By Waddie Greywolf

Chapter 1

Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth forth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth. ~ Amos 5:7

It was a terrible afternoon. It started out well enough to be a beautiful early spring day. It was growing warmer and the Redbuds and Lilacs were in bloom. However, mid-March can be a treacherous month with the promise of spring tap dancing its way across the hill country with one foot still in the cold dark grave of winter; warm days but cold damp nights that can chill you to the bone; make a man's teeth rattle until his fillings loosen and cause his body to do the shiver dance. On top of that, the much denied phenomenon of global warming by the cafeteria Christianist and other conservative sects, caused the weather to become increasingly more unpredictable. The old Texas saying came true: If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes.

Billy was riding his beloved cow pony Samson rounding up some cows for his Uncle Nathan. It had been a warm morning, but a little past noon, in less than thirty minutes, dark angry clouds began to gather and roil across the horizon like they were the results of a time lapse explosion. Then the bottom dropped out of the sky and released such a torrent of water, it was like the clouds burst apart. Billy never saw such a downpour or electrical storm in his eighteen years living in the hill country of central Texas.

It brought to Billy’s mind his grandma in the kitchen cracking eggs and watching the contents drop into a mixing bowl. It was raining so hard Billy couldn’t see beyond his pony’s head. The young cowboy gave his partner the reins and told him to get them to cover. His faithful companion must have been reading his mind because, he immediately turned sharply in the opposite direction and headed for higher ground. The big horse's surefooted dependability carried them to an old cave they explored together one day, high on a rocky ledge overlooking the James river.

After they rode into the mouth of the deep cavern, Billy dismounted his stud, dropped his reins, and patted him lovingly. “Don't know what I'd do without you, Samson. You come through for us again. I know I ain't told you in a while, but I love and appreciate what you do for me. There'll be some extra oats for my buddy tonight-- that is, if’n this storm lets up, and we get back to the ranch afore nightfall, pod'na,” he told his pony. The big stallion stamped his hoof and nodded his head in understanding.

Billy’s spurs jingled as he stamped his boots, shook the water off himself, and Sam did the same. They stood watching the incredible electrical fireworks display and the way the clouds moved together like they were doing battle with each other, jockeying for positions like kids at the wheel of bumper cars on the midway at the county fair. Samson moved up behind Billy and dropped his big head over the young cowboy's shoulder. Billy was so used to his pony’s not so subtle displays of affection he automatically turned to give him a kiss and put his hand up around Sam's big neck to gently caress his buddy. As they stood enjoying a moment of togetherness, Billy could smell the thick clear odor of massive quantities of ozone; a by product of the electrical energy being released by the clouds butting heads with one another like mountain rams in rut. All they could do was stand and watch the wonder and awesome display of nature at its most spectacular.

The clouds briefly parted and a hole in the clouds appeared above the cave entrance. There came a huge flash of light and an explosion of some kind other than thunder and then they saw it: A huge metallic sphere appeared to be on fire with smoke pouring from it. The ship came though the clouds and tried to negotiate a flight change but was immediately hit by another bolt of lightening which sent it spinning out of control. For a minute Billy thought it looked like a giant pin ball from one of the antique mechanical arcade games he played when his Uncle Nate took him to the auction barn where he went to buy and sell stock. They had one in a back room of the small restaurant attached to the sales barn. The giant pin ball falling from the sky was surrounded by six wheels that seemed to rotate around it in opposite directions. It headed straight for the river and splashed down in one of the deepest parts.

By that time the James rivers was beginning to overflow its banks. The storm must have covered miles and dumped much of its load upstream. It was like a roaring freight train as it traveled down through the lowest part of the draw. They could hear and feel the ground rumble beneath them from the huge rocks and boulders the force of the water dislodged and was pushing along at a frightening speed. It sounded like his uncle’s food processor when he was crushing ice to put into the hand cranked ice cream maker.

Billy watched as the huge silver ball displaced the water and seemed to divert the flow of water and debris around it. It just sat there in the river bed with raging water all around it. The rotation of the external rings slowly stopped, but it was still smoking and occasionally would give off another spark. Billy could see the water and a few of the boulders seemed to hit an impenetrable wall but left an area of about eight to ten feet around the sphere dry. It was strange to see. The force of the water splashed upon the wall of protective energy and diverted the stream up, over, and around the object.

“Fuck!” Billy exclaimed turning to his partner, “Why does shit like ‘iss alway happen to you and me, Sam? Well-- we just cain't stay here and do nothing. Uncle Nate done taught us better'n 'nat. H’it ain’t the cowboy way. There may be somebody on board that damn thing what's hurt and maybe we can help 'em,” he said. Sam stamped his hoof again and nodded his head in agreement. Billy gathered Sam's reins, put his boot in the stirrup, swung himself into the saddle, pulled his hat down tight, and tipped the front forward to keep the rain from his face. The young cowboy and his faithful cow pony set off through the storm to the highest point on the river just above and as close to the object as they could get.

Billy figured if he tied his lasso around his waist and the other end to his saddle horn, he could jump into the torrent and swim to the thing-- whatever the hell it was. He imagined it might be filled with Cthulhu type alien monsters he’d seen on the Internet what might rip his face off and boil him up for a big pot of cowboy stew. He’d been in the saddle all day and hoped he was ripe enough they might not bother with him. He told Sam what he planned and told him to pull him back if he gave a whistle. The big horse snorted and shook his head from side to side like he didn't like the idea of his buddy jumping into the raging waters.

“I got to, Sam. Ain't no other way. Ain't no time for arguments, neither, old friend. Let's us save this debate for a better day. Trust me, buddy, I'll be all right. With you covering ma' back I'll be fine. Now don't you worry none, ya' hear?” he yelled above the roar of the water and gave Sam a loving hug. Billy removed his full length rain slick and draped it over his beloved pony. He quickly removed his spurs and shoved them and his hat into his saddle bags. It was getting colder so he left his lightweight Levi jacket on.

Billy quickly went to work, secured the rope to his saddle horn, put the loop over his head, and drew it taut around his waist. He ran down to the water, jumped in head first, and began to swim toward the object. He gaged his angle of trajectory from the bank plus the swift flow of water to the craft perfectly, but when he got within a few feet of it he crossed an invisible wall and was able to stand on the bottom of the river. He felt a tingling sensation as he tumbled through the barrier, ass over teakettle, landing on his feet in the soft mud. Some water leaked through along with him to make things wet and sloppy. He lost his balance, and sat right down on his butt in the mud on the river bottom. The water was being deflected around him as well as the huge sphere.

Billy managed to stand, look back to the bank, and saw Sam waiting on the shore watching him. The big stallion was moving about, trying to get a better look, like he was worried about his partner. He lost sight of him for a minute. Billy waved to his buddy, “I'm okay, Sam, not to worry. Now if I can just find a way to get into this damn thing,” he yelled to his pony.

Billy moved to the craft and lightly touched the side with his hand. Immediately there appeared an enormous creature standing before him. It had the body of a two ton Brahma bull with burnished hooves which shown like highly polished brass. It had the head of a man with the blackest hair with a full mustache and long beard which hung from his masculine face in many curls. The air in the river bottom was cold and made the creature’s expelled breath coming from his mouth and huge flaring nares look like steam from an old locomotive.

He had horns on either side of his head which would rival those on a Longhorn steer. On his head he wore a tall cone shaped hat which had a flat top to it and was intricately embroidered with precious stones bound together with gold and silver thread. On him it looked good. Attached to his huge body were four enormous golden wings; a pair which rested on his back and another pair which hung to his side. Billy also noticed he had a great tail with a tuft on the end like that of a Lion.

Billy almost jumped out of his boots when the creature appeared. It was no holograph, either. Billy knew about holographic projections and this creature was not one. He was real. Billy could smell him; a sweet earthy combination of roses with a lingering hint of bovine sweat; a mature bull odor which gave off sexual pheromones of a sharply pungent but not unattractive nature. It was a decidedly masculine smell which translated to anyone's psyche he was a powerful manimal, a man-beast, and he was not to be fucked with-- unless, of course, you were a bit more kinky than the devil himself.

