Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 09:35:25 EDT
From: Tulsadriller7@aol.com
Subject: Tales from the Ranch, Chapter 12/?

Disclaimer:  The following story is a work of fiction.  If you
are offended by descriptions of homosexual acts or man/man
relations, please exit this page.

TALES FROM THE RANCH
Copyrightc 2002 by Tulsa Driller 7.  All rights reserved.

This is a story of men who have two common interests.  You will
see that they love the land where they live and work, but it is
also the story of young men who love other men and their coming
of age in a culture of prejudice and misunderstanding.  It is a
story, which deals with difficult and often disturbing issues
but, nonetheless, issues which must be confronted in today's
world.

This is a work of fiction and in no way draws on the lives of any
specific person or persons.  Any similarity to actual persons or
events is entirely coincidental.  This work is copyrightedc by
the author and may not be reproduced in any form without the
specific written permission of the author.  It is assigned to the
Nifty Archives under the terms of their submission agreement but
it may not be copied or archived on any other site without the
written permission of the author.

PLEASE:  In a perfect world AIDS doesn't exist.  My characters
have unprotected sex.  I hope you use proper precautions because
I'd like you to be around the read the last chapter of this
story.

Tales from the Ranch
Chapter 12:  Friday night into Saturday
     The Williamson's, including Jason and Kevin had been to a
family fun night at the Masonic Lodge their father and
grandfather belonged to.  There had been a dinner of fried
chicken and all the trimmings, followed by a silent movie called
"Big Business" with Laurel and Hardy.  There was no sound track,
just words that popped up on the screen from time to time.  A
young man played the piano to accompany the movie and one almost
wasn't aware the characters on the screen really weren't talking.
     After the movie, the recreation hall was opened.  There were
pool tables, foosball, ping-pong, games of skill for stuffed
animal prizes, bingo and a clown making balloon animals.  There
was even a booth with a fortuneteller in it.  Something for
everyone.  Later, before the evening ended there were sodas and
ice cream available, too.
     As this was a fund-raiser, books of tickets for the games
were sold, although the price was nominal.
     It was a great evening and the entire family enjoyed these
evenings when they were held.  It was a chance to mingle with
friends for both adults and young people.
     Driving back to the ranch, Kevin almost went to sleep.  It
had been a big week getting used to going back to school and all
the changes from his summer routine.
     Pulling into the driveway of his parent's home, Marty got
out and opened the rear door for his mother and took her around
the car to where his father was waiting.  Jeanine thanked Marty
and Chris and told all of them goodnight.
     Everyone got out of the car after Marty had parked in their
garage.  As they started toward the house, he pushed the button
to close the doors.
     Mrs. Wood had retired for the evening, but had left lights
on in the kitchen and family room.  It was nice not to have to
enter a dark house.
     The boys told their parents goodnight and headed up the back
stairs to their room.  Marty and Chris settled down in the den to
talk about the week and just enjoy the other's company.
     Jason and Kevin were both tired.  They stripped out of their
clothes, peed and brushed their teeth.  While Jason turned out
the lights, Kevin turned back the covers on his bed.  They hadn't
slept there for several nights so the sheets were fresh.  They
snuggled together, heads touching while getting comfortable.
Kevin reached to give Jason a goodnight kiss, thought about it
and really gave him one to remember.
     "Wow!! I didn't expect that," Jason replied.  "I was just
expecting a peck on the cheek like we usually do."
     "Didn't you like it?" Kevin asked, almost hurt.
     "Oh yeah, I liked it okay.  Let me give you one like that."
     Their mouths moved together and they licked around the
others lips.  Then their tongues seemed to go on autopilot.
Jason felt his cock twitch and he could tell it was starting to
harden.  Kevin was having a similar experience.  They both were
wearing boxers, but they were in the way when they started
fondling each other.  It didn't take long for them to end up on
the floor.
     As they kissed and rubbed the other, they rolled around on
the bed.  Jason wanted to make Kevin feel good and he started to
move down so his head was at Kev's crotch.
     "Wait, Jase.  I wonder if we can do this to each other at
the same time?"
     "We can try," Jason replied, pulling back Kevin's foreskin
and taking a big lap with his tongue.  They straightened out,
laying sideways on the bed, their cocks at each other's mouth.
Kevin didn't try any preliminaries; he just opened his mouth and
devoured Jason's cock, making it feel real good.
     Although neither had any experience doing this, after all it
was only their second time; a primal urge overtook each to give
the other pleasure.  And they did.  They were both squirming
around on the bed and making noise as they sucked and licked the
other.
     "SSsshhh," Jason warned.  "We don't want Dad and Mom coming
in here to see what the noise is about."
     "Sorry, but it just feels so good."
     Jason was starting to get a tingling feeling in his crotch,
centered somewhere behind his cock, he really couldn't tell
where. it just felt good.  As he sucked on Kevin's little cock,
he traced around his balls and asshole with a finger that he had
wet with saliva.  Kevin was still making noise, but keeping it
under control.
     Surprisingly, Kevin was the first to have a dry orgasm.  It
didn't last very long and he went at Jason's cock with renewed
vigor.  This time he was successful.  Jase bucked on the bed, and
then calmed down quickly.  Neither realized that since they
couldn't have a wet orgasm, they could have done this again and
again.
     They turned around to face each other again.  "Thanks, bro,
that was awesome," Jason said.
     "Thank you said, Kevin.  I love you, brother.  Don't ever
forget it."
     With that they gave each other another goodnight kiss that
contained tongue, pulled the cover up and curled up in each
other's arms.  They were asleep very quickly.
     * * * * *
     Michael was driving his car, a 1982 Toyota, back to the
Starlight after work.  John had ridden to work with him since
they lived in the same complex.  He looked at John.  "Would you
like to eat and go out for a movie tonight.  Since we worked so
late last night I was ready to crash after we ate."
     "Yeah, that sounds good.  Don't worry about missing a movie
last night.  I probably would have gone to sleep right after it
started."
     "I know I would, Michael answered.
     They talked about what movies were playing and where they
might go eat.  "Why don't we catch an early movie, there won't be
that big of a crowd on Friday night, then we can eat afterward.
The eating places won't be busy then, either."
     "Hey, sounds like a plan to me.  Less at the movies and few
eating afterward.  Good thinking, Michael."
     They got to the Starlight about that time and Michael parked
in front of his room.  Michael told John, "I'm going to have a
long shower before I get dressed.  Why don't I leave my door
unlocked and you come on over when you're ready?"
     "Okay, I'll probably have a long shower, too," John replied.
     As John was stripping out of his dirty work clothes, he got
to wondering about Michael's statement about leaving his door
unlocked and to come on over when I was ready.  He wondered
exactly what that statement meant.  He also thought about meeting
Greg at the restaurant the evening before.  Greg seemed to be
quite friendly and was certainly nice to look at.
     By the time he was in the shower, he was partially aroused,
his 7-1/2 inch cock was expanding and he could feel the foreskin
creeping back.  As badly as he wanted to jackoff, he decided to
wait and see if there was a possibility that Michael might want
to play around.
     He enjoyed his nice, warm and long shower.  After getting
out, drying himself and getting dressed, he walked across the
street to the convenience store and bought a 6-pack of Coors
beer.  They didn't ask him for I.D., but he looked older than 21.
     * * * * *
     Meanwhile, Michael had stripped off his clothes to prepare
for his shower.  He hadn't gotten off for a couple of days.  Pat
had left for San Angelo the previous evening and he had gone to
sleep as soon as he and John had gotten back from eating, as they
had gone late and drank two pitchers of beer at Tony D's.  He
thought about meeting Greg at the restaurant and wondered about
him, as he seemed to get quite friendly.
