Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 15:23:10 -0400
From: carl5de@netscape.net
Subject: HIGH PLAINS DOCTOR - 10

HIGH PLAINS DOCTOR - 10

Copyright 2005 by Carl Mason and Ed Collins

All rights reserved.  Other than downloading one copy for strictly personal
enjoyment, no part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, except for reviews, without
the written permission of the authors.  However based on real events and
places, "High Plains Doctor" is strictly fictional.  Any resemblance to
actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely
coincidental.  As in real life, however, the sexual themes unfold
gradually.  If you would like to read other Mason-Collins stories, you
might turn to "Out of the Rubble," "Castle Margarethen," and "The Priest
and the Pauper" which are archived in Nifty's "Historical" section.
Comments on the story are appreciated and may be addressed to the authors
at carl5de@netscape.net

This story contains descriptions of sexual contact between males, both
adults and teenagers.  As such, it is homoerotic fiction designed for the
personal enjoyment of legal, hopefully mature, adults.  If you are not of
legal age to read such material, if those in power and/or those whom you
trust treat it as illegal, or if it would create unresolvable moral
dilemmas in your life, please leave.  Finally, remember that maturity
generally demands that anything other than safe sex is sheer insanity!


CHAPTER 10

(Revisiting Chapter 9)

Resuming his place beside the table, Ben settled back.  In less than half
an hour, the young man from Laramie began to stir.  Slowly, he came awake,
grimacing as he tried to sit up on the table.  "Am I alive?" he grunted as
he saw Ben.  "Sorry, Tyler, but I'm your doctor.  As yet, no one has ever
accused me of being an angel!  Lie back now and tell me how you feel."  "My
middle is sore as hell, Doc, but otherwise I feel pretty good.  What's the
chance of a little something to eat?"  "I'll have one of my boys bring down
something light," Ben answered.  "If it goes down easily - and stays down -
I'll do a bit better by you at suppertime.  Ok?"  "Yeah, ok, Doc - and
thanks. (Pause.)  I'm not a very good shot, am I?  Never could hit a Griz
[Grizzly Bear] at three paces!" he laughed in a way that almost approached
a very youthful giggle.

(Continuing Our Story - Christmas 1873)

  (Christmas Eve Service)

"And so behold the Christ Child - that beacon of God's love, that font of
purity in which God would have us clothe ourselves."  The Reverend Eziekiel
Long held a packed Christmas Eve congregation in Shiloh's Community Church
in the palm of his hand.  His voice sank to a whisper, before bursting out
in a shout "NEVER, NEVER, NEVER let the spawn of Satan lower your defenses!
They hate us out there - those perverts, those dealers in liquor and cards,
those fancy dancin' girls.  They hate us.  They fear that we will remind
them our way is God's way, the way of PURITY!"  His shouts made the candles
that sat in every window well flicker.  "Oh, boy," moaned Ben to a
nearly-recovered Tyler who sat next to him.  "Here it comes."


"There are ho-mo-sex-u-als among us tonight."  The audience stirred
uncomfortably.  "You may think I hate you, but I don't.  I love you and
want to lead you to the Christ Child this night.  What I hate is the
PERVERSION that is leading you straight to HELL!"  Every cord in his neck
taut, his eyes wide and blazing, his head held back in exaltation, Long
brought both hands down on the pulpit rail with a resounding crash.  LISTEN
to God's word: In Leviticus!  'You shall not lie with mankind, as with
womankind: it is an abomination.'  In Romans, Paul clearly stated, 'Because
of this [the suppression of truth resulting in idolatry], God gave them
over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for
unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations
with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed
indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty
for their perversion.'  The penalty for perversion, dear people, is eternal
death and the fires of HELL!"

