We drove down
the gravel road to the ranch road. Dwayne was so emotionally torn
up by the whole scene he collapsed into my arms in heavy sobbing.
Dad stopped before we pulled onto the blacktop. He looked back
over his shoulder at the devastated young man I was trying to comfort.
“Dwayne,— Son,—
ya’ did fine, boy. I’m proud a’ you!” Dad reached back and
placed his hand on Dwayne. Sidney did likewise and I could feel
their comfort radiating through my brother’s body. It was like a
wave of energy and love surrounded him, and he grew strong again.
He sat up and took their hands.
“Thanks.”
was all he said. That’s all he had to say. Dad squeezed
Dwayne’s hand gently, dropped it and pulled onto the ranch road.
We were on our way; away from the evil that was embodied in Brad Dunbar.
“God,— I’m so
sorry, Mr. Longhorn. I don’t know if I can put chu’ through
anymore of his bullshit, Sir. I’m not sure if I can take anymore.”
“Y’ain’t gonna’
have to on my watch, Son. I’m calling the son of a bitch when we
get home and tell’n him he can do his own Gotdamn chores until yore’
momma gets back. Then she can sit down with the two of you and
settle this thing. You men just got in on the tail end of
it. Yore’ step-daddy and me,— we done had us some choice words
together,— right honcho?” Dad winked and grinned at Sidney.
“You wouldn’t a’
believed it, guys. Your dad is my new personal hero, Case.
You just may have to pack your bag and go home for me.” Sidney
laughed.
“Yeah, my old
man has a way about him, Sidney. Can’t gainsay that. I’m
pretty damn proud of him for standing up to that monster.”
“What da’ ya’
think he’s gonna’ tell my mom, Mr. Longhorn, about your run in with
each other?”
“Bullshit!
Lies! Distortions of the truth! It’s my word against his,
except my little buddy up here, yore’ new brother, heard ever’
damn word, but I wouldn’t put him in the position of having to tell
yore’ momma her husband’s a damnable liar.”
“Oh, you won’t
have to do that to convince her you were telling the truth and he’s
lying, Mr. Longhorn.”
“How’s that,
Son?”
Sidney grinned
real big at my dad and winked at Dwayne and me. He reached in his
shirt pocket and flipped a small switch. Out of his shirt pocket
came a recorded playback of the entire conversation between my dad and
Colonel Jarhead. My dad almost shit his pants. He started
laughing his ass off and pounding the steering wheel with the palm of
his right hand. He pulled the Bronco over to the shoulder, put it
in park, set the break, turned and opened his big cowboy arms to
Sidney. Sidney didn’t hesitate for a second as my dad enfolded
him and kissed him a good one right on the mouth. Sidney didn’t
hold back, either. Dwayne and I got roaring hard watching
them. He felt me, I felt him and we giggled.
“Damn, Mr.
Longhorn!” Sidney said breathlessly, “Thank you, Sir! That was
mighty fine, but what was it for, Sir?”
“For being a
fuck’n genius, Son,— for being thoughtful enough, and having the balls
to do that. You just made my damn day, boy! You’re some
piece of work, Son, and I’m proud as hell of ya’! I’m calling
yore’ daddy the minute we git home;— I’m telling him I’m a’ keep’n
you! He ain’t git’n you back! Hell, I’m proud of all three
of you men. Ya’ll done good! You done jes’ like I told ju’
to.”
Dad was still
laughing, and shaking his head in disbelief as he took off again and we
headed for the Italian restaurant in our small town for Pizza. Dwayne
and I were laughing, too. Sidney was real smug and rightfully
so. We were all proud of him. We listened to the complete
conversation on the way, and I was all the more proud the way my dad
stood up to that worthless bastard; so was Dwayne. I think it was
at that moment Dwayne began to think of my old man as his second
dad. That was all right with me. There was enough love in
my old man to share him. Dwayne and I had no doubt from that
evening on who my dad’s number one fan was. Sidney was a man in
love. He couldn’t have chosen better.
* * * * * * *
We decided to
eat the Pizza at the restaurant as it was about twelve miles back to
the ranch and it probably would’ve cooled down by the time we got
there. We had enough left over to take back with us for snacking
on later. We laughed and joked through our meal. Sidney’s
little trick got us in a party mood. It was still early evening
when we started out for home.
“It’s a damn
shame we didn’t get to finish our bird pen today.” I moaned.
“We can finish
up tomorrow, but it jes’ won’t be the same without our little
brother.” Dwayne said.
“Sidney, you
think your dad would let you stay over and spend another day with
us?” I asked.
Sidney
brightened that we’d want him to stay over. I heard dad chuckle
under his breath. I could tell, he was pleased we wanted Sidney
to stay.
“Won’t hurt none
to ask, but you sure I won’t be in the way?” I got his double meaning
and so did my brother. Dwayne nudged me with his elbow.
