Free A Prairie Dog's Love Song by Eli Easton Page A

down there at the park and wafts of music too. Ben suddenly realized—it was the night of the Christmas dance.
    His heart gave a miserable little thump like a dog too worn out to do more than shift its tail. He used to love the Christmas dance, all the decorations and the food, the music and the dancing. He danced with every girl in his class, and some of the older ladies too. He’d act all polite and gentlemanly, and they ate it up like cornbread and cream.
    It hurt bad knowing he wouldn’t be welcome there now, that people would stare and whisper. This was why he hadn’t wanted to come home. He couldn’t bear it. And he couldn’t bear seeing Joshua, not when Joshua had just walked away from him without even trying to change his mind.
    Ben had almost given in a dozen times in the past few weeks. He wasn’t as proud as he’d sounded that day, and his will was weak. Being Joshua’s dirty little secret was better than not having Joshua at all. But then there was the whole town’s opinion of him that kept him away. And besides, Ben didn’t think he could stand it if Joshua only wanted him as an occasional fuck buddy. He’d said he’d watched the videos. Maybe he just thought Ben was easy. Maybe it had just been sex after all, even if Ben’s heart wanted him to believe it was more.
    That’s when Ben saw the man on the horse coming down Main Street.
     
     
    J OSHUA HAD decked Valmont out with a soft blanket in Christmas red, a black collar with jingle bells, and red ribbons plaited in his tail and mane (that had been all Nora). Against the horse’s white hide, the red looked real festive. Joshua had decked himself out too, in a red button-down shirt under his heavy black wool coat and new jeans. He wore his best black cowboy hat.
    He was so nervous as he rode up to the bus station that he thought he was gonna expire. But when he saw Ben standing there, watching him approach with wide, confused eyes, a kind of peace took root inside him and helped still his nerves a little. Ben looked seven kinds of wonderful standing there in his canvas and sheepskin jacket and looking very unsure of himself. But when Joshua drew closer, he saw Ben accept that it was him, and he saw the look of happiness and want that came over Ben’s face, even if just for a moment.
    Joshua stopped Valmont with a light tug on the reins and swung himself down.
    He stood looking at Ben, and Ben looked at him.
    “Where’s Chet?” Ben asked.
    “Wanted to fetch ya myself,” Joshua said.
    “Why?”
    “Gonna take you to the dance,” Joshua said with calm certainty.
    Ben looked a little panicked and shook his head. “I can’t. I don’t wanna see anyone. They’ll all be lookin’ at me and…. I just can’t, Joshua.”
    Ben started to back away, but Joshua reached out and took his hand and held it firm.
    “Ben.”
    Ben took a deep breath and met Joshua’s eyes.
    “I missed ya. We all missed ya. Give us a chance.”
    Joshua didn’t know how Ben would answer. But he held Ben’s hand warm and sure and gazed into his eyes, trying to let his calm love and certainty shine through. Ben’s shoulders dropped as he relaxed a smidge.
    “You really think it’s okay?”
    “Yup.”
    “What about Chet?”
    “He’s there.” Joshua tilted his head toward the park.
    Ben took a deep breath. “Okay. But if it’s weird, I’m leavin’.” He started to walk toward the park, but Joshua didn’t release his hand.
    Joshua nodded at Valmont. “Said I’d come to fetch ya.”
    He tugged Ben toward the horse and then got up himself, not releasing Ben’s hand. He tugged again.
    Ben looked befuddled. “You want me to ride with ya?”
    “Yup.”
    Ben looked around nervously. “Ain’t that gonna look a little… queer?”
    Joshua laughed, suddenly giddy. He wasn’t sure why it seemed so funny, but it did. “Up, cowboy.”
    Maybe it was the big grin on Joshua’s face, but Ben relented and put his foot in the stirrup. He swung up to sit behind