"Now, there are those among you who do not believe that the Bible is the
literal word of God."  (Muttered cries of "No!  No!" and "Shame!" were
heard throughout the congregation.)  "Let me tell you in-tel-lec-tu-als
that Nature itself argues against homosexuality.  So as not to offend the
godly among us, let me illustrate by simply noting that 'all people have
'in holes' and 'out holes' in their body.  Some holes are designed to take
things into them, and some holes are designed to rid things from the body.
We should not confuse the obvious purpose of these holes.'  Yes, ladies and
gentlemen, nature itself argues against homosexuality.  Be ye young or old,
great or small, man or woman, leave these perversions behind!  God will
give you the power to change.  Return to the Christ Child whom we welcome
again this holy night!"  (AUTHOR'S NOTE: Those who desire to read the
argument on which the Rev. Long's comments are based may turn to:
www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/homosexual.htm.  The article, "Arguing
Against Homosexuality," seems to appear only on the Microsoft Explorer.)

The congregation immediately broke into two verses of one of Mr. Long's
favorite hymns, "Give Me That Old Time Religion":

     Give me that old time religion,
     Give me that old time religion,
     Give me that old time religion,
     And it's good enough for me.

     Makes me love everybody.
     Makes me love everybody.
     Makes me love everybody.
     And it's good enough for me.

A Christmas hymn concluded the traditional four o'clock Christmas Eve
service, allowing those who had come long distances to return safely home.

As cold as it was outside, however, small groups gathered to heatedly
comment on the pastor's sermon.  Whitey, for instance, turned to a buddy in
the large contingent of Post troopers who had attended and whispered, "Man,
if I hadn't promised my dad that I'd go to church, they'd never see me
around here!  This guy's crazy!  Take the 'holes' argument.  I wonder how
anything he said rules out blow jobs!"  His buddy giggled and grabbed at
one of Whitey's solid biceps.  (Unfortunately, he didn't quite get the feel
he wanted under the heavy coat.)  Franny Schmidt simply turned to her
sister Norma and sniffed, "I think his comments were simply 'inappropriate'
for Christmas Eve.  Besides, there were children present!  "Yes," Norma
agreed, "I had to keep my hands over Hans' ears the whole time!  Innocents
shouldn't be exposed to such rubbish!"  (Hans only grinned lecherously at
his friend Calvin.)  Harry Parsons, who had momentarily left his wife
talking with a gaggle of her confidants, spoke more seriously to Ezra.
"Ezra, when I come to Church, I want to feel uplifted, especially at
Christmas and Easter.  I don't feel 'uplifted' tonight.  In fact, I feel as
if I'd fallen into a hog wallow!"  "Maybe Shiloh is getting big enough to
support a second church," Ezra commented slyly.  There were, of course,
those who felt quite differently.  Todd Hall, for instance, exchanged loud
comments with his buddies as they headed up the street towards Kitty's
Place.  "Man, did the Reverend ever give 'em hell tonight!  Good thing!
Let the queers know that they're not wanted in Shiloh!"  The great majority
of the congregants remained silent.  That, too, was a comment - in some
ways the least hopeful of all.

On the way home, wondering why he ever went to church any more, Ben
couldn't stop talking about the hatred that constantly flowed from Eziekiel
Long's pulpit, all under the guise of sentiments more noble.  Strangely,
the boys were far less disturbed.  "Hell, Dad," Kelly said, "we heard this
all the time from preachers on street corners in Five Points.  Why do you
think we hated ourselves so much when we arrived?"  Jon added, "Now we know
what love is.  You're our dad, and idiots like Eziekiel Long just don't
bother us as much any more!"  Ben turned around to say something to the
boys when he caught a very complex expression on Tyler's face.  What was
it?  Some knowledge of that which he'd accomplished with Jon and Kelly?
Some nascent appreciation of the fact that his life was based on expressing
love?  Something more...personal?  He swallowed roughly and resumed
driving.  It was bitterly cold, and it smelled like more snow was coming.

Little did Ben, Tyler, or the boys know that the Rev. Long's sermon had
struck a resounding chord in the breast of Matilda Sommers, the town's
schoolmarm.  Fired with holy zeal, she immediately began a whispering
campaign in which she (not too subtly) hinted that there was something
perverse about Ben's living with two teenaged boys.

