**************************************************************************** * "New to Love Honeymoon" * * (part 1) * * by Vince Water July 18, 2005 * **************************************************************************** | Copyright 2005-2006 by Vince Water Corrected 8/26/06 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thus begins the third series to the 'New to Love' saga. You should have read the previous two series: 'New to Love' and 'New to Teaching Love' so you'll know what's been happening with Mike and Jesse. I've posted my stories on the Internet which are freely available. My thanks to the Nifty Archive. David is doing a great job! He needs your donation to keep his website FREE and from fading into obscurity due to a lack of support. www.Nifty.Org/ You can find ALL of my stories on the Nifty Archive by clicking the following on their homepage: AMERICAN INDIAN STORIES BY VINCE WATER,... I have set up a Yahoo Group where you can read my 'New to Love' saga stories, even story parts I'm currently working on for your feedback. Drawings of Mike, Jesse, Running Water, grandfather and Jake can be seen on this Group along with other related material. Members can post their messages in the public forum which I'll respond to. Come join us! www.groups.yahoo.com/group/NtTLStoriesAndSketches You can also send email privately to me at: Vince_Water@Yahoo.com If you've read the previous uncorrected version to this story part, know that I've written a new scene that begins it along with making other enhancements. I'd originally planned to write a single 'honeymoon' story as a supplement to the 'New to Love' saga yet it's taken on a life of its own to become the third series with an expected twenty story parts. After I write a handful of story parts, I'll then start the fourth series: 'New to Love Again' so we're not taken away from Jake and the events that'll unfold. Please do follow my 'bouncing back and forth' between these series. *** Soft caresses to my chest and breathing at my neck brings me out of sleep. Jesse knows that I'm awake though my eyes remain closed. I enjoy his gentle tending while relaxing at his side. What a nice way to wake up. I've slept alone for most of my life and realized how lonely I have been without a guy to share it. How we Share with each other! It's taken some getting used to having nearly all my thoughts and emotions known by another. Jesse was born with that ability but the Passing of that Power Bundle's spirit into us has enhanced our psychic Connection where I can know what my lover is feeling and thinking too. I'm also able to Glean things from others to know what they've done in their lives. My breaths come out trembling from my nose. Jesse's hand brings me pleasure with a palming to my hairy chest, nipples, a downwards roaming to my tummy (which tickles!) until he grasps my swelling dick. A quick breath is sucked into my mouth. "Awake now?" asks Jesse. I open my eyes and peer at him. My Indian lover has a young looking face: an oval of brown skin, big nose and sensuous lips. Very expressive eyes. I'm staring at him to drink in his love for me. What a cute guy! "You're handsome too, love." That prompts our kiss. He turns me towards him in bed until the front of our nude bodies press wonderfully together, sharing warmth, but much more than that, our need to be physically together. We're always Connected but that physical coming together completes us and enhances our spiritual bond. No one could love as strongly as we do! Jesse gives me a strained look in response to what I've just thought. He doesn't agree that our love is better than what other couples feel. "They don't need to Share each other's thoughts and emotions to know love," says Jesse. "Remember how beautifully One-white-horse played his guitar and sung to us?" I remember. That man's song spoke to us of his deep yearning for Susan who was away at college. I'd seen the deep love he had for her in his eyes, his longing expression and in his voice while he sang. When they are together again, the love in their hearts will be expressed in spoken words, shine in their eyes and through sweet bodily gestures. It's wrong of me to think that other couples can't love as deeply and completely as we do. "Perhaps we get too caught up in our special bond to see each other through regular eyes," whispers Jesse. I'm gently nodding. I know who Jesse is from inside of him from Sharing our thoughts and emotions all the time. There is an outer beauty to him such as what my eyes see and hearing his soft Indian accent. That's why I yearn to be with this man from a physical sense and get to know him that way too. "Beep." Jesse has tapped my nose and he gives me a winning grin for my having realized this truth about our love. His arms tighten around me. I hold him back, our erections rubbing together with intense pleasure. Jesse moans. His eyes close when our kissing becomes frantic. Our hungry hands reach low to pull over flexing butts. It's more than pleasure and male relief that we're seeking from each other but to express our deep love. What a wonderful thing sex is to join two people together! I can't get enough of my Indian warrior. We're startled by an insistent knock on our bedroom door. It creaks open. "Mike. Your attorney is on the phone," says Winna. I'm turning towards her but Jesse holds me too tightly in his arms. "Tell Mister Talbert that Mike will call him back!" shouts Jesse. The door is closed. Why can't we be allowed any time to be together?! This bedroom is supposed to be our sanctuary from the wolves lying in wait outside to tear us apart. Winna knows that. My lawyer probably has something bad to tell me to be calling this early in the morning. I'm looking at the clock. "It's after eight," says Jesse. "That's not early." He's right. What tears me up inside is not having the time I want... NEED to be with my lover! I'm gonna go crazy if something doesn't give. Jesse pulls my face to his neck and cradles me. Where is my anger? I'm not feeling it. Oh, yeah. That's because of Charms A Bird's meddling. He's mellowed me by setting compulsions in my head so I won't be quick to feeling dark emotions and he's focused my attention on the Now. Jesse kisses my forehead. :The shaman did that to help you,: Sends Jesse in thought. I'm taking a deep breath that helps calm me. A kiss is given to my lover while I direct my thoughts at him. :Charms A Bird is too helpful at times.: Jes knows what I mean. :You were too much for my grandfather to handle!: Jesse giggles. In a more serious tone, :Love. I am very proud of far how you've come to walk the good red road.: Jes doesn't mean as an Indian but how I'm finding my humanity as a White. It has been difficult keeping my feet in both worlds. :You've stumbled some but friends have helped you back on your feet and I can always count on you picking me up when I fall.: An aching comes to my heart. Jesse has been depending on me a lot to keep him out in the real world. He's autistic. It's been through my love and our special connection that he's been able to achieved this. :It's good to fall sometimes,: Says Jesse. :Otherwise, how else can I learn from my mistakes?: My lover tries to stand on his own two feet. I tend to 'catch' him before he falls but he doesn't want me to. It's enough that I'm helping him to be 'normal' by filtering out much of the noise that assaults him. Before we met, Jes had been hiding inside of himself that only family could reach in and then, he wasn't quite there. That's changed. He's achieved manhood and will soon undergo training to follow in his grandfather's footsteps as shaman of the Blackfoot People. :Because of you, love!: I'm given his kiss of gratitude. :Give yourself some credit for that, Jes. If not for you, I too would have remained 'lost' in my world by remaining a computer person that was denying me happiness. You've given that to me.: We kiss again. Not passionately like before the interruption and our dicks have softened. My thoughts turn to why Mr. Talbert has called me. With a reluctant sigh, I pull from my lover's arms to get out of bed. He gives me an understanding gaze. Before I turn from him to get some clothes, his eyes give me a once over. That thrills me. I'm really disappointed that we didn't make love earlier. :We're going to get that chance today,: Says Jesse, :and in the days that follow. No phones, lawyers, or anything to interfere with us being alone.: My eyes widen in surprise. How could I have forgotten that we'll be going on our honeymoon today? All the burdens my shoulders have been carrying lifts in an instant. Jesse shares in my happiness that's reflected in his eyes. Grandfather had suggested that we do this before he marries us. I understand why now. He's thrown me a life line when I've been drowning in my troubles of late. I need to get away with Jesse. He needs this too. My shoulders begin to slump. Maybe my lawyer wants to see me today because something has come up. Could be good news. More likely it's not. Determination fills me. 'We Are Going To Get Away Today!' I mouth in my vow to Jesse. "Yes, love. We are." After putting on some clothes, I enter the kitchen. Winna has written down the number for Mr. Talbert. It's to his home in Chinook. I pick up the phone with a deep sigh and dial. After two rings, a man's voice answers. "Hello?" "This is Mike." I'm steeling myself against what my lawyer might say. "Ah. I'm sorry if I'd awakened you earlier." I don't say anything in response to that. Mr. Talbert has heard the hardness in my voice. After a long moment, he speaks again. "Well. I'm calling to advise you not to speak with the media or anyone about your case or what happened between you and that highway patrol officer. Mister James is disappointed that you've not accepted his legal aid but he's told me that he understands, especially after what you've been going through with the legal authorities he used to represent. He'll be working for you behind the scenes to settle this matter." "I'm not gonna accept a plea bargain." My voice was deadly earnest. "He knows that, Mike. It's our belief that the D.A. has no choice but to drop that charge against you. Their case is all muddled up because of what Mr. Benton has done and the evidence that your civil rights were violated. I've impressed on Mister James that you won't be played by him or anyone. You're going to fight all the way..." "I am!" Even if that means Ron's diary is presented in court. Jesse hugs me from behind. He's not ashamed it will reveal that Ron had sex with him. His mom would be devastated and likely turn her anger towards Running Water for allowing that to happen but he didn't know what his lover had been doing with Jes behind his back. My thoughts return to Mr. Talbert speaking to me over the phone. "The D.A. knows that. With a political rival snapping at his knees, he wants to end this situation while trying to save face. That's what I'm trying to bring about hopefully sooner than later so you can put all this behind you and get on with your life." That's what I want! A quick resolution instead of more legal hoops for me to jump through. "I've called to ask that you keep low for the next few days. I hope to have good news for you soon." I'm releasing a sigh. "Okay. I won't talk to anyone." "Good. Whatever happens, I want to meet with you at the end of this week. How about Friday afternoon?" "Alright." I'm Gleaning from Mr. Talbert that we'll either be having a victory drink or planning out what to do for my civil rights violation Hearing. If it's the latter, he'll demand that I tell him about Ron's diary. How I dread that! :I'll be the one to tell your lawyer what it says about Ron and me,: Sends Jesse. :You should never have been put in that position, love. I'm sorry!: I turn in my lover's arms to hold him back. He buries his face in my chest while I shoo him. Winna comes into the kitchen and looks at me questioningly. She can't know what Ron had done with her son. The shame! Not only for herself and Running Water, the whole tribe will know and ruin all the good Ron has done for them as well as make it that much more difficult for us to find acceptance as a gay couple. How can Jesse become their spiritual leader as shaman if they won't respect him? I remember the phone in my hand. "... why I called." "Okay. I'll lay low and see you on Friday." "That's all I'm asking of you, Mike. If everything works out like I'm hoping, I'll have good news for you soon." "Thanks. For everything, Mister Talbert." "Sure, Mike. You take care." "Bye." I'm hanging up the phone and cradle my lover in both my hands. :Jesse?: He peers up at me with shy eyes. I give him a big grin that becomes infectious with him smiling back. :Mr. Talbert wants me to lay low for the next few days. Can you think of a way we can do that?: Jesse nods his head and smiles. I see Winna standing close at her son's side. She wants to know what's going on. "Mike. Is everything alright?" "Yes. My lawyer asked me not to talk with reporters and enflame the situation while he works behind the scenes to get the D.A. to