Dad called
Curley and Spencer Winchester right after we watched Sidney’s lap-top
and could see the barn was secure. They didn’t handcuff Dunbar
right away, because he just started his dance. It would take him
sometime to calm down. In the meantime there was no hurry.
The rest of the men joined them. They all stood around watching the
Colonel writhe and shake on the ground. The sheriff was busy arranging
for medical transportation for Lamar and Dwayne. Finally he
walked over, lifted Dunbar with toe of his boot, kicked him the rest of
the way over with the heel and handcuffed him. It had to hurt.
Funny, though, — no one seemed to give a shit. No one cried
‘police brutality.’ The sheriff could’ve taken a baseball bat to
Dunbar and the men could’ve cared less.
By the time the
paramedics got there, tended to Lamar, got him on oxygen, a good strong
shot of Demerol, loaded him and Dwayne into the ambulance, Spencer and
Curly arrived. Spencer drove our Bronco over. He left his
car at our ranch. They did as the sheriff asked and parked in
back. The sheriff sent two of his men back to get their patrol
cars and bring them around to transport Dunbar to jail. Once they
got Dunbar up and on his feet two of the deputies had to help him with
a hand under each arm. He was still groggy and a little unsteady
on his feet. He had cowboy piss dripping off his face, his
clothes were soaked and his hair was wet and matted with it. He
stunk to high heaven. He smelled like a sewer rat. He
looked a little like one, too.
“Don’t put that
smelly son of a bitch in one of my patrol cars, Tater. I don’t
want my patrol car smelling like no damn jarhead shit house! Take
him over to that grassy area, cut that damn jump suit, or whatever it
is, off a’ him and hose him down real good with the garden hose.
That ought a’ bring him out of his stupor pert-damn quick.
Whatever you do,— don’t take his cuffs off.”
Tater always
carried a sharp Barlow knife in his pocket. He made quick work of
cutting the Colonel’s overalls off; that is, considering he had to run
throw up every few minutes from the smell of military shit. Tater
only had to cut the shoulders and upper part that covered his arms, but
the rest, they pulled off of him. They removed his boots and threw them
on the porch. He wouldn’t be needing military boots where he was
going. They hosed the Colonel down to clean the stink off
him. Someone found an older pair of his Wranglers and helped him
on with them. The deputies put him in the patrol car and left for
the jail. The Sheriff and his chief deputy hung around to talk
with us.
“We ain’t gonna’
take the time to search the house. Vince you know the
drill. You done worked for me before and as far as I’m concerned
you’re still deputized. Ain’t never officially un-deputized
ya.’ You’re still on our rolls as one of my posse as
inactive. Howsomever, you jes’ been called back into temporary
service, brother.” The sheriff made a sign of the cross to my dad
like a priest would bless his flock. Everyone laughed. Dad
was right, this man could be funny. Dad told me once, if I
thought he was bad, I should be around Sheriff Bard for a while.
Dad said he could say some of the damnedest, most outrageous
things you ever heard, and usually, they were
slap-your-knee-fall-down-funny.
“Look through
everything for anything that might be used as further evidence against
him. I want a slam-dunk case out of this, gentlemen. I
wanna’ send that son of a bitch so far up the river he ain’t never
coming back. Make sure you get any videos he made and bring them
to me. Make a copy for yourself if you want ‘em, just don’t tell
me about it, I don’t wanna’ know, and bring me the originals. You
said Sadie’s at her sister’s taking care of her,— right, Vince?”
“Yeah, Lee, she
left Friday morning, and she ain’t planning on returning until Sunday
evening late.”
“Somebody’s
gonna’ have to tell her. She has the right to know what went on
here tonight.”
“I’ll do that,
Lee, if’n ya’ want me to.” my dad hesitantly volunteered, like it
was a task he didn't look forward to.
“Okay,— that’s
fine. Truth is, I’s kinda hope’n you might. I realize you
and Sadie have been friends for a number of years, Vince, and I know
she thinks the world of you and Casey. It’ud probably be easier
on her coming from you than anybody else. Now,— I did not tell
you this, okay,— but if her sister is still sick, she might wanna’
consider staying there and taking care of her until the end.
There ain’t much she can do here right now no ways. Dwayne and all
other matters are completely out of her hands. She can’t do
nothing about it. If she comes home, to see Dwayne or Dunbar, I’m
gonna’ have to arrest her on charges of possible neglect, abuse,
abandonment and child endangerment.”
The men looked
at one another like they were shocked.
“Look,— I know
what chu’ men are think’n, but I ain’t got no damn choice in the
matter,— h’it’s the law, gentlemen. That’s what you good folks
elected me for was to uphold the law, and that’s what I gotta’
do. Except,— now don’t quote me on this,— once in a great while,
I bend the rules a little for the sake of mercy. If she don’t
come home right away, I can give her some slack since she’s taking care
of her sister. Know’n Sadie like I do, she ain’t going no
wheres. She just ain’t that way. Eventually, I’ll have to
arrest her until the authorities can decide whether they wanna’
prosecute.
If they decide
there ain’t enough grounds to prosecute, they may let her go. It
depends on a lot of things, gentlemen. There’s a possibility
Sadie might do some jail time. I just don’t know. That
ain’t my job. By telling you this, I’m trying to prepare you for
the best and the worst what might happen. It will all depend on
the recommendations of the social workers and the juvenile courts. Most
likely, Dwayne will be placed in a foster home for a while. In
the meantime, I know he can stay with you and Casey, Vince.”
“Of course he
can, brother, you know he can.”
“Donna and I
anticipated something like this might happen.” spoke up Spencer
Winchester, “We took Vince’s suggestion, applied and were
approved yesterday as licensed foster parents. We’d like to offer
Dwayne a home with us until he can get his life straightened out.
We got a big home sitting there practically empty, except for Donna and
I, and we know Dwayne is one of the finest boys in this community.”
“I think we’re
all agreed on that, Mr. Winchester; however, there again, it’s gonna’
be up to the child welfare workers and the courts. If Dwayne
wants to stay with you and your wife, you certainly have my
endorsement.”
“Thanks,
Sheriff.” said Mr. Winchester.
“No problem,
Sir; however,— I might warn you, if you have any problems with a giant,
black man,— and I do mean a giant, black man,— visiting in your home,—
don’t even consider it. Biggest damn man I ever saw in my life,
and the man is so black if’n he didn’t smile in a coal bin you wouldn’t
see him.” We all laughed at the sheriff’s comment, “Lemme’
be quick to add, so’s I ain’t accused of being a racist, I personally
think he’s one of the finest looking black men I ever did meet. I
ain’t even gonna’ comment about that monster between his legs!
Oh, Hell,— what the fuck! Who’a my try’n to kid here? Y’all
know me better’n 'nat.” he winked at my dad. “I took me one
look at that damn thing and my old asshole slammed shut so tight, it
was a’ yell’n at me, 'Don’t chu’ dare even think about it, Lee!’”
That stopped the
conversation for a minute until everyone recovered. Then the
sheriff continued.
“Did cha’ll get
a gander at them muscles on that man? Ho-lee shit! He has
muscles we ain’t even used. Any man would kill to look that
good. We ain’t that old, Vince, what the hell happened to us,
brother?” he laughed, then he continued, “There ain’t no
need for beat’n ‘round the bush here, we’re all grown men, and I’m sure
what we don’t know them two fine young men, right there, can fill us in
on.” he laughed as Logan and I grinned real big, “Truth is,
Lamar and Dwayne done bonded over this incident, and when that happens,
gentlemen, there ain’t a lot chu’ can do about it; them two’s joined at
the hips. I doubt seriously you could pry them apart with a
wrecking bar. Hell, I still got my scar on my hip were Vince and
I was separated when we got back from Nam,— you, Vince?”
