Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 12:14:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Waddie Greywolf <waddiebear@yahoo.com>
Subject: "Booger Red & Cowboy Chapter 3"

DISCLAIMER: WARNING!!  This is a work of homoerotic fictions written by an
adult for the purpose of entertainment for other adults.  If you are not
eighteen year of age or you have any problem with this type of literature
then this is a warning to read no further.  The author will not be held
responsible for any reason if you do.  (Codes: M/M M/t Gay Incest Anal Oral)

Comments/questions:  waddiebear@yahoo.com
Copyright 2002 Waddie Greywolf
================================================================
BOOGER RED & COWBOY
By Waddie Greywolf


CHAPTER 3


For some strange reason my company in basic training at Fort Ord were all
Texans except two. One was an Okie. We gave him a lot of shit about being
from Oklahoma. He gave as good as he got. He fit right in.

"Texans hell!" he would bellow, "The way us Okies see it, Texas is just
baja Oklahoma, so don't gimme' no shit!"  Then he would fall out laughing.
Everyone in the company liked him.  His name was Ken White; funniest man
you'd ever want to meet; had something outrageously funny to say about
almost everything.  He kept everyone in our company in stitches most of the
time.  The other unusual thing about my reporting for the draft was who
arrived later for induction. After saying my goodbyes, and the Johnson crew
left, Buck Yates and his dad arrived. I saw them first and waved. They
looked surprised to see me, walked over and shook hands.

"Damn, Son! They get you, too?" asked his dad, Dan Yates, as he shook my
hand.

"`Fraid so, Mr. Yates, my family brought my draft letter with them but
didn't give it to me until after the rodeo.  If'n they had, you guys might
a' won. Lot of good winning's gonna' do either me or Buck,---now.  Glad to
see you, Bro, and I hate like hell to see you,---if you know what I mean."
I told Buck.

"I do, Billy, I do, but I'm glad to see a friendly face, even if you and
your dad robbed us."  he laughed and slapped me on the back.

"Awh hell, Buck! We just got lucky and you know it."

"Luck hell!  Who're you kidding, Son?" interjected Mr. Yates, "You two were
the best. We watched you and your dad all year, (we never told the Yates'
Uncle Bud wasn't my dad) competed against you and him in fifteen or twenty
rodeos, and we watched you get better and better. When you guys beat us in
Denver I told Buck we'd better do some serious practicing.  We tried, Son,
but we went up against the best and lost.  Like Buck told me, `Being number
two ain't bad.' Billy, would you consider doing me a favor?"

"Anything, Mr. Yates."

"Take care of my boy. Keep an eye out for him if you can.  He's a good boy,
but he has problems chewing gum and walking at the same time." he laughed
at his joke but underneath I knew he was worried about his son. "Truth is,
Son, I'm afraid for him. I'm afraid for both of you.  He don't like me to
be maudlin but I love him, Billy, he's all I have in this world that means
a damn to me."

"Don't worry, Mr. Yates, we'll look out for each other. If'n I see he's
gonna' get brave I'll rope and hog tie him `til it passes, and I hope ta'
hell he'll do the same for me."

"You got it, Cowboy." Buck said.  He didn't seem to be so lost or worried
looking as when they first walked into the induction center.

"See you after you check in, Bro. To tell the truth, Mr. Yates, I'm real
glad to see a friendly face."

"Well,---seeing's how we got no choice about this rodeo, if'n I had my
druthers of any buckaroo I'd want by my side, it'ud be you, Cowboy.  Hell,
they can't do nothing to us wranglers?"  I was shocked and flattered by
Buck's bold statement.  I wanted to believe him. I found myself blurting
out a reply.

"Damn, Buck!  I was just think'n the same about you, Bro."  Then Buck
grabbed me and hugged me.  Then his dad, Dan Yates, gave me a big hug, too.
It almost made me feel like I had family going to boot camp with me.

Buck was the only other man in our outfit that wasn't a Texan, but because
he and I were good friends, cowboys together, numbers one and two top team
ropers in the county, they accepted him as a Texan. Any real cowboy is
immediately accepted as Texan.

There were four of us that bonded in boot camp. We looked out for each
other. We helped each other and urged each other on. They were simple
things but meaningful things every cowboy on the circuit quickly learns.
You cheer your buddy on when he rides and he does the same for you. Beside
Buck and I, the other two men were Ken White the Okie, and a big man from
Bandera, Texas, Rowley Twissleman.  We were all cowboys with rodeo
experience. (Rowley, pronounced Rau-lee, or Row rhymes with now)

Ken White rode bareback broncs and bulls.  He wasn't a big man, but because
he was gung-ho about everything, you'd swear he was six feet tall. Most
times when someone is `gung-ho' in a unit he's made fun of by the other men
`cause he usually can't back up or perform well enough to warrant such an
attitude.  Not White!  He was athletic, quick witted, solved intricate
problems quickly, strong as a bull, didn't take shit off nobody, refused to
take anything seriously and was loved by everyone in the company. However,
there was one person, White took very seriously,---Rowley Twissleman.  He
took one look at Twissleman at the induction center and never left the big
man's side; through boot camp and Nam.  The Sergeant asked White one day if
he and Twissleman were queer.

"Oh God, I hope not, Sarge. There ain't enough chiffon in the state of
Texas to make this one a dress." White shot back.  The entire company was
disrupted for twenty minutes.  The Sergeant was so unprepared for White's
come back, he lost all composure and doubled up with laughter. He never
asked again.

White pissed off the Sergeant daily and usually the three of us were
considered his co-conspirators.  One morning we were told to put on our
dress uniforms for an inspection.  We were going to participate in a base
parade. He went down the line checking every man.  He came to White and
looked down at his shoes.

"What'd ya' shine them shoes with, Son, a greasy rag?"

"No Sir, Sergeant! A chocolate bar!"  Sarge tried hard to keep a straight
face but finally ducked his head to laugh. He just told White,---"Try to do
better next time, Son."--- As time went on, even the damn Drill Sergeant
fell in love with White until towards the last he'd refer to White as the
model soldier everyone should strive to be like.  Typically, when the other
guys mocked him or razzed him for being Sarge's pet,---he would have some
irreverent comeback that would have his attackers doubled up with laughter.
He not only became the Sergeant's favorite but the mascot of the entire
company.  Nobody had anything bad to say about White.

Rowley Twissleman was a big Swed by descent. Rowley looked like Buck in one
way.  He looked like a cowboy; even with his clothes off.  He was admired
by our entire company.  Twissleman didn't talk a lot;-didn't have to, White
did most of the talking for both.  He was a fine looking man and was razzed
continually `cause he had the single, biggest dick in the company.  It was
a good two inches longer that the next longest man and big around, too. (I
never noticed but others said Buck's was the next largest.)  Everyone
referred to Rowley as B. D. Twissleman-`B. D' stood for `Big Dong'- they
told him if'n he got one of his legs shot off in Nam he'd have a spare to
walk on!  The size of his cock was only one of the things that White loved
about Twissleman, but it was one of the biggest.

When you go through induction you're reduced to the least common
denominator, a piece of meat to be processed in the military's
grinder. Doesn't matter if you were two rodeo stars, a college football
hero, or a concert violinist, you all come out the grinder looking the
same. We took our physicals, got our shots, hair shaved off, and other
demeaning inspections I won't describe. Most times we stood waiting,
assholes to belly buttons. That isn't just a phrase.  We were literally
standing pressed tightly against each other's bodies.

White made sure he was standing in front of Twissleman with this self
satisfied, stupid grin on his face.  Later, Twissleman laughed and told us
he had to grit his teeth and think of anything else to keep from getting
erect when his big dick was pressed right into the crack of White's ass. Of
course White didn't make it any easier for the big man by squeezing his
butt cheeks around Twissleman's cock. Twissleman finally leaned over and
whispered in White's ear, "If--you-don't-stop--that, I'm a' gonna' check
your oil with my dip stick."

"That's fine, as long as you do the lube job first, Cowboy."  White shot
back.  Rowley said it was at that moment he fell in love with White.  They
became inseparable as buddies and friends.

The military won't admit it but they encourage strong friendships between
men.  They see it happening right under their noses but as long as there's
no overt sexuality they turn their heads the other way and chalk it up as
two men becoming buddies.  Hell, Buck and I were so demoralized by
induction we quickly bonded. We were asshole to belly buttons in front of
Twissleman and White.  Buck shocked the holy hell out of me by leaning over
my back and whispering in my ear.

