This is the story of one man's search for true love. However, there will be some sex but the real focal point will be on the relationships developed along the way. If you are not of legal age, this is unlawful in your area, or man sex bothers you, then I would suggest you leave now. Drop me line, I would love to hear from you. joecollins7420@yahoo.com
Chapter 10
Nick continued to improve and soon he was walking without the use of a cane, only a slight limp. Now he was completing his first year in his new classroom.
Tom came to the ranch every vacation. Nick even went with Tom to his Mother's place for Christmas and Tom gave his portrait to his mother. This was the best present that he could have given her.
It was very evident that Nick and Tom were closer together now than they had ever been. They were even talking about what would happen when Tom was out of school and had his MD degree. Nick loved Tom as he would a brother. He still wanted to remain just friends and Tom felt the same. James was very active during his freshman year of high school. He was on the football team, the basketball team, and tract and field squad. James was even elected Freshman Class President. James had joined choir and had many solo parts. The choir went to the state completion and took home the 1st place trophy. James was selected as the best soloist. The high school band didn't fair as well. They only got a second place.
Sam and Alicia were offered several new positions with other schools but turned them down. They wanted to stay where they were. Who could blame them for not wanting to leave. In fact, they had moved both sets of parents to Roundup. They took two condos in the complex that James and Nick had purchased for Nick`s parents. Now, there were only a couple left.
It appeared that all the troubles were behind Nick and James until the day before school would be out for the summer. Jake and Lee went into Billings and were sitting in a bar having a beer and just relaxing.
"Jake! I told you that if I couldn't have you then no one could!" Shouted a very irate man .
"Calm down, Ron. Have a seat and we will take about what is bothering you." said Jake calmly. "No, Lee, you can stay. You need to hear this as it also involves you."
"Now just what is bothering you, Ron." asked Jake.
"You know what is bothering me! It was you who kicked me out! Don't you remember?" Ron said still shouting
"If I remember right, You were the one who was cheating on me. I just released you so you could move on with your life. What ever happened to your new love?"
"I just had a few dates, but that does not mean that I didn't love you. I'll always love you." Ron said with more anger in his voice.
"Lee, I think this could get a little nasty. I think we had better leave! Jake whispered to Lee, who nodded his head in agreement.
"Stay right where you are! I am not finished yet! Shouted Ron.
"Oh, Yes you are! We are leaving right now!" Exclaimed Jake.
" I said SIT! If you don't your boyfriend here is going to take a bullet right between the eyes!" said Ron pulling a gun from under his shirt.
"Ron, you are in deep enough already! Put that gun away!" commanded Jake.
Ron raised the gun and pulled the trigger, hitting Jake killing him instantly. He fired another shot and this time he hit Lee in the heart, killing him also He put the gun to his head and .pulled the trigger and he too, fell over the table dead.
The police arrived. The bartender and all customers all told the same story. A policeman looked in Jake's wallet and found the number of the ranch. He called the ranch and one of the men was cleaning the office answered the phone. The policeman wanted to speak to the person in charge. The man gave the policeman the number for the ranch house. The man said that he needed to and speak with Nick Phillips.
"Oh, no! You have to be kidding. I feel like I am going to pass out. You will have to talk with my son." He handed the phone to James and passed out.
"Hello, I am the son. I am 16. My dad has passed out. Give me a number and I will bring him around and have him call you back." Said James hanging up the phone.
James finally got his dad to wake up. "Dad, you passed out! It must have been something terrible. Did something happen to one of my grandparents? Asked James.
"No, James! Jake and Lee were shot and they were both killed instantly."
"I have a number for you to call. They wouldn't talk to me."
"James, I will make the call and then we have to go tell all the employees."
Nick made the call and told the police that he would be down in the morning since there was nothing he could do tonight. He called his principal and told him what had happened and that he would need the day off. The principal told him that he would take his class since this was the last day of school and they were just going to have a play day and picnic. Nick told him that he would stop by and tell his class good-by.
James and Nick went down to the employee housing and told everyone what had happened. They stopped by Jakes and Lee's house and went in to find phone numbers of someone to notify about their deaths. Nick made the calls to both of their families. While he was calling James called his grandparents who said that they would tell Sam and Alicia who lived in the condo complex.
