Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:40:14 -0800 (PST) From: Daniel Running-water Subject: Captured Heart / Chapter Seven / Interracial and Incest Captured Heart By Daniel Running Water Chapter Seven Previously in chapter six: Shoving the barrel of his revolver against James' back, Josh pushed him forward, causing him to stop once his legs came against the bed. "Remove the jeans," Josh ordered. "Please, you are making a big mistake here," James' pleaded, seeing the lust in the man's eyes and then realizing that his words were falling on deaf ears. Josh simply jabbed the gun harder against him, "I said remove them or else feel the bite of a bullet," he angrily said. James unbuttoned his jeans and eased them down his sleek body, stepped from them and kicked them aside. "Now on the bed and on your stomach," Josh ordered as he grabbed a length of rope that was sitting on chair and began tying James' legs to the bedposts. Fear for what was about to happen grabbed at his heart and he shuddered when he thought of Shane in the other room. He quickly brought his thoughts back to the present when he felt Josh grabbing his left arm and begin tying it to his right. "Now you are going to feel what a real man is like, boy," Josh said, his fowl breath just a whisper from James' ear. James felt the heat of Josh's body as he maneuvered his body between his stretched out legs. "Please don't do this to me," James begged, raising his head and glancing over his shoulder and into the sadistic eyes of Josh. "If'n its any consolation boy, Mathews is gonna get the same treatment from the captain," Josh said, thrusting his manhood deep into James' sheath with one powerful and aggressive thrust. James screamed out in pain as Josh's manhood seated itself deep in him. James buried his face into the pillow, crying as Josh began his violent thrusts. He quickly raised his head when the sound of a gunshot rose over the sounds of his rape. "On second thought, I reckon that the captain may have changed his mind, but you aren't going to be so lucky," Josh said groaning as he continued his violent thrusts. James cried hard into the pillow, thinking that his Shane was lying dead in the other room, wishing that he was also. He didn't want to live if Trevor had ended Shane's life. "Damn you are..." Josh began to say but instead, he fell on James, his cock slipping from James' ass and a Choctaw arrow now protruding from his back. Now chapter seven: Hawk stepped into the room, his bow held firmly in his hand and another arrow notched and ready for firing in it. Seth came quickly into the room, with Shane leaning against him for support. "James," Shane cried out and with Seth's assistance, hurried to the bed. Hawk rolled Josh off of James and onto the floor, discuss for the man evident in his eyes. Using his knife, Hawk quickly cut the ropes that held James captive to the bed. "I thought that you were dead," James said kissing Shane's face all over before Shane finally took James' mouth captive with his. "I love you James and I don't care if they declare me a deserter, I want to spend the rest of my life just loving you," Shane whispered against James' lips. "I love you so much Shane, and knew the day that I found you that providence had placed you in my life," he cried back, his body trembling as he held his man close to him. "Ay-uh my beautiful Red Sun, you are man enough for this Choctaw Chief," Hawk whispered into Seth's ear, causing him to blush when he looked at how endowed Shane was. "Surely that is going to cause James to scream with delight, my handsome Choctaw Chief," he whispered back and then kissed his mighty warrior. Hawk wrapped his arm around his man's waist and led him from the room, happy that finally, James had someone that truly loved him in his life. "What about your father, you wanted to go home to him and check that he's alright?" James asked, pushing aside stray hairs that fell across Shane's handsome face. "I will send him a telegraph and let him know that I am fine and together, you and I shall go home once this cursed war is over." "Cursed or not my love, it was war that brought you to me," James said, truly happy to be loved by Shane. "Oh my," Bessie said as she and Billy rushed into the room and saw James lying in the arms of Shane, kissing. "Finally my boy is loved," she softly said and ushered Billy from the room, closing the door quietly behind her. With just the soft glow of the kerosene lamp beside the bed illuminating the room, Shane gently pulled James to him and sighed, as if surrendering to who he knew would be the only man that he would ever love. Shane had fought his feelings of love toward men throughout the years and it was James that finally caused him to come