“All right. I was planning on having burgers.” Margie narrowed her eyes as she gazed
at Chaz. “You’re looking better than I’ve seen you.”
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LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 94
Chaz grinned. “I’m feeling a lot better. Peter worked all the kinks out of my muscles
last night, and I had the best night of sleep I’ve had in a long time.”
Peter blushed because somehow that sounded more suggestive than it should have.
Margie didn’t even blink. She merely nodded, then turned back to the sink where she was
rinsing dishes.
“Your breakfast is staying warm in the oven,” she informed them.
“Thanks for that,” Peter said as he went to the stove to grab the plates.
Chaz picked up the silverware and their drinks, then carried them to the table. After
setting the food on the table, Peter sat. He looked at the meal, and realised he wasn’t hungry.
He pushed the plate away from him before standing.
“I’m sorry, Margie, but I’m not really that hungry anymore.”
He didn’t wait around to hear what she had to say. Peter walked back to the office, then
shut the door. His mind wasn’t on work, yet he knew he had some things to take care of. All the thoughts about his family raced around his mind, and he sighed.
Why did all this shit have to happen while Les and Randy were gone? He never
thought it would be his family that caused him stress instead of all the businesses he worked with.
Chaz opened the door, then looked in. “Do you want to be alone?”
Peter shook his head. “Not really, but I’m not going to be good company at the
moment.”
“Why don’t you go grab a shower? It might help clear your mind,” Chaz suggested.
“You’re right. I can’t think about anything at the moment.” Peter stood. “Do you want
to look around the ranch after I get done? I think Les will understand why I don’t have some files taken care of when he calls.”
“Sure.” Chaz brushed his fingers over Peter’s cheek as he walked past. “It’ll be all right, Peter. No matter what your uncle has to say, you’ve still got a great big family here who loves you and cares about you.”
Peter gave Chaz a quick kiss before he wandered down the hall to his room.
* * * *
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Peter and Chaz practically fell into the kitchen from the mud room at the back of the
house. As Peter laughed, he grabbed Chaz’s arm to keep him from hitting the floor. Margie wrinkled her nose at the mess they were making. Peter glanced down at his clothes, covered with hay and dirt.
“Sorry, Margie. We’ll go change, then come back and clean this up.” Peter gestured
towards the trail they were leaving behind them.
“Of course you will. I have to finish getting dinner ready. You have about a half-hour
before your uncle gets here.” She glanced at the clock.
“I know.”
He and Chaz parted in the hallway, each going to their separate rooms. In twenty
minutes, they returned to the kitchen. Peter cleaned the floor while Chaz helped get the
dining room table set. Peter smiled as he listened to Chaz chatting with Margie.
Peter had spent the entire day showing Chaz around the ranch, telling him about all the
different operations Les and Randy had going. Chaz had been suitably impressed, and Peter had been proud to know he’d had a hand in all of them. Of course, Peter thought Les had the Midas touch when it came to business. Every company the man started seemed to flourish
and turn a profit.
The doorbell rang just as the burgers had finished cooking. Peter went to the front door, but froze instead of opening it. Why was he so nervous about meeting his uncle? He didn’t remember a lot of about the man since no one had talked about him after he’d left. Peter
didn’t even know what he looked like.
The doorbell rang again, and he jumped when Chaz reached past him to open the door.
He shot Chaz a glance, and his lover gave him a small smile. Simply knowing Chaz was
there helped give Peter courage. It was silly to feel that way about a man he’d just met, but there it was, and Peter wasn’t inclined to dissect his feelings at the moment.
“Hello, you must be Roscoe. I’m Chaz O’Brien, a friend of Peter’s.”
Peter felt his mouth drop open. Looking at Uncle Roscoe was like looking in a mirror.
They had the same bright blue eyes and blond hair. Peter saw the quick glances Chaz was
shooting between him and Roscoe.
“Is this why you were disowned?” Peter blurted out.
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LEAVING HOME T.A. Chase 96
Roscoe shook his head. “No, I was sent away before your mother knew she was
pregnant. Since no one knew how to find me, she was left with only one option and that was to marry my brother.”
Margie came up behind Peter. “I’m Margie, the housekeeper here at the ranch. Please,
come in. You timed your arrival perfectly. Dinner is ready. We’ll eat, then you and Peter can go and catch up.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Chaz spoke up. “I’ll take your coat.”
Peter couldn’t bring himself to say anything or do anything except follow the three of
them as they walked to the dining room. He and Roscoe sat while Chaz and Margie got the
drinks and the rest of the food from the kitchen.
This wasn’t what he’d been expecting at all, and Peter wasn’t sure he wanted to know
anything else about what had gone on between his uncle and his mother. Hell, the man
wasn’t his uncle, he was his father, but Peter wasn’t sure he could get his mind around that at the moment.
Chaz served everyone, then sat. He looked over at Peter, and obviously could tell Peter
wasn’t able to say anything yet.
“Where are you living now, Roscoe?” Chaz opened the conversation.
Peter sent him a thankful smile. He did want to know everything about Roscoe, but