“Big ole scar,
brother!” Dad shot back. All the men laughed.
“We understand,
Sheriff. That’s not gonna’ be a problem for my wife and me.
The man saved Dwayne’s life for cries sake. How could we deny him
seeing Dwayne? We understand their bond. We’re easy with
it. It’s fine with us.” Mr. Winchester looked at my dad and
winked.
“Well,
personally, I think they make a damn good looking couple. They
look jes’ like two keys on a pie-annie.” We all laughed.
“Lucky Dwayne, huh?” added the sheriff, “When you see that
boy walk’n down the street with a big, silly grin on his face,— you
won’t have ta’ ask why.”
All the men
laughed their ass’s off at the sheriff’s remark.
“Well, it just
goes to show ya,’ sometimes the old sayings are true. My grandma
used to tell me when God closes one door he usually opens another. I’d
say that boy could use a grand opening with healthy dose a’ love’n
attached, and I think Lamar Bradley jes’ might be the man what can do
it for him.” We all broke up again.
“I think Dwayne
would be as safe with that man as he would any man here,— except maybe
me. I’ve had my eye on that little round butt a’ his for a couple
a’ years now!” He roared with laugher, and so did we. It
was all in good fun, but the sheriff was making some good points and
trying to keep everyone’s spirits up with a little humor.
“I don’t know
what the situation is with Lamar, but let’s try’n help the man if we
can. If them military types get a holt’ a’ him before I get a
chance to talk with him and tell him some do’s and don’ts he ain’t
gonna’ do real well. If any a’ you men knows anyone who can help this
man in any way, please let me know. I don’t wanna’ see this man
hurt more’n he already has been. I jes’ have a feeling he’s an
innocent victim of circumstances. Does anyone know the story of
how Lamar got involved with all this?”
“We got it all
recorded, Sheriff, except the audio is low. That’s no problem I
wrote a program that can enhance any sound on a video or DVD.
Give me an hour, and I can get either a tape or a DVD to you. On
the video Lamar tells Dwayne everything. He had the job of giving
our brother enemas to clean him out for the Colonel’s use and the
Colonel recorded it. Naturally, we tapped into his signal and
made a copy for ourselves.”
“Ah-ha!”
exclaimed the sheriff, “So that’s how them two bonded! I
once fell madly in love with an ugly army nurse who used to gimme’
enemas when I came back from Nam. I always did blame it on them
damn enemas she gimme.’ She sure as hell weren’t ‘tat pur-tie
look’n!”
We were all
laughing with the sheriff.
“Okay, Son,
either one is fine. I’d like to have it as soon as possible so I
can review it and be up to speed and running when I talk to
Lamar. I’m gonna’ need all recordings made here tonight. I
just know this boy well enough by now to know he’s gonna’ make his-self
a couple of copies.” He smiled at Sidney. “H’it don’t make
me no never mind, I just don’t wanna’ know about it, and give me the
originals,— agreed, Son?”
“Yes, Sir,
Sheriff. We’ll get them to you later this evening if you wish.”
“That’ll be
fine. Since tomorrow ain’t a school day maybe yore’ daddy and
head wrangler would let you stay up a little later than usual.”
He winked at big Sidney and Sticker. “We’re gonna’ wrap this up
pert-damn quick. We gotta’ get back, but you men look through the
house either tonight or tomorrow morning and bring me anything what
remotely resembles any evidence against him. If he’s got a
computer in there, can you get into it and see what’s on it,
Son?” He asked Sidney. Sidney just grinned real big.
“I agree, Son, it was a stupid question, and you’re right, I should a’
know’d better’n to ask.” he laughed, “See what you can
find, Son, but don’t alter any files, passwords or anything else on
it. Bring it with you tonight, if you can. If’n you don’t
have time for all of it, get me the video first, and go through the
computer when you have more time. Now, understand,— Vince here,
as one of my official deputies will be in charge of all information you
gather. If you’re in doubt about anything, check with him. ”
“Yes, Sir,
Sheriff.”
“There’s one
part of the recording in the barn I’m a little concerned about. It’s
when Dwayne gets on his knees, and — ”
“I know which
part, Sheriff.” Sidney interrupted him. “Not a problem,
Sir.”
“I won’t ask,— I
don’t wanna’ know!” he grinned at Sidney. “Jes’ bring me
the final disk, Son,— oh, yes, and by the way, Son,— you wanna’ have a
talk with your daddy and see if he’ll let you help us once in a while?”
“Thanks,
Sheriff, I’d like that.” Sidney replied. Big Sidney beamed
with pride.
“Dwayne’s gonna’
need all our help, gentlemen, but more’n ‘nat, he’s gonna’ need our
love. He’s already got one young, giant, black man in his corner,
and I jes’ about imagine ever’ man here. We’re gonna’ try’n keep
this as quiet as possible for Dwayne’s sake. Now! That
brings me to my final question. You all know what it is and why I
put it off ‘til last. Who’s gonna’ contact his daddy and tell him
what happened?”
“Well,— he’s my
employee, Sheriff. He’s worked closely with me for the last two
years.” said Sticker.
We were
shocked. We never heard about this before. Damn, if Mr.
Wiggins wasn’t a cowboy. We always knew it, but you just never
knew what to expect sometimes. The sheriff continued.
“Of all people,
Rance Harding needs to know what happened to his boy. It’s my
considered opinion, he’s been cut out a’ that boy’s life for too damn
long, and for little or no good reason. That boy needs his daddy
right now.” continued Sheriff Bard, “Rance’s gonna’ need some
good, strong counseling. Several of you men know him well and you know
what I’m talk’n about. I love Rance as much as any man here, he’s
a brother, but I can’t have him riding into town on his pony with guns
a’ blazing. This jes’ ain’t the wild West no more, gentlemen;
however, as we all know, somebody forgot to tell Rance Harding.”
All the men
chuckled, but they had to agree with the sheriff, they knew him well
and knew how he could be sometimes. Secretly, it was something
they all admired Rance for, as well. He would stand up to the
Devil, himself, if he thought he was right.
“How ‘bout, if
Frank Mayhew and I go have a talk with him. My rodeo stock
company is doing a rodeo this weekend in Valley Center. If we
bring him back with us, any man here, who knows Rance, would be glad to
put him up. I’ll make sure he has some time off to be with his
boy. He ain’t took a day off since he’s worked for me.
Since the sheriff wants Dwayne to stay with the Longhorns until it’s
decided what to do, can Rance stay with you and Casey, Vince?”
Sicker asked my dad.
“You don’t even
have to ask, Sticker. He’s family, just like Dwayne and Sidney is
Casey’s brothers,— Rance is my brother.”
“That’s a fine
idea, Mr. Wiggins. Is ‘zat all right with you, Mr. Mayhew?”
“Be glad to,
Sheriff. I agree with you, I think the boy needs his daddy.”
“Thanks, Mr.
Mayhew.”
The sheriff and
his chief deputy took off to get back to town. We did a quick
preliminary search of the house and found the Colonel’s personal
computer in his work room. Sidney and I quickly tore it down and
put it into the Bronco. Sidney found the tapes he made. I
went into the bathroom and got the enema bag still hanging on the nail
where Lamar left it.
