Curtis noticed
the blue sprite. Before I could say anything, he jumped and
started to sit up. I held him tight.
“Don’t
move.” I whispered.
“What’s ‘at blue
light, Son?” Curtis asked quietly. “O.C. told me about a
small blue light.”
“It’s him,
Dad. It’s your youngest boy, Seth Quee.”
“Did ju’ plan
this, Casey?”
“Naw, Sir.
Ain’t seen nor heard from him since he visited O.C. and me.”
We set up in bed
and watched the sprite slowly rise from the corner of the room to the
foot of the bed. It got brighter and cast an eerie bluish glow
around the room. The glow from Seth was brighter than the last
time he visited. ‘He must be gaining strength.’ I
thought to myself. I lay back and pushed the comforter down to my
waist. I could hear my uncle in my head.
<< Hello,
little brother. It’s me again, and you’re right, I am gaining
strength. So,— you saved yore’ granddad’s life. I’m so
proud of you and O.C. God, how I love that man. Well,— O.C.
and God,— thanks to you,— they know. >>
“I had to save
yore’ daddy’s life, brother, I needed me another family member. I
done got me O.C. for a brother. H’it made sense to ask yore’
daddy to think on me as his boy. He gimme’ the honor a’ call’n
‘em, ‘dad.’” I spoke out loud so Curtis could hear what I was
telling him.
<< Good
cover, nephew. >> Seth Quee laughed and made me
chuckle. Thank God my granddad couldn’t hear him.
“You wanna’ use
my body for a while, bother, to visit a spell with yore’ daddy like you
done with O.C.?” I ask out loud. The sprite jumped up and
down. “Casey, do you
know what chore’ doing?” Curtis asked with concern.
“Yes, Sir.
H’it’s all right, Dad. Don’t chu’ wanna’ see your boy one last
time, Sir? You done told me you’d give anything to see him jes’
one more time, you’d like to set things right with him. How many
folks ever get the chance, Sir?”
“Yes,— yes, Son,
you’re right,— I said I’d give anything to speak with him and hold him
again. I meant it.”
“Only thing is,
you won’t have much privacy since I’ll be here with ‘em. He jes’
takes over my body for a while. He feels, smells, breathes, the
same things I do, but his words to you are his,— not mine. You’ll
be holding both of us, but you’ll be loving him. H’it’s all right
with me, Sir,— I already done got chore’ love in my gut, Dad.” I
winked at him and chuckled. C’mon, cowboy, I’m ready.” I
spoke to Seth Quee.
The small blue
sprite slowly move up the bed, past Curtis and came to rest on my chest.
“You’re gonna’
haf’ta take the palm of yore’ hand, Dad, put it on top of him and
gently press him into my body.”
“You sure, Son?”
“I’m sure,
Dad.” I spoke to him in a reassuring tone.
Curtis slowly
took his hand and placed it over the glowing blue sprite. He
jerked back his hand and his eyes opened wide. Tears started to
well in his eyes.
“I can feel
it. It’s him. It’s my boy!” he quietly exclaimed.
He moved his
hand back and pressed on the light until Seth Quee’s spirit entered my
body. Curtis watched my body take on a bluish aura and marveled
at it. Once again, Seth Quee took in a huge gulp of air into our
lungs. A sprite or spirit has no need to breath.
“Air!” he
said, “It’s so good to breathe again, Dad.”
Seth opened my
arms to his dad and smiled at him with all the love in his heart.
Curtis had tears streaming down his face as he embraced us.
“Seth,— oh,
Seth,— my beautiful baby boy,— is it really you?”
“It’s me,
Dad. I come to O.C., and this fine young cowboy was kind enough
to let me set things right with my brother. I didn’t tell O.C.
about chore’ gift to his dad,— that he was my brother. I shore’
‘nuff’ wanted to, but h’it weren’t my place. I directed Tom
Harris to Casey and he got our young cowboy to tell him the truth.
Oh, Dad,— I’m so
ashamed of myself for what I done to you. It’s hard for me to
come to you,— even like this. I jes’ wanna’ hide my face from
you. Can you ever forgive me?” Tears were streaming down my
face as well.
“Shuuu,— hesh
up, boy,— I done forgive’d ju’ a long time ago, but maybe you
wouldn’t know less’n you hear’d the words from me. Listen to
me! As there’s a God above, Son,— I forgive you. If’n it
hadn’t a’ been for that night with you, I would’ve never started to
question the destructive hold my false religious beliefs had on
me. It was you what showed me the way, Son. You told me one
day you would come to me again, and I would love you as you loved
me. I never counted on it being quite so miraculous, but here you
are. How can I tell you how much you’n yore’ brother meant to
me. I guess the old say’n’s true, you don’t know what chu’ lost
until it’s gone. I cain’t tell you how much I love you, boy.
“I love you,
too, Dad.” Seth kissed his dad in a passionate kiss.
“Oh, my God,— it
is you.” Curtis exclaimed, “I can smell you and taste you, Seth.
No one has the same sweet odor you and your brother had for me. A
parent never forgits the fragrance of his own child, but I’m worried
about Casey, is this all right for him?”
“Not to worry,
Dad. He’s here with me, he’s jes’ allow’n me to take over his
body for a spell. He can take it back from me any time he wants,
but he won’t. ‘At’s the kind of man he is. I come to know
him while I’s with O.C., he’s a good cowboy and a fine man.
You couldn’t ask for a better man to call ‘son.’ I can only stay
a little while, Dad. I can’t take over Casey’s body. H’it
don’t work that way no ways. I only have a little time with
you. You’re the last task I have to complete, then they may let
me cross over, Dad.”
“Son, it should
be me asking yore’ forgiveness,— not you. You knew I enjoyed the
hell out of what chu’ done. I jes’ wouldn’t let myself give in
and admit it. I was so wrapped up in a false idea of religion, I
couldn’t see the greater picture of love and compassion. I
couldn’t see the forest fer the trees, Son. Something in my heart
wanted you to stay, but h’it weren’t to punish or try’n change you
none. I tried to git chu’ to stay. I done begged you to
stay, Seth.
If’n I’d jes’
swallowed my pride and admitted to you how much I enjoyed it and how
much I loved you for having the balls to go against my stupid,
misplaced ideas to make love to me. It’s no balm to my spirit,
nor does it pay for the horrible wrongs I committed in the name of
false piety, when I tell you, I’ve suffered greatly as a results of my
religious fanaticism. I, too, am so ashamed of what I done to
you, but especially to yore’ brother, Vince.”
“I forgive you,
Dad,— of course, I forgive you. I’ve watched your progress over
the years, and you’ve come a long way. I guess we’ve both reached
a point where we need to forgive and let go. When I was shot in
Nam, I done something after I was dead I shouldn’t have. I can’t
tell you about it, but it will eventually be revealed to you.
Then, you’ll understand why I couldn’t pass over.
I was punished
for the sin of pride and arrogance. I thought what I done after I
died would somehow change things, but it didn’t,— at least not until
now. I walked the face of this Earth on a separate plane all
these years. Time means nothing where I’ve been, and it’s like
I’ve been living in a hell seeing the folks I love and cherish going
about their lives and me not being able to touch them or tell them I
love them. I guess it serves me right. I deserved what I
had to endure.
I’ve watched
over you, O.C., Bubba and his boys. I appeared several times to
Bubba and once to O.C. before I come to him through Casey, but they
ain’t never told ju’ about ‘em. They didn’t wanna’ upset
chu.’ Get Bubba to tell you his story ‘bout how I save his
youngest boy’s life. I never could appear to you ‘cause, I was so
ashamed and embarrassed.”
