Chapter Six
TJ
‘Because I haven’t come back for them. I came back for you.’
TJ lay awake in bed as the early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.
His mind replayed what Cody had said, over and over, the look on his face when he’d spoken the words.
Strong, confident, mature. Three words TJ would never have used to describe the Cody he’d known.
The Cody who appeared to be long gone. Left behind wherever he’d been.
The Cody TJ met last night was almost the polar opposite of the one who’d run away four years earlier.
If only Cody had told TJ what Cass had planned for him, he would never have had to leave.
A fucking conversion camp. Where the hell had Cass found one and why the fuck would he send Cody?
Cody being gay shouldn’t have been something Cass felt shame over.
You didn’t get to pick who you were attracted to.
If anyone knew that it was TJ. Years married to an amazing woman, wondering why he couldn’t be there properly for her and their marriage. Why it felt like he held something back. Then one day he met Kit, and he knew the answers to all the questions. He was gay.
He’d been so very lucky that Toni had supported him. Their long conversations often played in TJ’s mind, and he knew not all men in his position were as fortunate. His parents, Toni, the kids. TJ had been one of the lucky ones.
Cody admitting why he’d left did ease some of the worry TJ had. He’d long thought it had been his fault that Cody had run. That him telling Cody nothing could happen between them after Cody’s attempt to kiss him had made Cody leave, which reminded him of what Cody had said the night before.
‘Because I haven’t come back for them. I came back for you.’
Those words, spoken confidently with a surety that seemed strange coming from Cody.
Cody had come back for TJ. TJ knew what Cody meant and he wasn’t ready to face it.
Cody was younger than him. Far younger. Twelve years younger, and they were practically family, and they had history together.
TJ had known him as a teenager. Watched him fall apart and had been unable to stop it from happening.
TJ’s alarm blared, and he grunted, rolling over to switch it off.
A long fourteen-hour shift ahead, but work would become easier now that Taylor was returning.
A bad break after a fall off his horse had kept him off work for three months.
For the last month Taylor had rung up begging to return, then trying to get TJ to order the doc to let him come back to work. Taylor didn’t do well cooped up inside.
Throwing the covers back, TJ stared at his erection, then stood.
He needed a shower, and he’d deal with it there.
Only could he, with Cody in the house? Now he felt awkward and quickly showered, ignoring his wilting erection.
Once dried and dressed, TJ quietly left his bedroom and tiptoed downstairs to put the coffee machine on.
As it gurgled away, he stared outside, listening to the calls of the wildlife as the world woke up.
The sun shone, the birds called, and mornings like this were perfect as far as TJ was concerned.
Spending a few minutes outside, coffee in hand, breathing in the morning air, always started the day off right, and TJ needed it that morning.
Cody had returned. For him, apparently. TJ didn’t know how he felt about it.
Cody had changed. Taller, broader, intense, focused.
Gorgeous. But TJ wasn’t going near that thought.
Blowing out his breath, TJ sipped his coffee and struggled to reconcile the Cody from last night with the Cody he knew from the past.
Cody used to have long, greasy, dyed blond hair.
A terrible out-of-the-box job that looked horrendous.
Skinny, too. So thin TJ winced when he saw him, scared he wouldn’t survive a bad cold.
Short as well. Shorter than him, barely reaching TJ’s shoulders.
Dirty and smelly. TJ had heard many arguments when it came to Cody’s lack of personal hygiene and his apathy to do anything about it.
That all evaporated when Cody had stood up the night before.
Taller than TJ, broader, stronger. He was repeating himself, but he couldn’t comprehend the changes.
Not yet. TJ worked out, but it had been apparent Cody did as well.
More than TJ, going by the muscles Cody had.
His black hair shone under the lights. Thick and healthy.
So different from what TJ had last seen.
His deep blue eyes held an intensity TJ had never seen before, no longer dull, lifeless, bloodshot.
The physical changes were nothing compared to the mental and emotional ones.
