Chaps and Hope (Mossy Glenn Ranch 1) (14 page)

Anthony didn’t say a word and Will set the pitcher down again. “Your father might have shaped your world until now, but from this moment on, everything you do is on your head. You can’t blame him for tagging other people’s property with bad artwork. You can’t destroy other people’s stuff to make yourself feel good. You have to decide if you want to get better, get past
your
past, or if you’re going to keep reliving it. If, someday, you’ll have a son who you abuse.”

“No,” Anthony cried out, turning back to Will. “I won’t! Haven’t you figured it out? I’m gay! I love you!”

Oh. Oh, not good, not good at all.
Will resisted looking at Drake as Anthony kept talking. Will really wished he’d just shut up.

“I saw you, the first day you showed up at the ranch. I didn’t think anyone would ever buy it, see? It was there and I was so angry. I would… I would go out there and beat on whatever, tear things up. Spray my shitty drawings onto the buildings.”

Will cringed. “Sorry about that. I was probably, uh, harsh.”

Anthony glared. “I suck, I know. What we want and what we have, they aren’t always the same, right?”

Will didn’t answer. He had what he wanted, needed, in Carlos and Troy.

“For most of us, anyway.” Anthony looked at Drake. “I bet you don’t have what you want either.”

Drake stepped forward, and for the first time, Will saw the fury in his friend’s eyes. “I don’t have what I want? You know what? I get that your situation was shitty, man, okay? I get it. But you’re alive, and you can start over and quit being your daddy’s punching bag.”

“It’s not that easy—” Anthony started.

“Yes, it is,” Drake yelled before taking a steadying breath.

Landon zipped into the room, eyes huge in his face. “Is there a problem in here?”

“No problem,” Will told him, “they’re discussing politics. Never a good subject unless you’re on the same side.”

Landon’s mouth curved into an O. “He’s a Republican? Freddie, really?”

“No.”

“Just a difference of opinion on Democrats versus libertarians,” Will offered, smiling at Landon. “We’re all sort of on the same page, just not on the same paragraph.”

“Okay, but no more yelling or out you go.” Landon left and Drake went right back to lecturing Anthony.

“It’s as easy as deciding it’s time for you to be an adult and live the kind of life you want to live. Other people might have screwed you over, maybe even hurt you permanently or…” Drake looked up at the ceiling, blinking rapidly as he did so. “Or someone you thought you could trust might have put you at risk and not given a shit. Whatever it is, you get to decide what comes next.
You.
And for the record, Will is happy with Troy and Carlos. No one will break them up.”

“Both?” Anthony croaked.

Will rolled his eyes. “Leave it to him to comment on that part only.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Drake said, sounding rather huffy. “They love each other and treat each other better than any couple I’ve seen. If I could be half as loved by someone, I’d count myself lucky. Anyone who wants to judge them should get their head out of their prudish ass.”

Will was over talking about his personal life. It just wasn’t anyone else’s business. “What happens between me and my husbands is our business, Anthony. We are, however, going to have to talk to you about what you’ve done. You’ve cost us a lot of money and man hours. Do you have
any
idea how much I fucking hate painting?”

“I just wanted you to come in the store. It was the other guy, Troy though. Never you. Then you called—”

“And I told you why I did. Look.” Will rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache start up right between his eyebrows. “I’m not going to keep telling you. This is the last time. I am happy, beyond happy, with Carlos and Troy. There is no hope for anything from me but maybe friendship—” Will pinned Anthony with a guarded look. “Even that’s not guaranteed. It depends on what kind of person you choose to be, because I don’t do toxic relationships of any sort. Not with friends, not with family, no one. Do you understand everything I just said?”

“Yes,” Anthony rasped. Tears leaked down his cheeks, but he didn’t seem to notice. “I’m a fuck-up. I get it.”

“No, you don’t.” Will hoped Troy didn’t take it too hard when Will had to tell him the truth about Freddie-Anthony. “You don’t get it at all, but I guess there’s still hope.” His mood was down around his ankles, but Will tried to get past it. Troy would want some other answers. “How bad are your injuries? I don’t see a cast anywhere.”

Anthony made a sound that might have been a laugh—or a sob. “Nothing broke. Bruised ribs, concussion, lost some teeth. Pissing blood. Bruising inside me. I’ll live.” Anthony looked at him. “And when I get out of here, I’ll come to the Mossy Glenn and take whatever punishment your husbands want to give me. For the destruction of property and for wanting to fuck you.”

