****************************************************************************
  *                          "NEW TO TEACHING LOVE"                          *
  *                                 (part 8)                                 *
  *                              by Vince Water            February 22, 2005 *
  ****************************************************************************
  |  Copyright 2005-2006 by Vince Water                       Corrected 5/06 |
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     A menacing black figure strides towards me in the distance. His rasping
  breath, more mechanical sounding than human fills with me terror! I stand as
  if frozen in my tracks. In socks. There's a thick fog around me that hangs
  like a curtain of dark stillness. It obscures trees, huts and the high narrow
  platform that I'm standing on. My only escape is down. Way down to the forest
  floor below me but I've not the skill to swing along vines like the Ewok.

     Vader strides closer! I can't tear my eyes off this doom of mine. I'll
  wait to meet it with as much bravery and dignity as I can muster. The fog
  swirls at his approach and a man is revealed in the flickering torchlight
  whom I wasn't expecting. Where is his robotic looking body armor? No skeletal
  face mask or black cloak. I'm not hearing his rasping breath. This is a mere
  man. Not a dark menacing figure to be feared.

     I Glean the evil in this man's heart. He strikes me not with a light saber
  but through lies and manipulating others to my doom. I know who this man is.
  It's D.A.rth Benton. The look of triumph on his face fills me with dread. I
  seek an escape from him. There's only downwards, the way he wants me to take.
  It's a slow dreadful fall where freedom won't find me for two hands of
  fingered years. I cannot fight him. The court is his playground where he's
  won many times against better adversaries than myself. He's accomplished this
  through cheating.

     "My dice are loaded," boasts D.A.rth Benton. "Look."

     The man hands them over to me. Their weight is like lead in my palm.
  Trembling with fear, I toss them onto the game board. I'm hoping for a three
  or higher so my game piece will move past his hotel set on Marvin Gardens.
  It comes up snake eyes.

     "Too bad," sneers D.A.rth Benton.

     I lift my right foot off Water Works but stop myself from walking forward
  those two spaces to my doom.

     "You have to follow the rules."

     Anger fills me. "You don't!" I'm accusing this man.

     "I don't get caught. But if you break them, you know what will happen..."

     My head hangs in defeat by his threat. He'll tell on Jesse. Then our
  whole tribe will learn what he's done with Ron and that shame will also be
  brought down upon his mom! I'm stepping forward to sacrifice myself for my
  lover and the good of all the People. The 'Go to Jail' square awaits me. It's
  but a step away.

     A shrill cry startles me from taking that last step. A thud. I'm knocked
  off the platform and my arms flail around for something to break my fall. I
  grab onto a soft furry Ewok. My stomach wrenches by our flight downwards yet
  it's not straight down. Oh! We're swinging away on a vine my rescuer expertly
  rides to the next platform. From behind, I hear D.A.rth Benton cry out in
  dismay by his unexpected fall he thought would have been mine.


     My feet jerk. I awaken with the Ewok in my arms. No. This is Brown Bear.
  Morning's faint glow from the window fills my bedroom and that eases my
  pounding heart. Then I'm remembering my dream about D.A.rth Benton. He's the
  D.A.'s lead prosecutor who intends to send me to jail even if that means
  breaking the rules on his part. But how is he doing this?

     I squeeze Jesse's stuffed animal in my arms. My nose presses into the
  soft fur of his head and I'm smelling my lover's scent. How many times has he
  sought comfort with Brown Bear by holding him? I need to hug something real.
  :Oh, Jes!:

     :I'm Here, love.:

     Our morning 'embrace' is wonderful! Where I was feeling scared and lost a
  moment ago, Jesse's assurance and love comforts me even though he's not
  really here with me in bed.

     :We are together,: reminds Jesse.

     He's right. I'm Feeling what he feels and I can Hear his thoughts in my
  head though distance separates us. :Where are you?: I Ask.

     :With you, love. For always!:

     Yeah. :I mean, right now?:

     :We're driving to Havre,: Answers Jesse. :Are you still in bed?:

     :Yeah, with Brown Bear.: I'm a little embarrassed for revealing that.

     :He likes having his ears scratched.:

     I'm reaching my left hand up to Brown Bear's head but stop myself. This is
  only a stuffed animal. Jes was kidding me.

     :I wasn't, love.:

     A thought strikes me. :Are you Peeking in my head?:

     :Not really. You've opened all your thoughts to me. They're so loud.:

     Oh. I'm sitting up in bed and set Brown Bear back to his place between
  the pillows. He's looking forlorn with those black button eyes of his. I
  fondly scratch my bed companion's right ear. "Jesse will see you tonight,"
  I'm assuring him. He grins.

     :Give him a kiss for me and you'll get something nicer tonight.:

     My dick tingles in anticipation. :I've missed you last night.:

     :Me too, love. At least you were able to sleep with someone.:

     I've caught Jesse's hint. :It's not like we did anything together!:
  My face is burning and I'm Sensing my lover's embarrassment, at himself.
  :What is it?:

     :Look low on Brown Bear.:

     My eyes fall on the stuffed animal to where his dick would be. It's silly.
  I know he doesn't have one yet I'm noticing a worn spot on his groin.

     :I've held him close on many a night,: Jesse admits. :Not to where I'd
  get him wet but he's made me feel good so that I could sleep.:

     My eyes widen in surprise. Jes has rubbed himself against Brown Bear!
  :It's lucky that your mom didn't let you have a dog.: Why did I Say that?
  I'm Sensing a deepening embarrassment from my lover.

     :You're Peeking in my head too, love. I think that's happening because we
  miss each other so much.:

     :Yeah.: What's this about hugging a dog? To my surprise, Jesse Shows me
  what he saw as a little boy. Winna had taken him over to his grandpa's ranch
  for a visit. Jes liked horses. He'd been allowed to ride if someone was with
  him in the saddle. That sent him running into the stables to look for Johnny,
  a black teen whom grandfather hired to feed and clean up after them. They
  rode together a lot.

     Jesse was searching the stables for Johnny when he found him dancing with
  a dog in one of the empty stalls. That's what it looked like to him. The boy
  held this tall black dog close to him as they stood. His hands were low over
  the animal's back, pulling on him. The dog's paws were draped over Johnny's
  shoulders. That's when Jes noticed how naked they looked. The boy went
  shirtless. His pants and underwear were dropped at his feet. His black butt
  humped. Their dancing seemed to be a naughty thing so Jes crouched by the
  stall to curiously watch and it made his heart race with excitement.

     The big black dog humped wildly against the black boy. Their bodies were
  about the same size and height. Johnny often staggered on his feet to keep
  their balance. That allowed Jesse to see them from different angles. He
  liked the way Johnny's butt moved. The dog didn't have one but his tail
  snapped about like a whip. When they turned sideways, Jes noticed how their
  bellies rubbed. He wanted to see their pee-pees but couldn't.

     A sharp wail came from the dog. Jesse thought he was hurt from their
  dancing or something. Johnny wasn't mean to animals. That's why his grandpa
  hired him to take care of his stable horses. Many more horses roamed wild
  over his land but they couldn't be caught. Free, like the People had once
  been long ago from stories his grandpa often told him.

     Jesse dropped to his knees when Johnny turned towards him. He hid behind
  a post at the corner of this stall. Did he get caught spying on them? There
  was a growling whimper and the boy's high-pitched wails. Jes got the idea
  that what they were doing felt good. He felt his thing stiffening inside his
  pants that embarrassed him.

     When Jesse gathered enough courage to take another peek, he rose on his
  knees and looked into the stall. Johnny was turning sideways with the dog
  still held against his nakedness. Their black bodies bumped more fiercely.
  He caught glimpses of their things and saw how long they were. They touched
  a lot. Jes wondered about that, a kind of stick battle? Some of the boys at
  his school used sticks in mock sword fights.

     The dog licked Johnny's face. He turned his head sideways to avoid that.
  Their dance slowly turned in another complete circle. Jes saw that the boy's
  hands were locked behind the animal's lower back to pull over it again and
  again. That made their 'sticks' touch between their bellies. He wasn't close
  enough to see them as much as he wanted to.

     A loud whimper came from the dog. His head bobbed up and down and his
  whole body bucked like a spooked horse as if he were trying to get away.

     "Pissin' already?" Johnny scolded. "I'm about to... myself. Oh, baby!"

     Jesse didn't understand why they embraced if it's to relieve themselves.
  They'd wet each other. The black boy released his breath in a moan and held
  the dog close in his arms. Unmoving. Their dancing appeared to be over with.
  Jes snuck quietly away because he didn't want to get caught watching them. He
  reached the stable door, turned, waited a long moment then called out in as
  loud voice a voice as he could muster. With slow steps, he returned to the
  stall and found the black boy back in his pants. His shirt was draped over
  his shoulder where the dog's paws had held him earlier. There were beads of
  sweat on his face.

     "Hello, Jesse. How are you?"

     Jes turned shy. Words were difficult for him to get out even for someone
  he knew well. Johnny was always nice to him, taking him for horse rides over
  his grandfather's pastures whenever mom drove him here for a visit. Jesse's
  eyes fell to the boy's feet. That's where his dog was laying on his side in
  the newly bedded hay. He was pissing. It wasn't a continuous yellow stream
  that came out his long pole but in spurts. They wet the ground for a few
  minutes as Johnny forked more hay around the stall. He seemed embarrassed.

     Jes acted like he didn't notice. He wouldn't dare say anything about
  watching their naked dance to Johnny or tell anyone. He liked this black boy.
  After the stall was filled with hay, they went for a long horse ride. Their
  bodies pressed together in the saddle and rolled from the horse's trot. It
  felt very exciting. Jes noticed how his friend's hand often rested over the
  front of his pants where his thing was. It stiffened to his embarrassment.
  Johnny didn't say anything even though he must have felt it.

     During their drive back home, Jesse asked his mom if he could have a dog
  for a pet. She said that would up to his father. Disappointment filled him.
  Looks-from-mountain would say 'no' of course.

     Regular sight returns to my eyes. Jesse has stopped Sending to me. I'm
  looking down at the front of my underwear and see the telling bulge in it.
  :Were you intending to 'dance' with a dog if your father let you have one?:

     :Maybe. But it could have been a female and then what would I do?:

     :You had Brown Bear.: I'm Sensing my lover's embarrassment.

     :Now I have you. We'll 'dance' together tonight, love!:

     :A backwards embrace.: Jes agrees to my suggestion and I'm glad that he
  enjoys fucking my butt as much as I like doing his. Someone in the truck is
  asking Jesse something so he breaks contact with me. I'm guarding my next
  thoughts from him.

     What would it be like to belly rub with a dog, I wonder? It seems that
  they can cum a lot from what my lover has Shown me. A real butt full, too.
  Man! I'm really feeling horny to consider letting a dog fuck me. I've read
  somewhere that the male ties himself to the female he's mounting so they
  won't separate during his lengthy sperming inside her. Chris has seen this
  himself, I realize. He'd noticed that swelling donut going up the dog's dick
  during his thrusting. All the other male dogs had to wait their turn before
  satisfying themselves in that bitch.

     :Mike?:

     :Yeah. I'm Here. Ah. Where are you now?:

     :We're driving through Havre.:

     :Who's we?: I Ask.

     :One-white-horse. We're part of a convoy of trucks heading for the police
  station. Hawk Flying Over is going to meet us there.:

     :It's close to ten already?: I Ask, alarmed.

