************************************************************************* * "Calm Bull Finds Love Again" * * (part 2) * * by Vince Water * ************************************************************************* | Copyright 2005 by Vince Water May 29, 2005 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have received favorable comments about the first part to this story. Thank you! In this following account, please keep in mind the time in which this story takes place - the late 1800's. The Indian wars had not ended that long ago. There was no 'gay freedom movement' and Justin's strict Christian upbringing has put certain ideals in his head about how he should act in God's eyes, what love is (between a man and a woman) and it has not prepared him for the feelings rising in his heart for an Indian warrior. I ask that you bear with me in this realistic account of finding love versus a sexualistic story you may have been hoping to read about right away. Boys are not easily seduced. Maybe with sex since their dicks feel too good at the moment but afterwards come the difficult questions with no one to turn to for answers. Justin faces such a crisis. Calm Bull held Justin close in his arms while his heart soared like the crow flying overhead. He'd watched its low flight over the pond, wings dipping into the water towards them when with a loud caw-caw, the bird flew over and circled around. The Indian took it as a good portent like this place where they sat admits the spruce trees and a pond where none should have been in the prairie. He found this boy to be just as rare and beautiful. Justin saw his companion's face lifted to the sky and looked up himself. He saw the large black crow. It circled around them before flying towards his father's farm. Likely to go eat corn. That reminded him that his parents were off to church while he'd been asked to look after this Indian. Pa was considering keeping him on. Anthony has proved willing to do farm work though he still had much to learn. An English lesson had been given him this morning. So many words to teach an Indian! In turn, Justin was learning hand signs from him since his spoken language was too difficult. Ma told him that he should take time off today to have fun. That he was. They rode to this pond hidden amongst a wooded grove that his brother had discovered a few years ago. And like Johnny, he'd swam in its cool water but with a man for a companion. They ended up sitting naked together over the horse blanket. Anthony let out a joyous whoop with his right hand lifted to the sky. Justin saw such happiness on the man's face. For a crow? No. When looking into the man's eyes, the boy knew that joy was for him. He smiled, becoming shy when the Indian's expression turned to deep longing. It frightened him a little. "It good ah-yaw et, Juss-teen!" the man exclaimed. Justin nodded in agreement. He figured that his Indian words referred to the crow or rather what it represented. A good sign of things to come for them. Calm Bull held the boy's slim shoulders and peered deep into those sky blue eyes of his. Juss-teen didn't flinch. He kept smiling and smiling until his mouth opened to reveal a pink tongue that circled around his lips to wet them. The man leaned forward to kiss this youth. Their kiss felt good to Justin. It didn't last as he was expecting it to nor was it followed by another. He leaned forward to timidly kiss the man back. It turned long and deep with their lips rubbing together and a wet playful darting of the man's tongue into his mouth. Such good feelings rose in the boy that he knew it had to be right. This was a man in his arms so he was a mite confused but kissing him left no doubts in his heart that he loved him the same way Pa and his Ma were in love. But could they? The man and boy parted from their tender kiss to peer at each other. Both were smiling. That came from their hearts but Justin still felt troubled. He tried casting the wrongness of what they were doing from his head. His dick urged him on so he tightened his legs around Anthony's behind. That gave him sharp thrills. Legs tightened around his butt for a moment, relaxed, then tightened again to mash their dicks together in a lusty rhythm. He timidly followed along with the Indian. Fire was seen in that man's eyes by what they were doing. The boy felt his face burning. Partly in embarrassment but also from the excitement by daring to do this with him. Their naked bodies expressed how they felt about each other. Justin wanted more kisses. He wet his lips and Anthony leaned down to deliver them. One after the other. The boy became overwhelmed by this man's fierce hunger to kiss him, the harsh handling of his back by strong hands and below, their unmatched battle of dicks clashing together like spears. He wanted it to stop... He didn't want it to end! Justin didn't know if he could handle this very adult act. It both scared and thrilled him. They would do it soon, wet from their dicks but he didn't think they should for both being male. It must surely be a sin in God's eyes. Calm Bull noticed the boy's hesitation. No longer did his legs tighten around him and their kissing stopped. When he peered down at Juss-teen, he saw worry in the youth's pale face. Maybe even some fright. To see that concerned the man. His body relaxed though he felt close to release that was difficult to deny himself but he would for this boy's sake. He knew Juss-teen wasn't ready. Justin felt all mixed up. He wanted them to do it but fear made him stay their bodily act. Were they really in love? Maybe this Indian was only using him for pleasure's sake. He couldn't even ask him. What if in the man's excitement he were savagely taken like getting his butt raped, he feared he couldn't stop him. He was far from home. Alone. Yet that wasn't what Justin was scared about. What if he let this man do anything he wanted to him? His body could endure them acts. The boy's eyes widened when he finally realized what was frightening him. What if he were willing to allow his love to go to this man? That would mean he was queer. He'd be shunned by society for not marrying a woman and raising kids with. His parents would disown him for being a horrible son. A violent cough came out of the boy. Calm Bull slapped over his back but to his surprise, the youth tore from his arms to get away. There was fear in Juss-teen's face. The man swallowed past the hard lump in his throat and set his face plain of emotions to hide his own hurt. Justin rolled over the blanket away from the Indian half fearing that he would be pursued. He wasn't. That turned his fear to deep shame. It was wrong to think badly of Anthony when he didn't force their hug to end in a wet one or commit those other naked atrocities upon his person that he feared. The boy coughed again. A feigned gesture to cover his acting rashly by fleeing the man's embrace. Part of him wanted to return to Anthony's arms. Instead, he got to his feet and walked over to the pond for a drink of water. He splashed water over his burning face. Half expecting the Indian to come to his side, Justin kept himself from turning to look for him. He lingered on the muddy bank. His cupped hands dipped in for another drink. Water spilled down the front of him but it couldn't cool the aching from his hard dick. Calm Bull watched the boy standing at the pond. He ached by not having Juss-teen in his arms where only a moment ago, they'd been close to achieving male fulfillment. The man knew that sex in itself felt good and was needed by the body but when combined with love in one's heart, it made for a happy life. He wanted the youth to discovery this truth for himself. Love puts an end to loneliness. He'd seen Juss-teen suffering from being so alone, not even a sibling to keep him company. He offered this boy a companion to his life if he could but accept his spirit. That gave Calm Bull pause. Perhaps Juss-teen didn't share his desire for those of his sex. Boys performed love acts to have their bodies feel good but it didn't fill their hearts. Maybe that's why the youth tore away from his arms. He couldn't give his heart to a man. Calm Bull fell to the blanket. He stared at the sun until it hurt his eyes in punishment for trying to pursue something the boy had denied him. Was he seeing things in Juss-teen that just weren't there? The man sighed in defeat. He vowed not to pursue the youth's love; only a friendship. When Justin couldn't stand it any longer, he peered over his shoulder. Anthony was laying in the center of the horse blanket. His head rested over his crossed arms while he looked up to the sky taking no notice of him. That hurt the boy for some reason. Calm Bull forced his body to relax though his hard cock ached for release. How he longed to pursue that youth and make love to him! No. Doing so would have been a forced brief joy that afterwards both would regret. He thought love for him stirred in that White youth but he wasn't so sure now. Patience was needed. Had not four moons passed before Little Pony's Tail and him made love? That grew out of his budding friendship for that eleven year old boy. He'd only known this boy for a few days. They couldn't talk in a common language but struggled with words and hand gestures. Juss-teen also came from a People not like his own. White folk were strange. He had every reason to hate them for what they'd done to his People! Justin stood up. He looked across the pond and caught the telling splash of a fish after it leapt up from the water. His brother and him never thought to bring hook and line here. This was their secret place. To bring fish home to Ma would have revealed it so they'd only swam here. Didn't Anthony realize the favor he bestowed by bringing him to share in it? The boy glanced back over his shoulder for Anthony. He hadn't stirred from his place on the blanket. Anger drove Justin when he dove into the pond with a big landing splash on his belly. That stung him fierce like how his heart felt. He didn't look back at the Indian but swam hand over hand to the other side. His lungs still hurt a bit. By the time he reached the far bank, he was panting hard. A harsh cough burned his lungs. He fell to his side in the mud to rest weary limbs but it had been done mostly out of feeling wretched. Tears filled his eyes. He both wanted Anthony to come to him and to stay away. Far away! His Indian ways were wrong in God's eyes. A man shouldn't be with a boy that way. Justin thought back to their embrace. It was his fault for allowing that man to kiss him. He even kissed him back! Their bodies moved against each other that felt good and it felt right in his heart. Anthony didn't force anything on him. Even when he broke away during his coughing bouts, that man hadn't pursued him to continue their naked act. Why then was he angry about that? The boy looked across the pond to where the Indian was lying over the blanket. He had turned onto his belly. For sleep? That's what Johnny and him did after enjoying a long swim. It wasn't often that they could get away from chores to laze away an afternoon at their secret place. A sob came out of his mouth. He really missed his brother. Calm Bull was struggling with his own woeful thoughts. Their time together had turned bad. It had started on an ill footing after their splashing contest that left the boy gasping for breath. He'd swallowed some water and had to be pulled back to the bank. Yet that led to a nice hug between them and when their hearts raced from the joy of it, the boy tore away. He's escaped across the pond and lies now in the mud. Was he crying? The man thought so and it ached his heart. He got up from the blanket not sure how he could help the youth or if it would even be welcomed. He'd thought to leave Juss-teen alone so that he could sort through his doubts on his own. What could he say to the boy to make him understand? He couldn't even do that. A diving head first leap was made into the pond. Calm Bull was startled by the cold water after his body had warmed in the sun. He dove deep, swimming like a frog towards where Juss-teen lay on the far bank. The water ran clear even close to the bottom. It was nearly two body lengths deep and the man felt a chilling current against him. It was so. This pond was fed by a spring and explained its appearance in the prairie admits that wooded grove. What a special place this was. If only its spirit could become a wellspring into their hearts! He could let go of his hatred for the Whites if but one of them showed love for him in return. He endured the loss of his hair braid, wearing proper clothes and being put to work like a squaw all in the hope of finding love again. Anger came to Calm Bull. He was foolish to try winning Juss-teen's heart. Little Pony's Tail's uncle had accused him of using the boy out of lust. The tribal elders wouldn't consider that they shared a love of heart and were expressing it. The youth's age was against him. At eleven, only sexual play was expected amongst boyhood friends in practice for when they would perform as men with their squaws. Young ones weren't ready for love. That was the council's determination and Calm Bull was banished from his tribe. Calm Bull's lungs ached