Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 00:05:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Waddie Greywolf Subject: "Cabbage Patch Cowboy Part 11" DISCLAIMER: WARNING!! This is a work of homoerotic fictions written by an adult for the purpose of entertainment for other adults. If you are not eighteen year of age or you have any problem with this type of literature then this is a warning to read no further. The author will not be held responsible for any reason if you do. (Codes: M/M M/b M/t Gay Incest Anal Oral True) Comments/questions: waddiebear@yahoo.com Copyright 2002 Waddie Greywolf =============================================================================== This part is lovingly dedicated to my beloved friend, Ret. Deputy Quinton F. Tate who was eighty-two years young August 11. I apologize, Buckaroo, for the shit us boys put you through all those years, but it was so Goddamn funny at the time. Happy belated birthday, Quinton. I love you, Cowboy. =============================================================================== CABBAGE PATCH COWBOY PART 11 Madame Pearl Le Pue (Ms. Pearl) Waddie, Gip, Oatie and Clyde were all the time finding sick animals. It seemed like they sought the boys out to give them sanctuary, food, water, and a warm, dry place to rest and recuperate from a wound or exhaustion. Some would be starving and the boys would feed them until they could take off on their own. They never tried to make pets of the wild animals. They knew they belonged in the wild and must return there. Their turn over of patients became so great they didn't have time to become that attached to any one critter. There were a couple of exceptions. Critters they loved and remembered more than the others. Two were barn owls who's mother got shot or poisoned but never came back to feed her babies. The boys didn't even bother to take them out of their nest. It was in their barn and they gently moved the nest over next to the loft so they could get to them to feed them. They fed those two owl babies until they were grown but they didn't have a mother to take them out to teach them how to hunt for themselves. They were dependant on the boys for food. They didn't mind and took care of them for a couple of years. They named one Merlin and the other Boo. They were great fun at Halloween parties. The boys would dress up as magicians and have one of the owls on their shoulders. Finally, they thought of a plan to teach them to hunt. They constructed a large area on the barn floor of metal flashing they found in an old house they played in on Ed Bloomquist's property across the creek. They asked Ed if they could have it and he told them to take it. The owls favorite food were live mice the boys would catch in traps. They'd turn a couple of mice loose every night in the large walled pen they built. The mice would scurry about trying to find a place to get out but couldn't. The boys started reducing the food intake of the two owls and after about two weeks of barely feeding them they came into the barn one morning and the mice were gone. They put four in the next night and the next morning they were gone. The boys had to see for themselves. They told Dan, Buck, Don, Lyle and Quinton what they planned to do and the five large kids weren't about to let the four smaller kids have all the fun. They decided they wanted to see what the boys accomplished. Dr. Dyer even asked if he could bring his sleeping bag and join them. So here they were all in the loft spending the night watching to see if the owls really were eating the mice. They put six mice in that night. Sure enough a little after midnight Boo flies down and grabs one of the mice and takes it to another beam to eat it. Five minutes later Merlin joins him with his own mouse. They kept that up until all six mice were gone. The men were ecstatic. They were congratulating the boys and were quite proud of them. Dr. Dyer was so thrilled he gave a talk at a ladies group in town. They expected him to talk about medicine but he told them he had something far more miraculous to talk about. He kept the women spellbound with his recounting of being a first hand witness of what the four boys had accomplished. He was amazed at their ingenuity and patience to get these creatures to learn to fend for themselves. The boys kept that up and would skip a night leaving mice. Then they'd skip two nights. Finally the owls were going out at night to find their own mice but they always returned to the barn. They would still let the boys pet them and play with them until, . . . Boo met Mr. Boo and Merlin met Mrs. Merlin. The boys fixed them wonderful boxes with straw in them on opposite ends of the barn. They built a landing pad and a small side entrance to the main nest. It was like the owls knew immediately the nest boxes were for them. There were four owls in the barn in two nests. They raised four young that year and did for several years afterward. The other critter the boys became quite fond of was a female skunk they found almost dead and nursed back to health. They named her Ms. Pearl because that was the beer that Dad Dan, Uncle Buck, Don Rayborn and Lyle Rawlings liked to drink on hot summer afternoons. They'd sometimes take several bottles apiece with them when they took the boys swimming and set them in one of several springs that fed the creek into the limestone quarry. The water coming up from the ground would be ice cold and chill their beer down quickly with the cold clear water running over the bottles. They never got drunk but they would get awfully close to each other. By that time the boys didn't pay them much attention. That was just what their four dads did in private and they knew the boys wouldn't be upset to see them with their arms around each other's shoulders laying in the cool water. They loved each other. The boys took great comfort that four of the major males in their lives weren't afraid to show each other a little affection. The boys knew they could always join them and get a big arm thrown around them and a kiss stolen. The feed bills for the critter infirmary were exceeding the boys allowances. They ask if they could put jars for change for `Sick Critter's Food' at certain business, the sheriff's office, and Doc Dyer sat one on the check in counter of the small hospital. By the end of the first month they had a surplus that they carried over the next month and then had another gift from the community. It seemed like God himself was providing for their efforts. Dr. Dyer wrote Agatha several letters detailing the boys progress. She was thrilled and sent them twenty dollars in a letter to the four of them. Oatie was elected treasurer for their enterprise and published accurate records of donations, expenses and balances carried over to the next month. The boys ran it strictly as a non-profit charity organization. Doctor Dyer himself wrote a brief account of the good the boys were doing to help injured and sick animals and return them to the wild. It was published in the small town newspaper. He recounted their success ratio was twenty percent better than most hospitals. The boys published an accounting monthly for anyone to review. It was tacked to the bulletin board in the sheriff's station. People and kids all over the community began to find and bring the boys animals in need of care. The nearest veterinarian was in a larger town forty-five miles away. On one of his trips to the area he had to stop and visit the boy's `critter hospital.' He was as impressed as Dr. Dyer and gave them lots of helpful advice. He sent them a list of easy to understand books and government pamphlets on the care of injured wild animals. He couldn't believe the boys taught tame owls to hunt for themselves. Dr. Dyer told him he was an eye witness. One afternoon the boys were devastated to walk into the barn and find every critter they were caring for dead. Willie took his .22 rifle and shot every critter in their infirmary, except the owls and one other critter he didn't know about. The owls were asleep in their boxes well hidden from plain view. The boys saw him running away with his gun in his hand as they came to the barn. After they buried their critters and shed tears in each other's arms, they talked it over. They decided not to tell Dad Dan for fear of what he might do. In the mean time Gip called Lyle Rawlings and asked him to tell the Sheriff and Don Rayborn. They weren't interested in getting Willie into trouble so much as they needed advice and help from the Sheriff's Office because they knew they were going to have to tell Dad Dan eventually. They asked Lyle if he and the Sheriff would come out as soon as they could so they could tell Dan. They knew he'd want to go over and pop Willie's head off with a church key.* The boys were unsure whether they'd have the influence to stop him from doing something out of blind rage they would all regret. Not only was it a dastardly thing to do, but Willie trespassed on the Justin's property to do the foul deed. When they told Dan, he was ready to go over to Morgan's place with his twelve gage shot gun loaded with rock salt for scaring crows away and shoot Willie's ass off. It wouldn't kill him but it sure as hell would make him wish he was dead. The boys stood their ground in front of their beloved Dad Dan and tried to make him listen to reason. Fortunately, Buck , Lyle, Don and Quinton drove up just in time and talked sense to Dan. The boys weren't gonna' let him get into trouble because of his anger. They loved him too much for that. The Sheriff and his three deputies were there in nothing flat and backed the boys up. They weren't there as lawmen, they were there as Dan and the boy's friends. The boys assured Dan that Willie would get his, leave it to them. Trust them. When Willie got his, if Dan wasn't satisfied that it was pay back enough, the boys swore in front of the Sheriff and his men, all four would drop their pants and he could take his belt to each one of them. Dan wanted to know what the boys planned to do. They look at each other and giggled. "Don't ask us, Dad Dan, `cause you don't wanna' know." giggled Oatie with Clyde shaking his head in agreement. "Just trust us, Dad," Gip begged his dad, "There comes a time when you gotta' trust your kids. We've heard you say it a hunnert times. Ain't we guys?" the boys nodded in agreement with their brother and the Sheriff and his men backed them up, "You just gotta' trust