Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 14:55:49 EST From: TulsaAuthor@aol.com Subject: Tales from the Ranch, Bk II, Chapter 3 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 Copyright(c) 2005 by Tulsa Driller. 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 copyrighted(c) 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 to read the last chapter of this story. Tales from the Ranch Book 2, Chapter 3: 'Tis the Season Joey really didn't know how to answer Daniel's question of "Are ALL of you guys, gay?" Certainly he knew that Dale and Craig were, but he didn't know about himself. The only experience he'd had with other guys had been in Boy Scouts where they would have circle-jerks. It never progressed beyond that. What he'd seen on the bi-sexual videotapes he'd looked at, women were pretty much a mystery. Their sex organs looked confusing and he'd heard all kinds of reports about them smelling like anything from honey to dead fish. Besides most women wanted a commitment of love and fidelity. The girls that were "easy" had a reputation around school and most of the boys didn't want to be seen in public with them. Those that might be desirable to date weren't likely to want to fool around. On the other hand, guys were less complicated. But, one had to be careful about approaching another boy because even those who might be curious and want to play around were generally uptight and afraid that they might be found out. That's where the scouting experience was helpful. For some reason the boys let their inhibitions down when sleeping together in a tent. Daniel and Forrest seemed more curious than most of the guys he knew. He'd caught both of them looking at him when they thought he didn't notice. Certainly he'd never heard them say anything out of line, whereas Bryce had made several uncalled for remarks about gays. Bret had his own set of problems, swearing up and down that he wasn't gay. He'd had a very traumatic experience with the religious quack that headed the church he'd attended until he discovered St. James Episcopal Church. He was attending therapy sessions with his whole family; learning to deal with all the problems that minister had caused them. Then, there was Matt, who had admitted to his parents that he was gay after he and a friend had been caught red-handed by his sister, who promptly told his father. That resulted in Matt being beaten and banished from the family home. He'd ended up in Williamsport with Tom Bryant and Eddie Thompson caring for him. Although Matt was welcome in Joey's group of friends, Joey had noticed that he didn't seem to have many friends of his own. So, Joey's only answer could be that he wouldn't mind playing around a little bit. After all, it was more fun to masturbate with a buddy than alone, even if you didn't touch each other. Some of the action that Joey had seen on the gay videotapes was pretty hot, but he'd also gotten hard watching those tapes with men and women together, too. Daniel, of course, couldn't wait until he could see some of the tapes Joey had. He was already hard just from looking at the various box covers. * * * * * Many of the students stopped Joey to ask him if he was okay when he returned to school on Tuesday morning. It made him feel really good that others were concerned about his well-being, and he happily accepted their expressions of concern. Several of the senior football players were unhappy because Thad Wilson had been suspended from school, although they had already played their last football game a couple of weeks before. Everyone knew he was a bully that pushed the rules to the limit; a few thought his punishment was too much and would liked to have blamed it on Joey. However, they weren't about to risk the wrath of Mr. Tate and the school board to avenge their pal, Thad. The incident was pushed into the back of everyone's mind. There were more important things to think about, like semester exams, school concerts and Christmas. * * * * * Jason and Kevin attended the Acolyte Camp at Christ Cathedral in Houston. Marty and Chris drove down, taking them and another boy from St. James. Fr. George drove the parish station wagon and took three other boys, along with their banners and vestments. St. James was well represented. The original plan had been for Marty and Chris to have a 2-bedroom suite at the Hilton, but both Jason and Kevin had insisted on staying at the cathedral complex with the other boys and girls who were attending the camp. They didn't want to miss anything that might be going on. Kevin was especially excited because this sounded like going to a Boy Scout campout. Fr. George lucked out; they had enough chaperons available that he could stay in a motel. When Marty found out he was going to stay at a Super 8, he insisted that the priest stay at the Hilton and he paid for the room. Fr. George only put up a mild protest. He only wished that Paul could have come along, but he was busy working on music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Unbeknownst to Paul, Fr. George's Christmas present to themselves were tickets to England. This would be their first trip "back home" since they had moved to the United States and Williamsport. The trip was planned to be twenty days long and they would leave the Thursday after Easter. The Cathedral had multipurpose building with a gymnasium in it. The 58 boys stayed there. The 14 girls and young women attending the workshop were provided places to stay at homes of several parishioners. When Fr. George arrived at the Cathedral for Morning Prayer on Saturday morning, he was surprised to see the Bishop seated in the chapel and was more surprised when he motioned Fr. George to join him. Fr. George made his reverence toward the altar and sat down as the Bishop had moved over one chair. They shook hands before Fr. George pulled out a kneeling cushion and dropped to his knees for prayers. When he was through, he crossed himself and sat back in the chair. "Can you come to my office after morning prayer?" the Bishop requested. "Yes," Fr. Tickker said, wondering why the Bishop was friendly. He never had been before. "We need to talk," he said as the Deacon walked out to start the service. They stood, making the responses at the proper time. There was no music and no homily, so the service was over in 15 minutes. The small group disbursed, most shaking hands with the Bishop, who introduced Fr. George, telling them he was from St. James in Williamsport. They walked down the hall together, chatting, mostly about nothing and the weather. "Coffee?" the Bishop asked stepping into a small kitchen. "Yes, please. Black," the priest replied. The Bishop pulled two double mugs from the shelf and filled them, handing one to Fr. George. They walked on down the hall together and into a large office. Rather than sitting behind his desk, he indicated that Fr. George should sit in a chair in front of the desk and he pulled up another chair so he could sit at an angle. There was a small table between them and the Bishop set his mug down. Fr. George took a sip of the hot coffee. "Good coffee," he said. He was a little more than nervous. The Bishop was nervous, also, but he had something he needed to say and this was the time to do it. "I was pleased when I saw your name on the list of priests attending our Acolyte Camp this weekend and that your are going to be an instructor. We've never had a chance to really sit down and visit with each other and you've been at St. James, what... about 3 years now?" Fr. George thought it was a strange way to start a conversation. After all, the Bishop had not bothered to visit St. James since he'd been there. The first two classes of those seeking to be confirmed were presented to the Suffragan Bishop for the laying on of hands. And the previous year the retired Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas had done the honors. "Yes, actually almost four years," he replied, coming back from his thoughts. "Look, this isn't easy for me, George, as I tried to block your being offered the position of Rector at St. James. The reason is the issue of your homosexuality and I've had a hard time dealing with it, but I'm starting to change my mind... just a little bit, mind you. You have done a fine job at St. James. The parish has more than doubled in membership since you've been there and also contributes more than their share to the diocesan budget. The Williamson family had great foresight in building that big church, but you have helped that dream of filling the building come true "Bishop, I don't know what to say. The fact that Paul and I are gay and share the Rectory has always been a non-issue at St. James. People just don't care and to my knowledge, we've lost only one family because of it, although I've always suspected that it was more of a dislike for high church." "Yes, you certainly are high church and a model for those who like it." The Bishop paused. "Look, I won't beat around the