“Why do you seek entrance to this ship?” the impressive critter asked in a booming bass voice that would scare the crap out of a lesser man, but he didn't frighten Billy.

“'To see if I can be of help to anyone inside what might be injured,” Billy replied, “Me and ma' pony watched it crash into the river. To my way a' think'n it t'weren't what you might call a textbook landing. Are you the owner of this vessel?” Billy asked.

“No, I am its protector. Why is it you show no fear of me, human? Am I not intimidating enough to discourage you from foolishly entertaining thoughts of challenging me?” he asked.

“No, you’s certainly impressive enough, I’ll give you that. I wouldn’t consider challenging you, but I have no fear of you either, because I assume you’re intelligent and capable of reason. If not I probably would be dead by now; besides, I done rode me some Brahma bulls bigger’n you; stayed on 'em for a full eight seconds to win the prize and this here belt buckle I'm wear'n, and lived to tell about it. Ain’t no doubt in my mind I could ride you given the chance,” Billy yelled back over the roar of the storm and added, “But that ain’t why I’s here, Mister Bull. I’s here on an errand of mercy. What kind a critter are you, anyways?” Billy asked.

“I am a Kerubim. I am the last of my kind. Are you brave, stout of heart, with a goodly mind and spirit?” the creature asked.

“Would I risk my gotdamn life to swim to the middle of this raging river or risk the life of my partner over there by exposing him to this fuck'n storm if'n I weren't?” Billy asked like he was more than a little annoyed at the huge creature's stupid questions.

The creature looked up at Sam standing on the shore, paused for a moment, nodded his huge head, smiled, and looked back at Billy, “Your companion-- a noble creature-- told me you are a good, wise, and honorable young man, who knows how to give and receive love in equal measure, and you hold your word to another as a scared trust. Honesty, backed with righteous indignation and no fear, is the correct response young man. You have my permission to enter,” it said to him almost in a cold formal voice like a butler might bid one enter Dracula's castle.

Immediately there was a door sprang up with a wall of blue energy rippling across the surface. Billy couldn't see to the other side.

“You mean through there?” he asked.

The Kerubim nodded, smiled at him, and vanished. Billy jumped through the portal and found himself on board a huge spaceship. He could see there was much damage done to it, and he could barely breathe from the smoke and dust from the debris. He pulled his bandanna from his back pocket and tied it around his face to filter his breathing. He set out for what looked like a main deck on the ship and saw a creature lying on the floor. It was definitely humanoid in appearance with one major difference. It had a huge set of beautiful white wings attached to its back. It was lying on its front. It was a large creature, and although Billy was nearly a full grown man and big for his age, it made him feel like a little boy as he knelt beside it and put his fingers to the creature’s neck to feel for a pulse. It was still alive. He could see its left wing was partially torn from its body and bleeding badly.

Billy managed to lift and roll the creature over onto his wings. He reckoned if he got it on its back the weight of his heavy body and hugely muscled upper torso would keep pressure on his wings which might slow the bleeding until he could find time to bind his wound and get his veterinarian buddy to check him out. When he rolled the creature's body over he was stunned by what he saw. The creature was all man from the front and naked as a baby jaybird. His skin was a ruddy complexion, almost on the swarthy side, with massive musculature and looked to be in his middle to late thirties. His hair was cut short but thinning on top like he might be developing male pattern baldness. That feature alone was a major criterion for male masculinity for Billy.

He was a hyper-masculine, stunningly handsome man in appearance with what looked like a couple of days growth of facial hair, and he sported a set of uncut tackle that would make any cowboy feel like he had bragging rights; however, he had no pubic hair under his arms or around his crotch. Without a doubt, he had to be the most handsome bird-man Billy ever saw-- not that he'd seen that many, mind you. Impure thoughts began to run through Billy’s mind. The more base, animal part of Billy's human body immediately reacted and blessed his manhood with a standing ovation for his dirty thoughts which strongly attested to the health of his male hormone glands.

'Dear God, why cain't I never control that damn thing? It's got a fuck'n mind of its own, and I'm too damn busy to stop and take care of my amigo south of the border. The needs of others come before him right now. It was, after all, the cowboy way,' he thought. Billy chastised himself for allowing prurient thoughts to enter his mind but consoled himself; at least he didn’t find a brain-eating monster on board. His mental description of the creature being a bird-man and his sexual conundrum made him laugh to himself; but, what else would you call him-- it-- an angel? Angels don’t need spaceships, do they? Besides as crazy as the god of the Hebrews was about male genital mutilation he wouldn’t allow no angel out of heaven with a foreskin-- would he?

No. Billy didn't believe in such myths or superstition. His Uncle Nathan never told him what to believe, but after much reading and surfing the Free-net, he decided for himself, ‘there just weren't no such thing.’ Just like he dismissed his erection, he didn't have time to debate the issue with himself. He simply reacted and went about his business. Billy looked for something to put the man on, to get him to a safer place. He looked around the ship and found a room which looked like a medical station. Inside were several gurney-like tables which were free floating and not attached to anything. He tried moving one, and it easily went anywhere he pushed it.

He saw a couple of buttons on the side. He push the one with a “V” pointing downward and the table began to slowly lower itself. When he pressed the other “V” button pointing up, it raised the table. A picture flashed through his mind of him floating the winged man over and above the water, but would it work outside the ship? He wondered. He didn't have time to test his idea. He had to try. So far it was his best option, and the smoke was growing thicker by the minute making it more difficult to breathe.

He also found a blanket of some material he never saw before on one of the gurneys. It was bright silver in color and seemed to flow like a liquid when he picked it up. He determined it was a light weight blanket of some kind. He threw the throw back onto the gurney and quickly pushed it back to the control room of the ship, lowered it to the floor, and managed to wrestle the huge bird-man onto it. The young cowboy carefully draped the creature completely with the silver throw and pulled the four sets of straps across the creature's head, his arms and chest, his waist, and finally his legs just slightly below his knees. Once he was satisfied the man was secure, Billy started for the portal he came through when his eye caught a glimpse of something shiny on a table. It was a golden key of some sort. It looked old and well worn. He put it in his jacket pocket and zipped it shut.

Billy pushed the bird-man to the portal and through it. The storm was still raging. Billy managed to secure his rope to a large rock so it would be there when he returned. He grabbed it and put it around his waist again. He lay down on top of the naked man's body with his crotch nestled against the bird-man’s tackle which caused him to get another erection. Billy pressed the up button on the gurney until they were well above the raging water. He whistled for Sam to start pulling them across the river. The big stallion slowly but steadily began backing up. Billy held his breath as he felt them pass through the barrier shield. He was expecting the worst, but the gurney didn't sink. It stayed the same height above the water and provided them a smooth journey to safety. Billy lowered the gurney, jumped down, and started to get organized.

Once Sam was sure his buddy was out of harm's way, he came over and ‘chuffed’ at his buddy like he was asking if Billy was all right. Billy gave him a quick hug. “I'm okay, big guy, but this man-- or whatever he is-- he's hurt pretty bad. We gotta' get him to shelter. Let's take him to the line cabin where the generator is. I can feed you and put you in the stall attached so you'll be warm and dry. I'll call Uncle Nathan and tell him we's gonna' stay the night,” Billy said. Sam shook his head in agreement. It sounded like a good plan to him.

Billy took his rain slick off Sam, undid the straps on the gurney, and placed it over the bird-man to give him some further protection from the storm; then, he replaced the straps. He retied his rope to the front and raised the gurney until it was about as high as the top of Sam’s back. He took the other end and looped it around his saddle horn. He got out his hat and put it on, but left his spurs in his saddle bag. Billy and the mighty Samson towed the large bird-man back to the line cabin. It was easy with the floating gurney. Sam didn't even work up a sweat. It was too damn wet and getting colder by the minute. Billy told Sam not to rush, to take his time, and watch where he was going. Sam could find his way in the darkest night. Billy trusted his cow pony completely and knew Samson would give his life for him in a minute if Billy was in danger. He felt safe with Sam and the big stallion knew his rider would always take good care of him in return.

