Ranch Boy Next Door
 
By: Backwoods Boy
(© 2020 by the author)
Edited by: Brayon

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

Chapter 10
Friends 

As I waited for a response to my text message, the sound of an ATV coming along the dirt track in our woods attracted my attention. The four-wheeler stopped at the edge of the woods, and the rider dismounted and removed his helmet. The red hair left no doubt as to who it was. I ran across the lawn and gave Rusty a hug.

"I just texted you."

"I know. I was waitin' in the woods."

"How did ya get there?"

"I came through our woods. The tracks connect. More important, are you okay?"

I grinned. "I am now."

"I knew ya went missin' yesterday 'cuz Logan's grandmother called lookin' for ya. I found out a lot more 'cuz my brother is a 911 operator for the county, but pretend I didn't say that. That's how I got your dad's phone number too, but I didn't say that either. I was very worried about ya."

"You hardly know me."

"Yer my friend."

Rusty was looking past me at the back porch so he didn't see me wiping the tears from my eyes.

"That's probably your dad?"

It was. "Come with me. I want ya to meet him."

Dad was grinning as we approached. "Let me guess. This is the resourceful Rusty." They shook hands.

Rusty gave Dad a friendly smile. "I'm happy to meet ya, Toby's dad."

Dad laughed. "You can call me 'Don' if you like, or 'Toby's dad' will do if you prefer it."

Rusty grinned happily. "I think 'Toby's dad' has a good sound."

"So, I guess your ranch road connects to our woods."

"All ranch roads connect. You'd be surprised how far you can get on a four-wheeler and never be on a public road except to cross it."

Dad smiled. "I'll remember to leave that entry point open when we put a fence around our property."

"I'd appreciate that, 'cuz I hope to come over here from time to time. I'd like to take Toby for a ride on the ATV now, if that's okay."

"Is that ATV designed for two riders, and do you have two helmets?"

"Yes, to both."

"Then it's fine with me. Toby, you know what your mother would say."

"Yes, 'be careful', and we will. I still have my work clothes on, Rusty. Should I change?"

"Nope. Yer gonna get dirtier ridin' on the four-wheeler."

Dad had a practical idea. "It's almost lunchtime. Why don't you make some sandwiches to take along. And don't forget to take some water."

With a supply of sandwiches, chips, and water in my backpack, we were ready to go.

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

I'd never ridden on a four-wheeler, and it was a blast. Rusty drove safely and with a skill learned from experience. We rode for twenty minutes through two or three ranches on dirt roads, along irrigation ditches, and through gullies. A few times I got off to open and close gates. I had no idea where we were until we came over a rise and the old quarry was dead ahead.

Rusty pulled to a stop and shut off the engine.

"So this is how ya got here on Sunday."

"This is how I get everywhere. Sometimes I cheat and drive short distances on the public roads, but more often it's like today. I can even get to the edge of town if I gotta pick somethin' up for my mom or dad."

We had the swimming hole to ourselves. As opposed to the lively chaos of Sunday, the crater-like shape of the pool enclosure produced an amazing stillness. The silence was broken only by the social conversation of cliff swallows flying to and from their nests in the rocks.

Stripping off our dusty clothes, we dove naked into the still water, creating ripples that continued to the far side of the pool.

I smiled at Rusty. "Thanks for bringin' me here. I needed this."

He grinned. "I knew ya did."

We swam to the back of the pool and returned to the shoreline in front.

"Would ya show me how to do that dive ya did, Toby? It was really cool."

"Sure! Then we can try some others too if ya wanna." One asset I'd brought with me from the city was lots of diving experience from training and practice at the public pools.

Rusty was fearless and a quick learner. I taught him several forward and back dives with twists and somersaults. Without a board, there were some dives that I didn't want to do or show him, but we had a lot of fun with what we could do safely.

Two hours passed quickly. It was mid-afternoon, and we'd been having so much fun we'd forgotten about lunch. Now, sitting on our sweatshirts, we ate our sandwiches while the sun dried us.

I put my arm around Rusty's shoulder and pulled him close. "This has been one of the best afternoons I've ever had in my life. Thanks for doin' this for me."

Rusty smiled and brushed the hair out of my eyes. "It's been one of my best days, too. I'm glad we could share the experience."

That was exactly what he'd said on Sunday after we had sex together. Sharing experiences was what it was all about. But it was also about both of us appreciating the sharing as well as the experience. That was part of what Logan didn't get. I wondered if I could ever explain that to him. Maybe it was outside of his ability to understand.

Which reminded me of something else I needed to bring up. "Rusty, you asked me about bein' Logan's boyfriend, well..." Rusty put a finger on my lips.

"Logan's grandmother said enough to Mom that I know the two of you are havin' a rough time. But when ya get it worked out, remember this: everybody needs more than one friend, and I'll always be your friend no matter what."

I let the tears run down my cheeks. I'd never met anyone so selfless and special. Rusty wiped away the tears and kissed me on the cheek. I'd once heard that to have a friend you have to be a friend. Rusty was living proof that was true.