to terms with it. He smiled contentedly and looking down into James' eyes, kissed his man long and hard. "I heard the gunshot and truly thought that Trevor had shot killed you," James said, comfortably resting against Shane, his arm draped over his chest. "When I knew what Trevor was about to do to me, I reached under my pillow and grabbed the gun that I had placed there earlier. It was when he was dropping his pants that I suddenly turned and got him in the chest. His eyes looked at me with such hatred and shock in them before he dropped to the floor, dead." "What was the gun doing under your pillow," James asked, wondering if he had intended on using it against him when he was ready to leave. "I had a feeling that Trevor would eventually find us and decided that I would feel safer with it where I could quickly grab it." James looked deep into Shane's eyes and wiping away his own tears, leaned up and kissed him. Shane pulled James tightly to him, wrapping his strong arms around him and kissed him back. "I don't know if I am your first love James, but I want to be your last love," he softly said, looking deep into James' eyes, his own eyes now watering at the tenderness of the moment that they were sharing. "You are my yesterday, today and forever my love." "I so want to make love with you James, but not until I am fully recovered and this is all behind us," he said and settled for kissing his man. James sat up, moved between Shane's spread legs and gave him a seductive look. "Let me at least give you a taste of sweet things to come, my love," he said and lowered his mouth down to Shane's manhood. He licked it as if it were a lollipop, taking his time to savor the sweetness of his man. Quickly Shane's manhood rose to its full, fat, ten inches, surprising James with the size. "I don't expect you to be able to handle it," Shane moaned as he watched his cock disappear into James' warm mouth. "Oh God!" he moaned out as he laid back and enjoyed his first time having someone sucking his manhood. James' mouth rhythmically glided up and down on Shane's cock while his hand sought out the man's hard, tall nipples. James pinched them hard while sucking the cock hard and rapidly. Shane's head was rolling side to side as ecstasy overtook his body, causing his seed to churn...deep in his balls. "Slow down James... oh damn you have me so close," he moaned but James continued his frenzied sucking, needing to taste the sweetness of his lover. Unable to hold off any longer, Shane thrust his hips upward as James lowered his mouth downward, his nose resting each time in Shane's soft curls that surrounded his manhood. "Oooooooooh damn...shooting," Shane hollered as his hands fisted in James' hair, holding him to his groin and blasting long, warm ropes of seed deep into James' willing mouth and throat. "Mmmmm," James moaned, swallowing every drop of sweetness that Shane gave him. James continued sucking until Shane could no longer take the sensitivity, pulling James up to his mouth where he kissed his lover, hard and furiously. Gasping from his climax and holding James' body to him, he looked deep into his eyes almost purring. "If that is but a sample of what is to come my love, I can't wait for this leg to heal," Shane said softly. "I am going to take you to heaven and back my husband," James said, hoping that the name didn't discuss Shane. "I like knowing that I am going to be your husband, James," he paused, wondering about that before asking. "If I am going to be your husband, then what are you going to be to me?" "I am going to be your everything and then some," James replied before kissing him. "I love you so damn much James, and thank you for taking a chance on me." "As I said before, providence has ordained that we should be together, my love." Shane didn't want to wait to make love to James, he wrapped his arms tightly around James, rolled and when he was on top of James, and his eyes spoke what he wanted to James. James simply nodded and lifted his legs, accepting Shane' manhood into him. James arched his back when he felt Shane' strength fully filling him. Slowly Shane began rhythmically thrusting into James, taking his time. He winched a few times from the pain in his leg, but his need to satisfy James overpowered his pain. His thrusts lengthened, pulling almost fully out of James before he would thrust hurriedly back in. Rocking together, their bodies were in unison as they moved closer to their ultimate ecstasy. "Oh Shane...I'm gonna shoot," James howled, sending his seed spewing between their sweat covered bodies. That was all it took for Shane to reach his edge and plunge over, feeling James' heat tightening around his hardness. Shane's thrusts became urgent and furious as he filled