Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

be falling for you if you weren't one of the best people I've ever met." Stone looked at Preston looking for some indication that he'd heard correctly. "You heard me right."
    Stone leaned down and captured Preston's lips.
"Guys, I don't think this is the time." Geoff's voice carried from deeper in the barn. "We need to get him ready to move."
    Stone pulled away from Preston's lips. "Let's get done and out of here." They returned to where Geoff was standing with Buster. He'd eaten quite a bit of hay and drunk a good deal of water. "I'll get the rest of his stuff into the trailer." Stone went to the tack room and got the rest of Buster's things, loading them in the back of the truck before checking the water temperature. It was warm enough, so Stone unplugged and pulled out the heater, stowing that in the back of the truck as well before carrying the bucket to where Buster stood, happily munching his hay.
    Stone bent down and gently brushed his hand down Buster's side before lifting each leg and washing away the filth. "It's all right, boy," he heard Geoff coo as he continued cleaning the legs and hooves. "How bad is it?"

    Stone stood, anger filling him. "Not as bad as it could be, I suppose. They're soft in a few places, but overall the hooves are solid." This wouldn't have been an issue if he hadn't left him. A wave of guilt washed over him. He should have known; he should have come back earlier.
    "Stone, it isn't your fault."
"Yes, it is." He patted Buster's forequarters. "He's my responsibility and I let him down."
    "No, you didn't." Preston's voice sounded firm behind him. "He did." He saw Preston point toward the house. "Anyone who'd let an animal suffer like that isn't human."
    Was this the same person he'd met a few weeks ago? He turned toward Preston, trying to figure the man out. He'd told him that he cared for him, stood up for him with his father, and even shown empathy for Buster. Stone patted a warm flank blankly. "What happened to the arrogant ass who called me Stable Boy?" he murmured almost to himself, a smirk on his face. At least he could understand that person.
    "He's using it for good, like you said." Preston smirked right back.
Geoff chuckled. "Is everything ready?" Geoff asked, returning their attention to the task at hand.
    "We just need to get Buster loaded, but I want to make sure his legs are dry first." Stone looked to both of them, feeling their support like arms wrapped around him. He'd been able to stand up to the old fuck for the first time. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

    Stone walked toward the door. "Where are you going?" Preston asked from behind him.

    "To get the last of what's mine." Without second-guessing himself, he strode across the snowy yard, stomped up the front steps, and banged on the front door.

    "What do you want?" His old man's booze-soaked eyes stared back at him, framed by greasy, unwashed hair.
    "The rest of my stuff, old man." He wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of calling him father, and he'd never been a dad. Stone pushed past him and entered the house, the living room messy with papers and dishes. "Still can't figure out how to take care of yourself." He didn't pause long before walking down the hall to what had been his bedroom.
    He found himself pausing before opening the door, wondering what it would look like, but inside, nothing appeared to have been touched. Judging by the dust covering everything, no one had even been in here since he left. He never thought he'd be grateful for laziness. Squatting down, he pulled a couple boxes from under the bed, checking that they were secure before stacking them near the door. Pawing through his closet, he found an old Spiderman suitcase from when he was a kid and began filling it with clothes.

    "Don't be takin' nothin' that ain't yours."
    Stone whirled around. "Have I ever stolen? Have I ever lied to you?" Stone kept his voice as firm as he could. "Even when you'd beat me for some imagined infraction, did I ever lie?" Stone took a step closer. "It's you who can't take the truth, old man." Stone took a deep breath, trying to calm his raging nerves, but fuck it.
    He stepped toward Stone, raising an arm to strike him.

    "Don't you dare." Stone held his ground, where he'd have backed away before. He held the man's gaze. "I'm not a kid anymore, and I'm certainly not your kid, or your whipping boy." He saw the man flinch. "You hit me and I'll kick your ass into next week, you useless old drunk."
    His voice