Read Online Whispers of Home by April Kelley - Free Book Online

blood-thirsty his seemingly-sweet mother actually was.
    Travis found the man in the cow barn. He was laughing at something Tom said. When Travis heard the words “girly tears” and “queer” he didn’t waste time talking. Travis swung a fist at the man’s ugly face. Vince fell to the ground from the impact. Tom took a step back when Travis’ angry gaze turned to him. “If I hear either one of you even say Jaron’s name I will come after you. You have ten minutes to pack up whatever shit you have and get off my property.” With that he turned and left the barn. He’d check on them in a few minutes to make sure they were both gone from the premises or they would get more of the same.
     
    Travis walked in to the house covered in horse manure, that’s why he used the back door. Maybe his mom wouldn’t yell so loud.
    “Travis Alexander Heath, why are you coming into my house smelling like that? Use the barn shower.”
    Maybe not. “Jimmy beat me to it and I’m meeting friends tonight. Gonna be late.”
    His mom’s eyes narrowed. “Take everything off right there. You’re not traipsing around my house like that.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” His mother walked out of the room so he could strip off everything but his boxer briefs. He hopped in the shower and made quick work of washing himself. He toweled off and quickly got dressed, planning on meeting his friends, Brad and Jackson, for drinks at the local bar in town.
    When he opened the door to the bathroom he didn’t expect to see his mom sitting on his childhood bed waiting for him. “What?” he asked by way of a greeting.
    “I trust Vince is off the property. I haven’t seen him in the past couple days.”
    “Yes ma’am. Along with Tom.”
    “I’ll make sure all the busybodies in this town know where we stand as far as all that goes. Now, I want to know your intentions toward Jaron,” she said, matter-of-factly.
    Travis smirked. “Isn’t that what his mom is supposed to ask me?”
    His mother sighed, as if Travis exasperated her. “I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing. Travis, I...I don’t know what to say to you. There are so many things I’m learning about you right now. And it’s because of Jaron.”
    “No mom, not because of Jaron. He’s the first man that I’ve been attracted to enough to do something about it, but it’s not his fault he’s so damn beautiful.” He sat down on the bed beside her, running his fingers through his hair. “I don’t even know if I’m willing to act on the attraction I have.”
    His mom smiled at him, a look of sadness in her eyes. “You always were comfortable in your skin. And while that’s a good thing, you never understood that other people may not be so comfortable with you.”
    “I never cared what others thought. Are you trying to say you have a problem with my attraction to another man?”
    “No dear. I’m trying to tell you to be careful. There are bigots out there that won’t like it, as we experienced with Vince. And Jaron is a precious boy. I wouldn’t want to see him hurt.” She made Jaron sound like a baby puppy or something. “Not physically or emotionally. Do you understand?” The look his mother gave him left no room for arguments.
    Travis understood perfectly what she was saying. Do not do anything to hurt her new favorite person. Travis smiled. “Yes, mom. I understand.”
    His mom laid a hand on his shoulder. “You like him a lot though, don’t you?”
    “Yeah. I think I do.” And that scared him. The possessiveness Travis felt toward the other man was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Travis wanted to fix his world. For the first time in his life, he didn’t know how to fix anything.
    His mom could have made this very difficult for him. He appreciated her understanding attitude. “He has so much baggage, mom.”
    “It might be good for you to carry some of his baggage for him. You have to decide if he’s worth it.” With that said, his mother