     The hot water felt good on his sore muscles.  He had worked
harder today cleaning equipment, as he had simply sat on either a
tractor or hay baler the last three days.  He must have lost
track of time as when he was getting out of the shower, John
knocked on his door and came in.  He had been across the street
to the convenience store and had gotten a 6-pack of Coors.
     Michael was drying himself when John hollered that he had
gotten some beer.  "Is it okay if I put it in your refrigerator?"
John asked.
     "Sure," Michael said.
     "Do you want one now?" John asked, hoping that he did.
     "That'd be great.  I'm thirsty," he returned.
     'Great, this is what I wanted,' John thought as he took two
cans out of the carton and put the rest in the refrigerator.
     Boldly John walked to Michael's bathroom door and handed him
an unopened beer.  Michael wasn't quite dry, but draped his towel
over one arm and reached for the beer with his other hand.  He
didn't bother trying to cover himself up.  Michael was a little
taller and heavier than John, but John decided that he had a
bigger cock unless Michael grew at lot when he got hard.  Michael
didn't seem embarrassed by his nudity, opened his beer and took a
big swig, giving John more than ample opportunity to check out
this stud.
     John could feel his cock twitch at the image Michael was
projecting.
     Michael set the beer down on the counter.  "Thanks for the
beer," he said as he went back to drying himself.
     John realized that he was still standing there with an
unopened can of beer in his hand.  'Guess it didn't bother
Michael for me to look at him,' he thought.
     Michael quickly finished drying himself and combed his short
hair.  It was thick enough he didn't need anything to hold it in
place.  He hung his towel up and walked, nude, into the room to
get clothes to put on.
     John was wearing a pair of cargo shorts, a low cut muscle
shirt which showed off his hairy chest and sandals.
     Michael pulled on boxes, a pair of sport socks, sneakers,
some long shorts and a polo shirt, which also showed his hairy
chest.
     John's thoughts were, 'Hey, we're a couple of hairy dudes.'
They each liked what they saw in the other.
     * * * * *
     They chose a movie that neither had seen before, "Pretty
Woman" with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.  The theatre complex
was new and had a great surround sound system, with high-backed
chairs that were almost like recliners.  They had been right,
there weren't more than 50 people at the early movie.
     The movie was over and they decided to go to a drive-in for
a burger and something to drink.  They decided on an older A&W
Root Beer place that had good burgers, fries and root beer
floats.  This place had been there for many years and seemed to
do a good business.
     While waiting for the carhop to bring their order, the
conversation turned to the movie.  John asked, "Do you think that
Julia Roberts was giving Richard Gere a blowjob in that one
scene?"
     "Sure looked like it to me.  I've never seen them show a
scene like that in a movie before," Michael replied.
     "Well, it was hard to know for sure, but that's what it
looked like was happening."
     "Yeah, I'll bet IT was hard, if you know what I mean,"
Michael said.  They both laughed.
     "Have you ever had a blowjob?" John asked.
     "No," Michael said, almost too quickly.  He was a little
uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was going as
he'd never been out on a date with a girl and wasn't sure he
wanted to admit it to John.  Then he got curious.  "Have you?"
     "Yeah, a couple of times," John answered.  He was thinking
that maybe he wanted to push this conversation a little further.
     About that time the carhop arrived with their tray.  They
had her split the ticket for them and each gave her a 50-cent
tip.  Michael passed John his sandwich, flies and drink.  They
were hungry and the food disappeared quickly.
     Michael turned on his parking lights to let the carhop know
that he was ready for her to pickup the tray and she was out to
the car promptly.
     He started the car, backed out and drove onto a side street
to get out of the parking lot.  John looked at his watch.  It was
10:15.  It was a beautiful moonlit night.  "Seems like it's too
nice to go back inside the room."
     "Yeah, I agree.  Do you want to ride around for a little
bit?"
     "Sure," John replied.
     Michael drove up and down the street the other kids used to
show off their cars.  There was a football game that evening and
not too many kids were out right then as the game was still going
on.
     "Hey, do you want to ride out to the lake by the power
plant?"
     "That would be neat, I've never been out there," John
agreed.
     Michael made a right turn at the next stoplight and headed
to the edge of town, then on a blacktop road until they were
about six miles out of town.  When they got to the lake road, he
made a right turn to take them to a picnic area.
     As they were driving, Michael got up the courage to ask John
about the blowjobs he'd received.  "You said that you had a
couple of blowjobs, what's it like?"
     "Feels wonderful if the person knows how to really give one.
If they don't keep their teeth out of the way, it can hurt
though."
     Something about the way John had answered the question
intrigued Michael.  He was thinking, 'he didn't say it was a girl
giving the blowjob.'
     They arrived at the picnic area where Michael parked the
car.  They got out and sat on top of one of the tables, with
their feet on the bench.  The stars were brilliant and the power
plant was still about a mile away, but was lit by bright lights
all around it.
     Unbeknownst to them, this was the same spot where Dale's
father had gotten his mother pregnant.
     Michael leaned back on the tabletop so he could look
straight up.  His shirt had pulled up so that about 5 inches of
his abs and stomach were showing above his cargo shorts.  It was
light enough that John could see the hair above and below his
belly button.  He decided that Michael hadn't tried to hide
himself with his towel when John took him a beer and didn't seem
to be nervous dressing in front of him.  It was now or never.
     "Michael?"
     "Yeah?" he replied.
     "Can I feel your abs?  They sure look like nice ones."
     Michael was feeling mellow because he was tired, but that
question made him alert.
     "Uuhhnn. well. I guess. it would be okay," hoping that John
really would feel his abdominal muscles and maybe something else.
He had wanted to do something like this to Pat, but was unsure if
he should.
     John didn't waste any time, and ran his fingers through the
soft hair and around his navel, then on up under John's shirt,
where the hair got thicker and wider.
     "Boy, those are hard abs," John said.  "Here, feel mine, I
don't think they are as hard as yours."
     Michael moved his hand to John's abs as John pulled up his
tight shirt.  His fingers trailed through the hair that was
thicker than his own.  I think your abs are as hard as mine.
Gee, you're really hairy."  Michael's cock had gotten hard and so
was John's.  He moved his hand down to the front of John's
shorts.
     "Wow!  You're big!!" he said as he felt John's bulging cock,
which was aimed, toward his left side.
     This was what John was waiting for.  He felt Michael's cock
and could feel a little dampness on his shorts at the end of
where his cock was laying.
     "Michael?"
     "Yeah?"
     "Would you like a blowjob?" John asked.
     "Wha. what. you mean.?"  He couldn't finish the question.
He hadn't thought about a guy giving another guy a blowjob.
     John didn't wait for an answer.  He unbuttoned and unzipped
Michael's shorts and pulled them and his boxers down and off,
then got up on the table with Michael.
     Michael didn't know what to think.  'Here was this stud
getting ready to give him a blowjob and.'  He couldn't think
clearly, but he couldn't wait to see what a blowjob felt like.
     John started in by tonguing out Michael's navel then running
his tongue up and down the ridges of his abdominal muscles.  This
almost put Michael into a sensory overload mode.  It felt so good
the way John was twirling his tongue through the fur.  It seemed
like every hair had a nerve ending.
     John worked his way back down and around to Michael's balls,
which had already started to draw up and a few swipes with his
tongue almost made them disappear.  At the same time John was
shedding his shorts and boxers, then his tight muscle shirt.
     Since he had to break contact, he said, "Take off your
shirt.  I wanna see you naked."
     Michael sat up enough to pull his polo over his head.  The
moonlight was bright enough they could see each other clearly.
