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-DurtyRiter
The Man with the Jeep
Chapter 45
"I thought you said nobody would be up here in these woods," Colton complained to his older companion.
"They usually ain't," grunted Jeb, rubbing the silver whiskers on his well-weathered chin. "Never seen anyone before."
"You sure we ain't lost?" Colton persisted.
"Yeah, I'm sure," replied Jeb. "So just nip it already."
Colton subsided, but he still wasn't happy. He was out of his element outdoors as the bright sunburn on his pale rounded face could attest. He didn't mind skirting certain stupid laws, but he definitely didn't want to be caught doing it. It made him nervous, and that meant he talked too much and tried to deflect.
"Maybe they'll leave quick," Colton suggested.
"Mebbee, but that one is grabbin' somethin' outta his Jeep, so prolly not."
Colton sighed. "What should we do?"
"Hold on a sec." Jeb replied brusquely to his yammering 20-something-year-old compatriot.
A few moments later, he knew they weren't leaving right away. "They just pulled out blankets, so they ain't goin' nowhere for a bit."
"Aw, man." Colton fretted. "Should we head back down?"
"Dunno yet," Jeb replied impatiently. "Let's see what they might be plannin'"
The two of them watched John spread out the blankets on the rock while Andrew stripped.
"You gotta be kiddin' me," groaned Colton, rolling his eyes.
"Shut up," sniped Jeb. "You sound like my mule."
Colton harrumphed and crossed his arms in front of his round chest in silent protest.
They watched as John shed his clothes right after Andrew.
"Oh, hell no." Colton said emphatically. "I ain't watchin' no fuckin' queers do what they do. It just ain't right."
"Didja ever think that maybe they was just skinny dippin' in that little pool down there? No! You always gotta jump to yer conclusions before you know anything."
"I know enough," grumbled Colton. "See? That one laid down on those blankets and the other faggot is getting ready to lie on top of him."
It looked that way to Jeb for a moment too, but he soon saw the massage begin.
"Mebbee and mebbe not," Jeb insisted. "What difference does it make to you what a couple queers do?"
"No one, I guess, but it's all wrong," Colton replied. "And I don't gotta watch."
"Nobody's forcin' you."
Despite his protestations, Colton was still a tiny bit curious and continued to watch.
Besides, Jeb was watching too.
"There, you see?" gloated Jeb. "It's just a massage."
"What kinda dude gets a massage?"
"The kind with neck and back pains, you idiot."
"You won't catch me gettin' one of those."
"You think I care?"
"I'm just sayin'."
"Well, don't."
Colton looked at Jeb. "You know what? You're an asshole."
"Takes one to know one, Colt, so say what you like."
"How I ever let you talk me into thisÑ"
"Me?" Jeb bridled. "Talk YOU into it?!? Yer the one who insisted on crashin' my party where you ain't welcome. I'm quite fine on my own, thank you. I'm half a mind to leave you here and let ya find yer own way home. Prolly get lost and maybe mauled by a bear on the first night. Serve you right! Damn whimpering puppy."
"There's bears? You didn't say nuthin' about bears before."
"Of course there's bears. Wherever there's game, there's bears."
"Well how was I supposed to know?"
"Oh god," breathed Jeb. "Are you really this stupid?"
"Fuck off!"
"Gladly," Jeb said, gathering his gear that he had laid down. "Good luckÑyou'll need it."
"Aw, come on, Jeb."
Jeb just gave him a look.
"Awright, I'll be good." Colton said earnestly. "Promise."
"Yeah, right," sighed Jeb. "But if you keep sniveling, I'm gonna wash my hands of you and let you fend for yourself."
"Yessir," mumbled Colton. "I just wish them faggots weren't here."
"Well, we know there ain't no game around with them here, that's fer sure." Jeb observed. "Whatever they are doing," he added pointedly.
Colton spared another glance. "Now the dude's on his back. I'm telling ya, JebÑ Never mind."
"Don't be a hater, Colt."
"I just don't like seeing it is all."
"Yer still not seeing anything. Yer jumpin' to conclusions is all. Yer biased."
"The skinny kid's got a big ol' boner, Jeb. It can't get any clearer than that."
"Goes to show what YOU know," Jeb sneered. "Embarrassing as hell, but any good massage'll do that. Or put you to sleep. One or th' other every time. Sometimes both."
"Look who's the sudden expert."
"I ain't an expert, but I've had a few massages in my day. I also read. You should try it sometime."
"I can read!"
"O' course you can."
"I know you don't believe me, but I can."
"I don't care, Colt. Prolly never will."
"Whatever."
"Irregardless, you may be right with them. Who knows? I'm just sayin' you gotta learn to stop jumpin' to conclusions. If I did that, I'd never catch my prey. Fact, I'd prolly be long dead by now."