James' hot sheath with his seed, Shane's ass tightening and loosening as he drove his manhood deeper and harder into James. Clinging to Shane's shoulders, James cried, for he was finally loved and knew that he would always be loved by Shane. "I'm sorry James, I forgot my size and how it must have hurt you," he apologized. "I am crying tears of pure happiness sweetheart, because this is what I always wanted, to be loved for me," he said and cried against the hardness of Shane's chest. "You are easy to love my man, so very easy to love." *** Fall of 1865, and the civil war is finally over and the harvest season behind them, Hawk and the rest of the Choctaw nation held a feast to celebrate the harvest and also the war's end. James and Shane had rebuilt his plantation into what it once was, productive, and renamed it, Unity Plantation, thus showing that love really can bring two sides together into one. Sitting around the communal fire as corn roasted and deer turned on spits over the fire, the people gathered in unity. Hawk sat on a platform, raised so that his people could see him and Seth proudly sitting beside him. James and Shane sat on the other side while Swift Eagle and Parker sat beside Seth. After Hawk had stood and gave prayers of thanks to the Great Spirit for not only an abundant harvest, but also to having those he loved safe around him. They ate and watched the young warriors dance around the fire as the young maidens danced also. "I am so happy Hawk," Seth said leaning close to his husband's ear. "Ay-uh my sweet Red Sun, Hawk too is happy for much, but especially for your love," he smiled at Seth, desperately wanting to take him into his arms and kiss him. The day and night went on and finally it was coming to an end. Shane rose from the bear skin that he and James had been sitting on and offered his hand to James to help him up. "Come Red Sun, let's take a walk down by the river," Hawk suggested, moving his brows rapidly up and down as he looked at Seth. "I am sure that walking is what you want to do, mister," Seth smiled and ran off, glancing back to see Hawk quickly following him. When they had reached the banks of the river, Hawk swept Seth into his arms and kissed him. "I have wanted to do that all day my love," Hawk kissed him again as he lowered Seth down to a soft blanket of moss. But just as he was about to remove Seth's loincloth, giggles from some bushes that were close by, caught their attention. Motioning to Seth to stay quiet, Hawk stealthily moved toward the sound and soon found who it was that was doing the giggling. There in the bushes was Strong Bear and White Deer, naked and kissing. Hawk motioned for Seth to join him and Seth nearly shrieked when he saw their son kissing White Deer. "Are you sure that is how our chief kisses Red Sun," White Deer asked standing back from Strong Bear. "Ay-uh and he does much more to him," he said looking down at White Deer's small cock. "I saw him last night slide this into Red Sun's ass." Seth looked at Hawk with shock in his eyes, unable to believe that they had been caught making love. "That must hurt, Strong Bear," White Deer said, scrounging up his face. "Gah-ween, Red Sun moaned loudly and was moving up toward Hawk whenever Hawk pushed into him. From where I hid, Red Sun's face looked as though he liked it." He told his best friend and then pushed him down to the soft grass, covering him with his body. "Are you sure this isn't going to hurt," White Deer asked, looking up at Strong Bear. "Ay-uh, Strong Bear is sure that you'll like it just like Red Sun," he assured him as he lifted White Deer's legs up high and pushing his hard, small cock into White Deer's ass. "GAH-WEEN, you lied to White Deer, it does hurt," White Deer cried out as he tried to push Black Bear from him. "Shhhh, you want to bring the whole village to watch us," Black Bear asked as he began wild, urgent thrusts into the boy. Soon, White Deer had forgotten the pain and was lifting his hips upwards, meeting each thrust that Black Bear gave him. Hawk turned to Seth, who now had his hand covering his mouth, stifling a gasp. "Come my Red Sun," Hawk whispered. "Let us now be as one as our son is with White Deer," he suggested. "Doesn't it bother you that our son caught us making love?" Seth asked, being led down to the softness of the moss. "Gah-ween, he has to learn how to be a man somewhere, so why not from the best, his father and chief," Hawk said a bit arrogantly as he removed Seth's loincloth and then his own. "But they are only ten winters old, Hawk, and..." Hawk covered his mouth with his, kissing him heatedly, making Seth soon forgetting the boys. Knowing that they would be missed, Hawk moved urgently and methodically in and out of Seth, urging