bush. I want to apologize for my behavior and for largely ignoring you. The other priests in the Diocese think highly of you and many are jealous of what you have accomplished." "You don't need to apologize. I know you have been uncomfortable with this and I have great admiration for you for sitting down to discuss this." "I really would like to come to Williamsport for your next confirmation. I'm sure you have a class in progress, don't you?" the Bishop asked. "Yes, those people will be prepared and ready for confirmation by the middle of February. Right now it appears there are 28 to be confirmed, with 12 of those being baptized the two previous Sundays." "That's the largest class I've encountered, even here in Houston we're lucky to have two dozen in a class. Congratulations, George!" "Thank you. May I make a request for your visit?" "Of course," the Bishop said. "The confirmation mass will be a solemn high mass. For your visit would you consent to wearing your miter and Eucharistic vestments?" Fr. George asked. The look on the Bishop's face was great. He hated high church. "I seldom do that, even in my own Cathedral," he said. "But, I've short-changed St. James in Williamsport for too long. It's time for me to make good on my support for you. I'll honor your request, but you'd better have a good Master of Ceremonies to whisper in my ear and make sure I don't botch my assignment," he laughed. "We have one of the best," Fr. George told him. He was exuberant and hoped the problem with the Bishop was indeed solved. They parted with the Bishop actually instituting a "Liturgical Hug". * * * * * As was usual with Marty, he would turn a vacation into a business trip to make contact with others who might trade with the Bar-W Ranch. Since the ranch had such diverse products, it was always easy to hook up with people interested in buying and selling horses, cattle and crops. Still he was willing to go along with Chris on one of her many shopping marathons. She, of course, seemed to think that the Galleria shops were built for her to buy out. Chris had many friends in Houston, so while not shopping; she was meeting various old school friends for luncheons. There was a lot of activity crammed into the three-day weekend. * * * * * That evening while eating dinner, Craig spoke up. "We've been so busy with the store and getting my parents moved down here that we haven't even discussed Christmas and what we are going to do to get ready." Dale groaned. "Yes, I forgot to tell you. The Williamson's are having their annual tree trimming party this next Sunday afternoon and we are all invited. I'm sorry, but I've known about this for a couple of weeks and it slipped my mind. We will be there." "Actually, if you look at the calendar in the kitchen, the party is already written down and we don't have any conflicts," Craig replied. "Thank goodness. This party is 'family only' and we can't miss it." Dale was relieved. "Family party?" Joey questioned. "Yes, Joey. The Williamson's invite your other Dad and me to some of their family gatherings. Marty and Chris seem to consider that we are part of their family and we're proud to be included in those activities. They've been super nice to our whole family, including your grandparents." "They sure have," Craig spoke up. It's been several weeks since we've been there for Sunday dinner, but Marty and Chris seemed to understand that we needed to focus our attention elsewhere." "Cool!" was Joey's response. "Okay, that's one thing out of the way," Craig said. "What do you want to do about decorating this place and do we want to have an open house, probably after Christmas," he suggested. "That sounds good to me, what about having a joint party with your parents?" Dale asked. "Sort of a 'Welcome to Williamsport' party?" "That would be nice. It's great of you to think of it because this year is a lot of firsts for us. It's our first Christmas together. It's Joey's first Christmas with us and it's my parents first Christmas in Williamsport. We have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for," Craig replied. "Will we have a Christmas tree?" Joey wanted to know. "Of course," Craig said. I don't have too many ornaments, but we can purchase what we need. It just doesn't have to look like we corralled every bauble in town to hang on it." "Simple is best," Dale agreed. "I hope it can be a real tree instead of a plastic one," Joey told them. "Of course it will be real," Craig answered. "What else?" Dale asked, meaning the tree. "Well, we need to think about gifts for each other and those we want to buy something for," Craig said. "Then there are Christmas cards to be considered." "What about a Christmas party for those who work at the store?" Joey asked. "That's up to David and Frank," Dale replied. "Certainly we want to be involved with it, but it's not up to us to give it." "I agree with that," Craig said. "We can talk to Dad and David and see if they have planned anything. If they haven't, they should." "There again, so much has been going on trying to get the store ready to open and get employees trained, they may have shoved the idea aside," Dale added. "I'll call Dad after we're through eating and make an inquiry," Craig said. "Guess all we need now are some 'hints' about what we want for Christmas," Dale laughed. "Yeah, it seems like we've just been going and buying what we need without thinking about waiting a little while to see if Santa brings it," Craig said. "I've got some ideas, but I'm going to need an advance on my allowance - about a years worth," Joey said, trying to keep a straight face. "You know that you can have whatever you need," Dale said. "I guess you have been getting along okay because you haven't complained, but I should have asked if you have enough lunch money and for other things, too. "Oh yeah, I don't need a whole lot, but there have been several times that Dad Craig has given me an extra $20 or so." "That's fine, but the money should be coming out of your bank accounts instead of his pocket," Dale said. He wasn't annoyed, but Joey had plenty of money for his needs. It was just a matter of him asking for reasonable amounts. "Don't worry about it. It was faster to give him the cash he needed rather than go get it at the bank," Craig said. Their evening meal drew to a close. There were no firm plans for anything yet, however, ideas had been shared. But, Christmas was quickly approaching and they needed to get started. * * * * * Business at the computer store remained brisk with new inventory arriving everyday. The sales staff was learning more about the products they were selling and also were becoming skilled in demonstrating programs to potential buyers. This had the direct effect of increasing sales and commissions. Dennis had sold two network systems. One went to a law firm that required a server and 19 terminals. The other went to a lumberyard-hardware store and that system had a server and 14 terminals. Frank and Doris had made up their mind that Williamsport would be their new home. The big debate in their mind was whether to purchase an existing home and hope they didn't have to do too much in the way of repair or remodeling - or if they should have a home built to their needs - they did know a friendly architect. Some of their free time had been used to scout out building sites and they had noted several that were in older neighborhoods with mature trees. Only a couple were for sale and then, not suitable, being behind commercial buildings. * * * * * Craig, meanwhile, with plenty of input from Dale and Joey was doing some preliminary design on their own home, but not knowing where it might be built. He found out about a small farm roughly 6 miles northeast of Williamsport that was available. The house had suffered very extensive fire damage and the people didn't have insurance. It would have to be torn down, but there were several existing out buildings including two barns, an equipment shed and a silo; all were in good condition. There were 80 acres of ground that would be suitable for grazing and producing some crops. Craig had driven out to look at it several times before mentioning it to Dale. The farm was on a blacktop road and there was rural water available for drinking. The land had two ponds situated where they could catch the run off from a rain. It wasn't until Craig found out that an adjoining farm of 360 acres was for sale that he even mentioned it to Dale. The only buildings on it were a small 2-bedroom house and a barn. The ground at that farm was better suited to raising crops. In talking to a realtor, Craig found that the asking price for the whole package was just under $83 thousand and that the smaller farm had been on the market for over 8 months. The larger one was being sold to settle an estate. So, the second Saturday in December, Craig told Dale to put on his boots as they were going for a ride. Dale assumed that Craig meant they were going to the Bar-W and saddle up a