28. Colt
Chapter 28
Colt
“ W ill you stop babyin’ me?” I snapped, pushing Eli away as he tried to help me out of his bed. “I can piss by myself you know?”
Eli huffed and crossed his arms, just like he always did when he was irritated with me. “I’m just trying to help, Colt! The doctor said you shouldn’t strain yourself!”
I lifted an eyebrow in his direction. “I know my cock is huge, but I think I can manage to pick it up by myself.” I turned away from him to head to the bathroom only to see Mrs. Daniels standing in the doorway. “Oh! Mrs. Daniels… I… uh…”
I felt my face turn a dark shade of red, the heat nearly radiating off me in waves. But she just laughed, shaking her head.
“Colt, I have four brothers, a husband, and a son. Ain’t nothing you can say that’s gonna surprise me at this point. I know how you boys are about your… ding-a-lings.” She turned to Eli, still smiling. “Eli, your father is on the phone, and he wants to talk to you.”
Eli sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, I'll be right there.” He turned to me, his eyes filled with concern. “You sure you're okay?”
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the warmth that spread through my chest at his worry. “I'm fine, darlin'. Go talk to your old man.”
As Eli left the room, I made my way to the bathroom, trying not to wince at the dull ache in my ribs. Mrs. Daniels watched me with a knowing look.
“You know, Colt,” she said, her voice soft, “it's okay to let people help you sometimes. Especially when they care about you.”
I paused, my hand on the doorknob. “I know, ma'am. It's just... not easy for me.”
She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “I get it. I really do. Just try for me, okay?”
“Yes ma’am.”
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. Mrs. Daniels had a way of getting under my skin, making me feel both comforted and exposed at the same time. Just like a real mom I suppose. Then again, she’d been more of a mother to me in the past few weeks than my actual mother had been in my entire life. As I closed the bathroom door behind me, I heard her shuffling away down the hallway.
Once I finished my business, I stood in front of the mirror, examining the bruises that still mottled my torso. The last rodeo had been a doozy, and I was lucky to walk away with just some bruised ribs and a bruised ego. I traced the edge of a particularly nasty purple mark, wincing at the tenderness.
Really, I was lucky that Eli had run into the ring and stopped me from riding that bull. If I had… well, I might not be here at all. By the time they got me out of the rodeo arena, I’d passed out just from the sheer amount of pain I was in. Six hours and several painkillers later, I was released from the hospital with strict orders to not make any movement that wasn’t absolutely necessary. Granted, after just a week, I was feeling a lot better. But that was mostly thanks to Eli’s tender loving care. And the nightly blowjobs. That definitely helped.
A soft knock on the door startled me. “Colt? You okay in there?” Eli's voice was muffled but concerned.
I sighed, realizing I'd been in here longer than I'd meant to. “Yeah, I'm fine. Be out in a sec.”
I opened the door to find Eli leaning against the doorframe, his eyes scanning my body. “You sure you're okay? You were in there a while.”
“Just admiring my battle scars,” I said with a smirk, gesturing to my bruised torso.
Eli's expression softened, and he reached out to gently trace the edge of a bruise. “You really scared me, you know. When passed out in the back of the truck like that...”
I caught his hand, pressing it flat against my chest. “Hey, I'm okay. Thanks to you.”
He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine. “Promise me you won't do anything that stupid again.”
“That’s an easy promise to make,” I replied, kissing him softly. “I’m staying here with you in Sagebrush. Besides, I’m a rodeo teacher now, remember? The kids can ride the bulls.”
“Please don’t put children on a live bull…”
I shrugged. “No promises.”
“You are a pain in the ass, you know that?”
“No, you are a pain in the ass,” I grinned, kissing him again. “And since I’m the one that rides you, I should know.”
Eli chuckled against my lips, his hands sliding down to rest on my hips. “Is that so? Maybe we should switch things up sometime.”
I pulled back, eyeing him suspiciously. “You're joking, right?”
“Maybe,” he said with a sly grin. “Maybe not. You'll just have to wait and see.”
