Love Refound
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 12

Flower Boys and Ring Bearers 

This is Doug.

Autumn turned the writing of this story over to me because there are some things that are going to happen that a lady wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about.  I am about to become the focal point of this story for at least the next couple of chapters.  The people in this small horse community have taken over my life.  Enough about me.  Let’s get back to the story.

When Autumn and I walked into the stable, we could hear the two teenagers talking.  Trevor was saying, “Yeah, Miss Autumn could be a champion on the circuit if she would just put her mind to it.  She is so busy worrying about all the children with special needs, like me.”

Jeff asked as if he was confused, “What special needs do you have that she could help you with?”

“She and Mister Doug are trying to help me cope with having a bunch of queers around us.  Miss Autumn told me that I was probably not gay when we went to visit you in Chattanooga.”

Jeff was shaking his head, “Trevor, you’re not making any sense at all.  What do you mean by queer?”

Trevor took a deep breath, “Well we found out that my Dad, my Grandfather and our cousin Derek are all gay.  Miss Autumn told me that I was probably not gay because Derek had gotten the gay genes in our generation.”

Jeff thought for a moment, “Trevor, I have a brother who is gay and it doesn’t bother me.  He and his partner are both like brothers to me.  Why are you so hung up on the gay/queer issue?  Are you afraid that you might be gay?   Haven’t you and your brother, Trent ever messed around?  I’ll bet that even Uncle Doug messed around when he was younger and probably with Capt. Pearson when they were growing up.”

I must have turned bright red because Autumn leaned over and whispered, “Well, did you?”

I decided to deflect the question by announcing that we were present, “Trev and Jeff, we need to go change clothes for dinner, so we can come back and escort Ms. Autumn to the shindig.”

Trevor sucked in his breath, “How much of our conversation did you two hear?”

I looked at the two young guys, “Enough, to know that perhaps you shouldn’t discuss such things when there might be a lady around.  Now what did you do to the General Beauregard and Cracker Jack?”

Jeff was so nonchalant, “Well, I dilated their eyes so much that they will be blinded by the light and unable to see the obstacles.  Trevor put this sticky stuff on their hooves so they would get stuck on the grass so they can’t jump through the air with the greatest of ease.”

Trevor had to add, “We feed them some performance enhancing steroids that will show up when we demand that the horses have their blood tested if I don’t win tomorrow.”

The two guys had us practically in hysterics, but I was able to collect my thoughts, “Guys, we need to go get dressed for dinner at the club.  What are we supposed to wear anyway?”

Trevor, in his own inimitable way, suggested, “I guess you should probably wear some clothes even though tonight is casual.  I’ll probably just pull the first thing I can out of my dirty clothes hamper that doesn’t smell too bad.”

Autumn looked at Trevor, “We'll, just sit as far away as we can from you.  Now what are you going to wear?  I’ve never been to the club here except for special occasions.”

Trevor smiled, “I’m going to wear some khaki slacks like I would wear to church with a tight shirt that shows all the muscles I have developed by working so hard.”

Jeff took over, “Don’t worry, Trev, I help you stuff toilet tissue into the sleeves of your shirt and around you chest.  Maybe we can find a Polish sausage to stuff in your briefs.”

Autumn started to laugh, “Doug, I think you'd better get these two home so they can get ready for the masquerade party.”

Trevor yelled as they were leaving, “We’ll be back in plenty of time to make sure you get to the church on time.”

As we were riding to Fairacres, Trevor was really concerned, “Mister Doug, I hope we didn’t offend Miss Autumn today.”

I wasn’t going to give the guys an inch, “I don’t think so, but maybe you should keep talk like that confined to a place where no one else could hear what you were saying.  I was offended by Jeff talking about what Adrian and I might have done when we were young.”

Trevor wasn’t going back down, “Mister Doug, I think that by your reaction that perhaps you and Captain Pearson did mess around when you were growing up.  Did you ever consider that you might be gay?”

I decided that the best way to deal with Trevor’s question was to be completely honest with the two boys. “Trevor and Jeff, please listen to me.  Yes, Adrian and I messed around when we were about your age but it all stopped when we got our drivers’ licenses.  We didn’t stop being good friends but we just stopped messing around.”