Dad wanted to go
home for a while. He left everything in Frank’s charge. He wanted
to get big Sid and Sticker back to Sticker’s Hummer. On the way,
Sidney and I asked our dad’s if we could go by the hospital to see our
brother and give him support. We wanted to know how Lamar was
doing, too. I could tell dad was tired, and he just wanted to get
home. He had a hard day, and I knew it was stressful for him.
Mr. Wiggins and
Sidney’s dad volunteered to take us and bring me back. There might be
papers they needed to sign anyway. Dad told me I could go and
spend some time with Dwayne but to get back early. I asked Mr.
Wiggins if they could get me back before ten. It was still early
evening, and we had plenty of time. They agreed. If we were
going over to Dwayne’s tomorrow to do a thorough search my dad needed
some rest. I also felt he wanted to be alone when he called
Sadie. I hugged him and kissed him goodbye. He told me to
give Dwayne his love, and he’d be looking forward to him coming to stay
with us for a while. He also told me to tell him Lamar is welcome
in our home anytime he can get away. If Lamar needs a place to
stay for a while, he’s welcome.
* * * * * * *
After we left,
dad dialed the number for Sadie’s sister and Sadie answered.
“Sadie, this is
Vince Longhorn calling.”
“I’s just
thinking about you and Casey, Vince.”
“Have you got a
minute to talk?”
“Sure, I put my
sister down for the night, and thank God, she’s resting
peacefully. What’s going on, Vince? It’s Brad, ain’t it?”
“‘Fraid so,
Sadie,— Brad’s in jail, and Dwayne’s in the hospital overnight. He’s
okay, don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with him. They just
wanna’ keep him overnight for observation, and they’ll release him to
me in the morning. Casey and Sidney have gone with Sidney’s dad
and Sticker Wiggins to be with him, and I promised Leland Bard I’d give
you a call tonight.” Dad said he could hear Sadie weeping on the
other end.
“You, okay, old
friend? You want me to go on?”
“I’m sorry,
Vince, with all that’s happening to me lately I jes’ fell apart for a
minute. I’ll try not to,— just tell me what’s going on.”
“Brad’s been
raping and sexually molesting Dwayne for about six months.”
“Oh, my God in
heaven, no, Vince! How long have you known about it?”
“A little over
two weeks, Sadie. That’s why I wouldn’t let him stay with Brad
last weekend. Dwayne finally broke down and told Casey the night
Brad called him home to fix his dinner. Casey talked Dwayne into
talk’n with me and Spencer Winchester, and he told us everything.
Brad gave Frank and Curley the weekend off, and he kept Dwayne tied up
in the barn all weekend. He only set him free shortly before you came
home. He raped Dwayne repeatedly, Sadie. He wanted Dwayne
there for the long weekend, but thank God, you let him stay with us.”
“Oh, my
God! Oh, my dear sweet Lord! My baby,— how could I have
left him with that monster. I should’ve known. The signs
were right there before me, but I couldn’t tell if it was just because
Dwayne hated Brad, and he didn’t want anything to do with him.
Now, the pieces are falling together faster than I can think about
them. It’s like seeing a jig-saw puzzle all fall’n into place at
once. Why didn’t you tell me, Vince?”
“Brad told
Dwayne if he ever told anyone he’d kill you, Sadie. Dwayne
believed him. A man mean enough to physically rape him over and
over for a six month period, you gotta’ believe he jes’ might do
it. Dwayne was protecting you, Sadie. You don’t know how
bad I wanted to tell you that afternoon in the kitchen, but if I had,
we saw some bad outcomes as possibilities. We had no way of
knowing exactly how crazy Brad was or how he might react.
Supposing I told you, would you have believed me?”
“To be
completely honest, Vince, I just don’t know.” “Well, we took
that into consideration. We thought if you saw what was going on
all along and did nothing, what would make us think you’d believe us
now? What if Dwayne came to you and said, ‘You really
wanna’ know what’s bothering me, Mom? Brad’s been raping and
sexually abusing me for the last six months.’ Would you think
Dwayne make it up to git chu’ all riled up at Brad so’s you’d git rid
of him? Do you think for a minute Brad would admit it? He
already had ju’ believing there was nothing wrong with him, it was all
Dwayne’s fault. You knew in your heart Dwayne was a good
boy. I told ju’ over and over Dwayne’s a good boy to try to git
you to see it wasn’t Dwayne’s fault. If I told you and you
confronted Brad, as big a liar as he is, he could a’ made you believe
anything, Sadie. Then he’d take it out on Dwayne or worse, to
punish him, he jes’ might a’ killed ju.’”
“Oh, dear
God! What’a my gonna’ do, Vince? Should I come home?
It’ll take me a while to get someone to care for my sister.”
“Not really,
Sadie,— ever’ thing’s under control now. Brad’s in jail where he
can’t hurt nobody no more. Dwayne’s safe and he’s coming home
with us tomorrow morning. I advise you not to come home right
now, Sadie. Stay there and take care of your sister until she
passes, and then come home. Frank and Curley will take care of
the ranch for you, and we’ll take Dwayne over to do the chores and help
on weekends.
You know I’ll
take good care of Dwayne, so don’t worry about him. I really
meant what I said the other day, Sadie. Dwayne has a second home
here, if he needs it. The sheriff won’t let him come home to you
anyway, until there’s an investigation. If you come back to see
Dwayne or Brad, Leland will arrest you on charged of possible neglect,
abuse, abandonment, and child endangerment.”
“Oh God,
Vince! This is my punishment from God for having thrown out the
best man who ever happen in my life. The only man I’ll ever truly
love. Dwayne tried to talk to me. He begged me to forgive
him. You tried to talk to me. So many others tried to get
through to me, but I wouldn’t listen. I broke his heart and kept
him from his most cherished thing on Earth, his son. How was Brad
caught, Vince?”
“Do you really
want to know all the details tonight? Why don’t you let drive up
there one day this next week. I can sit down with you and tell
you everything.”
“Just tell me
one thing, Vince, is my boy gonna’ be like his dad?”
“Sadie, I ain’t
even gonna’ dignify that question with an answer. If that’s what
you’re most worried about, you’re choosing to fight the wrong battles.
Why on God’s green Earth would you care? Are you gonna’ stop
loving your son and turn your back on him like you did Rance jes’
because he might be like his dad? That’s almost as insane as what
Brad did to him, Sadie. I mean you no disrespect, you know I love
you, but if you do that, you never deserved that boy in the first
place. You gave up a damn good man, Sadie, because of you rigid
beliefs. You took everything that man owned and left him with
nothing, not even being able to see his own son. Are you gonna’
gamble two for two? I promise you,— you’ll lose him, Sadie,— if
you haven’t lost him already.” Dad could hear her crying on the
other end.
“I’m so sorry,
Vince, you’re only saying what I said a minute ago. I did give
him up. I don’t wanna’ lose my boy, Vince. He’s my
world. Can you just give me brief overview of what happened to
finally catch Brad and put him in Jail?”
“Yeah, sure,
Sadie. Briefly, we knew Dwayne was gonna’ have to stay home with
Brad this weekend. There was no doubt in our minds he was gonna’
do it all again. He told Dwayne he was before you left.
