Overview
Home is sweetest when it's the one person you can't live without.
Yancey MacCafferty and Juan Romanos fell in love when they were in their teens, but their families convinced them both to follow their dreams and explore the world before committing tothem in different directions. Yancey heads off to veterinarian school while Juan goes East to ride show horses. They stay in touch, and see each other as often as they can, but slowly they begin to drift apart.
Until Yancey graduates from college and decides it's time to claim Juan as his. He gets a job working at a clinic near where Juan trains and rides. They spend as much time together as their work allows, finding out that while they may still love each other, meshing their lives together will take a lot more work.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781781843222 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Totally Entwined Group |
| Publication date: | 08/16/2013 |
| Series: | Home , #5 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 137 |
| Sales rank: | 345,759 |
| File size: | 350 KB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Thirteen years later
"You have everything?"
After tossing his last bag into the back of his truck, Yancey turned to look at his brother. "Yes. The rest of my stuff you can ship out after I get settled."
Brody didn't look convinced. "Are you sure this is the right thing to do? You could open your own practice around here."
"I know, but Juan isn't here, and it's time we start being together. I still love him." Yancey shrugged. "I'm not sure if you and Tony hoped it was puppy love between us, or if you just wanted us both to see the world before we settled down with each other."
"Would it be wrong to say a little of both?" Brody smiled. "I think I was the one who hoped it was just puppy love, and for no other reason than that I didn't believe people could fall in love so early in life."
"I was the one who wanted you and Juan to taste the world outside our ranch before you chose each other. I could see how solid the two of you were with each other, but you needed to learn about the way things work out in the real world." Tony used air quotes when he said real.
Yancey laughed. "You probably didn't think it would lead to Juan living all the way across the country, doing something kind of foreign to you."
Tony slid his arm around Brody's waist, then leaned into his side. "If he were an investment banker, then that would be foreign to me. He rides horses, just in a fancier saddle than I do. So we're closer than you'd think."
"Does Juan know you're coming?" Brody still didn't look convinced that it was the best move on Yancey's part.
Yancey shook his head. "No. He only knows that I'm coming out for a visit. He doesn't have any clue that I'll be living a mile down the road from the stables he works at. I didn't want him to know until I could tell him face-to-face. I'm hoping he'll be pleasantly surprised."
"Knowing Juan, he'll go crazy about it. There's no doubt in my mind that Juan loves you just as much now as he did when he was sixteen."
Yancey wasn't so sure about that. There had been times when Juan had missed important events because he'd had to ride in different shows. Yancey tried to be supportive — Juan was building a career, and needed to put on a good showing in order to get clients. Yet lately, Yancey felt like Juan was putting his career before their relationship, and he didn't want that to happen.
That was why he'd chosen to buy out a retiring veterinarian whose practice was only a mile away from the barn Juan rode and worked at in Virginia. He wanted to be close to the man he loved so they could get reacquainted. He needed to learn who this new Juan was, and see if their love would be strong enough to survive the changes in both of them.
"You better head out. Don't want to throw you off schedule. Take your time though. There's no need to rush, right?" Brody hugged him tight.
"No. I'm leaving here early, and I told Dr Behan I would at his place in two weeks, so I have plenty of time. Might make a stop or two along the way." Yancey absorbed the strength in Brody's embrace.
All his life he'd looked up to his older brother, and relied on him to help make everything right in his world. Now it was time for Yancey to branch out on his own.
"You'll make sure to call us when you stop for the night, right?" Brody checked.
"I will call you every day, Brody, but you know what? You have to let me go at some point." Yancey smiled. "You do realise that from the time I was fifteen until I turned eighteen, I was pretty much on my own, and I took care of myself. I haven't lost that ability. Though this time I won't have to sell myself if I run out of money."
Brody grimaced at the reminder of what Yancey had been doing when they'd found each other again. Yancey knew his brother hated the idea of him being a rent boy, but it had been the only way Yancey had been able to make enough money to survive on the streets of Austin.
While Yancey wasn't particularly proud of what he'd done, he wasn't embarrassed by it. It was what it was, and he couldn't change the past. He'd learnt his lesson about running away.
Tony wrapped his arm around Brody's waist, giving Yancey a bright smile. "Don't worry, I have ways of keeping him distracted."
Yancey rolled his eyes. "I don't want to know any of those ways, Tony. I'm perfectly happy being ignorant of your sex life."
"You might get some good tips for when you and Juan get together," Tony joked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"For God's sake, can we not talk about this?" Brody looked put out by the whole conversation.
"I'm just saying that Brody won't be calling you every hour to find out how you're doing on your trip." Tony tightened his grip on Brody. "He's dealing with 'empty nest' syndrome, and you haven't even left the driveway."
Yancey opened his truck door, then slid behind the wheel and shut the door. He was excited to be setting off on his trip — he'd been looking forward to heading out east after he'd settled the deal with Dr Behan.
But really, it was finally getting to spend as much time with Juan as he wanted that got him thrilled to be starting out on the long drive.
"Hey, don't forget to stop and say goodbye to Les and Randy," Tony reminded him.
