Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 08:37:21 -0800 (PST)
From: Tom Borden <tombor99@yahoo.com>
Subject: "My Father, My Son"  76th Installment

This is Chapter 76, a continuation of "My Father, My Son."  All the
conditions, warnings, and disclaimers listed at the beginning of the early
chapters of this series apply.  All comments are welcome, constructive or
destructive.


Send to:   Tom Borden,   tombor99@yahoo.com


My Father, My Son
Chapter 76

Terry Murdock had just finished his last day with the Goliad Inn and spent
the evening packing up his few belongings in readiness for his drive to
Austin to Join Adriano.  Adriano had continued to stay with Josiah and
Brian in their apartment, but several days before Terry's arrival, Adriano
had located an apartment close to the campus and had described it to Terry
over the phone.  With Terry's agreement, Adriano, with the help of Josiah
and Brian, moved in his belongings, including some of the damaged wooden
furniture, which he intended to refinish later.

Adriano had kept largely to himself in his room, not wanting to be a
nuisance to Josiah and Brian.  He could often hear his two hosts in the
adjoining room enjoying their nighttime sexual activity.  He masturbated
every night in his own bed, thinking of Terry, but having his excitement
heightened by the sounds coming from his hosts' room.  On the last night
before he moved to his new place, he was stroking his penis, as usual, when
the door opened.  Josiah and Brian stepped in, both completely naked.

Brian said, "Adriano, please.  This is your last night here.  We know
you're thinking about Terry's arrival in a few days, but we'd like to have
you sleep with us just this one time.  Would you mind if we joined you
there?"

Adriano had wished for this to happen, but he had not been able to get
himself to take the initiative.  He said, "I'd love to, you guys.  But, if
you don't mind, I just don't feel that we should . . . you know . . . go
all the way.  I hope you understand about that."

Josiah said, "We understand, Adriano.  Brian and I would just like to be
close to you tonight.  We both love you, but we don't want to do anything
that would in any way be disrespectful of your relationship with Terry."

As Adriano extended his arms in welcome, Josiah and Brian climbed into bed
on either side of Adriano.  As they began to caress Adriano's body, Adriano
turned his head back and forth, kissing each of them.  Adriano continued to
hold on to his hard penis and stroked it slowly.  Soon, both Josiah and
Brian, with their bodies pressed up tightly against Adriano's, began to
stroke their own penises.  As they all stroked, they continued to kiss one
another.

Brian said, "Let's all try to cum together.  And let's see who can shoot
the farthest."

The three handsome lads lay quietly without talking as they stroked, all
watching each other's penis as they did so.  Josiah was the first to show
signs of being ready when his body began to stiffen.  Brian and Adriano
picked up the pace, knowing it was time.  All three of their bodies were
now stretched and taut and, as they all moaned, the sperm began to shoot
from their penises.  Rope after rope of thick white cum were hurled into
the air and down onto their bodies.  Sweating and out of breath, they each
squeezed their penises to get the last drops.

Looking over at each other, they could see that Josiah had sent one of his
streams of cum up to the hollow in the middle of his chest exactly between
his nipples.  Brian had lost control of his hand in the heat of his orgasm,
and most of his sperm had landed on one of his arms, just below the elbow.
Adriano, however, lay there with a large glob of his sperm lying in the
dimple of his chin.  Adriano was older than Josiah and Brian and, as
everyone knows, the distance that a guy's sperm can be shot becomes less
and less as he ages.  But the rule didn't hold true for Adriano.  Brian and
Josiah laughed and conceded the contest to Adriano.

Adriano asked Josiah to reach down by his side of the bed and get the towel
that he always kept at the ready.  After they had wiped up the gooey mess,
they lay there once again caressing each other lightly.

Adriano said, "This was nice, you guys.  You've both been so great to me,
letting me stay here and helping me move stuff and all.  And then this
great jack-off session!  I hope I can re-pay you someday."

"Don't be ridiculous, Adriano," said Brian as he kissed Adriano lightly on
the lips.  "All we expect is a good grade from you in the next class we
take with you!"

"Well, that won't be hard," said Adriano, returning the kiss.  "You guys
make nothing but A's anyway, entirely on your own.  You'll have to think of
something else I can do for you."

Josiah said, "Brian was just kidding.  The one thing you can do for us is
to just stay like you are, just staying our friend."

Adriano reached out both arms and pulled each of them closer to him.  "Stay
here close to me and sleep with me tonight."

Brian and Josiah pressed Adriano close between them, and all three were
soon asleep.


The day after Terry Murdock arrived, he reported to Francois's to begin
work.  Going directly to Francois's office, he found that Francois had
assembled his four sons to greet him.  "Come in, Monsieur Murdock!  I want
you meet my four sons.  And I wanted them to meet you, also, since you will
all be working together.  I'll introduce them with the oldest first, and
then down to the baby of our family.  This is Andre.  He's twenty four.
Then we have Henri, Jacques, and Antoine.  Boys, this is Monsieur Murdock,
our new head waiter."

