Page 71 of Stable Hand

I tried to speak. Nothing. My mouth flapped mutely.

“Jensen?”

“I’m sorry,” I managed. “He said you knew. He told us it was okay with you.” This assertion sounded lame and unlikely to my ears now.

“Luke,” Adam said, his voice quieter but more threatening. “Put some fucking clothes on and explain yourself.”

I heard a sniffling sound and looked up to see Noah huddled against the headboard. I forgot my own nudity and crawled over to embrace the man, covering him and holding him.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault,” I said.

“No, this isn’t Noah’s fault. And I’m sure this isn’t your fault either, Jensen. I’m sure I know exactly whose fault this is.”

I saw Luke pulling his shorts on lazily, not hastily like I would in his place, facing the wrath of this older and bigger man.

“For fuck’s sake, Luke. Are you trying to get thrown out of this place?”

“Your bedroom?”

“No, the BCR, you idiot. Are you testing me or something?”

“Fuck no. I wanted some action, and this was the best place to get some. You do realize there are only single beds at the bunkhouse? And I’m sick of fucking in the showers.”

Adam stared at Luke for a moment like he wanted to kill him. Then he took a deep breath and turned to Noah and me. “I’m going downstairs. Get dressed and come down. I need to talk to both of you.”

“What about me?” Luke asked.

“You stay right the fuck here until I come back. And if I come back to you jerking off all over my pillow, I will kick you off this ranch.”

“No worries. The condom was pretty fucking full. I’m done for a while.”

“Oh, you are done for a long while, Luke. Do you know what Kamal is going to say when I tell him?”

For the first time, Luke looked worried.

Adam nodded. “He’s going to rub his hands together with glee and say “Oh goody,” and you know it.

“Fuck,” Luke said.

“Downstairs,” Adam said to Noah and me. “I’ll give you five minutes but not a second longer.”

He left, closing the door and heading briskly down the hall.

“He’ll calm down,” Luke muttered. “He’s jealous.”

“He’s not jealous. He’s furious,” I said, pulling on my pants. “I can’t believe you lied to me. I can’t believe you lied to him.” I nodded to Noah, who was sniffling back his tears as he dressed with trembling hands.

“God, you’re so naive,” Luke said. “I can’t believe you trusted me.”

I glared at him. “Why wouldn’t I trust you? Except for this escapade, you’ve been nothing but nice to me.”

“You have a weird concept of nice, cowboy.”

I nodded, stepping forward and snatching my hat off Luke’s head. “Maybe so. But I was really starting to like you, Luke. I mean, really starting to like you. And now you’ve gone and fucked it up.”

Luke nodded. “Yeah, well, fucking things up is what I do. Get used to it.”

He seemed so disappointed in himself, but I didn’t care.