Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 11:36:16 EDT
From: Tulsadriller7@aol.com
Subject: Tales from the Ranch, Chapter 6/?

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 6:  Discovery
     "Do you want to inspect my bedroom again for your partner,
Don?" Dale snickered while following Craig, pinching him on the
butt.
     "Yes, but I'll never tell him what I found in here," turning
and kissing Dale on the lips.
     Dale put his arms around Craig's waist and drew him onto the
bed with him.  They arranged themselves in a tangle of limbs,
fondling each other's hot bodies.  However, they were only aware
of two contact points; their lips and their cocks, which were
hard and getting wet again from the leaking precum.  Dale rolled
onto his back and pulled Craig on top of him into full-body
contact.
     Craig shuddered and signed.  "This feels so good. and so
right.  I've never had this feeling before and I don't want it to
end."
     "Babe," Dale began, realizing he had used a term of
endearment in speaking to Craig.  "I really am a virgin when it
comes to sex - with anybody.  But I'm hoping to be a good pupil."
     "I think we are both pupils with no teachers.  Certainly,
I've read some porn in magazines but never knew if it was true or
exaggerated until now.  What we did earlier felt wonderful to me
and I'd be content just to do that from now on.  But, I have an
idea that anything we do for each other is fine as long as we are
both comfortable with it," Craig allowed.
     "Yes, I want more of what we did.  I have a couple of gay
stories that I've read so many times the pages are falling out.
And some of them are glued together," he laughed.
     "All I know is that I like being with you, either clothed or
neekid (drawing out the mis-pronounced word) like now.  You are a
total turn-on for me both ways," Craig said.
     Dale rolled them on their sides, still facing one another
and raised up on his elbow, looking Craig in the eyes.  "I've
always been scared of this part of myself.  I think I may have
realized that I was gay when I was in junior high school, but in
a town like Williamsport it's not something you want know.  My
grandfather spent a lot of his free time at the 'Idle Hour Pool
Emporium", drinking beer with his buddies and losing his money
playing pool.  According to my grandmother, he never came home
with more money than he left with.
     "My grandmother went to church from time to time and made me
go with her.  Her minister railed against drinking, card playing,
dancing, sex and just about everything else.  I'm sure that if
something might be fun, it was sinful.  Mom felt that she had
sinned when she got pregnant and I was the punishment that God
handed to her for her brief night of ecstasy.  She wouldn't go to
church with my grandmother because she had sinned and could never
be forgiven.  The God at their church was a God of retribution
and nobody was good enough to earn their way into what they
called eternal life.  I always thought that my family just
tolerated me; I never felt any evidence of love from anyone.
They probably would have kicked me out of the house if I'd dared
tell them I was gay. or thought I might be."
     Craig, who had also risen up so they could look at each
other, reached for Dale's arm pulling him over, giving him a
kiss.
     "That's tough.  I guess I was lucky.  I have two sisters,
one older and one younger.  I figured out I was gay when in high
school, but was afraid to act on it.  I'd had ideas about it for
a long time before that but couldn't - or wouldn't - do anything
about it.  I was ashamed of myself and withdrew into my studies.
The only good thing that came out of it was that I was
valedictorian when I graduated from high school.  That ensured a
scholarship to SMU and being able to study architecture.
     "The were a couple of gay clubs on campus, but I never felt
comfortable going to their meetings, mainly because I didn't like
the people.  Some of the guys were just sexual predators, out
trolling for young guys like myself to take advantage of them.
No reason to take time to get to know someone.  Just seduce them.
Then look for the next victim.  I didn't want any part of that.
I just couldn't see myself being that desperate for sex.  Love
didn't even enter into my thoughts.
     "After my partner, Don, and I got established here in
Williamsport and the business seemed to be taking off, I finally
got up the courage to tell my parents why I didn't want them to
invite an old classmate to dinner when I visiting them one
weekend.  Mary was a nice girl, but she wanted to get married.
That was her agenda and she didn't care who the man was.  She had
tried to get me to take her on dates several times before and
when I wouldn't go with her; she tried to get my oldest sister
and my mother to intercede on her behalf.
     "The night of what was supposed to have been Mary's big
dinner with the family turned out to be just my parents, my
sisters and me going to the country club.  We were having drinks
at home ahead of time when my father made some remark about the
evening turning out differently than he expected since he thought
Mary and her parents were going with us.  He started to extol her
virtues - of which she didn't have any - except rich parents who
were only concerned whom they could list as 'trophy friends'.  I
blew up and told them why I didn't want to date Mary, or any
other woman.
     "It actually went better than I thought it would.  My father
about had a stroke and went back to the bar to set his martini
glass down and poured himself a big tumbler of gin.  He was livid
when he turned around and I was afraid he was going to do or say
something we would all be sorry for.  He stomped off toward his
den, glaring at me as he walked past, not saying a word.
