Authors: E. M. Leya
"Are they really being that hard on you or are you just saying that to make them look bad?" Evan stepped out of the room.
Travis stepped past him and continued down the hall. "They are being that bad. I really don't want to speak bad about them, they are Jason's only living grandparents, his only family besides me. I would love to get along. They just don't seem to see things the same way I do."
Travis opened the door at the end of the hall. "This is my room. There are two other empty guest rooms on the other side of the hall." He pointed before moving into his room.
Evan looked around and nodded before backing out. "Is there a basement?"
Travis shook his head. "No. Just the storage by the garage and then the barns of course."
"Do you mind if I have a look at them?"
"Not at all. Follow me."
Travis led Evan outside. He hated that all this was happening, but he was relieved to know that Evan wouldn't be using his sexuality against him. He frowned, thinking about how worried he'd been. He was far from in the clear. There would be plenty of more obstacles but at least for now, with Evan, he could relax.
As they stepped into the barn, Travis gave his eyes a moment to adjust from coming out of the sunlight. He turned to Evan. "Jason used to come out with my sister all the time and ride. I think he was more excited to come for the horses than he was to see me."
Evan laughed as they walked past several stalls toward where Jason was kneeling by one of the doors. "It's good for him to learn at a young age. I was sixteen before I got near a horse and scared to death."
"You ride now?"
"Not often. I don't really know anyone with horses anymore." Evan stopped suddenly, looking down at Jason.
"Uncle Travis, look at what a good job I'm doing." Jason looked up at him, his clothes and hands covered in a dark red paint.
Travis tried to bite back his laugh and failed. "It looks great Jason. You've done a wonderful job."
Not only had Jason painted the new latch, but the door, too. Gobs of wet paint trailed down the door and puddled against the base and the dirt. Travis wondered if he would even be able to open it once it dried.
Jake stood several stalls down, pouring a newly opened bag of grain into a barrel. "He's a natural."
Travis glanced at Evan, pleased to see him smiling and not making a fuss about the mess. When he thought to let Jason paint, he never thought the kid would take it to the extreme. "Look at all the work you're saving Jake and the others."
"Jake even said that we might be able to build me a tree house in that big tree next to the house." Jason waved the paintbrush as he talked and a large splat of paint landed on the front of Travis's shirt. Jason froze and his eyes went wide as he watched it drip down his shirt. "I'm sorry."
Travis quickly pulled his shirt free from his pants to stop the paint from dripping down his belt buckle. "It's okay, Jas. This was an old shirt." He smiled down at the boy as he worked the buttons on his shirt and slid it off his shoulders. "Now what was this about a tree house?"
Jason glanced at the shirt, seemed to take a moment to compose himself, and then looked over at Jake. "He said him and the other hands might take some of that old wood and build me a tree house. Said I could sit up there and draw or read."
"I think that's a great idea. I was wondering what to do with that old wood." He tried to push his own fear of heights from his mind, hoping Jake and the others really would do most the work so he wouldn't have to climb. "We can talk more about it later tonight. First I wanted to introduce you to my friend Evan. He is going to be coming around off and on. If he needs anything, can I count on you to help him?"
"Sure, I know all about this place." Jason set the paintbrush back in the paint can and stood. "Are you staying for dinner with us tonight, Evan? We got lots of steaks."
"I'm sure your Uncle has other things planned. Maybe another time, but thanks for the offer." Evan smiled as he glanced at Travis.
Wanting to be as open with Evan as he could and let him see Jason's daily life here with him, Travis was more than willing to let Evan stay as long as he wanted.
"We have no plans. If you would like to stay, you are more than welcome." Travis shrugged. "Give you a chance to see how we do things around here."
"I don't want to be in the way." Evan looked between Jason and Travis.
"You won't be. As long as you don't mind getting splashed when he is in the pool you should be fine. We have plenty of food." Travis brushed his hand down his bare chest. "You staying around tonight, Jake?"
