A NEW HAND
by Tanda2000@compuserve.com
copyright by Tanda 3/2001
"Sign there on the line, son," Jake indicated as he pushed the paper across the rough wooden table. Jake leaned back in his wooden chair on two legs and watched as the nervous young cowboy bent forward to sign the paper.
He watched as the boy picked up the stubby pencil and studied the contract intensely, biting his full lower lip. Jake felt a stirrin'.
Then he added, "If ya ain't literate, boy, it's okay. Just mark it with an X."
The young cowboy guffawed, "Naw, I kin write, I reckon."
Jake grinned and watched the young buck continue reading. He got a good chance to look over the new dude. Just a young buck, maybe 18 or 19, slim build, worn out levis holding a promising bulge. The kid didn't have an ounce of fat on him and must have been meybbe 5'8" or 5'9". Who could tell with the boots the boy was wearin' Looked to be shy of about 150 pounds, if that, and Jake had to wonder if the kid would be able to take on the work here. But he knew from experience that you gotta watch out for these wirey ones. They tended to be stronger than they looked and might more stubborn. And sometimes ya needed that out here on the prairies of Texas.
Jake noticed fine beads of sweat on the kid's brow. Now, he knew it was a scorcher today and the ride in from town was over twenty miles or meybbe the kid's jest nervous. Hard tellin'. Jake had to wonder where the Boss found these guys. The young cowboy had come ridin' up and said that a Mr. Mathis had told him there was work here. Well, yeah, Jake had said. We're hirin'. Come on and we'll get ya started.
Jake was mulling all this in his mind and surveying the boy's firm, muscled body as the boy scribbled on the paper. The young cowboy's shirt was too small for him and Jake watched as his biceps almost busted outta his shirtsleeves. The kid had potential.
Proudly, the boy stood back up and shoved the paper back towards the foreman. Jake grabbed the paper from the table and squinted at the signature. Unsurely, he repeated out loud what he was readin', "Brandon?"
The boy tucked his hands inside his belted levis. "Yessir, that's me. In the flesh."
"Ya ever do any kind of ranch work a'fore, son?"
The new cowboy shuffled his feet and murmured, "Yeah, we used to have a small place in Alabama. Weren't no ranch, though. Just a small spread with my Ma and Pa. Nuthin' like this. But I'm willin' to work and work hard I will. I'll do any kinda work ya needin' done."
Jake looked up into the boy's sun reddened face and thought to himself, "What a good lookin' cuss." He made eye contact with the young cowboy and he grinned.
"Well, that's what we like to hear, son."
He stood up and extended his hand. His big paw engulfed the younger man's hand and they shook. Jake was a big 'ol bear of a man standin' at 6'4' and about 240 pounds. 240 pounds of lean, hard muscle. Years of working the ranch.
"Okay, Brandon, is it? We'll give ya a shot. Ya got one week to prove yourself. That's all I kin do. Let's see how you can pull your own weight around here. You're gonna have to get up at the crack of dawn with the other men and we work 'till the job's done. Sometimes on into the night. We got a bunk house we'll put ya up in with the other hands. We'll feed ya good and get your bedding. Past that, you're on your own. Sound agreeable to you?"
The kid smiled big. "Why, shore does, Sir! Ya won't regret it!"
"You kin jest call me Jake. I'm the ranch foreman and what I say 'round here is law. Got that? And I don't take no shit from no one."
"Yessir."
"I'm gonna send you out back to Cook to get ya set up."
"What's his name, Sir? uh, Jake?"
"His name is Cook."
Jake cocked his head towards the cabin door. "Jest go on around the back of the shed here, follow the path and you'll run right into him. I'll be 'round to check up on you later. You got any problems, you come and see me."
"Yessir, thanks."
Jake watched with interest as the young cowboy left him alone in the cabin, his boots filling the small room with loud thudding noise on the wooden floor. The kid seemed to walk with a purpose. Jake was impressed. A little cocky, but that was okay. Jake liked a dude with an attitude. He'd need it here. Looked like the boy had a good strong back and Jake couldn't help but notice the tight bubble butt in the jeans. Damn, if he didn't feel that stirrin' again.
Brandon stepped outside on the wooden plank porch. The overhang covered him from the hot sun but there was no getting' around that stiflin' heat. 'Bout took his breath away.
The young cowboy took off his hat and pulled the red kerchief from his right back pocket. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and then placed his sweat dampened hat back on top of his wet brown hair that was pretty much plastered to his head.
Standin' in the shade, Brandon took a spell to look around the spread. From what he could see, this damned ranch seemed to stretch into forever. Only the distant hills and purple peaks of mountains far, far away seemed to be the boundaries of this estate. Whew, he thought. This Mr. Mathis character must be pretty loaded to have all this land. He had to wonder how many cowhands he had workin' for him.
