Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 05:30:30 -0800 (PST) From: Daniel Running-water Subject: Captured Heart / Chapter Six / Interracial and Incest Captured Heart By Daniel Running Water Chapter Six Previously in chapter five: Just over an hour later, the man was clean, his wounds patched up and resting comfortably beneath several layers of quilts. At first James thought that the man would be to hot, seeing how it had to be close to eighty in the shade, but Bessie told him that it was necessary to avoid infection or pneumonia. James looked at the man as he slept and he marveled at how handsome he was. His shoulder length brown hair had been washed and now lay about his head in soft curls, as if a frame for his face. His eyes were brown also, because James remembered them from earlier, and his nose was straight, his jaw square and he had one dimple in his chin. He had a soft growth of whiskers, James, himself having given him a shave. "Will he be alright Mammy," James whispered when she slipped into the room, to check on the man before going to bed. "He's gonna be just fine, just fine," she whispered back as she moved her hand away from his brow. "He's got a slight fever, but might be from all the blood that he lost, Mammy sees no reason why he shouldn't recover. Now you go off to bed and I'll sit beside him, ya'll need your rest," she said. "I'm alright right here Mammy, now you run off and get some sleep." Suddenly James awoke with a start as the man began moaning from the bed. He jumped up and hurried over to him and when he stood beside the bed looking down at him, the man's eyes opened suddenly. "Hold it right there rebel, and get your damn hands up in the air," the man said, pointing a revolver at James that he suddenly pulled from under the covers. James looked over at the bedside table where he had left the soldier's pistol earlier and noticed that it was no longer there, but pointing at him. "Now make one false move and I'll shoot you," he said as he pulled the blankets back with his other hand, still aiming the pistol at James. "You shouldn't be getting up, you have lost a lot of blood," James said and took a quick step towards him. The man's arm went up quick, the gun went off, and James fell to the floor. Now chapter five: James stood there holding the soldier that had just collapsed when he tried to stand. The gun having gone off was quick to bring Bessie and Billy running and Billy had a gun ready to defend James. "What in tarnation just happened," Bessie asked as she stormed into the bedroom followed by Billy, and found James standing there holding a limp Union soldier in his arms. "He tried to stand and when he put his weight on it he fell, causing the gun to go off," James lied. "What was he doing with a gun?" she questioned. "I had the gun and was moving it when he tried to get up. When he suddenly fell, I caught him and the dang gun went off," James lied again. "Well just be careful, you about gave old mammy a heart attack," she said, turned and pulling Billy with her, they left the room. After helping the soldier back into bed and tucking him in, he looked up at James, his surprise was evident in his eyes. "Why did you lie to your slaves?" he asked. "First off mister, they are not my slaves, they are my employees that I pay handsomely. Secondly, would you mind telling me your name, because I am tired of referring to you as that soldier? And last but not least, I lied because if I didn't, Billy would have put a bullet through your skull. Now does that cover everything, or do you have more questions," James snapped, resting his hands on his hips. "Shane, Shane Mathews," he whispered, averting James' eyes. "So..." "James Thornton," James said holding out his hand in friendship to Shane. Shane looked for a long moment before accepting his hand and gregariously shook it. "Can I ask you why you even care if I lived or died, after all, I am a damn Yankee as you put it?" "I care because you are a human being, and secondly, I would hope that if the shoe was on the other foot, some Yankee would be doing the same for me," he offered, and then sat down on the side of the bed. "So where are you from Shane?" "Vermont sir," he said his voice now more gentle and friendly. "How long was I out?" "I heard you calling for help this morning while I was swimming and you passed out shortly after I found you. I have destroyed your uniform, one because it was saturated in blood and filth. Secondly because I did not need some contingent of Yankee soldiers coming through here and finding you, and them thinking that I had shot you," James said. "Thank you James for being caring enough to look past