* * * * * * *
It took a little over an hour to make the trip back to the line cabin. It was all one large building with a double horse stall built right beside the living quarters so the heat from the fireplace could warm both man and beast. Just before the stalls was a big double door which opened into a large barn from inside the cabin. In inclement weather Billy could allow Sam into the unheated barn to exercise for a while if they got caught there for any length of time. There was also a big potbelly stove in there so it could be heated if necessary.

Billy opened the outside doors to the stalls and Sam gladly walked in out of the storm. Billy pulled the gurney inside, closed the doors behind them, secured them, untied his lasso, and pushed the gurney into the living area. He removed the straps on the gurney and removed his rain slick and the silver throw from the creature. After wiping him down thoroughly with a large bath sheet, Billy secured only the straps across his upper torso and his legs so if the bird-man awakened with a start he wouldn't fall off the gurney. Billy took a heavy down comforter from the large bed and draped it over the naked creature to warm him. He left his head uncovered, but got out one of his old wool knit Navy watch caps and put it on his head and pulled it down over his ears. It made the bird-man look like a handsome sea captain catching a brief snooze before his watch on the bridge.

Billy tried to switch on a light, but the electricity was out. He listened for the soft drone of the water-turbine powered generator but couldn't hear it. Maybe there was a power surge from the generator which caused a breaker to throw because of the amount of water coming down the flue and through the turbines. He would check it out after he started a fire. His Uncle Nate taught him to always fill the fireplace before he left so all he would have to do is light it when they returned. He struck a match and set it to the old wadded newspapers beneath the wood and it began to burn steadily and provided a bit more light in the cabin.

He walked to the generator room and found the breaker was thrown. He threw the breaker and it came to life, began to whir, and produce electricity again. He set the intake flow a bit lower to compensate for any extra surge. Next, Billy got some towels and headed for the stalls. After he removed his saddle, Billy fed Sam dry hay and some fresh oats. He added an extra scoop of oats like he promised. Then he took the towels and dried his partner as Sam ate his food. By the time Billy finished it was getting warmer in the cabin.

Unnoticed by Billy the creature came to while Billy was tending Samson. He woke up and found himself strapped to one of his own gurneys from his ship. He didn't react. He was in too much pain, but he was warm, dry, and comfortable. He could see the young cowboy pouring his love and attention onto his animal companion and didn't feel threatened. He knew his protector wouldn't allow anyone on his ship who had any ideas of doing him harm. He could sense the young man's goodness from across the room. He thought he might touch his mind, but when he tried, Billy's stalwart companion felt him, issued a stern rebuke, and cut him off. The big four footed beastie was highly protective of his young two legged companion. He mentally stroked the beast and told him not to worry, he meant no harm. He smiled to himself and drifted back into the warmth of unconsciousness again. Just about the time Billy finished with Sam his cell phone vibrated in his pocket announcing a call. He quickly clicked it on so's not to disturb the creature.

“Billy, you down 'nere to the cabin, Son?” he heard the concerned voice of his Uncle Nathan.

“Yes, sir, Uncle Nate. How'd ju' know?” he asked.

“The power went out. I's get'n ready to saddle up Cindy Lou and ride down 'nere to look for you and Sam and check the breaker when the power come back on. I done figured you was there and reset ever' thing,” Nate replied.

“Yes, sir. Me and Sam, we done talked it over, and decided to stay here tonight to wait out this awful storm. If'n the breaker goes again, we'll be here to reset it. We's wet and tired. We had us one hell of an afternoon, Uncle Nate-- one for the story books or a night of tall tales around a campfire,” Billy said and chuckled.

“That's fine. Glad you’s safe and ya’ll got to shelter. You should have enough food for both ya’ll for a week or more. We done took a shit load of supplies down 'nere the last trip you and I made. They’s several packages of ground deer meat in the freezer on the back porch and a number of cans of beans, tomatoes,and sauce for make’n chili if’n ya’ont some. Chili might taste pert-damn good on a night like tonight. You okay, Son?” Nate asked concerned.

“I'm feel'n better the warmer I get, Uncle Nate. I got Sam dried, rubbed down, and I fed him good. I promised him some extra oats if he got us back to the cabin safe. He didn't complain none,” Billy said and laughed.

“Well, if'n it's the weather's the same tomorrow, you two stay indoors and come on home when ya’ can. Fergit about them damn cows. We’ll get ‘em later,” Nate said.

“We will. Love you, Uncle Nathan,” Billy said quietly.

Nate was caught unprepared by his nephew’s candor. Since his parents died, Billy didn’t share his feelings very often. Billy heard his uncle choke, “God above knows I love you too, boy. Don't chu’ never forget it, Billy,” he said.

They said their goodbyes and disconnected.

Billy moved the gurney to the king size bed he and his uncle brought down to the cabin in the back of a buckboard. He lowered the gurney and let it rest on the bed. He removed the comforter from the creature and undid the rest of the straps. He saw another button on the gurney which looked like a man laying out flat next to a picture of the gurney and wondered what it might do. He pressed it and the gurney disappeared from beneath the bird-man and reappeared at the foot of the bed. “Neat, how cool is ‘zat?” he said to himself and smiled. He got some old clean sheets from the hall closet and tore them into large strips. He managed to get them around the critter until Billy was satisfied his torn wing was secure to his back, and even if he moved around during the night, it would hold it taut.

By the time he finished he was exhausted and hungry. He warmed a can of chunky soup over the fire and inhaled it. He ate it so fast he wasn't sure his tongue even tasted the food. He warmed some water over the fire and when he was done he took a wash cloth and a pan of the warm water and carefully bathed his patient. Living his life as a cowboy and a husband to ranch animals, Billy had no qualms about cleaning the bird-man’s body and tackle. He gently skinned him back to clean under his ample foreskin. He was amused to see him get an erection from his attention, but somehow it seemed natural.

Billy used the same pan and cloth with more warm water added to bathe his own body. He slowly cleaned himself from head to toe. The creature opened his eyes again and saw Billy silhouetted against the fire carefully cleaning himself and smiled at the physical beauty of the young cowboy. He closed his eyes and pretended to be out again. He could hear Billy checking on his pony to make sure he was warm and comfortable for the night. He heard him add a couple of logs on the fire, then felt him crawl into bed with him, and pull the warm covers over them. What happened next sent a healing warmth though the bird-man’s pain wracked body like nothing else he experienced in his long life. The young human put his arms around him and held him close as if he was trying to heal his large unusual ward with his love and his touch. The bird-man drank deeply from the young man's strength and his goodness. After the creature was sure Billy was fast asleep he put his huge arms about him, drew him close, enclosed him with his good wing and brought him peaceful dreams.

* * * * * * *
Billy dreamed he was calling Sam from the bottom of the river, but it seemed so real, like it was happening all over again. He opened his eyes. He still had his arms around the bird-man who he could tell was awake. The creature had Billy nestled in his big right arm and was holding him tight. There before them was a holographic three dimensional video of Billy calling to Sam from the river. Billy was so stunned and enthralled he didn't say anything but watched as the video continued to show his every move while rescuing the bird-man. He watched himself swim to the middle of the river, tumble through the invisible wall and land on his feet like Mary Lou Retton nailed her Olympic winning vault, only to slip on the river bottom slime, lose his footing, and fall on his butt in the mud. Billy's vision of Olympic gold was lost in and instant. He got to see the Kerubim again and marveled at the manimal’s masculine beauty. When he was at the ship standing in front of the huge creature, Billy didn’t get a look at his awesome male parts. He could see a complete picture of the huge beast. The monster was more than a little impressive.