Will was going to throttle the kid. He had to walk away. “You do that.” Will didn’t look back as they left.

In the hallway, Drake stopped him, holding Will’s wrist. “You know he’s figuring Carlos and Troy are going to beat the shit out of him, like his daddy did. He figures he’s got it coming, and that’s why he tried to make sure you were pissed off enough to rile up the other two with that comment about fucking you.”

“Aw, damn.” Will never did stay angry at anyone long. “Shit. I should have known that. Sounds like something I’d have done.”

Drake leered. “Yeah, but you’ve had the love of two good men to chase off that part of you, so you already forgot about some of it. That’s the way it should be. Love should heal all, conquer all—you know, mushy stuff like that.”

“It does,” Will said, realising just how true it was. “It really does. Now let’s go home.”

Chapter Fourteen

Carlos watched Troy hammering away at the porch railing on the second bunkhouse. He’d been in an off mood ever since Will had come back from Bozeman and told them about Fred—Anthony. Carlos wasn’t mad, as such. He kind of understood the kid’s need to get out the anger, and at least Anthony hadn’t hurt anyone else, he’d just cost them money and made them waste time painting and repairing the place. Carlos also understood his crush on Will. He didn’t begrudge the kid the desire to fuck Will, either, but he’d never let Anthony touch Will. Hell, Will wouldn’t let Anthony touch him.

Troy set the hammer down and wiped sweat off his brow before looking up at Carlos. “I know. I’ve been in a funk. I just don’t get how I misjudged Fred Jr so badly.”

“Anthony,” Carlos corrected. “No reason to be stubborn about his name.”

Troy scowled and picked the hammer up. He stuck it back in his tool belt. “I know. I’m a dick.”

“No, you’re pissed. I get that, but I also get that Anthony’s primary and first example on how to be a man was his father. I get that he lived in a town where most people had to know what was going on yet no one interfered. I get that he’d be a mess, and you’d feel tricked ’cause you got a tender heart and were worried for the kid.” Carlos came over and tipped Troy’s head up. “There’s nothing wrong with caring about anyone, Troy. Most people ain’t all good or all bad, and we’ve all done things we’re ashamed of. I can remember stealing candy from the corner gas station when I was a teenager. We were poor, but I wasn’t starving. I just wanted what I wanted, and I knew it wasn’t right. That’s not so different from what Anthony’s done.”

“It’s a lot different,” Troy argued. “You took a piece of candy. We’re talking thousands of dollars in destruction of property when we first got here, then probably thousands more in paint and labour and fuckin’ surveillance cameras!”

Carlos hated confessing, but he had to. “I stole more than a piece of candy, Troy.” Carlos looked towards the porch and saw Will coming their way. He waited until Will was with them to go on. It was humiliating and he’d rather just do it once.

“I was telling Troy that Anthony ain’t hopeless and it ain’t wrong to care about someone even if they do bad shit. I used to steal candy when I was fourteen or so. Stole beer, too, and cigarettes. I don’t know if I’d have stopped if my Mama hadn’t figured it out and took a belt to my ass. Even at fourteen, I wasn’t dumb enough to sass my Mama. Lord, she took the skin off my rump. That was the end of my thieving, but you know, I still wanted to steal. Took a while to get past that. I missed the thrill of it more than I missed the shit I took.”

“Few people are all good or all bad. I don’t want to meet either type.”

Carlos looked at Will. Will shrugged. “What? The evil ones are psycho killer kinds, right? And the all good, that’d be, like, God and Jesus and I really don’t want to meet them yet, either.”

“Smartass.” Carlos rubbed Will’s bottom then tucked his hand into one of Will’s back pockets. “Didn’t you ever do anything bad, Troy?”

Troy sighed noisily enough to spook the pretty new Quarter Horse in the corral. “Sorry, Quince,” he called to the horse as she skittered away. “Shit. Yes.” He narrowed his eyes. “Is this confession time or something?”

“Sure. I shouldn’t be the only one baring his criminal past.”

“You might be,” Will teased. “I’m a good boy.”

“Man,” Troy and Carlos said.

“That too.”

Troy took the hammer out and rolled it in his hands. “Okay. I’ve tried most every kind of drug there was up until six or seven years ago. Wasn’t hooked on any, just wanted to see what they did. And I might have burned an ex’s entire album collection.”

“Might have?” Carlos asked.

