Earth and Sky

wanted to bridge the awkward moment between disconnecting from Grant and getting on with their work by giving himself something to do.

    They both washed their hands underneath the faucet at the back of the stable block. Grant tucked himself in and wiped his hands on his jeans, while Hunter needed more extensive washing.

    “The offer of going somewhere stands as long as you want,” Grant told him, giving Hunter’s semi-naked form the once-over before picking up his hat and walking outside.

    Hunter hastily continued cleaning up, worried about getting caught with his pants down, literally. He knew Grant would be good for it, and that somehow worried him. The ball was in his court now. It was up to him to find a place for them to enjoy a little privacy. He was going to have to lie to his family and possibly some of his employees too. Was it worth it? Was it worth lying for a few moments of ecstasy? For sexual gratification?

    While he was wiping off Honeybee’s flank, the alternative came into his mind. He was sure that if he wanted to keep up appearances, Miranda would marry him and bear his children. Was that what he wanted? A loveless marriage of convenience? All they were good at was fucking, and even for that he usually liquored up at the bar first. Whenever Miranda tried striking up a conversation, they ended up arguing, mostly about meaningless little things. Maybe that told him they weren’t meant to be. Then again, it wasn’t like Grant and he were moving toward happy-ever-after either. They were friends, at best, but Hunter barely knew more about Grant than that he’d been Gable’s lover and that he’d abandoned Gable after his accident. He knew nothing more about what kind of man Grant was, and when he thought about it, Grant might just as well be a serial killer. On several occasions he’d asked for personal days off without giving anyone a reason. He’d disappear for days on end, only to return to work looking tired and worn out. Hunter had no idea what Grant did during those weekends, and he was afraid to ask. He wasn’t about to antagonize one of the best horse wranglers he’d ever hired, not to mention a man who’d shown him ecstasy every time he laid his hands on him. On the other hand, he wasn’t about to sacrifice everything he held dear for a man he barely knew. He was going to have to be patient and play it by ear for now.

    Satisfied that he’d set the stable, his new horse, and himself to rights, Hunter walked out into the afternoon sun.

Chapter 13

    “I’ll see what I can do and let you know,” Grant said before closing his cell phone. He sighed deeply and walked in the direction of the main house. They were fairly busy at the ranch, rounding up the horses for the yearly worming, but sometimes things in his private life took precedence, and this was one of these days.

    He was just about to ring the doorbell when Bernie walked out. “Hi! You’re here to see Hunter?” she asked with much youthful enthusiasm.

    Grant nodded.

    “He’s round the back. Why don’t you come with me? Can I get you some lemonade? I just made a fresh pitcher.”

    Grant wasn’t much of a lemonade drinker, but Bernice was a sweetheart, and he simply couldn’t say no to her. “Sure thing. Sounds perfect.” He rounded the corner while she disappeared into the kitchen, and found Hunter sitting on a bench in the shade, going over a stack of papers full of figures.

    “Books giving you grief?”

    Hunter smiled and looked up when he heard Grant’s voice. “We’re doing okay. Times are tough, but somehow we always manage to keep our head above water.”

    “That’s good management,” Grant said, sitting down next to Grant. “Although it must be tough with Hugh gone.”

    “Yeah, it was a lot easier when I just had my own work to worry about. You and Izzie pick up a lot of Hugh’s work, though. Thanks for that.”

    “Suppose it was easier between you and Hugh?”

    “Yeah, I’ll admit to that. After all these years, we barely needed to say anything to each other. Now I need to remind myself to communicate more with you and Izzie. Plus, I have to decide on whether I’m going to choose a new foreman from the hands already here, or whether I need to hire an outsider. Don’t really like that last option, to be honest.”

    Grant had heard the rumors going around that Hunter was going to ask him to become foreman, and he’d picked up that he had clear supporters and strong protesters.