The next morning
we were once again up before sunrise. Master Waddie and I
showered together and had coffee in the trailer before we headed to the
big house for breakfast. There were six men of Master Waddie’s
family already in the kitchen fixing breakfast. I offered to
help and was told I could give Titus a hand cutting up potatoes for
cowboy fries. Titus gave me a
smile and handed me a knife. Between us, it took no time to
finish cutting the huge pot of potatoes he had in front of him.
We were on a small service porch outside the kitchen where the main
activity was going on. I have to say, Mr. Titus is a handsome
man. We stood and talked quietly as we worked.
“You having a
good time on your run, Mr. Titus?”
“Yeah,— I really
am,— thanks, Casey. I’ve enjoyed meeting you and watching you and
Waddie rope. I’ve been here, to Sheriff Claymore’s ranch, many
times. I’m hoping you’n Waddie win the rodeo this year.”
“I hope so, too,
Mr. Titus. If’n there ain’t too much competition,— maybe we will.”
“You’ll win,—
I’m sure of it.” Titus replied.
“I won’t ask how
you know. I know how you know, Mr. Titus.” I smiled at him
and blushed. “Can I talk to you honestly, Mr. Titus?”
“Sure you can,
Casey. Won’t go no further than me.”
“I know you and
ever’body else in Master Waddie’s family knows I’ve fallen in love with
him. I ain’t too good at hiding something like that. I gave
myself to him as his slave before we left Tuscon; however, we know
we’re not for each other, Mr. Titus. He has to go on with you and
his family on his run, and I have to stay here to take care of some
important things in my life. We brought something to each other
we both needed for this brief period of time; but,— like Master Waddie
told me and I agree with him,— once I gave myself to him there will
always be a part of me that will be his slave and a part of him will
always be my Master.”
“Don’t you think
I’m aware of that, Son?”
“I had a feel’n
you might be, but I wanted to talk to you anyway. I jes’ never
want you to think I was trying to take something away from you what’s
rightfully yours.”
“I never thought
that, nor would I ever think that. Waddie ain’t rightfully mine
by no means. He’s his own man and is recognized by our family
as a strong willed but compassionate Master. I certainly have no
claim to him. I won’t deny I’ve dreamed someday he would lay
claim to my ass. He ain’t show’d no interest in nobody until you
come along. Lord knows, I’ve done ever’ thing in my power to get
him to notice me, outside of performing my infamous,—
take-me-Master-I-wanna’-be-your-slave, dance of the seven
bandanas.” we shared a laugh, “Believe me,— I’ve seriously
considered it; however, our family,— being the wonderfully
charitable men they are,— urged me not to. They told me it might
send him over the edge. The poor man might have ta’ double-up on
his antidepressants.” we laughed harder. Mr. Titus could be
drolly funny. He continued.
“He’s been so
hung up on letting go of his last slave he ain’t been able to see
beyond his grief; that is,— until you come along. He’s always
admired you and yore’ dad. I can’t tell you how many times he’s
told me what good men he thinks the two of you are. He thinks you
men are fine cowboys. I have to agree with him. I saw the
light in his eyes when we met up with you at that filling station
outside of Tucson. He wanted you,— big time. Who do you
think urged him to ask you if you wanted company that first evening?”
“I know, Mr.
Titus, I overheard you tell him, and I truly appreciate it, Sir.
I have you to thank for getting to know and love a wonderful man like
Master Waddie,— for that, I’m grateful.”
“Well,— you’re
welcome, Casey. I never would’ve urged him to ask you if’n I
didn’t think you were that kind of cowboy. What you and Master
Waddie shared this last couple of weeks has been wonderful,— not
only for you and him,— it’s also been a real blessing for his
family. You’ve essentially jump-started his broken heart.
We ain’t missed the change in him,— we’ve seen it happen. We’ve
watched him go from being a gaunt, bent over, aging, defeated older man
to the fine looking, proud, tall walk’n, mature cowboy he used to be,
and for that,— we’re all grateful to you, especially me.”
“I hope you
won’t be angry with me for telling him I thought you might like to
become his slave, Mr. Titus.”
“How could I be
angry with you for telling the truth, Casey?”
“He never
thought a good looking man like you would be interested in becoming his
slave, especially after being a Master for a number of years.”
“Maybe that’s
what you’ve brought to him is the confidence he needs to see himself as
a Master again. I became a Master because of a deathbed promise
to my Master,— not by choice. That’s not to say I didn’t love my
slave with all my heart, it’s just,— if it were left up to me, I
wouldn’t have opted to become a Master. While I’m fully capable
of performing that function, and I did to the best of my ability, I’d
prefer to serve another man. Now,— here I am,— fifteen years
older, growing older by the day, with no slave and only one man I’d
consider serving for the rest of my life.”
“Have you
considered telling him that, Mr. Titus? You might let him know
you’d like him to consider you for his slave, Sir. I certainly
hope I’ve brought the confidence to Master Waddie to make a claim for
you. It would please me to know you’re both happy, and perhaps I
played some small part in getting you together.”
“That’s a
thoughtful and generous thing to say, Casey. After we leave here,
I think I just may follow your advice.”
“Then you’re not
upset with me for this time I’ve spent with Master Waddie?”
“Lord, no,
Casey,— don’t never think that. If Master Waddie makes a claim
for me to become his slave, I’m the big winner here. Sometimes a
man has to give a little to get a little. In this case, I’d be
getting far more than the little I gave by suggesting he share his love
with you; however, you must remember, I will, in a way, always be
sharing him with you, but that ain’t a bad thing. He was truthful
when he told you there will always be a part of you that belongs to him
and a part of him that will always be your Master. It’s just the
way of love between men who understand that sort of thing. You
will, in essence, become my slave brother.”
“I’d like that,
Mr. Titus.”
“So would I,
Casey,— I’d like that very much.”
* * * * * * *
Breakfast was
wonderful. I felt much better after talking with Mr. Titus and
everyone seemed to notice the free comradery that flowed between
us. Several wise cracks were made by the less sacred of Master
Waddie’s family and even the sheriff had a couple of astute
observations. Master Waddie looked at me several times with a
raised eyebrow. I’d look at Titus, he’d wink at me and cause me
to blush uncontrollably. Master Waddie was no dummy, but he was
also wise enough not to ask.
Sheriff Claymore
stood after breakfast to announce the day would be different from the
other days. The morning would be spend cleaning up and setting up
for the following days festivities. He wanted everything set up
and checked twice before lunch, so the afternoon could again be devoted
to rodeoing for all interested parties. His plan was, the
following morning nothing was to be done but load ponies and make it to
the rodeo grounds early. Those assigned to lunch duty would stay
in the kitchen, clean up from breakfast and began to fix lunch. Gip ran his
ranch like a benevolent despot. He was always willing to listen
to a good suggestion, but he wanted it done his way. No one, not
even his own dad, dared to do anything without asking him
first. He was a coordinator and facilitator with more than
a little skill. Everything was done and lunch was ready by
eleven-thirty sharp that day. Sheriff Claymore was quite
rightfully smug we got it all done, and done to his satisfaction.
