Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2021 12:21:32 -0700
From: Backwoods Boy <backwoodsnatureboy@gmail.com>
Subject: The Ranch Boy Next Door - Part 44

Getting to Know All About You

When I woke up on New Year's Eve, I was alone in bed. Upstairs, I could
hear voices I recognized as Shago's and Joey's. I took a quick shower and
went upstairs. Cooter saw me and grinned.

"Hey, good morning, sunshine. We thought you were going to sleep until
noon."

Cooter, Shago, and Joey were preparing breakfast. It seemed the party had
been moved to my place. I grabbed my coat.

"I gotta go feed the animals before they break out of their stalls lookin'
for food."

Shago laughed. "Don't worry, Colton and Aiden took care of that an hour
ago. Right now they're shoveling a couple inches of snow off the driveway."

I looked out the living room window. They saw me and waved, and went back
to work. I went back to the kitchen.

"So, what inspired all of this activity?"

Joey smiled. "You were a hell of a good sport, Hot Kid. Not too many guys
would let their friends watch a video of them getting screwed and then
listen to a detailed description of their first time with you. Furthermore,
it's not often you get to cook breakfast for a porn star."

I grinned. "I thought it was all fun. It seemed you guys did too."

Joey continued. "We did. We voted this morning on the best presentation,
which of course goes to Shago. Colton was a close runner-up. This morning,
Aiden told us more about his experiences with you, and he gets the
best-experience award. Shago told us what he knows about how you helped
your other friends. You deserve a presidential award, Hot Kid."

I was a little embarrassed. "I just did what I could."

Shago pitched in. "If all of us did what we could, the world would be a
much better place. What I told them were the things Jace observed and told
his dads and me. He didn't reveal any confidential information, and we all
know you can't talk about it. So the only information passed around was
common knowledge, publicly available if you know who to talk to."

Cooter had something to add. "Colton suggested it would be best if we
didn't discuss the video with anyone. I think we all had that figured out,
but I'm glad he mentioned it."

I smiled. "I think you have all of the bases covered. And thanks for fixing
breakfast. I really appreciate it."

I could hear Colton and Aiden stomping the snow off their boots
downstairs. Soon their footsteps sounded on the stairs. Arriving at the
top, Colton stopped and smiled at me.

"Good morning, Hot Kid. I hope you slept well."

"Too well, it looks like. Thanks for covering for me in the barn, and for
doin' the shoveling."

Aiden put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a hug.

"We were happy to do it for a very special guy."

I replied, a little sarcastically. "If I become any more special, I may be
transported to heaven."

They all laughed, and Aiden replied. "We wouldn't want that to happen. It's
too much fun having you here."

We sat down to western omelettes, toast, hash browns, and canned pears. I
smiled.

"You guys put on a pretty good spread."

Cooter responded. "At some time in our lives, the three of us who cooked
breakfast have worked in a commercial food environment. For example, Joey
spent his high school years working in his parents' cafe. There's a fair
amount of experience here."

We ate in silence for a while. Then I had a question.

"I'm sitting here looking at five tops, and I know it. Someone once said to
me that when two tops wanna screw, it's obvious that one of them is gonna
be the bottom." I saw Aiden smile slightly. "So tell me, how do you guys
decide?"

Joey responded first. "With Shago and me, it depends on who's in the mood
to do what. We have very little problem deciding. It seems to evolve
naturally."

Colton replied for Aiden and himself. "Aiden and I haven't been together
for long, so we don't have a pattern yet. So far, we flip a coin for being
on top first. By the time the night is over, it's pretty much equal."

Cooter had a twinkle in his eye. "So far with Hot Kid, I haven't had to
deal with that problem."

That brought a roar of laughter. I grinned at Cooter.

"And I don't think you'll ever have to deal with it."

Aiden noticed something else. "Hot Kid, is that padlock a new feature?"

I smiled. "Yeah, it was given to me last night by an admirer. It seems I
have an official boyfriend."

That brought a round of cheers and applause. Cooter had an additional
comment.

"I gave him the key. Tell them where it is, Hot Kid."

I smiled sweetly. "I flushed it down the toilet."

That brought down the house. Breakfast was suspended while the laughter
went on and on. When they finally settled down, Colton made the obvious
observation.

"I think you're serious about this relationship."

"I've never been more serious about anything."

************

When we'd finished breakfast, Colton and I stayed in the kitchen to clean
up while the rest went into the living room to see what was on TV. Colton
paused while putting the dishes into the dishwasher, and looked up at me.

"I guess we've extended last night's party and moved it here. You can blame
that on me. Is it okay?"

"It's fine. I'm sure my parents would be good with it."

"How about beer?"

I hesitated for a second. I knew that wouldn't be approved. Peer pressure
was a factor in my decision.

