Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:09:23 -0400
From: Andrew Todd <atodd867@gmail.com>
Subject: Riding Lessons Chapter 4

This story is an act of fiction involving a (eventually) sexual
relationship between teen-aged boys. If that bothers or offends you, please
move on. This isn't going to be a hot & steamy stroke story, but hopefully
a more realistic `romantic' story.

This is my first attempt at writing this type of story. Comments and
constructive criticism are appreciated. Contact me at atodd867@gmail.com


RIDING LESSONS

By

Andrew Todd

Chapter IV.


Dusty watched Zak and Onyx for a few minutes. He couldn't believe that this
horse of all the animals at the ranch had taken so completely to Zak.

"Come on, Zak, time to head out."

Zak hugged Onyx. "See you tomorrow, Big Boy." As he walked out of the
stall, he had a mischievous glint in his eye. "I seem to remember you
saying something about a surprise?"

Dusty grinned at him. "Yes, but it's not here. So let's go."

He and Zak walked out to his truck. He got in on the driver's side and
unlocked the door for Zak. His truck was a little high and he giggled as he
watched Zak struggle to get into it. "Just put your foot right there and
pull yourself up."

After two tries, Zak finally was seated in the passenger seat. "Ok, let's
go. Wait, where are we going?"

"To my house."

"Cool." Zak was excited to see where Dusty lived.

As they drove through town, they talked about their favorite music and
movies and just spent time getting to know each other better. After about
25 minutes they pulled into a long driveway. The house was far off the road
with a large fenced in yard. It was a big two story house, white with light
blue trim and light blue shutters.

Zak immediately liked it. "This is your house? How many people live here?"

"It's just me and Mom. Though my Gram is visiting us right now. My Mom
inherited the house from her parents and she doesn't have the heart to sell
it since she grew up here and I've grown up here as well."

Dusty stopped the truck in front of the house and came around to Zak's side
to help him out.

Zak was standing at the side of the truck looking around while Dusty
retrieved his saddle bags from the bed of the truck. Zak looked up as he
heard a loud bark and saw the biggest dog he had ever seen barreling
towards them. Dusty looked up and laughed. "Incoming!!" He yelled.

The dog was making a beeline straight for Zak. After his encounter with
Ember this morning, Zak was a little better prepared and braced himself for
impact. The dog stopped short of Zak and walked towards him. Its head was
even with Zak's chest. Suddenly the dog leapt up and placed its front paws
on Zak's shoulders. The sudden weight made Zak's knees buckles and down he
went. Before he could focus, he felt a huge wet tongue slobbering all over
his face.

Dusty just stood there and laughed. "Herc, get down, you big dummy."

Zak raised his hands in front of his face to ward off the enormous
dog. Herc, properly chastised by Dusty, backed off and sat down on the
lawn.

"You didn't tell me you had horses at your house." Zak joked as he got to
his feet.

"Ha, ha. He's not a horse, he's a Great Dane." Dusty replied. "He's usually
not that forward. You keep having this effect on the animals around here."

"So, I hear." Zak giggled. "Is he yours?"

Dusty reached down and scratched the big dog's ear. "Yup, had him since he
was a puppy. A friend of my Mom's is a breeder and she gave him to me after
my Dad passed away. Along with Phoenix, he's what's gotten me through."

"So, Herc?"

"Short for Hercules. Sorry, I have this thing for mythology."

"No, it fits him. He's so big."

"Yes, but he's really like a big kid, most of the time he doesn't know his
own strength."

Zak walked over to where Dusty stood next to the big dog. He put out his
hand for Herc to sniff and the dog stuck out his tongue and licked the
offered hand. Zak laughed. He knelt down so he was at eye level with the
dog and began to stroke his head and neck and talk to him quietly. "Hey,
Herc. Nice to meet you. Next time, let's not knock me over, Ok? I've had
quite enough of landing on my butt today."

Dusty laughed. "Now that he knows you, he'll be worse, not better."

"Oh, great. If this keeps up, I'm going to need padded underwear."

Dusty reached down and took the dog's head in both hands and planted a kiss
on his nose. "Ok, you big goofball, go to your house." The dog licked
Dusty's face and stood up and trotted off behind the house.