us on this one, Dad. Don't ask, because you know we won't lie and that wouldn't be fair to us. Tell him, Uncle Buck, Mr. Rawlings." "Them boys got a strong point, Brother. We've all heard you say that. I trust `em, I think they know what their doing, Dan. How many times you and I just shook our heads and laughed our ass's off at the things they've done to Willie. Each one seems to be worse and more unique than the last. I, for one, can't wait to see what they plan to do to top Willie's silent disease from a year ago." All the men fell out laughing again. "All I can think to tell you, Dan," added Lyle Rawlings, "instead of going over there and shoot'n Willie's ass off, we better drop to our damn knees and say sentence prayers for poor Willie." The men roared with laughter and even Dan chuckled. He finally gave up the idea of performing a buttectomy on Willie with his shotgun. He decided to leave it to his boys. "You see, Dad, ..." spoke Waddie with a smile on his face, "Willie didn't shoot quite all the critters." The boys didn't elaborate beyond that and somehow at that moment, Dan Justin, as angry as he was, suddenly had a twinge of sympathy for Willie. Chills ran up Dan's spine and he got the feeling maybe Lyle's suggestion wasn't such a bad idea. Dan knew whatever the boys were planning to do to Willie would be God awful. The men could count on pay-backs times ten. He and Buck learned a long time ago that their boys didn't do anything half-ass'ed. The boys befriended Ms. Pearl. They hadn't told anyone about her because they were worried that Dad Dan wouldn't like them helping a stinky cat. Madame Pearl Le Peu. The boys quickly got use to her pungent smell and it went away in time. A dog or coyote got after her and even though she tried to spray it she got her back broken and a chunk bitten out of her left hind leg. She was in bad shape. She was near death and stunk because she had recently sprayed the coyote. Waddie had a way of humming to animals that seemed to hypnotize them and they wouldn't bite even if they were in severe pain. He taught the other boys how to do it and they got just as good at it; Gip especially. Being farm/ranch boys Waddie and Gip were warned constantly about rabid animals and to be very careful about handling wild animals that could possibly be carrying rabies. The boys didn't take any chances with Ms. Pearl. They eased a long flat shovel under her to gently lift her and put her into a warm box. She seemed to know that the boys were trying to help her and didn't make any effort to resist. She especially liked Oatie and Gip for some reason but she came to trust all four boys equally. They carried her to the old barn where they kept their sick critters except they decided to keep her in the loft. Their reasoning being, if she was up high, in her condition, she wouldn't try to get away until she was healed. They fed her, provided water for her and Waddie managed to get some sulfur power and sulfathisole to help heal her wounds. Ms. Pearl lay there and accepted food and water from the boys for several weeks and seemed to enjoy their visits. They cleaned up her poop and took a warm damp rag to gently clean her from time to time. She never made a move to bite nor spray them. Ms. Pearl got better and better. Her back completely healed, except she kinda favored her left leg and her back end looked like a loose caboose when she walked. The flesh and hair grew back over the flesh wound. Since she was nocturnal by nature the boys had created a box with a lid that opened and a tunnel out of straw that she could crawl through and sleep undisturbed during the day. When Willie shot all the other critters Ms. Pearl was still asleep in her artificial borough in the loft. The boys were thrilled when Ms. Pearl waddled out in the evening for her food and water. She allowed the boys to clean her and her bedding. She was so use to it, she'd just back her little butt up to the boy cleaning her. They'd put fresh straw in her box, pet her gently and talk to her. They'd encourage her telling her how much better she looked and she was doing great. She wouldn't stay out too long but returned to her box to rest and recuperate. Sometimes she'd carry an extra chunk of red meat or dog biscuit back to her nest with her for a late night snack. As she got better, Ms. Pearl would follow those four boys everywhere. They had her so well trained, they could whistle and she knew it meant to hide herself. She learned her name and would come to the boy that was calling her. They weren't going to let Willie hurt her. Let anyone else come around her or her boys and she'd turn, raise her tail and start thumping her little back feet. And you damn well better not come closer to her boys than a good fifteen feet. If you stayed your distance she'd calm down and let you talk to the boys but the minute you made a move closer, her little butt was turned towards you and those tiny little feet were just a' thumping out a warning. The boys loved her and could do anything with her. They could pick her up, pet her, and give her treats. You couldn't see her without knowing she dearly loved her boys and was protective of them. They saved her life and she was grateful. The boys never felt so safe as when Ms. Pearl was with them. One day the boys decided it was time to share their new best friend with the folks they loved. It was a fourth of July party at the Justin's. All the deputies, their wives and kids were there. The usual family folks of the Dyers, Davenports, Claymores, Ma and Pa Lovejoy, and Tates were there. Even Uncle Enid drove down to celebrate the fourth with `her boys.' Morgan was away from home and of course, as usual, Judy and her three didn't show. The boys giggled all morning. They had their heads together just a' talking amongst themselves, away from the adults, laughing, giggling and carrying on. Dan and Buck knew they were up to something. Finally, Oatie stood on a picnic table and made an announcement. "Folks! If I could have your attention for a moment! It's important everyone listen to me. Me and my brothers, Waddie, Gip and Clyde have invited our new best friend to meet ya'll but you can't get too close. Parents! Please hang on to your kids and don't let them run up to us because it could be disastrous. Our guest is a wild critter we've nursed back to health and she won't stand for anyone but her four boys coming within fifteen feet of her." Yonder came Clyde, Waddie and Gip being followed by their new best friend Madame Pearl Le Pue. The crowd was stunned. No one dared to breathe. They didn't know whether to shit or run. No one could believe the boys new best friend was a skunk, and a loaded one at that. Uncle Enid slapped Buck on the back and they broke up into gales of laughter. "Buck, ya'oughta lock them Goddamn boys up and throw away the key! They're gonna' be dangerous when they grow up!" laughed Uncle Enid. That only caused Buck and the deputies to break up laughing. Then everybody started laughing. Everyone was dumbfounded. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Nobody makes a girlfriend of a loaded skunk. It's just not done in polite society. It's not like you can take her home and introduce her to your family. However, the upside is you wouldn't have to spend much on her for perfume. Ms. Pearl would let the boys hold her, play with her, pet her, climb all over them and they'd give her treats. She'd jump in their laps and let them do anything they wanted to her. She loved to have her tummy tickled. Her idea of heaven was laying on her back, in one of the boy's lap, crunching away on a dog biscuit held between her two little front paws while one of the boys tickled her tummy. The deputies, Buck, Dan, Doc Dyer and Uncle Enid were laughing their ass's off. Buck told them, "You know exactly what them boys plan to do with that skunk, don't cha'? Someway, somehow their gonna' figure out a way to get Ms. Pearl to spray Willie. I'd be willing to bet a month's pay. Just as sure as God made little green apples you can count on them boys getting back at Willie with that damn skunk." Finally, the boys called for Ms. Pearl to follow them and they took her back to the loft. They trained her to get into a little wooden carrying basket and lay down so they could tie a rope around the handle and lift her comfortably to her loft. They called it the `pearl-a-vator.' They came back to the party to much congratulations and good wishes for their critter hospital. Once again Dr. Dyer was really impressed by the boys and their talent. The boys asked the folks not to talk too much about what they'd seen that day and they didn't. They all knew why! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Willie had the habit of bringing his four cronies home with him every Friday evening, going in his room and locking his door as usual. They'd have a bull shit session and talk about girls. Out of habit he hung the key on a nail next to the door. Willie had started keeping his window closed but never locked. One Friday evening the boys smuggled Ms. Pearl up to Waddie's room in her basket and let her run around. Then they took her and put her in Willie's room and closed the window. Ms. Pearl investigated then decided to crawl under Willie's bed and take a nap. Willie came home with his cronies, went into his room and locked the door behind them. He hooked the key onto the nail by the door and the boys made themselves comfortable. Ms. Pearl comes waltzing out from under the bed and sees it's not her four boys and goes into her little foot stomp'n toten tanze.