Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:27:44 -0700
From: Jon Hold <jonhold@earthlink.net>
Subject: Other Little House 27

Chapter 27
Heading Home


There was no glimmer of daylight in the window when I heard loud and
impatient knocking at our bedroom door. I was buried in the warm bedding
with Brent curled up around my back and really didn't want to move, much
less wake up. From behind me I felt more than heard Brent's sleepy voice,
"Who is it?"

The door opened and Sam came in, "It's Saturday morning. Oleg and Sven
want you guys to hurry up."

Brent got up on his elbow behind me. "Oh, hell. I forgot all about that.
Damn!"

"Come on. You guys better hurry or Oleg'll be in here with a bucket of
cold water.

Brent moved behind me and I realized that not only had he left himself
sticking inside me last night but that his morning erection was stuck to
my behind. I looked up from under the covers and there stood Sam with a
very interested expression on his face. Other than a towel over his
shoulder, the expression was all that he was wearing, his own piss
hard-on, if that's all it was, jutting out and pointing directly at
Brent and me. Brent put his hand on my hip and carefully unglued his
pubic hair from the cheeks of my fanny, and then withdrew his erection
from inside me, making us both groan. I blushed when I saw Sam's wide
open eyes. It was obvious that he knew exactly what had just transpired.
If there was any question in his mind at all, it was dispelled when Brent
threw the covers back and crawled out of bed over the top of me, his
glistening organ wagging in the breeze. Brent slapped me on the ass and
said, "Let's go sleepy-head."

I looked resentfully at Sam as I clambered out of bed, but he just
grinned at me and tossed his towel over my shoulder, grabbing another one
off the nightstand. "Come on, Jason, before I explode!" He grabbed my
hand and dragged me out the door. Quickly, we were running down the hall
headed for the outhouse, Brent ambling along behind us at a more
reasonable pace for the hour of the morning.

Sam and I were soon sitting next to each other in the outhouse, pissing
and shitting and moaning with how good it felt to relieve the pressure.
"This is just like being brothers, huh, Jase?" Sam said.

I tried to figure out how he could come up with something that stupid
this early in the morning. Then it dawned on me (even if the sun hadn't
yet) that he was right. This was just like being brothers, and that's
exactly what my feelings for Sam were. He was just like the brother I'd
always wanted but had never had. I looked at him searchingly, trying to
spot how he was trying to take advantage of me. All I could see was
hopeful eagerness that was quickly clouding with unease as Sam realized
how stupid he must have sounded and how disapproving I looked. A slow
smile spread across my face and I put my hand out. "Do you really want
to be like brothers, Sam?"

Bashfully now, Sam looked at me and then tentatively took my hand. "If
it's OK with you..." he stammered.

"I think you'd make a great brother, Sam." Both our faces grew big
grins and, sitting there in the outhouse we put our free arms around each
others shoulders and, laughing and giggling, gave each other huge hugs of
joy.

"Whenever you two are done congratulating each other, I'd really like
to get in there!" Startled, we looked up and saw Brent standing
impatiently in the door of the outhouse. We quickly wiped ourselves and,
laughing, pushed out past Brent, who just shook his head and went into
the now vacant outhouse.

Sam lead me over to the water pump and insisted that we wash off. I was
already cold from being naked in the early morning air and protested such
a stupid idea but Sam splashed cold water on me and insisted. Grumbling,
I gave in and hurriedly washed myself as Sam pumped for me, and then I
pumped for Sam while he washed himself all over.

I picked up my towel and started to dry off, but Sam told me not to and
grabbed my hand. He led me, running, around the side of the Livery and
showed me where to hang my towel up on some wooden pegs on the outside of
a shed built against the wall of the big building. I noticed that there
were already two towels on the pegs as Sam opened the door and beckoned
me inside.

I started getting the idea when I entered a small anteroom and Sam
carefully closed the outside door before opening the inside door.

A SAUNA! The first I'd seen since the whorehouse was destroyed in the
earthquake. I took a deep breath of the hot, dry air and swelled with the
pleasure I knew was coming. Sven and Oleg were sitting side by side on
the lower bench and I gave them a big smile. I spotted the water bucket
and bent over and got a dipper full of water that had pine needles
floating in it. I noticed that the bucket and dipper were made of fresh,
clean pine wood, just like the old black handyman had insisted. I poured
the water over the hot rocks and the steam and water vapor carried a wave
of fresh heat past and around me. I noticed that the rocks were held in
an tall iron rectangle with an ornate iron grill as a guard. I suddenly
realized that the heater for the sauna was the backplate of the forge on
the other side of the wall.