my uniform and see me as just a man needing help," he whispered as tears began to fall, James got up and left the room, soon returning with a handkerchief. "Here, you seem to need this more than I do," James said and gently wiped away Shane's tears. "So where are your parents, because this is quite a large plantation for a man that is so young as you are, James?" "Mother died giving birth to me and my father, well I just hope that he's rotting in hell," James sharply said. "Wow, talk about tones of hatred, I guess your father and you never saw eye to eye, eh?" James stood up and undid his shirt and let it drop to the floor before turning to show Shane the deep scars on his back. Shane gasped when he looked upon the scars, turning his head so that he no longer saw them. "Please cover your back," he said and then waited until James had covered it before turning back to him. "Please don't tell me that your father did that to you," but Shane already knew that he had by the pain that he saw in James' eyes. "Ok I won't, but he did," he said and then told him the entire story of his life with Jared. "I can't imagine a father treating a son so, because my father and I are best friends," he said and tears again came to his eyes. "By now he must think that I am dead," he added. "Why would he think that, you are only wounded?" "Just before I passed out, I heard someone say to my commanding officer that I was dead," he told him. "So as soon as they could, they would have notified my family." "Maybe not Shane, after all, you have only been missing for what, two or three days?" "I was shot on the first day of battle, as I was charging with on my horse. They got me in my leg but the blood splattered everywhere on me. I collapsed against the horse and he took off running and it was where you found me that I must have fallen off." "As soon as I can, I will try to get word to your family by telegraph." "I don't want you risking your life just to put my pa at ease; not after you were so kind to help me." "Just give me your father's name and town, I have a good friend that works at the telegraph office," he told him. "That is if the office and wires are still there, your army has damn destroyed the town of Jackson." "James, why are you being so nice to me, and please don't say it's the humane thing to do. We are supposed to be enemies James, not best buds." "I guess it's because I know what its like to be treated inhumane and I try to do my best at being humane to those in need. Like I told you, the darkies here are free; I freed them before any proclamation ordered me to. I did it out of love for them as one human being to another. So, any of them that you see here on my plantation are free to either work for me or leave, and if they choose to stay, they are very handsomely paid for the work that they do for me. Besides, did not God make us all in his image and doesn't the constitution read that all men are created equal?" "You know for a rebel James, you are one unique individual," Shane said and extended his hand out to James. "I am proud to have met your acquaintance." James happily shook Shane's hand and was about to get up, when Billy brought a tray of food into the room. "Miss Bessie thought that you two would be hungry James," Billy said, surprising Shane that he would be so casual and intimate with the man. "Thanks Billy and please thank Mammy for me," James said taking the tray from him. "Yes'sa James, now be sure to eat that before it gets cold," he said smiling as he stepped from the room. James set the tray on the table beside the bed, before helping Shane into a sitting position. Shane fidgeted with the night shirt that Mammy had put on him, tugging and pulling on the shirt until he had it around his waist. "I'm not use to wearing anything like this to bed," he commented looking over at eggs, biscuits and gravy that sat on the tray, as well as some grits. "What do you wear to bed," James inquired as he sat the tray on Shane's lap, and grabbed a forkful of eggs and held it up to Shane's mouth. "First off James, I sleep naked, secondly I got shot in the leg so I guess I can feed myself," he said and then gently took the fork from James. A slight blush came to James' face when he imagined this handsome man, naked. "What did I say to cause that," he chuckled, noticing how red James was. "You truly sleep naked, but isn't that cold," he asked, again reddening for having voiced it. "Hell no, pa keeps the cabin warm. Besides, I sleep in the loft where all the heat seems to rise to. Damn this is good, what is it called," he asked and then shoved a spoonful of grits into his mouth. "Grits, they are a staple here in the