Seth was crying
again in his dad’s big, cowboy arms. “I always dreamed of hold’n you
like this, talk’n with you, and maybe making a little love.”
“Since you were
shot in Nam, I’ve often dreamed of that night and longed for another
chance to make love to you, to make it up to you, and not for you to
have to take it from me. I still want that chance, Son. Do
you have time?”
“Yes, Sir.
My strength has grown considerably since a number of folks have been
interceding for me though their prayers. Because of all them
folks prayers, I think I’m being given another chance. Casey
don’t care if I take a little time to be with you. He shares
ever’ thing with me anyways. It’ud be as good for him as it would
for me. Please, Dad,— lay back and let me take you like I did
that night.”
“You sure,
Son? I’ve come a long way since then. I have no more qualms
about making love to a man. I’ve allowed myself to accept that
part of me as a part God himself put into me. It comes as basic
as the tides, as naturally as the rain falls from heaven. It
flows as regularly as the seasons though my humanity like a connection
to all living things and not to just one narrow ideal to be packaged in
a box and have a label slapped on it. In short, I’m ready to make
love to my boy,— to you, Son.”
“Sounds good to
me, Dad. I’m so ready for you.” Seth whispered to his dad.
Unknown to him,
Curtis proceeded to make love to his son and grandson at the same
time. Seth Quee used my body to its maximum advantage to give his
dad the best possible fuck he could. I can only describe the
experience like I was a pair of buckaroo boots, and had a hot cowboy
wearing them. Wherever he chose to walk, so we would go. It
was like I was riding a bucking bronc, and I didn’t have to do
anything. I was there, and I could feel every fine stroke of my
granddad’s shaft. I was enjoying it to the max. Although, I
had a front row, center seat and could experience everything, I wasn’t
involved with the actual act itself. It was as good for me as my
uncle’s experience with O.C.
Curtis wasn’t
going to waste his last chance to show his boy his love for him.
He knew exactly what Seth Quee wanted and needed. It was Curtis’
only chance, and he was going to make damn sure his boy got all of his
love. He fucked Seth Quee as good or better than he fucked
me. It didn’t matter to me, I was there for both. I hoped I
could talk him into another, but this was just as good.
I could feel my
uncle building to climax. Curtis’ relentless pounding tripped my
uncle’s come switch, and he couldn’t hold it any longer.
“Dad,— I’m
gonna’ shoot.” He exclaimed in a soft voice.
“Git’ it, Son,—
git it good! Ahhh,— I can feel yore’ ass clamping down on my
dick. I’m gonna’ come, too, Son. Yore’ daddy’s gonna’ empty
his love into you. Oh, sweet Jesus,— I’m coming! Take it,
boy,— take my love,— take my seed what made you!”
After a hard won
climax, they finally wound down and lay together. Curtis lost his
erection and slipped out of my ass. They lay there and made love
to each other for a while, and once again, reaffirmed their love for
one another.
“I have to
depart now, Dad. It’s time for me to leave and return
Casey’s body to him. Thanks, Casey, for allowing me to be
with my dad one last time.”
“I know you have
to go, Son,— but at least we had a chance to heal some wounds. I
only wish I had done so before I lost you and Vince, but I guess I’ll
go to my grave with the horror and guilt of my shameful arrogance and
hardheaded stupidity.”
“Maybe not,
Dad,— pray for a miracle. He does miracles for folks. ‘At’s
His speciality. Look what prayer did for us tonight.
There’s been a lot of folks praying for me’n you. Trust me when I
tell you this young man who was so generous and gracious is someone who
will help bring you your miracle. Love him as we have loved each
other tonight and as you love O.C. Casey’s a good
man. He will never let you down.”
They embraced
and kissed one last time, a long lingering kiss, not of passion, but a
father bidding farewell to his beloved son. They knew this was
the final goodbye. They would never see each other again on this
plane of existence. I felt my body becoming lighter as Seth Quee
rose out of me to become the small blue sprite he was before. He
flew around our heads a few times and bussed a kiss on our
cheeks. He moved to the edge of the bed, and once again,
began to coalesce into a amorphous shape which formed itself into the
buckaroo in the mirror of my dream. It was him,— Seth Quee,— in
full buckaroo gear. He spoke to us,
“Goodbye my
loves,— love each other and know that God has forgiven us. Thank
all those who prayed for me, or I never would’ve made it. They’re
coming for me now.”
Suddenly, the
room was awash in a bright, pure white light. It was as if
someone took a knife and made a huge slit in this realm of
consciousness. We were not alone. There were three other
beings in the room with us. Two were beings of light and another
was a fine looking older cowboy like my granddad. He winked at
me, looked at my granddad with the greatest love and smiled, and I knew
immediately who he was. It was Tom Harris. No wonder my
granddad fell in love with him. He reached out his hand to Seth
Quee.
“You ready,
Son?” he spoke softly.
“I’m ready,
Sir.” Seth replied with pride and conviction.
“Come then,—
take my hand and go with me.”
My Uncle Seth
looked back at us for just a moment, smiled, took Tom Harris’ hand and
they were gone. The tear in the fabric of the cosmos came
together like an invisible hand zipped it up like the fly on my
Wranglers. It was dark in the coach again, and all we could hear
was the sound of the wind and rain blowing against the side of the
coach. Neither of us dared breathe for a moment.
My granddad was
devastated. We held each other and wept together for a few
minutes. They weren’t tears of grief. They were tears of
joy and relief for something that bothered two souls for three decades
was resolved. The strife was over. My granddad could go on
with his life carrying one less heavy burden with him.
“Thank you,
Son.” he whispered to me, “When O.C. told me about his
experience with you and my boy, I knew he wouldn’t lie to me, but it
all seemed beyond reason. I thought he was enlarging or
embellishing his story. I owe him an apology. I never
thought it could be like that.”
“I think my
brother understands, Dad. You and yore’ boy Seth are certainly
welcome. To tell the truth, I didn’t know what to expect the
night he came to O.C. and me, but I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. As
a result, he left a small spark of his soul with me. A part of
him will always reside within me, Sir.”
“All the more
reason for me to think on you as my boy, Casey. I love you, Son.”
We kissed, and I
told him I loved him, too. I got another warm, damp towel
and cleaned us. Without asking, he reinserted my plug. I
suggested we pull the spread down and get under the sheets. He
got into bed, and I turned off the small night light. I excused
myself and went to the bathroom for a minute. I looked into the
mirror. I saw a blue eyed cowboy looking back at me. I
thought to myself there might never be a better time than this. I
removed my contacts and put them away.
I returned to
bed and crawled in beside my granddad. He was patiently waiting
for me. He took me into his arms and held me close. We
kissed goodnight, and I turned away from him so my back was to his
front. My granddad held me all night. It was like a dream
come true having my granddad hold me. Somehow, it just felt
right. I could feel myself drifting off to sleep in the comfort
of his loving arms. I thought to myself, ‘I can find no
fault with this man.’ As the last vestiges of consciousness left
me for sleep, I wondered how he would react in the morning when he
looked into my eyes.
* * * * * * *
I heard the
switch on my coffee maker go off. It was still dark. I
reached up to turn on the light next to my side of the bed.
Curtis was still sound asleep.
“Dad,” I
said softly to him and kissed him on his forehead, “mornings come
early on the Claymore ranch. We gotta’ git dressed and git up to
the big house for breakfast. I try’n help Ma Claymore with
breakfast when I’m home.”
He opened his
eyes and looked into mine. The fog of sleep cleared from his
mind, he saw my violet eyes and physically jumped in the bed.
“Seth?” he
pulled back to look at me. “Are you still here?”
“No, Dad,— it’s
me, Casey.”
“But chore’
eyes? They be the same color as my boy’s. Did he change the
color of yore’ eyes?”
