Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 22:36:33 -0500
From: carl5de@netscape.net
Subject: HIGH PLANS DOCTOR - 3

HIGH PLAINS DOCTOR - 3

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 3

(Revisiting Chapter 2)

On one of his trips to check on Baby Paddy at Kitty's Place, Ben spied a
circular posted on a message board at the entrance.  An "orphans train"
would make its very first stop in Shiloh on the 19th.  Thirty-one children
from the East Coast, mainly from the immigrant slums of New York City, aged
four months to 16 years, were advertised as available "free to good homes
on a ninety days trial."  "June 19, 1873," Ben muttered, "just about a year
since I arrived in this country."  Shrugging his shoulders, he grunted, "At
least they aren't all first graders!" and entered Kitty's.

(Continuing Our Story - Orphan Train)

Together with 25 to 30 homesteaders, owners of shops and other businesses,
and curiosity- seekers, Ben watched the "orphan train" pull into Shiloh
station on the nineteenth.  In truth, he was there more out of curiosity
than anything else, for those seriously interested had been told to bring a
written recommendation from the local representative of the Orphans Bureau,
the Rev. Eziekiel Long.  A simple stage had been erected onto which the
children were directed once the train had come to a full halt.  A New York
City representative of the Bureau announced that those seriously interested
in welcoming a child or children into their homes and/or places of work
were invited to come up on the stage and "interview" them.  Actually, the
process was rather well handled.  There were, for instance, nurses for the
infants and the very young children.  Only a few townspeople were allowed
onto the stage at one time - and they were watched carefully.  If a child
showed signs of fright - or if the "interview" exceeded the bounds of
propriety - the Bureau representative quickly intervened.  For instance,
one old geezer, probably a hunter or a mountain man, was firmly asked to
leave when he examined a young boy's teeth and then reached down to fondle
his...thighs.  Ben had to admit that it was far more "humane" than that
which one would see at a typical horse auction or a sale at the Emporium -
and for the life of him, he couldn't imagine better procedures under 1873
conditions.  He was also impressed by the fact that the children seemed
clean and eager to go to their new homes.  Above all, he did not see any
who appeared traumatized by the circumstances of their earlier lives.

Not long after the line of interested onlookers was exhausted, the Bureau
secretary had completed her records and perhaps ten of the 31 children had
disappeared into the community.  At that point, Ben went up to the
representative, identified himself as the local physician, and asked if he
might take a closer look at the operation.  Graciously welcomed on board,
given free rein, and told that the representative would be available to
answer any of his questions, the doctor walked up and down the aisles,
gently speaking with the remaining boys and girls, as well as with nurses
who were in charge of the small number of remaining infants or very young
children.  Yes, the older kids were clearly saddened by not having been
chosen, but they seemed to have been well prepared for this eventuality.
It was at this point that Ben's eyes were drawn to two handsome, obviously
related youths - clearly mid teens - who sat morosely in the rear of the
railway car.

Availing himself of the invitation to speak with the representative, he
entered his office in the next car and learned that this was the boys'
third trip on the orphan train over a period of a year and a half.  The
McNultys were brothers, 16 and 14 years of age, who had vehemently rejected
being separated.  On each of the preceding three trips, they had been
selected - and returned to the Bureau on the train's RETURN TRIP through
the community!  Seemingly intelligent, they had adamantly refused to work
on the farms and in the stores of those who had chosen them.  Among the
Bureau personnel, they had a reputation for being real malcontents and
trouble- makers..  Mr. Grady, the representative, offered an illustration
in point.  They would probably been selected here in Shiloh, but Jon (the
older brother) had essentially told two homesteaders to "get lost."  (Ben,
who had observed one of these exchanges, knew the homesteader to be a good
man who had previously expressed interest in having a son to share his hard
life.  Jon had neither been gentle nor polite.)  Thanking Mr. Grady, Ben
returned to the children's car.