* Two of the boys yelled and headed for the door but of course it was locked. All they could do was twist and pull on the knob frantically. One pushed the other out of the way thinking he could get the damn thing open. Willie goes for the key the same time another boy lunges for it and the key goes flying through the air onto the bed. Willie runs for the key and that's all it took for Ms. Pearl to release her version of `Evening in Paris' and got Willie right, smack dab in the face. Willie dropped the key and in his confusion kicked it under the bed. One of the other boys lunged for it but Ms. Pearl took deadly aim and got him, too, right in the kisser. It smelled so bad the other two were yelling and crying. One of the other boys finally manage to locate the key but it was on the other side of Ms. Pearl near the window and she was still just a' doing her `rump thump'n rumba.' He lunged across the bed and managed to toss the key to the other boy nearer the door. Ms. Pearl was not amused and got both of them in a cross fire that would have made a western gun slinger green with envy if not from the smell. Not only was she accurate she was deadly accurate. Those boys fogged out of that room and ran downstairs, screaming, hollering and yelling at the top of their lungs. "Oh God! Oh God! I'm blind! Oh God, I'm blind!" Willie cried. The other boys joined in on the chorus of this geek tragedy. (pun intended) As they exited the room Willie didn't worry about locking it. They left the door wide open. Ms. Pearl Texas Two-stepped out into the hallway. Waddie had opened his door so the boys could get a good peek at Willie and his four cronies in their hasty exit. Ms. Pearl saw her boys, strolled over to them, walked into Waddie's room and crawled into her carry basket. Waddie gave her a chunk of red meat, patted her on her little head, told her what a wonderful lady she was but she had a tendency to wear too much perfume. Ms. Pearl promptly curled up into a ball and went to sleep. Her job, here, was done. She was exhausted. She needed a nap. The boys felt she damn well deserved it. Judy made Willie and his crew take off their clothes and throw them in the incinerator. She threw them each a bar of lie soap and a couple of scrub brushes. She wouldn't let them back in the house or into the bathrooms until they washed off some of the stink. They had to rinse each other with ice cold water from the hose. She made them repeat the procedure four of five times until their skin was almost raw and blue from the cold water. She gave them four towels to dry themselves and throw in the incinerator. She finally let them into the house but they had to use the two bathrooms upstairs. Waddie kept his locked so they had to use Willie's. Willie told his mother to go fuck herself, two of them were going to use Dorothy's bathroom. Dorothy quickly evacuated her room to go stay with a friend. The entire house reeked of skunk. It was, to put it mildly, a God awful stench. Willie and his boys got into the bathrooms to try to bathe more the smell off each other. Judy gave them all the tomato juice she had for them rub on each other and then wash off. The house reeked of skunk for months. The boys didn't care. They'd taken care of Ms. Pearl for so long they got use to it. Under the cover of nightfall, Waddie, Gip, Oatie and Clyde left by way of the window and down the vine covered trellis. They gently lowered Ms. Pearl, still in her basket, down to one of the other boys. They slowly make their way back to the Justin's ranch and returned Ms. Pearl to her temporary borough. Waddie gave her a nice chunk of red meat to take with her. When she got to the opening of her little tunnel Ms. Pearl stopped, turned and every boy swore they saw her wink. Then she turned and disappeared into her nest. She'd had a busy afternoon Dan tried to get the boys to tell him what happened but they couldn't stop laughing long enough. They'd laugh their ass's off every time anyone mentioned it. Momma Sue and Dan knew they had done the deed because they heard the screams and yelling all the way to their place to say nothing of Ms. Pearl signature fragrance wafting on the evening breeze. Dan remembered what Buck had said, that their revenge on Willie would be God awful. Dan called the sheriff's station. Buck and Lyle hadn't left for the evening. Dan told Buck to tell Lyle they should have gotten on their knees and said the sentence prayers for Willie. The boys got their revenge today. Buck, Lyle, Quinton, Don drove by to pick up Linda Sue at the front of Buck's place and made it out to the Justin's as fast as they could. The boys were in the shower bathing each other because they reeked to high heaven but not nearly as bad as Willie and his crew. It only took them a couple of rinses with a bar of `Ivory.' When the boys walked out in clean clothes and saw their family they all four broke up laughing again. Oatie was nominated to tell the story, and did he tell it?! It became a comic epic to contend with Beowolf. Oatie had an innate gift of bull shit mixed with brilliant word play and attention to detail that no one was left standing. They all had to sit down they were laughing so hard as Oatie told the story. The story got all over the damn county. When Oatie told all the deputies at the sheriff's station including Mrs. Anderson he had to stop several times the men were so sore from laughing at his enlarged version of the tale. Mrs. Anderson was in tears. She'd never heard anything so funny in her life. Oatie must have told that story a hundred times and each time he improved on it `til it couldn't have been more funny. As many times as they heard Oatie tell the story even the boys would drop on the floor laughing at Oatie's recounting of "Ms. Pearl's Shoot Out at the Lovejoy Corral." Dr. Dyer and his wife never laughed so hard in their lives. Buck and Linda Sue laughed every time they heard Oatie tell the story. They laughed so much they hurt. When Uncle Enid heard Oates's retelling of the story she had to stop him three or four times before he could go on. "Didn't I tell you, Buck!!" she'd slap her leg and break out laughing, "Them boys are dangerous! They're libel to kill this dirty old lady from laughing so much." The only people that didn't hear about it were the four boys, Morgan, Judy and Dorothy. Of all the people that knew, not a soul ever said a word to them. That community was tight lipped when it came to protecting their boys. Then one day Ms. Pearl disappeared and the boys were heartsick. They thought for sure Willie killed her. The next spring yonder come Ms. Pearl with five kits tailing along behind her. She brought her family to show her boys. She was so proud of them and it seemed like she wanted the boy's approval. After all, they were part of her family. She just came by to say, `hello' and `thanks.' She spent all afternoon with the boys. Buck got film of the boys petting and playing with her kits. She let the boys play with them, pet them and they gave her treats and some for the kids. At the end of the day Ms. Pearl gathered her children, counted them, was satisfied they were all there, went to each boy in turn to get her head patted, told how wonderful and beautiful her family was and they were so proud and happy she shared them. Ms. Pearl turned and they waddled off. They never saw her again. However, for years, the boys always remembered Ms. Pearl in their prayers at Thanksgiving to much giggling and hooting at what some folks thought should've been a solemn occasion. Buck declared that the Old Man was probably sitting at the table, slapping his knee and laughing his ass off with the rest off them. Buck was right. When Mr. Urial told the Old Man about Ms. Pearl the heavens rumbled for three days. "You know, I don't know if'n we should've ever gotten those boys together." mused Buck one afternoon, "Separately they're the sweetest boys you'd ever want to meet, but together . . . no one in the damn county's safe. I've overheard them talking when they didn't know they were being listened to and they throw ideas back and forth to each other like rice at a wedding. Those kids are fearless. I have a fear that one of these days they're gonna' get bored with tormenting Willie and he's gonna' disappear. I guarantee you one damn thing, they'll have a water tight alibi and no one will ever find poor Willie." Willie couldn't prove it but he had a gut feeling that little bastard Waddie and his three slimy little friends had something to do with that damn skunk in his room. He thought it was strange they never found a trace of it afterward. Willie was determined to get Waddie back big time and arranged an elaborate plan to once again frame Waddie for something that would really piss Morgan off. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Whither thou goest... Oatie was spending several days with Lyle and his wife Mavis on their ranch a little further down the road from Morgan and the Justin's. It was a hot early summer day. Lyle and Oatie were out riding fences all morning to repair anything that needed fixing. They stopped for lunch beside the creek that ran through most all the men's properties. They watered their horses and left them to graze in a shaded area. Lyle took out their lunch Mavis fixed them and a thermos of cool aid. The men had lunch and Lyle decided it was too damn hot to ride the fence the rest of the afternoon so he and Oatie decided to cool off in the creek. It wasn't as deep in Lyle's area as the quarry but you could still swim and certain parts were over Oatie's head. Lyle was playing around with Oatie and Oatie was giggling like he usually does. They settled down and lay together in the cool water on a sand bar. Oatie was laying in Lyle's arms. They had no qualms about touching each other from all the naked poker parties at Buck's parents house. A couple of times Oatie asked Lyle to stay the night with him in Gip and Waddie's room. He did and they slept in each other's arms all night. Lyle couldn't get Oatie any closer. He fell in love with Oatie. He wanted Oatie to be his son. "C. D. ?" Oatie asked shyly. Out of respect for Mr. Rawlings' position the boys shortened `Chief Deputy' to `C. D.' His deputies picked it up from the boys and slowly the entire town was referring to Lyle Rawlings as C. D. Rawlings. "Yes, Oatie?" "Awww, nothing, Sir." Lyle rolled over on his side facing Oatie who's head was laying on his big arm. He reached over and bussed a kiss behind Oatie's ear. "Why don't you go ahead and hear yourself say it, Sweet baby. We both know what you wanna' say. 