Booger Red & Cowboy

DISCLAIMER: WARNING!! This is a work of homoerotic fictions written by an adult for the purpose of entertainment for other adults. If you are not eighteen year of age or you have any problem with this type of literature then this is a warning to read no further. The author will not be held responsible for any reason if you do. (Codes: M/M BD/SM Gay Incest Anal Oral)

Copyright 2003 Waddie Greywolf Mail to: waddiebear@yahoo.com =============================================================================== BOOGER RED & COWBOY By Waddie Greywolf

CHAPTER 19

"Be kind to strangers and hospitable to travelers, you may be entertaining angels unawares."

Boots and Sonny wore levis and boots when riding unless it became cold then they had chaps and jackets rolled up behind their seats or in their saddle bags. We discussed getting more clothes and since we were going rodeoing they wanted to fit in and look like cowboys.

I laughed and told them the first thing they had to buy is a pair of Wrangler jeans. You won't find many cowboys wearing 501's. They laughed at me. Red and I wore mostly leather because we liked it. We decided we would be better received while visiting the ranch folks to dress accordingly.

After arriving at the Stafford ranch we decided to go shopping and buy some western clothes to blend with the natives. We each had a pair of clean jeans we put on to go shopping. Ben Jr. drove us to he favorite western store in Calgary. Red and I went all out and bought complete outfits, boots, hat, belts, a couple of nice western shirts.

We were surprised Boots decided to spend a little of their money on himself and Sonny and bought complete outfits for them as well. I dressed both of them. I knew how to dress western and they let me have my way. When I got through with them they looked like they were a couple of regular buckaroos. Sonny in particular looked hot.

Red was transformed. He even insisted I trim and shape his beard for him. My Master was looking good and hot. The best I can remember him looking in a long time. His mean looking, ugly face turned more than a few cowboy's heads while we were there.

We managed to get everything into our saddle bags including our felt hats. I showed them how to fold them so minimal damage would occur to them in their saddle bags. Red, Sonny and Boots bought rear boot kits for their bikes in Calgary so it expanded their room quite a bit. My Master graciously allowed me to keep a few things in his boot. My bike was too small to ride a boot on the back.

When we left the Stafford's ranch Red decided we'd travel down through Wyoming. I couldn't resist asking my Master if we could stop in a little place called Ten Sleep, Wyoming. I had a couple of old rodeo friends I wanted to look up. I told Red the whole story of Bull Dogger Dave and his dad Barn Jarvis. From my story and description of them Red was looking forward to meeting them.

I explained to Red, Boots and Sonny it might turn out to be a bit more than just looking up old rodeo friends. Something, my voices perhaps, told me I had to stop by the Bartlett ranch. It was a pretty good clip from Calgary to Ten Sleep so we decided to take it easy and stop in Great Falls, Montana to see for ourselves if the falls were really great. They weren't just great, they were spectacular.

We stayed the afternoon and night there in Great Falls. We were up early the next morning, had a good breakfast and were on the road. I pointed out the Jarvis ranch to my family as we rode by but the place looked run down and unkept. I wanted to stop by the Bartlett ranch first. It had been almost five years since I last visited. I had no idea what I'd find but I was pleased to find the Bartlett place neat and well taken care of.

We were looked over pretty hard as we rode up on our bikes. Mrs. Bartlett recognized me first and ran down off the porch to my arms. The kids and Wade Bartlett were right behind. I introduced my traveling companions as my family. They couldn't believe we were three Billy Gunns. They wouldn't have anything but we stay for supper. Could we stay a while? The next two oldest Bartlett boys, Ken and Will, were still at home. They had been roping together for sometime and wanted me to give them pointers. I knew they had an older boy, Wade Jr. I roped with him many times. We were close friends.

I explained about Uncle Bud passing and my bad experiences in Nam. They looked down and were quiet when I talked about Nam. The oldest boy wasn't there and I assumed he'd gotten married and left home. All of a sudden, a wave of grief came over me. I stopped talking because it hit me like a forty-five calibar bullet between the eyes, their boy didn't come back from Nam. They quietly told me he was killed his sixth month there.

All the pain once again overwhelmed me. It came rushing back like the Johnstown flood. I had to get up and walk away from them for a minute I was so embarrassed and upset. Why didn't I know? Why hadn't I asked before hand? Then it dawned on me. I didn't want to know. That was even worse. It was cowardice. I ran out the screen door and down the steps. I walked over to the corral fence and sobbed my heart out. Red told them to let me go, I'd come back in a minute but Mr. Bartlett was having none of it.

As I was standing there sobbing I felt a big hand on my shoulder, turned and saw the pained face of Mr. Bartlett with tears in his eyes. He pulled me into his arms and we wept together until there was no more inside us. I started to apologize but he wouldn't let me. He just put his arm around my shoulder and walked me back to the house.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Bartlett, Mrs. Bartlett. He was a fine man. He and I roped together many times and competed against each other. He was one of the finest cowboys I've ever known." I finally managed to get out.

"You know, I go along thinking I'm getting better. I'm getting stronger,--putting Nam behind me and then, like today, to find out about Wade Jr.;--it all comes flooding back to me. I'm working on getting better but it seems like I walk three steps and slide back two. The memories of Nam are like a monster chasing you in your dreams and while you want to run away you can't get your legs to move. You're paralized. The monster gets closer and closer until you can smell the foul oder of it's breath but still you can't move your legs.

Then you try to scream but your vocal cords refuse to make a sound. You lash out with your fist and arms and fight the monster but it's just too damn big. You know it's going to eat you at any moment. That's usually when I wake up in someone's arms that loves me, holding me, calling my name, trying to get me to come around to reality. Then when you do come around you realize it was just a flashback, a dream of the horrors of war. The worst part is, while you're happy it was only a dream you kinda wish the monster had eaten you because you realize you may have to go through it again and again."

"He still has flash backs once or twice a week. He wakes up screaming and doesn't know where he is. He isn't comfortable being alone for any peroid of time." added my Master and agreed to by Boots and Sonny.

They were really concerned for me at that point. We had supper with them. I wanted to ask about Dave but I coudn't. I wanted to know but I just couldn't ask. Mr. Bartlett remembered Dave and I were tighter'n two ticks on a dog and looked at me.

"Son, you haven't asked about Dave Jarvis and I know he's one of the reasons you stopped by." Wade Bartlett gently asked.

Tears started running down my face again and they knew why I couldn't ask.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bartlett, I'm too afraid to ask. I'm afraid of being eaten by that monster again. It's pure cowardice, Mr. Bartlett. I'm ashamed of myself, Sir. After hearing about your son, I didn't know if I could take hearing about Dave. We rode by the Jarvis place. It didn't look kept. It looked kinda run down and unlived in; however,--I have to know, Sir."

There was a reverent quietness around the table in empathy for me. Mrs. Bartlett looked at her husband and nodded.

"Well, Dave made it back, Son, but he's in the V.A. Hospital in Cheyenne. He's legs are paralyzed. He almost lost a leg but they saved it, for all the good it's doing him. His dad,--you remember big Barn,--he's taking it real hard. Dave was his life. Ain't never seen a father and son closer than Dave and Barn less'n it was you and your dad. They were all each other had after Dave's mom and little sister were killed in that terrible car accident.

Dave was just a young boy about nine years old. They grew dependant on each other's love and support but they were two of the most respected ranchers in these parts. Barn and Dave were forever helping their neighbors out. If any man in the community needed help, Dave and old Barn were the first ones there to lend a hand. They been mighty good to us. They kept us going sometimes during hard times. We've tried to help them, too. Neighbors do that for one another. They'd do any damn thing in the world for us and give you the shirt of their backs.

A lot of times you find two men in that kind of situation and they argue and fight with each other. Not Barn and Dave. They were to damn busy and tired at the end of the day. They worked that ranch fourteen to eighteen hours a day, year in and year out. Barn eats, sleeps and breathes ranching and I guess he instilled that passion into Dave. Dave never wanted to be anything more'n a cowboy and he was a damn fine buckaroo.

You remember how big old Barn was. You wouldn't recognize him now, Son. We watched him turn into an old man over night. He ain't interested in ranching no more. He doesn't do anything we know of except sit in that big house day in and day out by himself. We take him food and sit with him while he eats to make sure he does eat. He doesn't keep hardly any food in the house. We don't know if he does eat if we don't take it to him. We call and invite him over for dinner three or four times a week but he won't come. We take him Sunday dinner every week.

The reason I asked, I see you're still wearing the cross Dave gave you. He said it belonged to his mother. He told my wife and me he thought so much of you he wanted you to have it. He and Barn sure thought the world of you and your dad. Hell, everyone around these parts thought the world of you men. Folks still talk today about watching the two of you rope together. They never seen anything like it. When Dave found out you and your dad won the finals in Fort Worth, he felt really bad and cried 'cause he couldn't be there to see you win. Didn't stop him'n old Barn from celebrate'n. They were so proud of them spurs you gave 'em. Showed 'em to everybody. Hell, they celebrated for two or three days. We all were really proud of you'n your dad, Son."

"Thanks, Mr. Bartlett. This cross is one of my most treasured possessions. It hasn't been off my neck since Dave gave it to me five years ago."