“No,— no,
Dad. My contacts lenses were bothering me last night so I took
them out. They have a blue tint to them what masks the natural
color of my eyes.”
“Wait a minute,
Son,— what’s going on here? Why would you mask the natural
color of yore’ eyes?”
“It’s simple,
Dad,— I’m your grandson. Yore’ boy Vincent didn’t die in
Nam. He’s very much alive and well. He had his legs blown
off over there, but he does pert-damn well without ‘em. He taught
me to rope and ride and be a cowboy. I wore colored contact
lenses so you wouldn’t put two and two together until I had a chance to
get to know you.”
Curtis looked
devastated, but he knew in his heart I wasn’t lying. The proof
was staring him right in the eye. He burst into uncontrollable
sobs and hugged me to him until I thought I wasn’t going to be able to
breathe. I couldn’t help it, I shed a few tears as well. He
got himself together and held me away from him to look at me.
“I knew you
resembled my boy Seth. When you walked out of the bath without no
clothes on last evening, I damn near passed out from how much yore’
entire body looks like Seth all the way down to yore’ dick. You
could almost be a double for him. I didn’t wanna’ admit to myself
you look so much like him, I jes’ chalked it up to
coincidence. After all, I believed my boy, Vince, died in
Vietnam. I searched and searched, but I couldn’t find nothing
about him. All I know is his name didn’t appear on the
memorial. Seeing you with them eyes, there’s no doubt in my mind
you gotta’ be Vince’s boy. Oh, dear God in heaven,— what have I
done to deserve this miracle. My boy told me last night to pray
for a miracle, and I did before I went to sleep.”
“There’s a
reason I look like my uncle, Granddad. I like calling you
‘granddad,’ by the way. I’ve wanted to call you that from the
moment I met you; that, and I wanted to commit crimes against nature on
your body.” I laughed. Curtis grinned at me. “Seth told ju’
about his sin, but he didn’t tell you what he done. After he died
in Nam, he came back and found my mom. She was pregnant with me
at the time, and he gave me a third spark from his soul. He
weren’t suppose to do that. He broke the rules. I already
had a spark from my mom and one from my dad, but he added his to the
roux. I think that’s why I have certain gifts today. I
think that’s why I have violet eyes and look like him.”
“This is all too
much, Casey. Why didn’t I see this coming? I should’ve
know’d no ordinary cowboy would go to the lengths you did to save my
life. O.C. would have, but I figured you was someone
special. Indeed, you were. How is my boy, Casey?”
“He’s doing jes’
fine, Granddad. My little brother, Logan Wainright, is home with
him and taking good care of him. Him and my dad love each other
very much. Dad’s ride’n herd on my little brother while he’s
going to med school to become a doctor.”
“Logan Wainright
is the little brother you been talk’n about? Sidney Wainright’s
boy? Then,— when I introduced you to Sticker Wiggins at the
ranch, you two already know’d each other.”
“Yes, Sir.
I know’d Mr. Wiggins all my life. He’s been a good friend to my
dad and a mentor to me and my brothers. My other brother is yore’
nephew, Rance Harding’s boy, Dwayne.”
“Rance has a
son? I never knew that. Of course, there’s lots a things I
don’t know ‘cause, folks done cut me out of their lives. I ain’t
complaining none. I ain’t putting nobody down, Son,— they had
good reason not to include me. Rance done it to protect his
cousin and you from me. I would’ve done the same damn thing if’n
I was him. He always was devoted to your dad and uncle. He
loved my boys and they loved him. Does my boy still hate me, Son?”
“‘Feared so,
Granddad. ‘At’s why I was so secretive about my identity. My
daddy would shit his pants if’n he knew I came back here looking for
you, but I wanted a chance to see for myself who you are.”
“Then,— it
weren’t jes’ by chance you found me? You came looking for me?”
“Of course,— I
wanted me a granddad. I wanted to see if you were still the same
man my dad told me about. If’n you was, h’it wouldn’t make much
sense for me to reveal myself to you. You would’ve never know’d
and I would’ve jes’ gone on home. My daddy,— he don’t know you’ve
changed, Sir. Sidney and Sticker never said nothing to him about
chu’ work’n for ‘em on the Lazy 8.
My daddy done
went and changed our name to ‘Longhorn’ before he went to Nam.
Sticker and Mr. Wainright didn’t know there was a family tie between us
until after Sticker hired you and they got to know us. They
figured they had a valuable, trustworthy employee in you, and your son
and his boy jes’ happen to be two of their closest friends. They
didn’t see no need to stir up shit what weren’t none a’ their business.”
“Then you knew
about the Lazy 8 before you come to Chapel Creek?”
“I know’d about
the ranch most all my life, but I didn’t know you worked there.
Sticker and Mr. Wainright never told me nothing about you work’n for
‘em. They figured if’n I came looking for you I’d find out.”
“Who knows about
you being my grandson?”
“The sheriff’s
family, Bubba and his boys, O.C., Waddie Claymore and his family, Dan
Yates, Cowboy and Gris at the ‘Broken Arrow. Oh yes, and Will
Shott knows. He’s know’d for a number a’ years now. Don’t
never make the mistake of underestimate’n that old cowboy.” I
laughed and winked at my granddad. A smile crossed his tear
stained face.
“No wonder them
folks kept yore’ secret. They all love and think the world of you
and Vince. So do I, Casey,— so do I. I’m so proud to know
yore’ my grandson.”
We hugged again
and I suggested we get dressed. I poured us a cup of
coffee. The wind was still blowing hard and rain was coming down
by the bucket full. We talked as we were getting dress and having
coffee.
“You know, Son,—
when I first saw you rodeo with Waddie Claymore there was something
about chu’ what struck me. Then after I met you and rodeoed with
you here at the sheriff’s ranch, I thought to myself,— if’n I had a
grandson, I’d want him to be jes’ like you.”
“See, Granddad,—
you should be more careful what you wish for.” I laughed.
“No,— no,— it’s
a miracle, Son,— nothing short of a miracle. I’m so damn proud to
find out you’re my grandson, and my grandson saved my life. I
love you so much, Casey.”
“I love you,
too, Granddad.”
Curtis broke
down again. I did my best to comfort him, but it was hard for me
to hold back my tears. We were a mess. We’d been through
some powerful emotional highs in the past twelve hours. They were
not the last tears we would shed with each other. A wise man once
told me, you can see further through your tears than you can a
telescope. I think my granddad and I would agree with him.
We put on our
long, waterproof, saddle dusters, put plastic, form fitting, rain
protectors on our cowboy hats and headed for the big house. It
was bone chilling cold out, and the wind chill factor cut through us
like a knife. It made our bodies do the shiver dance on the way
to the house. We cleaned our boots real good on the metal boot
scrapers, wiped them on old burlap sacks Gip set at the back door, and
went inside to the kitchen. Everyone in the Claymore family was
already up. I gave Cindy a morning hug and a kiss. Cindy
saw my eyes when she hugged me. She looked at me quizzically, but
she didn’t say anything. She whispered a question to me as she
hugged me.
“Is the cat out
of the bag?” she giggled.
“Yes’um, Ma
Claymore,— he knows.”
“I figured he
did. Praise the Lord.” she said under her breath as she put
me to work cutting up potatoes.
Gip stomped into
the kitchen like the bull of the North woods, looked around and
smiled. He came over to give me a big hug and saw I didn’t have
my contacts in. He grinned real big. He took one look at
Cindy, she nodded to him and smiled. Gip knew immediately Curtis
knew everything. Well,— almost everything. Gip went to my
granddad, gave him a big hug, held him, and gave Curtis a kiss on his
cheek.