Pausing by the seat on which the boys sat, the doctor asked if he might sit
on the seat facing them.  Rather sullenly, they nodded that he might.
Pleasantries gained little more than grunts from either lad - or an
occasional oblique, highly guarded question about his motives in speaking
with them.  Increasingly, Ben felt that HE was the one being interviewed -
and rather skillfully at that!  The good doctor was impressed.  The boys
WERE intelligent - and, dear God, they were handsome beyond belief!  The
older teen, JON, was about 5'-10" tall, maybe 165 lbs., with curly light
brown hair and brown eyes.  Well muscled - though not overly developed - he
had nice shoulders and thighs.  He did appear to be exceedingly nervous and
aggressive.  KELLY, his younger brother, was perhaps 5'-6" tall, around 140
pounds, with slightly curly medium brown hair with reddish overtones, and
brown eyes.  Essentially a smaller edition of his older brother, Kelly
still seemed somewhat more muscular with broad shoulders and a
proportionately heavier torso and thighs.  Although guarded, he appeared
considerably more at ease than the older boy.  At one point in the
interrogation, for instance, Ben slipped and mentioned leaving his home and
being lonesome.  While Jon's face retained its impassive expression,
Kelly's softened as he reached out a big hand and laid it on the doctor's
furry forearm.  "Yeah," he whispered, "we know all about that."  With that,
he seemed to retreat back into his adolescent funk and the conversation,
such as it was, ground to a halt.

Ben fled back into the representative's office.  If nothing else, his
curiosity now demanded that he learn more.  (Were there other reasons?
Perhaps, but Ben wasn't aware of them at that point.  God knows, he hadn't
come on the train for predatory reasons!)  Mr. Grady was honest and
forthright.  Reluctantly, he admitted that the older boy might be a (and he
almost choked on the word) "deviant."  Were that true or false, he would
never again be allowed on the train due to his "activities" with two boys,
aged eleven and twelve.  (A family in Ohio with whom he had been previously
placed had also reported "suspicious" behavior with their sons.)  The
younger brother, Kelly, may also have been involved, both on the train and
in Ohio, but there was no proof.  Nevertheless, both boys will be returned
to the Orphans Bureau in New York City for "disposition."

Thanking Grady, Ben made ready to leave.  He hadn't had any intension of
"selecting" anyone and, hence, had not brought the requisite written
recommendation from Eziekiel Long.  Hesitating, he abruptly asked if he
were to give a sizeable donation to the Bureau, might he be allowed to
provide the recommendation on the train's return trip.  Given the
physician's status, Grady readily agreed, thinking that HE would have
gladly paid a fee to get those "damned Mick queers" off his train!  Quietly
completing the record keeping - and receiving several pieces of paper
currency - he informed Ben that he might remove the boys from the train at
his leisure.  Ben returned to the boys' car and once again sat down in
front of them.  "Jon...Kelly..." he began, "I'm a doctor."  Their faces
lightened.  "I take care of people who live around here, as well as
cowboys, Indians, and Pony Soldiers."  Their faces brightened!  "I think
you guys are pretty neat."  Kelly grinned, though Jon's face bore a rather
strange - somewhat suspicious...  almost frightened - look.  "I'd like for
us to be a family...to do things together.  The truth is, however, that
there's no use in your coming with me only to be picked up as the train
comes back through Shiloh.  If you're interested, however, and will work as
hard at it as I shall, I'd be proud if you'd come home with me...to your
home as well as mine."  Ben had barely finished speaking when Kelly
breathed, "Yeah!"  Jon looked sideways at his younger brother and then
slowly...impassively...nodded his head affirmatively.  As the boys gathered
their cardboard suitcases and filed down off the train ahead of him, Ben
couldn't help but overhear Kelly mumble to his brother, "You GOTTA behave,
Jon!  You just gotta!  I LIKE him!"

(Jon and Kelly)

The boys' heads appeared to be on swivels as they walked down Main Street.
Every now and again, one would look at the other, grimace, and roll his
eyes towards the sky.  "Must be figuring out that Shiloh isn't New York,"
Ben giggled to himself.  Their enthusiasm seemed to pick up a bit when they
climbed the outside stairs of his building and entered his pleasant
apartment.  "Nice!" Kelly proclaimed and promptly bounced on the sofa.
Even Jon managed a slight smile.  If "nice" was the key word characterizing
their reaction to the living area, however, "awe" was more appropriate as
they entered their new room. The bright, good-sized room with its window
that faced the bluffs across Lodge Pole Creek, the white curtains puffing
in the breeze, the colorful hooked rug on the floor, the double bunk bed,
the large dresser, and the small table with two chairs stopped them dead in
their tracks.  "This is all for us?" Jon asked in some disbelief.  "Yep,"
Ben replied, throwing his arm around the hunky lad's shoulders.  Though he
seemed to stiffen momentarily, the boy made no effort to escape.  As Kelly
made for the lower bunk, however, he slipped from under Ben's arm and
clamped a hand around the back of his brother's neck.  "Up!" he grunted,
pointing to the upper bunk.  Muttering something under his breath, Kelly
threw his battered cardboard suitcase up top.  Not knowing how far the
disagreement would escalate, Ben broke in, saying, "Why don't you guys look
around while I throw a little supper together?"  A sacred mantra to
teenagers the world over, the mention of food immediately restored
tranquility and good will.  "Oh, by the way, take a look in the bathroom.
I think you will like what you see."

