Robbie eases the truck to a stop and puts it in park. He doesn’t expect any traffic on this road even in good weather, but just to be safe he flips on the hazard lights.

“The old Cane place changed hands a few years ago, and the new owner runs some cows.” Robbie gives the careful, political answer, and then, considering how long he’s known Lance, relaxes enough to add, “If you want to call it that. He’s kept them alive, and they’re in the pasture slightly more often than they’re out.” With a sigh, he rubs his palms on his thighs. “Can I borrow my coat?”

“Oh, sure,” Lance says, cheeks going a little pink. He leans forward and struggles to get his long arms out of the sleeves in the cramped cab, like he’s no more accustomed to being tall and lanky than Robbie is to seeing him that way. When he hands over the coat, Robbie is careful not to let their hands touch, and then he ignores the fact that the lining is warm from Lance’s body when he puts it on himself and gets out of the truck.

He’s more than a little baffled by his physical reaction to Lance. That’s as new to him as Lance’s short hair and sudden height, and he doesn’t know what to do with it.

You’re just lonely, he assures himself, and feels better for about a half-second before an inner voice adds snidely, and sex-deprived. He trips a little and blames it on the snow, catching himself with one hand on the hood of the Chevy. Then, pushing all thoughts of the young man waiting for him in the truck from his mind, he focuses on guiding the cows that are lingering in the ditch toward the low place in the ancient barbed wire that they stepped over to get out.

Chapter Five

Lance

With the heat blasting, the Chevy’s cab is perfectly warm, but Lance still misses Robbie’s coat.

While Robbie trudges after the cows, Lance rummages for his phone in the plastic baggie from the jail. Not because he expects to have missed any important calls, but because if he doesn’t do something to distract himself, he’ll just stare out the window and watch every move Robbie makes. Staring at Robbie will only make managing his turbulent emotions harder.

And he has to get himself under control. He can’t humiliate himself with Robbie. Not again.

When he rolls his thumb over the screen to bring it back to life, though, the first thing he sees is a bolded notification. No service. The low-battery warning is blinking, as well as a notification for one missed call and two texts.

Danny: I talked to Robbie, and he’s coming as soon as he can get there.

Danny: I just realized you might not be getting these texts. If you are, will you text me back? I called and left a message too, but you can ignore that if you want.