"Barn drives down to Cheyenne to visit Dave a couple of times a month. We've been down several times to visit him. He tries to be in good spirits but you can tell he's hurt'n. You know what a big active man he was. He's still big but he don't weigh nearly as much as he did. He's in a wheel chair most of the time."

"Mr. Bartlet would you mind driving me over to see Mr. Jarvis? I'm gonna' ask my family to let me go alone. I don't want him upset with folks he don't know."

"Sure, Son, be happy to. We were going to take him supper anyway. Just you and me, then."

"I'd appreciate it, Mr. Bartlett." Red and my brothers were more than supportive. I think they were a little relieved they didn't have to go. I had all ready told my Master about Dave and his dad and the wonderful several days we spent together at the Bartlett ranch. That was one of the greatest things about our relationship, I knew who I belonged to and so did he. Red understood Dave and Barn Jarvis were an important part of my past that I had to know about. He was all for it. He encouraged me.

"Listen to your Master. After the last miracle your Friend dropped in our laps in a bar in Bakersfield, he's got me convinced, there's a reason we're here. We ain't here by accident, Little One. Do what your voices tell you. They haven't led you astray yet. You won't be forgetting me or not considering my needs. I love you, Billy, and I trust you. What ever it takes. You have to let me be a part of it because you're a part of me, now." Red found me alone as I was changing into western clothes and spoke softly to me before Mr. Bartlett and I left.

I carried the food as Mr. Bartlett drove us over to the Jarvis house. It was late afternoon and the sun was setting. There were no lights on in the house. We walked up the steps and knocked. We heard a voice holler at us to come in. We walked into the house and it was in shambles. It was dirty and the furniture was falling apart. We proceeded to the kitchen where we found Barn Jarvis sitting under a fifty watt bare light bulb hanging over the kitchen table. The place was a mess.

The bent shadow of the man I new and came to love five years ago looked at me with curosity. At first he had no idea who I was, I smiled at him, there was a spark, and then a flood of recognition. He stood, smiled the sweetest smile, threw his arms around me, held me so tight I almost couldn't breathe and wept. He cried like his heart would break. Once again I was crying, too. Where did my tears come from. I couldn't have that many left in me. Barn Jarvis kept saying,

"God bless you, Cowboy. Thank you for coming. God love you, Son." I wept with him without saying a word. I could see Mr. Bartlett had tears running down his cheeks. Finally Mr. Jarvis got himself together.

"My boy said ju'd come. Told me you was a real cowboy and real cowboys don't forget their friends. I'm pleased to say I owe my boy an apology. Sit down, Son. Tell me about yourself and how you came through. Dave was so happy to get a letter from you while you were in boot camp and you sent him another I forwarded to him. He'd all ready been drafted and sent over there. I don't know if he ever got it."

"Here, Barn, Old Friend, we brought you some supper. Eat while we sit and talk with you." Mr. Bartlett placed the plate of food next to the old man and he shed another tear.

"You folks have been so damn good to me and my boy, Bartlett." he nodded thanks for the food to Mr. Bartlett then turn his attention back to me, "They's all the time bringing me good things to eat. His missus is a fine cook, Cowboy. They always bring me Sunday dinner. God bless `em. They's true neighbors. They don't talk about doing for others, they do. Thank you, Neighbor."

"Glad to do it, Barn. We wish you'd come over and join us more. I'd come get you and bring you home if you like."

"I will. I probably will a little later. I have to get this place cleaned up."

He began to eat like a starved man who hadn't eaten in weeks. I could see the kitchen cabinets were open and no food of any kind was there. He probably wouldn't fix anything for himself if he did have food. It became apparent to me that he was being kept alive by the goodness of his neighbors. I could see the look of pain in Mr. Bartlett's eyes as he watched his dear friend and neighbor eat. I saw a single tear run down his cheek and my eyes began to water again. While it didn't take him long to finish, conversation was temporarily halted.

He sat back and began to drink his tall jar of ice tea Mrs. Bartlett had prepared for him. He asked me how my dad was. I told him my whole story. I showed him my wounds and we cried again. He made me promise to stop and see Dave at the hospital in Cheyenne. He insisted Dave was going to be up and around any day now. He'll get better and come home to him. Then everyone would see. He and his boy would be back on top again. My heart was breaking and I shouted to God in my mind. `Help me! I won't ask another damn thing of you but help me help this man I love.'

And I heard his voice clearly in my head, `I gave you the talents. I gave you the family. If you need to help this man, do it. I will help you. Trust your family. If you do, it will heal his heart and in turn will heal yours more. It will prepare you for what's ahead. Don't forget the Bartletts. They need your help, too.

We talked and talked for a couple of hours and then we excused ourselves to go on back to the Bartlett's place.

"I'm going to be staying with my family at the Bartlett's tonight and maybe tomorrow if the Bartletts can put up with us. I'll be back to visit, Mr. Jarvis."

"Oh, just a minute, Billy. I almost forgot." He shuffled off into another room, returned with a white envelope and handed it to me. Only the word, `Cowboy', was written boldly across it. "Dave told me when you came to give you this. He knew you'd come. Told me so. I told him you'd long forgotten us. He assured me you hadn't. You weren't that kind of man. My boy was right, Son. Thank you so much for remembering, not only for me but for my boy." He hugged me, kissed me on the cheek and we cried some more. I hadn't felt this bad since I first came home from Nam. I knew I could rise above it. I did once before and I would again.

Mr. Bartlett and I waved goodbye as he turned the truck around to head back. We got about half way down the entry road and I broke down again. Mr. Bartlett pulled to the side, set the emergency brake and opened his big arms to me.

"Come'mere, Son." was all he said. I fell into his arms and cried my heart out again. I don't know where it was coming from. I thought I had no more tears after I cried my heart out earlier in the afternoon. I pulled myself together and thanked Mr. Bartlett.

"You can see why we're worried about him." he spoke softly.

"Yes, Sir. He's depressed and he's given up. I can certainly understand wanting to give up, Mr. Bartlett. When I came home from Nam I was a basket case. No one could get through to me. All I wanted to do was lay in my room and cry, day in and day out. It wasn't until I called some good folks in Glen Rose, Texas that came to my home and got me, took me to their ranch, gave me a clean place to stay, food and comfort when I needed it, but they put a pitch fork in my hand and said, "Go to work." I did and it was the best thing I ever did.

Through work and their love they helped pull me out of the mire. I'll tell you Mr. Bartlett it ain't a place I want to leave anyone I love. It's like a living hell. You know you should be responsible and be going on with your life but you haven't got the physical or mental strength to do it. It's like having a grey cloud over you all the time. I have to help him, Mr. Bartlett. I have to talk to my brothers. I know them well enough to know they'll help. If you can get me to a store I'll buy him enough food to last him several months. Would you're barn be available for a couple of nights, Sir."

"Stay as long as it takes, Son. I don't know why but I have a good feeling about you and your brothers stopping by. We'll help any way we can."

We got back and Master Red and my cousins had changed into their western clothes and looked a lot more comfortable. The Bartletts related to them better. Mr. Bartlett showed us around the place and I noticed there wasn't as much stock as he had before.

"Son, the price of feed skyrocketed. I've had a couple of years hard luck and lost a lot of critters. Some we found mutilated in the fields. The flies won't even land on the carcass. No foot prints around. Drained of all their blood and maybe one thing missing from their body; an eye, their testicles, their heart. Look like they been cut out of them by a surgeon. Sheriff says it's coytoes or a mountain lion.

Hell, I've been a rancher all my damn life. I know how a coyote leaves a carcass. It ain't no damn animal, I can tell you that. We have to burn them `cause if we bury them they won't rot. They'll stink to high heaven but they won't go back to the earth. I lost a prize bull and several of my breeding heifers this spring. We've been pinching pennies to try to get a new bull and a couple new heifers or we won't make it. We'll have to sell the place and move to a larger town where I can get work.

We stayed the night. It was a Thursday night and I told my family what I'd found.

"Anything you want to do, Cowboy. We're a hundred percent behind you. You know God gave us money to help some folks. Barn Jarvis may as well be one of them. We can stay here several days or as long as it takes." urged my Master. Boots and Sonny were right behind him.

I forgot about Dave's letter until we were undressing getting ready to go to sleep when Red called it to my attention. I opened it and read it to them.

Dear Cowboy,

I got your letter from boot camp. Sounds like they're running your ass off. If I know you, you'll come out of the army grinder looking better than you did when you went in, if that's possible? I remember you looked pretty damn fine by Wyoming moonlight with the smell of wild flowers in the air.

I got my draft notice and I wanted to write `cause I know you'll make it home. After I gave you the cross my mom came to me in a dream and told me I did the right thing. She would look out for us. I told her how much you meant to me. She told me you'd be wounded in your right shoulder and your left leg just below the thigh; however, you will be coming home. She told me you haven't taken it off since I gave it to you. I'll bet you're wearing it right this minute as you're reading this.

I want you to know that you are the only person I've ever shared love with and if I die in Nam that will be enough for me. I don't believe this is all there is. Nothing would make any sense if this was all there was. Now, I ain't telling you this to do a guilt trip on you or talk you into being mine if we both make it. I just wanted you to know that your love has stayed with me and will continue to sustain me until I see you again. I will see you again. My mom said I would. She wouldn't give me any details but said you would remember me and come looking for me. That's why I'm writing this letter.