for air. He kicked against the current and headed for the surface. When the man reached it and took in life giving air, he realized that the hope in his heart was not dead. Juss-teen's love was worth winning. He needed the opportunity to befriend that youth and help him come to accept his own spirit. That needed for him to learn White talk. He would work hard for the boy's father. What did he have to lose? His People had banished him for the love of a boy yet he would risk worse to be true to his own spirit and try for love again. Justin saw the man's approach to where he lay in the mud. Hope rose in his heart but he squashed it, returning to his earlier gloom. He peered down at his dick. It lay limp over his balls much to his relief so he wouldn't be tempted into another naked embrace with this Indian. Calm Bull waded close to the boy who wouldn't look at him. He lay on his side over the bank with his legs stuck in the water. "Juss-teen?" the man called. He sank his knees in the mud and waited for a response. Justin looked up. He saw the man kneeling in the shallows but not too close to him. There was worry seen on his brown face that made the boy feel ashamed. He dropped his eyes. "Come in wa-er?" "I'm tired," answered Justin. Calm Bull didn't understand. He walked on his knees towards to the boy until reaching his feet. They swished in the water like two pale fish and that gave him an idea. The man grasped one and pulled. Not so hard that it would bring Juss-teen into the water. He'd done it out of play. Justin smiled. He kicked his left foot from the man's grasp but it was caught again along with his other foot. Anthony fell to his butt and threatened to pull him into the water with a half hearted yank. "Come in." "Okay." The man let his feet go. Justin sat up and turned onto his knees to spring into the water after Anthony who sped away as if fearing to be chased. Oh. He was! The boy kicked through the water and swam hard after the Indian. He nearly caught Anthony but for him diving deep and becoming lost from sight. Bubbles tickled him. The man was somewhere right below and had released his breath. He didn't surface though. That began to worry the boy so he gulped in a breath and dove to look for him. The water was very clear. Chilly. Justin looked for the man but he couldn't catch sight of him in the depths. Justin held his breath for as long as he could before he was forced to surface. "Anthony?" he called out. The boy tread water and he turned a complete circle to look for where the Indian must of surfaced. He hadn't. "Anthony!" Calm Bull watched from the stand of reeds he hid amongst near the bank. After the boy's second call, he revealed himself with a grin. "Juss-teen. Me here." Relief filled Justin. Then he became angry and sped to where the man stood in the reeds with his intent to punch his arm. The man let that punishment fall. The stood together in the silence that followed. "Scared me?" asked Calm Bull. Justin nodded. "Yes. I was scared for you." The boy cast aside his anger and remembered their game. "You're it!" He dove into the water and swam away as fast as he could. When reaching the middle of the pond, he looked back for Anthony's pursuit but didn't find any. The man had disappeared again. Bubbles felt against his butt warned him that he was about to be tagged from below so he raced off, hand over hand towards the bank where a tree had fallen into the water. He reached it without getting tagged. Calm Bull chased after the boy with his pursuit taking him underwater. His long arms and legs pulled him forward that wouldn't be observed. He'd seen Juss-teen's feet kicking above him. In a tease, the man released his breath to give the youth some warning of his impending attack. The boy took off. He had to surface for air and then sped off after him until reaching a submerged tree. He found Justin balancing himself over its trunk. Smiling. "Come get me!" When the Indian grasped the tree trunk and put his left foot upon it, Justin dove back into the pond. He swam hard and took deep breaths to prepare for his next escape. The man was closing on him fast. He looked back at Anthony and after a few more strokes, gulped in a big breath and dove. His eagerness to escape took him deeper than he'd ever dared before and to his surprise, his hands struck mud. That was scary. The water felt so cold and there was a swift undercurrent that made it difficult to right himself. He tried kicking off the bottom. Calm Bull knew that the boy would dive off that tree. After setting his foot on its half submerged trunk, he saw Justin's escape as expected and took off after him. The man's long arms and legs were no match to the boy's strides through the water. He was about to catch him when the youth dived. With a gulp of air to fill his lungs, the man dove in after him. He saw the kicking of pale feet. The sunlight faded with depth but this spring fed pond remained clear even to its bottom. That's where he found Juss-teen. The boy turned with his intent to kick off the bottom but the current had him. It wasn't strong but without that kickoff, he realized that the youth would remain underwater longer before surfacing for breath. Was his air nearly spent? Justin kicked several times to push off the bottom but failed to do so. The current had swept him sideways too much. His lungs ached for air so he made for the surface, fear rising in him for how far away that seemed to be! A hand grabbed his arm. It pulled with strength and the boy felt their swift rising with both of them kicking their legs. He released breath against his will. In the next moment, he expected to gulp in water but wonderful air filled his lungs instead. He'd made it! Calm Bull swam behind the boy and held his waist to help keep his head above water. Juss-teen coughed several times. He hadn't recovered from their splashing contest earlier. The man's feet kicked back and forth to steady them in the water. He was also breathing hard but his lungs weren't in distress like this youth's were. Justin welcomed the man's hands supporting him. They felt warm compared to that chilly depths he had endured far below. If not for Anthony's help, he could have drowned! That had been stupid of him. Johnny told him that this part of the pond was at its deepest out from that fallen tree. His brother believed the spring was sourced from that part of the bank. He often dived to the bottom and brought up mud to prove his accomplishment. No amount of daring could get Justin to follow suit. The pond was too deep here. When Justin caught his breath, he made his way towards the fallen tree. Anthony swam close behind him. Sometimes their bodies bumped but the boy didn't mind. The man was warm against him, protective, and his slippery body felt thrilling against him. They reached the half submerged trunk. Justin scooted along it on his butt until he was out of the water. The Indian joined him at his side. Calm Bull didn't sit too close. He lazily swished his legs in the water and kept his gaze averted from the boy. They were both catching their breath. He noticed Juss-teen's shivering. As much as he wanted to put his arm around the youth to offer warmth, he kept himself from doing so. The sun shown down upon them and that gave the man an idea. He was about to suggest that they return to the blanket when the boy held him. Justin wanted to thank Anthony for what he did but the words wouldn't spring from his mouth. He felt cold and very alone at this moment. A struggle ensued in him to hold the man next to him or not. The boy feared what that could lead to. But why not? He'd acted silly earlier when they were enjoying a nice hug. Both of them wanted it. His hand was often spilling seed in bed at night though it was considered a sin. Johnny told him that he no longer fessed that up to the priest because all the boys were doing it. His brother said that the church used guilt to make folks do what they want in the name of their Lord. How did they know what God really wanted? Justin had been shocked to hear what sounded like blasphemy from his brother but as he grew up, his words made sense. A quick glance at Anthony was met by that man's eyes. Both peered at each other for a long moment. Justin lowered his first. He flung out his left arm and held the man's waist. It just happened but he was glad. Calm Bull saw wanting in the boy's eyes. He was still shy but when his waist was held, relief filled the man. Juss-teen had reached out to him. His right hand lifted to the youth's shoulder and held it. Their bodies pressed together when slipping over the submerged tree trunk. It felt good. Of warmth and maybe a return to where they'd been on the blanket. Justin felt the man's hand on his right shoulder. He slid over on his butt to him and their sides pressed together in warmth. How brown this Indian's body was. A contrast to his pale skin that bespoke of their differing cultures and beliefs. Yet they wanted to be together. He sought a way where his heart could find joy and his head not get in the way of it. Maybe if he stopped thinking so much. Calm Bull wanted to bring the boy into his arms. He was shivering. A hug would be warm but too, the man knew that Juss-teen needed it as much as he did. Even friends embraced. Weren't they that at least? If only he had the use of words to assure this youth it was so. For now, he had to rely on revealing his heart to the boy with expressions on his face and in touching. That didn't have to be sexual. Any human being needed to be touched, to know that someone cared about them and... loved them. The man felt tears stinging his eyes. He did love Juss-teen! A strong swelling rose in Calm Bull's heart so he released it in song. Justin was surprised to hear the Indian singing. It was soft at first and were more words than melody yet the song grew in strength. He felt the man trembling against him. His heart was in it. When he looked at Anthony's face, he saw the tears. That's when the boy realized it was a song of love for him. He couldn't reject this man's offer. It felt so right in his heart and needed to reveal itself to this Indian warrior. Calm Bull sang his People's wooing song that a man sung to an undecided woman. Whether she wanted him or not, his words promised never to give up trying to win her heart. This he pledged to Juss-teen. The boy peered up at him and there was understanding in his sky blue eyes. He sang the louder in the hope of winning this youth's love for him. It was hauntingly beautiful to Justin. No one had ever sung to him except Ma to help him go to sleep when he was small. Though he couldn't fathom the Indian words, they spoke to his heart. Good feelings for Anthony filled him to the point of bursting. Calm Bull's voice trailed off. He'd given his pledge to this boy not to give up trying to win his love. Did Juss-teen understand? When their eyes met, brown to sky blue, the man believed he did. He knew to go slow with this youth and not give in to his lust. Bodily pleasure expressed their love as it was meant to be. Justin shivered. Not so much from the cold but in anticipation of what would come next. Would this Indian do naked things with him again? He found himself open to that notion but sitting over this fallen tree wasn't the place for that. He stood up, balancing. Anthony quickly rose to join him and followed close behind when they walked towards the bank. The boy nearly lost his balance but the man caught him in his strong brown hands around his waist. They released him when his feet continued along the slippery trunk. That more than anything assured the youth that he could trust Anthony not to do anything against his will. They reached the bank. Justin walked along it back to the horse blanket and was surprised that Anthony didn't join him to lay over it. He was checking on their horse. The boy looked up at the sky. He closed his eyes since the sun was at its brightest past Noon. Its warmth over his body felt good. The desire to feel a man's warmth over him would be even better and he longed for more of Anthony's kisses. Calm Bull checked on the mare. She was content to stand in the shade of spruce trees within easy reach of grass. Before they'd leave for the farm, he would give her a drink of water from the pond. The man turned to where Juss-teen was laying over the blanket. He was struck again by how pale the boy's skin was, the sun color to his hair and those beautiful sky blue eyes that peered back at him whenever their gaze met. He longed to see the boy's eyes now. Justin had spread his arms over the blanket. He lay in its middle, denying Anthony a place to lay down unless it were on top of him. That's what he wanted. He heard the man's soft footed approach. Without daring to open his eyes, the boy slowly lifted his arms in a gesture that he hoped the Indian would understand. For a long moment, nothing happened. Calm Bull noticed how the boy was positioned over their blanket. No place for him. When those pale arms lifted in want of an embrace, the man realized what Juss-teen wanted. He fell to his knees around those pale legs but he didn't lay down yet. The boy still had his eyes closed. His hairy arms tried reaching out for him. Fine golden hair also