The Ranch Boy's Legacy
 
By: Backwoods Boy
(© 2021 by the author)
Edited by: Michael

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

Chapter 11
Resolution 

Cory had kept the kid alive with water and junk food during the previous day. During the night, he'd driven to his final destination. Now, with his car parked openly at the quarry, Cory had set his stage.

Ryan lay naked on his back on the diving rock, covered at the waist by a towel, as if for a ceremony. His hands were bound above his head to a steel pry bar, his ankles to another. A bandana around his head covered his eyes. Duct tape covered his mouth.

Dressed in a white tunic and holding his father's hunting knife, Cory sat cross-legged on the rock floor behind the makeshift altar, waiting for an audience, the larger the better. His heart beat fast with excitement. His mission would soon be completed.

************

Leaping to his feet, Toby ran upstairs and woke his parents.

"Dad, call the sheriff. I know where they are."

"Toby, are you absolutely sure?"

"Absolutely. I'd bet my life on it."

Don Collins got up, put on a bathrobe, and went to his home office. Picking up the phone, he called 911.

"This is Don Collins. I need to speak to the sheriff immediately... Then make him available or the governor will be his next caller."

The pause was brief. "Sheriff, Toby knows where Ryan is… No, I don't know how, but... "

Toby grabbed the phone from his father's hand.

"Sheriff, this is Toby Collins. They're at the quarry. Cory is gonna sacrifice Ryan for his father... Don't ask me how I know, I know... Listen, you fucking idiot, they're at the quarry. I suggest you get your team out there because if you don't I'll beat you to it... No, I'm not gonna wait!"

Slamming down the house phone, Toby picked up his cell phone. He called Pete, who was having breakfast at home.

"Pete, I know everything. Please start towards the quarry now. Cory is planning to kill Ryan there. Please don't ask stupid questions like the sheriff did, just go. And unless the sheriff is even stupider than I think he is, you'll get the word on the way."

There was no hesitation. "I'm on my way."

Toby headed for the back door. His father tried to block his way.

"Toby, calm down. Don't go off half-cocked."

"No, I will not calm down!"

With his father following, Toby ran to the barn and opened the door. Jumping into his pickup, he realized he'd forgotten the keys. There wasn't time to get them. He snagged the four-wheeler keys from their hiding place in the back of the barn. Jumping onto the ATV, he started the engine and headed for the highway. His father tried to stop him.

"Toby, wait…"

Swerving around his father, Toby sped past the house and turned onto the highway, churning up gravel behind him. On the pavement, he quickly accelerated.

Roaring into Gramps' ranch compound, he skidded to a stop in front of the bunkhouse. Bursting through the door, he found Colton preparing breakfast for himself and the still-sleeping Logan.

"Come with me, they're at the quarry. I may need help."

Colton didn't hesitate. He hopped on the ATV behind Toby and they took off at full speed. As they approached the quarry road, they could see two law enforcement vehicles stopped on the entrance road to the quarry - Pete's and the sheriff's. Another sheriff's deputy pulled up, blocking the entrance. Toby pulled to a stop, and the boys jumped off the ATV. The deputy approached them.

"Stay here. Toby, you were right. They've been spotted from the other side. We'll deal with it."

The deputy moved his car far enough to allow an arriving ambulance and two other law enforcement vehicles to silently approach the quarry.

As Toby and Colton watched from a distance, the sheriff's personnel surrounded the walled sides of the quarry. Deputy Sheriff Pete O'Neill, with his SWAT training, carefully climbed the wall on the right side. He arrived at the top and spoke quietly into the microphone snapped to his protective vest.

"O'Neill in place."

The sheriff spoke over a bullhorn.

"Cory, come out with your hands up and you won't be harmed."

Cory now stood, smiling. He had what he'd been waiting for - an audience - and probably the best one he could have hoped for.

Standing in front of the diving rock, he held the hunting knife in both hands and raised it above the bound boy. His voice rang out, filling the quarry.