I turned and told Oleg that he was a genius to think of using the heat
from the forge to heat the sauna. He just got a big grin on his face and
helped me clamber up to the top bench alongside Sam. Sam handed me a
small face wiping towel and Brent came through the door, shaking cold
water off himself. He warmed up by the radiator and then sat down next to
Oleg. Sam and I leaned back against the wall, his legs between Sven and
Oleg and my legs between Oleg and Brent. Sam and I could hear the men's
deep voices as they talked but were too busy with our own getting to know
each other talk to pay any attention to them.

Sam and I were sweating freely and I was starting to feel really hot when
we both felt Oleg get up. We smiled and stood up in the space he'd
vacated. I looked bashfully at Sam but he just smiled and reached for me.
Youthful high spirits took over as we hugged each other and playfully
rubbed our sweat slickened bodies together. I felt Brent rub my back and
then pat my butt as he got up to join Oleg. The men started birching each
other and Sam and I quickly jumped down on the floor to join them. Oleg
seemed to have the best touch with the bundles of birch shoots, hitting
just exactly hard enough to stimulate the skin without actually hurting.
I was amazed at how sensitive the powerful man could be.

Laughing and joking, full of energy and feeling really good, we all
squeezed out through the two doors and walked across a short, raised
boardwalk to a large trough of clear, clean, cold water. One guy would
pour a bucket of cold water over another guys head while the other three
guys used their hands to wash away the sweat and dirt from the water
runneled body. Sam and I were going to pour water on each other, but the
older men wouldn't let us. They made sure that we had a chance to touch
each other, Sven making sure that me and Brent touched Sam all over and
cleaned especially carefully between his legs while Oleg poured water on
Sams long black hair and down his body. Brent made sure that Sam got a
good feel of me and I insisted that Sam clean Brent most carefully.

By the time we were all rinsed off, we were also starting to get cold,
rushing to get back inside the sauna, laughing and teasing, trying to
keep each other from getting inside while getting in ourselves. A bit
breathless and full of animal spirits, we all finally managed to get back
inside the sauna. We threw a couple more dippers of water on the hot
rocks and stretched and twisted while the hot air and steam warmed us
back up again.

Once we were sweating good again Sven grabbed a rough piece of toweling
and dunked it in an iron pail of water hanging next to the bin full of
rocks and began scrubbing Brent's back. Sam and I grinned at each other
and grabbed pieces of toweling and, having dunked them in the warm water,
and started scrubbing Olegs big body. Both of us had to clamber up on the
first bench to reach his head, neck and shoulders easily, but we both
scrubbed him energetically all over until he was spotlessly clean, Sam
making sure that I had plenty of time to explore Olegs groin and big
butt, holding Olegs cheeks apart so I could scrub deep inside. Oleg just
spread his feet and leaned forward a little bit to make it easier for us.

While we were working on his lower legs and feet, Oleg started helping
his brother wash Brent, and when we were done with Oleg's feet we
started on Sven while Oleg carefully finished washing Brent. Sven was fun
to wash because he was more our size, except for a really huge penis and
sack of testicles, and he squirmed with pleasure as we worked on him. Sam
and I washed his groin and butt at the same time, switching back and
forth and Sven spread his feet wide and really got into enjoying our avid
attention, becoming erect and swaying back and forth into our active
hands.

We finally didn't have any further excuse to fondle, excuse me, *wash*
Svens tight body and Oleg seemed to be done washing Brent's body. Sam and
I suddenly found ourselves the center of attention of three big men with
three big erections. They started to wash us and we were acting silly and
ticklish until, almost at the same time, two big hands landed on our
butts with loud, wet SMACK's. We calmed right down and just started
enjoying all the attention from the three older males.

I had my eyes closed, deeply enjoying feeling the three men washing and
exploring my body. Old memories and good feelings relaxed me and I was
full of happiness. I came out of my stupor enough to realize that someone
was behind me, and was rubbing up and down my crack with a heavy
erection. I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder right into
Brent's soft eyes. Suddenly embarrassed, I looked around but Sam was too
busy with Oleg and Sven to pay much attention to me. He was doing his
best to deep throat Sven's tumescence while Oleg was working his huge
flesh pillar up inside of Sam's spread ass cheeks. Watching Sam, I went
up on my toes and tilted my butt back to capture the nose of Brent's
erection. Relaxed from the heat and the loving attention, I had no
problem settling down to the root of Brent's manhood. He leaned his head
down on top of mine and sighed as he slid his hands up and down my slick
frame and gently stirred my insides with his swiveling hips.