couple of horses. It was a perfect day to be out; there was no breeze so a medium weight jacket was enough to wear. He was surprised when Craig drove to the north edge of downtown and took the road to the northeast. "Where are we going?" he asked his lover, clearly puzzled. "We're going for a ride," Craig smiled at him. "Oh, I thought you meant we were going for a horseback ride." "No I said we were going for 'a' ride, not how we were going," Craig teased. "I have something I want you to look at. Dale wondered what it could possibly be. He looked out the windows as they drove down the road. He'd never been out this direction from Williamsport before. The terrain of the ground was rolling and there were a lot of trees. Craig slowed to turn left into a driveway and Dale noticed a "for sale" sign at the break in the fence. The first thing he noticed was the burnt out house. It looked sad. "The reason I brought you out here is that this property is for sale. I know the house will have to be torn down, but the other buildings are in good shape. There are 80 acres here, but the adjoining farm is also for sale. That land is better suited for crops than this farm and there is a small house and barn on that property. "What are you thinking of?" Dale asked, knowing full well what Craig was doing. "A chance to build a house that's suited to our needs and a place where we can have some livestock if we decide we want it. Otherwise, the ground could be rented out for farming." Dale was immediately interested. "Come on, let's go explore," he said getting somewhat excited about the prospect of having a home in the country where they didn't have close neighbors. As they walked to the old house, Craig pointed out that it would have to be torn down. "I wouldn't recommend building a house here, there is a much better place at the top of the hill," he said pointing in the general northeast direction. Dale could see that there were a lot of trees on the hill, which had to be a couple of blocks away and at least 50 feet higher than where they were standing. "Come on, let's hike up there," Dale said, reaching for Craig's hand. Craig felt almost like skipping. He was pleased that he'd tweaked Dale's interest. When they got to the top, Dale noticed that there was a good-sized area that didn't have any trees. He looked around. "I think there may have been a house up here at some point in time. Look, the trees appear to have been spaced pretty evenly and in straight lines." He walked to the middle of the clearing. "If there was never a house here before, my guess is that they may have planned on building one." Craig knew what Dale was talking about as he'd walked over most of the land, but was mostly thinking about the view and the type of soil and drainage they would have to contend with. "I think you are right. I really hadn't looked at the trees that closely, but they do seem to be spaced in a pattern," Craig said. "Certainly you could build a large house without having to take any trees down," Dale observed. Still holding hands they paced off the cleared area. It was almost 200 x 200 feet, an acre. "The first problem I see is water. I wonder how deep we would have to drill to get a good flow?" Dale wondered. "That shouldn't be a problem. The rural water system supplies water to this area. It's just a matter of running a line from the meter. We can check when we go back down the hill and see if there is running water in the barn," Craig said. They walked around the cleared area twice more, their arms around the other's waist. When they weren't holding each other that way, they were holding hands. Going back down the hill, they took a long loop around to get back to the outbuildings. Indeed there was a water pipe in the barn and also at a stock tank. Craig lifted the handle on both faucets. Water flowed. "How much is this property?" Dale asked. "Thirty-one thousand, Craig told him. There are 80 acres, two barns, a storage shed and a silo. The house will have to be knocked down. There is nothing to salvage and I'm like you, the choice spot to build a house is at the top of the hill." "That's not bad, Hon," Dale said. "The other buildings are in great shape, they just need a coat of paint." "Do you want to look at the other farm?" Craig asked. "Might as well, it doesn't cost anything to look, does it?" "No, it's in the same section of land, just on down the road a half mile." They got back in the car and Craig started it, backing around so they could follow the road to the other farm. The ground flattened out at the bottom of a hill and was pretty level, certainly much better suited for farming than the other land they had just looked at. As Craig turned into the driveway, Dale said, "Looks like someone is living in the house." "Yes, it's been rented out. I've talked to the young couple that lives here and they would like to continue renting the house if the new owners are agreeable. They don't have any interest in farming, they just like living in the country." "Any idea of how much rent they are paying?" Dale questioned. "I think it's about $300 a month. The house isn't very big, only five rooms with a bathroom between the two bedrooms. I've not looked inside to see what kind of shape it's in. I just talked to the tenant last week when I was looking around. They've lived here for about 2 years. Dale opened his door after Craig parked about halfway between the house and barn. Almost immediately a young black lab ran up to the car. He was a friendly dog and happy to see his guests. Shortly afterward a young man came out of the house, walking toward the car. By the time he waved and said "hello" Craig was out of the car, standing beside Dale. Both were petting the dog. "Hi, I remember you being out here last week," the young fellow told Craig, shaking hands. "Yes, I'm Craig Bastian and this is my partner, Dale Richards. I brought Dale out to look at this place and the smaller farm back down the road." "Gordon Marwick," the man said, shaking hands with Dale. "Good to meet you," Dale replied. "Do you know who is farming this land?" Craig asked. "Yeah, Pete Conrad. He owns the farm across the road and I think he's been farming it for several years. Certainly before we moved here two years ago." Gordon told them. "Do you know why the land is being sold?" Dale wanted to know. "It's to settle an estate. The owner died about 10 months ago and the heirs live in Florida. They don't have any interest in the place, they just want the money," he laughed. "Do you know if there has been any serious interest in the place?" Craig wanted to know. "I think only one and he couldn't qualify for the loan. My wife and I would like to buy it, but I don't have any interest in trying to farm it. We just like to live here in the country." "We're going to go out and walk through the fields. Is it okay to leave the car here?" Craig asked. "Sure, it's not in the way. Help yourself. Oh, one other thing. Since the land is tied up in an estate, Pete didn't plant any crops this past year. That would have complicated the settlement of the estate." "Thanks for that information," Dale told him. "If you have any questions, or want to see the inside of the house, just knock on the door when you come back. I'll warn my wife that we might have an inspection team," Gordon laughed. "I don't think we need to look at the inside of the house right now. If we were to buy this land, we wouldn't be living here anyway, so probably could work a rental agreement with you to continue living here," Craig said. "That would be great. Sara and I love living out here. There are a lot of different kinds of birds around, plus we see deer from time to time. I saw a fox one evening just before Thanksgiving and see coyotes frequently." "That's interesting," Dale said. "I work for the Bar-W Ranch and we see a lot of wild animals down by the river, just outside of Williamsport." "We're not all that far from the river here. It's only a couple of miles away, toward the south. I think they follow the creek you crossed just west of here," Gordon told them. "Thanks for the information. It was good to meet you, Gordon," Dale told him. "We want to explore a little bit and see how the land looks." "Anytime. I hope you can cut a deal if you are interested. We'd sure like living here." The men shook hands with Gordon before he went back to the house and they walked to the first field. Again, holding hands they walked the perimeter of the property. There were two large ponds on the property and at the west boundary the land became a little rougher. There was a creek that separated the two pieces of property and they discovered they could see the top of the hill of the first farm they'd looked at. "What do you think?" Craig asked. "Nice land. The soil appears to be good on this farm. The other farm is better suited to grazing than farming, but that's not important," Dale said, giving his opinion. "I'd be interested in the other place to build a house. I just