Now, he could relax and enjoy the rest of the day. We all
breathed a sigh of relief.
* * * * * * * We no sooner sat
down to a lunch of homemade cheeseburgers with all the fixings when a
huge pickup truck pulling a four horse trailer slowly pulled into the
gravel road and up to the main area in front of the main barn.
“Wouldn’t chu’
know,” grinned the sheriff, “Old Bubba would git cheer’ right at eat’n
time?”
Gip laughed and
everyone laughed with him. He got up to go meet and greet the
men, so did Master Waddie and a couple of the other men who knew Bubba
and his boys well. I couldn’t believe the size of the big man who
got out of the truck and his two boys were almost as big. They
were big men. I wasn’t the least nervous about meeting
Bubba. I took Gip’s advice and wore my blue contact lenses.
I’d let my beard and mustache grow in. It wasn’t full but just
enough to look scruffy and somewhat hide my facial features. Mr.
Titus told me I looked like an old time gun slinger.
I continued to
sit with the other men and eat my lunch. Several men were still
waiting for burgers to cook. They graciously allowed the cowboys
who were going to be rodeoing to eat first; however, it didn’t take
long before everyone was eating.
Gip brought
Bubba and his boys over to the table to introduce them to the men they
didn’t know. The rest Gip figured could say their ‘hellos’
themselves. Gip came around to me, and I stood to shake the men’s
hands.
“Bubba
Swansey, this here young cowboy’s name is Mr. Casey
Longhorn. Casey this is Mr. Bubba Swansey and his boys Vincent
and Seth Quee.” I stuck out my
hand and Bubba took it with his big ham of a hand and shook it, looking
me up and down like I was a peanut he’d like to shell and eat.
For only a second I glanced down to see his monster growing in his
Wranglers, and he instantly looked at my crotch. He was more than
a little pleased to see mine growing, too. A big knowing smile
crossed his face.
“Howdy, Mr.
Swansey,— pleasure to meet chu,’ Sir. I done hear’d a lot about
chu,’ Sir.”
Bubba looked at
me with a big, shit-eating grin on his face. I could swear I
could see the wheels turning in his head. He was wondering where
he’d met me before.
“Nice to met
chu,’ too, young man,— ” he paused for a moment, “ Have we met before,
Son,— maybe, last year at the rodeo?”
“Naw, Sir, Mr.
Swansey,— I ain’t never been to this rodeo before,— ‘sides, I’m sure
I’d remember a fine look’n gentleman like you, Sir.”
With that, Bubba
Swansey threw back his big head and exploded with laughter from the
bottom of his soul. He pulled me to him in an embrace. He
hugged me and bussed a big kiss behind my ear. I didn’t hold back
and hugged him in kind.
“Jes’ my wishful
think’n, I guess. Casey,— this here young man, is my boy, Vince,—
and this here, fine look’n younger man is my other son, Seth Quee.”
I shook both
men’s hands and they were grinning from ear to ear at the exchange
between their dad and me. It was obvious they were well aware of
their dad’s sexual proclivities.
“Vince,— Seth,—
good to meet both you gentlemen.” I told them and they responded
in kind.
“You a roper,
Casey?” Bubba asked me.
“He ain’t jes’ a
roper, Bubba, he and my dad won the Tucson rodeo last weekend.”
Gip told him.
“Nooo
shit! Well, I’ll be! Who taught chu’ to rope, Son?”
“My daddy, Mr.
Swansey. He be a champion roper.”
“Would I know
him?” he asked.
“I don’t think
so, Sir. We’re from out California way. Mr. Claymore’s my
neighbor and competition back home. Since my daddy couldn’t come
with me, we decided to team up for the Tucson rodeo. We make a
pretty good pair.”
Everyone around
the table agreed and Bubba smiled real big.
“I’ll look
forward to seeing you toss a rope, Son. Don’t know’s I’m real
happy about who you teamed up with, but ever’ man’s gotta’ have a
partner, I suppose.” He threw back his head and laughed again as
he stuck out his hand to Master Waddie.
“Y’ain’t changed
a bit, you old reprobate.” Master Waddie laughed as he shook his
hand, “Good to see you again, Bubba.” he added.
“It’s always
good to see you, Waddie. Welcome home to God’s country.” He
laughed again.
I could tell
Bubba was a man who like to laugh and have a good time. His
entire body spoke of good times. He immediately impressed me as a
man who knew how to enjoy life, but he didn’t sweat the small
shit. Bubba wasn’t a good looking man by anyone’s standards;
however, his two boys weren’t too shabby looking. They wouldn’t
win a beauty contest but they made fine looking cowboys. Their
daddy taught them how to dress Western, and they took great pride in
flaunting their cowboy look and persona. They were hot men and
they knew it. They carried themselves with an air of
self-assuredness that added to their overall masculine mien. All
of this, they obviously gleaned from their sire.
Even though
Bubba wasn’t exactly what one might call a ‘looker’ he was the
embodiment of ‘big man’ sexuality. He was matured, prime, grade
A, cowboy beef on the hoof and moved his body like his manhood
was the most important part of his person. He had a huge dick,
and he wasn’t the least bit shy about it. I’d wager he was almost
as big as me. While he was modest and reserved around the women
folk, he wasn’t shy about flaunting his masculine superiority with
other men. It wasn’t done in a braggadocios manner. He
simply radiated a strong masculine sexuality and surprisingly, rather
than be put off or offended by his presence, all the man felt
more than a little comfortable with it. I observed over half the
men there were sporting erections after Bubba shook their hand; my
Master was one of them.
I winked at
Master Waddie and moved my leg aside so he could see my erection.
He grinned, nodded and blushed. My Master blushed like a school
boy. I thought I’d fall off the bench laughing at him. He
threw his big beefy arm around me, pulled me to him and stole a
kiss. God, I loved the man. He packed my ass so full of his
insurance last night I knew we were going to have some great runs that
afternoon. There was jes’ something about fucking me with his
son’s load up there inside me that really turned him into a
tiger. He fucked me three more times that night and I sucked him
off early, before the coffee pot clicked on in the kitchen. One
more night of my Master’s insurance ought to do it, and I knew no one
could touch us at the rodeo the next day.
“I saw
that!” Barked Bubba at me and Master Waddie with a big knowing
grin on his mug as he sat down at the table opposite us with his burger
and plate piled as high as he could get it.
“Saw what?”
barked back Master Waddie, “Me giving my rope’n partner a little hug
and stealing a kiss? Weren’t nothing wrong with that,
cowboy. You’s jes’ jealous you ain’t got a cowboy like him to
hug, old man!”
“Can’t gainsay
that, brother.” Bubba laughed. Everyone at the table
laughed with him. He knew how to take it as well as dish it out.
* * * * * * *
That afternoon I
will always remember as one of the best days of my life. The
rodeo that was yet to come was also a wonderful memory; however, for
some reason that afternoon was magic. It seemed like I was
surrounded by the love and comradery of these men. Master
Waddie’s biker family, the sheriff and his family all seemed very
lovingly protective of me when it came to Bubba and his boys.