My cock was already half hard at the idea. And of course, being that close to him didn’t help. But I was still too hurt to be thinking about that kind of activity and Eli would never allow it anyway.
“So… uh… what did your dad have to say?” I asked, desperately trying to change the subject before I couldn’t help myself anymore.
“He said he’s doing well,” Eli nodded, his hands still on my hips. “They’re getting his meds figured out, and he’s having fewer issues. It sounds like he’s gonna get to come home for a weekend here and there to see how things are going and if everything seems to be fine, he should be back home permanently in a month or so.”
“Really? That’s great news!” I pulled Eli in, hugging him against my chest. “I know how worried you’ve been about him.”
“I’ve been worried about the both of you,” Eli sighed. “Between you and Dad, I’m gonna be totally gray in a couple of years. Or bald. Who knows which.”
I chuckled, running my fingers through Eli's thick brown hair. “Nah, you're too pretty to go bald. Besides, I think you'd look distinguished with a few grays.”
Eli rolled his eyes but smiled, leaning into my touch. “You're biased.”
“Damn right I am,” I grinned, pulling him closer. “And proud of it.”
We stood there for a moment, just holding each other. It felt good, safe. Like coming home after a long time away. Which, I suppose, was exactly what had happened.
“You know,” Eli said softly, his breath warm against my neck, “I was thinking you might want to get out of the house. Maybe spend some time with friends for a little bit?”
“Oh? You gonna allow me to leave?”
“Only if you promise to take it easy,” he replied. “And if I can kiss you while we’re out.”
I felt my stomach twist with anxiety. “Are… Are you sure nobody will come after us for that?” I gestured down at the massive bruise on my ribs. “I’m in no condition to defend you.”
“Who said I need you to defend me?” he scoffed. “And no, it’ll be friends. People we know and trust.”
“A-Alright,” I nodded, trying to sound more sure of myself than I actually was. I hadn’t really ‘come out’ yet. Caroline and her family knew and so did Eli’s family. But everyone else… well, I just wasn’t sure if I was ready. “I guess that could be okay.”
“I promise you, it’s a safe space,” Eli nodded, his hand on my cheek. “Nobody’s going to even bat an eye at us.”
“You sure?”
“Considering we’ll be the third gay couple there, I think we’ll be fine.”
I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Third gay couple? I know about Logan and Dakota, but who else is gonna be there?”
Eli grinned mischievously. “You'll see when we get there. Come on, let's get you dressed.”
As we made our way to the closet, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The idea of being out in public with Eli, as a couple, was both thrilling and terrifying. But if he said it was safe, I trusted him.
We settled on a simple outfit for me - a soft flannel shirt that wouldn't irritate my bruises and a pair of well-worn jeans. Eli, finally settling back into a life in Sagebrush, picked out a simple black t-shirt and a pair of light jeans. As he helped me button up my shirt, his fingers lingering on each button, I caught his eye.
“You know, you don't have to keep dressing me,” I said softly. “I can manage.”
Eli's eyes met mine, a small smile playing on his lips. “Maybe I just like taking care of you.”
I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words. “Well, when you put it like that...”
He finished buttoning my shirt and smoothed down the collar. “There. Handsome as always.”
I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. “Not as handsome as you.”
Eli rolled his eyes but I could see the pleased flush on his cheeks. “Alright, smooth talker. Let's get going before I change my mind and keep you here all to myself.”
We made our way downstairs, where Mrs. Daniels was puttering around in the kitchen. She looked up as we entered, a knowing smile on her face. “Well, don't you two look handsome,” Mrs. Daniels said, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Heading out?”
“Yes ma'am,” I replied, feeling a bit sheepish under her gaze. “Eli thinks it's time I got some fresh air.”
“And he's right,” she nodded approvingly. “Just be careful, Colt. Don't overdo it.”
“I'll keep an eye on him,” Eli promised, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back.
We said our goodbyes and headed out to Eli's truck. As we drove through the familiar streets of Sagebrush, I felt a mix of emotions swirling in my chest. This dusty old town had been the place I avoided most for so long, but now it felt different. Like I was seeing it through new eyes. It was the only place I wanted to be. Just me and Eli, together side by side.
