Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2016 10:50:19 -0400 From: Ronnie Subject: Not what I thought escape meant Chapter 97 Copyright to this story remain strictly that of the author. No other publication or use of this story is allowed with the consent of the author. This story contains male on male sexual content both implied and explicit. If this offends you please do not continue. All characters and implied situations are strictly those of the author and are not based on any real life events or characters. If you are under 18 years of age please exit this story now. I welcome all responses to my stories. Please make sure that you list the name of the story in the email line. If your email is to alert me of misspelled words or improper punctuation or grammar save your time because it will be deleted. I hope you enjoy my vivid imagination. Please let me know what you think at lakesinclairsstories @ gmail.com and don't forget to donate to Nifty as they do an amazing job. "Not what I thought escape meant " Chapter 97 B smiled and hummed as he prepared supper for the evening. It was clear to him that Max and Zeb were nervous which caused him to smile even more. "You know you are evil." Max said as he entered the kitchen. "Not little old me." B said and turned back to the large pot on the stove. "I am afraid of the out come of this evening." Zeb whispered to Max. "Don't worry. I will take the blame for it all." Max said. "That is not all I am worried about. I am afraid Joe won't trust me anymore." Zeb said. "Don't worry about that. He may be upset for a couple of minutes but it will take a lot more than this for Joe to not trust you." Max said. "I hope you are right." Zeb said as he took the dishes and headed towards the table. Joe and Carl kept everyone entertained at the table with the humorous events of the day carrying so many shopping. "You guys really missed it. I think a couple of the ladies were about to fight wanting to take Joe home with them." Carl laughed. "You looked like you had quite a few of the ladies blushing yourself there Bro." Joe laughed. "I think we need to make that an annual trip but you two have to go next year." Joe said. "I think we can handle the annual part." Joe said. "So did you guys get your errands ran today ?" Joe asked. "I believe so." Max said trying to change the subject. "Well if everyone will retire to the family room I will serve dessert and tell you all about my little errand." B said. Zeb and Max tried to prolong the cleaning of the dishes because they knew what was coming. "Had you rather be there when I tell them or wait and see what happens later." B said as he walked past with the coffee pot. "Judgement time." Max said laying the dish rag on the sink. The men were all seated in the family room enjoying their dessert and coffee. Carl finished his pie first and sat his plate down. Leaning back on the couch he looked towards B. "So what was so important that it could not wait until another day." Carl asked. B placed his cup back in the saucer and placed it on the coffee table. "Well I had to meet an inmate today." B said causing Zeb to almost choke on the fork full of pie he had just put in his mouth. "An inmate ? Why in heaven's name would you need to see an inmate ?" Carl said. "Well do you want the long version or short ?" B asked. "This is too interesting to abbreviate. We have time for the long version." Joe said. B began by telling them that it all started when he tried to learn to drive the golf cart. He told them of his drive to the barn and Ty laughing. Then he told of going to the door to talk to Max but overheard a conversation between Max and Zeb. He then went to the barn and called a shady character that he knew and paid him for some much needed help. He went on to say that this help led him to meet with an inmate at the prison. He had also gladly provided financial help to the man's family and his prison account in return for his assistance inside. "Wait, wait just a minute. You are trying to talk in circles. What conversation did you hear and what help did you need ?" Carl said leaning forward. "I think that part of the story is best filled in by your husband." B said. "Sounds like my husband does need to fill in the gaps." Carl said looking to his side at Max. Max placed his coffee cup on the table. Carl followed every movement waiting on Max to speak. "Let me start by saying that I have probably made a monumental mistake." Max said. "Me too. " Zeb said raising his hand. Joe then turned to look at his lover trying to figure out what was going on. "What have you two done ?" Joe asked. "Let me explain what happened and then I will explain what I did." Max said. "Don't leave this one's part out." Joe said pointing to Zeb. "This is all me Joe. Zeb only went along because I made him promise to not say anything." Max said. "Not exactly. I kept the secret but I went along because I feel like I am a part of this family." Zeb said. "You are and you have proven it beyond a shadow