     :Lazy bones!: Jesse chides. :You've slept late while grandfather has kept
  me up for most of the night.:

     :It's not like I have anywhere to go.:

     :I'm only teasing you, love. Please understand. It wouldn't look right for
  you to join in our protest because we're doing it for you. Not with you.:

     I get it. Yet it's frustrating because I'd want to be at my lover's side.
  We won't see each other until later. :Jes? How late will you be protesting?:

     :That depends. At least until nightfall since a lot of the People will be
  joining into it after they get off from work but there's also the rain to
  consider. A storm could really dampen things.:

     :It's gonna rain?: I Ask with concern.

     :Grandfather says it might only be a light sprinkle if the storm misses us
  here in Havre.:

     Before I can Ask Jesse if he's wearing warm clothes and has an umbrella,
  he breaks contact with me. I'm still Feeling things from him: excitement for
  nearing their destination but also a sharp concern not to let the People
  down. He thinks he's too young to be war leader. In days of old, Chris saw
  boys of fourteen go into battle and return as warriors. Jes is twenty-three.
  He's old enough and with his former self to advise him, wise enough to meet
  any challenge. And I'll be there for him, too. At least in spirit.

     I rush from bed and head for the bathroom. Running Water said that he'll
  be coming over this morning to 'watch over the house'. That really means me.
  I'm quick with my shower and on my return to the bedroom, hear the television
  going. A peek into the front room confirms that my brother has arrived.

     I throw on some clothes. I'm anxious to see what's happening on T.V. but
  my steps are reluctant through the dining room. Running Water turns to me. He
  smiles a moment, waving me over to the couch so that we can watch the protest
  on channel four. I set down beside him. We're not touching. I'm folding my
  hands in my lap (instead of holding his hand). Relief fills me that our
  attention will be on watching the news report. It just doesn't feel right if
  Running Water and I were to go at it with each other when my lover is leading
  the protest on my behalf.

     A commercial comes on. "Are they televising the protest? What did I miss?"

    "Nothing much, actually. They showed Jesse get out of One-white-horse's
  jeep and join a group of the People outside the station. No one tried to
  interview him."

     "Will they return to the protest after these commercials?"

     Running Water nods. "It's only getting started. Your lover looked brave."

     Pride fills me for Jes. I've just caught what Running Water said about
  'my lover' looking brave. He seemed to punctuate the fact that Jesse and I
  are able be together but what about him and me? My entrance into the front
  room had been rather subdued when I'd usually be giving my brother a hug.
  We're sitting on the couch but not close together. My hands are still folded
  in my lap. The breaking news bulletin returns on T.V. with that woman
  reporter doing the lead in.

     "I'm Caitlin Bray from Newscast Four. We're at the Havre Police station
  where a small group of Blackfoot are protesting outside."

     The camera pans along the metal barriers erected along the sidewalk where
  at least ten policemen are standing at the ready. I see Jesse! He's wearing
  a painted war robe and grasps a feathered coup stick in his right hand. Six
  people are walking behind him with their right hands raised in fists. The
  reporter continues.

     "As you can see, the police were prepared for their protest with barriers
  set along the front of their station. Only official business is being allowed
  in and out. Twelve officers from the Havre Police Department are standing
  guard joined by three Native policemen from Chinook. They easily outnumber
  the protesters two to one."

     I've just realized that myself. Man! What a disappointment for Jesse. He
  was hoping for more of the People to show up here. The camera swings back to
  Ms. Bray who holds out her left hand, palm up.

     "A big storm is expected by noon. It's already sprinkling. Perhaps that
  has kept people from showing up at this protest. An angry storm was brewing
  at the Blackfoot meeting held last night at the Chinook Community Center.
  Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn read a letter from District Attorney Ralston
  where he apologized on behalf of the Havre Police Department for misplacing a
  sacred bundle surrendered to them by Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains on April
  21st. This letter also mentioned other failings at the station which are
  being investigated by Internal Affairs. Yesterday, Captain Ruston was placed
  on administrative leave and Lt. John Danielson appointed interim police chief
  by the city council. We're expecting a statement to be released by the D.A.'s
  office later today that will explain why the former police chief is under
  investigation for misconduct and what the specific charges are.

     "They must be serious because Captain Ruston tendered his resignation at
  the Blackfoot meeting last night. In a surprise move, Mike Yager stood up to
  defend him. The Blackfoot Council voted not to accept the resignation citing
  all the good Captain Ruston has done for their people in the past. No word
  has come if he's offered his resignation to the city council.

     "Captain Ruston said at the meeting that he was the one who reported acts
  of misconduct by some of the men under his command to Internal Affairs and he
  asked them to investigate how the Blackfoot bundle was removed from their
  evidence room. He claims that it was Lt. John Danielson who ordered Mr. Yager
  to be placed in that padded cell where he was taunted by his guard. Yet that
  cannot be proven because the cell's video surveillance tape is apparently
  missing. Lt. John Danielson also had Mr. Yager brought into the station for
  interrogation into his brother's murder without his attorney present.

     "If these charges Captain Ruston has made against his police lieutenant
  are proven true, not only would John Danielson have to step down as acting
  police chief but the D.A.'s case against Mr. Yager is jeopardized because
  those are violations of his civil rights. We'll have to wait and see what the
  district attorney's office has to say on this matter."

     I'm turning to Running Water with hope in my eyes. He nods, realizing that
  the truth of what happened to me at the police station is out there. Maybe I
  won't have to face trial as my lawyer hopes. We still have to go to court
  this Monday to go through some motions.

     "At noon, we'll provide complete coverage of the events that's led up to
  this protest. This is Caitlin Bray reporting for Newscast Four."

     That's it? That's all they're gonna show on T.V. right now? The camera
  swings back to the protesters and that's when I get to see Jesse's face on
  close-up. He's been painted for war. Two red lines are drawn across each of
  his cheeks. How grim he looks. His hair is dewed from that light sprinkle of
  rain. That reminds me about the storm they're predicting to hit around noon.
  Unlike the other protesters, Jes isn't wearing a jacket. Only that painted
  robe in his role as war leader. Does he at least have a shirt on beneath?

     "We return to our regularly scheduled program."

     I'm gasping when losing sight of my lover. Festive music is playing with a
  contestant jumping up and down from winning a prize on 'The Price is Right'
  game show. Running Water grasps my shoulder.

     "He'll be alright," assures Running Water.

     "So few are protesting with him."

     "More people will show up, Mike. It's still early."

     "But they might not come if there's a storm! Jesse doesn't even have an
  umbrella. And he's only wearing a robe to keep him warm. Did you notice if
  he's wearing a shirt under that?"

     "I'm sure he is. When it rains, someone will hold an umbrella for him."
  Running Water smiles. "You're fussing over him almost as worse as Winna."

     His comment has me smiling too but only for a moment. "My brother?" The
  man gives me his undivided attention. I'm wetting my lips before speaking.
  "About us. I don't want anything to change from what we are to each other but
  this legal stuff is getting real serious. It's even keeping me away from Jes.
  What I'm trying to say is that if I seem distant, it's not because of you or
  that I'm pushing you away. Do you understand?"

     Running Water breathes in deeply and releases it while trying to come up
  with the right words to say. He simply nods instead.

     I bury my face in Running Water's chest and reach low for his hips. Both
  his arms come around me in a tight hug.

     "I'll always be here for you, little brother."

     "I know." I'm not wanting our hug to end. His manly scent fills my nose
  and I get the strong urge for us to do more. But not here in the house.

     "Are you hungry, Mike? I am."

     "Not really." I'm gently pushed away and our moment together is broken.

     "I'll make us some egg sandwiches. Maybe that'll get you hungry."

     He gets up from the couch and steps past me on his way to the kitchen. My
  eyes fall on his rear end. He's wearing tight jeans that shows off his butt
  nicely. If I were to chase after this man, he'd let me do him where he stood.
  Man! I'm feeling so horny this morning.


     We're sitting at the kitchen table on our stools. I'm often looking up at
  the clock. Not even half an hour has passed since we left the front room.
  How am I gonna pass the time until the noon news comes on? My cock is still
  hard. I'm in a debate with myself about doing something with this man since
  I'm sure he's in need of sex, too. My shoulders slump in shame. He means more
  to me than that. Running Water breaks the silence.

     "I'm thinking about going to my cousin's house."

     My heart leaps at his suggestion!

     "We could get there in time to watch the noon news. I think that a good
  soaking in the hot tub afterwards will be good for you, Mike." A long pause.
  "I'm not asking to do anything more than that."

     Yet we both know that some loving would surely follow. Running Water is a
  great lookin' Indian, especially when naked. My cock strains inside my pants.
  "That sounds great." I've tried keeping the excitement out of my voice. We
  look each other for a long moment. His guarded face melts and I get to see
  the man that I love. A warrior who isn't afraid to reveal his emotions in
  front of me when we're alone.

     We're both startled when the telephone rings. Winna's greeting is faintly
  heard coming from her answering machine. I'm straining to hear who is calling
  but likely, it's just some dumb reporter asking me for an interview.

     "Mike. Are you there? It's Simon..."

     I'm rushing to grab the phone. "Hi!" We both pause from talking. I'm
  Gleaning that he too can be overheard so he doesn't know what to say.

     "You're not at the protest?" the boy asks in his high-pitched voice.

     "No. They thought it would be better if I wasn't there."

     "Oh. I want to join the protest but there's no one to drive me there."

     "I can drive you." I'm glancing uneasily at Running Water. He has a plain
  expression on his face. That makes me feel bad. "Ah. You could look after
  Jesse for me. I don't think he has an umbrella so you can hold it for him
  when it rains, and I'll bring you his jacket to give him. You know that
  they're predicting a storm for this afternoon."

     "My grandfather says it's going to be a big one. Can you really pick me
  up? I'll watch over Jesse for you. Promise!"

     This is an awkward situation. I want Simon to be there with my lover but
  where does that leave Running Water in our plans for this afternoon? I'll
  have to drive past Box Elder and into the reservation to pick Simon up. Then
  there's that drive back to Havre. I could return to the house afterwards for
  Running Water and we could still head on up to his cousin's house. A thought
  strikes me. "Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

     "Grandfather let me stay home today. I've been calling around to find
  someone to take me to the protest but no one is planning on going."

     My heart wrenches. No one wants to go?

     "It could be because of the storm. Who'd wanna march in front of a bunch
  of dumb policemen in the pouring rain? They don't really care about our
  protest other than to make sure it doesn't get out of hand."

     "Yeah, I know." We both realize that's only part of it. My heart sinks.
  I've got a good idea as to why no one is gonna show up at the protest.

     "I want to go! When can you pick me up?"

     I'm looking up at the clock. "Around noon." I avert my eyes from Running
  Water and feel wretched inside for a lot of different reasons.

     "Okay. I'll see you at twelve. And Mike? Thanks."

     The line goes dead. I return the phone to its cradle and sit down over my
  stool. There's the remains of my egg sandwich on my plate but I'm not feeling
  like eating it. An awkward silence passes. I want to tell Running Water how
  sorry I am but he'd only lecture me again about how often us white folks are
  apologizing and for the wrong reasons. I'm hoping he'll say something first.

     "Simon took off from school today?" asks Running Water.

     "His grandfather let him so he could join the protest but no one he's
  called for a lift is going!" Anger fills me. "The People don't want to bother
  coming on my account." I'm swallowing past the hard lump in my throat.
  "They've figured out that I'm gay."

     "I don't know about that. It's still early in the day, Mike. People have
  to work. The rain will keep some away so don't jump to any conclusions."