Trevor wasn’t satisfied, “But Mister Doug, you said you were a virgin.  If you messed around with Captain Pearson, how can you say you’re a virgin?”

“Trevor, what I was saying was that I had never penetrated another person, nor have I ever been penetrated.”

Jeff asked the next logical question, “So you're saying that you have never given a blow job to anyone or had someone give one to you?”

Fortunately we pulled up in front of Fairacres, “Guys, I’ll be glad to finish this discussion when we get back here after dinner tonight.”

I found that I was to be staying in the room formerly occupied by Mr. Nixon the second.  It had it’s own shower and was almost as big as my efficiency apartment in Atlanta.  I had just come out of the shower when someone was knocking at the door.  I wrapped the towel around me and asked the person to come in, thinking it was either Trevor or Jeff.  Wrong again.  It was Trenton.

Trent looked at me, “Mr. Christiansen, thanks for taking the time to talk to Trevor.  He is really having a difficult time dealing with this gay issue.  I am beginning to think that he might be gay.  I’m in no position to help him.  This is all he has talked about this week when we were riding back and forth to school.

I figured what the heck and took off the towel even as Trent was talking to me and put on some clean briefs, “Trent, Autumn and I overhead Trev and Jeff talking in Autumn and Spring’s stable, and that plus the conversation that we had in the car on the way here make me think that he wants to find out.  I’m almost sorry that I brought Jeff here this weekend.”

Trent wasn’t finished, “Mr. Christiansen, that is probably the best thing that you could have done.  The two of them can explore their sexuality in private since our friends and acquaintances don’t know Jeff.  Neither will Jeff’s friends and acquaintances know what happened if something does happen.  I just hope they use restraint and don't get carried away or their lives could be ruined.”

I went and hugged Trent, “Dude, if I ever have a son, I hope he thinks as you do.  I am proud that you wouldn’t be upset with Trev no matter his sexual preferences might be.”

Trent hugged me, which I didn’t expect, “Mister Doug, I just want Trevor to be happy and not have to try to hide his sexuality as our Dad and Granddad did for so many years.”

I was standing there hugging Trent in my briefs when Trevor and Steve walked in since the door was open.  Talk about a reaction, “Trent, what’s going on?  Why are you standing here with Mr. Christiansen’s arms around you and all he has on is his briefs.”

Trent pulled away from me and turned and grabbed Trevor, “Trev, get your mind out of the gutter.  Mr. Christiansen and I were having a serious discussion and I hugged him and thanked him for taking the time to talk to me.  He told me that he hoped that someday he had sons like us.  Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go pick up Cyndi and the two of you had better get this old man dressed so he can pick up Miss Autumn.”

Trev and Jeff sat on the bed as I finally got dressed.  We went to pick up Autumn and we when we got to the club, we were definitely a little overdressed because people were running around in their golf clothes.  Trevor and Jeff were surrounded by some people their age.  Trevor had thought ahead and  made sure that they had brought some swim suits so they were swimming with some of Trev’s acquaintances.

Trevor’s father went and collected the boys so they could eat with the rest of us in a private dining space.  It was during, that meal that Adrian made his announcement that turned the group on it’s ear, “I will not be returning to Iraq.  I am to be promoted to Major on the first of June and am being reassigned to be an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.”

“Spring, my parents and I will be leaving to visit with Spring’s parents immediately after the competition tomorrow, so we can make plans for our wedding the second weekend in June.”

Jeff looked at me, “Uncle Doug, when is Tommy’s wedding?  Isn’t it the same weekend.”

I nodded, “There should not be a problem, since Adrian hasn’t asked me to be in his wedding party.”

Adrian interrupted our discussion, “Autumn and Doug, we would like to have you two be the maid of honor and the best man.”

“Adrian, I have already committed to be the best man at my college roommate’s wedding that weekend, in Chattanooga.”

Adrian conferred with Spring and Adrian asked, “Would you be available the third weekend of June?  That would give Spring more time to get everything ready to move, and she and Autumn will have more time to find a suitable owner for her share of the horse farm.”

I felt as if I was in a tennis match being played before the center court at Wimbledon.  “The third weekend in June will be fine.  I’d like to discuss buying Spring’s share of the horse farm if we can come to an agreement on the price and my parents will spring, pardon the pun, for a loan.”

