Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 20:35:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tom Borden <tombor99@yahoo.com>
Subject: "My Father, My Son"  54th Installment

This is Chapter 54, a continuation of "My Father, My Son."  All of the
conditions, warnings, and disclaimers listed at the beginning of the early
chapters of this series apply.  All comments are welcome, constructive or
destructive.


Send to:   Tom Borden,   tombor99@ yahoo.com


My Father, My Son
Chapter 54

The small dinner party with Pierre and Jason progressed very agreeably.
Mark and Corky had joined Pierre in drinking Scotch on the rocks, while
Jason savored several Manhattans.  Corky had made a pitcher of them that
held four glassfuls.  After Jason finished all four, he held his empty
glass in front of him and said, "You make the perfect Manhattans, Corky.
Just the right proportion of Boubon and Vermouth."

It was obvious to Corky that Jason could use another, and he quickly
disappeared into the kitchen to mix up another pitcher of them, and at the
same time check the casserole that was in the oven.  Handing a full
Manhattan to Jason and another round of drinks to the rest, he said, "Now
drink up you guys.  It looks like dinner will be ready in another twenty or
thirty minutes.  The casserole is almost done."

Conversation was lively.  Mark and Corky made no secret of the fact that
they were partners and lovers, and told Pierre and Jason how they met on
the highway when Corky had had a car accident.  Jason, in turn, told about
his life growing up in a small Texas town not far from San Antonio.  His
life's story seemed strangely devoid of romantic episodes with women.  He
did, however, tell of one short ill-fated affair he had some time earlier
with an older woman.  The way the story was related, however, did not seem
to Mark and Corky that the affair held much passion on Jason's part.

With several drinks in them, Mark and Corky became eager to get to the
bottom of what Jason really liked.  Mark said, "I suppose Pierre told you,
Jason, how the three of us met.  It was really a trip for us to learn how
Pierre found out what we looked like."

Jason, with a short little laugh, said, "I know.  He has very sensitive
fingers that serve as his eyes.  It was a trip, as you put it, for me, too,
when he found out what I looked like."

Corky said, "Jason, I don't know about you, but having Pierre "look" at us
was a very erotic experience."

Jason said, "I have to admit it was erotic for me, too.  Did he look at
every part of your bodies?"

Mark said, "Every inch."

"I don't think Pierre would mind my revealing that he took me to bed that
first time so he could look at me more closely," said Jason.  Then looking
at Pierre, Jason said, "It was a nice experience.  Pierre has become a very
special person to me."

Soon, they were seated at the table.  The casserole was a simple one, made
of boneless chicken thighs with pearl onions and mushroom gravy.  Jason had
several helpings, and eagerly topped it off with desert of half a dozen
date and walnut filled cookies and coffee.

"Leaning back in his chair, Jason said, "Cooking for myself, I rarely get a
meal this delicious!  I hope you don't mind if I loosen my belt."

Retiring to the living room once again, now with glasses of wine, Mark and
Corky looked at Jason, who had not only loosened his belt, but had undone
the belt altogether and had undone the top button on his shorts and let the
zipper slip down slightly.  It was clear that Jason had on no underwear,
for just a small amount of his pubic hair was now showing.  Mark excused
himself and went into the kitchen to fetch the bottle of wine, with Corky
following behind.

Mark said, "Christ! Corky.  Did you see that bush of hair?  Are you with me
in doing what we can to get Jason and Pierre into bed?"  Corky nodded
eagerly.

When they returned to the living room, Mark feigned discomfort from too
much food, and slipped off his shorts, sitting down only in his briefs.
"Jason," he said, "You can see we're pretty informal here.  Corky and I
frequently eat too much, but since we're alone here, we usually just strip
down and sit around naked during the evening.  It's so much more
comfortable after a heavy meal."

Corky also let his shorts drop to the floor.  As they both sat down on the
sofa, they made no effort to hide the raging hard-ons that were tenting out
their briefs.  In fact, they were hoping Jason would notice and maybe get
the hint.  Mark even adjusted himself in such a way that his balls were
poking out from the side of his briefs.

Jason did not pretend that he had not noticed the condition of Mark's and
Corky's packages, and said, "Hey, you guys, don't let me stop you. It's
your house.  Go ahead and strip down if you want to.  If you do, I'll do
it, too, if you don't mind.  I agree, it's a hell of a lot more comfortable
that way."

Mark and Corky quickly removed their briefs, revealing two very large and
hard penises.  As Jason removed all of his own clothes, he turned to Pierre
and said, "Come on, Pierre, you can't be the only one with clothes on.  Let
me help you get out of those things."

Pierre stood up, and as Jason removed each item of clothing from Pierre's
body, it was very obvious to Mark and Corky that Jason was enjoying the
process and was running his hand over Pierre's skin as it was being
exposed.  Both Mark's and Corky's hard penises were bobbing wildly in
anticipation as they watched.

Mark said, "Pierre, you look so handsome.  Did anyone ever tell you that
you have a body to die for?"

Pierre said, "Yes, sometimes.  But while you're looking at me, I would
really like to see you three again."

