Chapter Thirteen
He couldn’t keep the smile from his face.
Whistling, Orsen mucked out the stalls, ignoring the repeated sighs from Crompton who was mucking out with him.
Even the smell of horse shit couldn’t take his happy away.
Nope, nothing could, because Santino had made him come four times.
Four times! Orsen was pretty sure his balls had ached by the time he’d left Santino’s, but he left floating on a cloud of happiness.
He’d also seen Santino naked, and holy hell.
How was that supposed to fit in his ass?
And Santino’s body was amazing. All hard muscles, but soft skin, and Orsen had wanted to take a bite out of his ass.
He had to do lots and lots of squats to have an ass like Santino’s.
Having Santino naked touching him had made him come quickly the third time as well, but later, he’d been able to touch and kiss Santino’s body.
Then he made Santino come. He thought he did better the second time around, but like Cody had told him, practice makes perfect, and he intended to have a lot of practice.
Another sigh had Orsen sticking his head out from the stall he was in and smiling at Crompton. “Leave me alone. I’m happy.”
Crompton narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger at him. “You’re happy because you had sex. I hope—”
“Oh no, we didn’t!” Orsen stepped out of the stall, shaking his head. “He said I had to wait until I was certain. He doesn’t want to rush me.”
Grunting, Crompton said, “Good. He better do right by you.”
“Cody said it was better to wait.”
“Well, if anyone should know, it’s him. He went off the rails before he ran away. Like I said, looks like he had a rough time before he fixed himself right. Has a good man, too.”
“He was really honest with me. He didn’t tell me much about what he did, but he told me he’d done a lot of things that I shouldn’t do.
I like talking to him.” Orsen’s eyes lit up when he remembered something.
“Did I tell you I ran into some boys I went to school with? Dale remembered me, and I met Matty and Devon. Matty’s brother Mikey snuck into your barn—”
“And threw up over my boots. I remember the idiot. So drunk I had to carry him to my truck while he laughed and sang his ass off. Couldn’t walk straight if his life depended on it.”
“That’s him. They were nice. Told me I’d be okay if I go back to school and said that they’d help me.” Orsen paused, his face falling. “They knew what happened with Ambrose.”
“I think everyone does now.” Crompton squinted at him.
“When I go in, I get asked how you’re doing.
Most town folk remember you as this sweet child with your ma.
You’d be hard pressed to find one of them who holds what you did against you.
Most folk around here have had words, or worse, with Ambrose.
You’re nothing like him, Orsen. A good thing too, because you wouldn’t be here with me. ”
“I worry sometimes,” he whispered, staring outside the barn, watching one of the ranch hands walk past. “What if I become like him? I don’t want to be mean and hurt other people. I don’t want to do the things he’s done, but I’m his son, so I worry.”
Crompton watched him, then stated, “You won’t. You and Ambrose are complete opposites. Like night and day, and if you pulled any of the shit he did, I’d let you have it. So would Santino.”
“Sorry.” Orsen ducked his head. Now he felt stupid for thinking that way.
Crompton came over and squeezed his shoulder, his face softening.
“It’s okay to worry, son. You’ve gone through some shit with the people who were supposed to protect you.
I’m not worried about you because I know the man you’re growing into.
A good, kind man.” Crompton let go, then pointed into the stall, his familiar stern look on his face.
“Get to it. The shit ain’t gonna muck itself. ”
Orsen watched Crompton leave the barn and smiled as he went back to mucking out the stalls. Crompton wasn’t one to say things like that, but when he did, Orsen listened. When his phone rang, he took his gloves off and pulled it out. Seeing Cody’s name, Orsen smiled when he answered.
“Tell me you got lucky.”
“Cody!” Orsen glanced around the stall, making sure no one would hear.
“Well? I saw Santino earlier, and he looks mighty happy.”
“We didn’t do it, you know, but I, er, you know…”
“Did your mouth have a close encounter with his dick or his mouth with yours?”
“Cody!” Orsen hissed, looking around the barn again even though he was alone. “Both,” he whispered.
“Nice! I’m not calling to ask about your sex life. We’re having a BBQ this weekend and I want to know if you’ll come. Santino is, and so are Toni and Carter with the kids.”
The fact that Cody asked him brought a smile to Orsen’s face. “I’d like that. Thanks for inviting me.”
“You need to bring me some of Crompton’s brew.”
Orsen snorted. “I like living, Cody. Ask him yourself.”
“Ah, come on. He actually likes you. Me? Not so much.”
“He does like you,” Orsen protested. “He thinks you’ve come a long way from that stupid boy who ran away.”
“That’s so nice to hear, Orsen. Thanks for telling me.”
His brow furrowing, Orsen asked, “Are you being sarcastic?”
“Why, yes I am.”
“I think I have a, er, prior engagement.”
Cody burst out laughing, making Orsen smile. He liked it when people laughed. “Come over by two for the BBQ.”