drop their case against me. Saving face for them and all that." The woman releases her breath in a huff. "I want it to end." "It will." A smile comes to my lips when I tell her, "We're going through with our plan today." Winna thinks for a moment and nods when she remembers what grandfather had suggested to us last night. "Both of you do need to get away. I know that will make my son very happy, Mike." Winna manages to put a smile on her face. "Thanks." Jesse pulls from my arms to give his mother a hug. She whispers something in his ear that he nods to. I notice Jake is in the kitchen. He's obviously come from taking a shower. His hair is wet and a shirt is being held in his hand. The necklace grandfather had gifted him draws my eyes to his chest. Its beads are striking against the dark color of his skin. He sees what I'm looking at and peers down at himself. The shirt is hurridly put on. Jesse pulls from his mother's arms. He turns to his cousin with a grin. "You will be good while Mike and I are away?" Jake glances at Winna for an uneasy moment. Jes reaches for the boy's necklace, tucking it inside his shirt for him. Thought spoken words Pass between them though I'm not privy to it. Jake's breath comes out trembling from his mouth. He slowly nods, averting his eyes from Winna. "I have breakfast laid out on the table," says Winna. "Go ahead and eat. I'll be taking a shower before going to work." That's strange. I'd think she'd want to join us at the table until I catch the glint in my lover's eyes. He Thinks to me and I understand her intent. We're to assure Jake that everything will be alright by leaving him alone with his aunt for a few days. "I'm hungry," says Jesse. "How about you, cousin?" Jake barely nods. Winna leaves the kitchen to go take her shower while we enter the dining room. There are scrambled eggs, bacon and biscuits laid on the table. Set by the plates are glasses of orange juice and milk for me. A pile of mail has been set on my chair. I sort through it. Some of the letters are addressed to both Jesse and me, likely they are confirmations (I hope) to attend our wedding. Nothing from my parents or sister. Reluctance fills me to open them right now. A large envelope bottoms the pile. It's come from The Voice, a Blackfoot newspaper. Sue Slings-firewood-over-her-shoulders had interviewed me for an article she wanted to write so the People can learn who I am. I'm tearing it open. Jesse and Jake have taken their seats and look over at me. Waiting. I take my chair. Jake folds his hands in prayer. "Lord. I thank You for Your many blessings and... I ask for Your guidance and the strength to face what is to come." There's a pause. I see the tension on Jake's face and his eyes are tightly shut. He's spoken from his heart - the fear and uncertainty in his new life. Not knowing what else to say unto our Lord, I help end Jake's prayer with an "Amen". He mutters that after me. "Let's eat," asks Jesse softly. Jake quickly fills his plate with food and chows down. He averts his eyes from us under the guise of being hungry. Jes and I exchange glances. We feel for the boy. He's obviously scared to be left alone with his aunt while we're away on our honeymoon. I want to assure Jake that he'll be alright but Send to Jesse that he should tell him. :I already have, love.: A deep sigh escapes my lips. Maybe it's wrong of us to be leaving the boy so newly come to our home. Winna will be working these four days to make up for being absent last week. That'll leave Jake alone for most of the day. :He won't be alone,: Says Jesse. :Family will be coming over to meet my mother's sister's son.: :That will be difficult for Jake,: I Answer. :All those new faces and not having us at his side to help. Not even Winna there to assure them that...: Jes knows what I mean. :My cousin is strong. I've assured him that he'll be accepted and loved by the family without question.: :More quickly than they were of me, if ever...: I regret sending that unworthy thought to Jesse. He acts like he's not Heard. Jake drinks down the last of his orange juice. He stares at my lover with something on his mind he needs to express. "You didn't Hear me?" asks Jake in a small voice. Jesse is slow to respond. That's when I notice that far away look in his eyes which explains why he didn't react to me either just now. "What Jake?" The boy drops his eyes to stare at his empty plate. :Jake was Thinking something to you and you didn't Hear him.: "What's on your mind, cousin?" asks Jesse with his full attention being given to the boy. I'm given a quick look by Jake which reveals his sense of guilt or something akin to it. He wets his lips but remains silent. "Go ahead. You can ask us anything." Jake takes a big breath. "I know you deserve to get away with what's been happening with Mike." Another breath is taken. "It's just that... why not go next week when things have settled down around here?" He means with him. I'm looking over at Jesse and nod in agreement to what Jake has said. We could leave on our honeymoon this Monday and return on Thursday in time to make preparations for our wedding that Saturday. "Grandfather asked us to leave today." I catch the unspoken plea in my lover that it's important that we go this week instead of the next. Before I can ask Jesse why, he continues. "If we don't go now, there may not be another chance for us to." Jesse's words had really been directed at me. "You're going to be alright, Jake." Jesse smiles in assurance to his troubled cousin. "My mother will be gone for most of the day so you can watch television or sit out front and watch the grass grow. Whatever you want to do. It's only for three days, Jake. We'll be back by Friday morning." Jake slowly nods. I can tell that there's still something on his mind that he hasn't voiced. He peers at me for a moment then looks at Jesse. "Do you know if our thoughts can reach each other at a distance? Like how you can with Mike?" "I'm sure we can," assures Jesse. Jake grabs the last biscuit and stuffs his mouth with it. I notice how intently Jesse is looking at him. "You had a strange dream last night." Jake gasps. His eyes glow green when Power rises in him. Jesse shakes his head in disappointment at the boy. "I'd thought you trusted me, Jake." Jake quickly swallows the food in his mouth. "I do." "Show me what you had dreamed. Maybe I can help you understand it." That glow in Jake's eyes fade. I'm tempted to try Gleaning him with his 'shields' down but stop myself from doing so. He'll know. Jesse gets up from his chair. He comes to stand behind Jake and grips his broad shoulders, massaging them to soothe the boy. Jake releases a deep sigh. He bows his head and closes his eyes. I Sense that Jesse is being given an account of his cousin's strange dream but I'm not privy to it. Hopefully, I'll be told about it later. After drinking down the last of my milk, I direct my attention at that yellow envelope. A folded newspaper is slipped out. 'The Voice' of the Blackfoot Nation, it reads. I'm paging through it until finding my picture topping an article Sue has written about me. The words are in Siksika. I'm able to read them as easily as if they'd been in English because of my Connection with Jesse. We Share abilities. The article is very flattering of me. Beyond telling where I've come from (Indiana; that I'm a programmer of children's educational computer programs), Sue describes her impressions of me as a person: good-hearted, honest, and devoted to helping the Blackfoot People. She accounts how I defended Jesse from those corrupt police officers (Eli Kie and Lt. Scott Danielson) and prevented the tribe's Power Bundle from falling into their hands. She alludes to its medicine having come to us. That admission startles me until I realize the clever way she wrote that. Most people will think that she meant that the bundle had been meant to be found and protected by us. Sue's words hold a hidden meaning to those who really know what'd happened. That bundle's spirit had been Passed to Jesse and myself. Reading the article's last paragraph gets me straightening up in my chair. Sue's mother, Brings Wood addresses the People with poetic words: 'From outside he has come to join his heart with ours. What does it matter if a person's skin is white, black, yellow or bronze? Our Father Sees into all of us for it is deeds that prove. Mike Short Hair has a good heart. He has brought Jes-ee-ah out of himself so that he may follow in our Inspired One's footsteps. They are blessed.' Jesse hears my gasp of surprise. I Show him Brings Wood's words through our Connection which has him smiling in pride for me. The newspaper is handed to him across the table so he can read it for himself. "What is Jesse reading?" asks Jake. "An article about me." "You're big news in this town. I'd watched the coverage of your Hearing on T.V. yesterday though the reporters failed to catch you coming out of the court building. There's obviously a power play going on involving the police and the district attorney. You're smack in the middle of it." I grimace at what Jake has said. "That's why Jes and me need to light out of here for a few days." Jake nods. He releases a tense sigh through his nose. "You two deserve to get away. I'm sorry for only thinking about myself." Jes and I peer at Jake in astonishment. "Whaaat?" Jesse smiles at his cousin. "You'll hold the fort while we're away?" Jake looks around. "More likely being a prisoner in it. Though your mom will be at work, she's set a guard in front of the house." "That's not because of you," says Jesse. I exchange glances with my lover. "Jake. You've been told about Eli Kie." The boy nods. "But he's on the run. That's what Captain Ruston told the reporters yesterday." "It's not from him that this house is being protected against. He has been training someone to follow in his footsteps as Trickster. Jesse and Simon had fallen under that man's evil spell when they'd been protesting outside the police station and fell ill. We don't know who he is. Yet." "Would he come after me?" "Not likely," assures Jesse. "Hardly anyone knows that you're even here." "That's going to change. I'm expecting to meet a lot of your family in the coming days." "Your family, Jake!" The boy lowers his eyes to his empty plate. Jesse gives his shoulders a fond squeeze before coming around the table. He starts reading that newspaper article about me. No. He's looking at the opposing page which reports on the weather. "Is it gonna be hot and sunny for us?" I'm smiling in anticipation of his expected answer because I'd seen the bright sun emblems for the next few days going into the weekend. "Looks like it," whispers Jesse. I'd Felt sharp fear in my lover before he blocks his emotions from me. :What's wrong!: He doesn't Answer me so I'm looking at that newspaper page. Below the weather report are phases of the moon. "Can you clear the table?" asks Winna coming into the dining room. "Sure, mom." I'm slow getting to my feet. A last glimpse is taken of that weather page. Why has it frightened Jesse? Winna is looking at Jake. He nods, rising from his chair and starts collecting dishes. I get the impression that she wants to talk with Jesse and me alone. I steel myself against what this woman might say. "Mike... I want you to have a good outing with my son." That's not what Winna was going to say. I peer at her to read the expression on her face. She's not upset or worried as I was expecting for taking her son away these three days. "We will, mom. I'll make sure that I won't fall off the horse." Winna draws in a sharp breath. "Don't worry about us. Okay?" In a low voice, "That's what a mother is supposed to do. You haven't ridden a horse in a long time, Jes-ee-ah." Jesse stands up tall. "I'm no longer a little boy, mom." Winna stares at Jesse for a long moment. "I know that." I can see how hard it is for this woman to let go. She's been taking care of Jesse since he was born. Protecting him. Trying to lift his hidden spirit out of himself due to his autism. Then I entered her son's life. Through my love, I've accomplished what she and the other family members couldn't. Winna acknowledges this and she's very grateful to me yet... "You'll be returning... Friday morning?" asks Winna in a low voice. I catch the unspoken word 'home' from her. Does she think that I plan to take Jesse away from her by living with him in an apartment after we're married? I'll assure this woman that her fears are unfounded. "Yes. We will return Friday morning. This is our home." Winna releases her held breath. "And, I hope, Jake will think so too." "You will ask your boss to send some men over to fix up a room for him?" "Yes. Jake will have a bedroom of his own." Jesse smiles. "A guy needs his privacy." I catch what my lover had meant beyond his words. He knows that Jake is a growing boy who needs his own space to be alone. And beat off at need now that he won't be seeing Dr. Karl. "Jake can sleep in our bedroom while we're away," says Jesse. Winna nods in agreement. At that moment, Jake enters the dining room. He collects the glasses