They never lied to him but they led him to believe it was planned for
me to be with Waddie Claymore and his son for these few days.
In a way, they
were right. Master Waddie, Gip, Titus, and I discussed it and
decided there had to be some higher intervention that meant to bring us
together. They simply wanted to provide me with a smoke screen to
remain incognito to Bubba until I felt ready or safe enough to share my
secret with him. To be honest, I hadn’t really given it much
thought. I thought I’d put myself in the hands of providence, and
the time would be revealed to me.
We rodeoed all
afternoon, broke for a light supper, and continued well into the
evening. Master Waddie and I couldn’t be beat. Every catch
we made was better than the last. We were almost too cock sure of
ourselves and consented to rope with some of the other men. After
Gip tossed a couple with me, to my surprise he handed the reins to his
pony to Mr. Titus who mounted his pony with the grace and authority of
a trained horseman. He took Gip’s rope from him and motioned for
me to take my place in the stocks. He was going to rope heeler to
my header.
I took a quick
look in my Master’s direction. He smiled, shrugged his shoulders,
raised an eyebrow, but nodded for me to do as Titus directed. I
could tell he was as surprised as everyone else with the exception of a
couple of Master Waddie’s family, the sheriff and his two boys. I
went to the stocks and got into position for the run. I didn’t
tell Titus anything to look for or how to follow me. The chute
opened, the steer jump forward, the barrier rope dropped, I spurred
Rocky gently in the flank, he leaped forward and I let go of my rope
the minute we cleared the gate. I caught the critter perfectly,
dallied my rope and turned it as Rocky was backing up.
I never saw
Titus toss his rope but there he was on the opposite side with Gip’s
pony pulling the steer’s hind legs out from under him. Everyone
on the fence went nuts, laughing and applauding for Titus and me.
Hell, he shocked the shit out of me. I looked over at Master
Waddie and his mouth was hanging open. He just shook his head in
awe, grinned real big, and spit on the ground. I started laughing
my ass off. I rode over, shook Titus’s hand and congratulated
him. It was one of the best timed runs of the afternoon. I
leaned over to him on my pony.
“If that don’t
get the old man’s attention,— nothing will, brother!”
I thought Titus
was going to fall off his pony laughing at my comment.
“That’s exactly
what I was a’ hoping for, little brother.” Titus grinned and
winked at me. “Thanks, Casey, for making me look good.”
“What da’ ya’
mean? Shit,— you done jes’ as good as me! You looked damn
good, cowboy. Certainly got my attention! You sit a fine
horse, Mr. Titus. We’s a good team, bro!”
“Thanks, Son,— I
can live with that.” he laughed.
By that time all
the men on the fence were in the arena shaking Titus’s hand and Master
Waddie rode over with the biggest damn grin on his face. He stuck
out his hand and took Titus’s hand. He held it for a moment then
gave it a good shake.
“You never told
me you could toss a rope, T.”
“I jes’ thought
you knew. Never seemed important ‘til Gip put me up to it.
I told him I might like to toss a rope with Casey, and he dared
me. Told me he was gonna’ throw my ass in jail for the weekend
if’n I didn’t. I didn’t wanna’ miss watch’n you’n Casey win the
rodeo.”
We all laughed
and gave him another round of congratulations. Bubba and his boys
were equally wowed. That was all it took for Bubba.
“Gotdamn
it! Ever’ cowboy here’s tossed a rope with that boy but me.
H’it’s my turn! Git chore’ ass to the heeler stock, Son,— I’m
tossing header.”
I laughed and
looked at Master Waddie for his input. He still had a big silly
grin on his face, but nodded his approval. I nudged Rocky in the
direction as Bubba rode up beside me.
“I saw you ask
your Master for his permission, Son. He ain’t only jes’ yore’
rope’n partner,— is he?”
I didn’t answer
Bubba’s question. I just laughed and winked at him. He got
a big grin on his face like he understood everything now.
“I don’t
understand.” he allowed. “I know Titus has been in love
with Waddie for a number of years, but Waddie ain’t been able to git
over his slave Zane who passed away five or six years ago. Now
he’s with you?”
“It’s a long
story, Mr. Swansey,— if’n you’re patient it will all be revealed to you
in time. It’s more wonderful than you can imagine,— trust me,
Sir.”
Bubba looked
over at me and smiled.
“I will trust
you, Casey. There’s something about you and them gotdamn deep
blue eyes of yours what tells me I gotta’ trust you. I know I’ve
know’d ju’ before. Your walk, the way you talk, the way you toss
a rope,— I’ve met you or seen you summers before,— I jes’ know
it. I ain’t never wrong about shit like ‘at. I never forgit
a man’s face once I seen it.”
“Well, you’re
partially right, Mr. Swansey,— but no cigar.”
“Call me
‘Bubba,’ Son,— any cowboy what can toss a rope like you, kin call me by
my first name.”
“Thanks, Sir,—
it’ud be an honor.”
I smiled and
winked mischievously at him as I entered the stock to get set up for
our run. He just rode on shaking his head trying to think about
my words. At that point he knew I was aware of his conundrum and
understood his confusion. He also knew I was playing with him and
held the answer to his question.
We made our run,
and it was a good one; although, it wasn’t as good a time as Titus and
I made or any of Master Waddie and my times. Bubba was happy with
it, and I was happy for him. It took his mind off me for a
while. I could feel him looking at me all afternoon. He’d
take his hat off and scratch his head like it might jog some memory of
where he’d seen me before. He just wasn’t connecting, it might
have been someone else who looked almost exactly like me.
Gip and his boys
built on a lean-to covered shed about ten feet square on the back of
his old barn. It was a men’s restroom for all the cowboys who
were there rodeoing or visiting the ranch. It came in handy
during his Fourth of July parties. The women used the restrooms
in the house, but the men were encouraged to use the ‘outhouse’ behind
the barn. It was really not too bad an arrangement. One
side had one long bench with four toilet seats. They built
individual stalls for each seat and dug a deep pit underneath.
The other side was a long sink-like trough with one drain. As
many as eight men could stand and piss at the same time. The
drain went to a sump hole outside the area. It had a tin roof to
protect it from the weather. The ground inside was covered with a
three-quarter inch rock about four inches deep.
I needed to take
a leak later in the afternoon and noticed Bubba’s younger boy, Seth,
was headed down that way. I called to him, he stopped and I
caught up with him.
“Head’n on down
to the pisser, Seth?” I asked him.
“Yeah, Casey, I
figure it’s about time to let some of the ice tea out. I been
drink’n it by the jug full.”
“Yeah, I
been drink’n sodas all afternoon and the cola’s running through me.”
We got to the
lean-to outhouse and stood at the trough together. Naturally
every man has to check the other out to see if the other guy’s as much
a man as he is. I somehow knew there wouldn’t be much contest,
proceeded to flop mine out and held it in the flat of my hand. I
watched Seth Quee glance down trying not to be too obvious. He
looked away and then almost broke his neck looking back again.