of a doubt in the last few days." Max said. "Enough bull shit. What did you do ?" Carl asked. Max began by telling Carl and Joe about the episode in the parking lot with the twins. At a couple of points Carl went to stand up but Max pulled him back down. "Why didn't you tell me ?" Carl said. "Because of how you are acting right now. I planned on spending the heavy snows with you locked up in this house not sitting here wishing the snow would clear so I could visit you in prison." Max said. "Give me a little credit." Carl said. "Shut up Bro. He is right. Let him finish his story." Joe said getting and angry look from Carl in return. "Look, that guys words shook me to the bone. The only thing I knew to do was protect. And that included you Carl." Max said. " Continue then." Carl said. Max told the group that he had also called a friend and got them to research Brent's family and give him all the information he could. Max then told the group that he went to confront Brent. "I used the information I had to get his full attention." Max said. "How did you use that ?" B asked. Max looked around the room stopping at Carl. Lowering his head he cleared his throat. "I told him I was tired of this game and that if anything happened to my family that the same thing would happen to his." Max said. "Oh my." Zeb said. "You didn't hear that ?" Joe asked. "I stayed in the waiting room." Zeb said. "Now exactly what did you say to him ?" Carl said. Max took a deep breath and repeated the conversation the best that he could remember. Max also said that his was so angry that he may forget parts and leave out some of the language. He told about showing the pictures of the nephew, niece and other family members on his phone. He also gave address, employers and even his sister lover's name. Carl and Joe sat with the same Rexlan expression on their faces until Max had finished. Next was Zeb's turn. "Now you spill it. What was your part in all of this ?" Joe asked. Zeb squirmed a little. "He just kept a secret and kept me out of trouble." Max said. Joe turned and looked at Max with the same Rexlan expression. "I believe that Zeb can speak for himself." Joe said. "Sorry." Max said. Zeb told the short story of spotting the young man giving the twins suckers. He then went on to tell that he had promised Max that he would not tell what happened. "You and Max both told me that you would not let Carl go and see Brad or Brent or whoever he is by himself. I had to decide what to do. I know that you would not let Carl go by himself. I had to decide if it were better for me to go and you be mad for me going than not go and something happen and neither of you forgive me." Zeb said. "Back to you. What exactly did you do ? " Carl said looking at B. "Nothing as bold as your husband but I just took out an insurance policy." B said. "Not good enough. What exactly did you do ?" Joe said. "Look. What I did was my business." B said. "Oh no. You are the one that opened this can of worms tonight so you have to confess all too." Carl said. B looked at Durk for support. "Oh no. You dug this hole now climb out of it." Durk said. "Well I don't think I like the tone in this room." B said. "Get over it and talk." Joe said. B sat back in the chair and folded his arms and crossed his legs. "Well I feel like those babies are partially my family too. I will do anything to protect them." B said. "We know that and appreciate that B but you are still going to tell us exactly what you did." Carl said. B then told them again of hearing the conversation. His call was to an investigator that Durk had used in the past. B employed him to find someone that had a connection to one of the gang leaders in the prison. He was thrilled to find out that the connection was the worst one in the prison. He went on to tell the inmate that Brent had threatened the children. B also told that he offered to help the man's family financially if he would teach Brent a lesson and keep him in line. "But I did tell him that if he tried to come back and ask for more money that I would handle Brent in a different way. He took my offer. His home that his wife and children live in was paid off and I set up a fund of fifty thousand dollars that will put two hundred dollars a month into his jail fund until it runs out. If something happens to him then the balance goes to his family. I did stress that I did not want Brent killed though. " B said. "What did he say ?" Durk asked. "He just said that Brent would never cause a problem again." B said. "What did you tell him then ?" Joe asked. "Thank You ? That was all I could do. The man was scary." B said. The group sat in silence for a minute or so before Carl stood. "I need a beer. Come on Joe." Carl said. "You too Durk." Joe said. Carl took three beers from the refrigerator and walked out the back door towards the pool. Carl walked over to the outside bar to use the bottle opener on the beers. "What's so funny ?" Carl asked as he handed the two other men a beer. "Can you imagine