then rushes with them to the kitchen. Winna watches the boy with a frown. In a low voice, "Why is he so scared of me?" "He's never had a woman over him," answers Jesse. "No mothering since he was five years old. Give him some time, mom. He'll find his place in our family and then things will be cool. Just don't ride him too hard." "Alright. I'll be easy on him but if he falls back into bad ways..." I wonder what that is? What has Jake done that is so shameful to him that he's made Jesse and his mom promise not to tell anyone else including me? :He'll tell you when he's ready, love.: I'm releasing a tense sigh through my nose. Secrets! Unlike me, Jesse is able to keep them while all of mine have been sucked out of my head by him. "Well. I'm off to work," says Winna. "Have a good day, mom. Please don't worry about me because I'll be in good hands." Jesse backs himself onto me with my arms wrapping around him. Winna peers at me for a long moment. Her expression is guarded but what I'm Gleaning from her (I couldn't help myself!) is her concern that my influence over her son is growing. She fears that she'll lose her son to me. "I wish both of you well on your outing," whispers Winna. "Go with my blessings and that of our Father." "Thank you, mother." Winna smiles. Acknowledging her as my mother was the right thing to say at this moment. I let Jesse go so he can give his mother a hug. It's a very long one. "Oh, Mike. Your truck is in the driveway." "Really?" I'd left it at the Chinook Community Center yesterday. Someone must have driven it back here. I think it's blocking Winna's truck from her leaving for work. "We'll be leaving now." Jesse returns to my side and our hands clasp. That draws a weak grin from the woman. "Have a good time." No need to answer that. Winna knows we will and I'm feeling those heavy burdens to my shoulders lifting. Three days not having to worry about court, avoiding reporters, dealing with family (poor Jake!) or anything else that usually comes up that takes time away from me being with Jesse. He Shares my happy feelings and sense of relief. Jake is standing in the doorway. Jesse turns in his direction and Answers some plea of his. Winna smiles at the boy, turns, and heads for the front of the house. "I'll be alright," mutters Jake. Jesse goes to his cousin and hugs him. Jake reveals embarrassment on his face when he sees me smiling at him (my lover is such an affectionate guy) but I know that the boy needed that farewell hug of assurance. When they part, I only offer to shake hands with Jake. He shows relief. "Keep your butt out of trouble." The boy's eyes flare in alarm until he hears me chuckling, realizing I'd only been kidding him. Hmm. Has he been giving his ass to Dr. Karl or maybe to other men? Jesse grabs my hand, pulling me towards the front door. He reminds me that his mother is waiting for us so she can get to work. I'm grabbing my keys from the peg. To my surprise, Jesse takes my elk skin robe from the coat rack and tucks it under his right arm. :Why are you bringing that?: "The evenings may be chilly." We exchange looks. My face reveals hurt. Jesse gives me a plain face. Whenever he speaks out loud instead of Answering me, that means he doesn't want to reveal the real reason. "My mom is waiting," says Jesse. In hand, my lover leads me out the front door. Jake closes it behind us with sad puppy dog eyes. I'm driving towards Chinook with Jesse at my side. We're often exchanging grins, so happy at the thought of having three days to be together. Alone! Grandfather suggested that we enjoy a honeymoon before we exchange vows in a few Saturday. I'd thought the following week would be better after we've helped settle Jake into his new home. Winna says she can handle things in our absence. Jes wants his mom to have that time to get to know her nephew better without us around. Sure, why not. I relented to their wishes since that means not having to wait. A honeymoon now! I give my lover a big grin. A sign announces that Chinook is only five miles away. I'm squeezing Jesse's hand in sweet anticipation. After reaching One-white-horse's cabin, we'll head out into the plains with a horse under us. It's as I've imagined our honeymoon would be spent: just the two of us meandering across unspoiled land without another human being in sight. Lots of rolling hills, grass plains and the occasional stream. The US/Canadian border is unguarded. No one will bother us if we happen to cross over into the Grandmother country as Good-eye's tribe had done a hundred and forty years ago to escape the relentless attacks by the blue-coats. They'd found peace in Canada. For a while, that is. Both countries instituted similar plans to steal land from the Natives through treaties that promised food and peace if they but settled down on reservations. History has sadly proved otherwise. "Why the long face, love?" I'm putting a smile back on my lips but a sigh escapes them. Jes wants to know what I've been thinking about. More often, I'm guarding my thoughts from him especially when they're unpleasant. "I'm saddened by what happened to your People in the late 1800's." "We survived those bad times," answers Jesse. "Yeah. I'm glad that you didn't see that loss to your People's way of life by being stuck on bad land and depending on Whites to feed and clothe them. It's amazing that Indians as a whole didn't lose their Connection with the Great Spirit. Your grandfather is proof of that. Yet how many in your tribe have surrendered to White ways? They take what jobs they can to earn money and return to a run down trailer or shack in the reservations. Many suffer a loss to their spirit and fill that emptiness with drinking, doing drugs or surrender utterly with suicide." "Too many have lost their way. Grandfather remembers how it was and he keeps our Father's Spirit alive in the hearts of those who allow Him inside." But for how long? Grandfather is very old. In June, Jesse will undergo training as shaman by him to lead the People into the Light as he has done. He-who-runs-up-mountains has foreseen that there's only a handful of moons left to his life before he goes Above. A thought strikes me. "Do you know how old grandfather is?" "In his late eighties. No one really knows and grandfather won't say since he may not know himself." I turn to Jesse. "Could he be as old as a hundred? Even older?" I've heard how grandfather has seen the 'good old days'. Native Americans were forced onto reservations in the 1860's with total submission of 'outlaw bands' such as Chief Joseph's of the Nez Perce in 1877 near the Canadian border where they hoped to escape. In 1886, Geronimo surrendered marking the end to the Indian wars. Jesse's grandfather would have to be over a hundred and thirty years old to remember how it was before the Whites came. No way! "Do you know where your grandfather was born?" Jesse shrugs his shoulders in reply. "If we knew it was in Canada with Good-eyes' band when they were still free or in Montana on a reservation, that would give us his age." Jesse releases a deep sigh. I'm turning to him with a shy grin and say, "It's a puzzle. I can't help myself when it comes to trying to figure things out. Sorry." The next mile is driven in silence yet my thoughts are swirling with another concern I can't get out of my head. "Elder Quiet-before-the-dawn was gonna consult with grandfather about what to do with Rides-a-fiery-horse. It's wrong of him and his assistant to be embezzling money from the tribe." "Why are you worrying about that now?" asks Jesse. "We're going on a honeymoon to get away from everything. You deserve a respite, love. Both of us do! Those dark clouds hanging over us from your legal troubles will soon be blowing away. Let's try to enjoy our time together since Friday is going to come up fast." I'm left feeling guilty by my lover's scolding. He's right. We're only gonna have three days to be together: today, Wednesday and Thursday with our return to One-white-horse's cabin on Friday morning. We can't get away for longer than that. Not much time to enjoy a honeymoon together. Jesse pinches my right hand. "Okay. I promise to leave everything behind... once we're on the horse." "I'm going to hold you to your promise, Short Hair." I glance at Jesse and see that sharp look in his eyes. "I swear!" He rubs over the back of my hand where it's smarting from his pinch. Then we're holding hands; his brown one around my white hand that reminds me of our differing cultures and beliefs, the challenges we still face to be together. :But we are, love. We were together in our past lives and we will be again no matter what may pass.: Jesse's hand tightens around mine when his thoughts turn guarded from me. I'd caught something odd in what he's just told me. '...we will be again...' echoes in my mind. There was fear in my lover in that moment but his sense of absolute belief replaced that. We will be together no matter what may pass. Our Connection waivers when I Sense someone Talking to him. "It's Jake." Jesse nods in assurance to his cousin as if he were sitting in the truck with us. He then Returns to me in thought. :What did he say?: I Ask. :Jake wanted to know if I could Hear him.: I'm rolling my eyes. :Is your cousin gonna be Calling out to you all the while we're on our honeymoon?: :It's not like a cell phone which can be turned off,: Answers Jesse. :Jake needs to be assured that he can Reach me, love.: I'm nodding in understanding. :Well. Just don't be Passing to him what we'll be doing together. Alright?: Jesse giggles. :You mean the sex parts? I don't think they'd make him blush. Love! I do believe that you are blushing.: More giggling. I feel a burning to my face. "Jesse..." I breathe when turning to him. "I want us to enjoy being alone together. That's the point of getting away." "We will, love!" Jesse leans onto me and I deliver a kiss to his long hair. We'll be spending three nights together out in the plains. I'm reminded of that strange dream Jake had last night and Ask my lover what it was about. :Oh, that. I assured him that he wasn't Foreseeing something like a shaman can but that his dreaming was coming from his fears of being left alone with my mother. He's really in terror of her!: :I can't imagine why?: I'm rolling my eyes and Jesse knows I'd meant that sarcastically. It's not that Winna is a hard woman. I think she's handled her son being gay and me being his lover well. Now, she's having to deal with her nephew being gay too and the bad things he's done outside of school. I hope that Jake will learn to trust me and tell me what that was. I'm reminded of his dream that he's told Jesse about. :Did Jake ask to keep that a secret?: :No. I'll tell you, love.: Jesse Sends me Jake's dream as he'd seen it last night. This is what I See in my mind's eye: The three of us are swimming naked in the pond. Jake keeps his distance because he doesn't want that white guy (me) jumping him. Jesse treds water between us. He's very protective of his cousin and Tells the boy that he has nothing to fear. But Jake fears. He feels naked and vulnerable in front of that white guy who shares his Power to Glean secrets from others. He's afraid if his shameful secret is discovered and then Mike will be laughing cruely at him, saying that proves he's gay. The boy is beginning to realize that he might be. 'I'm not a bad person!' Jesse Answers his troubled cousin in thought. 