Chapter 69 

Since Mario Cinella had moved into his own apartment in Austin, he had not bothered to have a phone connected. Adriano had, on a number of occasions, gone to his father's apartment to see him after work and during the evenings. But Mario was never home. Adriano suspected that his father was hanging out at The Nest. But Adriano couldn't stand The Nest, where there seemed to be nothing but little screaming queens running too and fro and making out. He knew that his father loved that sort of thing. He would suck any dick he could get his hands on. Adriano hated himself for thinking that way about his own father. But Mario never made any pretense of not being as slutty as he wanted to be, any time, any place.

Adriano thought about going out to The Nest and confronting his father, but thought that might not be a good idea. Mario would surely be upset, accusing Adriano of spying on him. But why hadn't his father ever called him and come over to see him after he moved out? Mario was swimming in money and didn't have to work. But Adriano wished that his father would find a job of some sort. It might keep him out of trouble.

Once again, one evening, Adriano went to his father's apartment. This time, there was a light burning in his window, meaning that Mario was surely at home this time. He saw something parked at the curb that he had not seen before. It was an enormous, elaborately decked out Harley-Davidson motorcycle . . . a real hog. Adriano went up and knocked on Mario's door several times with no answer. But finally, he heard Mario's voice inside asking, "Who is it?"

"Dad, it's your long-lost son, Adriano. Can I see you?"

There was a long pause, and soon the door opened just a crack, held there by the security chain. There stood Mario in a bathrobe. "Oh, son!" said Mario shakily. "I've been meaning to call you."

"How could you, Dad? You've never gotten a phone! Can I come in?"

"Well, son, I'm kind of busy right now. I . . . ."

"Okay, Dad, but I'm coming back tomorrow evening and I expect you to talk with me. And I'm going to order a phone for you tomorrow."

Just then, Adriano heard a voice inside coming closer. "Who is it, little Buddy," it said. Then Adriano could see the man who owned the voice. A big man, stripped to the waist, with large tattooed arms and chest, stood there smiling through the opening at Adriano.

Mario said, "Well, it's only my son. He's coming back tomorrow."

"Fuck no!" the big man bellowed. "You got a son? I wanna meet this young fella. Let him in, Buddy."

As Mario hesitatingly unlatched the chain and let Adriano enter, Adriano looked at his father and said, "I suppose you're … 'Buddy'."

"Well, son, I . . . ." Mario started to say.

The big man laughed and said, "Aw, shit. I jist call 'em that, cuz he's my little buddy."

Mario looked up at the big man with a weak smile.

"Hey, man! My name's Frack. They call me that cuz I fractured a guy's arm oncest." Frack then extended his hand, which looked to Adriano like a major league catcher's glove.

Shaking Frack's hand, which mercifully was deceivingly gentle, Adriano asked. "Okay, Frack. What's your real name? I'm not big on nick-names."

Frack sidled up to Adriano, and with a wry smile, he said, "It's Julius. Now don't ya dare laugh!"

"I'm not laughing," said Adriano. "Julius is a good Roman name. I don't doubt there were some fierce gladiators by that name."

Frack roared with laughter and, punching Mario on the shoulder, almost knocking him over, he said, "You got quite a kid there. Nice little ass, too! Come on in here and sit down. Me and yer old man were jist gittin' started."

Then suddenly putting his hand over his mouth in a mock gesture of embarrassment, Frack said, "Oh, I'm sorry. Does yer little boy know?"

"Yeah, he knows," sighed Mario and he sank into a chair.

"Yeah, I know," said Adriano. "There're no secrets between us . . . that I know of, anyway."

"Oh, that's a relief," said Frack with a laugh. "Fer a minute I thought I mighta stuck my fuckin' boot in my mouth." Then with a nudge to Adriano, he said, "I usually like to have more tasty things in my mouth, if ya know what I mean. Hey, kid, do ya swing?"

"Huh?" grunted Adriano?

"Do ya play, I mean. Are ya a player?"

"Of course."

"Hey, Buddy, we can have us some fun here!" growled Frack, as he grabbed hold of Adriano's ass and squeezed.

Adriano said, "If you'll excuse us, Frack, I want to talk to my dad for a minute. Alone."

"Oh, sure." said Frack, "I gotta go take a crap anyway. It won't take me too long."

After Frack departed for the bathroom, Mario sighed, "Oh, Christ. This is a fine mess."

"You just want me to go, don't you, and leave you alone with that animal."

"He's not an animal. I've been with him before, and he's very nice."

Adriano stood there, shaking his head. "I don't know what to do with you, Dad. You always surprise me, and never pleasantly. You're going to get into so much fucking trouble one of these days. I wish you'd move back with me."