Corky seized the moment and said, "I think if we all go into the bedroom
and lie down, Pierre, you can more easily get a good 'look' at us."

Pierre, of course, knew this was only a ploy to get the main event of the
evening started, and said, "Yes if we all stretch out on the bed, I can see
y'all much more easily."

Jason was the first to jump in and stretched out in the middle of the bed
with his hands up under his head.  Mark and Corky's heads were virtually
swimming from the intense sexual desire they both felt at the sight of
Jason's well-developed body stretched out before them.

After all four were lying there, pressed up together, Mark put his hands on
Jason's chest and ran them lightly over his nipples and then down over the
hard muscular ridges of his stomach.  He said, "Jason, you said it was an
erotic thing for you when Pierre 'looked' at you with his fingers.  Was it
kind of like this, what I'm doing now?"

"Yes," moaned Jason.  "It was very much like that.  You said earlier that
you also found it erotic."

Soon, Mark and Jason were pressed up together, running their hands over
each other, gently caressing the curves that were formed by their
well-developed muscles.  Corky was lying back enjoying the enormously
sensuous feel of Pierre's fingers as he was once again "looking" at Corky's
body.  As an added feature, Pierre was now also using his tongue to enhance
his "vision."  As his tongue got lower and lower and into Corky's ample
pubic hair, Pierre could feel Corky's hard penis bobbing back and forth,
lightly slapping him on the cheek.

As Pierre suddenly sucked in the full length of Corky's throbbing penis,
Mark saw it happen and instinctively reached for Jason's hard penis.  As he
stroked it gently, he could feel Jason's leg muscles stiffen and could hear
Jason's breathing become faster.  Slowly running his tongue down over
Jason's firm stomach and into his pubic hair, he reached the prize and
brought his lips and tongue down over the head of Jason's gorged cock.
Jason grabbed hold of Mark's shoulders and pushed him down hard against his
body, signaling that Mark should take in his whole penis and suck it hard.

As Pierre was sucking on Corky, and Mark was sucking on Jason, Corky and
Jason were lying on their backs with their bodies pressed together.  Their
heads were very close.  Corky turned his head to look into Jason's face and
had an overwhelming urge to kiss Jason.  He moved his head just slightly to
the side and brought his lips down close to Jason's.  But Jason turned his
head suddenly away as a very obvious signal that he didn't want to kiss.
Jason did, however, bring his arm down from behind his head and ran it
lightly over Corky's chest, gently pinching his nipples.  Corky read that
as a sort of peace offering after having so abruptly turned away from
Corky's attempt to kiss him.

Pierre's very erotic tongue action on his penis and Jason's pinching of his
nipples very quickly brought Corky to the very brink of no return.  Corky
began bucking his hips slightly as he sent his sperm flowing into Pierre's
mouth.  Corky let out a short agonizing grunt with each surge of cum that
shot up through his penis.  As Jason watched his friend Pierre gulping down
Corky's cum, he felt his own orgasm quickly overtaking him.  Still holding
tightly onto Mark's shoulders, he let out a loud yell as his sperm poured
in waves down Mark's throat.

As the four lay exhausted, Jason looked into Mark's face and said, "You
know, Mark, I'm a fucker.  I don't go much for doing oral on a guy.  How
about it?"

Mark said, "You just shot a big load down my throat, Jason.  I'd like you
to fuck me, but it's too soon.  How can you cum again so soon?"

Jason smiled and said, "I've always been a rapid-fire guy, Mark.  All I
need is ten minutes to recover, and I can fuck out another load just as big
as the last.  I'm even able to have two to three orgasms in the process of
only one fuck."

Mark smiled and rolled over on his back and pulled up his legs so that his
thighs were pressed against his chest.  "Okay, Jason," said Mark, "be my
guest!  This hole's all yours."  Reaching over to the bed table, Mark
picked up the tube of KY and handed it to Jason.  As Jason slathered the KY
on to his asshole, Mark looked at Jason's penis, long and fat and straight
as an arrow.  It hadn't wilted one bit.  Mark almost shook with
anticipation, having that enormous hot piece of fuck meat up inside of him.

"You want to do me, too, Pierre?" said Corky as he lay on his back, holding
his legs up in the air.

Pierre positioned himself in front of Corky's ass.  With his fingers, he
felt all around Corky's round smooth ass cheeks and ran his fingers down
through Corky's hair-filled ass trench until they found the hard, smooth
ridges of Corky's pucker.

Jason pushed his penis into Mark's hole just at the same time that Pierre
was entering Corky.  Mark could hardly keep his eyes off of Pierre's little
white ass with the erotic Bikini tan line as it moved up and down with each
thrust of his penis into Corky's hole.

Mark looked up at Jason's face and saw beads of sweat forming on his
forehead and beginning to run down his cheeks.  He wanted so badly to pull
Jason's head down closer to him so he could kiss those slightly parted
sensuous lips.  But he had seen how he pulled away from Corky when Corky
had tried.  The feel of Jason's large long and thick penis filling up his
rectum inside of him was almost indescribable.  Jason's eyes were closed,
and Mark wondered what delicious fantasies were going through his head as
he pounded in and out furiously.  Was he thinking of him or of Corky or of
Pierre?  Or perhaps Jason was imagining that he was fucking a woman.  It
didn't matter.  He had Jason inside of him, and that was the most wonderful
thing he could expect.

