Hoyt #3
“Are you sure?” Aubrey asked as a middle-aged guy in a running suit read out his haiku about his Siberian husky.
“Yeah, I’m sure. If I can sit on the back of a bull I can read a poem.”
He radiated pride. “Yes you can. Okay, I’ll introduce you next. Well done, Mr. Milkman! Your dog Poda sure does love the snow!”
The cool night air blew over the back of my neck as someone entered the shop. “Now we have a true cowboy to recite some of his modern western works. Please welcome Hoyt Knox to the microphone.”
My heart was pounding. Grasping my journal to my chest, I stepped out of the shadow of the bookshelf. I instantly sought out Aubrey who beamed at me. Eyes on the old-fashioned mic I planted my big feet on the wooden floor planks, opened my book, and swallowed about a gallon of spit.
The store was quiet as they all waited for me to begin.
If I read any of the newer ones it would out me to the town possibly.
If I stuck to pony poems it wouldn’t be bad at all.
I was tempted to just read a red roan work.
Then I glanced up to find Aubrey smiling at me with such unabashed admiration that I flipped to the poem I’d written three days ago.
Then my sight darted to the man beside Aubrey.
My brother, Jesse, and his Lucas. They were holding hands.
Right here in downtown Chance in front of God and everyone.
Fuck me that was the bravest thing I’d seen in years.
Jesse nodded at me. I nodded back. Then I read.
“The vista gleams purple, red, and blue,
His smile warms me through,
We ride red ponies, wind in faces,
The touch of his hand, one of god’s graces.”
The crowd clapped. I closed my journal, Aubrey’s sweet face all I could see as I stepped back from the microphone to allow the host to step up.
“I like you and your work so danged much,” Aubrey whispered to me as he passed by to introduce the next poet.
“I like you so danged much too,” I replied on a soft rustle that made his ears turn bright pink. Then, because he was here to support me, I made my way through wine drinkers and poet laureates to my brother. “Thought you were heading to the Saddle Up for dinner.”
“We were but the place was packed. Line dancing night. So we decided to come back to town for some poetry and a meal at the Laughing Fork. That was a really nice poem, Hoyt. The touch of his hand. Does that hand belong to the guy with the polka dot tie?”
“Why…I don’t…” Fuck me this kid was always too damned clever. “Could be but its new and he’s skittish as a new colt so don’t get into his face about anything.”
“I won’t. I promise,” Jesse vowed, even crossed his heart as we had back when we were younger. “Would you two like to join us for some pulled pork at the Laughing Fork. Your treat.”
“Oh, I don’t know. He said he had something for us at his place so…” I shrugged my left shoulder gently. Rehab day one yesterday had been fucking rough. Tomorrow I had another round of torture to look forward to.
“That’s cool. Uhm, would you like to possibly invite him to the ranch for Sunday dinner.” Jesse glanced at Lucas who nodded then back at me. “Nothing too fancy. Maybe some pasta, a salad, and a pie if we can get a decent crust rolled out?”
“I’ll ask Aubrey.”
“Ask me what?” He appeared at my side like a dream. I smiled down at him because…well, because seeing him made me happy. “Hello, I’m Aubrey Lancombe, owner of High Noon Reads.” He held out his fine-boned hand to Jesse.
“Uh, this is my brother Jesse and his boyfriend Lucas,” I managed to croak out. They all shook hands.
“How nice to meet you! Hoyt talks about you all the time.” Jesse shot me a look I ignored.
“What do you two like to read? Do you also pen poetry, Jesse? Did I overhear an invitation to dinner? I would be delighted! I can bring a salad with no radishes. Radishes give me hives but carrot, celery, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes are fine. My grandmother, Gee-Gee, also had a radish indisposition. It must be hereditary. I also have a mild aversion to lima beans but for a wholly different reason.”
Jesse did his best to reply to all of Aubrey’s questions, comments, and oddball comments about radishes.
Lucas grinned at me throughout the encounter.
I suspected they both would be teasing me up one side and down the other at home.
Which was okay. Honestly, I enjoyed the banter with my brother, and to some extent Lucas, as he became more comfortable with me.
“We’ll see you on Sunday around four then,” Jesse managed to slip in around Aubrey’s chit-chat after about thirty minutes and the final four poets were done. Aubrey thanked everyone and offered his wishes for a lovely night to the folks who had shown up at the front door. “He seems nice.”
“He is, real nice.”
Jesse tapped my shoulder with the side of his fist before they left the bookshop.
Yeah, he was real nice, and now the reading was over he was all mine for the rest of the night. Clean-up had better go quickly because I had hugging and kissing on my mind.