Hot ryder, p.1
Hot Ryder, page 1
Table of Contents
HOT Ryder | A Gay Cowboy Second Chance MM Romance | (Love On Ryder Ranch Series) | By B.T. Haiyes
Copyright 2022 B.T Haiyes
Chapter 1 | AUSTIN
Chapter 2 | BRENDAN
Chapter 3 | BRENDAN
Chapter 4 | AUSTIN
Chapter 5 | BRENDAN
Chapter 6 | AUSTIN
Chapter 7 | BRENDAN
Chapter 8 | AUSTIN
Chapter 9 | BRENDAN
Chapter 10 | AUSTIN
Chapter 11 | BRENDAN
Chapter 12 | AUSTIN
Chapter 13 | BRENDAN
Chapter 14 | AUSTIN
Chapter 15 | BRENDAN
Chapter 16 | AUSTIN
Chapter 17 | BRENDAN
Chapter 18 | AUSTIN
Chapter 19 | BRENDAN
Chapter 20 | AUSTIN
Chapter 21 | BRENDAN
Chapter 22 | AUSTIN
Chapter 23 | BRENDAN
Chapter 24 | AUSTIN
Chapter 25 | AUSTIN
Chapter 26 | BRENDAN
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HOT Ryder
A Gay Cowboy Second Chance MM Romance
(Love On Ryder Ranch Series)
By B.T. Haiyes
Copyright 2022 B.T Haiyes
All Rights Reserved.
This is a work of pure fiction.
Names, places, business, characters and/or incidents mentioned in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used in a fictitious manner.
Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All rights not mentioned herein are reserved to the author.
Chapter 1
AUSTIN
Five Years Ago
I felt my heartbeat pounding in my throat as I eased down on the brake, readying myself to make the hard turn around the corner.
My hands tightened, knuckles white, as I gripped the steering wheel, as I prepared to whip it round at the right moment.
If I wasn’t careful, the car would get flung off the road... like someone riding a bronc without a saddle.
“Woah, Austin!” Brendan yelped, his hand braced against the passenger seat window as I whipped the wheel around.
My pickup truck responded exactly the way I knew it would, skidding hard around the corner off the main street into the side road.
“I’m not gonna slow down today! Whoooo!” I exclaimed as I sped down the empty road into the pitch black off-road ahead.
I knew all the streets of my hometown like the back of my hand. Having lived here all my life, 21 years is a long time to get to know a town like Katoka Hills.
This town was too small for me. Less than 4,000 folks lived here. Heck, my entire high school had fewer than a hundred kids in attendance.
I chuckled at the thought of my old school days, having barely graduated from that boring hellhole years ago.
I was an average student, getting by on C’s and D’s. And that would never be enough to get me a college scholarship — or give me a chance at a better life.
In the end, school taught me nothing that I could use in real life — other than how to stand up for myself in a fight, of course.
However, where I was going, I wouldn’t need equations and books. All I needed was a ranch, a rodeo, and a roaring crowd.
I’d gotten all three — in spades — tonight. And now I had enough money in my pocket to make a real break for it.
That’s because, just a few hours ago, I’d come first in our counties twice-yearly saddle bronc event.
I’d trained for it for months. And my best friend, Brendan, helped me every step of the way.
The rodeo show was a winner takes all event. The ‘all’ in question being a check for five thousand dollars!
And now me and my best friend were riding over to go hang out at the ridge and knock back a few beers in celebration.
It had been a hell of a day. I felt as though I was on the cusp of a brand new day, and well on my way to achieving my dream of becoming a saddle bronc champion.
I’d been working for this since I graduated.
I was never going to get into college, but I found work as a ranch hand on a couple of local farms. And, part time, I put in my dues as a Pickup Rider working at the Katoka Hills local rodeo, helping during rodeo season.
Now, at the age of only 21 years old, all of my hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, was paying off. Big time.
“Come on, slow the car down.”
I looked over to find Brendan giving me a pleading look, his crystal green eyes wide. He and I were less than five months apart in age, yet he never quite had the sort of devil-may-care love for danger that I had.
“I know we’re celebrating your win,” Brendan continued through gritted teeth and a grimacing smile. “Let’s at least try to make sure you’re still alive to cash that winner’s check later. OK?”
Rolling my eyes, I eased my foot off the accelerator, reducing our top speed from nearly 90 MPH down to what felt like a crawling 50 MPH.
“I don’t know what you’re worrying about.” I angled my attention away from Brendan once I saw him relax into his seat with an exaggerated sigh of relief. “These roads are always empty.” I lifted a hand off the steering wheel to wave at the desolate road ahead. “Especially at 2am in the morning.”
“3:47am.” Brendan quipped, jutting a finger at the clock on the dashboard. “Besides, Mr. Timm’s farm is near here. Maybe he likes to take pre-dawn strolls along this roadside now and then. And so what then? You could have hit him.”
