Chapter Twelve

Travis came out of the barn and saw Jaron come around the corner of the house with a rug in one hand and a broom in the other. He headed for the clothesline in the side yard. He hadn't seen anyone use it in so long he barely remembered it was there.

Travis leaned against the barn and watched as Jaron threw the rug over the line until it folded in half. Once he was satisfied it would stay on, he beat the shit out of it with the broom.

It wasn't until Jaron turned his head, putting his whole body into the whack that he saw the red around Jaron's eyes and the blotchy patches on his cheeks.

Travis stiffened as he stood from his leaning position. It had been a long time since he'd lost his temper. Not since his father had died and he'd needed somewhere to put the grief, so he'd started a fist fight with Brad that had ended with both of them bloody and bruised but still friends.

Greg came out of the cow barn, took one look at Travis, and did a one-eighty turn, going back the way he came. Smart kid. Smarter than most.

Travis closed the distance between himself and Jaron, grabbing his arm once he got close enough. Jaron turned, raising the broom like a weapon before he lowered it again. "What?"

Travis knew enough about Jaron to know he wasn't a fighter. He wasn't the type to look over his shoulder at every turn, despite the bullying he'd endured in high school. He wouldn't have weaponized the broom unless something had happened.

"Who made you cry?"

"Bobby started school for the first time today. I'm being weird about it, is all."

Travis let go of his arm. If he held on any longer, he'd pull him into a hug. As much as he wanted that, he needed to remember their conversation from Saturday night. Jaron all but told him to get his shit together before making any romantic gestures toward him. A hug was as platonic as it came with anyone else. Not Jaron.

"Did anyone try to hurt you?"

Jaron averted his gaze to the ground before he turned back to the rug. "No."

Travis clenched his jaw to keep from snapping at Jaron. Something had already happened and Travis losing his shit all over the poor guy wouldn't help the situation. "Just tell me what happened."

Jaron's shoulders came up to his ears. "It's not a big deal. Just got called a name. Nothing I haven't been through before."

"Who was it?"

"The guy who picked me up today."

Jesus, getting answers was like pulling teeth. "What do you mean? Who picked you up?"

Jaron shrugged. "I didn't take the time to get to know the guy, and I'll steer clear while I'm here. It's not a big deal."

Travis stiffened. "Mom had one of my hands pick you up?"

"Yeah, but I'll figure something else out from now on. Not fair to take them away from their work even long enough to give me a ride."

Travis turned toward the house. "I don't give a fuck about interrupting their day, Jaron."

He didn't wait for Jaron to respond. He'd learned enough to know Jaron didn't mind arguing. They'd both stand there pushing each other's buttons until they grew old if he didn't walk away sooner rather than later. He had a situation to correct anyway.

Travis found his mother behind the desk in the library. He knocked on the side of the open door to get her attention. She looked up from her computer and met his eyes. "What happened?" His mother did know him best, after all. His expression must have been harsh.

"Who did you send to get Jaron?"

"Elmer. Why?"

"Called Jaron a name. I'll take care of it." Travis turned from the room. The urgency to get Elmer off his property and away from Jaron sent adrenaline through his system. His heart beat heavy against his chest, and he clenched his hands into a fist.

He stopped and turned when Beverly spoke. "Make sure he knows not to come near our Jaron again."

"And if the message I send gets me thrown in jail, you're bailing me out, right?"

Beverly had left his father in jail once or twice because she didn't approve of him drinking and getting into brawls at the bar. That had mostly been before Travis was born, but he'd heard the stories enough times to know he needed to have a way out.

"Of course. Now get that fool away from Jaron."

Travis nodded and left the room. It was as he passed the living room that he saw Jaron put the rug back in place, moving a table on top of it. He stopped in the hall, watching him through the open doorway.

Did Jaron feel safe on the farm? By God, he hoped so, but if he didn't, Travis would change that.

Travis rubbed at his chest. When had the ache started? He searched through his memory, trying to figure out which moment. That first day when Travis had walked them home and Jaron had met every advance with just enough distrust that it broke Travis' heart a little.

Travis had to earn it. He knew that but didn't know how to prepare himself for that uphill climb.