"No way!" said Mario, waving his hand. "I can do what I want, Adriano. It's my life, and I can do what I want."

"You know how you sound? You sound like a little uncontrolled kid. That's what you sound like. I'm going to leave you with him, Dad. But I don't like the idea of having to sit home and worry about you all the time.

"Well, then, don't."

"I'm coming over here tomorrow night, and I expect you to be here and alone for once," said Adriano, leaning in close to Mario. "We have a lot of things to talk about. And, by God, I'm gonna get you a phone. I don't understand you sometimes, Dad."

Just then, Frack returned to the room with an enormous hard-on poking out through his fly. Adriano went over to his father and took hold of the front of his robe and flung it open, revealing Mario's very stiff hard-on. "Well, there, you see?" said Adriano sarcastically. "You're both hot and ready to go at it. So I'll leave you to it."

Then turning to Frack, he said, "I don't know who you are. But I swear if you hurt my dad in any way, I'll come after you!"

Adriano raced out of the apartment building, repressing a terrible urge to kick over that motorcycle and stomp on it.

Frack stood with a sort of stunned look on his face and looked down at Mario's hard-on, which he wasn't bothering to cover back up. "I guess I said the wrong thing, huh?"

"No, you didn't. You can say anything you want, Frack," sighed Mario.

Frack said, "Ya know, I don't know too much about them social graces. I'm kinda rough around the edges, but I try to be nice to people. I hope I didn't hurt his feelins'."

Mario leaned back and sighed quietly. "It doesn't matter, Frack." Then after a few moments, he said, "Frack, I don't think we should do anything tonight. I'm just not feeling very well. I'm sorry."

"Well, it IS me, ain't it?" Frack sat down on the floor in front of Mario, still seated with his robe hanging open. As he ran his fingers over the calves of Mario's slender dark legs, he said. "I know I come on too strong a lotta times, and peoples ain't used to that. I'm sorry if I embarrassed ya. I don't never wanna do nothin' to embarrass my little guy here."

"Don't call me 'little guy,' Frack. No, that's all right. Call me a little guy. I am little."

"Ya know, that's one of the things that I love about you," said Frack. "Yer kinda fragile like. My instinct comes risin' up that I wanna protect ya. I wanna hold ya and feel yer little body collapse in my arms and give in to me. Ya got a sweet body, Mario. I wish ya was mine so I could hold ya and protect ya all the time."

Mario raised his head from the back of the chair and looked at Frack. "I want you to hold me and protect me. I almost feel like a child when I'm with you. I'm a lot older than you are, but you make me feel like a child. Sometimes, I want to cry in your arms and have you hold me tightly and tell me you love me and that everything's going to be all right. I played that role of protector and father who was wise in all things all my life. Now I want to be a child again, vulnerable and innocent, with you as my protector."

Frack stood up and picked Mario up in his arms and carried him into the bedroom, where he gently put Mario down on the bed. Frack removed his boots and jeans and, getting on all fours, straddled his body over Mario. He said, "I love ya little buddy. I want you to stay with me and ride with me. No one will ever hurt ya. I'll be there all the time. No one will ever hurt ya, and you'll always know there's somebody there who loves ya."

Mario raised his head and kissed Frack gently on the lips and said, "I love you, too, Frack. But somehow it all seems too unnatural. I don't belong in your crowd of friends. If I ever got on a motorcycle again, the wind would blow my little body right off it!"

Frack erupted in huge laughter, his belly bouncing up and down as he did so. "Ya ain't gonna have to ride the bike. I'll have ya strapped on the back of me like a fuckin' papoose when we ride!

"Why do you always make me laugh when I don't want to?"

"Ya should always wanna laugh, little buddy. There ain't no times when you shouldn't laugh, except maybe when yer screwin'. And then that's serious business. Hey, I got a fuckin' cock here that's gonna explode like an overcharged rocket on the launch pad. How 'bout lettin' me move it into the hangar?"

"Well, now," said Mario with a smile, "I see you're good at metaphor, too, among other things."

"I'm good at meta-what?"

As Mario raised his legs, he said with a smile, "Well, the door's open. You can move it right on in anytime you're ready."

Frack scooted down and peered into Mario's ass crack. "First I gotta taste that sweet little pucker of yers. It's just the sweetest thing. I love it when ya clench it and unclench it while I'm tastin' it. And them sweet little ass cheeks of yers! They're like little firm balls of Dago pasta. I could eat 'em right up!"

Soon, Frack had his inflated hard penis inside of Mario. "Oh, I love it, little buddy. Yer asshole is like a warm blanket around my cock."