Corky looked up into Pierre's unseeing eyes.  Even though he knew Pierre
could not see Corky looking at him, Corky knew that Pierre was "seeing" him
through his hard penis.  He was seeing into the inside of Corky's bowels,
and Corky knew that was enough for Pierre at that moment.

Almost simultaneously, Jason and Pierre growled with agonizing pleasure as
their faces contorted and as they each shot their load of hot cream into
the Mark's and Corky's rectums.  The pressure of Jason's hard penis
throbbing against his prostate sent Mark into his own powerful orgasm,
shooting stream after stream of cum splattering all over his chest.

The four were soon lying on their backs with their bodies touching, and
gently caressing one another.  When Pierre put his hand on Mark's stomach,
he felt Mark's pools of cum, warm and thick.  Scooping it up, he sucked on
his fingers.  This was the first time that Pierre had been present as his
friend Jason had any kind of sex.  He and Jason had only lain in bed at his
place caressing and feeling each other's bodies.  After several minutes,
Pierre reached over and felt for Jason's penis.  It was still hard and wet.

Pierre whispered, "Oh, Jason."

Jason whispered back, "Later, Pierre, when I take you home to your place."

All four soon were up and again sitting naked in the living room, where
Corky poured more wine for everyone.  Jason said, "I didn't intend for this
to happen, but you guys really got me going.  You guys were so nice to
invite me over for dinner, and I almost feel as though I have hurt my
welcome by what I did.  It's not what a guest should be doing in the house
of his hosts."

Mark looked open-mouthed at Jason.  "Jason, let me tell you something.  You
may not have been aware of it, but Corky and I had early on decided that
you were not going to be allowed to leave here until we did what we did.
And that's a fact!"

"You're very nice to say that," said Jason.  "That makes me feel better
about it.  I have to admit to you that I have never had an experience like
this.  I mean, to be in bed having sex with three other guys.  Wow!  I have
to apologize to you though.  As you gathered, I don't do anything oral to
other guys and I'm really not into kissing or getting fucked."

Mark smiled and said, "Don't worry about it Jason.  That's an acquired
taste.  You may come to it sometime.  But if not, that's okay, too."

Putting their clothes back on, Pierre and Jason said goodbye.  Mark put his
arms around Jason and quickly swiped his lips over Jason's.  Jason looked
at Mark and said, "Oh, you're a sneaky one, aren't you?"

"Well, I've been known to be kind of sneaky!" said Mark with a smile.

After Jason and Pierre left, Mark and Corky poured themselves another glass
of wine and just sat looking at each other and shaking their heads.  It was
almost unbelievable that they had somehow managed to get those two hot
beauties into their bed.  They both agreed that this would not be the last
time.

Mark said, "Well, it sounded like our dear Pierre will be getting his ass
fucked when he gets home tonight.  I'm really glad.  Pierre is so dear, and
he so much deserves Jason."


Michael had worked most of the morning writing checks and paying the
monthly bills.  Just before noon, Tony came into his office and, laying a
stack of new bills on the desk, said "The mail has come, Michael, and guess
what!  There's a letter for you."  Handing it to Michael, he said, "And you
see who it's from!"

Michael looked carefully at the return address and saw that it was from
Karl.  He felt suddenly as though his heart was in his throat.  He could
feel adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Well, aren't you going to open it and read it?" said Tony, excitedly.

Michael looked at Tony and said, "Tony, I'm sorry, but I think I'd like to
be alone when I read it.  I'm sorry.  Would you mind?"

As Tony left the room, Michael tore open the envelope and read Karl's long
handwritten letter.

	My dearest Michael:
	First off, I want to tell you that you have never been far from my
mind.  Your dear face is permanently etched in my mind's eye.  Imagine my
surprise and delight when your friend, Francisco, located me and came to my
apartment to tell me that you still thought about me.  I never dared to
believe that you could still love me or care for me.  But he told me that
you do, and the way he told me made me believe that you really do.  I
didn't sleep that night, Michael.  Thoughts of you and what we had together
raced wildly through my mind.  Oh, how I do love you, and always will.  He
told me that you have thought about me so much since I left and that you
want me back.  How could any man be happier than I am!

I am sorry I hadn't contacted you.  I thought you wanted me out of your
life after what I did.  I have been working very hard at making a change in
my life.  I have been seeing a very good therapist, who has helped me a lot
by making me see what is important, and helping me to see the importance of
self-discipline and the importance of being true to those I love.  Of
course, there is only one person I love.  Believe me, I now know the
terrible consequences of not being true.

I learned that the money that had once been put in trust for me is gone.
My father had totally disinherited me.  But I have a friend at my father's
firm who has been so helpful.  With his own money, he has helped me pay the
monthly rent on this miserable hole I live in, plus some of the fees that
go to the therapist.  He's one of us, Michael, but he came to realize that
nothing was going to happen between he and I, and I think he understands.
He's probably sick of hearing me talk about my dear Michael way down there
in Texas.

