Chapter 10

C hapter T en

He and Hazard rode the creekbed all the way to the culvert, which seemed to be in good shape but was filled with debris. Bryce called Danny and asked him to send a couple of the guys, while he and Hazard worked to pull limbs and a jampile of leaves and grass out of the tube.

The water hadn’t reached it yet, but it was only a matter of time now, so Dusty shimmied inside and was able to push a lot of the gunk to the other end, where the guys were able to get it out of the channel. Hazard helped Dusty out and up onto the side a few minutes before the water flowed under the road for the first time in years.

“This is really because of what we did?” Dusty asked.

“Yeah, it sure seems to be,” Hazard said. “The spring that fed this creek before is flowing once more, and that’s because of all the work we did to try to bring it back.” He shared a high five with Dusty.

“I never thought I’d see water in this channel again. Dad used to talk about playing in it when he was a kid. They’d build dams and make raceways and things like that.”

“So does this mean that we can move part of the herd to this section?” Danny asked. “It would take some of the burden off the other grazing areas.”

“Yes. Let’s make sure this isn’t a fluke, but the grasses are fresh, and we have water now. The cattle should be able to drink and eat on their own.”

“I’ll get the water tested to make sure there aren’t any issues with it,” Danny offered. “Then we’ll move part of the herd over to this section. We’re going to want to let it run to clear any sediment out of the old creekbed before we use the section. That should take just a few days.” He smiled as the border between wet and dry continued down the old bed, heading toward its meeting point with the creek to the north side of the property.

Bryce kept watching as the water flow picked up, swelling to nearly three feet in width and a couple inches deep. It wasn’t a raging torrent, but it would be enough. More than enough. “Let’s be careful, but yes, we can use this section of land for grazing, and we’re going to be able to keep the herd until the fall. And there aren’t going to be any cutbacks in staff.” The best thing was that with the additional water, he might even be able to expand the ranch to build on his father’s legacy. For the first time, it seemed things might be going right… and he didn’t feel like a failure.

“Mom, where’s Dad?” Bryce asked once he and Hazard kicked off their boots and came inside.

“Resting. Why?”

“Hazard and I have something to show him.” He couldn’t help smiling. “I’m going to talk to him.”

“I’ll wait here,” Hazard said, and sat down.

Bryce nodded and strode to his parents’ room. “Dad,” he said as he slowly opened the door. “Are you awake?”

“Yes. Your mother seems to think I’m a complete invalid. What is it you need?” He sat up, and Bryce stood next to the bed. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. I have something to show you. Can you get up?” He helped his dad to his feet and got him into his shoes. “We’re going to go for a little ride.” He got his dad out of the room and to the living room before putting on his own boots. Then he and Hazard got his dad into his truck and across the road, bumping along gently as they rode across the open range.

“This is a lot easier on a horse,” Hazard said as they crossed the land.

“Why are you bringing me out here?” his dad asked. “We haven’t been able to use this section of land except in the winter and spring because there isn’t any water.” He hissed as Bryce hit a sharp bump. “I’m fine. It just took me by surprise.”

“Maybe I should just take you back to the house,” Bryce offered as he slowed down, worried that this was a bad idea.

“And maybe you should stop treating me like I’m going to die at any second. Your mother coddles me all day. I’m so sick of being in that bed that I want to scream. So, get us where you want to go before I smack you.”

Bryce sped up and they arrived at the edge of the trees. He shut off the engine and got out. “Do you want some help?”

“Fuck no,” his father growled, and Bryce shrugged and led his father carefully through the trees. “What’s so important out here?”

“That,” Bryce said as they reached the center clearing. The pool of water glistened in the late-day sunshine.

“There hasn’t been water here since….” His father trailed off and knelt near the edge, running his fingers through the water. “It’s so cold, and it seems like it’s really starting to clear.” He seemed to take in the entire view. “What did you do with the dirt you dug out?”

“I had some of the men trailer it out of here, and we filled that area near the calving barn that got washed away last spring.” Bryce could almost see to the bottom now. “And it’s spawned the old creek that had crossed under the road and should meet the one to the north. So, I think we can put our plans to sell early on hold. We’ll have the water tested and then move some of the herd over here. And next year, if this water source stays steady, I think we might even look into expanding.” He turned to Hazard and smiled.