“Oh, you
probably will, but we’ll work around ju.’” Sidney got my double meaning
in return and started laughing. My dad got it, too, and could
barely contain himself.
“Now, that was
bad, Case! That was really bad! Now, apologize to your
brother.” Dad shot to the back seat laughing his ass off.
“If it was so
damn bad, why the hell are you laughing, old man?” That started
all of us up again. “I apologize, big brother,” I winked at Sidney, “I
meant no harm or disrespect. I’s jes’josh’n witcha.’”
“Don’t apologize
to Dwayne.” Dad snapped at me. “Apologize to your brother up here in
the front seat.”
“I did!” I
said laughing at my dad. Dwayne and I fell together laughing and
Sidney howled.
“Okay, you
guys,— what’s the joke?”
“Go ahead, big
brother,— show him!” Dwayne urged Sidney.
Sidney didn’t
hesitate. He wasn’t shy. He undid his Wranglers, pulled it
out and waved it at my old man.
“Hoe-lee
sheee-it!” roared my dad. He almost wrecked the damn
Bronco. “I guess he is yore’ big brother at that! Damn, Son,
where’d ju’ git a pecker like that? If’n that’s from yore’ old
man, no wonder ole Sticker’s been a wait’n on him to come around all
these years. Hell, I’d be standing in line next after Sticker
pray’n for sloppy seconds.” Dad laughed, thoroughly enjoying his
own bullshit.
“We were gonna’
come downstairs earlier and tell you it weren’t no little green snake
what was chasing us around upstairs.” I tossed off to my
dad. He was still laughing.
“I guess it
weren’t. It was a big ole snake!” he allowed. We laughed and
joked the rest of the way home. It was almost a catharsis to the
stress we felt from going over to do Dwayne’s chores. It probably
had a lot to do with the relief of knowing we didn’t have to go back
for a few days. Dwayne and I didn’t mind doing chores, that’s
just an accepted part of living on a ranch, we just didn’t want to have
to put up with Colonel Jar-head’s bullshit. It was still early
evening when we arrived back at the ranch. The sun was beginning
to set and the sunset was spectacular. We went into the house and
Sidney asked to use our phone to call his dad. He dialed his
number.
“Hello,—
Wainright residence.” Sidney heard his big cowboy wrangler say.
“Mr.
Wiggins. How are you, Sir?”
“I be fine, Son,
how ya’ doing?”
“Having a great
time. The Longhorns have asked me to call and see if dad will let
me stay over and Mr. Longhorn will bring me home tomorrow
evening. We have some more work to do on their bird pen and they
need me, Sir.”
“Well, yore’ old
man’s in a pretty good mood this evening, he just might let chu.’
Lemme’ git him for you.”
Sidney waited
for a minute.
“Hey, Son,— you
having a good time?”
“The best,
Dad. I’m having a wonderful time. I’ve fallen in love with
my brothers, but my main man is Mr. Longhorn. Ain’t another like
him, Dad.” Sidney laughed, but his dad didn’t need an
explanation. He knew and loved Vince Longhorn for a good while.
“Did Mr. Wiggins tell you they asked me to stay over to help complete
their bird pen tomorrow?”
“Yeah, he did,
Son. Glad to hear you like Dwayne and the Longhorns. They be fine
men. You can’t do no better’n them men for friends. I don’t
see any problem with you staying over, but lemme’ speak to Mr. Longhorn
for a minute, Son.”
Sidney called to
my dad to come to the phone. Dad walked in and winked at Sidney
as he took the phone from him.
“Howdy,
Sid. How’re you and Sticker this evening?”
“We’re both
fine, Vince. We’re just relaxing and about to rustle up some
grub. You sure it’ll be okay for my boy to stay over
tonight? He won’t be any bother?”
“Bother?
That boy,— a bother? Not on your life, Sid. He’s got a
second home here anytime he wants it. To be honest, I don’t
wanna’ give him back.” Dad broke up laughing. Mr. Wainright
knew he was joking. “I’ll have to tell you and Sticker sometime the
most wonderful, damnest thing your kid did today that made my day,
Sid. I’m still laughing about it.”
“What?”
“Oh, Dunbar and
I got into it. Nothing physical but a lot a’ posturing with
yelling and words. He wasn’t gonna’ let Dwayne come back with us,
but I assured him Dwayne would be going home with us. I told
Dwayne it was my word against Dunbar’s when it came to his
mother. Sidney told me no it weren’t and proceeded to flip on
something in his pocket. He had a miniature recorder in his
pocket, and he recorded the whole damn thing. I almost wrecked
the truck from laughing so hard at that kid.”
We were several
feet away from dad and could hear Mr. Wainright laughing on the other
end.