Thursday, I took the boys over to do the chores early before Brad got
home. While Dwayne did his chores, Casey and Sidney got into the
barn, and hid three video cameras. Frank, Curley and I stood
watch in case Brad came home early.
Brad gave Frank
and Curley the weekend off again so’s they wouldn’t be around.
This afternoon Sidney, Casey and Sticker hid in the bunkhouse and
filmed everything. We got worried because Brad brought a huge,
black man home with an enormous schlong to fuck Dwayne. We called
Leland Bard in on it. The boys filmed Brad abusing Dwayne for a
couple of hours and me, Frank, Sidney’s dad, the sheriff and his men
came in the back gate and went to the bunkhouse to check on the boys
and Sticker.
The black man
was in the house cleaning himself and he came to the barn like Brad
ordered him. Brad told him to fuck Dwayne, but he refused.
He got to know Dwayne and liked him. He told Brad he wouldn’t
fuck a young boy. Brad pulled his service revolver and threatened to
kill the man if he didn’t do what Brad told him to. The sheriff
and his men walked into the barn and told Brad to drop the gun.
As soon as Brad figured out Dwayne set him up, he went into one of his
rages and was gonna’ kill him, but the big, black man jumped in front
of Dwayne to protect him and took the bullet. They Tasered Brad
and took him off to jail. The black man’s in the hospital in
critical condition. Dwayne’s all right. His brother’s are
with him right now.”
Sadie was quiet
for a moment and dad heard a big sigh.
“What’a my
gonna’ do, Vince?”
“I don’t know,
Sadie. At this point I can’t give you advice. I jes’ don’t
have any to give you. All I can do is be your friend and tell you
to follow your heart. Do you want me to come up?”
“No,— as long as
I know Dwayne’s all right. I know you’ll take good care of him,
and he’s happy with you and Casey. He loves you both very much.
I’m gonna’ take your advice and stay up here until Ellen passes.
Then I’ll come back and turn myself in to Leland. He’s a good man
to let me stay with my sister. Thank him for me. I’ll be in
his office the day after her funeral. Tell Dwayne I love him; although,
I’m not sure he’ll believe me now. Can’t say’s I blame him
much. I never told ju’ this, but I tore up all his daddy’s
letters?”
“I know, Sadie,
Dwayne told me about it. He saw you do it onetime. He
watched you take the money out what was meant for him and put it in
yore’ pocket. He watched you tear up the letter from his
dad. He always took the trash out for you, and he’d go through it
every night to find his dad’s letters and piece them back
together. Dwayne didn’t care about the money, he just wanted to
hear from his dad. Finally Rance started sending his letters to
our place. I told him he could. I’m sorry, Sadie. I
didn’t mean to deceive you none. I just thought Dwayne had the
right to hear from his dad no matter what Rance did, and I stand by my
decision, Sadie, as having done the right thing.”
“I can’t believe
Dwayne knew about it all along, and that boy never said a word to
me. Dwayne is a cowboy, Vince,— just like his dad. Oh,
God! What a fool I’ve been. No wonder he probably hates me.” “No, he don’t,
Sadie. He wouldn’t a’ tried to protect you from Brad if he didn’t
love you. The biggest thing is, Sadie, we have reason to believe
Brad planned to do away with both of you to get the ranch. We
think he planned to sell Dwayne to white slave traders on the Internet.” “Oh, my
God!” Dad heard Sadie crying again.
“Look, Sadie,
I’ll have Dwayne call you when we get him home. You call me if
you change your mind about me coming up.”
“I will, Vince,—
God love you for taking care of my boy and helping him in his time of
need. If he didn’t have you and Spence Winchester, Brad just
might have carried off his plan.”
“I have no
doubts, Sadie. He was brainwashing Dwayne to become a man’s sex
slave, and he planned to sell him to another man on the Internet.”
“I’m sorry,
Vince, I can’t hear any more of this. Let me call you when I’ve
recovered from the shock. Thanks again, Vince. You continue
to be a good friend.”
“Bye, Sadie. * * * * * * *
We got to the
hospital and found Dwayne’s room. He was sitting up in bed and
was glad to see us. He hugged and kissed everybody. He
broke down and sobbed in Sidney’s and my arms. He kept calling
our little brother, ‘little bit,’ but I didn’t know why at the
time. He was kissing Sidney and thanking him for being there for
him. He didn’t spare his affections for me though. He was
in a two man room with Lamar, but they hadn’t brought him back from
surgery. We could tell he was filled with so many emotions it was
almost overwhelming for him. He was happy and relieved it was
over and he could start living a more normal life; yet, he was terribly
worried about his friend. He even felt bad because Dunbar was in
jail. Sticker assured him that was normal, but it would
pass. It was sort of like what our little brother advised me
about Peacock; however, I’m glad I didn’t listen to him. I hoped
Dwayne did.
“I’m so glad to
see, ya’ll. Lamar’s still in surgery,— he has been for about and
hour and a half. They’re gonna’ bring him here when they’re done,
and I’ll get to be with him. After they took some of Dunbar’s
sperm out of me, they checked me over and were gonna’ release me
tonight. Lamar needed some blood, and I told them to take
mine. They took a bit of my blood to test. Turns out I’m what
cha’ call a universal blood type; type ‘O’ negative. So they took
a pint of my blood jes’ a while ago. Ain’t that romantic, now my
blood flows in my buddy.” He giggled like a school boy, and we
laughed with him.
“Thank God for
Sheriff Bard. The more I’m around that man the more I like
him.” We agreed with him. He’s a no nonsense, level headed,
thoughtful, considerate, man and as funny as a car full of clowns.
“Before the
paramedics got there and put Lamar on the gurney, do you remember
Sheriff Bard told Casey to run to the house and get them blankets. Then
he told us to take all his clothes off, his dog tags, and hide ‘em?”
“Yeah.”
Sidney and I replied.
“He did it for a
reason. He don’t want the hospital to know Lamar’s in the
military. His dog tags and clothes would a’ been a dead
giveaway. He didn’t know if they would, but he didn’t want some
do-gooder nurse alerting the military until he had a chance to go over
everything with Lamar. He thinks he can save Lamar’s butt if he
does what the sheriff tells him. That is if Lamar wants to stay
in the Marines.”
“He told the
hospital folks they better do what the hell he told ‘em to,— follow his
instructions and keep me overnight for observation. I think he
really jes’ wanted for me to be here for my buddy when he wakes
up. Later, they probably won’t let me see Lamar ‘cause I ain’t a
family member. I don’t know why?” grinned Dwayne, “We
certainly look enough alike to be brothers.” We agreed and
laughed with him. “Anyway, the sheriff came in a while ago to
talk with me and told me not to let anyone talk to Lamar before he got
a chance to talk with him. I told him what little I know, and he
said you were gonna’ get one of Dunbar’s videos to him to listen to our
conversation while we were in the bathroom.”
“Yeah, he said
something about that to us, and Sidney’s gonna’ get it to him later
this evening.” spoke Sticker. “Son, I ain’t never told ju’
this before now because, I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do
or not, but chore’ daddy’s been working for me for the last two
years. He’s head ramrod of my rodeo stock company, and he’s doing
a fine job. He needs to know what went on here tonight.
Frank Mayhew and I are gonna’ drive to Valley Center tomorrow morning
where there’s a rodeo this weekend and bring him back with us.
He’s gonna’ be staying with Vince and Casey, so you’ll get to be with
him. I’m making him take some time off to come be with you.