A serious frown then swept over Frack's face as he pumped his penis into Mario's hole, faster and faster. Mario believed that he had never gotten fucked so ardently in his life. As he lay there, he watched the big guy's massive breasts jiggle with every thrust, throwing droplets of sweat onto his body. He imagined that he could have this electrifying experience every night for the rest of his life. To be continually ravished, enchanted, and titillated like this by this huge hulk of masculinity would be his to experience if he would only say yes. The frenzied intoxication that he felt with this man of all men deep inside of him was almost unbearable.

Suddenly, Mario felt Frack's pelvis pounding unmercifully against his ass and, as Frack growled like a lion, Mario could feel the warmth of the man's hot cream issuing into him and flooding his rectum. Mario looked into Frack's face and saw the look of a ferocious, barbaric animal. He loved it. He longed for Frack to reach down and grasp him and pull him savagely to his breast. He wanted to be taken, he wanted to abused, he wanted to be brutally raped!

But it was over. With sweat pouring off his face, a face now graced with a tender smile, Frack said simply, "I love you Mario. I love you. I love you."

How gentle this large beast now seemed to Mario. As Frack leaned in and kissed him, he thought, "How soft and warm his lips are, how gentle are his hands as he lightly caresses my arms." Mario saw nothing but sweetness and love in this man's ruddy and bearded face.

Frack lowered himself down closer to the foot of the bed and ran his tongue up and down the full length of Mario's throbbing penis, licking off the bubbling semen that was running out of it. As he did so, he ran his fingers over the soft hair on Mario's legs, which made Mario break out in goose bumps all over. Soon Frack took the full length of Mario's penis into his throat and held it there as he furiously circled it with his tongue. Then slowly, Frack began to run his lips up and down the shaft. Mario was near orgasm the moment he felt his penis entering Frack's mouth. He hoped that Frack would not suck on it too fast. He wanted it to last. But there was no stopping it. As Frack felt Mario's body tensing up, he sucked faster and faster until he felt the penis begin to lurch violently in his mouth and spew shot after shot of hot Italian sperm down his throat.

When Mario's orgasm had subsided, and when Frack had taken the last drops of cum from Mario, the two lay side by side, kissing quietly and looking into each other's eyes.

After a long while, Mario said softly, "Is your name really Julius?"

Frack jerked his head up and said in a threatening voice, "Yeah! Ya wanna make somethin' of it?"

When Mario looked surprised, Frack laughed and said, "Gotcha!"

Relieved, Mario smiled. He loved the humorous side of this man, and wished he could see more of it.

"Yep. That's right," said Frack. "I was named after my mom's favorite brother, Julius. He was a submarine captain, and died in World War II. I seen letters that his buddies sent my mom telling her that he was a hero and how brave he was. He even got the Navy Cross. I seen pictures of him, too, and he was a hot lookin' dude. I ain't ashamed of the name. I'm kinda proud of my uncle. I wish sometime when the end comes, Mario, I can die bravely like him. I know I ain't got it in me to be no hero, but I'd like to die bravely when I go.

"Ya know, these guys all wrote my mom that they were with him when he died. I'm glad of that. I ain't really got a fear of dyin', but one thing that scares me shitless. I got a terrible fear of dyin' alone, when nobody's there with me. Sometimes I have a dream where I'm ridin' up on a mountain pass and have an accident, and I roll down into a gully. And I'm layin' there all injured, and I know I'm dyin'. But nobody's there. Nobody knows I'm dyin', like nobody gives a shit. I don't know why, but I have this terrible fear that I might die alone, and nobody's there to say g'bye to, and nobody to say g'bye to me."

"I'm sorry, Frack," said Mario. "I didn't mean to sound like I was making fun of your name or anything."

"Oh, I know that, little buddy," said Frack as he gave Mario a quick kiss on the lips. "Most peoples, when they first hear it, think it's kind of a funny name, especially on a big sloppy asshole like me. And I'm sorry, Mario. I didn't mean to start talkin' about dyin' and stuff. But I guess tellin' ya that shows I'm not really very brave at all. But I wish I was.

Mario's eyes began to fill with tears.

"Don't cry, little buddy," said Frack. "Or yer gonna have me doin' it. I shouldn't a mentioned it."

Mario kissed Frack and said, "It was just a dream, Frack. I know a long time from now when you go, you're gonna go just as bravely as the hero you were named after."

They were soon wrapped in each other's arms, where Mario wanted to be, and they had both drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, they showered together, and Mario went into the kitchen and announced that all he had for breakfast was a package of grocery store sweet rolls, and they were pretty stale. He made some coffee and they both sat down at the kitchen table.