covered the boy's chest down to his tummy. It turned black over his groin. Looking lower, the man saw the youth's excitement: a pink dick stretched out along his belly. That surely was a sign that he wanted a loving embrace yet the warrior still lingered on his knees. His cock stiffened in want to press against the boy's for release. Not only for their loin's sake but for their swelling hearts for one another. Justin held up his arms until they started aching him. Why wasn't Anthony laying down on top? He opened his eyes and saw the man kneeling around his legs. Waiting. His brown cock was stiff. How the boy longed to feel them pressed together like before. When he looked into the Indian's eyes, he saw flame. It no longer frightened him. "Anthony?" Calm Bull heard the boy's call yet it wasn't his true name. He pulled on Juss-teen's arms to get him sitting up. With the man's right hand, he pointed at himself and said, "Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom." "Ah en Hey oom?" repeated Justin. Oh! That was his Indian name. "Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom," the man repeated. He continued to point back at himself. Justin did his best to repeat those soft syllables. After the man uttered them three more times following his attempts to say them, the boy finally had it right. "Your name is Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom." "Me called, and so. No... Anthony." Calm Bull flared his eyes. "Okay. I won't say 'Anthony' no more." The Indian nodded in reply. "Juss-teen? You and me, good?" The man wanted to ask if they were of one heart but he didn't. "Yes. We are good friends." Justin saw longing in the Indian's eyes for him. He didn't need to hear the words to know that what this man wanted was the same thing he wanted. In a murmur, "Be with me?" Calm Bull smiled. He lowered himself on the boy who fell to the blanket. Their bodies pressed together. He felt arms wrapping around his back. The man kept himself from pressing his full weight down on Juss-teen but those hands pulled hard, forcing his body down. Hair tickled against the man's chest. He liked feeling that from the boy. Their hard dicks mashed together with thrills that enraged them to sudden love making. A lusty rhythm of stabs met between their bellies. Calm Bull saw pleasure in them sky blue eyes that reminded him of how Little Pony's Tail looked at him when they belly rubbed. This White boy displayed adult passion on his face too. He wanted them to make love and that's what the man did. It felt so good! Justin took the man's full weight on him. His brown body felt like it was burning against his and the way it moved with purpose was thrilling. e felt the man's urgent thrusts against his dick. The pleasure was building towards an explosion that would prove greater than the boy had ever felt when doing it alone. This was what his body was meant for - to be joined with another in an act that made him grown up. Justin wet his lips. In the next moment, the man's lips found his in a kiss. And another. The boy lost himself in such passion that he didn't think about what they were doing together. It just was. Calm Bull hadn't felt this good for a handful of moon. He thought that love would never return to his heart unless Little Pony's Tail ran away from their tribe to be with him. He had waited for the boy. After being banished, the warrior lingered as close as he dared to camp in the hope that they would be together again. A stolen moment at night. Maybe with them running away to spend their lives together in exile yet it didn't happen. Calm Bull realized that the youth's chance for a happy life was with his People. He would be safer with them than to take to the paths leading to their enemies. That's what the man did to seek death. "What's wrong?" asked Justin. His companion had stopped making love to him and he wondered why. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom had his face pressed into the boy's neck and his breaths cooled him there. Oh! Maybe the Indian had done it already and he was resting. His dick felt too close to stop so he reached down for the man's ass. He pulled over it while making upwards stabs. Denied kisses, Justin mouthed his brown ear between moans. Calm Bull returned to himself. He cast away his anguished past and began to live again in the now. Juss-teen wanted him. Maybe it was only a friendship where they shared male pleasure together but that was a good beginning for love. The boy under him was in need. His dick was stabbing upwards that met his cock absorbing each blow. No longer. The warrior went on the attack with savage blows of his own. He heard sharp outcries. Was the youth hurting? He was. Not skin pain but from the sweet agony all males endured before they achieved fulfillment. He wanted to give Juss-teen this. The Indian was making love to him after that brief rest. 'A second coming out?' Justin wondered. He was close to his own release and the intense thrills from his dick warned him that he was gonna. With only a few more upwards stabs, the boy squirted. His outcry attracted the man's attention who looked down at him with fierce eyes. Calm Bull kissed the side of Juss-teen's face. It tasted of sweet. Their bodies were really into it now, chest sliding against chest, the boy's hand pulling over his butt and his dick stabbed. They both did. Not in beat to each other but in wild thrusts that bespoke of nearing climax. When he heard a high-pitched cry, the man looked down at his boy. He saw the fluttering of eyelids, an intense expression on that pale face and he stuck his tongue into that open mouth where another cry issued from. The man was passionately kissed in return. A warning tingle filled his loins and he seeded to their bellies. Strong gushes that had him grunting out. When his eyes cleared, he saw Juss-teen looking up at him. A weary grin until the youth turned shy. The boy felt his warrior's release. He heard them grunts of pleasure that proved how good Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom was feeling at this moment. Justin turned his head so that he could take an urgent breath. He'd also felt the need to turn away from the man's fierce expression. It was... scary? No. Too intense for the boy to look upon for long. He knew that what they'd done together felt right in their hearts but his head still bothered him. A boy doing it with a man? Justin surrendered to the moment and put an end to his troubling thoughts. He closed his eyes to let that feeling of sexual relief come over him. It was done. Calm Bull had made love to this White boy and he didn't regret it. Nor were there any feelings of guilt he expected to plague his heart for betraying Little Pony's Tail's love. The man shook his head. His first love wouldn't begrudge him the chance for happiness since they couldn't be together. He hoped that his first boy would find someone. A man of good heart or even a squaw if he could turn from that more difficult path of male love. Calm Bull's path was clear. He walked along it to find fulfillment of heart, body and spirit with a boy that he hoped would be Juss-teen. They'd just consummated their new bond. Would the afterwards prove to be as strong as when they were deep in passionate love making? Justin held this man close to him. He didn't think about anything but the good feelings soothing his heart. Pride filled the youth for having performed an adult act that comes from being in love. He really was! It may not be exactly the same thing his Pa had for Ma since their union was to make babies. The seed spilt between their bellies was wasted. No new life resulting from it yet that didn't bother Justin. He smiled, thinking how sperm from his dick and the Indian's were mingling as they held each other. He knew they would be doing it again and again. To prove this, Justin locked hands over the man's back and trapped his butt within his knees so he couldn't escape. Calm Bull gasped for breath. What's this? He felt the boy's knees rise to hold his butt. Hands locked over his back as if never letting him go. Then Juss-teen coughed. Them arms didn't loosen even when another cough exploded from the boy and yet another. He saw the youth's distress so he turned their bodies over the blanket until his back pressed against it. The man thumped over Juss-teen's back. Justin lifted his hands to grip the Indian's shoulders least they get trapped against the blanket. His coughing ended. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom stopped his gentle pounding but in that man's eyes, he still saw concern. "I'm alright, ah... I good." They both smiled. A kiss happened and that led to lots more until their bodies were at it again towards a second more intense release that soon gave them sticky bellies. It had happened easier this time. Their love making was in beat like two tom-toms striking over the same drum. The man's deep throated groans joined with the boy's high-pitched cries. They'd looked at each other afterwards and smiled. Not as shyly as before. Calm Bull held this dear boy close to him. They'd done it twice out of the need to be together which he hoped was love. Juss-teen had turned his head to rest it over the man's chest. Both of them were enjoying that afterglow that comes from male relief. The wet result from being together had flooded their bellies and he smelled that familiar male sweetness. He breathed it in and smiled. Justin felt weary. He relaxed in the arms around him and used the man's chest as a pillow. Happiness. That's what the boy felt and he only allowed good thoughts into his head to deny the troubling ones. His eyes closed. Breaths soon returned to normal. It was a wonderful feeling to have a companion to be with. Sorta like what Johnny was to him as his closest friend and a brother he utterly trusted. They didn't express that with their dicks though. This Indian did. Justin surrendered himself at last to the notion that he's given himself to a man. Someone he cared about deeply and trusted. Calm Bull rubbed over the boy's back to soothe him. The skin felt soft. Hair against his palms reminded him this wasn't Little Pony's Tail in his arms. He cast away his sadness and sense of guilt. Juss-teen was his second love. This youth had taken to him fast that seemed amazing to him. Perhaps that was because he was confident in himself now to love a boy. Little Pony's Tail and him had struggled with their deepening feelings for each other without guidance. He'd also been a young boy. No fire in his loins at age eleven to match the man's or Juss-teen's for that matter. The afternoon sun shown down on them. Calm Bull felt weary enough for sleep but he didn't want this moment with Juss-teen to fade. His hands lowered down the youth's back, kneading the skin to offer him pleasure. He reached the boy's ass. It felt soft with cheeks that stuck out from his body more rounded than the youths of his People for being White. He was obviously well fed. Juss-teen sighed with contentment. He liked being touched down there and the man enjoyed fondling his butt. That made his cock grow hard. It rose between their wet bellies in want for yet another release. That didn't surprise Calm Bull. His first love makings with Little Pony's Tail had resulted in successive coming outs. He'd thrilled that boy with belly rubs, sucking on his pole (no wet release) and let him perform as a man inside his butt. Little Pony's Tail wouldn't allow his to be taken though. He accepted the man's need to seed in his small hand, between their bellies and on occasion, to drink it. Desire grew very strong in Calm Bull. He wondered if this White youth would allow him to perform as a man in him? His hands were making that intention clear. A hungry handling of his ass and one of his fingers even stuck in to rub over the boy's hole. Juss-teen didn't flinch. The man panted with lust and hope filled his heart that they would join their bodies in that ultimate act of love between two males. Little Pony's Tail had denied him. He'd break in this White youth with care. Kisses over his pale cheeks and tonguing into his hole that felt tight to his fingering. They'd put seed in each other... The man heard snoring. He sighed in disappointment, clutching the boy's ass that may be his to take in the moons ahead. The sharp urging from his cock was ignored. Love tempered his feelings of lust by simply holding his companion while he slept. The man closed his eyes and surrendered to sleep as well. Calm Bull dreamed. He saw Little Pony's Tail running from him in want of a chasing game. He eagerly pursued. The boy was found hiding behind a tree but before he could be tagged, the youth jumped up for a branch with his butt hanging down, vulnerable to getting it kissed and tongued. He allowed the man's wet preparation of his hole. The boy was lowered to the ground where he crouched on his knees in submission. Calm Bull gently spread his cheeks and stuck his cock inside. The sensation from it was tremendous! He was finally performing as a man with his dear little love. The boy grunted in pain to each of Calm Bull's stabs. That ached the man's heart so he stopped his love blows. "No stop!" the youth begged him. They were strange