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

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Chapter 32

Stop, I Need Time to Breathe

When I arrived home on Friday night, the busiest weekend on record was about to start.  We were eating dinner when we had a phone call.  Jeff answered, “This is Summerhill, home of Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen and their son Benji.  How can I help you? … Let me get Uncle Doug for you.”

I took the phone, “This is Doug Christiansen.”

“Mr. Christiansen, this is Damien Cranston.  We are scheduled to meet at seven o’clock.  I was telling one of my friends about your horse, and he’s very interested in finding a suitable stud for some of his mares.  Would you have any objection if I brought him with me tonight?”

“Mr. Cranston, that shouldn’t present a problem.  We’ll see you at seven o’clock.”

When I told the people at the table what the phone call was about, Dad laughed, “It sounds as if the three of you might have a gold mine on your hands in The King.  Autumn, could you get the papers on all of your horses, especially The King, so we have our ducks in order when we talk to Mr. Cranston and his friend when they arrive?”

Jeff started to laugh, “So that’s what you need to make colts: ducks?  I guess I’ll have to buy me some ducks when I get home.  I’ll take care of the dishes while you people get your ducks lined up.  Uncle Doug and Aunt Autumn, is it okay with you if I go to a movie with Trevor, Trent and Cindy tonight?”

Autumn answered, “You certainly may go, after you learn how to align the ducks up properly.  I guess it will be just before you need to go home that you will be able to go to a movie.  Of course you can go to a movie.  Do you need some cash?”

Jeff was on a roll, “Cash? What’s that?  My Mommy and Daddy told me to never to touch cash.  They keep reminding me of the germs that are on the bills and coins that everyone in the world has touched.  I have been ordered to pay for everything by card and to never let anyone touch my card except me.  Thank you for asking, Aunt Autumn, but I haven’t had many opportunities to spend money since I’ve been here because I’ve been so busy working.  I can’t even keep track of how much money I have.”

My parents were almost doubled over from laughing at Jeff’s antics.  My Dad stopped the fun, “Jeff, I’ll help with the cleanup and then help you count your money before you leave with the two wild Nixon guys to make sure they don’t try to take advantage of you.”

Dad must have seen Trent and Trevor come in.  Trevor responded immediately, “Mr. Christiansen, how could you refer to us as being mean?  Our parents think we’re angels.  We’re always flying around making people's lives better.”

Dad pulled out his white handkerchief. “I surrender,  Jeff, go and have a good time. We want to see you back here by 7:30.”

Jeff started toward the door, “Okay, if you insist.  I’ll be home by 7:30 in the morning.”

Dad and I were taking care of the dishes while Autumn was collecting the paperwork on the horses and Mother was taking care of Benji.  We had just sat down when the doorbell sounded.  Autumn went to answer it.  We heard Autumn say, “It’s good to see you Damien, what can we do for you?”

“Hi, Autumn, we’re supposed to meet with a Mr. Christiansen about possibly having one of his horses breed some mares.  This is Lance Nelson.  Mr. Christiansen said it would fine to have him come along.”

Autumn was playing it cool, “Damien, my husband and I were expecting you. Come in and meet my husband and his parents.”

The Damien person was obviously surprised, “Autumn, I had no idea that you were married.  In fact, I haven’t seen you since college.”

Lance spoke, “Autumn, I think that you and your husband were married here at Summerhill and the President of the United States was here and you already have a son.  Am I correct?”

Autumn nodded in the affirmative.

Damien looked confused, “Lance, how come you knew about this and I didn’t?”

“Probably because you were off on your honeymoon with your new wife when it happened.  It happened the week after you were married and you were in Europe on your honeymoon.”

After the introductions, I let Dad handle the conversation.  “Gentlemen, please sit down.  Here’s the paperwork for the horses here at Summerhill.  I’m sure that the papers you are interested in are for The King.  I think you will agree that he comes from some good blood lines.”

Lance Nelson shook his head, “I would certainly agree that The King, as you call him, comes with some impressive credentials.  Why do you refer to him as The King when that is not his name?”

I told the gentlemen why we refer to him as ‘The King’ and they laughed.

Dad suggested, “Why don’t we go look at The King, up close and personal, so you can decide if you think he would make a good sire for your anticipated foals?”