As Ben stood in the kitchen, dicing, chopping, and preparing meat for
frying, he heard the sounds of water and a violent argument from the
bathroom.  Only seconds later, a very wet - and a very naked - Kelly burst
into the kitchen.  Ben couldn't believe his eyes.  The boy was absolutely
gorgeous!  Heavy shoulders and arms...a muscular torso and thighs...hung
like one of Culpepper's prize Arabians...little more than shadows of hair
on his body...  In tears, the boy yowled, "Doc!  Doc!  Come quick!  My
idiot brother can't get the water turned off and it's overflowing!"
Blushing, he added, "And I can't find the chamber pot!"  As Ben followed
one of the more spectacular sets of buttocks he had ever witnessed back
towards the bathroom, he muttered, "Be calm, Cabot, be calm!  You didn't
teach them how to use the equipment.  Don't scare the hell out of them!  A
ruined floor can be repaired!"  Forcing their way into the small bathroom,
they found Jon close to hysteria.  Having momentarily blocked on how to
turn the valves, he was simply jumping back and forth in the enormous,
nearly filled porcelain tub, beating on the heavy brass fixtures, and
splashing great waves of water onto the floor.  Ben was convinced that his
wild torrent of curses could be heard in Omaha!  After quickly turning off
the valves that had rather stuck at "full on," the thoroughly shaken doctor
lifted the lid of the commode, pointed, and grunted to Kelly, "chamber
pot!"  He then turned to the sobbing 16 year old who slumped dejectedly in
the tub.  Reaching down, he gently kissed the boy on the forehead and
helped him to stand.  Almost having to drag the wide-eyed youngster over
the tub's high sides, he quickly wrapped him in one of the Emporium's
largest towels.  Leaving Kelly to do his business, Ben guided his big
brother towards the bedroom.

Sitting on one of the chairs, the boy kneeling in front of him, he
thoroughly dried the youngster's light tan hair and upper body.  Bidding
him stand, he enjoyed another beautiful physique - perhaps not as
spectacular as Kelly's, but solid and manly for all of that.  "Nice butt -
has to run in the family," Ben grunted cheerfully.  Furthermore, he was
ticklish!  Poking at his ribs, twisting the hairs of the treasure trail
that led down to his impressive equipment, and playing with his toes all
set him off into wild giggles!  There was a little more hair on his body
than on Kelly's, but, after all, he was two years older.  Further, it was
considerably lighter in color and, hence, no more obvious.  "Doc?  Doc?"
Kelly's voice wailed from the bathroom.  Thrusting the towel into Jon's
hands, Ben grinned, embraced the lad, lightly slapped him on the butt, and
took off for the latest emergency.  "Doc, I'm sorry about the water," Jon
called out behind him.  Turning back towards the boy, Ben asked, "Why, Jon?
I didn't show you how to operate the new equipment.  The fault was mine,
not yours.  Help your brother clean up the water when he's finished his
bath."  Noticing out of the corner of his eye that the youngster's
equipment had visibly swollen, he turned back towards the bathroom.  "God,
this place is turning into a three- ring circus!" the harried foster newbie
mumbled.

As a third, more insistent wail came from the bathroom, Ben entered to find
one of the most mortified teenagers he had ever seen.  He couldn't have
been more red had someone painted him to resemble a Chinese firecracker!
"Doc," Kelly mumbled in a barely audible voice, "I'm finished, but how can
I clean myself?" Ben pushed some folded soft papers within Kelly's reach.
"Thanks, Da - DOC," he quickly recovered.  "Ok, son, I'm going to be just
outside.  When you're finished, yell and I'll show you the next step in
operating this monster," Ben responded.  Within a minute or two, there was
a yell - as if the kid were trying to communicate with someone in the next
state. As Ben reentered the room, Kelly asked how he was possibly going to
carry this "chamber pot" out back to empty it.  With one arm around the
kid's waist, Ben held his index finger in front of the lad's eyes.  He then
hooked it around the plunger and pulled.  Wonder in his eyes, Kelly watched
the contents swirl down the bowl and disappear to be followed by clean
water.  "Wow!" he breathed, looking up at the doctor as if he were a
magician.  "Ok, Kell, jump into the tub and wash off.  A towel is over here
on the cabinet.  When you've dried, try to sop up some of the water on the
floor.  Ok?"  Yes, sir!" the boy answered.  "Want some help with supper?"
"Sure thing, son, but the bathroom floor comes first.  I'll see you when
you're dressed."

