Chapter Twenty-Four
Alex stared through the windshield at the passing scenery.
“So, this mystery tour you’re taking me on, have we got far to go?
” They’d been driving for just under an hour, and he had to admit, he was intrigued.
As they’d passed through Moorcroft, the flat, grassed landscape had given way to trees, dark green against the pale hills on which they stood.
“Almost there.” Joshua grinned. “In fact, if you keep your eyes peeled, you might spot something familiar as we go around the next bend. In fact, any… second… now!”
Alex scanned the horizon—and stared at the tall lump of granite standing out against the sky, that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere as they’d rounded the bend. “Oh my God. Seriously?” He laughed. “How on earth did you know? Have you been talking to Manda?”
“Huh?” Joshua gave him a puzzled glance, before returning his attention to the road that twisted and turned before them, lined on both sides with trees.
“Manda has been telling me about this place since I moved to Gillette. She kept hinting at bringing me here, only, we never got around to it.” And that was down to him. He watched the rock butte grow in size as they neared it. “Wow. It’s bigger than I thought.”
They took a left turn, and Joshua gestured with his hand. “Welcome to the Devils Tower.” The tower stood on a wide, tree-covered base that rose up ahead of them.
Alex was almost buzzing. “How close can we get to it? I mean, not that I want to climb it, but…” He’d only ever seen it in the Spielberg movie, and God, it was much more impressive in real life.
Joshua laughed. “People do climb it, y’know. And how close do you wanna get? There’s a trail that goes around the base of it. That’s the easiest hike to start with, ’cause it’s paved, and there are places to sit along the route. After that, we can take a longer trail, or go walk along the river.”
Alex smiled. “How many times have you visited this place?”
“We used to bring the kids here when they were little. Micah loves it here. The first time we came? When he got home, he got out his sketch pad and drew the tower. Then there was the time he wanted to walk around it to see if there really was a canyon on the far side, like in the movie.” Joshua shook his head.
“Just about broke his heart when we told him that was probably done on a film stage somewhere.” He pulled the truck over to the side of the road.
“Wanna get a picture?” There was the signpost for the Devils Tower National Monument. “Then we’ll drive on through.”
Alex nodded. He got out of the truck and took a photo, then climbed back in and fastened his seatbelt. “This was a great idea.” And quite possibly the best Fourth he could recall.
A day of hiking, eating out in the fresh air, and the chance to see one of Nature’s wonders. The icing on the cake?
He got to do all that with Joshua.
~ 0 ~
They sat on a boulder, gazing out over the Belle Fourche River as it snaked through the valley below them, the sunlight sparkling on the water here and there.
Alex drank deeply from his water bottle, utterly content.
“I can’t remember the last time I did something like this.
” Then he reconsidered. “Well, unless it was on family vacations.”
“You and Todd didn’t…?”
Alex almost snorted water through his nose.
“Hell, no. Todd used to hate gardening in case something bit or stung him. Our vacations were usually to resorts. But when I was a kid? Mom and Dad would hire a cabin by a lake. I guess after years of doing that, all the details tend to blur into each other, but I have fond memories of long, sunny days. Grilling and eating outside. Swimming. Fishing with my Dad.”
Joshua’s face lit up. “Man, I used to love fishing. Every summer, as soon as school was out, I’d dig out my rod and tackle, my lucky fishing vest, and I’d be outta the house like my ass was on fire.
There were these guys down by the lake. They’d turn up every July and August, and I used to hang out with them. They taught me so much about fishing.”
“Your dad didn’t go with you?”
“Nah. It wasn’t his thing. And he sure used to go on about how much time I spent down there.” Joshua smirked. “Didn’t hear him complain much when I brought home a trout or a couple of catfish. Not that I was supposed to do that. You had to have a permit to fish in the lake in the Talladega forest.”
Alex laughed. He loved that there were still things he had to learn about Joshua. Then his words finally registered. “When was the last time you went fishing?”
Joshua raked his fingers across his scalp. “Lord, now you’re asking. I remember one vacation where I bought Micah a rod, a bucket and a net.” He smiled fondly. “Yeah, I can see him now, standing in a stream, the water only around his ankles, staring at the surface, net poised.”
Alex thought he painted an idyllic picture. “And Naomi?”
Joshua guffawed. “Let’s just say it made less of a favorable impression on her. Naomi’s idea of a vacation was to lie in the sun and do as little as possible.”
“Do you think you’d like to go fishing this summer?”
Joshua gaped at him, his eyes wide. “Seriously?”
“Well, it’s an idea. I’d need to get new equipment, but why not?
Right now, sitting on a riverbank or beside a lake, the sun on my face, watching the line twitch…
sounds perfect. And God knows it’s high time I took a break from the office.