sounding words but he understood them, realizing then that his hands gripped pale hips and his chest was pressing against soft body hair. This was Juss-teen in front of him. Calm Bull looked down and saw his brown cock stuck between pale cheeks that backed onto his groin. The boy wanted to win a man's seed in him. Calm Bull took care with mounting this youth. It was their first time together this way. He pulled on Juss-teen's hips and stabbed. The boy grunted in pain again. A struggle ensued in the man's heart not to hurt his dear love while lust urged his cock to go ahead and fuck the boy. He reached around for Juss-teen's chest to hold him close. Their bodies remained stuck together, unmoving. He was caught between finishing his manly act or letting the boy escape it. The man was spared that dilemma when he woke up. Justin had awakened first from their nap. The back of his body felt heated from the sun while the front of him pressed warmly against the man. He heard snoring beneath him. From needing to piss, the boy's dick had grown hard but now he wanted to release it another way. He made stabs against the Indian's sleeping cock and it felt thrilling to do so. Their bellies were still slippery from making love earlier. It amazed Justin that he was in such need to come out again. Calm Bull felt the boy's downward stabs. That enraged his cock to join into the battle. Juss-teen smiled. They peered at one another with an understanding that didn't require spoken words. Their bodies were at it again. Making love. His hands that had held the youth's cheeks during their nap awakened to begin pulling over them in beat to their thrusts. When Juss-teen wet his lips, the man lifted his head from the blanket to kiss the boy as he wanted. His heart flew at this tender expression of their love! Justin realized that the Indian was awake. He felt the man's cock get hard and join into his lusty stabs. They looked each other in the eye. Tenderly. Strong feelings stirred in the boy's heart to be so loved by a man. He didn't think about it but gave into the good feelings. In need of kisses, he wet his lips. Anthony delivered them. Really sweet ones. Man and boy made love with an ease that came from being familiar with each other's bodies. This was their third belly rub. Nice kisses flowed between them. By having Juss-teen on top, his smaller body was able to slide easily over Calm Bull's. His dick wasn't subdued by the man's more powerful cock thrusts. Theirs was a gentle act. It gave voice to how they felt in their hearts for one another. They relished this moment to be happy together and didn't think of its consequences. Love often seems to struggle in a harsh cruel world. Would theirs endure? Calm Bull had already suffered its consequences and he survived but at the loss of his first love. Justin was accepting his feelings for a man. When his love is tested in the days ahead, would he prove strong enough to endure as well? That moment was not yet upon them. Justin pulled over the man's shoulders more quickly now. His dick felt really intense by his stabbing that combined with its aching from needing to piss. He buried his face in Anthony's neck. Panting. Strong hands were pulling over his butt in beat to their male drumming. He smiled when a groan escaped the Indian's lips. A liquid warmth filled their bellies. The man had done it so the boy raced himself to join him. A held breath. That deepened his thrills and in the next moment, his dick squirted. Calm Bull grunted when his seed flowed to the boy. It was pleasurable and made him proud to be a man. He felt Juss-teen's urgency to join him. No longer were breaths cooling his neck so he realized that the youth was using a common male trick. It made the boy's belly tremble. Quick stabs savaged his cock that was torturing him by its extreme sensitivity after coming out. He endured it for Juss-teen's sake. A high-pitched cry came from the boy. He squirted a few times to their bellies then collapsed onto the man with his deed done. They rested together for a while. The afternoon sun was lower in the sky than Calm Bull expected. He reached out and measured three hands towards sunset. They must have slept long. When were the boy's parents to return from their trip into town? Maybe they had already and wondered where Juss-teen was. He kissed the boy's forehead. "You and me go." Justin didn't want their time together to end yet. He knew that upon returning home, his heart had to be kept hidden from Ma and Pa as if nothing had happened between this Indian and him. He faced another long week of school while Anthony worked beside Pa. No chance for them to get together again until the weekend if even then. The boy figured he wouldn't get out of attending church next Sunday. Would he fess up his sins to the priest? No. His brother was right about that and God already knew what he was doing with this man. It was in His mighty Hand to allow it or not. When lightning struck a farm house, it was said to be His judgment against the wicked. Justin didn't feel like he'd done evil but just in case, he made a quick prayer: 'Lord? If I have sinned in Your eyes, I ask that You wait 'till I'm in the fields or out somewhere alone before unleashing your terrible thunder bolt upon me. Please spare my Ma and Pa.' Calm Bull tried pushing the boy off but he clutched him like a leech, hands locked behind his neck. There was pleading in Juss-teen's eyes. "I want to hold you for a while longer. Okay?" Those words had no meaning in Calm Bull's ears but he understood. He sat up and with a firm grip of Juss-teen's underarms, got to his feet. The boy wrapped his legs around his butt. A sweet scent filled the man's nose that made smile. Their bellies were very slippery. Justin giggled. He clung to the Indian warrior and felt hands over his butt steadying his weight on him. A game came to the boy. "Be my horse!" When the boy's heel pressed into Calm Bull's cheek and he heard the word 'horse' he understood. Off the man ran bearing Juss-teen. Backwards. The youth giggled, directing him with foot taps over his butt. He neighed like a stallion. It was a silly game they played but he saw how the boy's eyes lit up. A big smile on his lips. The man would do anything to bring happiness to his new lover. Justin directed his Indian 'horse' towards the pond. Anthony either didn't realize it (he was running backwards) or welcomed the cool water as much as he did. The boy's back felt like it was burning. Too much sun on his skin likely. They splashed into the pond, the man falling back but Justin kept his hold. It was deep water over their heads. They faced each other and kicked to remain afloat. Smiling. Calm Bull didn't know until the last moment where the boy's foot kicks were leading him. He plunged backwards into the pond, lost his footing in the mud and fell to his back. Juss-teen kept hold of his neck. They waded close together in the water. All signs of their love making rinsed from their bellies. Sad, that. Yet the man knew there would be more days ahead to be together. That happy thought swelled his heart. The cool water was a relief to Justin's back. He'd gotten a sunburn for sure during their nap. It would hurt worse tomorrow, the boy knew. He sighed and wrapped his legs around the man's backside with a signal to it for his 'horse' to carry him out of the pond. Anthony complied. They soon stood on the bank dripping wet. Man and boy smiled at each other. There they stood, embracing as close friends do but being naked it was much more than that. They had made love. A very pleasurable act but not for its own sake. Calm Bull found love again. For Justin, it was his first time. He'd learn from this man what that meant beyond their joyous embraces. In secret. It ached the boy's heart that this would be so. Tom Ratchet often boasted about his pretty girlfriend, Clare. How their love for each other had set the moon. In confidence, Tom had told him that they were already 'rolling in hay' though the girl was not yet sixteen. Everyone expected them to marry in Spring. Who could Justin tell that he'd found someone himself? A man at that! Worse, it was an Indian who was regarded as the low of the low even below a Negro. No one must know. Calm Bull relaxed his hands over the boy who slipped down against him to the ground. He glanced at the low sun in the sky. "You and me go." Justin nodded sadly. He turned to check on Mary who stood contentedly by a spruce tree. The grass at her feet had since been trimmed down to its roots. Anthony touched his back. That hurt, coming from his sunburn. He turned to the Indian who revealed fear in his eyes. "What's wrong?" The man stepped behind him and pointed low at his back. "You ass, Juss-teen! Me hann to see." Justin tried looking back at himself to see what Anthony was pointing at. He saw his skin's angry color. "It's only a sunburn." "Me hann." 'Hand?' thought Justin. He shook his head from not understanding what was worrying Anthony. The man held out his right hand and with his other, pointed out the shadow it cast over the ground. Then he was pointing at his butt. The boy grew wide in the eyes. He remembered being held there while they slept which meant that his body wasn't sunburned beneath the man's hands. His ass bore that revealing marking. Wow. "You no... ep teh mah... to you Pa. He no good en. Bad een-ah me!" While Anthony was speaking, he formed the meaning to his Indian words with gestures. Justin gathered that he was being warned not to show his ass to Pa least he see them pale hand prints against his sunburn and get mad. Worry rose in the boy. It would prove that the man had held his body there while he was naked. Pa would fly off the handle! "You go eht-mah tee ee, Juss-teen." Calm Bull pointed at the boy's clothes lying on the bank. Justin released a sharp breath. He walked to where his clothes lay on the bank and put them on. His breeches, pants and then his shirt. Where they touched the back part of his body stung. Anthony was getting into his own clothes. It looked funny to see an Indian wearing pants and a shirt. His brother's, Justin remembered. He no longer regretted Ma's act of kindness by giving this man Johnny's clothes to wear. That along with the loss of his hair braid, he no longer looked like a savage that people would fear. Without another word, Anthony went to the Appaloosa mare and watered her at the pond. Justin fetched her blanket. They prepared for their journey back to the farm but the boy got his hug first. Calm Bull held him close. He knew not to hold Juss-teen's sunburned back so his grip went low to a nicer place. Hidden beneath clothes, his hands had marked the boy's ass in a portent for good or ill. He knew not which. In a few days, the boy's burned skin would fade in color and not reveal to other eyes what they had done on the blanket. "Where have you been, Justin!" The boy shrank under Ma's scolding. "We took a long ride. That's all." "Your father is worried sick over you," Ruth explained. "He's gone to the Kent's for help." That alarmed Justin. "Why did Pa go and do that?" He saw Ma glaring at Anthony and that's all the hint he needed. "We returned and found you gone. That didn't concern us at first but as the day wore on, your father and I began to worry. Mary was missing from her stall. We didn't know if you had gone riding or if the... Indian had stole away on our best horse. You were told to run to the Kent's in case anything happened here in our absence." "Nothing happened, Ma. We're fine" "I can see that." Ruth released her breath in a huff. She glanced at Anthony who stood by his chair at the dinner table. Nothing could be read from his face. Indians were known for that, allowing no emotions to show through which made them look inhuman. "How long has Pa been gone?" asked Justin. He feared that man's return and the belting he may suffer for worrying them so. "A while now. I expect him to return shortly and he won't be alone." Justin knew what that meant. Pa would bring Samuel Kent back with him to track down the Indian and look for his body they expected to find out in the fields somewhere. It wasn't so! He'd gone off to have some fun as Ma asked him. More 'fun' than he could ever admit to. The boy turned to Anthony. The Indian's face was like hard mud but in them dark eyes, there was concern. The man looked towards the door as if thinking of fleeing. Calm Bull was considering doing just that. He heard the woman's angry tone and Juss-teen looking scared. Not just for himself. Where was the boy's father? He heard that man's name uttered during their conversation. It sent a cold chill down his spine. "Teh go," Justin pleaded to his companion. "Me een-ah teh bad." The boy's words stopped Calm Bull in his tracks. Juss-teen asked him not to go and that his heart didn't feel bad. Their secret hadn't been revealed to this woman is seemed. She was angry about something else. At that moment, the sound of approaching horses were heard. Ruth flew from the kitchen but not before lifting her hand in warning that they shouldn't follow her outside. Justin had no intention of meeting Pa. He turned to Anthony with a frightened look on his face. Calm Bull wanted to hold the boy. He didn't know what was