Chapter 96

At first, Cody had been unable to pronounce ‘Rory’ but soon picked up on his dad’s use of Ror, so that’s what Rory became to him, too. To Cody’s young mind, he also thought Rory should roar like a lion; Rory amused everyone by trying—and mostly failing—to sound like the big cat. The costume rental place had had a tiger outfit that had fit Rory better, but Cody had wanted a lion, so a lion Rory would be. He, along with everyone else on the ranch, spoiled the kid rotten

“And what are you going as tonight?” Rory asked, although the boots, Wrangler jeans, leather belt with huge buckle, black flannel western shirt, and black Stetson, made it pretty obvious. Rory was sure there’d be a superhero T-shirt under the flannel, too.

“Uncle Ror, I’m a cowboy! Just like my dad and my crew.”

“Ah, yes, of course.” Rory nodded sagely.

Cody’s Crew comprised of all the other men on the Double J who Cody could wrap round his pinky finger without even trying. If the three-year-old didn’t become a cowboy when he grew up, it wouldn’t be through lack of encouragement on the Crew’s part. They’d bought him any number of cowboy-themed toys and clothing. Naturally, Jimmy and Jake had provided him with blue and red western shirts, and although Cody wore them, he usually preferred black so he could be like his dad. Before he could walk, Cody had ridden on a horse, one of the adults holding him to their chest. Therefore, it came as little surprise that Cody had wanted a horse of his own so the ranch acquired Blaze, a black pony with a wide, white stripe on his nose. Too young to ride unassisted, Cody sat on the pony’s back, one of the men guiding the pony on a lead rope.

“Cody, invite Uncle Rory in. You’re letting all the cold air in!” Tonya called out from somewhere inside the house.

Cody stepped back and to the side, allowing Rory to enter.

“You looking forward to tonight?” Rory asked.

Cody nodded enthusiastically.

“Got a pillow case or something to carry your stash of candy?”

Cody grinned, showing the gap in his teeth that always made Rory smile. “Got two.”

Rory laughed. Cody and a few of his buddies from pre-school were going to meet up in town and walk the streets. Rory assumed, in addition to members of Cody’s Crew, there’d be some parents of the other kids, too. It was likely there’d be quite a crowd, which made Rory uneasy. However, he would be able to hide under his lion head.

Tonya had asked if she was invited but Cody had solemnly told her it was a men only night. So, getting a rare evening off, she’d decided on an even rarer date. Most of the men she tried dating had been intimidated by the overly-protective men on the Double J. Rory hoped this latest man, whoever he was, would last.

“You found one,” Tonya said, coming into the entry hall from the kitchen.

Rory grinned and put the lion head back on. “Sure did.”

She laughed. “Who all else is going?”

Rory shrugged then removed the head again before replying. “I know Wayne has a date with Mr. X, dunno about Liam. Jake and Jimmy will be going for sure.” The two had been just as excited about trick or treating at lunch as Cody. “And Zane of course.”

“Dad wouldn’t tell me what he’s going as,” Cody whined.

“Me either,” Rory replied. “I’ve been banned from the bunk house while he changes.”

Tonya laughed again and looked up at the wall clock. “Time to put your jacket on,” she told Cody.

“Aww, Mom!” Back came Cody’s whining voice, even stronger this time. “Do I gotta? People won’t be able to see I’m a cowboy.”

“I think the hat will give them a clue. Come on, you don’t want to keep your crew waiting.”

Cody stuck out his bottom lip and planted his fists on his hips.

Rory feared the youngster was about to pitch a fit. If he did, Tonya would be likely to ground him for the evening. “You could wear your duster,” he suggested. “Folks would definitely know you were a genuine cowpoke then.”

“Yeah!” Cody’s face lit up. He raced down the hallway and crashed into his room.

Tonya smiled at Rory and thanked him before following her son into his room.

* * * *

As expected, Jimmy and Jake were wearing their signature colors. Jake was dressed as the Devil, complete with horns on his head and a pitchfork in his hand that was smeared in fake blood. At least Rory hoped it was fake. Rory wasn’t exactly sure what Jimmy had come as. The outsize plastic ring on his finger and the weird-looking lamp in his hand didn’t give much away, although the overdone fake ab muscles under his jacket looked kinda sexy and Rory wondered if he should get a set for Zane.