John didn't know what he might be able to get Michael to do, but
he wanted them to not have any clothes to get in the way.
     Back to Michael's balls.  They were tight against his body.
He licked up to the tip of Michael's cock and Michael thought he
was going to fire right then, he was so horny and wanting to get
off.  John discovered that he was pumping out a fair amount of
precum, so used his tongue to spread it over the length of
Michael's cock.  It tasted good.  He used his tongue to work
around the foreskin and pushed it back, exposing the glans.
     Michael was having a hard time laying still.  He had the
urge to kiss John, so he sat up and with his hands, pulled John's
face to his and gave him a tentative kiss.  John was surprised
and ecstatic.  He didn't know if he would be able to get Michael
to do anything except enjoy this.  Now he knew that he might
reciprocate.  While they were kissing, John pinched Michael's
nipples which caused him to draw in a sharp breath, almost biting
John's tongue which was swabbing Michael's tonsils.  He pushed
Michael back down on the table so they had full body contact from
their faces to their feet.  It felt wonderful to both of them.
John hadn't had much experience, but he had read enough porn
stories to know what the authors had their characters doing and
he was willing to match that.  He realized that Michael was a
willing novice and other than maybe kissing and masturbating his
partner, he hadn't done anything.
     That was about to change, he hoped.
     Michael did love to kiss and seemed to be experienced.  He
reached for John's dick and was surprised at how big it was.  He
really had only seen other guys in the locker room and didn't
think any of his fellow team members had been as big as John.
     He was going to try to do to John as he and Pat did.  He
loved to kiss and was going to jack John off to get him to cum.
John realized what Michael was going to do, so suggested they
move around so he could suck Michael at the same time.  He deep-
throated Michael and Michael almost came right then, but was able
to get himself under control.
     Michael thought that this might not take long, he was so
hot.  He wasn't sure he was ready to do to John what John was
doing to him.  He did stick his tongue out and taste a little of
John's precum, but this was something new to him and he was going
to have to think about it.
     John was pretty hot, just from sucking Michael and he knew
that he was going to blow a big wad pretty quickly.  He stepped
up his efforts on Michael's dick and felt it start to pulse. and
he could hear Michael breathing faster.  He used his fingers to
tickle Michael under his balls and around his pubic hair.  That's
all it took.  Michael bucked around and unloaded in John's
throat.  That triggered John and he pumped out the biggest amount
of cum ever.
     Michael had cum all over him.  His face, his chest, his
hair.  John sat up and licked his cum off Michael's chest, then
kissed him.  This was the first time that Michael had ever tasted
cum and was surprised at the mild taste.  They mixed it around in
their mouths and finally each swallowed some of it.
     As they pulled away from each other, John said, "Let's get
some clothes on and go back to our rooms.  I would rather be on a
soft bed than a hard picnic table under the stars.
     Good feelings of euphoria ran through their bodies as they
pulled on their shorts and shirts.
     * * * * *
     About 7 o'clock the next morning, Tom Bryant went out on
their porch to get the morning paper, "The Austin American-
Statesman".  He was wearing just his boxers and was not happy
because the newspaper was on the front walk rather than closer to
the house or on the porch.  Deciding that he didn't need a robe,
he started to get the paper.  On the top step was a burnt paper
bag, probably a grocery sack that looked very strange.
     Upon examination, he realized that the bag contained human
excrement and had been on fire at some point.  He hurriedly
retrieved the newspaper and went back in the house, going to the
kitchen.
     His lover was at the counter, ready to turn on the
coffeepot.
     "Which one of your students did you piss off at school this
week?" he asked, laughing.
     Eddie Thompson turned around, still sleepy and really didn't
understand the reason for the question.
     "Wha.?" he asked, still puzzled.  It was too early in the
morning for games like this.
     "Sweetie, somebody put a sack of shit on the front step and
tried to light it.  Who do you think would do something like
that?"
     It was still too early.  Eddie hadn't had his first cup of
coffee yet.  An idea came to him.
     "What makes you think it was one of my students?  It could
have been one of yours."
     Walking up behind him, grinding his crotch into Eddie's ass
and massaging his nipples, Tom said, "Because I don't piss off my
students."  He pinched Eddie's tits and swabbed behind his right
ear with his tongue.
     That woke Eddie up. quickly.
     "Are you kidding me?  Somebody tried the old 'sack of
burning shit' thing?"
     "..'fraid so.  Wonder who it was?"
     "I have no idea.  Did it do any damage to the porch?"
     "No, it was left on the concrete step and the sack didn't
even completely burn up."
     "I'll clean it up after breakfast, okay."
     "Do you think we need to report it to the police?"
     "I'm not going to.  Whoever did it probably is waiting to
see it in the daily police report.  Why give them something to
gloat about?"
     "Good point."
     They stood chest to chest, rubbing their hands on the other
and exchanging morning kisses.
     * * * * *
     Meanwhile, Paul Dennison awoke, pulled on cut-off sweatpants
and a t-shirt, turned on the coffeepot, and then went out to get
his paper.  Sitting in the middle of his front porch was another
sack of excrement in a partially burnt the paper bag.  Now Coach
Paul Dennison had a bad temper and hadn't learned to control it.
He blew a gasket as he stomped out to get his newspaper.  He was
still swearing when he went back in the house.  It was a good
thing his wife wasn't awake because she didn't like to hear the
language Paul used when he was mad.  Not a man to always think
things through as he should, he immediately dialed 9-1-1 to
report the incident.
     The police responded within 5 minutes.  Office Jerry
Pennington, a rookie, took the call.  He'd had Paul Dennison for
a coach when he was in high school and didn't like him, mainly
because of his violent temper and inability to control his
language.  It was especially embarrassing to him when women were
around, but it didn't seem to make any difference to the coach
who was around to hear him.
     Paul could get so worked up at a football game that he would
be hoarse and couldn't speak above a whisper for two or three
days afterward.  Jerry always wished there could be a football
game every other day just to keep the coach quiet.
     Coach Dennison came out his front door as Jerry was walking
up the sidewalk.  He started in immediately before even greeting
Jerry, who was already thinking he was having a bad day and had
only been on duty for 10 minutes.
     All he could do was take a report.  Coach was demanding that
the officer take what remained of the sack of shit with him for
evidence.  Jerry was thinking, 'Who in their right mind would
expect me to do that?  And.  If I took it, what would I do with
it?'  He had a hard time keeping a straight face as he thought
about depositing the evidence on his Sergeant's desk.
     Jerry wanted to get away from here, so he hurriedly wrote a
report and had the coach sign it, thanking him for his time.  He
got in his patrol car and noticed that the coach was standing
there looking like he wondered what had just happened.  Maybe
coach wasn't that bright after all.  Jerry resisted the urge to
yell, "Have a happy day," as he drove off.
     As he drove down the street, he laughed until his sides
ached.  Someone had finally done what no one had dared do when he
was in high school.  While this certainly wouldn't make a story
for his favorite police show on TV, he definitely would remember
this call.
     * * * * *
     Jason and Kevin awoke to the sun streaming its rays across
their bed.  The warmth felt good, but so did their morning piss.
As usual, they tried to hit the same spot in the toilet bowl.
They had their morning shower, then dressed and went to the
kitchen for a bite to eat before doing their morning chores.
They were expected to do their chores any day that school wasn't
in session and that included Saturday and Sunday, unless one or
both were expected to participate in the 8:30 mass at church.
     This morning Kevin asked if he could try to milk Star.  He
had tried before but his fingers and grip weren't strong enough.
Jason agreed and helped Kevin feed the poultry and gather eggs.
They then went to the barn and put Star in her stall to be
milked.  Kevin got her some grain and hay to eat while Jason
washed the milk pail and cleaned Star's teats for milking.