“Who do we have to thank for this?” his father asked as he looked into the spring once more. “I know the old watering hole wasn’t this deep.”

“Hazard. He and the men dug it down almost twenty feet in order to see if they could find the water. And they did. Our guess is that after the rain, the water found its old path to the surface.”

His dad sighed. “You know, I always worry, but I know the ranch is in good hands now. Both of your hands.” He smiled. “I told you that what you needed was someone to share this life with.”

“Dad, I think it’s a little early for those kinds of pronouncements, especially since Hazard and I haven’t talked about things long-term yet.”

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes and huffed slowly, like he thought they were both a little nuts. “I’m old, and I have cancer. I want to see you happy, and even as distracted as I’ve been lately, I know you have been.” His dad leaned closer and lowered his voice. “So, make up your mind, boy, and get on with it.”

Bryce decided to take his comments as humor. It made his belly less roiled. “How about you make up your own mind not to fucking die on me and get the hell better so you can go back to running this place, and I can breathe again.” God, there were times when he woke up in a cold sweat with things that needed to be done racing through his head.

His father stood still, with Bryce holding one arm, looking at the pool of clear water. “What are we going to do with Willard?” He breathed out with a sigh. “Your mother and I are at our wits’ end.”

“Maybe it’s none of my business, but it’s tough love,” Hazard told him. “Everyone on the ranch knows you love both your sons. That isn’t the issue.”

Bryce half expected his father to give Hazard the stink eye for speaking up about family business, which didn’t happen.

“That’s just the thing. Family business or not, it affects everyone on a ranch. We are all connected to this land, whether we own it or work on it. So, everything that happens is felt by everyone. And yeah, that boy has got to learn he needs to pull his weight. And that’s our fault. We let him get away with his flighty womanizing for too long. And now, it’s become a big issue. Your brother should be the one standing by you to help run the ranch.”

Bryce swallowed hard. “Dad. I need to tell you…,” he began, and almost instantly Bryce felt Hazard’s hand on his back, a gentle touch, just to let him know he was there and stood with him. The nerves that had been building up and working their way to the surface seemed to settle almost at once.

“What is it?” he asked as a breeze rustled the trees around them.

“The ranch isn’t what Willard wants. He has other dreams.” Bryce kept watching the water, not wanting to see his father’s heart break. “I have other dreams too.”

“I see,” his dad whispered, and Bryce felt Hazard’s gaze on him.

“It’s okay,” Hazard mouthed, and nodded.

Bryce swallowed hard. “No. I don’t think you do. I love the ranch and this place. It’s my home. But I don’t want it to be everything in my life. I want other things. I want to travel and see the world. I want to go out and experience more than cattle and horses.” He turned to his dad. “And maybe, as far as Willard is concerned, ask him what he wants to do. Find out what would make him happy.”

“How in the hell do I do that?” his dad snapped.

Bryce chuckled. “You sit him down and ask him. Sometimes, things in life are that simple. It needs to be something you and Mom do together. Without me.”

His dad turned to him with a ghost of a smile. “Done.” That was his dad. A man of action. He pulled out his phone and sent a message, presumably to Willard. “I asked him to come to dinner to speak to your mom and me. Do you think you can arrange to be otherwise engaged?”

Bryce turned to Hazard, who nodded slightly and smiled. “Yes. I think Hazard and I can make that happen. Now, I think we should get back to the truck.” Bryce began to guide his father, who shrugged off his help.

“I can make it on my own. I’m not dead yet.” He slowly tromped away, carefully navigating the trees and roots.

“Well…?” Hazard asked.

“What?” Bryce asked. “It looks like we’re going to be at your place.”

Hazard rolled his eyes. “Maybe. Or maybe not. How about you leave tonight up to me.” He drew closer, tugging Bryce to him. “I know of the perfect place where we can be as loud as we like, and there aren’t going to be any bat-eared parents to hear us.”

Bryce shivered as a wave of excitement raced through him.

A horn beeped, and Bryce rolled his eyes before taking Hazard’s hand, leading him out toward the truck.

Bryce passed Willard on his way out. “Your favorite—ribs for dinner,” he said as he approached his brother.

“What are they buttering me up for?” Willard snarked.