     "My mother and sisters sat there like there was a turd on
the rug; knowing it was there and somebody had stepped in it, but
didn't know what to do about it.
     "I finally decided that it was up to me to say something and
cleared my throat.  Before I spoke, Mother interrupted me.  'I
think you should have told us this a long time ago.  Your father
and I've discussed this before, wondering. but you never said
anything to indicate that you didn't want to meet eligible young
women.'"
     "My sister's both spoke up that they had suspected I was
gay, but thought it was my life and they were cool with it.  Of
course my mother wanted to know if there was anyone I was
involved with and when I told her there wasn't and hadn't been,
she acted relieved.
     "To my relief she said that she and my father loved me and
would support any lifestyle I chose.  I later found out that the
only problem my father really had was that I had chosen a family
venue to come out to them.  He felt that I should have discussed
it with him and Mother and not involve my sisters.  He was trying
to 'protect' them."
     "I have a cousin who is a little older than I am, my
mother's sister's son.  He's a banker in Shreveport and very well
respected in the community.  I guess he's supposed to be my role
model, but I've never had a chance to talk to him.  The whole
family is proud of him as they are, of me."
     "My mother being the schemer she is has actually tried to
find a man for me," Craig laughed.  "Talk about having the
support of your family."
     Dale had tears running down his cheeks.  Craig leaned over,
kissed him on his nose, and then used his tongue to remove some
of the tears.  Laughing, he kissed Dale on the cheek and said, "I
actually like the taste of your cum better.  Tears are too
salty."
     That lightened their moods.
     "Thanks for telling me this," Dale said.  It really helps me
to know that sometimes people do accept people being gay.  I
don't think it will fly in this town, though, too small."
     "Don't be too surprised.  We are getting ready to start of
chapter of Dignity at my church.  We have the full support of the
priest, in fact he's the main push behind the organization."
     "I thought Catholics didn't like gay people?"
     "This is at St. James Church, you know, Episcopal -
Anglican?  That's a pretty tolerant denomination and there are
some gay people who belong to the parish.  I've never heard
anyone say anything to make me think gays weren't welcome.  In
fact it was Marty and Chris who gave the organization $2,500 to
help start it."
     Dale was speechless.  "My. boss. and his wife are supporting
a group of gay men and women?  I can't believe it."
     "The Williamson Foundation supports a lot of causes in this
town and the area - even the whole state.  Some of it's done with
a lot of publicity, especially when the arts and politics are
concerned, but there are plenty of small groups which receive
money, too."
     "I know they like to share their money with the community,
but I can't imagine that they would be very happy if they found
out that I was gay."
     "Dale. I have to tell you something.  Marty knows I'm gay.
It came up when I was drawing up plans for remodeling an office
building the family owns.  The man who was doing the interior
decor is just a little more than a flaming queen and the place
was going to look a little 'faggy' if you know what I mean."
     Dale smiled his 1,000-watt smile.
     "Anyway Marty saw his sketches.  The decorator made him
think I'd approved the designs and called me about them, saying
they were a little 'overdone', I think is the word he used.  I
assured him that I hadn't seen anything.  The decorator had
vaguely discussed his ideas with me, but that was the only
involvement I had.  He was supposed to bring the design to me and
I was going to take it to Marty.  The decorator probably knew I
wouldn't approve and was trying to get around me.
     "Marty's remark to me when he called was that 'the place
looks like something a florist would design.  Bright garish
colors and enough plants to look like a jungle' were his words.
I told Marty that I would take care of it and if the decorator
didn't come up with something more in line with what I thought
Marty wanted, I'd get someone else to do it."
     "His comment was, 'I though all you guys stuck together on
stuff like this'."
     "I was somewhat taken aback and without thinking, said 'Not
all gay people are alike.  Some of us have good taste.'  I could
have kicked myself as soon as the words were out of my mouth.  I
thought I might lose the contract."
     "To my surprise Marty thanked me for being honest.  I got
the decor changed.  I was happy and Marty was thrilled.  Every
time I work a project for him, he reminds me - just in a teasing
manner - that he doesn't want it to look 'faggy'.  That seems to
be a private joke with us, but I'm sure if he was uncomfortable
with the idea of me being gay, he wouldn't hesitate to find
another architect."
     "So, this afternoon I called him about the plans for the
residence on the ranch.  After we talked about the building, I
asked him some questions about you.  He was singing your praises,
thinks you are a good crop manager who knows what he's doing and
trusts you to talk to either Mort of him when you have
questions."
     "He didn't beat around the bush, telling me that he'd seen
us visiting after the meeting and asked me point blank if I'd
asked you for a date.  When I confessed that I had, he told me,
'Good luck, you won't find anybody better than Dale'."
     Dale was shocked.  The expression on his face was truly a
"Kodak moment".