“Well, if you’re
sure it’ll be all right, Vince.”
“It’ll be
fine. We’ll git him home early tomorrow evening. We ain’t
gonna’ go back over there no more. I’m calling Dunbar this
evening and telling him to do his own Goddamn chores until Sadie gets
back, then she can iron it out.”
“Good idea,
Vince. Well,— keep us informed. If there’s anything we can
do, jes’ holler.”
“Will do,
Sid. See ya’ll tomorrow evening. Say 'hello' to Sticker.”
“I will, Vince,
and thanks. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Sid.”
Dad hung up the
phone and gave Sidney the thumbs up. He ran to dad, hugged and
kissed him on the cheek. Dwayne rolled his eyes at me and we
laughed.
* * * * * * *
“Hello, Dunbar,
this is Vince Longhorn call’n.” Dad barked into the phone. “I ain’t a’
gonna’ bring the boys back over there to do the chores no more until
Sadie gets back to sort things out. I ain’t gonna’ expose Dwayne,
my boy or their guest to no more of your nonsense. You can do
your own Goddamn chores.”
Dad listened for
a minute and we could here the Colonel ranting and raving on the other
end, calling dad everything but a good man.
“I didn’t call
you to argue with ya,’ Dunbar. I certainly don’t give a big rat’s
ass what you think a’ me. I jes’ called to tell you the way it’s
gonna’ be until Sadie gets back. If you don’t like it, that’s
tough shit! You can take yore’ jarhead attitude and stick it
where the sun don’t shine for all I care. I hear tell you Marines
kinda like it that way anyway. If I have anything to say about
it, that boy won’t be goose-stepping to your tune much longer.”
Dad quietly hung
up the phone with the Colonel still ranting and raving on the other
end. The monster within him had run into an immovable, solid,
block wall; courtesy of my dad Vincent Longhorn. Brad Dunbar’s
voice was the sound of a sociopath who didn’t get his way; the sound of
the very coldest, most calculatingly dangerous face of insanity.
* * * * * * * In my junk room
was the biggest damn bed in the house. It must have been made for
either an exceptionally large person or a large couple. I
measured it one time and it was eight feet wide by ten feet long.
I’ve seen rooms that weren’t as big as that bed. In an old ranch
house like ours, each room was enormous with ten foot high
ceilings. It would easily fit into almost any bedroom in the
house. Anyway, It would sleep the three of us with room to
spare. Dad and I never used it much because it was just too damn
hard to get sheets and covers for it. We’d have to have some lady
sew a couple of good sized sheets together. We did have two sets
and a couple of blankets to fit it though.
I think Sidney
was a bit apprehensive Dwayne and I would put him off in a room by
himself and we’d go off on our own. My brother and I had already
talked about it. We knew we couldn’t do that to our little
brother. He was so close to his fantasy of being with us, it
would’ve been cruel and unusual punishment to put him off by himself;
especially, after what he contributed to our day. We left the
choice up to him.
“Sidney,— little
brother,— what I done told ju’ at school the other day, Dwayne and I
meant. We weren’t blow’n smoke up yore’ butt; although, I’ll have
to say, it’ ‘ud be an awful pretty little butt to blow it up.”
Dwayne was rolling on the bed laughing. “We meant what we said,
bubba. You belong to us now. We belong to you. We
don’t wanna’ force nothing on nobody; especially, after what we been
through, so we be give’n you a choice. We have a separate bedroom
all made up you can stay in by yourself; however, you’re welcome to
share our bed if’n you wish. We must warn you, if you choose to
stay with us, you just may not wake in the morning a
virgin.” Dwayne and I watched as a huge smile crossed
Sidney’s face.
“Really?
Ya’ll really mean it, Case? Really, Dwayne?”
“Com’mer,
not-so-little brother.” Dwayne laughed and held his arms open for
Sidney. Dwayne was twice Sidney’s size. Sidney was in his
big bother’s arms in a flash. Dwayne was holding him and kissing
around on him. Sidney was moved to tears. Dwayne looked at
me and rolled his eyes in empathy. He’d been there himself not so long
ago.
“Yes,— we
really, really, mean it, little bubba. Now, will you calm
down.” Dwayne joked.
“Damn, bubba,—
don’t stop him now! I’s jes’ really starting to enjoy watch’n his
little tail wag.” I laughed, Dwayne howled and shook his
head. Sidney left Dwayne and ran to my arms. He hugged and
kissed me.
“Your dad was
right, Case. You really are bad!” he laughed. “You’re jes’
like your old man and I couldn’t love either of you more; except’n
maybe I love Dwayne jes’ a little bit more.” I sucked in
air. He got me good.
“He’s learning,
brother.” Dwayne laughed. “He’ll fit right in.”