I probably have a little ways to go in my therapy, but now I see there's
hope.  If you still want me back, my dear sweet man, I will go back when
I'm through with all this up here.  I want to be absolutely sure about
myself before I do.  I will go back only when I know that I have the
personal discipline and the strength of mind I need that will earn your
faith in my again.

I love you, Michael, more than you could possibly know.  I don't have a
computer here, otherwise I would love to have you e-mail me.  And I don't
have a phone.  The only one where I can receive calls in downstairs with
the landlady, and it isn't private.  So I hope you will write me, Michael.

With eternal love, my dear man, Karl

The tears began to pour out of Michael's eyes as he tried to read the
letter several more times through blurred eyes.  He took out his
handkerchief and wiped his eyes.  He wondered to himself why he was crying.
It was the happiest, most wonderful news he could ever hear.  Just then,
Tony peered in around the door and saw Michael's red eyes as he was once
again trying to read the letter.

Tony said, "Well?"

"Oh, Tony!  He's coming home!  Karl's coming home!" said Michael.  "Not
right away, but as soon as he feels his therapy is finished."

Tony began to cry and came around the desk and put his arms around Michael.

"I know you're almost as happy as I am, Tony.  I know your feelings for
Karl.  It's going to be wonderful!"  Michael held onto Tony tightly and
kissed him on the cheek, and said, "Everything is going back the way it
was."

Getting up from his chair, Michael said, "Tony, would you have one of the
guys saddle up a horse for me.  I want to go out and ride alone for
awhile."

Michael spent much of the afternoon riding slowly around the perimeter of
the ranch thinking about what it will be like to have Karl home again.  The
loneliness will be gone.  And that wonderful, sexy English accent was
always somehow reassuring to Michael.  Karl was always so much in control,
and when things on the ranch would start to go wrong, Karl always calmly
and with such assurance fixed things and saw that everything ran smoothly.
As Michael rode, he could feel the longing rising inside of him to have
Karl's arms around him again and to feel Karl's warm breath on his cheek at
night.

Michael said aloud into the air, "Look at me.  I'm acting like a damned
giddy kid.  But I don't care.  At least no one can see me way out here
pining like a lovesick child for my lover."  He began to laugh at himself
and, picking up speed, he headed for his little house in the Cottonwoods.
He tied the horse to a tree branch next to a watering trough that Jake had
recently installed.  It was now late afternoon.  Michael ran into the house
and into the kitchen looking for that bottle of Scotch he remembered
leaving there at his last visit.  There it was, almost empty, but just
enough for a good strong three shots on ice.  Sitting on the rocker out on
the front porch, he stripped off his shirt to let the breeze blow across
his sweaty chest.  He sat for a long time staring off into the west,
remembering every wonderful detail of every wonderful moment he and Karl
had spent together.  As he reminisced, tears would flood his eyes, and then
he would laugh out loud at the joyful moments he remembered.  He was so
glad he was alone.  This is why he wanted to be alone that afternoon
because he felt alternatingly silly and giddy and teary eyed.  He thought
to himself that he was too old to be acting like this and no one would
understand.

It was a wonderful afternoon, and Michael headed back to the main house in
time for supper.  He headed back to his room where he took a shower and got
into some clean clothes.  Stepping into his office, he saw the blinking
light on his answering machine.  When he turned it on, he heard Robert's
voice.

"Hi, Michael.  It's your friend, Robert.  Just wondering how you're doing.
I'm sorry you hung up on me yesterday.  That wasn't very nice.  I really
want to see you again.  Please call me at (- - -) - - - - - - -.  I'll
expect your call soon.  I love you."

Michael hurried into the kitchen and found Tony talking with Jake.  "Tony,
that Robert person called me on my private line.  How the fuck did he get
it?  Did you give it to him?"

Tony said, "No, I was out for an hour or so getting food supplies.
Otherwise I didn't get any call."

Jake said, "I was sittin' in here while Tony was out, so I could catch the
fuckin' phone for him if it rang.  There was just one call.  The guy said
he needed to talk to ya, Michael, and he was doing business with ya.  I
gave him yer private phone number and told him to call ya there 'cuz I
thought you wanted to conduct yer business from yer fuckin' office."

"I see," said Michael as he slumped into a chair.  "Well, you did the right
thing, Jake.  But this guy is someone who thinks he's in love with me and
he's bothering the hell out of me."

"Who is this guy?" asked Jake.

"He happens to be a male nurse who's taking care of Jared while he's in the
hospital in Dallas.  He and I happened to get into something in one of the
restrooms up there," said Michael.

"Oh, really?" said Jake eagerly.  "What ja do?"

"It was really nothing.  We stood at urinals next to each other, and I
don't know how it happened exactly, but we ended up jerking off at the same
time.  Now this guy wants to get together with me, probably for some
heavier sex."

"Let me talk to this fuck-head the next time he calls, will ya?" said Jake.
"I'll take care of him.  I'll scare the fuckin' shit out of him."

"Well, how are you going to do that, Jake?" asked Michael."

"Simple!  I'll jist tell him if he don't leave ya alone, then me and my
roughnecks are comin' up there, and when we git him, we'll tie him to a
fuckin' pole and then shoot his fuckin' head off."