“That’s if he can even walk a straight line long enough to stay on the roadside.” I bantered back, as I remembered how Mr. Timm was well known for spending late nights drinking away at the only bar in town.
He’d drunk enough — and slurred his way through enough bar fights — that Timm’s almost had the reputation for being the town drunk.
Almost, but not quite. That reputation was reserved for my dad.
I grimaced, not wanting to think about my Old Man when I was supposed to be celebrating.
I glanced over at Brendan once, then twice, before giving him a cocky grin when he finally noticed me trying to get his attention.
“What?”
I put on my best country accent, thick and deep as I could get. “You townie folk coming up here, telling us kind folk how to drive and whut to do...”
Brendan chuckled as he joined in, matching me word for word as we both refrained Mr Timm’s oft-repeated complaint, whenever he saw Brendan around town. “... y’all should keep them city-slicking lifestyles to ya’selves.”
We then looked at each other for a second, before bursting out into a round of belly-laughs.
“That guy is such an asshole,” Brendan said as we guffawed.
Brendan hadn’t lived in this town as long as I had. He’d arrived here as a teenager, less than six years ago, along with his mom and dad from the Big City.
Brendan told me that his parents wanted to move here so that the family could live a slower lifestyle. However, I don’t think anything can actually prepare you for exactly how slow life in a town, like Katoka Hills, can be.
When Brendan first arrived in Katoka Hills with his family, he’d found himself instantly on the outs with some of the less-than-welcoming crowd about the town.
I did not care where Brendan came from. Besides, I was used to being an outcast myself, what with my family’s rep and all.
So I didn’t hesitate to dive into a fight, having Brendan's back against one idiot who’d jumped him.
And Brendan and I had been best friends ever since.
I never knew why he continued to hang out with me, even after graduation.
I was always getting into trouble when I was younger. While Brendan seemed to ace his classes and always tried to keep his head down.
Even now, Brendan worked part time at the town newspaper, while attending community college to work towards his degree. I, on the other hand, roughhoused it in the rodeo and on the farm.
We were as far apart in our everyday lifestyles as you could get.
Plus, Brendan's parents (unlike my parent), were the respectable type. His mom was a teacher, his dad was a veterinarian.
And in a town full of farmers, cattle herders — and rodeo maniacs — a veterinarian was as highly a respected job as you can get here in Katoka Hills.
On the other hand, I was the son of the town rapscallion. My mom had left him behind — to look after a three-year-old son alone — as soon as dad’s career as a rodeo rider was over. Gone in a single fall.
My dad had been drinking away the memory of it ever since. And he hated how much I loved the rodeo.
“What you thinking about?” Brendan’s voice brought me back from my reverie. I’d been silent a moment too long, and he’d noticed.
I shook my head. None of the past matters now. Only the future and good times lay ahead.
“Nothing.” I shrugged off the concerned look in Brendan's eyes. Not wanting to bring down the mood, I quickly changed the subject. “Hey, we’re almost there!”
Leaning forward, I could see the ridge of the infamous hill of Katoka Hills, right on the edge of town.
“Why here though?” Brendan asked, as I brought the car to a stop near the edge of the ridge and unlocked the car. “We could have gone and grabbed some drinks and food at Sally’s all-night diner.” Brandon said as he snatched the six pack from the back seat.
“Don’t you remember?” I hustled around my truck and hopped on up onto the hood of the vehicle. “This spot is where I made all of those plans to become the Rodeo star I am today.”
Brendan chuckled as he hustled onto the hood of the truck beside me. “Hey, don’t get ahead of yourself,” he began, as he pulled two of the beers from the pack. “The rodeo season has only started, and you need to keep practicing to stay sharp.”
Brendan started to hand me one of the beers. Before I could clasp the bottle, he snatched it back, just out of reach. “Only the one beer. You are driving us back.” Brendan said, as I leaned over and snatched the bottle out of his hand before he could move. “I’d rather we got back home in one piece — empty road or no empty road.” Brendan continued with a small grin.
“Yes, mom.” I groused as I popped off the bottle cap.
Brendan was always too careful when it came to living it up. He was always measured and practiced, and yet he’d rubbed off on me. I never would have had the discipline to train for the rodeo if he hadn’t believed in me.
Plus, it was nice to know at least one person in the world cared if I lived or died.
“Fuck you, dude,” Brendan laughed as he lightly punched my shoulder. “You know I’m only looking out for you,” Brendan continued as he popped the cap off his beer.
“Yeah, I know.” I took a long swig from my lukewarm beer, grimacing as the bitter liquid sank down my throat. I made a face as I turned the bottle in my hand, glancing at the label. “I should have cashed the check straight away. Bought us some real quality beers.”
I glanced over to find Brendan making a similar face after he took a quick swig from his beer. “Sally's beers would have definitely been better.” Brendan paused for a second, mulling that idea over. “Not by much. Still better all the same.”
I don’t know why, but looking at Brendan's unguarded profile — in the dim light of the burgeoning dawn — I felt a sense of camaraderie with him like I’d never felt before.