Supper was a little tense...even though the food disappeared with
lightening speed.  While Kelly babbled away about the wonders of "modern
plumbing," Jon seemed to have slipped back into one of his "moods."  "What
do you want teenagers around for, anyway?" he asked.  "They're noisy;
they're moody; they eat up a storm.  Why didn't you take one of the younger
kids?"  Recognizing his insecurity, Ben laid it on a little thick.  "Well,
Big Brother, a doctor needs real assistants.  They've got to be intelligent
and strong, and they've got to be the kinds of guys that my patients like
and trust.  Further, THIS doctor is tired of being lonely.  He wants
friends who can ride with him, maybe do some fishing, go out into the
Indian lands with him - which can be a little dangerous.  I know that some
people think that six year-olds are the only people worth anything, but I
kinda think you and Kelly are the greatest.  Any objections?"  Both
youngsters looked at him wide-eyed, mouths slightly open.  "You mean we get
to help you with your patients?" Kelly asked.  His fears forgotten for the
moment, Jon asked if Ben really meant they were going to learn to
ride... horses?"  When Ben answered that was EXACTLY what he meant, supper
ended on a festive note.

After feeding and watering the troops in the morning, Dr. Ben took them
below to his surgery.  Both of the youngsters were completely
fascinated...by everything - the stoppered bottles filled with strange and
colorful liquids, the glass cabinets filled with even stranger instruments
that were obviously used for SOMETHING, the thick books on the office
shelves, the padded table that could expand or contract in any number of
directions, and the numbered drawers that were neatly built into cabinets
that lined one wall.  "Show us a couple of the instruments, Doc," Kelly
begged.  Grinning, Ben went over to one of the cabinets and removed a
7-inch tube made of ivory.  Kelly noticed that the ends, one larger and one
smaller, were flattened.  "Over here, Jon," Ben directed.  Opening a couple
of buttons, the good doctor pressed the small end against Jon's chest.
"It's called a stethoscope, Kelly. Listen!" he commanded.  "Wow," the 14
year-old whispered.  "It sounds like Jon's got a drum inside his chest."
"That's his heart, Kell," Ben responded.  Naturally, Jon had to have his
turn - and was suitably impressed.  "One more, Doc," Jon begged, whereupon
Ben brought his microscope over onto a small table.  Taking a glass slide,
he directed Kelly (carefully) to spit on it.  Placing the prepared slide
under the microscope, he then suggested that Jon might like to see what was
in Kelly's mouth.  Jon was just about to let go an explosive comment when
he suddenly seemed to think better of it and subsided into a weak, "That's
wild."  Kelly reaction was just about as strange.  Ben had some idea of
what was bothering the brothers, but he decided that now was not the time
to comment.  During the course of the morning, three or four people stopped
into the office, but Ben returned within minutes.

As the bell on the front door to the surgery tinkled anew, Ben said,
"Gentlemen, we may have a patient.  Shall we go into the office?"  Trying
their very best to look mature, the boys closely followed their mentor.
"Good morning, Bear-Who-Walks-Upright, Ben greeted the Indian who was
dressed in old and rather ragged white-man's clothes, though he had a light
blanket about his body, as well as two feathers in his hair.  Not to be
outdone, Kelly pushed forward, raised a hand, and solemnly said, "How!"
Thinking that the boy had probably seen one too many Magic Lantern shows,
Ben interjected, "Bear-Who-Walks-Upright, may I present Jon and Kelly, my
two new assistants." The old Indian stretched out his hand and, in heavily
accented and halting English, said, "How do you do, young men.  Your
teacher is a good man.  "Yes, sir," said a thoroughly abashed teenager.