'Sides you gotta' know I feel the same damn way `bout chu.'" "I love Uncle Buck, Dad Dan, Quinton, Mr. Rayborn, all the other deputies a lot. I really, really do love them with all my heart. They've all been so damn good to me and my brothers. I love my three brothers more'n life itself but Mr. Rawlings, Sir..." Oatie had tears rolling down his little cheeks and Lyle was kissing each one away. "But,...but,... I love you special, Mr. Rawlings." "Son, you don't love me one 'eye-yota' more'n I love you. We're partners, Son, you and me. We're a team. I'm convinced God meant for us to be together. Ain't never had this closeness with any other man nor boy in my life; not even my own dad. Ain't no one can ever take that away from us, Oatie. Why, I can look at you and know what's going through that bright little mind of your's. I know why you're crying and what else you wanna' to tell me." "You do?" "Sure I do! But I can't make a wish come true unless I hear it from the other person. You tell me what's in your heart and I promise we'll work together to see it come true." "Well,... Waddie has three dads, ... Gip has three dads, ... Clyde has three dads; ... well, .... four counting you... and ....well, they're my dad's, too, but..." "I can't help you with this step, Oatie. You have to take this one by yourself, Son. As much as I'd like to take you by the hand and lead you, it has to come from your mouth, your heart, and `only' your heart. I can't say the words for you, Son." "Goddamn it, Mr. Rawlings,----- I love you so much I wish you were my dad." Lyle grabbed Oatie to him, held him close for a good while, then he kissed Oatie gently on his mouth. "Damn, Son! Didn't think you were ever gonna' get that out! What if I told you your aunts agreed to let Mavis and I adopt you but only if you asked us to." "Really, Mr. Rawlings? Really?" Oatie's face lit up. "Well, Sir, I'm a' ask'n! No, C. D.!" Oatie got on his knees in the water and clasp his hands in front of him, "I'm a' beggin' you, Sir! Please, Mr. Rawlings would you consider being my dad? It would be so great to know I had my own dad." "In our hearts we know I've all ready become your dad, Oatie. You and I've known for sometime we want that for each other. We just had to wait until you were ready to ask. There has to be a years trial period; Mavis and I agreed to and at the end of that period, if'n you still want to, we can officially adopt you and you'll become Oatie Rawlings, our son. Might as well make it official, Oatie. Hell, everybody in town's beginning to think you're my son, now, anyway." "That's wonderful, Mr. Rawlings but do you think my name could be Oatie Justin Claymore Rawlings." "Of course, Oatie! That's perfect! I know two of your dads will be thrilled. It would be polite to ask the Sheriff and the Claymore seniors if you may use their name. The same with Dan Justin." "Good idea, Sir. I plan to but when do I get to start calling you `Dad,' C. D. and Mrs. Rawlings `Mom?'" "Oh, I don't know," Lyle threw back his head scratching his chin like he was musing the question, "How's about soon's we seal this deal with a kiss, Cowboy?" Oatie threw his arms around Lyle's neck and kissed Lyle Rawlings right on the mouth so hard and passionately Lyle got roaring hard; so did Oatie. "See, Dad! I done told you we love each other." Lyle threw back his head and roared with laughter. "I can't gain say that, Son! Just look how much I love you!" Oatie and Lyle hugged and laughed. Oatie grabbed himself a big ole handful of C. D. dick. Lyle had ample for Oatie to grab. "I'd say that was enough love to last a life time, Dad." Oatie giggled. Lyle grabbed Oatie's considerable amount of love potential that was almost rock hard. It was so big it rarely got fully hard. "How `bout loaning me six inches of that love, Son. You'd never miss it! Shit! You got enough love there to last two life times! And I can't deny, there's just something about having a son that's got the biggest dick in school." They both broke up laughing, hugged and kissed again. "Sounds right to have you call me dad, Son. I sure like to call you son, Oatie. I'm s'damn proud of you. I couldn't a had a better son, Oatie. You just made this old cowboy a very happy man. Did you know you could've had your choice of ten men in this community that would gladly be your dad; however, you picked me. Old C. D. to be your dad. That means a lot, Oatie. More'n you'll ever know. Most times a man don't get to choose the kid God gives him. He has to do the best he can with what he gets. God let me choose. I chose you, Oatie, to be my son. He gave you a choice of dads. You chose me. We chose each other. I love you, Son." "I didn't have no choice, Dad. If'n I didn't pick you, you'd lose your ass at poker." Oatie giggled as Lyle tickled him for his impertinence. That's one of the things Lyle loved most about Oatie. When anyone was taking themselves just a little too seriously, Oatie had a giant `hat pin wit' that would burst their bubble and snap them back to reality pretty damn quick. But Oatie had his serious side, too. "Dad?" "Yes, Son?" "I love you, too, more'n stars in the sky." That got Oatie a big hug and a kiss stolen from him. Lyle had stolen so damn many kisses from him that afternoon, Oatie had to restock. A year later the papers were filed in the county records that the child Othal Godfrey Trent known as `Oatie' Trent was adopted as the son of Chief Deputy and Mrs. Lyle T. Rawlings and his new name from that day forth would be `Oatie Justin Claymore Rawlings.' The Justins were there. All the Claymores were there. In fact all the members of Oaties family including his aunts were there. Even Uncle Enid came for the weekend. She wouldn't have missed it for the world. She and Buck spent the weekend laughing together and having a wonderful time. The following Sunday after church the Sheriff and Mrs. Buck Claymore were installed as God parents to Oatie and Mavis Lyle Rawlings, Clyde Rayborn and Gip Justin. Lyle, Oatie, Clyde, Don, Gip and Dan were all baptized at the same ceremony. The whole damn town including Morgan was there. Morgan's family wasn't. Afterward they had the greatest picnic in the park anyone could remember. It was a joyous day. Sheriff Buck Claymore set a new world record for stolen kisses. The first day of forth grade. One of the brightest, well liked kids in school took his little sister Mavis Lyle by the hand and saw to it she was comfortable in the first grade. Lyle and Mavis marveled at their closeness and communication. Mavis Lyle trusted Oatie more that she did her own parents. She didn't want them to take her to school. She wanted her big brother Oatie to take her. Mavis and Lyle looked at each other and smiled. They knew they'd done the right thing for both their kids. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Oh Brother, wherefor art thou? Morgan's life was coming apart at the seams. His boy was being embraced and loved by a community of people who didn't understand what Morgan was trying to do for him. He knew on the surface Waddie was a lovable child but he would do insidious things that his family had witnessed. The kid had the temerity to lie to Morgan with a straight face insisting the other three of his family were framing him and lied to protect Willie. If that wasn't bad enough, the kid developed the mental ability to defy his punishment and refused to admit the truth that he was lying. Ever since Waddie lived that year with his brother, Buck, he hadn't been a bad kid but the things that he would do spoke volumes to Morgan of his disgust for him. He loved his brother but he knew Buck was taken in by Waddie just like the rest of the community. Sure, the kid seemed to love Morgan and knew all the words to say but Morgan was the only one who really knew that underneath, Waddie carefully planned all his misdeeds to punish Morgan for what Waddie thought in his childish mind was Morgan's abandoning him in favor of his family. Why couldn't others see it as clearly as he could? It was obvious that Waddie was jealous of his love for Judy, Willie, and Dorothy. Waddie simply wanted Morgan for himself. He wasn't willing to share Morgan nor try to be a part of Morgan's family and had succeeded in alienating an entire community against him and his family. One thing Morgan couldn't figure out. How was it, he could whip the child until he bled or passed out without him so much as flinching to some of his most powerful blows? To control Waddie he had to break him and teach him the right way. Waddie wouldn't come around him for days after one of his whippings. Morgan knew why. Waddie was punishing him by avoiding him. He refused to cave into his game, go find him, and beg him to come home. That would be admitting weakness on Morgan's part as a good father. Waddie would even talk his buddies into coming to feed and do his chores for sometimes a week to ten days. Then he would come back, hug and kiss Morgan. Morgan saw it as Waddie's way of apologizing to him for lying. Waddie would tell Morgan he forgave him, still loved him but soon he would not. Then Morgan wouldn't have a son anymore and he would never call him `dad' again. He tried to spook Morgan by telling him he'd been visited by an angel and that God would take him away from him. Morgan laughed off the boy's attempts to scare him with religious mumbo-jumbo. Morgan knew Waddie didn't know what he was talking about, he would be Morgan's son forever, and Morgan would have Waddie show him the respect he was due by calling him `Dad.' Morgan so passionately wanted family he was willing to sell the devil the only soul in his house that truly loved him. If, anyone who reads this, has any doubts, that a man's mind can be so focused on one goal, one great passion, to the exclusion of the rest of his world, he's quite wrong. There is no man so blind as he who will not see nor one so deaf as he who will not hear. Morgan could do neither. Willie succeeded in getting his mother and Dorothy to back him one more time but this time it had to do with the stock Waddie was taking care of for Morgan. Once again Morgan wouldn't listen to Waddie and allowed Judy to be the final vote in his punishment. Morgan could understand Waddie doing something bad to him to try an punish Morgan into seeing things his way but he never thought the boy would stoop so low as to injure an animal in his charge. Waddie saw what was happening and expected another beating; however, he refused to let Morgan drag him out to the barn. He heard a voice inside him. "I'm with you, my Son. Let me take over. Your words won't be your own. Don't panic. It must come to pass but you'll feel nothing. I'll not desert you." "Get your fucking hands off me! I'll walk to the barn like a man. I refuse to be dragged out there like a Goddamn animal." Waddie looked at Morgan with all the fierceness in him. Morgan hauled off and slapped Waddie across the face as hard as he could. Waddie's head didn't even move. Blood was coming from two places on his mouth and nose but he felt nothing. He didn't even turn his head away from Morgan. "Don't you ever speak to me that disrespectfully again, you understand?" "You ever hit me again like that, you'll be a dead man!" That