"I won't. It's not like you all won't be out to see Juan and me in a couple weeks. The Hampton Classic starts then, and I know Les is planning on visiting. He's looking for some more horses for Juan and Edward."
Brody nodded. "I think Les is determined to start another stables, but not out here."
"Do you think he'll want to move back?" Yancey couldn't see either Les or Randy living anywhere except Wyoming.
"No. He'll stay here because Randy wouldn't be happy anywhere else. And neither would Les by this time. Les just wants to keep his fingers in the horse world back where he came from. The jumping world lost a great rider when he got injured, but he can still train and spot good horse flesh when he sees it." Brody patted Yancey on the shoulder before backing away from the truck. "Drive safe, and we'll talk to you tonight at some point."
Yancey waved, then started the truck. He watched Brody and Tony walk back to the front porch of the ranch house. He studied them for a second when they turned back to watch him leave. Though it had been years since he'd first come to live with them, they didn't look old. And the love they felt for each other seemed to have grown stronger with each day. Brody and Tony were one of the examples of love that Yancey wanted to model his relationship on.
He pulled out of the driveway in the direction of Randy and Les' ranch. He hadn't needed Tony to tell him to go say goodbye. He considered them a second set of parents to him, even though Randy and he were close in age.
They had been the second couple to teach him what love was truly about — it didn't mean loving a person because they were perfect in looks or personality. They cared for each other, even though they knew every flaw the other man had. Randy dealt with Les' health limitations as if they were nothing special. Of course, Les treated them that way as well, though getting blinding headaches and muscle weakness from over working could screw up anyone's day.
Their ranch wasn't that far down the road, in Wyoming terms. He turned into their driveway to head up to the main house. Les and Randy would be out in the barns by now, but Yancey wanted to say goodbye to Margie. She had become the mother figure he'd never really had. She'd been Les' family housekeeper since before Les was born, and she'd moved to Wyoming with Les when he'd wanted to get away from his old life. Yancey knew he wasn't the only one who thought of her as a mother — Margie had become the matriarch of their entire family.
He shut the truck off, then climbed out. Hardin Ranch had become a second home for Yancey as well. He was going to miss the men who worked there along with Les and Randy. They all had taught him so much about being a man, and being a gay man as well.
"You heading out, Yancey?"
He spotted Randy strolling up from one of the barns. Yancey smiled as he nodded.
"Yes. I figured getting to Virginia early would be a good thing. It'll give me time to settle in before I start seeing patients."
Randy hugged him tight. "And going to see how much time you and Juan can spend in bed during the time in between?"
"Umm ... actually I'm not entirely sure if it'll happen right away or not." Yancey stepped back from Randy. "It's been a while since we've really spent a lot of time together, and I don't want to push him into being intimate if he's not feeling it, though if he is, we'll be spending as much time as possible in bed."
Chuckling, Randy led the way into the house. "I tell you what. You might want to take this all slow, but knowing Juan like I do, he'll overwhelm all your good intentions and have you in bed within the week."
"Do you really think he'd do that? Don't you think he'd rather wait and see if we're still each other's one and only?" Yancey asked.
"No. Juan's been waiting for you, Yancey. He's truly just been waiting for you to come and take him home," Randy informed him.
He wasn't sure Randy was right, but he didn't have a chance to say anything else because Margie came down the hallway from the kitchen. She held a basket, and Yancey knew it was packed with food for his trip. She wasn't about to let him go without a good meal.
"I'm going to miss you, Margie." He took the basket from her, then handed it to Randy before he hugged the older woman.
"I'll see you at Thanksgiving, I'm sure." Margie engulfed him in a tight embrace. "You're a good man, Yancey MacCafferty. You and Juan belong together, and you'll both remember that when you see each other again."
Yancey was glad everyone believed that, and he knew deep inside he felt the same way, but they'd been apart for a while. They'd experienced different things, and lived different lives since Juan had turned eighteen and left to ride horses on the coast.
"Tell Juan we said hello and we can't wait to see him at the Hampton Classic." Randy patted Yancey's shoulder.
"I will. Where's Les?" He didn't want to miss saying goodbye to him.
Randy gestured back outside. "He's at the barn with Sam. The gelding's sick, and I'm afraid he's not going to last much longer."
Yancey shot him a glare. "Why didn't anyone say something to me? I can check him over for you."
"Our regular vet's been out. It's nothing but age. Sam's twenty-three, and we're doing all we can to keep him comfortable. The vet says it can be any time now. So Les has been spending all his time with him." Randy sighed. "It's going to hit him hard when Sam goes."
"Of course, it is. Les and Sam have been though a lot together. I'll go out and tell him I'm leaving." Yancey gave both Margie and Randy another hug. "I'll call you when I get to Virginia and settled in."
"You better, or we'll start calling you every minute until you answer your phone. We have quite a few people who can call you," Randy warned him.
Yancey rolled his eyes as he left the house. He wandered down to the small barn set to one side of the buildings — it was the barn where the misfits stayed. Les had a habit of buying discarded horses, or animals seen as useless by others. He took them in, giving them a place to live out their lives in peace and comfort. Some even became useful, in their own way.
"Les," Yancey called out softly as he entered the barn.
