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Next to Walt, Phil smiled. “I don’t have a problem with it. How does the saying go? ‘I may be straight but I don’t hate.’”
Walt grinned and high-fived him. “Dude.”
Eric blinked, a flush crawling over his cheeks. “Hey. Who’s talking about hate? I didn’t say I hated gays. Don’t put words into my mouth.”
“No one said you hated anybody,” Walt said in a patient tone.
Eric wasn’t listening. “I’m a good Christian, y’hear?”
“Then I’m sure you remember what Jesus said.” Butch stared at him. “Something about loving others as he loved you?”
Eric’s flush deepened. “I’m entitled to my beliefs.”
Butch studied him. “You’re a guest. You’ve paid to be here, to enjoy yourself. And no one is gonna disrespect your beliefs or the way you choose to live. But it goes both ways.”
Dear Lord, the man had come a long way in twenty-four hours.
Eric wiped his lips with his napkin, pushed his chair back, and walked out of the door.
Teague let out a sigh. “I’m sorry about that,” he said to the others. “We don’t usually call guests out—we like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt—but there’s only so much we’ll take before we have to say something.”
“Hey, don’t apologize for him,” Frank retorted. “I think you were remarkably patient.”
“Yeah,” Phil agreed. “If anyone should be apologizing, it’s Eric.”
Sol shook his head. “Do you get many guests like that?”
“Not many, thank the Lord,” Teague replied, his eyes fixed on the door.
Zeeb snorted. “I don’t think he’s thanking the Lord for the fact he now knows he’s sleepin’ in the same room as a lot of gay and bi guys.” He peered at Butch. “You took your damn time.”
Butch rolled his eyes. “So I’m bi. Big fucking deal.”
His relaxed manner didn’t fool Sol for a second. It was ahugefucking deal.
Zeeb glanced at Teague. “Anything goin’ on we need to know about?”
Teague arched his eyebrows. “Absolutely nothing to report.” He glanced at the remaining guests. “So, you guys think you’re ready for a trail tomorrow? An easy one, to start with.” He smiled at Phil. “It won’t be long before they’ll be up to speed. Wait and see. By the end of the week, they’ll be pros.”
Sol knew a change of subject when he heard one.
He switched off as Teague, Walt and Paul discussed the various trails they could undertake. Sol’s attention was riveted on Butch, who seemed to be relieved not to be the focus of the conversation.
Then Butch stood. “I’m gonna get some air.” He headed for the door.
Sol waited for a minute, then rose. “That sounds like a good idea.”
Teague’s gaze met his but he said nothing.
Yeah, Teague was another smart man.
Butch leaned against the paddock fence. There was maybe an hour left until sunset, and the world was quiet and still.
Can’t believe I said all that.
It had been impulsive, and while Butch was used to opening his mouth before his brain was in gear, that was always about inconsequential matters.
This was new.