their climaxes closer. After several minutes, Hawk felt the warmth of Seth's climax between them and it sent him over his edge also. "See White Deer, I told you that Red Sun liked it," Black Bear whispered from behind a tree where they had been watching from. "Ay-uh...Red Sun loved it," Hawk said a little too loud, causing the boys to run off giggling. "Ay-uh Black Bear so did I," he added. "You have no shame Hawk," Seth scolded, slapping Hawk's chest and then pulled him down for a kiss. "Ay-uh, no shame," and then he kissed him again. "Hawk loves his Red Sun more than he loves his own life," Hawk said, still lying on Seth and gazing down into his eyes. "I love you too my dear husband. Now that peace is once again among us as a nation, I hope that it will spill over for our people also." "Ay-uh," Hawk agreed, pulling out and standing. He lowered his hand down to Seth, helping him to stand. After dressing they strolled back to the celebration, happy that no one missed them. Looking over toward the other end of the village, Shane and James strolled back from the woods, satisfaction on their faces. When they saw Hawk and Seth looking their way, they smiled and nodded. "Ay-uh my man, peace and happiness is truly everywhere," Hawk whispered and Seth nodded in agreement, seeing the happiness that shown in James' face. "It is good that James found happiness with Shane," he added. "See how it shows on both of their faces," Hawk glanced over and smiled, before turning back to Seth. "Ay-uh, but not like it shines on yours, Red Sun," Hawk said smiling. *** One year later, 1866... With the war over and the job of pulling together a separated nation, the south soon found a fate worse than war on their doorsteps, the reconstruction period, but more so, the carpetbaggers. Mark Edwards had been assigned to Jackson for assessing property worth and levying taxes on the plantations. Although it had originally been conceived by congress that taxes on property would be fairly allotted, it soon turned out that the plantation owners were at the mercy of the northern carpetbaggers, who had their eyes set on owning them. "If anyone is looking for me, I'll be out at Thornton's Plantation," Edward said to his clerk, Emily Bryant. "Yes sir, I guess you really do have your heart set on owning that plantation." "I will own it and come hell or high water, James Thornton is not going to stop me. I will keep raising his taxes until he cannot pay them, and then I'll buy the land, house and all right out from under him," he laughed, feeling smug and secure that his plan to take over James' plantation would work. Galloping along in his horse and buggy, Edward rode out toward the plantation, vowing to raise the taxes and cause James to sell him the property for pennies on the dollar. When the view of the large wrought iron gates that sat open on either side of the road that led up to the house, Edward smiled, feeling quite secure about his plan. "Where is the master of this damn place," he shouted at Billy as he pulled his buggy to a stop. "He is upstairs in his study, sir," Billy said, hitching the reins to the hitching post. "Just don't stand there you ignorant nigger...go fetch him for me," he belligerently said as he got down from the buggy. Billy hated the mentality that went with that name and he gave a darkened glare at Edward as he took his time ascending the stairs that led to the front door. "You just wait right here," he said to Edward and disappeared into the house before Edward had a chance to rebuttal his request. Edward impatiently paced back and forth on the porch while waiting for James to arrive. His anger grew with each minute that James kept his waiting. When James did appear, he was toting his rifle, and Edward's eyes grew wide when he saw that James held it pointing out and at him. "What is the meaning of this, I have come with nothing but goodness of heart and this is how you greet me," Edward snapped. "I do not appreciate the fact that you called a valued employee and more than that, a friend, a nigger sir. Now state your business and be gone," James sarcastically said. "Well, where is your southern hospitality, aren't you going to invite me into your fine home?" Edward asked, trying to calm his anger and sound cordial. "If and when another southerner comes to call, then I shall show my hospitality, but for a low life carpetbagger as you, never," James said with a sneer. "Very well then, I'll get directly to the point," Edward snapped. "The taxes on this here plantation is $1000 and you have until the end of this month to pay them," Edward said and drew pleasure from the shocked expression on James' face. "I was told just yesterday that the taxes were three hundred dollars," James said