Fences and Freedom by Bailey Bradford

Author:Bailey Bradford [Bradford, Bailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“It’s chillier down here,” Barney said as he walked closer to Ramsey. He didn’t think he’d ever had a more perfect night. He had a boyfriend—a boyfriend!—who was caring and compassionate. Granted, Ramsey didn’t seem like he wanted to be either of those things sometimes, but Barney knew it was just because he was scared.

“The breeze off the water makes it colder,” Ramsey informed him. “We should have brought jackets.”

“I’d rather do this.” Barney let go of Ramsey’s hand and put his arm around the man. “Put your arm around my waist. No one is going to see us.”

“Wouldn’t care if they did.” Ramsey’s gruff reply melted Barney’s heart a little. He liked the way Ramsey’s arm felt holding him. Then again, he liked Ramsey, period. “You want to tell me about your day?”

Ramsey stiffened beside him.

Not a good sign. “You don’t have to answer.”

But Ramsey sighed, and some of that stiffness went out of him with his breath. “I don’t talk about myself. It’s weird, I guess.”

“Oooh, a secretive man,” Barney teased. “Like I haven’t noticed.”

“Smartass,” Ramsey groused. “Fine. You know, you haven’t ever asked about what happened to my cheek. Most people want to know right off the bat.”

Barney shrugged. “I’ll admit to being curious in a vague sort of way, but the fact is, the scar is there, and however it happened don’t change that. I don’t believe in digging in people’s business. I know what it’s like to have your private life slung around like mud in a pig pen.”

“People really did give you shit, huh?” Ramsey asked.

“Yep. I didn’t fight back much, either. Didn’t see the point, and I don’t like to carry anger around. It damages you more than the people you’re angry at.”

“You’re a smart man. I didn’t understand that until today.”

Barney stopped walking, halting Ramsey, too. He gave his boyfriend a playful glower. “You thought I was stupid up until today?”

“No,” Ramsey sputtered. “That’s not what I meant! I meant I didn’t get the whole anger thing.”

“That’s all right then.” Ramsey was irresistible with that slightly panicked look on his face. Barney kissed him, a quick, brash show of affection. “As long as you don’t think I’m an idiot.”

“Definitely not.” Ramsey didn’t speak until they’d walked for two or three more minutes. He stopped them by a picturesque spot on the path where the river was wide and rippling. The scent of the water was in the air. In the distance, pitch black against the moon and star-lightened sky, mountains loomed—majestic beauties that seemed to dominate the landscape.

“I love this view,” Ramsey whispered. “I’ve seen parts of this country and other countries that I thought were beautiful, but this beats them all.”

That little peek into Ramsey was tantalising. “You’ve worked at ranches in other countries? Or what? I don’t know if I could leave Montana, or Ashville, for that matter. Mom would be alone then.”

Ramsey was biting his lower lip, staring off towards the mountains.

“Ramsey?” Barney wasn’t sure what to do, but he settled for moving behind Ramsey and gently rubbing his shoulders.

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