Porterville

This story is purely a work of fiction. Any resemblance to person's living or dead, or to events that may have occurred, is purely coincidental.

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Mark Stevens

Porterville 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"What the hell are you talking about, Devon?" Britt felt his fingers grasping his cell phone tightly.

"Evidentially word got to the powers' to be, and he was fired this afternoon," Devon explained.

Britt had a good idea who the "powers to be" were, but he didn't comment on the subject. At this point he didn't think it was a good idea to rag on the man's mother.

Devon put voice to the thoughts that were running rapidly inside Britt's head. "You think it's my mother's doing, don't you, Britt?"

Britt chose his words carefully. "I am not one hundred per cent sure, but yes, I do believe she could have had something to do with his termination."

Britt heard Devon say, "What have I done?"

"You've not done a damned thing," he assured him.

"But I have. If I hadn't singled Ron out and asked for his help, he would still be employed. This is my fault. At least where Ron is concerned," he added.

"What did he tell you? Ron, I mean."

"Just that he was called into the President's office right after lunch and told his services would no longer be needed."

Britt was quiet for a moment and allowed a thought to process across his brain.

"Britt?"

"I'm here," he answered. "Devon, I just had an idea. Concerning Ron," he said.

"I'm listening."

"I'm not sure what your friend did down at the bank, but wasn't he in the accounting department?"

"He was."

"Could there possibly be a place for him in your company?"

Devon took a moment to digest the words Britt said. Then he answered, "You might have something there. Ron is very good at what he does."

"I'm sure he is, "Britt agreed. Laughing he said, "You should know."

"I certainly hope you aren't serious," Devon replied.

"Do I sound worried?"

"It's been over between us for a long time," Devon declared.

"I know that, Babe. I am not worried in the least about the two of you."

"I'll give Ron a call after I've had some time to think over what I might have to offer him."

"Look, I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job. However, two things have crossed my mind. One: Make sure Ron doesn't feel you are offering him a position out of guilt. And two: Make it where your mother cannot get rid of him?"

"I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon evaluating the situation here and determine if I can offer him a job that's equivalent to what he was doing at the bank. As for my mother, I will draw up a contract if I have to, that makes it where no one, absolutely no one can ever terminate him except me."

"Your mother will simply love that."

"Tough shit for her, then," Devon declared.

It was going to be "tough shit" for Elaine McKenzie, Britt thought. Especially if and when the proverbial shit hit the fan, he decided.

"Can you give me a couple of hours and then we'll meet up for dinner?"

"I'd like that very much."

"How about following dinner up with an evening at my apartment and ending the night in my bed?"

"I'd like that even more," Britt assured him.

"Fantastic. I'll give you a call when I'm ready to leave the office, Britt."

When Britt ended his telephone conversation with Devon, his mother said, "Sounds like the two of you have dinner plans."

"We do. Would you care to join us?"

"Britt Williams, I heard the conversation, and nothing was mentioned about an old woman horning in on your plans."

"Mom, you know you are always welcomed. You can horn in, as you put it, any time you like."

"I appreciate that. No, the two of you enjoy your evening. I'll be just fine. I can always read a good book. I have a favorite author, and he usually keeps me well stocked with very good reading material."

Britt felt a shiver go through his body when he thought of his mother spending the night alone.

"Mom, will you be all right? Devon has asked me to spend the night with him."

"I will be just fine," Catherine was quick to assure her son. "You do remember that I stay by myself most of the time since my only son has moved away."

"Hey, you can move to the city anytime you want," he hastened to assure her. "There are tons of places there where you can live."

"Britt Williams, we've had this conversation before. Porterville has been my home all of my life. I don't plan on changing that. I might have to some day, but definitely not at this time."

Britt stood to his feet. Before he went to take a shower, he said, "Will you at least promise me something?"

His mother's eyes held a look of skepticism. "That depends on what the `something' is."

"Will you make sure the doors are locked when I leave? Do not open the door should anyone pay you a visit unless you know them."

"That's a promise I can keep," she assured him.

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Mom."

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Britt met Devon later for dinner. They ate their food and discussed the day's events. Well, at least Devon's day. Britt wasn't quite ready to mention his suspicions just yet.

"I've been thinking about the possibilities for Ron," Devon said. "James Wilcox is taking my place as head of Purchasing. I'm going to need someone to take his place in Accounting. I think Ron would be perfect for the job."

"You think the pay will be equivalent to what the bank was paying Ron?"

"I'm going to start him out the same, and if everything works out the way I think it will, I'm going to give him a raise."

Britt took a sip from his tea glass. "That sounds good, Dev. Are you going to give him a call soon?"

