Salvation (Wells)

City boy Toby Merrow needs a change of scenery, and two weeks at a dude ranch seems the perfect solution, even though it's a far cry from the scenes of San Francisco. Not much chance of finding anything like that out in the wilds of Montana. But who knows? If he's really lucky, one of the other guests will show up on Scruff-or even better, Recon. That's if Toby has energy for anything else after spending his days riding out and herding cattle… Grizzled ranch owner Robert Thorston's foreman died five years ago, but Robert lost far more than a trusted right-hand man. That door is firmly closed, however, and the trappings that lie behind it are gathering dust. He's thrown himself into his business, never giving that part of his life a second thought-until a new guest catches his eye. It's obvious from the start Robert and Toby have a connection, one they are keen to make the most of in Robert's bed. No strings, no complications, and itches get scratched-well, most of them. Then Toby discovers the coiled ropes under Robert's bed, and the leather cuffs in the nightstand drawer…

Still haunted by his past, the last thing Butch wants is someone from that past intruding into his present. But what if Sol is exactly what he needs? Butch Buchanan has spent his life trying to forget the stuff he did when he was an asshole teenager. He's also spent most of his fifty-two years on this planet convincing himself he's straight. And the fact that he gets down and dirty with Salvation's foreman whenever his itch needs scratching? Guys do that, right? Doesn't make them gay or bi, right? Besides, Butch is always the top, so he's definitely not gay. Right? But those nights aren't about intimacy-they're about steering him away from the dark chasm of his dreams. Only, it's not working. The comfort and safety he'd found has become a rut, and the road ahead goes on and on, no divergence, just a straight run that seemed to be going nowhere. Middle of the road isn't enough anymore. Sol Davenport hasn't seen Butch since high school, and his handsome face brings back memories of a Sol he'd rather forget-a Sol he left behind. Maybe Butch is avoiding him because he shares those same memories. Which is a pity, because Butch is even hotter now than he was back when Sol was firmly wedged in his closet. But a lot of things have happened since then, like the heartache he yearns to forget. A heartache he will keep far from his door. So he's not about to let himself get entangled with a man who'd win the award for Gayest Straight Man. A man who doesn't play his kind of games. Yet. Change is coming to Salvation. A different kind of guest, new activities… Butch craves change, but is he ready for the collision that's about to rock his world? There's change waiting in the wings for Sol too-he just needs to be brave enough to accept it. Two haunted men who need to exorcise their ghosts if they're to have a chance of happiness.