by Andrew Grey
“Thanks, Glenn.” That was a huge load off his mind.
“That’s not to say that you aren’t going to get some grief if you decide to go public. But I think you have bigger problems right now, like Barry going up the walls. He wants you back in Nashville and is going out of his mind. He hates that you aren’t where he can control what you’re doing, and this whole situation is only going to make him try to hold tighter in the future.”
“Then explain to Barry that I’ll fire his ass and find someone else.” It was as simple as that, as far as Robert was concerned. “He works for me—I don’t work for him.” It was past time that he truly took charge of his life.
“That’s going to go over well. But I’ll explain things to him. I also contacted a Realtor and will have the paperwork over to you later today so you can list the house. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”
“Yes, I hate it there.” Robert sighed and sat in the living room chair. “I want a life that will make me happy, Glenn, and the one there isn’t going to do it. Maybe I can find a place out here with enough room for some horses.” He didn’t need much else, and it would be so wonderful to finally make up for losing his own horse all those years ago.
“You really have picked up on the Western lifestyle again. Good for you. Maybe we can find a place closer to your parents in Oklahoma… or are you thinking nearer to the guy there?”
“I don’t know.” Robert really did want to be close to Zeke. He also needed to give his people a chance to adjust to the changes he wanted to make. “Let me think about it. Just keep Barry off my back for as long as you can. I need this time away….” For however long it lasted.
“I will.” Glenn said goodbye, and they hung up.
Robert thought about going back to bed, but wasn’t going to sleep anymore, so he picked up his guitar and strummed softly, letting the music that had been welling in his head the past few days carry him away.
ROBERT LOST track of time, strumming and singing softly to himself as he worked out words for the tune that kept running through his head. When a warm hand rested on his shoulder, Robert paused, lifting his gaze to Zeke, who stood behind him. He absently set his guitar down as his eyes followed Zeke’s bare chest and then downward to the naked rest of him. Without a word, Robert stood and hugged Zeke, propelling them back to the bedroom and kicking the door closed behind them.
“Damn….” Zeke moaned as Robert lowered him to the bed, then slid his lips over Zeke’s already hard cock, tugging on Zeke to get as much of his flavor from him as he could. Robert wasn’t going to say that he needed to make the most of every second they had together. But he needed to remember Zeke, intimately, as best he could. “What did I do to deserve this?”
Robert pulled back, slipping away. “I could sing from The Sound of Music,” he quipped, and Zeke groaned as he rolled his eyes. Zeke was so damn sexy, flustered and horny, amused, and shaking with desire. Robert loved the way Zeke responded to him, and when he sucked him once again, Zeke shook as he damned near went off like a teenager. Few things in life were as heady as Zeke’s complete abandon when they made love—his trust, his enthusiasm. Robert was coming to understand that Zeke threw himself into everything he did with that same enthusiasm. It was becoming one of the things he loved most about him.
Robert stilled and let Zeke slide from his lips.
“Give me a second….”
“No need,” Robert said softly, heading to the bathroom for a towel. He’d gotten caught up in the energy of the moment as well. He cleaned himself and Zeke, and climbed back into bed, intending to sleep for only a few minutes.
He woke to horns and multiple voices.
“Oh God.”
Robert pushed back the covers and found Zeke standing at the window.
“There are hundreds of people lining the road.” Zeke turned back to him, and Robert felt all the blood drain from his face. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of. “What the hell has gotten into them?”
“One of the reporters your dad scared away leaked my location. So now it seems that fans have decided to show up.” Robert climbed out of bed and rooted in his bag for a pair of jeans and one of his nice shirts. Then he pulled on his boots and grabbed his hat.
“What are you doing?” Zeke asked, stepping in front of him, still naked.
“I have to go out there. Those are my fans, and I pray to God they’ll go away if I talk to them.” It was his only hope.
