Ranch hand Bill Webster has worked on the Lazy W. for ten years, and for most of that time he’s been in a relationship with foreman Rusty Redfern. Lately Rusty has been slowing down. Although Bill likes the gentler, more romantic side to his lover, he can’t help missing the old Rusty who was always bursting with energy. When Rusty needs a pacemaker, Bill has to use all his powers of persuasion to get Rusty to the hospital. There Bill waits and worries while Rusty is in surgery, remembering happier times when they first met. How does each man adapt to the various changes of pace in their lives and relationship?

A Change of Pace

“We fought, he stormed out of the cottage, I heard his murdercycle start up and go down the driveway. Couple hours later the cops were at the door to the big house.” Rusty swallowed and Bill squeezed his hand. “Seems a semi didn’t stop at a light and…Freddie was dead on arrival at the hospital.”


“So I can’t…won’t go through that again.”


Bill slipped off the bales of straw and knelt between Rusty’s legs. “I’m not Freddie. Please, Rusty. Give me a chance. Hell, I’ll even sell the fucking bike. You’re way more important to me than a hunk of metal.”


Rusty looked down at him, but remained silent.


Bill tried for humor. “And I thought you thought I looked hot in my leathers. I saw you checking me out the other day.”


“I did. You are hot, whatever you wear. But you’d be cold lying dead on a mortuary slab.”


“Code blue!” The hospital’s public address system blared out. “Room five-sixteen!”


Chapter 6