Brent's face when Max go a hold of him ?" Joe laughed. "I think it would be funnier seeing B setting there talking to some prison gang leader." Carl laughed. "Poor Zeb." Durk said. "What are you talking about ?" Joe said. "The poor boy didn't know whether to keep a secret like Max asked or to tell you what happened. He had to be stressed out." Durk said. "I guess he got baptized as a Rexlan." Carl laughed. "What do we do now ?" Joe said. "Well I for one am a little upset with Max for not telling me what happened." Carl said. "What would you have done if he had ?" Durk asked. "I would have killed Brent right there in the waiting room." Carl said. "I guess you did marry a smart one then." Durk said. "Why do you say that ?" Carl asked. "He thought about that. He said so. So he handled it and both of you get to sleep in your own bed tonight. Not a jail cell." Durk said. "I know your right and that pisses me off more. Not at him. Just the fact that he was right again." Carl said and laughed. "Yeah I had rather you and I fight fist to fist than have to come up against my brother in law. He is scary as fuck. He fights dirty." Joe said. "He gets results though." Durk said. "You got a point. I can't believe that he threatened Brent's family." Carl said. "I can." Durk said. "How do you figure that ?" Joe asked. "Look at what he has gone through to protect Brian and those twins their entire lives. Look at what he gave up and the heart ache he went through. I fully believe that if any of that was taken away from him by Brent that nothing would be out of question as far as making Brent pay." Durk said. "Like I said. He is scary as fuck." Joe said. The men sat and chatted for a few minutes as they sipped their beers. "I wonder what's going on inside the house ?" Durk said. "Max needs to fret a little while longer before I let him off the hook." Carl said. "Zeb needs a full Rexlan baptism so he needs to sweat it out a little longer. Besides the sex tonight should be amazing. " Joe said laughing. "What about B ?" Carl asked. "What about him ? I learned years ago just to say yes dear and move on." Durk said. "So it did not have any affect bringing you out for a beer ? " Joe asked. "Not at all but I am glad you asked. I wanted a beer." Durk said laughing. "We both have to make things alright though." Joe said. "Max will be fine." Carl said. "No. You have to tell Zeb that you are not upset with him and I have to tell Max the same." Joe said. "I guess you are right. Can we finish our beer first ?" Carl said. "I wish you had grabbed extra." Joe said and laughed. "What do you think is going on out there ?" Zeb asked. "Oh they are trying to figure out how long we will be in time out." Max said. "You seem very calm." Zeb said. "As much as I have been through in my life and even as much as Carl and I have been through together this will be minor. Plus if this tips the scale then we did not have what I thought we had." Max said. "Well if you feel that way why didn't you tell him up front ?" B asked. "Did you see his teeth grit, the veins in his neck pop out and his knuckles turn white almost instantly when I mentioned that Brent said he had to eliminate the twins ?" Max said. "Yeah he and Joe had the same reaction." Zeb said. "Well I have learned the Rexlan men react now and think later. It's like putting the bull in the china shop and letting him go nuts and hope he gets the important stuff. That lands you in jail. I plan the bull's trip to the china shop. Take out the most important pieces and the rest is just wasted energy. Besides when you hit them where it hurts they pay more attention. If you go in just throwing out threats and hope you hit a soft spot they know you are grasping at straws. If you walk in the door and grab them by the nuts they know you mean business. It takes a lot for me to go as far as I did but once you get there it's my game then." Max said before sipping his coffee again. "And I thought I had a lot of secrets as Durk's Butler for all of those years. Hell if I had been your Butler I would require a bullet proof vest and a body guard. Oh and I would interview the body guards." B said laughing. "Oh shit." Zeb said. "What ?" B said jumping. "They all just stood up. I guess our punishment is decided. I have enjoyed being a Rexlan." Zeb said. The back door opened and Zeb shivered a little as if a cold breeze had blown in. In the south one would equate the feeling to the saying "A opossum just ran across my grave." Carl, Durk and Joe came back in and took the same seats as before. B stood beside the chair that Durk sat in. There was at least a minute or maybe two of silence. Zeb felt like it was a lifetime. "Well ?" Max said. "Well what ?" Carl asked. "How mad are you guys and how much trouble are we in ?" Max said. "You want the good news or the bad news ?" Joe asked. Zeb swallowed hard and slightly shifted himself in case he needed to stand and leave. "I hate bad news so you might as well start there." B said. "Well the bad news is that Brent