“Congratulations,
cowboy.” the sheriff said to him softly with all the love in his
big heart.
To my surprise,
Curtis broke down in the sheriff’s arms and the kitchen came to a
halt. They all knew why he was crying and there wasn’t a dry eye
in the room. They were so moved, they all gathered around him in
a group hug. Gip motioned for me to join them. I even shed
a few more tears. It was another powerfully emotional moment.
“Shuu,— h’it’s
all right, cowboy. Lord knows we understand. Forgive us, we
didn’t mean to deceive you, Curtis.” Gip spoke softly to my
granddad trying to comfort him.
“I know you
didn’t, Gip. You and yore’ family ain’t like that. You done
what was right. I’m jes’ so touched and thrilled beyond words to
learn I have a grandson, and he’s such a fine young man, folks love him
enough to protect him. I done fell in love with him before he
told me he was my grandson. He done risked his life to save
mine. I ain’t blaming you good folks none. You done what
was in Casey’s best interest, and I gotta’ admire you for that. I
have nothing but love in my heart for yore’ family. You’ve all
been s’damn good to me.”
“Good,— you know
you’re welcome here any time, Curtis. We think the world of you,
but we’uns don’t give a shit if’n he is yore’ grandson, we ain’t give’n
up our claim to ‘em. We done see’d him first!” Gip roared
with laugher. My granddad laughed with him.
“I wouldn’t
expect you to. I jes’ hope there’s room in yore’ family for one
more.”
“What’da ya’
mean, cowboy? You already ‘is’ a member of our family. You
have been for some time. We love you, Curtis. You’n Casey
are a part of us.”
I thought my
granddad was going to cry again, but he didn’t, he pulled himself
together. We finished getting breakfast together, and joined
hands around the table while Gip said grace,
“Our gracious
heavenly Father, we thank you for friends and family. We thank
you for our love ones gathered around this table. Thank you for
bringing these two members of our family together. Let them grow
in love and goodness for each other. We pray for Curtis’ departed
son, Seth Quee. Take him to your heart, Lord, and forgive him his
sins. Forgive us of our sins, Father, as we ask you to forgive
Seth. Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, our
minds, hearts and spirits that we may live our lives in love, honesty
and compassion to glorify thy name. We ask in Jesus name, Amen.”
“Amen!”
said everyone at the table.
We had a great
breakfast and talk was lively around the table. Curtis kept his
leg and knee pressed up tight against mine all through breakfast like
he was afraid I was going to get away. Gip winked at me,
“Does he know
everything, Casey?”
“Not quite,
Sheriff. I want to continue working for him.”
The sheriff
laughed. That was enough for Gip to get the message I hadn’t told
Curtis about my interest in the Lazy 8. I didn’t know if it might
make a difference in our working relationship. If I continued
working there, I didn’t want to usurp his authority.
“I think you
could tell him, Son. Curtis ain’t a man what would hold sume’um
like ‘at against you.”
Gip laughed and
the rest of the family joined him. They all knew what Gip was
getting at. My granddad didn’t have a clue. He was
thoroughly confused, but being a cowboy, he didn’t ask. He
figured if we wanted him to know, we’d tell him.
“I’m
satisfied jes’ know’n he’s my grandson.” Curtis stated
looking at me, “What more could there possibly be?”
Gip roared with
laugher.
“You might be
surprised, Curtis.” Gip winked at him and laughed.
“No disrespect,
Sheriff, but I don’t think I could be more surprised.” he smiled.
It was going to
be a slow morning at the ranch. I helped Cindy with clean
up. Gip didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get his day started,
and he sat around drinking coffee with his boys. They talked with
Curtis about the ranch and all that happened. They hadn’t heard
Curtis’ side of the story of his getting shot and being rescued by O.C.
and me. I finished helping Ma Claymore, she gave me another hug
and a quick kiss for my help. I turned and spoke to Gip,
“Why don’t you
let granddad and me feed the livestock for you this morning,
Sheriff? We’re going back to the coach to spend the day.
Don’t look like the weather’s gonna’ let up. We can stop by the
barn, and you men don’t have to get out in this slop.”
“Bet that sounds
like music to yore’ ears to hear that cowboy call you ‘granddad,’—
doe‘nit, Curtis?”
“Shore’ does,
Sheriff,— it shore’ does.”
I walked over
and put my arm around my granddad and pulled him close. I bussed
a kiss behind his ear and he blushed. Everyone laughed, including
me. The sheriff agreed to let us take care of the stock. He
thanked us and left it to my granddad and me. I helped out so
many times, I knew the drill. Curtis was no stranger to feeding
stock either, and we made quick work of it. It took us about an
hour to get everything done. It was warm in the barn so we didn’t
get too chilled. Rocky was in great spirits and happy for me for
telling my ‘grandsire’ who I really was.
The rain let up
for a bit, we took advantage of it and walked back to the double
‘R.’ I was looking forward to a day of doing nothing but being
with my granddad, one on one. I think Curtis felt the same
way. We got to my coach and took off our dusters and heavy, lined
jackets. I hung our dusters in the bathroom to dry, and returned
to the living room.
“Can I get you
anything, grandpa?” I smiled at him.
“ ‘Grandpa,’— I
like the sound of that, Son. Like Gip said, it’s music to my
ears. Since we ain’t got to be no wheres or do much of anything
today, how’s about another one a’ them toddies you made up for us last
night. That ought a’ warm us up a bit.”
“Sounds good to
me, Sir.”
I got busy and
made us one. We sat at in the booths at my small built in
table. I unlocked a drawer in my desk next to the couch and got
out a picture album from home. The pictures were of me, my mom
and dad, my brothers, Cousin Rance, Sadie and many others. I sat
down next to Curtis and smiled at him.
“I thought you
might like to see some photos of my life.”
“I would very
much like to see them, Son.”
I started to
show him the pictures and every other page he would break down and
cry. When he saw a picture of my dad in his wheelchair without
his legs I though my granddad was going to pass out he sobbed so
hard. It was emotionally tiring and draining on both of us.
However, I had other pictures of my dad wearing his legs and looking
for all the world like any other buckaroo on the rodeo circuit.
My granddad marveled at his boy’s ability to overcome his handicap.
There was
pictures of me, Dwayne and Logan. There was pictures of me and
Dwayne rodeoing and playing all kinds of sports. I showed him all
my football pictures. He was mesmerized looking at the story of
my life told in pictures. I told him story after story to go
along with the photos. We spent hour after hour looking at
pictures until my cell phone rang.
“Casey.” I
announced.
“Ya’ll coming up
for lunch, Casey. I fixed grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and
have a big pot of hot, homemade, vegetable beef soup.”
“‘At shore’
sounds good right about now, ma’am. We’re sorry, Ma Claymore, I
got to show’n my granddad some pictures, and we lost all track of the
time. We’ll be right there.”
The rain let up
for the moment and we walked to the big house for lunch. The
family was all gathered in the kitchen. Gip thanked us for taking
care of the livestock. We told him is was no problem, we were
glad to do it. We joined hands again, Gip said grace and we sat
down to a wonderful, hot meal.
After lunch we
returned to the double ‘R.’ I thought my granddad would be tired
of looking at pictures, but he insisted on seeing the rest. We
had another toddy and spent several more hours looking and
talking. If there was the least lingering doubt in his mind, it
vanished seeing the pictures of his son Vince. My cell phone
buzzed.
“Casey.” I
announced.
“Hey, little
brother,— it’s O.C.”
“We’s jes’
talk’n ‘bout chu’ a few minutes ago, brother. How’s it going?”
“It’s wet down
here and getting wetter. I went out to feed Socks a while ago,
and she had a down look in her eyes. I stood there and talked to
her while she ate to keep her company. She seemed to be better by
the time I left. The wind is blow’n some’um fierce down
here. How is it up there. How ya’ll doing?”