And so you have come looking for me, you're reading this. Find me, Billy. No matter were I am or who you're with. I need to hold you in my arms once more to know my little brother's all right. God gave us a couple of days and nights together but they were magic.

It ripped my guts out to let you go but when you and your dad won in Ft. Worth I was about the happiest man God put on this Earth.

I love you, Cowboy.

your brother, Dave

I broke down again. What was happening to me? I wanted to run away, climb inside myself, pull the door shut and never come out again. Then I felt a pair of big tattooed arms pulling me into my Master's understanding and forgiving embrace. I was no longer alone. I had three wonderful men with me who shared the depth of my feelings. My owner and two brothers.

"You don't have to take it all in one bite, Billy." Red spoke softly to me. Lets do what we can for his dad and then we'll go see Dave. We may not be able to do a lot right now but who knows what the future will bring. I never asked you where you got that cross but I remember you wearing it in Glen Rose the first time we met. I had no idea the significance of it or who gave it to you. Don't worry about me and how I might feel going to visit Dave. You know who you belong to and so do I. The man needs you and has been waiting for sometime."

"I'm lucky to have you for a Master, Red. The Old Man told me it would be one of the smartest moves I ever made to become your slave. I should have listened to him earlier."

"The best part is you finally did listen to him and you've become an extension of me. As a part of me do you think I could say no to the man that wrote you that heart felt letter? Here, give your old man a kiss and calm down. You'll be tossing and turning all night and neither of us will get a decent nights sleep. Go clean yourself real good. You need some relaxing from your Master with a good, slow, deep, down home fuck'n. Hell, most times you go to sleep on my dick."

My Master was right as usual. His fucking had a calming, tranquilizing effect on me. After he fucked me really good I would lay there and relax. The next thing I knew it was morning and I could feel him growing strong inside of me. I would alway push my ass back down to the base of his dick to get as much of him inside me as I could.

"Feel like you need a little eye opener this morning, slave?"

"Sure would be a nice way to start our day, Master. Your slave would appreciate it."

I wouldn't have to say anymore and Red would take over. Those were the times he fucked me so sweetly he would almost bring tears to my eyes. He was a good man. He was a better Master, but he could be the best lover and sexual partner I ever had. He knew most mornings I was really primed for his fucking and would erupt with my load before him. He would just steadly keep on fucking me until he had enough and got his. Most times I would come the second time after he shot.

The next day things didn't look so bad. Red was right. I didn't have to deal with everything at once. I would do what I could for Mr. Jarvis and then we could deal with Dave afterward. It was a Thursday and I decided with Red and my brothers help to go over there an clean up the place. They were all for it. We discussed our plans with Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett over breakfast and they thought it was a great idea. At least it was a place to start. We could show the old man we cared and were trying to help him.

"We've got another old pickup here we can loan you men." volunteered Mr. Bartlett.

"I appreciate that, Sir. We need to run into town and buy some stuff to clean with. I didn't see too much around there. We'll pick up some limited food supplies for him as well. If you have any old rags, Mrs. Bartlett, we could probably use a couple."

After breakfast the four of us jumped in the old pickup and rode into the small town of Ten Sleep. There wasn't a hell of a lot there but a small grocery store, one gas station and a small, one man, post office. It was fine. They had what we needed. I bought almost fifty dollars worth of cleaning products, some milk, coffee, can goods, soup, cereal, cookies, and some frozen dinners that looked pretty good. I bought several six packs of sodas for us to drink as well. I bought two brooms, two mops and a squeeze bucket for the mops.

I thought about what Mr. Bartlett said about squeezing pennys and what the voice in my head told me. I bought a bunch of food for them. If we were going to be around for a couple of days and being country folk I knew they'd invite us to eat every meal. I told my Master I wanted to make damn sure we paid our way. My Master only beamed at me he was so proud of my gesture. We bought them a couple of rump roasts, two pork roasts, steaks, pork chops, a couple of pounds of bacon. We got five pounds of lean ground chuck, several round steaks and eight fryers.

We bought them two gallons of milk, six half gallons of all kinds of ice cream, cookies, and several twelve packs of sodas for the kids. We bought Mrs. Bartlett two boxes of Lipton tea leaves and two large cans of coffee. I bought a dozen frozen juice cans of orange juice, grape juice and a various assortment. I had Sonny and Boots get all kinds of fruit and green stuff as well as tomatoes. Boots grabbed two sacks of flour, two ten pounds sacks of granulated sugar, several boxes of corn meal, canned tomatoes, and canned fruits. Snack foods, breakfast cereals, and several bags of corn chips, and potatoe chips. Sonny grabbed a huge bag of potatoes and lugged it to the counter. The little lady at the cash register's eyes kept getting bigger and bigger. The total bill came to a little over six hundred dollars. Red gladly paid the lady cash.

The little lady at the cash register recognized me and knew we came in the Bartlett's old truck. She asked about all the cleaning gear.

"I have to try to help my buddy's dad out, Ma'am. You know Mr. Jarvis. We're going to clean up his place for him. Maybe it will give him an incentive to feel good about himself again and get him going. I been praying to the Lord he'll show me the way to help this man I care for very much. I have to do something, Ma'am. Dave is my close friend. We rodeoed together and I can't let him down. These three men are my family that I'm touring the country with. Those two that look alike are my cousins. Their names are Billy Gunn, same's mine and this fine looking gentleman is my uncle Red."

She was happy to meet us and thought it was a good thing we were doing. Everyone in the community were worried about Mr. Jarvis but didn't know what to do. They didn't want to intrude. How long did we plan on staying to help Mr. Jarvis?

"As long as it takes. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have been kind enough to let us stay in their barn. I'm hoping we can get everything done by Sunday evening and be on our way to see Dave in Cheyenne."

She thanked us and had the young boy that was working as a stock boy help us out to the truck with the stuff. He couldn't take his eyes off of Red. Sonny nudged me a couple of times watching the kid look at Red's crotch. It wouldn't have taken much and the kid would've been in the back of the truck with us worshiping at my Master's boots. (and he only had his western boots on. How did they know?)

By the time we pulled into the Jarvis place, Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett and the kids were all ready there. We removed a great deal of the broken furniture and put it in a large pile down behind the barn to burn. We worked all day. I bought some lunch meats, bread, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, potato chips and drinks of all kinds. I showed Mrs. Bartlett what I'd bought. She and her daughter got busy and made sandwiches for all. Including Barn Jarvis.

I took Mrs. Bartlett out to the truck to show her what I bought her and the family. She broke down and cried. I told her it was the least we could do for them being gracious enough to allow us to stay with them. She sent her oldest boy Ken to drive the oldest daughter, Lannie, back over to their ranch to put the stuff away so it wouldn't spoil in the summer heat. She was thrilled with the food and ran to tell, Wade, her husband. Mr. Bartlett lumbered over with a big smile on his face, shook our hands and just said, "Thanks." Then he hugged me again. That was enough for all of us.

At first, Barn was a little shy about us helping him but after Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett and I talked with him he relented and allowed us to help him. Neither his washer nor dryer worked anymore. Sonny and Boots were good at fixing that sort of thing but both needed parts we didn't have time to get. I couldn't see loading Mrs. Bartlett with a lot of extra laundry; although, I know she would've been happy to. We would have to drive to the next largest town were they had a department store to buy him a washer and dryer.

Mrs. Bartlett got on the phone and made a couple of calls. Within thirty minutes someone knew of someone in the community who had an older set that worked fine. They were asking twenty-five dollars a piece for them but since they were for Barn Jarvis we could have them for nothing. When could we pick them up? We arranged to pick them up first thing the next morning.

By the end of the first day, we had the downstairs pretty well cleaned up. It looked, smelled and felt a lot better. Barn was in tears most of the time. I bought some ice cream for him and made him eat a big dish of it. I don't think he'd had ice cream in a long time. After about twelve hours working on the place we said our goodbyes but promised to be back the next morning to finish and bring him a working washer and dryer. He hugged and kissed me on the cheek and thanked us all. He couldn't have been more appreciative.

The next day we arrived with the used washer and dryer. They weren't that old. Compared to Barn's they looked brand new. They worked just fine and Mrs. Bartlett and her two daughters started in to wash and fold clothes. Sonny and I took down curtains to wash. Some came out clean and looked fine, others fell apart in the wash.

Later in the morning four other pickup trucks arrived and more families came to help. By the end of Friday afternoon we had all Barn's clothes washed and put away. There were clean sheets and blankets on his bed but we threw out two of the beds in two bedrooms upstairs. They were beyond cleaning or salvaging. In fact, there was a big pile of stuff we carried out beyond the barn, poured kerosene over and burned.

The better the place began to look the more Barn's spirits began to rise. He was beginning to look like a new man. He used his clean bathroom to get cleaned up, put on clean clothes and began to help. By Friday evening the place looked a lot better. There was food in his cupboards and refrigerator. Mrs. Bartlett and the ladies did a great job cleaning the kitchen.