shook Morgan to his core. The way the boy said it, he knew he meant it. Waddie would kill him if he ever hit him again like that. Morgan tried to stare Waddie down but even though the blood was flowing down his face he refused to take his fierce mean gaze away from Morgan's. "Do you understand?" yelled Morgan. "Do `you' understand?" replied Waddie quietly and forcefully. Waddie didn't move and didn't avert his mean gaze away for a minute. Morgan finally broke and gave Waddie a shove toward the barn. Waddie didn't try to wipe the blood from his face. It was getting all over him but inside he was as calm and peaceful as a lake without a ripple. He refused to say another word to Morgan. They marched to the barn and Morgan began his tirade. "If you're willing to admit you done it, I'll go light on you, Son. Don't make me have to break you Waddie." "Why bother with the whippin,' Dad. Why don't you just kill me. Go in the house, get your Goddamn gun and come back out here and shoot me. Kill me! You almost killed me when I was five years old. But, your were relieved you didn't. Least you didn't have to go to jail for murder. I was dead, Dad, and I chose to come back for you; because I loved you. What difference does it make if you kill me with your gun or with your insistence that I'm a bad boy what's got a devil in him and you're the fucking Pope. That's what you're doing anyway. I'd rather get it over with than have you kill me bit by bit." "You still riding that dead horse! Trying to scare me or threaten me with your God and angel story!" "I'm older and stronger now, Dad, and I ain't never gonna' admit to you or no son of a bitch I done something I didn't just so's you can see me cry and that ass hole brother of mine can laugh at me behind my back for taking a licking for something he done. I was never guilty any one of those times in the past and I'm not guilty now. He ain't only laughing at me, Dad, he's laughing at you. So's Judy and Dorothy! Laughing at what a fool you are to believe them. I'd never do to an animal what they said I done to that pony. You're taking three sick people's word over you son's. Thanks a lot you stupid hardheaded son of bitch! You'd rather kill the only love you have in your life so's you can hear him say he did something he didn't. You're not only stupid, you're as sick as they are!" Morgan raised his hand to hit Waddie again but there came a challenging look in Waddie's eyes that told Morgan if he hit Waddie he would be a dead man before the sun set. He knew Waddie well enough to know he didn't make empty threats. Morgan knew the boy would kill him. Morgan dropped his hand in disgust. "Go get your gun, Dad. I ain't afraid to die, but you are! You kill me, then you'll be rid of me for good and you won't have to worry about me being a bad boy no more. You won't have to be frustrated when I walk away from here without playing your silly game. I won't lie to you no more to get you to stop beating me. I know you ain't gonna' listen to me. I know you're probably horny. You ain't fucked Judy in months. That's what this is all about and you know it. It's so's you can get your rocks off beating me. Why don't you just let me suck you off and we'll call it even. Either way you ain't never gonna' get me to admit I done something I didn't." "I've heard enough of your garbage. Drop your pants, bend over that bail and get ready." Morgan didn't start in easy and build up. The first couple of blows were as hard as he could make them. Waddie didn't flinch. Morgan couldn't understand it. A grown man would be writhing on the floor in pain. "Come on, Dad! You mean-ass, heartless bastard! You can whip me harder than that! Aren't you man enough to make your kid cry when you whip him. Hit me harder if you think you can. You ain't gonna' win! I'll die before you'll make me lie again just to get you to stop beating me. "Shut up, Waddie!" He whipped Waddie harder. Waddie got up on his elbows and looked back at his dad who stopped momentarily. "You're gettin' off on this ain'cha, old man? Don't think I don't know you get a hard-on and come in your jeans. That's the real draw ain't it Morgan? You don't give a rat's ass about who's telling the truth anymore . . . you won't admit it but you know in your heart I'm telling the truth. You bring me out here to whip me so's you can get your jollies, don't cha'? The homo inside of you is really enjoying this." Waddie turned around and looked at Morgan's crotch. "Yeah, I thought so! You got a hard-on and your pissing in your pants, huh Dad? Come'mon, Dad, just let me give you a blow job. You don't have to beat my ass to get your rocks off. This is really why you wanted a son, ain't it? A kid to take out your frustrations on `cause the rest of your life is going to shit. I tell you what, old man. Why don't you save us both some heartache and just come tell me when you need to get your rocks off by beating my ass. It'd be a hell of a lot easier on me. I don't mind helping a buddy out. You can beat my ass `til you come. I've got to be the stupidest kid on Earth, Dad. You know why, Dad? You know why? `Cause I can't stop loving you, you bastard, you sick son of a bitch. I love you so Goddamn much if that's what my dad needs to get his pleasure, I'll damn sure put it up there for him to beat until he comes. There's only one catch, Dad! When you come you have to yell out how much you love me. If that's the only way I can get your love, I'm willing to give it to you, no questions asked. And if you were a man at all you'd at least offer to let your kid catch for you. Oh fuck it, what's the use? You don't never listen to me anyway . . . get on with your child beating. What does it take to convince you those three Goddamn people you got living in your house are crazy people, Dad? You believe them over me all this damn time. You don't deserve to have a son. You're nothing but a perverted child beater. You keep doing it `cause it's sexually exciting to you. It has nothing to do with punishment anymore, does it, Dad? You just love to come home and find Willie, and them two bitches has framed me again so's you can come out here and beat your kid and get your rocks off." Waddie shut up waiting for the next blows. He'd hoped his words were like the ram's horns that were blown that day at Jericho and the walls came tumbling down. There wasn't a chink out of place in Morgan's wall. "Shut up, Waddie! Shut the fuck up! Shut up before you make me so damn mad I really do hurt you." Waddie started laughing and laughed at what Morgan said through the next four or five hits. His ass was beginning to bleed pretty bad. "I should of left with that angel when I was dying. I prayed you'd come around and learn to love and trust me, but you know what, Morgan? You can't even trust yourself." "What did you call me?" "`Morgan!' `At's your name, ain't it?" "You'll show me proper respect, young man. You call me dad." "I told you the day would come when I won't call you dad no more and I wouldn't forgive you either. Well, today's the day. You ain't my dad no more, Morgan, and I don't forgive you anymore! A dad would never do this to his son! If you ain't smart enough to tell when your kid's telling the truth, you don't deserve to have him call you `Dad.' I certainly don't intend to live with nor call any son of a bitch my `dad' when he won't believe me. I've never lied to you Morgan until you've whipped me to make me lie. You show me respect and I'll show you respect. Until then, Morgan, you can whip me `til your Goddamn arm falls off or you kill me first. I ain't gonna' call you dad no more, ain't gonna' cry and I sure as hell ain't gonna' admit to something I never done. I'd rather die than have that son of a bitch brother of mine get away with this. Brother? Hell, that bastard that lives in your house continues living there no matter what he's doing to your son and you don't give a good Goddamn! You've whipped me so many fuck'n times I lost count! You beat me for things Willie done because that bitch, him, and his dimwit sister gang up on me. Boy, you really picked one when you picked Judy to play the role of my ma. I hope the whore dies, goes to hell and burns in a lake of fire forever." "Don't say that, Waddie! That's your ma your talking about." Waddie turned, looked Morgan dead in the eye and wouldn't release his gaze. "Am I gonna' get to beat your ass `til it bleeds for that bold faced lie, Morgen? Admit it, Morgan! It's a lie! You know Goddamn well it's a lie, Morgan! You know I know she ain't my damn ma. She's told me so! The angel told me, too, and you know what else he told me, Morgan, . . . you want to know, Morgan, . . . you listening Morgan? You ain't my Goddamn dad! You can't have no kids, Morgan! That's why you married that slut `cause you wanted a family and she all ready had one. Then you talked her into putting her name on my birth certificate." "That's crazy talk, Waddie. You made up all that shit! You don't know what the hell you're talking about. That's just another one of your fantasies to separate us further. Of course I'm your dad and Judy's your mother. You might as well get use to it! Kids get crazy notions like that when they ain't happy with their parents. They make up stories about being adopted and after a while they start to believe it." "You hypocritical son of a bitch. You stand there and lie to me to my face and you think you can beat the truth out of me? Why don't you go beat the truth out of Willie. I'll tell you what, Morgan. At least be fair about this. Tell Willie from now on, no matter who's fault it is, the man who's time it is to get whipped gets the punishment. Alternate back and forth. You'll see a stop to all this nonsense pretty damn quick. You know why? `Cause Willie's a Goddamn yellow bellied son of a bitch. He'll think twice before he tries to set me up again. Especially if it's his turn next Morgan started really wailing on Waddie's butt. Morgan felt if he didn't make the boy cry and scream he didn't have control over him. Truth was, Morgan lost control of his son several years before. He kept his onslaught of whipping until Waddie's ass was bleeding more then pretty badly. It began to look like shredded beef. Waddie was aware of Morgan's belt hitting his bare ass really hard, ... but there was no pain. Waddie passed out and collapsed. Morgan didn't expect that to happen and one of his last and hardest blows hit Waddie across the back at an angle and started to