony as his body continued to grow, almost brought tears to his eyes. By the time Ezra started high school, he was six-foot-eight inches, and too uncoordinated to play sports. Instead, he’d spent his time in the gym lifting weights.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

41

As he became an adult, life got a little easier. Even though he topped out at six-foot-ten-inches. He moved away from home and went to work on a ranch in Montana. The other ranch hands he worked with liked to tease him about being unable to find a horse big enough for ‘Andre the Giant’. They also began to question his sexuality. That’s when he knew he needed to get married.

A mixture of anger and regret caused Ezra to strike out, punching the barn door. He felt the blood dripping from his knuckles before he saw it. Pulling a handkerchief out of his back pocket, he wrapped his hand and sat on a bale of hay.

“I’m so sorry, Nancy,” he whispered to the dusty rafters.

Nancy Lanham was such a shy, sweet girl when he’d met her. Heavier than most of the women in town, Nancy was an outsider like him. Maybe that’s what drew them together.

They were married six months after their first date and for another nine years, he’d tried to forget his longings to be held in another man’s arms. Then he’d gone to that damn convention in San Antonio. Ezra shook his head. He couldn’t do this again. Nancy was gone and it was, and always would be, his fault.

His thoughts turned to Wyn. He was in love. He knew that for a fact, but what kind of relationship could they build if deep down inside, his lover was afraid of him?

“Ezra?”

He turned to see Wyn silhouetted in the early morning light.

“I made breakfast,” Wyn said.

He nodded. “I’ll be in soon. I’m getting ready to feed Lucky one more bottle.” He rose and went to the workbench. “We’ll have to get more colostrum and milk. Richard said there’s a dairy farm down the road that should have some you can buy.” After fixing the bottle, he walked back to Lucky. He didn’t dare turn around and look at Wyn. He didn’t think he could handle it, not yet.

He felt a hand land on his back and closed his eyes.

“I know I hurt you, and I wish I could take it back. It wasn’t you that frightened me.

Brian really did a number on me, and sometimes the memories overwhelm me.”

“I’d never lay a hand on you out of anger. It’s just not my way.” Lucky finished the bottle and Ezra turned to face Wyn for the first time. “All my life people have been afraid of me. It hurt more than I can say when you shrunk back from me.” ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

42

“It wasn’t you, I promise. It was the tone of voice. I suddenly saw Brian towering over me and reacted. Maybe I need to talk to someone.” Dropping the bottle to the barn floor, he wrapped his arms around Wyn. “Maybe we both should,” he said, kissing the top of Wyn’s head.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

43

Two days later, Wyn rented a couple of large cattle trucks from the auction house to load the stock. Richard was back to help and they appreciated the extra set of hands. Wyn sat atop his horse and looked over his shoulder at Ezra.

Their relationship seemed to be back on track, but they’d agreed to make appointments with Cattle Valley’s only psychiatrist when they returned. Wyn knew Ben Zook as a customer, so he hoped it wouldn’t become too awkward.

“Can you get the gate?” Richard asked, driving a wayward steer towards him.

“Sorry,” Wyn said and reached down to open the gate to the holding pen. “Is that the last of them?”

“I think so,” Richard replied.

Wyn closed the gate. “How about we break for lunch before loading them?”

“Sounds good to me,” Ezra chuckled and rubbed his belly.

Wyn licked his lips. He wished it was his hand rubbing that furry washboard abdomen.

Knowing they wouldn’t need the horses for anything else, he dismounted and started to remove Brandy’s saddle.

“We’ll take care of the horses if you want to start on the food,” Ezra said coming up behind him.

Wyn turned and received a kiss. “Sounds like a fair trade-off.” Ezra wrapped his arms around Wyn and pulled him closer. “I like seeing you like this, out here in the fresh air. Even though the store suits you, I think this does too.”

“It’s okay. I like to ride more than I like to work cattle though.” Wyn took the opportunity to run his hand over Ezra’s stomach. “I’d better go. You’re making me hungry for things other than food.”

Ezra’s eyes flashed to Richard, who was busy unsaddling his own horse. He picked Wyn up off the ground and kissed him again. This time the kiss was deeper. Their tongues duelled until they both started to moan.

A chuckle from Richard finally broke them apart. “Later,” Ezra said with promise in his eyes.

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

44

“Definitely,” he whispered against Ezra’s lips.

* * * *

Friday morning they were on their way to Pamona for hopefully the last time. “What time did you tell the realtor we’d be there?” Ezra asked.

Wyn looked at his watch and grinned. “Thirty minutes ago. We would’ve made it too if someone hadn’t decided to jump into the shower with me.” Ezra smiled. “I can’t help it if you look damn sexy wet.” Ezra reached across the bench seat and ran his hand up Wyn’s thigh.

Trapping his man’s hand between his clenched thighs, Wyn shook his finger. “Now none of that. I can’t have a serious meeting with a woody in my pants.” Chuckling, Ezra nodded. “You could, but it would turn into a different kind of meeting.”

“Let’s just get this over with. The faster the house and land go up for sale, the faster I’m out of here.”

“And you’re sure we don’t need to go into Tulsa and rent a moving truck? There’s a lot of stuff.”

“I don’t need any of the furniture. Other than a couple of boxes of personal things, it can all go to charity.” Wyn put his hand on Ezra’s. “Do you want anything out of the house?” Ezra shrugged. “Let me think on it. It’s in pretty good shape. I’ll give Smokey a call and see if the bunkhouse needs anything new.”

Wyn withdrew his hand and looked out the window. Smokey Sharp was Ezra’s foreman and only real friend. He’d thought for years the two of them had something going, but Ezra assured him they were only friends. He still couldn’t help feeling that twinge of jealousy whenever Smokey called, which was at least once a day.

He felt Ezra’s hand land on the back of his neck, ruffling the short hair visible under his hat. “Are you always going to clam up when I mention Smokey?” Wyn rolled his eyes. He knew it was stupid. He’d lectured himself over and over about not getting jealous. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

“My relationship with Smokey isn’t any different than yours with Nate. Should I be jealous of him?”

ROUGH RIDE

Carol Lynne

45

“No, but it’s not like he would ever cheat on Ryan and Rio with someone like me.” He was startled when Ezra quickly slowed to a stop in the middle of the county road.

Thankfully no one was behind them.

Ezra put the truck in park and pulled Wyn across the seat and into his arms. “Don’t say things like that. I don’t know what gave you such a low opinion of yourself, but in my eyes, you’re damn near perfect.” Ezra sealed his lips over Wyn’s and thrust his tongue inside.

He relished the kiss for several seconds before pulling back. “Promise me I’m good enough to keep you from wandering, please?” he pleaded.

Ezra’s eyes narrowed a bit. “What? You’re the first man I’ve been with in twenty years.

You think now that I’ve had a taste I’m gonna want to sample the rest of the display case?” He shook his head. “Don’t you get it? I love you. I’m so goddamn in love with you that I ache.”