Sven was sitting on the lower bench with Sam's head bobbing in his lap
and Brent pushed me forward until I was bent over with my hands resting
on the bench next to Sven. Once I was in position, Brent pushed my feet
apart a bit and slid his hands down my sides and until he had a good grip
on my hips. Scientifically and thoroughly, he commenced giving me one of
the best fuckings I'd ever had. I rested my head on my arms and Sam and
I watched each other having sex with our men. Oleg and Brent took their
time, each feeling around the other mans juncture with his partner, Oleg
carefully explored my hole and how it was reacting to Brent's
penetration. Once he was satisfied that I was happy having Brent inside
of me, his hand wandered my body, enjoying the feel of me and patting me
in approval while Brent's hand explored his cock and Sam's deeply
penetrated behind.

Sam pushed on Sven's hip until he wiggled over in-between the two of us,
and then pulled his head off the big lollipop and offered it to me. I
looked up over my shoulder at Brent and he looked into my eyes, asking me
if I wanted to do this thing. My eyes answered that I did, but only if it
was OK with him. He smiled at me and took his other hand off my hip and
caressed the back of my head. I smiled and he took a hold of the back of
my head and, holding Olegs balls in his other hand, put my mouth over the
head of Svens long cock. He gave me a minute to adjust and then pushed my
head in one long drive to the base of Sven's cock. I was watching Sam's
face to make sure that what I was doing was really OK with him and all I
saw was his eyes get hugely wide as he realized that I'd taken Svens
entire cock all the way down my throat. I became aware that Sven was
bucking and lurching underneath of me and heard Oleg's deep laugh from
behind me.

"I tank nobody never done dat to him before, by golly. He goin' crazy
it feel so goout, I tink. Dat boy of yours, he give Sven plenty good
time, I tank." and his deep laughter filled the room.

Sven was holding onto the back of my head and hunching into my mouth to
beat the band. I helped Sam spread Sven's legs so he could get to the
big balls and then helped him stuff both of the big orbs into his hungry
mouth. Before Sven could cum in my mouth, I pulled off and joined Sam
between Sven's thighs. Sam spit one of Sven's balls into my mouth and
we sucked and pulled on the tender baby makers until Sven had his legs
spread wide and was begging us to be more careful and to please, please
suck his cock. I looked at Sam and we smiled at each other, a couple of
mischievous boys with the same evil idea at the same time.

We dropped the balls out of our mouths and took our time licking and
slathering our ways up the sides of the immense pillar jutting up from
between Sven's widespread legs. When we got up to the purple colored
head, I told Sven that I was going to teach Sam how to deep throat him,
but that he had to put his hands and arms up on the upper bench and that
if he took them down, the lesson would be over.  Sven immediately leaned
back and spread his arms across the upper bench and nodded his head, his
lust crazed eyes begging us to take care of him.

I put Sam's hand on my throat so he could feel how I worked Sven inside
of me and then took the broad head into my mouth. Slowly, so Sam could
feel what I was doing, I worked the big cockhead past the opening of my
throat and then relaxed and swallowed to let the head and shaft slide
into me. I went back and forth several times, especially over the hard
parts so that Sam was sure to feel what I was doing. Then I pulled off
and waited, keeping the head wet with my tongue while Sam worked himself
up to trying.

He tried to go too fast the first time and choked and gagged, but I
slowed him down and he did better. We switched back and forth at each
hard place so Sam could feel what I was doing  and I used my hands on his
throat to guide him and help him relax. Finally, with a deep snorting
grunt, Sam managed to get the entire lengthy organ down his throat and
locked his lips and teeth around the base of Sven's cock, his nose
completely buried in the blond fluff of Sven's pubic hair.

Sven went berserk. Totally lost control. Grabbing Sam's shoulders he
began hunching madly against Sam's face, fucking him for all he was
worth, obviously splattering Sam's stomach with gouts of his cum. I
rubbed and squeezed Sven's tight balls to urge him to give Sam his all.
Sam's eyes were huge and he was holding on for all he was worth, trying
to keep his lips locked to the base of the spurting rod while Sven went
wild underneath of him and Oleg roared behind him and pumped his ass full
of cum that had started from the same father as the cum erupting into his
belly. Brent locked himself to my back and fast fucked my ass until he
too was spooging inside of me.