Dad wasn’t
dumb. He knew what the hell we were up to. He took Sidney
aside to talked with him. Since the boy was entrusted to his
supervision and care for the evening he wanted to make damn sure Sidney
wasn’t getting himself into something he was unprepared for.
“You sure you
ain’t afraid of them two yahoos, Son?”
“God, no, Mr.
Longhorn. I love Casey and Dwayne. They’ve shown me more
love in school and today than any other men in my life, except my dad
and Mr. Wiggins. They’ve looked out for me at school when nobody
else would give me the time of day. I ain’t lying to you, Mr.
Longhorn, sometimes them two men were the only highlights of my
day. School ain’t no challenge for me, Sir. I sort of drift
through it in a state of somnambulistic ennui, bored out of my
mind.” Dad got the ‘bored’ part, figured he’d fake the rest, and
nodded his understanding. “I go to school most of the time just
so’s I can see Casey and Dwayne, whether they ever say anything to me
or not. They always do. That’s just the way they are.
I suspect I know where Casey gets it from, and I have an idea Dwayne’s
real dad is a lot like you. They talk with me and have always
been kind and thoughtful to me. They’ve included me in
everything; so, have you, Mr. Longhorn. Can you imagine what that
means to someone like me, Sir? I’ve been alone so long because
most kids and even adults think I’m a damn freak. It ain’t easy
for me to have friends, Mr Longhorn. Casey and Dwayne appreciate
me for who I am. It’s all right with them if I’m smart.
They have other talents I don’t have that make us equal. I have
to be dead honest with you, Mr. Longhorn, I’ve fell in love with you
today, too. I never seen a man exhibit such courage under a
stressful situation as Mr. Dunbar put you under today. It weren’t
because of your kiss in the Bronco, Sir; although, it did make me
pee-pee get nice and hard, it was when I was standing there watching
you stand up to that monster. I thought to myself, ‘Now, there’s
a man! I only pray one day I can be half the man he is.’
Well, what do
you think that did to my old man? It broke his old heart right in
two. He grabbed Sidney and held him for the longest time.
He stole a kiss or two then held him at arms length to look into his
eyes.
“You’re as good
for them as they are for you, Sid. Go,— I know them boys.
They’ll take you by the hand and lead you across the threshold.
They love you, too, Son. By the way, boy,— if’n you ain’t
noticed,— so do I.” He smiled. “I told jur’ daddy tonight, you
got a second home here anytime you want it and I meant it.” That
got my old man another hug and a kiss.
I took my shower
with my dad as usual that night to help him, and Dwayne invited our
little brother to share his shower. It never dawned on Dwayne and
me, Sidney didn’t fully understand why I took my shower with my
dad. He just thought it was something we did out of
tradition. He told Dwayne he thought it was wonderful we showered
together. Dwayne asked Sidney how much he knew about my
dad. Sidney told him he only knew from his dad and Mr. Wiggins he
was a good man, a fine cowboy and a hardworking, successful
rancher. When Dwayne explained to Sidney about my dad in Vietnam
and losing both his legs below the knees, he wouldn’t believe him.
Sidney didn’t even know my dad had artificial legs. That’s how
well my dad adapted to them. It just never occurred to either
Dwayne or I to tell him. That only set my dad’s importance in
Sidney’s heart as his personal hero all the more solid.
That night
Sidney lost his virginity. Well,— at least to sharing a sexual
experience with another person; in our case, persons. Dwayne and
I were taken at how starved our little brother was for physical
affection. We couldn’t understand why. He was like a
treasure waiting to be found. Our brother had a better developed
body than either Dwayne or I. He was also a good looking young
man. We let him have free reign with us. We withheld
nothing. We gave to him and took from him. He did the same
with us. We played half the night and finally collapsed together
in a peaceful sleep with Sidney between us. I awoke during the
night to see Sidney petting Dwayne like he was a beloved object and
awoke later to feel him petting me. I reached back, gently
grabbed his hand, pulled it up to my mouth and kissed it. He let
out a big sigh and promptly went back to sleep.
* * * * * *
*
Sidney Wainright
Senior was laughing as he walked back into the kitchen area where
Sticker was fixing their dinner. He just got off the phone with
Vince Longhorn and gave his son permission to stay the night with the
Longhorns. He was very pleased his boy made some important new
friends;— friends he and Sticker thought the world of and were
comfortable with their boy being with. It was the cook’s night
off. Sticker and Sidney liked to get into the kitchen and play at
cooking. Sticker got better at it over the years and learned to
cook everything Sid like to eat. Tonight they were having prime
steaks, boiled new potatoes in lime-dill butter, baked zucchini with
Parmesan cheese, and a small salad. Both men were in
the raw, except Sticker had an apron on to protect him from any hot
splatters from the grill. Sid opened a fine bottle of twelve year old
Robert Cakebread zinfandel to let it breathe for a while. While
Sidney believed in and practiced abstinence in most things he didn’t
put drinking a fine glass of wine in the same category as the other
evils of addiction. He considered a glass of wine with dinner
down right civilized. When the food was ready they sat down to
eat by candles Sid found in a cabinet. They toasted each other
and Sidney spoke.
