There's No Accounting for Love 13
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Chapter 13
Jon's Lost Love
Christmas came and went it was one of the happiest in memory. Jon was given the motor scooter that the guys were saving for him. He was almost too big for it since he had grown so much, but he couldn't have been happier. He promised the guys he would only ride as far as the B & B until he was confident handling it.
About a month after Christmas he rode into the village for the first time, it was sunny and warm, a perfect day to be out riding. He stopped for an iced tea at the pub before starting back to the ranch. He heard a lot of yelling in the back part of the pub and a scuffle broke out, a couple of tough looking guys dragged a guy out and threw him in the street, the barkeep told him to stay out, if he came back he'd have him arrested.
Minutes later Jon started back up the road for home when he saw the guy that had been thrown out of the pub sitting on a bench with his head in his hands. Jon slowed to a stop and asked if he was okay. The fellow looked up and said, "What do you care?"
There was something about him that seemed familiar, but Jon couldn't put his finger on what it was. The guy was dirty, unkempt and his clothes were so shabby they looked like they could fall off of him. He continued to look at him and the guy said, "What's the matter haven't you ever seen a bum before, stop staring at me."
There was something about this his eyes that Jon couldn't shake off. The man got up and started to walk away. Jon said, "Please wait; there's something about you that is so familiar. What's your name?"
"James."
Jon's eyes filled with tears, it hit him like a ton of bricks, this is his James the man he thought he'd never see again.
"James it's me, Jonathan."
James stopped and looked back, he shook his head, "I knew a Jonathan once, but he's dead, his father killed him."
Jon said, "James Ericson."
James stopped again, this time when he turned back he looked deeply into Jon's eyes, he started to shake, "You can't be Jonathan he died years ago."
Jon got off the scooter and put his arms around James and hugged him, "James it's me." James collapsed on the sidewalk. Jon ran to the phone booth on the corner and called home. Peter answered, "Peter come quick I'm in the village, I need help."
"Slow down Jon, are you hurt?"
"No, I found James and he's in bad shape, please come quickly."
"James?"
"Yes, James the boy my father found me with in the barn, he's lying on the sidewalk, and please Peter I need someone to come fast he needs help."
"I'm on my way Jon, stay calm and see if you can get your friend up so he's sitting, try not to drawn the attention of the police. It'll take me about thirty minutes to reach you."
Jon hung up the phone and pulled James up and walked him back to the bench and sat with his arm around James trying to keep him sitting straight. It was only about a half hour but it seemed like forever before Peter, Quinn and Michael arrived.
Quinn asked Jon if he knew why James collapsed, Jon said, "James thought I was dead and when he realized it was really me he just fell to the sidewalk."
Michael said, "That would be quite a shock Jon, let's get him in the truck, we'll put your scooter in the back and get James back to the house so we can check him over and clean him up."
On the drive to the house Jon told them that when he told James who he was, James said he couldn't be his friend, because Jonathan was murdered by his father. "I wonder why dad was never arrested." Peter said, "There wasn't a body found so there was no proof Jon. No wonder James passed out from shock, it must have been like seeing a ghost."
When they got James into the house, they put him on the same sofa Jon had laid on nearly five years ago. Jon was fighting back tears the entire time as they worked to clean James up and check him over for injuries. They heard Martin ride up on his horse, when he walked in he said, "So this is James. How is he doing?"
Jon started to ask how...Peter said, "Don't ask how he knew, none of us understand it." Martin put his arm around Jon and hugged him. "He'll be okay Jon, you were meant to find him."
The tears started to flow; Jon couldn't hold them back any longer. "I didn't think I'd ever see him again, James was an orphan there was no one for him to go to; I thought he must have run as far away as he could when he saw what my dad did to me in the barn."
Michael said, "Life does have its miracles doesn't it."
Quinn had checked James over good and said "There were no serious injuries, but he's nearly starved to death, he as thin as you were when we found you Jon."
James started to come around; the guys moved back not wanting to scare him. Jon knelt by the sofa holding James's hand as he opened his eyes. "Jonathan?"