south, much like your potatoes are up north." He too shoved a spoonful into his mouth, savoring the taste. "I heard your southerners love grits, but it never occurred to me that they were just white cornmeal," he told him. "Basically they are, but more refined then your yellow cornmeal." "So Shane, how old are you?" James asked, taking the conversation to a more personal level. "I'll be twenty-five this December tenth, how about you James?" "I just turned twenty-three this past May third." James gave a quick look at Shane, before he asked more questions. "Are you married, or maybe have a girlfriend?" "Nope, it's just my pa and I and a brother, Travis. What about you, surely a man as good looking as you must have every southern belle within miles hoping to win your affections?" "Nope, its just me and my mammy, her and Billy are the only family that I have and love," he said, hanging his head as if in shame. "Hey James, don't be ashamed for having them as family, they truly seem to love you, I can see it in their eyes when they look at you." "I am not ashamed to call them family," he paused and gave a long thought as to what he was going to say next. "Its that I never knew love, except from Mammy and Billy, my father loathed me from the day that I was born." James placed his fork back on the plate and turned his head, not wanting Shane to see the tears in his eyes. "Hey James, come here buddy," Shane said, placing the tray to his side and taking James into his arms, he gently rubbed James' back while he cried. James quickly stopped crying, got up and hurried to the door. "I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry," he said and ran from the room. Standing in the hall and leaning against the wall, his heart was pounding as he remembered how warm and secure he felt in Shane's arms. "I can still hear you in the hall breathing, James," Shane called out, and James held his breath, afraid of showing his feelings if he went back into the room. "Come back in here...please," he asked and James moved to the open door. "I'm sorry for acting so unmanly and crying," James said his voice thick and low. "We all cry from time to time. Hell man, I cried like a baby out there in those damn woods when I thought that I was surely gonna die." "You did?" he asked stepping further into room. "How is it Shane that you don't have a woman, what with you being so kind and gentle?" Now it was Shane's turn to divert his eyes, afraid of sharing the real reason he was still single. "Now did you boys eat all of that food that Mammy done made you," Bessie asked, coming up behind James and nearly frightening him to death. "Dang it Mammy, why do you got to go and scare a man half to death?" James asked. "Hehe, old Mammy didn't mean to scare her sweet James none," she chuckled and then it turned to a frown when she saw that the meal was half eaten. "Why there is enough food let to feed an army," she scolded and grabbed James by the ear and marched over to the bed. "Now you sit your backside down there and I want you two to finish that there food," she said adamantly, her brow showing her dismay. "Yes'm," Shane and James said in unison, each grabbing their fork and stuffing food into their mouths. "I's be back shortly to change them bandages," she said as she turned and marched from the room. "This is really good food," Shane said and then reached over with his linen napkin and wiped some gravy from James' mouth. Again James blushed when Shane dropped his napkin before he softly ran his fingers against James' cheek. James drew in a sharp breath, closed his eyes, and softly sighed when he felt to soft touch against his skin. "This is why I don't have me a woman James," he whispered and then wrapped his hand around the nape of James' neck, pulling him close until they were but a breath away. "I also reckon that it's the same for you," he whispered against James' lips and then kissed him softly, pushing his tongue into his mouth. James wrapped his arms around Shane's neck and kissed him back, and they both jumped when Seth and Hawk stood at the door, Seth letting out a short cough. "Oh my God it's an Indian," Shane said and began looking around for the gun. "Hawk, Red Sun, how nice of you to come visit," James said, and he was now as red as the sunset. "Come in and meet my Yankee," he said and got up to pull them into the room. "Yankee, what are you crazy James?" Seth asked, not wishing to go closer to the man. His eyes then moved to the pistol which sat beside the bed on the table, and he got worried for his friend. "He may be a Yankee but he's a human being that needed my attention..." "We saw you giving him your attention," Hawk said