Tony started to laugh, and Michael couldn't suppress a smile.  Michael put
his hand on Jake's arm and said, "I'm the luckiest man on Earth to know
I'll always be protected by a guy like you, Jake.  If there's anyone who
makes me feel secure, it's you!"  Still smiling, Michael said, "But I don't
want you to go to jail for murder, my friend."

"Oh, Michael, you know I warn't gonna kill nobody.  But that little
piss-ant fucker'll think he's dead when I git through with 'em."

Michael felt better and was soon sitting at the head of the table in the
dining room with his family . . . Jeff and Paul, Clayton and Tony, and
Enrique and Noah.  Before they started to eat, Michael told everyone that
he'd received a letter from Karl, and that he would be coming home soon.
It was joyous news and they all excitedly told Michael how happy they were
for him.

Jeff interjected a somber tone when he turned to Michael and said, "But,
dad, will you ever be sure?  I mean will you ever be able to trust him
again?"

Michael merely looked over and pointed to Jeff's plate and said, "Eat your
dinner, son."


That evening, Michael sat at his desk trying to finish up some paper work.
It was close to midnight when he decided it was time for bed.  He lay naked
on his bed with the sheet pulled back.  The room was flooded with the light
of a full moon streaming into the window.  He ran his hands over the hair
on his chest and stomach and then down over his penis and balls.  Looking
out at the moon with a smile on his face, he began imagining what it was
going to be like having Karl back in his bed, with the feel of Karl's hands
on his body.  He slowly brought his penis to a full erection and tried to
imagine that it was Karl's hands, or perhaps his lips, that were gently
massaging his penis.  He fantasized that Karl was there, lying in front of
him with his head pressed up into Michael's crotch, sucking gently on his
balls, just as he had so often done.  Stroking his penis harder and faster,
he wadded up the sheet and pushed it into his crotch, making it feel as
though it was Karl's head.

Michael wanted to let his reverie last, but it was all too much.  He could
feel his hard penis becoming even harder in his hand and then could no
longer prevent himself from falling over the edge.  He felt the clenching
of the muscle at the base of his penis as it pumped ribbon after ribbon of
thick white cum out onto his stomach.  It was a powerful orgasm, which he
knew was the result of his fantasy that Karl was there with him.  He had
brought a towel with him to bed, knowing that he would need it.  After
wiping up all of the cum from his stomach, he let the towel drop to the
floor, as he felt himself begin to drift off to sleep.

Suddenly, the bedside phone rang, bringing Michael to full consciousness.

"Hello."

"Michael!  You never called back.  I waited for your call.  Why didn't you
call me back?"

"Robert," said Michael angrily.  "I'm never going to call you back.  Now
stop calling me!"

Robert said, "But Michael, my love, if you won't call me, I have to call
you."

"Robert, I'm not interested in you.  If you continue to call me like this,
I'm going to have to report you to your supervisor."

"Oh, Michael," said Robert.  "Didn't I tell you?  I'm not working at the
hospital anymore.  They fired me."

"Why?"

"It's a long story, Michael.  I'll tell you about it when I see you."

"You're not going to see me, Robert.  I'm warning you.  Don't call me
again!"

"Oh, Michael," said Robert in a mock tone of hurt.  "Are you going to do
something bad to me?"

"Stop it, Robert.  There are ways to put an end to people like you, and if
I were you, I wouldn't push my luck, or you might just be very sorry."

Michael hung up the phone without waiting for Robert's next reply.  Turning
off the ringer on the phone, Michael pulled the sheet up over him and, as
he felt himself beginning to drift into sleep, he thought that perhaps Jake
did very possibly have the right solution to this problem.


The next morning, Michael told Clayton that he was going to drive up to see
Jared again and asked if he wanted to come along.  Clayton said, "Dad, I've
seen him already.  That's all I needed.  I guess I feel kind of sorry for
him, but I realize now there's nothing I can do for him, and there's
nothing he can ever do for me.  I understand that you need to go.  He's
your brother and, otherwise, he has no one.  I remember what Father Taft
told us.  No matter how sinful a man has lived his life, everyone needs to
have someone who cares when he's down.  I guess he's right.  You need to be
there.  I don't."

When Michael arrived at the hospital, he found Jared still in a coma, but
was told that his vital signs had stabilized and that he is no longer in
danger of dying.  Stopping at the ICU desk, he asked about the nurse who
had been taking care of Jared . . . the one whose name was Robert.  One of
the doctors who was sitting at a desk making entries in a chart looked up
when he heard Michael asking about the young male nurse.

He got up and said to the nurse at the counter, "It's alright, nurse, I'll
talk to Mr. Walker about that."  Then taking Michael by the arm, he said,
"Step over here to where we can talk privately."

As they sat down in a couple of chairs in a small alcove, the doctor said,
"Mr. Walker, I'm Dr. Wallace.  The young man you were asking about is
Robert Jackson.  I need to tell you about something dreadful that happened.
He was in with your brother changing his catheter.  But while he was in
there, another nurse walked in and found him giving . . . well, for the
lack of a better term . . . a blow job to your brother.  Men who are in a
coma often have perpetual erections.  When Robert saw her, he told her he
would kill her if she ever told anyone.  She was frightened, of course, and
did indeed say nothing that day.

