"That's easy for you to say, Sam. You're sitting on a f*cking gold mine." Tim argues as he dismounts to help Sam down from the wagon.

"Yeah, we can't buy food on good looks alone." Chance chuckles.

"Just what are we supposed to do? The only thing we know how to do is rob banks and stagecoaches." Tim adds as they walk toward the house.

"Oh, I think you've boys have shown me that you know how to do plenty." Sam says with a smirk.

"Like what?" Adam asks as he and Tim help the injured old cowboy onto the porch. The blonde had been wanting them to settle down for some time but he did agree with the others' argument. With no way of making money, they would starve.

"Adam, that garden has taken a complete turnaround. And you've all have come up with some great ideas about the buildings on my property." Sam replies.

"Yeah? So?" Tim asks as they wall into the house. "I've not seen a lot of help wanted signs for gardeners."

"Wow!" Rob whispers as they stand in the living room and take in their surroundings.

The living room was large with a fireplace. All the furniture was still in the house, covered with sheets.

"This is nice." Adam smiles as he raises the sheet to look at the couch.

"And all this can be yours." Lilly smiles. She actually thought she saw a twinkle in Tim's eyes and a small smile on his lips as he slowly makes his way around the living room. "The kitchen is fully stocked with pots, pans, skillets, dishes...everything you need."

"The master bedroom is on one side of the house with two more bedrooms on the other. Both furnished." Sam adds. "A well in the backyard for drinking water. And of course, an outhouse."

"Why aren't y'all living here?" Tim asks as he looks at a beautiful old lamp.

"Well, our boys needed a place and we wanted our privacy. This place was actually too big for just me and Lilly." Sam says as they walk into the kitchen. "You'll need a bigger table. This one only seats four. But, I built this one so I can just build you a bigger one."

"We haven't agreed on anything yet." Tim retorted while looking into the woodburning oven.

"Oh, but you will, Timmy." Sam chuckles at the cockiness of the young outlaw. "You will."

"The same heated stream that you guys washed up in behind our house also runs behind this house." Lilly adds to the list of the pros of living here.

Adam grabs his lover by the hand and pulls him down the hall to check out the master bedroom. Chance and Rob go to check out the other rooms.

"What do you think?" Lilly whispers as she links her arm through her husband's.

"Tim's trying to be a little difficult but I expected that." Sam speaks softly so the others couldn't hear him.

"But I saw the gleam in his eyes as he was looking around. He likes it." Lilly smiles.

"Oh, yeah. He likes it. He's just being stubborn as usual." Sam chuckles as they walk down the hall toward the master bedroom, stopping just outside the door to listen.

"Oh, my God, Tim! Look!" Adam grins as he pulls the sheet off the full-size bed. "Our very own bed!"

Tim walks over and sits down on the bed. It was a hell of a lot more comfortable than their loft. He could definitely see him spending quality time with his lover in this bed.

"Tim?" Adam says softly as he gets on his knees in front of his boyfriend, laying his arms on the outlaw's legs. "Baby, this offer is just too good to turn down. We have never had a place to call home before. This is our chance. Our chance to stop running."

"I know, Sweetheart." Tim replies softly. "But we need money. We're wearing someone else's clothes. We need money to buy food. We can't keep sponging off Sam and Lilly."

"I can get money by playing poker." Adam suggests.

"But that's dangerous." Tim says as he brushes back a lock of his lover's hair.

"And robbing banks aren't? Honey, when I saw that noose around your neck in Rock Ridge, it scared the holy sh*t out of me. Sam's right. I don't want to ever see that again." Adam says as a lump rises in his throat. "Plus, you promised me that we would not always be sleeping on the ground and eating beans. Maybe it's time you keep that promise."

"I want to, Angel, I really do. But that doesn't eliminate the problem of needing money to survive." Tim sighs.

"Then work for me." Sam states, standing in the doorway.

The lovers' jump and look toward the old cowboy who had been listening this entire time.

"We're already working for you." Tim replies, raising a brow.

"Okay, let me rephrase that. I want to hire you boys to continue what you're doing. Working the garden, rebuilding the chicken house, the corral and possibly even the barn." Sam says, leaning against the doorframe. "Chopping wood... hell, the list goes on and on."

Tim turns his eyes to meet his lover's eyes. A huge smile was growing on the blonde's face.

"I don't know, Sam. I'll have to run this by the others." Tim says, slightly shaking his head.

"I understand." Sam nods. "Take your time, son, this place and the job offer still stands."

~~

"So when did you say the others were coming back?" Tim asks as he, Adam, Rob and Chance sat around the living room of, possibly, their new home.