and again, James' turned redder than a tomato in the hot Mississippi sun. James told them about finding Shane, wounded. He told them everything up to the moment that they stepped into the room and caught them kissing. "Ay-uh, you are crazy," Hawk said and then laughed at the two. "Shane, these are my very best friends, Chief Hawk of the Choctaw and his man, Red Sun," James proudly said, introducing the men to Shane, Shane turned his eyes to James, questioningly. "His man?" he asked. "Red Sun and I married," Hawk told him, further surprising Shane, because no man married another man, ever. "Married, how can this be, because it's quite unheard of," Shane said, wrapping his arms protectively around James when he sat beside him. "Ay-uh married, for we spoke our own vows and pledged our hearts to each other, which marries us in the eyes of our Great Spirit," Hawk proudly said, he too wrapping his arm around Seth's waist. "Tell me Shane, what happens when you are healed, will you go back north and forget our brother James," Hawk asked and even James turned to look Shane, waiting to hear his answer. "Truthfully, I haven't thought beyond today, Hawk. I won't insult James' intelligence and tell him that I love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him," he said, more to James then to Hawk. "But I will say James; I am growing awfully fond of you." Completely disregarding Hawk and Seth standing there, Shane gently pulled James to him and took possession of his mouth with his. James leaned into Shane and kissed him back as he wrapped his arms firmly around the man's neck. Again, Seth let out a brief cough, not seeming to bother to two men kissing. "We are still here in the room, James," Seth said and they broke their kiss. "Now is a good time for Mammy to change those bandages," Bessie said, again scaring them all when she just burst into the room. "Dang it Mammy, you did again, you nearly gave us all a heart attack," James said and the four of them laughed heartily, looking at the amusing face that Mammy was giving them. "Now you three scat while I bathe and change this here soldier," she said, shocking Shane that some woman was about to bathe him. "I am quite capable Mammy of bathing myself," Shane quickly said as he pulled the blankets up to his neck. "If'n Mammy thought that ya'll was capable, I's wouldn't be telling you that I was going to bathe you," she said and then tugged at the blanket, but Shane refused to relinquish his hold on it. "I'll help him with his bathing," James said, seeing how embarrassed Shane was for her to look upon his naked body. "Well...if'n you don't mind, Mammy will come back and change them bandages when he is bathed," she said, sitting down the warm water beside the bed on the table. James grabbed the gun quickly to make room for the basin, tucking it under the blankets beside Shane. Hawk turned his gaze to Seth, wondering if it was a smart idea to allow a man, who was suppose to be an enemy, have a gun. "Why don't we go downstairs and wait until you are finished bathing him," Seth said, ushering Hawk quickly from the room. "I think we should stay Red Sun, what if James needs our protection?" "You just want to see what that soldier has down there, well forget it, I have just enough for you, now move it," Seth ordered, gently pushing Hawk towards the stairs. "I never heard of an Indian and white man being lovers," Shane said as James slowly lifted the night shirt from Shane. "The Choctaws call it `having two spirits' and its not as uncommon as one would think." James told him, sharing his knowledge of the Choctaw. James sat there momentarily, taking in the masculinity of the man, gently running his splayed finger over Shane's chest, using his finger to trace every valley and rise of Shane's muscles. "Do I appeal to you, James?" Shane asked, James shook his head before lowering it down to a nipple and running his tongue over it. He softly caressed the hard nub with his tongue, before sucking it into his mouth and gently nibbling it. Shane gasped as sensual sensations, which were new to him, coursed through him. He gently ran his fingers through the softness of James' hair, lifting his face up to his so he could kiss him. "Not yet James, I'd like to wait until I am recovered and we get to know one another better," Shane said, noticing the disappointment in James' eyes. "If you wish," James coolly said, and then turned his attention to simply washing the man. "I will not allow myself to fall in love with James, because he's a damn rebel," Shane thought while watching James preparing to bathe him, remembering that it was a rebel that had killed his best friend Charlie and