Riding and Regrets by Bailey Bradford Read Free Book Online Page B

his breath. He took his phone out again, and this time he dialled Carlos. When that went to voicemail, Jody called Will.
    “I’m in the feed barn and Duke’s passed out,” Jody said as soon as the phone was answered. “I think he was hurt before he came in here.”
    “I’m on my way.” Will hung up and Jody did too then he tucked his phone away. He could see that Duke was breathing, could hear him too, so he knew that the man was alive. Jody eased the cowboy hat off all the way and leaned over to look at Duke’s head. There was blood in his hair, and now that Jody knew to look, on the inner part of the hat as well.
    “Fuck!” Will burst out with as he ran into the barn. “What happened?”
    “I don’t know what happened before he came in here, but once he was in the barn with me, he turned into a mean fucker,” Jody said.
    “What are you talking about?” Will snapped. “Duke’s the bomb.”
    “He tried to hit me, Will.” Jody nodded when Will looked at him with disbelief. “Why would I lie? He came in here and started giving me grief over checking my phone. I been worried about Prissy all day. He got nasty about it, told me no one cared about me or something to that effect. When I tried to talk to him about it, he lost his mind and threw two punches at me before he passed out. He’d been messing with the side of his head before that, and look.” Jody pointed to the wet hair. “That’s blood, and it ain’t super fresh.”
    Will cursed again and used his phone’s flashlight app to shine a brighter light on the spot Jody had pointed to. There was a large knot there, and a gash. “What the fuck?” Will muttered. “A head injury would explain him acting so out of character. Should I call for an ambulance?”
    “He needs a hospital,” Jody said. “I don’t know if you should call an ambulance. Might be quicker just to drive him in yourself. Less time wasted.”
    “Gotcha. Good thinking.” Will’s hands shook as he called Troy. In short order, Troy and Carlos were in the barn and Duke was roused enough to open his eyes. Jody left the men to their care of Duke, and resumed his work. Whatever’d happened to Duke had almost certainly been an accident. Jody was still smartin’ over the things Duke had said, but he kept telling himself to let it go. Duke had obviously been out of his mind.
    When he’d finished with his chores for the day, Jody had to try to scare up a set of keys. Carlos, Will, Troy and Duke weren’t back yet from the hospital, which was worrisome. Jody nibbled on his bottom lip. He was going to have to ask who had keys to what. The truck he’d used in the morning was parked where he’d left it. The keys had been passed around to whoever needed a vehicle to run errands around the ranch.
    Jody asked Frankie about them.
    “No idea, Jo.” Frankie brushed past him, making a beeline to the bathroom. “I got a hot date tonight. No time for helping you hunt ’em down.”
    “A—” Jody’s thoughts went to Noel. “Who’ve you got a date with?” There couldn’t be that many eligible men—gay men, anyway—in Ashville. Jody had a paranoid vision of Frankie on his knees offering to suck Noel off. It sent a jolt of anger right through him.
    “Guy I been chatting with online. He’s over in Junction. Don’t worry about it.” Frankie shut the bathroom door.
    Jody was worried, a little at least. What Frankie was doing didn’t seem safe. It wasn’t his place to nag, but he couldn’t stop himself from knocking on the door and at least expressing some concern for Frankie’s life. “You sure that’s a good idea? I mean, people get hurt doing stuff like meeting up with strangers.”
    Frankie opened the door enough that Jody got a peek at his dick and the rest of his naked body. The longing for the comfort of his former lover’s touch was like a physical ache. Jody just wanted someone to want him.
    “Kiddo, it’s fine. I know what I’m doing, but your concern is sweet.”