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.You know that, right? I mean, I’ve dumped my whole life’s story on you, so….” He shrugged, and Jake gave him a little smile.“Well, it’s just that, hmmm, I don’t want to offend you or anything, but we got kind of carried away a couple of times today, and I guess we weren’t being very safe and….”Ryan grinned as Jake struggled for words.He put down the dish he was drying and dried off Jake’s hands before wrapping his arms around his waist and hugging him tight.“Jake, I haven’t been with anyone in almost a year, and I’ve been tested twice since then.I’m clean, and I promise you, if I would have had any doubts about that, it never would have happened.But it’s okay for you to ask, it’s your right to take care of yourself.” He reached up and kissed Jake softly before laying his head on his chest, listening to the strong heartbeat inside.Jake’s buried a hand in Ryan’s hair while the other arm wrapped tightly around Ryan’s shoulders.“I got tested after Mikayla left, because I thought she might have been with another guy, but she wasn’t, and I was clean, and well, there hasn’t been anyone else since.” He was glad that Ryan wasn’t looking at his face.Ryan was smiling, though.He liked that neither one of them had a lot of experience when it came to sex.It was something they could learn about together.And Ryan planned on doing a lot of exploring.But he knew it wasn’t the time to be flippant.“Jake, if you want, we can go and get tested.I wouldn’t mind or be offended or anything.” He looked up into those eyes he could quite happily get lost in.He wanted Jake to know he was serious.“In fact, I think it would be a good idea.Maybe then we could talk about getting rid of the condoms on a permanent basis, hmm?”The clouds faded from Jake’s eyes, and he leaned down to rub his cheek against Ryan’s.He kept running his fingers through Ryan’s hair.He never knew that something so simple could make him feel so good.He was willing to bet that doing this would lift his mood, no matter what was bringing him down.“Where did you come from, Ryan Andrews? How are you real?”“Galesburg, Illinois, and I have been asking myself that same question about you since you rode up on that damned horse.” Just the thought of the first time he had seen Jake made Ryan’s eyes darken with desire, and that look made Jake’s pulse quicken.Jake couldn’t help but kiss him, and he was getting ready to deepen it when someone knocked on the door.“Shit!” Jake pulled back after one more quick kiss and took a deep breath to steady himself.He looked at the time on his way to the door and knew who it must be.“Evening, Sheriff! What can I do for you?” He smiled when he saw Ryan’s eyes widen.Sheriff Tracy Barlowe had short blonde hair, piercing green eyes, and stood six foot two in her boots.She was gorgeous, in an Amazon sort of way, and many a drunken fool had mistaken her for being easy to get along with.And she was, until you pushed her too far.And Jake could tell that she had been pushed.“I’ve got a problem, Jake.That crazy bitch Jen Johnson has got her stallion stuck in the mud hole over at Gage’s Pond.That poor son of a bitch is sinking fast, but he won’t let anyone near him.That stupid woman has been warned not to ride there, and with the rain we’ve had here, it’s ten times worse than usual.” She was pissed, no doubt about it.Jake was already heading for the door, Ryan right behind him.“Let’s go, Sheriff, there isn’t much time.” Jake turned and saw Ryan behind him.He was about to tell him to stay, when he saw the look on Ryan’s face and knew he wasn’t going to listen.All three headed out the door, and Jake made the quick introduction.“Sheriff Tracy Barlowe, meet Ryan Andrews, my new hand.” They quickly shook hands on the way to the barn, where they grabbed ropes and some leather straps.The sheriff got into her Suburban, and Ryan and Jake hopped into Jake’s truck, following her out of the yard.“Ryan, I need you to be careful here.Nothing can happen to you, understand?” Ryan could hear the fear in Jake’s voice and wondered what was going on.“I’ll be careful, Jake, I promise.” He reached down and squeezed Jake’s leg, neither one of them saying anything more.Soon they could see the lights of a police car, and they pulled up behind it.“Jake, where…?” He trailed off as he looked through the trees and saw a huge gray horse, almost up to his belly in a lake of mud.People were trying to keep it still, without much success.They both got out of the truck and walked up to the sheriff, who was talking to Ben Johnson.His wife sat cursing at a paramedic, who was looking at a cut on her face.“Jake, I’m so glad you’re here.” Ben walked over and shook his hand.He turned to Ryan.“Ryan, right?”Ryan nodded.“Yes, sir.” He shook his hand too, and they all walked over to get a better look.The terrified horse was thrashing around, almost screaming in fear, and the people around him were just as scared.Ryan could feel the anger coming off Jake and the sheriff and was glad he wasn’t on their bad side.Ryan turned when he heard Jen’s shrill voice.“Just shoot the fucking thing and shut it up.”Ryan was about to say something when her husband beat him to it.“You want me to shoot a horse that is worth $120,000 because you were too stupid to ride him properly? Maybe we should shoot you to shut you up.”The woman launched herself at her husband, screeching like a banshee, nails going at his face like claws.Ryan was the closest one to her, so he grabbed one arm and twisted it behind her back, like his older brother would have done to him.He pulled her back, and she came, spitting filthy words at everyone.“Stupid fucking faggot, get your hands off me.I am gonna kill that useless piece-of-shit husband and that useless piece-of-shit horse and then I am gonna kick your ass.Jake, come get your fucking boyfriend off me….” The hurtful words just kept coming as the deputy put cuffs on her, shoving her into the back of a police car.Ryan looked everywhere but at anyone’s eyes, terrified of what was going to happen next.He saw Ben heading his way, and he tensed up for the abuse he was sure was coming.But all he felt was a warm hand on his shoulder, and he looked around in surprise to see Jake smiling at him.He didn’t have time to say anything because Ben was shoving a hand in his direction.To shake his hand, not to hit him.“I’m grateful, Ryan, for the help, and I am so sorry for her foul mouth.” He shook his head sadly.“I shoulda listened to my mama when she said not to marry her.” He let out a heartfelt sigh
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