wounded him. "I must return to outfit and eventually to my home in Vermont, because they must be thinking that I am dead. Oh father, how will my death affect him," Shane thought his heart heavy with the pain that his father must be feeling over his death. As James washed Shane, his worries came flooding to him, and he wondered now if Shane was only using him until he recovered. He gave Shane a quick glance, wondering if he would just up or would he kill him before leaving, because he was a rebel." "Your mind is far away, isn't it," Shane asked, drawing James back to the present. "What...no not really, I was just thinking of all the work that needs to be done, is all," he lied, knowing that he could not express his thoughts. "Have you no help here James?" he asked as James rang out the cloth before he washed Shane's lower extremities. "I did until the war came here, but now most of the ex-slaves that I had hired have run off, fearing that they would be killed." James had finished bathing Shane's chest and stomach and was about to move away the blankets, when Shane beat him to it and threw them back, exposing his manhood to James. James gasped, surprised at the size and now understood why Mammy had made her comment. "Did I surprise you James, because I did Mammy earlier," he shyly asked. "I wouldn't call it surprise, but shock, damn would you look at the size of that thing," James said, lifting it with his hand and instantly, it rose to full erection. "I won't... I just can't," James said and placed the cloth back into the water. He rose from the bed and quickly moved to the door, pausing and looking back at Shane. "You can finish with your bathing," James hurried out and closed the door behind him. *** When James reached the bottom of the stairs, Hawk and Seth stepped from the parlor, meeting him there. "Your face is as red as a tomato, James," Seth observed. "It is... it must be the heat and humidity," James said. "Or could it be that Yankee upstairs?" Hawk asked, giving him a smirk. "Shane... no, it is surely the heat Hawk." "James is to trusting with the Yankee," Hawk firmly stated, his arm tight around Seth's waist. "He is only going to bring you trouble, remember that he is our enemy." "I know that Hawk, and thank you for your concern, but he really is a nice man," James said. "Nice or not, he'll surely kill you and leave once his leg is mended." Seth gave Hawk a jab in the ribs with his elbow, knowing that his words were not helping James. James looked long and hard at Hawk; the words he just spoke seemed to confirm his own thoughts from earlier, and it made James very uncomfortable, almost afraid. "I am really not sure what to do about Shane; he seems sweet and interested in me, but..." "But what," Seth asked, now concerned for his friend's safety. "We saw how he was holding you when he kissed you," he reminded him. "But he stopped me from making advances, saying that preferred to wait until he was healed before becoming involved." "Ay-uh, he will surely kill you James, do it first before he has the chance," Hawk stated, shifting his gaze to the top of the stairs, knowing that he'd do it for him if James wished him to. "Hawk please, can't you see that James is already upset by all this, he doesn't need you to spread fear in him," Seth snapped, also casting a wondering glance upstairs. Shane reached over to the table beside the bed, lifted the revolver and tucked it under his pillow before settling down for a nap. James was about to share his fears with Hawk and Seth, when the thundering sound of many horses hooves, brought his attention to outside. He opened the front door and saw a Union captain dismounting his horse. "How my I help you, Yankee," James asked coldly, stepping outside and meeting the man as he ascended the steps. "I'm Captain Trevor MacDaniels young man, is the owner of the house home?" he asked as he introduced himself to Shane. "I am the owner of this here plantation," James further stated, keeping his eyes locked with those of the captain. "Just what brings you onto my land," he added. "As you are aware off, the battle left many dead soldiers from both sides lying and waiting for burial. I am just allowing you the courtesy of telling you that we shall be on your land, looking for our dead and wounded," he said and fear filled James' heart. "Then make it fast, because I don't appreciate Yankees on my property," James turned and began to walk back into house, but Trevor's remarks caused him to turn and face him. "You're kinda snippy for someone that is at our mercy," Trevor said sarcastically, continuing to lock eyes with James. "If'n ya'll are threatening me sir," James started to