     He put the milk stool down and had Kevin sit beside the cow.
He reached out and started to pull on her teats, when Jason said,
"No, that's not the way.  It's like this," showing him how to
start at the base and roll his palms and fingers down the teat.
     Kevin tried again and got about half as much milk as Jason
did.  "That's the way, now try it with both hands."
     Again he tried, and got even more milk out of each teat.  It
took him about 5 minutes longer than it usually took Jason, but
Kevin proudly finished.  Jason checked her udder to make sure
they'd gotten all the milk and reminded himself that he needed to
show Kevin the difference in the feel of her udder before and
after milking Star.
     He showed Kevin how to pour the milk in the cans in the
cooler.  Kevin wasn't quite strong enough to hoist the bucket
yet, but he was getting there.
     They went to the horse barn to feed them.  The stalls were
all open so the horses could go in and out of the barn to the
corral whenever they wanted.  Seeing the boys and knowing they
would be fed, all six horses were in their stalls by the time
they were in the barn.  They gave each horse a carrot when they
put out the grain and other feed.
     "Hey Jase, do you think we could ride Blaze and Muffin
today?  We haven't been riding for a long time."
     "We'll have to check.  It's okay with me, but we're not
supposed to go very far by ourselves in case one of us might have
an accident.  We have to stay in the field next to the ranch
buildings."
     Jason knew he could ride further by himself, but there were
firm restrictions on where he could ride, also.  The trip down to
the hayfield the other evening was okay, but that was about the
limit until he was older.
     Kevin seemed to be disappointed, but soon forgot about the
ride.  There were other fun things to do.
     * * * * *
     Dale and Craig started their awakening process after a good
night's sleep in each other's arms.  The sun was also spreading
its rays across their bed.  Craig was the first to be fully
awake.  'This was the beginning of his being able to wake up in
the arms of his lover every morning,' he thought.
     The week had passed very quickly for both and some snap
decisions had been made and acted on.  Craig knew in his heart
that they had made the right one about living together and hoped
Dale felt the same way.  He lay there and looked at the handsome
man who pushed all the right buttons and rang the right chimes in
Craig's mind.  In his mind he said a silent prayer for his good
fortune and asked God to bless their union.  Unable to help
himself because he wanted to touch him, he leaned over and kissed
him on the cheek, then rubbed his finger over the stubble of
Dale's new mustache.
     Dale snapped his eyes open to look into Craig's sparkling
smile.  The tickle of his stubble made his morning woody get even
harder.  He had been having a very pleasant dream about Craig.
They were somewhere in a car and Craig was driving.  What did
that mean?
     "Hi stud, how's it hangin'?" as he squeezed Craig's hardon.
"Is there a problem, Houston?" he giggled.
     "I'll bet those astronauts were never lucky enough to wake
up feeling the hardon of the guy they love.  At least they didn't
show it on TV," Craig laughed back.
     Their laughter dissolved into Dale rolling onto his back and
pulling Craig on top of him so they could have the "full body"
experience of rubbing themselves on each other.  They searched
for the others mouth and tried to devour tongues.  No morning
breath.  They rocked together for a little bit until the urge to
pee kicked in for each.
     Craig said, "If I don't go pee right now, I'm not going to
have to because it will be all over you and the bed.
     "Right behind you," Dale said, shoving Craig off him and
jumping out of bed.  Teasing each other like two school boys,
they were off to the bathroom, Craig leading the way and Dale
pinching him on the butt, saying "Beep, beep. outta my way you
slowpoke!
     As they stood in front of the stool and started to pee,
Craig said, "Beep. beep. my ass, you horny little imp you.  I'll
give you a slow poke to remember."  They both started laughing
hard again, almost missing the bowl.
     "Promises, promises," Dale teased.
     "Do you know what I like about you?" Craig asked.
     Before Dale could say anything, Craig started in.  "Let's
see, your beautiful body, your hairy chest, your big un-cut cock,
your hairy butt, your new mustache, your sparkling eyes, your
sensuous lips." he paused.  ".And number 147, I love you."
     They looked at each other with pure love in their eyes.
     While in the bathroom, they decided to wash their faces and
brush their teeth.  That accomplished, they led each other back
to their bed.
     Dale touched Craig's nose with his own, then kissed the end
of it.  "Hmmm, only 147 things?  I think I could come up with at
least 387 reasons I love you."  He started to recite.  "Your
blon."
     Craig covered Dale's mouth with his own, smothering the
words.  He started tickling Dale's ribs as he buried his tongue
in his mouth.  Dale normally wasn't very ticklish, but this was
unexpected and even though it felt good, it was tickling him.  He
grabbed Craig's wrists and pulled them away from his ribs.
Breaking the kiss, he said, "You'll get yours."
     As they started to roll over, Craig called a truce.
Catching his breath he said, "Do you realize that this is the
first morning that we've been able to play like this?"
     "I hadn't thought of it that way.  I was just thinking how
happy you make me.  You complete my person, and I love you more
than there are words to describe.  Even more than the 387 I just
started to mention."
     They lay side-by-side, enjoying being in each other's
presence, touching each other, exchanging small kisses and just
being together.  It was nice to have someone you trusted and
loved at your side.
     Finally they got out of bed and teased each other while
going to the kitchen.  Dale was ahead of Craig and he pinched him
on his hairy butt cheeks.  "Beep. beep."  Dale turned around and
walking backward, pinched Craig's nipples.  They were giggling
like schoolgirls.
     Craig started a pot of coffee while Dale filled two glasses
with orange juice.  They sat at the breakfast bar, drank their
juice and looked into each other's eyes while waiting for the
coffeepot to finish.  It completed its cycle and Dale took the
empty glasses to the sink to rinse them while Craig got out mugs,
filled them and carried them back to the counter.  There was a
new package of muffins that Craig had gotten and they shared
those.  This was special because it was their first Saturday
morning together and because they realized they cared deeply for
each other, just in the short time they had been together.  It
was pleasant to sit with each other.  Nothing need be said.  It
didn't need vocalization.  They were as one, two people who had
come together and were each thankful for the other.
     Finally the coffee was gone and they had each eaten two
muffins.  Craig stood up and picked up the mugs and plates,
taking them to the sink to rinse.
     "I don't want to break this wonderful time, but let me show
you about running the dishwasher," Craig said.
     "I knew it. I knew it," Dale teased.  I'm just a love
slave."
     Craig bent almost double with laughter.  "Asshole," he
managed to get out.
     "That's right, reasons 148 and 149 that you love me."  He
was laughing hard, too.
     "I can't win when I'm around you.  I give up."
     Craig showed Dale about dishwashing soap and which button to
push to start the appliance, all the while letting Dale rub his
body against him.  He turned around.
     "Hey big guy, ya wanna come play in my shower machine?"
Craig said with a leer.
     "Do love slaves get 'play' privileges?" Dale asked.
     "Only if they've been trained to properly use certain
equipment to clean every orifice and pore on the other's body,"
smirking as he answered.
     "I need a refresher course.  Can you show me again?" Dale
teased back.
     "Yeah, but only because it's you," Craig replied.
     They started for the bathroom and decided that they might as
well start by shaving.  Standing beside each other at separate
basins, they made short work of their beards.
     "How's the mustache coming along?  I can hardly wait until
it's thick and bushy and can feel it on my cock, my balls and my
asshole."
     "Eeuuwwkk, you want me to put it where?"
     Every comment one of them made, the other had an immediate
comeback.  They both loved it.
     Dale faced Craig.  "Well, what do you think?"