     Craig continued.  "I'm sorry, but I think I may have outed
you this afternoon without meaning to."
     Dale had another sensory overload.  Tears flowed and he was
shaking.  Craig pulled them together and just held him, running
his fingers up and down Dale's back and face, kissing the tears
and trying to "be there" for him.
     "Dale. Babe. Honey. I'm sorry.  I truly am, but you don't
have anything to be afraid of.  You're not going to get fired.
The Williamson family doesn't do that; they try to treat their
employees like an extended family.  And believe me, you have
earned your place in this family.  Don't worry about it."
     Dale was still trying to get his breath and Craig just held
onto him waiting for him to get over the shock.  All he could do
was soothe and comfort him.
     They both lay back, Dale trying to regain his composure and
Craig thinking how much he already loved Dale and didn't want to
cause him any anxiety or pain.  The two lay beside each other for
quite a while, just enjoying each other's arms around them.
Confusing thoughts still raced through Dale's head.
     Finally he rolled Craig onto his back, pulling himself on
top of him in a full-body contact.  "Craig, you are incredible.
When I got up this morning, I didn't think - in my wildest dreams
-  that the day would go as it did and, most importantly, end the
way it is.  Never in any thoughts I had, would I end up with a
beautiful man in my bed this evening.  One that could make me
feel so good and allow me to return the pleasure to him."
     "Babe, at the risk of sounding like a cliche, 'We've only
just begun'," Craig said.
     * * * * *
     There is no need to describe the wonderful experience that
followed with one exception.  Instead of the traditional "Honey,
will you respect me in the morning?" Craig heard Dale ask,
"Honey, will I still be able to ride a horse tomorrow?"
     * * * * *
     That evening when Marty and Chris were preparing drinks and
dressing for dinner, Chris asked Marty about the meeting with
"the building committee" as she called it.
     Marty told her of the meeting, that the plans had evolved
from a place for four men to a place where six could live
comfortably and that it would be two floors instead of one.  Then
he went on to describe the idea and thought Ray Evans would have
what he needed in a week to present a bill of material for the
building and that he predicted completion in about three more
weeks, depending on the weather and availability of the various
sub-contractors.
     Then he smiled at Chris and got a devilish look on his face.
"That is if Craig Bastian actually has time to work on the
plans."  He was laughing now.  Before Chris could say anything,
Marty went on.  "I think I may have helped by playing Cupid at
the meeting and again this afternoon.
     Chris looked at him with a question on her face.
     "After the meeting this morning, Craig cornered Dale and I
saw him give him a business card and they said they'd see each
other this evening.  This afternoon Craig called me with some
silly questions about the house plans.  I could tell that it was
about details that really wouldn't make any difference to the
house.  Then he started peppering me with questions about Dale.
I finally asked him if he'd asked Dale for a date and he admitted
he had."
     By now Chris was laughing so hard she could hardly stand and
not spill her drink.  "You've got to be kidding?"
     "No, I'm not.  Dale is going to sell his mother's house that
he now lives in.  Don Albrecht is interested in buying it to
remodel for rental property.  Craig is using the excuse of going
over there this evening to 'look at the house to give Don some
ideas'."
     By now Marty was laughing as hard as Chris.  She said, "I've
always wondered how men got past the 'would you like to go out on
a first date question' with each other.  Now I guess we know."
     Marty told her, "I told him that he couldn't do any better
than Dale, that we trusted him and that he was an excellent
employee."
     Chris walked to Marty, giving him a kiss and saying, "I
can't believe that you are a cute little Cupid, but it's
wonderful.  I hope things will work for them because I think they
would be super together.  A really handsome couple."
     "It doesn't bother you. two men being together?" asked
Marty.
     "Not if they are gentlemen and treat others with respect.  I
just can't understand the ones who are out waving flags and
marching up and down the street.  They don't make it any easier
for men like Dale and Craig."
     "I couldn't have said it better myself.  Somehow I can't see
the two of them doing something like marching in a parade, waving
a flag and shouting that they are gay."
     "Don't think you're likely to see it in this town.  Houston
or Dallas, yes."
     With that discussion ended, they walked downstairs to
dinner.
     * * * * *
     When Jason and Kevin woke up that next morning, they were
spooned together with Jason lying behind Kevin as per usual.
Except this time Jason was aware that his cock was hard.  This
was his first "morning wood" and it felt good.  He needed to pee,
but not that bad.  He humped against Kevin's butt cheeks right in
the middle of his left bun.
     Kevin slowly woke up, then turned over to look at Jason and
smiled at him.  He realized they were both naked and the covers
were at the bottom of the bed and on the floor.  Then he
remembered last night and the good feelings they'd caused for
each other.
     "Hi, Kev," Jason said.