“Here’s to our
boy spreading his wings and learning to fly on his own.”
“To
Logan.” Sticker agreed.
They clinked
glasses and tasted the good, rich, full bodied wine. Sticker
marveled at its woody aftertaste and smooth fragrance. Sidney
fell in love with Cakebread wines several years ago while he, Sticker,
and Logan were making a tour of the California wine country. He
had several cases in the basement in a cool place. He would order
a couple of new cases per year to let sit until mature.
“I hope you
realize, our boy jes’ may not come home a virgin, Sid?”
“I’m a’ count’n
on it, cowboy.” he laughed at the pained expression on Sticker's
face. “The two of you will be in good company.”
“I don’t follow,
Sid.”
“Y'ain’t gonna’
be no virgin, neither, after tonight.”
Sidney looked at
the handsome cowboy he’d been in love with for so long and could never
quite bring himself to jump the fence for. He smiled at Sticker.
“Uh,— c'mon,
now,— don't be fool'n with me, Sidney. Don’t be a' tease'n me
none, neither. Ain't nice to be fun'n a big cowboy who cares
about chu' as much as old Sticker does.”
“I ain’t fun'n
witcha’ at all, cowboy. I'm git down serious. I'm ask'n ya'
real nice like,— will you share my bed with me this evening, Mr.
Wiggins?”
“No.”
answered Sticker softly.
“No?”
asked Sidney in surprise.
“Everything in
our lives is yours, Sid. I’ve lived with you in your home and
shared everything with you, even your son. I have no problem with
that. In you and Logan I found a home. I found love because I was
needed, but if we are to do this thing, it must be on my terms.
The only place that’s mine, is my bed. If you come to my bed then
you will, in effect, be giving yourself to me. I don’t ask for
your wealth or any more than you’ve already lavishly bestowed upon me
as your grateful employee. All I’m asking for is you, my brother,
nothing more. You must come to my bed, Sid. ”
Sidney got tears
in his eyes picked up his wine glass and motioned for Sticker to pick
his up.
“I would be
humbled and honored, my brother, to come to your bed this evening or
every evening for the rest of our lives. All this stuff with
Dwayne, Vince and Casey, has made me realize what a lucky man I
am. I’m not talking about wealth or possessions. I’m
talking about every day living and loving the people around you.
I thought back and tried to remember when I first fell in love with
you. I remember it like it was yesterday. I shed a tear
when Will served us iced tea in Mason jars. You grabbed my arm in
concern. At that moment, I knew I wanted you in my world for the
rest of my life. I didn’t know how, other than to offer you a job
as a wrangler for my kid, but it went way beyond that, Sticker. I
didn’t understand it at the time. I do now and think I’ve finally
come to my senses. Vince was right this morning, I need to jump
in the pool; as much for you as for me. I wanna' jump in the pool
with you, cowboy. I can’t imagine growing old without you,
Sticker. The thought is just too painful for me to
consider. We won’t always have our boy to bond us in
common. This is his first solo flight and soon he'll leave the
nest. I want to walk by your side, Sticker. I want you to
walk by mine as you’ve faithfully done for damn near twelve
years. Yes,— it's with a full and glad heart, I will humbly come
to your bed, Mr. Wiggins, if you will have me.”
With that, the
two men toasted and ate their meal in a mystical silence that spoke
more to each other than words could ever convey. Later, Sidney
went to Sticker’s room and knocked on his door. He heard the big
man grant him enter. Sidney turned the knob and walked through
the door into the rest of his life. Their love was passionate but
clumsy the first time. Neither knew what to do but Sidney gave
Sticker control and he made the evening the most memorable night of
their lives. For a controlling man like Sidney to give himself
completely to the control of another man was a rush of excitement and
comfort he never found before. It made sense to Sidney to come to
Sticker’s bed. For a few moments in their crowded lives he could
give up the helm and let his beloved cowboy row the boat. Sidney
never knew he could feel such passion for anyone let alone another
man. This was no ordinary man he was losing himself in. The
man was a fount of unconditional love Sidney tested and tried for
almost twelve years and Sticker’s love never failed him or his
son. He would not fail his cowboy now.
And so they
slept in each other’s arms and dreamed the dreams of lovers, lost in
the embrace of each other’s bodies. How many nights had Sidney
lain awake wondering what it would feel like to have Sticker’s big,
cowboy body laying next to him keeping him warm? How many nights
had Sticker lain awake imagining what it would be like to hold Sidney
close to him? Here they were, after satisfying each other, laying
peacefully together. Sticker stirred and pulled Sid closer to him.