That sucker ain’t taken a day off for any reason since I hired
him. We all feel you need your dad right now. We’ve tried
to give you as much support through this as we could, but as much as we
love you, we can’t take the place of yore’ daddy, Son.”
Dwayne hugged
the big cowboy and started crying. I never saw a more empathetic
face on a man as Mr. Wiggins had that night holding Dwayne. Several
tears rolled down his face. He held Dwayne and comforted him for
sometime.
“Thanks, Mr.
Wiggins.” said Dwayne.
“No problem,
Son.” replied Mr. Wiggins.
We visited with
Dwayne for about an hour and a half when they brought Lamar back to the
room. He was in the operating room for three hours patching him
up. He was still unconscious and probably wouldn’t wake for
sometime. He had tubes coming out of him all over the place and
looked like he’d been run over by a bulldozer. He resembled a
good looking ‘Borg’ critter from Star Trek, but thank God, the big man
was alive, and his condition was upgraded from critical to
serious. Dwayne went to his side and took his big hand in
his. The doctor came into the room and saw us.
“Sheriff Bard
ask me to bend the rules a little here, and let you men know how Mr.
Bradley is doing. Since Mr. Bradley gave us the name of Dwayne
Harding as next of kin,— who am I to argue. I don’t think he has
any other family anyway. Mr. Bradley came through the operation
fine. There was no complications. It was a pretty routine
gun shot wound patch up job. The bullet lodged in a rib. A
half inch one way or the other and Dwayne would either be dead or
beside Mr. Bradley recovering. So this big man is officially a
hero.
The man is
basically very healthy and in top physical condition. He should
recover quickly. We removed the bullet and patched his
lung. We have him breathing with assistance now and a high level
of oxygen to help him heal faster. We’re gonna’ keep him pretty
well doped up tonight, but he should be wide awake by tomorrow
morning. He can have limited visitors if you don’t stay too
long. That don’t apply to you, Dwayne. You can be here with
him as much as you want. If a man saved my life, I’d sure as hell
wanna’ to be by his side when he wakes up. We’re releasing Dwayne
tomorrow morning and he should be able to return to school
Monday. Any questions, gentlemen?”
No one had any
questions so he said his goodbyes and left. We needed to leave,
too. We knew Dwayne probably wanted to be alone with his friend
anyway. On the way back to our place we didn’t talk much.
The day collapsed in on top of Sidney and me. We suddenly
realized how tired we were. We already loaded Dunbar’s computer
into the Humvee for Sidney to take home and peruse. I didn’t envy
my little brother having to get that recording to the sheriff tonight,
but knowing him it would be a labor of love.
We talked a
little about how we felt about Dwayne finding a new friend and decided
we were thrilled for him. Lamar wasn’t going to take Dwayne away
from us, he would only add to our lives. We also decided,
jokingly, we were so damn jealous we could cut our big brother’s heart
out. Sidney and I roared with laugher at our macabre sense of
humor. In truth, we couldn’t have loved our brother more, and we
couldn’t have been more happy for him.
* * * * * * * When Sticker and
Frank pulled into the rodeo compound they saw Rance Harding up on top
of one of the trucks trying to get a stubborn Brahma bull to go the
other way, out of the truck into a corral. Rance was all cowboy
from his hat to his boots. He was a little over six foot four,
tall, lean and mean looking. His hair was beginning to get salt
and pepper around the edges and he wore a full, bushy, black
moustache. His face was weather beaten and brown from too many
days in the saddle, but his most striking feature was his light colored
eyes. The pupils were so striking because they were so pale and a
light violet in color. They were heightened and looked lighter
still because of his dark, ruddy complection. When he looked at
you, you would swear he was looking into your soul,— his eyes were that
penetrating. Frank Mayhew got a good look at Rance as he waved to
the Hummer.
“Shiiit!” said
Frank under his breath. Sticker chuckled.
“That bad,— huh,
Frank?” Sticker inquired.
“I’ll carry a
stiff dick to my grave for that man.” Frank wasn’t kidding and
Sticker knew it. “One look in them damn eyes of his, my brain
turns to horse turds and my old dick takes over. Don’t git me
wrong, Sticker,— I love Curley with all my heart, and I’d never
consider leaving him for anyone, Rance included, but that cowboy can
still make my heart skip a beat and my asshole,— as old as it is,—
still twitch.”
Sticker roared
with laughter. Nothing more was said, but that exchange with
Frank was the first personal information Sticker ever got from Frank
Mayhew in almost twelve years of knowing him. It made him admire
Frank all the more for his honesty.
Rance was
wearing a pure white Western shirt with blue striping, Wranglers, a big
black cowboy hat, boots, and a pair of leather working chinks. He
jumped down from the truck and came to greet his boss. He was
pleasantly surprised to see his old buddy Frank Mayhew. He shook
hands with them, but he couldn’t resist a hug and a kiss for his old
saddle partner. For a pair of older, stoic cowboys they forgot
the rules for a minute and shared a few tears.
“You old son of
a bitch, it’s so damn good to see yore’ ugly face again. I almost
shit my pants when I saw you git out a’ the truck. I’m s’damn
glad you came with Mr. Wiggins.”
Sticker told
Rance many times to just call him Sticker, but Rance was the last of
the American cowboys, and he would only call his boss-man by his last
name to show him proper respect.
“Mr. Wiggins
called me last night and said he’d drop by today, but how did ju’git
away? Ain’t nothing wrong with Curley, is there?” Rance
looked worried.
“Naw, Curley’s
fine. Do I need an excuse to come see my old friend?”
“Oh, hell no,
brother! You know better’n ‘nat!”
“If you can git
away for a while, Rance, we’d like to take you to lunch and jaw with
ya’ fer awhile.” Sticker said.
“The folks are
giving the hands a barbecue for lunch today with the works. It’s damn
good barbecue, too. ‘Em black folks is cooking it and ain’t
nobody cooks barbecue better'n nay can. Ya’ll care to join us?”
“That’ud be
great, Rance.” Sticker replied.
Rance showed
Sticker and Frank around and introduced them to his straw boss, his
next man in command of the operation. Rance called all the hands
together and introduced them. They sat down to eat and Sticker
found a table away from everyone. Rance figured Sticker just
wanted to talk business in private. Rance was right, it was damn
good barbeque. They finished their meal and Sticker started.
“Rance, we
didn’t come to talk business," Sticker paused for a moment, "we
came here on a personal matter. You need to git some a’ yore
things together, and let chore’ second take over for a few days; we
need to take you back with us. Yore’ boy needs you, Rance.”
“Why?
What’s wrong? You know I can’t see Dwayne! Sadie'll have my
cowboy ass slapped in jail quicker'n a tick on a cow. She won’t
never let me git near my boy. Dwayne’s snuck off a few
times. We got together for several hours at a time, but nobody
knows about it s’far as I know. Is Sadie sick,— did some’um
happen to her? Did that bastard hurt her?”
“No, no,— let us
explain. You won’t go to jail if’n you come with us to see
Dwayne, ‘cause Leland Bard told us to come git chu.’ Now,— ya’
think the sheriff’s gonna’ arrest you when he was the one what done
told us Dwayne needs his daddy right now?”
“No,— guess
not. Lee’s a good man. Him and me,— we go back a long
ways. He’s a brother. I done heard Sadie was up to Chino
way take’n care of her Sis— ” Rance broke off his sentence,
“Oh, my God in heaven! It’s that fuck’n tin soldier she done went
and married, ain’t it? If’n that bastard laid a hand on her or my
boy, I’ll kill the Goddamn son of a bitch. Hell yes, I’ll go with
ya’ and take my bull gun with me! I’ll blow his Goddamn fuck’n
head off!”
