"Yeah, we do," he agreed. "Kinda interesting that he didn't mention the church talking about us."
"You honestly think he would?" I countered. "Cy, we know they hate us. They know they hate us. Luke knows he doesn't need to bring it up, and I'm pretty sure that he really would prefer not to think about it."
"Yeah." Cy let out a heavy sigh. "He's not ever gonna come out of the closet."
"He's gotta figure out which closet he's in first," I reminded him. "I think once he does that, Luke's the kind of man who'll sort out his shit, own it, and beat the shit out of anyone who has a problem with it."
"Ok, good point." But Cy still didn't look happy. "I just hate that he's going through this."
"Then stop pushing him. Let him and Violet be a thing. Leave it alone, and reassure him that it was an experiment so doesn't mean anything. Just proof that he's not like everyone else in this town, but doesn't mean he's not straight."
"But he's not straight," Cy insisted. "He shouldn't have to hide who he is. He shouldn't need to feel like it's a bad thing. My problem is that all those inbred fuckers are so willing to pass judgment. I fucking hate them for hating us. I hate them for acting like who someone loves is any of their fucking business. Most of all, I hate that they look at me and see what they want, look at you and see things they don't, and all of that's just gonna land on him, and it's not his damned fault."
"I know," I assured him. "Cy, I know. I also know that when he's seen with Violet on his arm, the whole conversation's gonna change. And if you really want to make it possible for him to come out, then you realize someone's going to have to do it first."
Cy nodded. "Yeah, let's revisit that when we're not struggling to get permits and shit. Pretty sure that's not a fight we want to pick while we still need the public's approval."
"Same page," I assured him. "But once we've got it, all bets are off. We're going to paint this town."
He slowly looked over at me. "Yeah, and we'll do it in rainbows."
Chapter Forty-Nine
Luke didn't avoid us on Friday. To me, that felt like an improvement. He also didn't spend the night, but that made sense. He'd mentioned Paul Simmons keeping track of when he didn't come home. Then, Saturday, I woke up to the smell of bacon. Cy and Ash were cooking a full, real breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, and the whole thing. There was even fresh orange juice. I made it downstairs just as Luke returned from his morning feeding.
That was when it all made sense. The show wasn't for me. I didn't exactly eat breakfast. It was their way of letting Luke know that he was truly a part of this - whatever this was. I wasn't going to put a name to it. It seemed we were all on the same page, and it was working, so why ruin a good thing?
The three guys spent most of the day moving the hay from the field to up by the barns. Cy drove Luke's truck with a hay trailer on the back. Ash spotted. Luke worked the tractor with a hay spike on the front. It was entirely likely that I spent most of the day lounging beside the pool, watching.
There was something about the ease of those men together. It was as if Luke's presence removed the tension between Ash and Cy. I caught them roughhousing a few times. I also noticed that Cy was still wearing Luke's straw hat. Ash had gone with a ball cap. It probably said Risqué across the front, because I couldn't think of any other reason for him to have it.
They finished up just in time for Luke to go out and feed Mr. Simmons' cows that evening. After Ash headed up for a shower, Cy came into Gran's office and began looking at the shelves. I finished what I was working on and turned to face him.
"What do you need?" I asked, making it clear that was an offer and not an accusation.
"There was a Bible around here, wasn't there?"
I pointed to the other side. "Three of them. Do I want to know why?"
Cy moved to read the spines, then pulled out the one on the far right. "Well, I thought I'd go back to church."
"Uh huh." That was not what I'd expected. "When did you find religion?"
"About the time I lost everything else." He came closer to lean against the edge of the desk. "I wouldn't say I'm devout. I'm certainly not going to start preaching, but yeah, I believe. Gran said that God is like a reflection of self. It doesn't really matter if He's real or a fantasy. All that matters is if He helps or hurts. For me, it helped."
"I honestly didn't know that," I admitted. "Why didn't you say anything?"
He just put the Bible on the desk beside his hip. "Because church in Colorado was a little more open-minded than church here. Because I can take it or leave it." He paused. "Violet, this town hates us. The woman at the feed store all but asked Ash to his face about being gay. I'm kinda worried about Luke, but we have to start socializing with the community. We can't do this without the town's support."
"Ok..." I had no idea where this was going.
"So I thought I'd dust off my Bible - or Bea's in this case - and go to church with him. Leave you two sinners here at home for a bit, and let the town see that not everything at Southwind is evil."
I just flicked a finger at him. "That's a little irony right there."
"And we both know I can pass. All I'm saying is that Luke goes for his daughter. I think I should go for Southwind." He opened his mouth, paused, then let the air fall back out. "And I want to see Faith's stepfather. I've got some concerns, but Luke seems to think I'm being paranoid."
I sat up. "What kind of concerns?"