was still able to affect this family. It's also bad that we can not handle matters like this as a family. " Carl said. "Is that it ?" B said. "No it's really bad that we can not come together as a family with no secrets and take care of issues like this. " Joe said. "If I had come home and told you both what had happened you would both be in jail right now." Max said. "That may be so. That is something that Joe and I have to work on but it still is not right for you two to have to take care of an issue like this in secret." Carl said. "I understand that." Max said. Zeb was about to jump out of his chair. "Enough please. Are you two pissed of at us ?" Zeb asked. "Yes." Joe said. Zeb slumped back into the cushion of the love seat. "We are pissed at all of us. We are pissed that we can not come together as a family to handle threats. Carl and I are pissed that we are more hot headed than you and Max. We are pissed that someone would threaten any member of this family, especially the twins." Joe said. "We are pissed at the entire situation but being pissed at you three individually is not the case." Carl said. "You are not mad at me ?" Zeb said almost whispering to Joe. "No baby I love you even more. You stuck your neck out not knowing what would happen to protect this family. I am pissed at myself for not making you feel comfortable enough to tell me everything." Joe said. "That is my fault Joe. I made him promise. I am sorry Carl but I knew that I had to handle this before you found out. I could not handle you going to prison for murder. I know it looked like I tried to keep it away from you and that I felt like it was only my problem but that is far from the truth. I did what I did to protect us all." Max said. "I know sweet heart. If I have learned anything about you is that you refuse to do anything for yourself. If you take action it is on behalf of someone else. " Carl said. "Well what's the good news then." B said. Max and Zeb had both breathed a sigh of relief. "We talked a lot over that beer outside. One thing that we need to promise among us six is that there are no more secrets." Carl said. "Oh my. I have many of those." B said. "He means secrets about family business and family safety. Not what your right hand did to relieve your frustration." Joe said. "You watch it young man. I have you know that I do not self masturbate with my right hand, nor my left. How undignified. I have toys for that thank you very much." B said shifting to one side and placing his hand on his hip." B said. "TMI B." Joe laughed. "Look. Together we can protect and fix anything. Hell look at everything we have been through but divided we will aim ourselves for disaster." Carl said. "You are right. I hope I speak for Zeb but I do know for myself I say that there will be no more secrets when it comes to family business and safety." Max said. "I agree but you two have to promise us something. " Zeb said. "What is that Babe ?" Joe asked. "You two have to promise that if anything happens that you will not fly off the handle and try to handle it then and there. You have to agree to discuss it with us and make sure there is not a more affective way of handling it." Zeb said. "Damn you learn fast Bro in law." Max laughed. "In this case I can not speak for Carl but I promise." Joe said and leaned over and kissed Zeb on the cheek. "Well I promise to try." Carl said. "Not good enough." Zeb said. Carl quickly looked at Zeb in surprise. "Not good enough Carl. You can not expect us to promise to you and then you give use a vague promise back." Zeb said. "He's right." B said. "Damn Max Jr. I promise." Carl said laughing. "Well Zeb had a good teacher." Max laughed. "We may have to separate you two. He may learn too much." Joe laughed. "Watch it." Max said. "Since there are no secrets I have a question." Max said. "What is that ?" Durk asked. "If you were not pissed at what we, or really I did then why did you get up and go outside and drink a beer making us think you were pissed off ?" Max asked. "I just wanted a beer." Durk said. "You would go along with it just for a beer you old fart." B said tapping Durk on top of the head. "I had rather have a beer than coffee and didn't want to hurt B's feelings. " Carl said. "Just what I thought." Max said. "What are you talking about ?" Zeb said. "I could tell they were pissed about the threat but I know my husband and he didn't seem to be pissed at me. He did that just to prove a point. Let me guess. He probably made a comment to the affect they need to think about what they did or they are not getting off that easy." Max said elbowing Carl lightly. "Damn you are good." Durk said and laughed. "Well the cold beer sure was good." Joe said. "Well you both needed that time. You needed to get your thoughts together before the conversation went further." Max said. "I wish you had told me all of that." Zeb said. "Sorry Zeb but I figured that you might need to learn the hard way how to be a Rexlan so next time you know how to handle that