All three men were still quivering with aftershocks when I pulled Sams
head off the embedded cock before he passed out from lack of oxygen. He
didn't want to let go any more than Sven wanted him to let go, but the
poor boy was starting to turn blue. I held Sam while a shaky Brent and
Oleg washed each other and Sam and me. Sven just laid there like he'd
died and gone to heaven---but still hanging onto that upper bench for all
he was worth.

All of us finally managed to pull ourselves together and get, more or
less, upright. All three men were so busy congratulating Sam and me and
patting us on the back that we finally had to lead them outside for a
final rinse in the cold water. The sun was just coming up as we retrieved
our towels and, drying ourselves, headed for the house.

Laka was busy in the kitchen and we men headed for our rooms to get
dressed. There was much wandering back and forth between rooms and
constant chatter, mostly between Sam and me. Brent and Oleg busy with
their own thoughts and Sven just kept saying, "Oh, mine Got" over and
over. Oleg tried to tease his brother, but all he got for his efforts was
a silly smile and another, "Oh, mine Got". Oleg headed off to help his
sister-in-law get breakfast on the table and Sam and I finally had to
help Sven get dressed or he'd have missed breakfast entirely.

When we got to the dining room, there were two chairs at the head of the
table where Oleg, as the oldest brother, usually sat. He and Laka
insisting that Sam and me sit in the place of honor. We were embarrassed,
but Laka just kissed us and told us to sit down before our breakfast got
cold. The food was wonderful, and both Sam and I were very hungry. Brent
and Oleg and Sven kept complementing us during breakfast while Sam and me
just held hands and kept eating. Sam was left handed and I was right
handed, so holding hands was no problem. Having a brother that I could
share anything with made me feel pretty wonderful. He knew that Brent
screwed me and I knew that Oleg and Sven screwed him and, somehow, that
just meant that being brothers was even more special. Almost reluctantly,
I excused myself as soon as I was done eating and got Dancer from the
stable and took off for Mr. Mendoza's.

When I got to the saddle shop I tied Dancer out back. Mr. Mendoza had a
customer, so I told him I had to talk to Mr. Rand and that I'd be right
back.  He smiled and patted my butt and told me not to be too long. I
told him I'd hurry and ran next door to Mr. Rand's

The old man was sitting behind his counter reading again when I said,
"Good Morning."

"Good morning young man. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, sir. I slept very well. How are you and Mrs. Rand this morning?"

"Mrs. Rand is fine this morning, as she always is, knock on wood. ME?
I'm an old man. I'm just glad I'm here to see the morning. And what
brings you to see me this early my boy?"

"I need to ask your help, Mr. Rand."

"Such a serious face, and such a serious question from one so young.
What is bothering you that you should be so concerned."

"Well, sir. I don't want to impose, but I know that sometimes your
people deal in jewels and fine metals and such."

"True. Especially in the old country, that was one of the few ways we
were allowed to earn a living. So? Do jewels and such concern you
today?"

"Yes, sir." I opened my saddlebags and pulled out a necklace of my
mothers and several bracelets. "I need to sell some of these."

Glancing out the window, Mr. Rand pushed the jewelry back into the
saddlebag and, standing up, beckoned to me and said, "Come." He stopped
at the parlor door and called, "Mama. Listen to the store for me, I'll
be busy a few minutes." Then he opened a stout door next to the parlor
door and waived me inside.

It was a small office with a big roll-top desk and the biggest safe I'd
ever seen. Mr. Rand sat in a swivel chair in front of the desk and waived
me towards a chair sitting against the wall. "Sit. Sit. You should never
show such valuables where they might tempt other people."

"I'm sorry, sir. I guess I wasn't thinking."

"Young people have to learn such things. You did nothing wrong. The
problem is with what other people might do. Now let me see your little
bobbles."

I opened the saddlebag again and poured out what I'd brought to town on
his desk. Several necklaces, some bracelets, and a few broaches and
pendants. "This is all I brought with me Mr. Rand."

"Humm. So!" he mumbled to himself, using a long bony forefinger to sift
through the untidy pile. Without looking away  he reached over to the
side and opened a drawer to retrieve a loupe that he carefully screwed
into his eye. Picking up the pieces one at a time, he carefully but
efficiently examined each of the major stones and a selection of the
minor stones.