     "I don't want Jesse looking bad out there if no one else comes."

     "You'll be bringing Simon to the protest."

     I'm peering at Running Water to read what he'd meant by that. Is he mad
  that I've offered to drive that kid without consulting with him first? We'd
  just made plans to go to his cousin's house. That can still happen.

     "We'll go another time, Mike."

     Relief fills me to be let off the hook. Then it hits me that Running Water
  might be testing me to see if I wanted to be with him today or not. My heart
  isn't really up to it because I'm worrying about Jesse. "We can go to your
  cousin's house later, after I've dropped off Simon."

     "There won't be enough time," says Running Water. "Winna has invited my
  parents to dinner tonight. We'd be rushing things at Hawk Flying Over's house
  so that I could return you here in time to pick them up in Chinook. The
  reason for taking you over to my cousin's house was to relax."

     I still think we'd have enough time this afternoon to enjoy the hot tub,
  and each other. A tense breath escapes my mouth.

     "Come here."

     I'm out of my stool and timidly stand before Running Water who gets to
  his feet to face me. He grasps my shoulders. Smiles.

     "I want to ease your heart, little brother. Not cause you more woes."

     I'm fighting back tears. Running Water fondly touches my nose. I launch
  myself into his arms for a hug. He holds me for a long moment, my face buried
  in his neck. When we part from each other, I'm given a kiss on the lips. A
  tender expression from this man proving that he still loves me as I love him!

     "Now go get an umbrella for Jesse."

     I'm nodding. We peer at each other for a moment and in Running Water's
  face, I see the strong warrior he is who can still reveal his heart to me.


     My 'new' truck is performing well. All the traffic on highway 87 has
  slowed due to the downpour so I'm glad Tom suggested that I get new tires.
  I'll be needing traction on that dirt road that leads to Simon's trailer. As
  to why his grandparents live in such a remote area of the reservation, I'll
  never know. Maybe they're avoiding rent by not setting down in a trailer
  park. I'm amazed that electricity and telephone is available to them.

     On the seat beside me is a shirt and a light jacket for Jesse that should
  fit under the war robe he's wearing. I'm also bringing an umbrella for Simon
  to hold for him against the rain. A big yellow one. Running Water has loaned
  me his cell phone in case... Well. I don't plan on getting stuck on the road
  again. I'll be filling up in Box Elder though my truck still has more than
  half a tank of gas. No reason to take chances. The gauge could be wrong.

     I'd asked my brother to come along for the ride but he declined. That
  surprised me 'cause I thought he was supposed to guard over me. He's staying
  at the house to watch over it, explaining that I can take care of myself. I'm
  thinking that Running Water wants to avoid Simon's grandfather who was very
  upset with him for having sex with his grandson. Jesse and me did, too.

     What I think Goes-late-in-the-night was more concerned about was that the
  boy would give his heart to a man more than twice his age. His grandfather
  knows that Jes and I are a couple so we don't pose that same threat. I've
  been asked to be Simon's monedo so I can teach him what it means to be gay.
  A heavy responsibility yet a pleasant one because this kid is so willing to
  learn and he's really hot!

     As Mike, I thought it was wrong to go at with a kid. My former self joined
  the boys of his tribe in sexual play that helped them build confidence for
  when they assumed manhood roles. I'm not sure if Goes-late-in-the-night will
  allow this. It's a thing not accepted in this modern time so Jesse and I
  must be careful being with Simon. We don't have a problem with it. He's
  nearly fifteen, the age when Blackfoot boys were named braves in the tribe's
  eyes after passing a grueling manhood ritual. I shudder in remembrance, as
  Christopher. The youths today have it easy! yet they're denied an important
  life marker, not knowing when boyhood really ends.

     I'll perform the role of monedo for Simon. A respected warrior or family
  friend was asked to take a fatherless youth under his wing so he could be
  trained to become a man. Why did Goes-late-in-the-night ask me? I think
  Jesse would have been the better choice. He's a real Indian.

     I recall that startled look from Goes-late-in-the-night when I told him
  that my mother's grandmother was a Blackfoot Native named Shirt-for-man. He
  said that she was his father's sister! That makes me family though I can't
  work out my relation to him 'cause it goes in a backwards direction.

     I'm distracted from my thoughts by flashing lights up ahead. Oh. It looks
  like an accident. I'm straining to look past the swishing of my windshield
  wipers that struggle against the pouring rain. There's a tow truck on the
  shoulder of the road. Behind it is a banged up car. I sure hope no one got
  hurt. I'm noticing water on the right side of my console. There must be a
  leak in the seal to my windshield. I'll get Tom to fix that for me.

     I Reach out to Jesse. He acknowledges me but is in no mood to really
  Talk. He's feeling miserable by the rain. I Sense how cold he is and that's
  worrying me. I'm not Telling him that Simon will be coming to his rescue with
  dry clothes and an umbrella so it can be a surprise. We break contact. Up
  ahead, I see the sign for Box Elder.


     After filling up my tank with gas, I pull over to the side of the station
  so that I can go to the bathroom. The attendant gives me the key. I'm taking
  a leak and notice the dirty graffiti written on the wall. Lots of misspelled
  words. What catches my eye are several references for guys who are looking
  for fun to meet near the restroom in Bearpaw on Friday and Saturday nights.
  All manners of gay sex are promised there. That gets my dick tingling.

     I return to the attendant with the key. He's an older Native man who
  hardly gives me the eye. I'm noticing that this station also serves as a
  quick mart and that gives me an idea. I load my arms up with a loaf of bread,
  lunchmeat, eggs, fresh vegetables, ah... they have fried bread, and a gallon
  of milk. If Simon or his grandparents don't drink milk, I'll keep that for
  myself. I'm placing everything on the counter to be rung up. What else could
  I bring them? I'll ask! "Excuse me, sir. Can you recommend anything that a
  Native family would want in the way of food and stuff from your quick mart?"
  The man shrugs his shoulders and gives me that Look.

     Okay. I'll try another approach that should startle him into answering me.
  "Father. If you were going to visit a friend's grandparents who live out in
  the badlands, what would you bring them from here to stock up?" I've said
  that in Siksika.

     "What?" the man gasps.

     I'm turning from his startled face to look around the quick mart one more
  time. I spot a box of firewood. This is placed on the counter and I'm giving
  this Native a Look of my own.

     "A bag of rice," the man suggests. "Over there."

     "I thank you, father. Anything else?" He gives me an appraising eye and
  suggests some other food stuffs. I'm fetching them from the shelves and
  return to him with my arms filled. We exchange glances. I can't prevent the
  grin creeping on my lips when paying for everything.

     "Who are you?" the man asks in Siksika.

     "I've been named Short Hair." That places a burden on this man to answer
  in like manner. His name is Swims The Rivers, son of Many-rivers-that-join.
  I don't know him but realize that his father is still alive because he's
  named him. Lifting the four bags of groceries and firewood in both hands, I
  turn for the door saying, "My heart is glad for having met you." It's a
  Blackfoot farewell meaning that this man has helped me.

     "My eyes have seen you before but from where?" the man calls out.

     I turn to him from the door. "My white name is Mike Yager." There's
  recognition coming from him. Yeah. He's probably seen me on T.V. or heard
  about me. What I would give to know what he's thinking about me! In the next
  moment, I am. Gleaning things from people is a wonderful gift. I'm walking
  out the door and get into my truck with a grin on my face.


     This muddy road takes all of my concentration so I won't slip off into a
  ravine. Man! It's raining something fierce. After climbing up, a curve to the
  right brings me to a steep fall in the road. I'm letting off on the gas,
  struggling with the wheel so I won't strike that rocky cleft on my right or
  fall off the edge. Driving through mud is like braving the heavy snows I've
  encountered back in Indiana. It's a matter of gliding while keeping up my
  momentum and steering out of trouble instead of using the brakes. I manage to
  reach the valley. A lone light pole greets me in the stormy darkness. There's
  Simon's trailer! I pull up close to its door with a sigh of relief. My hands
  are trembling.

     Light is cast from the trailer and a face is seen pressing against my
  window. It's Simon. I'm quick to open my door.

     "Mike! You've made it here!"

     I give the boy a weary grin. "Here. Takes these in for me. Okay?" I'm
  handing over two bags of groceries. I grab the heavier ones which include
  that box of firewood and follow him into the trailer. Rain soaks my head.
  Goes-late-in-the-night greets me with obvious relief showing on his face.
  "How are you, grandfather?"

     "You were brave to attempt the road," scolds the old man.

     I'm shrugging my shoulders. "My horse is well footed," I answer in old
  Siksika referring to my truck. He nods but there's much concern on his face.

     "That may be so, Short Hair. I would ask that you remain here until the
  rains go but I know that your heart is set on getting back home."

     "That is so, grandfather. I cannot linger least the dirt drink too much.
  The rain both helps and hinders me. It is up to you if the boy goes with me."
  I've spoken that out loud because I suspect that's his main concern. The old
  man looks over at his grandson. Simon couldn't follow what we've been saying
  about the road conditions but he suspects as much.

     "Please, grandfather! I need to go help Jes-ee-ah!"

     "Fetch a towel for our guest," asks Goes-late-in-the-night.

     The boy gives me a pleading glance with those gorgeous brown eyes of his
  before he runs down the narrow hall in this trailer. His grandfather faces me
  with a grim expression.

     "I know that his heart is set on joining into the protest but..."

     "He goes in my place to help Jes-ee-ah," I explain. "I've been asked not
  join them so who will bring my companion the shirt and warm outer wear he
  needs? Your grandson would also hold the round hide against the rain for
  him. Allow Sings-as-a-raven to perform this honorable task."

     "It's not the task but your journey to it that concerns me."

     "I will take great care on the path." I'm pulling out the cell phone.
  "Should we need help, I can call out for it, grandfather."

     "I must remain at my wife's side," answers Goes-late-in-the-night.

     I'm shaking my head. "My brother is waiting for my return at the house.
  He's traveled this path before if I'm in need of his help. I trust in our
  Father to guide me back whether your grandson comes with me or not." The old
  man considers my words for a moment. I can see that he's decided by the sharp
  gleam in his eyes.

     "Very well, Short Hair."

     A towel is thrust into my hand. I'm drying my hair with it and take
  guarded looks at Simon while he waits at my side. His face is too pretty for
  a boy. He has a melodic high-pitched voice any girl would envy. Kinda short
  for his age. That's why I figured him to be only nine or ten when we first
  met nearly a week ago. It's the length of his hair falling halfway down his
  back and seeing his groin hair when I realized he was in his teens. His butt
  is close in size to Jesse's and it has a nice shape. I'd seen them walking
  naked up the hill and was hard pressed to tell them apart by only looking at
  their behinds. My lover is taller though.

     "Fetch a complete change of clothes," says Goes-late-in-the-night. The boy
  gasps in surprise. "Quickly!" He runs back down the hall.

     "I place Sings-as-a-raven in your hands, Short Hair." His eyes flare.

     "Have you not appointed me the boy's monedo?"

     "Yes. That is so. I trust you and Jes-ee-ah with guiding this youth along
  the path towards his manhood as it was done in days long ago. What I ask is
  that Running Water not be part of his, eh... physical training until the boy
  has understood with his head and in his heart that bodily pleasure is not
  love. He recognizes your relationship with Jes-ee-ah that protects his heart
  from feeling too strongly."