     Craig felt the stubble with his index finger again.  "I'd
say that it's doing great.  You can definitely see it and I would
guess it's probably about an eighth of an inch long.  By this
time next week it should scratch really well.  Send me to new
heights," he laughed.
     Another kiss and another chance to rub their fronts against
each other.  Each was about half hard when they got into the
shower.
     The teasing and repartee continued in the shower.  They got
clean but had a good time.  It was like finding a playmate that
they'd never had before.  Much of the play in the shower was
juvenile, like boys might have wanted to do in the high school
gym showers, but didn't have the guts to try.  This was like
being liberated. that someone had finally said, "Hey guys, it's
perfectly okay to play with each other.  In fact, we encourage
it."
     It was like years of inhibitions had melted away and in a
way, they did.
     Craig wanted to try something he'd read about so he turned
them toward each other, got some liquid soap on his hands and
made some really thick lather on their cocks and pubic hair.
     "What are you doing?" Dale asked.
     "This is called 'docking'," Craig answered.
     With that, he retracted Dale's foreskin and placed the heads
of their cocks together.  Each was leaking a little precum which
just made everything slicker.  He pulled Dale's foreskin over his
own cock and rubbed the foreskin up and down over both cocks.
They were both very stimulated at that point, and Dale leaned in
for a kiss.  The tongue duel and cock action made both of them
stiffen and shoot at the same time.
     "That was neat, how'd you know to do that?" Dale asked.
     "Something I read in one of the stories in Men Magazine.
Did you like it?"
     "Oh yeah, wish you had a foreskin so we could really seal
ourselves to the other."
     "Reason number 150 that I love you.  Come on, let's finish
our shower," Craig said, leaning in for another kiss.
     After they got out of the shower they started to get
dressed.  Dale asked Craig if he still was game to go to the
ranch and ride horses in the afternoon.  He was all for it, so
they both dressed in Levis and boots and pulled on polo shirts.
     They spent about 10 minutes putting the clothing items Dale
had in the laundry baskets in the dresser they now shared and
other things on the shelving in the large closet.  Each item of
clothing made it seem more and more like Dale belonged here.  He
was excited and Craig was, too.
     The next stop was Dale's old house.  They went in Craig's
car and took the laundry baskets with them to carry other loose
items.  The first thing Dale wanted to do was to go through the
kitchen cabinets for things they could use in THEIR kitchen.
Most of the cooking utensils, pots and pans really weren't worth
keeping.  Dale had a set of Farberware that was pretty complete.
His mother had seen to that.  But there were some other things,
like cookie sheets and cake and pie pans they might need - if
they really did learn to cook more than just something to sustain
their stomachs.  Dale took the best of what was there.  There
were a few things in the refrigerator, which should be moved.
There was some chicken and hamburger in the freezer.  That
definitely needed to be moved.  There were a couple dozen cans of
assorted vegetables and soup, which they should take.
     Cleaning supplies might as well stay here for a while; they
might need them when cleaning up after the garage sale.
     The next thing to tackle was boxing up pictures and mementos
that were hanging on the wall.  All of the closets needed to be
searched, although most of the stuff would go in the sale.  Dale
was encouraged.  This might not be as bad as he had first
thought.  Granted, he'd done a lot of this after his grandparents
and mother's deaths.
     Craig suggested that they contact some people who held
garage sales to have them come look at things and give then an
idea as to what was involved and how to handle everything.  Dale
agreed.  While he was going through things and laying them out,
Craig made a trip to the liquor store down the street and came
back with about a dozen boxes.
     "Hon, I don't know exactly what to do.  I don't want to
bring all this stuff to your. OUR. house, but there are things I
want to keep. at least for a while.
     That's not a problem.  We probably could make room for it,
but you can also rent storage for a nominal amount.  If we should
decide to buy a house later, this can be addressed at that time.
     "WE buy a HOUSE. later?" Dale asked.
     "Yes, that's something to consider.  I would like to have a
house with a yard and more room to move around.  Don't get me
wrong, our place is just fine, but you are used to living in a
house and I grew up in one."
     "Good point.  I just never thought about it. for us."
     Dale got tears in his eyes.  'This really was permanent.
like he'd hoped for.'
     * * * * *
     After picking up some "fast food" for lunch they unloaded
the things going to their apartment and put kitchen things and
food away.  As he was putting the meat in the freezer, he
realized that all that was there were 4 frozen pizzas, two turkey
potpies and two frozen dinners.  There wasn't a great deal more
in the refrigerator.  The things Craig had bought for Dale's
lunch, plus what he brought from his house.  The other things
already there were condiments and a partial carton of milk.
     Dale asked Craig, "Do you like fresh milk?"  Then thinking
that Craig didn't know what he was talking about, he said, "Farm
milk, not grocery store milk."
     "I guess I'm not sure what you are talking about."
     "The Williamson's have a milk cow at the ranch.  She
provides fresh milk and cream for the place and we all help
ourselves to it.  It's raw milk, not pasteurized like the stores
have.  A whole different taste. really rich. and good.  Mrs. Wood
gets first choice for her kitchen, but there never seems to be
any waste or shortage.  We also have access to fresh eggs, too.
for free.  There are some extra containers at the ranch, so we
can bring a quart home with us this afternoon after our ride."
     "Sounds good to me.  I don't think there are any eggs in the
fridge.  They are good to eat once in a while.  Guess if we start
cooking, we'll need milk and eggs."
     "Don't forget fresh cream, too.  It's so thick it's almost
like spreading butter."
     They were through moving things for the day.  Dale didn't
want to keep a lot other than clothes and personal mementos of
his family.  The furniture wasn't worth keeping and certainly
wouldn't look like it belonged in their apartment.  It was almost
like he was starting a new life - and in a way, he was.
     It was about 2 p.m. when they left for the ranch and Dale
insisted they take his old car, explaining to Craig that even
with a saddle blanket and sitting in a saddle, they would still
smell "horsey" and it would be in their clothes.  "I just don't
want to smell up your car," Dale told him.
     I appreciate your concern.  Sounds like we'll be doing
laundry when we get back home, right?"
     Dale agreed.  He liked the sound of the words "we" and "back
home".
     They were parking the car in the area where Dale usually
parked when Jason and Kevin came running up, followed by Sandy,
their collie.
     Craig loved dogs and Sandy immediately sensed it, so she was
ready for any attention he might give her.
     Dale introduced the boys and Craig to each other and Jason
and Kevin were pleased that Craig offered his hand for them to
shake.  They liked him immediately.
     "What are you doing here on Saturday afternoon?" asked
Jason.
     "I thought Craig and I would take Tony and Topper and go for
a ride.  Craig's not ridden very much and there are some areas of
the ranch I thought he would enjoy seeing."
     "Can we go with you?" they both begged.
     Dale was hoping that he and Craig could be alone.  He was
hoping for a dip in one of the little spring-fed lakes - without
clothes.  Just the two of them - naked.  But, he really didn't
want to tell these guys he and Craig wanted to be by themselves.
     "You need to let somebody know you're going and that you
will be with me and Craig.  We don't want somebody getting all
upset because you've disappeared."
     "Dad and Mom are gone this afternoon, but we can tell Mrs.
Wood.  Okay?" Jason asked.
     "That's fine.  Leave Sandy here.  If some of the farm dogs
want to go with us, that's fine.  She's not used to being in the
rough and I'm sure you don't want to spend the rest of the
weekend combing all the burrs and nettles out of her, right?"
     They set off for the house, taking their dog with them.
They told Mrs. Wood where they were going and not to let Sandy
out because she might try to follow them.
     The two men headed for the horse barn.  Dale apologized to
Craig.  "I'm sorry, I hadn't planned on them being along today.