“But they—”
Robert nodded. “I know. They just showed up, and all of them are hoping to catch a glimpse of me. I think if I’m nice, they’ll be happy and go home.” He plastered a smile on his face. “I can’t just stay and hide.” And it was his job. Being rude to fans wasn’t going to get him anywhere. And bad press sucked.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Zeke offered.
“Not like that. Your butt is adorable and sexy as hell… and all mine. So you better get dressed, and….” Robert groaned. “And go out the back.” It hurt like hell to ask Zeke to hide for him. That wasn’t fair, but if he was going to come out, he needed to handle how it happened.
Zeke’s smile faltered. “I understand.”
Robert shook his head. “No, you don’t. I can see in your eyes what’s going through your head, and it isn’t like that at all.” He got up to gently tug Zeke to him without stepping on his toes. “You aren’t out in your profession. I checked the internet, and there isn’t a hint of anything about you being gay out there. I’m through hiding, but I need to tell folks who I am in an orderly way, and I want you to have that same choice. I don’t want you having to explain shit at your next rodeo event or take crap from people. Staying under the radar will be impossible if your picture is splashed all over the news along with mine.” He kissed Zeke hard, then looked him in the eye. “I want the rest of the world to stay away for a while so I can have more of just you and me.” It had been delicious and incredible, and Robert probably should be grateful he’d had as long as he did.
“Okay.” Zeke searched for his clothes and pulled them on. Then he quietly opened the back door and stepped out. “I’ll come right back out, so give me five minutes.” He closed the door and headed across the field to the main house.
Robert took a deep breath, plopped his hat on his head, and went out the front and across the yard to the barn.
A cheer went up, and choruses of “Avery” split the air. People jumped up and down, and he waved and kept on his way until he disappeared into the barn.
He let the horses out into their pastures and made sure they had water and hay before exiting the barn and walking toward the road, where people continued to join the crowd. “Hi, folks,” he said as cheerfully as he could.
“Avery!” a girl screamed, and the crowd of people rushed forward.
A whistle split the air. “Hold your horses.” It was Samuel. Thankfully, this time he didn’t have his gun. The crowd stopped. “This is private property, and Mr. Rivers is here as our guest.”
“Folks,” Robert said, holding up his hand. “I appreciate you all coming out here to see me.”
Zeke hurried out with a plastic crate in his hand. He put it down, and Robert stepped up on it.
“As I said, I appreciate you all coming.”
“We love you, Avery!” a group of girls shouted.
“Thank you. But if you truly love me, then please go on back home. I’m here with my friend Samuel and his family as their guest so I can write and rest from my last tour. I don’t want anyone getting hurt, so please, I’d appreciate it if you’d all leave me alone.” Robert turned to Samuel and Zeke. Samuel had his phone out, and sure enough, sirens sounded in the distance.
Robert motioned to Zeke, who came forward. “Can you get your dad to call and stop the siren or these people will panic, and we don’t need that. Then please get me my guitar.” He turned back toward the crowd of expectant faces. The siren drew closer but then grew silent. Samuel must have gotten through. Zeke hurried ac
ross the yard with his guitar and pressed it into his hand. “How about this. I’ll do a song for all of you, and then you need to go. Is that a deal?”
Applause broke out among the group, and Robert took a half step down off the crate, using his propped leg to balance the guitar. Then he strummed it, and the entire crowd of about a hundred people grew silent. He went into the introduction of his first hit and sang, slower and quieter, the way he’d originally envisioned it. He had to project so everyone could hear, but not a person made a sound. They barely moved.
A few bars into the song, Zeke moved into his field of vision, and the words about love and loss that he’d originally penned so many years ago—then, it had been about his horse—wrapped around his heart as he shared a gaze with Zeke, a connection that lasted through the song.
The spell wound through the air until the last note of the song faded away, and then everyone applauded and cheered. Then, to Robert’s surprise, the crowd began to disperse and head back to their cars. One by one, the vehicles drove away, with the sheriff speaking to Zeke.
