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I’d parked my truck off the ranch and walked here, so I climb on Midnight with Sully. We ride at a leisurely pace back toward the world that looks so different than it did before—the ranch that should have always been part mine, and somehow, just knowing that is enough. I don’t know that it was as much about having this place I love so much, as it was about knowing what really happened. But now that I do, I can work on letting it go.
I can’t keep my spine from stiffening when we ride up to the barn and I see Wade and a few of the guys outside. My jaw hardens when I notice Mr. Sullivan talking to Big Jimmy. As soon as he sees us, the expression on his face changes, gaze curious, body language unsure.
Sully says, “You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want, Port. You were wronged, and you can deal with it any way you see fit. If anyone has a problem with it, they’ll deal with me.”
There’s not a part of me that doubts him, but… “I’m tired of running. Tired of not facing life head-on. No good will come of putting it off.”
He nods, doesn’t argue with me.
Just as we’re dismounting, Mr. Sullivan reaches us. I can’t help but notice the other hands have all scattered to the wind, giving us privacy.
“Porter,” he says, and nausea sweeps through my gut.
“Yes, sir.”
“You don’t have to call me that.”
“I’d rather call you sir.”
“Of course. I…” He shakes his head, then pulls his hat off, running a hand through his graying hair. Sully’s daddy is a lot of things, but unsure isn’t one of them—at least I’ve never seen him that way until this moment. “We owe you an apology.”
“Don’t know if I can accept that right now,” I say, being honest. My gaze shoots toward Sully, but there’s nothing but support there.
“That’s fair. I’m sure Bishop explained it to you, that we only found out when you were a kid. We should have done what’s right then, and I regret that we didn’t. Nothing we do can make the past right, but I want you to know we’re gonna try. I’m gonna do right by you. It should have been done a long time ago.”
It’s strange how you can spend your life wanting to hear something, and then when you do, it doesn’t have the effect you thought it would. We all still had choices we made along the way, some right, some wrong, and while Sully’s family did wrong by mine, most of that was done a long time ago. We can’t go backward, and I’m tired of trying.
“Just wanna work this ranch and love your son.”
His gaze flickers between me and Sully. “He’s a lucky man to have you by his side.”
“Nah, that’s me,” I reply. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get to work now.”
He gives us a simple nod and walks away.
“Jesus, I love you.” Sully grabs me, pulls me to him, and presses his lips to mine. It doesn’t matter if anyone sees us, not anymore. It won’t always be easy, but I know it’ll always be worth it.
Chapter 33
Bishop
I feel like I’m walking through a dream as the men surround us outside the stable. They should already be moving the cattle to a different pasture, but this day has been flipped on its head for all of us. They seem tense, concerned, confused, and no doubt Wade has been fielding questions the past couple of hours.
Porter interlaces our fingers as he stands beside me, as if to tell me we’re in this together. When I showed up at the foundation, I expected him to tell me to fuck off, and then I’d have to watch him leave again. But here he is, wanting to stay, to stop running, and I plan to show him every day how grateful I am.
“Somehow I knew Storm wasn’t the only thing you were trying to ride,” Bulldog teases, and some of the guys laugh nervously.
“This gonna be an issue?” I ask, looking each of the men in the eyes. “Because if it is, get it out now.”
Jeb clears his throat, eyes focused on our interlinked hands. “So you’re queer?”
“Bisexual,” I admit. “But I was afraid to come out, to disappoint my parents.”
Big Jimmy shrugs. “Makes sense. You got a lot riding on your shoulders ’round here.”
“I woulda taken up for you. You’ve been a good boss,” Bulldog says, and I want to hug him for that.
“Hear, hear,” Wade says. “And it’s about damn time. I’m happy for you boys.”
