Read Online The Tin Star by J. L. Langley - Free Book Online Page A

especially since he’d cost Ethan two experienced workers.
    He hauled all his stuff to the front counter.
    Ethan was just finishing up his order with Tom Cooke, who had been manager at Hatcher’s Feed for years. They were discussing the new gazebo/bandstand that was being built in Town Square.
    Tom looked at Jamie. “Why are you still in town?”
    Jamie blinked and glanced at Ethan, then back to Tom. “Excuse me?”
    “You don’t belong here.”
    Jamie was dumbstruck. He hadn’t thought his being gay would matter to the people who knew him. After all, he was still the same person. He gaped at Tom.
    Ethan, however, was scowling something fierce. The expression on his face was enough to make Jamie want to step back. No intelligent man would continue talking with a man Ethan’s size glaring at him like that. But Tom was clearly not a smart man.
    “You should just hightail it on out to California with all the other freaks.”
    Jamie was so astounded, he couldn’t think of a word to say, much less a proper comeback. He’d been coming to Hatcher’s Feed since he was a kid. The owner’s daughter, Melissa Hatcher, had gone to school with his sister. And he’d known Tom all his life.
    “Put the stuff down, Jamie, and let’s go.” Ethan’s eyes met Jamie’s and he jerked his head toward the door.
    Jamie set the saddle and tack on the floor by the counter and followed Ethan.
    From the corner of his eye, he saw the manager’s angry face. “Fuckin’ faggot,” Tom spat out as he walked by.
    He was still so amazed at the manager’s attitude that he hadn’t realized Ethan had stopped short; Jamie’s boots slid on the smooth concrete floor as he tried to avoid colliding with him.
    Ethan caught his arm, steadying him. Then he let go and looked past Jamie’s shoulder with an icy stare. “You go ahead and cancel my order, Mr. Cooke. You can also tell Melissa Hatcher that I’ll be taking my business elsewhere here on out.”
    Once they stepped outside, Ethan turned to him. “You okay?”
    Jamie nodded, too flabbergasted to speak.
    Ethan tilted his head, looking Jamie up and down as he did so. “Good. Get in the truck. We’ll go out to Robert’s Feed and Suppl--”
    “Ethan! Jamie! Wait!” Melissa Hatcher ran out of the store, her blonde ponytail swinging behind her. “Please don’t go. I heard --”
    Tom stormed out of the store, grumbling under his breath. He walked right past without acknowledging them. Jamie and Ethan turned their heads in unison to watch him go.
    “Sumbitch!” Jamie’s eyes widened and his hand flew to his mouth. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud. Please pardon my language, Melissa.”
    Melissa giggled. “It’s all right, sugar. He is a son of a bitch!”
    Ethan chuckled. “Did you fire him?”
    She shook her head. “Not this time. Just made him take his break. But I sure will if he pulls a stunt like that again.” She looked Jamie in the eyes. “I heard the rumors, too, but it don’t make no difference to me. You’re good people and that’s all I care about. I gotta tell you, though, you’re gonna catch some flak around here. It ain’t right, but it’s God’s honest truth.”
    Jamie nodded. “I’m beginning to see that. I’m thinkin’ Ethan was right and I should’ve kept my fool mouth shut.”
    Melissa glanced at Ethan. “Yeah, well, hindsight and all that, but it still don’t give anyone the right to treat you like crap.” She huffed and shook her head. “I mean, really, and over something so unimportant. It floors me the things that people take offense at. People’s sex lives are private and that’s how it should be.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I don’t know what got into him. You are always welcome here. Please come back in and let me make it up to you. I’ll give you a huge discount, darlin’.” She winked and went back inside.
    Jamie once again found himself without words as he stared after her. Ethan nudged his arm and