  (Christmas Eve at Home)

Their home was still too "new" to take for granted.  Built on the very edge
of Shiloh, the large, handsome Victorian structure - shingled in the very
latest style - had every amenity and every "special touch" that Ben or the
boys had desired.  Only having moved from the apartment over the surgery
four days ago, they were still at that stage where they wandered from room
to room in enjoyment - and not a little awe.  Jon and Kelly, for instance,
could scarcely believe that they had their own rooms - even though they
still spent much of their time together when guests weren't around.
Tonight, however, was not one of those nights.  As was the local custom,
there were "callers" during the entire evening.  In truth, most knew Doctor
Cabot and his two boys from the Orphan Train.  There were those, however,
whose curiosity had been fired by the sight of the large structure under
construction and decoration.  For many, it and Ezra Matthew's brick bank
were symbols of a new Shiloh.

During one of the few lulls in the Christmas Eve activity, Kelly stole into
Ben's study with a young lad in tow.  "Dad," he began, "may I disturb you
for a moment?"  His well-dressed father responded, "The house may be new,
Kell, but that doesn't mean that anything has changed between us!  What's
on your mind?"  "Dad, I'd like to introduce Karel.  Karel came off the
latest Orphan Train - he's Czech.  A farmer 'chose' him, but after a few
days he ran away.  All the guy wanted was a slave...and worse.  Yesterday,
I found him huddled in a doorway downtown, crying.  It was freezing!  I
brought him home.  I'm sorry, Dad.  I know I should have brought him to you
immediately.  Karel speaks a little English," he concluded as he pushed the
boy in front of him.

"Hello, Karel, Merry Christmas," Ben murmured to the frightened boy who
stood before him.  "You are welcome here."  The sturdy lad - heavy boned if
thin, probably in his late 13th or early 14th year, a mop of light blond
hair so soft in texture that it spilled down over his forehead -
instinctively ran forward and fell sobbing into the doctor's outstretched
arms.  Ben picked him up bodily, sat him in his lap, and hugged him close.
For a moment he whispered to him.  "Has Karel enjoyed some of the Christmas
goodies?" he asked Kelly.  "Yes, sir" came Kell's instant reply.  "Ok, son,
take him up to your room.  I'll speak with both of you further in the
morning.  Is that ok with you, Karel?" he asked the young lad as he gave
him tight hug and sat him back on his feet.  "Yes, Doctor Sir," Karel
responded, a bright - and very relieved - smile illuminating his elfin
features.  "Kelly is my friend."  As the boys departed the warm study to a
repeated cry of "Merry Christmas" from Ben, Jon suddenly appeared at the
side of the doorway, threw his arm around the newcomer's shoulders and,
with Kelly, accompanied him upstairs.  Ben shook his head.  Those two!

Although Jon had gone upstairs with Kelly and Karel, he had to return
quickly when Whitey arrived from the Post dinner that had followed the
Christmas Eve service.  Absolutely on high, dressed in his best uniform and
waving a pass that proved he didn't have to return to duty until six
o'clock the next evening, he almost danced around Jon when he had made his
way down the wide staircase.  Ah, yes, that kid COULD dance!  Eventually,
the ten o'clock witching hour appeared, and the knocks at the door ceased.
Sore from shaking hands, Ben collapsed with Tyler in the great sitting room
as his new housekeeper and the two servants she had brought with her for
the evening cleaned up the flotsam and jetsam from the reception.  After
they had departed, he poured whiskeys for the young man from Laramie and
himself.  He then set about laying out presents under the great Christmas
tree that dominated the room.  Tyler watched intently as he worked easily
and with obvious joy.  "You really love everything you do, don't you, Ben?"
the handsome young man asked quietly.  "Yep," Ben said brightly as he knelt
and pushed a large package into place.  "You have to play the cards you are
dealt in this life, but my hand has turned out to be pretty damned good.
And how about you, you handsome cowpoke?"

"I see that Ezra has told you something about my background," Tyler
murmured...with a trace of discomfort.  "No, Tyler, not really.  Ezra's a
good man and knows pretty much to keep his nose out of other men's
business."  "Did he tell you about the troubles I had with my last boss in
Laramie and my family?" the strawberry blond persisted.  "Nothing more than
there had been troubles and he was concerned for you," Ben answered
somewhat reluctantly - "and you don't have to tell me a damned thing more."
"What if I want to?" Tyler asked.  Holding one small package in his hands,
Ben pushed the last package into place under the tree, rose, and came over
to Tyler.  Kneeling beside the young man's chair, he placed a hand on his
thigh, lightly kneaded the muscle, and handed him his Christmas gift.
"Then," he whispered, "you go right ahead.  Just know that I'll never admit
this conversation ever took place!"