     Wow. This man is allowing Jes and I to have sex with his grandson! I stand
  up tall when giving him my oath. "I will do ask you ask, grandfather. While
  Sings-as-a-raven is under my care, I swear that no man will become, ah...
  familiar with the boy. I am honored by your trust and that you accept this
  necessary thing he will learn from Jes-ee-ah and myself. I've already sworn
  not to hurt him."

     "I know this. Yours is a good heart, Short Hair. My heart is at peace with
  how my grandson's heart yearns to be with those of his sex. Remember that he
  is at the beginning of his journey in life. Be on guard to protect the boy
  even from himself for his heart could be confused by the love Jes-ee-ah and
  you will share with him. He is as a little brother to you two. Remind him of
  this often!"

     "Yes, grandfather." I'm Gleaning from this man that Simon may be feeling
  too strongly for my lover. I'll warn Jesse about that.

     "What have you brought?" asks Goes-late-in-the-night. He looks down at the
  four grocery bags.

     "Some food. Firewood. Swims The River who works at the gas station in Box
  Elder helped me choose some of the items." The tension has eased between us
  from only a moment ago. We've reverted back into speaking in modern Siksika.
  "How is your wife?"

     "She is still to bed. I thank you for giving my grandson money for her
  medicine but sadly, it hasn't helped her much."

     That saddens me. I make the gesture for spiritually weak remedies that
  described White Medicine the Blackfoot obtained from traders who promised it
  would cure ailments which more often only made things worse. Simon returns.
  There's a bundle of clothes in his hands. I'm smiling at the boy. "Are you
  ready to go?"

     Simon nods excitedly. He gazes up at his grandfather with an endearing
  expression that warms my heart. I lay my hand over the boy's shoulder.

     "Thank you grandfather for letting me join the protest!"

     "Get going before I change my mind," warns Goes-late-in-the-night. He
  points to a jacket hanging over the back of a chair. His grandson goes to
  fetch it. "The road will only get worse by lingering here to speak with an
  old man, Short Hair."

     I'm grinning at his humor. Simon darts out the front door with me close
  on his tail. I run into him when he's getting into my truck and that sends
  the boy sprawling along the seat. A naughty thought drops into my head to
  take advantage of his vulnerability by laying over him. That's when I realize
  I've left my door open since arriving here. Damn! I'm grasping the steering
  wheel when getting in out of the rain with my butt raised above the wet seat.
  "Can you dry under me?"

     Simon grabs the towel I've kept in my right hand. His knuckles brush
  against the seat of my pants more than they should. I'm quickly closing my
  door because his grandfather is seeing us off from his trailer door. In a
  tease, I sit down over the boy's hand. He's slow to withdraw it and gets back
  at me with a naughty pinch. My right cheek smarts with pain for a moment.
  "Hey!"

     "It could have been worse," warns Simon. He makes some suggestive groans
  while bucking forward in his seat.

     "Put your seatbelt on." I'm glad that the dark prevents him from seeing
  the sly grin on my face. Yeah. He knows how good it was fucking me. I fasten
  my seatbelt and take a deep breath before turning the ignition key. We're
  facing a difficult journey back along that road. Simon is drying his hair
  with the towel and he offers it to me. It's too wet to help much. I'm tossing
  it back at him, exasperated. He giggles in reply.

     I'm putting my truck in gear after making a silent plea unto our Father
  for His guiding Hand upon us. When I turn the steering wheel left past the
  trailer to give me more room for a wide right turn back to the road, Simon
  warns me about that mud hole I've forgotten about. That's where we waded in
  to stack firewood under its front right axle when jacking it up. The trailer
  was later moved to solid ground with the help of Running Water's truck.

     I manage the turn with some slipping and sliding. My truck is put into
  second gear and I gun it before reaching that steep rise in the road. I'll
  need some momentum if we're to make it up without getting stuck in the mud.
  The engine revs. Simon gasps when we spin sharply to the right. I'm really
  struggling with the wheel to straighten us out. More often, I'm close to
  hitting that rocky cleft on our left from over compensating because I'm
  keeping away from that ledge on our right which poses the greater danger.

     We both release a sigh of relief when reaching the top. I ease into that
  left turn in the road. It now goes down until leveling out in the valley.
  I'm facing another challenge. Those glittering splashes of rain in the mud
  illuminated from my headlights makes it difficult to follow the meanderings
  of this road. When stones are heard flying under my truck, I turn my wheel
  away from the shoulder I've struck. My windshield wipers are dancing wildly.
  I'm straining to see past them to follow the road. To Simon's credit, he's
  remains silent. I couldn't have handled him second guessing me. That's what
  Mrs. Bucket (pronounced 'Bouquet') was often doing to her poor husband when
  he's driving here around town in the T.V. show: 'Keeping Up Appearances'.

     A yellow sign on my right announces that we've reached the paved road. I'm
  turning right towards Box Elder. "It'll be smooth sailing from now on," I
  assure Simon.

     "If you don't sink, that is. Watch out for water running across the road."

     Oh, yeah. I remember that nearly happened when driving Running Water's
  truck a ways back on this road after we left his cousin's house. I'd stupidly
  crossed over floodwater that was streaming over our road. The force of it had
  nearly swept us into a gully where we would have sunk. I'm keeping a lookout
  for that same hazard ahead of us. Minute after tense minute passes without
  incident. The rain slackens off and the sky is lightening up. Storm clouds
  have passed us on their way to the northwest. My poor Jesse! He must be a
  drowned rat by now along with his followers in that pitiful protest at the
  station. How the police must be laughing at them.

     "What was my grandfather saying to you back there?"

     Simon rescues me from my gloomy thoughts. I was about to Ask Jesse how
  he's doing but I've already figured that he's pretty miserable. I'm on my way
  back to him with a surprise. A dry shirt, jacket and a wonderful kid who's
  willing to get soaked while holding an umbrella for him.

     "He asked you not to have sex with me. Didn't he?"

     I'm preventing a smug grin from forming on my lips. "Too bad you don't
  know the old tongue."

     "How do you know it?" Simon asks.

     I only shrug my shoulders in reply. When the boy squeezes my arm, I glance
  at him. Such strong emotions on his face! He's really anxious to know what
  I've been discussing with his grandfather.

     "Won't you tell me anything?"

     "Call him." I'm pulling out Running Water's cell phone and offer it to the
  boy. His eyes widen in alarm. "Let him know that we're safely on our way back
  to Havre."

     "Oh." Simon studies the cell phone for a moment then he dials the number.
  His conversation with his grandfather is brief.

     I'm given back the cell phone. Simon glares at me to answer his last
  question upon me. I release a deep sigh. "Your grandfather has given me
  charge over you."

     "As my monedo. I already knew that but... what will he let you do with me
  or has he forbidden us having sex?"

     "Jesse and I will guide your path into manhood with teachings for your
  head, your heart and in other things." My eyes flare. The boy picks up on my
  meaning that's likely getting his dick tingling. Mine is.

     "I've been talking to my grandfather about things going on with me. How I
  felt after meeting you, Jesse and Running Water. I'm okay with you showing
  me stuff that I won't confuse with it being love. I just hope that he can
  understand this about me." The boy nervously kicks at the floor mat.

     "Your grandfather accepts that you're gay, Simon."

     "Really? After you left me Saturday, he has been listening to me like he's
  never done before. I'm not a little kid anymore."

     I'm nodding in agreement. "You're a big kid now." A chuckle comes from me.
  "Jes and I know that you can handle what we did with you at the river. What
  your grandfather worries about is if your heart can handle it."

     "He doesn't want me doing anything with Running Water anymore."

     "Uh-huh. I've assured him that no man will have sex with you."

     "That includes you and Jesse?"

     "Nope. Your grandfather is allowing us to because he knows that your heart
  won't feel strongly for me or Jes since you know that we're already a couple.
  You won't try to steal my lover away from me. Right?" I study the boy's face
  for his reaction (there's some) but I Glean more from him that cannot be
  misread. It's as Goes-late-in-the-night fears. No good letting the boy know
  that I know and he may not even realize how he's falling for Jes. We're gonna
  have to do something about that. I don't want Simon's heart to break over his
  first crush.

     I turn right onto highway 87. We're racing north at 55 mph now that the
  rain has let up. Is it still raining on my lover's protest? I'll know soon.
  Simon has grown quiet. Is he thinking over what I've said about stealing my
  lover away? If the boy can recognize his strong feelings towards Jesse, that
  will help a lot. Something his grandfather said comes back to me. Good words.
  "I'm proud of you, little brother."

     "What for?" Simon asks in surprise.

     "You were able to get your grandfather to listen to you. He realizes that
  you're growing up and trying to deal with the urges any young man feels. You
  expressed what was in your heart to him. That's good. When you're able to be
  honest about them, you let us inside to help you deal with the more difficult
  ones that all of us have gone through. Even your grandfather. He was once a
  boy like yourself."

     "But he's not gay!"

     "Feelings that you have for another are the same whether you're gay or
  straight. These emotional attachments can be friendships, sexual longing
  or a first crush."

     "I'm not in love with Running Water. He was just a good fuck."

     "Raven Eyes!" That's Simon's secret name I've given him based on his
  Indian name. "Be respectful of your Elders," I scold.

     "Yes, sir."

     I'm smiling to myself. Jesse's mother had scolded him when he called
  Dirt-brought-up-in-his-hand by his nickname that's only supposed to be used
  by his close friends. 'Dirty Hands' is rather suggestive.

     "Do you and Jesse have secret names?"

     I'm nodding. "We may reveal them to you when you're ready."

     "Ready for what?"

     "Ah. Running Water named us during a threesome." Should I have revealed
  that to him?

     Simon's eyes pop out of his head. "All three of you were having sex
  together at the same time?"

     "Yeah. Running Water knew that we could handle it. I'm loved by both of
  them so they stuck me in the middle when we fucked."

     "Who was behind you?" asks Simon but he turns shy.

     "Running Water. I was ready for his big one because Jes had already given
  me a wet butt."

     "That means you were fucking Jesse."

     I'm nodding. "The two of them won't have sex together because they
  consider it to be incest. It's not like two guys can make a baby together."

     "You're in the middle of their love for you," Simon remarks.

     "Yeah." That's how Running Water came up with my secret name that this
  youth nearly uttered. "The three of us are old enough to handle it. Well, I
  took some time getting used to that notion. Running Water is experienced from
  having a lover before. Jesse and I were lovers in our previous lives."

     "Huh?"

     "Ah. I'll explain that to you another time. Okay?" Simon goes deep into
  thought for a while. A sign on the road indicates that Havre is only ten
  miles away. Still no rain. I hope another storm front doesn't come up to rain
  on my lover's little parade. Maybe more of the People will join into it if
  they aren't gonna get soaked.

     "When will I be ready?" asks Simon in a mere whisper.

     For what? Oh. I'm peering at the boy for a long moment before speaking.
  "When you're older and wiser about these things."

     "Wasn't that a threesome when Jesse and I were making love to you?"

     Simon means when he was fucking my butt while Jes was giving me a belly
  rub along with lots of his sweet kisses. "Only two of us were making 'love',"
  I point out to the boy. "My ass was just a second conquest for you that day."
  The boy's face is burning. He thinks for a moment before speaking again.

     "Do you mean that when I can really love you and Jesse in the way that
  Running Water loves you, I'll be told your secret names?"

     I'm rolling my eyes in dismay. "That's not what I meant!" Simon turns his
  head to look out his window. He's hoping to avoid me scolding him some more.
  A deep breath comes out of me in a huff. "It's my fault for confusing you.
  I am sorry, Simon. I'm not proving to be a good monedo to you, am I?"