The rumblin' of his tight belly made Brandon come back to reality and realize that he hadn't eaten since last night and the name "Cook" could only mean some grub. He hoped he could find himself a crick to dip into and cool off. Shore would be nice to jump into some cold water butt naked like he used to do back home in Alabama. Man, he missed home already. But no time to think 'bout that now. He was startin' a new life and a man's job. Pa would be proud. Ma would be worried.
Brandon stepped down from the safety of the shaded porch and headed 'round back of the small building, pulling his wet shirt from his back with his hand, allowing the little bit of warm breeze to cool of his sweating back. Shore was hot and dusty here in this state of Texas. Damn.
He went around the side of the building and down a small gully and surprised to find what looked to be an outdoor kitchen. There was an adobe kiln lookin' thing that he suspected was an oven of some sort and he saw a big cauldron boiling some kinda brew over an open fire. Next to it was another fire going with some sorta critter on a spit just cookin' away in the hot sun. In the middle of all this kitchen crap was an Oriental lookin' man wearin' an old white apron over breeches tucked into knee high boots. He had a long black braid hangin' from the back of his head that was covered in some kinda crazy black cap.
The man looked to be a might older and a might taller than him and was busy fussin' over one of the pots. Brandon thought he was bein' quiet as he approached, but when he got a little nearer, the Oriental man looked up at him holdin' onto a big wooden paddle of some sort. He scrutinized Brandon with guarded eyes with that big ol' paddle clutched in his hand.
"You got papers?," the man asked. "Let me see papers or you come no closer The man didn't seem afraid, just adamant.
Brandon stopped dead in his tracks and reached into his back pocket and pulled out the contract that he had just signed holding it up for the man to see.
The Oriental man grunted, "Hmph. You come closer now. Cook wants to see."
Brandon stepped closer holding the paper out like a flag of truce. Couldn't be too careful. This guy seemed pretty high strung. And that paddle had him worried.
The man dropped his oversized oar into the big pot with a splash and was in front of Brandon in a flash. He snatched the paper from the young cowboy and studied it through wary dark eyes. Brandon sized up the man and saw that he was about Jake's age but a hellava lot thinner. His white loose blouse was open and billowing in the hot breeze and Brandon could see the man's smooth olive skinned chest.
Satisfied, the man shoved the paper back into Brandon's hand. He smiled broadly at the boy. "Me is Cook. My English not so good but I cook good. The man giggled. "You will like. Your name is Brandee?"
Brandon grinned. "Brandon." He pronounced each syllable like the man was touched in the head.
Cook put his head on his slim hips and nodded rapidly. "Okay, good, good. Brandee. You cowboy? You work for Mr. Mathis?"
Brandon gave up and shrugged, smiling at Cook. "Yep, I work here now. Jake sent me to you."
Cook looked serious and nodded. "Ahhhh, yes, Jake. Good, good."
Then to Brandon's surprise, Cook said, "Take off hat."
Perplexed but not wanting to piss the high strung man off, Brandon reached up and pulled his hat off, holding it by his side. The hot breeze ruffled through Brandon's sweat soaked wet hair. Even though it was hotter than hell, it felt cool.
Cook peered doggedly at Brandon's hair. Brandon just stood there embarrassed. Suddenly, Cook asked in a high pitched voice of alarm, "Lice. You got Lice?" and started rummaging his skinny brown fingers through his hair, apparently looking for any ill fated bugs.
Brandon mournfully shook his head, "No, Cook, no lice."
Satisfied with his inspection, Cook pinched his face up and picked at Brandon's shirt with two fingers. With disapproval in his voice and registering on his face, he said, "You smell, cowboy Brandee. You smell bad. No good, no good."
"You gotta crick where's I kin clean up a might."
Ignoring Brandon's statement, the little Oriental man turned and shrieked, "Kwon! Kwon Li!"
He turned back to Brandon and said, "You wait, you wait here. Kwon Li will fix you good. Good."
A few yards away was a low squat building that Brandon had surmised was the bunkhouse by Jake's description. From around the corner of the building came a girl that was obviously related to Cook. She was wearing a loose fitting white blouse open to the waist and a pair of billowing white pants made from the same sheer fabric.
"Kwon, you hurry now,' admonished Cook.
As the girl approached, Brandon made a startling discovery. It wasn't a girl at all, but a young boy. He had long jet black hair in the same type of braid that Cook wore. The boy looked to be only about 14 years old. Cook turned and introduced Brandon to the young boy. "This Kwon Li. He give bath."
Cook clucked his tongue and the young boy shyly approached Brandon. Brandon just stood there dumbfounded.
The boy did not raise his eyes to meet Brandon, but kept his eyes lowered and gave a slight bow of his head.
Cook started dishing out instructions, "This is cowboy Brandee. You clean him. Now. Make him wash clean. He smell bad."