“Unbelievable,
brother,— jes’ unbelievable. The weather is even worse up here,
but me’n granddad,— hell, we don’t give a shit,— we got each
other. We be snug as two bears in a rug.”
“So you told
him. Anything else happen?”
“The works,
brother. Almost a repeat of Seth’s visit with you. Except
this time it was a little different. After Seth made his peace
with his dad and left my body, yore’ old man and two shining angels
come for him. They took my uncle by the hand and he crossed
over. Our prayers worked and he’s been forgiven.”
“Thank the
Lord,— our brother’s finally found peace.” O.C. said with his
voice shaking like he was on the verge of tears.
“Amen to that,
brother. You wanna’ speak to yore’ dad, Uncle Ocie.” I
laughed.
“Uncle
Ocie? Damn,— I kinda’ like that. Yeah, I’d love to talk
with him.”
I handed the
phone to Curtis who was grinning from ear to ear.
“Howdy,
Son.” he spoke with conviction and love in his heart.
“Hey, Dad.
I was bored and jes’ wanted to check in with you guys. Ever’
thing okay up there?”
“Couldn’t be
better, Son. I can’t believe what’s happened to me in the last
twenty-four hours. I’ve learned so much last night and
today. I’ve been the recipient of two miracles. I got to
make love with my youngest son and make my peace with him through my
grandson. This morning Casey revealed to my his other identity,
and I’ve been floating on a cloud ever since. I’m emotionally
drained and exhausted, but I keep wanting to learn more,— more about
this young man who has eyes like mine and his uncle’s. I’m so
overwhelmed by it all, but at the same time, I feel so humble and
grateful for what I’ve been given. A lot of things are coming
together that make perfect sense.”
“Glad to hear
it, Dad. Now you know why I love Casey so much. I didn’t
mean to keep no secrets from you, Dad. Casey never swore me to
secrecy, but I reckoned I’d let Casey handle telling you about
him. It jes’ seemed the right thing to do. I’m jes’ glad
it’s come about. I’m so happy for the three of us to be
family. So,— are you happy with your new grandson, Dad?”
“I don’t even
have words for how I feel, Son. It’s unbelievable. We’ve
been sit’n here for hours and Casey’s been showing me pictures of his
life. Ever’ time he shows me a picture of his dad it moves me to
tears. It’s tough going sometime, but I don’t wanna’ stop.”
“I guess I don’t
have to ask if’n you’re enjoying yourself, huh?”
“No, Son, you
don’t. I ain’t enjoyed myself this much since I was with yore’
daddy.”
“Well,— I’m glad
and happy for you both. I’ll let chu’ go, I jes’ wanted to call
and see how ya’ll was doing.”
“Glad you did,
Son,— I’ll look forward to seeing you Sunday.”
“We’ll be there,
Dad. Have a good weekend.”
“Bye, Son,— we
love you.”
“Ya’ll gotta’
know I love you, too. Goodnight, Dad.” Curtis handed me
my cell phone and grabbed his bandanna to wipe away another tear.
I looked at the clock, and it was getting near supper time. I
wanted to go to the big house a little early to see if I could
help. We got ready and arrived about an hour before dinner.
Curtis sat and talked with Gip, and little Gip. Waddie Buck was
helping in the kitchen, too.
During dinner,
Ma Claymore told us they were having some friends and kids in for a
Halloween party later in the evening and we were invited to join
them. Curtis looked at me, and in an instant, I could tell he
didn’t want to go to a party. He wanted to be alone with
me. It made me feel good.
“Under the
circumstances, Ma Claymore, less’n you need my help, I think we’d like
to stay in the double ‘R’ this evening. H’it don’t look like this
storm front is leaving anytime soon, and we’re comfortable out
there. I got more pictures to show my granddad and things to talk
with him about.”
“We can fully
understand, Casey. I figured you’d probably want to spend the
evening by yourselves and that’s fine. We jes’ didn’t want you to
think we left ya’ll out.”
“Thanks, Ma
Claymore.”
I think Gip,
little Gip and Waddie Buck were hoping we’d come so they’d have
somebody to talk with. We had another wonderful dinner, thanked
the Claymore’s for their hospitality, and returned to the double
‘R.’ I made us another toddy and we sat down to talk.
“I have five or
six videos from home with dad and friends we could watch tomorrow if
you like, Dad.”
“I’d like that,
Son. We ain’t finished your photo album yet. I’d like to
see more of that.”
I was amazed and
pleased he wanted to look at more photos. I got the album and sat
on the couch with him this time. He slowly turned page after page
asking questions, or I would volunteer some bit of information about a
certain picture. Toward the back he came across a photo of Master
Waddie taken at one of our hometown rodeos where he and his
partner always took first prize in team roping. Dad and I took
second most years. For all the other rodeos we won, we always
lost to Waddie Claymore and his partner.
“That yore’
Master, Son?”
“Yes, Sir.
That’s Master Waddie.”
“He from your
hometown, too?”
“Yes, Sir, he
lives on a ranch about ten miles down the road from us.”
“I know’d him
for years. He’s a good man, and a fine cowboy. Him and his
brother, Gip Justin, beat me and my boys at rope’n all the time.
The sheriff is named after Waddie’s brother who died in his arms in
Vietnam. That man’s been through a lot. It was good to see
him again the Fourth of July. I’m glad you ran into him on your
journey to Texas. He’s taught you some good things. You’re
right, a part of you will always belong to him.
I hear’d tell
from Gip he’s taken on a new slave named Titus. Gip said they was
together on their way back through to California and they seemed
happy. I knew Titus years ago when he had a hard charging
ex-marine D.I. for a Master. His Master was all business on the
outside, but had a heart that was solid gold. For all his gruff
demeanor and bravado, he could be one of the most understanding and
generous men I ever met.
“I was the one
what got ‘em together.” I told my granddad, “Master Waddie was still so
deep in grief over the death of his last slave, he couldn’t see the
love in Titus’ eyes ever’ time he look at him. The brief time we
were together I told him Mr. Titus was in love with him, all he had to
do was ask him to be his slave. I visited them on the night of
their bonding. They were in a motel outside of Baton Rouge.”
“You visited
them? Oh,— I understand, you knocked on their door.”
“Yes, Sir.
I never would eavesdrop on anyone, especially Master Waddie and
Titus. I love them too much. I jes’ wanted to tell them how
pleased and proud I was they were bonding. I wished them well.”
“You really mean
that, — don’chew’?”
“Of course I do,
Granddad. I ain’t losing Master Waddie to Titus. I’m
gaining me a slave brother.”
“Good way a’
looking at it. Do you think you wanna’ be a man’s slave?”
“Not unless my
daddy asks me to become his slave, then I would in a heartbeat.
Otherwise, I’m perfectly happy to continue our relationship like it was
before I left. Master Waddie helped me understand my dad owns me,
I’m my dad’s slave whether we calls it that or not. I agree with
him.”
“You love your
dad that much, Son?”
“With all my
heart, Granddad. He’s a wonderful man, and I love him very much.”
It was my turn
to tear up, and I cried in my granddad’s arms. He comforted me
and stole a kiss or two.
“Shuuu,— you
miss him, boy. Ain’t no shame in miss’n somebody you love,
especially yore’ daddy. ‘Sides, I’s the one who should be
cry’n. Lord knows, I done shed more’n a few tears over my loss of
him and his brother. You have something with yore’ dad I can only dream
about. I missed out on so much with my boys. I could’ve
been the father they needed, but I was afraid of my own natural
feelings. That ain’t no excuse. I was a rotten, no good
bastard to them boys, and I allowed my narrow minded religious beliefs
to build a wall between us.
