“Headin’ inside?” Kaden asked, his tone polite as ever.
“I am.”
“We’ll follow you,” Keegan noted, motioning for Jeff to precede him.
Kaden kindly opened the door, flashed a brilliant smile as he held it for him. When Jeff stepped inside, the first thing he noticed was the small bar was packed to the gills, most definitely over capacity.
Second was that everyone was silent, with the exception of Daniel and another man at the bar.
Third was that Mack was nowhere in sight.
“Hey, Sheriff,” Kaleb greeted from behind the bar. “Can I get you somethin’?”
“When’d you take up bartending?” he asked casually, noticing how all eyes had shifted to him.
“Hobby,” Kaleb said, then nodded his head toward the door behind him. “Mack’s takin’ a break.”
“Is there a problem, Sheriff?” Daniel asked when Jeff approached the bar.
“Just stoppin’ in to check on things,” he said, though he wasn’t keen on explaining himself to the man.
Daniel turned to face him. “Michael’s just getting something. He’ll be back in a minute.”
Michael, huh? So it hadn’t just been Chester’s drunken ramblings.
“I’ll just go talk to him,” Jeff told the man.
In a move Jeff didn’t approve of, Daniel sidestepped, cutting him off.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t, sir.”
Jeff raised his eyebrows and stared back at the younger man. “Is that right?”
“My father’s not accepting visitors.”
Several snorts erupted through the room.
“Why don’t I determine that for myself,” Jeff told him as he stepped to the side.
“Mr. Endsley, I’d prefer you didn’t. It’s not appropriate.”
Only because he was curious as to Daniel’s reasons, Jeff paused. “And why’s that?”
“I don’t think you want me to explain that here,” the kid said, his voice lower than before.
A few years ago, Jeff would’ve agreed with him. Back before his sexual orientation had become public record. In the time since that secret leaked, Jeff had learned to embrace who he was. Had taken far too long, as far as he was concerned, but he owed his newfound respect for himself to those in this town who’d stood up for themselves in recent years. Namely people like Ethan Walker, who’d gone through far more than any young man should have because of who he was. Jeff respected Ethan too much to let his sacrifices go by the wayside.
Irritated now, Jeff turned to face him. “Explain what?”
Daniel stepped forward, lowered his voice. “About your inappropriate relationships.”
The door to the bar opened and footsteps sounded from behind him, but Jeff didn’t bother to look to see who it was.
“I’m not sure I understand,” Jeff told him, wanting to see if the boy would out his father when his disapproval was so evident.
“Sheriff, I think he’s sayin’ you’re gay.”
Jeff grinned but didn’t look away from Daniel. “Thanks for makin’ that clear, Beau.”