"Then the night before last, very late, Robert was on duty again.  The ICU
is usually very quite in the middle of the night.  Another nurse went into
your brother's room and found Robert on the bed holding your brothers legs
up and having anal intercourse with him.  Your brother, of course, has been
in a fairly deep coma and was totally unaware of what was happening."

"My God, that son-of-a-bitch!" exclaimed Michael.

"She reported it immediately to her supervisor, who went in with the nurse
to order him to stop.  But he just kept going while he hurled obscenities
at them.  The next morning, which was yesterday morning, the hospital
administrator was informed, and the young man was fired forthwith.  I know
this is a terrible thing to be telling you.  But the reason I need to
inform you of this is that we have examined your brother and found that the
rape . . . there is no other word for it . . . caused some serious injuries
to your brother's anus, as well a tear in his rectum.  Even before the
administrator was informed, we took your brother into surgery very early
yesterday morning before dawn.  Surgery on a comatose man is very dangerous
when anaesthetic is involved.  We gave him only minimal anaesthetic just in
case the shock of the surgery would revive him to consciousness.

"I have to tell you, Mr. Walker, that the administrator of this hospital is
very concerned that your brother's family will initiate a suit against the
hospital for this, which, of course, is the family's right.  It was a
terrible thing that happened."

"Dr. Wallace," said Michael.  "I am the only family my brother has.  And I
will tell you that I am not interested in suing the hospital.  Having fired
Robert is all I would ask.  I should tell you, though, Doctor, that I'm
afraid I'm not through with Robert.  He has been after me to get together
with him for sex.  I made a mistake during my first visit here.  I feel
embarrassed admitting this to you.  But I masturbated at one of the urinals
in the rest room down at the end of that hall there.  And he came in and
stood next to me and did it also.  That's what started his wanting to get
with me again."

Dr. Wallace smiled and said, "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I was
one of the doctors who came in on you that day and stood at the urinal next
to you.  I know that you didn't look at me, so I know you don't recognize
me.  Just between you and me, Mr. Walker, I don't hold that against you.  I
think every man in the world had at one time or another in his life jacked
off into a public urinal.  And I'll admit that I've done it once or twice
myself when aroused.  So don't think anything about it.  What I am
concerned about is that he has been harassing you since that time.  You
know, you don't have to deal with that sort of thing yourself.  What he's
doing is a form of stalking, and the police need to be informed and brought
into it."

"Thanks, doctor," said Michael.  "I'm glad you understand about the
masturbating.  And I do appreciate your telling me about what happened to
Jared.  Will he be okay.  Was the surgery successful?"

"Yes, it was successful, and he should heal up completely in a few weeks.
At this point, though, what we are most concerned with is somehow bringing
him out of his coma.  We have done brain scans to see if his oxygen
deprivation had been severe enough to cause irreparable damage to his
brain.  But when a man is in a coma, although still active, the brain can
be said to be in a state of rest, and brain scans are not always telling in
situations like that.  We will just have to wait and see.  I know that your
brother has been serving a sentence at the state prison.  You may not be
aware of this, but if he does not recover sufficiently, the prison system
will usually in cases like that discharge him from incarceration and ask
the court to commit him either to his family or to another institution
where he would receive the care he needs."

During the long drive back to the ranch, Michael thought about what the
doctor had said.  The very possibility that Jared might be remanded to the
care of his family was chilling, to say the least.  The absolute joy that
Michael was feeling at the prospect of Karl coming home was dulled by the
thought that he would also need to take care of Jared, who may very well
end up as a mental invalid.


When Michael returned home again and went in and sat at his desk, the phone
rang.  Thinking it was Robert again, he picked it up and said in a very
impatient tone of voice, "Hello!"

"Michael, it's Steve.  You, know, Steve from New England."

"Oh, Steve!" said Michael.  "I thought you were someone else.  How are you
doing?"

"Well, Michael, I've made a decision.  I'm going to go back to Texas."

"That's great!" Said Michael.  "I'm really sorry things haven't worked out
for you as you'd hoped.  When will we see you."

"I'm flying down to San Antonio on Thursday, the day after tomorrow.  And I
need to ask a really big favor of you.  If you will let me stay at your
place for a few days, I promise to go out right away and find my own place
to live, maybe in Goliad."

"Nonsense, Steve," said Michael.  "You can stay here as long as you wish.
You're always welcome here."

Steve said, "I want to find a job this time.  I'm not going to be a burden
to you as I was before.  I took advantage of your kindness, Michael.  I
realize that.  But I want to be down there where I can be close to all you
guys again.  In fact, I realize now what I really want for myself, and it
isn't a wife!  I'm going to spend the rest of my life down there."

Michael said, "I couldn't be happier to have you back, Steve.  I've got
some business to take care of this week up in San Antonio.  I'll plan to do
it on Thursday, and I'll pick you up at the airport.  Just send me your
flight information by e-mail.  Okay?"