as he lifted his rifle. "You have no right to raise them that high." "I have every right to raise them, I have been appointed by the federal government, tax assessor for this part of Mississippi. Now if you don't pay the money by the allotted date, your property will be taken and sold for what is owed," he said, smirking at James. "I will give you to the count of ten to get off of my land, because if your sorry ass in still here, I shall shoot it," James threatened. "You may feel all high and mighty now kid, but let's see the kinda tune you'll be singing at the end of the month." Edward snapped as he got into his buggy. "One...two...three..." James began counting and Edward snapped the reins, his horse and buggy took off like a bat out of hell with James firing the rifle into the air. "Ten," he shouted and fired again as Edward disappeared through the gate. "James, what's wrong," Shane shouted as he came riding up on his horse. "Just some low down carpetbagger is all," James said, turned and stomped into the house, followed by Shane. Once inside the house, Shane stopped James and pulled him into his arms. He placed a finger to James' chin and lifted his head up so that he could look eye to eye at his lover. "Now tell me just what it was that got you all riled up like this," Shane asked and James told him everything, including the fowl name that Edward had used on Billy. "One thousand dollars, where are we going to get that kind of money, Shane," James asked, tears filling his eyes. "We'll get it sweetheart," Shane said, holding James tight to his chest. "Somehow, someway we will get it." "How babe, all my money was in confederate dollars and is now worthless," he told him. "I got it, the tobacco crop is now drying in the barns, we'll get the money that way," Shane said, remembering the harvest of the tobacco and how abundant it had been this year. "The auction is next week and I know that we will get more than enough for the crop to pay their damn taxes." "I totally forgot about the crop, Shane," James said, looking up into his husband's eyes. "I am so happy that I fell in love with you my sweet Yankee," James said as he pulled Shane down to him and kissed him. "Well seeing how you are so appreciative of me, how about we sneak upstairs and you really show me how appreciative you are." "I said I was appreciative, I never said I was indebted to you," James smirked and then ran upstairs as fast as he could with Shane shedding his clothes right behind him. *** Hawk quickly rose to his feet and stepped from his lodge when the thundering sound of horses broke the daily sounds of his village. As he turned toward the sound, he saw a contingent of blue coats riding into his village. Standing before his lodge, Hawk waited with his arms crossed against his chest. Hawk hated the blue coats and more than them, he hated this colonel. "Chief Hawk, I wish to council with you," Colonel Sam Carlson said as he dismounted and walked over to where Hawk was standing. "I have no need to council with you, now leave my village," Hawk snapped. "You will sit in council and you will listen to what I have to say," he demanded, hating Hawk as much as Hawk hated him. Colonel Carlson had sought for a post in the west after the war had ended, but instead he was assigned to Fort McPherson. His hatred for Indians was as great if not more, than his hatred had been for the south. Today his heart was light because he had the pleasure of informing Chief Hawk that his people had to leave Mississippi for a reservation in Oklahoma. "You cannot force us to leave land that has always belonged to the Choctaw," Hawk shouted, his hands balled into fists at his side. "I not only can, but I am telling you that by this time next month, you and the rest of your savages will be long gone from Mississippi soil." "My father signed a treaty with the great white chief in Washington giving us this land," Hawk reminded him. "Well ever since the war ended, so did all treaties with you savages. Now you have less than three weeks to prepare yourselves for the move. This here land is now up for homesteading," he told Hawk. Many warriors soon surrounded the colonel and his men. Colonel Carlson looked gloomily around at the guns that were now trained on him and his men. "You may out number me now Chief Hawk, but come moving time, I shall return with artillery so large that it'll blow you and your people from here to Oklahoma," he said with a smug look on his face. He turned and walked back to his horse, mounted it and then turned away. He galloped out of the village, leaving Hawk standing there surrounded by his people. "Hawk, what are we going to do," Seth asked as he stepped from their lodge. "I shall send a telegram to the white father in