"He doesn't stay in the house?" Zak asked.

"Not during the day." Dusty answered. "Since my Mom and I are out all day
he stays in the yard. I don't tie him up or anything cuz I've never had a
problem with him running away and he's a good watch dog. At night, I bring
him in and he sleeps in my room. He tries to sleep in the bed with me, but
I've only got a queen size bed and with him in it, there's no room left for
me, so I make him sleep on the floor."

They walked into the house and Dusty led him into the kitchen. Dusty walked
over to a very attractive blonde woman in her mid- to late thirties. He
wrapped his arms around her to give her a hug and kissed her cheek.

His Mom turned around and smiled at Dusty. "Hey, Baby, you're home early."

"Yeah, we're just stopping by real quick."

"We?" she asked and then saw Zak standing in the doorway.

Dusty gestured to Zak. "Mom, this is Zak Myers. He's working with me at the
ranch this summer."

Zak stepped up to offer his hand to Dusty's Mother. "Nice to meet you,
Mrs. Crandall."

"Please, Zak, call me Lu and it's very nice to meet you, too."

"I pass Zak's house on the way to and from work." Dusty explained. "So I
offered to be his ride until he gets his driver's license. But, I have
something for him in my room. So we'll go get that and then I'll bring him
home."

"Ok, Sweetie. Don't forget I'm going out with Jackie tonight, so you're on
your own for dinner."

"What about Gram?"

"She had a late lunch and probably is getting ready to settle down for the
night."

"Ok, Mom, have fun tonight. Come on, Zak."

Dusty grabbed Zak's hand and led him upstairs. They stopped at the first
door they came to. Dusty knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in."

Dusty opened the door. "Hi, Gram. How are you tonight?"

"I'm well. Who is this with you?"

Zak stood in the doorway looking at the tiny Indian woman before him. She
was dressed in a black jeans and black sweatshirt, but was wearing several
beaded necklaces and bracelets. She looked diminutive, but Zak got the
feeling she was a formidable lady.

"Gram this is my friend, Zak. Zak, this is my Grandmother, Wilma Running
Dear."

"Nice to meet you, Ma'am."

The old woman reached out her hand to Zak. "Come here, Little One." Dusty
nodded to Zak that it was all right. Zak walked over to Wilma and she took
his hand and stared into his eyes.

"Aah." She said "Another Two-Spirit. And another strong aura." She smiled
up at Zak. "You take good care of my Grandson, Little One."

Zak was tongue-tied. "I will, Mrs. Running Deer."

"You call me Gram, Little One."

"Ok, Gram."

Dusty went over and kissed his Grandmother and took Zak's elbow to steer
him out of the room. "We've gotta go, Gram. I'll see you later."

"Ok, Sweet One. Make sure you bring the Little One back to visit me."

"Yes, Ma'am." Dusty answered as he shut the door.

They walked down the hall and Dusty stopped outside the third door. "I'm
sorry; my Gram is very old school Native American."

"It's Ok, she seems very nice. But you're going to have to explain that
conversation to me."

Dusty opened the door and led Zak into his bedroom. It was very a very
large and comfortable room. Dusty, unsurprisingly, had a very western motif
in the room, with lots of pictures of horses all over.

"Ok, when she said you were a `Two-Spirits'. It meant she knows you're
gay."

"What?!?!"

"Hold on, that's not a bad thing." Dusty took Zak's hand and led him over
to the bed where they sat down. "In many Native American cultures there is
a strong belief in spirits or souls. It is believed that every living thing
has a spirit. Gay people are embraced, because it is believed that they
have a male spirit and a female spirit. It has nothing to do with
femininity or masculinity, more to do with someone being in touch with both
sides of the world. She knows I'm gay, she was the first one to figure it
out, even before I did."

"Ok, but what did she mean by a `strong aura'."

"She believes that my connection to animals is due to my being a
`Two-Spirit' and having what she calls a `strong aura'. According to her,
`strong aura' just means that you have a gift, an innate ability. I think
when she said another `strong aura' she was implying that your gift was the
same as mine. The connection to the animals. Native American cultures place
a lot of importance on animals and the people who can connect with them."

Zak looked up at Dusty. "You are blowing my mind here. I'm going to have to
do some research tonight so I get all this."