The next morning we followed the Bartletts over to Mr. Jarvis's place and were surprised that there were all ready five or six cars and pickups there and they kept coming all morning. Some brought paint and ladders and proceeded to scrap and repaint the outside of the old house. It really needed it. By noon they had over half the house painted. Some folks got on the phone and someone had an old couch stored they weren't using any more. They brought it and others brought a couple of easy chairs and end tables. Sonny and I repainted the living room and did a good job. The ladies repainted the kitchen. There must have been over fifty people there to help and they made quick work of repairs and painting.

The ladies brought food and fixed more while they were there and spread it all out on a big picnic table we found in the store room. There was enough food for an army and we were all pleased to see Barn Jarvis go back for seconds and thirds. The better the place looked, the more he ate, and the more love his community showed him the better he seemed to get. I prayed what we were doing, was it working? Something was happening.

We were introduced to several of the men and I remembered two of the men from five years ago. I roped with them and gave them tips. One was the major provider of livestock (cattle) for ranches all around the state, Mr. Jim Petrie. The other was a fine looking gentleman by the name of Mr. Bill Langtree. He was the biggest sheep stock man in the area. They introduced me to the man that owned and ran the local feed grainery, Mr. Tad Evans. We sat and talked with them over lunch. The Bartletts and Mr. Jarvis were at another table.

"Mr. Petrie, you got any stock for sale?" I asked while eating.

"Yeah, Son. I usually always have stock for sale."

"What would it cost me for twelve good breeding heifers and and good quality bull?"

"Well, things have been pretty slow of late. I usually get two grand a piece for the heifers and you know a good bull will go for around five to ten depending on his quality and whether we've shown him. If he's a champion then the price goes up accordingly.

That's around twenty-four thousand plus but I'll make you a deal if you're really interested."

"I'm very interested, Sir." Red winked at me and I knew he was in my corner.

"If it's good quality breeding stock you're looking for then for an even twenty-five thou, I'll sell you twelve young heifers and a proven bull. He ain't a champion and never been shown but he's a producer." I reached across the table and shook the man's hand.

"Sold, Mr. Petrie." Red had his wallet out and counted out two tens and a five. He folded them and handed them to Mr. Petrie. The man couldn't believe when he looked down and saw two ten thousand and one five thousand dollar bills. He quickly put it in his wallet, shook Red's hand and shook my hand again.

"Now, that's the way I like to do business, Gentlemen. Where do you want 'em delivered, Son?"

"After me and my family take off, probably Monday, I want six heifers and the bull delivered to the Bartletts. I want the other six heifers delivered to Mr. Jarvis. I figure he and Mr. Bartlett can share the bull."

"Good thinking, Cowboy. Of course they can. They're good neighbors. We think the Bartlett's have been keeping old Barn going." said Mr. Petrie. " This is damn nice of you men, Son ."

"How about some sheep for Mr. Jarvis, Mr. Langtree?"

"You don't have to worry about that, Cowboy. We all ready got six ewes and a ram cut out to bring him tomorrow and Les Wilson has another six ewes he's bringing him. That should be plenty to get him going."

"Do they have any outstanding debts with you Mr. Evans?"

"Naw, Son. Those two men always paid me on time or they won't buy. That's the kind of men they are."

"Would you accept funds from me to open them each an account? How long will ten thou a piece run them."

"Oh shit, damn near two, two and a half , maybe three years, depending,--. Sure,--be happy to open accounts for them, Son." Red had his wallet out again and handed Mr. Evans two ten thousand dollar bills. He almost choked.

"I'll get you a receipt for this, Gentlemen." said Mr. Evans.

"Of course, I'll get you one tonight, too." said Mr. Petrie.

"No need. If you men weren't honest, concerned and caring you wouldn't be here today. You won't cheat these men or me."

"Usually a cowboy don't ask where another man got his money but we can't help be curious how you and your family came into this kind of money."

"Remember the Arab Prince's life I saved in Vegas?"

"Oh hell, yes! I forgot about that. It was all over the T.V. news and we could see it was you." said Mr. Langtree. I pulled out the ring Ben's dad gave me and the men whistled. They didn't know how much it was worth but they knew it was a lot.

"The prince is now my brother. I'm an official member of the royal family or Bahrain. His dad gave me this ring and made me a member of their family. I receive a large sum of money each year from the royal treasury and will until I die. It's so much I can't spend it all. I don't have many wants or needs. I guess I'm just a cowboy and always will be but God put me and my uncle, here," I motioned to Red, "there at the moment someone tried to kill the Prince. God gave us this money to help some folks. I can't think of any two better families to help than the Bartletts and Mr. Jarvis."

"We have to agree with you, Son, and to be honest we've been praying for a miracle for the two of them. I think we've just witnessed one here today. What do you say, Gentlemen?" Mr. Evans said asking the other two's opinions.

"We agree, absoultely. We didn't know what to do but we're glad you took the initative so we would have an excuse to come forward and lend a hand." said Mr. Petrie.

"I couldn't agree more." said Mr. Langtree.

I pulled the photo out of my wallet and showed the men that my Master, to them my uncle, was there along side of me. They all exclaimed that it was indeed Mr. Grainger.

"Are you Red Grainger that puts out oil well fires?"

"Naw, Sir. That's my big brother but I worked for him for twelve years and did that kind of work."

They men were satisfied that they were dealing with men of substance and quality.

"Mr. Langtree, you sure I can't give you and Mr. Wilson some money for the sheep. I was going to contract with you anyway."

"Naw, Son. Thank you, the sheep are slow but steady. We're doing all right. We wanted to do this for Barn for what he's done for us."

Later I got Mr. Evans alone and handed him two five thousand dollar bills. He knew immediately what I was going to ask.

"Five for Langtree and five for Wilson, Son?"

"Thanks, Mr. Evans. Exactly."

"Done! I'll let them know after you men are gone. He won't say it but it'll help Bill and Les a lot. They've been getting by but just barely.

Everyone started in working again and by nightfall had the rest of the old farm house painted. It looked like new. Barn Jarvis was awestruck. So was everyone else. The community had joined together to create a miracle. Someone found an old wagon wheel chandelier Boots and Sonny hung over the kitchen table and it gave the room a feeling of comfort from the soft glow of the bulbs and chimney covers all around the wheel.

They all decided to have Sunday dinner there at the Jarvis place after Church the following day. We talked Barn into going to church with us. We were up early the next morning and went by to pick up Mr. Jarvis. He was waiting on the front porch when we pulled up. He had to shake our hands and hug each one of us. He must have thanked us a hundred times. Red drove and Boots and Mr. Jarvis sat up front.

The preacher and his wife were there helping on Saturday and were coming to Sunday dinner at Mr. Jarvis' place. He preached a wonderful sermon on the generosity of the human spirit and neighbors helping neighbors being what Christ had in mind. They passed the collection plate and I watched Red drop in a thousand dollar bill. I winked and smiled at him in an approving manner. Word got around what we had done for the Bartletts and Mr. Jarvis but no one let anything leak back to them. They were men of honor and kept their word. They would know soon enough.

It was a beautiful summer day and it couldn't have been a prettier day for an outdoor dinnner. There was fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravey, homemade rolls, green beans, corn on the cob, ice tea and five or six kinds of desserts. After everyone had eaten Mr. Jarvis got up to speak. All he could say was,

"Thank you all. I love every one of you."

That was enough. Mr. Langtree and Mr. Wilson left for a while and Boots and Sonny went with them. About an hour and a half later they returned pulling two large four wheel trailers with six sheep in one and six sheep and a ram in the other. They let the tailgates down and the sheep ran out into Mr. Jarvis's pasture. Barn Jarvis was in tears again. He couldn't believe the generiosity of his neighbors. They even brought him an abandoned blue healer someone left behind and the Wilson's adopted. They had their own sheep dogs and thought old Barn and "Brambles" would make a fine team. They couldn't have been more right. That dog ran up to Barn and jumped into his lap and kissed him. He knew he was home. He stole the afternoon and got everyone's mind on better days. Brambles hearded those sheep like they were his own. He was a fine sheep dog. Barn Jarvis fell in love immediately.

Folks were staying late and telling stories until the early hours of the evening. No one wanted to go home. They were proud of themselves and what they'd accomplished for their neighbor. Well, they should be proud. They deserved to relax and bask in the glow of their accomplishment. They all felt the magic. This was a fresh start, a new beginning for Barn Jarvis. They somehow knew that their efforts were not in vain. They not only did some pay backs for Barn and Dave's generosity to them they also would reap the benefits of their time, love and energy spent in helping their neighbor.

Finally, folks started to depart and wished each other well. Barn wouldn't let them get away without a tear, a kiss and a hug. He thanked everyone down to the the last babe in arms. He was a man reborn. He was once again imbued with a love for life, his faith in his fellow man, and a hope for the future. He personally witnessed more love in the last few days than most men see in a lifetime. The Bartletts were the last to leave and we told them we'd be along directly. We sat around the kitchen table and had a dish of ice cream while talking to Barn.

"So tell me, Cowboy. I know your handsome dad was training you to be his slave the last time your were here. Since he's passed, is Red your new Master." Barn Jarvis didn't even look up from eating his ice cream.

"Yes, Sir, Mr. Jarvis. I'm very proud to be Master Red's slave. He's a fine Master, Sir."

"I'll say he is and you should be proud, Young Man. I've watched him and seen the way he controls you. An iron fist in a velvet glove. The way a true Master should handle someone's pretty as you. And you, Sonny, are you your dad's slave?"