“Sticker?”
Sidney whispered. Sticker answered by kissing Sid on his neck.
“Did you like the taste of my come?” Sid asked quietly.
Sticker brushed
his bushy moustache against Sidney’s neck in a sensual way.
“Yes, because it
was from you. It was from the body of the man I love. It
was from the man who chose to give himself to me. The thought of
taking some other man’s come ain’t too appealing to me, but I found
yours quite to my liking. It was even satisfying.”
“Oh, good!”
Sidney paused to ponder. “For a minute there, I was beginning to think
I was becoming a pervert.”
Sticker chuckled.
“Why?”
Sticker asked quietly with a big grin on his face.
“Because I loved
the taste of your come.” replied Sidney.
“That’s good,
cowboy, ‘cause I’m a’ cook’n you up a fresh, hot batch a’
wrangler love even as we speak.” Sticker chuckled.
Sidney broke up
laughing at him. Sticker had a way of cutting to the bone with
his down home humor and approach to life.
“You think our
boy’s sandwiched in between them two fine looking young men,
tonight?” Sidney asked.
“If there’s a
God he is.” Sticker chuckled and kissed Sidney behind his
ear. Sidney rolled over in Sticker’s big, massive arms.
“Kiss me,
cowboy.” Sidney pleaded. “Hope them big, bull balls a’ yours gets
a real good scald on this batch,— I think I’m jes’‘bout ready for
seconds. Think it ‘ud hurry ‘um up some if’n I was to git down there
and make a little love to ‘um?”
“Jes’
might.” grinned Sticker.
* * * * * * *
The next morning
our little brother was a changed man. It was like he shed his
cocoon of childhood and was waking up a young man. He woke up
laying next to his peers; his mates; his bonded brothers. He was,
at once, more focused and mature in his approach to everything.
Dwayne and I lay there, each with an arm thrown over him, essentially
pinning him to the bed with our love. He breathed deeply and let
it out in a contented sigh.
“Gary Peacock,”
he spoke with conviction, “eat your fuck’n heart out!”
Dwayne and I
giggled. Sidney didn’t have to say anymore. We knew he
enjoyed himself. I excused myself and told them I had to go help
my dad. I explained to Sidney I had to help him every morning
with his legs. Sidney thought that was wonderful. I was
surprised to find my old man laying there awake in bed.
“Good morning,
sunshine.” he smiled at me. “Good night last night?”
He patted the
edge of his bed for me to sit down.
“Pert-damn good,
Dad.” I said as I sat down. I saw his dick was rock hard
under the sheet. It looked like Barnum and Bailey had come to
town. “We got us plenty a’ time for an eyeopener if’n you’s feel’n
generous towards your starving son this morning.”
“Yeah,
right!” he grinned at me. “Howsomever,— what man with half a
heart would say no to his starving son?” he mocked me.
I pulled back
the sheet and started making love to his shaft. I knew this was
going to be quick one. I could tell when my dad was ripe.
It was sort of like thumping a melon in the supermarket. I could
tell from the first taste of his dick approximately how long it would
take me to get him off. He was ripe this morning, but I had
enough piss and vinegar in me I was going to make him wait. I
worked on his dick and sucked him to the point I knew there would be no
return and then I stopped. After about the third time my old man
was ready to turn my insolent, adolescent butt over his knee and bust
me good.
“Oh, Son,— don’t
make yore’ old man beg. He wants to give you his love so bad, it
‘ud be a damn shame to make him beg to give it to you.”
“You’re right,
Dad, I’m just being an ornery kid. Please, Dad, give your
starving boy your love.”
Well, I got an
extra heavy load of my old man’s love that morning. I enjoyed
every swallow of it, and it set the tone for my whole day. I made
a mental note to myself, never to tease my old man that way
again. I cleaned him up and helped him get his legs and his
Wranglers on. I brought him to a stand and held him like I always
did. I stole a couple of kisses while he was getting his bearing.
“Thanks, Dad,
for giving me your love.”
“What’s a dad
for, Son?” he smiled at me and gave me a kiss. When my old
man was right,— he was right!
* * * * * * *
We got busy and
got the roof on our bird pen. Sidney was a wizard at not only
creating the design for our project but with tools as well. I
thought building the structure out of two by fours would make it much
more sturdy. Sidney showed us how we could make it just as strong and
actually more attractive using two by threes. We had more of them
than two by fours anyway. He even designed an entry chamber that
would be fully surrounded by wire with a second door into the pen from
there. If a bird got out of the main pen it would be caught in
the entry chamber and easily returned to the main pen. We roofed
the sheltered portion with tar paper and some roll rock roofing
material that was left over from the barn addition.