Dusty smiled. "Don't worry about it. At the end of the day all it really
means is that she liked you and approved of you."

"Well, that's cool. But, can I ask you another question?"

"Sure, you can ask me anything."

Zak hesitated for a second. "Well, your Grandmother is your Father's
Mother, right?"

"Yes." Dusty nodded and then the light in his head went on. "And you want
to know why she has a different last name."

"I was curious."

"That's easy. My Dad's last name was `Running Deer', but my Mom kept her
name `Crandall' when they got married. They both decided when I was born
that I would use Crandall, because they thought it would make things easier
for me in school. Since we aren't on a reservation or in an area with a
heavy Native population. They knew how cruel kids could be and didn't want
me to be bullied."

"Oh, ok, that makes sense. Now one more question."

 "Now what?"

"What are we doing here?"

Dusty laughed. "We're getting your present."

"How can I have a present here, I didn't even know you 12 hours ago."

"Just sit here and close your eyes."

Zak did as he was told and he felt Dusty get off the bed. He heard a door
opened and what sounded like someone rummaging around in a closet.

Dusty came back over and sat on the bed and told Zak to open his eyes.

Zak looked at the spot on the bed between them, there sat a pair of leather
boots. They looked old, but well taken care of.

"I know, they are old, but I thought they would probably fit you and they'd
be more use to you around the ranch then those sneakers."

Zak immediately kicked off his sneakers and pulled on the boots, they fit
perfectly. He looked up at Dusty. "Thanks, they are great." He leaned in to
hug Dusty tightly and then he lifted his face up and kissed him.

Dusty returned both the hug and the kiss. They began to kiss more
passionately. Dusty pushed Zak back onto the bed and let his tongue invade
his new friend's mouth. He reached his hand up under Zak's t-shirt and
rubbed his chest. Zak buried his face in Dusty's neck and kissed it,
sucking on the smooth skin. Then he turned back to Dusty's lips and
attacked them with a fervor he didn't think possible. They made out for a
few minutes and then Dusty pulled back.

"Slow, slow, that's what we said, right."

Zak sat up and mumbled. "Right. Walk first." He reached down and adjusted
the painful erection he had.

Dusty stood up. "Ok, let's get you home, you're going to need your rest
tonight."

Zak bent over and picked up his sneakers and stood up and walked to the
bedroom door. He turned back to Dusty. "I just have one question. How do
you happen to have a pair of boots that fit me?"

"Well." Grinned Dusty. "They were mine when I was 12."

Zak laughed. "I thought it would be something like that."

The boys hustled down the stairs and out to Dusty's truck. When they got to
the truck they both laughed at the sight that greeted them. Herc was
standing in the bed of the truck.

Dusty shook his finger at the dog. "No, Herc, you are not going for a
ride. Get out of there."

The dog just looked at him and walked around the bed of the truck.

Dusty went to the back of the truck and lowered the gate. He waved his
hands at the big dog. "C'mon, Herc, get out of there, we don't have time
for this."  Herc sat down up by the truck cab and whined at his master.

Dusty just threw up his hands in frustration while Zak continued to laugh
at the sight.

Dusty turned to Zak. "What are you laughing at? See, I told you dogs could
be a bigger pain in the ass than horses. I don't have to worry about
Phoenix jumping in the back of my truck." He just shook his head. "Well, we
might as well let him come; he's so stubborn it will take forever to get
him out of there."

He closed the gate and walked towards the driver's side door. As he was
getting into the truck he yelled back to his remorseless pet. "You better
watch your step; if you fall out I'm not stopping for you."

Zak was shocked. "You think he'll fall out."

Dusty barked out a laugh. "Hell, no. He rides back there all the time. He
loves to go for a ride and he's too damn big to sit in the cab with me." He
reached behind them and slid open the window between the cab and bed of the
truck. "Just keep an eye on him."

Zak turned to look into the bed of the truck just as Herc was shoving his
head through the window. Zak was greeted with a face full of doggy
saliva. "Yuck." He said as he wiped his chin with the back of his hand.

Dusty chuckled as he started up the truck.