"Nope. I got a date." Jake grinned.
"You getting married, Jake?" Jason ran toward him.
Careful to avoid the mess of paint all over Jason, Jake grasped his shoulders, stopping him before he could get too close. "Heck no. Just a date. Taking someone out to dinner, maybe a movie."
"Oh. My mommy and me used to go on dates all the time then." Jason smiled.
The memory of his sister and Jason together sent a pang of sadness through him, and he swallowed back the emotion. Glancing over at Evan, he was surprised to find the man watching him. He shifted uncomfortably, a wave of awareness flowing through him at finding the other man's eyes on him.
"Why don't we run out back and use that hose to wash off some of that paint, then we will get you inside and clean you up the rest of the way." Jake swatted Jason's butt playfully as he nodded to the back door of the barn.
"Thanks, Jake." Travis watched Jason run off before turning back to Evan. "You really are welcome to stay. I want to do everything possible to be as open and transparent as I can. I love Jason and want the best for him. As far as I'm concerned, if it helps the case, you can move in tonight and watch everything."
Evan laughed, not used to receiving such a welcome invitation. "That will help. I'm used to people fighting me, trying to hide things from me. I appreciate your openness. While I won't be moving in, I will take you up on the offer of dinner. It will give me a chance to see how Jason is adapting here and interacts with you."
Travis played with the shirt in his hand. "I don't have anything to hide. Everyone here should be open with you. I don't care when you show up or who you talk to. I do need to change clothes, though. Do you want to wait here or come back inside?"
Evan looked around the barn. "I think I'll wait out here, wander around and see the place."
"Make yourself at home. If you have any questions, any one of the guys can answer them."
"Thanks."
"I'll be right back." Travis quickly left him, making his way back to the house. He liked Evan. Wished they had met under different circumstances. He meant what he said. He was willing to do whatever it took to prove that Jason belonged here, and he also believed that God wouldn't take Jason from him and force him to live with the Steeles. He had to keep faith and remember that God was with them.
Once in his room, he tossed his shirt into the trash and pulled out a t-shirt and tugged it on. Taking a moment to enjoy the quiet, he sat down on the bed and thought about everything going on. He wondered if he needed to contact his own lawyer to help with this case or if he should just risk it and let God handle everything.
He brushed his palm down his face as he took a deep breath. God hadn't failed him yet, but this wasn't just his life at stake. He needed to tread careful and make sure he did everything right. He would never forgive himself if he lost Jason over something stupid.
Maybe he would ask Evan what his best options were. He stood, staring at his reflection in the dresser mirror, suddenly feeling twice his thirty-two years. So much had happened in the last two weeks, it almost felt like a blur. A small part of him wanted to pick up the phone and call his sister, just to see if she would answer and prove this all wasn't happening.
He shook his head at the foolish thought. She was gone and he needed to get used to that. It was now his job to give Jason a happy life, and raise the boy to be successful. He just prayed he could figure out how to do that.
*****
Evan wandered the barn for a moment, stopping to pet one of the horses who had begged for attention as he passed. He smiled as the horse pressed against his hand. He always loved horses. He wondered what it would have been like to be raised around them.
The thought caused him to think about Travis. He was finding himself having trouble keeping his mind on the job and not on the man he was here to investigate. When Travis had pulled his shirt off, it was all Evan could do to keep hidden the way his body hardened against his pants. He tried to remember the last time he had been attracted to another. After his last relationship went south, he had all but stopped dating.
Something about Travis drew his attention. It was strong enough, he wondered if he should hand the case over to someone else. But that thought didn't sit well with him either. Travis was right. Another caseworker might just hold his sexuality against him and give back an unfair report. Evan just needed to keep his distance and keep his mind on why he was here. He would try to keep his personal feelings and his own sexuality out of the case. He would be fair, see both sides and if that meant that Jason was better off with the Steeles, so be it.
