Chapter 5

“What are you doing here?” It wasn’t the words but the tone that worried him. Collin got out of bed and hurried to his room, where he pulled on clothes before joining Tank in the living room. There, Tank was engaged in a staring contest with a rough-looking man with stone-cold eyes and a scraggly beard.

“You seem to be doing pretty well for yourself,” the man said as Collin strode in. “You were always talking about this place, and I was in the area, so I thought I’d stop in to see my old Army buddy.” There was something off in the way he spoke. His tone was soft but his expression hard.

“I see. Well, you’ve seen the place, and now it’s time for you to move on.” Tank was strung as tightly as the strings on the violin Collin’s mother had forced him to learn to play. Sheba growled, and Tank lifted her up while Collin gathered the two puppies and took them to the chair.

“Who’s your friend?” The man’s gaze shifted to him, and Collin wished he’d stayed in the bedroom. The desire, almost lust, in his eyes made Collin want to shiver, but he refused to. Then the man turned to Tank, and the desire only grew.

So that was it.

“What do you want, Sullivan?” Tank asked. “I have work to do.”

“Come on, Timmy. It’s me.” The tone changed completely, and his gaze softened. The guy seemed to be trying to catch Tank’s interest. Too bad he didn’t have anything to use as bait. It looked desperate and ridiculous. Collin could tell that at one point Sullivan had probably been a handsome man, with his cut cheekbones and huge eyes. His no-longer-regal nose had probably been broken more than once, the dark circles under his eyes told of a hard life, and his sallow skin said that Sullivan hadn’t been eating well lately.

When Tank hesitated, Collin stood. “We need to feed the horses and check on the cattle,” Collin offered.

Tank turned to him and seemed to snap back into himself. “Yes. I have a lot of work to do. It was good of you to visit and all, but this isn’t a good time.”

Sullivan put a hand on Tank’s shoulder. His smile might have been stunning if his teeth weren’t yellowed from tobacco. This was someone who had become accustomed to getting what he wanted from his looks and hadn’t come to terms with the fact that they were gone. “I have a room in town for a few days. Maybe we can get together, like old times.” He patted Tank’s shoulder and then removed his hand. “You go ahead and do your ranch stuff. I’ll be seeing you around.” He turned and left the house, glancing back for a few seconds at Tank standing in the doorway before getting into an old blue truck and pulling out of the drive.

Tank finally closed the door, holding Sheba in front of him like she was a shield.

“Do I want to ask?”

Tank stood still, blinking like he was in shock. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“We all have a past, Tank.” Collin held his gaze. “I went to a private school because it was expected. It was all boys, which worked out well for me because I wasn’t interested in girls and didn’t know what to do with them. But I had a crush on one of the other boys, and I couldn’t say anything… until I accidentally did when I was in year ten. That was pretty awful, and he—well, I was so convinced he liked me back, and he told me he did, but all he was interested in were weekends at the estate and getting the opportunity to ride our horses.” Collin refused to let himself blush. It had been years ago.

“I guess things ended badly,” Tank said, letting Sheba get down.

Collin rolled his eyes. “He dumped me for someone else. It’s the usual thing. But he asked if we could still be friends and then wondered if maybe he could come over the next weekend.”

Tank’s mouth hung open. “He was just interested in you for what you had.”

“Yes. I learned quickly that the boys thought because I already had a title that I had a lot of money… and that apparently I was stupid and gullible. And maybe I am, because he was only the first.” Collin sat down. “I have a history of picking the wrong guys.” He met Tank’s gaze, watching as he turned toward the door. “Maybe you do too?”

Tank shook his head. “Sullivan…. No, he and I were never like that.”

That was a bit of a surprise. “But the whole Timmy thing and the way he was so touchy-feely?” Maybe that was how Americans behaved, but Collin didn’t think so. “He sure tried to turn on the charm and everything, like he was trying to play on something.”

“He was,” Tank said. “Sullivan is always working an angle.”

Collin rolled his eyes. “Maybe the man should try working a shower and making his way to a barber. He could use some help.”

Tank set Sheba down. “That’s exactly what he wants. Sullivan wants me to help him, but unfortunately, with Sullivan, no good deed goes unpunished.”

“So this guy is flirting with you because he thinks you’ll respond, since every gay man is out for any piece of arse he can get?” Collin was floored. “That guy is a sicko, if you ask me.” That was an interesting idea, though just looking at the man was enough to make Collin’s bollocks play hide-and-seek.

Tank shrugged. “I got to get to work.” He tromped back down the hall, and the door to his room closed hard enough that Collin and the dogs jumped at the bang. Collin glanced down at Sheba, who looked back up at him in doggie confusion. Knowing there was nothing he could do, Collin went to his room, and the dogs followed.