"The Lord hath said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. This life will be sacrificed for the death of my father."

Two words were spoken into Pete's earpiece.

"Take him."

A single shot rang out and echoed through the quarry. A red spot appeared on the left side of Cory's chest. Blood spattered on the rocks behind as the bullet exited his back. Still gripping the knife, his lifeless body fell to the ground.

Within seconds, Cory's body was covered with a plastic tarp, and the ropes which immobilized Ryan were cut. Quickly placed on a gurney, Ryan was carried to the waiting ambulance. Sirens wailing, the boy was transported to the safety of the hospital emergency room.

************

Hospital security and a sheriff's deputy guarded the waiting room. Outside, dozens of concerned citizens now waited for word of Ryan's condition. Inside, Gramps, Grams, Ann, Evan and Logan waited silently. The swinging door from the emergency room opened, and the ER doctor came in. They all stood as he entered.

"Ryan is in good shape, considering the ordeal he's been through. Other than bruises to his wrists and ankles, he was not physically injured in any way. But he's dehydrated and exhausted and needs to rest. I'll allow one family member to see him for ten minutes. That's all until later in the day."

Ann turned to Logan. "You go see him."

Logan objected. "No, Ann, you're his mom. You need to go."

She smiled at him through tears of relief. "No, you need to be there. Don't argue. I know what's best for Ryan. Just go."

************

Logan sat in a chair beside Ryan's bed. Tears ran down his cheeks and dropped unnoticed onto his shirt. The boy appeared to be sleeping. Logan reached out and touched his hand. Ryan opened his eyes and smiled.

"Hi, Logan. It's good to see you. How's school going?"

"Fuck school, Tiger. The important thing is, how are you doing?"

"I'll be fine with a little rest. Where's Mom and Dad? And Evan?"

"Your dad is holding down the fort at home. Your mom and Evan are in the waiting room with Gramps and Grams. They'd only let one person in here, and Ann told me to come."

Ryan closed his eyes and smiled softly. "A good choice."

Tears ran down his cheeks again as Logan took Ryan's hand. "Tiger, it should have been me. There's no reason you had to be put through this shit."

Ryan smiled up at his hero. "No, Ranch Boy, it was right the way it was. The EMT in the ambulance and the doctor here told me a lot about what happened. My friends looked out for me, just like they always will."

************

Late in the afternoon, Ann and Evan returned to visit Ryan. Ann gave her son a kiss and then sat back and listened while he and Evan made up for lost time. She'd learned long ago she'd find out more by listening to the two than by asking questions, and this was no exception. First she learned Ryan had a boyfriend called Jace, knowledge that made her happy. Then Ryan gave Evan a full account of his time in captivity. Though she wanted to hold her son in her arms and comfort him, she simply listened quietly. This was a time for the two boys to connect. She was only a bystander.

As Ann and Evan left Ryan's room, they found a young Native American boy asking to visit Ryan, and being told only family was allowed to see him. The tears in his eyes added to Ann's suspicion as to his identity. She stopped and put her hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Are you, by any chance, Jace?"

He looked up. "Yes, that's me."

She smiled at him. "I'm Ryan's mother, Ann, and this is his brother, Evan." She turned to the nurse on duty. "Jace is family. I'll take him in."

It didn't take a rocket scientist to see how much the two were in love. They looked at each other with tears in their eyes. Jason ran over and gave Ryan a hug.

"I was so worried..."

"I know."

Ann stepped out and quietly closed the door. Stopping at the nurses station on the way out, she had another discussion with the nurse on duty.

"How long can Jace stay with Ryan?"

"He's recovering pretty well. Fifteen minutes should be okay."

Ann looked into the nurse's eyes. "Please see that they aren't disturbed."

The nurse smiled. "I'll do my best."