His eyes glazed, his chin trembling slightly, his voice choked, Tyler said,
"I'm gay, Ben, one more sick pervert.  Though it's taken a bit for this
damned wound to heal, I'm pretty much together again.  I think I've
presumed on your friendship.  If you want me to leave, I'll go
immediately."  Ben reached up and stroked the side of Tyler's face.
"Shush, redhead.  You haven't presumed on anything.  Come on...trust
me...let the poison out " On the verge of tears, Tyler went on to tell Ben
that his boss had discovered that he had after-hours consensual sex with an
employee and had fired him on the spot. Worse, he had reported the matter
directly to his parents whom he had known for years.  "And I'm 26 years
old!" he choked.  Naturally, his parents had known for years, but in his
family that was probably the last thing that would ever have been
discussed.  When he defended his life...the fact that he thought himself to
be a "good" person...both his father and mother had furiously turned on
him.  "It would have been bad enough if I'd been repentant and thrown
myself on their mercy," he growled to Ben.  "When I defended myself, they
threw me out of the house!  Well, I shouldn't have been living there anyway
at my age," he said, his voice tailing off into a whisper.  "Some excuses
for not taking responsibility for your own life wear thin after a while -
even if you don't notice it at the time."

Ben sighed.  Tyler's story wasn't exactly unfamiliar - except he hadn't had
the guts to defend himself!  Purely on instinct, Ben told Tyler his
story. Finally, he leaned forward and grabbed the young man's upper arms,
"Let me tell you something about yourself," he blurted You may be gay, but
you sure as hell aren't a pervert.  From the time they're kids, some males
like other males while some like women.  We don't understand the reasons,
but that's the way it is.  I'll tell you something else.  You're
intelligent, you have integrity, you're one of the most handsome young men
I've ever seen, and you've got a personality that makes the room light up
when you enter."  Usually in complete control of himself, Dr. Benjamin
Cabot gulped and his voice shook as he added, "For better or worse, I've
fallen in love with you.  I'll understand if you have to leave, but I had
to tell you, Tyler.  I just had to."  Tears running down his cheeks, he
reached out his hand gently, a fingertip outlining Tyler's lips before it
caressed his jaw line. "I'm glad you did, Ben," Tyler whispered.
"Otherwise, I couldn't have told you that I fell in love with you that
first day when you told me you weren't an angel!"  "Every now and again,"
Ben laughed through his tears, "the truth will out!"  As Taylor struggled
to his feet, they fell into an embrace, their hands passionately exploring
the other, their lips locking.  Ben's hand reached down and gently squeezed
the enormous bulge that had appeared in Tyler's trousers.  After
extinguishing the lamps and placing a screen in front of the fire, they
headed upstairs arm in arm.  Occasionally, Ben's arm would drop down to pat
one gorgeous behind.

Ben had waited patiently for over two months.  The bullet wound had been
painfully slow to heal.  In fact, Tyler still suffered from some stiffness.
Ben guessed that the bullet had done some nerve damage, but in 1873 there
wasn't much he could do about it.  Deep down, he also felt that this was
one relationship that he didn't want to rush.  "Let it take its time," he
had thought on several occasions when he longed for the young man's body.
As Ben pushed his fingers through Tyler's chest hair, he knew it had been
worth every minute of the wait.  Slowly, he traced his solid pecs, reached
up and kissed his welcoming lips, and twisted the long public hair that
seemed to have grown redder in the intervening minutes.  Their exploration
proceeded for another hour before both men, panting and nearly out of
control, could wait no longer.  Ben suddenly threw a leg over the muscular
body and was met by FIRE!  Moving so fast and so vigorously that it was
nearly impossible to tell who was doing what, they exchanged their love and
lay back on the pillows breathless and deeply satisfied.  "Not bad for the
first time, Ben," Tyler whispered.  "Not bad at all!" Ben responded.  "Give
me a few minutes and then let's try the second time right away!"