Devon nodded. "I thought I'd call him when we get back to the apartment. If he's interested we'll work out a time to meet."

Britt gave him a tender smile. "You're the best, Devon McKenzie."

"I do try to please."

Underneath the table Britt pushed his foot next to Devon's. "You do know how to please," he said giving him a wide grin.

They finished their meal and walked out to the parking lot. Devon offered to follow Britt back to his mother's and leave his car.

"I think I'll follow you, Devon," he decided. "That way I can head out in the morning when you do, and we can both go our own way. I have a lot of places to be tomorrow. It's going to be a busy day."

Before Devon got into his car he said, "Then perhaps you should go back to your mothers so you can get plenty of rest."

"I'll thank you to let me decide how much rest I need."

Britt followed him in his car, and soon they were driving through the gate entrance of Devon's town house complex. He pulled in beside the man and reached for his duffle bag. Together they walked to the door of Devon's apartment and hurried inside.

Britt dropped his bag to the floor and reached for Devon. He pulled him close and pressed his mouth against the man's lips. Tongue went in search of tongue, and the two became like one as passion began overtaking their bodies.

Britt pulled away. "God, it feels good holding you."

Devon gave him a smile. "I take it you aren't in a talking mood tonight?"

"I don't want to discuss a fucking thing. For tonight, any of the shit that might be going on in Porterville, well for now, it's not even on the table for discussion. Clear?"

"Remember my decision to give Ron a call?" Devon reminded.

Britt's face took on a pouting look. "All right, call him. And then no more shit."

He listened as Devon made his phone call and could tell that Ron agreed to meet with him the following day.

Finished with his call, Devon asked, "Just how sincere are you about no more shit tonight?"

"Why don't you check for your self?"

Devon reached down and placed his hand on the front of Britt's jeans. "From the way your cock feels, I can tell how sincere you are."

"I'm very sincere, Devon McKenzie." He pushed hard into the man. "I want you to take me to bed and have your way with me."

As Devon pulled him down the hall to the bedroom, he asked, "And what way is that?"

"When you get me in bed I think you will know exactly what I want. And need."

In hardly any time at all the covers on the bed were pulled back, clothes were stripped off, and the two men were lying in bed, their naked flesh touching. Britt's hairy chest was pressed into the blond hair on Devon's body, their arms wrapped tightly around each other.

For a time neither one spoke. There was no need for words as they expressed their emotions, their love, quite readily. Their kissing, the hugging, everything they did created such desire in their bodies, causing both men to shake with excitement. They could feel their pre cum crawling through body hair, creating a tickling sensation against their skin.

Devon suddenly pulled away. "Fuck me, Britt," he ordered. "I need to feel you inside me."

He reached over and pulled a bottle of lube from the drawer of the table beside the bed. He tossed it to Britt.

Britt squeezed some out and worked it inside his lover. Then he covered his dick heavily with the gel and threw the bottle down.

Still on his back, Devon raised his legs enough to allow Britt easy access to his hairy entrance. He pressed his cock head against the slippery hole, paused for a brief second and then buried his hard hairy shaft inside the man. The lips of Devon's ass forced the thick brown hair that grew around Britt's cock to grind roughly into the man's flesh.

Devon groaned. "God, yes!"

"Love your ass, Dev," Britt moaned.

"Fuck it. Pound me hard, Britt."

His words spurred Britt into action. He began working his dick slowly at first, back and forth, in and out of Devon's hairy hole. Each time he entered him he went a little deeper, stretched him a little more, until he soon had the man begging him to fill him with his cum.

"I want your spunk, Britt," he begged. "Fill me with your load."

Britt began driving harder into his body, slamming his flesh into that of his lover's. Thick cock in a tight hole was enough to make the man feel his balls rumble and realize he was about to shoot a huge load of cum."

"I'm almost there," he warned.

"Do it, Britt. Fill me with your man cream."

Britt slammed him a couple more times, and suddenly his body was over taken by the sweet powerful sensation of release. He lost control of his body.

"Fuck," Britt cried out.

When his cock was through shooting, he leaned down and kissed Devon on the mouth. The kiss they shared caused Devon's dick to cut loose with a thick drop of pre cum. Britt felt it run between their bodies.

He propped himself up, using his elbows for support. Smiling he asked, "How about ramming that big thing up my ass?"

"Is that what you want? For me to fuck you with my hard cock?"

Britt pulled back, causing his dick to withdraw and bring some of his cum with it. He worked his fingers inside Devon and brought out a thick scoop of his cream. He covered Devon's dick with the slippery stuff.

"That's hot," Devon groaned as he raised his body up. "I'm going to put both our cum in you," he said.