bleed. "Where am I?" Waddie began to focus his eyes. Standing in front of him with tears in his eyes was Mr. Urial with his arms open to him. Waddie went into his arms and cried his heart out. The big handsome angel held him tight. "It's so good to see you again, Child, but it breaks my heart I have to come to you under these circumstances. I've come to love you so much, Waddie. I know! I know! The first damn thing we learn in angel training school is not to fall in love with the people we help. But damn it! I can't help it. You try to be so damn good, love him even though you know he ain't your dad, and that man is blind to you. He's going to wake you up in a few minutes and you'll have to go through a little more but the second time you wake up, get up and walk. You'll be invisible to everyone but those I choose to see you. Don't be afraid, Son. People you know will pass by you and not see you. I'll be with you. I'll direct you. Walk out to the black top, catch a ride to the main highway and hitch from there. A truck driver will pick you up and help you. He's one of our boys. It's important you don't stay another night under Morgan's roof...you must get away, Son. It's time for you to go." "Thanks for being with me, Mr. Urial. I couldn't have made it without you, Sir. I love you, too, Mr. Urial. God don't mind if you slip up once in a while. He told me so. It's all right for you to love me `cause I love you, too, Mr. Urial. So does my brother, Gip. He said to tell you `hi' if'n I ever saw you again and come visit. He won't be so scared next time. I'll do like you told me, Sir, but `scuse me, I gotta' go right now, my dad's waking me up..." Waddie woke up with Morgan wiping his face with a wet rag. He was still angry. "Soon's I rest a minute, we'll start again." Waddie lay there disgusted. He could feel the cut across his back beginning to hurt but made no moan. Morgan kept looking at Waddie expecting him to speak but he didn't. Waddie knew as soon as Morgan started in again Mr. Urial would take over again and try to talk to Morgan. Morgan jerked Waddie up and around to put him over the hay bail again. He saw Waddie's ass was bleeding pretty damn bad. It didn't stop him. He was going to conquer his son this time. He was going to break him for the kid's on good. He started in as hard as ever. Waddie didn't even flinch. "Whip me harder old man. Come on Morgan! Your wippin' me good now, Morgan! I can hear you breathing heavy, Morgan! You're gettin' there! You're gettin' there! You're just about to come, ain't cha, old man. Bring it on, Morgan! Whip your son! Beat that meanness out of him! You're his Grand Inquisitor! Beat the love out of the crazy son of a bitch that loves you." Waddie heard Morgan gasping for breath and knew he shot his load in his pants. "Feel better, Morgan? That load just cost you the last bit of love I had for you. Hope it was worth it; a treasure for a short live pleasure. Taking your meanness out on the only one in your Goddamn fucked up life who loves you! Here,... let me put my ass up there where you can get a really good swing at it. Go on, Morgan, kill me! I don't want to live anymore nohow. I don't want to live without a dad and I sure as hell ain't got no ma. I told you years ago Morgan, you wouldn't know the truth if it bit you on the butt. You've lied so much you're becoming like Dorothy. You're starting to believe the lies you tell. You're the one that's lying Morgan, not me. You're lying to yourself. You believe your own lies, Morgan. Don't expect me too. You don't have a son no more, Morgan. God just took him away from you. You made a liar out of me, in the sight of God, when you made me lie all those times I was suppose to have done wrong . You ain't gonna' make me a liar out of me no more, Morgan. I got an angel standing by my side, protecting me from your perverted insanity. I haven't felt your belt once since you started." "Yeah? Then why did you pass out a while ago?" "The flesh is week, Morgan, but you won't touch my soul with your hatred. God's gonna' punish you Morgan. He's gonna' take your son away from you because you don't know how to be a dad and protect the ones you love. You deserve to lose me, Morgan. You were never meant to be a father. God saw to that. He made damn sure you couldn't have children. And, this is why, Morgan." Waddie couldn't feel anything but began to hear Morgan weeping softly as once again he passed out. The boy was getting weak from loss of blood. When Waddie woke up someone had pulled his pants up, laid him on a bail of hay near the door of the barn, and put a wet cloth on his forehead. He sat up and felt a little dizzy. The voice inside his head told him, "Go, Son! Now!" Waddie sat up and called for his dad but he wasn't around. Waddie sat there for a minute and watched his dad walk down the front steps of the house, look up at Waddie, then stopped dead in his tracks and turned white as a sheet. He started running to the barn. Waddie couldn't take anymore and thought he'd run for protection to the Justin's. His dad ran right past him. He could've reached out and touched him. Waddie almost panicked but Morgan didn't even look at him. He remembered what Mr. Urial told him. He was invisible to his dad. He couldn't see Waddie. Waddie kept on walking `til he came to the gravel road in front of the house. He walked up the gravel road to the black top. He wasn't on the black top more than a couple of minutes when Dan Justin and Gip in Dan's pickup truck passed him and didn't see him. Gip had a strange feeling as his dad and he drove slowly by the Lovejoy place. There was an old lady coming towards them in and older yellow and white Ford pick up with groceries in the back. Gip looked out the rear window of his dad's truck and saw the old lady honk her horn and pull over. She looked like she was talking to someone outside the truck but there was no one there. Suddenly the passenger door opened by it's self, then closed by it's self. The old lady drove on. She got about fifteen yards down the black top and Gip watched the truck disappear. "Aaaahhh! Dad, that yellow truck disappeared into thin air. Look in your mirror, Dad! Do you see it!" "No Son, I don't. She couldn't have gone by our place yet and it's two miles up that hill. You saw it disappear?" "I saw that old lady that just drove by in the yellow and white Ford, honk her horn, pull over and it looked like she was talking to somebody. She never took her hands off the wheel and I watched the passenger door open by it's self and close by it's self. She never took her hands from the steering wheel, Dad. I saw it! Then she drove off and the damn truck disappeared. It just winked out. I didn't blink, Dad! I know what I saw!" "Maybe the door was agar and she stopped to close it tight, Son, but we should still be able to see her. Think she ran off the road?" "No Dad! Please believe me. She never took her hands off the wheel. The door opened all the way, slammed shut, she drove away several yards and disappeared. I swear to God, Dad, you know I wouldn't lie to you." Dan saw Gip suddenly freeze and all the color left his face. He was ghostly white. Then tears started running down his face. Then he spoke to no one Dan could see. "Oh God, Sir. Let me go to him. He's my brother, Sir. I love him. He needs me and my dad." Dan was stunned and pull the truck over. He listened. "Please! Please, take care of him, Sir. We love him so much!" "Mr. Urial, Son?" Dan asked quietly. Gip nodded his head, `yes,' as tears streamed down his face. "Do you want me to go after them and investigate, Son?" "No, Sir, I know who she picked up and I have to let him go. We have to let him go, Dad." Gip broke down into heavy sobs. So bad he started curling up in a ball next to his dad. Dan pulled Gip into his arms and tried to console his boy. Gip couldn't stop wailing and sobbing. Dan couldn't get him to stop he was almost hysterical. "Mr. Urial told me to let him go. He was with him." "Who Son? Waddie?" "Mr. Urial made him invisible to everyone but that lady. Said her name was Mrs. Jessup. Morgan beat him really, really bad, Dad. Take me home, Dad. Please! I can't go into town with you. I'm so sorry, Dad. I love you dad but that was my brother and he's run away. Oh God! If I could only be with him, Dad. Not to run away but to help him, Dad." "Sure Son. We can go into town tomorrow. I'll take you home. Can we go after them?" "No, Sir. He told us not to. Wouldn't do no good. We wouldn't find them anyway. He made the truck invisible so's we wouldn't follow. Waddie has to be by himself for a while, he said, and for me and you to be strong and pray for him." "Did he tell you anything else, Son?" "I won't lie to you, Dad. Yes, he did, but I can't tell you. Don't ask me to, Dad." Gip broke into sobs again and Dan lost it, too, but knew he had to be strong for his son. "Shuuuu, Son. It's gonna' be all right. God knows what he's doing. He'll protect Waddie. He loves him as much as we do. We have to trust Him, Son." That was it! Dan had had it! He was ready to go shoot Morgan. If Buck didn't have all his guns he would have. He drove Gip home and Gip ran to the loft to be alone to cry. Dan let him go. He needed to be by himself right now and then he would go to him. He had to tell Jimmy Sue and call Buck. