Harry happened to glance out of the window at the end of a long day as he was preparing to go out and watch the sunset. He was changing his stinky shirt before he went outside to sit with Louis. Afterward he would come inside to shower and then cook dinner. Watching the sunset, though, was crucial. He rarely missed it, and Louis had taken up the practice too. Although they never discussed it, they both showed up for the event nightly, silently taking their places to watch the show.

What Harry saw when he looked out of the window stopped him cold. He couldn't have physically moved his feet if he had tried.

Louis was out there already, his back to the house, leaning up against the hitching post, his body sharply outlined by the setting sun, in a classical cowboy pose – his hip jutting out and a booted foot propped up on a large rock. His left hand was thrust into the front pocket of his jeans, his right hand holding a cigarette, his hat pulled down low over his forehead, but not so low that he couldn't view the sunset.

Harry had to swallow a gasp. It was a beautiful thing to witness. Looked like it should be on a damn postcard or something.

Without thinking about it, Harry rushed into his bedroom, pulling out his dresser drawer and grabbing his camera. He just had to have a picture of it, although he wasn't sure why. When he came back, he was in luck. Louis was still there, in the same position. He quickly aimed and clicked the button, after turning off the flash. He didn't want it to catch Louis' attention.

Louis' form and the disappearing sun looked good without the flash. Better than good. With the brilliant colors of the sunset in front of him, Louis' silhouette had Harry hoping it would look as good as it did to him behind the lens. Harry smiled and returned the camera to the drawer, buttoning up his clean shirt as he exited the front door. He couldn't wait to look at the photo tomorrow. If he had captured anything close to what he'd seen, he'd be satisfied.

He drew up to the left of Louis and sat on one of the huge rocks he'd had hauled in when he'd built the place. He liked the old West look they afforded. Louis followed his example and sat down himself, always precisely eighteen inches away from each other. Well, not precisely, as Harry hadn't measured it, but close. Just enough distance to be leisurely companionable, yet not so close as to appear that they were anything more than friends.

"When do we sell the calves?" Louis asked.

Harry looked up in surprise. He hadn't expected that question. It seemed Louis would already know that, as it was obvious he had been an experienced ranch hand in his life before this. But then, there were certain things that Louis' amnesia had seemed to swallow up. Like not showing fear of the pigs, for one thing. This was apparently another. Harry shook himself out of his dazed romantic state to answer.

"Usually late summer, once the calves have gained enough weight," he replied.

Louis nodded. "And the pigs?"

"Any time after they're weaned, but I prefer to wait until they're around four months old. Brings more money. If I really need the money, I can sell them at weaning. Haven't had to yet, though."

"So you do alright?"

Harry sat back, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"Depends on what you mean by alright. I'll never get rich doin' this, but I make enough to keep myself and my animals fed, with some left over for clothes and whatnot. I do try to save what I can. Main thing is, I'm doin' what I've always wanted to do."

Louis looked thoughtful.

"What about all the chicken eggs we have?"

"I sell those when I go into town. I don't know if you noticed I took quite a few cartons last time."

It was true Harry had gone into town in the early morning a few times since Louis had been there. Louis had stayed to get the morning chores done, and that way Harry was able to get back well before noon, not missing a significant amount of work as he used to when Louis hadn't been around. Louis was invaluable, although he didn't seem to realize it.

Harry was glad now that he'd hired Louis. Louis had asked about what he could do to earn the clothes Harry had bought him, and Harry had half-laughed and half-scoffed.

"I wasn't serious about that. You've done more than I ever expected since you got here."

Louis still hadn't felt right about it, but Harry had put an end to the discussion with a dismissive wave of his hand.

The sun at last slipped behind the horizon, and they still sat, eyelids heavy with fatigue and nearly falling asleep where they sat. They both knew they had to get up, shower, fix dinner and eat. It seemed like a monumental task right now, at the end of a day of constant activity, much of it hard labor.

