Chapter 16

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Sunday dinner was roasting in the oven as Hatti peeled potatoes humming softly in the kitchen.

Colt sat on the porch railing with one leg up, and the other on the floor. His crotch bulged covered by the light brown ‘Sunday go to meeting’ pants that he was wearing.

Letting the screen door slam shut behind him, Brother Bart brought him a mug of coffee.

“Much obliged,” mumbled Colt, taking a sip of the coffee. “Where’s yours?”

“I thought I would help you drink that one.” Bart replied.

“I’ll give you a sip – or is it a lick you’re after? – What’s up!”

“Do you have to sit that way, with your legs apart,” his brother asked.

“Don’t start, homo,” whispered Colt quietly putting his leg down. His bulged crotch was less noticeable, but not especially hidden. 

Colt shared the coffee with Bart and got his finger licked each time that he held the cup to Bart’s lips.

“You’re a horny bastard,” whispered Colt into Bart’s ear.

“That I am,” laugh Bart moving away to the rope swing, as their pa came onto the porch from the barn.

“Johnny and Sparky are washin up, they will be along rightly,” said pa.

“What you fellers jawin about?” pa asked the boys.

“We were thinking…” began Colt.

“Is it good thinkin or some foolish idea rolling around in your head?”

“No pa, it’s good thinking.”

“A-huh!”

“Tell ‘em Bart,”

“Tell him what? I don’t know what you are hurrahing about.”

“I’m hurrahing about the bunk house,” admitted Colt.

“What about it,” asked pa?

“We work, ride and eat with the ranch hands every day, and it’s fitting that we stay in the bunk house like they do. Why there’s playing checkers, poker and chugging beer, (not too much mind you) just a swig when the throat gets dry from cowboy talk. There is plenty of room with the extrey beds just a goin to waste, Bart and I should be there too.”

“if you boys want to do that, okay.”

Hatti did the best she could getting the food on the table.  It was crowded with six people pushed together at a table built for four.

The conversation usually centered around the livestock and the weather.  When Sparky asked pa, what was next, pa replied. “We are going to build a table, – yes sir, a big long table for ma to use without a struggle.”

“Just where in tarnation are we going to put a big table,” asked ma, surprised at such a foolish notion.

“Bart and Colt are going to the bunk house, so that room can be converted to a meal time dining room. There is plenty of space for a long table, and it’s next to the kitchen. What do you say about that” pa asked Hatti.

“Should work alright,” she replied. “I’m just the cook around here.”

The following day, Colt and Johnny went into town to buy several long smooth planks, and 2X4‘s for table benches and legs.  They tossed a coin to see who was going to drive the wagon and Johnny won. Colt agreed to drive on the return trip. Johnny was quiet and Colt, who disliked him at first, changed his mind the more they hung out together.  

Louie Simian, who owned the only sawmill within forty miles, selected the best lumber he had for sale. It was smooth with no knot holes and good for making furniture. Bart knew Hatti personally, nobody knew it, including Chester, but Louie was sweet on Hatti many long years ago.

The wagon was loaded and Louie told Colt his pa could pay him the first of the month for the lumber. Colt insisted on paying directly as pa instructed him to do. Most farmers charged their purchases, but not Chester.

“Wanna get a beer before heading back, “asked Johnny.

“Sure,” replied Colt. “Do you think you can talk?”

“I talk,” he replied.

 “Do you like women?”

“I like ‘em fine, but they don’t like me. I know I’m not a pretty man, just plain.”

“Nothing wrong with ‘plain.’  The best stuff comes plain wrapped,” quoted Colt, friendly but manly.

“I think my hand is my best friend,” replied Johnny obviously uncomfortable. I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” he concluded.

“Me neither, it’s stupid, but at least you are talking now.”

“I told you, I could talk.”

“Colt slapped Johnny on the back and smiled at him. Johnny smiled back which was rare to see but worth it. He had a nice smile and his teeth looked good for somebody who chewed tobacco. Today there was no chewing at all.

“C’mon cowboy, I’m buying,” said Colt walking towards the Ranch saloon. It was noontime and the whores worked at night. During the day, cowboys were out of reach of sluts such as Iris and Rose.

The Ranch served a free sandwich lunch of bread, sliced meat, pickles and hard-boiled eggs, for cowboys who bought a beer. It was set up at the end of the bar with a sign. “Buy a beer and help yourself.”

They each grabbed a hard-boiled egg and a salt shaker. Leaning against the bar, they continued talking and munching. They past the salt back and forth laughing and sharing.  Johnny was never this friendly before and Colt was convinced he would be returning home with a different man.

The wagon loaded with planks, set next to the sawmill, so the boys walked along the gravel road to retrieve it. Colt drove the wagon back as agreed and Johnny babbled away talking about the dumbest things imaginable. He was an okay cowboy, for sure.

Once they got back to the ranch, they drove off the main road over a rough trail. The trail was a shortcut leading directly to the barn, where pa wanted the lumber dropped off.

“Yeses, nobody is around,” said Colt.

“I knew that, they are in the north pasture clearing rocks from the creek so the water flows better. I can unload the wagon by myself,” said Johnny.

“Nope, we’re a team. I do what you do,” insisted Colt.

Johnny smiled at Colt pulling on one of the boards. “Dang, you are strong, what I see on the surface is only a fraction of who you are.”

Colt laughed and babbled, “Don’t stop daddy Colt, when he’s on a roll.”

They finished unloading the wagon stacking the planks inside the barn out of the weather.

Colt went behind the barn to piss away the beer. Johnny did the same thing standing beside him.

“Don’t fret Colt, I ain’t lookin at your pecker,” said Johnny alongside him.

“I don’t care what you look at, nothing shy about me.”

Johnny didn’t say much but shook his dick with pee drops hitting the ground.

“That’s a fetching pecker, you’ve got there. The women will love riding that thing.” Colt blurted out not caring how he spoke.

“I don’t have much luck with women, so they ain’t seein it.”

“You’re joshing?” mumbled Colt.

“Yeah, I reckon so,” replied Johnny locking glances with him.

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To be continued...