Trevor and Jeff stood and acted as if they were going to faint,  “We need to go see the shrink.  We don’t think we can handle three weddings in three weeks.”

Leonora looked at the guys, “Aren’t you being a little presumptuous,  I didn’t hear anyone ask you to be at any wedding, and who is getting married at the third wedding?”

Trevor sent the entire group into hysterics, “We definitely heard Mr. Christiansen propose to Miss Summers when he offered to buy Miss Winters’ share of the ranch.”

He started to say something else, but stopped …, “I think I had better sit down and be quiet because I’m getting the stink eye treatment from my Dad and my Mother.”

As we were finishing dinner, Uncle Howie suggested, “Why don’t we adjourn back to our place for an after dinner drink and watch Trevor and Jeff get their butts whipped.  Maybe we can get them to dance the aboriginal wedding dance in front of us.  It might be fun to watch them performing naked.”

Jeff looked at me, “Uncle Doug, I think I need to go back to Fairacres and take my medicine.  I don’t think my system can handle too much more excitement today.  We’ll probably die from eating kangaroos and wallabies.”

After we made our way to Uncle Howie’s place the two fourteen year old boys asked permission to watch television while the rest of us visited.  The conversation centered around Adrian and Spring’s plans.

When we finally broke up, “My Dad, walked us to the car, “Doug, your Mother and I will gladly provide the money to buy Spring’s interest in the farm if that is what you should decide to do.  We’ll talk to you more tomorrow about what is happening.”

The two teenagers were with us and started to give us a difficult time when we got into the car.  Jeff started, “I suppose you will want us to serve as both flower boys and ring bearers at your wedding.  How about we make sure that you don’t fall off your horses as we lead them to the altar.  We’ll make sure that there aren’t obstacles in the way.”

Trevor continued, “I’ll get my parents to spring for the money so we can accompany you on your honeymoon and arrange for Trenton to make sure all your horses are undernourished when you return and you will never be able to beat me and the Knight of Papillion again.”

Autumn was getting a little frustrated, “Look, Trevor and Jeff, we haven’t even decided if there is going to be a wedding.  Doug and I need to have some private time.  This is happening all too suddenly for me to comprehend what is happening.  Please don’t make any more jokes about what has been happening.”

Trevor apologized immediately, “Miss  Autumn, I’m sorry if we offended you today.  We never meant to.”

Autumn turned to look at the two young teenagers, “Guys, I know that you were just being silly, but some of the things that have been happening are serious.  You need to think about what you are saying and think about what the other people involved might be feeling or thinking.”

The rest of the ride to Autumn’s house was very quiet indeed.  I walked Autumn to the door and tried to kiss her.

“Doug, I’m upset by what happened and how it happened.  Why couldn’t we have talked about what you had in mind before you announced your intention to buy Spring’s interest in the farm?”

I was upset now, “Look, Autumn, I had no intention of saying anything like that until Adrian dropped his bombshells tonight.  I am even more surprised that my Dad said what he did.  You need to give Jeff and Trevor a little slack.  Remember they’re young teenagers and are just acting their age.  I know that they are being silly at our expense, but that only means that they care for us.”

Autumn reached up and kissed me, “Goodnight Doug, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.  I’ll see you at the show in the morning.”

When I got back in the car,  Trevor started, “We upset Miss Autumn, didn’t we?”

 

I shook my head, “It wasn’t what you did or said,  but more what I did.  I made some decisions without consulting her.  I should never have said I would buy Spring’s share of the farm without consulting her.  I reacted too quickly when Adrian unloaded his information on us about his plans for the future.”

Jeff leaned forward, “Uncle Doug, I think we all need to go get some sleep and everything will seem better in the morning.  Miss Autumn and you need some time to digest everything that has been happening.”

When we arrived at Fairacres, fortunately no one was there so we could go directly to our bedrooms.  Thank goodness, because I needed some time to sort out my thoughts.

To be continued... 
 

Feedback always welcome:      

Editor's Notes:  Well that was an interesting turn of events.  Things are moving pretty fast Between Doug and Autumn.

What is going to happen between the two teens?  I guess we will just have to wait and find out.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 02/13/09