Cody even felt different. TJ would sense the old Cody enter the room, waves of animosity emanating from him.
The Cody from last night had none of those.
There had been an intense quietness to him.
TJ hadn’t even realized Cody had been in the kitchen with him.
It wasn’t until he’d made a sound, one TJ was certain had been made for his benefit, that he’d been aware someone else was in his house with him.
With a shake of his head, TJ finished his coffee, cleaned his mug, and placed it in the sink. He glanced upward when he heard movement, then checked the time and softly exhaled.
‘I came back for you.’
“I came back for you.” TJ repeated the words quietly, knowing the context in which Cody had spoken them. He’d come back for TJ. That awkward kiss Cody had given him had meant something to him when he’d been younger. He’d had feelings then and clearly had them still.
Grabbing his things, TJ left the house before Cody came downstairs. He wasn’t sure he could handle him just then. His reappearance had thrown TJ, but those words had affected him more than he’d realized.
“TJ.” TJ slowed on the path and faced Cody, who stood by the front door. “Don’t tell anyone I’m back. I’d like to do that myself.”
Nodding, TJ hopped in his truck and started the engine, pulling out of his drive. At work, he kept busy, and when a call from Crompton came through, TJ eagerly took it. It was the distraction he needed. His mind constantly jumping to Cody. Comparing old and new.
When he reached Crompton’s farm, TJ saw Crompton waiting by the gate, baseball cap on, eyes narrowed. “Got the little bastards.”
“Hello to you, too.”
Grunting, he held the gate open. “When you get to my age, you don’t bother with that shit. In the house, I got the camera thing set up for you to look at.”
TJ followed Crompton inside his house and ignored the brewing setup.
TJ knew about the setup in one of Crompton’s barns, so this must be another.
How many others existed that TJ knew nothing about?
They’d had many conversations about it, and it had gotten TJ nowhere.
Everyone knew what he did, and as long as he caused no problems, TJ let it go.
“Trying a new brew if you’re interested. Peach vodka. Or something that tastes like it. Almost blew my head off.”
“You shouldn’t be offering me this, considering it’s illegal and I’m the sheriff.”
“I knew you when you were in diapers, boy, running around on short stubby legs. There ain’t nothing you can say that will get me to stop. Do you want some or not?”
“Peach flavored? I’ll take one home.” Live and let live where Crompton was concerned. It made life easier, or he would be out at the farm every other day. He did no harm, loved his horses and the wildlife, and kept an eye on things, so TJ knew when something happened.
TJ stood by the monitor and watched the footage captured by the trail cam and when Orsen Catlow appeared, TJ sighed. “His pap threw him out?” Crompton asked.
Glancing at Crompton, TJ answered. “Not quite, but he will.”
“Cause he’s gay like that young Cody lad?” Crompton straightened and took his cap off. He pushed his hair back, then shoved his cap back on. “Bastard father needs a shotgun up his ass for treating his kid like that.”
“Orsen’s gay? How do you know?”
Crompton narrowed his eyes. “You gonna deal with Ambrose? He should be looking after Orsen, not treating him like a piece of shit.”
“I’ve done as much as I can from my end. I’ve called child protective services numerous times, and they always tell me they’ll deal with it.”
“Get him here and he can work for me. I’ll show him how to look after the horses, see to the cattle.”
“It’s not as simple as that.” TJ put his hands on his hips. If only it was that simple. “The law states he lives with Ambrose until he’s an adult.”
“Let me find my gun and he’ll soon see things my way.”
TJ smiled but shook his head. “I wish I could, but I have to follow the law on this.” Watching the footage again, he noticed something. “He isn’t setting the traps.”
“No, but we know who did.”
“Ambrose. Can’t touch him unless we catch him in the act. All we have is Orsen trespassing. I can talk to him about it but—”
“Ambrose will beat the shit out of that kid. We both know how quick he is to anger.”
“I think you know more than I do and you’re all the way out here.”