Several horses hung their heads over their doors, watching as he walked down the aisle. He paused a few times, petting the curious animals on his way. Les peered out from the last stall, then waved at him.
Yancey joined Les, and his heart broke a little to see Les sitting on the floor with Sam's head in his lap. He crouched next to Les, resting his hand on the man's shoulder.
"I take it you're leaving," Les said in a quiet voice.
"Yes. I decided to head out early. Brody's shipping the rest of my stuff later in the week." He leant forward to press a kiss to Les' cheek. "I'm sorry about Sam."
Les' smile was full of sadness and love as he looked down at the brown horse lying so still in the hay. "We've been through a lot together. He's the reason I'm here. I can't let him die alone."
"I understand. Are you going to have a vet come out here? Or I can do it for you before I leave?"
Yancey had got a licence to practise veterinarian medicine in Wyoming before he'd ultimately decided to buy out Dr Behan in Virginia. Les looked at him.
"Thank you for the offer, Yancey, but Dr Alemadia is coming out tomorrow morning. Sam's not in any pain, and I wanted to have a little more time with him."
"I'd do it for you. You're family, Les, and I know exactly how much Sam means to you."
Les reached up to hug Yancey without jostling Sam's head. "Safe travels, Yancey. I know everyone's told you to call, so I'm not going to say anything more. We'll see you in a few weeks."
Yancey embraced Les, brushing another kiss over Les' cheek. "I'll check in when I get to my hotel tonight."
"Randy will let me know that you called."
After returning to his truck, Yancey climbed in and sat, staring out of the front window. He tried to decide if he should stay until tomorrow, just to be around for Les. As much as he wanted to do that, he knew Les wouldn't expect it of him and besides, the man probably wouldn't want to talk to anyone aside from Randy for hours afterwards.
He started his truck, then backed out. Once he was on the highway, he hit his hands-free phone set-up before dialling Juan's number.
"Hey, Yancey, how are you?" Juan's cheerful, deep voice came over the phone, and Yancey's heart skipped a beat.
"I'm doing well, Juan. Are you in the middle of something?" He didn't want to interrupt if Juan was getting ready to start a training session.
"No. Just got done with a round of fences. I'm going to be taking Jewels to the barn." Juan paused for a second before continuing, "Why? Are Tony and Brody all right?" "Yes, they're fine. I just wanted to let you know something, but it's information I can let you know later on, if you're busy." He didn't want Juan to worry about their family.
"Just a second."
Yancey heard Juan call to someone and he drove, not really paying attention to the noise coming from Juan's phone.
"Gave Jewels to Kenny to cool down and brush out for me." Juan grunted, and Yancey pictured him stretching that tall muscular body of his.
His cock stiffened, and Yancey swore silently. He didn't want to drive any length of time with an erection. It wasn't comfortable or fun, especially when he didn't have anyone around to help him take care of the problem.
"I wasn't sure if anyone had called to tell you, but Les is having Sam put down tomorrow."
"Shit!" Juan fell silent for a moment, then went on. "No one let me know. Sam that bad, huh?"
Yancey checked his mirror before he pulled into the other lane to pass a vehicle. "Yes. I guess his age finally caught up with him. Les is sitting with him now, and will probably spend the night out in the barn."
"Thanks for letting me know, Yancey. I'll make sure to give Les a call tonight, then maybe I'll send him something tomorrow." Juan inhaled sharply.
"Been a long day?" Yancey was reluctant to hang up.
They hadn't spoken in a day or two while Yancey was making his final plans to move. He didn't want to give anything away, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut.
"Yeah. Been up since five, and probably won't be to bed until after eleven tonight. We have a show this weekend, and I have to get some horses ready. We're taking a few novice riders and horses. It should be fun." Juan chuckled.
"Fun as in insanely hectic and exhausting?" Yancey suggested.
"Of course, but I wouldn't change it for the world. It's what I was born to do."
Juan was telling the truth, and Yancey wouldn't take that away from him. From the moment Juan had arrived at Tony's ranch, and met the horses on Les', he'd been bitten by the riding bug. Les had been more than willing to train Juan, then buy him some good horses to ride. Juan couldn't have found a better place to fulfil his dream.
"Like you were meant to be a vet, Yancey."
Yancey heard a voice come over the phone from Juan's side. He sighed, not wanting to let Juan go, but knowing Juan needed to get on with his day.
"I'll let you go. Can I call you tonight or are you going to be too busy?"
"I know it might seem like it, but I'm never too busy to talk to you. Definitely call me tonight. Gotta go." Juan hung up.
Yancey ended the call, then turned the volume up on his radio. He had several hundreds of miles to go before he could stop.
* * *
"Don't do it, kid."
Edward hid his smile as Scout jumped. He shook his head at the idiocy of the kid's parents to name him that.
"Don't do what?" Scout blinked, but his innocent gaze didn't fool Edward one bit.
"I've seen how you look at Juan." Before Scout could ask, Edward continued, "Like a heroin addict looking at his next fix. The man's not for you."
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Home Sweet Home"
by .
Copyright © 2013 T.A. Chase.
Excerpted by permission of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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