hard head that you live with." Max said. "Like I said they need to be separated." Joe laughed. "One more thing though." Carl said. "What is that ?" Max said. "Everyone needs to know about this. The boys are with Ross and Landon all the time. They practically live at Daryl and Mary's. Hell they even have nights scheduled to stay with Mitch and Artie. The only way to make this work affectively is for everyone to know but know that so far it has been handled." Carl said. "Don't forget us. They stay with Bpaw and Ganpaw too." B said. "Hell you already know the secret or were you listening ?" Joe said. "Watch it. I may have a few secrets I can use on you." B said waving his finger at Joe. "I agree. May I also add that the ranch hands and their families need to know too. They know when there is something out of place better than any of us." Durk said. "You have a good point. When there was any threat at the ranch in Texas we were all informed. The more eyes aware of a threat the easier it is to spot before something bad happens." Zeb said. "We will have a cookout here on Saturday and invite every one employed by the ranch and their family. I do want to talk to the main family members before then. I don't want them to be surprised hearing it the same time as the rest." Max said. "Fair enough. Work out the details Zeb." Carl said. "Me ?" Zeb asked. "Well you are a Rexlan aren't you. I can't be expected to do it all." Carl said. "Yeah right." Max laughed. "No more secrets right ?" B asked. "No what ?" Carl asked. "Watch it. Since there are no more secrets I want moment by moment details of the make up sex that will be had tonight." B said. "That is not a matter of family business or safety." Joe said. "I will be the judge of that. I want details tomorrow." B said. "Alright Honey. I think I need to take you home." Durk said. Zeb was quiet on the drive home. "Are you alright over there ?" Joe asked as he reached out and lightly squeezed Zeb's leg. "You tell me." Zeb said. " Tell you what ?" Joe asked. "Tell me if we are alright or not." Zeb said. "From my perspective we are great. What about yours ?" Joe said. "Joe I swear it was almost physically painful having to keep that secret from you. Can you ever trust me again ?" Zeb said almost pleading. "I wish you could see it from my point. " Joe said. "I am trying. I understand though." Zeb said. "No you aren't. You are seeing it through my eyes like you were afraid it would be. Not how it is." Joe said. "I promise I am trying. " Zeb said. "Look babe. You just got a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. It will take another couple of hours to realize that everything is alright. " Joe said. Zeb just lay his head back against the head rest and lightly moaned. " Sounds like you need a long soak in the hot tub. " Joe said squeezing Zeb's leg again. "Alone ?" Zeb whispered as if asking a question. "I don't think so." Joe said causing Zeb to relax a little and almost smile. "Are you sure you are alright with everything that happened ?" Max said as he sat on the love seat across from Carl. Carl was stretched out on the couch. Carl smiled and lifted his hand and motioned with his finger for Max to come to him. Max walked over and stood above Carl. Carl reached up and grabbed his hand and pulled him down on top of him on the couch without saying a word. Max had one hand on the floor supporting part of his weight. By this point their hips had met. The only thing keeping both semi hard cocks from touching was the thin cloth of the running shorts that both men wore. Once settled Max looked down into the beautiful eyes of his husband. "Kiss me." Carl whispered. "Are we alright though ?" Max asked. "Kiss me." Carl whispered again. Max leaned forward and lightly but passionately kissed Carl on the lips. "Carl please. Are we o.k. ?" Max asked. "Almost. Kiss me again." Carl said. The kiss started out light but soon turned very passionate. Carl quickly slid his hands through the elastic waist band of Max's shorts. As their tongues fought for superiority Carl's hands roamed Max's naked ass cheeks. "Please say something Carl." Max said as they broke the kiss. Carl took one hand and reached around and slid it between their two bodies. Moments later he pulled his fingers out and brought them to his lips. "Mmmm.. Got my peach in my arms and have him leaking like a broken water faucet. We could not be any better." Carl said pulling Max's head down so that it rested on his chest just under his chin. "I'm sorry." Max whispered. "I'm not." Carl whispered back. Zeb lay his head back on the cushion of the hot tub. Joe had left and went to the kitchen to get a couple of beers from the refrigerator. Joe set Zeb's beer in the cup holder and placed one on the other side for himself. Zeb reached out and began to rub his hand up and down Joe's hairy, muscled leg. "Feeling better ?" Joe asked as he looked back at Zeb. Zeb's eyes were only partially opened as if he were either almost asleep or just waking up. "Do you know