say, but remembered how these same Yankees had burned most of the town. "Keep up that attitude and you'll find your ass living in your own slave quarters," he rudely said, glancing back at his troops and laughing. "I can assure you sir, that I do not have slave quarters, because my workers were not slaves but free men," James reiterated, keeping his stand firm and his eyes holding those of Trevor. "I freed my slaves once my father was dead, so don't threaten me," James said as Hawk and Seth stepped from the house, surprising Trevor. "I am sure that you blue coats do not want the Choctaw warring against you," Hawk said, his stance firm and his hands fisted and resting on his hips. "This here is Chief Hawk of the Choctaw," James said smiling as he introduced Hawk to Trevor. "No... that will not be necessary Chief Hawk," Trevor said, knowing that the Choctaw greatly out numbered his men and backing slowly away from Hawk. "As I said before, my outfit will be searching the area for our dead and wounded," he turned and descended the stairs...quickly. Lifting his head up and straining to see who it was that had rode in, Shane's eyes widened when he saw his commanding officer. "Trevor," he gasped, knowing the man's cruelty and intolerance for the rebels. Shane laid his head back on the pillow and remembered the raids that Trevor had lead against the rebels in other towns. He had personally witnessed Trevor raping and killing many women and young girls, as well as allowing those of his men that chose to do it, rape and kill the men and boys. Hearing Trevor and the other men as they rode away, Shane sighed. He was thankful that he'd hadn't been found, for he knew what Trevor was capable of and would do to James. "He is all the more reason that you have to get Shane out of your house," Seth said, worrying even more for his friend. "Ay-uh James, what if that evil man comes back and wishes to search your house, do you really think that Shane will protect you?" Hawk asked, glancing over James' shoulder that the soldiers as they rode away. "Hawk does not trust that blue coat," he said, pulling Seth closer to him. "Thank you for your concern Hawk, but I really doubt that he'll be back to cause me anymore problems. Besides, did you see the look of fear on his face when you threatened him?" he asked. "Ay-uh, he was smart to fear the Choctaw, because it has been many winters since my people have warred against the blue coats. Come Red Sun, Hawk must return to his village and make sure that sentries are posted. I do not trust that blue coat," he said and then gave James a hug before leaving. "Just think about what Hawk said, James. I don't want to lose you my friend," Seth said and also gave James a hug. "If need be it, you are always welcomed at Hawk's village." "Ay-uh always," Hawk said, sitting tall and proud on his stallion, waiting for Seth to mount his own horse. *** Trevor not only felt angry as he rode away, he felt belittled in front of his soldiers. It was bad enough that James had totally disrespected him, but he hated when Indians did it. He purposed in his heart that he would not only get even with James, but more so with Hawk, chief or not. "I will bring an end to him," he whispered. "Did you say something captain," Josh Braddock, his second in command asked. "No," he snapped back at Josh. "If'n you don't mind sir, but just what are you gonna do about that damn rebel and redskin?" he asked, noticing how irritated Trevor had been since they left the plantation. "Just never you mind, Josh," Trevor said, not as snappy as before. "I am still thinking about that. No one, and I do mean no one, disrespects me in front of my men." They rode off and began searching the woods for any men that lay dead or wounded. They had just about called it a day, when Josh noticed the drag marks that James' travois had made. "Looky here sir, these here tracks were made by a travois of some kind," Josh pointed out to Trevor who dismounted to take a closer look. "From the looks of the tracks, someone was transporting something heavy...like a man. I'd even venture to say that if'n we followed them, it would lead back to that damn plantation." Josh looked smug as he shifted his eyes over towards Trevor. Trevor looked closely at the tracks and then in the direction that they went, acknowledging that Josh just could be right. "I dare say that that rebel has some explaining to do," he grinned, finally having a reason to go back to the plantation. "How about we come back this evening and check the place out," he suggested to Josh. "You mean like catch him unaware, damn sir, I like how you think," Josh said, giving the man his own evil grin. "I can