“That’s mean,” Will said at the same time. “I like it.”

“I’m glad we have CDs,” Carlos countered.

“They burn,” his men informed him.

Carlos arched a brow at Will.

“Oh, fine,” Will grumbled. “You know I’ve hacked into some government places that could have gotten me put in prison for a long time.”

Carlos felt a fissure of unease come to life in him. Troy looked like he’d been poleaxed. Carlos asked, “Will, can they still arrest you? That’s not something the government is likely to brush off if they figure out who did it.”

“They won’t.” Will sounded very, very certain of that. “Any trail they find will lead to my sister. She’s almost as good at hacking as I am. I used to feel bad about that, but she hurt me, many times.” Will shrugged. “Does it make me a horrible person that I don’t feel bad? I don’t think it does. I hacked into those places because my dad made me. I haven’t done anything like that since before I disowned all of them.”

“You aren’t a bad person.”

“Not at all,” Troy added. “And I’m glad you disowned your father and sibs. They weren’t meant to have someone as wonderful as you in their lives.”

“Aw, you’re so sweet!” Will took the hammer out of Troy’s hand and put it back in his tool belt. “You deserve a reward. Like for me to blow you.”

Carlos needed to step in before Will ended up blowing Troy out in broad daylight. “Why don’t you hold off on that?”

Will looked shocked. “Why? I wasn’t going to do it here.”

“Because I have plans for tonight that involve all of us and a video camera.”

Will’s eyes were almost as huge as Troy’s, and both of them were sporting semis. Carlos grinned. “Save those. We’re gonna want to have as many cum shots as possible.”

“Oh my God! Cum shots!” Will squealed and clapped his hands together. “Yes!”

“Lunch is ready,” Drake shouted from the porch. “Come get it before I eat it all myself!”

Will took off at a run, laughing like he’d never had a care in the world. Carlos and Troy followed more sedately. “You know his birthday’s coming up next week.”

“Yep, on the twentieth,” Troy said. “I was thinking we should get him—”

“Sh, we’ll talk later. I don’t know how the sound is on these cameras he’s got running out here.” Carlos looked at one and waved. “Give him something to giggle over later.”

Inside the house, they sat at the kitchen table. Carlos cut into his steak and moaned when he put it in his mouth. “Drake, you can’t ever quit. No vacation either,” he growled teasingly.

“Funny guy.” Drake sat and cut his entire steak up into little bites before he began to eat. Carlos, Will and Troy were all but done by then. Drake swallowed a mouthful and set his silverware down.

Unease pricked at Carlos. Troy and Will felt it too, both of them giving him worried looks. Today was the day Drake was supposed to hear back from the clinic. Carlos believed in ripping the bandage off quick, but this was Drake’s wound, not his.

“It was negative,” Drake whispered, and no sooner had he said it than tears poured from his eyes. Will let out a whoop and tackled Drake for a hug. Troy was a little more reserved, patting Drake’s arm and murmuring congratulations. Drake shook them off after a minute. “It doesn’t mean I’m okay. I have to be tested again. It’s only been three months since I left Rigo. Until we know for sure he didn’t infect me, I’m afraid to celebrate.”

Carlos stood. “Well, when you’re ready to celebrate, you let us know. We’ll take you to Bozeman and go dancing.” Drake might not feel like he could hope yet, but Carlos did. He’d come to see Drake as a friend. “For now, why don’t you get outside after you eat, and mark off where you want that garden you were talking about. We’ll clean up in here.”

Carlos hadn’t seen Drake smile like that since before he’d got that phone call from Rigo. It was pretty cool to have friends.

* * * *

Will came out of the bathroom clean inside and out. Carlos directed him to the bed, where he’d laid down a couple of old blankets. “Hands and knees, baby. I want at that ass.” Carlos pointed at the video camera, letting Will know it was on.

Will sauntered, rolling his hips and looking like sex on legs. He got on the bed, crawling with that pert ass up, flashing his pucker every chance he got. Troy came into the bedroom and Carlos let him stand there and watch until Will got in position. Then he turned to Troy. “Get in front of the camera, but don’t block the view of Will. I want you to strip, slowly. Once you get naked, you start stroking that cock of yours and playing with your tits. Should keep you busy while I get undressed.”

“Okay.” Troy moved confidently into place. He set his phone down on the dresser and after tapping some buttons on it, music began to play. Troy smiled wickedly and began swaying, giving him and Will a show.