"The metal seems to be very fine. Some very good stones here. The very
purest large ruby I've ever seen," he said, pointing, "has an
inclusion, but very neatly handled by the cutter. Dutch work, that one.
So, should I worry about the sheriff finding me with these? Humm?"

"Oh, no, sir! Some of those were my mothers, and the others I inherited
as well. They are all I have left of them except this locket." From
under my shirt, I pulled out an oval shaped gold locket that hung from a
thin gold chain around my neck.

Mr. Rand wheeled over to me and gently took the locket in his long
fingers, feeling around and pushing on the hidden latch within seconds.
The lid popped open and he looked at the picture painted in the base of
the locket. "Your mother?"

Sadly, still feeling the hurt of missing her, I replied, "Yes, sir."

"She was a very beautiful woman." He looked up at me. "You loved her
very much, Yes?"

Looking down to hide the tears that were forming in my eyes, I mumbled,
"Yes, sir. More than anything in the world."

Looking in the lid of the locket he asked, "An who is this? Your
grandmother?"

Glancing up at the locket, I blushed and looked back down into my lap.
"No, sir. That's Aunt Betsy. She was my mothers... ahh... boss."

Looking at the two pictures and thinking quietly for a minute, the old
man said, "I understand. No husband and she had to earn a living to care
for you, yes?"

Blushing bright red, a tear running down the outside of my nose, I
answered honestly. "Yes, sir. It was all she knew how to do."

I felt the paper dry skin of the old hand cup my chin and lift my face.

"A tear, shed in love for one departed is more precious than pearls,
more valuable than diamonds, more to be cherished than the deepest red
ruby.  You should never be ashamed for one who was loved so much." His
wrinkly dry hand caressed my cheek and he leaned forward. His dry old
lips kissing my forehead in benediction.

He turned back to his desk and carefully looked at the stones again,
giving me a chance to wipe my eyes and collect myself. Still sniffling a
little bit I asked him if he was interested in buying any of the jewelry.

"No. I won't buy any of this." I started to ask why, but he shushed
me. "First off, I could not pay you here but a small fraction of what
these are worth, and you have more, yes?"

"Well... Yes, sir."

"So. My brother will be bringing my boys back to spend the summer with
their mother. Now, my brother is a member of the jewelers guild. He could
take these with him to New York and act as your agent. Even with his
commission, you would make more than I could ever pay you for these
here."

Instantly shifting to business mode, I asked sharply, "How much
commission."

Smiling, recognizing the change in me and settling down in his chair to
bargain, "Umm, I don't know." Fingering the gems again, "It is a long
trip, many dangers, very much risk. He would have to make good if he lost
any of this on the way. A very risky business. A fifty percent interest
would not be asking too much."

"FIFTY PERCENT! He would rob a poor orphan. Steal from the mouth of a
starving child. He would pauper me for his own gain, take advantage of me
because I'm goy and not one of the chosen people. Seven percent is the
most I could possibly afford And at that, he would be stealing from me."

"You forget that he must tithe his guild, and his boss will want a share
also so that he shouldn't look like he was cheating on the man who pays
to feed his large family. All those hungry children and the children of
his brothers and sisters that he helps from the goodness of his heart.
Only because I love you like one of my own sons, I will steal from the
mouths of his children and allow him only forty percent commission."

"FORTY!..." And so we continued, me forgetting the loneliness
remembering my mother had brought up and Mr. Rand enjoying, so he said
later, the best haggle he'd had in years. We finally settled on
twenty-two percent of the net which was very fair to both Mr. Rand's
brother and myself. I told Mr. Rand I had to hurry up because Brent and I
were returning to the ranch today and I had to get ready.

We stood up and shook hands to seal the deal. Mr. Rand looked at me and
then gathered me in his arms and hugged me. Patting me on the back, he
told me to be a good boy and to visit him and MaMa when I returned to
town. I promised and he made me go in and say good-bye to MaMa. She got
all flustered, saying I shouldn't go so soon and that she'd been making
kutchul for Brent and me as a surprise and what was she and poor Mr. Rand
to do with all that kutchul? I hugged her and said I was really sorry,
but we really did have to leave, but why didn't she give some of the
kutchul to Mr. Mendoza's sons? She pushed me away and said that if I had
to go, I should go and not break an old woman's heart. I tried to hug her
again but she just whacked me with a spoon and said that she was busy and
didn't have time to waste on ungrateful boys.

