Free Hay and Heartbreak by Bailey Bradford Page A

sitting at the table or in the living area, or better yet, in his bed, with longer hair, the soft strands spread out on the pillow—
    “Hector? Is something wrong?” Dan’s question snapped Hector out of his fantasy.
    “Yeah, just thinking about where I’m going to take you,” Hector said. “First off, we’re going to my room to get you a hat. Can’t have you burning. Probably ought to lend you one of my jackets, too.”
    “I’ll look like a dumbass in a cowboy hat,” Dan grumbled, following Hector out of the door. “But I’d be pleased to borrow a jacket.” He untucked his shirt and tugged it down over his cock.
    “You’ll look just fine with a cowboy hat on,” Hector argued.
    Frankie stepped out of his and Duke’s room.
    Hector bit back a groan. He wasn’t in the mood for an inquisition. All he wanted to do was get Dan out of there and talk to the man for a bit without everyone listening in, see how he handled being on a horse, and show him the beautiful Montana scenery. Hector intended to get to know him, then get to know him in a physical way. His heart pounded just thinking about it. His dick was still semi-erect and unlike Dan, he hadn’t bothered to hide that fact.
    “You two have fun,” Frankie said. The smile he gave them was genuine. “Duke and I are probably going to call it an early night. Thanks for agreeing to take him to his checkup tomorrow, Dan.”
    “Sure thing. I don’t mind at all.” Dan nodded at Frankie, then Frankie returned to his room.
    Hector didn’t want to risk any more run-ins with nosy cowpokes. He hurried Dan along and got him a jacket and a black felt hat that Hector had put away for a special occasion. It made Dan’s gray eyes appear lighter, almost pale silver instead. “Looks good on you, bub.”
    Dan didn’t even check himself in the mirror. He just murmured, “Thanks,” and followed Hector outside, ignoring the looks from the guys in the living area.
    Hector ignored them, too, except for Ramsey, who leered at him. Him, Hector flipped off, much to Ramsey’s amusement.
    Outside, he caught hold of Dan by the elbow, just to touch him. “So have you ever ridden?”
    “Ages ago, when I was a kid,” Dan said. “I wasn’t— The horse didn’t have a saddle on, and it was at some other kid’s birthday party. They loaded a bunch of us on that poor pony, with me in the front, and when the horse decided to nibble on some grass, I went sliding down its neck and landed on the ground. That’s the sum of my horse riding experience.”
    Hector got a good laugh out of that, and he liked the way Dan’s eyes gleamed when he smiled crookedly in return. “Well, you’ll be on a saddled horse, and I reckon you’ll keep upright instead of sliding down ol’ Maisy’s neck. She’s a good girl, surefooted and gentle. You’ll like her.”
    Dan inhaled slowly as he turned his head to look in the direction where the mountains stretched to the horizon. “Can people hike up those?”
    “Sure enough can,” Hector replied. “Do you like to hike?” He preferred riding, himself—horse, ATV, truck.
    “I think I’d like to try it,” Dan answered. He sighed and stopped outside the barn.
    Hector’s gut clenched when Dan stared down for a full minute. “What’s wrong?” he forced out.
    Dan cleared his throat and touched the scar on his forehead. “I—I don’t know what’s going on here.”
    “We’re just going for a ride, maybe fool around if you’re interested,” Hector said, hoping he was giving the right answer. At least it was an honest one. “I’m not proposing marriage or anything like that, Dan. Just looking to enjoy some time with you.”
    Dan canted his head, but the shadow from the hat’s brim hid most of his face. “Okay. I just don’t know what you’re expecting other than sex, or if you’re expecting anything other than sex.”
    “I don’t expect anything, not even sex,” Hector protested. “I want to take you out and show you around the