said as they strode down the porch steps.
“Blatant statement of the obvious.”
“How bad is it?”
Dane climbed into the truck Ethan was driving, Jacob’s blue monster, and leaned his head against the seat. “Bad enough that I might have to find somewhere else to live when I get back.” A stifling pause eventually caused him to turn his head to face Ethan.
The guy grimaced at the steering wheel. “It’s because of me, isn’t it? They know I’m gay and think I’m a bad influence. I should have sent Bonnie to get you. No, then they might think you were fooling around with her. I should have sent Jacob—”
“Stop.” Dane shook his head. “This isn’t your fault. Let’s get out of here. Please.” He glanced through the windshield at his mother’s scowling face framed in the kitchen window.
Ethan turned the key and pulled out of the driveway, then headed south, away from town. “Okay. Talk.”
“I’m not going to lie to you. It’s true my dad is a total homophobe, and he didn’t love the idea of me traveling with you.”
Ethan slapped the steering wheel. “How did he know? Am I that obvious? It’s not like a wear a sign around my neck.”
“Ethan, my dad thinks any man who isn’t actively chasing the nearest female tail is gay. Believe me, it’s not obvious, but I did tell him because it was important to me that he knows the truth.”
“Why? Why would you do that?”
“Listen, that’s not why they’re angry, just a stupid excuse.” Dane fussed with the radio but none of the stations soothed his temper. “My ancestors have farmed this land for over a century. My parents are upset because I’m the oldest boy and I have no interest in taking it over. None at all.”
“You don’t want to be a farmer.”
“No.”
“What do you want to be?”
Dane laughed. “I have no frickin’ idea.”
“Oh.”
“When I was younger, I just assumed I didn’t have any other choice. Then after Auriel and Hell, well, you might say the rest of my life is more important to me now than it used to be. I’m not as willing to fall on my sword to preserve the family plot. I was honest about my feelings, and my parents didn’t like it. They think if I go away to college that I’ll never come back, and they’re probably right.”
“They won’t take no for an answer, huh?”
“Or any other words, including ‘maybe after I get my degree.’”
“So it’s more about the freedom to choose than the choice.”
“Well said.”
“What’s the big deal, anyway? What about your brother and sister?”
“My dad still thinks a woman can’t run a farm and Walter...let’s just say he’s not the sharpest tool in the family shed.”
“So that leaves you.”
“It gets worse. My dad’s sick. This ‘Who’s going to take over the farm?’ question may need to be answered sooner than later.”
Ethan leaned his elbow against his window and whistled. “That’s heavy, Dane. What are you going to do?”
Running his hands through his hair, Dane sighed deeply. “I’m going to find Cheveyo and help you Soulkeepers bring him home. When I get back…” He shrugged. Maybe things would blow over. Or maybe he’d be looking for a new place to live.
The hum of the engine filled the space between them. Ethan opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. Good. Dane was done talking about it. It was a hopeless situation. He closed his eyes and rested the side of his head against the window.
Ten minutes later, Ethan announced, “We’re here.”
He turned up the driveway to a farmhouse that looked like a strong wind might knock it over. Holes peppered the roof, and weeds hadn’t quite conquered the junkyard-worthy machinery abandoned in the front yard. A porch swing dangled precariously from one chain, the other long since rusted through. Jacob sat on the porch, feet dangling over the side, while Bonnie and Samantha huddled together near the front door, and Ghost, in his sunglasses,
“Blatant statement of the obvious.”
“How bad is it?”
Dane climbed into the truck Ethan was driving, Jacob’s blue monster, and leaned his head against the seat. “Bad enough that I might have to find somewhere else to live when I get back.” A stifling pause eventually caused him to turn his head to face Ethan.
The guy grimaced at the steering wheel. “It’s because of me, isn’t it? They know I’m gay and think I’m a bad influence. I should have sent Bonnie to get you. No, then they might think you were fooling around with her. I should have sent Jacob—”
“Stop.” Dane shook his head. “This isn’t your fault. Let’s get out of here. Please.” He glanced through the windshield at his mother’s scowling face framed in the kitchen window.
Ethan turned the key and pulled out of the driveway, then headed south, away from town. “Okay. Talk.”
“I’m not going to lie to you. It’s true my dad is a total homophobe, and he didn’t love the idea of me traveling with you.”
Ethan slapped the steering wheel. “How did he know? Am I that obvious? It’s not like a wear a sign around my neck.”
“Ethan, my dad thinks any man who isn’t actively chasing the nearest female tail is gay. Believe me, it’s not obvious, but I did tell him because it was important to me that he knows the truth.”
“Why? Why would you do that?”
“Listen, that’s not why they’re angry, just a stupid excuse.” Dane fussed with the radio but none of the stations soothed his temper. “My ancestors have farmed this land for over a century. My parents are upset because I’m the oldest boy and I have no interest in taking it over. None at all.”
“You don’t want to be a farmer.”
“No.”
“What do you want to be?”
Dane laughed. “I have no frickin’ idea.”
“Oh.”
“When I was younger, I just assumed I didn’t have any other choice. Then after Auriel and Hell, well, you might say the rest of my life is more important to me now than it used to be. I’m not as willing to fall on my sword to preserve the family plot. I was honest about my feelings, and my parents didn’t like it. They think if I go away to college that I’ll never come back, and they’re probably right.”
“They won’t take no for an answer, huh?”
“Or any other words, including ‘maybe after I get my degree.’”
“So it’s more about the freedom to choose than the choice.”
“Well said.”
“What’s the big deal, anyway? What about your brother and sister?”
“My dad still thinks a woman can’t run a farm and Walter...let’s just say he’s not the sharpest tool in the family shed.”
“So that leaves you.”
“It gets worse. My dad’s sick. This ‘Who’s going to take over the farm?’ question may need to be answered sooner than later.”
Ethan leaned his elbow against his window and whistled. “That’s heavy, Dane. What are you going to do?”
Running his hands through his hair, Dane sighed deeply. “I’m going to find Cheveyo and help you Soulkeepers bring him home. When I get back…” He shrugged. Maybe things would blow over. Or maybe he’d be looking for a new place to live.
The hum of the engine filled the space between them. Ethan opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. Good. Dane was done talking about it. It was a hopeless situation. He closed his eyes and rested the side of his head against the window.
Ten minutes later, Ethan announced, “We’re here.”
He turned up the driveway to a farmhouse that looked like a strong wind might knock it over. Holes peppered the roof, and weeds hadn’t quite conquered the junkyard-worthy machinery abandoned in the front yard. A porch swing dangled precariously from one chain, the other long since rusted through. Jacob sat on the porch, feet dangling over the side, while Bonnie and Samantha huddled together near the front door, and Ghost, in his sunglasses,
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