Ben's room was, of course, not the only bedroom in the great house.  As one
might guess, Jon and Whitey were fucking away like a pair of amorous
rabbits that had been separated from each other for at least fifteen
minutes!  "God, you're beautiful!" Jon had exclaimed as he lifted up
slightly and softly kneaded the Pony Soldier's balls.  "Uummph!" Whitey had
yelled as he just about drove Jon through the bed and onto the floor.  On
another occasion, Whitey balanced on his shoulders on the carpet, his
sturdy young body thrust into the air, his muscular thighs thrown to either
side as Jon drove down into him from straight above.  "Oh yeah, Jon!  Oh
yeah!  Hard, Jon!  HARD!  HARD!  OH YEAH!  OH yes-s-s-s-s."  Clearly, they
would be at it well into the early hours of Christmas Day!

The third room was strangely quiet.  Karel lay under the covers fast
asleep, cuddled up against his friend and protector who was himself asleep.
The young Czech lad who had been hidden away in the attic during the first
night had been invited into Kelly's bed.  Bashfully, he had accepted and
followed his idol in stripping down.  "Man," Kelly thought, as he gazed at
his sturdy frame and impressive equipment.  "There's nothing wrong with
that boy that a little good food and some love won't cure!"  Trouble was
that Karel was scared out of his mind.  Others had obviously done what a
strapping, sex-crazed 15 year-old pervert refused to do.  Fast learning the
distinction between love and sex, Ben's younger son had quietly covered
him, stroked his soft blond hair, and kissed him as a mother might have
until he had fallen asleep.  Then, feeling good about himself, he hummed a
little lullaby that he had learned from somewhere, enveloped the young lad
in his safe arms and, after a struggle with his complaining cock, drifted
off to sleep.

  (Christmas Day)

Given the ages of the four boys in the house, one might guess that they
would be pretty blase about Christmas morning.  It just didn't work out
that way, for three of them had missed too much - and the fourth who had a
more normal, loving childhood got caught up in the excitement of the
others.  Doctor Cabot's housekeeper plus the two young assistants she hired
for the day arrived before dawn.  Swiftly and silently they tidied up,
built a new fire in the great fireplace, and made preparations for coffee
and breakfast.  It was barely dawn before the first pair crept down the
main staircase and assaulted the Tree area with a skill and daring that
even General Custer would have praised.  (One may guess that they were
first because they had never slept, but, surely, that is another question!)
Unfortunately, General Custer never had to deal with Mrs.  O'Malley, the
housekeeper.  Brandishing her broom, she drove Jon and Whitey back up the
stairs.  Showing proper military initiative, they tried once more, creeping
down the back stairs and approaching through the hallways.  The results
were the same.  In fact, this time Whitey received one solid whack across
his (substantial) backside.  While she was occupied with them, however,
Kelly and Karel actually secured the Tree and began poking around the
gaily-wrapped packages.  She was about to launch a vigorous counterattack
when Ben and Tyler strolled down the center staircase, barked at Kelly and
Karel to retreat, and restored peace.

Calmly, the two men (?) sat in comfortable chairs, sipping coffee, munching
on a fine breakfast pastry, and discussing...let's see...the weather, the
state of the Nebraska economy, and the main points in the Reverend Long's
sermon.  The boys?  They crouched nearby, snarling, howling and, finally,
begging to be let loose on the presents.  Finally, Karel was given
permission to go to the Tree, select one present at a time, and take it to
the recipient.  All was fine until Karel finally stopped dead in his
tracks.  Looking down at the package in his hands and then back up at the
company, his eyes reflected complete confusion.  Finally, Ben asked him
what the trouble was.  It seemed that the tag on the package read "Karel,"
but the boy couldn't believe that HE was receiving a present.  The other
boys crowded around him, their pats and hair ruffling assuring him
that...finally...he wasn't alone. Eventually convinced that it was really
for him, there was no further distribution until he had torn it open to
find a nice pair of warm gloves. His wide, toothy grin illuminated the
entire room.  Even though he received another present, it was nearly
impossible to get the gloves off him for the rest of the morning!  As a
matter of fact, he was in the forefront of those insisting that they ought
to go outside.  Those new gloves had to be tested!