Jaron looked up from his task, meeting his gaze.

Travis wanted to tell him how safe and protected he was on the farm. He needed for Jaron to understand that no one would make him feel unwanted ever again.

Travis' dad had always said actions were louder than words. With that lesson planted in his brain, he walked down the hall toward the front door.

"Wait." Jaron's stocking feet barely made a sound as he trailed after Travis, but Travis could still feel his presence behind him. "Will you wait a damn minute?"

"I got stuff to do, so no." Travis pulled opened the front door and didn't wait for Jaron to respond. Jaron cursed right before the front door closed.

Travis searched for Leonard, the farm's supervisor. Leonard knew where to find Elmer.

Travis went into the cow barn first and found Leonard with Greg, teaching him about the drugs they sometimes administered, and the drugs' uses. They didn't have a lot, and what they did have most all farmers kept on hand.

"Where's Elmer?" Travis didn't wait for either of them to acknowledge his presence but got right down to business.

"Horse barn," Leonard said without stopping what he was doing.

Greg met his gaze, his eyes widening. He nudged Leonard with an elbow, getting his attention. Leonard looked at Greg before turning to Travis. "Got a temper just like your father used to. What bee got stuck in your bonnet this time, boy?"

Travis had been told that enough times in the past to recite it verbatim. "Might want to hire a new hand."

Leonard nodded, not seeming fazed by having to dole out extra work to the other hands or the hiring process. "Elmer doesn't fit in on this farm anyway. Not with any of us. You get what I'm saying, boy."

"Yep." Travis could read between the lines Leonard drew and knew enough to know the rest of the guys didn't just dislike the hate speech Elmer probably spewed, but they all protected each other as well. If one of them identified as anything other than straight, the others would protect him. And Elmer was the new guy amongst them. He'd have something to prove to the rest. "Guess this just saved us a conversation, didn't it?"

"Never pleasant to let the boss know the new guy sucks."

Travis turned and left them. He moved down the aisle, turning the corner exit at the main barn door which he knew was open.

He saw Jaron inside the barn, looking as if he didn't know if he wanted or should enter any farther. The second he saw Travis he closed the distance between them. His fists were on his hips and his elbows out. "What are you gonna do?"

Travis raised his eyebrows and pretended he didn't know what Jaron meant. "I'm going into the horse barn."

Jaron narrowed his eyes. "Don't play games with me."

"Go back into the house, Jaron."

"I'm on a break."

"Fine." Travis went to move around him, but Jaron stepped in his way. "Move. Please."

"Not until you tell me why you're so upset."

Travis had passed upset the second Jaron felt the need to use a broom-handle as a weapon. "I'm not upset. I'm pissed off. Now get out of my way so I can take care of business."

"What business?"

Travis sighed and decided to physically move Jaron himself. Jaron's throat moved when Travis grew closer. Whether in fear or something else, Travis couldn't tell. "Are you scared of me?" He had to know. He couldn't have taken it if Jaron said yes.

Jaron shook his head and dropped his arms from his sides, which gave Travis the opportunity he needed. Travis gripped Jaron's waist as gently as he could. "Good. I'd never hurt you."

"You're gonna. Just not in the way you mean." The whole time Jaron spoke, he trained his gaze on Travis' lips.

Travis shook his head. "Guess I have a lot to prove then, don't I?"

Jaron leaned in at the same time his mouth opened.

Travis wanted more than anything to kiss Jaron, but he was pissed enough still that the kiss would come off as aggressive and possessive. Something told Travis Jaron wouldn't appreciate either one of those two things. Instead, he did what he intended and lifted Jaron, turning them, so he had a clear path.

He let go and headed out of the door. "Don't follow me into the horse barn."

Jaron didn't say a word, but Travis heard his shoes on the concrete of the barn and then on the gravel when he stepped outside. Jaron stayed behind him the entire walk over to the horse barn.

"Don't follow me."

"Fuck you."

"Stop. I mean it." Travis turned at the door's entrance, ready to give him one final warning but was met with Jaron's middle finger. The gesture should have pissed him off even more, but somehow it had the exact opposite effect. "Why are you so hard-headed?"