thought that the two pieces of property would be a nice small ranch for a couple of gentlemen farmers," Craig giggled. Dale pulled him around and gave him a tonsil-swabbing kiss. "I love you, Craig Bastian. I had no idea you were scouting around for property." "Well, I think we agree that we need room to spread out and give Joey his own space. I don't think we are likely to find a house that can be renovated and we might as well build what we need," Craig said, giving Dale another kiss. "I'm in agreement with that. The fact that they are trying to settle the estate for this property they might consider an offer, especially since there hasn't been much interest. What did you say they were asking for this farm?" Dale wanted to know. "This is on the market for $52,000. Together the asking price is $83,000 but I'd be willing to bet that a cash offer would buy both places for a lot less money," Craig said. "Should we get Phyllis Richmond in on the deal?" Dale laughed. "Yeah, right," Craig laughed along with him. "I wonder how she's getting along since she lost her real estate license?" "Who cares?" Dale said. "Although I got a better deal because of her." "Well, she just got greedy. It's her own fault." The two men, still holding hands, walked back to the front of the property and to their car. As Craig turned the car around, Dale asked, "Do you care if I get Marty to look at these properties?" "That would be great. I'm sure he can give you an honest opinion on both of them," Craig said. He was excited because Dale was interested, especially in the smaller property with the building site on the hill. "Marty probably knows more about the land in this area than anyone else," Dale said. "We can talk to him in the morning at church." * * * * * Joey was excited about spending his first Christmas in Williamsport. However, this would be his first Christmas without Joe, but Dale and Craig had filled the gap created by losing his father. His new Dads treated him like a young adult and encouraged and helped him with everything he needed. Both had been there for him the day he was roughed up at school. Frank and Doris had been upset when they first found out about that incident and were thankful that Joey hadn't been hurt. Rev. Milton Brockel tried to stage his own protest in front of Saber Computers, attempting to hand some hurriedly cranked out literature to people going into the store. Most people ignored him and didn't take what he was offering. Frank put a large can, clearly marked "Trash" right inside the door of the store, where people had to walk on one side or the other as they passed through the door. Most of the "literature" ended up in the container without people so much as glancing at it. The "protest" lasted about a day and a half before Rev. Brockel and his wife gave up. * * * * * The group of friends Joey had seemed to be growing and the others seemed to look up to him for leadership, even though two of them were older than he was. This wasn't unnoticed by others in Davy Crockett High School; both by students and teachers. Joey was a quiet and unassuming leader of men. A week after Thad Wilson attacked Joey; one of the student office assistants came to his morning Science class with a pass to take him out of class and to the principal's office. Joey wondered what the problem was. Being pulled out of a class usually meant trouble. The student told Joey to bring his backpack and took him to the office, turning him over to the secretary. She greeted Joey and, in turn, took him into Doug Tate's office. "Good morning, Joey," the principal stood to greet him. "Hello, Mr. Tate," Joey said, shaking the hand offered him. "Sorry to pull you out of class, but I needed to talk to you and this seemed like the best way. First of all, have you had any more problems with any of the students?" "No, I can tell that some of the football players are still upset that Thad was suspended, but nobody's said anything more," he replied. "Good. The administration is concerned. We have to look out for all of our students." "Thanks," Joey returned. "I have something I want to talk to you about. I don't know if you know Leslie Brannock, but his father is being transferred to another job in Albuquerque. Leslie is a freshman, like you and was elected to the Student Council at the beginning of the year. His departure leaves one of the freshman slots open and I wondered if you would consider running for the job?" Mr. Tate asked. "Don't I have to be elected, or something?" Joey asked. He felt honored to be considered. "Yes, in a way. The class officers actually, in this case, can make the appointment without it coming to a full vote, which I have no doubt you could win anyway. If you are interested, I'll let the freshman advisors know and they can suggest your name to the officers. Then, the student council has to vote to admit you to replace Leslie Brannock." "Yeah, I'd be interested in being on the Student Council. It's an honor to be asked, Mr. Tate," Joey said. "Good, I'll suggest your name to our student advisors for the freshman class and they will meet with the freshman officers. Just keep quiet about this until the Student Council makes their decision. It will probably take a week as they have their weekly meeting next Monday." Doug Tate stood to signal the meeting was over just as the bell rang to mark the end of the 3rd hour. * * * * * That evening as Frank and Doris were having dinner, they talked about the upcoming Christmas season. Doris had gotten out the boxes of Christmas decorations and she and Frank were going to hang wreaths and other greenery she had purchased that day. "Should we buy a Christmas tree," Doris asked. "How about just a small one that could sit on a table?" Frank replied, "otherwise I'm afraid it might get crowded in here pretty quick." "A small one to go on the table in front of the windows is a good idea. I agree that we don't have the space for a taller tree. We don't need a tall one anyway, there's not that many presents for our children anymore," Doris said. "What about Joey? "I'm sure he'd like lots of presents," Frank teased. "Yes, but he's going to be hard to buy for, just like Dale and Craig," Doris stated. "Well, it's not exactly easy to shop for Susan, Chuck and Becky," Frank added. "I'll just have to see what kind of ideas I can get from Craig. Maybe he can give me some suggestions," Doris told Frank. "What about you? Anything special you would like this year?" Frank asked. "A larger place to live. I didn't think that I'd ever say that, but we've had so much space for so many years that this place really seems confining." "Yes, it does. Well, let's get serious about a house as soon as the holidays are over. We'd better contact a realtor and start shopping," Frank told her. "That's fine with me. I've done some looking, but nothing has really gotten my attention," Doris agreed. "Then we'd be better off to look for a large lot and build what we want. I'm sure that Craig would be happy to draw plans for us," Frank said. "That's a big advantage. I'll bet he can come up with some plans pretty quickly. I wonder how long it will take to complete a house after they dig the foundation?" Doris wondered. "You are probably looking at 90 days, at least. We'll want a builder who does quality work and doesn't cut corners. The weather and, of course, the size of the house has a lot to do with the time factor. By the time we find a lot, get plans drawn, get construction bids and build the house, we may not be ready to move before the end of the summer," Frank told her. "Guess I hadn't thought it all the way through," Doris said. "Well, that gives us a longer period of time to get the house in Arlington emptied and on the market." "That house should sell quickly and for a good price. We've added a lot of nice amenities to it over the years. And, we've taken good care of it. I can't imagine that there will be any major repairs needed." "You are right there. It will seem funny living in a different house after having lived in that one for over 27 years," Doris said. "Yeah, according to the national statistics, the average time for a homeowner to live in a house, not an apartment, is only 6 years," Frank laughed. "I've read something like that. We should have moved at least four times since we bought that house." "Right, well guess you don't accumulate too much 'stuff' to have to move each time," Frank teased. "Yes, that house is 'stuffed with stuff' as I recall," Doris teased. "There are still a few things that belong to each of the children in their old rooms." "They want it to feel like home when they come to visit," Frank stated. Doris got up and brought a yellow legal tablet to the table. "We may as well start listing things needed in the house. We don't need four bedrooms anymore, but two larger ones would be nice." "Can I keep my trains?" Frank pretended to whine. "Of course, although I think the original equipment was purchased for Craig for a birthday. Something