They tried ever’
which way they could to get over or around that wall, but they
never succeeded. I’d give anything to have my boys say something
like that about me. I wasted and squandered the greatest gift of
love God could give a man because of my selfishness. If’n it
weren’t for Bubba and O.C., I never would’ve made it after I thought
they both died in Nam.
Just to find out
Vince is alive would’ve been enough for me, but to git to meet, come to
know and love my grandson is beyond belief. To me,— h’it’s simply
a miracle. A miracle I may never have experienced if’n I’d held
on to my old ways. H’it’s jes’ like you said,— if’n you’d come
and found me like yore’ daddy told ju’ I was,— you’d a’ walked away and
I’d a’ never know’d. I guess it’s God’s way of show’n me I done
made the right decision. My heart is more full than it’s been in
years, Son. You can’t know what chu’ done for me.”
“I’ve watched
you, grandpa. I know you’ve been burdened with guilt and
depression over your loss. You’ve suffered as much as Seth Quee
did. God forgave him. I cain’t speak for the Almighty, but
maybe he’s forgiven you. Tom Harris told me something, and I
agree with him. He done told me you was a good man, and he ain’t
never loved another man like he loved you. He said you have to
learn to forgive yourself, otherwise how can you expect others to
forgive you? ”
My granddad sat
there for a minute in silence and slowly shook his head.
“Don’t know’s I
can forgive myself, Son.” he said quietly without hope.
“Not to worry,
Grandpa,— ‘at’s why I’m here. I ain’t jes’ no cowpoke with a
purtty face. I’m here to help you learn to forgive
yourself. How’my gonna’ do that? Ain’t real shore’ jes’
yet, but it’ll come to me.”
“Now that you’ve
revealed yourself to me, what are your plans?”
“I’m gonna’ keep
on working at the ranch for you if’n you’ll have me. I’ve been
invited to spend Thanksgiving with the Claymores, and I’m hope’n to do
that. I was a hope’n you and O.C. could spent it with us,
too. I know the sheriff’s gonna’ invite the two of you and Bubba
and his boys. I have to go home for two weeks at Christmas, but I
ain’t gonna’ drive back, I’m gonna’ fly.”
“I usually stay
on the ranch for the holidays so the other men can have the holidays
off. I’m never alone. There’s always several hands who
don’t care nothing about the holidays. They get paid extra for
working the holidays anyway. Gabe and Jamie always work the
holidays. Wade works most of the time. Preacher,— he don’t
never go no wheres for the holiday. Most times, Sam don’t
either. Brett and Curt are so wrapped up in each other they
celebrate the holidays just as well on the ranch as they do in
town. Gip’s invited ‘em in a couple of times at Christmas.
It’s quiet on the ranch that time of year anyways. There’s almost
a feeling of the spirit of Christmas when yore’ out under the stars on
your pony. The cowboys sing carols to the cattle to keep them
quiet. There’s something magic about the ranch at Christmas time.”
* * * * * * *
We looked at
more photos until late. I wondered if my revelations to my
granddad would change things between us.
“Grandpa, is
knowing I’m your grandson gonna’ change things between us?”
“How do you
mean, Son? You mean will I still wanna’ share love with you?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“H’it ain’t
gonna’ change nothing for me, if’n it don’t change your feelings.
I’ll share love with you as much as you need or want. I gave up
on women after your grandma died. ‘Sides, weren’t no decent woman
what would have nothing to do with me no ways. I loved yore’
grandma, in my own way,— certainly not the way she wanted or
needed. I weren’t no better to her than I was to my boys.
In some ways, I guess I was worse.
She tried to
stand up for the boys, but I’d put her down as bad as I did them.
I weren’t never satisfied with anything she tried to do. I’d find
fault in the least little thing. Truth was, I felt so bad about
myself, I tried to make her look worse than me. Truth is, I was
so busy judging other folks I didn’t take time to love ‘em.
I guess I killed her. She got sick and wouldn’t take care of
herself. She refused to go to a doctor. Think’n back on it,
she knew if she didn’t git help, she was gonna’ die. I think
living with me was so bad for her, she jes’ give up,— she jes’ didn’t
wanna’ live no more.”
“I’m sorry,
Granddad.”
“Ain’t chore’
fault, Casey. H’it’s my fault. H’it’s jes’ some’um else I
gotta’ live with every day. I jes’ hope God and her can forgive
me. I hope I’m a different man today. I still have my
faults, but being a crazed, religious zealot ain’t one of ‘em.
I’ll love you as much or as little as you want, Son. I won’t
never say ‘no’ to you. If’n the good Lord’s given me a second
chance, Casey,— I ain’t a’ gonna’ fuck it up. I’ll give you all
the love’n you can handle. I’ll always be here for you if’n you
need me. Hell, I’ll always be here for you even if you don’t need
me.”
“I love you,
Grandpa.”
“Oh, God,
Casey,— you can’t know how much I love you.”
We hugged and
kissed a passionate kiss that told me he would climb into my saddle
anytime I needed him to ride the range with me. That’s all I
needed to know.
“You wanna’ git
an early start to bed this evening, ramrod?” I winked at him.
“Shore’ sounds
good to this old cowboy, Son. You gonna’ let me use your shower
tonight?”
“You can use it
anytime you wish, Sir, but I don’t won’t chu’ to. I like the way
you smell right now. Sometimes, when I been close to you, after a
hard day in the saddle, I can smell you and my old dick gits so hard
h’it stretches the skin on my face so tight my eyes are reduced to two
tiny slits. I can barely see. Then, h’it’s all I can do to
keep from tackle’n you and take’n a big ole bite out a’ yore’
butt.” I threw back my head and laughed.
“You’re yore’
daddy’s boy, all right. He could come up with the most outrageous
bullshit chu’ ever did hear.”
“He still
can. I probably shouldn’t tell you this,” I started laughing,
“but in one of his rants about you he told me, ‘My old man’s got
his head so far up Jesus’s butt, he couldn’t see the light of God
Almighty if’n he was stand’n in two buckets full of holy shit up to his
boot tops and Jesus took a fart!’” I broke up laughing. My
granddad laughed, too.
“E’aup,— sounds
like my boy Vince.” he said still laughing, “The not so
funny side a’ that is,— he’s right, Son,— I was that way. I’m so
ashamed of it today, but my boy has every right to feel that way about
me. I know he probably blames me for his little brother’s death,
and in a way, he’s right about that, too. A man couldn’t sink no
lower or fail more miserably than I did as a husband and a father,
Casey. I been trying to be a different man. I had to, Son,—
I got to where’s I couldn’t stand myself. I had to become a
better, more compassionate man for me, or I didn’t wanna’ go on living
no more. Riding with Waddie Claymore’s family helped me a
lot. I hope I ain’t the man I used to be.”
“You ain’t,
Grandad. I’ve thought to myself several times, I can find no
fault in you. I don’t know what the future holds, but we’ll see
it though together. Y’ain’t alone no more. Ya’ got me and
ya’ got O.C. Ain’t nothing we cain’t handle together. If’n
my old man don’t never come around, I ain’t gonna’ stop loving
you. I’ll never desert you.”
“Yore’ daddy
couldn’t a raised you no finer, Son. I’m gonna’ tell you
something about chore’ daddy I ain’t never told nobody. I was
hardest on him all those years ago, because Vince had a strength inside
him, no matter what I done to him or his little brother, I know’d
beyond a doubt, for all my religious piety,— yore’ daddy was a better
man than me.