The hit of emotion surprised me. Maybe the excitement of the rodeo win — and a lack of sleep — were having an effect. Suddenly, I felt the need to pour out my heart a little.
“You were the only one who believed in me, you know that? Not even Mary-Anne did.” I scoffed as I remembered my recent argument with my on-again, off-again ex girlfriend.
‘Not such a loser now, am I, Mary-Ann?’ I smirked at the memory, enjoying the vindicating feel of having proved her wrong. Hell, maybe she’d even come around again asking for me back.
Brendan glanced over at me, a look of confusion coloring his face. The puppy-like tilt of his head would have been comical if I wasn’t feeling so damn emotional right now.
‘Damn it, get it together’, I groused at myself, quickly angling my eyes away from Brendan's curious gaze.
“Austin?” Brendan began as he patted my shoulder. “You OK there?”
I shrugged. I was never a ‘talk through your feelings’ kinda guy. I could make jokes or throw a punch. And yet, talking things out felt so much tougher.
“I’m going to leave town,” I started, raising my eyes up to look at the sunrise. “That’s as soon as I get a couple more wins, and save up enough money from my farm work.” I eyed Brendan intently. “And I want you to come with me.”
Brendan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “For real?”
I nodded. “I know you have your job at the newspaper. And you’re in the final year of college. A year will be plenty of time for me to get a few more wins under my belt.” I nodded again, this time with confident finality. “After that, we can pack up and leave this town behind.”
A wide smile, the widest I’d ever seen it, transformed Brendan's face. “I thought you wanted to stay in town a bit longer. Maybe get back together with Mary-Ann and move in with her.”
I barked out a laugh. Mary-Ann and I only put up with each other out of boredom.
She and I kept getting back together because there wasn’t much in the way of potential women in this town for me to hookup with.
Even Brendan was going through the longest dry dating patch I’d ever seen in a grown man. Likely because of the lack of twenty-something ladies in Katoka Hills.
Hell, I honestly can’t remember the last time Brendan had gone on a date. And that’s despite my trying to hook him up with a few ladies throughout the years.
I shook my head. “No way, that was never on the cards for me. The only person I’d stay in this town for is you.” I gave Brendan a firm slap on the back. “If you come with me, we both can get out of here and get a place together in the Big City. Think of the major newspapers you could apply to. Especially once you get your qualifications.”
Brendan simply stared at me, wordlessly giving me a long odd look, as though he were trying to figure something out.
“Well?” I asked finally, when the silence between us had drawn out long enough to feel a little awkward. “You wanna come with me or...”
“Of course I’ll come with you.” Brendan interrupted me mid-sentence, the odd look still on his face. I nodded at him with a grin and brought my beer bottle back up to my lips, thinking that was the end of that.
Yet Brendan continued speaking, the words hurriedly falling from his lips. “I love you, Austin.”
I paused, the bottle halfway to my mouth, as I looked over at him. This was not something we’d ever said to each other.
Sure, if you forced to put it into words, I loved Brendan. The man was like family to me. Still, I was never into all of that flowery-talk stuff. My dad would have slapped the words from my mouth if I’d even said them to him.
I shifted uncomfortably with a quick sniff. “Um, sure,” I began awkwardly, not knowing how to finish my sentence. So I settled for, “right back at ya’.”
And then, before I knew what was happening, Brendan leaned over and planted a kiss on my lips!
Chapter 2
BRENDAN
Still Five Years Ago
‘It’s finally happening!’
My hands trembled in my lap as I pressed my lips against Austin’s.
I’d dreamt of this moment for years. Yet I never found the courage to tell Austin how I felt about him... until now.
I’ve always been gay, knew wholeheartedly in my heart, ever since I was young. When my parents took me from the more-open-minded Big City, to this not-so-welcoming small town, I was too scared to come onto any of the burly men here. And certainly way too scared to come out to anyone.
Even Austin.
I’d been working up the nerve to tell Austin how I felt about him for months as soon as I realized that my admiration for him was something a lot deeper.
I’d always been attracted to Austin, right from the first day he and I had met.
Unfortunately, every woman in town felt the same way about him, too. And Austin’s blue eyes, sandy blond hair, and broad shoulders — supported by his 6 foot frame — made him somewhat of a heart-breaker around Katoka Hills.
Coupled with his mouthwatering muscular physique — developed through hard work as a farmhand — he always turned heads when he took off his shirt to show off to the ladies at the local bar.
In fact, Austin had worked his way through the girls in town over the years that I’d known him. And not once had he’d even hinted at an interest in men. Or in me, in particular.
Yet, over the last few months, he and I had been training together, helping him to prepare for the local rodeo event. It was the first rodeo Austin had ever entered, and he was so nervous, I offered to help.
Or rather, I offered to stand on the side and yell encouragement as he practiced saddle bronc riding.
Every single training session, (after dark at Austin’s dad’s small ranch), I watched my beautiful best friend work himself down to the bone.
