Page 17 of Hammer and Hops

After a while, we both felt more comfortable, and Ethan decided to let us go on our own. “You two look pretty good. And don’t worry about getting lost; Ricky and Buttercup know where home is. As soon as you turn them back and give them their head, they’ll go.”

“Great. Thanks, man.” I gave him a salute, and he returned it.

“Have fun, boys.”

Finally, alone time. As much as we could be alone on horseback. We couldn’t hold hands or gaze into each other’s eyes, but we were doing something fun together. We trotted along the trail, not interested in speed, close enough to have a conversation without making the horses nervous.

“I admit this is really cool, Cameron.”

“You think I’d take you somewhere that wasn’t? Sheesh, Ever, you need to get to know me better than that.”

“Ever?”

“Yeah, it’s a cute nickname, right?”

“Whatever. There’s nothing cute about me.”

“You lie. Everything about you is cute. Sexy. Scrumptious…” I couldn’t help but leer a little. He had to know I was interested in sex with him. Who the hell wouldn’t be? I made it a joke, though, because he probably wasn't interested in me. I was nothing, good reputation or not, and he could do a lot better.

He chuckled a little, and I felt like I was making good progress. Just like that, I decided I was going to call him Ever from here on out. Anything to make him smile. "So Ever…how's the brewery doing?"

"Eh…it's doing alright. The crops look good. We've picked up a few smaller accounts recently, but everything helps. What about you? How's the construction?"

"Uh…it's construction." I wasn't sure what he expected me to say about it. "I started doing it in high school, so…"

"Is it good money?"

"I guess. It would probably be better if I—. Uh, never mind." I didn't want to get into the whole owning my own business thing. Maybe it was a dream, but that's all it was. I didn't think I had what it took.

"No, don't do that. Better if what?" When I didn't answer, he kept pushing. "Cameron, I seriously want to know."

"If I got my contractors license and had my own crew," I huffed. It was such a long shot. "It's not feasible though."

"Bullshit."

"Eh…I barely finished high school. Not like you." I shook my head.

"So I went to college. That doesn't make me smarter than you. Everyone needs help. I think you're too hard on yourself and maybe you should try." I was touched that he considered me so highly. Though, he might have been trying to make me feel better.

"I'll think about it." That was true, but only in the sense that I always did. Dreaming about the future that would never happen. It was easier to be happy with what I had.

After a little while longer, he started squirming around in the saddle. I was pretty sure his bum was hurting, but I wasn’t going to call him out on it. “Hey, Ever?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s starting to get a little late, and I’d like to feed you before I let you go back to work. Think we should head back?”

“Uh, I guess. I am getting hungry.” He squirmed a little, and I tried to hide my smile. “Are you laughing at me?”

Apparently, I didn’t hide it well. “No. No, I’m not. I’m just happy and hungry. Let’s go.” I pulled the reins to get Ricky to turn, and as soon as I loosened my grip, he started back at a faster canter, and Everett’s horse, Buttercup, followed.

“I think you’re manipulating me, Mr. Telliyard.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you—”

Both horses broke into a gallop. I pulled back on the reins, but Ricky wasn’t having it. The path they were heading back on wasn’t the one we rode in on, and somewhere along the way it had crossed over and they switched up on us. This new route had trees hanging over it, and we had to duck to avoid being smacked in the face.