After all had shaken hands, the boys left to go about their duties.

Froancois said, "Sit down Murdock.  In a minute, I'll take you around and
introduce you to the chef and the kitchen help.  But first, I think I need
to tell you about Andre, my oldest boy.  He's a good worker and has always
done a fairly good job in the dining room.  In fact, he has made this
restaurant his whole life.  You need to be aware that he wanted the head
waiter's position, and I believe he had expected to be appointed head
waiter.  But, Murdock, he just simply isn't ready.  He needs more polish
and he's never been particularly good with wines.  I probably would have
given him the position, if you had not come along when you did.  And I
imagine he will be the one to take over the place when I'm gone.  I dislike
having to put you in this position.  He is not a happy young man over your
appointment, and I think you need to be aware of this.  He's a bit
hot-headed.  You know, we French are excitable at times.  But I know you
will be able to deal with this."

Terry said, "I appreciate your filling me in on this situation, Francois.
I have in the past dealt rather effectively with these kinds of things.
But, of course, this will involve the boss's son, so to speak, and that may
put me at a disadvantage to a certain degree."

"I understand that, Murdock.  Normally, if things got truly out of hand,
you would have the prerogative to fire him.  That is the only bad part of
this.  Of course, I don't want him to be fired.  Any difficulty you
encounter will simply have to be dealt with in other ways.  I'm really
sorry, Murdock, to have thrown this problem in your face on your first day.
But I'm confident, with your experience and your well mastered
sophistication, you'll be able to deal with it."

Terry spent the rest of the day familiarizing himself with the routine at
Francois's and getting to know all of the personnel.  When the restaurant
opened for business at 4:00 p.m., Terry waited on a few tables, but spent
most of his time observing the conduct of the other waiters.  At about 6:00
p.m., he went into the restroom.  As he entered, he could see that Andre
was following close behind.  As he stood at one of the urinals, Andre stood
at the one next to him.

"Well, Murdock," said Andre, "how do you like the place so far?"

"I think I'm going to love it here.  All of you have been so nice.  With
your experience, Andre, I'm going to depend upon you a great deal."

After a few moments, Andre said, "I know why my dad hired you."

"You do?"

"Yeah.  It's your looks."

"My looks?" said Terry.  "I doubt my looks had anything to do with it."

"You're a very handsome man, Murdock.  I saw how my dad looked at you when
you first came in to see him."

"I didn't notice anything like that."

"Come, come, Murdock.  Don't be na^Ėve.  It was your looks.  He was
going to make me head waiter until you came in."

Both Terry and Andre continued to stand at the urinals, even though they
had finished peeing.  Andre stood there gently shaking his penis.  Then he
said, "Has dad seen that yet?"

"Seen what?"

"That!  Your cock," said Andre as he looked at and pointed to Terry's
penis.

"No, he hasn't.  What are you trying to tell me, Andre?"

"You'll find out soon enough, I'm sure."  Then looking deliberately down at
Terry's penis, he said, "How long is it, anyway?  Seven?  Eight inches?"

Terry backed away and zipped up.  As he did so, he could see that Andre's
penis was now hard and stiff.  Andre stood at the door as Terry washed his
hands at the sink.  As Terry dried his hands, he said, "Andre, aren't you
going to wash your hands?'

"Is that your first order to me, Murdock?" said Andre sarcastically.

Murdock said, "It's not an order, Andre.  It's simply expected that anyone
who works here will wash his or her hands after peeing."

Without a word, Andre deliberately walked out the door without washing his
hands.


When Murdock returned to the apartment after 10:00 p.m., Adriano greeted
him with a hug and a kiss and asked how the first day went.

Murdock poured himself a glass of wine and sat down.  "Well, Adriano, I'm
not sure.  I'm honestly not sure.  I like the place a lot, and I like most
of the people who work there.  But there's a strange situation between
Francois and his oldest son, Andre.  Francois warned me that Andre was
unhappy because he didn't get the head waiter's job.  But then Andre
confronts me with the claim that his father hired me because of my looks.
He intimated that his father was attracted to me physically."

"I don't blame him, Terry," said Adriano with a smile.

"And I get the strangest feeling, Adriano," continued Terry, "that there
might be something going on between Francois and his son, Andre."

"You mean romantically?" asked Adriano.

"Yeah.  I'm not positive, though.  Andre is not a very pleasant person.
He's as handsome as anyone could be, but he's really sore about my being
there.  And then, when he was standing next to me at the urinal, I could
see he had a really stiff hard-on."

"You looked?" said Adriano.

"Well, yes.  We all like to sneak a look at the next guy's equipment.
Anyway, he was looking at mine!  And he asked if his dad had seen my cock
yet.  Adriano, I have the feeling I'm going to run into more stuff in the
job than I bargained for."

"It sounds kind of interesting to me," said Adriano.  "All I ask is that
you keep your hands to yourself."

Getting up and taking Adriano in his arms and kissing him lightly on the
lips, Terry said, "I intend to, my love.  My hands are for you only."

