Nothing else was said about the sheriff, Kati Anderson, or JC’s cryptic announcement. Justin held his breath as he watched JC take the Anderson horse out, but released it when the older man only worked with it a bit more, not taking it over to the Anderson place yet. Justin busied himself in the house, baking bread, washing his clothes, even darning his and JC’s socks. The future was uncertain, but Justin wanted to be prepared for anything. The ten-dollar gold piece still rested in his pocket, so he worked hard to earn the rest of that pay, wanting to be able to leave—if he had to leave—with a clear conscious. After JC had returned from outside for dinner, Justin did what he did best during tense time. He became invisible. Justin served dinner, ate his own quickly and quietly, then cleaned up in record time. He didn’t join JC outside for stargazing; instead, he watched JC from the window for a short time, and then went to bed in his old bunk in the mudroom. Invisible. Justin lay for hours, tossing and turning and fretting about the coming day. He held still when he heard JC’s footsteps approach, feigning sleep. It obviously didn’t make any difference to JC if Justin had been asleep or not—the older man hoisted Justin over his shoulder and strode purposely through the house to the bedroom. Tossing Justin lightly onto the bed, JC followed quickly, taking Justin’s mouth in hard kiss. JC reached for Justin again and again during the night, holding Justin close, making love to him with a desperate edge to his actions, never speaking vocally, but telling Justin everything with his hands and mouth and body. Over and over, Justin gave himself to JC, hoping JC would find whatever solace he was looking for in Justin’s body, giving JC more of himself that Justin had ever given another person. The faint light of dawn tinged the night sky pink when they came together once more, the lightening sky making JC’s eyes visible to Justin for the first time that night. Justin thought he saw tears and regret, but couldn’t be sure as JC slammed inside him, making the world explode. They finally fell asleep, clutched tightly in each other’s arms. But when Justin awoke, he was alone. ************* JC reined Zeus to a halt as he approached the Anderson place. He dismounted lightly, flipping the reins over the porch rail just as the front door opened. “Well, hello, JC,” Kati said as she came onto the porch. “I was hoping to see you, but didn’t figure it would be quite this soon.” JC walked onto the porch. “I’d like to talk to your father, Kati,” JC said quietly. Kati smiled. “I just bet you do,” she laughed, placing a hand on JC’s chest. “But I can assure you the answer is yes.” JC raised a brow. “Yes?” JC asked. “And what would be the question?” “Why, if you can marry me, of course,” Kati explained, tapping her fingers lightly on JC’s shirt. “I take it the sheriff did come out to see you and, ah, what’s his name? Jerome?” Katie feigned ignorance. “Justin.” “Yes, Justin,” Kati said, running her fingers along JC’s chest lower and lower. “I’ll make you happy, JC,” Kati purred, dipping her fingers past JC’s belt. She leaned in and brushed JC’s mouth with her own. “Much better than he can.” JC gripped the girl’s roaming arm, removing it from his crotch. “Is your father home, Kati?” he asked, pushing away from her. Kati’s eyes narrowed at JC’s actions. “You’d better be nice to me, JC. I can always tell the sheriff more of what I know, can’t I?” “You don’t know anything, Kati.” “Don’t I?” she scoffed. “Don’t you what, Kati?” Mr. Anderson’s voice sounded from behind the screen door. Kati jumped at the sound of her father’s voice. “Father!” she exclaimed. “Look who’s here!” She linked her arm with JC’s and walked JC into the house. “I was just saying how much I had missed him, and JC doubted me, and I told him don’t I miss him when he’s gone?” Mr. Anderson smiled at his daughter. “That’s very nice of you, Kati. I’m sure JC is appreciative of your friendship.” “I don’t know, Father,” Katie pouted. “Don’t you think, if he really liked me, he’d, well, do something about it?” “Kati,” Mr. Anderson scolded. “JC is standing right here, girl. Don’t embarrass the man.” He turned to JC. “Did you need to see me, son?” JC nodded. “I brought the stallion, sir.” He disengaged himself from Kati’s grasp. “And if you have some time, I’d like to discuss a personal matter with you.” Mr. Anderson nodded. “Come into my study, son,” he said, smiling at his grinning daughter. “I’ve got some fine old whiskey we can share as we talk.” ************** Justin was sitting on the porch when JC returned. He’d packed the few belongings he’d acquired, and would have left before JC had