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

who didn’t. He settled back, keeping Cody’s hand in his and started telling his friend about the scores.

Ten minutes later, his throat was dry. He’d been talking continuously. “I didn’t win.

Bucked off the money bull. Fucking easiest bull in the pen and I let him toss me off like garbage.”

He looked up as the door eased open. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood entered. He squeezed Cody’s hand and let it go.

“Time for me to go, Cody. Take it easy, man, and I’ll check up on you.” He winked at Mrs. Harwood. “I’ll make sure your mother gets a play by play of the events to tell you. Have to keep up on the competition.”

“Thank you, Tony.” Mrs. Harwood gave him a quick hug before she hurried over to check on Cody.

Mr. Harwood went out into the hall with Tony. Brody stood up from where he’d been sitting against the wall across from the door. He smiled at his lover before turning to say good-bye to Cody’s dad.

“Your friend tells me we don’t have to worry about Cody’s bills.” Mr. Harwood nodded towards Brody.

Tony shot a surprised look in Brody’s direction. Butter wouldn’t have melted in the other man’s mouth by the innocent expression on his face.

“If Brody told you that, Mr. Harwood, it has to be true.” Tony made a mental note to ask Brody about it later. “Worry about getting Cody better, sir. The rest will work out on its own.”

He tried to believe that. He had a feeling Cody would never ride bulls again. Tony hoped Cody would be able to reconcile that fact and learn to live a different life from the one his friend had imagined.

Brody shook Mr. Harwood’s hand and they left the hospital. Tony tossed the keys to Brody as they got to the rental car.

“You can drive to the airport. I don’t feel like it.” He slid into the passenger seat and closed his eyes.

Brody started the car, pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards the airport.

Tony didn’t say anything for a few minutes. Brody’s hand rested on his thigh, keeping him grounded. He entwined their fingers and sighed.

“Cody’s fucked up, babe.”

“I know.” Brody’s voice held sympathy.

“How is he going to be able to do anything?” Opening his eyes, he looked out his window.

“You’d be surprised. Cody’s going to get the best surgeons, therapists and equipment to help with his recovery and someday, he just might be riding again.” Brody squeezed his hands. “Have a little faith, Tony.”

“Faith?” He glanced at Brody. “How come all of Cody’s hospital bills are taken care of?”

Brody shrugged. “I have money and so does Les. We’re willing to help out those who don’t have enough.”

“Generous of you. What’s the real reason?” He raised an eyebrow at Brody.

“I’ll be honest. Watching Cody get thrown around like a ragdoll the other day scared me. I like you, Tony. I could find myself falling hard for you. I have to deal with the way Cody’s injury made me feel.” Brody swallowed, his gaze staring straight ahead. “I don’t know what I’d do if something like that happened to you. I have to make sure I can handle it.”

“I get that, but it doesn’t explain why you’re paying Cody’s hospital bills.”

Tony was stubborn. His mother had often told him he could out-stubborn a mule. He wasn’t going to let Brody off the hook.

“What if it had been you? Would you have the money to pay the bills?”

Tony shook his head. “No.”

The truth was for most bull riders and rodeo participants, health insurance was too high or they couldn’t get insured at all because of the high risk of their profession. Only the top riders made any kind of money to help defray costs.

“Les and I talked the night of Cody’s wreck. If it had been you, I’d hope someone would be willing to step in and help you. We decided to set up a fund to help with the costs of hospital bills or just competing. We might end up sponsoring a new rider.”

“A new rider?” Tony pouted. “What about me?”

They stopped at a light and Brody glanced at him. Lifting their hands, Brody pressed a kiss to Tony’s knuckles. “I’d love to put my name on you somewhere.”

He laughed. “I’m sure you would, but I’m not looking to get branded.”

“The reason we thought about sponsoring a new rider is because they’re going to have a harder time finding endorsements and opportunities like those. You don’t have that problem anymore.”

The light turned green and Brody took off. Tony saw the logic in what Les and Brody were considering.

“You heading back to L.A. now?”

He ignored the loneliness he was already feeling. There was no way he or Brody could spend all their time with each other. They had lives elsewhere and he couldn’t ask Brody to give up his life when he wasn’t ready to change his quite yet.

“Yes. I have two meetings this week.” Brody pulled up in front of the terminal.

“Where you headed this weekend?”

“Baltimore.” He grabbed his bags out of the trunk and handed them to the sky cap.

“Gonna rest up and I’ll fly out on Thursday.”

Brody nodded, getting his own bags out. “My gate’s on the other side of the terminal.”

Tony gave Brody a quick hug. He longed to be able to kiss his lover good-bye, but knew it wouldn’t be well accepted by the people around them. “Give me a call later on tonight.”

“I will. Have a safe trip home, Tony. Tell everyone I said hi.” Brody ghosted his fingers over Tony’s lips before he walked away.

He stood and watched Brody drive off to the rental car return before he went to check in at the airline.

* * * *

Tony settled in the chair on the porch. He zipped up his coat and tugged out his pack of cigarettes. Lighting one, he took a drag and leaned back. He rested his head on the back of the chair, closing his eyes.

The door squeaked as someone came