Frack said, "Well, all ya have to do is slather a mess of butter on them rolls, and they'll do fine."

As they ate, Mario said, "I didn't realize you would still be around here, Frack. I thought you and your biker family would be gone by now."

"Oh, yeah, they all headed out a few days ago. They're headed on up to Montana and the Dakotas, and they'll git there eventually. I told 'em to git goin' without me and I'll catch up with 'em later. Mario, I couldn't go yet without seein' you some more. Yer what I want, Mario. I want you to be my little guy."

"Frack, I told you I can never be a slave to anyone. Not like you want."

"Yeah, I know," said Frack. "But like I told you oncst, it ain't like slavery we had with Black peoples. No one becomes a slave with us if he don't wanna. He's got to be wantin' to be a slave. He's got to want to turn his whole life into bein' a slave and make it his life's work to serve a master. I know you don't want to do that. And I ain't askin' ya to. I jist want ya to be with me like two friends and lovers. I wouldn't do nothin' to hurt ya. Yer son ain't got no fear on that score!"

Mario sat with his head bowed. Finally looking up, he said, "Frack, I love you more than I have ever loved anyone. And I would give a lot to be able to spend the rest of my life with you. But I just can't do what you're asking. It's just not a life I could stand. If it were just you and me. Just you and me staying in one place. But it wouldn't be that way. I'm not fit for living the rugged life you guys lead. Look at me. I'm a weasel compared to you."

"It's your son, ain't it? He'd be pretty pissed off if he knew you were running off with a booger bum like me."

"My son has nothing to do with my feelings and the kind of life I lead. I've told you the reasons I can't do it. On top of that, I have had some health problems in my life, Frack. And I need to stay close to where I can get care when I need it."

"Oh, Mario. I'm really sorry. Can you tell me what kind of health problems?"

"Of course, Frack. For some years I have had a heart murmur. And in recent years, it's gotten worse, and I've developed an irregular heart beat, they tell me, and I may have to go in and have a pace maker inserted in my chest. So you can see, Frack, there are reasons that have nothing to do with my love for you."

Frack got up and went around the table and, pulling Mario to his feet, wrapped him in his arms. "Well, my little buddy, in that case, I don't know that I'm gonna join the others very soon. Unless ya want me to go, I'll jist stick around a while longer. Would ya mind? Maybe I'll jist stay a lot longer. I ain't good at sayin' g'bye. Not to someone I love."

Mario put his slender arms around Frack as far as he could and said, "Would I mind, Frack? Would I mind? Frack you can stay here for the rest of your life if you want to! But you've got to think about something. You're going to miss your riding buddies and your friends and that freedom you have out on the open road. You've got to think about that."

"Well, little buddy, if that happens, we'll cross that dam when we git to it."

"If you stay, Frack, I want you to know I understand about that life, and if you ever feel you have to go back, I'll be prepared to understand."

I can't promise nothin', Mario, but this is sure as shit what I want now. I better git on back to San Marcus and pick up my stuff. I ain't got much, but it's all I have."

"Would you do me a big favor, Frack," said Mario, "and stay at the place you were at in San Marcos tonight? As you know, my son Adriano is coming over this evening, and I have a lot to talk with him about, and I want to get that taken care of. And it's best I be alone with him. Okay?"

"I'll do that. And tell that sweet little guy hi fer me! And give 'im a pinch on that sweet little ass of his, too, fer me."

That evening, Adriano arrived at his father's apartment shortly after supper. As he entered, he said, "Well, Dad, I see you're alone for a change. Is your biker friend off tonight with his friends raping and pillaging and terrorizing the community?"

Mario said, "I see, Adriano, that I didn't do a very good job in raising you to keep a civil tongue in your mouth."

"I wouldn't say that you're showing particular good breeding, either, Dad, by dragging home that big loud-mouthed ape."

"Can I get you something to drink, Adriano?"

"No, I don't want anything."

"Then sit down, Adriano. I have a few things I need to say to you. You behaved very badly last night. I'm normally proud of you. But this time, I hesitated to admit to him that you were my son."

"Dad, let me tell you something," said Adriano pointedly. "You're my father, and I happen to love you very much. I hope you know that. But when you move out and never get in touch with me and never have a phone so I can get in touch with you, I get concerned. And then, after days of trying, when I finally find you at home, you're sitting around half naked with a biker four times your size, who looks as though he could easily break you in two and leave you for dead. Someone I've never seen before. Where in God's name did you dig him up?"

"I'll be glad to tell you about him, Adriano. But first, I have something to say to you. This happens to be my home now. I pay the rent, and I have the only key. I don't care whether you're my son or not. You came into my house virtually uninvited last night, even though I'm sure it was amply clear to you that it was not a good time. You stood right here in my living room and thoroughly embarrassed me in front of my guest."