"Naw, Sir, Mr. Jarvis. My dad's basically a straight man but he allows me to service him and he keeps me well fucked. I keep praying that one day he'll take me for his slave. That would make me very happy. Master Red and Cowboy are working on him. He may be coming around but in the meantime, I pretend he's my Master and I'm his slave."

"I always wanted more with my boy but I just couldn't bring myself to approach him. I think that's part of why I've been so down and out the last several years. I wish everyday I had. I know that may sound bad but I can't help admitting to you men how much I love my boy and it goes beyond father/son type love. I wanted to make love to him. Now I probably never will realize that but that's okay. I never thought until Cowboy said something to me yeasterday. I'm really lucky. My boy came back. The Bartlett's boy didn't. At least I have my boy to visit and spend time with. They can't even tell their's they love him anymore.

I'm going to get myself together and bring my boy home. We'll figure out something. The harder I work the better we'll do and I can have the where with all to bring him home to live. He's not happy at the VA. He has his buddies but it's not like being at home. I know he's gonna' wanna' see you Cowboy. I can't wait for his next letter.

We finished and Sonny and I cleared the table. We washed the few dishes and put them away. Sonny and I were talking and Red and Boots were talking to big Barn. We finished and I thought we were getting ready to go when Boots surprised Sonny and I.

"Sonny, did you bring your overnight kit with you in the truck?"

"Yes, Sir, Dad. It's behind the seat."

"Get it. You're staying the evening with Mr. Jarvis. I expect you to be as good to Mr. Jarvis as you are to Master Red and I. Make me proud of you, Son."

"You don't have to worry about that, Dad." Sonny hollered over his shoulder as he headed out the front door to retrieve his over night kit. We all laughed at Sonny's willingness. He told me several times during the day how hot he thought Barn Jarvis was and he'd love a crack at lifting his spirits.

We waved goodbye to Sonny and Barn. They were standing on the front porch with Barn's big arm around Sonny's shoulders and Brambles sitting on the other side of him looking up at the two of them. I mentioned to my Master and Boots that I'll bet there was going to be a dog fight as to who slept closest to Barn. They agreed and laughed. We got to the blacktop road back to the Bartlett's ranch and Red stopped the truck for a minute.

"Before we go back I just want you to know, I couldn't be prouder of you than I was today, Son. What you did today will make vibrations and good will in this community for years to come. You not only helped the old man you pulled a community of people together to take action to help their neighbor. I really think you've turned that old man around and with Sonny's love tonight I think he'll be just fine. That damn dog adores Barn." said Red in all sincerity.

"I agree with your Master, Billy. As your kin I can't tell you how proud I am of you. Sonny can't talk about anything else but you buying the cattle for the Bartletts and Mr. Jarvis. If they don't make it now it's because they ain't good ranchers to begin with. I have a feeling they're gonna' do just fine."

"Well, thanks, Master, Brother, but I can't take much credit for it. There were voices in my head that told me 'yes,' 'good price,' 'buy,' all the way to the credit for Ken and Les. I have to apologize to you Master. I know you knew I planned to spend some of our money but you had no idea how much."

"Son, I still have a damn pocket full of money and you have another check hidden away from the first family installment. We're doing just fine. You didn't spend too much. I think you got a good price for the cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett are going to shit when Petrie pulls up with the truck. When we leaving, Son?"

"If it's all right with you two we'll run in and pick up some more food for Mr. Jarvis tomorrow morning early. He's gonna' need a case of dog food and some kibble. We cleaned out that freezer on the back porch and plugged it in. It works just fine so I thought I'd get him a bunch of easy frozen dinners and such. A bunch of canned chunkey soups. Easy stuff that he doesn't have to spend a lot of time fixing. Then go back by, drop it off, pry Sonny loose, " they both laughed at that, "return the truck and be out of here shortly after noon. How's that sound?"

"Like a good plan, Son. A good plan."

"I'm beginning to see what you and Red have been talking about, Cowboy. Folks looking over your shoulder and telling you things. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it, but, now, I'm a total believer. I've even found myself starting to talk to the Old Man and I hope he's listening."

"He is and He does, Brother Boots."

It was hard saying goodbye to Barn Jarvis the next morning. Boots, Sonny and I put away six to eight large cardboard boxes of food stuff for him. The freezer on the back porch was almost full. I carefully went over the ease of fixing certain things and made him promise to eat and get stronger.

Barn didn't want to let go of Sonny and begged Boots to let him stay a while but Boots needed his Son. Barn certainly understood, kissed and hugged Sonny one last time. They were both in tears and I have to say it was hard being strong. My Master and Boots didn't try. They finally shed tears as they hugged the big man goodbye and wished him well.

He made us promise over and over again to go see his boy in Cheyenne. We promised faithfully that was our next stop. We might stop overnight as it was a pretty long haul to Cheyenne from Ten Sleep. He was satisfied and told us he planned to visit Dave the following weekend. He had much to tell him. We knew he was going to have even more to tell him.

We had a light lunch with the Bartletts and they didn't want us to go either. They wanted us to stay at least through the weekend. We couldn't. My voices told me it was time to go. There were tears and hugs. I gave them my dad's address and phone number. We would be in touch with him should they need to contact us. Let us know how Mr. Jarvis was doing. We finally rode out to the main road about one o'clock. Good thing. We stopped Mr. Petrie following the cattle transport on thier way to the Bartletts. We said goodbye and wished him well. He got out and shook hands. He gave me a big hug and thanked us again. I asked him if he had something to write on. He handed me a couple of his business cards. I wrote on the back of one, "---Thanks for your hospitality in the past and especially these last few days, Love, Cowboy and family."

"Give this to Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett for me, Sir. And Mr. Petrie let them know this isn't a loan. It's a gift."

"I will, Son, and God bless you and your family. Come see us again as soon as you can."

"We will, Mr. Petrie. I promise."

We headed south towards Cheyenne. It was a gloriously warm summer afternoon in mid July. You didn't need a jacket. You could ride along in your shirt sleaves and be comfortable. The four of us were in a haze. Like Ten Sleep had been a dream. A good dream that left us wallowing in our on contemplation of the meanings of all that transpired in such a brief period of time.

We felt we had lived a life time in a microcosm. Mikrocosmos. Small worlds, witten in microtones from the diary of a fly. A study in minor seconds. Now, we were light years away from the land where time seemed to stand still for several days. Was it thus when God stopped the rotation of the Earth, the sun stopped it's journey across the shy, so the Israelites would have one more hour to win the day? Did Bartok actually hear the kitten calling his name through the blizzard? How large a hole will a puzzle canon leave? We each wallowed within our own conundrums, riding Harley, riding Davidson like modern day leathered druids filtering out the chaff from the truth as the winds of the ethos streamed through our nomadic hair.

Sonny was in his own world. Something magical had happened between him and old Barn. Boots, Red or I neither commented nor asked him about his evening. I knew he'd tell me when he was ready but I also knew somegthing remarkable passed between them. Sonny was more together and at peace than I'd seen him since we met up with Boots and him. Boots and Red remarked to me that Barn was a changed man after a night with Sonny.

What had transpired between them? I knew Sonny didn't have a lot of other sexual experiences other than his dad and those whom his dad approved of Sonny being with. You could count those on one hand. I slept between my brother and my owner. We were so tired we didn't consider sex. We were asleep shortly after we lay down. I woke up once in Boots arms with Red spooning me, his arm thrown over both of us. No screaming green meanies chased me that night.

After talking a minute with Mr. Petrie it was two o'clock before we truly got underway. It was a good two hundred miles to Casper and another two hundred to Cheyenne. We weren't going to push it. We'd been on the bikes a good four hours into Casper and it was the largest town between Ten Sleep and Cheyenne. We decided to stop for the night. It was early enough we could relax, get a good meal and get an early start to bed. Red and Boots were early risers and liked to be on the road at sun-up. Red claimed it was the best time of day to be on the road. Boots believed the same according to his son and Red and he fit together like two gloves. Sonny and I were not morning people. We grumbled and groaned our reservations about their shared philosophy to each other.

We ate breakfast and were on the road by seven. With a tailwind we could be in Cheyenne before noon. We were shaking off the daze of the previous afternoon and getting back into 'biker family mode.' We were traveling through some of the most beautiful country God ever created. It was like He was riding along beside us on His own big hog enjoying what His handiwork brought about. It was as if I could almost turn and see Him,-- wink and nod at Him when I saw something wonderful. Like, "Yes Sir, got a really good scauld on that one, Sir. Out did yourself on that meadow of flowers, Sir. What a riot of colors."

We pulled into Cheyenne around eleven o'clock in the morning and decided to have lunch before we rode to the hospital. We found a great burger place that made the best burgers and fries. We were stuffed by the time we left.

We easily found the VA hospital. It's one of the biggest facilities in Cheyenne and we rode up into the parking lot. I noticed about fifteen or twenty vets wearing their uniform shirts from Nam sitting in wheel chairs on the front lawn. We parked under the shade of some trees and slowly got off our bikes. All the men's eyes were on us. My family decided to wait until I came and got them. They wanted me to find Dave by myself. I appreciated their thoughtfulness.

