Chapter 20

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Born to the soil, is a way of standing in the world so deeply rooted, that one indeed could not give up on any part of who you are. Colt learned that cattle ranching could be difficult, frustrating, and full of grief.  Now, he felt complete with Abe by his side at the ranch. He was not happy however, with the sleeping arrangements, but the naughty side of their friendship had to remain a guarded secret.

At daybreak, before breakfast, Colt and Abe went to look at the horses pa had on the ranch for sale. It felt right being together, sharing the early calling of the morning.

Look at the brown stocking quarter horse with the blaze face. He is a powerhouse on the open range. What does pa want for him? That’s the horse I want,” said Abe unable to take his eyes away from such a handsome animal.

“Yup. I call him ‘Thunder,’ he is a good choice,”

“And what do you call me,” asked Abe whispering even tho they were alone and away from people?”

“As I recollect, the name ‘thirsty’ ought a cover it,” grinned Colt flashing a wide tempting smile.

“I reckon so, it’s gotta be,” Abe about to hold Colt thought better – “maybe not such a good idea!” They were cowboys, and rugged men at that. “Dang, I wish like hell we could be what we wanna be,” sounding like a disappointed little boy.

Colt nodded in agreement agreeing the only thing he could do. He wanted to lean into Abe, feeling the warmth of his body and kissing his bearded face. About now, Colt had to settle nothing.

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“Don’t turn around but pa is coming this way,” said Abe.

”He doesn’t miss much. I can say right off, he wants to see what horse you fancy.”

“Sure ‘nuff, they are his horses we have been eyeballing, and I ain’t hankering for no bargain, so let him come,” said Abe.

Chester came up behind Colt and Abe, putting a hand on each of their shoulders.  “Well, my boy, what looks good to you?” he said, pointing to the horses milling around in the in corral.

“Without hesitation Abe said, “The brown stocking quarter horse with the blaze face.”

“He’s yours – take him!”

“How much?”

“I said he is yours – take him,” replied Chester.

“Not till I pay for him,” replied Abe.

“You’re a Denton now, and Denton’s adopted or not, don’t pay for horses on this ranch – so take the dang animal and let’s not hee haw over it,” said pa.

“Look pa, no hassling here, I can afford to pay for it.  I own a silver mine, did you forget?”  Insisted Abe being as stubborn as Chester.

“I don’t give a mule’s ass if you own two silver mines; I said the horse is yours. Don’t be hassling me with money.”

“Take the horse,” said Colt.

“Much obliged,” said Abe, agreeing to accept the horse from his adopted pa.

“Good – settled, and there are saddles in the barn tack room,” added pa. Nary another word – the tack room.”

He turned to leave saying, “Ma has breakfast ready, so get on up to the house before Sparky chows down all the flapjacks.” and started to laugh. “I ain’t paying you cowboys to stand around jawing and looking at horses,” with a wide grin on his face.

After breakfast pa took the boys, Bart, Colt, Abe, Sparky and Johnny, across the fields, the back trail to the Hicken’s farm. They all went in case pa bought horses or cattle, they could drive them back roundup style as a team.

Abe liked being back in the saddle, just like the old days in the army. There was something about how he sat while he rode a horse. His cock seemed very pronounced with his balls moving, it set him apart from other cowboys. Perhaps, he was just a better man. 

Every chance possible, Colt trotted next to Abe. When he caught a glimpse of Abe’s crotch, he would smile and Abe could read his mind.

They stopped to water the horses and took a five-minute break.  “Are you thirsty?” Abe asked Colt very innocently?”

“I’m good,” Colt replied and then whisperer….STOP IT.”

Charlie Higgins had already sold off some cattle and a good amount of excellent horseflesh.

Pa zeroed in on the horses he wanted to buy. He knew there was a need for horses at Fort Kilmer. The army paid top dollar for sturdy mounts. Horses at the time sold for around $35.00. The army would pay more for a young strong mount.  Chester offered Charlie $20.00 each and he accepted it. If the circumstances were different, they would have haggled back and forth, but not this time.