Washington, reminding him of the words of the treaty." "I only hope that it'll do some good, but I doubt it," Seth whispered as he watched Hawk walk away with is warriors. "James, he knows quite a few people in Washington, or at least his did before this damn war. I'll go and talk to him and see if he can get them to help Hawk and his people," Seth said stepping into his lodge and changing out of his loincloth and into jeans and a shirt. Seth mounted his horse and rode off as fast as he could for James' plantation. He knew that if anyone could help the Choctaw it would be James and his connections. *** "Hello Mammy, where is James?" Hawk asked stepping into the house. "Hello Hawk, James is upstairs," Bessie said and Hawk nodded before hurrying up the stairs. He walked down the hall, paused at James' study and seeing that he was not there, hurried down to his bedroom. Without bothering to knock, Hawk opened the door and walked in on Shane and James making love. "Ay-uh, so this is how your rich plantation owners spend your day," Hawk said, standing beside the bed watching. Shane was too far into his rhythm to bother to stop. Hawk stood there watching Shane's cute, muscular ass driving his cock deep into James. James was already shooting his seed and gasped when he opened his eyes to see Hawk still standing there watching them. Spent and embarrassed, Shane quickly withdrew from James and reached down for the blanket and covered him and James. "Hawk, manners dictate that one should knock before entering one's bedroom," James said, his face glowing bright red and noticing that Hawk's manhood was straining against the fabric of his jeans. "Just be thankful that he isn't wearing his loincloth," Shane whispered, he too noticing how endowed Hawk was. "If you are both finished, Hawk needs to council with you James." "Why what's wrong Hawk, is Red Sun alright?" he asked. "Ay-uh, Red Sun is good, but not the Choctaw people," he confided. "Please don't tell me that theirs been a raid on your village," he asked. "Gah-ween, but the blue coats came today and ordered my people off our land. They said that the treaties ended when the war did, because we are southerners, our treaties will no longer be honored." "But what do you want me to do Hawk?" "You have connections as you call them, in Washington, you send message over wires to them and tell white father in Washington to honor treaty with the Choctaw." Hawk demanded, his eyes full of the anger that he was feeling. "I cannot Hawk, because when the south seceded from the union, my contacts in Washington did also. I am so sorry Hawk, so sorry that I cannot help you." "We have our own worries, the tax assessor has raised our taxes to one thousand dollars, payable by the end of this month," James said, disregarding Hawk's presence and getting up from the bed. He reached down for his jeans on the floor and pulled them on. Hawk took in every inch of his body with his eyes, before shifting them to Shane, who was now standing naked and looking for his own jeans. "Now I see why James smiles, you have much to be proud of," Hawk said noticing how endowed Shane was and causing him to blush. "Now don't go getting yourself all worked up Hawk, I don't need Red Sun coming after my scalp," Shane chuckled. "If Red Sun knew Hawk was looking, he would scalp me," Hawk laughed but kept his eyes on Shane's manhood until it was hidden in his jeans. "Truly Hawk, truly I am sorry that I cannot help you," James said, knowing that if he could, he would help this chief because he helped him when he really needed someone. "Ay-uh, Hawk knows what you say is true, but now I must go and prepare for war again," Hawk said, turning and swiftly leaving the room. "No Hawk, please don't go like this, because war is not the solution," he said, but it was too late, Hawk had already descended the stairs when James reached the hallway. James sadly turned back to Shane and hurried into his outstretched arms. Holding him tight, Shane gently rubbed his back as they stood there wondering what to do. "I'll send a wire to my father, he's been elected Senator from Vermont and if anyone can help Hawk and his people, he will." Shane said smiling, happy that he had thought of his father. "Ah...Shane, did you forget that your father has disowned you," James reminded him. After Shane had recovered, he had sent a wire to his father in Vermont telling him that he was alive and staying with a sympathetic southerner. His father was outraged to say the least, and he had sent back a reply saying that Shane was now dead to him for being a deserter. "I did forget sweetheart, but maybe if I go to see him, he'll change his mind and forgive me. After all, my own government granted us amnesty, so why can't