They have to have supervision to ride beyond the field here."
     "Don't worry about it.  We'll all have a good time and from
what you've said, they are super nice kids."
     The horses were all in the corral, but thought they were
going to be fed when Dale and Craig walked up, so headed to their
stalls to be ready.
     Dale selected his horse, Tony and thought Topper would be a
good, gentle horse for Craig to ride.  He knew that Jason could
saddle his own horse, but they would have to help saddle Muffin
for Kevin.  Dale led Topper out of his stall and had Craig hold
his bridle while he got a saddle blanket.  He threw it over his
back, and then got an adult saddle.  He hoisted it with no effort
and secured the belt under his belly, then snapped leads on the
bridle.  He repeated the same operation on Tony and was about
finished when the boys got back.  They had a grocery sack with
snacks, cold sodas and water bottles.  Kevin got saddle bags out
while Dale saddled Muffin and Kevin prepared his own horse,
Blaze."
     Craig was taken with the beauty of the horses and was
petting them in turn.  The pony Kevin was going to ride was
probably about the size of the horse he had ridden before.  He'd
never been around large horses like Tony and Topper.  Kevin
finished filling the saddlebags and got some carrots out of the
storage.  He put a package in one of the bags, and then gave
Craig four to give the horses now.  After the horses had eaten
their carrots, Kevin gave him four sugar cubes for a treat.
     "Now you'll be their friend forever," Kevin told Craig.
     The horses ready, Dale and Jason helped Craig and Kevin
mount up.  Dale explained the signals the horses were used to and
how to use them to get the horse to move.  He led Craig and
Topper outside.  Kevin followed and Jason brought up the rear,
leading Tony, Dale's mount.  Dale opened and closed the two gates
as the horses passed through to the field where they would start
their ride.
     Dale got on his horse, telling Jason and Kevin to lead the
way.  He rode beside Craig until he could get used to being on
horseback and could handle the commands Topper was used to
receiving.
     As they started out, Craig had a grin on his face that was a
mile wide.  This was a totally new experience for him and he
loved it.  He felt like he was up sooo high and having a powerful
steed under him was a big turn on.  This was something Dale was
used to doing and HIS MAN was sharing this with him.
     They rode slowly to begin with to allow Craig to get
comfortable.  Kevin was fairly experienced for his age.  Muffin
was just a pony when he started riding so they had sort of grown
up together.  In another year Muffin would be fully grown, but
would be a small mare, well suited for Kevin for quite a few more
years.  Blaze, Jason's horse was fully-grown and was the size
Muffin would be in another year.
     Topper and Tony were each about 6 years old and, although
frisky, could be held in check with no effort.  It was like
Topper sensed Craig was inexperienced and didn't try to test him.
Some horses would purposely scare a new rider to death, to the
point they would never want to get on a horse again.
     It was a beautiful day and they rode about five miles to
where the terrain got a little rougher.  Either Dale or Jason had
to dismount several times to open and close gates to keep the
cattle confined to their grazing areas.
     They soon came to a little river and Dale took the lead as
the trail became narrow and they would have to ride single file.
Kevin was right behind Dale, then Craig with Jason bringing up
the rear.  Craig was impressed with the scenery.  Much of it was
different than you would see from a car going down the road.  It
was more like pictures one would see in a travel magazine.
     The horses had no problem because there were no obstacles
for them to walk over or around.  Soon they came to a flat area
where the river pooled behind a natural stone dam.  This was
where Dale had wanted to take Craig swimming.  That would have to
wait for another time.
     They dismounted and stood to look at the scenery around
them.
     Craig said, "I had no idea a place like this existed and
within just a few miles of town."
     It gets pretty rough starting in another mile.  The river is
in a deep ravine and there are actually some rapids," Dale
replied.
     "I wish I'd thought to bring my camera."
     "Hey bud, there will be another time.  I'll see to it."
     Kevin was ready for a snack and a soda so asked if anyone
else was.
     "Sure," said Craig and Jason, almost at the same time.
     Kevin got the stuff out.  The horses were nosing the grass
and eating choice clumps, here and there.  They didn't tie them
because there was no danger of them running off.
     Dale warned them about opening the soda cans too quickly as
they had been well shaken on the ride.
     Jason suddenly said, "Hey, can we go skinny dipping?"
     Dale's intent had been to come up here and entice Craig into
going skinny-dipping and then have sex on the sun-warmed rocks
above the pool, but he didn't think this was a very good idea.
     Craig had somewhat of a panicked look on his face.  He
wouldn't mind going skinny-dipping with Dale, but not with two
kids that he didn't know.
     Dale spoke up.  "Jason, if you'll check the water
temperature you'll see that it's pretty cold.  I think too cold
to swim in even on a warm day like this.  Part of the water here
comes from a spring.
     Jason was disappointed.  He really wanted to have a chance
to see Dale and Craig without any clothes, like in the shower
room after gym.  He had never seen an adult male without clothes
and thought he'd seized the perfect opportunity.  'Darn!' he
thought.
     He walked to the edge of the pool and leaned over the rock,
sticking his arm in to above his elbow.  He withdrew it quickly.
"Hey, it really is cold."
     Two adult men breathed sighs of relief that they didn't have
to discuss this anymore.
     All of them sat in the warm sun enjoying the sound of the
water running over the rocks and taking in the scenery and river.
The horses hadn't strayed any.  Craig guessed that it was because
there were plenty of choice morsels of grass and plants close by.
     Dale would like to have held Craig's hand, but all he could
do was look at his handsome, sexy boyfriend and smile at him.
Craig was thinking the same thing.
     Finally Jason asked if there was another way back where they
could ride their horses.
     "Yes, we can follow the river to about 2 miles west of
Williamsport, then there is a back road we can use which will get
us back to the Bar-W ranch.
     Kevin crushed the four soda cans and stowed them in the
saddlebag.  Dale thanked him for not littering.  Kevin proudly
told him that he'd learned about that in Cub Scouts.
     They rode leisurely down the river for about 5 miles.  There
was a gate, which allowed them to ride on a dirt road, really not
more than a path, but Dale knew some people used the road to get
to a fishing area close by.
     Another three miles down that road and they went through a
gate, which took them on to Bar-W ground.  This was the hayfield
where they had cut and baled the previous week.
     Jason and Kevin had ridden on ahead and were probably about
100 yards ahead of Dale and Craig, who were riding side-by-side.
     Craig looked over at Dale, his eyes sparkling and giving him
a big grin.  "Hey stud, I'm having a great time.  Too bad you
didn't want to go skinny dipping."
     Dale laughed, and then replied, "It wasn't so much that I
didn't want to go skinny dipping, I just didn't want you to
demonstrate your sexual skills in front of a couple of cadets.
Somehow, I don't think they are ready to deal with that."
     "I wish I'd had someone to 'demonstrate' for me when I was
their age.  There wouldn't have been a man in Arlington that
would have been safe.  Of course, I probably wouldn't have met
you then.  I guess staying a virgin until I met you was a good
deal after all."
     "Virgin?!" Dale laughed.
     "Technically, I guess."  Craig wiggled his eyebrows.  "Why,
did you sense otherwise?" he giggled.
     "The only thing I thought was how wonderful the entire
experience was.  And. so has been each one of them since.
     "I'd kiss you right here, but I'm afraid I'll spook the
horses," Craig said.
     "We better stop talking about this.  I'd getting a hardon
and it's not comfortable when you are riding a horse," Dale
replied.
     Craig started giggling.  "What, exactly is this for?"
pointing to the saddle horn.
     "For most everyone, it's to hang onto when getting on and
off the horse and riding like we are now.  For those who are
prone to falling off, we make them sit on it."