Back in the shop, Mr. Rand took my arm. "She didn't mean that the way
it sounded, my boy."

Smiling at him, I said, "I know, sir. The cook at the... at the place my
mother worked, was the same way."

"She was Jewish?"

"No, sir. She was a black lady."

"Mothers. They're all the same, no matter what, nu?"

"Yes, Sir. They don't want you to know they're all mushy inside."

"Not like us men, heya?"

Smiling at each other, we shook hands good-bye. I reached up on toe-tips
and kissed him on the cheek, and turned and ran out the back door. Mr.
Mendoza and his oldest son, about thirteen or fourteen years old, were
waiting for me. They showed me what sort of cloth to use and how to clean
the saddle and keep it looking good and in good condition. Jose, Mr.
Mendoza's son, blushed when I commented on how good the saddle looked.
Mr. Mendoza looked very proud and said that Jose had stayed up very late
the night before saddlesoaping and polishing every bit of the saddle.

I took Jose's hand and tried to thank him, but he just said that all he
had wanted to do was to make his fathers work look as perfect as it was.
Then he blushed deeply and excused himself, saying that he had a chore to
do for his mother. He ran off upstairs and Mr. Mendoza turned and began
preparing the saddle and bridle to take out to Dancer.

He was suddenly very quiet, so I asked, "Is there something wrong Mr.
Mendoza? Did I say something bad?"

Turning to me, looking very uncomfortable, he said, "I must tell you,
without anger, that I think my son may be like you and your friend, Mr.
Brent. I worry that he has questions that I do not know how to answer."

Thinking fast, I tried to explain, "I'm sure he would never do anything
to dishonor you, Mr. Mendoza."

"Jose? No. He is a very good boy. Nothing he ever did would dishonor me
for I love him very much. He does not understand his feelings, and I...
Well, I do not know how to tell him. Some men, like you and Mr. Brent,
are just that way. He must not be ashamed of that if that is how he is."

He went back to working on the saddle and I thought for a minute. "Mr.
Mendoza?"

"Si. I mean, Yes?"

"If Jose needs someone to talk to, my friend Sam might be a good
person."

"The Livery Stable boy? He understands such things?"

"Yes, sir. He is very nice, and I'm sure he wouldn't take advantage of
Jose."

"But, would he talk to a Spanish boy?"

Swallowing a quick surge of anger, I stammered, "Do you think so little
of Angelo's, Mr. Mendoza, that you must say such things of someone you
hardly know?"

Blushing under his dark skin, Mr. Mendoza apologized, "I did not mean to
speak ill of your friend."

Smiling, I said, "Then we will forget it, as a thing past between
friends, and I will tell Sam that Jose might be a friend to him and that
he will be welcome in your shop?"

Now Mr. Mendoza was stammering, "Of course... Of course he would be
welcome in my shop. At any time. Of course."

Smiling, and taking his hand, I said, "Good. Because I think he loves
your leatherwork and would stay here all the time if he could. And since
he works at the stables, perhaps he will tell people that need repairs or
new tack about his friends father, who is the best leather worker in
America."

Smiling back at me and shaking my hand, he said, "For one so young, you
are very wise. I think you would be a good friend to my son."

"As my friend will be a friend of your son, then shall not he be my
friend as well?"

"Very wise indeed!" Dropping my hand, he lifted the saddle and headed
out back, "Come, it is time."

I hurried out behind him to where Dancer was tied to the back porch rail,
standing hip shot and half asleep in the warm sunshine. I picked up the
new saddle blanket I'd bought from Mr. Rand the day before and put it on
her back. Dancer woke up and stood up straight as soon as she saw me and
nickered for attention. Once I had the blanket adjusted properly on her
back, I went to her head and talked to her about her new saddle, holding
her still for Mr. Mendoza. He put the saddle on her back and showed me
how to adjust  all the bits and pieces to make it fit her well. Then he
warned me that the saddle would wear into her shape and that I would need
to readjust things from time to time and to be sure the new saddle caused
no sores before it was broken in. He went back into the shop and I got my
old saddlebags and flipped them up into place. I had just started to tie
the bags in place with the latigo's when Mr. Mendoza came back outside,
a pair of brand new saddlebags in his hand. Decorated exactly like the
saddle and bridle with fancy carving and silver concho's, they were a
thing of beauty and my only response was that my mouth dropped open.

