Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey

beginning to appear in the sky when Len and the two horses walked across the farmyard and into the barn. Len got Thunder into his stall and munching hay before walking Misty to hers and giving her another carrot. “You were a big help, girl.” Removing the saddle and blanket, he put them away and closed the barn doors before walking back to the house.

    He tried to be quiet as he closed the back door behind him, walking through the house and up the stairs. Cliff was awake in bed with the light on. “Did you find him?” 200
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“Yes. He was at the far side of the college, but he’s back in the barn now.”
“Good. Come back to bed.” Cliff lifted the covers.
“Cliff, it’s almost time to get up.”
    “The chores will wait a few hours.” Len stripped off his clothes and climbed back beneath the covers, Cliff’s arms enfolding him, pulling him close. “Thank you for finding Thunder.”

    “You’re welcome.” The words barely passed Len’s lips and he was asleep.

    LEN woke to the bed shaking. “Wen! Wake up, Wen!” Geoff bounced on the bed and as soon as he cracked his eyes open, he saw Geoff’s peering back at him. “Hossey wide.” The kid had a one-track mind. “Where’s Daddy?”
    “Right here.” Cliff walked in the bedroom, fully dressed and a little dirty.
“Hosseys, Wen, hosseys.”
“I take it you and Daddy were doing chores?”
“He insisted on helping, although most of his help consisted of feeding them carrots.” Cliff handed him a mug of coffee, and Len sipped it slowly. “Thank you. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, they didn’t do anything except let the horses out, and they left us a little present.” Cliff reached around the door frame and 201 Love Means Courage
produced a couple hats. “In their haste to leave, they left these behind.”
    “Did you call the police?” Before Cliff could answer, Geoff got up and began jumping on the bed. “That’s enough, Geoffy.” Len put his mug on the nightstand and threw back the covers, scooping Geoff into his arms to fits of laughter. “Let’s get something to eat.” Len put Geoff down and pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a light shirt before picking up his coffee and following them downstairs and into the kitchen.
    The table was already set with a great cold summer breakfast.
“We thought we’d surprise you after all the excitement last night.” Cliff put Geoff in his chair and put his bowl on the tray. “So what’s the plan for today?” Len began filling his plate.
    “There’s some work to be done, and then we’re going into town for lunch.” Len looked skeptical but waited for Cliff to continue. “You know that Steve’s is gossip central in this town, so we’re going there for lunch. I’m thinking we’re going to spread a little of our own gossip.” The glint in Cliff’s eye was making Len horny.
    “Are you going to tell me what you’ve got on your mind?” Len asked as he ate a fat, juicy strawberry.
“Nope, you’ll just have to come along and find out.”
“What about Geoff?”
“Aunt Mari’s coming by to watch him while he’s in the P-O-O-L.”
“What does she think about your idea?”
“Haven’t told her. This is about you and me, and we need to handle it. Show them we’re not afraid and stare them down—get 202 Andrew Grey
    them to blink first. They don’t have to accept us, but they will understand that we won’t take any crap.” Len wasn’t as sure as Cliff, but he was willing to trust him.
    When breakfast was finished, Cliff shooed Len out of the kitchen, so he went out to the barn to get to work. They guys were already busy, so Len got to work, cleaning up the mess he’d left the night before, and then he got started on the never-ending task of cleaning stalls. The horses were already out, so Len figured Cliff had taken care of that while he was still in bed.
    Len greeted Nicole and her students as they arrived for their lessons, got hay from the loft, and made sure all the tack was put away. “Len, Mari’s here. You about ready to go?” Cliff stood in the doorway, his body silhouetted against the sunshine outside the barn. “Just a minute.” He finished up and met Cliff by his truck.
“You got this planned out?”
“Yup, just let me do the talking.” They got in the truck, and Cliff drove into town, parking right in front of Steve’s.
    Len noticed the hats on the floor of the truck. “Are you taking these?” He reached for them when Cliff nodded. Getting