After going to bed and taking each other's cum orally, Adriano and Terry
lay tightly in each other's arms.  Terry had had a tiring first day and was
soon asleep.  Adriano lay awake, running his hand lightly over Terry's
neck, back, and arms.  He felt strangely troubled.  It suddenly occurred to
him that he really didn't know Terry.  Their romance had occurred so
quickly.  Maybe there was something to the idea that two people should get
to know each other better before a commitment is made.  He had no reason to
believe that Terry would get 'involved' with anyone else.  But he would be
working closely with this homosexual father and his homosexual son, both
extremely handsome men.  He realized he just didn't know Terry well enough
to be certain in his own mind that Terry would not somehow get 'involved'
with one or both of them.


The next day, Tom Borden returned to his office to find Josiah sitting
there in front of his desk, facing the other way.  Tom walked up behind
Josiah and put his hands on the boy's shoulders and squeezed them.  He
said, "Josiah, how are you today?"

"I'm fine, Dr. Borden," said Josiah.  "I have some questions about the
denouement in the last chapter of the Amberson novel.  The style of
Tarkington's writing seems to change so abruptly as he presents the final
outcome of the drama."

Tom went around the desk and sat down.  Remember, Josiah?  The name's Tom.
Okay?"

Josiah smiled and said, "Okay, Tom."

"Before we talk about the denouement, I want to tell you how much I enjoyed
our conversation last evening in the cafeteria.  I appreciated your telling
me more about yourself.  You're not only a very talented writer, you have
had a very novelistic life.  You know, I was thinking about that this
morning.  Have you ever considered writing about your life?  It hasn't been
exactly a rags to riches kind of life.  But it would be a story about a
life that moved from the depths of desperation to the height of
hopefulness.  Something like that."

Josiah smiled and said, "My partner, Brian, also suggested that I do that.
But after I thought about it, I thought I would rather someday write a
fictional novel in the third person, using my own life's experience as a
basis of the story in which I could endow the main character with all the
emotional baggage I've had to carry, as well as my own feelings and all the
longings that I have felt through my life."

"That's right, Josiah," Tom said.  "All of those things can be brought up
and written about so much more clearly in a fictional story than one can
easily do in a straight autobiography.  Anyway, as I've said before, all
fiction is autobiographical.  The heart and soul of an author can be
discerned so clearly in the fiction he writes."

Tom could see Josiah writing in his notebook.  He always wrote everything
that Tom said to him.  Tom leaned forward and said, "Josiah, did you say,
your partner, Brian?"

"Yes."

"I don't think I've ever met Brian.  Do you live with him?"

"Yes," replied Josiah.  "Brian and I have lived together for some time."

Tom had not realized that Josiah lived with someone.  He had never
questioned in his mind Josiah's sexuality.  He now wondered if Josiah had a
romantic relationship with Brian.  Tom felt a sort of excitement come over
him with the realization that perhaps Josiah was . . . .

Josiah noticed a rather strange, far away look in Tom's eyes and said,
"Tom?  Is something the matter?"

Tom smiled and said, "No nothing's the matter.  Why don't we talk about the
Amberson novel now."

Josiah and Tom talked about the novel for the next half hour.  Josiah
closed his notebook and said, "Tom, Brian and I are thinking of going down
to the Walker Ranch on the weekend for a couple of days.  We thought we
would go down on Friday and stay Friday and Saturday nights and then come
back home on Sunday Afternoon.  Would you like to come with us?  I know you
sounded interested in doing that last evening."

Tom looked at his calendar and said, "Yes.  Yes, I'll be free.  I don't
have any classes on Friday.  I'd be glad to go down there with you.  It'll
be nice seeing Michael Walker again.  But please ask them first if it will
be alright for me to go down there.  I hate to walk in on people
unannounced."

"I will," said Josiah.  "But I know it will be okay.  They love to have
visitors, and they've got lots of room in that big house of theirs.

After Josiah left, Tom leaned back in his chair and thought about what he
had just learned about Josiah.  It made his head swim.  He wondered if
Josiah felt about him the way he felt about Josiah.  He wondered if there
might be some attraction there.  But he knew that whatever attraction
either of them had for the other was hopeless.  He would never want to come
between Josiah and his partner, Brian.  Tom thought back over the many
missed opportunities he had had in his life just because he would not give
in to those guys who had unsuspecting partners.  He went about his work for
the rest of the day, trying valiantly to put thoughts of Josiah out of his
mind.  He would concentrate only on thoughts of how nice it will be to see
Michael again.


Mark received a call from the Crawford Police Department that the results
of the forensic tests had come in.  Mark and Corky got in the car and drove
immediately to Crawford.  When they arrived at the station, there seemed to
be a flurry of activity inside and outside, with police cars coming and
going.

"What's going on here today," Mark asked.

Chief Gonzalez said, "Well, George Dub-ya's down here at his ranch for a
few days.  Every time the president comes here, everything's in a tizzy.
The Secret Service guys are runnin' all over the place, and it's always a
real disruption."