As the pile was almost exhausted, Tyler motioned Kelly over to his side,
whispered to him, and sent him upstairs.  Dr. Cabot's youngest returned
quickly with a large box in holiday wrapping that he gave to his father who
had been joined by Tyler.  As the boys gathered round, Tyler took the small
package from his pocket that he had received the night before and opened
it.  Everyone gasped as a fine gold watch was revealed.  Tyler read the
inscription with tears in his eyes, but he would show it to no one.  Ben,
in turn, opened the large box which had come from Chicago via Omaha.
Inside he found a fine robe in a most sumptuous burgundy silk with black
velvet lapels that everyone had to admit was the most handsome ever seen.
Rather than speak, the two men simply looked deeply into each other's eyes,
seeming to find the words and thoughts for which each so desperately
yearned.  The company then retired to the dining room where all enjoyed a
memorable Christmas breakfast.  Afterwards, the teens occupied themselves
with new games, books, excited conversation, and excursions outside to
horse around in the heavy snow that had fallen during the night.

A little after two o'clock, guests began to arrive for Christmas dinner.
Soon the downstairs was crowded with Ezra and his new Bank vice president,
the Culpeppers, the Parsons, a young couple named Paul and Maria Nemec who
had recently arrived in Shiloh and opened a food store on Main Street, as
well as those aforementioned.  After they had enjoyed a bit of Christmas
Cheer and delectable appetizers, they were called to dinner - roast beef,
Yorkshire pudding, and all the trimmings.  (Mrs. O'Malley thought the menu
was a little too "English," but she wisely kept her peace.  One of her
assistants did hear her mumble, "Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding indeed!
Heretics!")  Linda Culpepper was much taken with a magnificent wine that
Harry Parsons had contributed. Although he feared the wrath of his dining
room manager, he graciously promised that she would have a bottle within
the week.  (He never told her that they were the only two bottles that he
had been able to locate in Chicago!)  With coffee and dessert, the candles
on the tree were lighted.  What would Christmas be without that?

After the company had resumed breathing, they repaired to their sleighs and
traveled merrily downtown to inspect the renovated and expanded surgery.
The experienced contractor had done a excellent job.  The old downstairs
was given over to an expanded waiting room and two decent sized
examination/operating rooms.  In the rear, the first floor had been
extended to allow for a new workroom (with a small lavatory) that Ben
proclaimed to be "state of the art."  The old second floor now contained
two patient rooms with medical beds, a small kitchen, a bathroom, and a
comfortable lounge where those waiting to see patients could sit and talk.
"How much you have brought to our town, Ben," Harry Parsons exclaimed as he
walked back to the sleighs with his friend.  "Ah, Harry," Ben exclaimed,
"but Shiloh has given me my life.  I shall never cease being grateful."
From there, the Christmas guests dispersed to their several homes, feeling
that the day had been properly celebrated.  Ben did accede to the request
of the Nemeces to allow Karel to spend the night with them.  They had been
markedly attentive to the boy during the Christmas festivities and he had
seemed to respond to them with comfort and even affection.  Besides, Karel
said solemnly, there was a new puppy that he had to meet!

Several days later, Ben, the three youngsters, and Mr. and Mrs. Nemec would
meet the Orphan Train as it returned through Shiloh.  He was happy to see
that the Bureau representative who had met him over a year and a half ago
was on the train.  He owed him one!  "Mr. Grady," he began cordially, "I
would like you to meet my two sons, Jon and Kelly."  Grady looked at the
young men with some amazement.  Well-dressed, well mannered, grown straight
and solid, and obviously so very happy, they were everything that they
hadn't been so few months earlier.  To his credit, he thrust out his hand
and said simply, "I was wrong about you lads.  I'm as sorry as I am pleased
that you are well and happy."  "Thank you, Dr. Cabot," he said to Ben.  The
conversation quickly turned to the business at hand.  After discussion with
all the parties - save the farmer who, while notified by the Sheriff, never
appeared - Grady voided the original contract.  Karel was assigned to the
foster care of the smiling young couple who stood before him - their smiles
equaled only by the absolute joy that radiated from the young Czech.  They
couldn't have pried him off them with an iron bar!  Even his puppy's
barking outside the train window did not break his concentration.