“I’m The Blue Lantern,” Jimmy told Cody when the latter asked.

“But, Uncle Jimmy, the Lantern is green!”

“I don’t do green,” Jimmy replied, jutting out his chin and planting his fists on his hips, reminding Rory of Cody’s earlier posture.

Cody giggled. “You could be the Blue Beetle.”

Cody had of course gotten his love of superheroes from his father. In a touching reversal of fortune, Zane had already taught his three-year-old son to read by studying comic books with him.

Jimmy grinned. “Okay, I’ll be the Blue Beetle Lantern then. He tapped the brim of Cody’s hat. “Don’t need to ask what you are, eh, little buddy?”

Cody smiled up at Jimmy and puffed out his chest. “I’m going as my dad.”

“Speaking of, where is the Z-Man?” Jake asked.

Rory was dispatched to the bunk house to get Zane but remembering the man’s earlier insistence on secrecy, he coughed outside their bedroom door before entering. “We were wondering where…Fuck!”

Zane was standing in the middle of the room wearing a freshly cleaned pair of boots, leather pants that looked like they were painted on, a bullet belt, a Superman T-shirt that on closer inspection had a stylized letter Z in place of the S. But most superhero-esque of all, he wore an ankle-length black cape that swished when Zane moved.

Zane was fumbling with something around the back of his head. “Can’t fasten this fucking mask!”

Snapping out of his immobility at seeing such a god-like vision, Rory said, “Here, let me try.”

Zane sat on the corner of the bed and with shaking fingers, Rory managed to fasten the black mask in place. Walking around to the front, Rory made a few minor adjustments so Zane could see out the eyeholes properly.

“Fuck!” he said again. “You’re so…hot!”

Zane grinned and stood up. He lifted the lion head off of Rory’s costume and kissed Rory on the lips. “Not as hot as you in this outfit I’m sure.”

Rory shook his head. “You know what I mean. Fuck,” he said yet again, stepping back to take in the entire view. “If everyone wasn’t waiting for us I’d so let you fuck me right now.”

“Later.” Zane grinned again and gave Rory a twirl. “You think Cody will like it? It’s sort of Batman and Superman and—”

“Zaneman,” Rory said, adjusting himself in his lion suit. He was grateful his hard on wouldn’t show through the baggy costume. “He’ll love it, but not as much as me.” He couldn’t wait for the evening to be over so he and Zane could…

“Dad? You ready?” Cody asked, pushing the door open further. “Oh, Zorro, cool!”

The three walked into the yard, Jimmy and Jake grinning at Zane’s costume, no doubt pleased he’d gone with black. Barry was there, phone in hand, ready to take their picture.

“You not coming, Uncle Barry?” Cody asked.

“Someone has to stay behind and cook your special trick-or-treat Halloween supper.” Barry wagged his finger. “So don’t be late. I’m dishing up at eight-thirty sharp.”

“I won’t be late, not for your food.”

“Little creep,” Jimmy said under his breath and received a dig in the ribs from Jake.

“Okay, everyone gather round and say pumpkin!” Barry said, raising his phone.

Cody stood in front of his father, Rory to Zane’s right, Jake stood next to Rory and Jimmy was on Zane’s left.

“Pumpkin!” Everyone said just before the camera flash.

“Shotgun,” Cody yelled, running towards Zane’s truck.

Zane soon caught up with him and lifted him into the air. “You’re riding in the back in your booster seat.”

“Aww, Dad!”

Zane playfully swatted his son’s ass. “You know you can only ride in the front when we’re on the ranch. Gotta keep my little cowboy safe on the public roads.”

“Love you, Dad.” Cody wrapped his little arms around Zane’s neck and he kissed Zane on the lips.

“Love you, too, son.” Zane returned the kiss.

Rory smiled when Zane took hold of his hand and, rather than kissing the lion head, raised his hand and kissed it. “Love you, too, my Ror lion.”

Rory let out a leonine roar that echoed through the head piece.

As they drove into town, Rory mused at how, in just a few short years, he’d found a home, a job, and a family. But best of all, Rory had found Zane, his lover…his rock.

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