Rory Brown grew up in care but found a home, friendship, and a much-needed sense of security working on the Double J ranch. As far as Rory is concerned, fellow cowboy, Zane Fox, is perfect. Zane is strong but gentle, kind, big, ruggedly handsome ... and straight. Rory works alongside Zane, eats alongside Zane, and when an ice storm causes a power outage, he sleeps alongside Zane ... for warmth. Inhibitions lowered after getting drunk on his twenty-first birthday, Rory Kisses Zane and confesses his feelings for the man. The next day, when Rory learns his father is dying, although estranged from the man, Rory feels obligated to see him one last time. Zane follows Rory to Kansas and confesses he has feelings for Rory, too. After learning his father has died, Rory and Zane set off for home in Zane's old truck. However, bad weather and a mechanical breakdown mean they have to hole up in a guesthouse. Rory doesn't mind, it gives him a chance to explore things with his hunky new boyfriend. And there's a lot of Zane to explore. Life on the ranch is little short of idyllic, Zane is everything and more Rory could want in a lover, protector, and friend. A tiny part of Rory knows he should brace himself for if/when the other shoe -- or cowboy boot -- drops. Rory is thrown when evidence of Zane's heterosexual past reveals itself, leaving him totally devastated. Are Zane's feet made of clay, or can he redeem himself and once again become Rory's rock?

Rory's Rock

“She said she works for the Department of Corrections but she wouldn’t give me any further details other than what I wrote down.”


Rory went cold. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. Why would Garry or someone on his behalf be calling him after so long? He tried to examine how he felt, although that was a pointless exercise, given he didn’t know why the prison was calling.


“She did say it was important,” Barry added.


Important or not, Rory wasn’t sure he wanted to return the call. He’d long ago pushed Garry Brown out of his life and didn’t think he wanted the man to re-enter it.


Rory had to admire Barry for not peppering him with questions about why someone from such a department would be calling him. Maybe Zane had already told Barry about his father? But he rejected that notion as soon as he thought of it.


Rory moistened his dry lips. “You remember I told you my mom was dead?”


“My father is serving a life sentence in Kansas for her murder.”


Chapter 30