Read Uncle for Free Online

out there where he can watch the deer from a distance."
    Evan didn't miss the way Travis's gaze traveled over his body. It caused his own to stir and once again he had to remind himself why he was here. "Okay then. I'm off at four most days. We could plan something." Evan looked out over Travis's shoulder. "You grew up out here?"
    "Yeah. My parents ran the ranch up until they died. My sister was off and married and didn't want the place so it came to me. I couldn't leave it anyway. I love it here."
    "I can understand why, and I've only been here an hour."
    "Uncle Travis, look. I have red hands." Jason came running out holding his hands up. "Jake said it would wear off, but I kinda like it."
    Travis bent and lifted Jason up, setting him on the top of the fence and wrapping an arm around his waist. "You look like your wearing gloves."
    Jason giggled. "I know. Isn't it cool?"
    "Enjoy it while you can. It won't last but a day or two." Travis smiled at Evan. "Guess I should be glad it wasn't purple or something."
    It was nice seeing someone encourage the boy. Most the time in his job, parents would have been upset at the child for getting covered in paint like that. Evan admired Travis for the way he had handled things.
    "Evan is going to go riding with us one night, is that okay with you?" Travis asked as Tiko pressed his head between the two and Jason turned carefully to pet him.
    "Yeah." He glanced at Evan. "Are you Uncle Travis's boyfriend?"
    Evan watched as Travis stiffened and stared at the young boy in shock.
    "No." Evan laughed. "I'm just a friend."
    Travis coughed and glanced at Evan, looking a bit embarrassed. "I don't have a boyfriend right now. Did someone tell you I did?"
    Jason nodded. "Grandma. She said you had a lot of sick boyfriends and I should stay away from them or I might get sick, too."
    Evan felt the jab to his stomach and knew if he felt it, Travis was feeling it even worse. He watched as Travis's hands tightened on the bar he was holding and his jaw tensed.
    "Your grandma was wrong." Travis looked angry enough to spit nails, but his voice remained calm as he spoke to Jason.
    "Well Evan doesn't look sick, maybe he could be your boyfriend."
    Evan smiled and looked down at his feet, almost afraid to see Travis's expression, but curiosity won out and he glanced up to find Travis staring at him. The two held eye-contact for a moment then Travis turned away.
    "I'm sure that Evan would make a great boyfriend. But he and I just met and we are just friends." Travis smiled at Evan and mouthed "Sorry."
    Evan grinned back and shook his head. "It's okay."
    "Well mommy and daddy were just friends before they got married." Jason looked at the two of them.
    Evan shifted and tried to hide his smile.
    "That is true." Travis shrugged his shoulders. "But I'm not looking to get married, Jas. I have a ranch to run and you here with me now to keep me company."
    Jason glanced back and forth between the two men, and then back at the horse. "If you say so, but mommy said someday you would find a boyfriend and be happy just like her and daddy."
    "And someday I will, Jas. Just not today." Travis lifted Jason down off the fence. "Why don't you go get a bucket of grain and bring it out for the horses?"
    Jason ran off without another word and Travis turned to Evan. "I'm sorry about that. I had no idea he even knew I was gay. My sister must have explained it to him. As for the other part… I won't apologize for his grandparents, but I do apologize you had to hear that." Travis shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked at the dirt under his boot.
    "It's okay. You can't help what kids say, especially if someone else is giving them the information. He seems to be okay with the fact you're gay. And it's probably a good thing you know about the sick part so when you do date, he isn't scared."
    Travis nodded sadly. "I can't believe they would tell him that. I mean who tells a six year old that kind of stuff?"
    Evan reached out and ran his