He tried his
best to give his little brother the love I was afraid to give
‘em. He protected his little brother against me. He would
lie to me to take a whipping for something his little brother
done. I knew Vince didn’t do it, but I done whupped him anyways
for lying to me. He would make excuses for my behavior to his
little brother. He would console his mother when I mentally
abused her. I knew, if’n he ever had a kid, he would be a better
dad than me, and I was right.”
Curtis broke
down again. I held him close, comforted him, stole a couple of
kisses, and shed a few more tears.
“Let’s us forgit
all that for now, Grandpa. I’ll fix us another toddy. One
more for the day ought a’ do it. I’ll get cleaned up and come
help you undress. We can get an early start to bed.”
“I’d like that,
Son.”
I got cleaned up
and returned to help granddad with his boots and clothes. He seemed to
get joy out of the boot ritual Master Waddie taught me. It seemed
to bond us even closer. We finished our drinks and retired to the
bedroom. We were looking forward to a long evening of satisfying
love making. The weather seemed to cooperate. It provided a
fitting backdrop for Hallowed ‘een before All Saints day, when
the souls of departed spirits roam the Earth, when the bones of demons
dance on the fresh graves of the wicked.
It was colder
than a witches tit or a grave diggers butt. The wind was howling,
the cold rain and sleet was pounding on the roof of the coach,
lightening flashed and thunder roared to make our climax together seem
like something out of a gothic romance novel. My granddad became
my growling beastie, and I his drooling goulie. Together, we went
bump in the night. As a matter of record, we bumped several times
that night.
This was my
night with my granddad. The night before had been somewhat
eclipsed by our visit from Seth Quee. I didn’t mind. What
it did for my granddad was like the boost he needed to take him from a
more than adequate sex partner to the man-stallion my beloved ponies
told me he could be. If he had any reservations about his new
lease on life, he certainly cast them aside that evening. He was
a man determined to be good to his word and give his grandson all the
love he wanted and could possibly need. We were both drained by
the end of our third haunting session.
I rubbed his
back for him until he drifted off to sleep. When I lay down
beside him, he threw his arms about me to pull me to him and steal a
kiss. He didn’t let me go all night. It was like he was a
kid who got a new toy for Christmas, took it to bed with him to hold
tightly, so he could be sure it would be there for him in the morning.
* * * * * * *
The next morning
we got up shortly after my coffee maker clicked on. I got him
into my shower to bathe and pamper him. I don’t think he’d ever
had anyone do that for him before. He reveled in the attention
and erotic stimulation my touch brought him. His big cock got
harder than a rock, and I damn near dislocated my jaw sucking him
off. Now I knew how Dwayne and Logan must have felt sucking me
off.
At breakfast,
Gip invited Curtis and I to attend church with them. I knew
granddad would probably want to, so I left it up to him. Whatever
he wanted to do was fine with me.
“With the
weather and all, it would be tempting to just stay home with my boy,
Sheriff; howsomever, consider’n the kindness the good Lord’s show’d me
this last month and especially the last twenty-four hours, h’it would
seem down right ungrateful of me not to go. Me’n my grandson
would be pleased and honored to join you and your family for church
this morning.”
“Good,— glad to
have you men join us.”
The weather
offered no break. We all went in the ranch station wagon that
Cindy used most of the time. It was still cold, raining and the
wind was creating a chill factor that made it twenty degrees colder
than it really was. I bet my granddad there wouldn’t be many
folks at church due to the inclement weather. I was wrong,
it was packed. If we hadn’t been with the sheriff who had his
pews reserved, we would’ve had to stand. As a result, the church
was overly warm and we were packed together like sardines to make room
for a couple more folks to sit with in the sheriff’s pews.
I was right up
against my granddad with my hand to my side. I folded my
waterproof duster and had it draped across my lap with my hat sitting
on top. Granddad did the same. About half way though the
service I felt my granddad take my hand in his and hold it. No
one could see under our dusters and I smiled. I didn’t look over
at him, but I could see him smiling with my peripheral vision. I
saw Gip look over at us and get the biggest grin on his face. He
knew what the hell we were doing.
The church was
overcrowded, they overcompensated for the cold weather, and the heat
was turned up too high. It was all I could do to keep from
nodding off. I wasn’t the only one. I noticed Cindy
elbowing Gip a couple of times just before he started to snore.
After the service, which was too long and boring, I hurried to hide my
erection by putting on my duster. I noticed granddad did the
same. We returned to the ranch and had a wonderful Sunday dinner.
Afterward,
granddad and I retired to my trailer to wait for O.C. and Bubba to
arrive. Bubba was bringing his boys back in to meet the truck for
the ranch, and I would be leaving with them. I managed to get a
couple of loads of laundry done over the weekend so I was ready;
however, I wasn’t looking forward to riding the range in this weather.
We watched a
short video Logan took of me and dad at a local rodeo where we won
first place. Curtis couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw my dad
on horseback roping as good as any buckaroo. He had tears running
down his face. Part of the video was of my extra ‘junk’ room
where I studied and had all my personal trinkets. One wall had
all my 4H ribbons and awards. It also had all my trophies and
belt buckles for rodeos dad and I won. After that we just sat and
talked.
“When is the
doctor going to release you to return to the ranch, Grandpa?”
“I ain’t
sure. Soon, I hope. The Army doctor’s sent all my records
to a local doc in our town. I cain’t git much out of him.
He’s kind of a know it all little cuss you can’t ask too many
questions. He won’t accept my insurance from the ranch so I have
to pay him cash.”
“What?
You’re paying him cash? Wait a minute! Sticker told me the
company would be responsible for all your medical bills. How much
have you paid him so far, Granddad?”
“Several hundred
dollars. I have the receipts at Ocie’s.”
“That ain’t
right, Granddad. You shouldn’t be have’n to pay nothing out a’
yore’ pocket. He’s suppose to be billing yore’ insurance.
Lemme’ see what I can do. In the meantime, if’n you can, get them
receipts to me. I’ll see Sid’s secretary, Kevin, gits ‘em.
I’ll have an account set up in your name from the company, I’ll deposit
as much as you need, and Sticker will reimburse me. You can just
draw from it what you need for medical expenses until we can git this
straightened out with yore’ doctor. Jes’ be sure’n save all your
receipts. The Army’s already done been paid for their services
for you and Socks. Sid’s secretary can work all that out with
yore’ doctor and do the paperwork to get the company reimbursed as long
as you keep the receipts and give ‘em to me.”
“You deposit
money for me? How—? Why would you do that? You talk
like you’re a member of the company, Son. How do you know so much
about how it works?”
“Humm,— you sure
you wanna’ know, Grandpa?”
“I think
so. Was that what Gip was talk’n about when he said I wouldn’t
hold something against you? Do you have criminal record, Son?”
I laughed
thinking that’s what it sounded like.
“Really,
Grandpa.” I looked indignant, “I ain’t got no record of any
kind. I guess you know, another company owns one-third
interest in the Lazy 8.”
“Yeah, it’s a
company named ‘Hensly Agrocon.’ Nobody knows much about
‘em. They seem to be a silent partner. Sid and Sticker
can’t find out nothing about the company. Sticker done told me at
the beginning of the roundup they still don’t know nothing.”
“Well,— I’ll
tell you a secret. If’n you’s to take the name of the company and
rearrange the letters, it’ll spell out the name of the man what owns
it.”
“Really?
How would ju’ know that, Son?”
I got a pen, a
piece of paper and sat down beside him. I wrote out the name
“Hensly Agrocon.” I circled the “C” in “con” and drew a line with
an arrow pointing to a space below the name and printed a big “C”
I did it with every letter until it spelled out “Casey Longhorn”
beneath “Hensley Agrocon.”
“I’ll be
damned! Yore’ tell’n me you own a third interest in the Lazy 8,
Son?”