“I don’t know. They said they wanted to talk to you alone. So have a good dinner, and if I can make a suggestion, just listen to them.” He turned away as Hazard rolled up on one of the four-wheelers with the carry box on the back. He jumped on, held tight, and Hazard took off down the drive and across the road, going through the gate and then out across the range.

“We’re going out there?” Bryce asked.

He slowed the machine. “Yeah. Now don’t ask any more questions.” He sped up again, and Bryce shimmied closer, the vibration of the engine revving his own motor. He pressed his hips against Hazard’s butt, knowing he was demonstrating just how turned on he was getting. Hazard didn’t slow until they reached the edge of the trees, then pulled in and cut the engine.

“I take it you have a thing about this place,” Bryce quipped.

Hazard turned on him, his eyes hard. “You do realize that this ranch belongs to your parents. It’s not mine, and it’s not yours, though it will be someday.” He took Bryce’s hand and half tugged him through the trees. “But this place, right here… feels like ours.”

Bryce shook his head. “No. What it feels like is yours. You were the one who brought it back to life—and you did the same thing for me.”

Hazard looked at him skeptically. “Come on.”

“I mean it,” Bryce told him as they stepped into the shade. “Do you think I could take over this place alone? The ranch would become a dust storm and completely consume me. I would cease to exist completely. But you’ve been there. You kept my head above water just as surely as you brought this back to life.” Bryce walked to the edge of the watering hole and dipped in his fingers, spraying a few drops at Hazard, who shrugged as though he was nuts. But at least he didn’t argue with him. Bryce took a moment to look around. “What’s all this?”

“Mom made us a nice dinner, and I brought it out before coming to get you.” He sat down on the edge of a large blanket that he’d spread out in the shade of the large trees. The shadows lengthened as he and Hazard sat down, and he opened the cooler, pulling out some of his mother’s amazing ranch salad and sandwiches with thick slices of ham and beef. “I know it isn’t fancy.”

Bryce sat next to him, their shoulders touching as they ate quietly, birds bedding down in the branches overhead or flitting to the water’s surface for a drink. A few squirrels chased through the overhead limbs. It was like the entire area was coming back to life right along with him. Bryce finished his sandwich and lay back on the blanket, looking up at the fading sunlight through breaks in the leaves.

Hazard popped open a couple of beers and handed him one before settling next to Bryce. “You’re quiet.”

“I know. I like it that way sometimes.”

Hazard sipped his beer and then set it aside. “I do too. That’s part of why I love working in the barn. Most of the time it’s just me, and I like the quiet.” He drew closer, and Bryce’s breath hitched as he kissed him. Hazard lifted the bottle out of his hand, and a second later, kissed him hard, building on the tension that had simmered between them for hours.

“There’s no one around,” Bryce whispered.

“I know. I’m going to make love to you, and neither of us needs to worry about being quiet.” He slipped his hand under Bryce’s shirt, those intense eyes meeting his with enough heat to send Bryce’s breath flying on the wind. He wrapped his arms around Hazard, drawing him down as what Hazard had said echoed though his mind.

“You love me?” he whispered, almost too scared to say the words.

Hazard nodded. “Yes. I think I’ve loved you for a long time, but I never did anything about it. You were the boss’ son.”

Bryce groaned. “What a pair, because I always thought there was nothing sexier than you on a horse. I used to watch you and wonder what kind of ride you’d give me.” He pulled Hazard down, their lips smashing together as they wrestled to get the hell out of their clothes.

Hazard smirked. “Then we’ll just have to see what we can do about giving you the ride of a lifetime.” He held Bryce tightly in those strong arms, making sure he knew that no matter what, Hazard had his back.

Bryce stroked Hazard’s cheek. “You do that, every time.”

The breeze caressed their naked forms as Bryce lay on his back, Hazard over him, their gazes locked as tightly as their bodies. “Jesus…,” Bryce cried as Hazard made the world contract to just the two of them.

“That’s it. Just let go,” Hazard told him, arching his back, giving Bryce an amazing view as he drove him out of his mind. Every roll of his hips sent Bryce on a gust of enthralling passion that threatened to overwhelm him.

“Not until you do,” Bryce countered, holding on to the last of his control by a thread. Hazard groaned, and Bryce knew they were both balancing on the edge of passion’s knife. Then they tumbled together, crying out their love and ecstasy with everything they had, the wind carrying it out of the land.