going on but he suspected it had something to do with him. To his surprise, Juss-teen reached out for his hand and clasped it. A smile came to his face that didn't match the terror in his eyes or the tension in his body. It was a feigned gesture to try putting him at ease. Voices were heard outside. Justin recognized Mr. Kent's and that of his Pa's which was the loudest. Full of anger. That frightened the boy since he'd endured scolding and much worse when doing something wrong. He didn't this time! Ma had asked him to go have some fun after performing chores and that he did. They shouldn't have spent so much time at the pond. No wonder his parents had been worried on account of the Indian. Creaking was heard from the porch. Justin steeled himself against his expected confrontation with Pa. The man stalked into the kitchen and gave him a mean look. He barely glanced at Anthony standing at his side. "Where have you been, boy!" Paul shouted. "Your Ma was set beside herself with worry when you didn't return. An' with Mary gone, I thought the worst myself." Justin replied in as calm a voice as he could manage. "We went riding. That's all." The boy's thoughts raced. "Them chores you asked of me are done. I even gave Anthony a lesson in English." Paul grumbled to himself. He glared at his son who met his eyes with defiance. That more than anything made his anger flare up something worse. "You made me call on Samuel due to your inconsideration, boy! I'd promised him no trouble out of that Indian and now, he's thinking it ain't so." "It's not his fault," Justin defended. "I didn't figure you would be worrying about us going for a ride. You'd asked me to keep an eye on him while you and Ma were in town." "It's getting on dark out there. How could you not figure that your Ma wouldn't be worrying about you? Samuel and I thought we'd find you in a ditch. You can't be acting stupid, Justin. Always thinking like a little boy who don't consider the feelings of others." Being called a 'little boy' stung. Justin would turn sixteen next Spring which was the age considered for becoming a man. He'd proved himself to be grown up in Anthony's arms this afternoon. Why did Pa always have to put him down? "If I were Johnny, you wouldn't be scolding me now like you are." Anger had driven him to say that. Paul was taken back by that remark. "You are nothing like your brother. He was a responsible young man who was always looking after you, boy! I'm gonna have to beat some sense into you." Justin gasped in fright. He watched Pa remove his belt from around his waist and fold it with his intent to give a whipping. "No, Pa... Don't!" Calm Bull saw the boy clutch his behind with such fear in his eyes. It reminded him of something he'd witnessed in town. A boy a little younger than Justin had been caught stealing. The apron man chased after him towards the stables where his father was having his horse shoed. Their loud words didn't make any sense but he gathered what had happened when the youth's pockets had been emptied. That's where the sweet sticks had been found. The boy's father removed his belt and made his son drop his pants so he could strike his ass with it. His People would never do that to a child. It was through their silence and shame-filled eyes that served to punish boys who had acted badly. Juss-teen was about to be struck by his father. "Please don't let him, Ma!" Justin feared what would be revealed if he were to drop his pants. "Take your stripes like a man," Paul growled. "You knowed you did wrong so don't be expecting your mother to get you out of them." Calm Bull also feared what the boy's parents would see if he were to drop his pants. He'd gathered that all the fuss was about them returning late that had angered the boy's father. It didn't help that Juss-teen met the man's glaring with disrespect. A youth of his People went before his Elders with eyes cast down to honor their stature in the tribe. Justin thought to run away but he'd only be delaying the matter and get Pa more angry at him than he already was. The lighting in the kitchen wasn't as bright like the afternoon sun. Maybe they wouldn't see them hand prints on his butt. The boy realized something worse. If not them pale outlines, his parents would see the sunburn to his skin and ask why he'd been naked. That would lead them to wondering what he'd been doing without any clothes in front of Anthony. Paul grabbed his son's left arm and made him turn. "Shuck the down!" He raised the belt in his hand in readiness. An idea came to Calm Bull to divert attention away from the boy but like all decisions made on the spur of the moment, it wasn't a good one. The man swallowed his pride and acted on it. He said, "Pa-ll. Me bad. You to do me, and so." Gasps answered his daring when he turned and pulled down his pants. Ruth stood wide eyed when the Indian exposed his butt. Paul lowered the belt to his side shifting between shock and dismay. Justin knew what Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom had done to protect their secret and it shamed him. The Indian had only delayed the inevitable. "What he do that for?" asked Paul. Thoughts raced in Justin's head. He came up with something that would explain things. "Anthony thinks you should be punishing him as all. I didn't want to tell you but... while we were out in the prairie, that got him thinking about his people and he wanted to try finding them. I pleaded for him not to but off he ran. I'd kept up by riding my horse. After many hours, Anthony tired and that gave us the opportunity to talk. I pleaded with him to return to the farm since it was hopeless to reach any of the reservations on foot let alone know if that's where the soldiers had taken them. He finally agreed with me. Pa? I'm sorry that we got home so late." Paul slowly shook his head back and forth. "You should have told me that right off." Justin lowered his eyes in shame for telling such a lie. He hoped Pa wouldn't see it in his face. "I couldn't. If you'd known, I was afraid that you'd not keep Anthony on." Ma seemed to be buying it. She turned to Pa with fierce eyes. "Justin wasn't at fault, Paul. Put your belt away." She'd been averting her eyes from the man's nakedness but glanced at his backside again when she gestured for her son to get Anthony to pull up his pants. "Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom... to up," Justin asked. The man glanced at him before reaching down to his ankles. His butt slipped back into his pants. "He's been teaching you to speak Indian?" "Yes, Pa. Mostly hand gestures since his language is difficult to learn but I figured if he has to be taught English, why not pick up some of his words so he won't feel like such a knit whit." "That's good, Justin. Can you ask him to go wash up for supper?" "Sure, Ma. I'll go with him." "No... You'll get your turn in a moment." Ruth's eyes flared. Justin got it. Ma wanted to speak with him alone in case Anthony could follow some of their conversation. He turned to the Indian and gestured words for 'water', 'face' and 'hands' while pointing to the side room. Calm Bull watched the boy's hands and nodded in understanding. When Juss-teen smiled, he smiled too with relief. His father looped that belt back around his waist. When Anthony left the kitchen, Ruth exchanged looks with her husband. They were both worried about the same thing. She addressed her son. "Do you think he'll try to run back to his people again?" Justin shook his head back and forth. "No, Ma." He looked at his parents who didn't seem very assured about that. More made up words were needed here. "I convinced Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom that it would be bad for him to go off on his own. Soldiers would shoot him dead (while making the gesture for a rifle) or he'd be stuck on a reservation not of his People he couldn't talk to (while pointing at his mouth). They can't tell the difference between Indian tribes." Ma was nodding so she seemed convinced. Funny how one lie begets another, the boy thought. Paul knew his son too well. He was trying to protect the Indian for some reason through fibbing. Ricardo had told him that Anthony had been banished from his People. Why would he try to go back to them like Justin claimed? He pressed the boy by asking, "If he was intent on finding his tribe, why didn't he take the horse?" Justin kept the alarm he felt from showing in his eyes. That was the weak point in his story so he faced Pa and told another bold faced lie. "I offered him to take my horse." He saw the man's eyes flash with anger. "That Indian could have overpowered me and taken Mary if he was set on it. You told me if there was trouble, I should flee to the Kent's." "Why didn't you?" Paul asked. "You should have let that Indian go his own way." Justin dropped his eyes to his feet. He decided to put forward as much truth as he dared to convince Pa. "I like Anthony." Looking at Ma he said, "I miss Johnny a lot. It's been so lonely without him around and on top of all that, I've been made to work harder because my brother isn't here to help out." Tears fill the boy's eyes. "Anthony is proving to be a good worker. Hasn't he, Pa? I want him to stay. We're becoming friends." Ruth went to her son and held him. "Shh. It's alright, Justin. We both understand what you've been going through." She glared at her husband. Justin held Ma back. Did she really understand what was going on? It was much more than a friendship that was developing between him and that Indian warrior but he couldn't tell them. Through his tears, the boy looked towards the side room and became concerned. Why hadn't Anthony returned from washing up? Fear squeezed his heart when he remembered what happened after their bath on Saturday. The man had nearly slipped out the side door if not for him stopping him. Has he gone and done that now? "I need to wash my hands," the boy whispered. Ma let him go. He was nearly running to the side room and found that it was dark. The Indian had flown out the door as he feared! "Juss-teen?" The boy nearly cried out in relief. He ran towards that voice and found himself held in the man's arms. They burned his back but he didn't care. "You didn't go!" "No." Calm Bull knew that the boy's parents wanted to speak with him alone so that's why he'd been asked to wash his face and hands. He found the room in darkness. There had to be a lantern in here somewhere but the man couldn't find it after stumbling across the metal tub and running into a wall. He decided to wait in the dark for Justin. "Please don't ever leave me!" pleaded Justin. He realized that the Indian might not understand that phrasing so he asked, "No go." His arms squeezed the man really hard. "Me no go, Juss-teen. Ah teh nee pah, et nee et." The man promised the boy that he would remain with him to the end of his days. Sitting down for supper was a strain for everyone. Paul's anger had cooled though fear still remained in his heart. That savage may still light away and take his best horse with him in search of his people. That concern was echoed by his neighbor. Samuel said that taking on the Indian would prove bad and he was beginning to believe it himself. Ruth served food while keeping her silence. Her husband was stewing for losing face in front of his neighbor and then his son. Justin had defied him and it made her see her son in a new way. He was growing up. She noticed certain looks he gave to Anthony that sent a chill down her spine. The Indian kept his eyes down at his plate. Calm Bull forced himself to eat. He was hungry but the food stuck in his throat before settling uneasily in his stomach. What he'd done to keep their secret! It both angered and shamed him as a man. Out of love for Juss-teen, he was willing to take them belt strikes for the boy. Would Pa-ll have dared? Justin had gotten away with it. Their secret was safe, for now. Yet it had been done through lying that was against God's Commandments and he felt himself sinking ever deeper into sin. He drank the last of his water and glanced at Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom. The Indian wouldn't look up from his food. That hurt. He considered putting a stop to being with him before they got caught. The naked stuff, that is. His back burned against the chair and it reminded him of sleeping in that man's arms. He longed to be held that way again. The boy was torn between his feelings for the man and what he thought was wrong by being with him. Was it really? There was nobody he could turn to and ask. Words returned to him that Johnny had once given. He'd said that to be a man was to hold your own council no matter what others may say or think. If his brother was still alive, he may've dared to share his secret with him but he already knew what Johnny would tell him. The boy looked down at his plate in gloom. He felt like a bad person inside. Ma served apple pie for dessert. Mrs. Templeton had given it to her after church being the kind and thoughtful lady that she was. Justin felt like he didn't deserved to have a piece. He was a wicked son. Yet Ma insisted and she set slices on his and Anthony's plates. That's when their eyes met. