Clouds and Rain

to remind himself he‟d lost a few weeks of his life in that hospital room; time he‟d never be able to recover.
    Gable knew he was putting a huge burden on Flynn by begging him to let him come home, but he had no choice. He wasn‟t the type to be cooped up inside four walls, never had been and never would be, so his only chance of living through this was at the ranch. He just wished he knew a way to do it without Flynn. Right now, Gable knew he needed Flynn, to take care of him and to do things for him, not to mention he was grateful for the care Flynn had taken of his ranch, but he also felt like he couldn‟t tie the kid down. When he‟d hired him, he‟d known Flynn was a traveler and, sooner rather than later, Flynn would be leaving again. What was there to keep him here anyway?
    Despite the fact he was tired just from getting into the truck, Gable enjoyed being driven down the country lanes and seeing the familiar trees and curves along the road. He could tell Flynn was nervous too, because he was driving extra slow and he wasn‟t talking.
    Then, there wasn‟t much to say anyway. Flynn had kept him up to date about the ranch while he was in the hospital, so that took care of that.
    He couldn‟t ask Flynn to leave because he knew he couldn‟t take care 94

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    of himself yet, and he couldn‟t ask him to stay because he had nothing to offer the kid.
    “We just need to stop at Calley‟s for groceries and then we‟ll be heading home,” Flynn announced.
    Gable grunted. He wasn‟t ready for Calley and possibly Bill fussing over him and he really wanted to get home as soon as possible.
    “She‟s got it all packed up for us,” Flynn responded. “We just need to load it in the truck, and of course she wants to look at you. It was that or ask her to bring it and then we‟d be stuck with her for longer. At least now we can leave when we want.” Gable half-smiled at Flynn. He was right. As much as he loved Calley, this way they could just sit in the driveway for a few minutes and that would be it. He sighed when they drove up into the small parking area in front of Calley‟s grocery store, which was abundantly decorated with Christmas lights, and Calley came rushing out even before their truck had come to a standstill. She hadn‟t even bothered wearing her heavy winter coat.
    “Come here and let me take a look at you!” Calley greeted Gable after waiting patiently for him to roll his window down. “Are you okay? Flynn‟s been keeping me up to date, but between the store and you needing your rest, I haven‟t seen enough of you these past weeks.” She lovingly enveloped his cheeks with her hands and rubbed them with her thumbs.
    Gable nodded. “I‟m fine. Will be good to be home.” Calley looked worriedly in Flynn‟s direction, then back at Gable.
    “Let Flynn take care of you, okay? And Flynn? If he gives you grief, remember I have experience with this one being sick.” She nodded at Gable and then let him go as Flynn exited the truck to pick up their box of supplies.
    Gable was grateful when they went inside and left him alone. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes until he heard the thump of Flynn putting the box down in the back of the truck.
    “Okay, we‟re on our way,” Flynn announced as he started the truck again. “How does roast with potatoes and glazed carrots sound?” Gable‟s stomach growled. “Sounds great,” he answered quietly.

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    Zahra Owens

    “Good,” Flynn answered, placing his hand on Gable‟s knee and squeezing it. “I wasn‟t kidding when I said I wanted to fatten you up a bit.”
    When Flynn looked at him, Gable couldn‟t hold his gaze. He was too afraid of seeing Flynn‟s expectations in those big brown eyes of his, so he looked down at the bottom of the truck and then out the window until Flynn pulled his hand back to take the sharp bend up to the ranch.
    Although his nervousness grew as they approached the house, Gable‟s heart almost leapt out of his chest when he saw his homestead again, complete with Bridget coming out of hiding to greet them. This was his home, the one place where he felt safe and where he could be himself; where no one questioned his lifestyle. In his heart he remembered how good it was to share this with Flynn, but his mind kept telling him that everything would be different now. Flynn was staying out of some strange sense of obligation, and Gable knew that as soon as he was able to fend for himself