When the video finished, with a wave of his hand the bird-man dismissed it-- and it was gone. Billy turned his head to look into his face. The handsome creature smiled at him. With tears in his eyes, he pulled Billy up to him and kissed the top of his head. “Thank you, cowboy, for saving my life,” he said in a deep baritone voice.

“T'weren't nothing, sir,” he answered modestly, “Hey, you understand my language?!” Billy asked and exclaimed.

“You mean American English or Cowboy?” he asked with a grin.

“Either one's fine by me, sir, cep'n I got a me a righteous fondness for the cowboy lingo,” Billy replied pouring it on.

“Cowboy it is, then, pod'na,” the bird-man said and laughed.

“How's yore' shoulder, sir?” Billy asked.

“Better. I'm in good hands. You offered your care, compassion, and healing strength last evening, and I drank deeply from your considerable reserve. I'm almost healed. One more night in yore' arms ought a' do the trick,” he said and smiled.

“Well, from the sound of the wind and the rain we should probably stay in bed today anyway. My uncle called last night. He done said for me and Sam to stay warm and dry until the storm passes,” Billy said.

“That don’t sound like a bad idea to me, cowboy,” the bird-man said.

“We could do that, but I gotta’ get up and throw a couple logs on the fire, relieve ma’self, and see to my buddy in the stall over there-- uh, by the way, sir-- what should I call you? You got a name?” Billy asked with a grin.

“Of course I got a name. It’s the same as yore’ pony,” he replied.

“Samson?” Billy asked.

“No, just Sam. It’s short for Samu’el, but so’s you don’t go mix’n us up why don’t you call me ‘Nick.’ All my friends know me by that name,” he said.

“‘Nick’ it is, pod’na, good to meet ya,’ sir. My names, Billy-- Billy Daniels,” Billy drawled and they shared a laugh.

“I think I have to relieve myself, too, Billy,” he said.

“All right, but I don’t want you get’n out of bed yet. I’ll get some’um to catch you with in a minute. Can you wait a few?” he asked.

“I’ll be fine. Do what you gotta’ do, Son,” Nick replied.

When the big bird-man called him ‘son’ it tripped a switch in Billy that melted his heart. He quickly turned away from him so he wouldn’t see a tear escape his eye. He walked to the closet, got out a warm terry cloth robe, and put it on, then went to the fireplace to put his boots on. He left them on the hearth to dry by the fire. He walked to the bathroom down the hall, relieved himself, and began to think what he could use to catch his friend. He remember a couple of two liter plastic bottles he and his uncle used to feed motherless calves sometime. They had a wide mouth and should be adequate for the job. Billy found one and returned to the bed. He threw the covers back and grinned at Nick’s morning woody. He dropped to his knees and didn’t hesitate to take Nick’s erect penis in his fist and gently guide the head into the bottle. Nick neither said a word nor tried to stop Billy. He just got a big shit-eating grin on his face and let loose his flow. Billy thought he sounded a lot like Samson when he let go.

“You do that for all yore’ buddies?” Nick teased him.

“Naw, sir, just the ones with purdy wings,” Billy replied and smiled.

“You like my wings, Son?” Nick asked.

“Yeah, I like ‘em a lot. While I been taught it ain’t right to covet what another man has, I’d love to have me a pair like ‘em. If they’s any truth to what them religious folks say, a man cain’t get his’self a pair until he dies, and then, only if’n he’s lived an exemplary life. So there ain’t much chance 'a me ever find’n out what it's like 'cause, I’m probably the worst of sinners,” Billy replied like a confession.

“Somehow, I just can’t imagine you being sinful, cowboy. I could give you a pair and teach you to fly it you like,” Nick said.

“How could you do that, sir?” Billy asked.

“I can do a lot of things,” Nick replied, “but to do it I have to have your DNA on file in my body,” he replied.

“How would you get the information, sir?” Billy asked.

“I can gather it from any fluid from your body; sweat, saliva, urine, blood, or even semen,” Nick replied.

“Which is the easiest and most effective?” Billy asked.

“A pin prick of blood is easiest and probably the most effective, but with you, I think I would prefer to sample your semen,” Nick replied and smiled. Billy blushed and Nick grinned at him.

Nick finished his flow and Billy took the bottle away and set it on the table to dispose of later. He seemed to be deep in thought. “I ain’t never--” Billy said softly.

“Not to worry. I’m older and more experienced. I’ll teach you what you need to know. You and Sam saved my life. You were brave to rescue me, good to take care of me, bind my wounds, and offer your hospitality. I’d be downright honored and proud to take care of you, cowboy,” Nick said quietly.  

“I think I’d like that, sir, but I gotta’ admit some’um to you. I looked upon yore’ naked body with lust in my heart yesterday,” Billy said like he was confessing his deepest and darkest sin.

“What’s wrong with that? I looked upon yore’ handsome young body while you were bathing yourself by firelight last night, and the sight made my old warrior go from sad to happy,” Nick said quietly.

“I just never considered-- living in such a small uptight community-- I might meet anyone willing to lie down with me; especially, someone with whom I’m very much interest in sharing myself,” Billy said quietly.

“Well, now you have, buckaroo. You lay down with me last night and offered me your compassion and the healing power of your touch. I hope you plan to again this evening. I need to draw more strength from you to complete my healing. I don’t see why we shouldn’t share a little love and bring each other some pleasure and comfort,” Nick said like it was a done deal in his mind.  

“Speaking of hospitality, I’m forgetting my manners. Are you hungry, sir?” Billy asked.

“I could eat something if you have enough to share,” Nick replied.

“Lord, we got enough food around this cabin to feed an army for a month. When my uncle gets on one a’ his lets-us-ride-down-and-stock-up-the-cabin crusades we bring a wagon load of stuff down here. Since you ain’t human, is there anything you cain’t or won’t eat? Do you have any special diet requirements?” Billy asked.

“No, if the basic human food ain’t changed in the last several thousand years, anything will be fine. A good guest should eat what his host sets before him,” Nick replied.

“We eat red meat from cattle, goats, sheep, and deer. We eat the meat of hogs, chickens, and fish with edible plants,” Billy said.

“Whatever you have will be gratefully accepted,” Nick said.

“Good, then I’ll fix us some breakfast. I’ll fry us up some bacon, eggs, beans, and cowboy potatoes with some cold drop biscuits my grandma taught me to make, but first, I gotta’ clean ma’ buddy’s stall and feed him his breakfast,” he said.

“Take yore’ time, Son, I ain’t going nowhere. I’ll enjoy lying here watching you,” Nick said and smiled.

Billy got out the big blue stone coffee pot he and his uncle always used at the cabin and took with them on roundups. It originally had a percolation device inside but over the years it corroded from the acids in the coffee, fell apart, and finally discarded. Billy’s Uncle Nathan taught him to put a heaping cup of ground coffee on the bottom of the pot, add fresh water with the shells of two or three eggs, bring it to a rolling boil for ten minutes, then set it aside to rest for ten more. It produced the best damn coffee. It had a great flavor to it, but it was so strong you had to chew it a couple of times before you swallowed. After he set the coffee on to boil, Billy got busy and fed Samson his breakfast and got him some more hay to munch on. He raked and cleaned up the soiled area around his pony, bagged the waste, and took it to the far end of the barn to dispose of later. He got a fresh bag of wood chips and sawdust from the store room and spread it around on the ground. Billy loved the smell of fresh cedar chips and would sometimes throw a handful on the fire to cover any lingering animal odors-- both horse and human.

By the time he finished cleaning up after Samson the coffee was ready. He poured two large mugs and took one to his guest. “Here ya’ go, sir. A nice cup of hot coffee. Have you ever drank coffee before?” Billy asked.

“Yes, many years ago, and I became quite fond of it. I recognized the pungent fragrance while it was boiling. It has a most pleasing aroma, one usually associated with morning. It comes from Arabia as I remember,” he replied and took a sip of the hot, black liquid. “Excellent,” he said with a smile and a sigh.