Harry covered a yawn as he wrenched himself off the rock and to his feet, feeling like he had twenty pound lead weights all over him. With two people, fixing dinner went so much faster. And again, he was grateful for Louis being there – had been every day. He knew for sure now it hadn't been a mistake to ask Louis to stay.

"Sorry for bein' a shit person," he said to Louis, surprising himself as much as Louis.

"You're not a shit person. Terse and to-the-point at times, but that's your personality," Louis countered, fighting a grin.

Harry had brought a chicken in earlier for their dinner sometime in the next few days. Louis had seen it in the freezer, and had looked away, afraid he might recognize it. Then he wondered how he was so soft. Ranch hands can't afford to be soft. Still, his heart ached just a little bit for that chicken. He knew Harry had not looked forward to it. His step and demeanor had been wooden as he'd told Louis his intention on his way to the coop.

Louis had made himself busy, wondering all the while at the size of Harry's heart. They were alike in some ways, and this was one of them. He could tell Harry felt a little bit of regret every time he had to sacrifice a chicken.

After a hastily prepared dinner they more or less shoveled into their mouths, they did the dishes, and both headed for the shower at the same time.

"You go first," Louis said, stepping back gracefully.

Yeah he was always graceful, thought Harry. Graceful in the way his body moved as well as his manners. That is, if he wasn't being cocky.

"No, no. You go. No hurry for me," Harry mumbled, embarrassed, and making Louis wonder why.

"Well, why not take one together?" Louis joked. "We'll get done in half the time."

Harry gave him a dirty look. "Get your ass in there."

Louis, chuckling quietly to himself, got into the shower, and Harry tried not to listen to him singing as he washed. That tenor voice was so sweet, bright and clear. Unique, and unlike any other voice Harry had ever heard. It was comforting to listen to.

Next thing he knew, Louis was shaking his shoulder lightly.

"Harry, you fell asleep. I'm out of the shower. You can take yours now."

Harry didn't even remember sprawling out on the couch. Louis extended his hand and hauled him up onto his feet.

"If you're too tired, I'll wash you," Louis' cerulean blue eyes were glimmering with mirth.

"Fuck you," Harry grumbled as he shuffled off to the shower, leaving Louis giggling again.

Finishing up in the shower, Harry padded into the living room and watched Louis make up the couch from the clean sheets fresh out of the dryer. How had Louis had enough energy to wash them? Louis tucked the edges underneath the couch cushions as Harry supervised.

"Do you ever wake up at arse o'clock in the mornin?'" asked Harry.

Louis was taken aback slightly. "Um, yeah. Sometimes," he replied, giving Harry an odd look. "Why?"

"Because I do – a lot."

"What do you do? Just lay there?"

"Yep. Even though I'm tired, it takes a while to go back to sleep." Harry paused, then rushed on. "Louis, you can sleep in my bed."

Louis' head shot up from arranging the sheets, suddenly alert as hell.

"I can what?"

"Come on, Lou. Damn it, I didn't mean it that way."

The stab of disappointment Louis felt was a shock even to himself. He'd had no idea he would be excited about the idea of sleeping with Harry. Even though he'd been enchanted with him almost from the beginning, despite the bloke's nasty attitude that could arise without notice.

"I meant that I can sleep on the couch, and you take the bed. At least for a week or so," Harry seemed almost ashamed at the way it had sounded at first.

"Oh, well, the couch is comfortable. I have no desire to take your bed."

"Thought I'd offer. I'm serious though. You might like the change." Harry was lighter in mood than ever, and softer as well. Louis wanted to take advantage of it while he could.

"Sleeping in a bed instead of a couch won't help me clusterfuck of a life."

"Your life isn't a clusterfuck, and that isn't what I meant. I'm not tryin' to coddle you or anythin.'"

"Nice gesture of you, but no thanks."

"My bed isn't good enough for you, or what?" Harry's eyes were dancing.

And just like that, they were back to the easy banter. If only Harry would loosen up like this more often.

Louis finished making up the couch, slipping the clean pillowcase back on the pillow, then he straightened to find Harry staring at him.