Brandon broke all rules of etiquette and said, "Howdy, Kwon Li."
Cook gave his usual "Hmph" and went back to his boiling pots, leaving the two boys alone.
Kwon Li broke into a shy smile and looked up briefly at Brandon.
"Pardon me, sir. It is Brandee, no?"
Brandon chuckled. "Nope, it's Brandon." He stood in front of the boy with his thumbs hooked into his belt loop.
"Sorry, cowboy Brandon."
"It's okay, Kwon Li."
Without another word, Kwon Li took the young cowboy by the arm and Brandon followed as the boy led him back down by the bunkhouse. They passed by the makeshift outdoor kitchen and Cook shooed them as they passed but he seemed to be in pretty good spirits, Brandon noted, as he spoke in his native language to the pots or whatever or whoever was in them. Brandon had to grin.
He followed the boy down the path to the bunkhouse and when they reached the front of it, Brandon noticed a water trough with a hand pump in the middle of the clearing. Brandon was surprised at how quiet it was and wondered where all the other hired hands were at. But realizing it was the middle of the afternoon, he figured they was all out in the fields.
Kwon Li led him to the front of the bunkhouse and opened the creaky wooden door. Brandon stepped inside of the dark, cool room and looked around. Kwon Li said, "You stay, cowboy Brandon. You stay here."
Nonplussed, Brandon stood in the doorway of the bunkhouse as he was instructed as the young oriental boy scurried off somewhere in the darkened room. Brandon soon heard a ruckus from a dark corner and, it wasn't long before Brandon could see the boy rolling a large wooden tub out into the center of the room.
"Ya'll need some help with that there tub?", he asked.
Kwon Li looked frightened and replied, "No! No, cowboy. You stay. Kwon Li do this. It is what I do."
Brandon didn't reply, just watched as the young boy struggled with the tub almost as large as himself. Brandon stood with his arms folded across his chest and watched as the tub was rolled directly in front of his feet. Kwon Li looked up into Brandon's eyes with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
"You take bath, now, cowboy.", he instructed.
Brandon just stared at the boy as if he was a brick shy of a load. Then he was startled as the young boy stepped in front of him and, without hesitation, pulled Brandon's healthy arms down to his side.
In a quiet whisper, Kwon Li said, "Kwon Li will help."
Standing so close in front of him made Brandon feel a bit awkward, but the boy didn't seem the least bit bothered as he reached up and slowly began to unbutton Brandon's sweat drenched shirt.
Brandon had always been taught to be mindful of foreigner's customs and to show respect, so he dutifully stood and let the boy open his shirt, revealing his smooth, muscled torso. He watched in the low afternoon light as the boy's eyes glided over his slightly sun tanned skin. He grinned to himself as he saw the boy's nose wrinkle up like Cook's had done when he peeled the young cowboy's shirt off.
No words were spoken as the boy took the offending shirt off to the corner of the wooden bunkhouse and deposited it on the floor. He also noticed the young boy remove his own top white flimsy blouse and Brandon had to marvel at the boy's smooth brown skin. The boy's loosely fit trousers were tied with a rope around his slim waist and Brandon thought to himself that the kid was really just a skinny runt as he watched the boy go to the big pot of boiling water in the large fireplace.
The boy stoked the slow burning fire under the pot of, what he assumed to be water for his bath and then headed back across the room where the young cowboy stood in his jeans and boots. His hat and shirt long forgotten.
Kwon Li came up in front of Brandon again and without ceremony knelt down in front of his spread legs. To Brandon's surprise, the boy reached up and began to unbuckle his large brass buckle that his Pa had given him when he had broken in his first pony. So many years ago it seemed, Brandon recalled. Or so it seemed.
The boy struggled with the oversized buckle and then pulled his leather belt from the loops around his waist. Taking a deep breath, the boy undid the first button at the top of Brandon's jeans just below his navel. Brandon's breath caught in his throat. He had never been undressed by anyone before, especially by a young boy. The cowboy was feeling a might awkward but felt a stranger tingling in his groin. He hoped he wouldn't get excited in front of this young pup and scare the bejesus outta him. He hadn't been with a girl except for about a month ago when he had stopped in Dallas and had been taken in by a whore.
One by one, Brandon painfully endured each button being undone deliberately and slowly and felt his manhood coming to life with each button being released. Damn, what was he gonna do? At last the boy had reached the end of his journey of buttons and Brandon's fly was left open, his hardening organ at the verge of busting loose. He was breathing heavily but not a word was exchanged between the two. Brandon figured it must be the custom of the orient. He'd heard about geisha girls or some kinda crap like that and figured this must be the boy version.
Kwon Li stood up and left Brandon standing there in his jeans with his fly open and pulled up a wooden bench behind him. He spoke quietly but with authority.