     The boy continues looking out his window. I concentrate on the road since
  it's still a bit slippery after the rain. My thoughts turn deep. What I was
  trying to do was get Simon to admit that he has a crush on Jesse. Not to me
  but at least to himself. Man! I've only messed things up even worse than what
  they were. My lover is gonna have to clean this up for me.

     After a long silence, Simon turns to me. He's pointing down at his feet.

     "I think the rain has gotten in."

     "I know. The windshield is leaking on your side. I'll take my truck in to
  get that fixed."

     "This is your truck?" asks Simon.

     "Yeah. Winna gave it to me. It's been sitting in her garage for four years
  after her husband ran away. You knew about that?"

     Simon shakes his head back and forth. "That's real sad." He thinks about
  his own situation. "It seems like my dad has run away from me."

     "But he does come to see you on leave?"

     "When that happens," Simon answers. "He'd rather play soldier in Iraq than
  be with me."

     I'm shaking my head. "It's an honor for a man to serve his country. You
  shouldn't talk that way about your dad."

     Simon turns to look out his window. The rest of our ride is in silence.


     I'm passing the Havre Police station and look for a place to let Simon
  out. My eyes sweep past the eight protesters and I see Jesse! He walks ahead
  of them wielding his feathered coup stick while the others have their right
  hands raised in fists. I'm pulling to the curb near them. That's when I
  notice the news vans parked right across the street. My truck speeds ahead
  'cause I want to avoid being seen. The boy turns to me in surprise.

     "I'll let you out on the next block."

     "Don't you want to see your lover?"

     Pain fills my eyes. "More than you can know. It just wouldn't look good if
  I went to Jesse with these change of clothes and fussed over him. There are
  reporters waiting across the street. I'd get mobbed."

     "I'll fuss over Jes in your place!" promises Simon.

     "Give him a hug and kiss from me." The boy nods so I'm quickly saying,
  "I'm kidding. But do make sure that Jesse wears this dry shirt and puts on
  the jacket. He can wear his war robe over everything." My eyes flare.

     "I'll tell him that order comes from you."

     I'm nodding. "Simon. Thank you for watching after Jes. He's needing to be
  strong in front of the People so ah... respect that. Okay?"

     "I hear you."

     I'm pulling into the curb by a donut shop. We're a block away from the
  police station. Simon takes the clothes I've brought for Jesse and that big
  yellow umbrella. His extra set of clothes remains on the seat between us.
  I'm realizing something. After the protest, this kid will have to stay over
  night with us since I'll not risk driving him back home on that terrible
  road. His grandfather must have known this.

     "See you tonight!" exclaims Simon with a bright grin.

     We exchange knowing glances. My dick is tingling in anticipation but how
  can we sneak him into our bed with Winna in the house? She already suspects
  that we've been having sex with this kid and not liking that. Oh, well.
  One thing at a time.

     Simon gets out of my truck. He's waving to me and I wave back before I'm
  speeding away.


     Running Water is waiting for me at the house. It's nearly two o'clock. I
  return his cell phone to him and tell him about the difficulties I've had in
  driving to Simon's trailer and back. His grandparents are on their own until
  the road dries up. I'd brought them food. I hope my brother won't take that
  as vain boasting on my part. It was just the right thing to do and I wish I
  could do more for them. Especially for Simon's ailing grandmother. White
  man's medicine isn't working for her.

     "You are very caring of others, Mike."

     I'm muttering my thanks. "Now Simon can look after Jesse." My eyes widen
  in surprise for not Sending to my lover before now. :Jes? How are you!:

     :You've brought me a nice surprise, love.:

     :Yeah. I was worried about you getting cold from the rain. Have you put on
  that shirt and jacket I've brought you from the house?:

     :Yes. But I mean about Simon. He's dutifully holding the umbrella for me
  even though it's only sprinkling right now. I wondered why you didn't Talk
  with me earlier. Now, I know why. Thanks.:

     I'm closing my eyes in concentration. In a mind burst, I Tell Jesse
  everything that's happened when picking Simon up from the trailer. What his
  grandfather said to me. How I've messed things up during my talk with the boy
  during our drive back to Havre. Everything.

     :It'll be alright, love. I suspected that Simon was getting a crush on me.
  He'll be staying overnight with us. I'll talk with him about it then.:

     I've caught a hint of excitement in my lover concerning that boy. He plans
  for us to get together with him without his mother knowing. It worked before,
  when I'd stayed over that first night in their front room and Jes came to me
  for some loving. Winna never knew.

     :What are you thinking, love?:

     I didn't realize that my thoughts have become guarded. :Nice things.:

     :Me too. Maybe I'll break Simon in tonight. He's got a nice ass.:

     :Jesse!:

     :Only after I put some sense into that boy. It's rather endearing that he
  feels so strong for me. His grandfather is right. We need to remind Simon
  that he's as a little brother to us. That's how we love him. He understands
  that we're sharing ourselves with him because sex feels good. A boy his age
  needs release so it's better that we help him with that than some guy who
  would be taking advantage of him. Simon might think that came from being
  loved when it's only lust.:

     :Aren't we taking advantage of him in a way?: I Ask. I've lusted over that
  kid's nice body myself.

     :We don't force ourselves onto him, love. Remember your restraint when
  Simon wanted to do things with you at the river? I'm very proud of you.:

     :Yeah. But afterwards, Running Water let the boy fuck him and I did, too.
  He'd let you 'break him in' out of his strong feelings for you that are
  misplaced, Jes. I've promised not to hurt the boy! His heart would break.:

     :I will have a good talk with him first so don't worry, love. Simon can
  handle it.:

     :Maybe we shouldn't do anything with him tonight.: I'm feeling regret
  after saying that.

     "We'll see. It's not often that we can get together with Simon. He'll be
  really disappointed if we don't and that can hurt him just as bad.:

     :You really want to fuck him, Jes?:

     :I've Felt that he wants to know what that's like. My thing is small so it
  won't hurt him much. Better me than some horny bastard who'll rape the poor
  willing boy.:

     I'm feeling ashamed of myself. I very nearly was that horny bastard my
  lover speaks of when Simon stuck his butt in my face.

     :But you didn't, love. If Simon lets me give him a wet ass tonight, your
  thing will be able to slip in easier to give him a ride that he wants. I know
  that you want to fuck him, too. He's got a nice butt.:

     My cock is tingling. I'm gasping for breath at my sharp lust. :Really?
  Do you think Simon would want me to?:

     :I know he does. The boy practically begged you to fuck him when you first
  met, remember? He knows how good it feels to do a butt when Running Water and
  you let him. Giving his butt to others would be a new experience. I've Felt
  in Simon this same desire we have to give of ourselves for the pleasure of
  others. It'll make him feel completed because he's two spirited.:

     I feel that same way by being completely gay. Running Water is staring at
  me and I'm blinking my eyes when losing contact with my lover. Jesse Sent me
  some last thoughts before we did.

     "How is Jesse?"

     I'm wetting my lips. "Fine. He's put on those dry clothes and Simon is
  holding the umbrella for him. At least he adds to their number of protesters.
  What did the noon news report?"

     "They showed them braving the rainstorm. Most of the policemen had run
  back inside the station to get out of it," laughs Running Water.

     I'm laughing with him until the man turns serious when he tells me more
  about the news report.

     "Video was played of our meeting last night. Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn
  read the D.A.'s apology letter and they showed the People's angry reaction to
  it. There was Bill Ruston's speech. You were shown standing up to defend
  that man. They showed the tribal council voting against accepting his
  resignation. I don't think Ruston will offer it to the city council after
  seeing our support for him. You made that happen, Mike."

     "Did they show what our shaman said afterwards?" I'm worried because
  grandfather practically told everyone that Jesse and I are together.

    "Some of it. The report focused mostly on Captain Ruston. Why he's been put
  on administrative leave for misconduct at the police station. I was glad to
  see that there's now questions being raised about Lt. John Danielson. The
  D.A.'s statement is going to be released at five o'clock."

     "I'll want to see that." I'm peering at Running water intently when I ask,
  "Will the People join into the protest after they get off from work like
  you've said? They should, at least for Jesse's sake so he won't be
  humiliated in front of the police. No one's gonna come because of me."

     Running water releases a sharp breath. "Mike. The People don't know you
  very well. Even after what their shaman has told them, their hearts need to
  feel this truth about you for themselves. The protest will grow by this
  evening. You'll see. At least it won't be raining like before. That's what
  the weatherman reported."

     I'm dropping my eyes to my feet to hide my doubts from Running Water. He
  grasps my shoulder and I reach up to cover his hand with my own. That last
  thing Jesse Sent me comes to mind. My brother is with me now so why blow it?
  "Your hand feels good..." I'm lifting my shoulders and ask, "Can you massage
  them for me? I'm really feeling tense after my drive back here."

     "Sure."

     I turn around and take my shirt off. Running Water is looking up at the
  kitchen clock before his hands come to my shoulders. "We'll have enough time
  before Winna gets off from work to do stuff together." There. I've said it.
  He pulls me over to the stool to sit on. My head hangs to my chest when the
  man massages my tight muscles. His hands are working their magic on me.

     A plan comes to me for where we can get together in the house. Not in
  Jesse's bedroom because that's our space. I'm moaning from my massage but
  bring myself to tell Running Water what we can do in a round about way.
  "That hot tub would have been great." I wet my lips. "You know. We have the
  same thing here of sorts..."

     "A hot tub?" Running Water asks, surprised.

     "Let's sit in the bathtub. There's enough room for both of us."

     "I don't know..."

     I'm Feeling my brother's embarrassment. Silly, really. He's okay with
  being naked with me at his cousin's house and we've made lots of love. Taking
  a bath with another guy must be a new experience for him. I rise from my
  stool and turn to Running Water. The longing on his face disappears when he
  puts on that mask I'm often seeing from him in front of people. That hurt.
  I don't hide my dismay from him.

     "You really want to, Mike?"

     I'm smiling, taking my brother's hand and Send him all my love. We share a
  small Connection of our own. No passing of thought directed words but we Feel
  things from each other. Running Water's longing returns to his face for me.
  I pull him towards the hall and he offers no resistance. We're nearly running
  to the bathroom.


     Hot water runs down past my knees. I'm sitting with my legs crossed in the
  front of the tub while Running Water sits close behind me. His strong hands
  are massaging my shoulders. It feels soooooo good!

     Steam rises around us. All the tension this day had brought is melting
  away. What a great idea of mine. We are getting to enjoy a hot tub session
  together after all. My hands paddle through the water to send warmth back to
  my companion, duplicating what that water jet did for us in the hot tub.

     After a while, our tub fills with hot water nearly up to our chests. I'm
  turning the spigots off. Running Water's hands have since lowered down my
  back until he's fondling my butt under the water. I rise slightly so he can
  reach all of my cheeks. My cock is rock hard. I'm feeling the tip of his when
  it bumps against me. I push off the tub to set myself in this man's lap. He
  helps guide me back onto him with his hands under my butt. He continues
  fondling me there.

     A sharp thrill goes through my asshole. That gets my cock throbbing a lot.
  "God! I want you to fuck me."

     "I will," Running Water answers hoarsely. "Lay over me and we'll soak for
  a little while longer."