  (Christmas Week)

Four days later, the latest edition of the Shiloh Plains Observer was
published.  There was little distinguished about the town's weekly
newspaper, but this particular issue caught everyone's attention.  In fact,
people were buzzing about it from one end of town to the other.  More
accurately, they were buzzing about the editorial that appeared on the
front page.  In part, it read:

     . . . Far be it for this writer to comment on the morality of certain
behavior.  Even
     his personal opinion is irrelevant to the matter at hand.
Nevertheless, he feels
     he must speak out when supposed leaders among us speak in ways that
divide
     the community, besmirch the reputation of good citizens who have done
so much
     to make Shiloh a better place to live, and spread hate coated in words
such as
     "truth" and "love".  The source of the poison matters not.  Shiloh
should turn its
     back on such people and their message.  We came here to build a better
life for
     ourselves and our children.  Let us not allow vermin and simple
answers to keep
     us from accomplishing our task.

A good segment of the community had been at the Christmas Eve service.
There was scarcely a woman in town who had not heard the gossip actively
being spread by Matilda Sommers.  >From the very beginning, Nebraskans were
a fair people.  While few changed their minds on the morality of
homosexuality, the damage and injustice that were being perpetrated by the
preacher and the teacher whom they had placed over their children gradually
became clear.  Opinion crystallized against it.  Indeed, in time the
editorial delivered a fatal blow to the aspirations of both Long and
Sommers.

(New Years Eve)

Ben was down below, having promised Tyler that he would see to the horses
and close up.  The two young men had been to a New Years Eve celebration at
the Crystal Palace, though they had returned home well before midnight.
Tyler sat on Ben's bed, trying to remove his upper clothing.  The cold damp
weather had finally gotten to him, and he was particularly sore and stiff.
He started as a smiling Kelly dressed in nothing more than his short
drawers poked his head in the door, saying, "Hey, Dad..."  Realizing that
the figure was not his father, Kelly was about to retreat with a word of
apology when he saw that Tyler was in some difficulty.  "What's wrong, Ty?"
he asked in a concerned voice.  "Oh, man, I hurt tonight," Tyler groaned,
trying once again to get the clothing over his head.  "Here, let me help,"
Kelly exclaimed and helped the young man to relieve the pressure on his
chest.

Kelly gasped as he saw Tyler's torso.  (He had been focused on his work
when Tyler had lain on the operating table in his dad's surgery.  In any
case, the appearance of the sorely wounded man was considerably different
from that which now met his eyes.)  "Let me rub some of the pain out," he
offered, beginning before Tyler could object.  Experienced hands worked on
the thick muscles of the man's shoulders and chest, delighting in the
feeling of the soft hair that covered his upper body.  "Man, Tyler, you're
beautiful," he blurted out before he could check himself.  "You're not so
bad yourself, kiddo," Tyler responded as he eased his hand down the side of
the boy's muscular torso.  Pausing at the hip, he said huskily, "Come, sit
down beside me for a moment."  When Kell eased down close to him on the
edge of the bed, Tyler reached up and slowly brushed against his auburn
curls.  "Kelly," he murmured, "I love your dad.  Does that cause problems
that we can't handle?"  Kelly thought for a moment before answering.
"Well, Ty, I'm his son.  We have a special love that I don't think is gonna
change come hell or high water.  Besides, dad says that love is kinda like
a muscle.  The more you exercise it, the more of it there is.  There's
plenty of love in this house, Ty - plenty for all of us. Can we be
friends?"  Kelly stood up in front of Tyler and thrust out his hand.  The
young man grinned, grasped it firmly, and then drew Kelly into a bear
hug...griz style.  "Yeah, Kelly, we can be friends - the best of friends!"
he said with a sense of wonder and no little exhilaration.

That night in bed, Tyler cuddled with Ben, laughing a bit and saying, "Your
younger son is quite special.  I have to admit that he's easy to love.
Besides," he giggled, " he says that his dad tells him that love is like a
muscle.  Exercise it and it grows."  "Both Jon and Kelly are growing into
fine human beings," Ben said seriously.  "I'll love them till the day I die
- as I love you - but enough of this philosophizing!  Turn over and let's
get some exercise!"


(To Be Continued)