gotten back, but something had made Justin stay, needing to say goodbye to JC, the first person who’d ever really loved him. The first person Justin had ever really loved back. He watched JC ride up to the porch and jump of Zeus’ back. JC jumped up the steps, stopping at the sight of Justin. “Justin!” he said, out of breath from his hard ride. He spied the tied bundle at Justin’s feet. “Good. You’ve packed your things,” he said casually, walking past Justin and entering the house. Justin’s heart sank. He’d hoped—he’d prayed—that somehow, JC would have worked it out, that Justin could stay in the only home he’d ever known. His anger grew at how easily it seemed JC was willing to let him go. He rose from the porch chair and followed JC inside. “JC!” he called out. “In the bedroom,” came the reply. Justin stormed into the room. “What the hell did you mean by that?” Justin demanded. “I thought…don’t you care that I’m leaving?” JC laughed. “You’re not leaving, Justin,” he said, taking clothes out of his dresser and placing them on the bed. “I’m not?” Justin wondered, watching as JC reached under the bed and withdrew a suitcase. JC walked past Justin, grabbing more clothes from the hooks behind the door. He stopped and gave Justin a hard kiss before folding the clothes with the others. “Nope,” JC said, placing the folded clothes in the suitcase. “We’re leaving.” “We?” Justin said, his voice a whisper. JC turned to the boy. “We, Justin,” he said, coming back to Justin and holding him close. “I sold this place to Mr. Anderson this afternoon.” Justin pulled back, searching JC’s face. “You did?” Justin asked. “Why?” “Because we can’t live here anymore,” JC said simply. “JC,” Justin said, shaking his head. “I don’t understand. I thought you were going over there today to marry that girl.” “God, no,” JC laughed. “I told you, Justin. I wasn’t ever going to marry her, remember?” “But, the sheriff…” “Is why we have to leave.” JC said. “But this is your home,” Justin said. “How can you leave?” JC kissed Justin hard. “It’s just a place, Justin,” JC explained. “Just a house, a piece of land. Keeping you is more important.” He s aw the confusion on Justin’s face. “Justin,” he said, taking the boy by the hand and sitting home down on the bed. JC kneeled in front of him. “I love you,” JC told him. “You love me, right?” JC smiled when Justin nodded enthusiastically. “Then what’s the problem? We just have to find a place where we can live, okay?” “Is there such a place?” JC shrugged. “We may have to lie, say we’re related, something like that.” He looked at Justin seriously. “Will that bother you?” Justin shook his head. “No, not at all,” he said. “But JC, you’re so…honorable. Will you be able to live a lie?” JC smiled softly, blushing at Justin’s words. “I’ll do anything to keep you, Justin,” he vowed. *************** JC pulled Zeus to a stop on the slight hill that overlooked the homestead. He smiled, watching Justin as he walked from the house to the barn, the Shepard JC had bought him dogging his heels. JC sighed with contentment, knowing this place was the best, the only place he and Justin would live forever. They’d traveled for two months, taking the road west slowly. Money wasn’t a problem, but they usually stayed away from towns until Justin demanded a hot bath and a real meal. But mostly, they slept under the stars, learning each other’s thoughts, dreams, and of course, bodies. Finally, they’d arrived in Freedom, Oregon, and knew at once that this was it, this was the place where they could live. Luck was with them, as they’d found and bought the homestead of a recently deceased man whose family all had their own land. Both men knew it had been the right decision as soon as they’d learned the name of the spread. It was The Lucky Star. welcomed as they felt in the town of Freedom, Justin was still skittish around other people, preferring to stay home while JC went to town. JC didn’t press the issue. They had all the time in the world. JC smiled, remembering the present he’d bought Justin. Someone passing through the town had sold a complete set of Charles Dickens to the general store, and JC couldn’t resist. The speed at which Justin had learned to read had impressed JC, and he wanted the boy’s interest to keep going. He figured these books would keep him satisfied for a while. JC saw Justin coming out of the barn, the boy’s hat filled with fresh eggs. He watched as the boy paused, raised a hand to shield his eyes, and then wave enthusiastically to JC. Even from this distance, JC could see the welcoming smile on Justin’s face. Zeus snuffled as JC urged the horse on. “Let’s go home, boy,” he said. Home to Justin, his own lucky star.