Extreme Bull

“You have to get going. Where are my boots?”
    Silently, Clay helped him into his jeans and shirt, fastening them without letting his fingers brush Jeff’s skin.
    He placed Jeff’s boots where he could stamp into them and stood back.
    Jeff leaned on the wall, not wanting to put a hand on Clay to steady himself. If he were honest with himself, the big difference wasn’t that Clay was a man, it was that he’d never cared enough about another person before that it was wrenching to say goodbye.
    “I’ll let you get going.”
    “Right. I’ll call you.”
    “Sure.”
    Jeff went toward the door, edging past Clay, and put his hand on the knob. He looked at Clay one last time. He couldn’t take it, just leaving on such a cold note as if they Extreme Bull | Catt Ford
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    weren’t even friends. He closed the distance between them, flinging himself against Clay, clutching his waist with his good arm.
    “Gonna miss you.”
    Clay’s arms were around him, holding him so tight it was squeezing the breath out of him. “Gonna miss you too.” This is the last time. The last time I get to hold him , Jeff’s mind screamed at him. He buried his face in Clay’s neck, breathing him in, swallowing hard around the painful lump in his throat that wouldn’t go down. He knew he should just go. There were no promises that could reassure him. They couldn’t keep it together for more than two days on the road with nothing holding them back, and now it would be a long time before he saw Clay again, maybe till November if Clay made the finals.
    Clay kissed Jeff’s shoulder, it being the only part he could reach. Suddenly it became very important to let Jeff know how he felt about him, but he didn’t have the words.
    He was never good with expressing feelings. And besides, what did you say to a boyfriend? But Jeff was more than a boyfriend, he was the one who helped Clay to be his true self, and he never wanted to let him go.
    They jerked apart at the sound of a knock on the door.
    Clay turned away, ducking his head to brush his hand over his eyes. Jeff retreated to the far end of the trailer and stood with his back turned.

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    “Hey Clay, know where Jeff’s at?” Clay stood back to let Sam enter. “He’s here. Just saying goodbye before we hit the road.” Sam had to duck as he stepped inside, and he stood with his head tilted to one side. “Jeff, glad I caught you.
    Been talkin’ to the sponsors, and they want you to stay with the tour.”
    “Doing what?” Jeff turned around, having succeeded in forcing his emotions down. “I can’t even clown with this. Or clean a stall.” He held up the cast.
    “They want you to provide a little color to the announcin’,” Sam explained. “Sit up there in the booth, tell folks about the action from a rider’s perspective. Besides, you got a way with words that blisters my chaps.” Jeff was silent, suspecting a joke.
    “How much they going to pay him?” Clay asked.
    “Not as much as a winnin’ purse,” Sam admitted. “But enough for gas and food. It’s your choice, Jeff. When you heal up, you’ll be able to go back to ridin’, even though you won’t qualify for the finals, missin’ so much of the season.” Slowly, Jeff’s face lit up. He looked past Sam to see the same hopeful look on Clay’s face. “What do you think?” Extreme Bull | Catt Ford
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    “It’s got to be your decision if you could take it, watching without being able to ride,” Clay said. He glanced self-consciously at Sam and took a deep breath, adding softly, “I’d like it if you came along.” Sam coughed to hide a smirk behind his hand. “I’ll leave you two boys to talk it over then. Get back to me with a yes or no before quittin’ time.”
    “Thanks, Sam,” Jeff called out.
    Sam waved a hand and jumped down out of the trailer.
    “Why does he always catch us together like this?” Jeff asked.
    “Maybe we’re being obvious.”
    “Maybe.”
    “So you gonna do it?”
    “I might go along for the ride,” Jeff said nonchalantly.
    Clay grabbed him around the waist and swung him in a circle. “Yeehaw! Cowboy up!”

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    Read Jamie and Doug’s story in Riding Out the Bull .

    Available only at Dreamspinner Press www.dreamspinnerpress.com

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    CATT FORD lives in front of the computer monitor, in another world where her imaginary gay friends obey her every command.
    She likes cats,