happened along the way and you were as involved with it as him," "Well, the boys from the neighborhood got a lot of good out of that layout. We always knew they would be at our house and didn't have to worry about them going someplace they shouldn't. I'm sure the money invested in that railroad has been returned many times," Frank proudly stated. "I have to agree with that. It was like a magnet. There were two or three kids who would come over when none of the others were here. I think their parents appreciated the fact that I didn't work outside the home and was generally available to watch kids and take them where they needed to go from time to time," Doris remembered. Doris looked at the clock. They had been sitting at the dining table for almost 2 hours, visiting and reminiscing. "Are you ready for some dessert?" she asked Frank. "Sure, always. What is it?" he wanted to know. "One of your favorites. Mince pie," she offered. "Yummm, I'll even clear the table for that," Frank teased. Their conversation continued in the living room after they ate the wonderful pie Doris had baked. Doris almost had a checklist that had started with decorating the apartment, Christmas cards and letters and ending up with shopping for various family members. * * * * * That night as they were lying in bed enjoying the afterglow of making love, Dale and Craig were spooned together, Dale behind. "And what would you like Santa to bring you, lover?" Dale asked. "I already got my present three months ago when you arrived in my life," Craig replied. "That was a fair exchange?" Dale teased. "I got you and you only got me." "Believe me, I was the lucky one. I got two of you when Joey came into our lives," Craig told him. "I don't know. I got you, your family and Joey. Seems to me that I was the one who gained the most. "Guess we could argue about this the rest of the night and not resolve it, would we?" Craig asked. "Yeah, an argument that will last forever. I love it," Dale replied. "Well, what about it. What do you want for Christmas?" Craig asked. "I'm going to have to think about that," Dale said. "I really haven't celebrated Christmas since the one before my mother died and that was sad because we both knew it would be the last one for her. I guess I've just kind of ignored Christmas except for what I had to be involved with." Craig wiggled his way around so he was facing Dale. Sure enough, Dale had tears in his eyes. Craig could feel them running down his cheeks as he hugged against him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," he told his lover. "It's okay. You're here. That's all I need right now." Dale was almost whispering. "I'm here for you. You know that," Craig told him, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I guess I've just allowed myself to forget about it and ignore it. I know I've been wrong, certainly listening to the Advent scriptures about faith, hope, love and joy has made me realize what was missing. It just seemed to me that Christmas could be shut out and I didn't have to deal with it." "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. I just never thought about you having to deal with something like that," Craig told him, giving him another kiss. "I'll be okay. It's just that so much has been going on that I really haven't thought all that much about Christmas. I want this to be the best Christmas ever, for all of us," he said, kissing Craig back. "I know that it will be because I have you and Joey, your family and lots of friends. I just need to deal with the past and forget it," Dale said, feeling better. "My family has always made a big deal when it came to Christmas. Mom spent hours in the kitchen making candy and baking. The house always smelled so good with cinnamon, mace, chocolate and mint. We always had a tall tree and the house was decorated to the roof. There were always lots of presents, but mainly things we needed and not gifts just for the sake of giving them. The church, too, played a major role in our preparation, fitting the spiritual aspect in with the commercial largesse it has become." "You've done more to restore my Christmas spirit in the last few minutes than I thought could ever happen. I love you, Craig Bastian, and everything about you. This will be the best Christmas ever, for me and the rest of us, too!" Dale told him. "I love you too, Dale Richards. You truly are my soul mate and have made my life complete. They exchanged a deep heart-felt kiss, then snuggled together and went to sleep. * * * * * John Sterling had made great progress in learning his job with Home Builders Construction Company, the company that Ray Evans and his partners', Keith and Andy owned. Although there was still a lot to learn, John had met the challenge head-on and didn't hesitate to ask questions when he didn't understand something. The various foremen and workers were on his side, after all, the better John did his job, the easier their jobs became. At first John was afraid to put pressure on suppliers to change delivery schedules of construction materials. Then Ray showed John the dollar figures for purchases made from those suppliers. Sometimes a gentle reminder was all it took to get a delivery rescheduled. Those suppliers knew salesmen from companies in Austin called on contractors in the Williamsport area, especially Home Builders Construction Company. They had rapidly become the largest construction company in Williamsport and, in some cases, were getting a few jobs without submitting bids. Ray and his partners did buy some competitive materials from those Austin suppliers just to keep the channels of supply open. One never knew when they might have to buy materials from them and need it immediately. The company was ready to start construction on the huge warehouse and distribution center they were to build between Williamsport and Austin. The ground had been leveled and dug out for footings and plumbing lines. In terms of square feet, it was the largest construction project that Home Builders Construction Company had taken on. Most of the building was a steel skeleton with metal walls attached and a concrete floor under it. There was to be a two-story office at one end, built out of block and brick, but a part of the warehouse. Delivery of the steel was to begin on the next Monday and there was no secure storage for the material. The building was the first in a new industrial park and was out in the middle of a field. There were no streets or utilities in place. Ray called a meeting with his partners, the two foremen who would begin the job, and John to be in attendance. "Guys, we have a problem," and Ray proceeded to outline it for the men. This was a job they hadn't bid on and the owners wanted Ray's company to erect the building as the low bid was from a company that seemed to be on the verge of bankruptcy. Ray finally agreed to do the job on a cost plus basis. "We've tried to get the material delivery slowed down by a couple of weeks. Their excuse is that the Christmas Holiday is coming up and they will be closed between Christmas and New Years. It's either deliver the goods now or wait until after the first week in January. Frankly, neither of those options suit our needs," Ray told them. "We can't get a secure fence built quickly enough to allow us to store the materials on site," Keith spoke up. "I think the only option we have is to put a construction trailer out there and hire security to be on-site," Andy told the men. "What about lighting at night?" John asked. "Good point. There is no power available. We'll need to set some light poles and put a generator out there to supply electricity," Ray said. "We'll need 24-hour security until construction starts, then that can be cut back to when our construction crews aren't on site," Keith stated. Ray turned to the two foremen who would be starting the project. "What hours are you planning to work your crews?" "Sun up to sundown," Barry, the older foreman said. "Same for my crew," Kurt said. "We've got to get this building out of the ground." "Ok, we'll buy a new construction trailer and get it moved out there. We have a generator that's adequate for lighting and whatever power tools we'll be using. Let's plan to start out there next Monday," Ray told the group. After the other men left, John asked Ray, "What do I need to do for this warehouse project? I know we're going to need concrete for pouring footings, but I'm at a loss to know how much and when." "Let me get Barry back in here, his pickup is still in the lot," Ray said, looking out the window and leaving the room. Within two minutes the two men were back in the room where John was standing. "Barry, you need to get your requirements to John so he can arrange delivery of concrete. You tell him what strength, the number of yards and the time you want the first load delivered," Ray said. "Right," said Barry. "I've got all that information in my truck. I thought I'd be placing the order myself, but