'You aren't.' They hug in the water. Jake clings to him as the brother he's never had. Trust grows in the boy who bares his heart to him. They Talk a lot. Jake finds himself alone in the pond. He looks around in alarm for Jesse. He finds him standing on the bank with the white guy. They're wearing strange clothes. The boy sprints through the water to rejoin his cousin but it's like swimming through thick mud. He sees them disappear in a colorful flash of lights. He Calls out to Jesse! No reply. Now, Jake is utterly alone. I'm straightening out my truck in the lane when regaining my eyes. A quick glance is taken of Jesse who smiles weakly, Sharing how I'm feeling about Jake's strange dream. "My cousin fears if I go away." "It's only gonna be for three days," I answer. That's not what Jesse is concerned about. He'd seen when the new moon will appear from the newspaper's weather page. A week from this Thursday. That's the night he'll help Shaman Charms A Bird do battle with Trickster Eli Kie. Jake's dream showed that both of us disappear before his eyes. That makes sense. If my lover were to die, I'd follow him to the Above. "Turn left," whispers Jesse. I take that turn in silence. Anger fills me. This is supposed to be a happy carefree time for us. No worrying about what the future may bring! I'm taking a deep breath to calm myself. That helps. Jesse reaches for my right hand and grasps it. He's cast his own fears aside and Shares my hope that the next three days won't pass too quickly. I'm driving for another ten minutes. A small dirt road comes up on my left that leads to One-white-horse's cabin. We're both smiling in anticipation. Sitting on the porch awaiting our arrival are two men. I park my truck nearby and see that it's One-white-horse and grandfather. We're getting out to greet them. :Don't forget this, love.: Jesse hands me my elk skin robe given me by Chief Heart-for-all-to-see at the Browning meeting. The People were told that I'll be undergoing initiation in the coming moons to become part of their tribe. He-who-runs-up-mountains announced that his grandson will be following in his footsteps as shaman. Proud moments for us both! My robe is undecorated for now but when I perform deeds in service to my tribe, emblems will be painted on it. I'm not sure why he's brought it along. We approach grandfather and One-white-horse with happy grins. After that brief raising of hands ceremony amongst friends and family, we enter the cabin. It's as I remember it. One big room serves as a kitchen, dining room and bedroom. An old wood heater centers the space. Jes and I had spent a night here (in separate 'beds') when hiding out from the police. We won't be sleeping here tonight but somewhere out in the plains. Only stars and moon for a roof. That's a happy thought. "Are you hungry?" asks One-white-horse. That earns a sour look from grandfather. Jes and I exchange thoughts about it and decide to decline his offer. "We ate breakfast before we left." "How is Jake?" "Fine... but I don't envy the boy being left alone with Winna while we're off having fun." That draws laughs from everyone. Poor Jake! He's gonna get grilled about his mother, what he remembers being with her in Los Angeles until she left him in the care of that Jesuit school at the age of five. So far, the boy has been pretty closed mouth about it. He's been grieving over his mother's death, ah... her murder. Winna is pretty upset about that too. Grandfather points at the bed. "I've laid out your clothes there. We'll be outside preparing your horse for the journey." I'm peering at the bed and see garments there. Blue cloth and deerskin. A pair of black boots and moccasins are set on the floor. Jesse thanks his grandfather. I'm expressing my own gratitude to hide my surprise. We'd decided to wear regular clothes on our honeymoon instead of indulging in my fantasy of me being in overalls as Chris had worn at the fort and Jes wearing a breechclout as his former self had in case we meet up with someone out on the plains. I'm walking over to the bed. Jes examines the two flaps and thong belt in his hands. That has me smiling. :Not much in the way of covering.: :The days will be warm,: Answers Jesse. And the nights too when we sleep in each other's arms. I lift the blue overalls from the bed. An undergarment and brown socks catch my eye. I'm turning to Jes. :Do you want to dress in clothes like it was of old?: Jesse nods. :Christopher and Good-eyes will be coming along with us on our honeymoon so why not?: He taps his head. There's no escaping our former selves. Jes holds the folded deerskin flap against his groin and smiles shyly at me. :How did your grandfather know?: :I didn't tell him about your fantasy!: Says Jesse. I'm giving my lover a sly sideways glance. :Really, Mike. If you don't want to wear these clothes, we won't.: "No..." I'm uttering with a slow exhale of breath. I want to see Jesse in two scanty flaps. He won't be as daring as his former self who'd forgone a covering for his butt. :Bring your regular clothes with you. Just in case.: :Okay. But I don't want to meet up with anyone, love. Just kick our horse into a gallop to escape their prying eyes.: :I sure will.: We both end up laughing. I'm pulling off my clothes to dress up as Christopher. Hmm. There's no manufacturing tags on anything. Are these overalls made by Levi's? Jesse taps my right shoulder. When I turn, an Indian warrior of old faces me. He's shirtless. The darker ovals to his nipples catches my eyes. Long black hair spills down his shoulder and back with an eagle's feather tied to it. I look lower. A thong belt goes around Jesse's slim waist to hold his folded deerskin flap in front. When my lover turns, I can see his butt. Well. Part of his cheeks that peek out the sides of his rear flap. Jes continues his slow turn until he's facing me. "Turn around, love. I want to have a look at you." I've only put on the undergarment. It's like white underwear but with legs that nearly reaches down to my calves. Jes loosens my two buttons in back. I'm feeling a draft from my butt and hear him giggling. "Why this opening in back?" "So I can take a shit. What do you think?" I'm asking, a bit embarrassed. "Why not just pull them down when you have to go?" "This undergarment is what guys wore in the old days. If it's really cold at the outhouse, that flap comes down so he can sit over the pot while keeping his legs and part of his cheeks warm." "Oh." Jesse giggles louder. "I can think of another use for that opening." There's the sound of leather rubbing behind me. Jes presses his uncovered front onto my cheeks and bucks suggestingly. I'm bending over, laughing. "Yeah. It can get cold at night so if you're 'in need' to do me, at least I'll keep warm." Jesse steps back after a moment. We'll have to try this again sometime, him pulling up his front flap while my butt 'flap' is lowered to get his dick in me. It'd be kind of kinky. I'm turning to Jes with a burning face and see that he's dropped his deerskin flap to cover himself in front. I button myself up in back. My overalls are put on and their shoulder straps are buttoned. "How do I look?" "As Owopspec remembers you." I'm looking down at myself. Blue pants cover my lower body pretty well. Beneath, I'm wearing that undergarment. There's brown socks on my feet. "Your face is prettier than Krist-o-fer's," comments Jesse, "though he was a lot younger than you. Probably because of the freckles on his face. Good-eyes liked that about your former self. Not me. I think you're much cuter without them." I'm blushing. Jesse lifts his arms to me in want of an embrace. I'm doing so gladly, my hands rubbing over his warm back. :We don't have shirts.: :I know. We'll just have to share warmth when it gets cold at night.: "Yeah..." My left hand slips under Jesse's rear flap to fondle his butt. :That's a lot of covering for you back there. Owopspec had only worn a slim thong down the crack of his ass.: :I could remove it.: :No! We'll be facing One-white-horse and grandfather when we go outside. It's gonna be embarrassing enough for them to see us dressed as we are.: :Let's put on our footwear, love.: I'm giving my Indian warrior a kiss before we part. We sit over the bed while Jes slips on his moccasins and I put on them black boots. They feel rather heavy around my feet. We stand up. Jesse looks me over again while I enjoy his near nakedness. "This is so silly." "I know, love. Isn't it great?" We embrace again. Such joy fills our hearts for what we're about to embark on. A honeymoon! It's as I've imagined it even down to us wearing the clothes of our former selves. Jes is right to remind me that Chris and Owopspec will be coming with us. They've enjoyed many outings away from the tribe to spend time together. Lots of love making and good long talks around the fire to get to know each other better. I'm needing that with Jesse. :Wasn't it a good idea of my grandfather's to honeymoon before we marry?: "Yeah." I'm giving my lover a kiss. He responds, hungrily moving his lips over mine. We're reaching low to pull over each other's butts that's getting our cocks hard. I eye the bed. :Silly! We'll have time for that later.: Jesse grabs my elk skin robe and he takes me in hand towards the kitchen door. We step out to the backyard where One-white-horse and grandfather awaits us. Between them stands an Appaloosa who knickers at our approach. She's fitted with a flat saddle, saddlebags, a coil of rope, water skin, bedroll and several tied sacks. Her swishing tail hits One-white-horse in the face. He laughs, stepping forward to present me with the horse. "This is Rebecca. She's a well tempered mare and sure footed for plains crossing." He hands the reins over while trying to hide his grin at seeing the couple's appearance. "Thank you." I look Rebecca in the eye to read her demeanor. She appears calm yet eager for the journey by the way her ears turn this way and that. The mare flinches when One-white-horse knees into her belly to tighten her girth belt a final time. I know that horses gulp in air when fitted. She'll be carrying two so I'm glad that he's making sure our saddle is secure. Jes folds my elk skin robe and places it into one of the saddlebags. I notice grandfather's eyes on my lover. Does he really remember days of old when men wore breechclouts? "Your watch." Huh? Grandfather is pointing at my wrist watch and gives me a gesture to remove it. I'm doing so. There's no need to keep track of time out in the plains. Sun and moon will mark that passage. I look back towards the cabin when remembering something. I've left my wallet and keys in my jeans pocket. Our street clothes were also left on the bed. "You will not need them where you are going," says grandfather. He's read my thoughts! After handing over my watch to him, I'm given something round and shiny in return. "For luck," he explains. It's an old silver coin. A quarter dollar according to the reverse. There's a hole in it below the date: 1891. I'm tucking it into my overall's breast pocket while muttering my thanks. Grandfather reaches into a bucket on the ground. He splashes water over his hands to clean them. Cupping them, he fills his hands and offers Jesse a drink. My lover does so. Then his shoulders are grasped. "May you be safe, Jes-ee-ah and under our Father's guidance during your long journey. The circle is nearly completed." That's an old farewell practiced by the People. I'm not sure what he meant about the circle. Grandfather fills his cracked hands again and comes to face me. I drink the water he offers. My shoulders are grasped. We look at each other for a moment and the intensity in his eyes makes me want to turn away but I don't flinch. "May you be safe, Short Hair and under our Father's guidance in the moons ahead until your return." I'm nodding but wonder why grandfather said 'moons' instead of days. He'd spoken in old Siksika. Chris had been taught to speak that tongue but words have changed through the years. One-white-horse addresses us. "You'll have beef jerky and loaves of hard bread to eat. A skin for water. Make sure that you take every opportunity to fill it for yourselves and the horse. Grandfather has put something into the saddlebag that I'm not sure why you'll need in the plains..." "Yes, yes! They'll find uses for that pouch when the time comes," explains grandfather in a stern voice. "Well. I wish you both a safe and pleasant journey," says One-white-horse. From the man's wicked grin, he knows how 'pleasant' it's gonna be for Jesse for me. "Thank you. We'll try to come up with something to do." That has One-white-horse chuckling. Grandfather flicks his left wrist at the man that gets him walking to the cabin. Some agreed upon signal to leave us. Grandfather grasps Jesse's shoulder and mine with his face lifting to the sky. He's going into prayer. "Father! I ask that Your Hand be upon my grandsons to guide and protect them during their journey. May Your servants of Light watch over them." Grandfather lowers his face from the sky. He gestures for Jes and I to stand closer to the horse. A rattle comes into his right hand. He begins shaking it while he chants, dancing in a tight circle in front of us. That's when I notice him wearing moccasins. The rest of his attire is normal clothes of tan pants and a brown long-sleeved shirt. His ritual, I think, is to chase away bad spirits who might try to follow us on our journey but he's not pointing his rattle at Jesse and me or the horse for that matter. Hmm. The chanting stops. Jesse gasps when his grandfather glares at him with Power seen in his old eyes. He pockets his rattle. Yet the chanting begins anew with his moccasins dragging over the dirt in a large circle around us. The old man pauses at each compass point. Instead of looking up to our Father in acknowledgement as I'd expect, he looks down at the ground while holding out his open right hand. Closing it, he continues his dragging steps in that circle around us to the next quarter point. His open hand snaps closed as if trying to catch an insect. :What is he doing, Jes?: :Shh. I don't know.: When Shaman He-who-runs-up-mountains closes his circle and faces us again, strong clear words are uttered. Not unto our Father! It's like he's speaking to the air at chest level. A shaman's cant so I can't make out his words. It reminds me of a spell. Two old Siksika words were uttered that I could make out: 'Fireball Spirits'. Chris hasn't heard of Them before. It becomes silent. Not even the blowing of the wind in heard in my ears. Grandfather glares at Jesse again and at the man's gesture, walks forward to meet him at the circle's boundary. They embrace. Many words Pass between them but only a few are caught in my mind through my Connection to Jes. Something about