“Calm down,
Rance! We ain’t taking you no wheres until you simmer
down.” Frank said to him. “We know how you feel. We
feel the same damn way, but kill’n Dunbar ain’t the answer unless you
wanna’ go back to prison. Let that bastard go to prison instead
of you. You missed the shoot out, cowboy, he’s behind bars
already. Casey Longhorn and Sidney’s son Logan,— ‘em boys got
enough evidence on that som’ bitch to send him up for life. So,
sit chore’ ass down, cowboy,— take a load off, and give us a
chance to explain before you mount up and go off half cocked ride’n
into town with gun’s a blaze’n.” Frank told him, thankful to
Sheriff Bard for that line. It fit Rance perfectly.
There was only
three men in the world who could’ve gotten through to Rance Harding,
and two were sitting in front of him. The other was Vince
Longhorn. He’d listen to Vince. Sticker picked up and told
Rance the whole thing. It took them a couple of hours to tell him
between bursts of outrage and calming him down again. They
finally got him settled down. When they told him Sadie might have
to do some jail time, the big, rough talking cowboy laid his head on
the picnic table, and broke down into heavy sobs for the woman he still
loved in spite of what she did to him. They told him Dwayne would
probably be put in a foster home until he’s of legal age, and the
Winchester’s have volunteered to take him in. They even got a
foster care license in case he wanted to live with them. Rance
was pleased to hear that. He knew and loved Spencer and Donna
Winchester. Sticker told him about Lamar saving Dwayne’s life and
how they bonded. Rance knew all too well what that meant.
He’d been there and back, several times.
“Hell,— h’it
don’t make me no never mind who my boy chooses to love. I don’t
give a shit,— s’long as he’s happy. If’n the man saved my boy’s
life he could be green with pink pokey-dots from Mars for all I care,
but he’ll still be my brother. So I’ll have a black man for a
son-in-law,— what the fuck?! Less’n them two’s figured out a new way a’
do’n it, I ain’t gonna’ have ta’ worry none about have’n to explain no
little pick-a-ninnies run’n around.”
The three men
shared a laugh. It was the first good laugh the men got out of
Rance since they started talking.
“Well, if
any good has come of this, Dwayne met Lamar and you can see your boy as
much as you want according to Leland Bard. Dwayne’s gonna’ need
you, Rance, and you ain’t gonna’ do him no good by flying off the
handle. Yore’ boy needs you, right now, one hell of a lot more’n
you need revenge.” Frank told him.
“Yeah,— I guess
you’re right, old friend. You always could talk horse sense to me
when nobody else could.” he grinned at Frank, and his grin
communicated his love and respect for his friend. Frank didn’t
respond. Rance didn’t expect him to. He knew Frank loved Curley,
and he was happy for them. He liked Curley a lot, and Rance
thought he was perfect for Frank.
“So you say
Vince Longhorn and Spencer Winchester were in on nail’n his ass?”
“Yeah, Spencer
and his wife was having dinner with the Longhorns the night Dwayne
finally told Casey what was going on. Casey talked him into
telling his dad and Spencer Winchester. Casey told Dwayne they
already figured it out. They suspected what was going on all
along. Spencer’s been the main man what’s been talking with
Dwayne to get him away from Dunbar. The boys actually planned
everything, and if it weren’t for Sidney Wainright’s boy we could a’
never pulled it off. That damn kid’s a genius.” Frank told
him.
“God!
Vince, Sidney, Spence, and Leland,— what I don’t owe them four
men. You, Frank and Curley, too, Mr. Wiggins.” “You don’t owe
them men a damn thing, cowboy. You sure as hell don’t owe Frank
or me nothing. You’ve worked hard for ever’ damn thing you got.
You're fair minded and honest to a fault. We did it as much for
our love of Dwayne as we did for you. Yore’ boy’s a damn good
kid, Rance, but he needs ju’ right now,— not tomorrow, not next week,—
today.” Sticker told him. “All right,—
lemme’ git some shit together. Should I take my truck and follow
you?”
“Naw, come on,
go with us. T’ain’t that far. You can use Vince’s pickup.
He’ll let chu’ borrow it. He never drives the damn thing
anyways. He’s always drive’n the Bronco. I’ll see to it you
git back okay if’n I have ta’ drive ya’ myself.” said
Sticker. “Ain’t about to lose my head honcho.” Sticker
smiled at him.
“Okay, Sir. I
really appreciate you men take’n your time to personally come and talk
with me about this.”
“What are
friends for, Rance?” Sticker asked him.
“Well,— I tell
ya,’— I somehow managed to make me some good ones over the years.
Men I’m damn proud to call my friends.”
“That’s because
you know how to be a friend, cowboy.” Frank told him.
With that
statement Frank crossed the gap between him and his old mate. After
that afternoon their relationship took on new meaning for them, and it
was beneficial for both. * * * * * * *
Dwayne set next
to his friend’s bed all night holding his hand. He wanted to be
there in case Lamar woke up and was frightened with all the tubes in
his body, especially the tube down his throat to keep his airway
open. Try as he might the excitement and physical activity he
went through that evening in the barn caught up with him. He
thought maybe if he just laid his head on the bed next to Lamar he
might rest for a just few minutes,—
Dwayne awoke up
slowly out of a deep sleep. It seemed to him like a giant’s hand
took hold of his hand and was gently shaking it. He eyes were
groggy as he looked up to see his buddy looking at him. His eyes
were smiling, but his mouth wasn’t. He still had the tube down
his throat. Dwayne was awake in a minute.
“Oh, Lamar,
you’re awake! Thank God!” he exclaimed.
Lamar pointed to
the tube in his throat like he wanted it out.
“Hold on a
minute, I’ll get a nurse.”
Dwayne ran to
the hall and saw a small nurse.
“Nurse!
Nurse! My friend’s awake and he wants that tube down his throat
taken out.”
“Go back and
tell him I have to get an orderly to do that. I’ll get him right
away, Mr. Harding.” She scurried off to find the orderly as fast
as her chubby little legs could carry her. Dwayne thought that
was strange. Usually people in such low paying jobs don’t hurry
to do anything. What he didn’t know was the nurses on the day and
night duty were being tipped handsomely by Sidney Wainright senior to
insure Lamar got the best treatment anywhere. Of course they were
going to bust their butts for Dwayne. Money walks and bullshit,—
well, it just sort of sits there, not doing much of anything but
smelling bad. Dwayne no sooner told Lamar an orderly was coming when
one walked through the door.
“Okay, Mr.
Bradley, glad to see you’re back with us. Let me take that tube
out. I know it’s uncomfortable and your doctor said it could come
out when you woke up. Well, you’re awake so let me take it out
for you.”
With one fluid
yank, the orderly removed the tube. Now, Lamar could smile at his
friend, and he did. He thanked the orderly, but he could barely
speak.
“Don’t try’n
talk too much, Mr. Bradley, until we get some liquids down you and
maybe some food. Are you hungry, Sir?”
Lamar nodded his
head ‘yes.’ The orderly was off to make sure the nurse got their
breakfast, muy pronto. Lamar looked into the face of an adoring
young man and saw his future in his eyes.
“I still love
you this morning.” he whispered.