I started walking away from them and got no further than about fifteen steps with I heard a loud buckaroo whoop. In a voice you could've heard from the gates of heaven,

"Son of a bitch, it's the Cowboy! I knew he'd come! I told you guys, he'd come! He's here!" I saw this one wheel chair trying like crazy to navigate toward me in the grass of the lawn. I started running toward the handsome man in the chair as he was trying his damnedest to get to me. I got to him, fell to my knees and embraced my beloved bull dogger brother. I don't think there was a dry eye on the hospital ground. We were crying, kissing, hugging and petting each other. Dave saw my cross and kissed it on my chest. We couldn't speak for minutes. We were so emotionally overwrought. By this time my family joined us and all the other men in wheel chairs were gathered around us.

"This, Gentlemen, is the world champion rodeo cowboy, Billy Gunn the third. He and his dad won the national finals in team roping in sixty-three. The next day they sent him to boot camp and then to Nam. But he made it back. He made it home and he's come to see me his old bull doggin' brother. I want you all to know, I love this man, this cowboy." a cheer went up.

One thing Nam did for the male, macho middle class was to wipe away any fear of telling another man you loved him or even stand in front of a group of men and proclaim your undying love for your brother. They all had been there and back. They knew exactly what you were talking about and it didn't need qualification. You could be two of the straightest men God put on the planet or gayer than pink ink. It didn't matter.

God damn it! Life was too fucking short not to let your brother know how much you love him or worse, be such a damn tight asshole you couldn't tell him how you really felt. In Nam the minutes of your life ticked away like sand through an hour glass. You never knew when you were going to run out of sand and there was no one left to turn the glass over and start it again. If you felt love for your buddy or for your brother you'd better damn well tell him. You might not have tomorrow to let him know. You threw uptight social mores out the fucking window. You weren't going to be ashamed any more to tell the world you loved your brother. Fuck the world if they don't understand.

"I have indeed come to see my brother, Gentlemen. This cowboy gave me this cross at a rodeo five years ago. I wear for good luck and protection. It belonged to his mom and it ain't been off my neck since he gave it to me. It helped save my life and gave me courage to put one foot in front of the other when I was on the bottom. I had to come back to tell him how grateful I am and how much I love my bull doggin' brother."

A cheer went up that alarmed the hospital staff. Every one came up to meet me and my family. They couldn't believe three of us were named Billy Gunn. We had to show them our license. Dave was overjoyed. He couldn't stop crying. I had to hold him for damn near thirty minutes to get him to calm down and then when I did he started in on us.

"I knew you were on your way. I've gotten fifteen phone calls within the last two days. 'Are they there yet? Are they there?' What did you men do to my home town? I've gotten phone calls from everyone and their dog in Ten Sleep. My dad called me and told me so much shit I couldn't believe half of it; about sheep, cattle, painting the house, a dog named Brambles. Then Mr. and Mrs.Bartlett called and wouldn't let me go until every damn kid talked to me, told me they loved me and wished me well. They told me you and Cowboy bought them six heifers, my dad six and a steer they're to share? Bought them credit at the grainery?

They're coming to see me weekend after next. Dad's coming this weekend. Mr. Petrie, Mr. Langtree, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Evans all called me. Pastor Franklin and his wife called. I tried to get out of dad what happened and he would just start crying. He kept telling me about four angels on motorcycles who came through and changed his life. My cowboy and one in particular named Sonny who was Billy Gunn the third like Cowboy. Talk about confusing. Now it's all beginning to make sense. Dad said he's a lot better now and is going to work toward bringing me home. That would be wonderful but I don't hold out a lot of hope."

"Maybe you should rethink that one, Son." My Master told Dave in a concerned voice, "We were there. We saw what happened."

I sat on the grass and proceeded to tell Dave and his buddies what we found and what we did. He and his buddies were amazed. We sat, talked and reminisced for hours and the sun began to set. We pushed several inside and I helped Dave. We went into their recreation room and there was hardly anything in there. There was one thirteen inch color television that had poor reception and if you weren't sitting within ten feet when the volume was turned up all the way you couldn't hear it. I looked at Red and shook my head. He headed for the hallway where there was a pay telephone. I heard his gravelly voice get loud in the hall.

"I don't give a good God damn how you get it here! You wanna' sell it?! I want it delivered this evening! Got that!"

"We stayed and had dinner with the men. They rarely had guest that wanted to stay for dinner so the hospital staff could've cared less. We no sooner finished dinner than here came the delivery men with the biggest wide screen TV they made at the time. A Magnavox thirty-two inch screen. It had stereo sound that would blast you out of your seat. The men were agog. The delivery men sat it up handed Red the bill. He paid them cash, tipped the delivery men and they were on their way.

"Enjoy your new T.V. men. It's yours." Red proclaimed.

If they could've they would've carried him around on their shoulders they were so happy with that damn TV. Dave was an instant hero. His buddies bought them a new TV everyone could watch. The hospital staff were amazed and pleased. They even sprung for a new antenna to be mounted on the tower next to the rec room. It brought in all the stations in the Cheyenne area.

We told Dave we planned to visit him for a couple of days and asked if was there a motel near? He told us of a Holiday Inn right down the street.

"Son, would the hospital allow us to come back and get you to stay the evening with us?" my Master asked Dave.

"Sure. All I have to do is check out on the ward, give them the name of the motel, phone number, and room number and I'm free."

"Would you like to?" Red asked.

"Oh, shit! Would I like to? No, Sir, I'd fuck'n love to." several of his buddies smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up.

"We might have to double up. I might have to put you in a room with the cowboy. Or I could get you a room by yourself." Red teased Dave.

"We're cowboys, Sir. We're use to bunk'n it in with one another. That'll be more'n fine, Sir. It would be down right wonderful." then Red winked at Dave and he knew my Master was having fun with him.

The other GI's didn't want us to leave. They wanted us to stay. They wanted to tell and hear more stories. They wanted us to watch their new TV with them. We promised we'd be back all day the next day and probably the next. We planned to visit for a spell. We left and checked into the Holiday Inn. We told the front desk we would have a guest staying in one room with us from the VA. We gave them Dave's name and ID number and they said fine. Red, Boots and Sonny were going to bunk it in together. Lucky Sonny.

The motel staff were very helpful. They had vets from the hospital stay with them all the time and they gave us a room that accomodated a wheel chair. It was a really nice room, too. There were two double sized beds. More than enough room in each bed for two persons and a lot of room-room for a person in a wheel chair to navigate.

Boots and Red decided to stay, get cleaned up and maybe head for the spa while Sonny and I went back after Dave. Sonny was as enthusiastic about going to get Dave as I was. He found Dave quite attractive and had his eye on several of the men. We arrived and found Dave in the rec room with his overnight bag ready to go. He waved and they all whistled and cat called. Several said they wished they had a champion rodeo cowboy to bunk it in with for the night. Dave gave them the thumbs up sign and they roared and applauded him. They were happy their brother could get away for a night with his cowboy brother he'd talked about for nearly three years.

We gave the name of the motel, the phone number and the room number to the night nurse that was head of the ward. She was sweet and charming. She, too, was glad to see one of her men, as she called them, have a night away from the hospital. If we didn't plan to bring him back right away in the morning just give the number she gave us to call. We promised we would. Dave was positively glowing. He was going to be with his friends, his brother, Cowboy, for the evening. Better yet he was going to get to bunk it in with his beloved friend. He hadn't missed that Cowboy's new brother Sonny was a fine looking handsome man as well. This was more than even he dreamed of.

We got back to the motel and there was a note in the room that Red and Boots were in the spa for us to come join them. There was an exra suit laid out on the bed they got from the front desk. People leave stuff behind and the staff at the front desk always have an extra swim suit or two. Sonny and I quickly undressed and got ours on. We helped Dave to the bed, helped him undress and helped him on with the suit. Sonny took one look at Dave's dick and whistled.

"Like father, like son." he rolled his eyes in his head. We hadn't told Dave about Sonny spending the last evening with his old man but he put two and two together because all his dad could talk about was Sonny and Brambles.

"How was my old man, Sonny?"

"On a scale of one to ten he was a twelve, Brother, a twelve plus. Ain't never had another man make love to me like your dad did, Dave. I'm 'fraid I left part of my heart back in Ten Sleep with a fine looking older cowboy. He's a remarkable man, Dave. You should be proud of your dad, he's had it rough. I know you have, too, but you men need each other in my estimation."

"From what I hear from him, you have a part of his heart as well. Told me he begged your dad to let you stay for a while. He couldn't say enough nice things about you, Brother, and to think you're Billy Gunn the third. Unbelievable. I appreciate you all being good to my old man but expecailly you, Sonny. It meant a lot to him and me." Sonny looked at Dave and almost lost it. He nodded his understanding.

Dave could manuver pretty well on his own. He developed his upper body strength until he could get around pretty well using his upper body. He could get himself in and out of the wheel chair and use the toilet facilties by himself. He wasn't as bad as I had painted a picture in my mind and only his legs seemed paralized. Above his hips everything seemed to function normally. He got roaring hard when I leaned over and kissed his dick. He blushed like a school boy and Sonny and I laughed unmercifully at him. He finally got into the spirit and asked if I'd do that again later. I promised him much more than a kiss. He groaned and rolled his eyes but he immediately got hard again.