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Kindness of Strangers~ Waddie knew they couldn't see him. It was an empty feeling. Two people he most loved in his life couldn't even see him. He walked on a bit more and heard a horn honk behind him. It was a little old lady in a yellow and white pick up truck loaded with groceries. She was headed for her place on the other side of the interstate and could she give him a lift. Waddie got in and sat on his butt for the first time since his beating. He ass was wet from the blood and he hesitated sitting on her seat. "Not to worry, Son. It's an old truck. The seats are cheap vinyl. Wash right off. You're dad beat cha' pretty bad this time didn't he." "Yes Ma'am." Was all Waddie could get out. He wasn't going to cry but the tears came without him crying. They came from relief of being out of the situation and in safety. "I'm so sorry, Son, but we'll get you to the interstate and you can get a ride into Austin. Your ride will be along in about five minutes after I let you out. Don't be afraid. Mr. Urial told me to pick you up and take you to the interstate. I've known him for sometime. He watches over me, you and your loved ones including your uncle, our fine new Sheriff. You know he's your dad, don't you?" "Yes Ma'am." The lady didn't say much but she did tell Waddie her name was Mrs. Jessup and she had no family left. She had two boys killed in the war and her daughter had been killed by her drunken husband. Her husband had passed away almost twenty years ago but she was happy. She was living and getting by. They came to the interstate and Mrs. Jessup pulled over to let Waddie out. "God bless you, Child. He has and he will. Mr. Franz will be along in about five minutes. Mr. Urial is right beside you. He'll protect you." "Thank you, Mrs. Jessup. I'm sorry `bout your kids. When I get back, I'd be proud to be your grand son if'n you'd have me." Mrs. Jessup got tears in her eyes. "I'd like that, Waddie. Take care and go with my love." "Thanks, Mrs. Jessup." Mrs. Jessup drove off with a tear in her eye and a prayer in her heart. Waddie was getting weak and Mr. Urial told him to sit down. Waddie did but he no sooner sat down that he passed out. When he came to he was riding in a big eighteen wheeler truck. A huge man was driving. Waddie found a comfortable quilt thrown over him and his head was on a soft downy pillow. "Felling better, Little Buddy?" Waddie nodded and tried to sit up but couldn't. He felt a big strong hand pat him gently and console him. "Take it easy, Son. Rest. When you feel a little better we'll stop and get something to eat. I'm Mr. Franz. Herschel Franz. Just call me `Bubba.' S'what all the other truckers call me." Bubba kept his big hand on Waddie except when he had to shift. His hand was like his uncle's arms, it was medicinal. Waddie went to sleep and woke up with his head in Bubba's lap. He'd crawled up and put his head in Bubba's lap to sleep. Bubba had a big smile on his face. "Think you could eat something, Waddie?" How did this man know his name? He never told him. Mr. Urial must've told him. "Yes Sir. But I ain't got no money, Bubba." Bubba laughed. "Don't you worry `bout that none. You let old Bubba worry `bout that. I just want to see you pack it away, Son. You need food to replenish your system and the blood you lost. Still feel pretty weak don't cha'? Yeah, well, you'll feel better after you eat and old Bubba's gonna' get us a motel to stay in for the night." They stopped and Waddie couldn't get down out of the truck. The blood had dried and stuck to his pants. Every time he moved it would tear the scabs away and was painful. Then it would start bleeding again. Bubba hoisted Waddie into his arms and carried him into a truck stop diner. A waitress saw Bubba walk in carrying Waddie and motioned Bubba to a back area off the main dinning room. Bubba sat Waddie in the vinyl seat and sat on the opposite side from Waddie. Waddie drank two glasses of water and was starting on his third when Bubba stopped him. "Woah, Son. Easy with the water. Let's get some food in ya.' What do ya' wanna' eat?" Waddie just shrugged his shoulder. He couldn't think about food. He couldn't think about anything but what he'd lost. He'd lost the only dad he knew until he was five years old. He gut ached more for the loss of Morgan's love that it did for his own ass. "Bring him the trucker's special with the eggs scrambled, bacon, Louise. I'll have the same. Thanks, Hon. Oh, and bring us both a big orange juice, big milk for my buddy and coffee for me." Bubba looked over at Waddie with the kindest of eyes. Waddie saw one tear roll down the big man's face. Bubba wasn't at all a good looking man but there was something about him that made Waddie trust him and all he could think of was sleeping in the big man's arms. "Thank you for picking me up, Bubba. You're a good man. I love you, Bubba." Waddie said quietly. "Now, let's not get all blubbery here. You all ready know I love you, Kiddo. The Old Man sent me to take care of you and get you into Austin. I'll take you to another man I know that'll get you room and board at the place he's staying. So you're a friend of Urial's, too?" Waddie shook his head. Louise returned with coffee, orange juice and milk for Waddie. "Your orders'll be up in just a sec, Sugar." Louise told Bubba and winked at Waddie. "She's a good ole gal, Son. She knows Mr. Urial too. Helped her out of some pretty bad spots. Hell, he's helped us all. Helped your dad. Save his life on Iwo Jima." How could Bubba know all this unless Mr. Urial told him. Of course. To hear Bubba refer to Buck as Waddie's dad lit a fire in Waddie's heart and he was suddenly very hungry. Good thing, `cause yonder came Louise with a mountain of food. The trucker's special consisted of chicken fried steak smothered in a tasty white gravy, three scrambled eggs, bacon, hash brown potatoes and thee small pancakes, with biscuits, butter and honey. Damn. Waddie had never seen so much food on one table for two people in his life. He smiled. "That's what I wanna' see, Buddy! A smile on that handsome face of yours. I know it's hard, Son, but it's over now and won't be too long before your Aunt Linda discovers you're her kid. In the meantime you got to heal both your body and your spirit. There's plenty of loving people who're gonna' help you do that. Now, eat up. Don't expect you to eat every bite but do your best. Eat `til you can't eat no more then eat just a little bit more." "Waddie dug in a ate like he hadn't eaten in a week. Suddenly all the food smelled and tasted wonderful. That damn steak melted him his mouth and the gravy was unbelievably good. Louise, the waitress came back around and stood next to Bubba with her hand lightly resting on his shoulder.. "How's he doing, Sug? Looks to me like he's doing pretty good. More coffee, Sug?" Lousie poured without waiting for an answer. Bubba smiled at her. "Don't know what his dad had on his mind to do what he done to that boy. Think Sid, over to the motel's, got any rooms vacant?" "I'll get on the horn and give him a holler. Single or double, Sug?" "Don't matter none. My little buddy's probably gonna' bunk it in with me anyway. I can tell a little buddy what needs some loving when I see's one." Bubba winked at Waddie. Waddie smiled and just nodded his agreement. Another huge trucker walked over to the booth. "Fine looking running buddy you got t'ere, Bubba." "Ain't he though? Prettier'n a' stacked out Jimmy with sidewalls. Howdy, Red Dog, good to see ya' again. Staying out of trouble, Son?" "Oh, hell no! You know me, Bubba, living life for the moment. Didn't mean to interrupt you men but the boys and me took up a little collection for your running buddy here." Red Dog handed Bubba a wad of rolled up bills. Bubba stuffed it in his shirt pocket and shook Red Dog's hand. "Right nice of you guys, Red Dog. Do me the favor of thanking all of `em for us. Soon's we finish I'm getting him over to the motel, get him cleaned up, take some pictures of his butt to send back to his uncle, the Sheriff, and get him to bed. We both need a good long nap. I picked him up on a run straight out of Phoenix. I been on the road too long to go any more. I know you know his uncle, Buck Claymore." "Oh, hell yes. One of the finest men I ever did know. Sure glad he got elected sheriff of that county. Don't have to pay out the ass to that other county mountie son of a bitch that use to pinch us ever damn time we'd go through there." "What you don't know is you're looking at Buck's son sitting there. His only kid." said Bubba. "Son of a bitch if'n he don't look a lot like Buck. Son, you got yourself a real fine, one hell of a dad in that man. He didn't do that to you." Red Dog said like he knew Buck wouldn't do anything like that to a child especially his own. Waddie shook his head as he finished the steak, eggs, bacon, and started in on the hot cakes. He finished the orange juice and was half way through a huge glass of milk. "Naw, Brother. It was his adopted dad. It's a long story. Buck don't know Waddie's his son yet but he will `for the years out. That's why I have to get some pictures while his wounds are fresh so's I can get `em back to Buck. After Waddie heals a while and decides to go home, the Sheriff will have the pictures as evidence of child abuse. The kid needs protection. He could a' died from a beating like that if Urial weren't with him taking care of him." "Shit! I'll say he's gotta be Buck's boy. Look how much he's eat'n. Good for you, Son!" Red Dog winked and said his goodbyes. Waddie shook his hand and thanked him for his and the other driver's kindness. He'd never forget them. "Here ya' go, Sugar. A single was all he had left but it's got a big king size bed. Good thing I called him. Brought me the key just a minute ago." Louise handed Bubba the key. "Thanks ya,' Darlin.' You take good care of us trucker bums. We love ya', Sweet heart." "Hell, Bubba, if'n it weren't for you guys. I wouldn't have no family. Ya'll been damn good to me, too, Sugar. More coffee, Hon." "Just a little, Sweetie. We got to get Waddie cleaned up and hit the sack." "Bring his clothes back over and I'll have `em ready for you tomorrow morning, Sugar. If I ain't here they'll be in a sack behind the counter with your name on it. I'll leave a note for Daisy." "Mighty kind of you, Louise. He don't need to get an infection. Got some ointment with me that'll keep him from gettin' infected and I'll wash him real good tonight." The men finished and Bubba paid the bill. He left Louise a ten dollar tip. Waddie tried to get up but it hurt too damn much. It hurt him so bad tears started running down his face. He was trying so hard to be brave. Bubba got a pained expression on his face like he felt the same pain Waddie was feeling. "Here, Little Buddy. Let old Bubba carry ya.' It won't be so bad tomorrow, I promise." Bubba gently carried Waddie over to the motel and took him into the room. He laid him on his stomach on the bed. He got a huge towel from the bathroom and put it under Waddie. "Lay there a minute, Son, I'll be right back. Gotta' go get my gear out of the truck." Waddie was sound a sleep when Bubba got back. He was tempted to let the boy lay there all night but he was afraid of infection if his wounds weren't taken care of. He gently reached under Waddie and undid his levis. He pulled his boots off and his socks. Bubba gently pulled his pants off him. Waddie never woke up. Good! The kid didn't need any more pain today. It was gonna' be bad enough getting him cleaned up. Bubba managed to get his shirt off then covered him