“You think people don’t talk to me?” Crompton narrowed his brown eyes, the wrinkles deepening.
“I’ve lived here damn near seventy years.
I get calls from those townsfolk all the time.
I might be a bastard, but they know I can be relied on.
As do you, which is why you don’t bust my ass over my home brew. ”
TJ nodded. Every word Crompton said was true. “Tell me what you know, then.”
“That Ambrose abuses his boy. Heard a rumor he might be considering selling him if he gets him enough money.” Crompton lowered his head, his eyes focused on TJ.
“We’re not talking about work, either. He’s young and fit and the girls like looking at him.
Orsen would get Ambrose plenty of money from the right people.
There are rumors of drugs too, but you know about them. ”
TJ hissed and stepped back, shaking his head, ignoring the drugs part for now. “I need something concrete. We’re talking possible sex trafficking. We’ve never had that happen here. We’re a small town.”
“Got fuck all to do with it, TJ. When a man’s as desperate as Ambrose, he’d sell his own son for a quick buck.”
“I need something to go on. Anything.”
Crompton nodded. “Let me make a few calls and I’ll get back to you. When you get him, tell that boy he can stay with me. I’ll teach him about horses, make sure he gets to school. He has a good head on his shoulders. Shame the kid’s dad’s a bastard, but we don’t get to pick our families.”
“Why Orsen?” In all the years TJ had known Crompton, he’d never known him to open his home to anyone. What made Orsen so special?
“He has a way with the horses. They’re calm with him, like to be around him. Seen him in the fields with the cattle, too. They don’t shy away from him. He has something that can be used. Something he can build on. Shame to waste it.”
“Call me when you get something, and I’ll see what I can work from my end.” That was all he could do at that point. He needed evidence, and if Crompton could get him some, then he could do something to help Orsen.
“Don’t forget to take a bottle on your way out. Drink it when you’re not at work the next day. Told that young officer the same when he was here.” Crompton gave TJ a bottle. “Heard that Taylor is due back soon.”
TJ rolled his eyes as he sighed. “Is there anything you don’t know?”
“No, and you should come out here more often, Sheriff. You never know what you might pick up.”
TJ nodded and stared at the bottle in his hand. “I might just do that.”
“Now get off my land. I have cattle to tend to and the ranch hands are shit. Not made like we were when I was younger. Need a firm hand to get them going.”
TJ thanked Crompton, who snarled and strode off, leaving TJ behind.
Chuckling, TJ got in his truck and drove back to town.
Orsen Catlow, son of Ambrose Catlow. Mother Allison deceased.
TJ remembered hearing about them growing up.
Ambrose had always caused problems from a young age. Like his parents had done before him.
Pulling into his space in the parking lot outside the station, TJ switched the engine off and sat thinking.
Orsen gay like Cody. Would Cody speak to him?
Shit. He’d just returned and was no doubt finding his feet after dropping the ‘I came back for you,’ bombshell on TJ.
He still didn’t know how to handle that, so he pushed it to the back of his mind to deal with later.
Getting out of the truck, he strode inside, nodded to Dee, then headed to his office. “Miles!” he shouted as he walked past the officers’ desks. Once in his room, he waited for Miles to enter. “Ambrose Catlow and his son. What can you tell me?”
“Nothing that you don’t know. Ambrose is always on our list as someone we need to deal with. Every weekend he’s in lockup sleeping one off. As for Orsen, he keeps his nose clean, from what I can tell. Surprised CPS hasn’t taken him away.”
“Yes, why haven’t they? There are clear signs of neglect, yet he still lives at home, and from what I know, rarely, if ever, attends school.” TJ picked up his pen and tapped it on the desk. “Look into Ambrose and contact CPS again. Dig deeper.”
Miles nodded. “Crompton know something?”
“Yeah, so we need to find out what’s going on with Catlow.”
“I’m on it.” Miles left and TJ sat. Pushing Cody from his mind, TJ got to work.