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

“What the hell is this, O’Leary? I took you for a sensible man.”

Ned spread his arms. “Well, turns out I’m not! I’ve got a heart, and it wants what it wants!”

Zeb shook his head, but stayed put. “Oh, is that it? You gonna sing Cole a serenade about his cock now?”

Ned pursed his lips. “If you’re not killing me, and I’m not taking the gold, then we’re done here.”

Zeb let out an unintelligible growl, but Tom stayed still, his piercing eyes stabbing Ned without open malice. What was he thinking?

Ned took a deep breath and turned to mount Nugget, acutely aware of the gazes tearing at his back. If either of them wanted to put Ned in the ground, now was the time.

But guns didn’t go off, and by the time he nudged his mount into a gallop that sent dust high into the air, his heart slowed, squeezing tighter instead. He wasn’t ashamed of what he’d said. After weeks of living in the skin of an outlaw, he felt like a man of principles again. And it felt good.

He couldn’t wait to get back to Cole, even if they were to finish the burial, or hunt snakes if Bertha sided with Zeb and refused to feed them. But only a few moments later, a figure in black trembled where the red earth met blue sky, and Ned’s throat tightened with emotion. He knew why Cole was there, because he wouldn’t have been able to stand such uncertainty either.

They met halfway, waving at one another until they were close enough to speak. “Missed you too,” Ned joked to defuse the tension in his own muscles. But it wasn’t enough for Cole, who grabbed his saddle horn and leaned above the gap between his giant black stallion and Nugget. His fingers pushed into the hair at the back of Ned’s head, and he pressed their cheeks together, holding Ned in the uncomfortable yet badly-needed hug.

“I know, I know. Let’s just go somewhere for a bit, hm? Just you and me,” Ned whispered and kissed Cole’s cheek, even though it left dust on his lips.

“If they took one hair off your head…” Cole said in a tight voice. “That would have been the end of this gang. I swear.”

Ned chuckled. “I think they know, even if they don’t like it much.”

When they pulled away from each other, Ned toyed with the idea of telling Cole what Tom and Zeb had offered him. He wouldn’t even have to lie to put that wedge between old companions, but it didn’t feel like the right thing to do so soon after Scotch’s death. If Ned had waited so long for revenge, then he could wait a little more. Cole would lose his head if he found out what happened and could get himself hurt if he provoked Tom or Zeb into a fight over it. That would have been the last thing Ned wanted.

He led the way up-creek from the camp, south from Three Stones, where they could be alone and forget everyone’s judgment. Some of the gang members had Ned’s friendship, he’d be lying if he claimed to loathe them all, but it was Cole who’d captured his heart and soul. He alone would matter once Ned cut Butcher Tom’s wings and sent him tumbling into a fire of his own making. Everyone else would be collateral damage.

They crossed the creek, which was shallower and broader there, and eventually formed a little blue pond in a basin surrounded by grass, shrubs, and small trees. Cole dismounted and took off Thunder’s tack, leaving him free to drink and eat. With sun already on its descent, the air was no longer so painfuly hot, yet the crystal clear water was still a treat, with no one around to disturb their peace.

Ned was the first one to scoot at the shore and wash his face of sweat and grime. “Damn this feels good,” he said, breathing in the sweet scent of warm herbs and sand.

Cole kneeled next to him and flung his arm across Ned’s shoulders. “It does. Just you and me.”

Ned poked him with his elbow. “I meant the water, but you’ll do.”

“Why settle on just one?” Cole asked and pulled away, removing his boots with a toothy smile.

Ned liked the sound of that after digging a hole in the tough dirt all day. “Oh, yeah? I can have both?” He smiled, eager to forget the reality they’d have to face back at the camp. His clothes and boots were off within half a minute and he jumped knee-deep into the water, clenching his teeth at the shocking change of temperature, yet happy for the cooldown nevertheless.

He stalled when Cole’s naked form approached the edge of the intensely blue surface. He stepped in with just one foot first. A deep shudder went up his body and twisted his face, but he wouldn’t stop and went in deeper. “Damn, that’s cold!”