The Lone Rancher by Andrew Grey

Author:Andrew Grey [Grey, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63476-913-6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“ARE you going to Dallas this weekend?” his mother asked as she carried a basket of dirty laundry down the hallway.

“Yes. But I think this will be the last time for a while.”

His mom shook her head. “I’d think if you spent so much time with these friends that you’d be a little less chipper about not seeing them as much any longer.”

He should have known his mother would notice just about everything. “Things have changed. I don’t think I need to spend as much time down there.” He tried to keep the relief out of his voice. She needed to think everything was normal, even though he was so filled with relief he could barely stand it. The pressing bills were paid, he had some extra money in the bank, and Saturday was the last time he’d need to dance in front of strangers.

“So does this mean that you’ve found a reason to stay here instead of going to Dallas?” A smile curved her pink-lipsticked mouth. “Is it too much to hope that you’ve met a girl here in town and that you’re going to settle down here?”

“Is that what this is all about? You think I’m not settled here and that if I get married, I’ll be more likely to stay?”

She set down the basket. “I just want you to be happy.”

Aubrey noticed the way she found the wallpaper behind him interesting. “Mom.”

“Well, you left and only came back when we were in trouble.” She sniffled. “Oh, I told myself I wasn’t going to do this. Your father and I can’t keep up the ranch on our own. The house…. It’s more than I can take care of any longer.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s dust under the beds, and if you look under the living room furniture…. I used to be able to really clean the house and cook, do the laundry. When was the last time you weren’t the first one up?”

“So you sleep later—”

“I’m getting old.” She made it sound like it was the end of everything.

“Yes, you are. And that means you should be cleaning less and that you and Dad should go out to eat a little more. Maybe take a trip, just the two of you.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere. This is home. But I…. You need to be taken care of so if something happens to your father and me…. So you won’t be alone. Life is long if you don’t have someone who cares.”

“Mom. I’m not going to be alone, and you don’t need to push people at me. I have friends, and I’ll find someone. Just worry less about me and enjoy your life. That’s what’s important to me and why I came back to help you.” The thought of his mom and dad being thrown out of their home still worried him.

“I’ll try.”

“Okay. And if you’re worried about the housecleaning, maybe in a few months we can get someone in to help you.” Aubrey knew how that would go over, and he wasn’t disappointed.

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