Britt got on his hands and knees and pointed his ass in Devon's face. "Fuck me," he ordered.

Britt's cum allowed his lover to slide easily inside him. The dark hair that grew around the entrance was plastered to his flesh, glued down by his cum. He groaned as Devon bottomed out, his cock planted as far as possible inside him.

"God, I feel the hair around your dick rubbing me," Britt moaned. "I love your body hair."

"I love grinding it against you," Devon whispered.

"Give me your load," Britt begged.

He felt Devon speed up, felt him attacking his ass like he would never fuck again. It was hot. It was intense. It was fucking wonderful; in every way possible. Each time he felt his ass slam dunked Britt thought he would disappear over the edge of reality. He loved getting fucked, but tonight Devon's dick created a stronger sensation than ever before as it worked the inside of his ass over, abusing him, causing him to experience emotions like none he had ever felt since the two of them had met.

Britt suddenly felt the dick inside him shudder. He knew Devon was going to shoot his load.

"That's right, Babe, give me that hot creamy load! Fill me with your man juice."

"Fuck! Devon cried out.

Britt felt his ass fill up with his lover's thick load. He shivered each time he felt a wave of cum spray the walls of his ass. He forced the muscles to clamp down on Devon's dick.

"Oh shit!" Devon moaned. "That drives me fucking crazy when you do that."

Britt gave one final squeeze and grinned. "That's good. I love making you crazy."

"You do make me crazy, Britt Williams. And I love you for it."

A little later they lay next to each other, allowing their bodies to recover. The sexual moments they had shared had been hot and exciting, and now it felt good to lie side by side, enjoying each other's touch. They were coming down off the high created by the sexual tension shared between them.

"So, what are your plans for tomorrow?" Devon asked.

Caught off guard, Britt wasn't sure what to say.

"I thought we agreed that for tonight, nothing in Porterville other than us was on the table for discussion," he reminded.

"That's true, we did. Still, it never hurts to have a plan. So, what's the plan?"

Britt remained silent for a moment. Finally he spoke. "I'm really not sure what tomorrow holds," he said. "I know I have a couple of things to do down at the tribune office. Followed by a couple of stops around town," he added. "After that, I hope to have things in some sort of order. If I do, I will fill in the gaps."

Devon gave him a smile. "I'm good with that." He reached over and pulled Britt to him. "Okay, no more shit on the table tonight. Except the two of us," he added.

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Britt and Devon were up early the next morning. They showered and soon left, each going in a different direction. Devon was heading for Porter Textile, and Britt was traveling in the direction of the Tribune.

When he reached the news paper office, he discovered Alice already at her desk. He greeted her with a smile.

"You're here early," he told her.

"I could say the same for you," she pointed out.

"You could," he agreed.

"Are you still working on your research?"

"Sort of," he answered. "I have a couple of things to check out here."

Britt walked past her and went into the back room where he had been doing his research work. He pulled out the chair and sat down in front of the computer. He knew what he had to do. He just didn't know how to go about it. He needed Alice's permission to do something, and he didn't know how the hell to ask her.

"Are you going to sit there all day? Some of us have work to do."

He looked up and discovered Sam standing behind his chair.

"Morning, Sam," he greeted.

"Something seems to be troubling you," Sam commented.

Britt studied the man for a time, trying to make up his mind about something. Finally he stood to his feet and motioned the older man to follow him. When they were inside the room where Sam actually put his newspaper together, Britt closed the door.

"What's going on, Britt?" the man asked.

Britt lowered his voice and said, "You've lived in this town all of your life, right?"

Sam nodded. "I have."

"How well do you know the McKenzie's? Elaine and John," he asked.

"I guess about as well as most people know them," Sam admitted.

"Do you know them well enough to suspect they might have done something really crazy in the past?"

Sam was quiet for a moment. "Maybe," he finally said.

Britt looked at the older man closely. "You know the truth, don't you?"

Sam reached for the door handle. "I don't know a damned thing," he said. He opened the door and added, "I have work to do, Britt. I'm sure you do too."

"I'm sorry, Sam. It was not my intention to offend you."

Sam managed a smile. "I'm not offended, Britt. It's just that some things, well, they're just better off left alone. If you get my drift," he added. "Now run along. I'm sure you have plenty to do. We both do."

Britt returned to his computer more confused than ever. His talk with Sam had been almost identical with that of his mother. What sort of power did the McKenzie's have that could create so much fear for the people of Porterville?

Britt was suddenly determined to find out what all the secrecy was about, and he was going to do his best to bring it out into the open. He walked to the front office and spoke to Alice. ` "Alice, do you trust me?"