"Some guest!" retorted Adriano.

"It doesn't matter who he was, Adriano! It was absolutely none of your business who he was. You not only embarrassed me, but you made yourself look like a real asshole."

"Dad, you have to understand that I was angry. I was angry at you for bringing this guy home with you. You're my dad. I can't stand by idly when I think you may be in danger of being robbed or hurt."

"I appreciate your concern, Adriano. But I want to point something out to you that you may not remember. The last night I lived in your apartment, I had far too much to drink and I acted terribly. I was an absolute embarrassment to you. I even drove your guests away. I realized the next morning how wrong I was. Do you remember? Do you remember how I admitted it and apologized? I also realized something then that I should have realized before that. You had your own life to lead. It was not fair to you for me to be underfoot and causing you concern as I did that night. You and I live different lives, Adriano, and it was only right and fitting that we should have our own places where we could live those lives the way we needed to.

"Think about that, Adriano. I learned a great lesson. It was a lesson you should have learned also. To come into my house and embarrass me like that, caused me to be mortified beyond words, just as I had done to you. I love you, Adriano. But I'm disappointed."

Adriano sat looking down at his hands, saying nothing.

Mario continued. "That man, who you called an ape, and who you threatened before you left, happens to be a very good friend of mine. We've been together on several occasions. He may be loud, and he may seem like a redneck to you, but he is one of the kindest, most gentle and sensitive men I have ever known."

Mario and Adriano sat quietly for a few moments. Then Mario said, "Adriano? Do you have anything at all to say? When you came over here, it seemed as though you had plenty to say."

Still looking down, Adriano said quietly, "I'm sorry, Dad. I know I should have learned that lesson. You're right . . . as you always are."

"Adriano, I'm going to tell you something else. And just keep your seat and keep your cool. Frack is going to move in with me tomorrow."

Without looking up, Adriano said only, "That's nice."

"We love each other, Adriano."

"That's nice."

"Well, Adriano," said Mario as he stood up, "If all you can say is 'that's nice' in that snide tone of voice, I think our conversation is over. When you think you can be civil to Frack, you're welcome to come and visit us."

Adriano stood up and walked to the door with his father. Before leaving, Adriano turned and took his father in his arms and said, "I'm sorry, Dad. Please just give me a little time."

"Good night, son."

The next morning, Jake arrived in the kitchen, ready to go with Michael out in the field to make some inspections.

"Ready, Michael?" said Jake. "The boys have a couple a fuckin' horses all saddled up fer us."

"Yeah, Jake. Let me get my clip board here," said Michael. Then turning to Karl, who was seated and still sipping on his coffee, he said, "Are you sure, Karl, you don't want to come with us. We can have another one saddled up for you in no time. I want to show you all the things that have been going on out there on the range."

"Thanks, Michael," said Karl. "You go on ahead. I don't think I'm ready to get on a horse yet. I'm still kind of shaky."

Michael leaned over and kissed Karl and said, "We should be back by lunch time. See you then."

As Michael and Jake rode off, Karl looked out and saw Jumper sitting alone in the gazebo. He said, "Hey, Tony, is that the kid they call Jumper with the broken ankle sitting out there?"

"It sure is," said Tony. "There's not much he can do around here until he gets the cast off his ankle. He's cute, isn't he?"

"I'll say he is," said Karl as he stared out the window. "I think I'll go on out there and sit with him and take in the air."

As Karl approached the gazebo, he shouted up, "Hi there! Do you mind if I sit up there with you?"

"I don't mind."

"Your name's Jumper, isn't it," said Karl, extending his hand and sitting down. "My name's Karl Oldenburg."

"I know. They told me who you were when you came."

"Well, actually, I lived here quite a while before this," said Karl. "But I had to go away for awhile."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I help Michael run this place. It's a great place, isn't it?"

"It ain't bad."

"Have you made any friends since you've been here?," asked Karl.

"Yeah. Jake's my friend. He's my best friend."

Karl slid on the bench closer to Jumper and said, "I've heard how he's taken care of you, Jumper. I think Jake's the best friend anyone could have, don't you."

Jumper didn't say anything and looked away.

Putting his arm on the back of the bench behind Jumper's shoulders, Karl said, "What's the matter, Jumper. You're not afraid of me are you?"

"No, I ain't afraid of you." Then getting up and putting the crutch under his shoulder, he said. "I gotta go in."