"I don't want you to go out of your way, Michael," said Steve.  "I can
easily take a bus down there to Goliad and then a taxi to the ranch."

"Don't be ridiculous, Steve!" said Michael.  "I'll pick you up at the
airport.  I won't have it any other way!"

"I love you, Michael.  I mean . . . you know what I mean."

"I love you, too, Steve.  You belong down here with us.  And I'm glad you
finally understood that yourself."

After Steve hung up, Michael went into the kitchen to talk with Tony.
"Tony, Steve is coming back to stay with us for awhile.  I want you to plan
a very special dinner for Thursday night.  I'd like to have it on the front
verandah.  Could you get a couple of guys to move the grill around from the
back to the front.  I'd like to have some real nice grilled Texas steaks.
Go and get the best you can find.  And maybe corn on the cob.  You plan
what you think is best."

"This is going to be dinner for how many?" asked Tony.

"I think there will be about seven of us.  Jeff and Paul and myself, you
and Clayton.  And Steve, of course.  And I think I'm going to ask Caleb to
drive over here and join us.  I think it will be a nice welcome back for
Steve."

"Clayton will help me with the dinner so I won't be tied up here in the
kitchen the whole time," said Tony.

"Tony, get yourself and me a cup of coffee and sit down here and talk with
me a little bit," said Michael.  "Where's Jeff and Paul today?"

"They went into Goliad awhile ago with Jake in the truck to help load up
some feed.  They said they'd be back in time for supper."

Michael took a sip of his coffee and said, "You know, Tony, it looks like
we might have three more people moving in with us.  Karl will be coming
back, and Steve will also be here, at least temporarily."

"That's only two.  Who's the other one?" asked Tony.

"Tony, I don't know what's going to happen.  I talked to the doctor this
morning up in Dallas, and it doesn't look like Jared is progressing very
well.  He told me that if he ends up being too bad to be returned to the
prison, he might be remanded to me to be his caretaker.  I just don't know
if I can face that."

Tony reached over and took Michael's hand and held it to his lips, kissing
it gently.  Then he looked up and said, "I'm sorry, Michael.  You don't
deserve to be burdened with that.  I hope that doesn't happen."

"You know, Tony, sometimes I think that Jared was put on this Earth to
punish me for some sin I must have committed.  And maybe even that Robert
who has been harassing me is part of the plan.  It seems that whenever I'm
really happy, something happens to take the gloss off of it."

Tony got up and knelt down next to Michael and put his arms around him.
"Oh, Michael, I know.  I'm no stranger to those things in my own life.  But
somehow we get through them.  When Karl is back home, I'm sure you'll find
it easier to face anything."

"I know you're right, Tony.  Karl has always known just how to handle any
problem, it seems.  I guess it's the moral support he gives me that gets me
through these things."

Tony put his head in Michael's lap and said, "Michael, sometime when you're
lonely or need someone to talk to, or need some company, you could always
come in some night and be with Clayton and me.  There would be nothing that
would make us happier than . . . you know . . . to comfort you when you're
down."

Michael laughed and said, "Oh, Tony, you guys are comfort to me enough just
having you living in my house with me."

"But we could be a lot more comfort to you if you'd be with us some night.
Please."

"Tony," said Michael, standing up and pulling Tony to his feet, "I'll keep
your offer to 'comfort' me in mind.  I promise."  Then taking Tony in his
arms, Michael hugged him tightly.


After supper, Michael went back to his office to turn off the bell on his
phone, but before he could, another call came in.  It was from Robert.

"Hi, Michael, my love.  I need to see you so badly."

"Robert, I'm going to tell you this for the last time.  The next time you
call, the only sound you will hear is my hanging up the phone.  So you
might as well stop calling."

Robert said, "Since they fired me in Dallas, I'm down here in San Antonio
now.  And I'm going to move down to Goliad so we can be closer together.
Won't that be nice?"

"You'll be sorry if you do.  Now get off the phone."

Calling over to Jake's room on the Intercom, he said, "Jake, please come on
over here for a minute if you're free.  I've got a problem I have to
discuss with you."

When Jake arrived, Michael said, "Sit down, Jake.  Remember what you said
the other day?  You know, about taking care of that Robert person who has
been calling me?  Well, I've been thinking about that.  Do you think you
could follow through on that and somehow scare the living daylights out of
him?  I mean something that will stop him from bothering me?

"Has that fucker still been callin' ya?  Sure.  Me and some of my boys can
take care of him so he'll never bother nobody no more."

"Well, Jake, I don't know what you might have in mind, but I don't want him
hurt or killed or anything like that.  I just want him scared . . . you
know . . . ."

"I know," said Jake.  "You want him scared shitless, right?"

"Well, something like that."

"After ya told me about that problem, I been thinkin'.  I thought up a plan
that'll scare him so fuckin' much, he'll go out of his fuckin' mind
insane."

"Jake, he told me he's moving down to Goliad.  So wait until we can locate
where he's living before you do anything."

"That's fine," said Jake.  "I'll need a little time to round up a few guys
so we can rehearse our plan, anyway.  It's gonna be speck-fuckin-takalar!
I can't wait!