"If it were kids my age, the answer would be not only no, but hell no. With
you guys, it will be fine if we clean up well."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

Shago called from the living room. "I see you have a picture on your mantel
like the one your mom gave us."

I went to look.

"Mom must have put it up before they left. I hadn't noticed it."

The guys gathered around. Shago explained.

"That's Hot Kid and his great-great-grandfather, one hundred years apart,
at the same age."

Aiden made the comment they were all thinking. "Awesome!"

Cooter was looking at another picture. "Are these your parents with you?"

I looked at the picture. "Yeah, about a year ago."

"You've grown a lot since then."

In more ways than one, I thought. "Yeah, I guess I have."

************

Colton and I joined the rest of the group watching a hockey game. Although
I wasn't into watching sports, doing it with my friends was fun. Breakfast
had been so close to noon that it was more like lunch, so the drinks being
consumed were a mixture of beer and sodas that Colton brought along.

I'd never had a party like this - a group of friends gathered together in
my parents' home. Maybe one or two friends, but this was new, and I liked
it.

Shago and I were sitting on the short end of the L-shaped couch in front of
the TV. The other four were crowded onto the long piece. Not crowded very
badly though - it was a good-sized piece of furniture. Adjacent to me, I'd
noticed a conversation going on between Cooter and Colton. Cooter leaned
across to me with a quiet question.

"Can I borrow your bed?"

"Sort of like you borrowed Matt's?"

He grinned. "Yeah, exactly like that."

"Sure, go for it."

One at a time, he and Colton left the room unnoticed. During a break in the
game, several of us took a bathroom break. When we came back, Joey observed
the reduced numbers.

"Where are Colton and Cooter?"

No one provided an answer. Joey looked at Shago and grinned.

"He wouldn't."

Shago grinned back. "Yes, he would." He looked at me. "Are they?"

I smiled. "I'll never tell."

We all sat down and watched the game for a few minutes. Aiden spoke up.

"I wonder who's on top."

Shago suggested. "Colton."

Joey didn't agree. "Cooter."

Aiden took a guess. "Colton."

I was pretty sure. "Cooter."

Shago grinned. "Shall we go find out?"

We quietly descended the stairs. The door was open a few inches. I pushed
it open further, thankful I'd oiled the squeaky hinge recently.

Colton lay on his back with Cooter on top of him. Cooter was thrusting in
hard, headed for the finish line. Colton saw us and grinned. A couple of
iPhones captured the scene for posterity.

We waited until Cooter blew his wad before applauding. He pulled out and
looked up with a fake frown.

"Can't a guy get laid in peace around here?"

After the laughter subsided, he got off the bed and buttoned up his Levi's.

"Okay, guys. Back upstairs. At least let us get dressed without
spectators."

************

When the hockey game ended, the party broke up. The guys helped clean up,
and Colton removed the alcoholic evidence. I gave them goodbye hugs and
Happy New Year wishes at the door.

Cooter stayed behind to help me vacuum, change my bedding, and do some
laundry. We'd barely finished when my phone rang. It was Mom. I smiled. She
couldn't let me loose, even for a couple of days.

"Hi, Toby. We got a call from Governor Adams. She asked if you could join
us at her New Year's party tonight. She said you could bring a friend if
you want to."

"Sure, what time?"

"Ten o'clock. The party starts at nine, but she'd like you to come directly
to her residence at ten. If I send you directions, do you think you can
find it?"

Mom sounded a little stressed. I replied soothingly.

"I'm sure I can, Mom. I know it's near the capitol. Dad has pointed it out
before."

"Okay, if you have any trouble, please call. I'm a little reluctant to have
you driving around Boise after dark in the winter."

I was looking at Cooter now, though speaking to Mom.

"I think the friend you said I could invite will drive. He used to live in
Boise too, and he has more driving experience."

Cooter nodded his head. Mom continued.

"That sounds like a good plan. The party is small - a couple dozen
people. It's dress-up, but not formal. Your sport coat and slacks will be
fine. And please polish your shoes."

"Mom, don't worry. I clean up good when I have to. And I'll be on my best
behavior."

She laughed and seemed to relax. "One more thing though, please leave your
collar at home."

"No, Mom. I'm gonna wear it."

There was a pause. I'd never directly defied her.

"Toby..."

"Mom, as my peers have said, it expresses my uniqueness, and I will wear
it."

She took the best way out available. "I'll discuss it with your father."

I knew that would end in my favor. "Okay, thanks, Mom. Is there anything
else I need to know?"

"We've reserved a room in our hotel for you and your friend. By the way,
who will you be bringing?"

"A friend of Shago's I met recently. You're gonna like him."

"Okay. Call me if you think of anything else you need to know."

I hung up, took a deep breath, and looked up at Cooter.

"How would you like to meet the Governor of Idaho?"

************

As opposed to most states, Idaho doesn't have an official governor's
residence. Sally Adams lived in a penthouse apartment near the capital.