am glad to know that John will be working with us on this project, too." "John is available wherever needed. He's caught on to his job quickly and is willing to do whatever is necessary to keep the team supplied. Just let him know what you need and give him enough lead-time to arrange delivery. He'll keep you up-to-date on the supply lines. "Great," Barry said. He gave John's arm a friendly squeeze as he walked by. "I'll get my list out of the truck and take it to the office to get it copied." As he left, Ray turned to John. "I really need to sit down and discuss this project more thoroughly, but I have a luncheon meeting and then need to check on a couple of sites myself this afternoon. Looks like my day is full. What are you doing for dinner tonight?" "Nothing important. I've gotten moved and am still putting my new apartment in order. I think I'm really going to like living there, John said. "How about coming over around 7 o'clock? We can kickback, have a few brews and I can fill you in on what has to happen on this project. Barry and Kurt are great to work with, but sometimes you have to prod both of them along. They are used to doing their own ordering and scheduling and we just need to let them know you are taking that over for them. I'm sure that when they see how much time they save, you will be their hero." "Yeah, I can be at your place at that time, John told him. "Good. I'll pick up stuff and we'll grill burgers outside. I'll get a bag of salad and a couple of side dishes from the deli." "Sounds good to me. See you about 7 o'clock," John replied. * * * * * Jason and Kevin had reached a happy agreement with their dogs. The dogs slept on Kevin's bed and Kevin slept with Jason. It took several nights of moving one or both dogs to the other bed as they both wanted to sleep with their masters on the foot of Jason's bed. The double bed wasn't large enough for two pre-teen boys and two almost full-grown Collies. The boys shed their clothes, dumping everything but their boxer shorts into the laundry hamper in their closet. They laid the shorts at the foot of their bed and crawled in, the dogs jumping up on the other bed. They exchanged a kiss that was way more than one of brotherly love. It was a spit-trading kiss that stimulated both of them. "Wow!" Jason said, as he pulled back from Kevin's lips. "That was awesome!" "I know," Kevin agreed. "Kiss me all over by body," Jason asked. "Then I'll do the same for you. "Okay," Kevin agreed, heading south on Jason's chest. He decided to tongue out Kevin's belly button. He had never done that before and Kevin jerked almost rigid and bounced on the bed. "That's like... Wow!" Jason said. "It felt like every nerve in my body is in there and your tongue hit every one of them. Kevin was on his knees, between Jason's legs. "That's neat. I didn't know that would happen." He was proud that he'd been able to make his brother feel good. But, he wasn't through, yet. "Hey, you're growing more hair," Kevin announced. "Really? Jason questioned. He hadn't looked for a few days. "Yeah, maybe ten or twelve," Kevin replied. "Let me look," Jason demanded as he sat up. Indeed there were a few more than last week when he had examined himself, and he could feel them, too. "Cool," Jason said. "Maybe I'll soon have something to show off in the showers." "Like that guy in the shower at acolyte camp? He had a lot of hair growing around his dick and up to his belly button," Kevin said. Kevin, of course, was still thinking about attending the acolyte camp at the Cathedral in Houston. This was the first time that he had seen a group of other boys naked together. "There were several who had a lot of hair," Jason replied. "I know, I just expected the guys to play around like you said you did in Boy Scouts," Kevin stated. "This is a lot different than in Boy Scouts. In the first place we were all in the same room and there were priests who were supervising us. In Scouts there are usually three or four to a tent and it's a lot more private. Things happen there." "Oh," Kevin replied. "Well, I can hardly wait to join Boy Scouts and see what goes on. * * * * * Ray knew that John had looked at the stack of magazines on the coffee table the last time he was at Ray's house. He had left the Undergear and International Male catalogs out by accident, but the evidence was obvious John had been a little nervous, like Ray was about to catch him looking at them and the front of John's Levis were a bit tented. So, this time Ray decided to up the stakes a little bit to see if he could get any further reaction from John. When he was through with his appointments, it was just 6 o'clock. He stopped at the market for ground beef, buns, a bag of salad greens along with tomatoes, green onions, and mushrooms, along with containers of pasta salad and fruit salad. He grabbed a container of HaganDaz chocolate-raspberry ice cream on his way to the check stand. Ray put the groceries away, then ran upstairs to his bedroom, grabbing copies of Advocate Men Magazine for November and December of 1990 and the newest issue, January 1991. There was a cum stain on centerfold, Michael White's chest in the December issue. 'So much the better,' Ray thought. He mixed those magazines in with those already on the table, putting the Architectural Digest and Better Homes and Gardens at the bottom of the stack. The next thing was to act like he'd arrived home just minutes before John got there, offer him a beer, then excuse himself to take a shower, inviting John to make himself at home. * * * * * The older members of the Williamson family were in the parish hall when Dale and Craig came in with Frank and Doris. Joey, along with about 8 other boys in the choir, had managed to get there ahead of his family. Craig couldn't understand how those boys managed that. They surely had to run from the front door to the choir room while tearing their vestments off and throwing them at the coat hangers. Regardless, they were already at the table where the cookies and other treats awaited them. As soon as they poured themselves coffee, Dale and Craig headed across the room to talk to Marty and his father. They exchanged greetings as they shook hands. Craig got right to the point. "We've been scouting for some land to buy so we can build a house." Marty nodded his head and Martin did the same. "There is a small farm out about 6 miles northeast of Williamsport. The house was pretty well destroyed by fire and the people didn't have any insurance," Dale said. "Oh, yes, the old Darrington property," Marty said. "A tragic thing," Martin said. "The family was lucky to get out of the house alive." This, of course, was the first Dale and Craig had heard about any life-threatening problem. "The couple was doing drugs and their toddler knocked over a candle that was on a table. They managed to get out of the house without being hurt, but it got the parents a jail term and the child is in the foster care system," Martin continued. "They didn't have any insurance and the owners didn't have enough," Marty said. "That's tough," Craig said, Dale agreeing. Then Dale spoke. "There is a building site at the top of the hill on that property. Looks like a good place to build a house." "Yes with mature trees. I'm familiar with that. The Darrington family was going to build a house up there, but the Vietnam War claimed the life of the son. The family never did build the house," Martin finished. "The ground is good for grazing, but that's about it," Marty told them. "The farm right east of there is for sale and that's good soil. No problems with flooding, except for that little creek and it's never caused any major problems as it doesn't have a large watershed," Martin said. "I understand that it's tied up in an estate." "That's what we were told," Dale said. "You fellow ought to buy both pieces of property," Marty told them. Martin agreed. "You could rent the good land out to be farmed, run a few cattle for your own beef and have horses for each of you to ride." "You don't trust me to farm it?" Dale asked with a silly grin on his face. "Oh, you could farm it okay," Marty agreed. "It's just that any equipment you borrow from the Bar-W is too big to turn around in those dinky little fields." This brought a laugh from all of them. "Seriously, would we be wrong to buy the land?" Craig asked. Marty wanted to know the asking price and Craig told him. "Make an offer of $20,000 on the little farm," he told them. "They are going to think the price is too, low, but even with the out buildings that price should be fair. The land cannot be plowed deeply and I'd reccomend sowing prairie grass and run a few cattle and horses." "That's way less than they are asking," Dale said. "Yeah, but it's been on the market with no takers. They are going to have to sell it or sit on it," Martin said. Marty continued. "The other farm has good ground for farming, but you would be better off to rent the ground out for crops, keep the house rented