Silent

9. Follow me

It was a little after four pm in Mexico when their plane finally landed at the Del Bajio International Airport. Ricky said goodbye to his colleagues, inviting them to join them on the ranch before heading back to the States.

Michael had gotten little sleep during the long flight but he still felt exhaustion heavy as they headed towards the parking lot following Ricky and a member of the staff who was transporting their bags inside a trolley. Ricky was busy talking in his cell, he had only instructed him to follow close behind, checking from time to time that he could keep up.

The air outside the airport was stifling, of course, Michael had known to expect it, but still, it managed to feel more excruciating than what he had been prepared for. He might have had Spanish blood but he preferred the cooler climate of England and Ireland where he had grown up.

The car was waiting for them, Ricky thanked the man who had their bags and gave him some money before he took off. They loaded their bags into the trunk with the help of a sluggish Mexican driver.

Michael felt his nerves building back when he thought about his home and his parents. It was already past eleven pm back in England and his parents would have noticed his disappearance long ago. Were they at all regretful that he had left? Would they miss him at all or were they happy that he had gone? He felt tightness in his chest at the idea, he had always before been sure of his mother's love up until he had told her he was gay... But still... She may have wished he'd change, but he doubted that she had been happy to read his note either.

The car had no air conditioner. Michael felt sweat forming on his forehead and opened the buttons of his shirt, trying to cool off by waving his plane ticket in front of his face. He glanced at the man with an exhausted smile noticing that he too was suffering from the heat.

"How long still?" he asked. They had already been driving for forty-five minutes and there were fewer settlements now.

"Patience my dear." Ricky smiled and moved his hand to massage his thigh. "It will be worth it," he promised and Michael nodded, moving his gaze to the scenery that opened from the window. Beautiful, he thought.

After another thirty minutes drive the estate came into view, it was close to six in the evening and the sun hadn't set yet. The place was idyllic and beautiful farmland that pastured horses and grew wine. Michael looked around, fascinated by what he was seeing.

"It's beautiful here," he breathed, looking excitedly at the horses in a nearby pasture when they got out of the car.

"It is. Isn't it? Perhaps tomorrow we could try riding?" The man smirked at his excitement. "Would you like that?"

"I would, very much," Michael nodded.

The quiet, hard-faced driver took their bags from the trunk. Michael thanked him in Spanish and smiled, the man only glanced at him expressionlessly before turning to Ricky.

"Will this be all, Sir?"

Ricky nodded, took his wallet, and paid the man. "Thank you, I'll contact you later," he said, keeping his eyes on the boy who gazed towards the horses in the pasture.

The driver returned to his car and started the engine. The front door of the house opened almost at that exact moment. Ricky looked at his friend and grinned as he was approaching. Michael glanced behind him at the car that drove away.

"Michael," he heard Ricky calling and turned his smiling face to him.

Next to Ricky stood another middle-aged man, who was tall, tanned, slightly overweight, with a mustache. They were both looking at him and the other whispered something to Ricky when Michael stepped closer.