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

Once they’d reached the cemetery gates, Zane stopped and offered to let Rory go in alone if that’s what Rory wanted. Rory didn’t want.


“Hello, Mrs. Brown,” Zane said, taking off his hat and bowing his head. “And Ror’s pretty special to me, too. I promise I’ll do my best to look out for him.”


Rory was touched. Maybe they didn’t need to have that serious talk after all. He was being a coward for avoiding addressing the elephant that was Zane’s sexuality.


Rory thought about bringing up his father’s death at the graveside but decided not to. If there was a Hell, and Rory doubted there was—at times he had enough difficulty believing in a Heaven—then Garry deserved to be at the Devil’s mercy.


Chapter 42