Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

be staying right here. You keep this barn so clean, and the horses are wonderfully cared for, I couldn’t ask for a better place.” Len couldn’t keep the smile off his face as she leaned close. “Besides, just between you and me, I’ve never liked old man Padgett. He’s too closedminded, if you know what I mean.”
    Len wasn’t sure, but he was hoping he did. He really wanted to ask her what she meant, but one of her students pulled her away before he could ask. He turned and went back inside, meeting Cliff on his way.

    “Mari was just about to leave. She asked me to say hi, and she told me that Geoff drove her crazy all day asking for you and wanting a ‘hossey wide’.” Len smiled at Cliff’s imitation of his son.
    “Do you have time?”
Len chuckled. “Sure. I have time. I haven’t unsaddled Misty from our ride.”
    God, the grin on Cliff’s face was worth a mint. “I’ll go get him. Thanks.” Cliff looked around and saw all the people in the barn, leaned forward, and whispered. “I’ll give you your thank-you later.”

    Len had to stop himself from quivering with anticipation and drooling as he watched Cliff’s tight, jeans-encased butt move away. “He’s something isn’t he?” He turned, looking square into Nicole’s eyes. Shit, she’d seen him looking, and he didn’t know what to say. Nicole just smiled at him and patted his shoulder as she yelled to all her students, “Meet me in the tack room in ten minutes.”
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    “Geoff, slow down!” Len saw a small streak race through the barn door and down the aisle followed by a smiling and laughing Cliff. Damn, the smile he got shot right to his groin.
    “Wen, hossey wide.” Len squatted down and scooped Geoff into his arms to peals of laughter and little boy giggles.
“Yes. You can have a horsey ride.”
“Yay!” Geoff did some sort of squirmy happy dance in Len’s arms.
Len handed the wiggling boy to Cliff. “I need to go get Misty, and I’ll lead you and Geoff around the yard. Do you have a camera? I’ll take a picture of the two of you.”
    “I’ll go get it and be right back.” Cliff carried Geoff with him, and Len opened Misty’s stall and walked her out of the barn and onto the lawn. Cliff met him, carrying both Geoff and the camera.
    He put Geoff down and slipped the camera around Len’s neck before mounting Misty and settling in the saddle. Len handed Geoff up to him and waited until he was settled before starting to lead Misty around the yard.
    Geoff was having a ball, yelling, “Go, hossey, go,” giggling, and smiling. After leading her toward the fence, Len stopped and handed Cliff the reins. Stepping back, he opened the camera and snapped a number of pictures of father and son together on the horse.

    “Can you image him when he’s a little older riding his first P-O-N-Y?”

    Cliff grinned. “I had a P-O-N-Ywhen I was five. I got her for my birthday. Her name was Sugar, and she was the sweetest thing. I loved her to death. The first night I got her, I asked if I could sleep 149

    Love Means Courage
    in the barn with her, ’cause ‘She’d get lonely.’” To Geoff’s obvious dismay, Cliff lifted the youngster off Misty’s back and handed him to Len. “You ride, and I’ll lead you around for a while.” Len mounted the horse, and Cliff handed up Geoff, who immediately settled down once he’d gotten what he wanted. Cliff snapped some pictures of them before taking a turn leading them around the yard.
    “Hi, guys. Would you like me to get a picture of the three of you?”
Len turned and saw Mari coming out of the house. “I thought you’d left.”
“I was just about to when I saw you giving rides.” Cliff turned to his sister. “Would you like a turn?”
    “After I get pictures of the three of you.” Cliff handed Len the reins and stood next to Misty, and Mari snapped a number of pictures. Then they all changed places, and Len led Mari and Geoff around the yard after the requisite pictures while Cliff went inside to start dinner.
    As he led Mari and Geoff around the yard, a thought struck him. Cliff loved him, and Geoff loved him. Being gay, the one thing he never thought he’d have was a family of his own. Granted, it was really Ruby’s family, but deep in his heart, he knew she wouldn’t mind. In fact, she’d be pleased that her family was being taken care of by someone she cared about.
    After a few last turns around the yard, Mari handed Geoff down and dismounted.