Collin sat on the side of the bed, wondering what he had gotten himself into. He’d come all this way to spend some time on a ranch and get away from the mess at home. What he had been hoping for was to hit the love lottery like George had and find a guy like Alan. Instead, other than a guy at a bar, the only man he’d met was a cantankerous rancher who didn’t seem to want to talk about anything. Granted, the man was as hot as Spain in July, but that was only going to get him so far. “What do you think, guys?” he asked Sheba and the pups, who had made themselves at home, curled up next to his holdall. They looked at him like he was crazy. Hell, maybe he was and he should have just stayed at home and endured his father’s pain-in-the-bum remarks and attitude. It was probably stupid to think that lightning would strike for him, probably because he had been hoping for it.

The dogs were comfortable, and he hated to disturb them, so he dressed, then opened the door and left the room, noticing that the door to Tank’s was still closed. He checked his phone—there was a message that breakfast was in an hour. With nothing else to do, he went to the barn, found a barrow, and figured there were always stalls to muck out. Maybe the physical exertion would help him work away some of this anxiety.

“What are you doing?” Tank demanded in his deep, gruff voice that sent a thrill up Collin’s spine.

“What does it look like?” Collin spread a load of bedding on the floor of the now-cleaned stall. “This was a real mess.”

“What did you do with the horse that was in here?” Collin didn’t understand his wide-eyed, panicked look.

“You mean Barney?” There had been no name tag, so Collin had just named him that in his head. He hadn’t meant to say it out loud. “I put him in the stall over there for the moment. He was a little skittish at first, but then he wanted a scratch and I knew I’d won him over. The poor guy needs grooming, so I thought I’d do that before I put him back in his stall.” Tank’s eyes grew wide as dinner plates. “What?”

“That horse is messed up,” Tank said. “He doesn’t let me or anyone get close to him, except Chip. I have to ask him to come over so I can get him in from the pasture.”

“What happened to him?” Collin asked softly, approaching the stall where the chestnut stallion looked over the wall with wild eyes. “It’s okay, boy. No one is going to hurt you.” Barney snorted and then calmed, bouncing his head. Collin gently petted his neck and gave him a carrot as a treat. “I know. You’re completely misunderstood.”

“Well I’ll be damned,” Tank muttered.

“Give us some distance. Breakfast is in a few minutes, and I’d like to brush him before I put him back. I’ll meet you in the house.” Collin didn’t look away from Barney, keeping his tone gentle.

Tank whirled in his boots and left the barn, pulling the door closed behind him.

“You know, I think Tank is a lot of bluster.” He thought he might have heard the barn door open once more. “I know he’s big and looks kind of scary.” Collin stroked Barney’s nose before leaving to get the combs from the tack room.

He carefully opened the stall door, keeping his nerves tamped down deep. He stepped inside and gently closed the door before running his hand down Barney’s back. The horse skittered a little, turning to look at him. “I’m just going to brush you, and you’ll feel so much better. I promise.” His coat was ragged, and as Collin brushed him, Barney’s undercoat came out on the brush. Barney made a shivery movement a number of times, and Collin knew it was his body trying to get rid of more of it. “I told you you’d like it.” He worked quickly and efficiently, getting the horse brushed and cleaned. “Now you should see yourself.” He really was a beautiful horse. Collin wondered who had done a number on him to make a gorgeous horse like this act so scared.

Collin finished and led Barney back to his stall, then closed the door quietly behind him. Then he put away the tools, figuring he’d clean out the stall that was now covered with hair after breakfast. He was starving.

Once he closed the barn door behind him, Tank stalked across the yard to meet him. “You know, that was a real dumb thing to do. That horse could have hurt you.”

“I’m fine, and so is Barney. He’s groomed and looks beautiful. I can see why you keep him.” Collin refused to rise to Tank’s worry. “I know my way around horses, and he just needs to learn to trust again. Where did you get him?”

“He’s one of Chip’s rescues,” Tank said. “Just like Sheba and the pups. He was in terrible shape when Chip called me from the vet office. He had been on a call with Doc Stevenson and came across Barney, as you call him. He was emaciated and could barely stand. Doc called the sheriff, and they found a judge who ordered all the animals taken away. The place was wretched, according to Chip, and he needed a place for Barney. Their barn was full, so Chip brought him here. I think because Chip rescued him, Barney bonded with him. Anyone else he’ll kick and bite. I got a scar from that damned horse’s teeth,” he snarled. “You and me need to get to breakfast, or else Maureen is going to send out the troops.”