Mark thought to himself that Mona Thomas must really be busy with her
Secret Service customers.

Chief Gonzalez and Police Detective Rodriguez sat down with Mark and Corky
and went over the results.  Detective Rodriguez said, "I want to tell you
that there is a match.  The DNA from the semen and urine we got off of the
boy's underwear and that of the blood on that piece of terrycloth match
perfectly.  It also matches the traces of blood we found on the machete and
on the front seat of Thomas's pickup."

Chief Gonzalez said, "Well, Mark, we're now gonna treat this case as a
homicide.  The only trouble is, we ain't got a body.  And nobody in the
last year has reported finding a body anywhere, neither."

Mark said, "It looks like it's going to be a real problem finding the boy's
body."

Gonzalez said, "We'll dispatch a team out to the Thomas house.  You know,
sometimes in these family murder cases, they bury the body in the back yard
and then plant a garden over 'im.  Either that or they pour a slab of
concrete over 'im."

Mark said, "I kind of doubt the body's on their property.  The neighbor saw
Thomas take the boy in his truck that night, and then saw him come home
later alone."

Well, I guess the only thing to do now," sighed Chief Gonzalez, "is to
organize a dragnet out across the countryside and just comb every inch of
it."

Mark said, "Yeah, and don't forget about dragging these lakes and ponds
around here.  Are you going to make an arrest now?"

"I ain't doin' nothin' 'til we find that body," said Gonzalez.

Mark said, "But you can make an arrest on the evidence you have.  It's
perfectly legal to do it without a body if you have the kind of evidence
you have."

"I know," said Gonzalez, "but I ain't arrestin' nobody for murder if there
ain't no body.  That's just ain't the way I do things."

"Well, you'd better get on this dragnet pretty quickly because I'll bet
Thomas is already getting on to what's going on, and he's likely to go on
the lam."

"Okay, McLeod," said Chief Gonzalez, "you go on home and we'll let you know
as soon as we turn up something."

On the drive back to San Antonio, Mark said, "Corky, I just know Thomas has
already figured out that we're after him.  If they don't find Joe's body
soon, I'm afraid we'll end up with a big manhunt for this guy.  No telling
where he'll run off to."

Corky said, "Well maybe if we drive back there and tell Thomas that there
is no more investigation, and that we believe him when he tells us the boy
is now with relatives, he might stick around."

Mark said, "Corky, the guy's a real asshole, but I don't think he's dumb
enough to fall for that.  We'll just have to trust that Gonzalez and his
deputies find the body quickly."


Early that morning, Michael and Karl decided to saddle up a couple of
horses and ride out so that Michael could show Karl the various
developments that occurred at the ranch while he was gone.  They went to
look at the expanded Milo Maize fields in which the new strain of Maize was
now being grown.  They also went around to most of the natural gas wells,
spotting those that had been newly uncapped.  Riding over to where most of
the herd was grazing, they found a couple of the men tending a sick calf.

"What the matter with it?" Michael shouted.

"It can't get up and it's foaming at the mouth!" shouted one of the
cowboys.  "Its eyes are yellow and it's breathing's labored!"

Michael shouted back, "Take him out!  I think I know what it is, and I
don't want him infecting the rest of the herd!"

Michael got on his cell phone and called Jake.  "Jake, we've got an
infected calf out here by the north hill.  Get a truck out here and haul it
off.  They're going to take him out now.  And I want it burned."

Just then two shots rang out and the calf lay dead.  Michael shouted,
"Jake's bringing the truck!  I want him burned down there in the dry
ravine, away from the herd!  And I want you to check over the herd very
carefully to see if there are others that show these symptoms!"

As they rode off, Karl said, "That's something I've never gotten used to
down here.  Shooting sick animals.  It turns my stomach."

"There's no other way, Karl.  They can infect the whole herd.  And then
where would we be?  Come on, Karl, we're pretty close to the Cottonwoods.
Let's stop there and get some refreshment.  The refrigerator is always
stocked with cold drinks."

Tying their horses to the rail of the front porch, Michael and Karl went in
and got themselves a couple of cans of Sprite.  Back out on the front
porch, they sat in rockers and looked out over the range.

Karl shifted in his chair and said, "I can tell I haven't been on a horse
for a long time, my ass is really sore."

"You're sure it isn't the good fucking I gave you last night?" said Michael
with a laugh.

"No, no!  That part of my ass feels terrific.  It's my ass cheeks that are
sore.  It feels just like my ass bones are poking right through the skin."

"I'll tell you what helps that," said Michael.  "Whenever a cowhand comes
in with a sore ass after a day of riding, they put ice packs on it.  It
takes the soreness right out.  Come on inside and lay on your stomach on
the bed, and I'll show you how good it works."

When they arrived in the bedroom, Michael said, "Now take down your pants
like a good boy and lie down on the bed."