It was water
tight and would provide a warm, dry shelter for roosting and nesting
birds. We took a break for a light lunch. We warmed up left
over pizza and dad made a salad. It was in the early afternoon
when we finished the final panel of bird wiring for the pen. It
was done; ready for our first birds. It was magnificent.
The Indian people couldn’t have been more proud of the Taj Mahal.
Sidney was our hero and he gratefully acknowledged his accolades.
Now, all we had to do was figure out what we wanted to try our hand at
raising.
Dad hollered to
us to come to the house and clean up. He needed us to help with
dinner. He’d invited the Winchester’s over. He wanted
Spencer Winchester to hear Sidney’s plan. It was another one of
our equal opportunity dinners where everyone pitched in. It was
more fun that way. Sidney loved the idea and got into the spirit
of it.
The Winchester’s
arrived around six and we had everything ready. Dad
barbecued chicken on the grill out back and it was wonderful.
Sidney and I were responsible for the vegetables and we made fresh corn
on the cob and green beans with almonds. Dwayne made the
salad. Donna Winchester brought a grasshopper pie she made for
dessert. There was enough food for an army. Talk was lively
around the dinner table. We had always just talked with Spence
before but Donna Winchester was so much like family it didn’t seem to
bother anyone talking openly in front of her. We just assumed
Spence shared everything with her anyway.
“So, young man,”
Spence spoke to Sidney, “it’s been sometime since your dad brought you
to see me last. I still had my practice in San Diego at the
time. That’s been a few years ago. How is your dad and Mr.
Wiggins?”
“They’re fine,
Sir. They spoke of you the other day and said they were going to
contact you and Mrs. Winchester and have you to dinner soon.”
“I’m sure we’d
enjoy that. Give them our best.”
“I will, Sir.”
“Vince tells me
you came up with a remarkable plan to stop the Colonel in his tracks.”
Sidney briefly
outline his plan for Mr. and Mrs. Winchester. He also added some
new thoughts he didn’t come up with yesterday. Dad was smiling at
Sidney like a proud papa. Sidney didn’t fail to notice his
encouragement.
“I know I’m
gonna’ have a hard time convincing my dad to let me participate in
this, but I want to very much. Dwayne and Casey have gone to bat
for me at school so many times I’d like to be a part of all this.
In a way, it’s the only way we can do it, because I’m the only one who
knows how to operate the software and the system. Dwayne and
Casey’s dreams were right. They need me to pull this off. If I’m
going to be the one monitoring the equipment from the bunkhouse we’re
probably going to have to let Uncle Frank and Uncle Curtis in on it and
get them to cooperate by leaving the property when the Colonel gives
them the weekend off. He’s going to want them away from the
property. I’ll have to leave that to my dad, because I’m afraid
Uncle Frank might want to take matters into his own hands. I
think my dad can reason with him and if so, their complicity might work
to our advantage. Also, Dwayne, I assume there are electrical
outlets in the barn?”
“Yes, there’s
several.”
“I’d like to run
three hidden power cords to the low voltage transformers for the video
cameras. I don’t want to rely on batteries. I’ve seen it
happen too many times, just when you’re ready to get a great shot the
damn battery runs out.”
“We’ve got two
twenty-five foot power cords and one fifty-footer around here we could
use.” I volunteered.
“Good.
These are all details we can work out as we go along. Another
thing in our favor is the bunkhouse is on the side of a hill looking
down on the barn and the rest of the ranch. An approach to the
bunkhouse from the back access road is possible without being detected;
especially, at night. With Casey and my cell phones we can be in
constant contact with you men and if something starts to go wrong we
can call in the cavalry.
“Amazing.” said
Spencer Winchester quietly, almost to himself. “The boys were right,
Vince. They knew if anyone could help them their little brother
could. I was never much for prophetic dreams before, but I’m
gonna’ have to do me some serious rethinking on that one. Have
you men thought about when you might be planning on pulling this
off?” Mr. Winchester asked the boys.
“It’s gonna’
have to be within the next couple of weeks, because I don’t know how
much longer my Aunt Ellen’s got to live.” Dwayne said. “I’m afraid if
he convinces my mom not to let me stay with the Longhorns no more,
he’ll have me for the next couple of weekends, maybe more, depending on
how long my aunt holds on. I know my mom is gonna’ wanna’ be with
her as much as possible until the end. I can take maybe one more
time with him knowing the end is in sight if we do this thing; however,
if I have to face three or four more weekends being tied up in the barn
all weekend and being abused by him, I’ll just run away. I’ll go
find my daddy and tell him what’s going on. I refuse to let myself be
put through that anymore. My anger is overcoming my misplaced
sexual attraction.”
“Good,
Dwayne! ‘At’s damn good!” said my dad. “Son,— I can understand
you want’n to run tell yore’ daddy what the Colonel’s doing to you, but
I have to ask you a serious question. I want you to think about
it before you answer. Do you wanna’ have to go visit yore’ dad on
death row in prison?”
