that manager are doing,” Ted fired back.
Gray wasn’t willing to get into a verbal battle with Ted. Instead he handed the bottle to the wide-eyed sales clerk. “I’ll take this one.”
“That’s it? You’re just going to turn your back on me?” Ted asked.
Gray pulled out his wallet and handed the clerk a hundred dollar bill before facing Ted. “I’m not going to fight with you about my personal life. So if my being gay means you don’t want to talk to me any more, it’s your loss.”
Ted’s lips thinned. “Have it your way,” he said before storming off.
Gray stuck his change in his pocket before taking the pretty pink sack from the clerk. “Thanks.” He gestured towards Ted’s retreating back. “Sorry about that.”
The young woman smiled. “Don’t be. You handled yourself remarkably well. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been quite as polite if I were in your shoes.”
Gray glanced down at his size eleven cowboy boots. “You might look a little funny in my shoes, but I have a feeling I’d like you anyway.”
The woman chuckled. “Have a Merry Christmas.”
“You too.” Despite his bravado with Ted, Gray felt unsettled. Nevertheless, he still had a few items left on his list. He left the department store and headed to the farm store. It was his last stop and the one he’d dreaded the most.
The moment he stepped into Weaver’s he was uncomfortable. Although not packed, there were still quite a few customers milling around the store in search of supplies and presents.
Gray made his way to the hat section and pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket. He and Ram had decided to get their newest full-time employee geared up. When Ram had mentioned sizes to Ben, the veterinarian had happily provided them. Ben offered to order Jesse a pair of good cowboy boots from a supply house he often used, but Gray wanted to be the one to buy Jesse his first Stetson.
“Hey, Gray, can I help you find something?” Ned Weaver asked.
Gray braced himself for another run-in. He pointed towards a black felt Stetson with a silver and turquoise band around the brim. “You have that in a seven and a quarter?”
“I’m sure I do. I’ll go look in the back,” Ned said.
Pleased by Ned’s reception, Gray moved to the clothing section. He found Jesse’s size and put three pairs of Wranglers into his small cart.
“I heard some disturbing news the other day.”
Gray turned towards the speaker to find Pastor Hallowell. “Pastor,” he greeted.
“I’d like you to come back to church,” Hallowell said.
Since he was a boy, Gray had gone to the First Presbyterian Church in Wellington. Although he didn’t go every week, he’d always tried his best to get into town a couple of Sundays a month. “We’re planning to attend Christmas service if that’s what you’re asking.”
“If by we you’re referring to you and Raleigh, I’d be delighted to see you there.”
“And if I’m planning to bring a few others?” Gray enquired, already knowing the answer.
“Church is a place for family worship. I don’t know that most people would feel comfortable if you brought your friends.”
Gray rubbed his jaw. “Well, I sure wouldn’t want to corrupt the congregation, Pastor. Of course you might want to ask Deacon Williams to at least try to hide his lust for your wife during the service. I’m sure that makes the congregation nervous as well.”
With those words, Gray returned to the hat section. Ned was already helping someone else at the register, but Gray spotted the hat box on the counter. He loaded the jeans onto the counter and waited his turn.
“I take it you had the right size?” Gray asked when it was his turn.
Mr Weaver took the top off the box for Gray’s inspection. “Sure did.” He started ringing up the jeans. “You don’t pay these folks no mind, ya hear? You’re always welcome in this store.”
“Thank you, sir.” So far Gray’s luck was running fifty fifty with the
Gray wasn’t willing to get into a verbal battle with Ted. Instead he handed the bottle to the wide-eyed sales clerk. “I’ll take this one.”
“That’s it? You’re just going to turn your back on me?” Ted asked.
Gray pulled out his wallet and handed the clerk a hundred dollar bill before facing Ted. “I’m not going to fight with you about my personal life. So if my being gay means you don’t want to talk to me any more, it’s your loss.”
Ted’s lips thinned. “Have it your way,” he said before storming off.
Gray stuck his change in his pocket before taking the pretty pink sack from the clerk. “Thanks.” He gestured towards Ted’s retreating back. “Sorry about that.”
The young woman smiled. “Don’t be. You handled yourself remarkably well. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been quite as polite if I were in your shoes.”
Gray glanced down at his size eleven cowboy boots. “You might look a little funny in my shoes, but I have a feeling I’d like you anyway.”
The woman chuckled. “Have a Merry Christmas.”
“You too.” Despite his bravado with Ted, Gray felt unsettled. Nevertheless, he still had a few items left on his list. He left the department store and headed to the farm store. It was his last stop and the one he’d dreaded the most.
The moment he stepped into Weaver’s he was uncomfortable. Although not packed, there were still quite a few customers milling around the store in search of supplies and presents.
Gray made his way to the hat section and pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket. He and Ram had decided to get their newest full-time employee geared up. When Ram had mentioned sizes to Ben, the veterinarian had happily provided them. Ben offered to order Jesse a pair of good cowboy boots from a supply house he often used, but Gray wanted to be the one to buy Jesse his first Stetson.
“Hey, Gray, can I help you find something?” Ned Weaver asked.
Gray braced himself for another run-in. He pointed towards a black felt Stetson with a silver and turquoise band around the brim. “You have that in a seven and a quarter?”
“I’m sure I do. I’ll go look in the back,” Ned said.
Pleased by Ned’s reception, Gray moved to the clothing section. He found Jesse’s size and put three pairs of Wranglers into his small cart.
“I heard some disturbing news the other day.”
Gray turned towards the speaker to find Pastor Hallowell. “Pastor,” he greeted.
“I’d like you to come back to church,” Hallowell said.
Since he was a boy, Gray had gone to the First Presbyterian Church in Wellington. Although he didn’t go every week, he’d always tried his best to get into town a couple of Sundays a month. “We’re planning to attend Christmas service if that’s what you’re asking.”
“If by we you’re referring to you and Raleigh, I’d be delighted to see you there.”
“And if I’m planning to bring a few others?” Gray enquired, already knowing the answer.
“Church is a place for family worship. I don’t know that most people would feel comfortable if you brought your friends.”
Gray rubbed his jaw. “Well, I sure wouldn’t want to corrupt the congregation, Pastor. Of course you might want to ask Deacon Williams to at least try to hide his lust for your wife during the service. I’m sure that makes the congregation nervous as well.”
With those words, Gray returned to the hat section. Ned was already helping someone else at the register, but Gray spotted the hat box on the counter. He loaded the jeans onto the counter and waited his turn.
“I take it you had the right size?” Gray asked when it was his turn.
Mr Weaver took the top off the box for Gray’s inspection. “Sure did.” He started ringing up the jeans. “You don’t pay these folks no mind, ya hear? You’re always welcome in this store.”
“Thank you, sir.” So far Gray’s luck was running fifty fifty with the
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