James had a hard time convincing them not to come out and that he and Nick had things under control. James was having a hard time keeping himself from falling apart. Nick came to his rescue and brought him back to reality.
"Nick, I am so glad that you painted this picture of Jake and Lee." Pointing to the picture hanging on the wall. "What are you going to do with it?" "I will see if one of the family members would like to have it, Otherwise, I will hang it next to the one of Tom that is in the den. If someone takes it, then I will paint another like I did of Tom using photographs that we have taken ."
They started looking through Nick's file cabinet and found all of Jake's papers, will, insurance policy, funeral plans and his last wishes. Jake and Lee had a substantial large amount of money between the two of them. Each of them had an insurance policy naming the other as beneficiary and if something should happen to both of them then Nick was the alternate. They wanted this money to be used to establish a scholarship fund for youths from the ranch to attend college of their choice. Each had a will putting everything into the fund. Nick was to be executor of their wills and administrator of the college fund.
Nick and James decided that the insurance money along with the all the other money would go into the college scholarship fund. They decided to put a hundred thousand of the ranch money into the fund also. When they ran the obituary in the local newspaper, they would ask for donations to the fund in lieu of flowers. Of course, this would have the approval of the families.
Jake's mother and Lee's Sister were flying in from Colorado. Nick had promised to meet them at the airport and take them out to the ranch. Nick was surprised to find out that Jake and Lee had been friends in high school and it wasn't just a chance meeting on the ranch that got them together. Nick stopped by his school and said good-bye to the children in his classroom. He asked the principal if he could hold a party for them and their parents on Saturday. Nick got his ok and the principal said he would have his secretary type up a note and send it home with the kids
Nick drove the ranch van into Billing so that he would have room to bring his guest back with him. He went directly to the police station where he got a complete report and Jakes and Lee's personal things that they had with them. He found where the bodies had been taken and drove over there to make arrangements to have them delivered to Roundup to the mortuary.
Nick had a little time and he knew that he had to go to the bar where Jake and Lee had been shot. However, it was closed but he saw someone inside and tapped on the window. The man came and opened the door. Nick introduce himself and told the man why he was there. He was invited in and the man took him to the exact same table where his friends had been shot. The man wanted to know if Nick wanted some time alone but he said no that he just wanted to get a little closure.
Nick went to the airport and went inside. He hoped he would remember Lee's sister. Nick's mind started playing tricks on him. He thought that he saw Jake standing there holding the sign with his name on it.. Jake waved and was gone. Did he see Jake or was this just his imagination? He would never know.
Soon he saw Jake's mother and Lee's sister, Sue coming down the ramp from the plane." There was a young boy and an another young man in a wheel chair with them. Sue saw Nick and came running to meet him. She threw her arms around his neck and they just stood there hugging and crying.
Sue finally introduce Jake's Mother, Mrs. Wilson and the previous scene was repeated. Finally, she introduced the young man in the wheel chair. "This young man is Harry, Jake's brother. The cute kid is Jake's son, Rickie." Nick was at a complete loss but he didn't let it show and gave each a hug.
Mrs. Wilson could see the look on Nick's face. "Nick, we must have a private meeting. I want to hear all about what happen to Jake, his life on the ranch and etc."
"What about the rest of you? Would you like to sit in?" Asked Nick.
"We can join you later. Mrs. Wilson would like to talk with you first. Maybe you can answer some of her questions and put her mind at ease. Thanks anyway!" Sue responded.
"How about us getting out of here. I have a van and will go and get it and bring it to curb side. I will be right back!" Nick mentioned. Nick got the car loaded. In fact, he had a porter do it for him. Nick and a porter were able to get Harry in the van. Everyone got in and Nick said,
"What about some lunch. I know of a little pizza place which has a great salad bar for all of us older kids. I know young boys like pizza. Right, Rickie?"
"You got that right, Nick. Better get a very large one because Harry and I both like pizza!" Rickie said grinning.
"As a matter of fact, this place has a pizza bar and you can have your choice and eat all you want." Nick informed his guests.
"Sounds good! Let's head out!" Harry suggested.