We got his suit on him and wheeled him out to the pool area. There was no one else in the spa but Boots and Master Red. We helped Dave to the side of the hot pool and eased his feet into the warm water. Red had a bottle of 'Comfort' in a paper bag by the pool. He offered each of us a pull. Dave smiled and took a good hit. He smiled and thanked Red for his generosity.

"Woah! That's water's really warm." he reacted as we slowly lowered his feet into the pool of water.

"You can feel the heat, Dave?" I asked him.

"Sure, I just can't move my legs. I can feel them fine. They itch and get hot and cold." he replied.

I let it pass but I thought I remembered most paralized people couldn't feel anything. You could take a hat pin and stick it through their foot and they wouldn't feel a thing. We eased him into the water and Sonny and I sat on either side of him. He was a man in heaven. He was with his own kind. Sonny and Boots may not be cowboys but he knew Red and I were and that was enough for him.

"You men don't know how much this means to me for you to come visit and treat me like this. To buy that television for the ward was a wonderful thing to do Mister Red."

"Call him Master Red, Bull Dogger." I whispered to Dave.

"Is Master Red your new Master, Cowboy?" I smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Brother, I left Ten Sleep with my dad, we went to the Anderson ranch outside of Prescott. I met Master Red in Glen Rose, Texas on our way to the nationsals in Ft. Worth. My dad introduced us. He use to ride the circuit with Master Red. I'm proud to be his slave."

"I can understand why, Cowboy. Don't make me no never mind. Ain't gonna' stop me from lovin' the both of you."

"Ain't gonna' stop us from lovin' and sharing with you either, Cowboy." my Master smiled at Dave, "As far as I'm concerned you're part of the family."

"From the things I'm hearing about my dad, I didn't know he was so low or down. He always makes me think everything is just like it was and things are going along fine. It sounds like he needs me back there more than I need to be here in the hospital. I guess I've been afraid to go out there an try to make it on my own. A lot of guys do. Some make it and some don't. I guess that's why I wanted to see you so bad, Cowboy. Maybe I needed to hear you tell me I can do it. To be honest with ya' if I didn't have more with you than today, to hug you this afternoon and know you were all right, that would've been enough. I see my mom was right about your wounds, Cowboy."

"Your letter stunned the four of us, Bull Dogger. We knew, you indeed, talked to your mom. I would never doubt you because I've had some pretty weird experiences myself. Just meeting up with Boots and Sonny was a miracle. I'll fill you in on all that later."

We sat in the spa for about an hour and it was getting a little too hot. I had Sonny help me get Dave out and back into his chair. I excused ourselves and headed back to our room. We got inside, I helped him off with his wet suit and handed him a towel. He dried himself and I dried his feet for him. I asked him if he wanted to watch television while I showered. He smiled at me wickedly. I smiled back and winked.

"Naw, gimme' a hand getting into bed, Sweet baby, and I'll lay here dreaming about you. All I do is watch television. My dreams of you are better'n any damn T.V." he smiled.

I gave him a little help. About all I did was hold the chair and he managed to pull himself into bed. It wasn't an olympic 10.0 entry but it got the job done and he was comfortable. I lay down beside him for a moment and gently kissed him. Pushed the hair from his face and smiled at him.

"You don't know how good it is to see you again, Cowboy." I whispered to him.

"It's like a dream come true for me, Billy. I was so afraid you'd find me unattractive or half a man."

I looked down at his stiffening cock and giggled.

"If'n we cut that damn thing in half you'd still be more man than ninety-eight percent of the men walking around out there." I laughed with him.

"No, no,---ahw, hell, you know what I mean, Cowboy." he said softly.

"You once told me it isn't physical appearance that makes a great cowboy, it's what he has in his heart. Whether he has the heart to get up, dust himself off and climb on again." I told him.

"Yeah, I said that. You remember that from that long ago?" he asked increduliously.

"Bet your sweet bull doggin' ass. I plan to get back on that damn thing and then we'll just see how much of a cowboy you really are." we both laughed.

"Gimme' a minute to clean myself,--think hard thoughts." I winked at him.

"Seeing you in the raw makes it hard enough for me. You ain't lost a bit of per-tie. Damn, you're still a good looking man, cep'n you look more like your old man today. It's almost like I got both of you in one package. How lucky can a cowboy get?" I laughed at him and winked as I headed for the shower.

When I returned he watched me towel myself dry and I would glance at his big dick to see it stiff as a rod. I purposely turned my back to him to bend over and dry the front of my legs and feet. I heard him suck air through his teeth as he got a good shot of my ass. I turned and his big, all day sucker was standing at attention with no hand assist from him. He started to blush and I howeled with laughter.

"Mind if I try that big, bull dogger dick on for size, Cowboy?" I smiled at him as I crawled in beside him and grabbed hold of it.

"Oh fuck, Billy. You always could say the hottest fuck'n things to me at the damnedest time. Remember that time I's just about to take off after that big steer and you whispered how far up my ass you were gonna' run your tongue?" he started laughing and got me laughing too.

"Yeah, I remember."

"It got me so hard, when I turned that critter's head, his horn came down right cross my crotch and damn near broke my dick in two."

"Ain't my fault you don't have more control over that snake, Cowboy." I teased him. I kissed him gently and we entered a passionate embrace. My old dick was getting hard as a rock.

"Baby," I spoke to him, "your Cowboy's got to have himself a big ole taste of your sweet bull dogger dick. I don't want to rape you but it's looking too damn good not to get me a taste."

"Fuck it! We're both cowboys. Let's go for the rape!" he said then laughed.

I proceeded to clean, kiss, and generally drive my cowboy out of his head making sweet love to his dick. I asked his permission to take him and he gave it immediately.

"Oh, hell yes, take all you want, Cowboy. That's feels so good, Sweet baby. I'd forgotten how you drove me nuts that night a long time ago. Go for it!"

I sucked and sucked on him then cleaned under his foreskin with my tongue. He was clean and had the finest male taste. He was still every bit the bull doggin' cowboy I'd been with five years ago. I knew from laying there making love to him his life was going to make a big change. These couple of days were going to give him the courage he needed to go home and help his dad make a life for themselves.

I finsihed and got in all the sucking I needed for the evening. I lubed his stiff cock, ran a little up my hole, position myself over him and made that sucker dissappear. When I hit the base I felt him arch his back, his eyes fluttered, and he let out a sigh of a man that just took his last breath. His body spasmed as he emptied his first load into me.

"That's one!" I leaned over, with him still way up inside me , and gently kissed him. Dave's eyes were glazed and he leaked one tear. I wiped it away.

"That good, huh, Buckaroo?" I kidded him.

"Oh damn, Billy, I'd forgotten, even in my dreams about you, how good it felt. Can we call in a surgeon and have him sew you to the base of my dick?"

"We can look into it. I don't see why not. We might have some explaining to do when we go out in public but they'd get over it." we both exploded with laughter.

I rode my bull doggin' cowpoke to climax three more times. We found he could move his hips and was really getting into doing most of the fucking himself the last go round. We settled down and talked 'til the wee hours of the morning. He was up against my back with his arms round me holding me. I felt him getting hard again.

"How 'bout you doing the fucking this time stud. Stick that big thing back in there and let's see what you got." he seemed to gain confidence and was more comfortable around me. I felt him fumble a little but the next thing I knew my ass was being filled with bull dogger dick again. It felt mighty good. Comfey. Like it was down home.

Dave started slowly to take a few strokes and then found out it wasn't any problem for him. He could still fuck. I think at that momet something clicked in his head or personality that told him he wasn't a cripple. By God he could still throw a decent fuck into a beauiful cowboy's butt and he was going for it. He fucked me and fucked me, stopping just about the time he felt he was building us both up to climax. He was in the drivers seat and I wasn't about to offer any suggestions. He needed to fuck me the way he wanted. I wanted him to find himself and he did. By the time he told me to get mine I was more than ready and shot four or five times into a towel in my hand. He felt my ass hole chewing on his dick and shot a huge load in my tank.

We lay there hooked together for almost a half hour afterward with him kissing me behind my ear and whispering sweet sentiments and thanks. He knew what and why I'd done this for him. Not only becaused I loved him but because he needed to feel like a man again.

From that morning on, Bull Dogger Dave no longer thought of himself as a cripple. He was a man, a cowboy, without the use of his legs.

Early the next morning the phone rang in our room at the motel. Since it was on Dave's side, I told him to answer it.

"Hello." there was a pause and then Dave chuckled.

"Hey Dad, how ya' doing."

"Yeah, I'm here with Cowboy and his family in the Holiday Inn. Had a great day and a better evening with my brother, the cowboy."

"Yeah. He's here. Laying right beside me. Hold on a minute."

"Dad wants to talk to you." he said as he smiled a knowing smile. I took the phone from him.

"Howdy, Mr. Jarvis."

"Cowboy, Wade Bartlett and I don't know where to begin to thank you. You got the whole community in an uproar. They's can't talk about nothing but you and your family. You made quite an impression on them, me and Wade Bartlett. Ain't seen Wade Bartlett so happy in a long time. He just keeps grinnin' from ear to ear. He sent his boy over after me when Jim Petrie came with the cattle truck. Six heifers for me and six for him with a fine looking bull to share. We can't thank you enough. That was a wonderful thing for you men to do, Son. I wanted you to know how much we appreciate it."