Robert waved before walking into the barn and out of sight. He set his guitar in the tack room and plopped down on a bale of hay.
“You were great,” Zeke said as he and Larry strode into the barn.
“You handled that crowd like a pro,” Larry said. “They all left in an orderly fashion, and they did it happy.”
Robert nodded. “But they’ll be back.” He lifted his gaze. “I suspect that as soon as some phone video or recording of my little performance hits the internet, my manager will be calling to have a fit, and later today, more people will show up to see if I’ll sing to them too.” He sighed. He had come here to try to relax and get away for a little while, but his life had found him and it wasn’t going to let go.
“We can patrol and keep people moving,” Larry offered.
“Thanks. But I doubt you have the manpower to patrol the ranch day and night,” Robert said practically.
“Avery, it will be okay. Just stay out of sight and….”
Robert shook his head. “What if they decide to sneak in? And they will. Someone is going to want to get in to see me. Most of my fans are wonderful, but some are rabid, and they can go way over the line. I had a guy sneak into my dressing room once. He bribed one of the guards, and after the show, when I opened the door, he was standing nearly naked in the middle of my dressing room. Thankfully, Barry, my manager, was right behind me and got him out quietly.” Robert groaned. The stories he could tell. “And then people could sneak around the house, run through the barn, even let the horses loose. What if they spook Samson and get hurt? Then we all have a mess on our hands.” Robert shook his head in resignation.
“What are you going to do, son?” Samuel asked.
“I should leave. I can call my people, and they’ll help me make arrangements.” Robert turned to Zeke. The hurt in his eyes spoke volumes. Robert didn’t want to go either. He wished he could change things, but staying was going to put the ranch, Zeke, Samuel, and everything here at risk. Robert felt cold, and he wrapped his arms around himself. The thought of leaving left his heart aching, and every time he looked at Zeke, he saw his pain reflected right back at him.
“Give it a few days,” Zeke offered. “You made them happy and that could be enough.” He turned to the others. “Let’s not overreact to all this. Are there more people coming?” Zeke looked out the door and answered his own question. “It’s quiet.”
“I’ll make sure my guys patrol out here more often,” Sheriff Larry offered, and even Samuel nodded.
Robert choked up a little. He wanted to stay, and hoped this whole mess was over and he could spend a few more days in the peace and quiet. “All right.” He stood. “If you and Samuel are okay with it, I’ll stay.” He wasn’t convinced that the fans weren’t going to show up again or that there wasn’t going to be trouble. But he wanted to stay, and Zeke didn’t want him to leave, so he’d give it a chance. “Now I have some work to do, and then maybe I can take a few hours to work on some songs.”
Zeke nodded and led Sheriff Larry out of the barn. Samuel stayed behind.
“You know, Zeke and I aren’t hoping you’ll stay because of Avery. We ain’t asking him to stay. We’re inviting Robert to stay.”
“I know.” Robert found it hard to find the words to say how much he appreciated that. “Zeke doesn’t care for me as Avery, just like I care for him as Zeke and not Hy.” The whole situation was strange and yet right at the same time.
Samuel patted his shoulder. “I just wanted you to know that.” He turned and left the barn.
Robert was pleased that Samuel had taken the time to tell him how he felt, but he already knew that. Zeke and Samuel were good “what you see is what you get” people, and Robert appreciated them for that. He knew they liked him for him and not what he could do for them. Out there, beyond this ranch, there weren’t many people he thought of that way.
Robert got to work, cleaning up the stalls and barn, then sat down to take a few minutes. He pulled out his phone. “Glenn…,” he said as soon as his call was answered.
“You’re a huge hit,” Glenn said. “Barry is over the moon. Your little impromptu concert has gone completely viral. Someone filmed it on their phone and uploaded it. The fans are going nuts. They love it.”
“That’s good. But I need to be left alone. I’d like another week.” Robert knew that was pushing it.