     The man's hands rush up my back until he's grasping my underarms. He helps
  lower me onto him as we lay back fully in the tub. It is big enough for two.
  Our feet press against the tiled wall while his upper body rises along the
  back of the tub. My shoulders are out of the water. Most of me is submerged
  but my full weight isn't pressing down on Running Water from the buoyancy my
  body has in the water. I peer down at my cock sticking up like a periscope. A
  brown hand reaches for it. He's gently stroking over it while giving me sweet
  kisses to my neck. Ahhhh. My butt is tickled by his hard cock that'll soon be
  put inside it to fill me. I just love the idea of him doing that to me!

     "I love you, Mike."

     How softly he whispered that. "I love you too, Running Water." My heart
  bursts that we're being together without any guilt that I'm betraying Jesse.
  This was his idea. Well. Not that we're gonna be in the tub but he Asked me
  to make love to his uncle.

     "I'm so lucky to have met you. I never knew how tender a white guy can be
  and you're so giving. Jes-ee-ah too for letting me be with you. I'm sorry
  when I sometimes doubt that but here you are with me." Running Water laughs.
  "In the bathtub!"

     "Ron never did this with you?"

     "No. We've gone over to my cousin's house to soak together. The tub at
  Ron's trailer was too small or we'd have enjoyed a sitting in it that could
  have saved us that long drive into the res."

     Funny how Running Water still refers to that trailer I've rented as being
  Ron's. The tub there was rather small. Winna's is longer and wider because
  this is a house where there's room to fit it. I'll be taking more baths here
  with Jesse if his mom doesn't mind. I can see it now. After we've soaked for
  an hour, Winna will be pounding on the bathroom door to use the toilet. I'm
  laughing to myself.

     "What is it?"

     "I was thinking about something silly. That's all." I'm not gonna tell him
  'cause that might make Running Water self conscious about being in Winna's
  house making love to me. I don't want to ruin this moment.

     I'm looking down at Running Water's brown hand stroking over my cock. He's
  not trying to get me off. I've only been able to beat off 'forward' that one
  time when I was sitting with Hawk Flying Over in his hot tub. Pulling over my
  dick feels good. I do that to get myself hard before pushing it down between
  my thighs for a wet ending. Pride fills me. My cock has performed for me when
  it's stuck in a butt. I've fucked Jesse and Running Water. Tonight, I may
  get to enjoy Simon's little ass if he's willing. Man! My former self never
  fucked a boy but if Wind-go-through-his-hair had offered Chris his butt, he'd
  have done him in an eye blink. That youth only liked to fuck. Owopspec and I
  were satisfying him nearly every morning and night along with each other.

     Hmm. It occurs to me that Simon and Wind-go-through-his-hair are about
  the same age. Jesse's former self as Owopspec and my former self as Chris
  were lovers and they shared their love with a boy. Simon has come to be with
  us in our second chance at life. Do things repeat themselves, I wonder?

     Running Water releases my cock when both of his hands rise to my chest.
  His swirling palms tickle my nipples. It's a very nice sensation. Hmm. I'm
  breathing heavily through my nose.

     "Are you feeling relaxed?"

     "Yeah." Running Water lifts his knees out of the water and his thighs
  press along both sides of my butt. I'm feeling his hard cock throbbing along
  the crack of my ass. An intense thrill shoots through my hole. That must be
  like what a woman feels when she's about to offer her opening to a man's
  need. Mine just happens to be in back of my body. I think a butt hole is
  tighter to stick through than a cunt. I like men butts!

     "I want to fuck you now."

     "Oh, yeah?" I'm humping myself with his cock trapped between my cheeks.
  "How you wanna do it?"

     "We need to get out of the water. Ah. Stand up and hold onto the spigots
  so I can rape your ass good."

     Oh, boy! I'm getting to my feet with Running Water's help. His hands are
  pulling me up by my butt until I assume the position. He falls to his knees
  in the bathtub. His kisses come to my cheeks with small bites that leaves me
  gasping. I'm bending over. The man's tongue slips into the crack of my ass.
  When he rims my asshole, I wail out from the intense pleasure of it. Ahhhhh!
  His face pulls back to take an urgent breath then he dives back into my butt.
  I can hardly wait to feel his cock inside me!

     Running Water rushes to stand up behind me. Water splashes around my feet
  and I think some has spilled out to the floor. We'll towel that up later. His
  hands fondle my cheeks and pull them apart when he directs his cock in. I'm
  trying to relax myself back there. His is pretty big.

     "Are you ready, Mike?"

     I'm nodding excitedly. My asshole is penetrated and I gasp with pain! He
  pulls out.

     "Sorry."

     "It's alright. Try again but more slowly." Running Water massages my
  cheeks for a moment before he sticks his knob onto my hole. Gentle back and
  forth stabs are given to it. When he tries sticking in, my cheeks tighten
  from the pain. I'm holding my breath so he won't hear me gasping. More of
  this man's cock is shoved into me. I cry out!

     "I am sorry, Mike. You've taken my size before so I don't get it."

     I'm thinking back to the river when Running Water last fucked me. He was
  only tickling onto my hole with lots of oozing coming from his cock. Only
  when he was about to cum did I back onto him to catch that inside my butt. It
  had hurt some. He managed to fuck me fully a second time because my asshole
  was plenty slippery. An idea comes to me. "Get that jar of Vaseline from the
  medicine cabinet."

     I watch Running Water step from the tub to get it. His slippery brown butt
  flexes with his strides and I'm tempted to give chase and do him first. The
  man looks back at me with concern showing on his face. I smile, turning
  from him to assume the position with my butt sticking out for his use. My
  hands grip the spigots. I hear the medicine cabinet closing. He steps back
  into the bathtub with me and I'm feeling his finger slipping between my
  cheeks. I spread my legs so he can lube up my asshole.

     After some fingering, Running Water tries fitting his cock inside me
  again. I'm preparing for the pain but there's only that familiar sense of
  fullness in my butt when he fully mounts me. My asshole tightens around his
  cock when it begins to hurt. I try relaxing myself so it'll go away. The
  man's hands rub over my cheeks to soothe me. That helps.

     "Tell me when I can begin," asks Running Water.

     I'm breathing deeply to relax myself. The pain slowly fades from my butt.
  I reach back for his and pull over it to let him know I'm ready. The man
  pulls back then gently stabs his cock into my ass. As deep as it was before.
  Not much pain. I pull over his slippery ass. "Fuck me!"

     I'm needing both hands on the spigots when Running Water's thrusts pound
  into my butt. I gasp every time. Not from pain, his long cock is making me
  feel very intense. He's hitting something deep in my ass. Oh, yeah. It's my
  prostate. His hands are pulling over my waist to bring my butt onto him. Our
  slippery legs rub against each other. My cheeks feel the crunch of his groin
  hair when he stabs me. I like getting my butt conquered!

     Owopspec was often doing that. His cock was about this man's size and he
  had reach to hit Christopher's prostate. I'm feeling more intense in this
  new body than what my former self ever felt. Those are only memories while
  what I'm experiencing is happening now. Soon, they'll fade into a sweet
  memory as well.

     "I'm feeling really good, Mike!" warns Running Water.

     The man's cock is stiffening in my asshole. My cock stiffens too and it
  feels intense but not to where I'll cum. It's a strange sensation that's hard
  to describe. A man's prostate gives him a way to feel a woman's pleasure when
  she's getting fucked yet it's a kind of pain/tickle for a guy. I'm not sure
  how to interpret these strange sensations.

     A wet slapping sound fills the tub. Running Water is growling like a bear
  for being close to satisfying himself. I want to catch that moment when he
  cums. Sometimes I'm able to feel that gushing in my asshole. To know that my
  ass offers a man sexual relief is very exciting! Owopspec often made the
  rounds in camp at night and returned to our tipi with a filled butt. He'd
  share some of the more interesting accounts of the men fucking him with
  Wind-go-through-his-hair and me. We'd take our turns in his slippery hole and
  try to guess how many cocks he's satisfied on any given evening.

     I'm crying out when the pain/tickle in my ass becomes too intense! My cock
  surges like it's trying to cum but nothing comes out. Running Water grunts in
  that deep voice of his. He locks his hands over my belly, keeping his cock
  buried very deep inside me. Shallow stabs. I feel his spurts! I'm counting at
  least five of them filling my ass when the man releases his sigh of relief.
  He rests heavily over me for a moment. There's a throbbing in my hole that
  slowly fades like a drum beat in the distance.

     I reach my left hand back to give Running Water's ass a fond pat. His
  hands move to my hips (to push me off his cock?) but I have other plans.
  Jesse has warned me to wait for his uncle's big one to become limp before
  pulling it from my butt. That's how I'd gotten hurt that last time. My hand
  pulls over the man's cheek to keep our bodies together.

     "You want me to fuck you again, Mike?" laughs Running Water.

     "Not right now though I'm sure you could do it." He did so at the river
  nearly a week ago. What a horny bastard! "Can we lay back down in the tub
  like before? I want you to keep your cock in me."

     "I'll try."

     Running Water grasps my hips and we slowly squat down into the water. His
  cock remains inside my slippery butt. I'm keeping my left hand tight around
  his butt. When we're both on our knees, the man has to perform some fancy leg
  work to straighten them out and then I'm lowered onto his body.

     "It's nice staying together like this," says Running Water.

     "Yeah." I'm humping my cheeks to enjoy feeling his cock in me. It's still
  hard. My cock is taken in hand but his stroking is hurting me for some reason.

     "I know of a way to ease it's aching," suggests Running Water.

     He means by having me fuck him. I'm not wanting our bodies to separate
  yet. Maybe I can get him to cum in me a second time like he did at the river.

     My butt humps over Running Water's groin. I'm forcing his thrusts into me
  that enrages his male lust. His hands pull over my waist. Water threatens to
  overflow the tub by our violent motion. Yup. I hear a splash to the floor.

     Running Water's hand grasps my cock. When he starts pulling over it, I'm
  feeling too intense. "Stop it. Okay?"

     "What's wrong, Mike?"

     He's let me go but I'm left feeling a little embarrassed. I have to tell
  him what's going on so he won't feel bad. "When you fucked me, it's made my
  cock feel real intense. That's because your long cock massaged my prostate.
  It's pleasurable, I think. The sensation leaves me feeling too sensitive to
  cum. I'm not wanting that right now besides. Your arms around me and having
  our bodies fit together gives me a deep sense of completion."

     "I know what you mean," whispers Running Water.

     "If you want to fuck me some more, go ahead. I like offering myself for
  your pleasure that also pleasures me especially when I'm feeling your strong
  gushing in my hole." My face is burning after admitting that.

     "Are you saving your sperm for your lover?"

     "No! I meant what I said about my cock feeling too intense right now.
  Jesse warned me that my butt will get hurt if you pull out when you're still
  hard." I'm wiggling my impaled ass over the man's groin. Yup. He's still at
  full length inside me.

     "I don't want to hurt you, Mike."

     "You aren't. Really! If I can get you to cum again, your cock will go down
  and then maybe I'll be able to give you a wet butt."

     "I want you to be satisfied as a man."

     "I am! Just because I'm not expressing that from the front part of my body
  doesn't mean you haven't satisfied me. Fuck me some more. Okay?" I'm reaching
  down in the water to pull over the man's ass. That entices him to do me.

     "Try to open the drain with your toes," asks Running Water. "The water
  makes our bodies too slippery."

     I'm reaching for the lever with my right foot. A strong downwards tap
  moves it and I hear a gurgling of water running down the drain. My hands
  continue to pull over Running Water's butt to force his stabs into my butt.

     "What an eager pup you are, Mike!"