"That's a silly question, Britt. Of course I trust you," she said.

"Enough to grant me a crazy and unusual wish?"

"Like what?"

"It concerns your brother's grave."

"What about his grave?" she asked when he paused and didn't continue.

"Can I check it out?"

She looked confused. "I thought you went to see it already. You told me you had."

He managed a nod. "I did see it," he said. "I need to see more."

"More? How can you see more?"

He was silent, and she waited for him to speak.

"Alice, I—"

"What is it, Britt? Why are you so upset?"

"Alice, I need your permission to check out your brother's grave."

Alice leaned forward and placed her hands on the top of her desk. "By all means, feel free to go look at it, Britt."

"Alice, I...need...I have a feeling your twin brother is not buried where the marker is."

"What in heaven's name are you talking about, Britt?"

Britt suddenly had an idea. He walked back to Sam.

"Sam, Alice needs to leave the office for a few moments. That okay with you?"

"Is everything all right? Is she okay?"

"She's fine. I just have an errand to run, and she needs to go with me. Hopefully we won't be gone long."

"Go, then. I can handle things until she comes back."

Britt rejoined Alice. "I want you to come with me, Alice. Sam can handle things here."

"Where are we going?"

"To your house."

"My house?" she repeated. "Why?"

"I'll tell you when we get there. Remember, you said you trusted me, Alice."

"I do trust you, Britt Williams. I just don't know what the hell you are up to."

They were walking out to Britt's car by this time.

"Alice, I promise you, I am not up to anything. I think I've discovered something, and if I have, you have the right to know. Especially since it's going to affect you in the long run," he added.

"You're confusing me all the more," she told him.

They were in his car now, and Britt was backing out into the street. He put the car into gear and drove them to the Cooper home.

"Why are you bringing me home?" she asked when he pulled into her drive.

"I know I sound like a broken record, Alice, but you said you trusted me. I really don't mean to confuse you. Hopefully this mess will be cleared up very soon."

"What mess?"

Alice hurried up the steps and unlocked the door. She invited Britt inside.

"Now what?" she asked when they were standing in her living room.

"Alice, do you have a shovel?"

"Out back in the tool shed."

"I need to see it," he told her.

Britt followed her through the small house and out the back door. They were standing on the same deck where not so very long ago Alice's mother, Margaret, had fallen to her death.

"There's a shovel in that shed," Alice said pointing. "Just what is it you're going to dig up?"

Britt didn't give her an answer. Instead he hurried down the wooden steps and walked to the small out building. He opened the door and saw the shovel leaning against the wall. He reached for it and left the shed. Not saying a word, Britt made his way to the back where the small marker was that told where the Cooper child had been laid to rest so many years ago.

Alice stood silently and watched him make his way across the yard, shovel in his right hand. Suddenly she realized what was on his mind; what he intended to do.

"Britt, wait!" She flew down the wooden steps and quickly ran to him. "Have you lost your mind? Whatever are you thinking?"

"Please, Alice, just trust me. You have my word; if I'm wrong, I'll drop this entire project and quit messing with people's lives."

Alice shrugged her shoulders. "I've never felt you were messing with my life. I just can't for the life of me understand why you're doing this."

"Again, trust me, Alice. Please," he whispered.

Alice hugged her shoulders with her hands and nodded. "Then do what you have to do," she told him.

The small grave was kept in a neat orderly fashion, covered with the prettiest flowers Britt had ever seen. Margaret Cooper had kept the little grave neat, each little flower watered and free of weeds from the first day it had been placed there. Now that she was gone, it was evident that Alice was carrying on with her mother's tradition.

Britt was suddenly filled with doubt. What if he was mistaken?" he thought. If he was wrong he didn't think he could ever forgive himself for putting Alice through this hell.

Actually it was Alice, herself, that encouraged him to continue. "Go on, Britt," she said. "Do what you need to do."

He paused and then placed the tip of the shovel against the top of the small grave. Placing his foot on the blade, he pushed downward. Even with all of the watering the flowers had received, he was surprised how hard the ground actually was. He had a difficult time breaking the soil. Finally he made headway, and he was able to remove the dirt.

The more he dug, the harder it was for Britt to breathe. It wasn't the act of labor or the hot summer sunshine that was causing the problem. It was the fact that the deeper he dug he found no sign of the Cooper child's casket. Nothing but dirt; and lots of that.

Britt finally stopped digging.

"Alice?"

Alice dropped to her knees, unable to stand on her feet any longer. "I don't understand. What does this mean, Britt?"

Britt didn't really know how to answer her; at least not just yet. He said, "I'm not sure, Alice. What I do know is your twin brother is not buried here."