If this story is prohibited in your area, you are underage or gay sex offends you, then please leave. If you are looking for hard core sex, you won't find it here. This story is fictional and so are the characters. However, the setting is a real and is located in Central Oregon. It does sit on the edge of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Please feel free to email me and be sure to include the title in the subject line.
Now just sit back and enjoy!
The Cabin by the Lake part II
Chapter 15 Final chapter
Kyle and Dennis took Jerry and Mac to the loading sheds and explained the routine of loading the packs emphasizing the need to make sure each pair of pack boxes weighed the same, therefore protecting the pack animal from injury. This also insured that no one animal was overloaded. If needed, more pack animals could be used. Some boxes contained supplies that would be used on every trip. A master check off list was used for each trip. Nothing is worse than getting a day down the trial and discover a can opener or the box of waterproof matches had been left at home.
Kyle and Dennis had an established plan and followed it exactly each trip. Nothing was left to chance. Each box had a complete list of things on the inside. They suggested that Jerry and Mac establish a plan of their own and follow it.
Menus were planned for the entire trip and a list of ingredients for each item on the menu. This was an easy job. All meals had been pre-planned and filed. All one had to do was go to the file and select the meals for that trip. Air tight plastic containers were use to protect the ingredients from moisture and little creepy, crawly things. There were special cooler pack boxes to keep fresh item from spoiling. Frozen foods were placed in special freezer boxes which were very well insulated and with the use of dry ice, frozen things could be kept for up to a week with minimal opening and then for very short periods of time..
"Kyle and Dennis, have you put your master plan in writing. If you have, we'd like to use yours." said Jerry "We sure do and we'll be glad to give it to you. We've filed it on the computer and all we have to do is hit print. Follow me over to the file cabinet. Pull open the top drawer and take out the laminated sheets which are right in front. Now read the title," said Dennis.
"Hey, you cheated and already had this all done. Thanks guys!" said Jerry.
"Just remember anything that makes your job easier, do it. Make a check off list for everything and be sure to use it. We have laminated the check-off list and have them on clip board. We use a grease pencil and thus the sheets can be used multiple time. After the pack has been loaded, slip the list into special folder for a inventory of contents on the outside. No guess work and no searching for lost items. Just don't get smug and complacent and do a lackadaisical jobs. Your clients will know when you do and may not come back. You want to keep them satisfied and coming back. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. What ever you do don't get mad and give one a black eye and fat lip," laughed Dennis
"Oh, I don't know. I remember one time when it really paid off. Mac, I will tell you the story later. I love the guy that did it to me! Thanks Dennis," said Jerry.
"You're welcome, Not a problem," said Dennis giving Jerry a big hug.
Everything was packed and ready to go the next morning. The campers arrived at the B and B and still had time before dinner to take a swim. Loretta called the main house on the intercom, "Hi, Mom. Just wanted to check to see if there were any nudist running around the pool before I send some quests up. There isn't! Good, I get them up there before a certain crowd I know decides to take a dip. Bye," Loretta said.
The guys had just finished a cup of coffee when Jerry's mom and dad pulled into the drive way. Jerry walked out on the porch to met his mom and dad. He gave them a big hug and a kiss. "Mom, Dad and I have a surprise for everyone, including Loretta. I will just wait and let them be here when I tell you. Mom, would you please call Aunt Loretta back and have her and Uncle Richard come up if they can get free, Thank you!" said Jerry
"Mom and Dad, I would like to introduce the newest member of the Wilderness Experience, Mac. I just hired him yesterday. Mac, this my mother, Lois and my father, Lonnie."
Lois and Lonnie didn't offer their hands but instead just gave him a great big hug and a kiss.
"Hey, a car just pulled into the driveway," said Jeremy. I'll go and see what they want!"
"Thanks, Jeremy, but they are friends of mine. You can go with me if you want," said Lonnie Loretta and Richard had arrive and had taken a chair next to Mom.
Lonnie escorted the new arrival into the room. Jeremy had the woman's hand in his and helped her find a chair. "I would like to introduce my very good friends, Sherry and Darrell. We'll introduce all the others to you later."