"Why are you hot-headed?"

Travis smiled, his body relaxing as he lost most of his tension. "Well, that implies you knew I intended to beat the shit out of Elmer."

"You're not that hard to figure out." Jaron folded his arms over his chest. "You don't have to fight my battles."

"I'm not. I'm making the farm a nice place for all of us, you included."

"Then why'd you get so mad?"

Yeah, he wasn't about to answer that question. The answer made Jaron right about Travis fighting his battles and gave away his motivation when he wasn't ready for that yet.

It turned out he didn't have to answer because Elmer came out of the barn. He nodded to Travis by way of greeting. "Boss."

The look he gave Jaron set Travis' mind in a fog of anger all over again. Travis had never sucker-punched anyone, and he wouldn't start with Elmer. "Get your shit and get off my property."

Jaron's face turned a pretty shade of pink, and he took a step away as if backing up from the situation.

Elmer looked from Travis to Jaron. "I ain't workin' for someone who takes up with men like him anyway."

"Men like what?" Travis needed a reason. He took a step in Elmer's direction, balling his fists as he stalked him. "Say it. Just one fucking word is all I'll need."

Elmer's eyes widened, and he shook his head before practically running for the bunkhouse.

Travis took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Do me a favor and stay in the house until after he leaves. I'd feel better."

He felt a hand on his back. Just that one touch put out some of the fire. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me for doing the right thing."

"Some don't."

Travis turned to meet his gaze. "I do." He searched Jaron's gaze, although he didn't know what he wanted to find…peace-of-mind…acceptance. Jaron's expression was hard to read. "I'll drive you from now on, okay?"

Jaron nodded before kissing Travis on the cheek. He went back inside after, a pretty blush covering his cheeks as he left.

Travis took off his shoes at the door the second time he entered the house. He wouldn't get away with it again, not with the threat of Elmer gone.

He found his mother in the library reading a book in the sitting area. "You're not covered in manure, are you?"

Travis smiled and shut the library door behind him, not wanting Jaron to hear their conversation. "No, ma'am."

She set the book down on the table beside her when he sat next to her. "I trust Elmer is off the property."

"Yes, ma'am."

She patted his hand. "I'll make sure all the busybodies in this town know where we stand as far as all that goes."

"That's probably a good idea, considering."

"Considering you're in love with Jaron." Beverly wrapped her fingers around his hand, gently squeezing even as she smiled. "It's about time you found someone compatible."

"I don't know about love just yet. Or compatibility."

"I see the way you look at him."

Travis met his mother's gaze. "I don't know that I'm willing to act on the attraction. Running the farm keeps me busy, and Jaron has a kid. Not that his kid isn't the cutest, but I've never been serious about anyone."

"You always did like to have fun." She patted his hand again. "You haven't had a lot of that since your father passed away. Relationships can be a lot of fun. And Jaron strikes me as someone who will keep you on your toes."

He couldn't argue with her on that last part. "He's pretty much told me it would be a serious attempt at a relationship or nothing at all."

Beverly chuckled. "I'll just bet he did."

Travis stood and paced around the room. "It's not funny."

"Of course, you wouldn't think so." Beverly seemed to take mercy on him because she lost her smile. "Do you want some advice?"

"That's why I came in here."

"The sooner you admit to yourself that you're smitten with him, the better you'll feel."

Travis sighed.

"You've always been comfortable in your own skin and with the way you live your life. While that's a good thing, you never understood that not everyone is comfortable with you."

"Are you warning me about bigots, because it's a little too late for that talk."

"No. That talk isn't needed. This is Pickleville, after all." She waved away the conversation with a flick of her fingers. "I'm saying that perhaps Jaron doesn't have the same experiences as you do. He may not be as comfortable with himself as he lets on. I see the uncertainty with a lot of the decisions he makes. Bobby starting school so late in the year is a case in point."

Travis stopped and met her gaze. "You think he's scared he's going to mess up and ruin Bobby's life."

"Every good parent's worst fear is that they'll make big mistakes."

And with Bobby's mother dying the way she did, every decision Jaron made probably scared him.