The four of us males went to the stable.  Dad looked at me, “Doug, bring The King out for the gentleman to examine and then you can ride him and let the gentleman see how smoothly he moves.  It’s too bad he hasn’t been trained yet because if he were a proven winner, we would be able to charge much more for his stud fee.”

I fetched The King, and the two gentlemen obviously knew quite a bit about horses and thoroughly examined him.  When I returned with The King after the ride around the paddock area. Lance asked, “Doug, might I take a ride on him?  I would like to see how he would react to some of the obstacles on the practice course over there.”

I looked at Dad, and he shrugged his shoulders, so I answered, “Be my guest.  Autumn indicated that they had not had a chance to work with him so he may balk.”

We walked to the practice course and Mr. Nelson mounted The King even though The King had a western saddle, and not the riding saddle that would be used for equestrian events.

He started and let The King go at his own pace and they glided through the course with ease.  Damien threw his grenade, “That was what The King was doing when I saw him the other day.  One of the  Nixon boys, I believe it was Trent, was riding The King and they were so smooth.  That‘s why I am interested in having him be the sire for my foals as you called the process.”

Mr. Nelson pulled up with The King and dismounted, “Doug, I would like to make arrangements for this fine equine specimen to impregnate my five brood mares.”

Dad asked, “Isn’t it customary to discuss the price before you decide to do something like that?  I guess you people down here in Georgia do things differently than we do in Virginia.”

That caused everyone to laugh, but Lance was ready, “I’ll pay a stud fee of $500.00 per mare.  Doug, you really need to get The King some show experience and have him win a couple of times, because I am sure that people would double or even triple the amount they would pay for him to breed their mares.  He is a magnificent looking animal.”

Damien added, “I have four more mares that I would like to have serviced; since Lance has mentioned a fee, I guess, I’ll have to pay what he does.”

Dad reverted to the horse person he was and added, “You do realize the servicing will need to take place over a period of time.  Horses are no different than we humans; they need time to recharge.”

Both Damien and Lance were laughing,  Lance commented,  “We’ll schedule them one at a time as they are getting ready to ovulate.  I have a mare that probably needs to be serviced immediately. Would it be possible for me to bring her here about nine in the morning.  You have the perfect area for the mating to take place on the other side of the paddock area.  There should probably be two people here in case there are any problems.”

Dad looked at me, “Lance, Autumn and I are scheduled to go to Atlanta in the morning to meet with our banker.  Dad, will you be here?”

“I’ll be here and I’ll see if Jeff and Cole can be here so they will know what to do if one of us isn’t available.”

As the two gentlemen were leaving, Mr. Nelson asked, “Doug, could you tell me who built the fences along your and the neighbors’ properties.  I would like to hire them to do likewise around my property.  It is absolutely striking.”

“Lance, believe it or not, the fences are being built by four teenage gentlemen.  They are so meticulous that they banned me from the project.  I’ll mention that you would like to talk to them, but they still need to finish the fence at Uncle Howie Willingham’s, and they will be returning to school before long.”

After the two gentlemen departed, Dad and I went into the house and explained what was going to be happening.  Dad looked at Autumn, “How much did you and Spring pay for The King?”

Autumn was feeding Benji, “I think we paid $1,000.00 for him.  We were able to get him cheap because a friend of ours was moving and wanted him to have a good home.”

Dad was shaking his head, “Well, it appears as if you made a profit of more than 400% percent  on the purchase.”

We were sitting visiting when Jeff came in the door, “Thanks, guys, I had good time.  I’ll see you tomorrow and we can work on Uncle Howie’s fence.”

Dad confronted Jeff, “Young man, you’re either early or late.  Which is it?”

Jeff smirked, “I’ll let you decide.  Uncle Doug and Aunt Autumn, what time are you leaving for Atlanta, tomorrow?”

I thought that was an odd question, but answered, “We will probably need to leave here by 7:30.”

Jeff grinned, “That’s what I thought.  I decided that I better come home early so I could be here to make sure Grandpa and Grandma Christiansen don’t spoil Benjamin.  I need to go to bed so I can see if I can beat Cole to the stable in the morning.”