"As I said earlier, I have a surprise for all of you. Mom and Dad were coming out and was going to take over the B and B. That has all changed. Don't worry Aunt Loretta, You can still retire as planned. Mom and Dad called early this morning and told me what was happening. They are going to move into this house and become the office staff. Dad will become the grounds keeper and jack of trades. Mac that means , you just lost your job. Not to worry, you have been promoted. You and I will be doing trail rides and anything else that needs to be done that no one else wants to do. In other words, we get to continue to shovel manure. Mac, you will still do all the record keeping in your spare time, if you have any. Aunt Loretta, Sherry and Darrell are going to run the Bed and Breakfast. They have operated a motel in Bend which had a small restaurant , If you want to leave any of your recipes, they would be more that happy to have them. I know that you have
been packing, when will be the last day of work for you?"
"We were planning on a week to show Lois and Lonnie the ropes. Since Sherry and Darrell have had some experience, I don't know how much they will need," said Loretta.
"We will need probably two maybe three days. I don't think we will need more. We came prepare to stay, if you have room," said Sherry.
"That is great. We have only one vacant room, so you can have it." Loretta said. Lonnie and Lois, I guess that means the barn for you."
"Not for us, but for Jerry. We will just use his house and bed." laughed Lois.
"You'll have to ask Mac if that is ok with him. I already given my bed to him. I guess you could sleep 3 in a bed which is a big queen so it should be big enough." snickered Jerry.
"Lois and Lonnie, you can use the guest room here in the house. Then we won't have to play musical beds," said Dennis.
"Then I say problems solved," said Lonnie.
The next morning Kyle and Dennis were up early and had breakfast ready for everyone. They woke the boys and told them to hurry and get dressed and go wake everyone. "Tell everyone to get their lazy asses out of bed and come to breakfast before we throw it out." said Dennis. Needless to say Jeremy did just that.
Mom was the first come into the room, "Hey, Kyle and Dennis, do you know what Jeremy said when he came in to wake me? I bet I know where he got that from."
"Oh, no. He didn't. Kyle, I think we had better clean up our language a little. We have a little monkey see, monkey do. Sorry, Mom!" said Dennis.
"Not a problem, I thought it was sorta cute!" said Mom.
Jerry and Mac came in and were laughing. "I don't want to know why you are laughing, we have already been told. However, a good morning to you." said Dennis trying to stifle a laugh.
Lois and Lonnie came in and were told the same thing.
"I taught the boys to sing `99 bottles of beer". I can just hear Jeremy singing it in church someday. By the way, where are the boys?" asked Mom.
They said something about getting their hinnies ready to go on the ride." said Lois. "By the way what does a hinny refer to. I hope that is not a another word for ass."
"No, It is not. It refers to a ½ horse an ½ donkey," said Kyle
"I thought that was a mule," said Lois.
"A hinny has a donkey mother and a horse father. A mule is just the opposite. The boys each have a hinny to ride." said Kyle. "Mom, has a mule."
Kyle and Dennis loaded the pack mules using a block and tackle system that they had devised, thus eliminating all the heavy lifting. This would be taken with them and a tree limb would be used to unload the heavy packs. All that remained was to mount up and head out. Joel and Jeremy had been riding around in the yard just waiting to get on the way.
"Hey, I have a question. Someone was supposed to help me get on the horse. Did you forget?" asked Mac. "No, but getting you on the horse is no problem. Walk to the other side and hold the reins, lay on your stomach across the saddle, hang onto the saddle horn with one hand, start to sit-up and at the same time swinging your right leg over the saddle and horse, now just sit up all the way. Hey, way to go! You made it the very first time and you didn't even get on backwards. Remind me to show you how to get off. Here is where it will be mighty easy to fall on your butt." said Dennis.
"Kyle, do you and the boys want the front or rear?" asked Dennis.
"We want the front!" answered Joel.
"When did you change your name. Just kidding. The front it is. Jerry you can ride just behind or beside Kyle. All the guests will fall in behind you. Mac and I will bring up the rear with the pack animals. We can change the order on down the trail if anyone wants to switch positions. So mount up and lets be on our way."
After about an hour of riding, Joel hollered at Kyle. "Papa, I need a restroom break, bad."
"Hey, everyone we'll take a break If you need to take a leak, step a few feet of the trail. No need to hide since we all men." Kyle got off and the rest did the same.
