Snowed In(manxman)

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

As Turner went about feeding Bernice, the cow and the chickens he thought about how he was going to earn Will’s trust and hopefully heart. Turner knew he had messed up. Hell he’d damn near killed the man, but worse than that, he’d used him.

He’d known that Will had been used at that brothel, known that he’d been hurt and abused, and Turner hadn’t treated the man any better. Sure he’d ensured that Will found his release each time in an attempt to make himself feel better but he’d hurt Will--and that made him feel about two inches tall.

Turner rubbed his neck and leaned against the barn wall. He hadn’t been raised to be loving and caring. His parents had had better things to do then bother with a child and Turner had left home at fourteen. He had only seen them once since and that had been seven years ago when they’d realized that their son didn’t live with another man simply because they were good friends. They’d called Turner an abomination and washed their hands of him, not that it had made much of a difference to Turner. They hadn’t ever been award winning parents anyhow.

When Turner had left home at fourteen he’d fallen into a bad group of men nearly instantly and he’d learned to lie, cheat, steal and even kill in order survive. After two years of earning one hell of a tough reputation, he had attempted to rob the wrong wagon and Peter Jacobson had put a bullet in him for it. Turner had nearly died from that bullet to the chest but Peter had saved his life after nearly ending it and it hadn’t taken long for the two men to fall in love.

Turner had turned his life around after that. He hadn’t done it for Peter but because of him. Peter had helped him learn and grow and while he had maintained his rough edges and lack of social skills Turner had become a better person.

Peter had loved him, rough edges and all, and Turner had been a damn good partner to the man. He’d done everything he could to put smiles on his face, worked hard to make sure Peter would never have a reason to fall out of love with him….

Now Turner had to find that part of himself again and bring it back to life for Will. Full of determination, Turner gathered some wood from woodshed and headed back toward the cabin, certain that somehow he would make Will love him.

***

Will sat on the sofa in a flannel shirt that belonged to Turner and was far too big for his smaller frame. He knew when he stood it would hang nearly to his knees and the trousers he was wearing were cinched tight with a belt and they pooled on the floor beneath his feet.

His clothes were hanging in front of the fireplace drying out and the mess that had been scattered across the cabin floor had been picked up and tidied. Will cast a suspicious glance in Turner’s direction as the big man pulled a pan of sizzling sausages off the cook stove and sat it on the table beside the eggs, biscuits and oatmeal with canned peaches that he’d already prepared.

Turner hadn’t spoken a word since coming back in. He had given Will clothes, cleaned the mess and cooked a meal all in complete silence. Will had no idea what the man had up his sleeve but he was determined not to fall for it. No matter what Turner said or how nice he tried to be now, Will had seen his true colors and he had to remember that.

His spine stiffened when Turner headed his way and came to stand in front of him. Will’s eyes were level with the front of Turner’s trousers and he swallowed hard as he recalled just what lay beneath them and the pleasure Turner had given him.

“Breakfast is ready,” Turner held out a hand, “Come on and eat.”

Will stared at that hand and then back at Turner’s face. Slowly he put his hand in Turner’s and let the other man help him stand. He tried to tell himself it was only because his body was still recovering from his near death experience the night before though deep down he knew that wasn’t the truth.

Will felt the instant heat, the spark of desire that shot through him like a bullet the moment he placed his hand in Turner’s. He felt the calluses, the roughness, the strength and just like that he would have given the man anything he asked for.

Shamefully he realized all Turner would have to do was throw him down right now and Will would freely stick up his ass and let this man take him. Perhaps he did belong in a brothel.

For a second Will thought that Turner was going to do just that. The man’s brown eyes were hungry as they traveled the length of Will’s body longingly. And then, just as quickly, Turner let out a ragged breath, rubbed his thumb against Will’s hand and led him to the table. Will watched with wariness as Turner made him a plate and sat it down in front of him.

“You better eat,” Turner urged. “Your body needs the strength.”

Will nodded and dug into the meal. He truly was starving and felt as if it had been five days since he’d eaten. Turner seemed pleased as he too began to eat.

“I’m sure you’re getting tired of the house, aren’t you?” Turner asked.

Will nearly choked on the sausage in his mouth. He coughed several times and then downed a few swallows of the fresh milk that Turner poured for him, “Are you making conversation?” he demanded.

Turner shrugged and leaned back against his chair, “If you’d rather have silence we can go back to that.”

“No, we can talk,” Will replied quickly. How long had he been craving conversation and companionship of any kind? He hadn’t had much of either since Thompson Caudill had locked him up in that brothel.

Turner smiled and Will quickly looked away from him. That smile was trouble. Turner had a dark, dangerous air about him most of the time. He was ruggedly handsome with sharp lines and angles but when he smiled like that some of that roughness softened. Lines appeared beside his eyes and crinkles pulled at his cheeks around his lips, proving that at some point in his life Turner had smiled often.

“So, are you tired of the cabin?”

Will nodded slowly, “Yeah, I’ve been cooped up a long time.”

“Thompson didn’t let you out much?”

Will rubbed at his neck and shifted in the chair, “No. No, he didn’t.”

“I’ve gotta check on more line of traps today. There’s not very many that way and it shouldn’t take too long. Do you want to come?” Turner offered while sipping a steaming cup of coffee.

Will should say no. He shouldn’t give in to this new side of Turner, not after what he’d done… but Will wasn’t a grudge holding man and it was too hard to try to become one now. With a sigh, he nodded, “Sure.”

A/N: Well the chapter count on this story just keeps growing! It will still be short word count wise because the chapters are fairly short but I believe there's going to be more chapters than I first thought! I hope you're still enjoying the story :) Poor Will doesn't know what to do with himself with this new and improved Turner!