"You know, Cowboy, you're a good looking cowboy with your clothes on but
you're even better looking without clothes."

I didn't respond but I did smile at him.  I told Buck later he didn't know
how close he came to getting us both thrown out as undesirables.  My ass
started twitching so bad I damn near threw him to the floor and sat on his
dick.  White thought that was a riot.  Buck and Rowley thought it was
pretty funny, too.

White and Twissleman made a perfect pair.  Rowley was big, strong, handsome
and quiet.  White was smaller, energetic, gung-ho, funny, talkative, good
looking, social and fell deeply in love with the big Swed.  White brought
out Rowley's better qualities and Rowley rounded off the rough edges of
White's sometimes frenetic personality. Twissleman could reign White in
with a quick glance in his direction.  White would immediately shut up or
tone down his act.  By accepting Twissleman as a social barometer and
Twissleman needing White to make him more sociable they formed a
cooperative inter-dependancy that worked and was comfortable for both.

Rowley was the biggest of the four of us and a top notch cowboy. Twissleman
rode saddle broncs and bulldogged steers.  He became the `heart' of `the
cowboys' because he had such a big heart.  There was no problem so big
Twissleman couldn't find a solution to it.  Most of the men came to him if
they had a problem and Rowley would patiently listen and either give advice
or try to help them.  Most times he succeeded.  He wasn't big and dumb;-not
by a long shot. Rowley was intelligent, almost as quick witted as White,
and once in a great while would level White with a one liner that would
leave White floundering like fish out a' water.  He was the only man in our
company that could leave White without a come back. Twissleman would nail
his ass to the wall. Rowley reminded me of a line from a poem I once read:
"unless statistics lie, he was more brave then me, more blonde than you."

The four of us became inseparable, entertaining each other for hours with
rodeo stories. Anytime there was a shit job to do the Sergeant had
memorized our names before all the others. Maybe it was because he caught
White referring to him as Sergeant Mom and the four of us laughing our
ass's off.  Sarge was a tough audience---didn't think it was funny at all.

"GUNN, WHITE, YATES, and TWISSLEMAN, front and center!"  Then we'd be told
the good news that we were on KP or some other unpleasant job. We didn't
care. We liked being together and formed deep friendships for each
other. We got nicknamed `the cowboys.'  Billy the Kid, Roddy Yates, Butch
and Sundance. White was Sundance. We also became the leaders of the
company.  If the sergeant wanted to make sure something got done he gave
the job to `the cowboys,' and he knew it would be done right.

Boot camp wasn't as bad as any of us thought it might be. I came out
heavier, muscled out, and in better shape than I'd ever been in my life. My
family swore I was six inches taller when I came home from boot camp. Buck
Yates always was a stud to me, but he was transformed into a young God by
the end of boot camp.  I thought of him as `sex on the hoof.' Prime,
U.S. grade A cowboy beef.  Damn, he was good looking; made my ass twitch
and my dick drip.  Talk about wanting to eat someone's ass. Buck had the
most edible looking ass in the company.

We were doing some maneuver where we had to crawl over each other in leap
frog advancement to get to our objective.  I kept a hard-on the whole time
and Buck could feel it every time I crawled over him. He thought that was
super funny.  He was a great sport but could also kid me unmercifully.

"I suppose that means you wanna' stick that big buckaroo dick up my butt,
huh, Cowboy?"

"Oh fuck no, Buck!  I got something else I wanna' shove up your ass as far
as I can get it."

"Yeah, what's that, Cowboy?"

"My tongue." I shot back.  Buck started laughing and I didn't think we were
gonna' be able to finish.

"Goddamn it, Cowboy!  Now you got me hard."  We almost got shot, too.

We knew we were falling in love. He was the first man my age that wanted to
love me.  He was so good hearted, giving, funny and loving I couldn't help
falling in love with him if I'd wanted to.  One other quality that Buck had
I never experienced with anyone else my age.  He had a deep abiding, simple
faith.  He believed.

Buck would have done anything in the world for me and I felt the same way
about him. I knew I had Booger at home but I couldn't help it.  I'd been
thrown into this situation with a cowboy that I'd lusted for a couple of
years.  He became my partner, best buddy, friend, and confident in boot
camp.  We were about to be sent into the bowels of hell.

We wanted that closeness, we needed it, because even though we didn't want
to admit it to each other we were scared to death.  We became closer than
friends, we became bonded brothers.  It was a natural thing to happen.
Twissleman and White were the same.  There were at least six other pair of
men that bonded during boot camp.

Buck and I were hopelessly attracted to each other like opposite poles of a
bar magnet.  We couldn't do anything about it. There was absolutely no
privacy.  Sure didn't keep us from talking about it and playing grab ass
though. We had thirty days leave before reporting back to Ft. Ord.  You
usually only get two weeks but true to military intelligence, or lack
thereof, we got two weeks extra.  The way the Sarge explained it was more
confusing than just to say somebody fucked up.

I sent a couple of letters to Master Red in care of Johnson's Ranch in Glen
Rose, and got one brief letter back from him.  I ask him to come see me in
Mason, my home town, if he was going to be in the area and spend a little
time with me.  I gave him a date of the second week.  I thought I could
explain to Red what happened in boot camp and tell him not to wait for
me. I was caught on the horns of a dilemma and didn't know what the hell to
do.


Dear Cowboy,

I don't write to well. I know how to. I just don't do it much. For you,
I'll make an exception.  Getting your letter made me feel great. You know
all my thoughts, Cowboy. I keep thinking about the first evening we met.
Don't get much better'n that. Of course, I'll come to Mason. Looking
forward to seeing you again.  May bring a couple of buddies with me.
You're in my thoughts, Son.

your beast,

Booger Red

True to his word, Booger and two other bikers pulled up in front of my
house accompanied by the sheriff of our county, my uncle, who led them over
to show them where I lived. Uncle Bud was glad to see old Booger again, and
knew his two companions as well.  They were the two of the biggest men I'd
ever seen in my life.  They were giants; huge men, bigger than Walker
Johnson.

"Billy Gunn, meet Master Jim Johnson, Walker's younger but bigger brother
and his family clan leader Master Beryl Mc Innis."  Red introduced them.  I
shook their hands and marveled at their size.  They dwarfed the bikes they
were riding.

"Damn, Red!" said Big Beryl, "You said he was pretty but my God in
heaven---" he said, shaking his head.  "Fuck the handshake, Son! I want a
hug and a kiss."  He could have it.

That man was so damn big I'd of jumped up and down on one leg and whistled
like a' pig for him. He did the same thing Master Johnson had done when I
met him.  He picked me up, pulled me to his massive chest to support me and
planted a big one on me. I loved the man immediately.

"Me, too!" said Big Jim, "If'n he gets one, I get one, too."  I hugged and
kissed them both.  Then I hugged Booger and invited them in. I called dad
at work.  He and Uncle Joe closed the shop early and came home.  They knew
all three of the men. They were in Korea together.  Then, Master Red said
something I found very interesting and funnier'n shit.

"Well, Gunn," Red said to my dad, "You still fucking old Joe after all
these years?"  My dad shot him a look, if it had been a gun, Red would have
been a dead man. Master Red giggled nervously; he realized he'd let the cat
out of the bag.

"Ooops!  Oh shit! I'm sorry, Gunn, I should'a known better."

"Awh hell!  No harm done, Red." my dad told him. "It's time Billy three
knew anyway." Dad called me `Billy three' sometimes instead of sounding
pretentious and saying, `the third;' however, Dad never said another word
to me about it.

I spent a great, sex filled week with my magnificent beast and slept in my
bed with him.  I didn't ask my dad.  I felt if I was old enough to die for
my country, I damn well had the right to invite who I wanted to my bed.  I
sure as hell wasn't going to be shuffled off to my Aunt Ethel's on Friday
afternoons any more.

I thought it was funny to find Uncle Joe coming out of my dad's bedroom one
morning, tip toeing, his boots in his hand, with a funny look on his
face. He smiled and winked at me.  I didn't give a shit.  I was happy to
find out.  Uncle Joe knew I understood.

My dad surely knew what was going on in my bedroom between Red and I.  The
springs on my rusty old bed sounded like the hinges on an outhouse door in
a hurricane. When old Red got way up there in me and started rootin'
around, gettin' some good stuff for himself, it sounded like one of them
East Indian raga bands that play all that weird shit.

Dad would have a knowing smirk on his face when we came down for coffee the
next morning.  He never said a word.  I guess he figured if I didn't ask,
he damn sure wasn't either.  Besides, if he said anything I had piece of
info in my back pocked that would've stopped him dead in his tracks.  I
hadn't told him about running into his old `fucking' buddy from Korea, Barn
Jarvis.