with the old quilt he brought from the truck. Bubba shook his head from disbelief at the child's butt and back. Bubba put Waddie's clothes in a brown paper grocery bag and walked them over to Louise. She promised she'd have them back early in the morning. She knew Bubba got up early and hit the road. Said she might have to pull a double shift if'n the new girl didn't show up. Bubba tried to hand her another ten dollars. "This one's on me Bubba. Let me do something for the poor kid. You and the guys have done a lot for me and him. I'll have `em here in the morning for ya', Sugar." "Thanks, Sweet heart. You're one in a million." Bubba meant what he said. "Aww, go on with ya'. Love you, too, Sugar." Lousie took the bag to the back and put it with her things. She asked the owner Al if he'd mind if she washed a kid's clothes that was with Bubba. He'd been beaten pretty bad by his dad and there was a lot of blood and dirt. He told her by all means, go ahead. She took Waddie's clothes to the large commercial washer in the back and put them in. They were done by the time Louise finished her shift. She put them in a clean bag and sat them under the counter with Bubba's name on it. Then she went home. She was dog tired, but a good tired. Her heart was at peace. She'd done her good deed for the day. Maybe one more star for her crown. `Hell,' she thought, `to hell with the star, I'm just happy I could do it for the boy.' Mr. Urial took care of it. She got five big stars. Louise had a heart bigger'n her pocket book but she had more stars in her crown than you could count. Stars that shown like diamonds and there wasn't enough money in the world to buy them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bubba returned to the motel room and quietly opened the door. Waddie was still asleep. He got out his flash kodak and took eight color pictures of Waddie's back and butt. He saved four exposures for pictures of the hand print, black eye and busted lips on Waddie's face. It was even worse than about and hour ago but Bubba knew he had to get him up and in the shower. He threw the blanket back over him and undressed. He decided to let the boy sleep for another hour then get him up. He lay there beside Waddie looking at him wondering how any man that loved his child could do that to a kid. 'He must be one insane mother fucker. Wonder what Buck Claymore's gonna' do to this guy when he finds out the truth, that the boy's his son? I wouldn't want to be him.' Bubba thought. Then he prayed. His prayer was simple. He thanked the lord for his goodness to him. Protect and guide him as he always has and give him strength and courage to help this boy. An hour passed and Waddie tried to roll over and hurt so bad he couldn't. He saw Bubba's big hulking frame buck ass naked standing next to him looking down at him. "Damn Bubba! From the neck down your one hell of a good looking man!" said Waddie as he winked at Bubba. Bubba threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Feel'n better, Little Buddy?" "In my heart, I feel just fine, Bubba, but my ass hurts like a mother fucker." Bubba didn't want to but he laughed again. "Sorry, Little Buddy, but it was funny the way you said it." "I meant for it to be, Bubba. You been so damn good to me..." Waddie started crying. Bubba sat on the edge of the bed and held Waddie as best he could. He knew the kid ached everywhere. "I know you feel like you been run over by a Mack truck, but the Old Man and Urial says I have to get you into the shower to clean you real good. I got some ointment that will help and take away some of the pain. Think you can get up, Sweetheart? I'll help you or carry you...which ever you think best." "I think I can walk, Bubba. Just let me lean on you." Waddie held onto Bubba and walked with him into the bathroom. "Stand there for a minute for me, Waddie. I gotta' take four pictures of your fucked-up pretty little face for your uncle. Try to look as dejected and hurt as possible." "Won't take much acting, Bubba." Bubba took his pictures then started the shower and got the water good and warm. He lifted Waddie up and stood him in the shower away from the spray. He wanted to let the boy ease his way into it. Waddie did and winced a couple of times but the warm water felt good. It was like the hurt and pain was being washed away, not only from his body but his soul as well. Bubba got in behind him and pulled the curtain. Waddie threw his arms around Bubba's waist and hugged him close so they both were in the water. Bubba gently enfolded his little buddy in his huge arms and held him close. Waddie reached up and found Bubba's mouth and kissed him gently. Bubba kissed him back just as gently. "Thanks Bubba. I needed that." "I know you did, Little Buddy, and it weren't to bad for me neither. Look at me!" Bubba looked down at his own crotch. Waddie giggled. Bubba had a big ole hard-on. "Don't let that scare you none, Sweet baby, I'm here to take care of you, not to take advantage of you. That just means I find you attractive and from the looks of your ole flag pole I'd say old Bubba weren't to shabby in your eyes neither." "Damn straight, Bubba. You be a fine looking hombre. One I'd be proud to bunk it in with." "No more talk like that. We got work to do. Now, I got a special soap the druggist told me to buy that fights infection. So you let me take care of you first and then I'll get me cleaned up." Bubba was like an angel touching Waddie. He didn't worry about washing him good from the front. He got every thing including washing Waddie's dick for him. Waddie got hard and told Bubba that meant he love him. Bubba laughed. He turned Waddie around and most of the scabs had washed off and the raw bleeding skin and bruises were fully evident. Bubba was supremely gentle but he made damn sure he got Waddie clean. Waddie had to grit his teeth a couple of times but knew Bubba wouldn't hurt him for the world. They finished and Bubba dried Waddie first and then himself. He put another role of film in his camera and took twelve more exposures in the bath room with Waddie's flesh and blood showing on his butt. He took pictures of Waddie's darkened, bruised face, black eye and bleeding lips. I'm gonna' send these back to Buck so's he can have evidence of child abuse to get you out of your dad's hands. I'm not gonna' tell him where you are. That'll be up to you to let them know when you feel ready to go home. I'll take you into Austin and take you to some good old boys that'll help you and you can stay with them for a while. Bubba laid Waddie across the bed on a clean dry towel and applied the ointment he had in his bag. It did take some of the hurt and sting away. Bubba didn't worry about getting the sheets soiled with Waddie's blood. He'd take it up with Sid in the morning and pay for new sheets if they couldn't be cleaned. He wanted to hold Waddie in the worst way. Waddie wanted him to. "I can't put my backside to you like I'd like to, Bubba, but would you mind holding me for a minute before you go to sleep." "I'll hold you all night long, if'n you need it, Little Buddy." Bubba gently pulled Waddie to his big massive chest and held him tight. That's all it took to let the hurt and pain come flooding out. This was the time Bubba needed the Old Man to give him strength. The boy was heaving in gut wrenching sobs. He wasn't yelling nor crying loud. It was just like he got his soul wet and was wringing it out to hang on a line to dry. Bubba was praying silently for Urial and the Old Man to keep his huge backbone from turning to Jello from the pain coming from this beautiful child. He wanted to scream at the top of his powerful voice at any and all demons that were within shouting distance. `This child is under Bubba's protection tonight, you will not touch him or you will have a demon nastier that you ever dreamed of at your throat. Be strong Bubba! Get mad, so's you don't lose it! Be strong for the boy!' he thought. And he was strong for Waddie. "Get it all out, Sweet baby. It's over now. You're safe in big Bubba's arms tonight. This old face is guaranteed to scare the meanest of bad things away from my little buddy. Nothings gonna' hurt you no more while you're in Bubba's charge. Just let it all out. You can't start to heal `til you get the bad stuff out." Waddie took the big, wonderful man's advice and used him as a sounding board. Waddie couldn't cry anymore and was physically exhausted. Bubba lovingly laid the boy on his stomach and gently pulled the covers over him. Waddie drifted off to sleep. `Forgive me, Father..." Bubba prayed as he leaned over and kissed Waddie on his cheek before turning out the light. The Old Man more that forgave the big man he told Urial to make a note; Bubba had saint potential. Watch that man, Urial. Let me know. Waddie's dreams were fitful but he slept comfortably considering. He woke up several times and felt himself in Bubba's big furry arms. `He's like sleeping with a big ole bear,' thought Waddie, `One hell of a fine Grizzly. Damn, he be warm...' Waddie drifted off to sleep again. Waddie dreamed of running through a field of Bluebonnets as far as the eye could see, laughing and giggling as Buck chased him. They were naked as the day they were born. Buck finally caught up with Waddie grabbed him up into his arms, spun around with him several times, and looked deeply into Waddie's blue eyes; the color of fine lapis lazuli. Waddie saw his own dark pools reflected from his dad's eyes. They were the kindest, most loving eyes he'd ever look into. "You're safe now, Son." the big man said quietly with all the love in his heart. "I love you, Dad." the boy said quietly to his father before he gently kissed him. Buck Claymore lay down with his son, Waddie Claymore, enfolded in his huge arms and rocked him gently to sleep in the warmth of the afternoon sun laying there among the Bluebonnets; stealing kisses from his beloved, sleeping man-child, one by one. End part 11~ Cabbage Patch Cowboy Copyright 2002 Waddie Greywolf Questions/comments: waddiebear@yahoo.com * A church key = an irreverent name given to a nasty looking, sharp, pointed tool used to open beer cans before `pop tops' were invented. They usually, but not always, had a bottle opener on the other end for opening bottles before `twist offs' were invented. ("Am I that old?" the author asked rhetorically.) *toten tanz = probably not spelled correctly but close enough. German for `dance of death' or `deadly dance.'