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom smiled at him and that put the boy at ease. The man thanked his Ma for dinner. She gave him a second helping of pie. Ruth smiled in reply at the Indian. His stone brown face had softened while eating the apple pie and his gratitude touched her. It was his smile, actually. The Indian seemed more human to her. Justin's gloomy mood disappeared when he ate his slice but the woman sensed that came about from his friend's smiles for him. Her son was much taken by this man. And had not the Indian proved his heart by willing to take them stripes for Justin at her husband's hand? Talk began around the dinner table after that. Paul spoke mostly to his wife since he harbored reservations about his son's account to why they had returned home so late. He often eyed Justin. There seemed to be a change in the boy that he couldn't put his finger on. Anthony kept is eyes averted from him while eating. He would glance at the boy and they exchanged smiles like they'd shared some secret he couldn't fathom. Justin asked to excuse himself for bed. It was a bit early but Ma let him since school was tomorrow. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom also got up from his chair in his eagerness to flee the dinner table. He faced a work day with Pa. The boy prayed that all would be well in his absence and luckily, the Indian didn't know enough English to be pressed about what happened today that had caused so much trouble. They didn't get a chance to set their stories straight for his parents. Raised voices from his parent's room caught Justin's attention. He'd been laying on his stomach due to his sunburn but sleep evaded him. Fear squeezed his heart. He could make out Pa's voice that Ma answered in soothing tones to calm him. The man continued to grumble. What about? The boy slipped from his bed. He crept naked into the hall (his nightgown had been cast aside earlier when it proved too hot to wear) and with his ear pressed against the door, he listened to his parent's conversation. "... get rid of him?" "No. Give it a week, Paul and see what happens. You need his help with the farm and Justin... Well. He's taken strongly to Anthony." "That's what worries me. I think he's put bad notions in that boy's head. You saw the way he defied me and he lied. I knowed it." "What about?" asked Ruth. "Don't rightly know but that story the boy gave didn't ring true. Why would Anthony take off like that? He had every opportunity before this afternoon to light out a here. Mary is just a few stalls away from where he sleeps and under cover of night, no one would be the wiser until morn. Ricardo said that Indian been banished from his tribe. Why go back to 'em? Samuel said that no good will come from me taking on that savage. I'm thinking maybe he's right. We need our neighbor's good will if word of Anthony being here is to keep. I'll just find another hand to hire on." "Keep your poster up then. If someone answers it, let Anthony go." Justin felt like he'd been punched in the stomach. Both Ma and Pa were in agreement and he feared losing Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom. Yet another part him considered that it would be a good thing. He'd get out of the mess he's in for being with a man. He lacked self control to put an end to it on his own. If it were a sin, fate would intervene for him. The boy crept back to his room and laid in bed for a long while. He was torn up inside. When sleep finally claimed him, the boy put it in God's Hands to decide what would happen. They would be together or not. Scary images of lightning filled Justin's dreams. He defiantly raised his fists to the sky and dared them bolts to strike him down. None did. School day proved to be a torture. Justin not only suffered from a lack of sleep but his back was really burning him. He sweat in his clothes and tried not leaning back against his chair during lessons. Miss Cole noticed his fidgeting. She didn't scold though and the boy tried minding himself for the rest of the morning. A prank was played on Justin during lunch break. He was sitting alone over a tree stump when Pedro snuck up from behind and put a snake in his pants. He didn't know what it was at first. The cool slithering against his butt proved it was something alive so he shucked his pants down in a rush to release it. Pedro laughed. He was a boy of his age but of greater stature in height and strength. They'd only fought once. Yet a friendship grew between them because Justin felt his strong attraction to this dark skinned, black haired Mexican though he never dared let on. He could talk to Pedro about anything. They kept secrets (mostly complaints about their parents) and played pranks on each other out of fondness. Justin pulled the garter snake from his breeches. "You got burned!" Pedro boasted. He meant his joke. In anger, Justin flung the snake at him and pulled up his pants but not before his butt was seen. Pedro grinned. "Looks like you got burned yesterday, too." Justin was about to clobber Pedro but those words gave him pause. How much did he see? He lowered his eyes in shame and returned to his spot over the tree stump. Pedro remained standing close, in awe. "Who is she?" Pedro asked in a whisper. He looked around to make sure that they were alone. Them hand prints over Justin's cheeks were very revealing. It aroused his curiosity. And disappointment. "I don't know what you're talking about." Justin bit into his apple. "Tell me." Pedro smiled like a coyote and stepped closer to Justin. "Tell me who she is or I'll rag on you." "For what?" asked Justin. He pretended like he didn't know what Pedro was talking about but fear gripped his heart. "She held you down there." Pedro squatted near the tree stump. Justin glared at Pedro. He thought about rushing to beat the boy up (he had good reason to because of that prank) but decided to play it cool. He looked down at his apple. Two bite marks shown white over its skin like them hand prints over his burnt ass. "Okay. I promise not to say nothing to nobody but can you tell me?" Justin peered at his friend uneasily. He had to tell him something or get hounded endlessly about it during the week. Pedro might tattle on him out of frustration. In a low voice, "You wouldn't know... her." "Wow. I wondered when you find someone. Clare was sweet on you first but she gave up and went for Tom." Justin knew what his friend was talking about. Clare had made all sorts of hints about liking him and she'd even given him a sweetheart note last summer which he ignored. "Is your girl pretty?" asked Pedro. He was dying to hear anything Justin could tell him about his secret girlfriend. They were obviously doing it because she had left them hand prints over his ass. "It's not a girl," muttered Justin. When Pedro's eyes grew wide he quickly added, "Older than me." Pedro laughed nervously. "You doing it with a woman? Wow. That's daring but I shouldn't be surprised since you such a good looking boy." Justin was flattered. His friend really thought he was good looking? "You can't tell anyone. Okay?" Pedro put his right hand over his heart. "I swear. Only... can you tell me what it's like?" His friend meant having sex. They exchanged knowing looks and Justin saw longing in Pedro that reminded him of how his Indian warrior looked at him when they're alone together. What should he say about it? "You not worried about making a baby?" Justin shook his head back and forth. "It won't happen." "You pull out at the end?" asked Pedro, panting with excitement. "How do you know about that?" Pedro laughed. He sat down beside his friend over the tree stump. "My brother tell me that trick but Justin, it don't work every time! That's how he ended up giving her a baby and now they married." Justin knew that his friend's older brother remained behind in Mexico when their family moved north. Money was earned during harvest time by his parents and him. Pa had hired them on last summer to help pick corn. "What's her name?" prodded Pedro. He knew it wasn't any of the girls but someone older. Was it a married woman his friend was fooling around with? That would be sad. Justin deserved someone of his own to love. "You wouldn't know." Justin glanced at his friend and wondered how he could get him to stop talking about this. "You didn't come to church yesterday." "No." Justin felt relieved by their change in subject. "You with her then?" Pedro asked with a smirk on his face. He daringly gave Justin a pat on his behind. That smarted. Justin squirmed since his ass was badly sunburned except where those man's hands had rested on him while they slept. Pedro wanted an answer by the way he kept holding his butt. "Yeah." Pedro laughed. He raised his left hand to grip his friend's shoulder. "Are you in love?" Justin barely caught those whispered words. He released a tense breath and dropped his chin to his chest. "Don't know," he muttered. "No?" gasped Pedro. The boy's thoughts flew when he wondered why that was. Maybe she was a married woman who was taking advantage of his friend. That ached his heart if it were so. He leaned his face close to Justin and said, "You shouldn't do it with her if it ain't love." Their eyes met. Pedro saw the doubt in his friend's face. An uneasy moment passed between them. Justin knew that his friend was serious but more than that, he was hurting for him. Tears welled up in his eyes by Pedro's compassion. "I want you to be happy." Pedro turned away after saying that. He didn't want his friend to realize the full meaning behind his words. Justin wanted to blurt out his secret. He trusted Pedro who was his closest friend and so unlike the other boys who'd just tattle on him not caring a whit about his feelings. This boy really cared. Maybe being Mexican made him act differently or something. More grown up for sure. The school bell rang. Justin sprang to his feet and cast his apple to the ground. He didn't even look back at Pedro when he ran around to the front of the school house where Miss Cole awaited the other kids to return to class. Pedro sadly got to his feet. With a tense breath, he let his friend go in more ways than one. Justin hurried along the road that led back home. He didn't look forward to working today from being tired and suffering a sunburn but he wanted to see if Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom was alright. Was he still at the farm? Then the boy remembered that man's promise not to leave him. How could they get together with school during week mornings, chores afterwards with Pa and working all day Saturday? Sunday was church day. The week began all over again with little chance to find time alone. As Justin ran, his thoughts turned back to Pedro. They didn't speak again after school but went their own way. He'd felt something odd from his friend during their talk earlier. It was understandable that Pedro would be curious about his new 'girlfriend'; what it was like having sex, who she was and if he was in love. Justin thought he was but he couldn't tell his friend that it was with a man instead. He stopped dead on the road when a thought occurred to him. Was Pedro jealous? Justin began walking again. He mused over this notion wondering if his friend might share that same liking he'd kept secret from him. Pedro was very attractive. His shoulder length hair and dark features struck him as being similar to Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom's. The boy was his age but more mature in body. So was the way he thought. His friend revealed how much he cared for him when he said that he wanted him to be happy. That long curve in the road came up and Justin picked up his pace in case Pa was watching him. No reason to make him angry by slacking. He neared the house but took a drink from the well first. Ma was seen going into the barn. His legs nearly chased after her but the boy stopped himself. He went up to his room to get out of his school clothes. A thought struck him to get a glimpse of his backside. The trouble it has caused! He entered his parent's room and took up Ma's hand mirror she kept on the dresser. His breeches fell to his feet then he looked. Wow. It's no wonder Pedro had figured it out. There were two distinct hand prints covering his rosy cheeks. All of his back, arms and his legs were colored. He'd been feeling the burning to his body since last night. Justin pulled up his breeches and streaked back to his room before Ma returned. He dressed into his work clothes that had been cleaned last Saturday. He relished Mondays because of that. By Saturday though, they'd get soiled again especially after cleaning out the pig sty. The boy dragged his feet down the stairs, through the kitchen and he paused on the porch. He felt tired. The rear of his body was burning. This night would prove the worse for trying to sleep though he needed rest bad. "Justin?" Ma was calling to him. The boy went to her while hiding the aches of his body. She held a small straw basket. Filled with eggs likely and it explained her trip to the barn. He wondered what she was planning to fix for supper tonight with them. Several possibilities came to mind. "Your father wants you to go check on the front fields." Justin nodded. "Where is Pa?" "He's working that new field out back." "Is Anthony with him?" Ma only nodded in reply. Justin caught an odd expression from her that had him thinking she was worried. What about? "Remember to take a sack with you." "I will." Justin ran to the barn to fetch one. He would gather up all the ruined ears of corn to feed the pigs. Between the flocks of hungry crows and them raccoons, it was a wonder that any crops remained to harvest by the end of next month. Pa had that new field of his by Brent's Creek. Working it had put a strain on them until Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom's arrival but that Indian wasn't yet up to speed. He needed to learn things that his brother and him had been taught at a young age. An aching filled Justin's heart in remembrance. Johnny was gone. Yet he still expected to find him in the fields with his raised right hand and smile for him. It was as Justin suspected when he checked out the front fields. Both exhibited signs of being ravaged when he filled his sack with half eaten cobs. At least the scarecrow still stood for all the good it did. The corn stalks around it fared no better than the rest of the field. 