Mr. Mendoza took my old bags and moved them up across the seat and
dropped the new bags into place and started to tie them securely. I
ducked under Dancer's belly and started tying the other side. When I was
done, and Mr. Mendoza was putting the new hackamore on Dancer, I stepped
back and looked at Dancer in her new finery. She seemed to be proud of
her new saddle and was standing with her head and tail raised, showing
off. Suddenly, my eyes were full of tears.

"What is wrong?" Mr. Mendoza asked.

"She... It's... It's all so beautiful!"

Opening his arms, Mr. Mendoza gathered me in and held me, patting my
back. I heard him say, as though to himself, "Wise, but still a boy".

All I could do was sob against his chest and say, "Thank you, thank
you..." over and over. I knew that his son had had company as he worked
on my saddle so late at night. I was overwhelmed. From the life I'd been
leading I suddenly had Brent and Sam and Mr. Rand and the others and now
Mr. Mendoza and his son and their gifts. And it all just swelled up
inside of me all at once and the only way I could let it out was to cry
like a baby on the chest of a macho Spaniard who certainly considered
crying a sissy thing to do. He just patted me on the shoulder and held me
until I quieted down. Then he handed me a big blue handkerchief to wipe
my face and blow my nose with.

"Sometimes, a man is so full of joy, he just has to cry, yes?"

"Si," I said. "Muy expresso."

Laughing in a loud roar that surprised both me and Dancer, he said, "You
are maybe not so wise. Your Spanish is awful. You just asked for a large
cup of coffee."

We stared at each other and suddenly both of us broke out laughing.
Clapping each other on the back and enjoying each other and the joke
immensely.

Finally, Mr. Mendoza said, "Don't you think you should show Dancer and
her new finery to the man who bought them for you?"

Flustered, I quickly untied Dancer and headed for the Livery. "Oh boy,
is he ever going to be surprised, Thank you Mr. Mendoza, Thank you!"

He called after me, "There is a gift for Mr. Brent in the saddle bag.
Give it to him when you are alone together.'

"Thank you, Mr. Mendoza. I will."

I ran back to the Livery, Dancer trotting alongside me, saddle flapping
around on her back. Brent and Oleg and Sven and Laka and especially Sam
were full of praise for Dancer and her new saddle. I was full of praise
for them, for they had loaded everything up including a bunch of iron in
Oleg's especially reinforced wagon. It was drawn by four big draft
horses and had the big stove in it as well as the iron for Brent's
projects and a portable forge. Brent told me that Oleg was going to come
with us to help unload everything and to make the ironwork we needed. I
got all excited at the news and started jumping up and down and
hollering. Sam grabbed my hands and started jumping up and down with me.
Pounding each other on the back and hugging in our excitement. Suddenly
we stopped and looked at each other, crestfallen. Brent had only said
that Oleg was coming with us. He'd said nothing about Sam.

We turned and looked at the grownups, our faces stricken. Oleg had a
long, sad face on, and both Sam and I knew it was hopeless. Oleg pointed
at the barn and his deep voice rumbled out, "If you're going, you'd
better get my horse so I'll have something to ride home."

Sam and I just stood there, not understanding what was happening. Brent
turned to Oleg and said, "I swear, I never saw two boys so reluctant to
take a trip to the country."

Comprehension dawned and Sam and I jumped up into the air, grabbing each
other and whooping so loud that we even startled the mules. Oleg had his
hands full controlling the team as Sam ran off to the Livery to get
Oleg's horse. I looked at Brent and said, "That was mean!"

He and Oleg, Seven and Laka just laughed and said their good-byes. Sam
came out of the barn with a horse the size of one the draft horses (which
he was) that Oleg must have already saddled. Sam tightened the cinch and
crawled up the stirrup strap to get up on the big horse. He looked like a
little kid sitting on a plow horse and I laughed at him until he showed
me his fist and asked me how many teeth I wanted to lose. Oleg told us to
quit goofing around and to take point. Sam and I headed out to the main
street with Oleg's wagon behind us and Brent riding Blackhawk followed by
the mules behind Oleg.

We were headed down the street and I saw Mr. and Mrs. Rand standing with
Mr. Mendoza and his boys . I put my hand up in the air like I was the
trailboss and told Sam to wait for a minute, there was something I had to
do.