remembering his ritual when there's snow on the ground. They part. The Power around us fades when grandfather claps his hands. Jesse steps backwards until he's at my side. I reach down for his left hand. "It is as I've Foreseen," says He-who-runs-up-mountains. "When the Flower Moon comes, a boy of my choosing will blossom into manhood. This new one will be filled from the Old. He will walk forward with one foot firmly on our Mother while his other foot rises on a moon beam. His left hand pledged. His right hand to serve the People." "Very well," answers Jesse. That's grandfather's vision for Jesse! The 'Flower Moon' is this month of May where my lover has come into his manhood. Good-eyes fills him from the Old. My Connection to Jes keeps him grounded when he Spirit Walks. We will pledge ourselves to each other in a few Saturdays. Jes-ee-ah is grandfather's chosen one to serve the People as shaman after him. I'm noticing eyes on me. Am I expected to say something as well? Jesse tightens his grip around my hand. He-who-runs-up-mountains lifts his right hand in farewell. "Go now, my grandsons. Until you visit my lodge again, I will think of you." We're raising our right hands to grandfather in a return gesture. The old man turns away and walks into the cabin. I'm facing Jesse with questions bursting inside of me. I Think to him my first one. :What does he want you to do when there's snow on the ground?: I'm Sensing surprise from my lover. He manages to guard his face but I know that my asking has startled him. "I'll tell you later." Before I can ask my other questions, Jesse abruptly turns to our horse. His thoughts are guarded from me along with his emotions. He's desperately trying to hide something from me - what his grandfather had Said to him in secret. It must be a shaman concern so I'll honor my promise not to press my lover about it. "Will you drive?" asks Jesse. I'm smiling behind my lover's back. "Sure. Do you have the keys?" We're both laughing. My left foot is set in the stirrup (leather, not metal!) and with a leaping jump, I manage to mount the horse on my first try. Oh. Jesse's hands had given my butt a helping push. He lifts the reins up to me with a bright grin. "I think you start it with these," says Jesse. We laugh again. I wield the horse's reins in my right hand. My eyes are all over Jesse from my vantage point where I can admire him from head to foot. Such a cute looking Indian! I'm seeing a lot of brown skin by his lack of shirt or wearing pants. His two deerskin flaps cover the more interesting parts to his body. Black ash dyed moccasins cover his feet. I reach my hand down and lift him up before me. "You're pretty strong," comments Jesse. I'm surprised too. Jes only took a small leap and pulled on the horse's mane. I take the reins in both hands, tugging, and give Rebecca a kick. She starts walking towards the cabin. My right hand eases on the rein to get her turning left towards the vast open prairie. I resist the urge to kick her into a trot. Jes should be behind and holding onto me if we were to go at a run. There's no hurry. We don't have a destination or schedule to keep on our honeymoon. Only to be back here by Friday. My arms lower to Jesse's thighs and snuggle around his waist to offer him some support. I feel the straining to his legs around the horse. Both his hands are clutching her withers in a vice grip. :Relax, Jes.: :I don't want to fall off!: :You won't. I'm keeping her down to a walk.: Jesse's fright surprises me. :You've ridden a horse many times before.: :Not without a saddle horn to hold onto.: :I mean... your former self. He taught me how to ride Indian fashion with only a blanket under me. It's just a matter of balance.: As Mike, I'd be posting to the horse's strides. That's English style riding. I'm not gonna with Jesse in front of me. Chris learned how to grip a horse with his thighs and direct it with knee presses. In battle where hands are needed to hold a weapon and shield, a horse couldn't be directed by its reins. :Can you Draw upon Good-eyes' memories to ride a horse?: :Sure.: We're climbing up a hill. Rebecca surges forward with her powerful legs to reach the summit. I'm forming an 'o' with my fingers to release the horse's reins while reserving control of them. Jesse is still scared. My arms go around him with my loose fists crossing over his belly. He can't seem to concentrate on Delving inside himself for Good-eyes. At the top of this hill, I stop the mare. We're granted a view of the grasslands before us. There's a steep hill to our right that my former self recognizes. I had pointed it out to One-white-horse when we first met and he confirmed that a spring still runs strong there. As I'm about to ask Jes about the view, I Sense him going deep inside himself. His earlier fright fades. Good-eyes and him are having a Talk. It's difficult to Draw upon his former self since they haven't Merged. I don't want him to! Jesse would lose himself utterly to that old man inside him. I've Merged with Chris. He was younger than me so his life's experiences only added to my own without overwhelming who I was as Mike. We think as one. Being able to ride this horse comes naturally to me. Jes has to concentrate on Good-eyes' memories to do likewise. I'm giving him that chance now. The sun is beating down on us. My shoulders feel it especially and I'm realizing that I'll be given a red face before the day is out. My arms will also likely sunburn. I look up, noting that it's a few hours to Noon. This day will only grow hotter. Man! How could I have forgotten to bring suntan lotion? Jesse is wearing less clothing than me so I hope that his brown skin will offer him some protection. :I've got it now,: Sends Jesse. :Loosen your hold of the reins, love.: I'm doing so reluctantly. My fingers can tighten around them in an instant and regain control of our horse if need be. Jes clucks to the mare and kicks her. We start heading down the other side of this hill. With a knee press, my lover is directing Rebecca to the right. He's got it! Good-eyes was a good horseman and that skill has Passed to Jesse. Sure beats having to take lots of riding lessons. When we reach level ground, I notice that steep hill again. Jesse seems to be heading for it. :Are you taking us to Buffalo Watch?: :You know that hill?: Asks Jesse, startled. :Of course. Owopspec and I have been there before. Remember? We can cool our heels in the spring and I'm gonna get clay to cover my face and shoulders so they won't burn in the sun.: Jes doesn't Answer me. He continues to make towards Buffalo Watch in the distance that at our horse's walk will likely take an hour. We're in no rush. The zing-zing of grasshoppers fill my ears. I breath in the smells of the prairie: flowers, grass and sage brush. Jesse's back presses onto my chest. I'm Feeling his excitement by having my body hair rubbing against him. My face lowers to his right shoulder. I'm kissing him there, mouthing the salty sweat of his skin and smelling him. My cock grows stiff in my pants. :I'm feeling something back there,: teases Jesse. I buck forward and laugh. :Chris had gotten hard when he felt Owopspec's naked butt rubbing against him.: Jes Delves within himself for that memory. :My former self remembers lots of times when Chris got excited as they rode together.: :I'm referring to our first ride after escaping the fort.: Jesse giggles. :It was the only time that Owopspec denied your 'need'.: :Not for long, though. When he was off covering our tracks by the river, Chris took a pee that led him to jerking off. Owopspec came back and saw. He gave me his butt for the first time and made a man out of me.: Jes doesn't comment. We continue riding towards Buffalo Watch Hill. I wonder why he's headed there? The spring is too cold to enjoy a soaking and we're not in need of water. My lover leans forward, removing his rear flap. I look over his smooth brown cheeks with lust. When he straightens up, my groin presses against his naked butt. That gets my cock tingling. I bring Jesse into my lap and tighten my arms around him. He's taken hold of the reins to free my hands. I'm using them to feel over his slim chest, my left hand lowering down his stomach to reach into his front flap. Yup. He's hard in there. :That feels good, love.: I'm stroking over my lover's foreskin. He moans, humping his ass in my lap for my own pleasure. That has me wishing we were both naked. I'd like to fuck him right now on this horse. :Remembering what happened at Many Frogs Pond?: Asks Jesse. :Yeah.: I'm Feeling embarrassment from my lover for something kinky his former self had done with me. After our swim, Owopspec wanted me to fuck him (he had a hot ass!) but instead of doing it standing, on our knees or laying over his back, we mounted his horse without even a blanket beneath us. It was very sensual to be sitting naked on a naked horse. Owopspec leaned forward so I could mount him 'bare back'. Our fucking was enhanced by the horse's gait. My thrusts came of their own by that rolling motion. After I came, the horse's trot was like a sweet torture for my cock. Owopspec didn't return to the pond until my 'ride' in his ass resulted in yet another release for me. :Jes. You're not wanting to 'torture' me like Owopspec did, are you?: :Keep your pants on, love. I was mentioning Many Frogs Pond because of what happened during their ride back to camp.: I remember. We came across a blue-coat scout who was startled to see a white boy riding with an Indian. Butt naked at that. His curiosity got the better of him. Instead of attacking or galloping off, he made a peace gesture that Owopspec honored. We talked. Chris did because that half breed scout didn't know Siksika. He asked me who I was, what I was doing with an Indian warrior and all that. Chris told the scout that his heart had been captured by the warrior in his arms and he didn't want to be 'rescued'. I remember the disgust in that man's face. Chris stuck out his tongue at him and urged Owopspec to ride on. We never saw that scout again though I'm sure he told others of that crazy white boy. Jes keeps looking off to his left. I'm not seeing anything. After putting a hand to my brow to block the sunlight, I see someone in the distance. :Maybe it's that scout,: Says Jesse. :Do you want me to head for him so you can beg to be rescued from your Indian captor?: I'm laughing. :I didn't that last time.: :That was pretty bold of Chris to admit he was gay in that day and age.: :Yeah. White folks didn't even have a word to describe male love then. Not unless it was 'pervert', 'weird' or some other bad term. Chris had called it 'Indian love'.: :My People are more tolerant of individual freedoms and expression so long as a human being doesn't harm others in the tribe or break taboo, he was allowed to do what he wanted. Owopspec wasn't shamed to give himself to the needing men in his tribe.: :I'm glad that he didn't wear a dress for acting 'female' that way.: :Good-eyes was two spirited, love. That's different from cross dressers who didn't express the front part of their bodies as men. My People accepted that gender role change. It was difficult for them to understand how as a warrior, Good-eyes allowed himself to be used like a squaw.: :They knew he was being a man with Chris by laying over his back.: :Yes. But he was a boy and White skinned at that.: :Would their views have changed if I were a full grown man? Chris had been initiated as a brave of the People. That's considered a man.: :But an unproven one, love. Not until an eagle's feather was won by counting coup or killing an enemy in battle. Chris hadn't.: :Only because my life was cut short.: That memory is very grim. Chris had been raped by Eli Kie who cut his throat afterwards. :If I'd been given the chance, I'd have proven myself a man even if that meant doing battle against my White folk. Maybe then, the People would have accepted me as one of them. Taking Shirt-for-man for my wife and giving her a child failed to do that.: :I know, love.: Jesse looks back over his shoulder into the distance. I'm wondering who that was intruding on One-white-horse's land. If we weren't dressed so silly, I'd turn our horse to find out. My hand notes my lover's 'thing' getting soft. My cock is still rock hard from his ass rolling in my lap. I want to fuck him bad. :You'll get your chance soon, love.: I release a lusty sigh. Jesse yells out and kicks Rebecca into a gallop. We're flying over the prairie. I'm holding onto him so we won't fall off. After a while, I manage to relax, confident in my lover's ability to ride a horse as his former self had done. That steep hill draws nearer. I hope that my cock can still perform after getting pounded by Jesse's butt. They were soft blows, too quick to get me to cum because of the horse's fast gait. Jesse slows our mount to a walk. I relax my arms around him and press my face into his sweaty neck. Kisses. He moans in response. :Remember our first 'ride' together?: Asks Jesse. This is our first time on a horse. Oh. He means his former self and Chris. :Yeah... I remember.: I'm