************

Thursday morning, Ryan was released from the hospital. For the next three days, six ranch boys - Logan, Colton, Toby, Ryan, Evan, and Jason - made short work of Gramps' to-do list. Besides the regular tasks such as irrigation, fences were repaired and ranch equipment maintained. When they finished those tasks, they weeded Grams' garden and mowed the overgrown lawn. For the first day, Ryan spent more time watching than working, but by the second day he'd recovered completely.

In the evenings, the six boys shared dinner at the bunkhouse and sat around talking well into the evening. With the abuse perpetrators both deceased, Logan and Toby told Ryan and Evan the full story of how their older cousin had come to live with them.

By night, Toby went home to his own bed. Logan used his old room, and Evan used the guest room in the farmhouse. Jason slept with Ryan in the bunkhouse.

Friday, after dinner, Colton had a presentation to make.

"After Ryan experienced my cockring, I decided he needed one too. I'm sure he's seen Jace's by now, but he may not know that Toby also received one as a Christmas present."

To the applause of the other four boys, Colton presented the fifteen-year-old with the cockring, engraved RYAN THE TIGER.

"We have high hopes that Tiger, an exceptional bottom, will also become an exceptional top."

The other boys laughed and applauded. Toby raised his hand.

"I'll volunteer to be your first."

Ryan laughed. "I know better. You won't do that because you and Cooter don't screw with other guys anymore. Besides, you're too late. Jace already got that honor, as you well know, and Danny was my second."

Logan looked at his young cousin with surprise. "Who's Danny?"

Ryan smiled sweetly. "That's a story for another day."

Colton smiled at Ryan. "Maybe your brother could be next."

That drew an immediate response from Evan. "No way!"

However, the idea was planted. For the next several minutes, as the other boys engaged in lively conversation, Evan was unusually quiet. Ryan smiled at him.

"You're thinking about it."

"Yeah, I am. What's it like?"

"There's really only one way to find out. Come with me."

As he closed the bedroom door, he turned to his grinning friends.

"Imagine a do-not-disturb sign on the door. We'll be back out in a half hour or so."

Evan sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Ryan stripped and put on his cockring, and then used lube to stroke himself hard. He grinned up at his twin.

"Do you really think I'm gonna let you do this?"

Ryan smiled smugly. "I know you are. You're too curious not to."

Evan made a wry face. "That's the trouble with being a twin. You don't have any secrets." He paused briefly. "Why use a cockring?"

"It makes me harder and makes me stay that way longer." He tossed the lube to Evan. "Get undressed and lie down on the bed. Then spread that around between your legs, inside and out."

He watched while his brother prepared himself.

"That oughta do it."

He climbed onto the bed and knelt between Evan's legs.

"You don't gotta do this, bro. But I think you want to."

Evan looked up at his brother. "Yeah, I do. Go ahead."

Leaning over, Ryan gave Evan a kiss and then pressed his pole between his brother's legs. Evan gasped as the head popped inside.

"Fuck!"

Ryan chuckled. "Hey, very clever. Yeah, that's what we're doing."

Evan grinned at him. "Shut up, smart ass."

Very slowly, Ryan slid his pole in the rest of the way. Evan's eyes were wide.

"It didn't seem that big just looking at it."

Ryan chuckled. "It's smaller than Colton's and Logan's, but six inches does make an impression."

Evan laughed. "Yeah, a big impression, in more ways than one."

Ryan began to slowly slide in and out. "Like it?"

Evan grinned. "Yeah, I do, but I'm glad it isn't any bigger."

Ryan smiled wickedly. "We'll get Colton to do you next."

"No fuckin' way!"

Ryan thrust in harder and faster, his pole made more rigid by the cockring. He wasn't going to test whether it made him last longer. Anxious to get off inside his brother, he pushed himself slowly but surely to the edge.

"I'm gonna cum, bro."

"Awesome! Do it."

Evan watched Ryan's face closely as his brother blew his load. When Ryan was finished, Evan grinned at him.

"I could tell how much you liked that. It felt good to me too."