I leaned over and kissed Rusty on the lips, and then pulled him over on top of me. As we continued to kiss, passionately but more gently than the first time, I felt his boner growing between us, and the wetness that was leaking from it.

He grinned, and quoted me. "If ya wanna go all the way, we're gonna need some lube."

I grinned back. "I think yer leakin' enough to do what ya wanna do." Supporting himself with one arm, he guided his pole to where it needed to be and carefully slid it inside me.

Rusty leaned over and kissed me. "I love bein' connected with ya like this, Toby. It makes our friendship so much more complete."

I ran my fingers through his hair. "I like it too, and I like it best with you on top."

Rusty began to slowly move inside me. His steady rhythm was hypnotizing. Excitement slowly spread through my body, a warm fire that grew and grew. My hands roamed on their own over his back and through his hair, my only release for the energy growing within me.

He grinned at me. "Like it?"

I whispered back. "Oh yeah, I love it."

I closed my eyes, lost in the pleasure Rusty was giving me. Gently, little by little, he guided me to the edge of the world. For endless moments he held me there, gasping for breath, wanting release and not wanting it.

"Oh fuck, Rusty, what are ya doin' to me?"

"Only what yer body is tellin' me to do."

Together we drifted over the edge into endless space, our spirits joined together as tightly as our bodies. Slowly, Rusty relaxed on top of me, his fingers lovingly caressing my face and hair, as we shared the afterglow of our experience.

Leaning up on his forearms, Rusty grinned broadly. "Are we awesome, or what?"

I grinned back. "I doubt if it gets any better than that, but I'm sure willin' to keep on tryin'."

Rusty pulled out and stood up, reaching a hand down to me. "Come on. Let's take a quick dip before we go. We're both a mess."

Diving into the pool, we swam to the far side and back. Leaning on the rock edge, we kissed some more.

I could feel my boner coming to life again. "We better stop this or we'll need another dip before we go."

Rusty smiled. "Yeah, we gotta get dressed and start back. I wanna show ya some more ranch roads on the way home. I'd like to stay here longer, but there are things I gotta do at home."

We got out of the pool, and I reached for my clothes. "I bet there are things ya oughta been doin' all day."

He grinned. "Yeah, but sometimes there are more important things than what ya oughta be doin'. I told my dad what I needed to do, and he turned me loose for the day."

The sound of an arriving pickup and two doors being shut greeted us as we started toward the parking area. Austin and Andy soon came into view. They both bumped fists with Rusty and me.

Then, to my surprise, Austin gave me a hug. "You okay, buddy? Me and Andy were both concerned, and hoped the game wasn't part of the problem."

Obviously, the word got around. "Yeah, I'm okay, thanks. And the game itself was all good. Don't worry about that."

"We're glad to hear that." He glanced between Rusty and me, and grinned. "I think you two been fuckin' again."

I grinned broadly. "Yer damned right we've been fuckin'. Ya gotta get Rusty to top ya sometime. It's an experience ya won't forget."

Rusty grinned happily and turned almost as red as his hair.

Andy had a suggestion. "Maybe you could stick around and swim with us for a while, and give us a chance to take that advice."

My voice had a sharp edge that surprised me. "Well, first of all, I gotta make it clear that it'd be up to Rusty, 'cuz I'm not his pimp." Austin and Andy glanced quickly at each other, looking a little uncomfortable.

I relaxed and smiled at them. "Sorry, I'm a little sensitive about that part, and it has nothin' to do with either of you. In any event, it'll have to wait for another day. Rusty needs to go home, and I gotta spend some time with my parents. I haven't seen much of them lately."

Austin put a friendly hand on my shoulder. "Okay, but I hope we'll be seein' ya around. Sunday is always a good time to run into all of us here. What's your cell number? If Rusty isn't comin', you can get a ride with us."

I gave him the number, and he texted his to me. "Thanks a lot. I appreciate the offer."

"No problem. You guys have a good afternoon."

"Have a good swim."

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

Rusty took me home by a different and longer route to show me more of the country. We traveled over most of the dirt roads on his parents' ranch. As with Logan's grandparents' ranch, there was a mixture of grazing and dry land crops with a small amount of irrigated land. We went past the central ranch buildings and returned home the same way Rusty had come in the morning. This route dropped down into a draw and forded the creek I was familiar with, a short distance below the highway. I made a mental note to explore downstream soon.

By the time we got to my house, it was nearly dinner time. Rusty parked the ATV at the edge of the lawn again, and we took off our helmets.

"Do ya wanna stay for dinner? I know my parents would be happy if ya did."

"Not today. I gotta get home, but I'd like to do that another time."

"Thanks for today." I kissed him on the cheek, but that wasn't enough. He drew me into a hug and gave me a kiss on my lips.

I waved and watched Rusty disappear into the woods and listened to the sound of the four-wheeler fading into the distance. Then I found a log to sit on. I wanted to think for a few minutes, alone. I had some decisions to make, and some things to work out with Logan, but one thing was clear. I was making friends here in the country - better friends than I'd ever known - and whatever happened, it was going to be okay.

To be continued...

Posted: 10/09/2020