"Yes James, it me, I can't believe I found you."
James said, "I thought you were dead, when your dad threw you against the side of the barn I was sure you were dead, it felt like my heart was torn out of my chest Jonathan."
There wasn't a dry eye in the room when the guys heard that.
James started to cry. Jon gently put his hands on the sides of James face and kissed him, its okay James; these wonderful men found me, healed my injuries and have taken care of me. Now we're going to take care of you. Quinn put his hand on Jon's shoulder, "Jon, I think we need to get some food in your friend, I've made sandwiches for all of us, do you think you can sit up James?"
"Yes sir,"
"It's just Quinn, there are no sirs around here; he looked up at Peter and rolled his eyes, well except for him that is."
Peter laughed, "You're kind of a wise guy you know that don't you Quinn."
As they ate Martin was thinking, under the dirt and ragged clothing I have a feeling there's one handsome young man there, all we have to do is clean him up, get some decent clothes, a nice haircut, and put some food into him.
James explained he'd been living on the streets since he thought Jon had died, the reason he was thrown out of the pub was because he was begging for food. He said he couldn't blame the barkeep for having him thrown him out it wasn't exactly good for business having a dirty looking bum begging in your establishment.
Michael glanced over at Quinn, Quinn said, I have no idea what you could possibly be thinking about Michael.
Michael said, "Oh of course you don't Quinn."
The others looked at Quinn and Michael not having a clue what had just passed between them.
Jon gave James a short version of what happened and how he ended up here with people who love and respect him.
James said, "Jon, you look so grown up and handsome, I'm just a dirty bum, why would you want me, I don't belong here."
Jon replied, "James you were and always will be the love of my life. So you're just going to have to get used to having me around."
Martin spoke up, "I guess you're going to have to get used to the rest of us too, if your Jon's mate that makes you one of us so welcome home James."
Quinn in his usual matter of fact way said, "So now that's settled let's see if Jon can get a nice warm bath run for you, and I'll bet with all the different sizes of clothes he's gone through he can find something that'll fit you until we can get the right sizes."
James seemed stunned, "You mean I can stay here with all of you?"
Jon leaned over and kissed James cheek, "Now that I've found you I'm not letting you out of my sight James," Jon wiggled his eyebrows and winked at James. The guys laughed, Michael said, "Jon, you might want to let James rest a bit before you attack him."
Jon had the most innocent look on his face as he said;"Whatever do you mean Michael."
Even James had to laugh at that.
The next morning when Jon brought James down to breakfast he was clean and dressed in some nice clothes that were a darn good fit considering how thin he is. When he walked in to the breakfast room everyone whistled, Ian said, "Jon where did you find this handsome guy and what did you do with James?"
James laughed, "I'm not handsome, but thanks for being kind." Peter asked Jon if James hadn't see himself in the mirror yet, you're one handsome hunk of man. This time James blushed as he took his place at the table.
James asked if everyone here had a partner. Quinn said, "Well yes, but mine is a beautiful woman named Eve, and we have a son that's almost six now. My wife is Ian's sister and we have a son called Guy, which is a nickname, his real name is Ian Michael. Eve and Guy are up at the B & B which is owned by Eve and Ian's father, Emerson. Eve helps her father out during the days, that's why she isn't here, but she'll be home later.
Martin said, Quinn is my dad, and we all consider ourselves Jon's dads except that Jon now has Peter's last name of Holbrook. And Peter is officially known as Sir Peter Holbrook, and Michael is Lord Michael Helmsley from England.
James looked totally lost. Michael said, "Listening to you guys explain it like that, I'm not even sure who I am anymore." Everyone laughed.
Jon said, "James will get all straightened out soon enough, and wait until you meet Quinn's wife Eve and their son Guy, he's cute, smart, and a lot of fun to have around."
Trying to change the topic Peter asked James what he knew about sheep.
James replied, "I know they're wooly."
Quinn said, "Well that's a good start. It's more than Michael knew when he got here."
Michael stuck his tongue out at Quinn; Quinn smiled and gave him a wink.