I had a chance to get to know the two giants.  I could have fallen in love
with either of them.  They were wonderful men.  Big Beryl lost his little
slave Jimmy in a bad bike accident several years before and Big Jim lost
his slave several months before that in Europe somewhere. They were still
grieving and somewhat dependant on each other. Not really dependant, sort
a' using each other to lean on to help get over their loss.

Master Red promised he would write while I was in Nam.  I was to send him
letters at the Johnson Ranch. I enjoyed being with him that week.  He and I
fell more in love with each other. It was hard letting him go when they
left. I didn't have the heart nor the courage to tell him about Buck.

Growing up ain't all it's cracked up to be.  I didn't want this kind of
situation hanging over my head but I didn't feel I was totally to blame for
it either.  I was young and impressionable and these men were older
players.  They'd been in the game three times longer than I had.  But,--- I
did make the big, ugly man a promise.

Uncle Bud and I took off to go fishing for several days.  We ended up
staying away from our town almost a week.  Aunt Laura didn't mind.  She
knew Uncle Bud and I were close.  She could tell he was so worried he might
never see me again.  We went with Aunt Laura's blessing.

We drove to a lake where Uncle Bud and Aunt Laura had a cabin.  We stayed
there all week. I never had a more wonderful week with anyone.  I think he
realized how much he missed me during boot camp and was afraid for me to go
to Nam. He never said anything, but I knew. He didn't want me to go, but
wouldn't ask me to go with Booger again.  Booger did, he wanted me to run
away with him and the two giants, but I couldn't.

Uncle Bud couldn't believe how I had grown and filled out in boot camp.  I
was now just about his size, and we looked like identical twins; only one
was born thirty year later.  Uncle Bud was right.  We discovered that week
at the cabin my dick turned out to be almost the same size as his and
looked just like his.

We didn't get much fishing done.  Mostly we just fucked.  We were trying to
drink as much of each other as we could. It seemed like we couldn't get
enough of each other. I loved having sex with my beast, Master Red, but
there was something special Uncle Bud and I had that was electric.  We were
still a team.

Uncle Bud surprised the shit out of me the second morning we were there.
We stood looking in the mirror of the bathroom after relieving ourselves of
our morning piss hard-ons.  It was like looking at myself in the future.  I
wasn't ashamed of what I saw.  If I looked half as good as the man standing
next to me I would consider myself blessed.

"You're a fine looking man, Cowboy."  Uncle Bud said softly. "You're no
longer a kid,...you're a man, Son.  And your Master ain't ashamed to tell
you he needs that man this morning."  I looked at him puzzled.

It dawned on me what my uncle was getting at.  I smiled at him in the
mirror and slowly moved my hand to place it gently on one of his ass
cheeks.  He smiled back at me in the mirror, knowing I got his message.  He
turned into my arms and we kissed like we never kissed before.

I would never consider Uncle Bud to be anything but my Master,... but if my
Master needed any pleasure from his slave, standing in adoration of him, it
was only his to ask.  It was the first time I'd ever had my dick in a man.
Providence couldn't have brought me a sweeter, hotter, more understanding
fuck for my first time than my Uncle Bud.  Damn, he was a hot man!  My old
dick was rock hard at the thought of getting into my uncle's ass. I admired
his ass so many years.  Now, I was going to see why men liked to fuck.  I
threw caution and inhibitions to the winds.  By the time I was through
tonguing and cleaning his ass Uncle Bud was hotter than a fresh fucked fox
in a forest fire.  He was pleading for his Cowboy to take him.  Fuck the
lubricant!

"Take me, Sweet baby!  You know how you've come to like being taken.  Your
uncle needs that, Son.  Don't disappoint your Master, Cowboy.  Never
question him."  There was so much pre-come from my dick, I quickly moved
the head around his love muscle as I watched him relax and dilate.  Uncle
Bud was ready for my dick.  We were the same size, exactly.  I placed it at
his rosebud and leaned forward to kiss him.  He opened and almost sucked me
into his depths with a sigh that released the air from his soul.

There are no words to describe the feeling of being inside this God I
worshiped.  I was gently kissing him and couldn't help the tears that were
forming in my eyes.  He began to feel them drop on his face as we embraced.

"You all right, Sweet baby?" Uncle Bud whispered as he bussed a kiss behind
my ear.

"Better'n just all right, Uncle Bud."  I took one long slow loving stroke
and docked myself deep in his ass.

"Oh shit, Darlin,' you feel just like your old man in there."

"Dad use to fuck you, Uncle Bud?"

"Yeah, long time ago, when we were young men.  Your old man is one hell of
a fuck, Cowboy.  If he ever offers, take it from me, he comes highly
recommended.  In all my life, Son, I ain't never had no man leave me as
satisfied as Big Gunn."  I took another couple of heavy duty, industrial
strength strokes into my uncle to test his roadability.  His ass was
chowing down on my dick.  He was meeting each stroke the way he'd so
patiently taught me almost two years ago; however, I could tell, he was
moving with me with no conscious effort.  He knew what he needed and was
certain I was now able to handle this next step in my training.  This was,
for all practical purposes, my graduation. He had poured into to me all the
training and love to make me the best partner for a man that he could.  Now
he was ready to reap the benefits of his efforts.  We both knew I was ready
for this moment.

I knew what he needed was not for me to be giving to him as his slave.  My
job, my only purpose, was to please my Master and to please him I had to
take from him what he wanted so desperately to give me.  It clicked in my
mind that while I was still his slave it was my duty to take all from him I
needed; all he needed to give me and just a tad more for myself.  There
were no questions in my mind.  I was not concerned that I was going to hurt
him nor that I was fucking him to make him feel good.  I had to fuck him
for me.  Otherwise, what he needed would have been compromised.

As in all his training I worked hard to please him and gain his approval.
There were no sweeter words anyone could have spoken to me than, "You did
good, Son. I'm proud of you."  Uncle Bud said those words to me over and
over the more I learned and the better I got as his partner.  Now was the
time to show my Master my love.  To reach down to the depths of his soul,
grab hold of what I needed and demand that he respond to his slave the way
his slave needed.  The more I thought about it, the harder I got as I was
now steadily fucking him.  I could feel him responding to me, approving of
my technique with every meeting of his ass to the base of my cock.

"You were so ready for this, Cowboy." he whispered to me, "I got to admit,
when I saw you standing there when that bus drove away last week, in your
uniform, straight and tall, your old uncle's ass hole started twitching
involuntarily.  That's when I knew we were both ready for this.  I'm so
fucking proud of you, Son."

"Oh God, Uncle Bud!  I love you so much but this is one door I wonder if
you were wise to open?"  Uncle Bud laughed softly under me.

"That good, huh, Cowboy?"  he said meeting two pretty good strokes.

"I feel like I could fuck you forever, Uncle Bud."  I leaned in to kiss him
gently then whispered to him.  "But I know one damn thing for certain."

"What's that, Sweet baby?"

"I ain't a' gonna' stop fucking you until you either shoot or holler `calf
rope.'"

"Then when I do,---take your prize Cowboy.  You damn well earned this one."
I started in fucking Uncle Bud like I was a professional bull rider.  I was
strong and steady in the saddle.  Weren't no way this big ass bull
underneath me was gonna' buck me off.  Damned if he weren't trying, too.
The old bull was meeting every one of my landings in that saddle of his
with almost equal strength to my stroke.

I picked up my speed and began to watch Uncle Bud's face as I found his
prostate.  A glazed look came over his handsome face as I leaned in to kiss
him again.  I was right on it when I felt his ass muscle start to gnaw on
my dick.  Felt like the damn thing was trying to bite my dick off.


We were kissing furiously and I was fucking him solidly with repeated
strokes over and over.  I felt him stiffen and then felt his hot cowboy
load shooting up between us.  It kept coming and coming.  I never thought
he was going to stop coming as I relentlessly plowed his red Earth.

"Take your prize, Cowboy!  Give it to your Master, Son!"  That's all I
needed to hear from my cowboy uncle.  I began to unload in him all the
love, trust, and feelings I had for that man.  It came out my dick so hard
and with such force, I didn't think I was going to stop.

It was one of the most emotional, hard climaxes of my life.  It was as if
my soul had manufactured the ejaculate rather than my low hanging balls.  I
was shooting my soul into the depths of my God, the man I worshiped above
all others.  I was overwhelmed and humbled.  I collapsed on top of Uncle
Bud and started weeping from the ecstacy of the moment.

