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“Sorry! I’m Jovian Masseretti, and I need some help.”

“Well, I’m Lonnie Walton. This is my husband, Travis, and I’m inviting you inside, Jovian Masseretti.”

He was led inside a gorgeous living room, complete with a fireplace within a rock wall that went up the twenty-foot ceiling.

The sofas were light beige and leather, and the wood floors positively glowed with shining from being polished.

“Come, sit,” Travis Walton said and waved a hand to the sofas. “Would you like some coffee or tea or something?”

“No, thank you. I have to get back, so I’m sorry if the small talk will be little.”

They sat across from him, taking each other’s hand, like they were newlyweds. Lonnie asked, “Back to where?”

“I’m staying right now at this camp up north, about eighty miles from here. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“The camp? I’ve never been to one,” Travis said.

“This camp is…it’s for people, gay, queer, trans and all that, who don’t have a lot of community wherever they live. For six weeks, they get to have one, and they make friends, and me, well, I was sent there…it’s a long story, but everyone else, they need it. Understand?”

“Not a word,” Travis said, but Lonnie gently slapped his arm.

“Stop, Travis.”

“Well, did you?”

Lonnie ignored that and asked Jovian, “It’s a camp for people to connect. Kids?”

“No! No, these are all adults. I know that makes it less…I don’t know, but they’re all good people and it’s really sad.”

“What’s really sad, honey?”

“Oh! Well, they can’t pay the mortgage, and this church camp wants to pay off the note at the bank and take over the camp, so…none of the people there will have a place to go, even for a few weeks.”

Lonnie nodded and Travis said, “Okay, got that part. So…why are you coming to former club owners?”

“I can’t talk to the new owner of Chaps.”

They both sighed and nodded. Travis said, “Bueller. Armand Bueller is his name, and I’ve heard that a lot.

Former employees of ours that we’re still great friends with whom all still live in Denver.

Well, they’ve filled us in. I take it the employees still there or have been hired since run the place. ”

“I don’t know about all that, but for something like I’m thinking, I’d need permission or help to get it from the owner or the manager, and they’re both out of the picture until it will be too late.”

“When is too late?” Lonnie asked.

“Hold on, Lane,” Travis told his husband.

“We haven’t owned the place for years.” For Jovian, he explained, “When we lived in Denver, we owned Chaps, and we loved it. Great people, great times, but when we started having kids, we wanted to raise them here, which is our hometown. I don’t see how we can help. ”

“Gary, the bartender I know, his brother is the one running the camp. He’s a drag queen too.”

“Clitoris Starling,” Lonnie said with a chuckle. “She’s amazing, and True is too, her alter ego, so to speak.”

“Yes! So, you know! They’re good people. But, well, we were thinking about putting together a charity event for the camp at Chaps. I just need permission. I can do the rest. I think.”

Travis shrugged, but Lonnie threw a look at him. “Travis, you know this is something we’ve always done. Go call that ass, Bueller.”

“Me?”

“You know how to speak rich guy . If I call, I’ll yell at him.”

“You’re right. I should call.”

Travis got up and left them, so Lonnie moved over to the couch where Jovian sat. “You’re very sweet to want to help. The camp sounds like it’s a great thing for the community.”

“It is. I’m not usually like…charitable. I don’t even give to those Christmas buckets. But I have people who really care about this place that have come to mean a lot to me.”

Lonnie smiled warmly, and even in that empathetic smile, the guy was sexy. “That’s very sweet. Well, if the camp means so much to so many, we’d love to help. Anything we can do, besides calling Bueller, we will.”

“Thanks! Do you have…? Okay, I’m trying to learn to be less blunt and rude. But…”

“Are we rich?”

“Yes,” he breathed, relief flooding him.

“Travis is, and he always tells me we’re married so I am too, but it’s his money. I’m the town sheriff myself, but I can speak to Travis, and I’m sure he’d help.”

“Great! Okay, well, I’m going to do most of it, decorating and getting the word out. I have friends that do party promotions for their favorite DJs and stuff, so they can get in the crowds.”

“Wait, now, Jovian. Chaps is a private club, members only, unless Armand will okay it being open to the public for a night. I’d better go clarify that for Travis. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Not long after Lonnie left, the redheaded kid was back. “Hi,” he said. “Lane! He’s still here!” he yelled to someone.

An older boy, maybe eight or nine, came into the room, standing near his younger brother. “Sorry. He’s nosy.” He was the polar opposite of his brother, who was light-skinned and freckled. Lane had creamy tan skin and short, styled back hair.

“It’s okay. I’m Jovian.”

“I’m Lane Blacksnake Walton, and this is my brother, Dennis.”

“Nice to meet you both.”

Lonnie came back in and told the boys, “Daddy’s speaking with Jovian. Can you two go play in your rooms?”

“Sure, Daddy, but Uncle Dennis is coming to take us fishing soon,” Lane reminded Lonnie.