Chapter 11 Nick and his party arrived at the ranch. James waiting for them on the front porch. He came out to greet them. After all the introduction were complete, Nick said "James, why don't you take the guys and go for a swim. Harry, do you need help changing clothes?"
"No, Thanks! I can dress my self. I just can't walk. For some reason my legs just won't support me. The doctors tell me, my muscles didn't develop correctly. If my chair is close enough to the edge of the pool, I can just dive in. I can swim but my legs just won't support my body. That kid over there is the one who has to help dressing. He likes to run around in the nude until his grandmother catches him."
"Do not, You are the one they have to force to wear clothes!" resounded Rickie.
"James, I think I see a trip to the hot springs and lake in the near Future." Grinned Nick.
"Nick, I would like to go to Lee's and Jake's place. I remember where it is but I would like to go alone." Sue said with tears in her eyes.
"Sure thing. Mrs. Wilson and I can go into the house and find something cool to drink. There are cold drinks in Lee's place. We haven't had time to clean anything yet." Nick reacted. So we will see you later. If you need anything, remember just to press the call button and 1 on the phone. It will ring through to the house. Later."
"I know you must have a million question. I have a few of my own. Let me give you a brief run down on Jake's family. As a young boy, Jake was always bringing some stray kitten or puppy home. There was always a less fortunate boy or girl in our house. It seems like Jake was looking out for the underdog and trying to protect them. I know that he had many a fight and seemed to always come out winner."
"That sounds just like the Jake that we all knew and loved. I think I know where this leading but please finish you story." Nick said. Sue came running back into the house carrying the picture of Jake and Lee. "Mrs. Wilson would you look at this. Nick must have painted it as the pictures has his signature on it."
"Oh, I can't believe my eyes. Nick, you did a terrific job painting the picture. It looks just like both Jake and Lee. You even captured the love that they had for each other."
"Thanks, I am rather proud of it myself. If one of you want the picture, you may have it. I will do another for myself."
"Sue, you may have it if you want it." said Mrs. Wilson.
"Oh, I do. I will take it out and show Harry and Richie and then I will go back to Jake and Lee's place. Sorry to have interrupted you. Why don't you finish your little talk!" With that she was gone.
"As you have probably guessed by now, Harry is not Jake's brother and Rickie is not his son. Now that I have your full attention, I will start at the beginning. Harry is one of those unfortunate individuals that I was talking about earlier. About 10 years ago, Jake found Harry living on the streets on Denver as a homeless person. His parents had completely abandoned him and he was placed in a juvenile facility where he was very badly mistreated. Harry ran away and was living on the streets and because of his confinement to a wheelchair, and not able to work, he almost starved to death when Jake found him. Jake took him to his apartment and nursed him back to health. Jake enrolled him in the local community college after he helped him get his GED. Harry became a outstanding student and got his degree in accounting and today he is a registered CPA."
"That is all so unbelievable. Jake never mentioned Harry. In fact, he always kept his private life to himself. I had a chance to move into that big heart of his. As you noticed, I walk with a slight limp . I was severally beaten and lay near death in a coma for 6 weeks. Jake, my son, and my nurse were by my side 24 hours a day. They literally saved my life." Nick said with pride.'
"Nick, I know all about that. Jake called often and kept me up-dated. His father and I have known about Jake being gay since he was a teenager. He kept nothing from us. We never held it against him. We couldn't help but love him. I even know that you were in a coma and before you were severely beaten that you and Jake had a thing going. So you don't have to pretend and try to keep any thing from my family and Sue."
"I wasn't going to try. I just haven't had time to tell you." responded Nick
"Nick, did you know that Jake had Harry doing all the book work for the Ranch? Jake and Harry did it all over the internet."
"No, I didn't. I knew someone was but I didn't know who. I left running the ranch to Jake. James and I have only been here for a year now. There was a lot going on as you very well know. I can't see any problems and will continue with Harry."
"Harry, lives in a halfway house run by the state. He has his own apartment, does his own cooking and etc. There is a woman who comes in every day to clean and check on him. This will all come to an end in one week. The state is running out of money and has to cut corners somewhere. Social services is getting hit hard. I was considering having him move in with me but I'll be honest with you. I only have a couple of months to live. I have terminal cancer and I am in my last stages. So I could go at anytime."
