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Page 21 of Captivated (Salvation #3)

Chapter Nineteen

Nate was glad Zeeb had suggested walking up to the house together.

The thought of meeting everyone on his own was way too daunting.

As they followed the path that climbed from the ranch, his heartbeat quickened, but he wasn’t about to turn around and go back, not when he’d gotten this far.

The delicious smells filling his nostrils were enough of an incentive.

That’s because you skipped lunch because of this.

“They’re good people,” Zeeb remarked as they strolled. “Most open bunch of guys I’ve ever worked with, that’s for damn sure. An’ while they have their rough edges, most of these guys wear their hearts on their sleeves.”

Nate chuckled. “You do know you’re contradicting everything I’ve ever thought about cowboys, don’t you?”

Zeeb smiled. “I told ya, this place ain’t like any other ranch I’ve worked on. Salvation’s more than just a place—it’s a state of mind.”

Every time I think I have Zeeb pegged, he goes and says something that removes another layer, and I find there’s even more of him to discover.

Zeeb glanced at the tied bunch of wildflowers in Nate’s hand. “You find those in the meadow?”

Nate nodded. “I don’t have a gift for Diana, but I didn’t want to turn up empty-handed.”

Zeeb’s expression of approval told Nate he’d done the right thing.

They reached the top, and Nate got a better look at the house. It had the appearance of a grand log cabin. To the right was a garden, something he hadn’t expected, and its beds were filled with shrubs and flowers.

Nate smiled. “Who has the green thumb?”

An older bald man in a plain blue shirt and jeans smiled. “That would be my mom. This was her garden.” He held out a hand. “I’m Robert Thorston, and you must be Nate.”

Nate shook. “I know your name, sir. My dad has mentioned you more than once.”

Robert smiled. “Derek and I have spent quite a few evenings on this porch, putting the world to rights.”

Nate let out another chuckle. “That sounds like my dad.” Inside, he was brimming with pride.

I can do this.

“I won’t do all the introductions, because you won’t remember them all, so I’ll just point and fire off names.”

Nate gave Robert a grateful smile. “Thank you.” Then he spied the only woman present, so he figured that was Diana. She was casually dressed in a shirt and jeans, and she was laughing with one of the two people Nate recognized, the guy who’d stopped by the cabin. Sol? Was that his name?

“If you’ll excuse me, sir.” Nate summoned up his courage, walked over to them, and held out the bunch of flowers. “For you. Happy birthday.”

Diana gave a broad smile. “Why, thank you.” She turned them in her hands. “They’re beautiful. I’d better go find some water.”

“I’ll do that,” Sol told her. “You stay with your guests.” He took the flowers and headed toward the patio doors.

Diana returned her attention to Nate. “Thank you for coming. Please, help yourself to something to drink. And I hope you’re hungry. Matt has outdone himself.”

Nate smiled. “Zeeb’s been teasing me with all the food Matt’s prepared.” He intended grabbing a plateful, then finding a quiet corner where he could sit, eat, drink, and watch the proceedings from a safe distance.

“And speaking of which, I’d be quick if I were you,” Zeeb observed. “Vultures an’ locusts have nothing on these guys when it comes to a cookout.”

Diana laughed. “And Zeeb should know. He’s usually one of the chief vultures.”

Zeeb flushed. His hand was at Nate’s back, guiding him toward the food tables, and Nate was thankful for the connection.

“How you doin’?” Zeeb asked in a low voice.

“I’m doing just fine.” And he was. Nate was calmer than he’d anticipated, and while he might not last the whole afternoon and evening, he was there, among strangers, and he wasn’t shaking like a leaf.

“No, you’re doing great ,” Zeeb affirmed. He pointed to the farthest corner of the yard. “There’s two empty chairs. Wanna sit there?”

Nate nodded. “After I’ve gotten something to eat.” The aromas were playing havoc with his senses. His initial exhilaration hadn’t died, and he kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I really can do this.

Dad was going to be so proud, he’d probably burst.

His appetite waning, Nate glanced at the guests seated around the yard. It was easy to tell the ranch hands from the guests. The cowboys had a weathered look about them, their faces tanned, their arms too. They chatted and laughed, and Nate loved their camaraderie.

Zeeb was doing a fair impression of a social butterfly, circulating, joining in the conversations, and rejoining Nate every ten minutes or so to make sure he was still doing okay before moving once more.

Nate was grateful for the chance to be left alone. He was on the receiving end of cheerful nods from Paul and the others, and he did his best to remember their names.

What he loved was watching Robert and his partner Toby, and Sol with his partner Butch.

They seem so comfortable in their own skins.