“You’re right, coffee originally came from Arabia, and while it’s still grown there, most of our coffee comes from South America. Me and ma’ uncle make it so strong it’s guaranteed to sharpen your vision, make yore’ balls hang lower, put lead in yore’ pencil, and grow hair on your chest,” Billy bragged in his best Texas cowboy lingo.

“I think I might like to have hair on my chest. Do you think you would like me with hair on my chest, Billy?” Nick asked.

“I like you jes’ the way you is, sir, but if’n you’s to grow hair on yore’ chest I’m sure I’d like you that away, too,” Billy replied.

“I stopped growing hair around my crotch and pits a number of years ago, but I can always start growing it again. I might consider it since most men on this planet have pubic hair. Pubic hair along with chest hair might make me fit in better-- what do you think, Son?” Nick asked.

“I’s just kid’n about the coffee making you grow hair on yore’ chest and all them other things, too, sir. It’s called cowboy hyperbole. I learn’t me that word from ma’ high school English teacher, Ms. Dawson. It’s like enlarging on the truth or making exaggerated claims about something what ain’t so. It’s part of Texas speak,” Billy replied, “It’s sort of an understood way of having fun with mundane things. In more basic terms it’s called bullshit’n yore’ brother,” Billy explained, and added, “In fact a common retort to a fanciful display of cowboy hyperbole is to look the culprit in the eye and say, ‘you’s full of shit, too.’”

“I see. I understand the concept. That’s good information to know,” Nick said.

Billy excused himself and started cooking breakfast for them. It took him about an hour to get everything ready. When he finished he got an idea. He didn’t want Nick up walking around so he figured out a way for them to have breakfast in bed together. He grabbed the gurney on which he transported Nick to the cabin, brought it into the kitchen, and loaded it up. Then he pushed it to the bed, and with Nick’s supervision, lowered it to where it would be comfortable; except, it kept moving away from them.

“See that red button over there, Son?” Nick asked.

“Yes, sir,” Billy replied.

“Push it,” he said.

Billy pushed the button and the problem was solved. Their table didn’t move. Nick must have been more hungry that he thought. Billy never saw a man put away the amount of food Nick ate. Billy was amused at his big friend’s appetite and flattered Nick liked his cooking. Billy thought he must have gotten a pretty good scald on everything. Nick finished his first plate, had seconds, finished the left overs, and ate the cowboy potatoes and beans Billy left on his plate.

Billy made a dozen biscuits, and they were perfectly light and fluffy. Nick ate eight of the twelve with fresh butter and honey. The bird-man would make moaning sounds of ecstasy every time he ate one. “In the name of some forgotten god, I forgot how much I love the taste of fresh butter and honey. If there was such a thing as heaven-- biscuits, butter, and honey should definitely be on the list of foods as a reward for having lived a good life. I apologize if I’m a poor quest and ate too much, Billy, but it was just too damn good not to indulge myself. I guess I was more hungry than I thought, but now I’m sated. In fact, I ate so much I’m almost uncomfortable. I feel like an old bear what gorged himself for a couple of months before the snow starts to fall, to build up his body fat in anticipation of three months hibernation. I feel like I’m getting drowsy and ready to crawl into my warm den and lay down beside ma’ bear cub savior and sleep the rest of the winter in his nice furry arms,” Nick paused for a moment, “Would that description qualify as cowboy hyperbole, Son?” he asked with a grin.

“Yes, sir, I’d say it was a right fine example, Mr. Nick,” Billy replied.

“Listen to me, cowboy. Any man what was brave enough to do what you done for me don’t have to put no honorific before ma’ name, Son. Do you understand what I’m saying, Billy?” he asked quietly.

“Yes, sir, Nick. I understand. I’m honored, sir-- and yore’ Texas speak is get’n much better,” Billy said and grinned.

“Good on both,” Nick replied.  

“Perfect,” agreed Billy.

Billy liked the floating hospital tray. It made clean up easy. All he had to do was move the gurney to the kitchen area and everything was ready for cleaning and putting away. It didn’t take him long to clean up the kitchen. He got out a two pound package of frozen ground deer meat and set it in a covered dish to place near the fire to thaw. The storm outside was raging as hard or more so than the day before; except now, he could hear sleet hitting the windows and hail began to pound on the roof. It was getting colder and he added a couple more logs to the fire. He checked on Samson and asked if he needed a blanket to cover him. He shook his head 'no.’ Billy got his blanket out anyway, draped it over the stall fence, and told him he would throw it over him before retiring for the evening. He didn’t want him getting cold. Samson nodded his head he understood.

Billy went back to the bed, set down, pulled his boots off, removed his robe, and gently crawled under the covers. He thought Nick might be asleep. He was dozing but he wasn’t asleep. He opened his big arms for Billy, and he was drawn to them like a bot fly to a sweaty horse. Nick pulled him up to him with his good right arm and held Billy close. “Have you ever kissed another man, Son,” Nick asked.

“Naw, sir, I ain’t never kissed nobody but my grandma on her cheek, and once in a while, I give Sam a peck on his. Ain’t never even hugged my Uncle Nate. I wanted him to lots of times when I felt bad or lonely, but I think he’s afraid for some reason. Maybe it’s cause I ain’t his son, but I’m the closest he’s ever gonna’ get to have’n a kid. He never married and ain’t got no prospects. He’s devoted his life to the ranch, me, and his mother. Him and grandma raised me from the time I’s three years old. I wondered sometime if Uncle Nate’s like me and would like to rodeo with other cowboys, but just ain’t never found nobody. Last night on the phone was the first time I can ever remember he told me he loved me, but I told him first. Don’t know what made me do it except I needed to tell him. I just felt like he needed to hear it from me. I though for a minute he’s gonna’ break down and cry, but he didn’t. He was cool and told me he loved me too and for me never to forget it.

“How would you feel about kissing an alien?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know. You won’t try’n eat my face off, will you?” Billy asked and grinned.

“More cowboy hyperbole?” Nick asked.

“Yes, sir, but that’s the impolite kind a real cowboy worth the name wouldn’t do to somebody what’s trying to be serious and personal with him. I apologize, sir, for fun’n with ya,’” Billy said.

“Come to think on it, from the way I liked your cooking maybe yore’ handsome face would make a fine dessert. I’m sure it would be sweet,” Nick said and laughed, “Ah, to hell with words and cowboy bullshit, kiss me, buckaroo,” Nick quietly demanded.

Billy kissed his new friend and Nick let the young man take all he needed from him. Billy was a fast learner and didn’t need training wheels. Eighteen years of repressed love and loneliness walled up inside the young cowboy came pouring out like the raging James river he jumped in the day before to save Nick’s life. Tears flowed involuntarily from his eyes. It had been a long time since Nick held anyone in his arms and shared an intimate moment he shed a few himself. There just seemed to be something right about the moment for both of them. They didn’t know how, but they knew their lives would become intertwined with each other. They finally broke off their kiss, but Nick continued to kiss his cowboy buddy gently and lick the saline rich tears from Billy’s eyes and face like a deer at a salt lick.

“Does breakfast come with dessert?” Nick asked softly.

“Yeah, them eight biscuits you ate,” Billy replied and grinned.

“I’s think’n on some’um sweeter,” Nick said.

“What’s sweeter than honey, sir?” Billy asked.

“A fresh batch of cowboy cream right out of the tap,” Nick replied.

“Wouldn’t an activity like that hurt yore’ shoulder, Nick?” Billy asked with concern.

“Naw, after that kiss, I’s just about completely healed. Unconditional love is the greatest healing power in the universe, Son, and you done got chore’self a shit load stored up inside a’ that incredibly sexy young body of yorn. I can lay on my right side. I’ll be fine, Son,” Nick assured him. He didn’t wait for Billy’s consent. Nick quickly moved down and took Billy's young strong manhood into his mouth and started making sweet love to him. It was the most wonderful feeling Billy ever experienced to have such a fine looking-- whatever Nick was-- take him for his first time. It didn’t take him very long to reach a climax, and it was the most wonderful sensation of his young life.