"Well, it's nice to have met you, Jumper," Karl shouted as he watched Jumper hobble toward his room. Karl leaned over and put his head in his hands. There seemed to be an old familiar feeling sweeping through him. As he was sitting and looking at Jumper, there was that unmistakable rush of desire in his body. Karl knew nothing about Jumper, but he wanted him. Karl closed his eyes, and through his mind's eye, he could see Jumper lying naked with his legs in the air and beckoning to him to enter him.

Opening his eyes, and throwing his head back, he shouted, "Oh, God!"

Tony heard the shout and, as he went to the door, he saw Karl leaning his head way back with his mouth open wide. Running out to Karl, Tony shouted, "Karl! What's the matter? Are you all right?"

Karl straightened up and, looking at Tony, said, "I don't know, Tony. I don't know. I hate myself."

"What are you talking about?" shouted Tony and he held Karl by the shoulders.

As Tony led him back to the house, Karl said, "I'm no good for anybody, Tony. I'm just no good. Tony, I want to go to bed now."

"You just got up a little while ago," said Tony.

"Yeah, but I'm very tired. I just want to be alone for awhile. Where's Michael?"

"He's gone with Jake out to the range. Remember?"

"Oh, yes. Thanks, Tony," Karl said as he flopped down on his bed.

Tony closed the door quietly and went back to the kitchen. He didn't know whether or not to tell Michael about how Karl was acting, but decided not to.

Michael came back after only two hours and said, "Tony, I wanted to cut our inspection short and get back here. Where's Karl?"

"Oh, Michael, he got very upset and went into your room."

Michael rushed back and, when he opened the door, he found Karl lying on the bed with his eyes closed. He leaned over him and said, "Karl?"

Karl opened his eyes and, when he saw Michael, reached up and threw his arms around his neck and pulled him down to him. "Oh, Michael," he gasped. "Always stay with me. I want you with me all the time."

Michael said, "Karl! What's the matter? I shouldn't have gone off without you this morning. I'm sorry."

"Always stay with me, my dear Michael," said Karl, as tears brimmed in his eyes and ran down around his ears. "Don't leave me alone."

Michael held Karl tightly. His intuition began to tell him that Karl may be suffering some self-doubts about himself. He whispered, "Karl, I love you. I'll always be with you. I'll always be here. Don't cry. Please. It's going to be all right. We're going to get through this together. Remember? I promised you that. Please don't cry. I'm here, and I'll always be here."

Michael climbed onto the bed and lay close to Karl, wiping the tears off of Karl's face with his fingers. "I'm just going to lie here with you as long as you want me to. I'll be right here with you."

When Jake returned to his room, he found Jumper sitting there playing one-handed chess that Jake had taught him. "Well, my boy, what have ya been doin' with yerself while I was gone?"

Without looking up, Jumper said, "I went out and sat in the gazebo fer awhile. But that Karl came out and sat down next to me."

"He's a pretty nice hombre, ain't he?"

"He kept lookin' at me funny. I don't know. I jist come back in. I don't like 'im."

"Oh, Jumper, honey, he ain't so bad. He jist had some problems he had to go away and work on fer hisself." Walking over and giving Jumper a kiss, he said, "What d'ya mean he was lookin' at ya funny?"

"I don't know, he was lookin' at me like he wanted to do somethin' with me."

Jake walked over to the window and, as he slammed his fist down on the window sill, he said merely, "Oh shit! Poor Michael."

Corky had been able to talk Mark into mounting a couple of horses and riding out over the range that morning. Tony had packed them a lunch, and they rode for about an hour. They finally stopped at the stream by the western boundary of the ranch. The recent rains had swelled the stream so it was now almost overflowing its banks.

After securing their horses to a tree, Corky began removing his clothes. "Come on Mark, this water's pretty deep now. Let's get in and take a swim before we eat. Come on."

As Mark looked at the water, Corky noticed that his face seemed to brighten for the first time since the accident. Corky helped him out of his clothes and then ran to the water and jumped in, followed quickly by Mark. They began a friendly tussle in the water, splashing and laughing like two children with no cares in the world. Corky then began to swim over to the opposite bank, with Mark in pursuit. Catching Corky, Mark tried to drag him under, and another wild tussle ensued. Corky, his laughter now almost out of control, broke away and dashed for the shore where they originally started. Scrambling up on the bank, Mark was able to catch Corky's leg, and they both collapsed in each other's arms as they lay on the grass.

Mark lay there with tears pouring out of his eyes. Corky looked down at him and said, "Mark, what's the matter? Please. What's the matter?"

Mark looked at Corky and, trying to smile through his tears, said, "Nothing's the matter, Cowboy. Nothing at all's the matter. You just make me so happy and you make me love you so much! I'm crying because I am so, so, so happy that I have you." As Mark pulled Corky tight against him, he said, "You make me so happy. You make everything so right, Corky. I don't think I could go through this alone without you. I know I couldn't. I know I look strong, but I'm a weakling inside. Corky. I never dreamed I could love anyone as much as I love you."