and even run some livestock there. That should allow you make your payments on that ground without you having to dip into your own pockets." "How much do you recommend we offer on that ground?" Craig wanted to know. "Make an offer of $40,000, but if you have to pay $50 thousand, you won't get hurt. If the heirs are greedy and there hasn't been any activity, they may push for a sale to get their money. Did Pete Conrad plant any crops on that ground this year?" Marty questioned. "No, he was afraid that it might mess up the settlement of the estate," Dale answered. "I can see his point, at the least, it would have delayed settlement until a fair value could be established. But, it doesn't sound like there are any buyers standing in line," Marty laughed. "That's what the fellow that's renting the house told us," Craig offered. "You can't go wrong with renting the ground to Pete Conrad. He's honest and a good farmer," Martin told them. "Good luck," Marty said. Dale and Craig thanked Martin and Marty, they made their way across the room to where Frank and Doris were visiting with another couple that appeared to be about their age. About that time Joey came up to his Dads. "Is it okay if I invite Forrest to eat with us today?" he asked. Forrest had sat with the family during the mass, but Dale and Craig had lost track of him as they had been talking to Marty and Martin during the coffee hour. "You'd better ask your grandmother about that," Craig answered. "She's the cook today." "Okay," Joey said, then turned to get his grandmother's attention." Doris saw Joey walk up. She put her arm around his waist. "The choir sounded good this morning, but I was disappointed that you didn't sing a solo, today." "Thanks, grandma, but there are others in the choir who can sing, too. Paul tries to keep it fair." "Is this your grandson?" Irene Murphy asked. She didn't think that Frank and Doris looked old enough to have grandchildren Joey's age. She thought that Joey was probably in college. "Well, he's really kind of a 'step-grandson'," Doris said, thinking that this was going to be fun to explain. Joey was standing there with a big grin on his face. He wanted to hear this, too. "Joey's parents are our son, Craig and his partner, Dale. Richards." Irene had a very confused look on her face. Doris smiled at Irene. "It's terribly confusing to someone who doesn't know our family, but Frank and I are very proud of our boys." Irene was looking around the room to see if there was anyone else she could talk to. "Oh, excuse me for a minute. I really need to talk to someone from the altar guild about Christmas flowers," she said, walking away. Doris wanted to laugh, but didn't. "Grandma, is it okay if I invite Forrest to eat with us today? Dad Craig said you were the cook." "Sure, there's plenty of food and he's more than welcome anytime," Doris replied. "Thanks, grandma. I owe you one," Joey said, leaning down and giving Doris a kiss on her cheek. Doris laughed as Joey went off across the room to where Forrest was standing by the table where the food was. She wondered if Forrest was getting enough to eat, as he always seemed to consume large quantities of food when she'd seen him eating at the store. She'd have to check on that. * * * * * Dale, Craig and Joey left the church, taking Forest home so he could put on clothes that were more comfortable. Forrest didn't have many clothes, but had bought a few new things for himself with the extra money he'd earned at Saber Computers. Since his grandmother was now in the rest home, her medical costs were fully covered, but there were still some expenses he had to cover out of his own pocket. They waited in the car as Forrest said that he would only be a couple of minutes. Soon he was back wearing older, but clean Levis and a sweatshirt with his sneakers. As they drove to the condo, Craig said, "We don't have a lot of time to waste, we're supposed to be at my parents place in about 16 minutes," he said, looking at his watch. "I'm sorry if I made you late," Forrest told the others. "You didn't make us late," Dale said. "And it's not like we are going to sit down at the table exactly at 12:15," Craig added. Dale parked the Blazer in the parking lot and the four walked up the stairs. Mitsy was glad to see them, but was anxious to go outdoors. "You might want to wear your boots this afternoon," Dale told Joey. "Okay," was the reply from Joey as he went into his room, followed by Forrest. Dale and Craig hurriedly removed their suits and dress shirts in preparation to putting on their Levis and a casual shirt. "Shall we see if your parents want to go look at the farms this afternoon?" Dale asked his lover. "Sure, I was thinking about that myself. Marty sounded pretty positive at it, didn't he?" Craig questioned. "Yeah, I really appreciate his input. He seems to know the value of land in this area." "Well, he should, he owns enough of it and has bought enough of it recently," Craig said. "You're right about that," Dale replied. By this time they were dressed and had hung up their good clothes. Joey and Forrest were already in the living room and Mitsy was back inside. "Ready?" Dale asked, getting light jackets out of the closet for him and Craig to wear. Joey already had his jacket on. * * * * * Sunday dinner was really good. Doris had fixed baked ham with an orange-raisin sauce. There was a tossed green salad, au gratin potatoes, green beans, a corn casserole, homemade rolls and mince pie for dessert. Again, Doris noticed that Forrest ate with gusto. Forrest had a couple of questions about the church service and Craig answered them to his satisfaction. He was quite taken with the ceremony and colorful vestments. Finally, as the meal was ending and they refilled coffee cups, Dale said, "Craig found some land out northeast of here that we are interested in. There is a great building site on top of a hill and it's surrounded by mature trees." Craig spoke up. "There are 80 acres on that farm and one next to it has 360 acres, which is much better land for raising crops." That land has a house and a barn. The other place has several outbuildings, but the house was severely damaged by fire and will have to be torn down." "Cool!" Joey said. "I've always wanted to live on a farm." "Well there would be room for each of us to have a horse to ride and we could raise some steers for our own food consumption," Dale told him. "Awesome!" was Joey's reply, giving both Dale and Craig a high-five. "When can we see it?" Frank wanted to know. "We thought we might drive out there this afternoon, if you're interested," Craig said. He was pleased that everyone was interested. "I'll help clean up the kitchen," Joey told his grandmother. "Can I help?" Forrest wanted to know. "If you boys want to clear the table and load the dishwasher, I'll get the leftovers ready to go into the refrigerator," Doris told them. Frank had all kinds of questions for Dale and Craig as they were sitting and visiting, waiting for the kitchen crew to do their work. Soon they were through and Dale suggested that Doris might want to wear some denim pants and perhaps her boots, too. It was a little crowded in the Blazer, but they weren't going to be in the car for very long. Frank was looking out the windows while Dale drove. "This is really a pretty area, rolling ground, hills and a lot of native trees." Joey, of course, was excited. This might be another new adventure for him. Dale slowed the vehicle and turned left off the blacktop and into the old farmyard. Doris immediately noticed the burnt out house. "What caused the fire?" she asked. "According to Marty, two young people were doing drugs. Their toddler knocked a burning candle off a table and they barely got out alive. The parents are serving time and the child is in a foster home," Dale told them. "How sad," was all Doris said. As they made their way to the outbuildings to look around, Craig explained what Marty and Martin told them about the two properties. "Come on, let's walk up the hill," Dale said. He and Craig started up the hill with Frank and Doris walking next to them. Joey and Forrest brought up the rear. Without thinking, Dale reached for Craig's hand as they were walking. Frank and Doris were holding hands, too. It took several minutes to walk up the hill as they weren't in any hurry. Craig wished the trees were green so he could tell how much shade they provided. They were all sturdy trees, mostly American Elms, Oaks and Ash trees in the second ring. The ring nearest the building site were flowering trees of various kinds. Craig couldn't identify them from the bark on their trunks. Finally, they were at the top. "How high above the road are we?" Frank asked. "I'm not sure, but we think about 50 feet," Craig replied. "This is a beautiful place to build a house," Doris said. She had slowly turned completely around twice, looking at the views in each direction. Dale walked over to the eastern edge of the hill, which was much steeper on