“Oh, God, Lamar,
I love you so Goddamn much. Listen to me, I’m beginning to sound
like a broken record.
“That’s all
right, boy, I love's that part of the record. I could listen to
it over and over.” he said.
He got a smile
out of Dwayne, and it warmed his heart. He couldn’t remember
seeing the boy smile the evening before, but now he was. Lamar
thought Dwayne to be quite handsome, but he was even better looking
with a smile. When Lamar smiled back he showed Dwayne a row of
perfect teeth which were magnificently white. Dwayne wondered if
it was because his friend was so black his teeth looked more white by
contrast. He wasn’t going to worry about it,— it was the smile of
his buddy, the smile was for him, and his teeth were like the rest of
his giant,— beautiful for him to look upon. Lamar was perfect to Dwayne
like he was.
“I was awake for
a while before I woke you.” Lamar whispered. “You looked so
peaceful and handsome laying there holding my hand, I didn’t wanna’
wake you.”
“I’m glad you
did. I can sleep later, but if my buddy’s awake I wanna’ be awake
to be with him.”
The nurses
brought breakfast in for them, and they ate in silence. Lamar’s
voice was still not coming around; however, after breakfast he could
speak a little louder and was taking to Dwayne about all sorts of
things. Sheriff Bard walked in and was glad to see Lamar awake
and feeling better. The sheriff took his hand and gently shook it.
“Do you feel
well enough to let me talk with you for a few minutes, Lamar.”
“Sure, Sheriff,
I’m a lot better. I think I’m gonna’ live.”
“That’s damn
good to hear, Son. We were all pulling for you. A lot of
prayers were said last night on your behalf. I won’t take up too
much of you time. Sidney, the smaller of Dwayne’s brothers,
brought me a DVD made from the tape the Colonel made of you and Dwayne
in the bathroom. He enhanced the sound until it sounds almost
perfect. That kid is a wonder. Anyway, aside from keeping my dick
hard as a rock while watching it, I got most of your story about the
Colonel. Oh, and by the way, there was a couple of places I sat
there and bawled like a damn baby at your tenderness and concern for
our boy here. There’s no doubt in my mind why he fell in love
with you, Lamar.”
“Thank you,
Sheriff.” Lamar said softly.
“I only have a
few questions before I give you some advice about what to tell the
military. First of all, I’m not submitting the bathroom tape as
evidence. As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t exist; however, you
can bet chore’ ass, that DVD is gonna’ be stored in the bottom of my
safe in my home for my old age.” he roared with laugher.
“Even though you
were ordered to give Dwayne the enemas and insert the plug in his butt,
it could be taken the wrong way and be used against you. We don’t
want that to happen. We know why you did it, and that’s enough
for me. To be honest, it might have been different if I looked at
the DVD and saw a meanspirited man willingly enjoying hurting a young
boy. That’s not what I saw on the DVD, Son. I saw a
concerned, generous, loving man with a good heart, who was trying to
make it as easy on the boy as he could. Oh, by the way, that last
hug and kiss was the most powerfully moving thing I’ve seen in a long
time. It moved my come right out a’ my dick. I felt like a
damn fool,— I had to go'n change my pants.” The sheriff roared
with laughter.
“Beside’s that
nonsense, Dwayne here, would have to testify against you. Jes’ look at
that face, Son! Look at them big cow eyes ever’ time he looks at
chu.’’ Does that look like the face of a man I could get to
testify against you?” Lamar and I laughed at the sheriff.
“So, that’s out
of the way. Now, anything the Colonel says will not be taken as
truth, so your word is as good, or in this case, much better than his.
Now the questions: How many months was he fucking you?”
“Almost ever’
weekend for two months, Sheriff.”
“Okay,— did you
tell any of your fellow Marines he was fucking you in the butt?
“Naw, Sir, but
they all knew. They told me not to volunteer ‘cause the Colonel
would fuck me in the ass. I thought they was jes' making it up
until Sergeant O’Malley ordered me into his apartment to clean me out
and plugged my butt.”
“Did you ever
tell any of them,— even one,— that’s what happen to you?”
“Naw, Sir,
Sheriff, I was too damn embarrassed. I might a’ liked it, but I
was still embarrassed. They didn’t say nothing, but I think they
knew.”
“Doesn’t matter
what they think, it’s what you might have told them that’s important.”
“I didn’t tell
‘em nothing, Sheriff.
“How many times
did you volunteer for one of the Colonel’s special assignments?”
“Eight times,
Sir.”
“And did he fuck
you every time?”
“Ever’ time,
Sheriff.”
“When you
volunteered seven more times after the first time, did your fellow
recruits say anything or joke about you liking to get fucked in the
butt.”
“Naw, Sir, I’s
too big. They’s scared of me.”
“I don’t blame
'em a bit, Son.” The sheriff laughed. “I have a healthy
respect for you myself.” he laughed. “Okay, did any of them
ask you why you kept volunteering?”
“A couple, and I
told 'em they done lied to me. It was a special assignment after
all, just like Sergeant O’Malley told us. I told ‘em I did some
clean up work for the Colonel and moved a bunch of boxes and
things. I told ‘em it wasn’t much work, it wasn’t hard, but I
always got a good meal out of it, and the Colonel always tipped me.”
“Did he actually
give you money?”
“Yes, Sir, ever’
time when he got through with me and sent me back to Sergeant O’
Malley, he’d slip a twenty in my pocket. The last time, after he
got through fuck'n me, he let his two officer buddies fuck me, and he
gimme' a fifty dollar bill.”
“Did you brag
about it to your buddies?”
“Naw, Sir, I
figured I’d better keep my mouth shut about what was going on,— the
less anyone knew the better.”
“Well,— you’re
exactly right about that, and it just may save your butt. Do you
wanna’ stay in the Marines, Son?”
“I have to,
Sheriff.”
“Yeah, okay,— I
heard you tell Dwayne on the tape you got charged as an accomplice to a
auto theft simply because you were in the car? You say your buddy
told them you didn’t know about it?”
“Yes, Sir, but
the judge wouldn’t believe him. He sentenced me anyway.”
“Well, we’ll
look into that, Son. I know some folks who might be able to
help. If we could get you cleared of that would you still wanna’
stay in the Marines?”
“I’ve come this
far, Sir, and my graduation is only two weeks away. I don’t
wanna’ give up now. I like being a Marine, Sir. I ain’t
never found nothing to do I could be as proud of myself as becoming a
Marine. I got in under a special deal with the military by the
judge. I’d only have to do minimum time in the Corps to satisfy
the sentence of two years and they agreed to it. Even if you got
the conviction overturned, Sheriff, I still wanna’ do my time in the
Corps. I’d like it off my record, ‘cause I didn’t do nothing
wrong. I’s just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“I believe you,
Son. After seeing that DVD last night I knew you were telling the
truth. Don’t worry about that. You got a couple of good men
in your corner. Okay, only a couple more question, Son, and then
I’ll tell you what I have in mind. This Sergeant O’Malley, is he
a nice guy or a hard nosed asshole like the Colonel?”
“Naw, Sir, he’s
a real good man. He treated me right, Sir. He fucked me
about five times, but he was damn good. I enjoyed it ever’
time.” The sheriff almost fell off his chair laughing at Lamar’s
honesty.
“That good,
huh?” the sheriff asked with tears running down his face.