As they started down the road, Zak gave Dusty directions to his
house. After a few minutes, Dusty pulled into a strip mall parking lot and
parked in front of the Walgreens. As soon as they stopped, Herc again stuck
his head in the window. Dusty looked at him as he got out of the
truck. "You stay here, Herc. Be good." To Zak he said "I just have to run
in and grab something, just wait her for a minute."

Zak waited in the truck absently petting the big dog's head and listening
to the radio. Dusty seemed to favor country stations, that would take Zak a
little getting used to as he preferred classic rock and pop. He took a
moment to reflect on the events of the day. He couldn't believe how much
had happened to him in a few hours. He had a job that he thought he would
really end up liking. He had discovered that he loved riding horses. He
made a terrific new friend in Dusty and just maybe a boyfriend. He hoped
that he and Dusty would end up as boyfriends, but he was just happy that he
had someone that he could share things with and confide in. Even though he
had known Dusty less than a day, he trusted him more than he had ever
trusted anyone. He knew Dusty would look out for him and protect him and he
would do the same for Dusty.

He was drawn out of his reflection by the sound of the truck door opening
and Dusty climbing back in. He had a small bag in his hand and he gave it
to Zak.

Zak curiously opened the bag and looked inside. "Sunscreen?" He looked up
at Dusty.

"Sorry, I didn't think of it sooner. You probably haven't noticed but
you're a little pink around the edges. I should have noticed earlier, it
was bound to happen with your fair skin. I don't think about it, because I
don't burn, I just get darker and darker until my Mom tells me I'm brown as
a nut. I got you three different SPFs. I want you to use the higher one
tomorrow and then as you start to spend more time in the sun, you can
change to the lower ones, that way you'll get some color, but not turn into
a tomato. I also got you a tube of aloe cream, if you notice that the
sunburn is really bothering you, just rub some of the cream on it, it will
take the sting out."

Zak looked up at Dusty and had tears in his eyes.

Dusty reached out and took Zak's hand. "What's wrong?"

Zak took a deep breath. He was trying not to cry. "I'm sorry, it's just I
was sitting here thinking about how happy I was to have you in my life now
and how no matter where things went I knew that you would take care of me
and then you do this simple thing for me and prove it."

Dusty moved his hand to caress Zak's cheek and smiled at him. "I told you,
no matter what we will always be friends. I'll look out for you always. You
deserve to have someone look after you."

Zak lurched forward and grabbed Dusty in a big hug. He was still trying to
keep his emotions in check. "Thank you." He whispered in Dusty's ear.

Dusty gently kissed his cheek. "You ok now?" He asked.

Zak smiled up at him, his blue eyes glistening. "I'm better than ok. I'm
terrific."

Dusty squeezed his hand. "Good."

As they continued the drive to Zak's house, Zak asked. "Dusty, how did you
end up with this huge truck. Most kids our age are lucky to have an old
beat up car to drive around in? What does your Mom do?"

Dusty chuckled. "Well, my Mom works as a Paralegal at a law office. She
does well enough to take care of us, but she didn't buy me this truck. I
bought it myself."

"How did you manage that, I know Mr. Jones pays better than McDonald's but
still this is not a cheap truck."

"Well, I do work almost full-time at the ranch and I do get paid extra for
doing the lessons and most of the customers who do trail rides will tip the
guides, which we will split this summer. But, remember how I told you about
the stud fees that Mr. Jones makes from Onyx?"

Zak nodded.

"Well, we also breed Phoenix. His being a full-blooded mustang makes him in
great demand, almost as much as Onyx. A lot of people want to breed him to
their mustang mares to keep their horses purebred. Others just want to
breed him hoping that the babies take on some of his features. Even though
Mr. Jones technically owns Phoenix, he says that the work I've done with
him is what has made him much more valuable as a stud, so he splits the
stud fees with me. Since we've been breeding him for the last 2 ½ years,
I've made enough to buy this truck outright and built up a pretty sizeable
bank account as well. My hope is that when I graduate High School, I can
maybe start my own ranch or horse training operation."

"That's great. You're so focused on what you want. I wish I could be like
that. I never know one day to the next what I want to do with my life."

"Zak, you're just finishing your sophmore year of High School, don't put so
much pressure on yourself. Eventually you'll figure out what you want to
do. You're a smart kid with college in your future, so you have time. I
know that college isn't in the cards for me right away, so I've tried to
focus more on preparing myself."