     "Yes I am. A real gay fuck!" We're both laughing. When the water empties
  from the tub, the full weight of my body presses down on his. He's already
  begun an earnest fucking in my ass that sends waves of intense sensations
  through my prostate and into my cock. It's aching me a lot.

     Running Water's butt is making farting noises against the wet tub. His
  breaths are blowing fast against my right ear, turning to deep throated
  groans from the building thrills he's enjoying by fucking me. I know that a
  second release can take longer to achieve but it's also the sweetest. I'm
  gonna drain his balls dry.

     "Are you... hurting... Mike?" gasps Running Water between breaths.

     "No! Don't stop... Don't stop!" I cry out. His body under me is bucking
  like a wild bronco. I'm remaining in the saddle. His hands are locked over my
  belly so there really isn't any way I'd fall off him. Nor do I want to. My
  feet press hard against the wall to force his cock deeper inside me. It's
  stiffening painfully in my asshole with upwards stabs that strike my prostate
  like a hammer. I'm wailing out like a girl. The pain/tickles deep in my butt
  become unbearable! He doesn't end his sweet torturing so I'm wondering if
  he's gonna be able to cum. My cock is shooting off! Not so much from pleasure
  as from a needing to release the pressure. My butt tightens and that sends
  Running Water off the edge. His intense thrills from cumming are Passed to
  me. "I feel it!" I'm crying out again and again. The man's gushing is filling
  me like there's no tomorrow yet it ends, leaving us both utterly exhausted
  with that sweet male relief we're both enjoying after mating.

     Urgent breaths race through our mouths. Our heated bodies relax. My
  eyesight returns. Running Water is asking me if I'm alright. Laughing mostly
  from relief but also from the wonder of such a mind blowing fuck, I answer,
  "I am now."


     I'm sitting on the couch with Running Water and holding hands with him. We
  have the television on. I'm looking up at the clock and at that moment, it
  begins to chime. Five times. The commercial we've been watching comes to an
  end. I sit up when the news begins. Ouch! My butt hurts a lot. I'm still
  holding sperm in it because I couldn't go to the bathroom earlier and risk
  having it hurt more.

     "Good evening, and welcome to Newscast Four at five o'clock. I'm Taylor
  Jones."

     "And I'm Mary Blanchet. Topping our news this evening are the ongoing
  protests at the Havre Police station. The district attorney's office has also
  made their charges known against former Police Chief Captain Bill Ruston for
  alleged misconduct. We'll begin first with an update by reporter Caitlin Bray
  on her coverage of the protesters. Caitlin?"

     I'm squeezing Running Water's hand when we see the police station on T.V.
  A group of loud protesters are shaking their signs at the camera. My heart
  lifts to see that there's at least a few dozen of them. Where's Jesse?

     "Good evening, Mary. What you're seeing now is a separate protest by a
  group of Blackfoot Indians. As you'll recall, they'd blocked the entrance to
  Shoemaker's Mine earlier this month to protest the killing of salmon from
  heavy metals they believe are leaching into the rivers from its operation. A
  spokesman for this group told me that they've come here to the police station
  to remind people about their ongoing fight against the mines."

     Mary Blanchet asks, "They aren't part of the original protest that began
  this morning?"

     "No, they're not. This group arrived nearly an hour ago and have kept
  their distance from the other protest in front of the station."

     My heart sinks. They're only here to capture news attention for their own
  cause but what about Jesse's? The camera swings to the right along the metal
  barriers and policemen standing guard over a small group of soggy protesters.
  I recognize One-white-horse walking wearily behind a man I don't recognize.
  There's Jesse and Simon! A big yellow umbrella is being held above them by
  the youth in both hands. He's full of energy. I can't say that about my lover
  when I see him leaning on his coup stick as if to help him walk. He's looking
  down wearily at the ground. Dejected. :Jes!: I Call out.

     :You're seeing me on T.V.?:

     :Yeah. You look like hell!:

     :I'm just tired, love. You would be too after walking back and forth and
  back and forth for hours over fourteen sidewalk squares with ten policemen
  glaring down from the steps."

     :I am so sorry! That must be torture for you. What can I do?: Jesse is
  seen on T.V. looking up at someone. A light shines on his face. He flinches,
  stopping dead in his tracks in front of the reporter.

     "I'm Caitlin Bray from Newscast Four. You've shown a lot of bravery to
  march during that terrible rainstorm, Jesse. Can you tell me why you're
  leading this protest?"

     "We're here for Mike. To show our support for Mike Yager because the
  police... they did wrong to him." Jesse closes his eyes for a moment. "His
  civil rights were violated."

     My heart pains me to see how tired my lover is! He can't even talk.

     "I can see that your exhausted," says Ms. Bray sympathetically. "Why don't
  you collect your thoughts and I'll get back to you." She turns to the boy
  standing at Jesse's side. "What is your name?"

     "Ah. I'm Simon." He turns shy in front of the camera.

     "Are you the official umbrella holder at this protest?" asks Ms. Bray.

     Simon is obviously flustered by that question. He's looking around for
  someone to save him from being interviewed.

     "Do you know Mr. Yager?" asks the reporter.

     Determination comes into Simon's eyes and he speaks right up. "I know
  Mike. He's the nicest most helpful white guy that I've ever met! When our
  trailer was sinking in a mud hole last week, he came to help us. He waded
  right in with me and helped stack logs to lift my grandfather's trailer so
  it wouldn't topple over. My grandmother was inside, sick in bed. If not for
  Mike, we'd have lost our home!"

     "That was very nice of Mr. Yager." She turns to Jesse and sticks her
  microphone towards him.

     Simon steps in front of Jesse to shield him from her intrusion. The boy
  looks directly into the camera, speaking in Siksika. "Jes-ee-ah has been
  here for hours! Why haven't you come to be at your war leader's side? He's
  protesting for you, the Blackfoot People who were wronged by the police! They
  lost our tribe's Power Bundle and the D.A. hoped that an apology would make
  it all better. We're not that stupid! Jes-ee-ah was attacked by two policemen
  and now, Mike is in trouble for defending him. I know that a lot of you don't
  know Mike Short Hair but he has a good heart. I've seen this myself. He's
  helped my grandparents, Jes-ee-ah and our whole tribe. Let's help him now.
  Please! Won't you come out and show your support?"

     "What did you just say?" asks Mrs. Bray.

     Simon turns shy again. "I've asked the People to come out and join our
  protest for Mike. He's been helping our tribe with all that's been going on."

     When it seems that Ms. Bray is going to try interviewing Jesse again,
  One-white-horse blocks the camera view with his back. The protesters continue
  their march past the reporter. The cameraman focuses on her.

     "This is Caitlin Bray from Newscast Four, reporting from the Havre Police
  station. Back to you, Mary."

     "Thank you for that report. Don't get trampled between those two protests.
  Try to keep warm and dry."

     What a dumb thing to say. I Feel anger in my brother and a growl rises in
  his throat. He pulls out his cell phone. Mary turns to her co-anchor in the
  studio but he pauses from giving his report. A picture of Captain Ruston in
  full dress uniform appears on the screen.

     "The district attorney's office has just faxed over their statement to our
  newsroom," says Taylor Jones. "Captain Ruston was placed on administrative
  leave yesterday and the Havre City Council appointed Lt. John Danielson as
  interim police chief." He looks down at a piece of paper set before him. He's
  glancing through it before speaking again.

     "District Attorney Ralston has brought the following charges against
  Captain Bill Ruston. The reporter holds his finger on each point when reading
  them to his audience. "Failure to secure evidence. Violation of evidentiary
  procedures and release of criminal investigatory findings to the defendant's
  attorney, Mr. Talbert."

     The reporter looks up from the D.A.'s statement with bewilderment. I'm
  just as confused about what those charges mean. Running Water has been
  speaking with someone in Siksika on his cell phone. I'm turning to him when
  he raises his voice in anger.

     "A personal matter? You could have told someone about it before now! Why
  couldn't an assistant handle the rallying calls?"

     Running Water is fuming while he listens to what are obviously excuses by
  whoever he's called. I'm drawn back to the news report on T.V. There's a man
  who's dressed like an attorney explaining what those charges mean in layman's
  terms. His name appears in teletype at the bottom of our screen: Ralph James.

     "... refers to the 'misplacement' of that Power Bundle that was supposed
  to be secure in the station's evidence room. The D.A.'s apology letter to the
  Blackfoot had said as much. The charge of violating evidentiary procedures
  refers to evidence Captain Ruston had returned to Mr. Yager. It's believed
  that Lt. Scott Danielson took it from Mrs. Winnapah's residence prior to his
  attack. The D.A. obviously thinks this evidence should have been handed over
  to their office for review instead of it being returned to the defendant.
  That charge of releasing criminal investigatory findings to the defendant's
  attorney means that the D.A. accuses Captain Ruston of leaking information to
  Mr. Yager's attorney. That's inappropriate conduct."

     Mr. Jones asks, "How serious are these charges? If Internal Affairs
  determines that any one of them against Captain Ruston is founded, what could
  happen to him?"

     "That depends on which ones are proven," answers Ralph James. "I believe
  that the first charge won't stick unless Captain Ruston is shown to be
  directly responsible for the 'misplacement' of that Blackfoot Power Bundle.
  Obviously, it's no longer in their evidence room. The custodian officer is
  responsible for securing that room and removal of evidence requires a signed
  release authorized by the police chief. Captain Ruston stated that no one had
  signed out for it. Why doesn't the D.A.'s office admit that it's been stolen?
  I believe they fear a backlash from the Blackfoot People. Mr. Ralston's
  apology letter to them made it seem that their sacred belonging might still
  turn up somewhere in the police station but that's doubtful. Therefore,
  someone has to take the blame."

     "... Jes-ee-ah is looking like a fool out there!" yells Running Water into
  his cell phone. "What are you going to do about it?"

     Man! My brother is sure pissed at whoever he's talking to. His lips press
  together in a grimace when he listens to the response. I'm looking back at
  the television.

     "... if Lt. Scott Danielson removed evidence legally," says Ralph James.
  "Captain Ruston obviously believed that this officer had done so without good
  cause so he returned Mr. Yager's property to him. The D.A. doesn't agree
  with his decision. Prosecutor Benton might not have been able to use this
  evidence in court but reviewing it could have helped him understand why the
  lieutenant was in Mrs. Winnapah's house and if it has any bearing on why the
  defendant assaulted him..."

     "Mike! Can you get on the Internet with your laptop?" asks Running Water.

     "Yeah." He brings the cell phone back to his ear after holding it against
  his chest to prevent his question to me from being overheard. His eyes roll
  in dismay. That person he's called is still talking.

     "... Captain Ruston and Mr. Talbert during a criminal investigation. It's
  known that those two men are good friends. If Internal Affairs can prove that
  there was inappropriate communication between them especially if it was to
  the defendant's advantage, that is grounds for dismissal from the police
  force and Captain Ruston could face criminal charges himself by..."

     The tone of Running Water's voice catches my attention. No longer angry,
  he's speaking into his cell phone with deadly earnest that reminds me of a
  warrior who threatens to avenge a wrong done to him.

     "The tribal council will hear of your inaction this day, Elder. I hope you
  think it was worth it to help your 'sick friend' get onto his feet. All four
  of them."

     Running Water snaps his cell phone closed. I see the determination in his
  eyes to do something with my help.

     "Asshole!" Running Water swears. "He thinks that his sports car is more
  important than performing his duties to the People."

     "Who?" I ask. "What duties?" Running Water takes a few deep breaths to
  calm himself before answering me. I hear the reporter asking Ralph James what
  his take is on what's been happening. My attention returns to my brother.