Cooter "cleaned up" as well as I did. Though I still preferred him in
Levi's, he looked great dressed in dark slacks and a coordinated jacket. We
took my pickup, but I was glad Cooter was driving. He knew exactly where to
go, and that there was a parking garage next door. Once we'd parked, I
breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks for driving, Cooter. It would have been too much for me."

He put a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, buddy. It's going to be fine. And
that collar goes great with your slacks and jacket. If the governor is as
cool as you say, there will be no problem."

We were on the party list. After passing through security, we were taken
upstairs in the penthouse elevator. Stepping into the foyer, we were
checked against the list once more and led into a large formal living room.

It was one of those things that you remember later as happening in slow
motion. I saw my parents and waved at them. Mom looked stressed. A huge
grin appeared on Dad's face. Nearby, Governor Adams excused herself from a
conversation and guided my parents over to join us. She took my hand in
hers.

"I'm so glad you could join us, Toby."

"Thank you Governor Adams." I gestured towards Cooter. "I'd..."

Next to me, Dad was shaking Cooter's hand.

"It's good to see you, Cooter. The last time I saw you was at your high
school graduation. I guess that was only last spring, but it seems longer?"

Cooter smiled at Dad. "That's right, Mr. Collins. I appreciated you being
there."

Mom was perplexed. I was dumbfounded, but there was more to come. Governor
Adams paused briefly before addressing Mom.

"Ellen, I think you're a little in the dark here. I'd like you to meet my
son, Cooter. Of course that's not his given name, but it's the one he
insists on using."

My jaw dropped to my shoes. Dad was smiling at me, a twinkle in his
eyes. Mom was now starting to smile a little. Governor Adams was as
composed as always. I looked at Cooter, who was watching me with a
mischievous grin. New guests were arriving. Sally Adams, always in control,
was speaking.

"I hope you enjoy your evening, Toby." She smiled conspiratorially. "I love
your collar. Did Cooter give you the padlock?"

"Yes, ma'am. He did."

She squeezed my hand again. "I'm glad. Now if you'll excuse me..."

And she was off to be the perfect hostess.

The four of us were silent for several seconds. I softly broke the silence.

"I think I need to change my underwear."

************

Midnight was approaching. In one week, my life had changed completely. The
rest of the guests were inside making all the appropriate noises. Cooter
and I stood hand in hand on the balcony, looking out over the city. He had
a lot to tell me.

"When I saw your family photo on the mantel this morning, I recognized your
dad. I couldn't resist surprising you this way."

I smiled. "It was perfect."

"I should explain a little about my relationship with Mom. As you can tell,
I'm a bit of a rebel, and when I graduated, I wanted to get away from the
city and the spotlight I lived under as a politician's child. So I took off
and literally joined the circus, and then moved on to the roadhouse. I'm
still in regular contact with Mom, but few people know about my connection
with her. It keeps my life the way I want it, and it avoids any
embarrassment Mom might have about my lifestyle. Not personal
embarrassment, but I could become a political problem."

He paused briefly to collect his thoughts. "As Mom's legal assistant, your
dad is one of the few who know my current whereabouts and employment. I
knew he'd make the connection as soon as he saw me. It was more fun to do
that here. And I'd appreciate it if you would keep all of this to
yourself. Among our mutual friends, no one else knows."

He was quiet for a few moments. "We've only known each other for a few
days. So far, we've been focused on sex and fun." He smiled. "And I don't
want to lose that focus. But I know there's more to you than being good in
bed. I've had the advantage of learning about you from what you've told me,
and from Shago and your other friends. On the other hand, I've told you
very little about myself, and now you know why. I want you to learn that
there's more to me than being good in bed too."

He pulled a ring out of his pocket. It was a simple titanium band.

"I made this in my high school metal shop class. I dreamed of finding the
right person to give it to as a promise ring. Now I've found the right
person. I want us to have a lifetime to discover each other. I want to
share my life with you. Will you share yours with me?"

I looked up at him with tears running down my cheeks.

"Nothing could make me happier."

He put the ring on my left hand ring finger, and then smiled.

"I thought this would fit, but there are a couple more in my pocket if it
hadn't. I made several rings that year. When the time came, I was
determined to have one that fit."

He kissed me firmly on my lips.

"Happy New Year, Hot Kid Toby. May we share many more."

I kissed him back with equal intensity.

"Happy New Year, Cooter. I hope we have a lifetime of New Years together."

He smiled. "Now, let's go make three parents very happy."


*** This ends the story of Toby's first year in the country - for real this
time.  I hope you all enjoyed it.  Thanks to all of you who emailed your
encouragement and thoughts; I appreciate all of your input.  A sequel set
two years later is in progress, and those who have requested notification
will be advised if and when it is posted. ***

*** If you enjoy this kind of story, please donate to Nifty to ensure that
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