Colton managed not to say he wished that was true.
They turned their attention back to the guys below them in the vale, and it wasn't long before they watched them move into the pool and out of sight.
"So that's that then. They ain't goin' nowhere."
"I spose so. We might as well head out."
"Good," declared Colton. "I feel like I've been tainted just by being this close to them fudge-packers."
"They aren't contagious, pea-brain."
"I know that, I just don't want to breathe the same air as them."
If you only knew,' thought Jeb. You've been breathing "homo air" for three days now...'
Oblivious to the drama unfolding up the hill, Andrew and John were just enjoying being in each other's company while the hot water churned around them.
"I do love hot tubs," Andrew confessed after a long while. "Pools are cool too, but I'd be fine without those. These, on the other hand, are practically a need."
"They are, are they?" John chuckled. "Then I'm glad I could provide it for you."
"Me too," agreed Andrew with a laugh. "And thanks again for the wonderful massage."
"I'm glad you liked it. Whenever you'd like another, just let me know."
"Just so you know, that's a dangerous offer."
"'Kay, but it may be rescinded if you abuse it too much."
"Then I will try to control myself."
"Always a good plan," John agreed.
They spent another thirty minutes chitchatting as they let the warmth soothe their bodies before John announced it was time to head back.
"Already?" Andrew asked mournfully. "But I like it here."
"Me too, bud, but there's only so much daylight left."
"I know," Andrew sighed. "I just don't want the day to end."
"I hear you," John replied as he led the way out.
John turned off the spa system and they walked over to the rock slab to grab towels and dry off. They were soon dry, clothed, and banging down the trail once again.
Like new friends, Andrew recognized several particular trees and bushes along the way as they drove. This place was starting to feel more like home with every visit, and he liked it.
He turned his head to tell John, but was immediately distracted when he saw how the speckled and shifting golden light played on the handsome specimen sitting next to him. At this time of day, it really brought out yellow and orange highlights as the curly mop on his head got blown about in the wind. Same with the hair on his arms and legs. It almost looked like he was on fire.
And now something was burning inside Andrew as well.
How could this be? They weren't even to their fourth week anniversary of being official yet, but it was as if he kept seeing John for the very first time. He was still blown away by this man. It was weird. It was maybe even ridiculous, but Andrew wouldn't have it any other way. And when you threw in the confidence, the stability, and the understanding, he really made a strong case for being the complete package.
That wasn't even addressing the new discoveries. John didn't just work hard; he was smart with his investments in both time and money. He was considerate almost to a fault even as he challenged Andrew to understand himself and grow. John had a natural gravitas about him that drew people to him and commanded their respect. Everyone wanted to please him. Andrew was pleased, honored, and humbled to be drawn into his orbit.
And being drawn into his arms was indescribably fantastic.
Those arms were currently manhandling the steering wheel and shifter of this old red bucket of bolts in its plunge down the mountainside. Against all odds, Andrew remained relaxed and at ease despite the crashing ride. He had nothing but confidence in his driver's ability.
And this was hardly the first time taking this trip with him, which reminded him of what he had been going to say.
"You know," Andrew said. "This place is starting to feel like home."
John looked at him for a brief moment with a grin. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah," he confirmed. "Being here with you settles just right in my soul."
"Aw," said John. "I'm honored. And I'm glad you like it here too. This place is wonderful, but it's not everyone's cup of tea for sure."
"I like it better than tea."
"Noted!" laughed John.
"I mean it," Andrew insisted. "I really don't want to go back this time. I'd rather sell my place and just live here."
"The commute is a bit long from here though," John reminded him.
"I know. But that's only because of where I work. I could get a new job."
"True," John replied. "Does this mean you are thinking about what Mr. FletcherÑI mean BillÑhad to say at lunch yesterday?"
"Yeah. A lot, actually."
"So what are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that I need a plan," laughed Andrew. "But that's way easier to say than to do."
"That it is," John agreed. "What might be your first step?"
"Well I want to just quit my job, but that's really stupid. I guess the first step is to find a building and see how much investment money I need."
"You think it's just about the rent?" John asked. "What about the business itself? Do you know what you want it to be? What you'll sell, who your market is, and how you are going to get sales going?"
"This may surprise you, but I do have a pretty good idea of all that. Especially the `what' part. I can picture it in my head when I close my eyes."
"Then you're farther along than I thought," replied John.
Andrew was inordinately pleased that he had surprised John even a little bit. He always seemed to have Andrew's number, and it felt good to remember that he was capable on his own even without John. "So have you thought of where you want it to be?" John asked.
"Not so much specifically," Andrew admitted. "But I've pictured it so often I will know it when I see it."