     "Ooohh, kinky," Craig laughed.
     This talk was getting him hard, too, and he had to agree
that even with the extra room that Levi 501's provided in the
crotch, it was pinching his dick.
     There was a gate ahead and Jason had gotten off to open it.
Kevin led Blaze through, then Jason fastened the gate and
remounted.  They were within a half-mile of the barn.
     After they rode into the corral, the horses were led inside
the barn and their tack was removed.  Jason and Kevin showed
Craig how to brush the horses and Dale wiped down the saddles and
other leather to get rid of any sweat from the horses.  Even on a
slow walk like today, the horses still got a little wet.
     The other horses had returned to their stalls, still
expecting to be fed, so Kevin filled their bins with oats and
horse food.
     After thanking Dale and Craig for allowing them to ride
along, they headed toward their house.  Mrs. Wood had seen them
come out of the barn, so let Sandy out.  She raced to the barn to
greet the boys.
     Dale and Craig got in the Mustang and headed toward town.
Dale had an idea while driving.
     "Why don't we stop at the grocery and get a couple of nice
steaks and baking potatoes and a few other things we need and
I'll fix dinner for us tonight?  We could get a few things to add
to the lettuce we already have to make a nice salad.  Maybe some
broccoli or fresh green beans to steam and something for
dessert."
     "That sounds good.  Are you sure you're up to it?"
     "Sure, I'd rather spend the evening with my arms wrapped
around you than sitting in a restaurant looking across the table
at you."
     "Talked me into it, where to I sign up?" Craig teased.
     There was a notepad and pen in the glove box and Craig wrote
out a grocery list as Dale dictated.  The next stop was the
grocery around the corner from THEIR apartment.  Craig suggested
that they had the best meat market in Williamsport.  It didn't
take long to gather up the items they needed.  The butcher cut
two nice, almost 2-inch thick KC Strip steaks for them.  As the
butcher wrapped the steaks and handed them to Dale, he said,
"Some prime beef from your ranch."
     Dale knew that some of the beef the Bar-W sold ended up
here, but was surprised the butcher knew him and that he was a
foreman there.
     They reached the cash register and Craig insisted on paying
for the purchases.  Dale started to protest and Craig gave him
"the look" that said, "Quiet, I don't want to talk about this."
     When they got in the car, Dale said, "I thought we were
going to split expenses."
     "We are, but I'm not going to keep track of every nickel and
dime.  Next week we can open a joint checking account and
contribute equally.  I don't think either of us is going to get
hurt over a few dollars here and there."  He reached over and
squeezed Dale's hand.
     As they entered the apartment, Dale headed to the kitchen to
put things away.  He left the steaks on the counter so he could
fix up a marinade for them later.  Right now it was time for a
shower to get rid of the "horsey smell."
     Craig was already stripping off his clothes.  "I see what
you mean about smelling like a horse.  I don't mind you being
hung like one, but it had better not taste that way after I get
you cleaned up," he leered.
     "And I love you, too," replied Dale.  "What a put down.  I
get you a horse to ride that won't throw you and you are totally
unappreciative.  I want out of this marriage."
     They both roared with laughter.
     "I'm sure glad you can give as good as you get.  Your sense
of humor is about as bent as mine is and I love it.  It's fun to
spar verbally with you."
     They quickly finished stripping off their clothes.  Dale
took them and said, "I'm going to put these in a separate laundry
basket so they don't rub off on something else."
     "Fine, but get your ass back in here right away or I won't
let you in the shower," Craig said, somewhat prissily with his
hands on his hips.  More laughter from both.
     As they started the water, Dale leaned toward Craig, kissing
him on the lips.  "I love you, stud."
     The kiss was returned and this time it was Craig who got
tears in his eyes.  "I know you do. and I love you too, lots."
     They really wanted to play with each other in the shower,
but decided that the real fun would be later after they went to
bed.
     They finished their shower and Craig made a big point of
sniffing Dale's crotch before declaring the "horsey" smell was
gone.  Dale told him not to do that again unless he was prepared
to get a black eye when his hardon popped up.  More laughter from
each.
     They pulled on clean boxers and a t-shirt and headed to the
kitchen.  Dale asked Craig if there was any of the red wine left
from the other evening.  He got the bottle of Pinot Noir out of
the dining alcove.
     Dale made a marinade out of some of the wine, a generous
dash of Worcestershire Sauce, fresh ground black pepper and a bit
of steak sauce.  After stirring it together he put it in a pan
large enough to hold the steaks, covered them well with the
liquid, then added more fresh ground pepper, turned them and
peppered that side, too.
     As Dale washed the potatoes he asked Craig to get out some
aluminum foil.  He wrapped the potatoes and twisted the foil on
the ends.  He had brought his wooden salad bowl, so tore some
lettuce and lined up the other items; tomatoes, avocado, green
onions, green pepper, raw mushrooms and dressing to add later.
He put the lettuce in the refrigerator.
     Next was the broccoli.  He cut the end of the stem off, then
cut the individual stems off, cutting through each with the
knife.  He found a 2-quart saucepan and lid and got the vegetable
steamer off the shelf.
     Craig was taking all this in.  "I thought you said that you
couldn't cook," he said.  "This looks to me that you are
preparing a feast."
     "This is simple stuff that anybody should be able to do.
even you," he teased.
     "Don't be too sure," Craig said, standing behind him and
hugging his chest against Dale's back.
     "That's all we need to do for a little bit.  I'll put the
potatoes in to bake in about a half hour and we should be ready
to eat about an hour after that."  He looked at the clock.  We
should be ready to eat about 7 o'clock, if that's okay.
     "Fine with me.  Let's go get comfortable and have something
to drink.  Do you have a preference?"
     "No, I'm going to leave that up to you until I get more
experience.  What are you going to have?"
     "I was thinking about a martini - actually gin on the rocks.
Do you like gin?"
     "Don't know, can I smell it and have a little taste?"
     "Sure."  Craig walked over to the bar and Dale followed.
     He got out a bottle of Beefeater Gin, opened it and let Dale
smell it.
     "Not bad.  Does it taste the same as it smells?"
     "Yeah, at least to me."  He got a teaspoon and poured a
little.  "Try this."
     Dale touched his tongue to the liquid.  It felt hot to his
tongue, then he realized it was the alcohol.  That wasn't too
bad.  He put the spoon in his mouth and allowed the liquid to
flow around his tongue.  Not bad.
     "Okay, I'll try that."
     Craig said, "I'll fix you a martini like mine, but if you
decide you don't like it, don't force yourself to drink it.  I'll
drink it for my second drink and we'll figure out something else.
I like my drinks 'on the rocks' so why don't you fill the ice
bucket up about halfway?"
     Dale headed toward the kitchen and Craig took down two 8-
ounce glasses, filling them about halfway with the gin.  He took
two toothpicks and speared a couple of olives on each, then added
them and a couple of drops of olive juice to the gin.  No dry
vermouth.  That ruined good gin.  That's what his father always
said and he had to agree.
     Dale came back with the ice, so Craig added the cubes to
bring the liquid level up to almost full.  He handed Craig a
napkin and his glass with the warning, "Just sip."
     They touched classes, each saying "Cheers" and sipped.
Craig thought, 'The perfect martini' and waited for Dale's
reaction.
     Dale sipped slowly, then let the mixture roll around in his
mouth.  His first impression was that he didn't like it at all,
but then after the initial taste it didn't seem so bad.  He took
another small sip and decided that he really liked it after all.
     "This is okay.  I didn't think I'd like it at first, but
your taste buds have to get over the shock," he laughed.  "It's
no different than learning to like sour cream or dill pickles."