"There, there, Sweet baby. What `cha crying about?  You done good,
Cowboy. You took damn good care of your Master.  Couldn't have asked for
better,... and don't you dare take it out `til I tell you to, neither!"  He
laughed.

"Ah, shit, Uncle Bud!  It was so good, I couldn't help it.  You made me
realize something."

"What's that, Son?"

"The way you made my dick feel I know I got a long way to go to become as
good a fuck as my Master."

"You let the man that's gonna' end up being your Master judge that for
himself."

"Thank you, Uncle Bud.  I love you so damn much.  Even if you was my dad I
wouldn't give this up."

"Neither would I, Billy.  Neither would I."

I bonded with three great young men in boot camp, one of whom I was falling
in love with.  I had to go to make sure his ass didn't get shot; I promised
his dad.

My buddies, White and Twissleman fell in love during basic training. Of
course, they couldn't do anything about it either because we were watched
every minute day and night.  In basic training Twissleman would get a good
shot of White's little bum, look at Buck and I with this pitiful, sad eyed,
frustrated look, raise his hand to his face, and bite his knuckles.

I knew how he felt. I'd be in the showers with Buck, and could imagine
tasting that big, fat, cowboy cock.  Believe it or not, Buck looked like a
damn cowboy even without his clothes.  Stark naked he looked like a
buckaroo.  He was living proof that clothing does not make the man.

Ken and Rowley decided to spend some time together during leave.  Buck and
I decided to spend our last week of leave together before reporting back to
Ft. Ord. We knew we were bound for Nam.

Since my home town of Mason was on the way back to Ft. Ord, Buck took a bus
from Tucson.  Dad and I met him at the Greyhound station.  I'd invited
White and Twissleman to stay with us, but they didn't know whether they
could make it or not; however, we no sooner got something to eat at the
diner when all hell broke loose. There were three sheriff cars around the
diner like there was a robbery. Sirens and bubble gum machines on top
spinning `round!  In walks my Uncle Bud, big smile on his face, with White
and Twissleman in tow.

"These young men claim to know you, Cowboy."

"Never seen `em before in my life, Uncle Bud. Throw their ass's in jail."
I smiled real big to see them.

"Yeah, Sheriff Cummings, they're hooligans." added Buck.  Rowley and Ken
walked over to Buck and I, we all yelled and hugged each other. I
introduced them to everyone there.  We sat down and Uncle Bud bought us
lunch. We had a great time. They were impressed that the sheriff of the
county brought them directly to me. They'd walked from the bus station to
his office to ask directions to our place.

Dad drove us over to our house. Hell, we had plenty of room.  We had four
bedrooms upstairs we hadn't used in years.  I offered Rowley and Ken
separate bedrooms. They looked at Buck and I like we were daft.

"You two gonna' bunk in separate rooms?" Twissleman asked.

"Oh, hell, no!" replied Buck, "And miss getting me a piece of that little
buckaroo butt my dick's been drooling over for the last two years, get
serious." we all laughed. I blushed and they laughed at me.

"I hear ya', Buck.  I've been dreaming `bout gettin' my dick up White's
little butt ever since the day we met. We came here so we could be
together.  `Sides, I always wanted me a big ole piece of Okie ass." Rowley
howled with laughter, so did we.

"Well, ain't chu' the lucky one, Tex!  We just happen to have a special on
Okie ass today but it was sooooo good we had a run on it, sold out, and
your shit out a' luck, Cowboy."  White shot back at Rowley.  We all howled
knowing White couldn't wait to try that big cowboy on for size.

"Think your dad will get upset if he figures out what's going on, Billy?"
asked White.

"Fuck no, White, he's too busy fucking my Uncle Joe." we all laughed again.

"Tell `em where you were last week, Cowboy." Buck urged smiling wickedly.

"I spent last week in bed with my Uncle Bud."  I said quietly.

"Son of a bitch, that fine looking man, the sheriff, and you---?" asked
Twissleman. "By the way, he looks just like you, you sure he's your uncle?
We thought it was you in a sheriff's uniform when we went to his office."
he said laughing.

"Yeah!  I could have shit when he told me." said Buck, "They spent all year
on the rodeo circuit competing against my dad and I. We thought he was
Billy's dad. You're right, Rowley, they look just alike. They never told us
no different.  No wonder they won. They were in love." laughed Buck. "Maybe
when Cowboy and I get back from Nam, we can team up and go on the circuit.
We've talked about it. Hell, nobody could beat us."

We spent every day rodeoing.  Once again everyone came from all around.  My
buddies had brought their western clothes, and we got to be known all over
our small town as Billy's cowboy buddies that were going to Nam with
him. We were sucking and fucking half the night and rodeoing all day.  Buck
and I got damn good as a team in and out of bed. He was right. If we went
on the circuit, nobody could beat us. I know my dad and Uncle Joe couldn't.
Dad didn't even bother to bet anymore.  He just rode over and shoved a
hundred bucks in my western shirt.

"What's that for, Dad?"

"Well, I ain't never been much of a dad to you, Son. Couldn't tell you how
much I loved you, so I thought I'd do the next best thing; try'n buy your
love."

"Hell Dad, you could have had that for five bucks." he almost fell off his
horse, Tucker, laughing.  It felt good to laugh with my old man.  I loved
him more since I found out about him and Uncle Joe.  I was sent to my
Aunt's all those years not to protect me from them fucking the whores but
to keep me from finding out about him and Uncle Joe.  What a laugh.

We had a great week.  We rodeoed and partied all week like it was our last.
Uncle Bud spent as much time with us as he could.  The whole town sort of
shut down to come to the rodeo grounds. Sign in the barber shop: Need hair
cut? Come to rodeo grounds.  Ask for Ed.

Uncle Bud and I roped again together.  We competed friendly against anyone
that wanted to.  Then Buck and I would rope, and he and I were damn good
together.

The last night before we were to leave we were at our house. We had so much
food brought to us by the good folks of the community that were concerned
for us going to Nam.  We were nibbling, drinking beer and shooting the
shit. My buddies were there with my dad, Uncle Joe, Uncle Bud and, Lester,
a black man that had lived with us and worked for my dad and Uncle Joe for
years.

Lester was also the shine man at Ed's barber shop two days a week. Had been
for as many years as I could remember.  He'd taken care of me as a kid;
watched out for me.  I loved to fish, and Lester was my fishin' buddy.
Lester had money.  He'd worked hard, saved his money, invested in the town
and had his finger in many pies in our small community.

Lester lived a simple, unpretentious life.  He worked for dad and Uncle Joe
for years because he loved them. He sort of took care of them, too. Dad and
Uncle Joe took him in years ago, gave him a place to stay and a job, when
he didn't have anyone or anywhere to go.  He lived in his own three rooms
on the back part of our house and came and went as he pleased. Other than a
sister, we were the only family he had, and I loved him like one of my
uncles.

It never occurred to me when I was a kid growing up that Lester was any
different from us because he was black He'd always been there; he was a
part of my family and I loved him.  One day when I was five years old I
asked him why he was black.

"`Cause God left me in the oven too long, Child." he laughed and I knew he
was pulling my leg.  He was Lester.  My good friend.  I could tell him
anything.

Dad and Uncle Joe had a couple of beers but Dad wasn't drunk. I knew
something was bothering him, but I thought it was because he was afraid and
worried about me going off to Nam. Uncle Joe catered to my dad hand and
foot.  I'd never seen that before.  I had just enough beer,---I though I'd
take a shot across Dad's bow. I winked at my buddies first.

"Uncle Joe,---are you my dad's slave?" There were a couple of giggles but
then it got so quiet, you could've heard a pin drop in that kitchen.
Everyone was waiting to hear Uncle Joe's response.  Uncle Joe looked first
at Uncle Bud, then dad not knowing whether to shit or go blind.  Lester
slapped his leg with his hand and fell out laughing.

"Laus, Billy, you's always could zero in on something them grown-ups never
wanted you to know.  You just seem's to have a sixth sense about they's
secrets'"

"Yes Son," my dad spoke up for Uncle Joe, "he is; has been for years.  Even
before your Mother passed away. I guess you've figured out that's why we
sent you to your Aunt Ethel's every Friday night for the weekend."  Dad
looked down at his dirty boots.

"Well,---all I can say is, he ain't much of a slave if'n your boots are
that dirty, Dad."  Everyone roared with laughter including Lester who
almost had a heart attack. Uncle Joe smiled sheepishly. Uncle Bud smiled
and winked at me.

