Marcus was just passing through Texas when he met Kent. In his cowboy hat, low-riding jeans, and black boots, Kent looks like the type of guy Marcus desperately wants to love.<br><br>But two years later, he's discovered Kent is cold and distant, the quintessential American cowboy, and spends more time drunk than sober. Marcus can never predict his mood and blames himself for the flailing relationship.<br><br>Then, one day when Kent rides into town, Marcus finds a young runaway hiding in their barn. Luke is warm, loving, and quick to please ... everything Kent is not. Though the answer seems obvious, Marcus finds himself torn between the boy who demands his love and the man whose love he craves.

Cowboy

Digging through the dresser drawers to make


sure I have everything, I tell him, “Maybe we won’t take it all, I


don’t know. This is still sort of new to me.”


Far off I hear the slam of the screen door


when Kent comes into the house, heavy boots clomping on hardwood


floors, and before I can even think, the door to my room is kicked


in and Kent is there, glaring at me. His red face and chest make


him seem angrier than God in the Old Testament, he looks positively


livid,and my fear comes flooding back. “Marcus!” he barks,


my name in his voice, it almost brings me to my knees. But he


notices Luke, standing wide-eyed at the bed with my clothes in his


hands, and without another word Kent turns and storms from the


Luke and I exchange a worried glance. “What’s


he want?” I ask, as if he might know.


With a shrug, Luke looks at the open door,


the empty hall beyond. “Maybe you should go find out,” he tells


I don’t want to know. Kent’s still too damn


Chapter 61