Hell, I haven’t taken a vacation since I moved to Gillette. ”
Joshua’s face took on a wistful expression. “Fishing. That sounds awesome.”
That did it. Alex was going to look at his schedule and fit in some fishing time.
He peered at the bag Joshua had placed on the ground. “Any chicken left?” he asked hopefully.
Joshua snickered. “You ate the last piece half an hour ago. In fact, I think we need to work off our lunch, so how about we go for a long hike? You know, one that actually gets our hearts pumping?” Then he grinned. “Hey, I forgot. You’re older than me. You might be past that kinda thing.”
Alex gave him a mock glare. “Bring. It. On. Anytime, anywhere.”
“I’m only mentioning it because I didn’t bring an oxygen tank,” Joshua said with a straight face.
“Did you bring a walking stick?”
“I don’t need one,” Joshua flung back.
“You will when I kick your leg out from under you,” Alex said with a sweet smile.
For a second or two, they regarded one another in silence, until Joshua’s lips twitched, and Alex burst out laughing.
“God, listen to us,” he said, shaking his head. “Manda would be so proud.” Then he thought again. “Actually? She’d be jealous as all hell. She’s never been here.”
Joshua gave him a wicked grin. “Remind me of that next time I’m at your place and she’s staying. Let me see how much mileage I can get out of it.”
Alex let out a snort. “And yet you look like you’re such a sweet man.”
“There ya go. Looks can be deceiving.” Joshua’s eyes glinted. “But hey, I can be sweet when the situation calls for it.”
Alex couldn’t account for his reaction to Joshua’s words. Something uncurled deep in his belly, a slow release of warmth that spread through him. “I’m sure of it,” he murmured.
They got down off their boulder and rejoined the trail, heading back to the visitors’ center through the pine forest. Now and again they met people on the same path, enjoying the scenery or pausing to take photos of the Native American prayer cloths, attached to the trees.
Alex gazed up at the heavy striations on the butte’s surface.
Maybe it was the magic of the place, but he could easily believe the marks were the work of a giant bear, trying to climb the igneous formation, its huge claws raking cuts into the rock.
Then he glanced at Joshua, and noted his expression of wonder as he too gazed up at the formation. Alex smiled. “In case I forget to tell you… this was a great idea.”
Joshua’s face lit up. “Happy Fourth of July, Alex,” he said softly.
“Happy Fourth of July, Joshua.”
~ 0 ~
Joshua slung the backpack into the back of the truck, then climbed into the cab. He was tired, but it was a good tired, one that left him feeling he’d sleep well that night. It was time to leave, and he realized he wasn’t ready for that to happen just yet.
He wanted more time with Alex.
“Just a suggestion,” he said as he switched on the engine.
Alex laughed. “Well, seeing as today was your last suggestion, I think you’re on a roll, so go with it.” He fastened his seatbelt.
“Want to come have dinner with us? You’d be welcome. And it is still the Fourth. We could all watch a movie later, with popcorn and sodas. And seeing as you’d be the guest, you could choose the movie.” Joshua narrowed his gaze. “Within reason.”
“That means no Disney, right?” Alex chuckled. “Spoilsport.”
Joshua heaved a dramatic sigh. “Okay then. Seeing as it’s you.
” Secretly he didn’t give a shit if Alex picked a Disney movie.
Having him stay a couple more hours was worth putting up with whatever the hell he might choose.
Well, maybe. Joshua was not watching Snow White again, under any circumstances.
He knew that movie frontwards, backwards, and any other goddamn way that could be conceived of.
“Fine. In that case, I accept. And I vote for… Maleficent.” Alex grinned. “We can pick up the DVD from my place on the way.”
Joshua frowned. “I… I haven’t seen that one.” He had a feeling Alex had been counting on that. “That’s just a remake of Sleeping Beauty, isn’t it?”
“Hell no.” Alex’s grin hadn’t faded. “Trust me. You’ll love it.
” He leaned closer. “They may say it was written for five- to twelve-year-old little girls, but we know the truth.” He sat back, smiling contentedly.
“Sure, it’s a fun hour and a half for the whole family, but when you get right down to it? It’s a refreshingly queer movie.”
“Next, you’ll be telling me Disney makes movies with gay characters.” Joshua snickered. “Yeah, right. When that happens, I’ll dance naked in front of your courthouse.”
Alex laughed out loud. “Remind me to check my diary when we get to your place. I need to make sure I’m in court that day. I’m not going to miss this.”
Joshua really didn’t like the sound of that.
As he drove the truck out of the parking lot, he mused that with Alex around, his life was never going to be dull.