“God no!
Of course not, Mr. Longhorn. Why would you ask me a question like
that?”
“‘Cause, Son, I
know yore’ daddy a hell of a lot better’n you, and I know that cowboy
wouldn’t even bother to confront Colonel Jarhead. He’d git
his-self a gun and go blow his Goddamn brains out! I know Rance
Harding. Most times Rance is a peaceful, generous, good hearted,
loving man, but he’s not one you’d ever want pissed at chu.’ Take
my word for it, Son. I’ve seen that cowboy in action too many
times. If he thought for a minute his boy was being abused by
that asshole,— pardon me, Donna,— Colonel Jarhead’s life wouldn’t be
worth a plug nickel. He’d be a dead man before the sunset, I
guaran-damn-tee ya’!”
“Oh, God,
Mr. Longhorn, I wouldn’t want that for my dad. I want him around
so someday I can be with him for at least a part of my life. I
love my old man, Mr. Longhorn.”
“I know you do,
Son, and that’s the reason I asked you that question. I didn’t do
it jes’ to be mean to ya.’ You know me better’n ‘nat by
now. If it comes down to you having to run away, you let Spencer
or me know, and we’ll find you a place to hide where no one will find
you, I promise.”
‘He’s right,
Dwayne,” Mr. Winchester continued, “there’s folks in this community
who’ll hide you, and no one but me and Vince will know where you
are. Then we can go to Sadie and tell her what’s going on.
The only problem with that is, he may be able to oil his way out of it
with no more to go on than your accusations. Then there’s the
question of whether he’ll be tried in a military or civilian
court. If he’s doing it on the outside and gets caught it’s a
civil matter. If he’s just accused of something, that may fall
under military jurisdiction. If that’s the case, and it’s based
on hearsay, that is your word against his, he has a better than
good chance of beating it. That’s why Sidney’s plan is so
appealing. It’s slick and clean. It packs the maximum punch
for the least trauma, and it would put the Colonel away for a good
while. He won’t be forcibly seducing young marine recruits any
more either. If you nail his ass to the barn door, Son, think of
the numbers of other young men you’d be saving from a similar fate.”
“When would you
be able to set up the cameras and how long would it take?” My dad
asked Sidney.
“Thirty minutes,
an hour at the most.” replied Sidney, “We could do it one afternoon
early next week when Mrs. Dunbar was away shopping and the Colonel
wasn’t home from the base yet. If Mrs. Dunbar won’t be back until
Tuesday or Wednesday we could have the time in the early afternoon
before the Colonel gets home. If dad will get Uncle Frank and
Curtis to cooperate they could keep watch for me. If he came home
before I finished, they could get me out of the barn and back to the
bunkhouse before he discovers me. Mr. Wiggins could wait for me
out by the back access road. Once I got the system up, I can test
it in the bunkhouse with no problems. If everything checks out,
we’d be ready to go for the following weekend.” “Sidney,”
Spencer Winchester spoke to him, “it’s going to be your job to talk to
your dad and Mr. Wiggins about this. If they want to meet with us
we’ll be happy to talk with them, and see what we can come up
with. All in all, young man, it sounds like a great plan.
Granted there maybe a few risks we haven’t considered, but I think
they’re probably minimal for what we hope to accomplish.”
* * * * * * *
The Winchester’s
left early because they knew we had little time to spend with our
brother before we had to take him home. Spencer Winchester was
convinced the plan would work and urged everyone to consider it.
We cleaned up the kitchen and it was about time to take Sidney
home. The Winchesters said their goodbyes and left. It was
an hour or so before his curfew but dad thought it would be a good
gesture to have him home a little early. We agreed. We all
got into the Bronco and headed for the Wainright mansion. As we
pulled into the compound and started up the main drive we saw something
hanging from one of the balconies that looked like a white flag with
something red splashed in the center. It looked a lot like
blood. Sidney suddenly went nuts laughing and clapping his hands
together.
“My God, is that
blood on a sheet? Do you think everything’s all right in
there?” my dad asked concerned. Sidney was almost
hysterical.
“No, no, Mr.
Longhorn, you don’t understand. It’s probably catsup. I
told my dad and Mr. Wiggins one night at dinner, it was an old Italian
custom for a bridegroom to hang the bloody sheet from the balcony of
the room where the marriage was consummated to prove his bride was,
indeed, a virgin. That’s their signal to me,— Mr. Wiggins is no
longer a virgin.”
“Then,— there is
a God!” My dad said with relieved conviction.
End Chapter 11 ~
Texas Longhorns Copyright 2005 ~
Waddie Greywolf All rights
reserved ~ Mail to:
waddiebear@yahoo.com