"You're smart enough to get into college."

"I know I could get in, but right now, I don't want to. After my Dad died,
I was really lost. I started skipping school and hanging out with the wrong
kids. I was pissed at the world and no one could get through to me. When I
started working at the ranch I felt like I had found my place in the world,
my calling. I finally allowed love and happiness into my world. I've never
been a happy student; I just go because you have to. Maybe someday I'll
take some college courses, but it will be to help me in my business and not
just because everyone expects it."

"How does your Mom feel about you not going to college? My Mom would chain
me up and ship me off if I said I didn't want to go."

Dusty laughed. "Actually, my Mom would like me to go, but she understands
why I'm not going. Since I started working at the ranch and she's seen me
change, she's trusted me to make my own decisions and live my life. When I
came out to her, she cried, not because she couldn't accept the fact that I
was gay, but because she was concerned for my well-being. I assured her
that I was happy with myself and my place in the world."

"Wow, you came out to your Mom, just like that?"

"Sure, my Mom and I are real close. It must be the same for you and your
Mom since you lost your Dad."

"Well, my Mom and I very close, but I don't know if I could come out to
her."

"Why not? Does she have something against gays?"

"No, just the opposite, she has some very close friends who are gay and
they are at our house all the time. I just feel like I'll be disappointing
her and my Dad." Zak almost whispered.

"What do you mean your Dad?"

"Well, even though I don't even remember my Dad, I feel this responsibility
to him. I'm his only son. If I'm gay then there are no heirs for my Dad. He
was an only child too."

Dusty pulled the truck over and looked at Zak. Before he could say
anything, the tension was broken by Herc's head once again popping through
the window. "Herc, go lie down." Dusty ordered. The dog pulled his head
back through the window and lay down in the bed of the truck.

Dusty reach over and took Zak's hand in his. With his other hand he gently
grabbed Zak's chin and turned his head to face him. He looked into Zak's
sad blue eyes and exhaled. His heart was breaking for his new friend. "Zak,
listen to me. I went through feeling the same thing. I thought if I was gay
I was letting my Dad down. Remember how I told you my Grandmother was the
first one to figure out I was gay?"

Zak nodded.

"Well, she came to me during one of her visits and told me she knew. I felt
so ashamed. I basically told her the same things you just told me. She
looked at me and told me she knew my Father better than I did and he would
be more disappointed if I spent my life miserably trying to live up to some
ideal then living my life being true to myself. She told me my Dad loved me
more than anything and would have been so proud of the man I was
becoming. I think your Dad would feel the same way."

Dusty saw huge tears falling from Zak's eyes. "Don't you think your Dad
would want you to be happy? That's all any parent should want for their
child. Well, that and not being a serial killer."

Zak grinned at Dusty's joke and then got serious again. "I know what you
saying is right, I'm just so scared of disappointing my Mom."

"Look, Zak, you don't have to come out to her tonight, but I think you need
to give her more credit. Even if she was homophobic, eventually you would
have to tell her for your own piece of mind. But, knowing that she is
accepting of her gay friends should make it easier for you."

"There's a big difference between gay friends and a gay child."

"I know, but have you thought that maybe she already knows."

The very thought panicked Zak. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Moms have a tendency to know more about us than we think. My Gram &
my Mom both had figured me out before I even came out to them. All I was
doing was confirming for them what they already knew or at least
suspected."

"But, how could they know, you don't act gay."

"Zak, what does `acting' gay mean?" Dusty asked. "Neither of us is mincing
around or acting effeminate. I know plenty of guys who act like that that
are straight. Straight or gay acting are just stereotypes. But with my Mom,
it was the fact I have never dated a girl or expressed any interest in
doing so. There were other things she noticed that I didn't think
about. Your Mom has probably noticed the same things."

Zak just sat in silence for a few minutes.

"I guess you're right." He said. "It probably wouldn't be shock to her to
find out I was gay."

"She's your Mom and from what you've told me she loves you very much and
I'll bet she'll still love you after you come out. Right?"

Zak looked up into Dusty's beautiful black eyes and nodded. Dusty leaned
forward and kissed Zak on the forehead. He wrapped his arm around the back
of Zak's neck and hugged him.