"What's the problem, my old friend?" Ben asked.  "Old problem,"
Bear-Who-Walks-Upright replied.  "Young men want wooden sidewalk all to
themselves."  With that, he raised a pants leg and displayed a large wound
created as he skidded across the ground after being jostled off the
sidewalk.  Dirt, bits of gravel, horse dung, and God knows what else were
ground into the seeping wound.  "Jon, go and get me 'Bottle I,' a bandage
from drawer #6, and a pair of tweezers from cabinet #3," Ben asked without
thinking.  Several minutes passed during which time Jon called Kelly into
the next room.  Excusing himself, Ben joined them only to find a badly
upset Jon with Kelly at his side and nothing but the bandage in his hand.
Suddenly, he realized that the boys couldn't read.  Indeed, it was possible
that they had never been inside a school!  "I made another mistake, didn't
I?" he said lightly.  "I didn't tell you what tweezers are."  Moving
quickly, he located the bottle of antiseptic and took the tweezers from the
cabinet.  "No problem, guys!  Now go next door and help
Bear-Who-Walks-Upright to come in here and sit on the examination table."
The wound was cleaned quickly.  Once bandaged, the old Indian asked how he
could repay the doctor.  "Oh, my friend, today's fee is very important.  My
assistants from where the sun rises are not always working.  As payment,
would you be willing to share some stories from your youth as a warrior on
the Plains?"  "It will be my pleasure, young gentlemen," he said to the
smiling youths.  "I can usually be found on a bench down by the church."
With that he rose with Jon's help and limped to the door.  Kelly had the
outside door open as he approached.  When they returned, Ben looked fondly
at the boys and said, "That was well done, guys.  You helped
Bear-Who-Walks-Upright to know that we care about him - and you showed him
the respect due every human being.  I am proud of you.."  Within a very few
weeks, Jon and Kelly had learned their letters, could identify most of the
instruments kept in Ben's surgery, knew something about the use of many of
them, and had taken over preparing instruments for use.  Moreover, when
they went "downtown" or into the homestead areas with Ben, they were
greeted as valued members of the community and, due in part to their age,
shown a great deal of affection.

At lunch that day, Ben again repeated his praise of the way the boys had
handled themselves during their first morning in the surgery and informed
them that he had a little surprise.  This afternoon, I've got to ride out
to two of the farms - to take care of some "female problems," he added.
Jon and Kelly looked at each other with something less than enthusiasm.
Captain Culpepper out at the cavalry post told me that he has someone ready
to teach you people how to ride.  Are you interested?  Jon almost choked on
his sandwich, though Kelly showed a little hesitation.  "I'd almost rather
go with you, sir - even if they are female problems - but if you could
spare me for the afternoon . . ."  "Well," Ben answered, hesitating
dramatically, "I normally need my assistants at my side, but I guess I
could play second fiddle to a horse today.  I'll just work you extra hard
tomorrow.  Ok?"  "OK, DA...I MEAN 'SIR'!" the joyful lad sputtered.

(Learning to Ride)

They took the small, well-sprung wagon, for it was easier to navigate the
rough trail that lay between them and the Post in it rather than in the
buggy.  At the Post before 1:30 p.m., they were greeted by Captain
Culpepper himself.  "I admit to curiosity, my friend," he said, as they
rolled up in front of his quarters.  "I heard that you'd been down at the
Train, and I wanted to meet the new members of your family.  Besides, for
months now - ever since you saved his arm and his life - Barry has been
after me to allow him to do something for you.  He's a great horseman.
When he is moving on a horse, there's no telling when the horse lets off
and he begins!  When he heard about yesterday, he volunteered to teach your
guys how to ride."  "Thanks, Sam," Ben replied.  "That was the gist of the
message your trooper gave me this morning."  At that point, the Captain's
wife came out of the cabin and suggested that they were forgetting
something!

Happy introductions were made all around.  Jon was especially taken with
the soft-spoken Captain and, it seemed, he with Jon.  As bowls of ice cream
were set on the table, they were joined by a young and very lanky redheaded
trooper.  "Good timing, Barry!" Mrs. Culpepper laughed.  Jon and Kelly were
overjoyed.  They remembered the earlier comment about his being a superb
horseman.  Moreover, they felt that they had finally met someone closer to
their own age.  As they left the Captain's quarters, Barry murmured his
thanks to Ben.

Joking all the way, Barry guided Jon and Kelly over to the barracks where
they found some boots that fit the boys pretty well.  "You guys done any
riding?" he asked as they headed towards the corral.  When Jon and Kelly
looked at each other guiltily, he let out a wild guffaw, told them no one
would tell, and demanded the story.  It seems that the boys had unhitched
one of the horses from a beer delivery wagon and taken a joy ride through
Five Points, the infamous slum in lower Manhattan.  Evidently, the police
had not been very sympathetic!  "Somehow, guys, I don't think that's going
to help you much today," he gasped between giggles.  "Don't worry.  We'll
start from scratch."