"You gonna' tell him the rest, Mista' Gunn?"  Lester asked Dad.

"Tell me what, Dad?" I asked.  Dad shot a looked at Lester like he could've
choked off his air supply.

"Yes Lester, I am!  So, ease up, damn it!  I'm working up to it.  It ain't
no trip around the may pole, Lester.

"Nauw, Sir. I reckon's it ain't,---but you'll do good, Mista Gunn, old
Lester knows.  You's a good man, Mista' Gunn!"  Lester encouraged my dad.
Dad ignored him.

Billy, there's something you need to know before you go off to Vietnam.
We're praying nothing's gonna' happen to you, Son, but we're scared
shitless.  We're afraid.  All of us, your aunts, Uncle Bud, Uncle Joe and
me,---old Lester."  Dad motioned toward Lester.  Lester shook his head
affirmative then frowned and looked down at his old boots.

"Goddamn it Billy, I ain't real good at this, and I know I ain't been the
best father but fuck it, Son, I love you! You didn't just happen, you
weren't some fucking accident, you were wanted and carefully planned for.

I wanted a son so bad I went to almost criminal lengths to have you, Billy.
Not sorry I did.  I'd do it again in a minute.  I'm proud of you,
Billy. I'm proud you carry my name.  What you need to know is,---I caught
the mumps from Joe when we were kids and it settled in our nuts.  When we
recovered it left us sterile. We couldn't have no kids.

I wanted a son more'n anything in the world, and so did your mom. I never
lied to your mother about not being able to have kids, but I told her, if
she married me, that someway we would, I'd see to it.  She loved me and I
loved her.  She trusted me enough to marry me.  If I said we'd have kids,
she believed me. So, Billy, we had you by a sperm donor."

Everyone in the kitchen was so quiet you could hear your own heart beat.
My mouth dropped open because it started to dawn on me who my real dad was,
but how in the world---?

"Son, your real dad is your Uncle Bud.  Bud's never know'd about it `til
now.  I never told him." Dad turned to Uncle Bud and spoke directly to him,
"That's why I wanted you here, Bud, when I told Billy, so's you'd both find
out at the same time."  Dad continued, "When we were younger, your Uncle
Bud and I were inseparable.  We were running buddies with your Uncle Joe
and Harvey Franks. I fell in love with your Uncle Bud as a young man, and I
still love him today.

The four of us use to experiment sexually with each other, and then stopped
as we grew up.  `Cep'n Joe and me, we're still trying to get it right."  My
buddies laughed, "Hell, we all grew up together.  We were best buddies, we
were related, we were family and we did everything together.

After your mom and I were married, Joe and I took Bud out and got him drunk
one night.  He'd just come back from Korea, and we were all so relieved
that he came home; Joe and I used that as an excuse to get him wasted.
Besides, we truly loved Bud, were glad he came home and we did have a good
time.

He hadn't married your momma's sister yet; he wasn't your uncle then, but
he was my cousin.  We got him so drunk he passed out in the back of my pick
up. I sucked his dick to get him good'n hard and slipped a rubber on
him. Then your Uncle Joe sucked him off.

Bud never knew `cause we took him home and put him to bed.  I took the
rubber home with me, slipped it on, cut the end out of the tip, and made
love to your mom. She knew what I'd done, but didn't know who the donor
was.  She never asked, she trusted me.

When I shot, it pushed your uncle's come on through and got her pregnant."
The room was silent. No one breathed.  Without looking directly at him I
could see tears running down Uncle Bud's face.  His head was bowed and he
had one hand holding his head as he wept.

"I never told your mom who the donor was that got her pregnant, but when
they brought you to her and laid you in her arms, she gently undid the
small blanket, took one look at your pretty little face, smiled, looked up
at me and asked, "Bud?"  One look, she knew and was pleased. I just nodded,
`yes.'"

`He's so beautiful, Billy!  I love you so much. Thank you.' she was
thrilled with you.  Nine months later she passed away."

I looked at Uncle Bud who had big tears running down his handsome
face. That's the second time I ever saw my Uncle Bud cry.  I guess he was
as surprised as I was. I was shocked, stunned and thrilled but also
confused because, I'd really started to love my old man. I'd always loved
him because he was my dad but now that I was grown he was easier for me to
love. He was still my dad after all.  Now, after telling me this, the
truth, which must have been hard for him, to say nothing of learning the
truth about him and Uncle Joe, I loved him even more.

"That's why I let you and Bud grow close all these years, and allowed you
to spend so much time with him.  That's why I allowed you to go rodeoing
with him instead of insisting you go to college.

I know now, I didn't do the wrong thing `cause you grow'd up to be damn
near a carbon copy of him. Not a finer man walks the face of this Earth
than your Uncle Bud, Son. I loved him all those years ago and still love
him just as much today.  All these years Bud's never know'd he gave me you.

But Billy, I want you to know,---I love you more than anything in this
world. I ain't gonna' stop being your dad, and you'll always be my
son. Just don't hate me, Son; you either, Bud.  I've loved the two of you
for so long it would kill me to think you wouldn't forgive me. I wanted a
kid, a son.  I wanted you, Billy, and the only man's sperm I'd consider
putting into my wife's body, was Bud's, `cause I loved him."

My dad started crying. I went to him, and took him in my arms. Dad had his
head in both hands sobbing his heart out.  I motioned for Uncle Bud to join
me.  He put his hand on dad's shoulder. He was crying, too.  I don't think
there was a dry eye in the room.

"I love you Dad, and I know Uncle Bud does too. You're still my dad. You
always will be. At least Uncle Bud and I know why the hell we look so much
alike." Lester roared with laughter and so did everyone.

"I guess I should have told the two of you before you went rodeoing `cause
when I saw you together in Ft. Worth I knew you'd become lovers." dad
lamented.

"Well shit, Dad, it ain't like we're gonna' have an idiot child."  They all
laughed again including my dad. "Dad, I love you more at this moment than I
ever have in my life, and that love is only gonna' grow from here.  You
just made my life make sense. I'm not ashamed of my love for Uncle Bud
whether he's my biological father or not, and it sure as hell ain't a'
gonna' stop me from pleasuring him any time he wants."

"Here! Here!" said Twissleman, and Buck.

"Ohhhh,---I think you should reconsider, Billy, now that you know he's your
real dad," Ken White butted in, "but not to worry, Cowboy. I'll be more'n
happy to stand in for you." volunteered White, the smart ass Okie.  We all
laughed.  Uncle Joe even started laughing. Uncle Bud winked at Ken
White. Lester had to get a glass of water he was laughing so hard.

"Ya' see's, Mista' Gunn," Lester said, gesturing with his glass of water,
"I's told you it would turn out all right but it be good you told the boy
before he goes over there. He be a fine young man and deserves to know sump
um' that important about his life.  So do Mr. Bud.  Mr. Bud be one of the
finest men I's ever run across. He ain't never had no kids with his
missus. So you's done more good than you knows. Billy ain't gonna' stop
loving you. You haven't lost your boy.  He just got `emself two dads to
love.

Billy's one lucky kid to have two fine mens like you and Mr. Bud for
dads. As many times as that boy dragged my ass fishing over these years, I
feels like he's mine, too. God alone, knows how I hate's fishing!" Lester
rolled his eyeballs, and we were rolling on the floor laughing at him.  I
went to him and hugged the old man assuring him he was as much a dad to me
as my Uncle Bud and dad.  Lester always made a lot of sense. I loved that
old man.

"You're right, I had no idea you did that, Gunn." said Uncle Bud,
"I'm,---I'm,---Oh hell, I don't know what the fuck to say. It's been too
many years ago for me to be angry.  I remember the night. The only thing I
can think to be mad about is not getting to enjoy the blow job." we all
laughed, "As I remember, Joe use to be able to suck chrome off a bumper
hitch." Uncle Bud allowed. White fell off his chair.

"Still can!" Dad told him laughing.  Uncle Joe blushed. My buddies were
wiping tears one minute and couldn't stop laughing the next. Maybe to find
humor in something like this was a good thing.  We weren't going to take it
that seriously for my dad's sake. I loved my Uncle Bud for that.

"To be truthful with ya,' Gunn, you've just made me about the happiest man
in the whole Goddamn world!  You don't know how many times I wished Billy
was my boy, and even prayed he was. I told him one time while we were on
the circuit, I wish't ta' God he was my son!  I was so damn jealous of you
all these years. I wanted a son so bad, but never would consider leaving
Laura even after we found out she couldn't have kids.

