Chapter Eight

Aiden took his time with his bath at the hotel that evening. The hot water helped ease some of the pain from his stiff muscles and even took away a bit of the stress and weariness that living on the run had caused to cling to him.

Aiden wanted to be that happy-go-lucky, carefree man he'd once been but he wasn't sure he could ever get that man back. It would only be a matter of time before those bounty hunters tracked him down again and he would have to run for his life or die. Honestly, Aiden was surprised they hadn't found him already but he was thankful for it. He needed this time to recover a bit.

And of course there was Nick.....

Aiden's water had cooled so he stood and stepped from the metal tub. He stepped onto the gleaming hardwood floor below it and dried himself with the stiff blue towel that had been lying on the chair

Nick. The man was a puzzle. A tempting, arousing, hell of a puzzle that Aiden was afraid to look at too long. Aiden felt a flush color his cheeks when he remembered the way Nick had gotten on his knee and gazed up at him with so much longing and hunger.

Aiden had never imagined in a hundred years that he'd find a man out here that was like him but he had—he'd be willing to bet his life on that. So why then was Nick so hot and cold? What made the man so against letting Aiden see what he was? Had someone found out in his past and let him know it wasn't okay just the same as had happened to Aiden?

Aiden didn't know what made Nick who he was but he wanted to find out. Nick caused a heat and a hunger in Aiden that he had never felt before in his life. While Aiden knew that he'd have to leave soon, he wanted to get to know everything he could about Nick and the passion the man awoke in him before that happened.

What better way to do that than by heading down to the saloon where Nick was currently drinking and playing cards? Maybe the tall, hard, closed off man would be feeling a bit more open and up to talking with alcohol in his blood. It was worth a shot.

By the time Aiden dressed in some of his new clothes, donned his oversized hat and made his way into the dirty, dusty, dimly-lit saloon, his confidence had failed him. He couldn't just walk up to Nick and talk to him! The man was unapproachable as he sat with his side facing Aiden and concentrated on the poker game he was playing. And besides what good would it do to get to know the man when Aiden would simply be running for his life within the next few days or a week at the most?

Aiden wished he'd been born a bit braver but there was something about Nick that made it hard for Aiden to breathe around him, let alone just walk up and strike up a conversation. Instead Aiden made himself as unnoticeable as possible and slunk up to the bar where he ordered a beer from the old barkeep who appeared only half awake. Aiden proceeded to simply stare into that beer and wonder where he would go once those bounty hunters came riding into Bakerstown.

***

Nick had noticed Aiden the moment that he entered the saloon wearing that ridiculously big hat. Honestly, where had the man come across that thing at?

Aiden looked horribly out of place here. This saloon was full of a rougher crowd and that's why Nick liked it. No one was trying to make friends with anyone else, they were just playing cards, drinking whiskey and getting friendly with the women—well most of the men were getting friendly with the women.

Nick had learned over the years to not even smile at the bar maids because it gave them hope and ideas. It was better to act completely indifferent or all out rude and that way they left you alone and you didn't have to answer any awkward questions about why you were refusing their advances.

Aiden clearly didn't belong here. He was too soft, too fragile and too innocent to fit into a place like this. When Nick saw a man sit beside Aiden and poke him in the shoulder, clearly planning to give the newcomer a hard time, Nick knew he had to put a stop to it.

He tossed down his cards, swigged down the last of his fourth beer and gathered up his winnings before beginning to weave his way through the chairs and bodies toward the bar. As he got closer he could hear the conversation between Aiden and the man... Nick thought his name was Garth but he wasn't sure—he didn't take the time to get to know too many people.

***

"What you doin' in here, kid?"

Aiden sighed and wished this man would go away. He had known the second he'd flopped himself down on the stool next to him that this man was going to be trouble. Aiden didn't want new trouble; he just wanted to forget the troubles he already had.

"I'm not a kid," Aiden mumbled in response as he stared down into his beer.

The man sneered, revealing a chipped front tooth, "Sure you are. And you smell like those damned Atkinson's. "

Aiden frowned,"They got a particular scent?"

"You gettin' clever now?!" the man demanded as he shoved Aiden's shoulder.

Aiden saw the bartender glance their way, "No sir I'm not," Aiden replied, hoping to diffuse this situation before it turned more violent. Aiden wasn't much of a fighter and knew that this man who was twice as big as he was and smelled like he was well into his second or third vat of whiskey could easily make short work of him.

"I think you are!" the man snapped as he slammed a meaty fist down on the bar. Aiden was about to do what he did best and hightail it out of there when suddenly he felt a tremble wash down his back.

"Is there something wrong here, Garth?" Nick's voice was like music to Aiden's ears and he leaned back in his stool, feeling his back press against Nick's hard stomach. He heard Nick's sharp intake of breath and quickly sat back up and began to move his beer glass around with his finger.

"Naw there ain't nothin' wrong here, is there, boy?" Garth replied with a warning in his tone that Aiden didn't miss. "Why don't you go on back to your cards now, Nick?"

"I'm all done," Nick replied. Aiden turned sideways in his stool, now facing Garth with Nick's hip level with his chin.

"Is that right? Then get ya a woman and leave me and the boy be," Garth offered, waving a hand.

Nick simply stood there with his arms crossed loosely over his chest, "I'd rather not."

"I've noticed something 'bout you, Nick," Garth stated as he stood up and weaved slightly on his drunk feet. "You don't ever seem to show any interest in the ladies 'round here but you're rushin' in quick to help the boy. You ain't the type of man likes to shove his pecker in another man are you?"