Feeling such lust from Jes to get my cock in his butt. He wants us to do it like that first time after escaping Fort Union. I'll play along. We ride around Buffalo Watch Hill and approach the spring. It's as I remember it: a small stream running swift through the prairie that begins at a dark outcropping of rock. Jesse... ah, I mean Owopspec is about to cross it so I prepare for our wet entry. At the last instant, my brave changes his mind by galloping back towards the hill instead. He stops within a stone's throw of it. After jumping to the ground, his bright eyes come to me for a moment then he goes to kick up the trodden grass with his feet to hide our passage. My eyes are glued to his brown ass when he walks to the stream. I dismount. There's no tree like before to tie up the reins so I tuck them under my arm. My shaken body fills with a familiar urging. I untie my crotch to free my long member to urinate. Its yellow stream flows from me to the grass. It feels good. When I'm finished, I rub over my dick to make it stiffen. Neat sensations dart through me with its rising. I release the straps about my shoulders to get my pants and undergarment to drop at my feet. A pair of moccasins and a rear flap lie nearby. They're Jesse's. I'm butt naked too at the moment. My left hand reaches back to fondle my cheeks while beating off. It reminds me of touching butts with that fur trader Mister Telson when we shared a bed at the fort. He'd shown Chris how good it felt to pull over his dick. That man is long dead. Owopspec had scalped him for raping me outside of the Indian camp. Mr. Telson had come from the fort with the six buffalo hides left at the gate Owopspec had 'traded' for me. My Indian brave refused their return to him since I didn't want to return to Fort Union. Mr. Telson managed it anyway. That took a blow to my head, knocking my unconscious. I woke up in the dark and endured that man raping me. Chris had thought it was Owopspec laying over his back. Getting fucked was uncomfortable for him and a bit painful but he endured it for his lover. The boy realized his ass was seeded when he heard the man's satisfying moan at his neck. A voice had whispered, 'It felt good... Indian love. Kinda like I imagined it would, Chris. Have many of them savages stuck into you?' That's when my former self realized it wasn't his Indian brave on top of him. The man's words had been in English. Chris cried out in betrayal for being raped by Mr. Telson. The man ran fingers through the boy's hair while he spoke words of love. Chris shuddered at the sickening feeling. Lust had been forced upon him and filled his insides. He hated the trader for what he'd done! While trying to free his butt hole from the man's throbbing manhood inside it, the terrible pain in his head made him lose consciousness. That had been a mean blow to the boy's head earlier by Mr. Telson to subdue him, allow his escape from Owopspec's camp. :Remembering the bad parts in Krist-o-fer's life?: scolds Jesse. I look around for my lover but he's hidden from sight by the tall grass. :Sorry. Mr. Telson had taken away my virginity when it should have been given to Owopspec.: :That White man didn't take your heart though.: :You're right. I'm glad that Owopspec stole me back from the fort (again) and scalped Mr. Telson for his vile deed committed on my person. I was comforted to see it hanging from a hoop stuck in the ground outside our tipi when I was back in my brave's arms.: :You'll be in my arms soon, love.: That gets my cock tingling. We're gonna relive our first mating. I look down at my pants and undergarment dropped around my ankles. My cock has grown soft. I'm taking it in hand again and picture Owopspec as I'd first seen him at the fort. He'd come to guard over his father having his portrait painted by Mr. Catlin. That aged chief was clad in a colorful shirt of feathers and quills. His legs covered in elk leggings. Around his shoulders was a bulky ceremonial buffalo robe. A short bow with four arrows lay in his cracked hands. Face paint of red and white made him look fierce. Mr. Catlin was so busy getting him down on his canvas that he hadn't noticed that I was there. My eyes went to the brave standing guard. He was much younger than the chief; only four or five years older than me. His dark body revealed much to my eyes. The brave was bare chested, bare armed, and even his butt was bared! I was excited to see the brave uncovered there. My eyes looked over his smooth lean cheeks and admired his boldness. Chris had heard some interesting things about Indian braves making love. He'd thought that his bared rear end meant that he also liked men. When Chris circled around the brave, he noticed a slim thong hanging down his butt crack. It accented his rear nakedness. A flap of hide covered him in front. The boy supposed that even in the heat, Indians couldn't go about fully naked. Where the brave had allowed the sun to touch his skin had become a nice color. It gave his body a dark, beautiful appearance. Christopher's back and arms had tanned from not wearing a shirt. He was even marked by two pale lines left by his overall's shoulder straps. The boy's butt was still very white from being hid inside his pants. It would have been too bold to go about uncovered there as the Indian brave. Chris dared to look over the half naked brave. He liked how his black hair was long. A worthy quality in a savage. The boy's blond hair was of some length though not as long as the brave's kept from boyhood. It flowed down past his shoulders to well muscled arms and chest. Even the man's legs were strong down to his bare feet. The dark eyes of the brave finally noticed Chris and glared hard. The boy returned that stare by peering boldly into the man's eyes. His face was unreadable. Yet his fierce stance was telling of his Indian savageness and secret ways. That inner darkness haunted Chris bad. After a few heartbeats, the boy was forced to look away. A deep swirling in his stomach stole his breath away. All from playing the Indian man's staring game. I'm smiling to myself. Chris hadn't been shy when it came to staring at that half naked Indian brave. The two went off to... well. That's another sweet memory I'll not relive right now. Jes and I want to play out what happened in those first hours after escaping the fort the next day. Owopspec had gone to the river to rub out their horse's returning tracks with a branch. That way, the pursuing soldiers would think we'd crossed over to the other side instead of coming back to the forest. Chris was taking a pee in the meanwhile. That led to pulling over his dick and Owopspec had caught him. Jesse walks up to me. A breath catches in my throat since he does look very much like Owopspec did to Chris. Long black hair. A brown face so filled with emotion - his obvious love for me. My heart burst with love for him! I'm letting go of my dick in embarrassment (not really but Chris was embarrassed that got his face burning. Owopspec's face was painted up with green paint.) My hard dick is eyed and the naughty hand resting beside it. A smile from Jes answers my naked act. Things happen quickly. Jesse steps in front of me between our horse, his warm back brushing against my chest with his butt sticking out. I know what my lover is offering me but Chris only suspected that his brave wanted to get his dick into his ass. He was sure when Owopspec spat to his fingers to wet his hole and even stuck a finger inside. Jes does the same. Then he backs onto my erection. It slips through his sweaty cheeks and into him. A sharp thrill comes from the tip of my cock. It's pushing through a tight warm place in his butt. Chris realized that was how 'Indian love' was performed - to be mounted like a squaw. He'd never fucked anyone before. No woman or girl had ever interested the boy let alone gave him the opportunity. His Indian brave wanted him to rape him. He didn't know if he could perform in a man's way. I don't have any doubts. When Jes lets me fuck him, I released as a man whereas before, I'd been rubbing my dick between my thighs in a lone boyish act. A warmth swallows me. Deeper and deeper I slide into the man's heated slipperiness that Chris wondered how far his dick would be allowed to go into Owopspec's asshole. When his balls pressed up against the man's brown cheeks, he realized that their bodies were one. Jes takes the horse's reins from me and with my hands free, I grab onto his hips. His left hand reaches back to pull over my butt. Chris no longer had any doubt that the Indian wanted to be taken by him. I'm pushing on Jesse's hips. That gets my cock slipping out a ways from his asshole that seems to be sucking on it. My quick thrust back into him yields to my penetration. My balls slap wonderfully outside. Pulling from him again, I feel tremendous thrills building up in my cock. Chris thought it was such a lusty thing the Indian brave allowed him to do. A slow rhythm begins in this tight butt. Chris had smiled to himself for making love like the savage Indians. Back at the fort, he'd asked Mr. Telson to try 'Indian love' with him but the man said it was too savage an act to do on a kid. Chris had seen the size of that man's cock. It probably wouldn't have fit in his small hole anyway, he thought. Owopspec had an experienced butt for this kind of thing. My butt is urgently pulled on. My cock is forced deeper in this Indian who wiggles his butt to enhance my thrills. Chris had kept himself slow so as to not hurt Owopspec any. He'd been amazed that a long cock could fit into a man's asshole, even his boy sized dick. Jes likes to get his plowed. Ron's cock was much bigger than mine when he'd 'broken him in' to fucking. The brave's hands asked Chris to go faster. He thrust hard into the man after fingers dug painfully into his cheeks. The boy pulled out a ways, those strong hands over his butt pulling on him to drive his dick back inside the Indian man. Chris swung his hips until his pace was frenzied. Tremendous thrills in his dick came from that new way of making love. Breaths raced though the kid's mouth. He closed his eyes when it became too intense. I'm fucking Jesse's ass hard. This isn't a new experience for me just as Owopspec getting fucked by a man or boy wasn't anything new to him. :I showed you how to fuck when we were in the garage,: Sends Jesse. :Your first experience with 'Indian love' as Owopspec had given Chris.: :Yeah. I'd been amazed that you let me. It didn't hurt you because I wasn't the first to stick in your ass. Ron had. Lots of times, huh?: He doesn't Answer me. I know that horny bastard had done Jes whenever Running Water wasn't there to satisfy him. Jesse is grunting out from my more savage stabs. Owopspec did too when Chris fucked him good and hard. That had given the boy a sense of pride for taking that wild Indian in the butt. Once Chris had the hang of it, he pulled Owopspec's hands off his butt. Free of their guidance, the boy stabbed faster into that man's hole. Such intense sensations surged through his dick like how my cock is feeling now from giving my all to Jesse. He leans over the horse and wails out more loudly. My weight presses fully onto his sweaty body. I'm feeling close to fulfilling my manhood in his butt. :Give it to me, love!: I squirt into him. Christopher had cried out at his ending to announce to the whole forest how much he loved the young brave in his arms. He thrust up his asshole until all his seed had been given. Such intense thrills! Even when his loins had no more to give, he kept pushing through the man's hot tight place like I am in Jesse's butt hole. It feels good to be in his body with my slow, ending thrusts. Chris clung to Owopspec's sweaty back to rest afterwards. My hands lift to cling to Jesse's shoulders while I'm catching my breath. He waits until I'm recovered from our mating. Our horse doesn't, walking forward in search of more grass to nibble on. Jes tugs on her reins. Rebecca turns towards him with her big eyes looking at us. That makes me become self conscious. I'm pulling out of my lover. A sticky strand of cum connects us. It breaks and falls onto his sweaty cheeks. Chris thought it strange that he'd never thought to stick through a man's butt before. The act was similar to what he'd heard about a man sticking in a woman's front opening when making love. "Dumb horse," mutters Jesse. I'm laughing. "She hasn't been trained like Owopspec's mount to stay put while he's getting fucked and holding onto her." Rebecca nudges her big nose into Jesse's stomach. It tickles him. "Maybe she sees that bulge in your front flap and wants you to 'ride' her," I tease. "No way. Not only is this a horse but a girl one at that!" "Haven't you ever fantasized about raping a stallion's asshole?" I ask. "No. Have you?" I'm laughing nervously. "No. But I have wondered what it would be like to crouch under his belly to get his long dong up my butt." "Your hole would get split in two! A stallion's cock is huge. Long, too." "I'm sure that some guy has gotten a horse to fuck him. Likely after his asshole was loosened some