You had the perfect son I always wanted.  Hell, he even looked like me!  I
thought it just wasn't fair, so I tried to make Billy into my own son.  It
was wrong of me and I apologize, but the more time we spent together the
more I couldn't help loving him and thinking of him as my son.  I always
wondered why you let us get so close, and didn't seem threatened? Fuck!

All these years he was over to our house almost as much as he was here.
Laura and I loved him coming to our house.  He was always welcome! I never
thought you'd let him go rodeoing with me. I thank you and God, you did!
Best damn year of my life, Gunn, and I owe it all to you.

I'm sure of one thing though, God does hear our prayers. We both loved each
other when we were younger, but to think you wanted to have a kid by me is
an overwhelming statement of that love." Dad stood up, the two men embraced
and cried in each other's arms.  Hell, we all were crying, including
Lester.

Uncle Bud pulled himself together and continued, "So, it would
seem,---Lester here, is the only one making any sense out of all this. We
should listen to the man. I know Billy well enough to know he loves the
both of us. He ain't gonna' stop loving either of us.

Cowboy and I have something special that goes beyond father and son. I
ain't gonna' give that up either.  I love the kid too much. You'll always
be his dad and I'll always be his Uncle Bud.  `Sides, my Cowboy's got
another name for me."

"What's that?" asked my dad.

"Master." replied Uncle Bud.

"I can live with that." laughed dad. So did everyone else in the room.

"There's only one other thing that you two need to know.  I confided in Sam
Jenkins sometime ago and asked him to tell old Booger.  I figured if anyone
deserved to know it was him.  Sam didn't remember `til he saw the two of
you together at Walker's ranch and didn't tell Booger `til after he and
Cowboy where together for a couple of nights.  I talked to Red about it
when he was here visiting Cowboy.  He sat in that chair and cried like a
baby he was so happy for you, Bud."

I couldn't figure out why Booger was so important that dad should feel he
needed to know.  But old Booger knew before I did.  Something strange was
going on here but I didn't think I wanted to find out.  Then Uncle Bud said
the damnedest thing to my dad.

"Thanks, Gunn, I appreciate you letting him know;---means a lot to me."  I
never asked my dad, Uncle Bud, nor Booger.  I just thought if they wanted
me to know they'd tell me.  Maybe I didn't want to know.

I was alone with Uncle Bud later, and thanked him for being understanding
for dad's sake and I couldn't be more proud to be his son.

"After the gift your dad gave me?  I would have ripped my heart out with my
bare hands and handed it to him right there if he'd a'ask for it, Son. Your
dad is one in a million, Billy.  You couldn't have picked a better dad if
you'd a' tried.

Hell, your old man was probably a better dad than I would've been. I
would've spoiled you rotten and we probably wouldn't have spent that year
sharing the love we did,---but God help me, even being your biological
father, I'm not ashamed we did.

We have something ninety-nine percent of fathers and sons out there will
never know,---and knowing what we know, I'd do it again, even now!  I have
a greater respect for Gunn now than I ever did, and my love for him is
great.  I know you really love him too, don't you, Son?"

"More now, than ever, Master, but do me a favor?"

"Anything!"

"Don't ever stop calling me `Son.'"

"Feels good, don't it, Boy?"

"Sure does, Master, all the way to my soul good." We kissed. Not the
polite, noninvasive kiss of a father and son but the kiss of a Master and
his cowboy.  It made me think---it's the way all fathers and sons should
kiss. The world would be a whole lot better.

Buck never asked me about Booger and I didn't volunteer anything.  Buck was
a cowboy. If someone wanted to tell you their past, they would.  If not,
don't ask.  I'd been raised by the same code.

I spent the last night in Buck's arms. We had fucked and sucked our way
into each others hearts.  I was falling deeply in love with the big man. I
would have done anything for him, and he felt the same about me.

"Cowboy, you got one hell of a family. They all worship the ground you walk
on.  Every damn one of `em including Lester would lay down their lives for
you.  Your aunt's beam when you show them the slightest attention, and you
have a way of pouring it on. That Uncle Bud of your's is enough to make
anyone wet his pants over. Male or female.  What a man, holy shit!  White
wasn't joking."  we laughed.

"I use to watch you and him in the arena on horseback practicing and pop a
boner every damn time.  Honest to God, I couldn't decide who I wanted more,
him or you.  So I stopped trying to choose and decided I wanted you both.
I had such dirty fantasies about the two of you with me, I wouldn't even
tell you about them!  I'd get a wet spot in my jeans, go back to our motor
coach, dad would take one look, smile at me knowingly, and ask, "Been
watching the Cummings' practice, Son?"  I think he knew.  I wanted to tell
him before I went to Nam, but I couldn't.  I love him so damn much if he
turned away from me I'd shoot myself.

I'll be honest with you, Cowboy, I always wanted a relationship with my dad
like you had with your father, Uncle Bud.  I'd a' sucked my old man's dick
in a New York minute if he'd a' let me.  I use to jack off thinking about
having sex with him.  Use to get hard just walking behind him watching the
way he walked in them big boots of his.  Sweet Jesus, what a man! I
couldn't go naked around him for fear I'd get a hard-on looking at him and
he'd know his son was a pervert. I know why I turned out to like men.

When it came time for hormones to kick in, and make you want to like girls,
I couldn't give up the love and physical attraction I had for my dad.  I
thought if I started liking girls I would be betraying my love for my
dad. He wanted me to be a cowboy and I worked hard at being that for him.
It got easier then, not to be interested in girls, `cause cowboys have the
reputation of being loners.  I would have been anything that man wanted me
to be."  Buck kinda stunned me.

"Glad you saved it for me, Buck. You ain't no damn pervert neither `cause I
feel the same way about my old man and I sure as hell ain't no
pervert. But, I ain't never felt nothing like I feel for you, Buck, with
anybody, not even my uncle.  I'm a' hopin' you don't get upset and run
screaming out the door but I gotta' tell you, Cowboy, I've fallen in love
with you." Buck looked at me like he was upset.

"Upset? Me upset? I was trying to figure out how to tell you.  I'll go you
one better, I don't want to live my life without you, Cowboy and here you
are tellin' me you're in love with me. Upset? I don't think so, Darlin.'
Those `be' the sweetest three words my old cowboy ears have heard since,
`Attention! K-Mart Shoppers!' he got me laughing then he started laughing.
Buck had a down home sense of humor.

We silently made love together for a while, and laughed at the symphony of
old bed springs in the next room.  Twissleman was getting his pound of
White's flesh.  Buck and I could just imagine White riding that big bull of
a man, one hand thrown back in the air, the other around a rope they tied
to Twissleman's ass, spurring that big man on for the best eight second
ride of his life.  Then we heard this loud-KER-WHUMP-sound.  It sounded
like they fell off the damn bed which sent me and Buck into gales of
laughter and caused a knock on the wall.

Then it was our turn to serenade them.  My bed was worse than their's, and
sounded like four midgets jumping up and down on four harpsichords at once;
a terrible racket. Buck took me hard and settled in for a good, long,
loving, cowboy fuck'n.  He was a young stallion that had developed a tasted
for butt fucking.  He was working hard to perfect his style and
technique. Didn't really have much to perfect.  He was a natural, and
climbed inside my ass like it was his old, comfortable, well worn saddle
that he was getting ready to ride. As we settled into our second hour of
fucking, we heard groans from the next bedroom like, "Oh God, won't they
ever stop?"

I worked as hard to please him as he did to fuck me, and together we made a
perfect team. He wouldn't come until he knew he had me climbing up the
hill, and started trying to bite his dick off in my ass. Then he'd unload
his hot cowboy come deep in my well ploughed Earth.  His body would shake
all over as he shot wave after wave of his seed into me.

The finish sounded like midgets were jumping off the damn roof onto the
harpsichords with sledge hammers at a KISS concert. It was indeed a
dramatic climax to a long, enduring, wonderful fuck.  It out did the
damn1812 even with the fuckin' cannons.

We lay together, exhausted, him still inside me, enjoying the glow, making
soft loving sounds to each other.  Then came the applause.  Not only from
the next room but from all over the damn house.  Then the gales of laughter
from Lester, Dad, Uncle Joe and of course White and Twissleman. We just
laughed, we didn't give a shit, fuck `em, we were in love. Buck had just
fucked the holy b'Jesus out of me, and I'd sucked him off twice.  Damn, he
had a nice, big, fat dick, and really knew how to use it.  He and I bonded
that week.  So did Twissleman and White.  They fell all the more in love
with each other. You couldn't of pried them apart with a wrecking bar.

