Home of His Own by T. Chase (classic fiction .TXT) 📗

“I never thought I’d see you again,” Brody murmured.

Tony sucked on the tip of Brody’s thick thumb. He watched those brown eyes go hazy, just like he remembered in his dreams. Tony pulled away with a gentle nip.

“Neither did I, but here we are. We’ve got time to reunite and discuss why you told me your name was Mac.” Tony pinched Brody’s ass as he moved passed the man. “Better wash up. Margie doesn’t like serving a cold supper.”

His chuckle followed Tony down the hallway.

Twenty minutes later, they settled down at the table. Brody grinned at the amount of food Yancey and Juan put on their plates.

“Growing boys,” Tony teased.

“Jackson said you helped one of his hands with a mare last night.” Brody seemed determined to keep the supper conversation light.

“Yeah. It’s been great. I’m thinking about going to college and vet school.” Yancey flushed and looked down at the table.

“I bet you’re good with animals.” Juan was quick to show support.

It seemed like both Tony and Yancey waited to hear what Brody would say.

“I guess you need to decide where you want to go to school. I’ll give you tuition money.”

“Hell, if you wanted to stay in Wyoming, Les would probably be willing to give you a job during the summer.” Tony nodded.

“Would he really do that?” Yancey sounded surprised.

“He took you in with no knowledge of who you were except what I told him.” Tony chuckled. “Les is a good man. He believes in giving people help if they need it.”

“I can’t wait to meet Hardin.” Brody passed a plate of steaks to Juan.

“Les and Randy won’t be back until next week. They moved Lindsay out to California and then they were going to spend some time with Randy’s older brother, Rick. He’s in the Army and being deployed again.” Tony didn’t sound happy about Rick’s leaving.

The younger men were sitting next to each other, heads tilted close together. Juan grinned at something Yancey said. Brody could see some of the tension drain from Juan’s shoulders, but there was still a haunted look in his eyes.

“Mijo, when we’re finished with the dishes, you can call Tia Elena and tell her you made it here okay.”

“Can I call my mom too?” Juan asked hesitantly.

“Sure, just don’t be surprised if she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“I know, but she’s my mom and just because she doesn’t treat me good doesn’t mean I should act like her.” Juan’s chin held a stubborn tilt.

“Out of the mouths of babes. You’re right, mijo.” Tony changed the subject.

Chapter Eight

They were finishing the dishes when the phone rang. Tony had sent Juan to make his calls on Tony’s cell. Brody wiped the last dish dry as Tony answered the phone.

“Hey, old man, how are you doing?”

Yancey folded the towel and drained the water out of the sink. “It’s Les.”

“How do you know?’ He was amazed by how at home his younger brother was in the house.

Yancey grabbed a soda and a beer from the fridge and led the way to the living room. Brody took the beer, sitting in an armchair. Yancey settled on the couch.

“He always gets this happy wistful tone in his voice when he talks to Randy.”

Yancey shrugged. “It’s hard to explain. It’s like he’s really thrilled about being friends with the guy, but at the same time he can’t help wishing it was more.”

“Romanos wouldn’t come between them, would he?” Brody didn’t get that kind of impression from Tony, but sometimes you just never knew.

“Fuck no. Their friendship means too much to him. Besides, after you meet them, you’ll understand that no one will ever come between Les and Randy. It’s almost sickening how perfect they are for each other.” Yancey reached for a framed photograph sitting on the end table.

Putting his beer down, Brody took the picture and looked at it. Two men stood in front of a large brown horse with their arms wrapped around each other. The older darker haired man was taller. He had an intriguing white streak over his right temple. The shorter guy was leaner, not as handsome, but good-looking in his own right. They were smiling at the camera. Joy and love leapt from them even though it was just paper and ink.

“Les is the one with the white streak. He used to ride jumpers in the big shows. His horse fell at a show and Les caught a hoof to the head. It was a long recovery, but he survived, got better and moved out here.” Yancey pointed to the younger man. “That’s Randy Hersch. He won the bareback bronc championship at the National Finals Rodeo last year. He retired and is training cutting horses here at the ranch.”

“They sound like great guys.” Brody set the photo down and caught his brother’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Yancey shook his head. “Nothing to be sorry about, you had to leave or you would have been killed or killed someone yourself. I know about the drugs and the gang.”

“I didn’t want to drag you down with me and I know if I had stayed, things would have spiraled out of control.” Brody scrubbed a hand over his face. “I never meant to stay away so long. I kept meaning to come back, but there was always another job to do. I started a bodyguard business out in L.A. It was hard, but I’ve got good partners and it’s something I’m proud of.”

Brody stood up, pacing from the sliding glass door leading out to a patio to the hallway back towards the bedrooms. “When I finally got my ass home, you were gone.

Aunt Katherine told me you’d left after graduation and all I had to go on were rumors.

Using my business contacts, I followed your trail to Austin. I freaked when I met Juan and learned you had been beaten up. What the hell happened?”

He turned to see Yancey staring down at the can in