and made slippery from men preparing him for such a bestial act." "Too kinky for me, love." Jesse tucks the horse's reins under his arm and turns to face me. We've both relived that first mating between our former selves. I've been satisfied but my lover hasn't. At least not from the front of his body that expresses his manhood. I reach my arms out to him for us to hug. Jes grabs my right hand instead, intending to lead me to the spring. "Wait, Jes!" It's difficult to walk with my pants and undergarment shucked down to my ankles. I struggle with pulling off my boots. He holds my hips to support me until they come off. My socks, too. In hand, my lover leads me through the tall grass that tickles my naked body. We become lost in an ocean of green and I'm reminded how much Chris liked that color. It spoke of the life in trees and plants. Owopspec had painted up his face with green and adorned his arms and legs with vines. He'd wrapped one around my arm after I fucked him. Jesse stops short of the spring. He releases my hand and leans over to pick something up from the ground. My eyes go to his brown butt. I've put my love seed in him there as Chris did to Owopspec. When I'm about to reach out to fondle my lover's cheeks, he stands up and turns to me with a grin. In his hands are two ringlets of woven grass. "Brave Bad-eyes had performed a male bonding ritual with Chris." I'm nodding in fond remembrance. That's what Jesse was up to while I remained with the horse. He slips a grass ringlet up his left arm then slips one up my arm until it's snug. "No face paint?" I half mutter to myself. "Fresh out, love." Owopspec's face had been painted green and he took some to mark up Christopher's face in their bonding ritual. We're not reliving that moment exactly as it was. Oh, well. Jesse's expression turns serious after picking up on my thoughts. "This is our honeymoon that our former selves just happen to be coming along on. It was nice reliving Bad-eyes giving his butt to Chris that first time and I've woven grass ringlets for us to wear. It's not the vines they wore. Nor do I have my face painted like he did to mark up your face. Sorry." "No. I'm sorry for having thought badly." Jesse slowly nods. He takes my hand and leads me to the spring. I've noticed how moody my lover has been since we left One-white-horse's cabin. When we reach the stream, Jes pulls me into the water. Man! It is cold! "Your body is going to burn up in the sun, love." "My feet are freezing!" I'm already regretting them words out my mouth. Jesse reaches into the water. He draws up clay and covers my shoulders with it. I peer into his eyes, seeing that he's forgiven me. More dark clay is brought up to my shoulders. He takes some to my face. I'm closing my eyes while my nose, cheeks and forehead are covered. He's giggling. "No more pale face," says Jesse in stuttered Injun English. I'm laughing too. "The rest of me is still White." I look down at my hairy chest and the pale color to my hips and groin. I'm sure that my butt is very white when compared to my arms that's been tanned by the sun. "More clay can take care of that, love. Then you'll be brown like me." We both know that he's only kidding. That's part of why Jesse loves me so much - because I am a white guy. I'm attracted to his Indian brown. A very smooth body while mine is hairy. We both relish these differences in each other. Jes rinses his hands in the stream. He's kept on his front flap and when I peer there, don't see a bulge. His dick has grown soft. Owopspec had satisfied himself in Christopher's arms after the boy had fucked him. I've noticed that Jes doesn't always get his dick off after I have. My lover turns to me with a plain face. Is he mad for picking up on my thoughts just now? Oh. He's studying my covered face. "You did a good job. Owopspec was often tending to Chris because his body was so pale." Jesse nods. "Your former self eventually tanned enough so clay wasn't needed anymore." "His face still needed protection from the sun." Christopher's body had turned brown but not as dark as the rest of the People. His pale face always reminded them that he was still a White. "The water is really cold," mutters Jesse. We're getting out of the stream. I'm taken in hand back to the horse who has to be tracked down since she's wandered off from where we've left her. "It's not good leaving our mount to roam free. We should have stake tied her." That's a mistake neither Owopspec nor Chris would have made. Jesse is looking around for a place to tie up Rebecca. He wants to linger by the hill for a while, probably lay down with me and make love. That gets my cock tingling. After a search in the grass, we can't find anything to secure our mount's reins. No bush or rocks. A thought strikes me. "Hey... Let's check the saddlebags. One-white-horse would have provided us with something to tie our mount up at night don't you think?" "Or during our brief stops during the day," adds Jesse. He smiles slyly. "Yeah." I'm Sensing my lover's excitement to get back into my arms but we have a horse to deal with first. Jes and I look through the saddlebags. Beef jerky is found wrapped in brown paper. A lot more food than we could possibly eat in three days. I come across a woolen shirt. It looks to be my size and that gets me smiling in gratitude for One-white-horse's thoughtfulness. He's also provided me with an extra pair of socks. As I'm about to go through the other saddlebag, Jesse calls out. "I've found some thong." Jes shows me and I realize that they're replacement reins for the horse. He pulls out a wide band of leather from the sack. My eyes light up. "We can use that to hobble our mount." He hands it over to me. Yup. This was meant to secure a horse's legs when its reins couldn't be secured to something out in the plains. After stroking over Rebecca's chest to soothe her, my hand runs down her front left leg which lifts. I wrap the leather band around both her legs and tie it closed. Jesse has tasked himself to unburdening her. Sacks, saddlebags, rope, the water skin and our bedroll are dropped to the ground. "Ah. Keep her saddle on." "I was planning to. We'll remove it only at night." I'm grabbing the bedroll and spread it out over the ground. Grass is flattened beneath that will serve as a cushion. Jesse smiles at me. He unties his thong belt that drops his front flap to his feet. My eyes run down his lean brown body. A flat stomach. He bears a small tuft of black hair on his groin. His dick is lifting from a small clutch of balls. I go to him, my arms opening for an embrace. "Oh, Short Hair!" We're holding each other really close. To feel the warmth of his nakedness against mine is much more than bodily pleasure. At this moment, we're utterly together. Thoughts and emotion Pass between us all the time but we also need that physical connection. I'm often aching to hold my lover. He does, too. We can't when in public like a regular couple 'cause most people don't like seeing two guys doing it. :No one is around now, love.: My heart bursts for finally getting away on a honeymoon! No distractions. Just him and me. We're gonna have three days to get to know each other better and with lots of love making whenever the mood strikes us. Like now. I feel Jes rubbing against me. His dick has grown to full length so I'm lowering my hands to his butt, pulling on it to mash our groins together. He's moaning. :Do you want to lay over the bedroll?: :Not yet.: Jes is satisfied to release in my arms. I'd suggested laying down so he could fuck me. He's got a wet ass. My fingers slipping between his cheeks feel that and I know that having cum in his hole enhances the thrills from the front part of his body. He's expressing himself as a man right now. From behind, I've already pleasured his squawness. That's what it means to be two spirited - giving his butt to needing men and satisfying them. I have too. Running Water's big cock has stuck in my ass. He also plays the squaw for me. I'm still in awe that gay guys can perform both sex roles with their bodies. I welcome my lover's need to simply belly rub. That's his preferred way to release himself so we can face each other and kiss. Incoming! His lips press against mine and move with such hunger. It's getting my cock really hard. Jes warns me to keep a grip of his butt and I do, his long arms reaching up to grip my shoulders. He leaps onto me. I'm struggling to hold his weight by spreading my feet over the ground. His butt is slippery in my hands. More frantic kisses. Jesse has wrapped his legs around my butt with a rhythmic tightening and loosening to them while he thrusts. I endure his love blows. Such passion in my lover! I'm glad that he's acting as a man in my arms after being my squaw earlier. :Am I too heavy?: Asks Jesse with concern. :No. You're as light as a feather.: My hands are often losing their grip of his wiggly butt. He's clinging to me like a leach so there's no chance I'll drop him. I'm able to bear his weight. Our sweaty chests rub while below, our cocks do battle with quick stabs and that occasional long lusty thrust. It feels so good. Joy bursts in my heart to offer my lover pleasure. He's rushing to come out instead of trying to prolong his thrills. I can hold him 'till forever and day. I'm Feeling Jes getting close to it. He ends our kisses to breathe through his mouth. My own thrills are getting intense by stabbing back with my cock. We Share our male joy. It builds to that expected explosion where we cum. Jesse's boyish high-pitched cries join my low grunts. Heavy squirts to our bellies. Ahhhh! So sweet. My arms notice their fatigue so I'm walking over to the bedroll, carefully dropping to my knees over it. Jes falls onto his back. I'm quick to cover him like a blanket. "Our love... making gets better... and better!" gasps Jesse. "Yeah." I wanted to kiss him but we're both out of breath. The sharp scent of cum fills my nose. It covers our heaving bellies, mingling seed coming from an Indian and a White. The thought of it gives me a sense of completion. Jes turns us onto our sides so I use that momentum to bring him on top of me. We're still breathing hard. I relish his weight over me with my hands all over his back and reaching low for his wet butt. He has me inside him. :I wish that I could bear your child, love.: I'm struck odd by his words. :It's better that you can't, my love. I don't want to share our lives with a baby as selfish as that sounds.: Just him and me. I'm glad that we're both guys. :We may not bring a child into the world but still bear the responsibility to help raise boys.: I get Jesse's meaning. We've helped Simon with being gay and when Jake is ready to accept that about himself, we'll raise him towards manhood. At least they're not needing diaper changes, bottle feeding late in the night and all that crying. We get 'em mostly grown up. I'm given a kiss. I respond, sticking my tongue into Jesse's mouth which he sucks on. We're able to breathe through our noses again after taking that brief rest. My cock tingles. Man! I've already come out from fucking him and our wild belly rub. Do I have any sperm left in my balls? :Let's find out, love.: :You're too much!: We continue to kiss but our bodies remain still. The sun is hurting my eyes. I'm burying my face in Jesse's long hair. :Later, can you braid it for me?: :If you want.: I'd rather have Jes wear it long and loose. He knows this. :It's going to frizz up in the heat. If you don't braid it for me, I'll look like a witch in a few days. Do you want people to see you marrying a hag next Saturday?: :I don't care what they think, Jes.: :But I do, love. My mom's not here so you'll have to take over that duty.: I'm releasing my breath in a huff. :Okay.: I turn Jesse onto his side. :Not now, love. I'd said later.: He did. I'm laughing when Jes sticks his tongue out at me. I rush to capture it in my mouth but he's withdrawn it back behind his lips. We end up kissing. Our noses press together in little kisses of their own. When he pulls back to catch his breath, I notice muddy smudges to his nose and part of his cheeks. Some must have rubbed off my face to his. It reminds me of Owopspec after he protected my face with clay. We'd kiss afterwards, some coming to his face. I'm rubbing mud off Jesse's face with a shy grin. He is very much like my past lover. There are differences in their behavior and bodily characteristics (Owopspec was more muscular and his cock thicker than Jesse's). That brave was greedy though. He kept two boys in his tipi. :Jes? Why did Bad-eyes take me from the fort to be with him?: :He loved you from the first moment he laid eyes on you.: I'm slowly nodding. :But he already had Wind-go-through-his-hair.: :Yes. That's so. Bad-eyes saw the longing in your eyes to be set free. Not so much to escape the fort but to free your spirit. He wanted you to have the chance to become a human being; not turn wicked and lost like he'd seen White folk become.: :He saved me.: Tears fill my eyes when I think back to all the happy moons Chris spent with his Indian lover. He had to learn how