As dark clouds began to move overhead, Mark began kissing and licking Corky's skin from his lips and cheeks, across to his ears and neck, and then down over Corky's chest and stomach and then sucked on his pubic hair. He ran his tongue up and over and around Corky's gorged penis and down around his balls. Lifting Corky's legs, he plunged his face into Corky's ass crack and ate on his asshole furiously, while runnng his hands over the hair on Corky's legs.

As Mark continued to suck on his pucker, Corky, who had now been sent into an almost uncontrolled erotic frenzy, said, "Mark, do you want to enter me? To go inside of me? Please?"

Mark filled Corky's ass full of as much saliva as he could and thrust his hard penis into Corky's waiting asshole. Rain began to fall lightly, but neither of them paid attention to it. As Mark plunged deeply, over and over again, Corky began running his fingers over his own sensitive penis head. It was all he needed, and as the wind blew and the rain began to come down harder and harder, Corky's penis erupted with stream after stream of thick hot cum. It slithered off of his stomach as the rain fell, Mark's rain-soaked hair hung down over his face as he continued to pound his pelvis against Corky's ass. As he watched Corky's sperm spewing out of his penis, Mark couldn't hold it any longer and, with a sort of rebel yell, sent his own sperm deep inside of his lover's body. He thrust again and again, over and over until the last vestige of his orgasm had subsided.

Mark collapsed onto Corky's shiny wet body as the rain continued to blow sheets of water over them. Corky reached down and ran his hands over Mark's wet and slippery ass cheeks. Mark's penis remained in Corky's hole and they kissed and caresssed each other as they lay under the torrent of rain. They were both shivering from the cold rain but, at the same time, their bodies felt warm where they were pressed together.

Suddenly, the rain stopped as abruptly as it had begun and a warm sun shone down on the two lovers. It had just been one of those typical Texas one-shot storms, but their clothes lay on the ground a few feet away, in a wet, sopping mass. Luckily, they had stowed their boots in one of the horse's saddle bags. Above all else, a Texan's boots must be protected and cared for. That is always true also with his hat. But this time, their felt hats also lay wet and drooping on the ground with their clothes.

Putting on their boots and draping their wet clothes over the back of their saddles, Mark and Corky took off for home, naked as the day they were born, except of course, for their boots. As they rode into the yard behind the house, they were greeted by Tony on the back verandah, laughing uncontrollably at the sight of these two hot looking naked bodies, whose backs and stomachs were still covered with leaves of wet grass. They were both laughing, themselves, as they ran past Tony and into the house. As they passed him, Tony slapped them both on their little round asses.

Jake was just coming out of one of the barns when he saw the two naked riders gallop into the yard. Walking over to Tony, he said, "What the fuck was that?"

"No point in asking, Jake," said Tony, still laughing. "I'm just glad to see Mark looking happy again."

Jake said, "Is Michael around? I need to see him."

"Yeah, he's in his room with Karl. I think there's some sort of problem."

Just then, Michael came out on the verandah and said, "Oh, hi Jake. You look worried."

Jake said, "Let's sit down here. I got to tell ya somethin'. Jumper was sittin' with Karl some today, and Jumper said Karl seemed like he was comin' on to 'im. I hate to see any fuckin' trouble startin' up, but I thought maybe ya oughta know. Jumper said Karl looked at him kinda funny."

Michael looked away and said softly, "Ah, so that's Karl's problem. Jake, just be patient with Karl. He and I are going to work on this together. I know you're afraid he's going to go back into the old pattern. But at least, he now understands his problem, and neither of us are going to run away from it like we did before."

"Jumper's kinda upset," said Jake. "He told me he never wanted to see that look on anybody's face again like he always saw on those fuckin' truckers."

"Jake, I'm overdue in getting alone with Jumper and talking with him about some things. I've never felt that he really trusts me yet for some reason. Where is he now?"

"He's in our room, I think."

"Okay, why don't you go about your business for awhile and let me go over there and talk with him. I don't know that he really understands about Karl."

Knocking on the door, Michael opened it a crack and said, "Jumper? Can I come in?"

Jumper said he could and continued to work on his game while Michael sat on the side of the bed.

"Jake tells me you had a bit of an experience with Karl today. I'd just like to tell you about Karl so that you'll understand a little more about him."

