Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
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.”
The men seem confused by that, so I feel the need to explain.
“I’ve loved Porter Dixon my whole life.”
Porter clenches my hand. “Well, I am irresistible.”
I huff out a laugh. “We lost each other once, but we found our way back. And I don’t plan on losing him again.”
“You won’t,” Porter whispers, then turns to the men. “Been running away my whole life but always knew this is where I belong, with Bishop. We don’t need your support to go on loving each other, but it sure would mean a lot to have it.”
Bulldog, Big Jimmy, and a couple of the grooms step forward to clap us on the back.
Jeb and Otis stay back, a look passing between them.
When it grows tense again, I motion to the pair. “Like I said, get it all out now.”
Otis nods. “Is it true, the other thing Randy told us?”
I try not to flinch. “What exactly did he tell you?”
Jeb looks over his shoulder, maybe to make sure my parents aren’t anywhere around. “That the Sullivans stole the ranch from the Dixons.”
“It’s true.” I blow out a breath. “I found out just this morning.”
“It happened over a hundred years ago between our great-grandfathers,” Porter clarifies. “Turns out the agreement between them wasn’t even binding.”