"You sit, cowboy Brandon and take off boots. I get water."
Brandon sat down on the rough hewn bench and started tugging on his boots as the boy began lugging bucket after bucket of hot water from the boiling pot. After Brandon had successfully yanked off his boots, he stood back up and waited for further instructions from the boy. He was not disappointed. Kwon Li came over and started to tug his tight fitting jeans down around his slim hips. Brandon was a little embarrassed and was glad they was all alone in here as his jeans cleared his hips and his semi-hard manhood swung between his legs.
Kwon Li never uttered a word and just kept on tugging until the jeans were down around Brandon's ankles. Brandon's growing manhood accidentally brushed against the kneeling boy's jet black hair and Brandon bit his tongue. Hell, this was embarrassin'. But the boy did not react to the encounter much to Brandon's relief. Kwon Li was too intent on his mission. To bathe the dirty cowboy.
After Brandon's jeans were down around his ankles, the small oriental boy stood back with his hands on his slim hips and looked Brandon over like he was proud of a job he had just finished. Kwon Li looked over Brandon's smooth hard body, his eyes curiously going to the swinging pendulum of manhood between his muscled thighs.
Suddenly Kwon Li, said, "Okay, cowboy Brandon. You get in now. We wash you good."
"Boy!", Brandon stated. "I ain't gettin' into that tub of hot water. It'll scald me alive!"
"Okay, okay. Kwon Li will fix."
Brandon stood there buck naked in the empty bunkhouse as the boy scurried outside and brought in a pail of cold water from the pump and poured it into the hot tub of water. He stood back and asked, "Okay now, Cowboy Brandon?"
"Yeah, I guess, kid," Brandon said and hesitantly stuck one of his bare feet in. The water was just fine. He put his other foot in and stood there naked in the tub of water wonderin' how he was gonna get a bath in such a small tub.
His question was soon answered. Kwon had gotten a rough rag and, kneeling beside the tub of water, dipped it in and rung it out. He picked up a bar of lye soap he had by the tub and Brandon watched as the boy scrubbed the rag with the soap, making a good lather. Then, carefully the boy began applying the soapy rag to the cowboy's calves. Brandon didn't know how much he was gonna be able to take of this and had almost decided to stop the boy and do it himself, but remembered how his Pop had always told him about how sensitive folks were about their customs.
Brandon closed his eyes and bit his tongue again, enjoying the gently rubbing of the boy's skillful hands beneath the soapy rag. He couldn't help it, he was starting to sport wood between his legs as the young oriental hands lathered him up higher and higher, getting dangerously close to the danger zone of a young, hot, and horny cowboy. Brandon tried like hell to not remember the way the boy's young tender lips had smiled at him with innocent shyness. The way the plump lips parted slightly and the small pink tongue darted out, licking the boy's lips as he worked feverishly in front of the dirty cowboy.
But all these thoughts were futile when Brandon felt the boy's small soapy hand grasp his hard manhood and stroke it lightly. The boy squeezed Brandon's hard shaft and Brandon could feel the head of his cock balloon up. The young Oriental seemed nonplussed by the cowboy's state of arousal and continued to stroke the engorged shaft as well as caressing Brandon's tortured full balls with his soapy young hands.
"Stop it, Brandon! Stop this fool nonsense, man!", he admonished himself. "This is just a little boy!" Brandon was ashamed of himself and wished the little Oriental boy would just disappear. Then, he'd take matters into his own hands and get rid of his growing manhood in the only way he knew. Strokin' it to satisfaction. He tried thinkin' about anything he could do get the pictures of the young boy out of his mind. It jest ain't right. But his mind kept going back to the sight of the boy's perfect pink lips and how good they would feel wrapped around his throbbing cock. Damn! He had to quit this! But the young boy was so intent on washing the dirty cowboy that he was stroking and squeezing Brandon's hard cock and then running his hands down around his firm ass and down his thighs. Brandon could feel the heat of the boy's breath on his hard cock as Kwon Li bent closer to his work.
The stomping of heavy boots on the wooden porch broke the quiet spell between the cowboy and his bather. "Oh, shit," Brandon thought. "Someone's gonna come in here and see me with this young boy and think the worst. How much more embarrasin' can this be?"
But, not knowing what to do, Brandon stood stock still in the tub with a hard cock swinging between his legs as the young boy continued to wash his thighs, grazing his full balls. The boy seemed oblivious to the intruding boot steps.
Brandon uttered a curse under his breath. Then took the upper hand before whoever it was coming into the bunkhouse caught him in this compromising position.
"Okay, Kwon Li. Stop! I'll finish the rest."
The boy looked up at Brandon with innocent eyes and started to ask a question. However, the slamming of the door, brought Brandon's world crashing in and he was caught buck naked half hard on in front of a young boy. Things jest couldn't get worse.
To Be Continued...................