“You okay?” Eli asked, glancing over at me as he drove.
I nodded, realizing I'd been lost in thought. “Yeah, just... thinking.”
“About what?”
I hesitated, trying to put my feelings into words. “Just... how different everything feels now. This town, my life... you.”
Eli reached over and squeezed my hand. “Good different, I hope?”
“The best kind of different,” I assured him, intertwining our fingers.
We pulled up to a familiar sight in the heart of downtown. It was Dolly’s Diner to my surprise. And as we got out of the truck, I could hear laughter and music coming from the inside. From what little I could see through the window, Dolly had brought in a karaoke machine for the night and everyone was having a real good time despite the fact that it wasn’t even dark yet.
“Ready?” Eli asked, holding out his hand.
I took a deep breath and laced my fingers with his. “Ready as I'll ever be.”
As we stepped into Dolly's, the bell above the door jingled. A few heads turned our way, but most folks were focused on the karaoke stage where Logan was belting out an off-key rendition of “Friends in Low Places.” Dakota stood nearby, looking equal parts amused and mortified.
Caroline spotted us first, waving us over to a booth where she sat with... wait, was that Gavin from the feed store? And were they holding hands? When the hell did that happen?
“Well look what the cat dragged in!” Caroline called out, her grin wide. “Bout time you two lovebirds joined us.”
I felt my face flush, but Eli just squeezed my hand and led me over. “Had to make sure this one was up for it,” he said, nodding towards me.
“I'm fine,” I grumbled, sliding into the booth across from Caroline and Gavin. “Just a little sore still.”
Caroline's eyes softened. “How you feelin', Colt? We were all pretty worried about you.”
“I'm alright,” I assured her, settling into the booth with Eli beside me. “Thanks to this one here.” I nodded towards Eli.
Gavin chuckled. “Yeah, we heard about Eli's heroic rescue. Jumped right into the arena, didn't ya?”
Eli shrugged, a slight blush creeping up his neck. “Anyone would've done the same.”
“Not anyone,” I said softly, squeezing his hand under the table.
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Alright, enough with the mushy stuff. We're here to have fun, remember?” She turned to Gavin. “Babe, why don't you go get us some drinks?”
“Right away, darlin’.”
As soon as he was gone, I raised an eyebrow in Caroline’s direction. “Where the hell did he come from?”
“You ain’t got the monopoly on relationships, Colt Dawson,” she grinned back. “I got my own things goin’ on too.”
“And you’ve already trained him to get you drinks?” Eli asked, looking impressed. “Damn.”
“I’m a horse trainer,” she smiled. “I do this for a livin’.”
The bell dinged again, and I glanced back, seeing Beau Turner step in with…
“Oh my god,” I whispered to Eli. “Is… Is Beau Turner holding hands with a man?!”
“Uh-huh,” Eli grinned. “That’s Lucas. He’s Logan’s friend from New York. He’s datin’ Beau, has been for a while now.”
“My god…” I whispered. “I had no idea.”
“See? I told you we wouldn’t be the only ones.”
“I shouldn’t have doubted you.” I turned back to him. “If Beau can do that, then I guess I can do this.” Lifting my arm slowly, I snaked it around Eli’s shoulders, pulling him tight against me. “How’s that?”
Eli smiled. “It’s really good, Colt. I’m proud of you.”
Leaning closer, I gave him a soft kiss. “I love you, Eli Daniels.”
His eyes fluttered, a tinge of pink on his cheeks. “I love you too, Colt Dawson.”
“Hey there y’all!” Dolly called, stepping up to our table. She had a guitar strung around her shoulders and a microphone in her hand that she was holding out to all of us. “Which one of y’all is gonna sing next?”
I glanced over at Eli. “Can’t. Ribs.”
He just groaned and took the mic. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”
I gave him a little wink. “You love it.”
And as Dolly dragged him up toward the makeshift stage, I couldn’t help but smile. Everything in my world was perfect now that Eli was in it.
I was the luckiest man alive.