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

“Boys!” Barry warned and got between them.


“Didn’t you see that Rory’s been carrying a torch for Big Z for months?” Jake asked, straightening his shirt. “And when Zane found out Rory had left for Kansas, he was off after him like his ass was on fire.”


“Uh, I suppose,” Jimmy said, although he didn’t look all that persuaded. Then he turned to Zane, his happy-go-lucky demeanor gone completely. “If you dump Rory to fuck a woman…” He mimed using a large pair of pliers “…I’ll fucking castrate you. We clear?”


Jimmy’s smile returned. “Okay then.” He approached Rory and pulled the still shocked man into a hug. “Real sorry to hear about your dad. But at least you got to see him one last time.”


“Uh, yeah.” Rory awkwardly returned the hug.


As soon as Jimmy let Rory go, he pulled Zane into a hug. Meanwhile Rory was enfolded in another hug, this one from Jake.


“Welcome back, Rory. If you need any more time off to grieve or, uh…Then just take it, okay?”


Chapter 63