“Ho-lee crap,
Casey! You’re hung as big or bigger’n my dad. I always was
proud I inherited most but not all of his size, but shit,— yore’ daddy
must a’ been part stallion.” he laughed.
I chuckled and
looked at his better than average dick.
“Y’ain’t so tiny
yore’self, Seth. I’d say you could hold your own up against most
any man.”
We laughed
together at my double meaning.
“Well, you
certainly have the right last name. You be hung like a damn
longhorn steer.”
“That was my
nickname all through high school, but I didn’t get this here dick from
my daddy. He’s about chore’ size. I got this here dick from
my granddaddy. I never met him, but I hear’d tell he’s hung like
a race horse.”
“That’s a funny
coincidence. My daddy done told me the man he named me after had
a big dick like yours, and he used to call him ‘The Longhorn.’”
“Humm,— ” I
mused, “that is a coincidence. Who was he,— do you know, Seth?”
“Yeah, dad told
me he was old man Lantgry’s youngest boy who was killed in
Vietnam. Mr. Lantgry’s been the foreman of the Lazy 8 ranch down
south of here about fifty miles for nigh onto twelve years. My
brother, Vincent, is named after Mr. Lantgry’s oldest son who was also
killed in Nam. My daddy really loved them two men. He talks
about ‘em with reverence, and he don’t never talk about ‘em when he
don’t start crying. For a big man, my daddy’s got a soft heart
for them what he loves.”
“He’s a fine
man, Seth. You should be proud of yore’ pa. I liked him the
minute I met him.”
Seth asked if he
could feel my dick, and I told him he could. He stroked me a few
times, and I stroked him. Seth was a few years younger than
me. He was almost nineteen. We heard another cowboy
approaching the outhouse and laughed as we quickly put our dicks away
and secured our Wranglers. I put my arm around Seth’s shoulder,
we walked back together, laughing like we were old buddies, and nothing
more was said about it.
* * * * * * *
After that the
younger men wanted to rope calves. I was surprised. Gip’s
boys were entering the calf roping contest at the rodeo and so were
Bubba’s boys. There were a couple older cowboys who were
entering, too. We all got several runs and the sheriff timed
us. I had the best time every time out of four runs apiece.
I was hot. No one came close to me. I was hoping I could
walk away with both prizes. If my granddaddy was going to be
there, I wanted him to see me as a real working cowboy.
Perhaps it was
shameful pride, perhaps it was vanity, I don’t know, but when I asked
my Master about it he told me to hold my head high and go for it.
To hell with self doubts,— he expected me to win for him and no
one else. That’s all I needed to hear. One more night with
him in my saddle, and I knew I could take on the world with no
fear. Ain’t no man hotter in a rodeo arena than a freshly fucked
cowboy.
* * * * * * *
Gip called a
halt to the rodeoing about eight. He figured everyone should get
a good night’s sleep to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the rodeo
the next day. I had to agree with him, my ass was dragging.
I roped with almost every cowboy there including the sheriff
again. He and I were good together, but his main partner was
little Gip. They pulled off some good times that rivaled Master
Waddie and my times. I thought they were going to be the team to
beat unless there were other teams I didn’t know about. Gip
assured me there weren’t any better than what was there at his
ranch. He said my granddad and his partner were deadly accurate
but slower than molasses on a winter’s day.
After we put the
ponies away, Sheriff Claymore came over to the stall where I was
rubbing Rocky down. I knew what he wanted, but he didn’t bother
to ask me. He grabbed me and kissed me hard when no one was
looking. Wouldn’t you know, around a corner comes old Bubba and
his eyes lit up like a bubble gum machine on top of a patrol car
to see Gip kissing me.
“‘Scuse, me
there, Sheriff,— this cowboy’s cut’n in on this here dance. I’ll
have me one a’ them afore I hit the barn to bunk it in for the night.”
“You dirty old
man. Can’t keep nothing from you.”
“You don’t call
me ‘dirty’ when I got my old dick up yore' butt, cowboy.” Bubba
laughed at Gip.
“‘At’s
different!” laughed Gip, “Somehow that sweet old dick of yours turns
you from a dirty old man into a down right handsome buckaroo.” We all shared a
laugh. Bubba took me into his big arms and planted one on me that
curled my toenails.
“You bunk’n it
in the barn with the rest of the cowboy’s tonight, Son?”
“He’s got his
own motorcoach, Bubba.” Gip came to my rescue, “He’s staying there with
his Master.”
“Awh,
shit!! Wouldn’t chu’ know? That old man of yours aced me
out again. Ain’t bad enough I cain’t never beat him at
rope’n,— the som’ bitch gotta' go’n git the pick ‘a the litter
ever’ damn time. ‘At last slave-boy of his’n I’d ‘a left home
for. Damn that man was a sweet piece of flesh. Yore’
granddaddy and me,— we was gonna’ kidnap him away from yore’ daddy and
share him.” Bubba and Gip broke up laughing.
* * * * * * *
We parted
company, but Gip walked me back to my coach just to say goodnight to
his dad,— you understand.
“I figured I
better escort you to your coach. You never know when that old
man’s gonna’ jump out from behind a bush and carry you away.”
Gip got me
laughing. I thought maybe he wasn’t too far from wrong.
“Ju’ say
anything to Bubba today, Casey?”
“Naw, Sir.
I think I’m gonna’ wait. I talked it over with Master Waddie and
he advised me not to rush anything. He seems to think when the
time’s right it will happen naturally. Bubba knows some’um ain’t
right. He knows there’s more to me than he can figure out right
now.”
“Well, listen to
my old man. He won’t tell you wrong. He spooks me with
things he knows about shit like ‘at. He makes my skin crawl with
his stories sometime.”
We got back to
my coach. I hugged and kissed the sheriff again thanking him for
his support and generosity. He assured me he was doing it as much
for himself as he was for me or my Master. The door to the coach
opened just as we were saying ‘goodbye.’
“Goodnight,
Dad.” Gip spoke to his dad. “I’s jes’ giving yore’ cowboy a police
escort back home so’s he don’t get eaten by a big bad wolf named
Bubba.” We all laughed.
“Night,
Son. Love you.”
“Love you too,
Dad. Glad you’re here with us.”
Gip turned and
walked away. I went inside into the arms of my Master.
Damn,— it felt right and good to be in his big arms again. He was
a man among men. I knew I was going to miss him after the rodeo,
but I wasn’t going to borrow sorrow from tomorrow. It was at that
moment, I also realized I would never make it as a poet.
* * * * * * *
“You men git’n
settled down here.” Bubba asked his boys after climbing the
ladder to the loft of Gip’s barn. Most all of Master Waddie’s
family chose to bunk in the loft of the barn except two couples who had
their tents on the grass behind the barn.
“Yes, Sir,
Dad. We got us a spot picked out for the three of us and some hay
bails tossed around for a bit of privacy. Spread a lot of straw
under our sleeping bags. We should be down right comfortable
here. We ain’t far from the restroom and shower in case you
wanna’ clean up. We already showered and are about ready to hit
the sack.” Vincent told him.