Counting horses waking around in a corral is a task. The boys counted and got thirty-nine, the second count was forty-one.

Charlie counted and said there were thirty-eight – Pa said forty-one.

“Dang blasted, Chester, you got me bull winked. Let’s say forty and be done with it,” barked Charlie.

“Deal”

“Good, let’s go in the house and I will write you a bill of sale – you got the money?”

“Of course I got the money. Do you think I am stupid?” said pa.

“No, but you are a Denton.”

Chester growled silently as cash and the bill of sale changed hand. Getting out of there was the best part of the day, and the horse-trading was finally done. Rounding up the horses into a pack and moving three miles across Denton land was easy, especially with five men wrangling the herd.  Chester was the trail boss who gave Sparky the ramrod job of directing Bart, Johnny and Colt being wranglers.

Back at the Denton ranch, horses ran willing into the corral that the boys had made ready. They were fed, watered and given some grain.

Chester had himself a good amount of horseflesh around ninety all together.  He could see the vision of money just a rolling in – and he smiled. Everyone went off and vanished going separate ways.

Abe and Colt disappeared through the woods to a secluded spot by the small river stream. Bart followed not wanting to be left out of anything regardless of what it was. They knew Bart was following, but said nothing.

Once out of sight, Abe pushed Colt against a tree and kissed him over and over. Bart stood watching through the trees, and although not surprised, he felt uncomfortable. His cock sprang to attention faster than any time he was ever with women.

Abe motioned for Bart to come closer and he did. 

Abe kissed Bart while Colt’s body leaned against the tree. It was awkward, but they did it. The kissing continued, with lips nibbling and tongues dueling against each other. Bart had mixed thoughts, but he liked what was happening. He kept kissing Abe, and groping him at the same time. “I ain’t a homo, Bart kept repeating as he rubbed the cheeks of Abe’s hard ass.

“Ah, shut the fuck up. I ain’t either, but I can’t control it - Love is love and you don’t always have the luck to choose,” said Abe, unzipping Bart’s pants. His behavior was unrecognizable but Bart didn’t object.

“Shit – screw it,” mumbled Bart completely losing his gentle ways. He had warmed to a boiling point and wanted sex, regardless of the outcome.  His pants fell to his ankles and his cock went into Abe’s hand first and then to his mouth. When Bart shot off into Abe’s mouth, he trembled and shook. He had never done this before except with his brother Colt, and that was just for fun. This was a suck job definitely different. Dear Lord, he was a homo.

Abe turned his face to Colt and he was next. The Denton boys had awesome cocks, and Abe took two loads from them. It was homo hunger, acting crazy, yet normal. At least they thought this was normal, it felt so right.

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At suppertime, ma had everybody at the house. The boys, Bart, Colt, and Abe, washed up in the creek before sitting down at the supper table. They behaved effortlessly straight never showing a sign of anything different. Johnny and /sparky joined them. They joked, laughed and talked about Charlie and pa, counting horses. It was Walton’s Mountain all over again.

That evening, pa talked continuously at the supper table.  It was mostly about Charlie and Ruth joining a wagon train to get to California. A wagon train took months and it was rough, tiresome and dangerous heading through passes and over the mountains.

“I’m sure by now the Pacific Railroad goes all the way west.  Makes sense to me to take the train and get there in weeks, not months,” said pa.

“No doubt Ruth wanted to take belongings, so going by wagon was better.” added Hatti.

“Well, it makes me no never mind. I got a deal on horses.” Pa replied.

“Yep, you did pa,” said Bart always knowing the right thing to say.

At the bunkhouse, Johnny poured a beer and challenged Colt to a game of checkers, but Colt declined not being in the mood for checkers.

“I’ll arm wrestle you tho,” said Colt.

“Yahh like you could beat me. Hell boy, I’m older than you,” said Johnny.

“Well c’mon old man, let’s see whose stronger,” exclaimed Colt.

“Hold on yourself, I’ll be glad to explain it or better yet show yuh.”

“You tell ‘em – you tell ‘em, said Sparky praising his buddy Johnny. 

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To be continued...