The Man Who Loved Cole Flores (Dig Two Graves 1)

“Scotch did whatever he wanted to do! Even if I tried to drag him away, he’d be kicking and swearing at everyone. I’m not saying he deserved it—”

“He didn’t!”

“He didn’t, fine, but he brought it on himself regardless!”

Cole shook his head, his chest working fast as he yanked the rope out of Ned’s hands. “Fine. Go. I’ll just deal with this myself.”

Ned groaned and took hold of the cord. “I’m not leaving you here! You’re stubborn like a bull. Let’s get this over with. But if you want my opinion, seeing Scotch dead will only agitate Tom.”

Cole’s lips went stiff. “Your personality really shines through right now. And I don’t like what I’m seeing.”

Ned huffed and got to work on tying the rope securely around the coffin. He couldn’t believe this was what he was hearing an hour after the sweet words in the water. They worked in tandem, eventually attaching the rope to the back of Cole’s saddle since Thunder was a bigger horse that Nugget, but the silence interwoven with practical orders and requests remained a thorn in Ned’s side.

Even in death, Scotch was a loathsome piece of trash, and the uncomfortable silence only became denser as they left the town, leaving obvious drag marks.

Cole kept looking back at the rickety wooden box that might fall apart any second, but they didn’t have a wagon on hand, so unless they hid the corpse somewhere and returned for it with a set of wheels, they’d have to resign themselves to hope.

To make matters worse, they had to take a roundabout way to avoid leading a posse straight to camp. After meandering for two hours, the sun was beginning to heat the air, shining on the beautiful landscape of orange mesas and patches of green shrubs. And they were nowhere near home.

“We’re lost,” Ned said eventually.

“I know! You don’t have to rub it in!” Cole erupted with anger, his nostrils flaring as he took fast, deep inhales.

Ned swallowed, glaring at the coffin, which miraculously hadn’t yet turned into sawdust and splinters. “I’m afraid this won’t appease Tom at all. It’ll just push him into some crazy revenge plot, and we’ll be responsible.”

Cole’s eyes flashed. “So what? Doesn’t Scotch deserve it? Why are you even riding with us if you’re so afraid of a fight?”

There it was, the question that might expose Ned’s lies, yet the answer he had held enough truth to pass through his mouth with sincerity. “I’m here for you! And I’m afraid to lose you in whatever stunt Tom might plan because of someone who’s already dead,” Ned shouted, gesturing at the coffin.

Cole’s face went dark with a flush, and he shook his head, looking at the horizon. “When someone hurts your family, you can’t just let it go.”

He might as well have smashed a mallet into Ned’s chest, broken through the breastbone and sank its shards in his heart. That settled it. Ned had to stay. He would do justice to his poor family, who’d perished in Butcher Tom’s six-fingered hands. But he would also make sure to protect Cole, his new family, both from the law and the truth that might ruin him.

He patted his pocket to find the gift he’d hidden there and rode up to Cole. Teasing might not be welcome right now, but he dared to kick the back of his boot gently.

“I know how to find our way.”

Cole was still stiff, but his grimace relaxed somewhat when he saw the compass in Ned’s hand. “We know where the sun rose, but it might come in handy anyway. It’s getting hotter, and Scotch back there might start attracting more flies.”

Ned swallowed and passed him the present. It resembled a large pocket watch, and had a lid to keep it safe. “I got it for you,” he mumbled. “If we’re ever forced to part, with this, you will find me.” He looked away, embarrassed over the sappy words now that they weren’t spoken in the cozy bath but under the wide expanse of the blue sky.

Cole stayed still, but just as Ned was about to pull away to save himself more shame, his lover’s firm hand twisted on his bandana and pulled him across the gap between their mounts, for a kiss.

Cole blinked once they parted but kept holding the compass against his chest until he realized it wouldn’t help them find the way to camp unless it was opened.

Ned released the air he hadn’t known he was holding in. “I’m sorry about Scotch. About everything. I should have just gotten on with the job. I meant it when I said I’d do anything for you.”

The wind swept Cole’s hair back, and he pulled off his hat, pressing it to his breastbone, a mild smile stretching his lips. “I know. I trust you.”

Ned bit his lips to the point of pain, because Cole shouldn’t trust him. And yet Ned wanted Cole’s heart and soul more than anything in the whole world. Maybe even more than revenge.