Collin hurried inside to wash his hands and then joined Tank at the truck. The man drove like a bat out of hell, and they arrived just as everyone was sitting down. “I was starting to think my breakfast wasn’t good enough for you,” Maureen teased as Collin loaded his plate with food.

“This is amazing.” He dug right in the way the others did. Tank sat across from him, and Chip sat next to him on the bench seat nearest the windows. “I brushed Barney this morning.”

Chip looked at Tank.

“That wild horse you talked me into,” Tank clarified.

“He let you brush him?” Chip asked. “Good job.”

“Damned horse won’t let anyone get close,” Tank muttered. “Don’t know what I’m going to do with him.”

Chip let Tank’s grumpiness wash over his back and away. “He’s a good horse. Old Man Carruthers let everything go, and that horse was just about gone. Instead, you got yourself a stallion with a great bloodline, just as soon as the judge signs off on turning him over to you permanently.”

“But I can’t get near him.”

Chip chuckled. “But Collin can, so let him work with Barney.” He smiled. “Where did that name come from?”

“He needed one, so that’s what I called him,” Collin said with a grin. “He looked like a Barney to me. Anyway, he let me brush him, and I had no trouble moving him through the barn.” He turned to Tank. “Maybe I can work with him. Get him to calm down a little and used to people again.” He set down his fork. “If someone treated me that badly, I’d be snarly too.” He wanted to ask Tank what his excuse was, but he lowered his gaze from the huge man’s and went back to his breakfast.

“Did you sleep well at Tank’s?” Maureen asked. It was an innocent question, but Collin smirked as Tank squirmed in his chair.

“I slept great, and I think Tank did too, because he wasn’t up as early.” He held Tank’s gaze, liking the fact that the huge man seemed nervous and jumpy. Collin had no intention of saying anything about spending part of the night in Tank’s bed, but he liked that the idea of it getting out seemed to unnerve Tank. The guy needed to be shaken up a little.

“I heard about the two of you last night,” Maureen said. “Wish I’d been there to see you dancing.” The lady had a wicked sense of humor and was definitely trying to get under Tank’s skin.

“Teddy is still shaking in his boots, I bet,” Chip said, adding his own two cents, and Tank nearly dropped his fork.

“That’s enough,” Alan said. “Tank is a guest in this house, and you all need to stop.”

Collin lowered his gaze, Chip colored a little, and even Maureen seemed ashamed. “Sorry, Tank,” Chip said softly. “But it was pretty cool, especially the way you charged in there. Like you were rescuing Collin from the sharks. Though Teddy Welder is more like a minnow.”

“Chip,” Alan said with a warning in his voice, and Chip sighed.

“Tank is a good dancer, though,” Chip went on, ignoring Alan. “Isn’t he, Collin?”

Collin lifted his gaze to Tank’s. “He most definitely is.” And there was one thing he knew: a good dancer on the floor meant rhythm in other places too. “And Alan is right. I don’t think Tank likes being the topic of discussion.” He snagged another pancake. “What’s the project for the day?”

“I already mended that section of fence and have some men out riding the rest to check for more weak spots.” Alan seemed to have slipped into being in charge, even though Collin was under the impression his mother ran the ranch. “What else is on your list?”

“Everyone has their assignments already, and Chip is working a shift at the clinic.” She gave her youngest son a look, and Chip finished eating and hurried off and out of the house. “That boy loves God’s creatures, but he never met a clock he could read.”

Collin finished eating and looked around the table. There had to be something he could do. “Tank, what about the barn? There was plenty I could do there.”

Tank nodded and set his napkin on the table next to his empty plate. “Thank you, Maureen. A great breakfast as usual. I got plenty to do.” He pushed back his chair, and Collin said his own thank-yous and followed Tank outside. “You don’t need to come with me. Maybe you can stay here and spend some time with your friends.” He was already striding toward the truck.

“So you don’t need help, then?” Collin called back, hands on his hips, glaring at Tank’s back.

Tank paused outside the truck, hand on the handle, and Collin figured Tank was going to leave without him. He had a sharp retort about Tank running away on the tip of his tongue, but he turned.

“A rancher always needs help,” Tank said, and Collin strode to the truck and climbed inside. The house’s front window curtains slid back into place as Tank backed the truck out into the drive.

Alan stood next to George in the living room. “A twenty says that they end up punching each other before the trip’s over.”

George bumped Alan’s hip. “You’re on. If it’s a shag-or-brawl situation, I say they end up shagging each other’s brains out before too long.”

“You know, with cowboys, those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.” Alan chuckled as he stepped away from the window, sliding his arm around George’s waist.