We said our tear filled goodbyes the next morning, and boarded the bus for
Ft. Ord.  We slept almost all the way there.  We were exhausted. We'd gone
day in and day out for a week.  We tried to cram as much living and loving
into one week as we could. Buck and I had a lot of time to talk intimately
about the future on the way back to Ft. Ord.  We were going to spend our
lives together.  We had talked to Twissleman and White, and we were gonna'
rodeo until we got too old, then buy adjacent ranches and settle down.
Maybe open a rodeo school for young kids.  The four of us carried that
dream all the way through Nam.

We arrived back at boot camp in plenty of time to check in and receive our
orders. We shipped out within two days, and were on our way to Nam.  We
didn't care, we had love, nothing could touch the four of us. After we got
there, almost our entire company was assigned to the same platoon. We
weren't broken in gently.  Hell, they had us on patrol the first week we
were there.

The four of us stuck close together. Buck and I fell more in love and so
did White and Twissleman. When we were `in country' on bivouac, White and
Twissleman would crawl in their tent and make out while Buck and I sat out
front keeping watch.  Then they would switch off for Buck and I. It was the
only way we could have stayed sane through the whole senseless thing.

Everyone in the platoon knew what was going on, but when you're in a combat
situation the rules of the `normal' world get thrown out the window and
what was unacceptable there became accepted and overlooked.  Hell, over
half the platoon had paired off and were doing the same damn thing.  When
you live that close together and lives depend on each other it's hard to
keep any secrets.  We never tried but we didn't flaunt it either.  We were
just `the cowboys.'

We were coming upon our last three months.  Almost short timers.  We had
lost our platoon leader and had a hot shot new Louie for a leader. He was
out to make a name for himself and started requiring us to do a lot of fool
hardy, stupid things that endangered the lives of all of us.

Our old leader got us this far and, we only lost one man.  He was loved by
the whole platoon, he took care of us, and we took care of him.  He was a
no nonsense kind of leader.  If he thought there was the least chance we
were walking into a trap, or there was a safer way for his men to get a job
done, he ordered it done that way.

He listened to his men. He especially listened to the cowboys.  We had
developed a sixth sense as to where Charlie was hiding and the signs of
when he was around.  The four of us compared notes constantly and were
pretty damn sharp.

The new hot shot Louie didn't want our input. Some of the other men got
frustrated at his hard headedness and told him he better listen to the
cowboys `cause they've never been wrong. We tried and after four or five
times getting put down, told to shut up, he knew better, we just decided to
keep our mouths shut. We'd take care of ourselves.

It was a hot day.  Fucking Nam hot.  I've never experienced a more
suffering heat anywhere in my life. White, Twissleman, Buck and I were
walking point across this open field.  It was a dry patty where months
before there'd been ankle deep water.  The rice crop had been burned out.
It was scorched earth with little mounds of dried rice grass and dirt. We
saw all the signs of Charlie being dug in and tried to tell the asshole
that we were walking right into a possible trap.

We were told to stop being cowards and get our lazy, yellow ass's out there
on point.  Something in me snapped and I was going for the son of a
bitch. Buck grabbed me and held me until I settled down.  I thought Buck
was gonna' hit me. He didn't. He never would.

"Cowboy, let it go!  We ain't got that long to go. We'll be home, on the
circuit again.  Just you, me, Twissleman and White.  Let it go, Dearheart."
I let it go.

We started out across this huge field.  About half way across the VC had
dug in, and popped up out of hidden holes to spray us with fire.  We were
ambushed as the four of us feared. I took a hit to my shoulder.  My leg was
shot out from under me, and I lost my balance.  Buck heard the shots hit
me, turned to see me falling, and moved to catch me. As he turned, I saw
him get hit right through the chest, and we fell together.  White and
Twissleman headed for us. Both were shot as they were trying to lunge for
us. I fell underneath the three big men.

I was laying face down under their three bodies. My buddies lay dying on
top of me.  I heard White tell Twissleman he loved him.  Twissleman put his
big arm around him, pulled him to his chest, kissed him one last time, and
comforted him as they lay dying in each others arms. I felt Buck's two days
growth of beard as he kissed me behind the ear and whispered softly, "On
down the road, Cowboy---I love you so much, Billy---" and he was gone.

I passed out as a tear rolled down my cheek. I knew they were mortally
wounded, and I probably was too. If I didn't die now, I knew Charlie would
come pick over the dead, find me still partially alive and finish me. I
felt the life force leaving my body the more blood I lost. My life was
over.  I didn't want to live anymore. Somehow, I just didn't care. I saw
Buck get it right though the heart.

My face was turned to the side and I could see these little things jumping
on the ground close to me.  At first, I thought they were insects, and
then,---I saw and understood.  Oh!  God in heaven! Sweet Jesus, Mother of
Christ!  Help me!  Oh, oh, God!  No man should have to see this.  Take me
now, God! Let me die!  It was bits and pieces of Buck's heart that hadn't
figured out, they weren't in his body anymore and still trying to do their
function of supplying blood to his body.

Ken and Rowley left their bodies. I felt them go. I really didn't want to
live and thought it was probably best I was dying.  I didn't want to live
my life without Buck anyway.  So, it probably was for the best.  Dying
wasn't as bad as I'd imagined it might be.  It hurt for a while, but the
pain was going away the more blood I lost.  I was drifting in and out of
consciousness. The beautiful man I had come to trust and love lay on top of
me with his life force leaving his body.  As he breathed his last his big
body suddenly became lighter.

I passed out.  I don't know how long I lay there. I don't know if Charlie
came to check the dead or what. When I came to and dared open my eyes, I
couldn't see anything. I had lost so much blood I couldn't move. I had
three men on top of me protecting me but holding me down.  I thought I
heard choppers in the distance. I was sure they were coming closer They
came closer and closer. Then I heard English.  Our guys yelling and
cursing.

The damndest thought cross my mind, "Don't fuck this up, Billy, go on,
you've got to die before they get here to save you.  You wanna' be with
Buck or not?" I asked myself.  Thank God, I'm about to pass out.  This is
it, Kid!  Here you go.  You're dying---' Everything went black.  I `d
passed out knowing this was it, I was really going this time, I was dying.

I rose up out of my body and could see the medics moving swiftly from man
to man. My first thought was, `Oh good! I died. I'm dead.  Well,---it ain't
so bad.'

I could see the choppers setting on the ground.  I could feel the backwash
from their blades. White, Twissleman and Buck were standing next to me.  I
looked at our bodies laying there then looked back at Buck.  He smiled at
me, put his big arms around me and pulled me to him.  I could feel and
smell him as I cried in his arms.  He gently kissed me, and looked me in
the eyes as he held me.

"Listen to me, Cowboy!  Twissleman, White and I are dead. You're not.  You
have to go back.  You still have things to do in life.  God has some things
he needs you to do.  There's folks that need you. My dad needs you.  Some
guy named Booger needs you. Your dad needs you and there's a big bear, an
animal of a man that will need you. You have to go back, Cowboy."

"Hell, Buck, I wouldn't be here if I weren't dead, too.  I don't want to go
back without you guys.  I don't want to live here anymore.  It's an awful
place, look at all this blood.  Look at our bodies laying there, you want
me to go back to that? How could I go back without you, Buck?  I love you,
you have my heart. My soul is in your back pocket. I don't think I could
live without you, Buck.  I don't want to try. I never thought I could love
another man as much as I loved my uncle but I do Buck, I do. What would I
ever tell your dad? I promised him I'd take care of you.  Don't make me go
back, Buck, take me with you, please."

"You know I'd never deny you anything, Cowboy, but I don't have any choice
in this.  It isn't my call.  See that medic there, the big Indian.  He
knows you're here, your uncle died of a heart attack last night, and went
to him in his sleep.  He told him to look for you today.  He's about to
call out your name.  Move something so he can get to you.  He'll save you.
And Billy, tell my dad I loved him."

"Mine, too, Cowboy."  said Rowley.

"Yeah, my mom and dad, Billy." spoke Ken.

Suddenly, Uncle Bud was there with the four of us. He held me, and kissed
me too.  I cried in his arms. I lost him.  I lost Buck.  I lost
Twissleman. I lost White. A huge chunk of my world lay on top of me.