On Thursday morning, Michael drove up to San Antonio.  He spent the morning
taking care of some business with some feed dealers, had lunch with some
business associates at the Cattle Barons Club, and then headed out to the
airport to await Steve's 1:15 p.m. arrival.  As soon as Steve got off the
tramway, he saw Michael.  They gave each other a big hug and walked down to
the baggage claim.  They were soon in the car and on their way to the
Ranch.

As they started away, Steve shouted with a laugh, "Home, Jeeves!"

On the way, Michael told Steve all the news about Jared and about Karl's
impending homecoming.  "And, Steve, after you get settled and rest up from
your trip, we're going to have a few drinks and then have a nice picnic
supper out on the verandah.  I've asked Jeff and Paul to join us.  Tony and
Clayton will also be there, although they'll probably be pretty busy at the
grill some of the time cooking the steaks."

Steve moved back into the same room he had vacated some weeks before.  It
was truly like coming home, Steve thought.  It was like a great weight had
been lifted from his shoulders.  He no longer had that never ending strain
of trying to be a happy and loving husband.  All that was now over, and a
whole new life was now awaiting him.

After Steve unpacked and took a shower, he lay on his bed and looked around
the room.  He felt so free and so ready to settle into a new life.  Soon,
there was a knock on his door.  It was Tony.

Tony opened the door slightly and announced that Steve's presence was
requested on the front veranda where it was now the cocktail hour.  Steve
hurried out to the veranda where Michael, Jeff, and Paul were gathered.

Michael said, "We didn't want to start without you, Steve.  What will you
have?"

Steve said, "I think some Chablis.  Perhaps a glass of that chardonnay
there will be just fine."

As they drank and talked, suddenly coming into view around the corner of
the house was Caleb.  Steve had been told that Caleb was now living in
Goliad, and seeing him now suddenly appear was a major surprise.  When
Caleb spotted Steve, he literally stopped in his tracks.

"Steve!" shouted Caleb.  "I didn't expect to see you.  Why didn't you tell
me, Michael?"

Michael took a sip of his triple Scotch and said with a smile, "Oh, I don't
know.  I must have forgot."

Steve stood up and took Caleb's hand.  They almost leaned in for a hug, but
neither was sure the other would reciprocate.

"Are you back for a visit, Steve?" asked Caleb as Tony handed him a Scotch
and water.

"Well, Caleb, I think I'm back here for good.  Things didn't work out back
East, and I'm back down here permanently now.  I'm going to start looking
for a job as soon as I can."

The steaks were perfect, and the conversation was lively throughout the
meal.  While Tony and Clayton were in the kitchen getting the coffee ready,
Jeff and Paul stepped down into the yard to talk.  Michael excused himself
to go to the bathroom, leaving Caleb and Steve alone at the table.

Caleb said, "Steve, I'm really glad to know you're back to stay."

Steve smiled and said, "And I'm really glad you came over tonight.  I have
to admit to you that ever since you and I got together that night before I
left, I've been thinking about you."  Then looking down at his empty glass,
he said, "Oh, boy.  I think I've had too much wine.  I shouldn't be saying
things like that."

"Why not?  If it's true, why not?" said Caleb, turning in his chair to face
Steve more directly.  "I guess it's time for me to admit that I've thought
about you, too.  It wasn't just about what we did that night.  It was more.
It was you.  It was just who you are.  Sure, you're good looking as the
devil, but it's more than that.  I don't know how to explain it."

Steve took Caleb's hand in his and said, "I know what you mean, Caleb.  I
liked the sex we had, but that was not all I've been thinking about.  It
was something else about you.  I don't know that either of us are sober
enough right now to explain it.  Maybe it has something to do with our age
difference.  You're only in your late thirties, and I'm in my early
fifties.  We've both been married and we've both given it up for the real
life we were meant to live.  Marriage has matured us both, Caleb, and that
may be the thing we see in each other that we like.  Probably every man
should get married to begin with.  It has a way of bringing home the values
that really matter in one's life."

"You may be right, Steve," said Caleb as Tony brought out the coffee and a
tray of shortbread cookies, The others then returned to the table.  While
they had been talking, Steve and Caleb had managed to move their chairs
closer and closer to each other.  They were now sitting with their thighs
pressed together in a silent signal to each other that this was not to be
the last time they would see each other.

Soon, Tony and Clayton, as well as Jeff and Paul, announced that it was
late, and they would be going on to bed.  Caleb looked at his watch and,
seeing that it was after 11:00 p.m., stood up and said it was also past his
bedtime.

Caleb took Steve's hand and said, "Here, Steve, this is my phone number.  I
would love to have you come and see my new condo sometime.  I know you'll
be busy looking for a job, but when you need a break, give me a call.  You
can come over and we'll have some beer and pizza.  I'm a master cook when
it comes to heating up frozen pizza!"

"I'll do that, Caleb," said Steve, this time not hesitating to take Caleb
in his arms for a big hug.


For those of you who wrote and commented that the thoughts Steve had about
his married life in the last chapter may simply be a reflection, in part,
of the thoughts harbored by this author . . . you may be right.  Thank you
for your insight!

Please write me at:
Tom Borden
Tombor99@yahoo.com