About The Book of Wisdom

by JM Cartwright
33 pages / 7900 words
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub

Con Danvers is not jealous. Uh-uh. No way. The fact that his lover is helping a young college kid with life issues doesn't mean Con has to get all growly and snarky. Does it? Stephen Rydell wants Jesse James Callender to succeed in life -- and being gay in a small West Virginia town hasn't exactly given the kid a head start.

Catch up with the boys from A Change of Scenery five years on, as they host Stephen's protégé for the summer.

Sample

"Jesse's coming home today."

Stephen Rydell looked out his kitchen window as he spoke. The view across the valley never failed to stir something in his soul. Early morning light was sparkling on the grasses, the rays of the sun captured and magnified in the dewdrops hanging on their stems. Branches on the huge old trees moved slightly in the late spring breeze, and he was almost sure that was an eagle's nest way up top on that giant spruce.

"I was thinking we should get a horse."

Sure his ears were playing tricks on him, Stephen set the glass he'd just washed onto the stainless rack in the deep sink. Squinting in disbelief, he turned his head, looking at his lover. "What?" Sometimes the turns of the man's mind just befuddled him.

Conway Danvers was smiling happily as he sat at the long harvest table in the sunroom just off the kitchen. He was reading a magazine, humming as he ran his finger down the page. "Yeah. Look at this picture. That looks so cool, with those horses out there in the pasture, and these folks can look out their windows and see them from the house. And it would be good company for Buck."

Hearing his name, the hairy mound at Con's feet began wagging his tail. Stephen ran a critical eye over the canine. The Old English Sheepdog was looking decidedly scruffy these days, dearly in need of a bath. Although, at six years old, the dog had settled down quite a bit and was no longer the crazy, rambunctious puppy his sister had asked him to babysit all those years ago.

Drying his hands on a towel, Stephen leaned against the apron sink, trying not to smile. "You ever been around a horse?"

Con paused to think. "Um, maybe once. Up in Wisconsin."

"Well, lover, there's a lot more to owning a horse than just turning it loose on the grass, believe me." Tossing the towel over one shoulder, Stephen strolled over to Con's side. Resting one hand on a muscled shoulder, he leaned over to look at the photo in question. "Yes, that certainly is gorgeous. But it doesn't show you the piles of manure you have to clean from the pasture regularly, and it doesn't show you the vet bills you get every few months, or the shoer you have to pay every eight weeks. Shall I go on?"

Con frowned up at him, blue eyes glinting. "How come you know so much about it?"

Snorting, Stephen straddled his man's lap. "My daddy had horses when I was a kid. I've mucked more stalls than I care to know." He leaned forward with a kiss. "And Buck? That silly dog would get his head bashed in by a big old hoof, faster than green grass through a goose."

Disgruntled, Con pouted. It was adorable, Stephen had to admit. He ruffled the short sandy hair, loving the crisp feel against his fingers.

"Fine. It was just an idea."

Rolling his eyes, Stephen got back up. "Did you hear me when I said Jesse was coming home?" He headed for the fridge to put away the milk from breakfast.

"Uh-huh." Con's nose was buried in the magazine again.

"What's your problem?" Shoving the fridge door closed with a thud, Stephen put his hands on his hips. "You always act this way whenever Jesse's name comes up -- or when he's been here at the house."

Con ignored him for a few seconds, before sighing loudly and closing the magazine with a slap. "I don't have a problem." He shoved away from the table, the long bench sliding on the wood floor with a groan. Stopping at the large picture window they'd installed to take advantage of the western views across the valley, he leaned one shoulder against the wooden mullion, sliding the fingers of one hand in his jeans pocket.

"Huh. Like I believe that." Stephen stepped up beside Con, turning sideways to look at his lover, tilting his head back just slightly. "C'mon, big man. What's going on?"