"Mac, Watch me and listen and you won't have any problems. Drop the rains and let them fall to the ground. The horse won't go anywhere now. Grab the saddle horn with your left hand. Remove both feet from the stirrups, Now swing you right leg behind you and at the same time, grab the back of the saddle with your right hand. Now lower your body gently to the ground, sliding your stomach along the side of the saddle. I would just stay on the trail and do your thing. Don't try to fight the brush."
"Dennis, that was a lot easier than I though. Thanks!"
"All the fun and easy part is over. Just wait! It will get harder and not nearly as much fun. Just kidding, it is all fun." The group arrived at the lake where they would camp. Joel and Jeremy immediately unsaddled their animals and led them to the meadow and put hobbles on them. The boys could almost do every thing that a man could do except get the packs off the animals.
"Jerry, we are going to take the packs off the animals and we would like to have you help with that. Mac, as soon as an animal is unloaded, you and the boys can take them to the meadow and hobble them. You guys can take two animals at a time and that will save a lot of trips." said Dennis.
One of the men wanted to help with the horses, soon all the animals were in the meadow. "Joel and Jeremy would you start gathering some wood and start stacking it over there, please?" said Kyle.
"May we help," asked one of the men.
"Sure thing, I have a couple of bow saws and an axes for the larger stuff. Remember boys we don't want any of that wet rotten punky stuff and no green stuff either."
"Mac, would you take this rake and start clearing a 8 foot circle around the fire ring. Make sure that you get all the loose needles. That is what will burn very fast if a ember should land on them."
"Mac and Jerry, we are ready to set the tents up. This can very tricky and I would advise a lot of practice sessions at home. Really nothing to it after you get the hang of it. Sorry, no help needed,' said Dennis. "Jerry is the new owner of the Wilderness Experience and needs to learn everything from the ground up," said Dennis.
So the week of instruction finally came to a close. Jerry and Mac were becoming pros at setting up camp and taking it down. Back home, the guys were sitting around discussing the previous week. Every one felt good about what had happened. Jerry and Mac felt like they were getting ready to take over by themselves.
Kyle said, "There is a short pack trip coming up in three days, Dennis and I will go on this one. However, we are going as guests and will do nothing to help unless you run into problems. Then you will be on your own. All I can say is rely on Luke and Carol. They know the operation inside and out and should be able to answer all you problems. When you don't have trips of your own, just go with them and take a refresher course. We really hate to leave but the boys start to school in two weeks and we really need to be there a little early so we can all get settled in."
"I don't see any problems. I think Mac and I will start doing all our cooking over an open campfire. I don't think our paying guests are ready to eat what we cook. I know we have all your recipes and you have showed us what to do. I am still on shaky ground in this area. Mac seems to have a natural knack for campfire cooking and the job may become his." Said Jerry.
"Jerry, don't sell yourself short. Just tell yourself, I can do it. I can do it. I can do it. Then all you have to do is do it. It will all come to you with time and you will help turn out an outstanding meal. I would say don't try to cook the whole meal yourself. Divide it up and both of you work on one meal. Watch the coffee pot and don't let it boil over. I think getting a lot of practice at home, is the key. Try cooking it on the stove inside the house and then try the same dish outside on the campfire. Remember no flames just coals," said Dennis. "So you'll burn a few meals but try several times before you try it on trail. Lots of good tips on Dutch oven cooking are on the net and new delicious recipes are always being added. Nothing would be more embarrassing than to run out of food and having hungry campers. It takes some practice to determine the right amount of heat. To start with, I would throw in several sacks of briquettes and
use them both on the bottom and on the top."
Jerry, Mac, and Jerry's parents were finally able to take over the operation of Wilderness Experience. Thus started a whole new beginning for them.
Dennis, Kyle and family moved into their new home and the boys started school. Dennis and Kyle were making plans and visiting several dude ranches getting ideas of what they wanted to incorporate into their new enterprise.
Now another episode in the lives of Kyle an Dennis comes to a close. Thanks readers for staying with me. I appreciate all the feed-back that you have given me. I would like to thank Trish for all the pre-reading making sure that the continuity and story lines were in order and understandable. Nothing is more irritating than to find parts that are confusing. Thanks, Trish, for the very fine task that you performed and correcting a typo along the way. Tom, Thanks for being my `special friend'.
So until we meet again, God Bless and have a good one. Joe