Nick cleaned the young man with his mouth, and when he was satisfied, he raised himself and found his cowboy ready to share love with him again. Billy didn’t asked if he could return the favor. He knew his time would come. Nick couldn’t have been a better partner for his first time. He was loving, attentive, and they swapped spit for a good while enjoying the afterglow of their coupling. “I don’t know the etiquette about what to say afterwards, Nick. No pun intended, I’ll jes’ shoot from the hip, and tell you it was the single greatest feeling of my life. Thank you for taking me for my first time, sir,” he said.

“Them’s about the sweetest words anybody’s ever said to me after making love with them, Son. As many places and people I been with over the years I put you at the top of the list, cowboy. Ain’t never tasted me no finer cowboy cream, nowheres,” Nick said pouring on his cowboy charm and revving up the vernacular.

“You’s so full of shit,” Billy said and grinned.

“Naw, now I ain’t one to blow smoke up yore’ ass, pod’na. I really mean it. Cowboy’s word of honor,” Nick said and held up his right hand.

They lay in each other’s arms for a while longer, but it began to get chilly in the cabin. Billy excused himself, pulled on a clean pair of Wranglers, his boots, and a nice flannel shirt he found in the closet. He threw a couple more logs on the fire and the cabin warmed up again.

“You need to piss again, Nick?” Billy asked.

“I think maybe I better before you start any projects,” Nick replied, “I think them four mugs a’ coffee are running through me,” he added.

Billy got the bottle, knelt beside the bed, and held it for him; but this time, when Nick finished, he just set the bottle aside and to Nick’s surprise Billy took him. For his first time the young cowboy gave his bird-man guest a fine blow job and when Nick blew his load Billy took every drop like it was a sacred Eucharist, and he was being initiated into a holy order. Billy felt complete, and it was such a relief for Nick, he was reduced to a quivering mass of used jello. He pulled Billy up to him and expressed his gratitude through his kiss. They were complete now. They bonded with each other. They became one-- the cowboy and his angel.

* * * * * *
Billy took the bottle to the bathroom, emptied it into the toilet, flushed it, and rinsed the bottle in the sink. He set it on the tank covering to the toilet. He returned to the room and found his patient sitting on the edge of the bed. “You think you should be get’n up so soon, Nick?” he asked concerned.

“Since you's my doctor, I’ll let you decide, Son. Undo the bandage and take a look at my wing,” he said.

Billy carefully unwrapped the bandage and was amazed Nick’s wing was almost grown back together. It was still a dark purple color like it was badly bruised, but there was no longer any evidence of bleeding. Billy remembered carefully cleaning the blood away when he bathed Nick’s body. Billy felt gently around the torn area and Nick flinched only once when Billy probed a bit too deep.

“Well, it’s definitely healing. I think get’n some food and liquids in you helped a lot. When I’s in the hospital for an appendix operation they had me up and walking about an hour after I woke up from surgery. They told me a body heals faster with exercise. I guess it wouldn’t hurt none for you to be up and around for a bit. I’ll look to see if we got anything around here for you to wear.

“I think it’s warm enough in here I won’t need no clothes,” Nick said.

“Oh, yes, you do!” Billy said emphatically, “Not necessarily for you, but for me. What I cain’t see won’t make me think nasty thoughts and git me into trouble,” Billy said with a grin.

“You’s the kind of trouble I could live with quite comfortably, Son,” Nick said, stood, and put his arms around Billy.

“All right, but sit down ‘nere on ‘nat stool right there, and let me bind yore’ wing again,” he said like a no nonsense military nurse.

“Yes, sir, Doc Billy,” Nick said respectfully, and smiled.

Nick set down and Billy wrapped his wing but this time he pulled the bandage a bit tighter. Nick felt it but didn’t respond. When he finished Billy leaned over and tenderly kissed Nick on his neck.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off you even with your clothes on, cowboy,” Nick said and grinned.

“Do yore’ best, pod’na. I gotta’ make us some dinner, and the way you eat I’m gonna’ make us a lot,” he said, “Besides, the more you eat the faster you’s gonna’ heal.”

Billy looked in his uncle's closet. His thought his Uncle Nathan was just about as big a man as his angel. He found an old, soft, faded pair of Famer John overalls with straps over the shoulder. He had to help Nick with the straps, but they fit him perfectly-- almost too perfectly. Billy could see the bulging muscles of Nick's arms and upper body development. He looked in his closet and found an older flannel shirt his aunt gave him for Christmas one year, and it was two sizes too large. It fit Nick just fine. It was just a little loose on him which only added to the comfort of the shirt. The rest of the afternoon seemed like a dream to Billy. There was a peaceful feeling in his heart he never felt before. He didn’t care if the world came to an end within the next fifteen minutes. His soul was ready for anything. He excused himself from his guest and went to the kitchen area to began to prepare chili for their evening meal.

“Can I help?” Nick asked dragging his stool to a work counter in the middle of the big room.

“Yeah, I need some onions chopped up. I done pealed ‘em. Here’s a knife and a cutting board to cut ‘em up on,” he set before Nick on the table.

“How big should I chop them?” Nike asked.

“About a half inch,” Billy replied and held his thumb and forefinger together to give Nick an approximation. He turned his back to put the deer meat in a huge pot he and his uncle used to make chili.

“Is this all right?” Nick asked.

Billy tuned back around and one of the onions was chopped. “That’s perfect-- it's fine,” he replied, and watched as Nick waved his hand over the other, and it was perfectly chopped as well.

“Sweet Jesus, I got me my very own live Cuisinart,” Billy declared and laughed.

“I told you I can do a lot of things,” Nick grinned.

They talked as Billy browned the meat, threw in the onions, and added the chili and other spices. “Once you's healed where will you go? Got any place to stay, sir?” Billy asked.

“As soon as the weather gets better, I must return to my ship, and see to its repairs. I think you met my protector,” Nick grinned,”he and a couple other of my crew will see to hiding it until I return. No one will find it. To more accurately answer your question, I have to stay with you or near you, Billy. Not that I’d want one, but I ain’t got no choice in the matter. It’s a requirement of a universal law set forth eons ago by an intelligence much more advanced than me,” he replied.

“I'd be downright pleased to have you stick around, but do you mind telling me why you have to stay with me, sir?” he asked.

“I been sent to Earth for a purpose. I’ll tell you about it as we get to know each other, but the main thing is, an intelligence what’s much greater than any you can imagine direct us on our missions we’re given in life, but they won’t interfere. In other words, they’ll tell us the outcome they want, but won’t give us much to go on about how we should go about it. They strongly believe in free will for all intelligent creatures in the universe but sometimes throw up roadblocks up like detours to lead us in another, maybe altogether different direction than we planned, to learn as well as accomplish the tasks they assign us.”

“You mean like having your ship struck twice by lightening and crash land in the river?” Billy asked.

“Exactly, cowboy,” Nick replied. “As a consequence, they done put me in a position I ain’t never found myself in before. You see, Billy, by universal rights, you own me now, Son. You risked your life and the life of yore’ beloved companion to save mine. My life belongs to you until such a time as you don’t need me no more or the Ancients decide otherwise,” Nick explained.

“I don't believe in slavery, sir. My uncle is a good man. He done taught me slavery ain't right. He didn't brainwash me or nothing. He let me learn on my own, and I come to that conclusion myself. I seen the way some of the ranchers who own slaves treat them, and they treat their animals better. Some of the more enlightened ranchers ain't so bad, but they's damn few. I agree with ma' uncle, no man should own another. Men are weak and such a situation is an open invitation for abuse,” Billy declared.

“I would agree with you about lesser men, Son, but I don't think you're capable of abuse. I watched the video of your rescue and how you treat the pony you own. You treat him like he's yore' best friend and buddy,” he said.

