Chapter 75
Jake gave Barry a heart-melting smile. It was made all the more effective because of the man’s rosy cheeks brought on by the cold. It wasn’t fair. Barry wanted to smack Jake upside the head for being a stubborn pain in the ass, but after seeing that smile he’d kiss and love on the cowboy until…
“You’ve got that look again,” Jake teased. The bastard knew the effect his smiles had on Barry and would often employ them to get his way.
“Did you use your face cream this morning?” Barry asked, stroking the man’s face. But with gloves on Barry didn’t get the full effect.
Jake looked away.
“Jake!” Barry said, lightly smacking the man’s cheek.
Barry had bought Jimmy and Jake some high SPF skin cream, explaining that even in winter the sun could damage their skin. Both men had wonderful complexions and Barry wanted to keep them that way.
“I did,” Jimmy said, grinning and raising a hand.
“Fucking suck up,” Jake shouted, turning to race after Jimmy, who had scampered off.
Barry caught Jake before he could get far. “I know I’m being a nag, but it’s important you look after yourself.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I’ll try and remember next time.”
Barry rubbed Jake’s reddened cheeks. “Thank you.”
By this point Jimmy had come back to them. “We looking for a tree or making goo-goo eyes at each other?”
“Jealous?” Jake said, glancing over at Jimmy.
“Boys,” Barry warned softly.
“Yes, Jimmy, we’re looking for a tree. I remember there was a pretty nice one we saw last year. It’s just over this next rise.”
Jake set off walking again, Jimmy, Barry, and Rex dutifully following. Jake had thrown a large branch for the dog early on in their walk, and Rex still had one end in his mouth, the other dragging along the ground. Each time the branch got caught in something, Rex would growl and one of the men would have to free it. Did Shepherds usually behave like that? Barry began to imagine there might be some retriever in Rex’s lineage.
* * * *
“So much for just over the next rise,” Barry said to Jimmy after they’d climbed three hills.
Jimmy snickered.
“Is Jake usually this, uh, persnickety about the tree?”
“Took us until almost dark last year before he found one he liked,” Jimmy said, pulling Barry into a one-armed hug.
Barry groaned. He just knew that long before nightfall he’d collapse due to exposure, exertion or maybe exhaustion.
“Are you bitching again?” Jake asked, now several meters in front of them. Stopping and turning around, he added, “This is our first Christmas together, so I want it to be perfect.”
Barry realized he was indeed bitching, and it wasn’t fair of him. His cowboys were big, romantic softies and he should count himself doubly blessed to have them. “Sorry.”
Several minutes later, Jimmy approached a tree and looked up at it. “Douglas fur. Don’t grow many of these.”
“Too big,” Jake said, glancing briefly at it. “We’d have to cut a hole in the ceiling.”
It was indeed a beautiful tree, but Jake was right, it was too tall.
The search continued. Barry had to admit it was a good way of working off the calories they’d consumed the previous day. Although he could think of warmer ways to stay fit. However, being out in the crisp dry mountain air was infinitely preferable to being jostled and crushed in the mall by a hoard of Black Friday shoppers.
A Scotch pine,” Jake said. “Remember this one from last year?” he asked Jimmy.
“Uh, no?” Jimmy replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Is this the one that was supposed to be over the next rise?” Barry asked.
“Yeah.” Jake said, but didn’t look overly confident in his answer.
“So, if you liked it last year, why didn’t you cut it then?” Though to be honest, Barry didn’t care. He was rapidly losing the will to care about anything.
“Wasn’t big enough last year,” Jake said.
Barry stared at the tree. Yes, it did look good. Nice shape, decent height, and from what he could tell, balanced.
Jake started up the chain saw and Barry sat on a nearby bolder, Rex coming over to be petted.
“You like the tree, too?” Barry asked, rubbing the dog’s ears.
Rex let go his branch, sat, and licked Barry’s face.
“Thanks, mate, that’s all I want, a doggy wash in this cold air and miles from the nearest soap and water.” Realizing he was being unkind to his dog, Barry added, “But I still love you.”
Rex barked then licked Barry’s face again.