Read Long Tall Drink for Free Online Page A

campfire—relaxed and laughing, genuine and straightforward—had a way of putting Travis at ease, as if he’d always been here. They’d befriended him quickly and easily, made him feel like he belonged. It was a rare feeling, and one he was afraid to get too comfortable with.
    Good things never lasted. The bottom always dropped out, and he was the one who always paid the price.
    Jesse sat on the log bench beside Travis, nervous and fidgety. He kept glancing at Travis with awe, excitement, and that blatant flare of desire in his guileless gray-blue eyes. Clay sat on Jesse’s other side, and Ross shared the next log bench with a cooler of beer. The fire crackled and popped. Red embers rose to twine with bright stars in a swirling, lackadaisical dance.
    Travis observed how the men interacted with one another as they regaled him with their adventures on Ford Creek. The other two treated Jesse like a kid brother. Both seemed genuinely fond of the young man. Not that it was a hard thing to do. Travis had to admit the kid was instantly likeable. Jesse’s best friend Clay was watchful of him. The young cowboy may come off as an immature clown to most, but it was hard to miss Clay’s astute observance, like an ever-faithful guard dog. The kid was smarter than he let on, and Travis was grateful Jesse had a friend like him in his corner. Especially after the little run-in with the kid’s father at dinner that first night on Ford Creek. And now discovering that the kid was gay, with a hot-tempered, homophobe dad, Travis’s own protective instincts had flared.
    A brief memory of the first time life had shot him down rose to the surface. He took a solid draught of his beer and pushed it away.
    “Well. That’s it for me.” Ross stood and dropped his empty bottle into the cooler with a sharp clink . “This old man can’t keep up with you young bucks anymore.”
    “Whatever, Ross,” Clay said. “You still kick my ass at arm wrestling.”
    Ross winked. “That’s because I have a secret family maneuver.”
    “One of these days I’ll get it out of you,” Clay teased.
    “Taking it to the grave, boy.” Ross laughed and headed for his cabin with a wave over his shoulder.
    Clay chugged back the last of his beer, exchanged a look with Jesse, and stood up.
    “I’m calling it too. Don’t want Dot giving me shit for being late for breakfast again.” He clapped Jesse on the back. “Later, dude.”
    “Later,” Jesse said.
    “Make sure Cinderella gets home before curfew,” Clay said to Travis.
    “Shut. Up.” Jesse spluttered and smacked Clay on the thigh. He laughed and knocked Jesse’s hat from his head, then sauntered off.
    Silence fell around the campfire as Jesse retrieved his hat, dusted it off against his knee, and settled it back on his head. Travis waited for Jesse to bring up what he knew was coming. It didn’t take long.
    “Can I ask you a personal question, Travis?” Jesse asked timidly, worship and lust in his eyes.
    Travis shrugged his shoulders.
    Jesse cleared his throat, squared his shoulders, and sat up straighter. “Those rumors my dad was talking about the other night…”
    Travis regarded the kid for a moment. He didn’t make a habit of outing himself to many people, but it seemed apparent Jesse needed some guidance, support, someone to turn to. Still, he held back saying anything definite.
    “Anyone else know?” Travis asked, using the same gentle and assuring tone he used with his horses. “Anyone you can talk to?”
    Jesse’s eyes widened, fear flashing through them.
    “It’s okay, kid. I understand.”
    Jesse relaxed, and his relieved exhale nearly drowned out the crackling fire. “Clay knows, but he’s straight. No one else.”
    Travis nodded. Poor kid thought he was alone. He had no idea Ray could have been there for him all along, if the stubborn man wasn’t so deeply closeted, and Jesse wasn’t so green.
    Travis found himself skipping back in time to another young man, this one