Ryan rolled off onto his side. "Sometimes, when the older guys are fuckin' me, they make me cum too. I don't know how to do that yet."

Evan turned to face his brother and smiled at him.

"No worries, bro. It was fun anyway."

"You can do it to me now if you want to."

Evan turned him down. "Thanks, but the first time I use my cock for fuckin' is gonna be inside a girl."

************

Saturday evening, the yard cleanup at the Taylor residence was put to good use. The potluck dinner held in honor of Ryan and everyone involved in his rescue was the largest event ever held at the ranch. Supported by tables and chairs from the community center, and by the Collins' kitchen a quarter mile down the road, the event drew nearly one hundred participants.

Ryan proudly wore a t-shirt Gramps had given him. Grams had found it at the bottom of a dresser drawer and immediately recognized its potential. A true antique, the relic of an old advertising campaign had languished in the drawer for over fifty years.

It took a little convincing by Grams, and Gramps refused to present it in public, but when he gave it to Ryan in private, the boy was as pleased as Grams had anticipated. The shirt, which got a laugh from everyone who saw it, invited the observer to PUT A TIGER IN YOUR TANK.

Besides Ryan's safe recovery, the resignation of the sheriff was also celebrated. The Chief Deputy would serve until the fall election, and Pete O'Neill was being encouraged to run for the office. Don Collins had a side conversation with Pete.

"I hope you'll be filing for the sheriff position."

"I've been thinking about it."

Don was persistent. "Do more than think. You have the support of the community, and the governor will be behind you all the way."

Coach West had a private conversation with Toby.

"How did you know where to find Ryan and what Cory planned to do?"

"I had a replay of an earlier dream, one that happened after I found the abuse evidence."

Coach smiled. "That's what you've told others. Now, is that all?"

Toby laughed. "No, it isn't, and I knew if there was anyone who would suspect that, it would be you. Ryan described to me how he was immobilized on the diving rock. From what was released to the press, I know that Cory was sitting cross-legged behind the rock. In a vision that followed the dream, that's exactly what I saw, as if I was seeing it from the low diving platform."

"So, you had a vision like my brother once had concerning you?"

"Exactly. And thanks to that experience, I knew what was happening and to take it seriously. Ryan is half Native American, but I'm only about five percent. I was surprised it happened to me."

Coach smiled softly. "It's not the percentage that's important, it's the spirit within you. I've suspected for some time that you have strong medicine, as our ancestors would say. Now we both know it. Talk to Shago when he returns. He can tell you more."

As planned, four participants arrived quite late, but in time to snag a piece of apple pie and participate in the post-dinner games and socialization. In an event organized by Cooter and guided by three frat boys from BSU, Evan had spent Saturday experiencing a whitewater raft trip down the Payette River followed by the traditional dinner at the roadhouse.

************

The crowning event of the week was the quarry party on Sunday. Ryan insisted his twin wear Toby's black leather thong. They went early so Evan could meet all of the straight jocks, guys he would relate to.

The football players quickly adopted the happy, good-natured Evan as their mascot for the day. Surrounded by athletes several inches taller, five-foot-six-inch Evan could barely be seen, but his happy laughter eliminated any doubt about his presence.

Jason hung out with Nate and Rusty, giving Ryan and Evan the time they needed together.

Taking a break from swimming and playing water games with the jocks, Ryan and Evan sat on a blanket near the edge of the action. Ryan was curious about the float trip.

"Did you have a good time yesterday, bro?"

Evan smiled. "The best. Those three guys are the greatest. Especially Danny. The other two shouldn't give him so much shit."

Ryan laughed. "That's how I felt too, except it was all in fun." He paused. "How was dinner at the roadhouse?"

"I was a little spooked, but my three friends and the shirtless bartender made me comfortable right away."

"I had a very similar experience my first time there."

Evan was silent for a few moments. "After Bret and Mark teased him for a while, Danny admitted he had sex with you."