“Ju’ men have a
good time today?”
“Yes, Sir,
Dad. We were both impressed with Casey. He’s seems like a
fine cowboy and a really nice man.” said Seth Quee.
“He is a fine
young man. I like him a lot. There’s jes’ something about
him I can’t put my finger on. I know him from summers, but I
can’t quite figure out where or how.”
“Well, I tell
you one damn thing; he walked with me to take a leak down to the
outhouse behind the barn and he’s hung like a stud plow horse. I
wager he’s as big or bigger’n you, Dad. I laughed and told him he
really had the right name. He told me ‘The Longhorn’ was his
nickname all though high school. Didn’t chu’ tell me something
about Mr. Langtry’s boy you done named me after what had a big dick and
you all called him, ‘The Longhorn’?”
Bubba looked at
his boy and his eyes flashed at his words. Seth thought his dad
might be angry at him, but his face was far from red; in fact, his face
had become ashen white. It was as if all the blood drained from
his head. His oldest boy sprang to his dad’s side, took his arm
and helped him to a bail of hay to sit down.
“Dad! Say
something! You all right, Dad?” Vince was looking into his
dad’s glazed eyes.
“Uhh,— I’m
sorry, Son. Sorry, Seth. It was something you said what
made me realize where I’d seen Casey before. My God in heaven,—
help me!”
The big man put
his head in his hands and started weeping uncontrollably. All his
boys could do was sit next to him and put their arms around him in an
attempt to console him,— from what, they had no idea.
“Dad,— I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean to say nothing to upset you like
this.” Seth Quee moaned.
Bubba got
himself together looked at his youngest boy, put his arm around him,
pulled him close and stole a kiss.
“Shuu,— no,—
no! It weren’t nothing you said, Son. Don’t think
that. It’s what you said made me realize who Casey Longhorn
is. He’s the spit’n image of the man I named you after,
Son. He’s a dead ringer for the original Seth Quee, and for some
damn reason, I jes’ couldn’t see it. Maybe it’s cause he don’t
have purple eyes like his uncle. Seth’s brother, Vincent Langtry,
didn’t have ‘em neither. Casey’s Vince Langtry’s boy,— I jes’
know it. Vince changed his name to ‘Longhorn’ because that was
the name we called his little brother. It all fits. It
makes sense. Casey knew who I was, and he even told me I was
close but no cigar. He told me it was even more wonderful than I
could imagine.”
“You mean he’s
old man Langtry’s grandson, Dad?”
“If’n I’m right,
he sure as hell is. Wow! I’ve got to go to him an confront
him. I have to know if my brother’s still alive. Will you
boys be all right here by yourselves for a while?”
“Sure,
Dad. Ain’t like we’re kids no more, ya’ know.” Vince
laughed.
“Yeah, Dad,— if
you find out some’um,— even if’n we’s asleep when you git back,—
promise you’ll wake us up and let us know.” Seth asked him.
“I promise,
Son. I’ll be back in a little while.”
* * * * * * *
The first thing
I did on returning to the coach was go to the kitchen and take out my
contacts. I was getting more use to them, but I’d been in a dusty
rodeo arena all afternoon. They were beginning to irritate my
eyes. I put some drops in to soothe them. Master Waddie had
me get him a beer out of the fridge. We were in for the night,
and he wanted to relax while I jumped in the shower to clean myself and
put my plug in. I knew I was going to get fucked royally tonight,
and I was more than a little ready for it. I undressed and
cleaned his boots for him, paid homage to them and went off to the
shower. It didn’t take me long, and I just inserted my plug when
there came a knock on the coach door.
“Naw, Sir.
Would you mind git’n the door for me, Sir?” I was standing there
buck-ass naked with my ass plugged.
“Sure,
Son. It’s probably Gip.”
Master Waddie
went to the door, opened it and there stood Bubba, his cowboy hat in
his hand with the most forlorn look on his face.
“May I come in,
Waddie,— I need to talk with Casey for a minute. It’s important.”
Master Waddie
looked over his shoulder at me for input, and I nodded to let him
in. He moved out of the way. Bubba took one step inside the
coach and stopped dead in his tracks looking at me standing there in
the raw. He got a good look at my dick, my purple eyes and big
tears started running down his face. He tried to take a step
towards me, but his knees buckled. Master Waddie caught him and
gently lowered the big man to the carpet of the coach. Bubba was
a man in considerable emotional pain. I went to him and he folded
his huge arms around my waist, kissed me on my stomach, pressed
his cheek to my naked stomach and cried his heart out.
Master Waddie
knelt beside him, put his arm around him and did his best to comfort
him. I softly stroked his head and told him it was all right;
everything was okay; there was no need to worry. I knew he’d
probably figure out who I was sooner or later. If not, I planned
to tell him before he left. I knelt in front of him and put my
arms around him. He began rocking back and forth while holding
me,— still sobbing his heart out.
“My God, Casey,
why didn’t I see it?” he cried out through his tears, “You’re the very
image of your uncle. You got his dick. You
got his body. You even have his eyes. No wonder you wore them
contact lenses. I would’ve know’d right off the bat who you
was. Your daddy,— Vince,— is he,— ?” he broke off his
question. He was afraid to ask. He didn’t know whether he
wanted to hear the answer.
“He’s very much
alive, Bubba. He got both his legs shot off in Nam, he only has
one kidney but he gits around jes’ fine on them store bought legs the
V. A. give ‘em. He can sit a pony and rope with the best of
‘em. I done told ju’ my daddy was a champion, he was the one what
taught me to rope. ” “Yore’ daddy
shore’ nuff is a champion, Son. He’s my hero, boy. What
about chore’ mom, Casey?”
“She passed away
from the cancer when I was fourteen, Bubba. Dad and I been alone
for seven years now.”
“Oh, my
God! I’m so sorry to hear that, Son. I loved your momma,
boy. She was a mighty fine woman. Oh, Lord,— it’s been so
many years. I don’t need to ask why Vince didn’t come with
you. He still hates his daddy,— don’t he?”
“‘Feared so,
Bubba. He’d shit his pants if’n he knew I was here.”
“You mean, he
don’t know?”
“‘At’s right,
Sir. I wanted to come see for myself what my granddad was
like. I wanted to meet him,— be around him for a while, and see
what kind of man he is. It was by the grace of God I met up with
Mr. Claymore and his family in Tucson. They said he used to ride
with their family group of bikers for several years then jes’ sort of
disappeared. They told me he might be in this area, but they
didn’t know for sure. Master Waddie said either you or Sheriff
Claymore might know about him.”
“Well,— I can
tell you, Casey,— he’s a changed man. He ain’t the same man he
was twenty-five to thirty years ago. He thinks yore’ daddy’s
dead. He never could find no information on him from the
government. He wrote letter after letter to the V.A.,
congressmen and senators, but he ain’t never got no information
back. He looked all over for some clue as to what happened to
your dad. He tried like hell to track down yore’ momma. He
knew he might have a grandchild out there summers, but he had no idea
where. He might have been more successful, but nobody in town
would tell him a damn thing if they knew anything. Ever’body
hated him but me.