Wassa matter? You proper gone mad?" Louis stuttered, not knowing how to handle being gawked at.

"Nothin,' I was just thinkin.' We've done nothin' but work since you've been here. Let's take a little time off."

Louis was floored. How could they take time off when things needed to be done?

"Things can be put on hold for a couple of days," Harry said as if in answer to his silent question. "I mean, we'd still feed the animals and do the mornin' chores of course. But after that, we could relax. The rest of the stuff will still be there later."

Louis considered this. It was true – there was nothing that couldn't wait a few days.

"All work and no play. Know what I mean?" asked Harry. At first, Louis thought he was taunting him, as he had taunted Harry about taking a shower together, but then it dawned on him that Harry was not teasing.

"Yeah. What'll we do though?"

"Anythin' we want!" Harry returned. "Read a book, watch the telly, relax for once, talk . . ."

Sounded like Heaven to Louis. He had never expected not to get up and work every single day for the duration.

"A mini holiday sounds good," he agreed.

"Everyone needs a break now and then. I say we do it at least once a month."

"When will we do it?" asked Louis, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"How about tomorrow?"

"Really? Kinda soon, innit? I mean, don't we need to plan it?"

"Nah, just do mornin' chores and then we're on our own until feedin' time in the evenin.' We can even come back in the house after the chores and take a nap. Catch up on some sleep."

Taking a nap sounded like such a luxury. Louis hadn't had a nap the entire time he'd been here. He could get too used to it without even trying.

Harry had to admit to himself that he'd suggested the holiday from work so he could spend more time with Louis. Not time working, but leisure time. Get to know him better, pick his brain. He told himself it was just that he wanted to take it easy for once, but under several layers, he knew that the truth was buried . . . he wanted to be alone with Louis, with no distractions of any kind.

Well, isn't that what friends did? Spend quality time together? Who was he fooling? Not himself, for sure. He wanted to feast his eyes on Louis, watch him wander around aimlessly, maybe barefoot and without a shirt . . . Oh, he could just picture it.

But would he get that lucky? He doubted it.

"We can go into town if you want," he offered, thinking Louis might want to stay active – might not know how to truly relax, and would feel uneasy about it.

"No. No, that's okay," Louis answered quickly. Harry wondered if Louis was afraid no one would recognize him again, or maybe he just didn't want to see people. He'd shown no desire to go into town since he'd first gotten here. They'd need to soon though, to get supplies.

Thing was, Louis hesitated to go to town for a different reason. He didn't want to be recognized. He didn't say as much to Harry because he didn't think he'd understand, but he was finding how happy he was here, and the thought of being dragged back to his former life, whatever it was, held no appeal at all. He knew he was burying his head in the sand, but this life suited him fine. He was living with a very attractive guy, they were friends, he was happy, and he wanted to go no further than this little ranch.

Even if nothing was ever going to happen between them – and it wasn't because Harry wasn't gay - he still wanted to be near him.

"Hey, we could go into town tomorrow night, Saturday. You could go to a bar or whatever, and check out the women."

Louis froze again. Women? How could he tell Harry that women were the last thing on his mind?

"Eh, I'm not much of a bar person," he replied, hoping Harry would banish the subject.

"Well, you don't necessarily have to go to a bar. I meant in general, yeah? Like walk around stores or sommat. See if you can meet someone. You haven't been out at all." Harry paused, watching Louis' face for clues.

"You haven't tried to meet anyone either," Louis responded.

"But we're not talkin' about me at the moment."

Louis figured Harry thought that would put him off, but it didn't. Louis would bring it up another time - he wouldn't forget.

Louis looked uncomfortable at the least. He also looked speechless, peering down at his shoes as he sat on the couch, chewing his lip.

Harry tried again. "I mean, you might want to ask someone out on a date." Still, no answer or feedback of any kind.

"I know you might want to do that," Harry tried one more time.