“I’ll try. But everyone is pressing now to get you back in the studio. With all this publicity, they want you recording, get some new material in the works, and have you out on the road again.” Glenn sounded about as excited as Robert felt. “Don’t worry, I have your back. I already told them you needed more time, and so far it’s working. But the pressure is going to get pretty big, fast.”
“I know.” Robert could see the writing on the wall. “If people stay away, I’ll remain here at the ranch for a while longer.”
Glen hummed affirmative sounds. “Do you want me to come out there? I can help run interference for you and things like that.”
Robert hated the idea, even if it was a good one. “I don’t know. Most of the time, the ranch is quiet. I want a place like this of my own.”
Glenn chuckled. “He really makes you happy, doesn’t he?”
Robert felt like a teenager. “Yeah, he does. He knows me for me, and he’s a professional bull rider, so he understands some of the pressures.”
“Can you get me tickets?” Glenn teased, and they both chuckled. It was an old joke. Everyone involved with any of the tours was always asked if they could get tickets. It was a constant barrage. “Seriously. I hate to break things up for you, but real life is going to come calling, and soon. You know the juggernaut this business can be.”
“Fine. Tell Barry I’ll talk to him tomorrow and arrange for me to return. In the meantime I need you all to take as much of the heat off me as possible. Maybe put the word out that I’m somewhere in New York.” He was kidding, but Glenn would think of something; he was good at that.
“All right. But call if you need anything.” Glenn ended the call, and Robert looked up into Zeke’s stormy expression.
“You’re leaving?”
Robert nodded. “Yes. I have to.” He had to get his head around the fact that Zeke hadn’t known who he really was and the pressures on him until yesterday. He reached for Zeke and drew him closer, resting his head on his flat belly. “God, I wish things were different.”
“I was hoping, now that I’ve found you, that you’d stay.” Zeke cradled his head. “Do you want to give this up so easily?”
“God, no. But I have contracts and agreements I have to honor, and you have rodeos to attend and bulls to ride.” Robert lifted his gaze. “But after I leave, I promise to come to as many of your rodeo events as I can.” That was going to be very different from sitting in the audience, anonymously watching the way he had in Cheyenne. He knew travel was going to be difficult for Zeke with his own schedule. �
�I have to work on a new album, and then they want me to go back on the road….” God, the very thought of it was enough to make his head hurt.
“All that sounds like a brush-off,” Zeke said without moving, which was a relief.
“It’s not. I’m trying to figure out how we can still see each other after I have to go.” Robert sighed. “Am I stupid? The long-distance thing is a real pain in the ass, and—”
Zeke leaned down, cupping Robert’s cheeks in his heated hands before kissing him. “I’d rather try that than have you go and never see you again. But I have the ranch here, and I’m on the road with the rodeo. Your life is back in Nashville and on the road. Can you imagine having a relationship and only getting together when our careers happen to place us within fifty miles of each other?”
That’s exactly what Robert was afraid of. “I’ll come here whenever I can, and you could visit me.” God, all he saw were months and months of being on the road. “I want to move, and I’m thinking of finding a place out here.” He squeezed Zeke as hard as he dared. “I really want to try to make this work.”
“Me too. If nothing else, you’ll have a place to come back to any time you want.”
Robert nodded slowly. “You know, being here feels more like home than any place I’ve ever lived since the ranch. I have a house in Nashville, which I’m selling because I hate it. It feels like a showplace or a television show set, but not a home.” If he could arrange it, he’d stay here permanently, but that wasn’t practical either.
“So what do we do?” Zeke asked.
“Hope things stay quiet, and I’ll stay as long as I can. After that, we’ll both have some decisions to make. We can definitely try to see each other when we can….” And I hope to hell things don’t completely fall to hell. Robert had heard so many stories from the men he traveled with. No one’s relationships seemed to last very long when they were on the road. Time, absence, and distance took their toll. But Robert would do whatever was possible to see Zeke.
Robert stayed still, holding Zeke in the quiet of the barn, until yelling outside broke them apart.