Michael said, "That's not true James, I also knew they have four legs and went baa, baaaa."
Everyone cracked up including James. It was good to see the boy laugh and the happiness on Jon's face was like a gift from heaven. He was with his James, the mate he thought had been lost to him forever.
Eve and Guy came in around mid-afternoon. Jon was showing James around the house when Guy spotted them and ran up and threw his arms around Jon wanting to know who the new guy was. Jon said, "Guy, this is James, he has been my best friend since we were kids."
Guy stuck out his hand and said, "Hi James, are you Jon's mate?"
James shook Guy's hand and started to blush as he looked at Jon for guidance in how he should answer Guy's question. Jon laughing at James embarrassment said, "Yes Guy, James and I are mates, we were mates a long time ago, but we lost each other for a while and now we're back together again."
Guy hugged James as he said, "James, I'm so glad that you're here, now I have two big brothers. Jon, do you know where my dad is?"
"Yes, Quinn's out on the back veranda, I think Michael and Ian are there with him."
Guy said, Thanks, as he ran off to the veranda.
James said, "What a nice kid, he sure is friendly."
"Yes James, everyone here is friendly; it may take you a while to get used to the love that flows so openly among all of the people you'll meet here." Just then Eve came in carrying a few groceries which Jon took from her as they walked to the kitchen.
Eve put her arm around James as she said, "James, I'm Eve, I've heard a lot about you already from Quinn. I understand your Jon's mate. I'm so happy that you two found each other and you now have a safe place to live. Eve added, you sure are a handsome guy, I don't know what I'm going to do with all of you handsome men around, it's almost more than a girl can bear."
James laughed and said, "You should talk, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Eve kissed James on the cheek as she winked at Jon saying, "Jon, you better keep your eye on your mate or I'm going to steal him away from you."
Jon ran over and threw his arms around James, "No, no, you can't have him, he's mine, he's all mine." Quinn walked in and asked what was going on. Jon said, "Your wife is threatening to steal my mate away from me, make her stop Quinn."
Quinn grabbed Eve and whirled her around as he said, "I'm sorry Eve, you'll have to leave James alone he belongs to Jon, and why would you want another man when you have me?"
Laughing Eve said, "You're right Quinn, I'm sorry, I was temporarily blinded by his good looks but you're the only man for me." When Michael and Ian walked in everyone was laughing. Michael said, "Okay, what's going on in here, it sounds like way too much fun taking place."
Quinn, Eve, Jon, and James all looked at Michael and Eve looking perfectly innocent said, "Nothing is going on, why do you ask?" The laughing started all over again. Michael said, "Eve you really have that innocent look perfected."
"Well Michael, I had a good teacher didn't I."
"Yes, mother taught you well."
Laughing Eve said, "That's right Michael, blame you mother, you're such a smarty-pants.
Jon and James looked a bit confused at the twist in conversation, Eve winked at them as she said, "Just wait until you meet Michael's parents, that's when the real fun begins."
Michael looked absolutely shocked as he said, "Oh my gosh! I almost forgot their plane lands tomorrow."
Everyone looked panicked as they yelled, "Tomorrow!"
Michael threw his head back and laughed like crazy. He said, "You guys are so easy."
Quinn reached out and slapped Michael on the back of his head as he said, "What's wrong with you, you almost gave me a heart attack." This time it was Ian's turn to laugh along with everyone else at the expression on Michael's face as he rubbed the back of his head.
James said, "I don't know what's going on but you guys sure are all a lot of fun."
Guy stood there with his hands on his hips and said, "Well frankly I haven't any idea what's so funny." Laughing Quinn said, "Guy, you're a perfect straight man in situations like this."
Guy asked, "What's a straight man dad?" Quinn said, "come on out to the veranda and I'll try to explain it to you." Eve added, "Well it better be you explaining it since you're the only straight man here."
The gay men all laughed, as Ian said, "Talk about a double entendre, Eve's going to challenge you for the smarty-pants trophy Michael."
Still rubbing the back of his head Michael said, "I think she's already won it."
Chapter 14: Strangers