Ryan smiled. "Yeah, Danny's kind of shy that way. If you haven't made the connection, that hot, shirtless bartender is Toby's boyfriend, Cooter. I wanted to do it with him - and Toby too - but like I said before, neither of them screws around any more."

Ryan made sure Evan steered clear of the beer and pot. Those adventures could come later. However, Evan had mentioned wanting to start with a girl. A plan began to form in Ryan's mind. He pulled Evan to his feet.

"Come with me."

Ryan led his brother to Alan and Nicole's blanket, where he made the introductions before he and Evan sat down with the familiarity of long time friends. Like Ryan, Alan and Nicole were naked from skinny-dipping. Evan couldn't keep his eyes off of Nicole. When his twin took a trip to the port-a-potty, Ryan made a suggestion that both Alan and Nicole approved of.

When Evan returned, Nicole stood and held out her hand.

"Come with me, Evan."

Exactly what went on in the meadow that day was never revealed, but the grin on Evan's face when they came back made it clear he'd surrendered his virginity.

************

Early the next morning, Ann, Evan and Logan left for home in Twin Falls. Evan said a tearful farewell to his brother, but then laughed when Ryan whispered in his ear.

"Go home and fuck your brains out, bro. Just make sure they're on the pill."

Ryan kissed Logan on the cheek. "Ranch Boy, you're the best. Now go home and screw Dusty silly."

Logan couldn't help but laugh.

Ryan kissed his mom goodbye with tears in his eyes.

"Give my love to Dad. I love both of you very much, and I miss you a lot. But you sent me to the right place. I'll make it here with Grams, Gramps, and Colton like I never could have at home."

His mom kissed him back. "I know, Tiger. You're in good hands. And I love that nickname."

 

Ryan watched sadly as his family drove away, but he knew he was in the right place, at least for now. He'd made a ton of friends who accepted him for who he was. Eventually, he'd be back with his family again.

************

In the quiet of the evening, Ryan sat by his favorite swimming hole in the creek. Overhead, a pair of ravens called to each other as they played in the wind currents. A half dozen dragonflies flew in random patterns, consuming their evening meal of smaller insects.

It had been an intense week, and Ryan welcomed some alone time listening to nature. Little did he know that Toby had spent a great deal of time in the same spot doing the same thing, and calling it by the same name.

He thought about all of the friends he'd made, but one more than the rest. He sent a text.

**Could you come spend the night with me again**

**How about if I pick you up and bring you to my house**

**Your dads won't care if we screw in your room**

**They'd be surprised if we didn't**

************

Jason picked up Ryan as planned. Both Coach and James were in the living room of their small but comfortable home waiting to greet him. He got a welcoming hug from both, and comments from Coach.

"I hear you're our prospective son-in-law."

Ryan smiled at him. "I hope so, but we both realize we're too young to be making those kinds of plans yet."

Coach smiled back. "That's wise, but you can be sure James and I would welcome you into the family with open arms."

"Thanks very much, Coach. And I know I'd be very happy to be part of your family."

It was growing late, and it had been a long day for everyone. Jason and Ryan excused themselves and went to Jason's room, still cluttered but slightly more organized than when Toby first saw it three years earlier. Ryan looked at the poster of Tom Daley above Jason's bed.

"Cool poster."

Jason smiled. "Thanks. He's my hero and inspiration."

"Can I turn out for both swimming and basketball?"

"Yes, and as you know, we've got the best swimming coach in the world."

Ryan laughed. "Are you sure that's a true fact?"

Jason smiled. "Well, maybe I'm biased, now that you mention it. Are you ready to go to bed?"

Ryan put his arms around his boyfriend. "I'll always be ready to go to bed with you."

Jason fell asleep quickly. Ryan lay on his back looking at the ceiling, thinking about the past three weeks. A lot of things had happened, and he'd made a lot of new friends, but the most important friend lay beside him. He hoped with all his heart that would be true forever.

Posted: 01/28/2022