Gathering Dancer up by collecting her reins and tapping her sides with my
heels,  I put her in mind to do her high schooling. Dancer liked to show
off as much as I did, so immediately her head lifted and her neck arched
and she lifted her tail in display. En Passage, she moved towards Mr.
Mendoza. Lifting first her left forefoot and right hind, curling them
high off the ground, and holding. Then those feet snapping sharply to the
ground, barely four inches in front of where they started, and the other
two feet were sharply raised to the same high, curled position.

Step. Step. Step. Step. Swiveling to the right until she was headed the
same direction, only traveling sideways Step. Step. Step. And then she
was turning again, only to the left, completely around a circle and a
quarter until she was prancing directly towards Mr. Mendoza again. Her
coat shining, the saddle glittering and sparkling in bright sun, everyone
on the street stopped to look at our show and people were coming out of
the shops, one man's face still half covered with lather where he'd
been getting a shave.

Shifting my weight in the saddle caused Dancer to switch to her on-side,
off-side gait that made it look like she was cantering, only she was
moving in one place, so steady that neither my head nor the new
saddlebags were moving. Sitting back in the saddle brought her up on her
hind feet. Tickling her ribs caused her to hop forward. Again. And yet
again. On the third hop I moved up in the saddle again and she came down,
and as she did, I slid out of the saddle and landed on my feet alongside
of her. Reaching down to tap her behind her knee caused her to extend her
foot forward and bow down, her forehead almost touching the ground as I
swept off my hat and bowed beside her, giving honor to the man who stood
proudly before us.

I stood up and stepped back, patting the beautiful new saddle so everyone
would know why we were saluting Mr. Mendoza. I signaled Dancer to get up
and she did, immediately shaking herself to settle the saddle back in
position, saddle skirts and stirrups flapping every which direction and
making me duck back to keep from losing teeth. Everyone watching started
laughing and applauding as I stepped forward and shook Mr. Mendoza's
hand.

"Gracias. Gracias." he said. Going to the saddle bags I opened one of
the outside pockets and pulled out a brown paper bag. One of the bags of
candy Mr. Rand had sold me. I gave it to Jose and told him, "This is for
you and your brothers. Talk to Sam when he comes back. He wants to be
your friend. And so do I!"

Jose took the bag of candy and smiled shyly at me. "Thank you for the
honor you have done my father, and for this gift as well. I also would
like to be your friend."

I put my hat back on and saluted him. Turning and running towards Dancer,
I jumped into the air and grabbed the pommel, swinging myself into the
saddle. I'd barely grabbed the reins when Dancer pivoted on her hind
legs and pelted up the street in 5/4 time, showing off her quarterhorse
blood as she scattered clots of dirt far down the street She went all the
way down on her hocks when we slid stopped in-between Sam and Brent, who
had moved up to see my show better. Spinning around to face forward
again, I quietly asked, "Well, are we going or not?"

Brent laughed and slapped me in the back of the head hard enough to knock
my hat loose before heading back to the mules. Sam looked like he had a
million questions, but I just said, "Later." He nodded and we started
out again. Mrs. Rand waived Sam over and gave him a big napkin, tied up
at all four corners and Mrs. Mendoza gave him a covered basket.

Sam caught up and handed the packages to Oleg, who put them under the
seat.

We traveled as far as the spring and stopped for lunch. Laka had packed a
big basket of food for us. Mrs. Rands package had a bunch more food in
it, plus a big slab of her pastry. Mrs. Mendoza's package was full of
buritto's and tamales and tampitangos, a pot of frijoles and another of
salsa. We spread out a blanket and set to with hearty appetites. Sam had
been questioning me all the way about how and when I'd trained Dancer to
dance like that and I had to repeat everything for Brent and Oleg. I was
trying to eat and talk at the same time and didn't notice Sam dip a
burrito into the salsa. Brent tried to warn him, but Sam just said that
he liked hot stuff. He took a big bite of the heap of salsa and burrito
and chewed a couple of times before his eyes got really big and sweat
popped out on his upper lip and eyebrows. He spent the next ten minutes
trying to drink the spring dry while Brent, Oleg and me rolled around on
the blanket laughing.

Sam was a lot quieter after that, kind of mad at us for laughing at him,
but we talked about our earlier lives the rest of the way to the ranch
and really got to know each other a lot better. Maybe, someday, I'll get
him to write down his story for you. We got there late in the afternoon
and immediately took care of the horses and mules and started unloading
the wagons except for the iron which Oleg would take from the wagon as he
needed it.

---eof---