“Sure you don’t,” Patrick said. He laughed and reached over to shove Xander’s shoulder. “What I’m saying is, I think this last month has been good. I like Wright. The whole family does.”
“It’s hard not to like him,” Xander said. “I don’t know what it is about him, but he’s great. He’s perfect.”
“He’s a hard worker,” Patrick said. “Has he talked to you about what happened Monday?”
Xander nodded. He knew his brother was leading the conversation somewhere and this was it. It wasn’t just curiosity though. He knew his brother better than that and he was genuinely concerned about it. “He did,” Xander said. “His dad is a real piece of shit, Patrick. The things he did, for no reason. He had all the right in the world to be scared of the tack room. I know you talked about him working with the horses, but we might have to hold off on that.”
“I’m not going to pry for details, but I need to know that he’s going to be safe if he’s working here. That’s my only concern with whatever is going on. I can’t have him out there, or near the animals, if there’s a chance he’s going to freeze and possibly get hurt.”
“I understand,” Xander said. “And that’s why I’m telling you that you should hold off, for now, on any jobs that require rope. That’s what freaked him out. He’s working through it, though.”
They didn’t say anything else the rest of the way back to the barn. It was a nice day out and it was set to be the same tomorrow. He was excited for the celebration, to see some of his family that could only visit for holidays. His aunt and uncle lived on the other side of the state, manning their own farm. They focused on crops instead of cattle and had some chickens. They usually traded fresh meat between them once a year. Like Patrick, they made a good name for themselves and were secondgeneration for ownership. His whole family worked hard and were well blessed with the lives they had.
The sight they came back to made his whole body warm and he took a minute before dismounting to watch. It was a full house, everyone outside enjoying the weather. Extra cars that he recognized as Brett and Wylon’s and William and Clark’s were parked side-by-side. Wylon was holding their son in his arms. He was only four months old, a child born to a mother in prison somewhere in another state. A friend of a friend knew Brett and Wylon were looking to adopt and got them in contact with the right people. Clark was sitting on the porch steps, watching as Wylon and William cooed over the baby. Brett and Wright were sitting on the swing, their heads close together as they talked to each other. Paxton was running around in the grass with a little girl. Her laugh and high-pitched screams reached his ears from the barn.
“That’s what we do this for,” Patrick said. Xander looked over at him with a smile. He understood where Patrick was coming from. Coming back from a long day and seeing all the people, family and found family, happy and laughing. Anything was worth that. They finally dismounted and spent the few minutes getting the horses settled and in their stalls for the evening.
Xander rested his hat on the railing when he walked up the steps and toward Wright. He smiled and stood to meet Xander a few steps from the swing. “How was your day?”
“Even better now,” Xander said. Wright, without hesitation on the fact he was sweaty, wrapped his arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. “How was yours?”
“Boring and I loved it.” Wright let him go but didn’t move away from him. “I finally caught the birds using the bath after lunch. Then Brett and them came over and we’ve just been hanging out.”
“Sounds like a perfect day.” Xander smiled. “And I don’t want you to miss anything, but we have a date to get started.”
“A date?” someone behind him, maybe William, asked loudly. Xander had the pleasure of seeing Wright’s face pinken and he looked down at the porch floor. “When did this happen?”
“It’s been happening,” Paxton said. She walked up with the little girl on her hip. She looked vaguely familiar and assumed she came with Brett and Wylon. “Since, like, day two of him being here.”
“Day two?”
“That’s being a bit dramatic,” Xander said. He had all eyes on him now. He looked at Wright, at a loss for words.
“I think it was day three.”
“You are not helping.” Xander brushed a hand through his hair and turned back to William. “It started because he was being stubborn and wouldn’t take it easy, so we compromised. We would go on walks around the ranch if he listened and took it easy and wore his sling.”
“And this turned into dates?” Clark asked that question.
“Fridays kind of turned into unofficial things,” Wright said finally. “I’m stubborn and wore him down pretty quickly.”
“Stubborn is an understatement,” Xander said. Wright punched his arm playfully. “And as much as I would love to continue being harassed by people who weren’t even born until I was in junior high, we do have to go.”
“You know you were in high school when I was born, right?” Wright said, leaving a crowd of laughter behind them.
Xander didn’t want to think about it that way. He was aware of the age gap, focused too much on it sometimes. But there was no denying whatever they had. He was falling fast and he knew it. Hoped that after tonight, Wright would understand too.
“I didn’t cross a line, did I?” Wright asked when they were in the guest house. Xander locked the door behind him and kicked off his boots. “With the age thing?”
“No, it’s fine.” Xander turned to look at Wright. He was standing in the middle of the kitchen with his hands down by his side. “It doesn’t bother you, does it? The fact that I’m closer to forty than twenty?”
“Not at all,” Wright said quickly. He stepped toward Xander and smiled. “I actually really like it. Older men are kind of my thing when it comes to what I find attractive.”
Xander smiled. He’d told him that before, of course, but he liked hearing it. Having to remind himself that this wasn’t just a messed up situation. However they met, he knew they were building something special together. He hoped that tonight solidified that.
“Okay, so get ready for your therapy and I’m going to shower and start dinner.” Xander leaned down and kissed him quickly before turning him around and smacking his ass to get him out of the kitchen. He jolted but turned around and smirked at him.
“Do it again.”