At the corral, he introduced them to his mount, "Ol' Redeye."  As Jon
excitedly told Ben that night, not only was Ol' Redeye one of the largest
animals they had ever seen, he also had a glare that had to be described as
"pure evil."  "Actually, Redeye is a real pussy cat," Barry exclaimed.
"It's just that an Injun arrow grazed his eyelid and gave him his look.
Now no Injun will get within ten feet of him.  They say he's an evil
spirit!"  Affectionately, he rubbed Redeye's muzzle.  In turn, the giant
stallion nickered, lowered his head, and searched the young trooper for the
apple he knew was hidden somewhere.  When Jon and Kelly (gingerly!) fed him
little pieces of sugar, they had a friend for life.

"From scratch," he proclaimed. "This, guys, is a horse."  "Duh," Kelly
responded.  Mistake!  Kelly had interrupted the master's lesson - and the
glare he received convinced him that he'd just as soon avoid another!
Quickly, Barry ran through some of the main parts in a light and usually
humorous way.  For instance, he would exclaim, "Hoof!"  "Don't get your
foot under it or you'll find out how heavy this big boy really is.  Also,
horses can kick so you have to be very careful around them.  Red may be a
pussy cat, but who's going to turn his back on 1200 lbs of pussy cat!"
"Not me," breathed Kelly.

Promising the boys that they'd learn to saddle and bridle their horses over
the next few days, Barry told the boys to watch as he mounted Redeye.  "Ok,
I stand facing the horse, my reins in my left hand - neither too loose nor
too tight.  My right hand grasps the saddle horn.  My left foot goes into
the stirrup at a angle that won't poke Redeye in the belly.  Now I step up.
Note how my right leg does most of the work.  I swing it carefully over
Redeye's rump, settle into the saddle, and immediately put my foot into the
stirrup."  Demonstrating the process several times, he finally called,
"Come on over here, Jon, and give it a try!"  Grinning - just a little
nervously - Jon approached the monster and grasped the reins.  After making
a small correction in the way Jon was holding the reins, Barry told him to
continue.  Jon proceeded to mount effortlessly - on his first try.  "Nice
goin', Jon!  You're a natural horseman!  Now sit there comfortably for a
moment while we take care of your brother.  There's no problem; Redeye
likes you."

Another young trooper came into the enclosure, leading a slightly smaller
horse.  "This is Kyle, guys.  My buddy is leading Princess."  After
Princess was greeted by an ecstatic Kelly and allowed to search for the
apple that Barry had put into a jacket pocket, the mounting practice
continued.  On his first try, Kelly had a little trouble lifting his heavy
leg over the horse's rump, but made it nicely on the second.  (Kelly
breathed a sigh of relief.  Girls didn't always like him - and he had
already met a few who could bite and kick!)

"Ok, guys, Kyle and I are going to lead you around the paddock.  Your job
is to relax.  Easy, right?  Just be comfortable.  Relax.  Keep your body
still.  Sit up straight and proud like a member of the U.S. Cavalry!  Feel
your horse and just FLOW with him as he walks along."  So began about two
hours of intense work.  Occasionally, there would be a word of correction
such as, "Don't grip with your knees, boyo!"  Towards the end, Ol' Redeye
even broke into a light jog, but Jon maintained his seat and even let out a
wild "Hoozah!"  Barry figured that he had earned it.  After being taught
how to dismount correctly, the four youngsters found their way over to the
barracks.  Neither Jon nor Kelly exactly rejected the invitation to sprawl
out on Barry and Kyle's bunks!  "Hell of a lot softer than Princess," Kelly
moaned to Ben later that evening.

When Ben arrived at the Post to pick up his wards, Sam commented that
Barry, Kyle, Jon, and Kelly had essentially become brothers.  The next age
level of troopers, i.e., those in their early 20s, were treating the four
of them as if they were the younger brothers they had left at home.
Several of the older men appeared to regard the four of them as young sons.
The point is that it had been a very emotional day - and the Post troopers
were a happier bunch tonight than they had been in many months.  Sam also
gave Ben a bottle of really nasty looking liniment that, he said, he kept
for occasions such as this.  "Before the night is out," he laughed, "you're
likely to need it!"  The three of them returned home, most of their
defenses down, their relationship ready to move on to the next step.


(To Be Continued)