     "That's right.  I hadn't thought of it that way, but you
have to keep an open mind when trying anything that is new to
you.  Certainly not everyone likes everything, but we don't know
what we're missing until we try it."
     They sat down in front of the coffee table and sat their
drinks down.
     Craig continued.  "My parents drink these and that's where I
developed the taste for them.  My other favorite drink is scotch
and soda with a lemon wedge, but I drink other things, too.  One
thing you really need to remember is to buy good quality liquor.
Especially for drinks such as this where there is no mix.  A few
distillers put out several different labels and you can almost
tell how far down in the barrel it came from.  The good stuff
comes from the top and is more expensive.  By the time you get to
the dregs, it's cheap and that's what the bums on the street
corner drink.  End of the 'Liquor 101' lesson," he laughed.
     Pretty soon it was time for Dale to put the potatoes in to
bake and turned the steaks in the marinade.  He came back to the
living room and scooted close to Craig.  They nuzzled each
other's ears, nose, lips and faces.  It felt good just to be with
each other and touch with fingers, tongues, and noses.  Just to
be with each other.  They each thought about how lucky they were
to have found each other.
     Pretty soon Craig asked Dale what he had to do in the
kitchen and Dale gave him the schedule for completing the meal.
     "I'll set the table and bring plates for the salad and
steaks out when you go back to the kitchen."
     "Sounds like a plan to me.  We're not in any rush.  The
steaks will need about 14 minutes under the broiler.  You do like
your steak medium-rare, don't you?
     "Yes, you remembered, but I like this steak raw," he teased
groping Dale's cock.
     "Actually by the time you got through with it last night, it
was pretty well done," Dale smiled.
     It took Craig a second to realize that Dale was talking
about a blowjob and not food.  He looked at Dale with a leer and
they both burst out laughing.  Craig thought, 'We really have a
good time together and enjoy teasing each other.'
     The final part of the meal preparation went easily as they
worked side-by-side in the kitchen with Dale showing Craig what
to do.  He slipped the steaks under the broiler and checked the
baked potatoes.  They were almost ready.  Dale put some water in
the saucepan, covered it and put the broccoli on the back burner
to steam.  He had never used a gas stove before, but realized the
heat from the flame was instantaneous instead of waiting for a
coil to heat.
     Craig was chopping the green onions and tomatoes and Dale
showed him how to make green pepper strips, then dice them.  He
had already washed the two mushrooms so sliced them himself.
Craig halved the avocado, dug the seed out and stripped the meat
out with a teaspoon.  Dale added some fresh ground black pepper
and Craig tossed the salad.  It looked like just the right amount
for their meal.  They could add the dressing when they were ready
to eat.
     The timer rang and Dale turned the steaks with a pair or
tongs.  He didn't think they would need very much time on the
second side.  The gas-fired broiler was hotter than an electric
stove.  He lifted the lid and checked the broccoli with a fork.
Okay.  He pulled the potatoes out of the oven after giving them
another squeeze and they seemed ready to eat, also.  He directed
Craig to add salad dressing and put it on the plates while he got
the other things ready.  They were going to be good together in
the kitchen.  Dale was excited about taking a cooking course, now
that he had someone to share meals with.
     The rest of the meal came together quickly and they carried
their plates to the dining table.  As they sat down, Craig
reached for Dale's hands and again asked a blessing; for the food
and for their relationship with each other.  They both said
"Amen" and squeezed the other's hands.
     They each picked up their wine glass that Craig had filled.
Dale looked at Craig and they both said, almost at the same time,
"To you," then taking a sip.
     "Babe, this is wonderful," Craig said.
     "You helped put it together," Dale replied.
     "Yes, but there is a big difference between putting
something together under your direction and actually knowing what
to do.  You made it all look so easy and I learned some things
while watching and helping."
     "Hon, we're going to be good together and for each other,"
Dale said, reaching out to touch Craig's hand again.
     While eating dinner, they talked about the next day.  Craig
said that he wanted to go to church and invited Dale to attend
with him.  Dale was curious about Craig's faith and the fact that
it seemed to be so accepting of gay people.  He agreed to go to
satisfy his curiosity.
     They finished their meal and helped each other clean up the
kitchen and put things away.  This, they thought, was the way it
was supposed to be.
     They went back to sit on the love seat and Dale noticed for
the first time that the television set had not been turned on any
of the times he'd been here.  He didn't miss it as many times at
home he just turned it on for the company the noise made.
Sitting there, they didn't have all that much to say; just
enjoying the other's presence and that they could reach out and
touch the other.
     About that time, Dale yawned.  Craig didn't know if it was
an involuntary response, but he did, too.  He looked at his
watch.  It was after 10:30.
     "Do you know what time it is, Hon?" he asked.
     "No. what? he responded.
     "It's about 10:40 and we've had a big day today.  How about
trying out that Jacuzzi and then a good night's sleep wrapped in
each other's arms?
     "That sounds like a great idea," Dale answered.
     They got up and went through the routine of turning off
lights and making sure the door was locked.  Dale followed Craig
to the bedroom and started to take off his clothes.
     "Wait, Hon, let me start the tub filling and then I want to
take your clothes off.  You can take mine off, too."  He wiggled
his eyebrows and licked his lips seductively.
     Craig started the water running and happened to think they
should really be clean.  They'd showered that morning and again
after their horseback ride and now a bath.  He would add some
liquid bath soap when he turned on the jets.  That would be fun,
too.
     Going back into the bedroom, it was all he could do to keep
from tearing Dale's clothes off his body.  He wanted to see him
naked again.  However, he managed to restrain himself and do it
slowly.  For each item of Dale's clothing he removed, Dale
removed the same from Craig.  By the time they were through after
exchanging a kiss with each piece of clothing, each was totally
hard.  Surprise!!
     They were through undressing each other and the tub was
filled to about the right level for them both to get in.  This
was going to be a new experience for Dale, and also one for
Craig, too, since he'd never shared this with anyone.  The tub
was large enough for both and they decided to sit facing the
other.  Craig added a big squeeze of liquid soap and turned on
the jets.  Suds billowed as soon as the intake pulled in the
soap.  The sensation of the pulsing jets was wonderful.  They
exchanged some deep kisses then settled back against the tub to
allow the warm water to surround them, enjoying the jets of
soothing water.  Of course, like little kids, they had to tickle
the other under their balls and around their crotch with their
toes.  This was fun!!
     They didn't really spend a great deal of time in the tub.
They were both tired and the swirling water relaxed them quickly.
Craig pulled the drain plug and turned the jets off.  The tub
drained quickly.  He suggested that they rinse off in the shower,
so they were in there just long enough to rinse off the soap.
Drying themselves with fluffy towels, they were soon ready to go
to bed. THEIR bed.
     They crawled in, faced each other and arranged their arms
and legs so each was comfortable.  They exchanged small kisses
and rubbed each other's back and shoulders.  Before they realized
it, each had gone to sleep thinking good thoughts of the other.
     * * * * *
     (to be continued)
     F* * * * *
Author's Note:  This is my first attempt at gay fiction, and the
only way I can learn whether or not I should continue is from my
readers' feedback.  I would appreciate your comments, criticism,
suggestions, and anything else that you would care to say.  All
Email will be answered.  If you wish to receive e-mail
notification of subsequent posting, please let me know by sending
your request to the e-mail address below.  Contact me at:
tulsadriller7@aol.com

Thanks for the overwhelming response to previous chapters.  I
received positive replies from all over the world.  My special
thanks to RW, whom I've known for many years and value his
suggestions.  Also for the proofreading help of Paul Daventon,
author of  "Turning the Page" found in the "Adult-Friends"
section of Nifty.  Please read it.