just imagine what goes on there inside that fancy house." *** James hurried upstairs once Hawk and Seth had left. He knew that Shane had to have noticed the soldiers and he needed to know what he was going to say. "Yes I saw them James. I gotta say that you have got some balls to be talking to the captain as you did. I gotta warn you, he really hates Indians, and if I were Hawk, I would be watching my back," he warned, locking eyes with James. "How come you didn't call out to the captain, Shane?" he asked. "And what, get your ass shot and me thrown in the brig?" Shane said. "He would never believe that I was being held captive." "Is that what you think that I'm doing Shane," he asked and his eyes quickly glanced to the table, noticing that the revolver was missing. "Do you really think that I am holding you as my captive?" "Am I your captive James; are you willing to let me just ride out of here once my leg is mended?" Shane asked, turning the question back on James. "You have never been a prisoner Shane, much less my captive. You are free to leave whenever you feel capable." "Then I will ask you this, do you want me to leave James," Shane asked, his eyes stared unwaveringly into James. James was torn between telling him he was falling in love with him and doing his duty as a confederate and turn him in. He was falling deeply in love with Shane, even though he was a Yankee. Even as a confederate, James never embraced the rebel cause of slavery. He felt strong about a state's right to governed themselves without the federal government stepping in, but how would he ever explain a Yankee friend, much less a lover. Deciding to use the same tactic on Shane, he asked: "Do you wish to leave Shane?" the room was deathly quiet as Shane pondered his answer. "I have a father to worry about James; his health has failed him over the last few years. I worried so much about when I first enlisted to serve, knowing that he would worry about my safety." "How convenient an answer," James thought, his heart falling as he turned from Shane, knowing that the man would surely leave once he was able. Shane pulled James closer to him and softy ran his fingers over his face as his eyes following the trail of his fingers. He ran his fingers through James' hair, bringing the softness of it to his nose and inhaling its scent. When Shane began kissing wherever his fingers lead him, James' body shuddered with passion. "Please don't Shane," James whispered, knowing that he didn't want Shane to stop, because he wanted him to take him and together, soar to the heavens as they made love together. Sighing he said, "I can't do this and then watch you ride away from me forever," James' eyes watered as he fought back his tears. "I don't deserve a love as yours James," Shane whispered against James' ear, while he held him tightly to him. "Love doesn't know right or wrong, north or south, Shane. It only knows the presence of two hearts struggling to be one against insurmountable odds," James whispered, holding Shane out from him. "I love you Shane with all my being and heart," he said and then clung to Shane as their mouths met in a kiss that was not only tender with the passion that they were both feeling, but with hope for tomorrow also. The last light of day was streaming through the window, casting its reddish glow around the room. James slowly rose from the bed and walked over to the door; he glanced over his shoulder at Shane, and then turned the lock, securing their privacy. After he walked back to the bed, he slowly, seductively, stripped. Once he was naked, he lifted the blankets and slid into the bed beside Shane, nestling into his arms. "I too have fallen in love with you James," Shane whispered against his mouth and then took it, thrusting his tongue deep into the warmth of James'. After their kiss ended, James sat up and drew the night shirt up and over Shane's shoulders, leaving the man naked before him. James gently parted Shane's legs with his hands and knelt between them, lowering his mouth to Shane's taught round nipple. "Oh James," Shane sighed, feeling for the first time the pure ecstasy of a man as he made love to his nipple with his mouth. Shane intertwined his fingers through the softness of James' hair, moving him across his muscular chest to his other nipple. Shane arched his back when James began nibbling on his nipple. James took possession of Shane's arm and raised it, licking and sucking on the hair of his armpit. Shane's brain was wild with emotions and feelings as James took his time to seduce him into a world of forbidden love. Shane didn't want it to stop, as James' tongue began bathing his sensitive skin, slowly