“I will, and I’ll tell Crompton as well.”
“Great.” Cody hung up as Orsen laughed.
“Lunch is ready.” Orsen jumped, spun around with his hand on his chest. “Tell Cody if he wants some of my brew, then he needs to come and ask me.”
“How did you know?”
“He’s been trying to get some for years. Caught him when he was younger trying to break in.” Crompton walked back to the house, and Orsen jogging to catch up.
“He doesn’t think you like him. I told him you do now.”
Snorting, Crompton rubbed his hip. “He’s another boy who had a hard life when he shouldn’t have. You, him, and that Tanner boy.”
“Tanner? I’ve never heard of him.” Orsen kicked his boots off by the door to the house, then followed Crompton into the kitchen and smiled at a few of the ranch hands already there. After making sure he was clean, Orsen grabbed a plate and filled it with sandwiches and crusty rolls.
“Tanner’s parents died when he was sixteen.
Left him and his baby sister and no one else to help.
He had one meeting with CPS, and the next thing anyone knew, Tanner had left with Savannah.
That was a couple of years ago, and no one has seen either of them since.
The house is still there. It was in Tanner’s name, so no one could sell it.
It’ll be waiting if he ever comes back.”
“CPS probably planned to separate them,” Pistol, one of the ranch hands, said. “Easier to find a home for a baby. Tanner was a good kid. Hard-working, too. Worked a couple of summers here. Knew his stuff, too.”
“And he loved his sister.” Trace stuffed more food into his mouth.
“That he did. I hope he knows he can come back.” Pistol picked up another sandwich, checked what was inside, and took a bite. “We could use a good, solid worker like him again,” he added after swallowing.
“Stupid thing.” Crompton winced as he sat.
“You need that operation, boss.” Crompton shot Pistol a hard look, and Pistol held up his hands. “You know we’ll pick up the slack.”
“I’m not talking about it.”
“Fine, boss. What about you, Orsen? Decided what you’re going to do with your place?”
Orsen chewed the food in his mouth, then swallowed. “I’m having it torn down. I had to file some paperwork, but I should be able to have it done in the next month or so.”
“And then?” Pistol leaned his elbows on the table, watching Orsen.
“I don’t know. I sometimes think I should build a new place, but if I do that, I don’t want it in the same spot. I had a look around and there is a nice place not far from here.” Orsen shrugged. “I just want it gone. The rest can happen when the time is right.”
“You own some land near the creek, and there is a track already in place. You could easily turn that into a road and build there.” Trace licked his fingers. “About twenty minutes outside town. Beautiful views as well.”
“And it’s on my land?” Orsen really needed to go and see the land he now owned, but he’d been putting it off. He hadn’t been ready. Too much of a reminder of his previous life, but maybe he could go with Santino.
“Yeah. I sometimes go up there… Guess I can’t do that now.” Trace shrugged.
“I wouldn’t want you to stop, and maybe you could tell me the best places to go.”
Trace nodded. “That I can do.”
“Grab a map of the area and mark them off,” Pistol suggested. “Fifty acres is a huge amount of land. You could sell half and be set for life.”
“Or rent it out to some of the farms and ranches around here,” Trace suggested. “Some of its prime farmland. You’d make money from it without having to sell.”
“I never thought about that.” Orsen scratched his cheek. “I’d still own the land as well.”
“I know Crompton could use another couple of acres.” Pistol looked at Crompton, who frowned at him. “You can add to the herd, boss, and then when Terry leaves the military, it’ll be ready for him.”
“Who’s Terry?” Orsen looked at everyone sitting around the table, and they all looked at Crompton.
“He’s my boy. Wanted to go into the military before being a farmer. He’s only got a few years left before he qualifies for his pension.”
“You don’t see much of him because he’s one of the best men they have. He’s a SEAL, but he’s nice.” Pistol patted his stomach and pushed his plate away.
“I didn’t know you had a son. I guess I wouldn’t, though.” Orsen looked down at the table and ran his fingers over it. “He won’t mind me being here, will he?”
“No, and if he did, I’d have something to say about it, so you stop worrying.” Crompton narrowed his eyes at Orsen. “Terry wanted to see the world before settling down and I did the same at his age. He’ll come back home when the time is right.”
“I’m glad you have someone to pass your home on to.” Orsen smiled when Crompton looked at him. “It’s family.”
“That it is, and he knows I’ll be here when he’s ready.” Standing, Crompton grumbled under his breath as he rubbed his hip. Pointing a finger at Pistol, Crompton growled, “Don’t.”
Pistol held his hands up. “Fine. I won’t.”
Orsen smiled. “You should get it operated on while we’re all here.
” He jumped up and ran, laughing, when Crompton reached for him.
“I’m going to finish the stalls!” Running outside, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Pistol following, a grin on his face.
Orsen’s smile widened, and when he waved, Pistol waved back.
Happy. That’s how he felt right then and nothing could take that away.