That ain’t quite
true, neither. I hated him plenty after he let chore’ uncle, Seth
Quee, go off to Nam and be killed without ever trying to set things
right with him. He tried to come to me before I left for Nam, and
I turned him away. I told him,— in my heart and mind, he was the
Devil incarnate and what he espoused as religion and moral values was
nothing more than fear, self loathing and hatred dressed up in pompous
rags. It weren’t his boys what was going to hell, and he better
pray for his own God-damned soul because of what he done to
‘em. I told that old self-righteous bastard he might as
well have taken a gun, put it to their heads, and killed them boys
his-self. He done the same damn thing by never care’n about ‘em
and sending them off to their deaths without ever knowing the love of
their father. I ask him,— did he think our Father in heaven would
have mercy on him when he couldn’t even have mercy for his own
sons? If so, I sure as hell didn’t wanna’ go to any heaven
if men like him was gonna’ be there. I told him he didn’t deserve
to go to heaven, and he certainly didn’t deserve two sons as fine as
yore’ daddy and his little brother.
Bubba broke up
again and started sobbing. Master Waddie and I got him to my
couch, and I got him a beer to relax him. I went to get my
bathrobe as Master Waddie held him and talked with him for a
while. When I returned I sat next to him and took his big hand in
mine.
“I joined the
Marines right after they sent Seth Quee’s body home to be buried.
He listed me as his next of kin, and I had to make all the funeral
arrangements. Yore’ granddaddy Curtis called me and asked if he
could come to his boy’s funeral. I told him of course he could
come, but one word of his perverted religious crap out of his mouth,
and I’d personally take him out. I wouldn’t have my little
brother, my best friend, one of the great loves of my life shown
disrespect at his funeral. Curtis was very humble and contrite.
It was a
horrible, cold, rainy day but many of the town folk who loved Vince and
Seth were there. Yore’ granddaddy came and I watched him closely
as he stood alone in the cold, pouring rain. He never shed a
tear. He stood like a statue by his boy’s grave with a blank look
of confusion on his face. It was as if his world had jes’ been
lowered into that hole, and he was in a state of shock. It was
only then that I began to feel some sympathy for him.
I was to leave
for boot camp the following day. He called before I left and
thanked me for taking care of Seth’s funeral and offered to pay me for
my time and expenses. I told him he was welcome, but I didn’t
want his money. I done what I done because I loved my little
brother and not because I gave a damn about him or his money.
I didn’t hear
anymore from him until he heard I was home on leave. While I was
home I married a little girl, Gladys Souixcup, I’d gone with all though
high school with. She didn’t want to, but I insisted she send him
a wedding invitation. Damned if he didn’t come. He stood by
himself and had a card with him he gave to my wife after the wedding as
a wedding gift. In it was a note,— he didn’t know what to get so
he was jes’ giving us money to buy what we needed. He gave us a
hundred dollars. That was a lot of money in them days.
I told him I’d
be shipped out to Nam upon returning to Pendleton. He asked if he
could see me alone for coffee some morning while I was home. I
told him sure, I’d give him a call. I met him and had coffee with
him at the local diner on the highway outside of town a little
ways. He didn’t have much to say except he asked if I ran into
Vince would I tell him for him, he realized he was wrong, he loved him
and asked his forgiveness. I told him I would if’n I ran into
your daddy. Then he did something that broke my heart. He
put his hand on mine, looked me in the eyes, shed a tear and told me to
come home for him. He said of all the people in the world who
turned their backs on him I was the only one what gave him a
chance. He wanted me to know he loved and appreciated me for
that.”
Bubba broke down
again, and I held him until he got himself together.
“He wrote me a
couple of letters while I was over there. My wife was pregnant
when I went back to boot camp. I told her if it was a boy I
wanted to name him Vincent after my friend and brother. She
agreed and I told her to call and ask Mr. Langtry’s permission.
We didn’t have to, but I thought it would be the polite thing to
do. He seemed to be really touched we named my first son after
his boy.
I was over there
for eighteen months and got shot up pretty bad and was sent home.
They sent me to the V.A. hospital in Houston to recover and he drove up
a couple of times to visit me. He seemed relieved and glad to
visit with me, but I could tell he was deeply disturbed. He
didn’t have much to say, but I didn’t try to get him to talk with
me. We’d sit for a couple of hours or more not saying anything,
but I appreciated him being there. Jes’ a familiar face from home
meant a lot at that time. Then, he’d get up pat my hand, thank me
for letting him visit and leave.
He’d talk more
with Gladys than he would me, and he wouldn’t put my boy down when they
were there together. He was awful good to Gladys and my boy while
I was in Nam. They was living with my family, but he checked in
on them a couple ‘a times a month. When the money I was sending
home weren’t enough he was always there, and Gladys never had to ask
him for anything. He’d talk to my dad and jes’ give him the money
for whatever they needed.
Gladys got
pregnant the first week I was home and had my other boy. Of
course, you already know I named him after yore’ uncle. By the
time Seth was born, Curtis was really going down hill. He wasn’t
taking care of the ranch, and he was living like a hermit. He’d
run off all his family, and his church wouldn’t have nothing to do with
him no more either. He’d run them off his property a couple of
times.
Me and Gladys
were the only people he’d let come see him. We’d go out a couple
of time a week and Gladys would fix dinner and throw his dirty clothes
in the washer and dry them for him. She’d change the sheets on
his bed and try to tidy up the place for him. I’d try to help him
with some things that just had to be done that he jes’ wouldn’t do by
himself.
He loved playing
with my boys and was all the time giving them money. He’d have
toys and
goodies for them when they came out. He really was trying to show
them the love he never showed his own boys. We saw what he was
doing, but Gladys and I figured it was good for him. Then he
started selling ever’ thing he had. He sold most of his livestock
and personal things. We was living with my parents on their farm,
but it was crowded and Gladys had to put up with my mom’s way ‘a doing
things.
He called us to
come out one Friday evening. We went and had a good time.
He took me down to the barn and showed me his new motorcycle he
bought. It was a brand new Harley-Davidson. He was gonna’
hit the road and try to find his boy or his grandchild. Would
Gladys and I like to take over his ranch? He wouldn’t give it to
me, but he would sign a five year lease to me for ten bucks a
year. I couldn’t believe what he was doing. He insisted,
and we told him to let us think about it. He told me if I didn’t
wanna’ accept his offer he was jes’ gonna’ put it on the market and
sell it to the highest bidder.”
Master Waddie
spoke up.
“Look, Bubba,—
I’m gonna’ go clean up. I’ll leave you two to talk some
more. I know this is all emotionally powerful stuff. I
don’t mean to be insensitive, but we gotta’ think about getting some
rest if’n we’s gonna’ rodeo tomorrow. We’ve rodeoed our butts off
today. We’re all beat. You’re younger’n me, but we ain’t as young
as these men are. You gotta’ think about yourself and your boys,
too. ‘Sides,— you’n Casey have all weekend to get acquainted and
talk things out.