that side. "Look," he told them. You can see the creek down below. It divides this farm from the one next to it." Indeed the hill was much steeper on that side. They hadn't wandered to the drop off the day before as about halfway down, the slope turned really steep. Frank stepped off the perimeter of the clearing and agreed that it was about 200 by 200 feet. Craig was thinking about the ground. He was sure they could have a basement with no problem, as the site should drain well. The soil was clay, but they were at the top of the hill. He'd have to take that into consideration when he worked on his preliminary plans again. It was going to be fun to design a house for his own family. As the day before, they took the long way back down to the out buildings, walking in a loop. Forrest noticed that Dale and Craig were holding hands again, as were Frank and Doris. He almost asked Joey if he could hold his hand, just to be close to him, but didn't want to embarrass Joey. After they were back at the vehicle, Dale, Frank and Craig tried to figure out just how much rise there was in the elevation from where they were standing to the building site. They also discussed among themselves as to where a driveway could be built. Doris wandered around with Joey and Forrest. Living in the country had never appealed to her, but she had to agree that this place was beautiful, and quiet too. They got back in the Blazer and Dale drove them on down the road about a half-mile to the next drive and the other farm. As soon as the doors of the vehicle opened, the young black lab was right there to greet them. Joey called, "Here, boy," and the dog ran immediately to him to be petted. Forrest knelt down to pet the dog, too. Gordon Marwick came out of the house shortly, greeting Dale and Craig, and then introducing himself to the others before either of them could do the honors. "Well, I see you are back today. You must be serious about buying this place," he told both Dale and Craig. "Just wanted to show it to my family," Dale said. 'It felt good to say those words,' he thought. "Well, help yourself. We're just getting ready to leave for a while, but guess you just want to walk around the ground again, anyway?" he asked. "We may drive around and look at the two ponds and on back to the north boundary," Dale told him. "The ground isn't rough and I didn't notice any gates that we have to deal with." "No, not a problem. No livestock to keep in at this farm," Gordon told them. They got back in the vehicle as Gordon headed back to the house with his dog. Dale drove through the first opening in the fence, just past the barn. He noticed that there was a steel-frame gate there that was about 20 feet wide. He drove carefully toward the first pond and on back to the back fence before turning around and going to the second pond, which was just about 300 feet from the creek that divided the two pieces of property. They were in a better position today to look up the steep hill to the building site. Dale thought that there would be something new to discover each time they came out here. He hoped that the owners would accept the two offers Marty and Martin had suggested. Craig was thinking the same thing, although there was a steady conversation going on during the ride around the ground. They would have to figure out how they were going to finance this venture. Well, that's what Leland Stanton was paid to do, wasn't it? "How soon are we going to build a house?" Joey asked as Dale turned back onto the blacktop road. Craig answered him. "To begin with, we have to see if we can buy the land. There is no use drawing house plans until we know where the house is going to be located. Then, if we can make a deal on the land, it will take some effort on all our parts to make the plans come into reality and that we have everything we want. The next step is to hire a building contractor and it generally takes about 90 days to build something the size we'll probably end up with. So, if everything comes together, we're still talking about sometime toward the end of next summer before it's complete." "That long?" Joey sounded disappointed. "Yes, that long. We want to do it right because after they dig the hole, it's too late to change our minds," Dale laughed. * * * * * Ray had just finished putting the salad together and shoved it in the refrigerator when the doorbell rang. It was exactly 7 p.m. "Come on in. I just got home and haven't had a chance to shower yet. Can I get you a beer?" Ray asked John. "That would be great. I'm ready for a brew," he replied. "Come on in the kitchen, I'll get you one. Coors okay?" he asked. "The best," John replied. Ray handed him the can along with a tray that had snack crackers and a bowl of nuts on it. "Here's something to snack on. Make yourself at home, it won't take me long to clean up, but I had to crawl back into an unfinished basement this afternoon and feel pretty cruddy. "Not a problem," John said. "I'll look at a magazine. 'Oh, I hope so,' Ray thought as he excused himself. "I'll be back in about ten minutes," he said, hoping that would give John adequate time to look at all the interesting magazines. John remembered that either (maybe both) Undergear or International Male had a subscription card in it. He intended to find them so he could get his own copy. He heard the shower start and pulled the stack of magazines to the edge of the coffee table, hoping they were still there. 'Whoa! What was that?' John wondered as the third magazine revealed itself to be the December 1990 issue of 'Advocate Men'. The cover was picture of a blond named Michael White and he wasn't wearing a shirt. John started leafing through the magazine and felt his cock starting to harden as the first pictures he ran into were of 'Lon Flexx' and his dick was hard in most of the pictures. Soon, John's own dick was, too. Then there was a story called "The Preacher Man". John started reading it. The drawings were somewhat ugly, but the story was hot. He didn't know that magazines like this were available unless you went to a "dirty book store", and then he wasn't even sure about that. These magazines had quality pictures and were printed on good paper. He started reading with interest and finished that story. The next issue was the January 1991 issue and John almost dropped a load over the pictures of Ed Horst, who was undressed as a cowboy and was hairy, although not as much so as himself. He hurriedly looked at the November 1990 issue. The shower was still running, but John had lost track of time. The second set of pictures was of Chris Ramsey. This guy was hot and had a fair amount of body hair. Certainly enough to get John's juices flowing even more. He could feel himself leaking precum. A subscription card fell out of the magazine. 'Wow, can you have magazines like this sent to your home?' John wondered as he picked up the card and put it in his shirt pocket.. John didn't hear the shower shut off. His entire world was centered on what was in his hands. His left was squeezing his hard cock in his 501's and his right was busy turning the pages, studying the pictures and glancing at the stories. "See anything you like?" he heard a voice say. John glanced up and almost lost it. He had been caught red-handed, if that were a proper term. Ray was wearing only a pair of Levis, with a polo shirt slung over his shoulder. He was smiling and John could tell that he was hard, too. There was major meat behind the buttons of that pair of Levis. And, there Ray was, rubbing his own hairy chest and massaging his pecs, staring at John's crotch. * * * * * (To be continued) Author's Note: Thanks for all the emails you sent after the release of Book 2, Chapter 2. I did not get all of them answered, as some of you have found out. However, as one person pointed out, he would rather I spend my time writing a story than writing to him. My special thanks for proofreading help to Paul Daventon, who has taken time to help me catch obvious errors. Also, thanks to two other "on-line pals", Joey Tuvok and Thomas from Dallas who have been giving me encouragement and their friendship the last few months. Thanks for being such loyal friends and readers. It was a busy, but rewarding Christmas Season and now the New Year of 2005 is underway. I hope that it is a great one for all of you. One of the highlights of 2004 happed to me at the annual employee recognition meeting and reception. I was called to the stage to receive the "Employee of the Year" award for our office. It was a totally unexpected honor and I had a hard time holding my emotions in check while the citation was read. After all, I'm a "newbie", having only worked there for 14 months. Consider this Chapter of "Tales" a "New Years Gift" to all of my readers and especially those of you who have contacted me, and wishing me well with a lot of apparent love. You people are the best! Any comments are appreciated and you can reach me at TulsaAuthor@aol.com. Thanks, David.