"From the inside looking out, then?"
"Yeah," replied Andrew.
"The reason I ask is that there is an old farm with a greenhouse on the way back we could check out if you like."
"Really? How did I not see that?"
"It's been let go for a while now and gotten very overgrown. You wouldn't even know it was there now unless you were looking for it."
"Then how do you know about it?"
"It used to be run by friends of the family back in the day, but the wife died and the guy just couldn't bear to carry on without her, so he took the kids and moved back to town. They may even still own it."
"That's a sad story."
"Yeah, it is. They are good people too."
"Where is it?"
"Just down the road."
"That should be doable then. I've always envisioned it on a busy road that isn't super busy, if that makes sense."
"Almost," John answered with a twinkle in his eye. "I guess we'll just have to check it out."
"I'd like that."
A short time later, they were pulling off the highway onto a seemingly random patch of pavement in front of a large mass of greenery. It wasn't until they got out of the car that Andrew could see a building hidden inside the foliage.
It was low and wide with a small porch in the center leading to the front door. All the windows were boarded up, but there were two large windows to each side of the portico if the plywood was any indication. John confirmed that impression and led the way around to one side of the building. As promised, there was a large glass greenhouse tucked back there. Andrew was surprised that there didn't seem to be many broken panes of glass. Most of these kinds of places looked absolutely thrashed pretty quickly after the business folds, but this one seemed to have done fairly well.
"How long did you say this has been empty?" Andrew asked.
"I'm not sure, but maybe about fifteen years," John replied. "Oof, that makes me sound old!"
"No, it doesn't!" protested Andrew. "It's in really good shape for being abandoned that long."
"I was just thinking the same thing. I wonder if the back door is locked."
John walked up to the back of the main building and tried the handle, but it was definitely locked.
"Oh well, but maybe we can check out the greenhouse at least."
They finally found a door to the greenhouse, but it was locked too, so they continued around it. The second door they located wasn't quite closed all the way, and John was able to yank it open, albeit with a horrendously loud screech of protest.
Andrew entered first, and saw just what he expected: long rows of tables with deteriorated plastic seedling trays and plastic pots. The tables were aluminum, so there was no rust to be found except on some of the hand tools that were laying around. Lots of plastic tubing indicated it was set up with an irrigation system as well. There was lots of dirt everywhere, of course, and a thick layer of dust on everything else.
Andrew barely registered the mess. He saw a glass palace begging for new plants. It was all he could do to not just roll up his sleeves and start clearing the tables on the spot.
"You like this, don't you?" John asked with a smile.
"Yeah, why?"
"I just watched your eyes light up and your brain trip into dreamland."
"Nu-unh."
"Deny it all you want, but I know what that look is now. You instantly starting thinking and planning. I know you did," he said, tapping the side of his temple knowingly with a grin.
"Fine!" Andrew confessed. "I do love it!"
"I thought so."
They continued to walk through the building with Andrew getting more and more excited as he went.
"They did everything right!" he breathed. "Just how I would have set it up!"
"Okay, Johnny Appleseed, the light's fading fast, so we need to head out."
"Yeah..." replied Andrew as he continued away from the door.
"I mean it! We have to wade out through all that shrubbery, remember?"
"Okay," relented Andrew wistfully.
They made their way out of the greenhouse and back to the main building where they discovered the boards over one small window on the far back side had fallen off. They peeked in, but it was very dark. Andrew wiped off some of the dirt from the glass and turned on the light of his cell phone. It didn't help a whole lot, but he could see it was mostly just one big open room with a counter right in front of the front door.
"It's just how I imagined it," breathed Andrew.
"Is it?"
"Almost exactly."
"In that case, I will give them a call and see if we can lease it or set up a rent-to-own it arrangement or something."
"Really?" asked Andrew. "You don't think I might be jumping the gun?"
"It sounds like you have it all mapped out to me and I believe in you. We can work out the actual business plan together if you'd like."
"I'd love that! And then we can see about getting a business loan and get things moving!"
"Who said anything about a business loan?" John asked. "I've got you covered. We will hash out some numbers and make sure, but I think I can do it if the Bradshaws are good about the rent or lease or whatever."
"Wait, what?" Andrew sputtered. "You'd do that for me?"
"Hell yes!" exclaimed John. "You are worth everything, and your happiness is worth everything to me. Of course I have your back on making your dreams come true! I don't think I'm risking much, to be honest, but even if so, I would risk everything for you!"
I'd love to hear from you if you have any questions or any suggestions for where this story should go :)
Also, I have had trouble posting consistently lately, so if you'd like me to let you know when a new chapter goes up, just send me a message and I will keep you posted. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have great day!
DurtyRiter@protonmail.com