"Ok, let's get you home, before your Mom sends out the National Guard."

He pulled the truck back out onto the street and they continued on.

As they turned onto his street, Zak pointed out his house. It was a bit
smaller than Dusty's house, but the perfect size for two. It was two
stories, brown with white trim & shutters.

"Wait." Zak said.

Dusty stopped the truck at the house before Zak's. "What?"

"I wanna play a joke on my Mom."

"What kind of joke?"

"Well, even though today turned out great and I am really looking forward
to this summer, she did force this whole thing on me and she must be
punished."

Dusty looked at Zak. "What did you have in mind?"

Zak's eyes traveled to the bed of the truck. "Can I borrow Herc?" He asked,
barely able to contain himself.

Dusty knew what Zak was going to do to his poor Mom. "Man, you are more
evil than I suspected."

Zak just laughed. "Can I?"

"Sure, he'll go with you." Dusty reached into the glove compartment and
pulled out a nylon leash. "Here, just attach this to his collar. I'll give
you a few minutes to give your Mom a heart attack and then I'll come get
him."

"Ok, cool." Zak started to get out of the truck.

"Wait" Dusty said as he reached behind the seat. He handed Zak a straw
cowboy hat that was turned up on both sides. "Put this on, then you'll
really be a cowboy."

Zak's eyes lit up and he put on the cowboy hat.

"Perfect." Dusty laughed.

Dusty just sat in the truck grinning, while Zak walked to the back of the
truck and lowered the gate. Herc came right up to him. "Come on,
Herc. You're gonna help me get a little payback." The dog leapt down onto
the sidewalk and Zak snapped the leash onto his collar. He started walking
down the sidewalk and stopped in front of the truck and turned and gave
Dusty a thumbs up sign.

Dusty just shook his head. He couldn't believe the hot little cowboy
walking down the street was the same shy quiet boy he had met just this
morning. He watched Zak's tight little ass as he walked down the street to
his house. He felt himself starting to get hard, he looked down at his
bulging crotch. "No." he said. "We're going to take this slow. I really
like him and don't want to do anything to hurt him or scare him off." He
lightly slapped his cloth covered dick. "Behave yourself." He told it.

He looked up to see Zak and Herc approaching the house. He wished he could
be a fly on the wall for this.

Zak led the dog up the front steps and into the house. From the front
hallway he hollered. "Mom!! I'm home."

"I'm in the kitchen, Hon."

"Ok." He answered. Looking down at Herc he whispered. "Showtime."

He walked to the kitchen entryway with Herc. His Mom had her back to him
while she washed up some dishes in the sink.

"Hey, Mom."

His Mom grabbed a dish towel to wipe her hands and turned to greet
him. "Zak, how was your d..." She was speechless when she saw her son
standing there. The first thing she saw was the way he was dressed in a
cowboy hat and cowboy boots. Then she saw the enormous dog standing next to
him. The animal was almost as tall as her son.

"What the hell is that?!?" She practically screamed.

Zak was trying to stay serious. "Mom, meet Hercules, but we call him
Herc. He's a Great Dane."

"And what's he doing in my kitchen."

"I'm dog sitting him for a friend. He's going to be staying with us for the
summer."

"Oh, he is?"

"Yes, you don't mind do you? You wanted me to make some new friends and
this is one of them, the guy who owns him is going away for a few months
and I offered to watch him." Zak was loving this, his Mom was getting paler
and paler.

"Sure, Honey, but are you going to have time to take care of him when you
have to work and are at school?"

"Oh, sure. He's used to staying in the yard during the day. He can do his
business out there and he usually doesn't bark too loud."

As if on cue Herc let out with the loudest bark he could manage. Zak was
about to bust, he couldn't have planned it any better.

Just as he was about to let his Mother out of her misery, there was a knock
on the door.

"Oh, I'll get it. Here you hold Herc's leash." Zak handed the leash to his
dumbfounded Mother and ran to the front door.

When he opened the door and saw Dusty he was laughing so hard tears were
rolling down his face.

Dusty just shook his head at him and grinned. "You are one twisted little
dude."

Zak tried to catch his breath. "Come on, let's go save my Mom."