     That darling smile.  "Hi, yourself.  Did the alarm ring?  I
didn't hear it," Kev said as he rose up to look past Jason to the
clock.  Still five minutes to the alarm.
     They wrapped their arms around each other; lying on their
sides they humped their groins into each other.  Jason said, "Can
I kiss you like we did last night?"
     Kevin didn't answer, he just moved his mouth up to Jason's.
"Woops, you need to brush your teeth."
     "So do you.  Com'on to the bathroom with me.
     Sandy, their collie, looked over the edge of their bed,
thinking she had been called.
     Jason hopped out of bed, pressing the button for the alarm
so it wouldn't ring.  Kevin followed him to their bathroom and
they both stood in front of the toilet bowl to release the
night's pee in their bladders.  As they'd done many times before,
one tried to hit the same spot on the porcelain the other's
stream was splattering.  This was a game they both enjoyed.
     Kevin noticed that Jason was still semi-hard and commented,
"Looks like you're excited this morning."
     "I hadn't thought about it, but it did feel good when we
were laying there, poking each other, didn't it?"
     "Yeah."
     "Kev, we need to talk about what we did last night.  Are you
okay with it?"
     "Yeah, it was fun and you made me feel sooo good.  Did you
like it when I did it to you?" Kevin asked.  "It felt really
great.  I'd like to do it again.  Do you think it was wrong?. I
mean what we did?"
     "I don't know.  I need to think about it today.  Maybe I
need to talk to Dale again."
     Jason started brushing his teeth and Kevin reached in the
shower door to start the water so they could adjust the
temperature when it was warm.  He walked over to the second basin
and took his toothbrush out of the holder.  Like a well-rehearsed
ballet, Jason moved to the shower door and got inside.  Kevin
came in while he was adding more hot water to the mix.
     They started their morning shower, handing soap and
washcloth's back and forth.  Jason took the bottle of shampoo off
the shower rack and asked Kevin if he was ready.  He held out his
hand and Jason squirted a dollop in his palm, and then did the
same for himself.  They lathered their hair, rinsed and repeated
the routine again.
     Almost at the same time, they pulled their foreskins back to
clean their cocks thoroughly.  Another full-body rinse and they
were through.
     "Ready?" questioned Kevin.
     "Yeah, turn it off," replied Jason, who was ready to open
the door and get their bath towels.  As soon as the water was
off, he reached out grabbing two towels and handed one back to
Kevin.  "I really like these new towels Mom got.  They're so
fluffy and soft."
     "I can dry myself faster than with the old ones," added
Kevin.
     They were dry except for their feet and as they crawled out
onto the bathmat, they each raised one foot, then the other,
drying it.
     Jason had already toweled his hair and Kevin dried his after
his feet.  This was the only part of their morning routine that
differed.  They didn't know why and had never questioned it.
     Both had hairdryers and brushes, but with short hair it
didn't take long to comb it into place.  Kevin's hair was a
little finer texture so he used some gel to get it to lie down.
Jason squirted a little hair spray at his.  They each had a stick
of deodorant and Jason liked "Chanel for Men" and Kevin liked
"Royal Copenhagen" cologne.  Their father had warned them about
using too much as a little went a long way.  Besides they didn't
want the other boys teasing them about wearing perfume.  They'd
felt very grown-up and masculine when they'd received Men's
cologne for their birthdays.  None of the other boys wore it if
they had it at all.
     They were through at the same time and walked back in the
bedroom.  Jason asked Kevin to help him straighten the covers on
the bed, so in 2 minutes the bed was neat again.  Kevin headed to
the closet as Jason was digging clean jockey shorts and socks out
of his drawer.  Kevin came back from the closet with a pair of
folded Levis and a polo shirt, and then went to his dresser.
     "Hey, cool, I was going to wear Levi's today, too.  With
that he disappeared in the closet and came back with a pair of
501's and a polo shirt similar to Kevin's.  They were finished
dressing at the same time and picked up their backpacks.  Jason
remembered that he would be showering at school, so went into the
bathroom and got a new stick of deodorant to put in his pack.
     "Ready for breakfast?" Jason asked.
     They were standing together in front of a mirror.  Other
than Kevin being a little smaller and lighter hair, they looked
like twins.  Jason was wearing cowboy boots, which made him still
taller.  Kevin was wearing a pair of blue Reebok shoes.
     "Let's go," Kevin said as he opened the bedroom door.  Sandy
led them down the backstairs to the kitchen where Mrs. Wood had
juice and milk ready for them on the table.
     "My, don't you both look handsome today," as they walked by.
"And smell good, too."
     "Thanks," they said, almost in unison.
     There were hot muffins right out of the oven.  Both boys
liked scrambled eggs, so there was a dish of them, along with
three small sausage patties for each.  The boys dug in without
waiting for their parents, as the school bus would be there about
7:30.  They were ready for another day.
     * * * * *
     To be continued

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.