Nate didn’t miss the small displays of affection: the way Toby stroked Robert’s nape, an almost constant connection; the way Butch leaned in to Sol every now and then, as if he didn’t give a damn who saw him; and the way both couples gazed at each other, as if no one else existed in that moment.

Nate had only ever known one LGBTQ couple. They’d worn that same expression, their eyes had shone with the same light Nate now witnessed.

So that’s what love looks like.

The three guests sat together, talking among themselves, occasionally interacting with some of the hands.

Then Nate recalled Zeeb telling him they’d arrived the previous day, so maybe they didn’t feel at ease yet.

Judging by the glances they gave Robert and Toby, none of them had a problem with seeing guys in love.

I don’t think they’d last long around here if they did.

Two of the guests appeared to be embroiled in a deep conversation. Both wore frowns, their voices rising now and then. Whatever they were discussing was obviously not good.

Nate’s natural curiosity was aroused, and he tried to catch words here and there.

The older of the guests grimaced. “Look, I’m not gay, but that doesn’t mean I agree with it. I think it’s cruel and unnecessary. Hell, I’ll go further than that. It’s nothing short of torture.”

Nate stilled. What on earth?

The guest in the red shirt sighed. “I’m with you on this, but that doesn’t change the fact that it still goes on.”

The older guest snorted. “Not in my state, it doesn’t. It was banned nine years ago, thank God. Well, for minors, at least.”

“Then the LGBTQ population of Oregon can count themselves lucky. It’s still happening in mine.”

Nate froze, every ounce of his attention locked onto their discussion.

“Where are you from again?”

“Nebraska.”

“What are you two talking about?” That was Teague, the ranch foreman. “Because it sounds way too heavy a subject for a party.”

The older guest gave Teague an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry. You’re right, by the way. It isn’t a topic for such a beautiful day. But I read something this morning that got me all riled up, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

“What did you read, Dave?” That was Walt, who seemed an easygoing kind of guy.

Dave’s face clouded over. “I was looking at the news from my hometown. A guy in his twenties committed suicide.” By now, the hands had drifted over to where Dave and the other two guests sat.

“That’s awful,” Robert commented. “Did you know him?”

Dave nodded. “And that’s the problem. I know more about the circumstances than the media is reporting.

Not that they’re reporting much beyond the bare details.

” His face contorted. “Mark was a great kid. I’ve known him since he was maybe six or seven.

He was such a happy little boy. And I liked the Omerods, but they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

What they did to that sweet boy…” He swallowed, then apologized to Diana.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to ruin a great birthday celebration, but this really got to me. ”

Nate had heard enough. Despite the sun’s warmth, his skin felt like ice. He stood and went over to Zeeb.

“If it’s okay with you, I’m going to go back to the cabin.”

Zeeb studied him. “You’re not okay, are you? Was this a bad idea?”

“I… I just need to get out of here.” Nate stumbled across the yard, heading for the path. He couldn’t be around anyone, not until he had the chance to go online.

Please, don’t let it be Mark.

Except he knew deep down the chances of it being a coincidence were remote. Mark Omerod, from Oregon? Okay, Oregon was a big state, and maybe Omerod was a common name, but the earlier part of the conversation had led Nate in a direction he really didn’t want to go.

He searched his memory. Where did he say he was from? Ontario? That was right on the border, maybe less than an hour from Boise.

That made it eight or nine hours’ drive from Salvation.

Wait. Check it out first before you do something rash.

By the time he got behind the wheel of his car, he was a mess.

He said he wanted to go home.

Mark would’ve done anything to go home.

Even lie to them.

His heart pounding, Nate followed the track back to the cabin, all the while praying to be wrong. He went into the cabin, grabbed his phone from where he’d left it charging, and typed in the search engine.

A minute later, he was shaking uncontrollably, and he made a dash for the bathroom where he threw up everything he’d just eaten. Nate rinsed his mouth, washed his face in cold water, and stared at his reflection, his face pale, flecks of red under his dull eyes.

They did this. They fucking did this.

Nate was going to make sure they knew that.

Zeeb couldn’t shake the feeling he’d missed something.

He seemed fine. He looked calm.

What the fuck happened?

Robert laid his hand on Zeeb’s arm. “You know it might be too much for him, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. I even told him he could leave whenever he wanted. It’s just…” Zeeb stared down at the ranch. “Maybe I should go see how he is.” Or at least send him a message.

Robert shook his head. “Give him some space. He might want to be alone right now. Leave it until the morning.” He paused. “He’ll be okay.”

Zeeb’s gut was telling him a different story.

It was also telling him he wouldn’t feel right until he knew Nate was okay.