he do the same?" "First we have to go to the auction tomorrow Shane, then we can take the next train to Washington." "You are not afraid to stand with me before my father?" Shane was touched that James would do this for him. "Shane," James softly said as he stepped into Shane's strong arms. "I am your husband as you are mine, so why wouldn't I do this with you?" "You know how my father took it when I told him that I had fallen in love with you, and he promised that if he ever saw you, he'd kill you." "I know that you will protect me sweetheart, and by the way, he also said the same about you, or did you forget?" "No, I didn't forget babe, which is why I plan to speak to him in public where he cannot seek revenge." *** "I can't get over how many buyers are here today, Shane," James said as he walked toward the table where eight tobacco buyers sat. "I was wondering if I would see you here today, James Thornton," Tom Wilson, a past friend of James' dad, said. "And why wouldn't I be here today, after all, I am now the owner of the plantation," he replied as he held his chin proudly up. "So how was your season this year, I heard most of the tobacco was destroyed in the war?" Tom said looking over at the men that sat at the table, and they nodded in agreement. "I am not most Tom, and I had a very good year. Now what do I hear for a bid from you gents," he said and Shane marveled at how business like James was. Shane noticed that James conducted his business with much pride and charm. He personally asked about these men's family as if he really cared. Seeing how most were from the north, they expected to pay little because of their victory over the south. "Now Tom, if that is your best offer, then I'll just have to return home and burn the crop," James said, turned and began walking away. "Damn it James, now ya'll come back here and lets sit and talk like gentlemen about this," Tom said, Shane looked at the wink that James gave before James turned back to the table. "Very good gentlemen, lets talk business." Shane stood there in awe as he watched his handsome man play one buyer against the other, until he was shaking hands with Tom, who had bought the entire crop for a record twenty-nine hundred dollars. "Now what that damn carpetbagger's face when I lay his tax money across his palm...take my land will he," James said as they walked away victoriously. "What has you so happy," Edward asked Tom, long after James left. "I just bought the largest tobacco crop this side of the Mason-Dixon line," he said smiling and offering Edward a cigar. "There is only one plantation that I know that had a bumper crop of tobacco this year..." "Yep, that is James Thornton's plantation," Tom said as he held a match to his cigar and puffed away until it was light. "Can I ask what you paid for the crop?" Edward asked. "Twenty-nine hundred dollars and first dibs on the cotton crop when it comes in from the field." Edward kneaded his chin as the wheels began to turn in his mind. With that kind of money, Thornton would be able to pay the taxes and there would go his plan of ever owning it, Edward thought. "Well he can't pay his taxes if he hasn't got a crop to sell," Edward smirked as he hurried back to his office. *** Lying contentedly in Shane's arms after they had just finished making love, James snuggled close to Shane, happy that his worries about taxes were over. "I can't wait to see the look on that man's face when I hand him his damn money," James said looking up into the eyes of his husband. "I have to say sweetheart, you really impressed me today. I could not get over how you manipulated those men into giving you just what you wanted for the crop." "I knew I had them babe, after all, they said it themselves that most of the crops were destroyed by the war. Well if you know your economics, which means the demand is higher than the supply, which drives up the cost." "Where on earth did you ever learn that?" "That was the only thing that my father ever did good for me, he taught me to be a savvy businessman like him. Now how about I teach you about loving," James said and then captured Shane's mouth with his. "Fire! Fire!" Billy screamed out, running upstairs toward James and Shane's bedroom. "James, the tobacco barns are on fire," he screamed from outside the closed bedroom door. James and Shane bolted from the bed, dressed and were heading down the stairs within minutes of Billy's shouting. When they got outside, their horses were waiting. As they grew closer to the barns, flames were shooting thirty feet into the air. "Oh Shane, there goes our future," James said crying in Shane's arms. To be continued... Let me know what you think my faithful readers at danielrunningwater@yahoo.com Thank you, Daniel.