Sam and Lilly had gone back to their cabin to give the guys some alone time.

"Tomorrow." Chance answers.

"Well. While we wait on them, I can tell you two Sam's offer." Tim says, taking off his cowboy hat and setting it on the arm of the couch he was sitting on.

"Offer? Besides this house?" Rob asks.

"Yeah," Tim nods. "He wants to hire us to work for him on his farm."

"He wants to start paying us for the things that we've already been doing and still need to do." Adam adds as he cuddles against his boyfriend.

"What did you tell him?" Chance asks, leaning forward on his knees.

"That I needed to run his offer by you guys." Tim replies.

"You are gonna take his offer, right?" Rob asks.

"I guess I can take that as a yes from you, Rob?" Tim chuckles.

"Absolutely." Rob laughs.

"Well, the way I see it, our argument was that we had no money. With his offer, we would have actual paying jobs and not risking our lives." Chance says, looking at his long-time friend. He knew that Tim always valued his input and was hoping he would this time too.

"You know my answer." Adam giggles as he lays his head on his outlaw's shoulder.

"Okay? So you three wants to take Sam's offer and settle done." Tim says as he looks at the three men shake their heads yes. "But I still would like to hear what Austin and Nate have to say. Even though, the majority rules."

"YES!!" Rob yells out, fist-pumping the air.

"Come on, Rob. Let's go pick out a room." Chance smiles as he jumps up from his chair.

"The master is already taken." Tim smirks.

"Duh." Chance laughs.

"You actually want to room with me?" Rob asks with excitement in his eyes.

"You think I wanna room with Austin? He's too freaking loud and Nate is way too quiet." Chance says as they head to the two extra bedrooms.

"But...But I snore." Rob says with a pout.

"You don't think we all know that, Rob?" Tim chuckles as he and Adam follow the two down the hall. "We've been sleeping around campfires for years together."

Both bedrooms were the same size, just a bit smaller than the master bedroom. Each room had two single beds.

"This is nice." Tim says as he looks around the room. "Does the other room have two beds too?"

"Yeah, there's really not that much difference." Chance says.

"Chance, if it really doesn't matter to you, I'd prefer the one closest to the back door." Rob says with a shy smile. "You know, weak bladder? It's closest to the outhouse."

"You actually plan on going to the outhouse in the dark with no telling what creatures are lurking around?" Tim chuckles.

"Oh, uh...just how far is the outhouse?" Rob asks with a look of worry.

"Hope it's not too close." Adam laughs. "Could get kinda stinky around here."

"Well, let's go out and take a look. Lilly said the stream was nearby too." Tim says as they head for the backdoor.

"Definitely need cleaning up some. These weeds and brush need to go." Chance says as they step out onto the back porch.

"Y'all watch where you walk. Could be snakes in this tall grass." Tim warns as they make their way out to the outhouse.

"It still looks in good shape." Chance says, observing the small building.

"That's a good thing. We would have to draw straws to see who would work on it." Adam chuckles.

"You won't see me working on no sh*t house." Tim laughs. "This path over here must lead to the stream. It must be pretty close, I can hear the water."

He was right. The stream was close to the clearing of the backyard.

Walking back to the house, they pass the well. The bucket and rope looked in need of replacing. Adam uncovers the opening and they all look down into the well. The coolness hitting them in the face. They could see the sunlight shimmering on the clear water.

They begin to walk around the house to look for any needed repairs. Besides some cracks that had formed between some of the logs, the old house was in good shape. The cracks could easily be filled in to keep critters from getting inside the walls.

After surveying the outside, they head back inside.

Rob goes immediately to "his" kitchen. During their stay with Sam and Lilly, he had learned quite a bit about cooking. He couldn't wait to try out HIS kitchen.

"This place definitely needs a good cleaning." Tim observes as he wipes his finger across the mantel above the fireplace. "And airing out."

"Yep, definitely has an old stuffy smell." Adam nods.

"But I like it." Tim smiles as he looks up toward the ceiling at all the cobwebs.

"I like that we have our own bedroom." Adam smiles sweetly at his outlaw. "Let's go check it out again."

He grabs the brunette's hand and pulls him down the hall.

"I hope that Lilly has some extra sheets and blankets." Tim says as he looks at the bare mattress.

"I still have the money I won in town. We can just buy us some." Adam smiles as he sits down on the bed.

"I can't wait for us to break this bed in." Tim smirks as he gives his lover a wink.

"My thoughts exactly, Mr. Foust." Adam giggles as he pulls his boyfriend down beside him and kisses him softly. "My thoughts exactly."

*********

Until next time..... ✌️