He gave the horse a final pat and turned to walk outside. He saw several other cowboys in the distance with a couple of horses in a corral. He was about to head that way when one of the cowboys eased up onto the back of one of the horses and it took off, bucking across the corral.
Evan froze, watching the man try to hold on. He wasn't sure what he was watching.
"I bought the horses from a state auction last week. They aren't broke yet."
Evan turned at the sound of Travis's voice, then quickly looked back just in time to see the cowboy go flying off the back of the horse. Evan was stunned; sure the man was injured and wondering why no one was rushing to help him.
To his surprise, the man picked himself up out of the dirt, wiped the dust from his pants and shook his head, smiling as he made his way back to the others as the horse continued to run along the far side of the corral.
"That's insane." Evan turned back to Travis. "Don't they get hurt?"
Travis shook his head. "Think we had one break an arm about ten years ago. You learn how to fall. Besides a few bruises and a crushed ego, he will be fine."
"You don't let Jason ride those do you?" He watched as another cowboy caught the horse and led it back over to where the others were.
"Oh, no. He loves to watch them work with the horses, but he has his own horse for riding." He nodded his head toward another corral. "Come on, I'll show you."
Evan followed Travis across the yard, trying not to notice how his muscled body pressed against the pale green t-shirt he had changed into. Once to the corral, they both leaned up against the rails and Travis whistled.
Three horses came running toward them. Evan pushed back, taking a step away as they neared.
"No reason to worry with these three. They are tame. This is Tiko. She is Jason's." He reached out and ran his hand down the nose of the palomino. "I gave him his choice of two of these, he picked her. I would trust any of these three with him, but this guy is mine." He brushed his cheek against the horses head. "This is Fire."
Evan moved back to the horses, lifting his hand to caress Tiko. "Do you guys ride often?"
Travis nodded. "A few times a week. When I have something to check, Jason will ride out with me. He's learning fast how to handle a horse. The first couple times I made him ride with me, but now, with a horse as good as Tiko, he can ride alone. Tiko just follows me, so it's not like Jason could get lost." Travis smiled at him. "You can join us one night if you like, see how well he does."
Evan wasn't supposed to get involved this way. His job was to watch, investigate and give his report. Participating in the family's daily life was not part of that, but part of him longed to join them and enjoy a nice ride one evening. He shook his head. "I haven't been on a horse in years. Might not be such a good idea."
Travis turned, resting his back against the bars and lifting one foot up on the bottom rung, his arms spread out at his sides against the top one. "What better way to show you that Jason is safe? If you can handle these horses, he should be able to, right?"
Evan didn't miss the playful challenge in Travis's deep brown eyes. He brushed his hand through his light brown hair, meeting Travis's gaze straight on. His pulse skipped and he swallowed hard. "That is true." He glanced back at the horses. "I really shouldn't. I'm not sure it's proper for me to get that involved in a case."
Travis nodded. "Well, then how about unofficially? You can come out when you're not working and go for a ride with us. There is an area to the south where the deer come down in the evenings. I thought I would take Jason out there and let him see them. You could join us one night this week if you want."
This was a mistake. He could get in a lot of trouble by spending unofficial time with someone he was supposed to be investigating. He hardly knew Travis and Jason, and it was crazy to trust anyone when he was working on a case, but he did. He trusted Travis and believed that so far everything he had heard was the truth. "You sure I wouldn't be in the way?"
Travis shook his head as one of the horses laid its head over his shoulder and nudged him. "Not at all. To be honest, you would be doing me a favor. I love Jason and all, but it would be nice to have some adult conversation on the ride. I can only talk about the newest Lego set or his favorite cartoon so much. We could pack a few sandwiches or something and eat out there where he can watch the deer from a distance."
Evan didn't miss the way Travis's gaze traveled over his body. It caused his own to stir and once again he had to remind himself why he was here. "Okay then. I'm off at four most days. We could plan something." Evan looked out over Travis's shoulder. "You grew up out here?"