Michael put a handful of ice cubes in a zip-lock bag and sat on the edge of
the bed.  Looking down at Karl's little bare ass cheeks, he said, "Karl,
those little cheeks are as pretty as they ever were, but I can see why
they're sore.  You've lost so much weight, there's hardly anything left of
them.  And they really are rosy pink.  They just look sore."

Michael couldn't resist leaning over and kissing each cheek and running his
tongue over them.  He took hold of Karl's legs and spread them open a
little, revealing Karl's large ball sack lying limply on the bed between
his legs.  Michael brought his tongue down through Karl's ass crack and
over and around his balls.

Karl turned his head and said, "Damn it, Michael, are you going to put the
ice on my ass or not?"

"Oh, I almost forgot, Karl.  I got distracted."

Laying the icy plastic bag on Karl's ass cheeks made Karl jump.  "Holy
Christ!  That's cold, Michael!  What the hell are you doing?"

"Just lie still, my love, you'll get used to it."

After about ten minutes of being iced, Michael said, "How does your ass
feel now?"

"I don't feel it at all.  I think it's frozen!"

Karl rolled over on his back, with his very long hard penis bobbing up and
down.  "Come here, Michael, lie down here with me.  And get rid of those
pants.  You're making me embarrassed lying here all exposed by myself."

Michael quickly stripped off all his clothes and pulled Mark's shirt off.
Throwing himself on the bed next to Karl, Michael said, "You've never had
anything to be embarrassed about.  I could look at that naked body of yours
til the cows come home.  I know what!  Let's go on outside and do it on the
grass.  I love to fuck outdoors."

As they stretched out on the grass, Karl said, "I'm not going to let you
fuck me, Michael.  I don't want anything touching my ass."  Now out on the
grass, Karl rolled Michael over on his back and lifted his legs up high.
He ran his tongue over the soft hair on the backs of Michael's legs, and
then down over his penis and balls.  Getting into position, Karl pushed his
gorged penis into Michael's hole.  They smiled at each other with eyes full
of love, and Michael ran his hands up and down over Karl's arms.  Karl
pumped in and out steadily, neither of them wanting it to end too soon.

They hadn't heard it, but without warning, Jake's truck with the dead calf
on it came wheeling around from the other side of the house.  Michael and
Karl lay frozen with Karl's penis still inside of Michael as Jake climbed
out of the truck and walked over to them.  Still without moving, Michael
and Karl looked up at Jake like two puppies who had just got caught being
naughty.

Jake stood over them with a big grin and said, "Well, lookee here!  It
warms the cock of my heart to see you two back in the saddle again!"

Michael said, "That's supposed to be 'cockles' of my heart, Jake.  Anyway,
what d'ya doing here?"

"I jist wanna know where ya want me to dump this fuckin' carcus."

"I told one of the guys back there to tell you to take it over at the dry
ravine and burn it.  Didn't he tell you?"

"Aw, they're a bunch of fuckin' dummies out there.  You know that.  He
forgot what ya told him."

Michael, still on his back with his legs in the air and Karl's penis in his
asshole, said, "Well, what are you waiting for?  Get going!  And, by the
way, did you happen to notice that we're busy here?"

"Come on, Michael," said Jake.  "Ya got me so hard lookin' at the two of
ya."  Jake opened up his pants and pulled out his long piece of meat.
"Please, Michael, let an old man git his nuts off while he watches.
T'ain't too often I git's to see two hot little spiders like you two
fuckin' the shit outta each other."

As Jake let his pants drop to around his boots, he stared at Karl's hard
penis as it started once again to piston in and out of Michael's ass.
Michael found it erotic to watch Jake stroking his penis and began playing
with his own hard rod.  As both Michael and Karl watched gushers of thick
white sperm pouring out of Jake's penis into the grass, their own orgasms
grabbed hold of their bodies as they both shot their loads.  Jake's orgasm
was so powerful, his legs buckled and he went down on his knees.

As Karl leaned over and kissed Michael, Jake said, "Oh, fuck, man!  That
was the hottest God-damned thing I ever done.  The sight of you two dudes
gittin' it off sends my fuckin' balls into overdrive!  Here I am, jist the
Foreman here lookin' down on the two big-shot owners of this fuckin' ranch
jist a fuckin' away like two horny coyotes.  God-damn, that's hot!"

When Karl rolled off, Michael sat up and said, "Okay, Jake.  The show's
over.  Now get that calf outta here!"  As Jake turned to leave, Michael
said with a smile, "And by the way, Jake, you're pretty God-damned hot
yourself!  Thanks!"


On Friday morning, Josiah and Brian stopped at Tom Borden's house.  Tom had
seen them drive up and waved to them.  He kissed his wife, and she waved
goodbye to them.  Josiah sat in the back seat, allowing Tom to take the
front passenger seat next to Brian as he drove.

"You have a very nice looking wife, Dr. Borden," said Brian, as they drove
off.  "Does she approve of your going off like this for the weekend?"

"Oh yes.  She knows how hard I work, and she's never objected to my getting
away for a few days now and then.  I always try to remember how really
lucky I am that way."  Then turning to Brian, he asked, "What program are
you in, Brian?"