“Damn, good,
Sir!” Lamar smiled at the sheriff, “He’s got a much bigger
dick than the Colonel, and it shore’ felt good up my big, black
ass. He didn’t fuck me as good as the Colonel though, but he
gimme’ a damn good fuck’n, Sir.”
The sheriff
couldn’t stop laughing at Lamar’s blatant candor. He was about to
roll on the floor. He laughed so hard he made Dwayne and Lamar
laugh with him. He finally got himself together and went on with
his questions.
“Would you like
to see Sergeant O’Malley get into trouble or not.”
“Oh, no,
Sir. I like Sergeant O’Malley, Sir. He always treated me
with respect. When he cleaned me out, he was firm, but he was
kind and considerate. He never tried to hurt me. If it
weren’t for him talking me through it, like I did with Dwayne in the
bathroom, I'd a' never got that damn plug in my butt. He’d work
me up until he could tell when I was jes’ about ready to swallow that
huge thing with my butt hole. It didn’t hurt me none, Sir.
It was jes’ a little uncomfortable at first, but that’s about all.
He was ordered
by the Colonel to clean me out and plug my butt ever’ time. He
was just following orders, Sir. I know it ain’t a good excuse for
doing wrong, and he knew he was doing wrong. Fucking me wasn’t in
his orders, but I don’t care about that, he fucked me real good,
Sir. When Sergeant O’Malley fucked me, he wasn’t like the
Colonel. The Colonel would bust my ass wide open the first
thrust, and ride me like a mad man. Damn, he was good!” The
sheriff started laughing again, but this time Dwayne was, too.
“Sergeant
O’Malley was more of a kind, gentle, and considerate fucker. He’d
always let me jack-off after he got done fuck'n me. He’d keep
fucking me nice’n easy, slow and deep. He got me off ever’ time,
Sir. He wouldn’t try’n hurt me none. He was considerate of
my feelings, and he wanted it to be good for me, too. It was good
for me, but it just weren’t as good as the Colonel. I’m glad he’s
where he is, but I’ll miss him fucking me.” Dwayne thought
Sheriff Bard was going to have to leave the room he laughing so hard.
“I’m sorry, Son,
I mean you no disrespect. I’m laughing because I’ve never run
across a man so openly honest about what happened to him and his
feelings about it. Most men wouldn’t even talk about it.
Hearing you tell about it is wonderful. I’m laughing because
you’re being completely open about your experience and what it meant to
you. That’s good, but we’re gonna’ have to curb your enthusiasm
jes’ a little bit. No,— I take that back. We’re gonna’ have
to curb it a lot!” The sheriff got up out of his chair and walked
away he was laughing so hard.
“You know,— I’m
beginning to see more and more why this young man is so taken with you,
Son. If you’re always this open and honest with ‘most’ folks, it
will take you far in life. Notice I said ‘most’ folks, Son.
There’s some tight-ass’s in this world you can’t afford to be honest
with. They’ll crucify your butt and hang you out to dry if’n they
get the chance, and they will butt fuck you harder and meaner than the
Colonel ever did; however, I promise you, you won’t like their brand of
fuck’n. The Marines is one of them tight-ass’d groups you can’t
be honest with if you wanna’ stay in Corps. The two other Marine
Officers who fucked you, do you see them around the base regularly or
were they from some other place?”
“Naw, Sir, they
was from somewhere else. I ain’t never seen ‘em before that
night, and I ain’t seen ‘em again since.”
“Now, I’m just
gonna’ outline everything for you, Son. I’m gonna’ get Dwayne and
his buddies to coach you on what to say to the military. Let’s
take the easiest first: the two officers. That was probably a one
time thing the Colonel cooked up to impress a couple of his
buddies. If you should run into them again, just ignore
them. Don’t tell them anything. If they confront you, or
order you to tell them what happened or what you told the authorities,
you tell them you mean them no disrespect, but you’re under court order
not to discuss it. Believe me,— if you tell them that, it will
put the fear of God in them, and they ain’t gonna’ push it further with
you, Son. Same with Sergeant O’Malley. He probably won’t be
your drill instructor by the time you get back to finish boot
camp. If you do run into him, don’t tell him a damn thing.
Tell him you’re under court order not to say or tell anything about the
Colonel’s case and that’s an order from a higher rank than anyone in
the military. Don’t worry about all this information because I’m
gonna’ get the boys to drill you about it.
Now, when the
military comes, and they will come to take you back, do NOT tell them
the Colonel ever fucked you in the butt. He NEVER fucked you in
the butt! Got that?” Lamar nodded, but looked puzzled, “The
reason why is, the Marine Corps will look upon your passive
participation with the Colonel as a homosexual act, even though he
ordered you to do it. You will be given a dishonorable discharge
as a sexual deviate,— an undesirable. Do you understand that,
Son? It’s important.”
“Yes, Sir,
Sheriff, I understand. I guess it’s my word against his.”
“Exactly!
Now don’t worry about the trial. We will go to trial with him,
but I’m going to ask the attorneys to have the trial be made completely
private. No one but the people involved will be allowed to be
there, not even the military. Because of the sensitive nature of
this case, Dwayne being a minor, and in his home town, it won’t be a
problem. In the trial, you can tell the truth about the Colonel
forcing repeated acts of sodomy on you by his orders. The
military will never find out. Actually, we may have enough on him
to get life in prison on other charges, like forcing sex with a minor,
attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. We may not even
need your butt fucking testimony.” The sheriff chuckled.
“Dear God, I hope not!” The sheriff said as he fell out laughing again.
“Your story to
the military will be, you volunteered for a special assignment for the
Colonel. The Colonel said he needed some help on his ranch, and
he ordered you to go with him. You’d done other small jobs for
him so you didn’t think there was anything unusual about it.
After you got there he ordered you to strip and fuck a young boy while
he made a movie of it. You refused, he pulled his gun, told you
he would kill you if you didn’t fuck the boy. That’s when the
sheriff and his men walked into the barn and told him to drop the
gun. He knew at that moment, the boy, his step-son Dwayne, set
him up to get caught. He went into a rage and said he was gonna’
kill the boy. You could see he was gonna’ pull the trigger, you
jumped in front of Dwayne to protect him, and you took the
bullet. That’s all you need to tell them. We’ll fill in the
rest of the story. You don’t know anything else, jes’ what
happened in the barn, understand, Son?
“I think so,
Sheriff. I’m still a little foggy from the medication, but my
buddy here will go over it with me.” Lamar grinned real big at
Dwayne. “Thank you, Sheriff, I think your idea is a great one. I
think it jes’ might save my ass, and I really appreciate it, Sir.” “That’s all
right, Son. Glad to help you. It’s all the truth, we’re
just leaving out a little to protect an innocent man. I done
figured you suffered enough from the system. To put you behind
bars for something you know in your heart, and we know in our hearts,
you were honestly innocent of, would be wrong. I couldn’t be more
convinced you had no malicious intentions toward Dwayne. If’n you
had, he wouldn’t be a' sitting here right now with them big cow eyes
look’n at chu’ like you was his hero. You are his hero,
Son. You’re a hero to several people in this town. Sheriffs
and lawmen sometimes bend the rules a little if they see some injustice
is going to be done to a man they know to be innocent. Besides,
you done the most unselfish act of all, you were ready to give your
life for this boy. There ain’t no greater gift of love, Son.”
End Chapter 17 ~
Texas
Longhorns
Copyright 2005 ~
Waddie Greywolf All rights
reserved ~ Mail to:
waddiebear@yahoo.com