“I remember. Go get your old sneakers on and don’t forget to bring your jackets. It might get chilly.”

“Yes, Dad,” Lane groaned before the two left to head up the stairs.

“Sorry, they don’t see a lot of new people here. At their grandmother’s home, sure, but here, no.”

“They’re really cute.”

“Thank you. Their uncle is coming to get them soon, but they’ll be back by supper.” He sat again and told Jovian, “Okay, I spoke to Travis, and he’s on the phone with Armand now. So far, the one side of the call sounded positive.”

“Can I ask you to maybe not say anything to the camp leaders? I don’t want to bomb out and disappoint anyone. If we raise some, but not enough, I hoped to maybe find another place for the camp.”

“I’m sure you’ll raise it. The community of people that frequent Chaps, they’re generous.

My best friends adopted a sick little girl years ago.

She needed a bone marrow transplant, and it didn’t look like they’d ever find her a donor.

Some other friends of ours got every member of Manacle, the other club we owned, to come and get tested.

One was a match for her, and now she’s a beautiful girl of twelve, ready to become a teenager. ”

Damn tears that seem to spring to his eyes so easily lately. Well, they came. “That’s sweet!”

“Yes, so I know you’ll get the help they need, but I’ll respect your wishes. No one will tell a soul until it’s over.”

Travis came walking in and announced, “And whatever extra you need, if you don’t get enough, I’ll cover.”

Jovian just stared at him.

Lonnie told his husband, “I knew you’d say that.”

“Well, I’m paying for the open night already, so why not? Armand wouldn’t think of it until I said that.”

“I didn’t want you to have to…I mean, I would have tried to get that money!”

“Fifteen thousand? And I talked him down from thirty.”

“Th-thirty thousand for a night?”

“The club can make twice that on these special events. Not to mention the vendors, like Slutae, for the clothes, the juices at the bar, you name it, and on special nights, the private rooms are money grabbers. Usually they’re free, but not for these events.”

“Will the club keep all that?”

“No. He tried,” Travis said, laughing, but I got you a 50/50 cut.”

He was surprised, and so happy. “That’s amazing. Thank you, Travis, Lonnie!”

“The contract should be here soon. Please, stay for dinner. We can discuss more about the camp and when the contract comes to my email, I’ll print it and then you can sign it, and I’ll fax it back to Armand.”

Jovian thought of missing the class, of missing Cherokee, but this was too important to take a chance at not getting the contract signed right away. “Okay, yes, thank you.”

He had a wonderful time eating burgers and fries with the family, hearing their banter around the table. Lane was a very serious kid, always picking at his little brother for his lack of table manners.

When it was almost seven, the contract finally came into Travis’s email, and he printed it and Jovian signed it quickly after Travis assured it was what they discussed.

“You’re set for this weekend. Short notice, but I have some friends that could round up a bunch of people, too.”

That was when it hit him and hit him hard. The Survival Camp was next weekend. The last weekend of the camp, or so they thought. “This is great. I can’t thank you and Lonnie enough. I have to get back, though. Can you give my thanks to Lonnie?”

“Sure, he’s just giving Dennis a bath. I’ll tell him after he’s done cleaning the bathroom for the second time today.”

He made it back to the camp just before nine, and he knew Cherokee would be steaming mad. He walked up to the cabin right off, hating walking at night by himself, but his fear of Cherokee’s anger was more frightening to him than any bear or snake.

And, when he got to the cabin, he wished a bear had come and eaten him. He knocked, but the door was open, and Cherokee lounged on the couch, reading. He ignored Jovian completely.

“Hi,” he said timidly.

“There you are,” he mocked. “What the hell happened to you? I was worried.”

“Didn’t Alan tell you? I had an errand to run.”

“He told me, and he looked damn guilty when he did,” Cherokee said as he swung his feet to the floor and set the books down hard on the trunk that doubled as a coffee table. “What the hell is going on, Jovian?”

Jovian went to him, kneeling on the floor by his feet. “I swear, it was nothing bad.”

“Then tell me. You can’t take off in camp, Jovian.”

“I told my buddy I was going, and I left in my car.”

“I know. I looked. So, tell me what was so important that you missed class. The hike and camp is this weekend.”

“I know. I do know, Cherokee, but this was really important, and I can’t tell you what it was.”

Cherokee’s eyes stabbed into his. “Secrets? We’re barely together and you’re already keeping things from me?”

“Please, Cherokee. I swear, it’s nothing bad. I swear. It’s really important and…it’s something I’m trying to do to help someone. That’s all I can say.”

Cherokee’s face softened considerably. “Really?”

“Yes. I promise.”

Cherokee cupped his cheek gently. “I thought…well, for one that you wanted to get out of the survival camp. Then…well, my mind took me other places.”

“I’d never, ever, ever cheat on you. Cherokee, if you can’t tell the way I feel, then I must be better at being mysterious than you thought.”

“I know. I feel the same way. Come up here with me.”

“Gladly.”