Louis realized Harry was trying to be helpful, trying to get a reaction out of him. But how could he tell him he didn't want to meet anyone because he was perfectly happy here, isolated from others, alone with Harry? He couldn't. Harry would get the wrong idea. Or rather, Harry would get the right idea – that Louis was attracted to him, and that would be his biggest mistake. Harry would be disgusted and turned off. Probably as much as Louis was turned on. Turned on at the very idea of taking a few days off, alone with Harry to do whatever. Spend time together. It was what he wanted most. But his feelings had to remain a secret. He had to exercise caution.

"I really don't want to do that, I'm happy enough not meetin' anyone," Louis hoped that would appease Harry enough to make him stop talking about it.

"You don't care to date anyone?"

Louis really didn't want to keep discussing this. He couldn't tell Harry why he didn't want to meet women, and he didn't like lying to him either.

"No. You don't date, and I don't either. Nothin' wrong with that, yeah?"

"But it's normal to date, innit?"

Would Harry ever tire of this? Once he latched onto certain subjects, he was like a Pit bull to redirect.

"Not always." Louis couldn't think of what else he could say. It was a touchy subject, and even more touchy because he was starting to strongly suspect he was gay. In fact, he was almost 100 percent sure of it. He hadn't looked twice at any of the women that day they'd gone into town, but he sure did look at Harry. He wanted to touch too, and it was becoming more difficult every day not to do just that.

"So you don't want any social life?" There must be a goal Harry was working toward. Maybe he was suspicious, and was trying to get Louis to confess his gay-ness? Well, if that was the case, it wasn't going to happen.

"I don't feel a need for a social life," Louis sighed, rolling his eyes and wondering how much longer Harry was going to keep his claws in him. He was incredibly tenacious. Passive aggressive too. He had been known, when upset, to make cryptic remarks to try to get on Louis' nerves. Sometimes Louis felt as if he was being put to the test. But what test, he had no idea.

For some reason, by the grace of God, Harry dropped it and started on something else.

"Well, we can make plans for tomorrow, or do you want to fly by the seat of our pants?"

"Let's just take it as it comes?" Louis answered in the form of a question so he wouldn't offend Harry if Harry wanted to make definite plans.

"Fair enough," was Harry's response as he settled down on the couch. "I guess I should go to bed, but I don't want to," Harry said quietly as if he was talking to himself.

"Then don't. I'll stay up. No problem with that."

"We were both sleepy outside. Now we're wide-eyed," Harry chuckled softly.

"I think it's healthy to break out of the normal routine now and then," Louis said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, and I don't do enough of that," admitted Harry.

"You're too OCD."

"Yeah."

At least Harry seemed to be accepting it, and not arguing about it this time.

What could they talk about?

"You have any hobbies other than bein' a rancher?" Louis asked, feeling a little on the vapid side for asking such a lame question, but it was all he could come up with.

"I like readin,' as you know. I like trainin' horses, but don't really have time for it, as you also know. So really, that's about it."

Louis liked to read too, and he'd seen some of Harry's books here and there. But he had no money for books or magazines, so all he could do was hope that someday, somehow, he'd have that opportunity. He didn't like relying on Harry for everything he needed. It made him feel so dependent.

"Do you like to read?" asked Harry, right on cue.

"Yeah, I do."

"What kinda stuff you read?"

"Well, I don't know what I read before I lost me memory, but I'm interested in the kind of things you are, it seems. I've seen magazines and books of yours 'round here, of course."

"You're welcome to read any of them whenever you want."

Harry had truck magazines, books on wildlife, science books and horse training books.

"Thanks," Louis said with a certain amount of awkwardness.

After they had talked for a couple of hours, and the night wore on, Harry flicked on the telly, and they watched the news and channel surfed. They found a movie and watched it a bit in between chatting. At some point they could hardly keep their eyes open, and there were longer intervals between comments.

Harry could feel his body inching down on the couch, slipping slowly, but he was too sleepy to counteract the motion. His eyes were pulled shut as if by weights on his eyelids. The telly delivered a soothing background of voices as Harry and Louis drifted off into a blissful, undisturbed sleep.