"Well, I wanted to do something for Mr. Bartlett, you and a couple of men that were unselfish and came forward when you needed them, Mr. Langtree and Mr. Wilson. I couldn't leave a man I love, my brother's dad, without making an effort to help him. My prayer is this will be a new beginning for you and the Bartletts."

"It will, Son. I promise you. I've been up since dawn, made myself some coffee, fed my buddy and been out with him checking on the stock. I drove in yesterday with Wade and got some feed and hay. That dog wants to go everywhere with me. I sure do love him. We thank you for his food, too." Mr. Jarvis laughed.

"Good. Then the two of you can take care of each other."

"I'm sure Wade will call you to thank you. I'll tell him I talked with you. There isn't a lot I can say, Son, 'cept thanks and I love you."

"That's enough, Mr. Jarvis. To see the look on your face when Brambles jumped into your lap and kissed you was worth the whole damn thing." I laughed and the old man laughed with me. "I'll give you back to Dave, now."

"Before you go, Billy, tell your brother Sonny he's a fine young man and I love him. Hell, I love all you men. You all worked your ass's off for me and I really appreciate it."

"Well, your welcome, Sir. Here's Dave."

"When you coming to see me, Dad?"

"They'll watch the place for you and bring Brambles with you. I'd love to see him and I know the guys would get a kick out of him."

"Okay, then. I'll look forward to seeing you. I think we need to talk. I love you, Dad."

"Yes, Sir. He's still every inch a cowboy. Per-tie as the first day I seen him. I still love him as much as ever, dad, always will."

"I know, Dad, but Master Red is a good, understanding and generous Master. I couldn't love him more for what he's done for me and the guys."

"Bought us a brand new, big screen television for the rec room. Called the store and had it delivered in an hour and a half. Beautiful T.V. Now all the guys can watch and don't have to huddle together."

"Okay, Dad. Okay. You, too, Dad. I'll look forward to seeing you."

"Love, you, Dad. Bye." Dave slowly hung up the phone and rolled back over and threw his arms around me again and pulled me close.

"Is it wrong for me to tell you I love you, Cowboy? Especially, since you belong to Master Red."

"Didn't stop you when I belonged to my dad. Besides, don't you believe you can love more than one person at a time. I loved you and Master Red when I still loved my first Master with all my heart. I still love my Uncle Bud."

"Yeah, I can. I understand that, but your dad was different. He wanted you to be with me. He knew your time together was coming to and end and it would cushion the withdrawal for you."

"My Master wants us to be together, too, Dave. He knows how much we mean to each other. I wouldn't be here with you now if he didn't love you and me enough to give me to you. I didn't asked him if I could be with you. He told me to be with you. It was his idea. I never question his commands."

I wanted to tell Dave he didn't understand that my love for him may damn well be part of the psychological cusion I need when I lose my Master. I would put it in a letter for him to read after we left.

"Then it's true. I have to love him as much as I do you. That won't be hard. He's a fine man and I can see why you're attracted to him."

"Besides, I share him with Sonny." I continued, "Sonny want's to become a slave to his dad. Master Red is training him. It gives them and his dad time to be together. Don't think they're in their room playing 'tiddly-winks.'"

"Well, I thank God and your gracious Master for this time with you. I'll personally thank him today."

"He'd appreciate that, I'm sure. Now, you had enough cowboy butt, Buckaroo, or do you feel like tearing off another big old piece?"

"That last one was per-ttie damn good, weren't it?"

"Better'n per-ttie damn good, Bull Dogger. It was a frist class ride."

"Awh, hell. I can do better'n that."

"Climb on, Cowboy. Let's see if you can beat that eight second buzzer." Dave laughed as I once again felt my ass being filled with bull dogger dick.

We finished and the phone rang again. Again Dave answered.

"Good Morning, Master Red."

"Yes, Sir. It was wonderful, Sir. I can't thank you enough, Master Red. You're a kind and generous man and I love you for that, Sir. I really appreciate you letting me be with Cowboy. You can't know how much it means to me. I love you both very much."

"Sure, Sir. Here's Cowboy." Dave handed me the phone.

"Good morning, my good Master." I said.

"When you men going to be up and around? When you're ready lets take Dave to the restaurant in the motel for breakfast. Give us a call when you're ready."

"We will, Master. Should be long. I thank you, too, Master, from the bottom of my heart."

"You're welcome, slave. He's a fine young man. The three of us have fallen in love with him. See you soon."

I hung up the phone and asked Dave if he'd like to shower. They had a shower hose on an extension. All a person had to do was sit on the toilet and use the hose. The water went down a special drain in the floor. I gave him a hand adjusting the water and we showered together. It was a little different but it was great for handicaped folks. I scrubbed him all over and he seemed to delight in the attention. Then I toweled him dry and we laughed a lot.

We had breakfast in the motel restaurant and you could tell it was a great treat for Dave. He was use to the hospital food. While it was good food, any institution food begans to taste the same day in and day out.

"We're going to be here with you a couple more nights, Dave, to be with you and your buddies. You're welcome to stay with Cowboy every night if you like." Master Red told him over breakfast. Dave almost broke down in tears.

"You don't know how much that would mean to me, Master Red. I can't thank you enough. Like I told you, yesterday afternoon would have been enough but this,--. You've been so good to me." Then Dave did start crying. Red put his arm around Dave and comforted him.

"Look, Son. I know what you and cowboy mean to each other. I ain't about to come between two brothers that love each other as much as you two. So enjoy the day and let's have a good time. We're happy to have you with us."

Nothing more was said and Dave did enjoy himself. We spent the entire day with the men in the VA well into the evening. That evening Red checked with the staff and they approved his action. We sent out for twelve giant pizzas with drinks for the guys and the staff. It was a big party. We watched their new television with them. We played games. We listenend to their stories about Nam and we told a few about our cowboy days.

Dave had never heard what I went through. After he told of having his buddy blown to piece in front of him when he stepped on a land mine, Red and Boots urged me to tell my story. I did and didn't leave a detail out. I told of falling in love with Buck. I was blatenly honest about Ken White and Rowley Twisselman. No one said a word. They all had slept with their brothers.

Two of the men wept openly because they listened Sunday after Sunday to the bible reading cowboy. They knew Buck and then remembered me, White and Twissleman. They all confirmed my story of being slaughtered because of a stupid Lieutenant. Dave was in tears along with the rest of the men but when he found out my uncle, my biological dad, died the night before he really broke down. Every man had a story and it was good for them to let go and tell what they went through. Many of the men knew Chief, my buddy that rescued me. I told the story of meeting Chief on the Anderson ranch outside of Prescott, Arizona and us rodeoing together.

Our visit wasn't all one of sorrow. The last day we took them all to the burger place down the street for lunch. We had a ball.

Dave and I spent every night together and grew even closer together. Not as lovers but solid, bonded brothers. He knew we couldn't be together but Dave was a true cowboy in spirit, he knew how to enjoy the here and now. His cowboy brother was in his arms, he wasn't going to question tomorrow. Somehow, we both knew we would never again be apart from each other's lives again no matter who we were with.

The fourth morning we got ready to leave and dropped by the hospital to say goodbye. The hospital staff hated to see us go. The men had been in better spirits and easier to work with than they had in a long time. They all cried to see us go. Dave surprised me. He didn't shed a tear. He was only too grateful for the time he spent with me and my family that he was determined not to spoil our goodbye with tears. I couldn't help but shed a few but he was strong for the both of us.

I wrote him a brief letter to share with his dad when he came to visit over the weekend. I told him not to open it until we were gone. In the letter I explained why the four of us were taking this journey around the US and Master Red's condition. I told him he could share it with the rest of the men if he wanted but I would leave that up to him. I promised I would send post cards to him and the men to let them know where we were and our progress. They got a huge map of the US. Tacked it to the big bulletin board in the rec room. It didn't have much on it to begin with. There they posted all of our cards. They marked our journey in red, where we were, and what we were seeing. It became a big thing for them to follow and talk about.

About four months later, Dave went home to live with his dad, but we didn't stop sending cards and letters back to the men on the ward. It worked out better than anyone could've hoped. Dave ran the house. Kept his dad clean and fed. Ran the financial end of their business and the ranch once again began to pay off. They were doing so well after a couple of years they paid cash for a new, large cargo van with lift gate Dave could get into and special handles that he could drive with. He was no longer confined to the house. He could drive himself anywhere.

I kept in touch separately with Dave and big Barn. About once a week I would sit down in a motel where we were staying and write them a letter. I'd tell them where we were and what we'd seen. I'd write how I was coping with the thoughts of losing my Master and the ongoing training of Sonny as a slave. Even though I didn't hear from them until I got back to my dad's I needed to let them know that I was still out there and I cared enough about them to share my life even if only by mail. My voices hadn't been wrong. I guess Dave and his dad were the closest thing to participating in an actual miracle I'd experienced to that point in my life. It wouldn't be the last. However, as successful as it seemed to be it still has me wondering. Who gained the most from that miracle, them or us?

End Chapter 19~ Booger Red & Cowboy Copyright 2003 Waddie Greywolf Mail to: waddiebear@yahoo.com