Aiden choked on the beer he'd just gulped down and he felt Nick's big hand striking his back roughly in an attempt to help him—obviously the other man thought broken ribs were the cure for choking to death.

"Garth, don't you worry about that none. You wouldn't be my type if I was that kind of man," Nick replied to the other man as he continued to beat on Aiden's back.

"And why the hell not?" Garth demanded as he took a step forward. Aiden swatted desperately at Nick's arm to get him to stop hitting his back, which felt as if it had been trampled by cattle—angry cattle. Garth seemed to realize what his question sounded like and he quickly shook his head, "I mean.... How about I just kick your Atkinson loving ass?"

"If you really think that's necessary then go ahead," Nick replied sounding bored.

Aiden shook his head. He didn't want Nick getting hurt because of him. He'd handle Garth himself.... And then spent the next few months in a bed mending broken bones. "Nick, this doesn't concern you so why don't you just go one and let me handle it?" Aiden snapped, hoping to scare Nick off.

"Yeah, Nick, ya outghta listen to the boy there," Garth laughed.

Aiden had had enough. His parents wanted him dead. He had bounty hunters trying to kill him every time he turned around. He had been in fear for his life and running on very little sleep for two months. He'd been thrust into working on a ranch which he knew next to nothing about and he'd had Nick bristling at him all week—now this man was in his face and calling him a boy. Boy? Really? Aiden was a goddamn man and it was about time that people started treating him like one.

He pushed himself off his stool and was fully prepared to throw his fist into Garth's unsuspecting face when suddenly another body came between them and Aiden found himself looking at Ryder's smiling face as the man leaned his elbows against the bar.

"I see you're fitting in nicely," Ryder remarked, his dimples deepening and his eyes sparkling with good humor. Aiden felt himself instantly feeling a bit more at ease. Ryder seemed to have that effect on people—it was almost impossible to stay angry when he was around.

"Ryder, this don't concern you.." Garth began and Ryder turned to face him. Aiden moved away from the stool and stood beside Nick so he could see Garth. He didn't like not being able to see the other man.

"Garth, you're looking—well you're looking like hell these days to be honest with you," Ryder's grin grew, "You've gotta let go of all that anger you hold onto. It's not good for you."

"Why don't you go on back to the damn hole you crawled out of Ryder. Or go on home to that big-assed, nosy, good for nothing Atkinson wife of yours..."

Aiden felt his own fists clench at hearing this man insult Susie when Susie seemed to be such a genuinely good person and someone who had truly made him feel welcome here. However, it seemed his temper was unneeded because Garth had no sooner gotten the words out then Ryder's entire demeanor changed.

He was still smiling but it seemed colder somehow and his shuffling feet and tapping fingers stilled as well, "I think it'd be in your best interest to get on home and sleep off your drink, Garth. Or do I need to kick your ass again just like I have a few other times now?"

Garth grumbled a few times but seemed genuinely afraid of Ryder. Aiden nearly burst out laughing when Ryder let out a quick bark, sounding like a yapping dog, and lunged quickly as if he were going for Garth. Garth jumped backward, stumbled over a stool, and knocked into a man causing his drink to splash on the floor.

As Garth hightailed it from the saloon Ryder turned to face Nick and Aiden with a big grin on his face. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a coin which he began to roll back and forth across his knuckles.

"How's the ranch working for ya?" he asked Aiden.

"Good I guess," Aiden replied with a shrug.

"Well that's good," Ryder helped himself to Garth's unfinished shot of whiskey. "If ya need any help with Brody just come to me. Him and I are as close as.... Well we're like this," Ryder held up two fingers and then crossed them tightly to show just how close he and Brody were.

Aiden heard Nick chuckle and glanced up at the other man to find his gray eyes full of amusement and his head shaking.

Ryder sat the empty whiskey glass on the bar, "This really isn't the best saloon to be hanging out in, Aiden. Nick here is alright but the rest of them here got sticks up their asses."

Aiden's eyes widened at the loud way Ryder shared that tidbit of information but no one seemed to be paying much attention to what the hyperactive man said. "Where should I be?" Aiden asked.

"There's two other saloons down the road. I'll take ya...."

"That's alright, Ryder," Nick spoke up, "I'll make sure he gets there safe."

Aiden wanted to bristle and insist that he didn't need protecting but the thought of Nick standing beside him so strong and able and looking out for him—that didn't sound so bad.

Ryder looked back and forth between them several times and then nodded as he shoved the coin into his pocket and shrugged. "Alright then. I need to be getting home to Susie before she starts worrying about me. She's a worrier, my Susie." Without saying another word or waiting for a reply, Ryder left the saloon just as quickly as he had entered.

"Why does Garth hate the Atkinson's so bad?" Aiden asked, feeling more than a little awkward now that he was once again alone with Nick.

Nick tossed some change on the bar, silencing the barkeep who, was growing agitated by all the commotion and then took Aiden by the arm leading him toward the door. "I reckon the Atkinson's are either people you love or you hate. If they like you then they are the nicest folks you'll ever meet but if they don't like you then they can make your life miserable."

"And I take it they don't like Garth?" Aiden offered and Nick smiled. The smile was enough to have Aiden's feet tangling up and he would have fallen had Nick's hand not firmly held him up.

"It would seem that way."

"Where are we going?" Aiden asked as Nick led him down the street, which was still fairly crowded even though darkness had fallen.

"Somewhere we can relax a bit. That sound good to you?"

Aiden looked up at Nick and while the other man wasn't looking at him Aiden could see the nervousness and uncertainty on his face. He was nervous about spending time with Aiden? That was new.

"Sure," Aiden replied, a blush growing on his cheeks. "Sure that sounds real good."