'Why bother?' the boy wondered. Them crows weren't scared off. Justin carried his heavy sack to the pig pen. He emptied it in the trough that drew the eager attention of the pigs. They squealed and fought for positions amongst themselves to get at the corn. With his first task done, the boy ran towards Brent's Creek. That felt cooling to his skin until he stopped before Pa. The burning quickly returned. "Have you checked on the front fields?" "Yes, Pa." Justin glanced at Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom. He held a hoe in both hands with a line of ripped plants behind him. The field's closeness to water was proving both a boon and a disadvantage. The corn here was fuller yet it made for more work to keep the weeds at bay. "How bad was it?" asked Paul. Justin looked up from Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom's brown feet in a rush. "The usual. I easily filled a sack with ruined ears. The pigs are enjoying a feast right now." Paul sighed. "It's only gonna get worse as harvest nears. What worries me is the lack of rain." Justin joined his Pa in looking up at the clear blue sky. It hadn't rained for three weeks but that was expected for midsummer. The fields could endure another two weeks without watering. That last month before harvest was crucial. If it rained, the ears would be heavy and full. "Maybe Anthony could perform and Indian rain dance for us." "Ask him." Pa sounded serious. Justin had said that in jest but he turned to Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom with his hands lifting to gesture his plea. "No water down sky for the corn (he pointed at the dry fields). Can you... dance?" The boy started stomping the ground while singing, "Hay ah, hay ah, hay ah." He then looked up at the Indian with amusement in his eyes. Calm Bull frowned. "Me no 'hay ah', Juss-teen. Medicine man to do... rah-em ee-pee neh to wa-er down, and so." "That figures," muttered Paul. "When an Indian would be most useful, we got us the wrong one." "Pa..." Justin whined. He felt bad for Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom. A large black crow was flying overhead. It descended in the field not far from where they stood. That made the boy's eyes roll in dismay before he took off to scare it away. Calm Bull saw it too. He heard the bird's hungry cawing and watched Juss-teen's pursuit. His thoughts turned to dances the women of his tribe performed to scare away bad spirits. Bells were sewn to their dresses. He wondered if White folks danced to keep evil at bay. They saw crows as being bad for eating up corn and that gave him an idea. But how to express it to Pa-ll? The boy returned to them panting after his chase. Juss-teen didn't know enough hand gesturing yet to explain his idea about scaring away crows to him. Pa continued his weeding with Anthony along the field's edge. He was sent to the barn to change the bedding for the horses and livestock. It was nasty work, almost as bad as cleaning out the pig sty. The boy made many trips with his cart filled with dung straw. He forked down hay from the loft and missed having his companion at his side. It occurred to him that Pa wanted to keep them separated. Did he suspect! No. If that were so, the Indian would have been driven away or worse. The sun was near to setting when Justin met up with his father again. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom was obviously fatigued. He looked down at his feet with a bent back and leaned onto his hoe for support. The boy wondered if this Indian was regretting his decision to come to a farm. It was difficult work that only those born to it would accept. That's why Pa hadn't found anyone else to work beside him. The three of them washed up for dinner. Ma already had the table set and from the kitchen smells, Justin suspected what she'd done with them eggs. He took his seat. After Pa was served, his plate was filled with a pork omelet. It was stuffed with fried vegetables. A hearty meal. After Pa spoke Grace, he dug in and Ma gave him another helping after he finished it. For dessert, she served that apple pie from yesterday. It wasn't until after dinner that Justin realized the lack of table conversation. He'd been concentrating on eating. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom hadn't looked in his direction much. The boy understood why. He'd kept his eyes averted too so as to not let on anything to his parents about their growing friendship. Ma's expressions gave him chills. It was the way she looked at him sometimes like she suspected. Pa acted normally. He minded his food without a care for anything else. "Me thank," uttered Calm Bull when he finished his slice of pie. Ruth nodded, a smile coming to her face when their eyes met. She was amused that the Indian thanked her after every meal. Her son helped with clearing the table. "Thank you, Justin." She could be polite too. Paul filled his pipe and lit it. He went off to the porch for a smoke that indicated his need to be alone and think. The woman knew he wasn't often partaking of tobacco. Something was troubling her husband. "Is Pa alright?" asked Justin. Her son wasn't unmindful of Paul's mood either. "Why do you ask?" Justin swallowed nervously. "He barely spoke at dinner. Not even a word for me so I'm figuring he's still angry." "What happened yesterday wasn't your fault, Justin." Their eyes met. She saw something in her son's eyes that had her thinking he felt that way. A guilty look. The woman cast her gaze back at Anthony. He was standing behind his chair as if not knowing where he belonged. "Pa's smoking." Ruth hid her dismay since she didn't like this habit of her husband's. He wasn't often partaking of a smoke. "It helps your father think." Justin peered up at his Ma then dropped his eyes in shame. "He's really troubled, isn't he?" The woman released a sigh. "I suppose." She saw her son take a quick glance at the Indian. "Is Pa gonna be keeping Anthony on?" "He hasn't decided." Ruth needed to change the subject so she asked, "Do you have homework?" "Naw. Miss Cole had given us that big test last week. She's having us review the answers mostly on the part of those who did poorly on it. I'm not one of them." "I know." Ruth smiled at her son. She used to hope of sending Justin off to higher schooling so he could make something of himself. Now with her first son... gone that only left them one boy to help with the farm. Did Justin realize that this was so? Justin saw the way Ma was looking at him. A kinda sad expression on her face that sent a chill down his spine. He heard the scraping of wood against wood when Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom pushed his chair to the table. "Can I give him a lesson tonight?" "Yes." She looked at the Indian who stepped back from the table. How many more days would he be eating with them? Someone may answer her husband's poster for farm work. Hopefully, that would be before harvest. She turned to her son. "Justin? I think it would be best that you teach Anthony words he needs to know pertaining to farm work. Ah. Don't spend a lot of time learning his language." Justin felt stung. "I'm not. Only some hand gestures since Indian talk is too difficult for me to remember." Ma nodded in response. She flared her eyes and looked past him at Anthony who was making an escape. "No go," Justin asked. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom stopped in his tracks. It seemed likely that he was going off to bed in the barn. "English talk." Calm Bull returned to his chair. Juss-teen joined him at the table while his mother busied herself with cleaning dishes. He felt very tired. Farm work was difficult and all day had been spent with the boy's father. They were together now but it wasn't the same. He released a weary sigh. Justin was tired too. His sunburn really hurt and he needed sleep bad. Yet one look at Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom revitalized him because he ached inside to be with him even if it were only to teach him English. No chance to touch with Ma in the kitchen. They spent half an hour going over words. Justin described things with his hands such as 'hoe', 'field' and so forth that the Indian needed to learn when working with Pa. He realized that this man's days remaining with them were numbered. If someone answered Pa's poster for hire, his companion would be sent on his way. That brought tears to the boy's eyes. He rubbed them away so no one would notice. Calm Bull did. He noticed the boy's sadness during their lesson and thought it was about them not getting together as they'd like. A table separated them and Juss-teen's mother was close at hand. She was watching. He learned two hands of finger counts of White talk. All about farm work. No hand gesturing was offered the youth since his People didn't use hoes, plant fields or work with pigs. After their lesson, he was excused to go. Juss-teen followed him out to the porch and hope rose in his heart that he may at least get a hug in the barn. "Justin?" The boy turned from his companion with dread to face Pa. "Come sit with me for a spell." Justin glanced at Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom who continued walking away. The Indian didn't even look back at him. The boy sat down on the porch beside his father. A pipe was in the man's hand but the tobacco in it had long since burned down. "What is it, Pa?" Paul looked at his son for a long moment. He was the only remaining child after losing their first born. Johnny's death still ached in him. Wishing otherwise would do no good and he had come to face that truth. "I was thinking..." the man muttered. "You've took on a lot of chores that were your brother's and doing them good." Justin only nodded. It was difficult accepting praise from his Pa when he was usually scolded by him. "Them words I spoke to you the other night. I'm regretting them." Pa meant when he called him a 'little boy'. That remark about being nothing like Johnny had also stung. He was acting responsible with all the farm work he's been doing in his brother's absence. No shirking of duties like he'd used to get away with. "You growed up since... last winter. I'm seeing that now, Justin. In a few years, you'll marry and carry on things here after us. This farm will be yours then." Justin nearly gasped. He hadn't realized that until this moment and his hope to go onto more schooling died in him. That's why he had studied so hard. Ma said that would allow his escape from being only a farm boy to make something of himself in the world. The boy hung his head. Paul clasped his son's shoulder. "I knowed things seem hard right now but when you become a man, it'll all become clear. Take my word for it. My Pa had sat me down like we are now when I was your age. He told me that as his only remaining son, the farm would come to me. I've made a living at it. To work the land, see crops grow is very rewarding to me. You'll discovery that when you've growed up." A trap seemed to be closing around Justin. He whispered, "What if I want to be something else when I'm grown up?" Pa's hand pulled away from his shoulder like it burned him. In a huffy voice, "Then sell the land, boy. But not until me and your Ma are laid to rest beside my parents and Johnny." Paul got to his feet. He stalked back into the house while barely containing his disappointment and anger. Justin felt terrible. What had possessed him to say that? He knew why. Pa stormed into the house and the boy let him go, relieved in a way for sneaking out of that trap since he didn't want to be a farmer for the rest of his life! Ma understood. It wasn't fair that Johnny died. He was Pa's favorite and expected to continue on after him... No. His brother was dead. The full realization of what that meant struck Justin like a lightning bolt and he looked up at the sky expecting to hear thunder. Only stars twinkled back at him. Where was God's wrath? Justin felt more than ever that he was a wicked son and he deserved to be struck down. Sleep wouldn't come for Justin and provide the necessary