"I'm a graduate student in the Veterinary Science program.  I'm not sure,
though, whether I want to run a dog and cat hospital or work in animal
husbandry.  I still have a couple of years to make up my mind.  Josiah was
thinking of going into that program, too, but after taking some required
English and literature courses, he realized that literature and writing was
for him."

Tom said, "Well, I think Josiah has made a good choice as far as his
academic major is concerned.  He is one of the most talented young men I've
ever had in a class."

Brian turned his head and looked around at Josiah with a loving smile and
put his hand on Josiah's that was resting on the back of the front seat.
"Yes, Josiah is very talented.  I love to read his short stories."

Brian's loving smile and the touch of his hand on Josiah's hand was not
lost on Tom.  He asked, "How long have you two known each other?"

Brian said, "Oh, for maybe two or three years, isn't it, Josiah?.  We met
when I was working one summer down on the Walker Ranch."

Josiah leaned back in his seat and looked at Tom.  He wondered if Tom had
now picked up on the fact that he and Brian were partners . . . that they
were lovers.  And he wondered that, if knowing that, Tom was bothered by
it.  Tom had never given any indication . . . at least that Josiah could
discern . . . that he was in the least sympathetic to homosexuals.  But
Josiah noted that, if Tom knew about him and Brian, he gave no indication
that it mattered.

When they arrived at the Ranch, Michael was sitting on the back verandah
waiting for them.  He rushed over to the car.  He said, "Tom Borden!  I'm
so glad you could come down with the boys.  I've really been looking
forward to seeing you again!"

When Tom got out of the car, he and Michael looked at each other for a
moment, and then flew into each other's arms with a very tight hug.  When
they drew apart, Michael said, "How many years has it been?  You've hardly
changed!"

"Don't give me that, Michael.  I know better.  But I can honestly say you
look more handsome than ever!"

As the two of them walked into the house with their arms around each
other's waist, Josiah and Brian followed.  They looked at each other with
wonder on their faces.  Are these just two old buddies glad to see each
other?  Or is there something more we don't know?"

They all sat around the kitchen table and drank coffee and ate some oatmeal
cookies that Tony had just taken from the oven.  Tom said, "I remember this
old table.  When we were kids, we used to sit here and play cards for
hours.  That is, when we weren't out raising hell."

Josiah and Brian enjoyed listening to Michael and Tom reminiscing, but soon
excused themselves.  They wanted to go and find Enrique and Noah and to see
if they wanted to shoot a few baskets.

Michael said, "Tony, Tom and I are going to take our coffee out on the
front verandah.  Can we take a few more of those cookies?"

Tony piled the dish high with more cookies just out of the oven.  As
Michael and Tom sat down on the verandah, Michael took hold of Tom's hand
and looked at him, shaking his head.  "I can't believe it.  After all these
years!  Your family still owns and runs the Borden ranch just down the
road.  Why haven't we gotten together before this?"

"Well, Michael," said Tom, "when we got out of high school, we both went
away to different colleges and I had heard that you had taken a job in
another town and had gotten married.  When I'd go home for a visit, I never
thought of coming over here to visit since . . . and I have to be honest
with you . . . Ol' Ben was not one of my favorite people."

Michael laughed.  "You weren't alone, Tom.  He finally died, and I
inherited the ranch."

"How about Jared, your brother?"

"Oh, Tom.  That's a long story.  I'll tell you about that sometime.  Oh, by
the way.  Do you remember Caleb, our friend we used to fuck around with?

"Yes, I do.  What ever happened to him?"

"Well, I got reacquainted with him, too, a while back.  He also got
married, but he's divorced now, as I am.  In fact, his sixteen year old son
is now living with another sixteen year old who was born and raised here on
the ranch.  That's another long story.  How about yourself, Tom?"

"I'm married, too, Michael.  And I have two beautiful sons.  I'll tell you
about them sometime.  It looks like you and I have a lot to talk about.  Do
you have any kids?"

"I have one son.  His name is Jeff and he's up at the U. of Texas in
Austin.  He and I are very close.  But he has a lover, too.  His name is
Paul.  I might as well tell you, Tom, that I also have a lover, who is an
equal partner with me in the ownership of this ranch.  He's a gorgeous
Englishman, who I want you to meet sometime.  Tell me, Tom.  How did it
happen that you and I are sitting here together after all this time?"

Tom said, "Josiah is one of my students.  He is the most talented student I
have ever had.  But on top of that, I have to admit to you, that I am
wildly attracted to him.  I know it's useless since I found out that he has
a lover, plus the fact that I have a family, which prevents me from being
able to commit to anybody.  Michael, I love Josiah desperately.  He doesn't
know that and, under the circumstances, I don't want him to know.  But
we've become good friends and he invited me to come down here with him this
weekend.  Until he told me, I had no idea you were here running the ranch."

Michael stood up and said, "Tom, come on into my office where we can talk
more privately."