Michael went on to tell Jumper that Karl was an equal partner in the running of the ranch, and that he had made most of the good decisions that had to be made. Michael also was very open with Jumper about the fact that he and Karl were lovers. But there had been some trouble over the fact that Karl had an unnatural addiction to sex, and had several sexual episodes with others on the ranch, as well as some when he was away. His addiction to sex had nothing to do with love for these others. It had to do only with lust. He went on to explain that Karl now recognized his problem in this regard, but was truly doing his best to fight against it.

Jumper looked at Michael intently, wanting to understand.

Michael said, "I know what happened today out in the Gazebo. But something that you're not aware of, he was very upset with himself afterward. Jumper, Karl's not entirely out of the woods yet with this problem. But he does understand it, and he and I are going to work hard together to help him with it. And he's also going to need your understanding, Jumper. Come over here and sit next to me, will you?"

As Jumper sat on the bed, Michael put his arm around his shoulder and said, "You've had to face some tough times, too. A lot tougher than Karl has had to face. But you're making a turn-around, and making an effort, and things are getting better for you, aren't they?

Jumper nodded.

"We all love you here, Jumper, and we understand what you've been through. Now it's your turn to be understanding of Karl."

Jumper leaned close to Michael and put his arms around him, saying, "I'm sorry, Michael, that I ran away from him. I'm sorry for Karl now. I won't do nothin' like that again. He jist kinda scared me. I don't never want nobody to never do nothin' to me I don't want."

"Nobody's ever going to do anything to you again that you don't want, my dear boy," said Michael as he bent his head and kissed Jumper on the forehead. You're too precious to all of us, and I hate to think what Jake will do to anyone who touches you in any way when you don't want it. He loves you very much, Jumper, as we all do. I'm glad you let me talk to you today."

Looking up into Michael's eyes, Jumper said, "I'm glad, too. I love you for all the stuff you've done for me. I jist hope all this ain't jist a dream."

"I assure you, Jumper, it's not. It's real. This is how life should be. It should never be what you had to do to stay alive for so long. I hope someday, all that will seem like just a bad dream to you."

Late in the afternoon, Marcus took Jared out onto the front verandah for some air. Coming around the house was Clayton. He stopped abruptly when he saw Jared.

Marcus called over to him. "Oh Clayton. Don't go. Come on up here and chat with us for a minute."

Clayton moved slowly toward the verandah and stopped at the steps. There seemed no recognition in Jared eyes when their eyes met.

Turning to Jared, Marcus said, "Jared? You remember Clayton, don't you?"

Jared nodded.

"Who is Clayton, Jared?" Marcus went on.

"Clayton is my son," said Jared with no emotion in his voice.

Clayton's hands suddenly turned cold, and he felt a tingling sensation as adrenaline surged through his body. He stammered, "I am not this man's son. I'm Michael's son."

"Oh, tut, tut, Clayton," said Marcus as he waved his hand in front of him. "Let's not play these little games. Jared is your father, and he will always be your father."

"What is this, Marliss, or whatever your fucking name is. You're supposed to be here to see that this guy eats his dinner and takes a shit when he's supposed to. Why are you trying to stir up trouble?"

"No need to get nasty and rude with me, young man. You think that commenting on the fact you are this man's blood-son is stirring up trouble?"

"Yeah, and I don't like it. What the fuck are you up to?"

Marcus leaned forward and said, "It might just happen that you could inherit this ranch. Would you like that?"

"What are talking about? You're crazy!"

"All right, I can see you're in no mood," said Marcus, waving his arm again. "You just run along, and we'll talk again when you're of a mind to listen to reason."

Clayton walked past them and into the house, going directly to Michael's office. Sitting down in front of his desk, he said, "Dad, I just had the weirdest conversation with that person who's supposed to be looking after Jared. He asked Jared who I was and Jared said I was his son. How much does Jared know? Is he gaining his memory back? Christ! I hope not. I don't know if I can deal with that! And then Marcus asked me how I would like to be the heir to this ranch some day."

Michael sat looking puzzled as he listened to Clayton. He couldn't imagine what might be going on. He said, "I really don't think he's gaining his memory back. The doctors assured me that the brain damage was so extensive that that would never happen. But you know something, Clayton. I'm beginning to wonder myself a little about Marcus. He's been sitting with Jared going over the family pictures almost constantly. And I wonder sometimes why he would do that, especially every day like that. And another thing. A few days ago, Josiah and Brian came down for a short visit, and Josiah said something that seemed strange to me at the time. He said . . . and he said this very pointedly . . . I should watch and pay attention to what Marcus was doing. It was almost as though he made a special trip down to the ranch just to tell me that."

"Well, Dad, I just don't like this guy. He acts so smooth all the time, like a snake in the grass. I think Josiah's right. He needs to be watched."
 

To be continued...