     "Elder Rides-a-fiery-horse. After the meeting last night, he offered to
  make calls today that would rally a lot of people to attend the protest. He's
  influential with the younger generation who don't usually bother themselves
  in tribal concerns unless they're given a nudge."

     "He didn't make those calls?" I ask.

     "No. Rides-a-fiery-horse claims that he was busy helping a 'sick friend'.
  That would be his precious sports car. I know this because when I called his
  office this afternoon, his assistant told me about the Elder's fender bender.
  He'd skidded into a post during the rainstorm and now he's at the body shop.
  Mike. I have to start making those calls."

     "Sure. Do you have phone numbers?"

     "They're on a website," says Running Water. "It lists all the Blackfoot
  People who are registered with the U.S. Government so they can receive
  payments from a fund they've set up from the sale of oil being pumped on the
  Reservations. Ron helped make that happen."

     I remember reading about that in Ron's diary. There was a dispute over the
  rights to new oil wells in the Rocky Boys Reservation that several Native
  Nations laid claim to. Ron helped negotiate a payment percentage agreement.
  Though Ron was adopted into the Blackfoot Tribe, he was helping other Native
  Peoples like the Cree and Chippewa with recovering their sacred belongings
  kept illegally by collectors and returning the bones of ancestors for burial.
  He was a good man. If the Indians were to learn that he'd been having sex
  with Jesse, all the good he's done would become overshadowed by that
  scandal. I wish that his diary had never been found!

     I'm rushing to my bedroom. My laptop is found under the bed where I've
  left it. It's carried back to the kitchen along with its power supply. After
  plugging the telephone in, I boot it up. I'm dialing into my ISP and the
  browser appears. I'm asking Running Water to give me the web address.

     "It's www.blackfoot.org," he says.

     After a moment, the 'Official Site of the Blackfoot Nation" appears on my
  screen. I'm scanning through an index on the left which lists things like
  'Spirit Talk Press', 'Purchase A Blackfoot Tipi (Lodge)', 'Teachings From Our
  Ancestors', 'Tracing Blackfoot Ancestors', etc. but I can't find that list of
  registered Blackfoot People he'd spoken about.

     "Click that."

     Running Water points to 'Links to Other Sites'. I'm doing so. A long list
  of related sites appears and he points to the 'Blackfoot Registered with the
  U.S. GOV.' link. I'm clicking that. A homepage appears that's very official
  looking. So does the 'Password:_________' field. A warning message below says
  that this is required to access personal information on this site. My fingers
  are poised to type it in.

     "I don't know the password," says Running Water. "Ron did."

     "We're gonna need it to access those telephone numbers you want to call.
  Do you know anyone else who could give you the password?" Running Water nods.
  He's pulling out his cell phone and dials a number.

     "Hello. Binds-his-Post? This is Running Water. I'm calling to ask you for
  the password to that U.S. Government site listing registered Blackfoot. No.
  The Elder didn't say I could but..."

     I can tell that Rides-a-fiery-horse's assistant doesn't want to give it.
  My brother seems to be getting an earful. His expression turns to one of
  disappointment. An idea comes to me. "Hand me the phone!" Running Water does
  after some hesitation and I'm hearing a man speaking in Siksika.

     "... bit my ass when you told him that!"

     "Ah. This is Short Hair. Since the Elder is too busy, my brother will be
  making those calls on his behalf. All we need is that password. Okay?"

     "Short Hair?" the man asks. He gasps in sudden recognition. "You're Mike
  Yager, aren't you?"

     "That's my white name, yes."

     "Like I've told Running Water, I can't give it out without the Elder's
  permission. I'm sorry."

     "But you do know what the password is?" I'm Reaching out to Binds-his-post
  to Glean it. It's startling what else I learn from this man. He works as an
  accountant for Rides-a-fiery-horse. For the past fourteen years, he's helped
  the Elder in his duties as financial officer to the Blackfoot Nation. They've
  embezzled money from certain accounts and accepted bribes from the big oil
  companies who pump out more oil than is officially reported to the U.S. Gov.
  I'm angrily handing the phone back to Running Water. At the password field, I
  type in: FieryHorse'sPorche, and press the Enter key. I'm in!

     Running Water pleads to be given the password until I mouth the words,
  'Hang up!'. I'm frantically pointing at my laptop screen in triumph. He tells
  Binds-his-post that he's sorry for having bothered him and hangs up.

     "How did you get it, Mike?"

     I'm touching my nose with a sly grin. "Binds-his-post provided it for me
  along with something else he and the Elder have been keeping to themselves."

     "Like what?"

     The smile disappears from my lips. "I'll tell you later."

     "Click that," asks Running Water.

     A list of names appears on my screen. Below each one is their age, gender,
  Native blood (full, half or quarter), occupation, address, telephone number
  and when they registered with the U.S. Government. A long serial number ends
  each record which is highlighted in blue. I know that clicking on that will
  likely provide me with more detailed information about that person.

     "Can you find Blue-flowers-in-her-hair?" asks Running Water.

     All the names on my screen begin with the letter 'A'. At the top, I see an
  'A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z-#-(other)' access bar so
  I click on 'B'. When my screen fills with names beginning with that letter, I
  press CTRL-F and the 'Find' dialog box appears. I'm typing in: 'Blue-flow'
  and press the Enter key. The name my brother wanted becomes highlighted.

     Blue-flowers-in-her-hair
     41  female  full  housewife
     Rt. 6, box 41 Pines Way Road
     Bowdoin, MT 59503
     (406) 265-8147
     10-8-1994
     BF-93053353570283649

     Running Water dials his cell phone. After a moment, I hear him speaking.

     "Hello. Is Blue-flowers-in-her-hair at home? Please ask your mom to come
  to the phone. Thank you." After a pause, a woman comes on the line. "Hello?
  This is Running Water. How have you been! That's good. Yes. I'm fine, thanks.
  I'm calling to ask if you've been watching the protest on T.V." A long pause.
  "Yes, that's true. My nephew has been out there since this morning during the
  storm. Do you know if your eldest son will be joining them? No. I've not
  spoken with him about it. I was hoping that you could get the boy off his ass
  and do something for the tribe for a change. It's important."

     I'm smiling to myself. Running Water obviously knows this woman very well
  otherwise he wouldn't have made that rude comment about her son.

     "You will speak with him about it? Thank you. I'd really appreciate it if
  you could call around to motivate some other youngsters to go to Havre. No.
  It's only drizzling right now but isn't it worth getting wet hair to having
  them release some pent-up hostility towards Them?" Running Water then laughs.
  "I know what you mean! I'm sorry that I can't chat right now. I've a lot more
  calls to make to mothers like yourself with lazy good-for-nothing sons who
  should jump at the chance to stand up in pride amongst their tribesmen in a
  worthy cause. Yes... I'm afraid that's often true. Ah. It's been good talking
  with you, Blue-flowers-in-her-hair. Goodbye."

     I'm smiling at my brother when he holds up one finger. "Who do you want to
  call next?"

     "I can easily think of fifty other names, Mike. If only I hadn't waited
  until now to act! Damn that Elder. He should of let someone know earlier that
  he couldn't keep his promise to the tribal council. The protest is going to
  be over with before I can even get through half of those names."

     "Then let me help you make some of those calls."

     "Mike. People will likely show up at the protest on their own when they
  get off from work. They already know what's going on by attending last
  night's meeting or watching it on T.V. I'm calling those families with young
  men who only need a little nudge to get them off their butts."

     "You can't fuck all of them on your own." I give Running Water a sly grin.
  He releases a roaring laugh that takes me by surprise.

     "You're more than I can handle! My cock is sore after doing you in the
  bathtub. Twice! If you want to chase after those young men, please be my
  guest. I doubt they'll want you to rape them yet you may be able to get a
  guy to satisfy that hot ass of yours even if he isn't gay." He laughs again.

     What Running Water's said reminds me of Sly Lizard. He managed to get
  three boys to fuck his ass even though two of them were straight. It was
  kinda like a manhood rite for them. They fucked Sly Lizard every chance that
  they could get. Chris heard about warriors taking turns raping a fallen brave
  on the battlefield even though they kept wives in their tipis. By calling up
  guys on the phone, I might Glean if any of them would like to do me.

     Our humorous moment ends. Reality returns and I'm casting away my lustful
  daydream because it'll never happen. I won't go slutting around town like
  Sly Lizard. Running Water is shaking his head back and forth. I think he
  still needs convincing. "Any help we can send Jesse's way will ensure that
  he won't be made to look like a fool in front of the police and those news
  reporters. I'll do anything it takes to prevent that!"

     "Doesn't your laptop tie up Winna's phone line to remain connected to the
  Internet when we access that list of names?"

     "Yes... But I could copy it over to MS-Word and that would free her phone
  up for me to make calls. I want to, my brother. Two of us working the phones
  will reach people in half the time it would take you doing that alone."

     "Hmm. Your Siksika is excellent, Mike. Not a trace of 'white' accent that
  I've ever heard but how would you know what to say to them? I know the people
  that I'm calling and what needs to be said in trying to motive them."

     "I'll think up something." I'm touching my nose with a sly grin.

     "Mike! I'm not sure how you wormed that password out from Binds-his-post
  but if it's through some power you and Jes-ee-ah have, I don't think you
  should use it on the People."

     My shoulders slump. "You're right, Running Water. That wouldn't be honest.
  But I can still make some calls and ask people to come to the protest."

     "They'll ask who you are. Maybe you should make up a name."

     "I'll tell them that I'm Mike Short Hair. If they have a problem that I'm
  a white guy, well... It's not my fault. The point is, the People need to see
  that it's Jes-ee-ah who needs to be supported out there in front of those
  policemen. It's a matter of pride. The whole Blackfoot Nation is looking bad
  right now in front of the whole community. Who's gonna take them seriously if
  they let the D.A. step all over them by not expressing their anger to that
  'apology' letter? It's up to you and me now."

     "Alright, Mike. I'll give you a list of people who I don't know very well.
  They'll be just as likely to go to the protest if it's you calling them than
  if it were me. I can take over your call if you're getting in over your head.
  My brother, listen to me! A gentle nudge is what's needed here to rally the
  People. You're not going to motivate them by bringing up all the bad things
  the police did to you and Jes-ee-ah or even because our Power Bundle was
  lost. Make a simple emotional appeal. I like your idea that it's a matter of
  pride. Ask them to show their support against the police. That'll work."

     "I hear my older brother and obey." We're both laughing. I'm copying over
  that list of names to MS-Word after clicking on each alphabet letter. A few
  calls are placed by Running Water on his cell phone in the meantime. The line
  is reattached to Winna's phone and I'm picking it up to place my first call.
  A name is given me to try first. Without even pausing to collect my thoughts,
  I dial the number and hear three rings before a man answers. "Hello. Is this
  Larry Smokes-his-pipe?"


  AUTHOR'S NOTE:
  You do realize that the address and telephone number given in this story for
  Blue-flowers-in-her-hair is fictitious... Right? It isn't for a real person.
  You may have noticed that in movies when a telephone number is given, it's
  always one that begins with '555-' so that idiots who try dialing it won't be
  bothering someone they think was the one named in the movie. Please don't
  write or call the number given (really!) and expect it to be that forty-one
  year old Blackfoot native housewife mentioned in my story.

  I welcome Reader comments, questions and suggestions to what I've written.
  Please address your email message to me at: Vince_Water@Yahoo.com

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