moving down to Shane's lower regions, causing guttural groans and moans from Shane. "James hurry...Yankees!" Bessie screamed from behind the locked door. James sprung from the bed and after donning just his jeans, opened to the door. He was about to step from the room when Trevor and Josh came rushing from the top of the stairs, each holding their revolvers aimed at him. Forcing the door closed and locked, James' mind was overwhelmed with flashbacks to when he hid behind his locked door from his father's wrath. Not letting a locked door stop him, Trevor kicked it in, thrusting inside the room with anger and hatred in his eyes. Trevor froze when he saw Shane lying in the bed, naked. Trevor's gaze went first to Shane, then to a half naked James and then finally resting on Shane. "Well look what we have here, Corporal Shane Mathews," a smirking Trevor said with Josh standing directly behind him. "I found him wounded yesterday in the woods and brought him here to recover," James said, placing his body between Shane and Trevor's revolver. "I am quite capable of taking care of myself James," Shane said, pulling the blanket up to his chin to hide his nakedness. "I can imagine that you are quite capable of much more than that, by the looks of you," Trevor said, pulling the blanket back and looking down at the man's nakedness. "Josh, why don't you take James here to another bedroom and work your charm on him while I take care of Corporal Mathews," Trevor ordered and glancing back at Josh. "Yes sir, captain," Josh said moving quickly over to James. Josh's eye lit up with excitement as he grabbed James by the arm and pulled him from the room, into the hall, and down the hall to another bedroom. James struggled against the man's grip, but reluctantly surrendered to his strength when he was shoved violently into the room. "You don't have to do this captain, it's not what you think," Shane said. "He really was helping me and not as you are imagining." "Is that right Mathews, then tell me, tell me why your chest hairs are wet and why you have a love mark near your nipple," Trevor touched the mark with the barrel of his revolver. Fear showed in Shane's eyes when he realized that he could not convince the captain of their innocence. *** Shoving the barrel of his revolver against James' back, Josh pushed him forward, causing him to stop once his legs came against the bed. "Remove the jeans," Josh ordered. "Please, you are making a big mistake here," James' pleaded, seeing the lust in the man's eyes and then realizing that his words were falling on deaf ears. Josh simply jabbed the gun hard against him, "I said remove them or else feel the bite of a bullet," he angrily said. James unbuttoned his jeans and eased them down his sleek body, stepped from them and kicked them aside. "Now on the bed and on your stomach," Josh ordered as he grabbed a length of rope that was sitting on chair and began tying James' legs to the bedposts. Fear for what was about to happen grabbed at his heart and he shuddered when he thought of Shane in the other room. He quickly brought his thoughts back to the present when he felt Josh grabbing his left arm and begin tying it to his right. "Now you are going to feel what a real man is like, boy," Josh said, his fowl breath just a whisper from James' ear. James felt the heat of Josh's body as he maneuvered his body between his stretched out legs. "Please don't do this to me," James begged, raising his head and glancing over his shoulder and into the sadistic eyes of Josh. "If'n its any consolation boy, Mathews is gonna get the same treatment from the captain," Josh said, thrusting his manhood deep into James' sheath with one powerful and aggressive thrust. James screamed out in pain as Josh's manhood seated itself deep in him. James buried his face into the pillow, crying as Josh began his violent thrusts. He quickly raised his head when the sound of a gunshot rose over the sounds of his rape. "On second thought, I reckon that the captain may have changed his mind, but you aren't going to be so lucky," Josh said groaning as he continued his violent thrusts. James cried hard into the pillow, thinking that his Shane was lying dead in the other room, wishing that he was also. He didn't want to live if Trevor had ended Shane's life. "Damn you are..." Josh began to say but instead, he fell on James, his cock slipping from James' ass and a Choctaw arrow now protruding from his back. To be continued... I added that last sentence so ya'll wouldn't be hanging until the next chapter, wondering about James. If you care to comment, it would be greatly appreciated at: danielrunningwater@yahoo.com Thank you, Danny.