"I am so sorry to hear that! School is out now so I will go home with you and we can get all your affairs in order and then I will bring all of you back to Roundup. If you don't want to stay at the ranch, James and I own an 30 unit apartment house in Roundup that my parents and aunt run. So we have lots of room for you. I will not take no for an answer. I have to repay Jake for all the kindness he extend to me. This is one way I can do it. Case closed."
"Thank you, Nick. You don't know how much I appreciate your offer. That is one big burden that has been lifted of my shoulders."
"You said one burden, implying that there are more. Am I right?"
"Yes, but that is not your problem."
"Oh, they might be so let me hear all of them! Nick said trying to hold back the tears. Mrs. Wilson couldn't and had tears running down her cheeks.
Nick put his arms around her and just held her. Finally she was able to go on with her story.
"Nick, I have already told you that Rickie is Jake's son. Jake and his mother, Gene, had just graduated from high school. After the graduation party, Rickie's mother and boyfriend went to far. She got pregnant. The baby's father would not accept any of the responsibility saying the baby was not his. He wanted her to have an abortion which she refused to do. Her parents rejected and disowned her. She was soon living on the streets, picking up odd jobs when she could find work. Her boyfriend left town, and has not been heard from since. Her parents left town and she had no idea where they went. All of the relatives would not tell."
"Yea, you guessed it! Jake brought another stray home. Jake's dad got her a job as a secretary in the office where he worked. She worked there until she died of cancer two years of ago. My husband and I let her live in our home and treated her as our own daughter. We both loved her and her son. My husband had an heart attack and died suddenly. I wanted her to stay and live with me which she did."
"Jake and Gene decided that she would use his name on the birth certificate. She knew that Jake was gay but they were still the best of friends. So legally, Rickie is Jake's son and until someone forces a DNA test he will remain so. Gene went by the last name of Wilson and that appears on her death certificate. Her family really has no way to trace her whereabouts. They even changed her name and she assumed the Name of Amanda Gene. I know all of this is not legal but who is to know. Rickie is my grandson and will remain so."
"So Nick, this is my other problem. I just don't want Rickie to placed in some foster home and eventually end up in an orphanage. I just don't know what to do?"
"Mrs. Wilson, I am not going to sit by and let you face this problem alone. We will tackle it together. James is not my son either. I adopted him when both of his parents, my best friends, were killed."
"Yes, I know. You forget my son was a blabber mouth and told his mother everything."
"Mrs. Wilson, I have something running through my mind and I want to see what you think about it? I am sure that James would love to have a younger brother to pick on. What do you think of me adopting Rickie." asked Nick.
"Nick, I wanted this to be your idea. Just a minute, I have a paper I want you to read." Mrs. Wilson pulled a legal notarized paper from her purse and handed it to Nick.
Nick took the paper and started reading it. He turned white as a sheet. This was a paper hand written by Jake and was notarized. Jake wanted to have it so if something happened to him ,Nick was to take Rickie and raise him as his own. This was the exact same copy that he had from James' parents. "Mrs. Wilson, do you know how Jake got a copy of the paper from James' parents?"
"Yes, James gave it to him. Jake knew that my time was limited and he wanted to make sure that Rickie would be taken care of if something would happen to him. No, he didn't know that he would die but wanted to be prepared. Nick, Rickie knows that Jake is not his real father. He is the only father he has ever known and Jake loved him like a son."
"Do you think we should wait until after the funeral to tell him or should be tell him now!"
"You don't have to answer Grandma! All three of us heard everything." said Rickie.
"My word how long have you been standing there?" Mrs. Wilson asked very shocked.
"Long enough! Nick, I would love to become your son and have James for an older brother." Rickie said running over and hugging Nick's neck. James joined them. "Dad, I love you and would love Rickie for a brother. I know Jake is looking down and smiling at you!" There was no way to stop the tears from flowing now.
"After the funeral, we are going to a lawyers office and start the paper work flowing.
"Harry, did you hear what I said about you?
"Yes, Nick. I did. I have fallen in love with this family already and I would love to live here on the ranch. We can work out all the detail later. Oh, by the way Richie and I loved the picture. James said you might do one for the two of us."
"That I will do!"