My boy’s asked
him to stick around and work for him for a while after I take off on
Monday, and you two can have a lot more time together to git to know
one another. Best you two set some ground rules about how best to
go about make’n his granddad’s acquaintance. ‘At boy’s gonna’
need all our help and support. You ain’t the only one what’s got
a lot of emotions invested in this meeting.”
“You’re right,
Waddie,— I know,— I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a bull ox and
bust into your privacy. I apologize. I’m jes’ so glad to
know Casey’s Vince’s boy. It’s like I’ve found family I ain’t
never know’d about.”
“Ain’t no
apologies necessary, cowboy. What happened,— happened
naturally. It happened the way it was suppose to, but now that it
did,— we got to work together to see it to a good end. Ya’ll
talk,— I’ll be back in a little while.”
I stood and
kissed my Master in front of Bubba. He patted me on the butt,
turned and went to the bathroom.
“He’s a good
man, Casey.” Bubba said softly to me after Master Waddie shut the
bathroom door.
“I know.
I’ve really come to love him in a short period of time.”
“I thought you
knew him from your hometown?”
“I did,— dad and
I used to compete against him and his partner Mr. Winston. They
was too good. We never beat ‘em. I always thought Mr.
Claymore was one of the hottest older cowboys I’d ever seen, but dad
never let us git to know one another because Master Waddie said you and
my dad used to rodeo against him and his brother Gip Justin. He
thinks dad was afraid he’d remember him and figure out his last name
wasn’t originally ‘Longhorn.’ Dad never told me until I was
eighteen he changed our name.”
“‘At’s
right. Yore’ daddy and I roped against him and his buddy Gip
Justin many times. That’s who his boy’s named after. We
never did beat ‘em neither. They was pro-rodeo quality
cowboys. They was the best. Weren’t nobody in the state
what could beat ‘em. Are you and him bonded, Son?”
“Well, Sir,— you
might say that,— but it’s only for a little while,— until after the
rodeo,— then he has to continue on his motorcycle run with his
family. Sheriff Claymore’s invited me to stay around here and
work for him for a while, or at least until I figure out what I wanna’
do. Master Waddie and I realize we ain’t meant for each other;
however, God brought us together for a reason and we’re taking
advantage of the time we have together.
I have to take
care of what I set out to do, ‘sides, Mr. Titus is in love with Master
Waddie and wants to be his slave. Master Waddie wasn’t aware Mr.
Titus wanted him until I pointed it out to him. I was the first
man he’s slept with since his mate passed away. Master Waddie
helped me realize I already belong to another man anyways,— so, we
brought something to each other we couldn’t git nowhere’s else.”
“You belong to
another man, Son?”
“Yes, Sir,— I
belong to my daddy, Bubba.”
“My Lord in
heaven. Somehow, I jes’ know’d ju’ was gonna’ tell me that.
I’m not shocked in the least, ‘cause as much as I don’t wanna’ think on
it, my boys belong to me. I want ‘em to live their own lives and
marry if’n they wants to, but I know in my heart they belong to me, and
I belong to them. After their momma died several years ago the
three of us grew really close. It jes’ seemed natural
somehow. I wouldn’t take anything for the relationship I have
with my boys. Well, I couldn’t be happier for you and yore’ dad,
Casey. After what that man’s been through in his life, he
deserves a fine son like you, and if’n Vince is still the man I know’d
all them years ago, he be a fine dad for you.”
“He is, Bubba,
and I love him very much. I don’t wanna’ upset him none by
finding out I’m looking for my granddad. He begged me not to come
on this trip. I told him it was to rodeo. He believed me to
a point, but he don’t wanna’ admit to himself he knows what I intend to
do.”
“Is he back
there all alone, Casey?”
“Naw, Sir, my
little brother, Sidney Wainright Junior, is staying with him and
going to medical school at U.S.C. San Diego.”
“Sidney
Wainright’s boy,— the owner of the Lazy 8?”
“One of the
owners of the Lazy 8,— yes, Sir.”
“Oh, that’s
right,— Curtis done told me they sold a third interest to a large
corporation for some capital to upgrade their operations. Said he
heard it was a huge farming or ranching corporation by the name of
Hensly Agrocon or some’um like ‘at. I think Sticker bought a
third as well.”
“Yes, Sir, he
did.”
“So you know ‘em
pretty well?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Do you know
anything about the corporation what bought into the ranch?”
“Yes, Sir.
If you take all the letters in the name Hensly Agrocon and rearrange
them,— it spells out the name of the man what owns the corporation.”
“How would you
know that, Son?”
“‘Cause it
spells out Casey Longhorn.”
“What?!
You’re shit’n me!! You own a third of the Lazy 8?”
“Yes, Sir.
I ain’t shit’n ya’ none. My daddy and me,— we won a lot of big
money roping and I done pretty damn good calf rope’n in the Western
states. I saved all my money and invested heavily in stock
options Mr. Wainright told me to buy. By the time I’s nineteen I
had a lot of money. I don’t think dad ever knew how much I
had. My little brother told me about the thousand shares of the
Lazy 8 they was gonna’ put on the market a little over a year ago and
urged me to by them. Me, him and my other brother, Dwayne
Harding, formed a corporation. Logan, that’s what we call my
little brother, figured out the name and set up the corporation;
however, Sticker and Mr. Wainright don’t know who owns it.” I
sort of chuckled.
“Wait a
minute! Dwayne Harding? No!”
“Yes, Sir, my
cousin Rance’s boy.”
“Son of a
bitch,— he ain’t never told me he had no son. I knew he was in
prison for a while, but I never ran into him until he started working
for Sticker Wiggins’ rodeo stock company about the same time Sticker
took over managing the Lazy 8. Well, I’ll be damned. This
is all too much, Son.”
“Cousin Rance,—
he couldn’t tell you, Sir. He was sworn to secrecy by my
daddy. My dad didn’t want nothing git’n back to my
granddad. He washed his hands of him.”
“Well,— I can
understand that. So,— Curtis Langtry,— yore’
granddaddy, works for you?”
“‘At’s right,
Mr. Swansey.”
“Bubba, Son,—
jes’ Bubba.”
He sat there for
a minute contemplating everything we shared.
“Son of a
bitch,— !” he shook his head and exclaimed softly. “You’re pretty
fuck’n amazing, Son. Fuck Waddie, yore’ daddy and granddaddy,—
you come live with old Bubba, and he’ll take you own as another one of
his boys.” He hugged me to him as he laughed, and I laughed with
him.
“Hell,— look me
in the eye and tell me I ain’t already one a’ your boys, Sir.” I
laughed and he roared with laughter.
“Ain’t gonna’
gainsay that, young’un. I’ll jes’ have ta’ tell my boys to move
over and make room for one more cowboy.”
About that time
my Master walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist and
went off to my bedroom. I knew what he was going to do. I
could see the mischief in his eyes. Bubba saw it too and winked
at me.
