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

onto the porch. He didn’t look. A hand touched his knee and he smiled.

“How’s it going, Randy?”

“Good.”

Opening his eyes, he looked at the man sitting at his feet. Randy leaned up against his legs. “Your lover send you out here to check on me?”

“No. I thought I’d come out and keep you company.” Randy’s blue eyes held a hint of concern for him.

“It’s one of the fucking coldest nights of the winter and you decide to come out to keep me company.” Tony laughed and shook his head. “I’m okay.”

“Maybe.” Randy didn’t sound confident. “Did you talk to Cody’s parents?”

“Right after dinner.” He raised his gaze to the distant outline of the Rocky Mountains.

“Any news?” his friend asked cautiously.

“Yes, but it’s not good.” Tony scrubbed his hand over his face. “The swelling’s gone down some and the doctors are pretty sure Cody broke his neck. The C.A.T. scan they took earlier today showed what looks like a fracture. The doctors still don’t know for sure how bad it is. I told his parents Cody squeezed my hand when I talked to him. That’s a good sign, don’t you think?”

Randy shrugged. “I would think so.”

Tony shook his head. “Mr. Harwood said it didn’t mean anything except Cody’s arms aren’t paralyzed.”

“It is a good sign.” Randy was trying to be encouraging. “At least he can move his hands.”

“Doesn’t mean he’ll walk or ride again.” Tony nodded over to where David Preston was walking to his truck. “Look at your friend, David.”

“I know.” Randy waved as his former traveling partner drove off. “David might not be able to compete anymore but at least he can walk and ride.”

Tony sighed. “I know. It’s hard to accept Cody won’t be traveling with me anymore.

Or I might not see him at an event again.”

“It’ll take time to get used to, but we both know things like this can happen every time you get on a bull or I got on a horse.” Randy rested his hand on Tony’s knee. “The risk of serious injury is one of the reasons we do what we do.”

“I wish Brody hadn’t been there to see the wreck.” He took another puff on his smoke.

“Scared him?”

“A little. He said he wanted to think about this whole thing.” He grinned down at Randy. “Brody’s a city boy. He doesn’t understand the point to bull riding, though he does appreciate the fact the boys wear tight jeans and chaps.”

“Makes for nice scenery.” Randy laughed with him.

His cell phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, he checked the number and saw it was Brody.

“Speak of the devil.” He shook the phone a little.

“I’ll leave you alone. Don’t stay out too long. It’s nasty cold out here.”

He nodded and answered the phone. “Hey there, Blondie.”

“Blondie, huh? Are you still paying me back for the sweet cheeks remark?” Brody chuckled.

“Maybe. How was your flight back home?” He crushed out his cigarette and tucked his free hand in his coat pocket.

“Boring.” Brody sounded tired.

“Mine too.” He stretched out, crossing his legs at the ankle and relaxed.

“Morgan and Vance were waiting for me at the airport. I ended up going in to the office and working until an hour ago.”

What sounded like a door shutting came over the phone.

Tony set the chair rocking under him. “Business good?”

“There are days I think I was insane to start up my own business. I don’t have a head for numbers and organization.” A soft grunt filled his ear.

“Tell me how you ended up in Los Angeles from Austin?” He fingered the plastic on his pack of cigarettes.

“I was running away. While I was in Austin, I hooked up with the wrong crowd.

Started selling drugs. Got involved in gang activities. It reached the point where I was going to end up having to kill someone and I didn’t want to do that.” Weariness tinged Brody’s voice. “Packed up some of my shit and headed out. I ended up in L.A. and got a job as a bouncer at one of the clubs.”

“What made you decide to go into personal security and security systems?”

“Got tired of dealing with drunks and idiots. Not that you don’t deal with those types when you’re a bodyguard, but you’re paid a hell of a lot more to deal with the bullshit.”

Tony shivered and realized he’d been sitting outside for a while. Pushing to his feet, he moved inside. He stopped in the mud room to tug off his boots and hang up his jacket.

“Did you want to talk to Yancey? I don’t think he’s gone to bed yet.”

“No. I talked to him earlier. I called to talk to you.” Brody’s voice lowered.

His cheeks warmed and he knew it wasn’t from the heat in the house. “Thanks for saying that.”

“It’s the truth.” Brody yawned.

“You’re worn out, big guy. Why don’t you go to bed and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Tony leaned against the kitchen counter and reached for a glass.

“I can barely keep my eyes open.” Brody sighed. “I miss you already and it hasn’t even been a day.”

“In two weeks, I’m going to be in Tacoma, Washington. Maybe you could come and meet me up there for the weekend.”

He bit his lip. He hadn’t meant to ask Brody to meet him somewhere so soon. Brody had made it clear he needed to think about the risks involved in what Tony did for a living. Tony respected Brody’s reservations. He’d seen the reality of competing destroy marriages and families. He didn’t know yet if he and Brody would have that kind of relationship, but he wanted Brody to be sure about it before they went any further.

“Give me the dates tomorrow and I’ll see about rearranging my schedule.” Brody didn’t seem upset with Tony for asking.

“Thanks.” Tony turned to stare out the window. “I really didn’t mean to ask you this soon. I know you wanted to think about the whole thing after Cody’s wreck.”

“I had plenty of time to do so on the flight home. I’ll deal