“Yes, Sir,
Grandpa,— me and my brothers. I’m president, Dwayne is
vice-president, and our little brother is secretary. Together we
formed a corporation and bought all the stock when Sid and Sticker
decided to go public with the Lazy 8.”
“Is ‘zat what
Gip was talk’n about?”
“Yes, Sir,— he
thought you might be able to handle it and still let me work for
you. We might wanna’ consider keeping it to ourselves. Me
and my brothers was gonna’ keep it secret. Logan figured out the
name using an anagram generator program on his computer; however, Sid’s
male secretary, Kevin, done figured it out and blew our cover.
Sticker didn’t know until I told Will he could tell Sticker before he
left the ranch.”
“Sid, Sitcker
and Will know about it?”
“Yes, Sir.
‘At’s why I told ju,’ don’t never underestimate that old man.” I
laughed, and my granddad just shook his head.
“Who else knows
about it, Son?”
“Pretty much the
same men what knew about me being yore’ grandson; Gip, Bubba, Waddie
Claymore, his family and the men at the ‘Broken Arrow.’ I don’t
think little Gip, Waddie Buck, Vince or Seth knows about it.”
“Does Ocie know?”
“Naw, Sir.
I jes’ ain’t never got around to tell’n him. It jes’ never came
up. You can tell ‘em if’n you want to. H’it’s all
right. He’s family. We shouldn’t be have’n no secrets from each
other.” Curtis paused
for a moment like he was thinking.
“I believe that,
too, Casey; but,— that means, I work for you,— don’t it, Son?”
“I don’t look on
it that way, Grandpa. I’m jes’ a silent partner who reaps the
dividends from the profits on the stocks our corporation holds.
On the ranch, I’m jes’ another buckaroo what’s drawing a cowboy’s pay
for a days work. I work for you. You’re my boss.
You’re my ramrod. I’d never question anything you tell me to
do. I trust you, Grandpa.” I smiled at him.
“Who owns the
majority of the stock in your corporation?”
“I own it all,
Grandpa. I give my brothers annual salaries for their help
running the company. It helps out come tax time.”
“Where’d ju’ git
money like that, Casey?”
“I saved ever’
penny from my share of rodeo winning for five years. Since I
turned eighteen, Dad’s always given me a percentage of his profits from
our ranch ever’ year. He figures if I work along side him, I
should be reaping the benefits as well as him. In the last
several years we’ve doubled and quadrupled our profits. We had to
hire two extra hands just to keep up with the work load. We’ve
raised their salaries twice since we done hired ‘em.
I worked for
Cousin Rance a couple of summers on a big ranch in Montana and made
good money. I invested heavily in a couple of Sid’s ventures;
doubled and triple my money. My little brother got a tip on some
up and coming computer company. We invested in it and it tripled
our money again. We got our fingers in several pies.”
“Does yore’
daddy know you own a third of the Lazy 8.”
“Naw, Sir.
He didn’t seem too interested when I told ‘em me and my brothers was
gonna’ invest in some ranch stock. He has his own money, and I
asked if’n he wanted to go in with us. He said he wasn’t
interested. He didn’t try’n stop me. ‘S’matter of fact, he
never said another word about it. Logan and I don’t think dad has
any idea how much money I’ve made in the last several years.”
“What else am I
gonna’ find out about chu,’ Son?”
“‘At’s about it,
Granddad. I ain’t much more’n a cowboy who can toss a rope purtty
good.”
“You’re a hell
of a lot more’n ‘nat, Son. You’ve blow’d this old man
away. Ocie told me to prepare myself, I would probably
discover some things this weekend what would shake me to my foundation,
but this,— and all what’s happened,— this is beyond anything I
expected. Truth is, you don’t have to be work’n for the ranch
if’n you don’t want to.”
“Naw, Sir,— what
I’d make in a year as a cowboy, I make in a month off’n my ranch
stocks. I’s jes’ doing it to be near you, Grandpa, and to git to
know you.”
“God not only
brought me a grandson. He’s a handsome young cowboy who’s humble
and smart. A man couldn’t wish for more’n ‘nat in a grandson,
Casey.”
Curtis opened
his arms to me and we embraced. He held me for a long time.
“Thanks for
opening up to me, Son, and being honest. Like the sheriff said, I
think I can overlook you owning the company I work for. I don’t
think I’ll have no problem shift’n gears and think’n on you as one a’
my hands. I agree with you, we should be selective who we
tell. The rest of the men are gonna’ know there’s something
between us when they catch sight of yore’ eyes.”
“‘At’s all
right, I’ll jes’ tell ‘em the truth. Yore’ my granddad. I’m
proud to be your grandson, Grandpa. I want the world to know I
got me a granddad.”
“I reckon I’m
pert-damn proud to have me a grandson, too. Shouldn’t be no
problem. Several of ‘em know anyways.”
* * * * * * *
O.C. and Bubba
arrived and headed straight to the double ‘R’ with Gip. Bubba’s
boys, Vincent and Seth Quee, were right behind them. O.C. told
them on the way about Curtis and our experience with his boy,
also, I let Curtis know I was his grandson. They came into
the coach like a herd of water buffalo to congratulate us.
Granddad was reduced to tears again in Bubba’s and O.C.’s arms.
Vince and Seth were so moved they shed a few as they hugged each of
us. It was another powerful moment. These men had become
family to me.
It was almost
time for Gip to drive us into town to meet the truck to the
ranch. I didn’t bother to pack my contact lenses. I
wouldn’t need them anymore. I wrote out a check to cash for five
thousand dollars and gave it to O.C. to open an account for my
granddad’s medical expenses until I had a chance to sort it out with
Sticker. I told O.C. I had a feeling if I gave it to granddad he
wouldn’t do it. He agreed with me and promised he’d take care of
it.
All the men
drove into town with the cowboys who were returning to the ranch; Gip’s
boys, Bubba’s boys and me. The inclement weather let up a bit,
but it was still bitterly cold. We were all bundled up and
huddled together in the truck for warmth. There was more hugs and
tears as we said goodbye to our relatives and loved ones. It felt
so damn good to be able to say that. Curtis pulled me aside.
“I don’t have
the words to tell you what’s in my heart, Son. If the good Lord
was to take me this minute, I’d die a happy man. This weekend
with you was surely one of the highlights of my life. It went by
far to quickly; and yet, I feel like we lived a lifetime in two
days. I won’t never forgit the unconditional love you shared with
me, and what you done for me this weekend. I can only hope we’ll
have more good times together. I’m gonna’ git Ocie to pinch me
all the way back to his ranch jes’ to make sure I ain’t dreamed all
this.”
“I know how you
feel, Granddad. I feel the same way. We’ll have lots of
time to be together and love each other. Now that I found you, I
ain’t a’ gonna’ let go, and I’m gonna’ be hard to git rid of.
You’ll haf’ta’ git yore’self a pert-damn big stick to beat me
off.” I paused because I realized how that sounded. Curtis
winked at me and we both broke up, “Aww, hell,— you know what I
mean. Let’s take one day at a time. I ain’t gonna’ go
nowheres. We’ll have a lot of time together and the rest,— well, it’ll
work itself out. As long as we got each other and O.C., we
can take on the world.”
“I love you,
Casey.”
“I love you,
too, Grandpa.”
* * * * * * *
After a weekend
of such emotional highs, the ride back to the ranch was almost
calming. To hell with the weather, I was a cowboy. I’d
proved my mettle with the roundup and saving my granddad’s life.
I could handle anything.
End of Chapter
40 ~ Texas Longhorns Copyright 2005 ~
Waddie Greywolf All rights
reserved ~ Mail to:
waddiebear@yahoo.com