just how fucking sexy and gorgeous you are ?" Zeb said. "I have a cowboy that keeps telling me that but I think he just says that so he can play with this." Joe said turning and using his hand to flop his semi hard cock and low hanging balls up and down. "Well he doesn't know what else he is missing then." Zeb said. "Oh he doesn't does he. What else is he missing ?" Joe said as he stepped over into the hot tub. "This." Zeb said as he sat up and leaned over and kissed Joe's bare chest just over his heart. "Oh no baby. That's all yours. He can't have that." Joe said. Zeb sat back in his seat in the hot tub and smiled at Joe. "It is mine ?" Zeb said. "Never doubt it cowboy. Come here. You are too far away." Joe whispered reaching out and pulling Zeb over onto his lap. Zeb relaxed even more as he felt his back spread across Joe's strong chest. His head lay on Joe's shoulder as Joe's arms wrapped around him and he wiggled his hips to get his growing cock resting between Zeb's ass cheeks. "I just don't want you upset with me. I know you acted as though you weren't but that could have been for Carl and Max's sake." Zeb said. "Baby I am not upset. Honestly I don't know how I feel. It's between more in love with you, more proud of you, or knowing without a shadow of a doubt I have found my mate." Joe said as he reached down and lightly caressed Zeb's cock and balls. "You mean that don't you ?" Zeb said. "Every word. You were willing to risk having me upset with you to save me and protect my family. You have no idea how much that thrills my heart." Joe said. "I promise no more secrets." Zeb said. "Baby if it's a secret for our safety and the safety of our family then you are already forgiven." Joe said as he leaned his head and opened his lips to suck in a section of skin on Zeb's neck. Zeb moaned as Joe began to suck the skin in the crook of his neck. Leaning forward Joe applied more suction to Zeb's neck as he fondled his cock and balls with one hand and slid the other over Zeb's balls, down the crack of his ass and slid a finger inside Zeb's quivering rosebud. Joe moved his mouth slowly side to side gaining more flesh as he began to slowly finger fuck Zeb with one hand and massage his raging cock under water with the other. Joe began to moan as Zeb's ass cheek pressed his now hard cock into his own hip. "Ohhh ... Ohh.. OHHHHHHH...... JJJJJJJooooooooooooeeeeeee..... " Zeb shouted as he arched his chest forward pulling his neck from Joe lips. Ropes of white fluid began floating to the surface of the hot tub as Joe continued to finger fuck Zeb with one hand and caress the sensitive mushroom head of his erupting cock with the other. Zeb's back landed on Joe's chest with a splash. Joe was still caressing both Zeb's prostate and cock head keeping Zeb's body twitching. "Better now baby ?" Joe said. "Almost." Zeb said still gasping for breath. "Almost ?" Joe asked. "I will be perfect as soon as you fuck me. Last one to the bed is on top." Zeb said jumping up causing Joe to groan due to the extra pressure on his swollen cock. Joe lay back for a second and licked his lips as he watched Zeb's naked ass get out of the hot tub and run back into the master bedroom. "I wanted to look in his eyes while I fucked him anyway." Joe laughed to himself. A half hour later Joe lay on top of Zeb with as his body twitched with every blast of seed his cock forced inside Zeb. Zeb's arms and legs were wrapped around Joe's body and would twitch every time he felt Joe's cock flex followed by the warm feeling of the hot seed plastering his gut. Zeb tried to move his hips to fuck himself even more on Joe's hard cock but his body was to sensitive to do much. Joe's eyes were half open as he leaned over and licked and kissed the large red swollen area in the edge of Zeb's neck. The touch of his tongue and lips on the sensitive area caused Zeb to moan and his body to jerk. Joe moved as if he were going to pull his still hard cock from Zeb. "No you don't. It's safe. I need you to stay connected. I need to feel that we are safe." Zeb whispered. "Baby you will always be safe and you can have this as often as you want." Joe whispered. "Where is that damn snow." Zeb said trying to laugh. "It will be here soon enough." Joe whispered before licking and kissing the swollen area again. "I am sorry about the hickey." Joe said. "I am not. It's called a love bite cowboy. I begged you to fuck me harder but you were determined to make slow passionate love to me. I love you Joe Rexlan more than is suppose to be humanly possible. You can leave your mark anywhere on my body you want. " Zeb said. "You don't mind ? You know if the guys see it they are going to rag you." Joe said. "Let them. I will just tell them they are jealous they weren't getting what I got while it was created." Zeb said. "So you don't mind hickies ?" Joe asked. "Baby you can leave your mark anywhere on my body you want." Zeb said running his finger down Joe's face and along his chin. " Where is the damn snow." Joe said and smiled.