to speak again, live as one of the People and he even endured that grueling initiation to become a Blackfoot brave. Passing that test had made a man out of him. He wanted Owopspec to be proud. :Good-eyes was proud of Kris as I'm very proud of the progress you have made, Short Hair.: I wipe the tears from my eyes so as to appear strong for my lover. More questions come to mind. :Was Wind-go-through-his-hair jealous when I'd been brought to Owopspec's tipi?: Jesse shakes his head. :Bad-eyes explained why he did and the boy approved. Both their hearts were big enough to share a love with another.: :I can't say the same about me, ah... I mean Chris. When he figured out that Owopspec had that boy for a lover, it hurt his heart bad like he was being betrayed and only used for sex. That's why Chris ran from camp where Mr. Telson found him and knocked him unconscious.: :Bad-eyes tracked them back to the fort. He rescued Kris in spite of taking a shot to his arm.: I remember that. :It's a wonder that Owopspec bothered with me after all the trouble I'd caused.: Jesse smiles. :He loved Kris and wanted to save him.: :He did. I wouldn't have traded those three years I'd spent with him as a human being for a longer life as a White.: My lover kisses me. We both hope that we'll grow old together in our second chance at life. :You do have freckles, love.: Huh? Jesse touches the muddy splotches over my cheeks and giggles. :Wind-go-through-his-hair was a bit jealous of Kris in that regard.: :Really?: :He wished that he had freckles too since Bad-eyes liked that a lot about Krist-o-fer's face. Wind-go-through-his-hair's face was brown like all the other boys in camp.: Another question pops into my head. :On Christopher's first morning in camp, Owopspec's father had greeted him. He gave me a front flap to cover my loins. Did he know that his son had taken me from the fort to become his second lover then?: :Yes. He thought that six buffalo hides was a big price to pay for a White boy. He'd scolded bad-eyes.: :For wanting boys?: I Ask. :No, silly. For making such a bad trade. He thought the guards would have accepted two or three hides for you.: Jesse giggles. I'm amazed that Owopspec's father was so accepting of his son's spirit. He was the first warrior in camp to befriend Chris. Many others distrusted him. Even up to his death when Eli Kie murdered him, none told Owopspec who'd done the deed even if they suspected who it was. I force myself to think about more pleasant things. Another question comes to mind. :Can you tell me why Owopspec...: :Do you have any questions for me?: Asks Jesse. :That's one reason why we're on our honeymoon. To get to know each other better now that we've got the chance.: I'm chastised by my lover's scolding. "Yeah. I have a question for you." Jesse's glaring softens. "Why do you put up with me?" That has him smiling. He gives me a tender kiss and Answers me. :In spite of being a pain in the ass, you have a good heart for a White skin.: Jesse reaches back to rub over his butt to feign it paining him. :I thought you liked getting it in the ass.: We're both laughing. Jes turns serious. He grasps the side of my face and peers deep into my eyes. :That first night we met, I Looked inside you when we sat next to each other in my mom's truck. You wished that your shirt wasn't long sleeved so that our bare skin could touch. I wanted that too, to feel your arm hair against me. You holding my knee was exciting. I'd Felt your excitement and my dick was erecting like yours.: Jesse sighs. :Beyond the physical attraction, I was very much taken by your gentle heart. You longed for love from any Indian man who'd come your way and I wanted to be the first! I longed for a white guy like my uncle had by being with Ron. I feared you wouldn't want me though because of my... problems that had me acting like a kid. I hoped to see you again to prove that I could be a man in your arms. Mom invited you for dinner so I was given that chance.: :I'm glad that she did. Otherwise, I might have gone for Running Water.: :I know that but he'd already been given his chance at love and was with Ron for six years so it was my turn! You were mine.: I'm surprised that Jesse was so possessive. It's something I didn't know about him until now. I try coming up with another question to ask. :What's your favorite color?: :White.: Hmm. Not green as I was suspecting. :Why that color?: Oh. Maybe because he likes white guys. :The walls in my room are painted white. I felt safe there, alone, where People weren't around to give me funny looks. They knew I was autistic and felt sorry for me. How I hated that!: :My favorite color is blue. I think that's because the Starship Enterprise was that color but it could also be because I'm often looking up at the sky.: Jesse joins me in looking up. The waning moon is nearly at its quarter. No clouds. Montana is known as 'big sky country' and I can believe it. My lover rests his head against my chest. I'm glad to get him stop thinking about being autistic. He's not anymore. I can imagine how hard it was for him to know what people thought and feeling sorry for him. :I can hear your heart beating.: :What's it saying?: Jesse listens for a long moment. :Good things. Remember how mom and Running Water watched us beating on our drums before the meeting?: I was in awe of how well we played together. It was the first time that I'd picked up an Indian drum. They heard the love in our hearts for each other though Winna didn't realize it at the time. I think Running Water did. He knew I was in love already and that's why he couldn't win my heart when he tried to. I'm glad that he accepted my feelings for Jesse when he found out and not get mad or jealous because of it. :Running Water did win your heart after all.: Jes Peeked in my head just now. :Hey!: :Your thoughts, love. So loud.: He's always using that excuse but it's true. When I forget to guard my thoughts, he's Peeking on them. :Running Water had messed things up when he tried having sex with me. Twice! I didn't know him then and thought he was a horny bastard for trying to jump me.: :You were attracted to him.: :Yeah. He was an Indian. But my heart had already been given to you even though we didn't have sex yet. That's why your uncle didn't have a chance.: :I'm glad. It was my turn to get a white guy.: :You had been with Ron.: I no longer feel anger towards that man. He made Jesse ready to love someone. Me. :Ron didn't love me,: Answers Jesse. :Not like he loved Running Water. I was like a kid brother to him. Someone to show what it meant to be gay and do stuff in bed.: 'Bed stuff' like fucking Jes. That man had taken advantage of my lover's innocence since he really was a kid back then. I wanted to get to know Jesse first before we had sex. That way if we weren't a good match it wouldn't have hurt him or me. Jes sure made that difficult to resist. He kept flinging himself at me like Running Water did. I was the inexperienced one. Innocent. Funny, that. Jesse could come out 'forward' while my dick proved too shy. I'd been beating off between my thighs for so long. It was in the garage on that morning we'd shoveled his mother's driveway that Jes made a man out of me. I fucked his butt. The feelings in our hearts for each other had already grown strong so it was the right moment to consummate our love. Not the place I'd imagined doing so. "Where are you, love?" I release a sharp breath through my nose. My thoughts had been guarded from him just now. :Just thinking about our first time in the garage.: :I'm sorry that it wasn't a romantic setting.: I kiss my lover's cheek. :Anywhere you and I can be together is romantic. In a garage, our bed, laying over a bedroll amongst the tall grass. Just so long as we're alone.: :We have three days to be alone together. Not unless you count a horse.: I'm looking around for Rebecca. When not finding her, I sit up in alarm. Jesse points out a spotted butt sticking through the tall grass on our left. :She must be hopping on her front legs in search of grass to eat. We really need to secure her reins.: "I'll look for a big rock or something around Buffalo Watch Hill." Jesse said that out loud. His feelings are also guarded from me. Why? "Can you pick up around here in the meanwhile?" Pick up what? Oh. Our clothes are scattered everywhere. I get to my feet and feel a coolness from my belly. A smile comes to my lips. I'll not wipe our cum from my body but wear it like proud war paint. When I'm turning to look for Jes, he's already nearly lost from sight through the tall grass. The last I see of him is his brown butt. With a weary sigh, I retrace our steps towards the spring. There's my overalls, undergarment, socks and black boots. In a rounded circle back to where we'd dismounted, I find Jesse's moccasins and his rear flap. All this stuff is piled up in my arms. I'm returning to 'camp'. Rebecca has wandered farther away so I drop everything to the bedroll and fetch her. After a contest of strength between us, the dumb horse turns in the right direction and follows me. I've since unhobbled her. Jesse's thong belt and front flap are scooped up from the ground. Near our bedroll, I'm securing Rebecca's front legs again. She hops a little. I roll my eyes in dismay but leave her be. She's lowering her mouth down to munch on grass. I'll keep an eye on her until Jesse's return. Hmm. Where is he? :Jes?: :I'm alright, love.: :Have you found a big rock or heavy branch to secure Rebecca with?: :Not yet.: :If it's too heavy for you, Call out. I'll help you carry it back.: :I will.: Jes breaks contact with me. It's a little startling; no thoughts or feelings are coming through from him. Why is he doing that? I drop what's in my hands to our bedroll. That accounts for all our clothing. My attention turns to the saddlebags and sacks Jesse removed from our horse. I'd found a woolen shirt for me to wear along with our food. He came across that extra set of reins and leather band to hobble Rebecca. What other treasures has One-white-horse provided us, I wonder? I'm going through the saddlebags again. Buried deep under our food and that woolen shirt, I find a small leather pouch. Sounds like there are coins in it. I'm spilling them out to the bedroll. Gold flashes in the sun. I fall to my knees to examine my unusual find. They're old coins! A woman's portrait is depicted on front. Stars in a circle around her. The gold coins vary in sizes as small as the tip of my thumb to covering my palm. Really heavy pieces. I'm looking at the reverse which depicts an eagle. That's where I read the denomination. Were these left forgotten in One-white-horse's saddlebag? In spite of the coins' bad condition, they are valuable for being gold. I count up $800 in face value from the one, five, ten, and twenty dollar pieces. They all bear dates in the 1880's. Not collector's specimens from being scratched, notched and terribly worn. I know that paper money is more valuable to collectors because it's more rare for not being resilient like coins when they wear down to confetti through the years. A slip of parchment tucked inside the leather pouch catches my eye. I'm unfolding it, seeing that it's a hand drawn map. Not much detail. There's a symbol for the rising sun along one edge. That gives me a compass orientation for east. A dotted line goes south that becomes solid when it nears a circle. 'Bull town' is written below it. The line heads west from there to an 'X'. 'Ice Mountin' is written to describe that location. Hmm. They misspelled that second word. I'm noticing lots of squiggly lines on the map. They remind me of rivers by the way they branch off. Hmm. I'm presented with a puzzle. Why was this coin pouch left inside One-white-horse's saddlebag? Surely, it wasn't meant for us. Does the map lead to buried treasure at Ice Mountain? There's not enough detail to find where 'X' marks the spot. :Hey, Jes. When you gonna get your butt back here?: I want to show him my unexpected find. No reply. I'm getting to my feet and start tracking his path through the tall grass with growing concern. Buffalo Watch Hill looms up menacingly before me. :I'll be back soon.: :Jes! I was worried when you didn't Answer me.: :Don't be. Have you found all our clothes?: :Yes. Rebecca keeps hopping away so we really need that rock. Haven't you found anything yet?: :No.: Jesse pauses from Saying anything for a long moment. :Love? I'm paying my respects at the hill. Please wait for me and I'll return shortly.: Contact is abruptly broken again. Yet this time, I Sensed the somber mood in my lover. For the dead? That's what I'm thinking and it explains why Jes wants to be alone, really alone with his thoughts and feelings. I'll chalk it up to being a shaman's concern where I've promised not to press him to tell me. Grandfather will be teaching him things that I cannot know. Tribal matters and sacred rites that isn't shared amongst non-shamans let alone a White skin like me. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of file: HONEYMO1.TXT The story continues in: HONEYMO2.TXT Folder: NEW-TO-LOVE-HONEYMOON