"Go back, Son, you have to live. It's not your time. God's not through with
you yet. You have to live for your dad, Buck's dad, old Booger and some
big, hairy, beast of a man that's a close friend of God's you don't know
yet.  We love you, we always will love you. We'll be with you when you need
us, all you have to do is call us and we'll come to you.  We'll be there.
But now, we have to go. The rest are waiting for me to take them home. Be
strong, Son, it's not your turn yet, but we'll be waiting for you.  I left
a letter with your Aunt Laura for you when you get home.  Be sure and ask
her for it."  He let me go, and I heard someone calling my name.  My
beloved uncle lifted his hand, and turned to the other three.

"You men ready? We need to go. Come Buck, Rowley, Ken,---take my hand."
Buck took Uncle Bud's hand, Rowley took Buck's, and White took
Rowley's. They followed Uncle Bud and were gone.

I was alone and horrified as I felt myself being pulled back into my pain
racked body. I heard a voice as if in the distance. A voice I
knew,---someone I loved.

"Billy!  Billy Gunn!  GUNN!  BILLY GUNN!  COWBOY, WHERE ARE YOU!  I KNOW
YOU'RE HERE, DAMN IT!  YOUR NOT DEAD!  I CAN FEEL YOU, BILLY!  RAISE A
FOOT; A HAND; MOVE SOMETHING, COWBOY!  The voice sounded frantic in it's
urgency to find me. The voice was getting closer.  I managed to raise my
right boot an inch or two and one of the corpsmen saw me.

"Over here, Chief!  He's over here!"  The two men gently checked out Buck,
Twissleman and White as they moved them off of me.  I opened my eyes in Jim
Redfeather's big arms, and saw the tears in his eyes.  He wiped the dirt
from my face and hugged me to him gently. He rocked me back and forth in
his arms crying his heart out.

"Oh God, Billy, your Uncle Bud, your dad, came to me last night in a
dream. You're safe now. I'll get you home, I promise, Cowboy.  I promise."
I passed out again, and didn't come to until I was in the hospital with Jim
by my side. He had tears in his eyes as he was holding my hand, rubbing it
in his big rough hands.

"Cowboy, you're awake.  Thank the Great Spirit!  Don't try to talk. You're
real week.  We pumped a lot of blood into you.  The doctors saved your leg,
and your shoulder's patched. You're gonna' make it, my old friend.

"You're going to Hawaii for recovery and then home.  You're out of this
hell hole."  He leaned over and kissed me on the forehead.

"Buck, Rowley and Ken White---?"  I could barely whisper, knowing what I
was going to hear, but I had to ask.  He just shook his head as a tear ran
down his cheek.  I told him I saw my Uncle Bud come for Buck, Rowley and
Ken.  Was he really dead too?

"Your Uncle Bud's spirit came to me two nights ago in a dream.  He died
that very night in his sleep of a massive heart attack.  He wouldn't go
with the folks that came to take him across until he could come to me and
alert me.  God, Billy!  That man really loved you. I could feel his love
for you in my dream.  He told me you would be one of the wounded in that
battle yesterday.  That you would be hanging on to life by a thread.  For
me to call out to you, to find you as quickly as I could. The other guys
thought I was crazy when I told them.  I didn't care, I knew you'd be
there, and kept calling your name.

I had the last laugh when one of them read your dog tags. He looked at me
an asked, how I knew.  I told him he wouldn't understand. Your uncle told
me that he was your real father, and you and him never found out until just
before you came over here."  I nodded yes.

"Rest, my beautiful friend.  You're safe now.  I still remember the
beautiful young man I shared love with one wonderful summer. I still love
him today."  Jim was a good, loving man, but he had changed. He was no
longer the young man that I loved all those summers ago. He was older,
mature, filled out, with a sad look on his face like the weight of the
world was on his shoulders.  He spent as much time with me as he could
until I was shipped out to a hospital in Hawaii. Even though my heart was
aching, it was wonderful to be with him again, even if it was only for a
while.  He was special to me.  There's still love in my heart for Jim
Redfeather. He will always be my hero.

The stupid Lieutenant that insisted we do it his way lost almost all his
men that day and got assigned another platoon.  Word got around quick in
Nam.  He was still continuing his hard nose, military man persona.  My
buddies deaths meant nothing to him, nor had he learned anything. We were
well known in Nam. Certain people, ordinary people really, that had some
talent, or got good at something stood out in Nam. Everyone soon knew who
they were and their nick-name. Everyone had heard of `the cowboys,' and we
were well liked. We were good at what we did, sniffing out Charlie, and
probably saved a lot of lives.

Buck was the only man in three platoons to carry a bible in his pack.  He
read it aloud for an hour every Sunday when we were in county.  Sometimes
there was a hundred and fifty men crowded around the cowboy's tent to
listen to Buck read. I would look out, and see many openly weeping as Buck
read.  They all knew who the `bible reading cowboy' was!  He was one of
`the four cowboys.' He was loved my all.  Nobody said anything bad about
Buck.  The other men wouldn't let them.  Many were convinced he was being
watched over by a higher power.  I had no doubt. Neither did Twissleman and
White.

The Lieutenant's next platoon were seasoned vets that had fought along side
us many times, and knew `the cowboys' well. They knew what we were capable
of.  A couple of our men walked away from that blood bath, and were put in
their platoon.  They told the other vets about the cowboys warning the son
of a bitch that all the signs were there, and we were walking into a
trap. Several confronted him. Asked him if he knew he was responsible for
the death of all those men and three of the cowboys. The hot shot Louie got
indignant pulled one of his stupid little tantrums on his new platoon,
insisting that he was going to shape the lot of `em up just like he'd done
for the last lazy ass platoon that didn't follow his orders and got
themselves slaughtered.

The next night, after a patrol, a grenade rolled into his tent. Fragged!
No more ambitious Lieutenant. The Army investigated every detail and found
nothing.  No one saw a thing. Can't say's I shed a tear. They even came to
the hospital and talked to me.  They wanted to know about `the cowboys.' I
pretended to be too weak to talk to them.  I didn't want to tell them sons
of bitches nothing.

I stayed at the hospital in Hawaii until I was discharged, and recovered
enough to fly home. I got letters from home, and even got a couple from
Chief.  I didn't answer any. I got a letter from Dan Yates, Buck's dad.  It
was a loving, pain filled letter that took me several attempts to finish.
I could feel his love for me coming through, and the pain of his loss
between the lines.

Mr. Yates wanted me to know he loved me, and wanted to see me after I got
home. I started ten or fifteen letters to him, and couldn't get past the
first page. I would break down, and the ink would run. I'd get frustrated,
and tear the damn thing up in anger. I Finally managed to get several lines
off to him.

Dear Mr. Yates,

Started fifteen letters to you. Can't write or talk about it yet.  My tears
make the ink run and I end up tearing them up. Buck loved you.  I love
you. Will come see you after I get home. I'm so sorry I failed you and
Buck, Mr. Yates.  He saved my life.  But, what is my life without him?

Billy

I was raging against the pain.  I was so angry with God and man I couldn't
think of anything but my loss. Four beloved people wiped out, gone, erased.
In the past, I'd prayed but I wasn't real sure God heard me. I never asked
for much because I had everything I needed.  I was a fair to middling
cowboy-I was loved.  Why bother God or ask Him for anything else if your
happy?  Buck, of all people, taught me the importance of prayer.  Buck
approached faith like he did everything else in life with a down home
sensibility.  No frills, no metaphysics, no hocus-pocus, no dog and pony
show, just earthy common sense faith.  He told me he'd picked up his need
for faith and ideas from being around a lot of Christian cowboys.

There was no frenetic, right wing, fundamentalist intrusion into your
faith. No thumping the bible with hypocritical, self serving, dogma.  It
was simple, blameless, accepting, nonjudgmental and based on trying to be
the best you could and help folks that needed it when you could. Buck made
no attempt to convert, proselytize, nor force his faith on anyone.  He'd
talk about it when we asked but never preached.  To him it was very simple.

So it became for the three of us and for many others that came to know
Buck.  I'm convince Buck was a man of God.  He didn't start out that way
but came to his unwavering belief in the simplest, almost childlike,
way. If it's true what the scriptures say, `You must become as a child to
enter the kingdom,'---Buck made it!  Later I came to believe that God
looked upon Buck and came to love him so much he wanted him with him.  I
don't blame the Old Man anymore, I know how he felt.  Buck Yates was a
special man.  He was my bonded brother.  I loved him.


End Part 3~
Booger Red & Cowboy
Copyright 2003 Waddie Greywolf
Mail to: <waddiebear@yahoo.com>