When they entered Michael's room, Michael took Tom in his arms and they
kissed deeply.  He said, "Remember, Tom, when you and I and Caleb first
started jerking off together after school?  Then we would kiss like this
and we swore to one another that the three of us would always be together
and we would never be parted for the rest of our lives?  Well, those were
silly childhood vows.  But, you know, the three of us now can be back
together.  Not really like we had planned it.  But we can still be back
together.  You have a family, and both Caleb and I have partners who we
love.  But we can still get together again."

Tom broke away from Michael's hug and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"But it can never be the same.  My commitment is to my sons . . . to my
family.  I'm wracked with a torturous secret love for Josiah.  And you and
Caleb, as you said, are committed to others.  It can never be the same."

Michael sat down next to Tom and put his arms around him.  "Tom, have you
considered telling Josiah how you feel about him?"

"No.  I'm sure he doesn't know about me.  He looks up to me and respects me
only as his teacher and mentor.  It would ruin everything if I told him how
much I really loved him.  I just lie in bed every night and masturbate with
fantasies of Josiah swimming in my head.  I can't tell you how many times I
have cried myself to sleep.  I'm killing myself over this."

Michael said, "Tom, you don't have to keep up the charade.  You're just
living a lie.  This is something you have to talk with Josiah about.
Josiah is one of the gentlest young men I have ever known.  He's not going
to turn against you.  It may not turn out the way you want it to, but you
said yourself, you can't make any commitments to anyone so long as you're
married.  But I guarantee you that Josiah will understand and he'll respect
your honesty.  I know Josiah.  He will never end his friendship with you
over your being honest with him.  Josiah is an emotional young man and he
has come to understand a lot about love and compassion and the longings of
the human heart.  And he understands about the need for love.  You can't go
on living this lie with him, Tom.  You be truthful with him, and he'll be
truthful with you.  But I promise you, he will never abandon his friendship
with you nor his deep admiration of you."

Tom looked at Michael with tears in his eyes.  "I might have known,
Michael, that you know the right path to take.  You were always the wise
one.  Always the leader, even when we were snot-nosed kids.  I guess it's
just fate that you're here with me now, showing me the way, as you always
did."

Michael gave Tom a handkerchief.  "Here, Tom, dry your tears.  If you don't
watch out, you'll have me in tears, too.  I understand about love and
commitment, and I'm no stranger to plenty of hurt and disappointment in my
life."

Since Tom was an honored guest, Michael requested that supper be served in
the dining room that day, rather than in the kitchen.  Michael could tell
that Tom was nervous sitting next to Josiah, probably because of his
emotional admission that afternoon to Michael of his love for the boy.
When the meal was over, Michael called Brian aside.

"Brian," Michael said, "I think that Tom wants to talk with Josiah
privately a little while this evening.  It's nothing serious.  Perhaps you
could leave them alone for a little while?"

"Sure," said Brian.  "Whatever you say, Michael.  I want to talk with Jake
a little bit about his experience with cattle diseases, anyway.  I think
I'll just go on over there to his room and see if he's in."

"Thanks, Brian," said Michael.  "As I said, it's nothing serious.  Tom just
wants to talk with him about something."

Everyone had left the table, except Tom and Josiah.  Michael said, "Hey,
why don't you two take your coffee and go on out to the front verandah for
awhile.  It's a nice cool night with a really nice breeze.  Now, go on."

Josiah always liked to be alone with Tom.  Tom was always so nice and
attentive and appreciative of Josiah's efforts.

When they were settled in their chairs, Tom said, "Yes, it is a beautiful
evening tonight.  I'm so glad you asked me to come down here with you,
Josiah.  It's been nice to get re-acquainted with Michael."

"I'm really glad about that, Tom," responded Josiah.

After an awkward silence, Tom said, "I've wanted to talk with you about
something, Josiah.  I know that you admire truthfulness in people.  Michael
assured me of that.  I know that you have a partner, Brian, who you love
very much."

Josiah was relieved to know that Tom was, in fact, aware of his love for
Brian.  "I'm glad you know about that.  Yes, we do love each other very
much."

"Now, Josiah, I'm going to tell you something, and it's going to be kind of
hard for me to say it.  First I want you to know how much I admire your
work and how much I value our friendship.  You're very special to me.
Josiah . . . I'm just like you.  I mean, I know I'm a married father, but
I'm just like you."

Tom stopped and sighed and took a sip of his coffee.  Josiah said, "Tom,
what's the matter?  You seem so nervous."  Josiah reached over and took
both of Tom's hands in his.  "What's the matter?"

With Josiah holding onto his hands, it somehow seemed much easier for Tom
to say what he wanted to say.  "Josiah, just like you, I'm attracted to
men, too . . . I mean, also.  Now I know you might get very upset with me,
but I want to tell you . . . I mean . . . I should tell you that, I am very
attracted to you.  I know you'll hate me for that.  And I know you'll be
disappointed in me."

Josiah held onto Tom's hands tightly.  Looking into Tom's eyes, Josiah said
with a very sweet smile, "I'm attracted to you, too."

