Texas Pride

“Kylie, I couldn’t tell you. You’re a little girl…” Kitt said. His tone was soft, and he turned from the door to start the shower, not completely drowning her out, but close.

“I’m not a little girl, I’m eighteen years old. And, I guessed it. But, all those trips to Dallas threw me off. Everybody says you just have a thing for city girls,” Kylie called out as Kitt stepped inside the shower. He stayed there longer than normal, hoping she’d get tired of waiting and leave.

He took his time grooming. He thoroughly brushed his teeth, brushed and dried his hair, even shaved and plucked a few unwanted hairs trying to drag it out. Kylie was impetuous, always moving. No way could she stay out there waiting for him for the forty minutes he took in the bathroom.

As a precaution, Kitt wrapped a towel around his waist before he stepped into his bedroom only to be faced with Kylie sitting on his bed, looking at his door. The bottom drawer to his nightstand was open with his latest People magazine in her lap. The issue featured Austin Grainger, People’s Sexiest Man Alive.

“I guess it was more like city boys than girls,” she said, flipping through the pages. “Sorry, couldn’t resist. Now, I get why you have all these magazines around.”

Kitt stalked over to her, frustration clear on his face, and jerked the magazine away from her.

“I’m sorry! Kitt, this is all fine to me. I’m glad to know. But, no one else knows? Not anyone?”

“No one! I haven’t told anyone.” He dropped the magazine back in the drawer, slamming it shut with his foot.

“That makes me feel bad for you. What a lonely life you must’ve led, I’m sorry for you. You’re such a good man. I honestly don’t think people will care. My campus is loaded with banners and petitions about equality for all. And, now that Dad’s gone, he can’t disown you or anything like that,” she said, sorrow now securely in her eyes.

Kitt held the towel in place, pulling jeans and a t-shirt from his closet. He stopped by his dresser, grabbing underwear before he went back to the bathroom to dress.

“They’ll care, and it will ruin everything so you can’t tell. Period, end of story!”

Kylie didn’t respond. Kitt dressed quickly and walked back out into his bedroom. He stopped and stared at his sister, with his socks and boots in hand, waiting to get her promise to keep quiet.

“I already promised you, Kitt, but how crazy is it that my brother’s datin’ Austin Grainger! You are datin’ him, right?” She jumped off the bed, following him as he headed toward the living room.

“I think so. He wants to be together as best as we can. He needs time to get past all the media, but Kylie, I can’t ever come out, and I don’t see him stickin’ around here for any real length of time. He’s just burned out right now, that’s all. He’ll go back to California. So don’t get all excited about it. I don’t think we have any sort of future, but right now it’s cool, I guess,” Kitt said. He sat down on the sofa to pull on his boots, and Kylie sat down beside him.

“I thought he was engaged?” She sat still, her hands in her lap, watching him with his boots.

“Nah, she just works for him. People aren’t as acceptin’ as you think. He had to hide too.” Kitt pushed down on both heels and stood, stomping a couple of times, making sure the boots were tightly on his feet. He made his way to the kitchen, Kylie back on his heels. He pulled sandwich stuff from the refrigerator and began to make them both a sandwich.

“You need to stay at school, not worry about things goin’ on here. We talked about this already. Next year, after you get in the swing of things with balancin’ class and studyin’, but not now,” he said, looking down as he worked.

“The cafeteria food sucks.” Kylie came to stand with her hip propped on the kitchen counter.

“I can give you more money a week. You should’ve said somethin’. I know I talk about how bad things are around here, and it’s still gonna take a few years to pull this place back up, but it’s not as bad as it was. I still have money from sellin’ the land, and I have seven insemination jobs lined up. Did I tell you I might’ve sold a colt to a racin’ farm in Kentucky already? We just need him to get here and let them come see him. So we’re doin’ better, or at least the future’s not so dark anymore,” Kitt said, handing one sandwich to Kylie before taking a big bite of his.

“I shouldn’t have gone to A&M,” Kylie said, and took her sandwich, looking at it but not taking a bite. Kitt saw the concern in her eyes.

“Yes you should’ve and I don’t wanna talk about it anymore. You’re where you need to be. Plus, in eight years we’re gonna need a vet around here.”

“Let’s go back to Austin Grainger. I like that conversation better! Kitt, he’s seriously hot,” Kylie said, finally taking a bite of her sandwich.

“I know, right?” They stood there together with their hips perched on the counter eating. This was how it was with them. They were always comfortable with one another. It was an unconditional kind of deal.

“They could legalize gay marriage, Kitt. It looks like it’s comin’,” she said with her mouth full.

“No way Texas will ever, unless it’s forced on us. And, even if that happens, it’s not gonna happen like that for Austin and I. Kylie, seriously, he’s just here catchin’ his breath. He’s not gonna stick around for too long, or pick some country boy to be with for the rest of his life. It’s just convenient for him for now.” Saying it so candidly to his little sister made Kitt blush a little, but he took another bite, grabbing two Dr. Pepper’s from the refrigerator and shoved one toward his sister.