That was the signal for all of us to go to bed.  When I was awakened by the light coming in the window, I went to check on Benji and he was just beginning to stir.  I changed him and took him to the kitchen to feed him just as Jeff arrived from the basement.  “Good morning guys, I see I’ve been beaten again.  Cole’s truck is already at the stable.  I’ll go help him.”

After Benji had finished eating, I took him to the stables and the two guys were working.  I got their attention and told them what happened last night and explained that the first breeding session was probably going to take place this morning.  I suggested that they observe what was happening in case they would need to take care of a session.

Cole looked at me, “Mr. C., I know nothing about breeding horses.  I’m not expected to do anything am I?”

“I can’t imagine that either you or Jeff have ever witnessed the mating of two horses.  It can be very easy or it can be very difficult.  Just let my Dad and Mr. Nelson take care of it this time.”

It was probably a good thing that Autumn and I were alone on the trip to Atlanta, because we had a lot of things to talk about and plans to make.  The meetings at the bank went without a hitch and Autumn was surprised at how well we were treated.  As we were going to lunch at a nice restaurant that I was familiar with, she asked, “Doug, you haven’t told me everything about your background yet, have you?”

“Autumn, I had some very powerful and rich ancestors.  As I’ve explained, we aren’t the poorest people on the planet nor are we the richest either.  If we make intelligent decisions, our children will be able to live a good life.”

When we arrived at Summerhill, a horse trailer was pulling away.

I thought to myself, ‘That took a long time.  I hope there weren’t any complications.’

The four  young guys were coming out of the stable area with my Dad.  Jeff was asking, “Grandpa Christiansen, is it always going to be like that?”

 

Dad answered, “No.  I think that was the first time that The King had ever been mated with a mare and he didn’t know what he was expected to do.  Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go take a shower.”

Cole announced, “Guys, we need to get dressed to go to The Shack.  We’re due there in forty five minutes to pick up the food.  I have my clothes in the tack room and I’ll take a shower there.”

Cole went toward the stable and Trevor and Trent left in Trent’s truck.  Jeff looked at me, “Uncle Doug, is that what it’s like when two guys have intercourse?”

I almost choked, “Jeff, don’t ask me.  I never had intercourse until I married Autumn.  Now go get your shower and get dressed to go to work.  I’ll go take care of the horses.”

I went to the stable and went to the tack room to change into some old clothes.  When I walked in, I heard, “Oh Doug, please don’t hurt me.  I need to know that you need me.  Doug, I’m can’t control myself.  I went to the shower area and watched as Cole ejaculated.

He turned suddenly and saw me, “Mr. C., how much did you hear and see?”

I was about to leave because I didn’t know how to answer him but turned back, “Cole, we need to talk.  I’m a happily married man, and we have a son, thanks to you.  We may soon have another child if what Autumn thinks is true, actually is.  You’re young and can’t possibly love someone as old as I am.  I hope that I haven’t done anything to make you think otherwise.”

“Cole, you’re upset by your grandfather’s death and are looking for a male figure to replace him.”

“Doug, you’re wrong.   For some weird reason, I have fallen in love with you.  I can’t explain it, but I have the feeling that at some point in time, you and I will be sleeping in the same bed.  I promise you though, that I will keep my dick in my pants until that time.  I respect you and Miss Autumn too much to try to separate you.  I need to get dressed.”  

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I find myself somewhat at a loss for words.  This might actually be a first.  Imagine me being speechless.

Now for the strange part.  I have felt for some time that Cole is in love with Doug.  I don't know for certain, but I think that it is within the realm of possibility that Doug is or will be falling in love with Cole as well.  I am pretty sure that he would never act on the feelings he has for Cole, unless there was to be something to cause his marriage to go down the tubes, for whatever reason.  Remember I am not privileged to know what is coming up in future chapters. I am only guessing, and on pretty slim grounds, I might add.  I do have a couple of possibilities floating around in my feeble little brain, but then again, I am not the one who is writing this. 

I will not mention what I think might happen, and no amount of pleading and begging will get it out of me.

Well, so much for me being speechless. However, I am going to stop now, before I make a complete fool of myself. Oh wait, maybe after I make a complete fool of myself.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 07/24/09