“Well, you don't quite understand, sir. You don't see the whole pitcher. I don't exactly own Samson. He's a free spirit. How can you own a free spirit without crushing it? The answer is simple, you cain’t. I worked with him ever’ day for months and treated him kindly until he got used to me. His momma dried up early and ran out of milk. I had to hand feed him for a couple of months until I could get him to eat solid food. I treated Sam like he was ma’ little brother. I slowly gained his trust until one day he decided I was worthy enough and give himself to me. I neither had to break him to a saddle nor did he give me any argument the first time I tried to ride him. It was much like what we done together. We done give ourselves to one another. We exchanged a little of our soul with each other.

“I ain't so much of a free spirit, but ma’ partner, he knows my flaws and allows for it. As a human, I need certain attachments. I got to think'n on our relationship one night, and it come to me, Sam actually owns me. I'm his human what sees to his needs and tries to take good care of him. I accept that fact, and I will care for him when he becomes too old for me to ride-- even until he draws his last breath. A cowboy won’t never turn his back on a old trusted friend. Sam's good to me and kind enough to allow me to think I own him. He lets me ride him. We work together almost ever' damn day, and he don't never complain. He gits a little bossy at times when he’s worried about me, but I know it’s ‘cause he’s got my best interest at heart. He let me know he did not want me jump’n in the river to rescue you. He's always there when I need him. Like yesterday, I just told him to get us here, and I let him run free. I was busy look’n out for you, pulling you along behind, and he got us here. I'd trust Samson with my life, sir, and I know as my owner he already done trusted me enough to make me his,” Billy explained. “We's bonded to each other, him and me. Sometimes I think our spirits are conjoined,” Billy said quietly.

“That's amazing you could have that kind of understanding relationship with yore’ pony, Billy. Of course Sam owns you. You don't think you could do the same with me? After all, Sam and I share the same name, and I ain't human, you know?” Nick asked and grinned.

“Yes, sir. I's well aware you ain't no human, but I don't think on you as no angel neither. I think you's a different species from me; probably much more advanced and a lot more intelligent.”

“Intelligence is relative. They’s lots of stupid, well educated people on this planet. Reason, compassion, caring for your fellow creatures on your world, and becoming a husband for the environment you inhabit is far more important than anything else in the universe. An important lesson I learned early is a good heart and a brave spirit to walk in the light of truth and reason is as valuable as the intelligence required to understand an advanced technology.

“What if I told you it is a universal law: when in the course of time, a race of beings become so advanced they appear as gods to those less advanced than themselves, but there are still others more advanced than them what requires them to give themselves to a member of a less advance race should he or she save their lives to become their slave or suffer the consequences?” he asked in perfect cowboy lingo, then added, “And the consequences ain't pretty, Son-- they's terminal?”

“Ain't there no wiggle room, sir?” Billy asked in reply.

“Nope. None, cowboy. I got a certain time period, the next full moon to the following-- less’n it's a full eclipse, then I get 'til the next full moon-- for the universe to hear you say them words 'I accept you as my slave, bird-man,'” Nick said and smiled.

“How'd ju' know I been think'n on you as 'bird-man’?” Billy asked and grinned.

“Yore' owner told me,” he replied.

“Flannel mouth,” Billy hollered at Sam who horse laughed back at him.

“Ain't Sam's fault, Son. He didn't wanna' tell me, but I begged and pestered him until he did. He also told me he didn't care if you owned me. He told me it might just be the best thing for you. Sam said you been need'n somebody to fill yore' void, and I'm just the alien what can fill it for ya.' For all practical purposes, to a race like yours what has a finite life span, my race is immortal, but we can be terminated, either by accident or adjudication for failure to live by and obey the cardinal rules of the universe. Look, you saved my life yesterday. If you and Sam didn't come to my rescue I would be dead now. Would it be so hard for you to save me one more time?” Nick asked almost like a plea.

“What if I done told them more advanced critters to chill out, it was all right-- it was okay with me if'n you didn't become my slave? I didn’t save yore’ hide ‘cause I expected some’um in return. ‘At ain’t the cowboy way. I certainly never entertained the idea of anyone becoming my slave. What if I told ‘em, 'Hell, yeah! I'll take old bird-man on to be my slave and really mean it, and after six months or a year, have a quiet private ceremony, and I give you yore' freedom?” Billy asked.

“It's been tried before, Billy. You think you're the only one what's ever faced this conundrum?” Nick asked, then added, "And them big knights what say 'nee' ain't gonna' settle for no shrubbery neither. They mean business, Son," Nick said and grinned.

“You mean Monty Python is known throughout the universe?" Billy asked.

"Damn near, but only the funniest skits. The dead parrot, the Ministry of Silly Walks, and the fish dance still kills in a dozen galaxies," Nick replied and winked.

"I don't know," mused Billy, "considering the star Betelgeuse is larger than the orbit of Jupiter in our solar system, and by comparison, I live on a tiny insignificant blue marble in the backwash of a huge galaxy, I guess I’m somewhat aware of my life in the universe and my place in it. I'm comfortable with it. I ain’t nobody special. Why should I have to make a decision like 'at?” Billy asked, then added, “If’n there ain’t no other way, I guess what you’s say’n makes sense, but how can I introduce you to my family and friends? How would I explain yore’ purdy wings?” Billy asked.

“Nothing to it,” Nick said, snapped his fingers, and they disappeared; they vanished in an instant; they were gone; however, on closer observation Billy could see the hump his bandages made on Nick’s left shoulder. His wings were still there, he just made them invisible.

Billy's mouth dropped open. The bird-man just eighty-sixed his bird parts, and Billy almost laid an egg. “I guess I shouldn't be ask’n how you done that,” he said.

“I'd be happy to explain it to you if you want to study for twenty years, take advanced courses in particle physics, and the subatomic transmutation of matter on a harmonic level,” Nick said quietly, “I could probably more easily teach you how to do it than how it happens,” he added.

“I don't know nothing about you. What you are. Where you come from. What you're doing here. How old you are. Then there’s other questions what come to mind. If I's to own you as my slave, would I become yore' master with all it implies? What do I have to offer you if I become your owner? Even if I became your master, how would you cope having a young human who, as a cowboy, is looked upon by the rest of his society as little more than a stoic, hardworking, fiercely independent, masculine icon, an overly romanticized symbol of the old West at best, and at worst, a naive brainwashed Jesus love'n, warshed-in-the-blood-cult-of-death bible thump'n redneck easily swayed by self-serving manipulative conservative politicians who have offered little or nothing in return for his loyalty year after year? And before you answer my questions-- return them pretty wings to yore' back pronto, Tonto,” Billy demanded and grinned. He watched and in an instant his guest became bird-man again. Somehow Billy felt more comfortable with him like that.

“Glad you like my wings. They come in handy sometime,” Nick said without nuance, “Look, one thing at a time, but the last part about you being a cowboy don’t have no ring of truth to it. Part of it just ain't right. H'it don’t fit you a'tall, Son. You may be stoic, hardworking, independent, certainly a masculine icon pack'n enough meat between yore' legs to make a young stallion feel inadequate-- damn near dislocated my jaw-- but you ain’t none of them last things you described. Why, I’d bet, if the truth be known, you ain’t never voted for the conservative party,” Nick said.

“I just turned eighteen last summer and there won’t be another major election for another two years, but you’re right, I would never vote for them sum’bitches,” Billy confirmed. “Can you change your body to be anything or look like someone else?” Billy asked.

“Sure. That's easy. I got chore’ DNA on file with me now,” Nick said and morphed before Billy's eyes to become a carbon copy of him, but he left his wings. Billy's curosity got the best of him. He couldn't help take a peek, walked up to Nick, uzipped his Farmer John's and took out his cock and balls. Sure enough, bird-man was a perfect copy of himself. Billy liked seeing an image of himself with a set of wings, and it also made his manhood fill with joy as he held a copy of his own penis and balls.