Zak grabbed Dusty's hand and led him into the kitchen where his Mom was
standing in the center of the room holding Herc's leash and trying to
figure out what she was going to do with this dog.

She saw Zak enter with another boy and they were both laughing
hysterically.

She then realized that she had been had. "Zachary Allen Myers!!" She
bellowed. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack."

Zak put on his most innocent face. "Moi?"

"You little shit, what is going on?"

"Mom, this is my co-worker and new friend Dusty Crandall. Dusty this is my
Mom, Kate Myers."

Dusty offered his hand to the small blonde lady. "Nice to meet you,
Mrs. Myers."

Kate took his hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you too, Dusty, call me
Kate." She looked from Herc to Dusty. "Please tell me this animal is
yours."

Dusty just nodded as he and Zak broke up into laughter again.

Zak finally caught his breath. "I'm sorry, Mom. I couldn't resist. The look
on your face was priceless. Herc is Dusty's dog and he let me borrow him
for a few minutes, but he'll be taking him home."

Kate breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God." Both boys started laughing
again. "Not that he doesn't seem like a perfectly nice dog, but he's so
big!"

Kate finally joined the boys with laughter of her own. She handed the leash
to Dusty and walked over and hugged her mischievous son. "So, can I assume
you had a good day?"

"I had a great day." Zack started excitedly. "Dusty took me on a trail ride
through the woods to a lake and then he spent the afternoon teaching me how
to ride a horse. I'm pretty good at it if I do say so myself."

Kate looked questioningly at Dusty.

Dusty nodded. "Yes, he's a natural on horseback. And the animals love him."

"Well, Sweetie, I'm glad your day was better than you were expecting."

"Oh, it was awesome, we are going to have a blast this summer."

Kate looked into her son's eyes and placed her hand flat on his
forehead. "Ok, who are you and what have you done with my son the
bookworm?"

Zak rolled his eyes. "It's me right here, Mom. I just had a lot of fun,
mostly because of Dusty."

Kate saw a look pass between Zak and Dusty. They probably weren't even
aware of it, but she knew that look as she had had it herself when she met
Zak's Father. The look of young love. She had long suspected that Zak was
probably gay. She was ok with it as long as he didn't get hurt. Hopefully,
her son's new friend wouldn't hurt him.

She looked at Dusty. "So, Dusty, we were just going to sit down to dinner
would you like to join us."

Zak looked at Dusty with pleading eyes.

"I'd love to, but my Mom is going out tonight and we don't like to leave my
Gram alone for too long, she gets up to too much mischief. Plus, I need to
get this beast home and fed."

"Ok, another time then. I'm so happy that Zak has made a new friend. I just
want you to know you are welcome here anytime."

"Thank you, Mrs. Myers." She shot him a look. "I mean, Kate." He looked at
Zak. "Well, I've got to get going. I'll pick you up at 6:30, ok?"  Zak
groaned at the mention of the hour. "Ok." He moaned.

Dusty and Kate laughed.

Dusty looked at him. "I told you. You're going have to get used to the
early hours."

"I know. It's just hard."

"It'll get easier as you do it more."

Dusty walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door. Zak ran out of
the kitchen after him. He caught Dusty as he entered the entry way. "Hey,
do you want your hat back?"

"No, you keep it, you're going to need it out in the sun."

"Cool. Thanks."

"No, problem. I'll see you tomorrow." Dusty said as he walked out the door
and down the step.

Zak poked his head out of the door and when Dusty turned he kissed him on
the lips. Dusty just stood there shocked that Zak would do that in his
front yard.

Zak just smiled at him. "Seeya." He said as he went back into the house.

Dusty led Herc back to where he had left his truck, loaded him into the
back and took off for home.

Zak went back into the kitchen where his Mom had just finished putting
supper on the table. Kate was shocked by the change in her son. This boy
who most meals would barely say two words was rambling on non-stop about
all the things he had done today. He talked about Dusty with such reverence
that there was no doubt in her mind that Zak had, at the least, a strong
crush on the older boy. She saw that Dusty was a very nice boy, she only
hoped that her son would not get hurt.


***Ok, Folks, that ends Chapter 4. I always appreciate comments and
constructive criticism. Thanks for the kind comments I have already
received.***