Free Easton [Belt Buckle Ranch 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Olivia Black Page A

seen or spoken to Trent in almost a week. He couldn’t work on the ranch with only one good arm. So he just sat around doing absolutely nothing. It was starting to drive him crazy. He was so used to the hard work keeping his mind occupied. Without the manual labor, his thoughts were centered on Trent.
    His heart ached from missing the older man, right along with his arm and nose. Was it really over? Was their relationship really only a temporary sexual experience? Moisture filled his eyes, but he quickly blinked, pushing the emotion away as Jackson came outside and sat beside him on the porch swing.
    “Are you okay, man?” Jackson asked.
    Looking down at his cast, Easton took a sip of his beer before muttering, “Sure.”
    “You haven’t been acting like yourself for a while. You seem depressed. Do you want to talk about it?”
    “Not really.” He shook his head.
    “Are you in any pain?” he asked, and Easton shook his head. “Are you feeling homesick? Do you miss your grandma?” Jackson seemed genuinely concerned, but Easton didn’t have the courage to open up and talk about what was really bothering him, Trent. So he just nodded. “Why don’t you go visit her for a few days? We can take care of things around here.”
    “I can’t. We have to stay here at the ranch, remember?” Easton wasn’t about to ask Trent—William’s will executor—if he could leave the ranch for a while to go back to Oklahoma. The will stated that the five of them had to live and work at the ranch for a full year. There wasn’t any mention of breaks or vacations.
    “We’ll cover for you,” he said and Easton looked over at him. “If Trent comes to the ranch, we’ll make something up. He’ll never know you’re gone. Besides.” He shrugged. “He’s never come over here before to check up on us.”
    “Yeah,” he grumbled. “Sure, I’ll go back to Oklahoma for a bit.” It’s not like Trent will miss me anyway. He hasn’t even called to check on me or to even say hi. Lifting the bottle to his lips, Easton downed the contents, wishing the sorrow he felt would disappear.
    “I’ll help you pack while Wyatt calls the pilot.” Jackson stood up, a bright smile on his face. He held out his hand and Easton handed him his empty beer bottle, standing up. It was still hard to him to get used to only having one arm to use. “We’ll get you to Oklahoma in no time at all.”
    “I’d better call my grandma and let her know I’m on my way.”
    “Or you could surprise her?” Jackson suggested.
    Jackson and Wyatt worked as a well-oiled machine. Jackson helped him pack, while Wyatt called the pilot and set up a flight plan. He was out the door and on his way to the small airport in Telluride within a half hour. When he arrived, the pilot, Bruce Eckert, escorted him onto the private plane as if he were a celebrity and flew him to Oklahoma.
    Easton only had a duffle bag thrown over his shoulder as he stepped off the plane. He hadn’t been interested in packing a whole lot so he only brought a few necessities—toiletries, two pairs of jeans, and a few shirts. He didn’t know how long he’d be staying, but hoped a few days away from the ranch and some distance from Trent’s close proximity would make him feel like his old self once again. If only it was possible to get Trent removed from his heart, he would be able to heal and move forward.
    Walking toward the terminal, Easton couldn’t help but smile at the familiar surroundings. The weather had changed only slightly. Hot summer days, with pockets of major drought turning into warm fall afternoons. He was glad to be back, even if it was only for a short visit. He wanted to hug his grandma and feel her comforting arms around him.
    Easton moved through the airport, making his way toward the rental car desk. He really wished he could walk outside and get his truck, but after being in Colorado for a couple weeks, his grandmother sent one of the neighbors to pick it up.
    It