“Sleep, hell,—
that horny old cowboy ain’t fool’n me none. He ain’t got that
much time left with you and he want’s as much of that little ass a’
your’n he kin get. Cain’t say’s I blame him none!”
Bubba laughed.
“Master Waddie
told me my granddaddy began to go with men himself. Said granddad
rode with one of his brothers for sometime, a young man badly wounded
in Nam. Master Waddie told me my granddad begged the young man to
stay with him and he’d make him his slave.”
“Yeah,— ‘at’s
true. His name was Cassidy Crenshaw but because his face was so
messed up after Nam he took on the nickname of ‘Mutt.’ His family
was from down around Bandera way. They’re one of the most
wealthy, powerful, influential families in the state now. One of
them Crenshaw boys is a state supreme court judge. His name is
Cowboy Waddie Crenshaw. Guess who he be named after?” Bubba
grinned real big.
“No!”
“Ain’t shit’n
ya’! God’s gospel truth, Son.”
“Well,— I’ll be
damned. My Master must have been quite a man in his day.”
“Still is,
Casey. Ain’t but a few doors in the State of Texas that man
cain’t knock on, be welcomed in and insist he stay for dinner.
Anyway,— yore’ granddaddy fell very much in love with the boy, but the
kid had his head up his butt and couldn’t let loose of a really bad
outlaw biker he’d bonded with named Spider. Spider almost killed
the kid a couple of times until Master Waddie’s family stepped in and
rescued the boy from himself and Spider. He left Curtis, who went
by the name ‘Job’ at the time, to go back with the rotten son of a
bitch.
It almost broke
your granddaddy’s heart when the boy walked away from him. It
wasn’t shortly after that, Curtis went to Sticker and asked him for a
job. He put his bike away and became a cowboy. He’s been
there ever’ since. I told him when he got too old or tired of
punch’n cows he had a home with me and my boys. Hell, he’s like
family to us anyways.”
“Did ju’ ever,—
?”
“You sure you
wanna’ know, Son?”
“I think I can
handle it, Sir.”
“Okay,— well,—
after I got home from the hospital and before my second boy, Seth, was
born. I was going out to his ranch all the time to help him git
back on his feet. I’d work with him from sun up ‘til
sundown. He insisted on paying me, but I didn’t really want his
money. I don’t know what it was. I knew he loved my boy,
but I think I really wanted to see if I could win his love. It
became and obsession with me,— not in no sexual way. I didn’t
give a shit about that; although, I’d be a liar if’n I told ju’ I
didn’t find yore’ granddaddy a good looking cowboy. He’d softened a
lot and wasn’t the same rigid man he was before. He shared a lot
more of himself with me and we slowly began to grow close. Finally, one
Friday evening, by the time we finished and fixed a small dinner it was
late. He asked me if I wanted to stay over and earn some more
money finishing up the project we were doing. I told him I
thought it might be best if I went on home and came back the next
day. He didn’t say nothing but jes’ nodded he understood.
Finally he looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said,
“Please, Bubba,—
God help me,— I ain’t never asked a man to my bed before,— but there’s
a first time for ever’ thing, I suppose. Forgive me, Son,— but I
need to lay down with you and hold you in my arms. I don’t know
why, but I ain’t gonna’ question it; however, I ain’t gonna’ insist
neither. I’ll understand if’n you don’t want to.”
I was totally
unprepared. I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t have
wanted anything more, but I didn’t let myself think about it. It
just wasn’t something I ever thought about happening. I was as
honest with him as I could be.
“Mr. Langtry,— I
don’t mean to put you off, Sir. To be honest, I’ve always thought
you was a fine look’n man and someone I fantasized about laying down
with. Since I been back from Nam, we’ve worked together and my
attraction for you has only grown; however, I never thought you might
ever consider that sort of thing with me, and to be perfectly honest,
Sir,— it’s caught me a little off guard.”
“I can
understand, Son,— it’s okay,— you don’t have to say no more.”
“Yes,— I do, Mr.
Langtry.” I told him. “I won’t stay this evening, but I
won’t say ‘no’ to your offer neither. Give me some time, Sir,—
let me think on it. You think on it some more, and when I feel a
little more comfortable, I’ll let chu’ know. I’ll offer myself to
you; then Sir, the choice will be yours. Does that sound fair to you?”
“More’n fair,
Son. I appreciate your honesty and being open with me. My
invitation to my bed remains open to you.”
“That night,
when I went to say ‘goodbye’ at his front door, I took your granddaddy
in my arms and for the first time since I’d known him in all those
years growing up, I kissed him on the mouth. He responded like a
man who was starved for a little love and affection. That broke
the ice between us, and we were never again shy or held back from each
other. I’m afraid I fell very much in love with yore’ granddad,
Casey. I still love him today, but more as a second dad, since my
old man passed away. Me’n my old man never were very close
anyways, and I guess I transferred my love to Curtis. We still
mess around now and then. My boys are both fond of him and asked
me if they could bunk it in with him. I didn’t see no harm in it,
they both worship him.”
About that time
Master Waddie came strolling back into the living area in all his
leathers, with his big black motorcycle boots. He looked hot and
it didn’t go unnoticed by Bubba.
“You gonna’ go
for a ride, Waddie?” Bubba asked innocently.
My Master winked
at me and grinned wickedly. Bubba was sharp and started laughing.
“He’s going for
a ride, Bubba,— but h’it ain’t on his Harley.” I told him
laughing.
“Oh, fuck,—
!” Bubba said laughing. “I should a’ know’d better'n to
ask.
Look,— I appreciate you men being generous enough with me this evening
to let me come in and talk with you for a while. It’s been
wonderful, but I’ll take my leave. Casey, we got us a lot more to
talk about. I wanna’ do the right thing by you, so I’ll keep all
this to myself. Except, I’m gonna’ have to tell my boys some of
it, because I already told them I thought you might be Vince’s boy.”
I stood and took
Bubba in my arms.
“I know you
will. My daddy still loves you, Bubba. He’s always talks
about you with love in his heart and a tear in his eye. I can’t
help love you myself.”
“That goes
double for me, cowboy.” the big man responded.
We kissed, he
gave my Master a hug, and we saw him to the door. He left
and my Master and I were alone. I took off my bathrobe, threw it
on a chair and walked to him.
“How you holding
up, cowboy?” Master Waddie asked quietly as he took me into his
arms and stole a kiss. I kissed him back.
“A little shaken
by the emotion of it all, but I’m better’n I expected to be after
something like that. I’m glad the shock is out of the way and we
can git down to establishing some kind of relationship. I’m
looking forward to being relaxed to the max in a few minutes. I
think I need it after that, Sir.” I could feel Master Waddie’s
dick growing in his codpiece. His hand moved to my ass to play
with my plug.
“I think I can
take care of that for you, cowboy.”
“I’d shore’ nuff
appreciate it, Master Waddie.”
“C’ mon, boy,—
let’s us git chu’ fucked.”
End of Chapter
29 ~ Texas Longhorns Copyright 2005 ~
Waddie Greywolf All rights
reserved ~ Mail to:
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