Suddenly emboldened, Tom blurted out, "I love you, Josiah.  I love you more
than I have ever loved anyone in my life."

Josiah could feel Tom's hands shaking.  He wanted to say something.  He
knew that he should say something in response to Tom's admission.  Tom
looked away, waiting tensely for Josiah's reaction.  When Josiah didn't
speak, Tom said, "Michael told me I should tell you.  Maybe I shouldn't
have.  There's nothing that can come of it.  I'm sorry, Josiah."

Josiah got up and knelt down next to Tom.  He said softly, "Tom, may I kiss
you?"

As Tom turned to look at the boy he loved so much, Josiah took Tom's head
between his hands and kissed him gently on the lips.  As tears filled Tom's
eyes, he said, "You don't hate me, Josiah?"

Josiah said, "I'm glad I know.  No one can understand how you feel better
than I.  And I wanted you to know about me, even though I wasn't sure about
you.  We're brothers under the skin, Tom.  We've been honest with each
other, and I feel closer to you now than I ever had, if that's possible."

Tom said, "You must think I'm terrible.  Here I am, your teacher, someone
you're supposed to look up to and respect.  And here I am sobbing on your
shoulder like a baby."

As Josiah took Tom into his arms, he said, "Cry all you want, dear Tom.
You've opened your heart and soul to me, and I love you for that."

"But nothing can ever come of it, Josiah," said Tom.  "I know that.  At
least, I don't have to pretend anymore.  I don't have to constantly
struggle to keep my feelings secret from you.  I guess you've seen now that
a teacher has human feelings and longings like anyone else.  And I don't
mind at all stepping down off the pedestal."

"And I don't have to hide my feelings from you, either, Tom."

Tom said, "Maybe you shouldn't tell Brian.  There's no point in hurting him
when there's no reason to."

"Of course I'm going to tell Brian," said Josiah.  "We have no secrets from
each other.  There is nothing about me that he doesn't know.  We have
always trusted each other to be honest with each other.  It would tear me
apart to know that I am keeping something like this from him."

"But what awful things will he think about me?" said Tom.

"You don't know Brian.  He'll understand when I tell him how you and I feel
about each other."

Tom hesitated, and then said, "How DO you feel about me, Josiah."

"I love you more than ever, Tom.  We have a bond of honesty and
truthfulness between us now.  I know now that I can go into your office and
take your face in my hands and kiss you good morning every day, and
. . . ."

"And what, Josiah?  And what then?"

"Please, Tom.  I understand you so much better now.  But you've got to
understand me, too.  I can never do anything that would break the loving
trust that Brian and I have with each other."

Tom wiped his eyes with his hand and smiled gently.  "I do understand,
Josiah.  I understand the kind of love you and I will have with each other.
It will be as strong as what you and Brian have, but I realize it will be
different.  Every night of my life, you dominate my fantasies.  I have your
dear, sweet body close to mine and we consummate our love physically every
night.  And now that you know that I think of you in that way, and you're
not disgusted, I'm content."

Josiah got up and, going over to the edge of the verandah, sat down and
dangled his legs over the side.  "Come over here, Tom.  Please.  Sit down
next to me."

As Tom went over and sat next to Josiah, they put their arms around each
other and kissed deeply.  Tom had an overpowering urge to tear Josiah's
clothes off and take the boy in every way possible.  But Tom was a
reasonable person and realized that the relationship he now had with Josiah
was indeed a beautiful one.  They loved each other now in a way that Tom
had never thought possible.  To be able to touch Josiah's skin, to smell
its gentle odor, and to feel Josiah's breath on his cheek and neck from
time to time would be like a gift from God.

Tom was given Jared's old room for the night.  After taking his shower and
brushing his teeth, he stood naked in front of the full-length mirror.  He
thought to himself that it would be wonderful if Josiah could see his body
in all its nakedness and make love to it.  But he would be content with
feeling the softness of Josiah's lips on his and the fact that Josiah now
knew of the love he had for him.  It had always been the same.  Throughout
his years of marriage, he had fallen in love a few times.  But he had
always been faithful to his marriage vows.  Every love he ever had was
always just a fantasy.

Tom lay stretched out on the bed and wondered how Josiah would tell Brian,
and what Brian's reaction would be.  He, too, would tell his own older
brother, Terry, about his love for Josiah.  Terry was also married with two
sons of his own.  They would talk about the men they loved and would lie in
each other's arms and cry over the hopelessness of it all.  Thank God for
brother Terry.  As he did every night, Tom began to stroke his hard penis,
imagining that Josiah was there with him, holding him and loving him.  The
image of Josiah pushed deep inside of him brought him to orgasm quickly.
He lay there with his cum lying in pools on his belly.  Reaching down he
took some on his fingers and sucked them dry, imagining that it was
Josiah's creamy sperm.  Soon, Tom drifted off to sleep with the words, "I
love you, Josiah" on his lips.


Comments?  Please write me at:

Tom Borden
Tombor99@yahoo.com