“Sweet,” Billy said in awe.

“If you agree to take me for yore’ salve, oder me to morph into a copy of you, and you's to turn me over your knee to gimme’ a good spank’n if I failed to please you, it might give the term 'self-abuse’ a new dimension,” Nick observed and roared with laughter as Billy returned Nick's cock to his overalls and zipped them.

“Change back, Nick. The thought both excites and frightens me. That cain’t be good,” Billy said and blushed.

“Well, it could be good. If’n we’s to lay down and make love to each other like this then you couldn’t think on it the same way,” Nick said and changed back into his bird-man persona.

They continued to talk about many things but Nick sensed Billy needed a break from their previous conversation. Nick knew from his earliest dealing with the young cowboy he was a sensitive, intelligent man with much empathy for animals, strangers, and his fellow man, but what Nick was proposing upset Billy and made him nervous.

Billy finished making the chili and set the huge pot on a flat piece of limestone close to the fire to slowly simmer for an hour. The aroma from the chili made Nick’s stomach growl. Billy laughed at him and called his stomach a hungry beast. Sam seemed restless, and Billy let him into the barn to walk around a bit. He didn’t stay long because it was cold in the barn and getting colder. After about thirty minutes, Sam walked to the door and took a rope in his mouth attached to a spring bell mounted on the door frame and rang it.

“I think your partner wants to come in from the cold, cowboy. Did you teach him to ring that bell?" Nick asked.

“Yes, sir, I taught him early on. We got one on a post outside the front of our ranch house he rings when he wants some'um or gets lonely. When he's just a colt he'd come to the house early in the morning and ring the bell until I got up and fed him his bottle. He'd stand out front and ring it until I called to him, and he knew I was up. Nobody got to sleep in even on weekends for months." Billy laughed, "I didn’t think he’d stay in there this long,” he said and opened the door for the big stallion and Samson returned to his warm stall. He shook himself like he was cold and the ambient heat from the cabin felt good to him.

They decided to lie down for a while before dinner and Nick offered his arms. They lay entwined together quietly enjoying the feel of each other’s company. They fell asleep and didn’t wake up until it was beginning to get dark outside. Billy woke up first and went to check on his chili. It was ready, and it tasted great; not too hot but with just enough bite to give it a personality. He wondered if Nick would like spicy food. The bird-man couldn’t get enough. He ate three large bowl’s to Billy one and a half. Nick told him if for no other reason he should stay with Billy because he loved his cooking. That earned the big alien creature several major brownie points. After they finished their meal they sat drinking hot spiced apple cider Billy made for them and talked quietly. Nick loved it and drank several mugs.

“I’m worried about your protector,” Billy said, “could Sam and I go get him and bring him back here until the weather clears? We got an old potbelly stove in the barn we could use to keep him and Sam warm,” Billy said.

“Thanks for your concern. I know he’ll fall in love with you for thinking about him, but he’ll be all right. He may look menacing, but his heart's as big as his body. If worse comes to worse he’ll put himself in stasis. He can remain that way for several years. I imagine him and my crew have already begun work to repair my ship. I’m not worried. We been in worse fixes. This one was unusual with me getting banged up and put out of action for a while,” Nick explained.

There was a silent moment between them. Billy looked into Nick's beautiful eyes and almost lost himself in them. He knew, without a doubt, he was falling hopelessly in love with the big bird-man. "Who are you, Nick?" Billy asked quietly.

"J'ever read the bible, Son?" Nick asked quietly.

"Yes, sir, several times. Grandma and me read it to one another twice over two winters. It was the last thing we'd do before going to bed. Sometimes Uncle Nathan would sit and listen and sometimes he wouldn't. Certain storys he liked and other parts he said were just dull or 'filler material' he called it. Then when I got to high school I read it for ma'self a couple of times," Billy said.

"And...?" Nick prompted.

"The more I read it the more questions I had it never answered and the more confused I got until I decided it was just a collection of myths and superstition. There was just something about the whole thing that didn't ring true. I reluctantly told Grandma how I felt one night while she was reading a certain part she liked. To my surprise she told me she understood, she felt the same, but was so indoctrinated in it from childhood she couldn't let go. She told me her faith was the glue what bound her together. I never questioned her. I think I understood what she's saying, but somehow the glue what worked for her didn't stick with me. I go to church with grandma and Uncle Nathan once in a while to keep up appearances, but I don't believe none of it. Sometimes I have to check ma'self to keep from jump'n up and yell'n at that lame-brain, ignorant little moron of a preacher he's make'n up shit and not preaching what the bible says. I ain't brag'n none when I tell you I know more about scripture than he does. Then I console ma'self when I remember most of what I read in the bible is batshit crazy anyways. What's a little more crazy piled on top of a lot of crazy?" Billy asked like he was frustrated by the memory.

"You remember the stories about Yahweh and his angels?" Nick asked.

"Yeah, but there weren't nothing definite. There's very few actual biblical passages what talk about angels, and they don't give much information. They also contradict one another. I think most of it was made up by other folks," Billy said.

"You're right, it was, and the fallen angels were demonized because they didn't wanna' go along with Yahweh's plan for mankind," Nick said.

"Yeah, but there again, there ain't much to that but hearsay," Billy said.

"You're right again, but I done told you the truth, Billy. The name given to me when I was created was Samu'el, but the more I grew and developed, I took on several other names. I was the brightest and most beloved of all the angels and was once an Archangel over all of them including my brothers Michael and Gabriel. I was known as the angel of the morning star," Nick said.

"I got me a feel'n you's about to tell me I just made love to the devil," Billy said, grinned, and winked at Nick. The bird-man wasn't expecting that response and roared with laughter.

"Afeared so, young'un. You done shacked up with the Old Nick-- the devil Satan his'self-- saved his life, too. Ain't chu' never hear'd of my other names?" he asked.

"Come to think on it, yeah, I have heard yore' nickname before," Billy said and laughed at his own pun.

"Even for the devil, as evil as I'm suppose to be, that's just downright shameful, Son. A pun that bad will get you a oneway ticket to hell quicker'n a long slow slide down the devil's pole," Nick poured on the cowboy hyperbole.

"I'll bet a slide down yore' old pole would be a E-ticket ride, Nick," Billy joked, "Will you promise to fuck me like a demon?" Billy asked and grinned.

"Play yore' cards right, cowboy, and you jes' might find out, but when I git chu' to heaven's gate you can't leave old Nick behind. We'll Texas Two-step right past Saint Peter, the first in a long line of child molesters, with my cock up yore' butt and tip our cowboy hats to the old fart. He'll never suspect a thing," Nick said and roared with laughter.

"You's get'n better, Nick. Ain't heard me no better bullshit in a while," Billy said and laughed with him,"So lemme' guess, if you were written about in the old testicle, then you gotta' be, at least, five to ten thousand years old. I'd say closer to ten thousand from yore' male pattern bald spot," Billy said and grinned.

"That ain't got nothing to do with age. I got that from the man whose genes they used to make me. I weren't born of woman, Son. I was created in a laboratory. My momma was a test tube. Your guess was good, but you don't win no cee-gar, buckaroo. I's more like twelve thousand Earth years, I think. I lost count. It’s been said I made the star you spoke of earlier, Betelgeuse. Other writings attribute the making of the seven sisters of the Pleiades and Orion to me, but it ain’t true. They’s more bullshit in the bible and old religious writings than there is on all the cattle ranches in Texas,” Nick said and grinned.

“Are you a god, Nick?” Billy asked.

End of Chapter 1 ~ Him Who Made The Seven Stars
Copyright © 2012 ~ Waddie Greywolf
All Rights Reserved
Mail to: waddiebear@yahoo.com

This story was inspired by a beautiful piece of choral music by a British composer Jonathan Dove: Seek Him That Maketh The Seven Stars:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5gPFWd7YI0&feature=fvsr