“Yeah, take it off,” Will called out. “Show us that divine cock of yours.”

Troy tipped his head back and ran his hands up and down his body. Carlos decided he was going to really have to fight for his self-control tonight. He moved back, wanting Will to watch Troy, and Troy to keep doing what he was doing.

Carlos quickly took his clothes off, watching his men when he could. He didn’t worry if he missed a little bit, they’d have the video to watch. He slid his chaps on, feeling only a little ridiculous. Will and Troy always loved him in the chaps, along with his hat. Carlos put it on, too, then when Troy was beautifully nude and working his cock and tits, Will watching him and practically drooling, Carlos barked a command.

“That’s enough. Get on the bed, on your back. Will’s going to move until he’s on his hands and knees above you.”

“Holy shit, Carlos. You’re so fucking sexy,” Troy grated out, hands stilling on his body. Will just whimpered and started coming his way.

Carlos pointed at him. “What’d I tell you?” Will smirked and Carlos knew what he wanted, but it wasn’t happening tonight. He wanted all of Will’s sensation coming from Carlos’ hand inside his ass, not from him smacking the outside of it.

“Will,” Carlos rumbled.

Will stopped and frowned as Troy laid down.

“I want everything you’re feeling coming from this”—Carlos held up his hand—“inside of you. I don’t want you feeling the burn of a spanking on your skin.”

“Okay,” Will agreed eagerly. He crawled back and positioned himself over Troy.

Carlos took the large bottle of lube out from under the bed where he’d set it earlier. He took the bowl out from there as well and removed the hand towels from inside it.

“Kiss,” he told Will and Troy. Damn it, he should have started out kissing them both. Well, he didn’t have to add to his mistake. Carlos set the supplies on the bed and got to where he could join in the kissing. It was good, his and Troy’s and Will’s tongues twining, them sucking and nibbling at each other’s lips. “Love you both,” he told them as he moved back towards the foot of the bed. “Keep kissing.”

Carlos pushed Troy’s legs up until he had his feet close to his ass. His knees pushed against the back of Will’s legs and that was good, giving Will more support. Carlos rubbed over Troy’s hole with his left hand and Will’s with his right. Both men moaned for him. He pushed his thumbs in, rubbing that guardian muscle over and over again. When he had it loosened, Carlos stopped long enough to pour the lube into the bowl.

He licked Will’s ass hole, wetting it with his tongue while he went back to thumbing Troy’s. When he had both of them moaning, Carlos dipped his hands in the bowl. Troy wouldn’t need nearly as much lube since he wasn’t going to be fisted, but it was easier just to dunk both hands.

“You ready for this, Will?”

“Yes,” Will hissed. “Red, smack the bed, I’m ready!”

At least he was thinking, even if he did sound a little sarcastic.

“Troy, you want my fingers?”

Troy looked at Carlos, then at Will. “I want Will to fuck me.”

“Really?” Will’s voice came out so high-pitched it would have made dogs howl. “
Really?”

“Yeah, really,” Troy told him. “And if that’s something you wanted to do regularly, you could have said.”

Will cleared his throat then coughed, and still squeaked when he talked. “I don’t know about regularly, but I’d love to fuck you now.”

 
“Let me get Troy stretched for you,” Carlos said, rearranging how he’d planned to do things. He wanted Troy to get the fucking he needed, and for Will to be able to give it to him. He used his slick fingers to stretch Troy’s hole, then he set the bowl of lube on the floor and moved to the side. “Come on, Will. He’s needing.”

“I am,” Troy panted. “Fuck, I need so bad, baby.”

Will hooked his arms under Troy’s knees and raised his ass up. “I’ll take care of you. I might have to fuck you twice, because I gotta tell you, I’m already close.”

“In me,” Troy begged.

Will held his breath, his face a mask of concentration. Carlos lined his dick up for him, then Will pushed in. “Ungh, shit shit shit! So tight—” He shuddered as he bottomed out. “Why don’t I do this often?”

“I dunno, but fuck me already.”

Will let the obvious joke go, a sure sign that he was already barrelling towards orgasm. He pulled back and thrust into Troy’s ass again.

“Stop treating me like you’ll break me,” Troy snarled.

“You like it easy,” Will snarled right back. He added a hard jab of his hips and Troy scrabbled to grab his arms.

Carlos considered having Will suck him while Will fucked Troy, but he tossed the idea. Watching was too good, and he could wait.