Luke, he just came back to town a week ago.
You can’t honestly tel me you’ve fal en in love with him.”
Luke turned his head to stare out the passenger
window. It was hard to explain his connection to Priest.
Sure, he’d only real y known the man for a week, but they’d
spent almost every moment together. “I know him better
than I knew Stretch. Believe me, you learn a lot about a
person when you’re trapped in a car with them for almost
two days.”
Kenny shook his head, but held his tongue. Luke gave
him high marks for his self-restraint, something Kenny
wasn’t known for. As tired as Luke had been when his
plane landed, the closer they were to Cattle Val ey, the
more keyed up Luke became. “I think I’l go for a run before
the snow fal s.”
“What about your knee?”
“It’s fine. I’l wrap it, but it shouldn’t cause me any
trouble.” The important thing was clearing his head,
something only running provided.
Halfway home, Luke began to ache for Priest. He
should beg Kenny to turn around and take him back to the
airport. How pathetic. When Priest had dropped him off at
the ticket counter in Virginia, it had felt like goodbye.
Neither of them had said it, but the sombre expression on
Priest’s face when he’d kissed Luke for the last time
seemed to say what neither of them had been able to. “I
love him. I know it’s too soon, and you probably think I’m
pretty damn pathetic, but I can’t help the way I feel.”
“I’m not going to judge you,” Kenny said. “It’s just that I
remember how hurt you were when things fel apart with
Stretch. I don’t wanna watch you go through that again.”
“Priest said he’d be back. Hel , he has a house and
eighty acres outside of town. I’m not saying everything’s
going to work out for us, but I’m not ready to give up on
him.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Luke
began to feel better. If Priest needed time, Luke would give
him as much as he could. He just prayed he wouldn’t be
waiting in vain.
* * * *
Luke rounded the corner and headed down the al ey.
His knee felt a little stiff, but so far it was holding up nicely.
Snow had already begun to fal , but Luke embraced the
fluffy flakes instead of cutting his run short. He felt more
alive than he ever had before as he ran behind the
downtown businesses.
His peripheral vision caught movement a split second
before a man stepped in front of him. Gun raised and
pointed in his direction, Luke skidded to a stop.
“Nice to final y meet you face to face,” the man said,
pressing the gun against Luke’s forehead.
Luke tried to look around without moving his head. He
had a sinking feeling he knew who the man was and
sticking around wouldn’t turn out wel . “Jeffries?”
Jeffries grinned. “Good to know my reputation
precedes me.” He slid the gun around Luke’s head until it
rested against the base of his skul . “Now walk towards that
car at the end of the al ey.”
Luke had always been told never to get into a car with
someone you knew was out to harm you. It was better to get
hurt surrounded by people than to suffer at the hands of an
attacker alone. One problem, not only was he already
alone, but he doubted seriously that he’d survive a gunshot
to his head.
With little choice, Luke walked. He kept glancing up at
the apartments, hoping against hope that someone would
see him. Last time he’d been in need of rescuing, Deacon
had helped, but Deacon’s apartment was stil dark. Shit.
Never had Luke felt so alone.
Once they reached the sedan, Luke knew his time for
escape had almost ended. He stood beside the trunk as
Jeffries fished the keys out of his pocket.
“Don’t move,” Jeffries warned.
When he reached to unlock the trunk, Luke felt the
barrel of the gun lift away from his head. Now or never, he
screamed to himself as he ducked and swung out. He
managed to land a punch to Jeffries’ chin a moment
You can’t honestly tel me you’ve fal en in love with him.”
Luke turned his head to stare out the passenger
window. It was hard to explain his connection to Priest.
Sure, he’d only real y known the man for a week, but they’d
spent almost every moment together. “I know him better
than I knew Stretch. Believe me, you learn a lot about a
person when you’re trapped in a car with them for almost
two days.”
Kenny shook his head, but held his tongue. Luke gave
him high marks for his self-restraint, something Kenny
wasn’t known for. As tired as Luke had been when his
plane landed, the closer they were to Cattle Val ey, the
more keyed up Luke became. “I think I’l go for a run before
the snow fal s.”
“What about your knee?”
“It’s fine. I’l wrap it, but it shouldn’t cause me any
trouble.” The important thing was clearing his head,
something only running provided.
Halfway home, Luke began to ache for Priest. He
should beg Kenny to turn around and take him back to the
airport. How pathetic. When Priest had dropped him off at
the ticket counter in Virginia, it had felt like goodbye.
Neither of them had said it, but the sombre expression on
Priest’s face when he’d kissed Luke for the last time
seemed to say what neither of them had been able to. “I
love him. I know it’s too soon, and you probably think I’m
pretty damn pathetic, but I can’t help the way I feel.”
“I’m not going to judge you,” Kenny said. “It’s just that I
remember how hurt you were when things fel apart with
Stretch. I don’t wanna watch you go through that again.”
“Priest said he’d be back. Hel , he has a house and
eighty acres outside of town. I’m not saying everything’s
going to work out for us, but I’m not ready to give up on
him.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Luke
began to feel better. If Priest needed time, Luke would give
him as much as he could. He just prayed he wouldn’t be
waiting in vain.
* * * *
Luke rounded the corner and headed down the al ey.
His knee felt a little stiff, but so far it was holding up nicely.
Snow had already begun to fal , but Luke embraced the
fluffy flakes instead of cutting his run short. He felt more
alive than he ever had before as he ran behind the
downtown businesses.
His peripheral vision caught movement a split second
before a man stepped in front of him. Gun raised and
pointed in his direction, Luke skidded to a stop.
“Nice to final y meet you face to face,” the man said,
pressing the gun against Luke’s forehead.
Luke tried to look around without moving his head. He
had a sinking feeling he knew who the man was and
sticking around wouldn’t turn out wel . “Jeffries?”
Jeffries grinned. “Good to know my reputation
precedes me.” He slid the gun around Luke’s head until it
rested against the base of his skul . “Now walk towards that
car at the end of the al ey.”
Luke had always been told never to get into a car with
someone you knew was out to harm you. It was better to get
hurt surrounded by people than to suffer at the hands of an
attacker alone. One problem, not only was he already
alone, but he doubted seriously that he’d survive a gunshot
to his head.
With little choice, Luke walked. He kept glancing up at
the apartments, hoping against hope that someone would
see him. Last time he’d been in need of rescuing, Deacon
had helped, but Deacon’s apartment was stil dark. Shit.
Never had Luke felt so alone.
Once they reached the sedan, Luke knew his time for
escape had almost ended. He stood beside the trunk as
Jeffries fished the keys out of his pocket.
“Don’t move,” Jeffries warned.
When he reached to unlock the trunk, Luke felt the
barrel of the gun lift away from his head. Now or never, he
screamed to himself as he ducked and swung out. He
managed to land a punch to Jeffries’ chin a moment
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