escape from his woes. He'd thought about his talk with Pa. It replayed in his mind's eye over and over again with him coming up with different outcomes. Most of them ended with Pa smiling and giving his shoulder a fond squeeze. More than anything, he wanted that! It meant a sacrifice on his part. He didn't want to be a farmer but what else was there for him? Johnny was gone. That left no one else to take care of his parents in their declining years and he couldn't see himself selling the land his grandparents had carved out of the wilderness. Justin felt betrayed by his lot in life. He didn't blame his brother. Johnny fought hard against the sickness until he succumbed. Pa turned to him as his only remaining son to carry on so why did Ma continue to prod him on to do well in school? She'd given him false hope! There'd be no higher education for him that would have released him from this life. A farmer has no need for good writing skills, 'rithmetic and history. How could Ma not know that? Sweat covered Justin. The rear of his body was badly sunburned so he was forced to lay on his belly seeking out cooler places over the bed until they became uncomfortable. The boy wasn't wearing a stitch. His blanket had long since been pushed to the floor. He wanted to beat off to help ease him into sleep but he'd have to get onto his back or right side to finish it. Those were the parts of his body that burned. He shouldn't rub against the sheet and risk leaving a wet spot Ma would find. She'd scolded him about it three years ago. The humiliation! Once was enough for the boy so he was careful with his releases from then on. Justin panted to his pillow. He stopped himself when his dick felt close to it and turned onto his side without thinking. Ouch! He sat up. With an angry leap from his bed, the boy went to his bedroom door. An idea came to him. He listened in the hall for his parent's voices but only heard snoring. At the well, Justin poured a bucket of water over his body. Ahhhh. That cooled its terrible burning. He cast his eyes about in the dark to make sure he was alone. Silly, really. Who would be around at this time of night to spy on his nakedness? Another idea struck him. A way to relieve another aching part of his body while offering his heart comfort from the many woes crowding it. He snuck off to the barn. From memory, Justin made his way past the stalls in the dark. His hands helped guide him. On the threshold to the seed room, the boy paused. He listened for sounds but only heard the gentle breathing of horses behind him. Nothing from Anthony's room. He cast aside his fear that the Indian had light out after supper. There wasn't any reason to run away since Pa believed his lies from the other night. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom had also promised not to go. The boy wouldn't either. Not leave him behind for more schooling (ain't gonna happen now) so he was stuck on this farm for the rest of his life. That wouldn't be so bad if he had a companion to be with him. Someone he loved. A ghost of a plan formed in Justin's head. Justin walked into the seed room. He knew where Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom slept over some bales of hay to his left. Should he awaken the man? His dick was hard and in want of some loving. To release himself in the arms of this Indian gave meaning to what he felt in his heart for him. It'd been hard to admit that but he was in love! Not three steps were taken when the striking of a match startled the boy. It lit up a brown hand that set it to a lamp wick in the next moment. Light filled the room. "Juss-teen?" They looked at each other for a moment. Justin saw the man stretched towards an overturned box that held a lamp. Its glow revealed the Indian's slim brown features: unusually long arms and legs, shoulder length hair, flat chest while the rear of his body stuck out in nice curves. He was also naked. With a grin, Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom sat over the edge of his bed. The boy went to him smiling. A hug happened. Justin kneeled around the man's legs and flung his arms around his back. He relished the warmth coming from their chests pressing together. Below, the boy's hard dick touched the man's limpness. He sought Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom's lips with his own with his intent to excite him. They kissed. He wondered why the man didn't hold him. Oh. "You hand on my ass," Justin asked. That part of him wasn't sunburned. Calm Bull reached low for the boy. He was happy that Juss-teen came to him in the night who was obviously in need of some loving. His hands gently pulled over the youth's ass while his cock grew to full length. Their kisses enflamed him. When the youth gasped for breath, he laid back onto his bed bringing the boy with him. Justin ended on top of the Indian. He panted in anticipation, feeling the man's hardness against his dick and what that would lead to. The boy smiled. In the light of the lamp, he saw Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom smile and his head lifted to deliver some more kisses. They were eagerly accepted. When his butt was pulled on, the boy began his urgent stabs. They were met by the warrior's powerful thrusts. Love's battle was joined. They lost themselves in passion. Sweet kisses. The boy pulled himself over the man's body by gripping his slim shoulders. His butt was urgently played in beat to their thrusts. Both sides of Justin's body were burning now. His back was still wet from the well and in a moment, the front of him would be too. He needed to relieve the pent up feelings inside him for Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom and offer this man a similar relief. It didn't feel wrong at all. Calm Bull's heart sung to be loving this youth. He looked up at his pale face while they kissed, saw that Juss-teen's eyes were closed and wished it were not so. "See me?" he begged. Justin opened his eyes. They paused from kissing to look at each other while their bodies continued moving. It was like riding a half tamed bronco. The boy saw such longing on Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom's face that he had to turn away. A kiss came to his left cheek. He turned to face this man while casting away any remaining reservations about being with him. They kissed. The boy kept his eyes open as the man wanted and he would do anything for him. There was no denying that they wanted to be together. He'd given his body to him in this moment of passion while his heart... It was given too for all the other moments in their lives together. Tomorrow, he would ensure that this was so. Pa would get what he wanted while in return, he would get what he wanted. That was his plan. Man and boy kissed in the celebration that is love. A smaller pale body rode the larger brown body towards male fulfillment. Justin's dick wasn't mismatched to Calm Bull's cock. They were both stiff, fit together like two hands clasped to help them climb up a hill. It would prove a very steep rise. If neither faltered, they would reach the top. Calm Bull gasped for breath. He held one that made his belly tremble and sharpen the thrills from his cock. Juss-teen looked down at him in anticipation. The man fulfilled himself. He growled out like a bear when spurts went to the boy's belly. Pleasure exploded in his head. Justin knew he'd done it. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom stopped kissing him to hold a breath. His hands were fierce over his butt. The boy stabbed down hard with his dick a few more times until the man groaned out in pain. No. It was that male agony right before release. The boy felt them wet squirts that excited him so much that he joined in flooding their bellies. The thrills from his dick were intense! His breath came out as a huff. Calm Bull saw the boy's eyes widen at his accomplishment, fill with sudden pleasure and flutter until they closed tight. A liquid warmth was felt against him reaching to his chest. Violent dick stabs to his cock. An explosion of air came out Juss-teen's mouth instead of the expected outcry. Perhaps the youth feared his joy from being heard by his parents. The man's hands relaxed. He gave the boy a fond pat to his ass then lifted his arms to wrap them lovingly around Juss-teen's shoulders. Happiness. That's what Justin felt even after his dick was satisfied. He turned his head to rest it over the man's chest while being held. The sharp scent of sperm filled his nose. It mingled between their bellies in testament that they were together as lovers. Man with boy. That still seemed weird to him but Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom didn't act like it was so. Justin's heart burst to say something. The words just came out his mouth. "I love you." Calm Bull heard the boy speak in a way that revealed his heart to him. "Me luff you, and so." He didn't know what 'luff' meant but figured that Juss-teen was saying that his heart was his. The man's arms tightened around his young companion. Tears filled his eyes for achieving what he'd hoped from this White boy. "You and me een-eh good. Ah... one heart?" "Yes. We one een-eh," answered Justin. "I love you. Love you!" He buried his face in the man's neck and cried. Not out of shame or feeling sad but because he finally told Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom how he felt. The Indian understood his words and had said them back to him. He really did. "We do love each other," whispered Justin. "I'm gonna make sure that Pa won't send you away to honor your promise you've given me." "Juss-teen. What say?" Justin lifted his face to look at Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom. "Me no go." He kissed his Indian warrior to seal that promise. Calm Bull wasn't sure what the boy meant. He was planning to go somewhere but now he would not? Juss-teen kept looking at him as if expecting an answer. "Me no go." He'd already vowed that to him. His young lover smiled for a moment with his expression turning to one of confidence. It was as if the boy had decided to do a thing to remain with him. He wondered what that was. If only he knew enough White talk to ask! They could hand gesture a little. Justin was lifted up by the man's grip of his armpits and brought back to his knees at the edge of their bed. He wiped his eyes clear so as to appear strong before this Indian. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom had been crying too. It seemed strange to see that in a warrior whom he thought would never reveal such weakness. He'd heard stories about savages. Always fierce, especially in battle and being strong as a man should be even in the face of death. Many Indians were killed during the wars. He expected hatred from them but what he was seeing now wasn't anything like he'd been told. This man was gentle. He showed his feelings that included love. Calm Bull lifted his hands for gesturing. He pointed at himself then with both hands, encompassed this place where he slept and signed that he would remain here. He also spoke the White talk. "Me no go." Juss-teen nodded in understanding. "You no go?" Justin mimicked the Indian's hand gesturing by pointing at himself, waving both his hands in the air then making a fist with his right hand. "Me no go." He wondered why Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom kept asking that. A flurry of gestures were given him that made no sense. The boy shook his head. The man repeated them with a tense expression on his face. It was very frustrating. He wanted to know something from him that was important but without understanding, how could he answer? An idea came to Justin. He grabbed the Indian's flying right hand and placed it over his heart. "You have my love." Calm Bull knew that but what he wanted to ask Juss-teen was how it would burden him. He'd already made sacrifices of his own to remain here with the boy. Did he realize that? The man sighed, giving up trying to hand gesture his questions that would have to wait until he learned more White talk. Justin reached over to press his hand over the man's heart. Looking deep into them dark eyes, he hoped to find acceptance to his gesture. Ah-tay-en Hey-te-oom covered his hand with his own. "Yes. Me hart to you." It struck Calm Bull that he'd been acting like a sun struck wanderer. While trying to question the boy, he was ignoring a more important thing. Juss-teen had just pledged himself to him. There was no need to ask why or the difficulties they faced because of it. If trouble came because of their love, they would face it together. Justin smiled. It put his lover at ease to whatever was troubling him. Anthony really needed to learn English. There were no need for words to ask his lover for a kiss. The boy wet his lips and leaned forward. Calm Bull kept his hand over Juss-teen's breast when he kissed him to seal their pledge. The boy's hand covered his heart. Joy filled the man to have found love again and he hoped it would last to the end of their days together. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of file: CALMBUL2.TXT The story continues in: CALMBUL3.TXT Folder: CALM-BULL-FINDS-LOVE-AGAIN (When completed, it will be posted)