Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 18:50:42 EDT
From: MARSONE1939@aol.com
Subject: Charlie

Charlie

By

Chuck F.


Charlie was bent over the seawall watching several men trying to launch a
flat-bottom barge off a strip of sandy beach. It was early in the day so no
one else was around, or so he thought.

"You think they will get it in the water?" he heard a voice ask.

Straightening up and turning around, he noticed a tall, well-built man in
Levis, plaid shirt and western hat walking towards him.

"You do know you're on private property don't you?" the man asked.

"Really! And just how much of it is private?" replied Charlie smiling and
waving his arm around in a wide circle.


Well," replied the man. "If you start at that point of land out there and
sweep round to those mountains, I'd say all of it. About 50,000 acres."

"And just who owns all this land?" asked Charlie.

"This here it the Circle H ranch, owned by Mr. Hartcilff. He's a big man in
this area so I'd be a mite careful if I were you." Said the man.

"Funny," smiled Charlie. "I use to know a Hartcliff down Australia
way. Nice young chap. Kinda lost touch though. Any relation?"

The man looked a little took back as though he wasn't sure how to answer,
but finally said, "It could have been young Master Ray. He was down there a
while back."

By this time several more men had joined the man and were milling around
like a pack of wolves defending their territory.

"Well," said Charlie, "It might have been him. Sure would be nice to see
him again and to say hello and all. Wonder if he would remember me."

"Yeah, I remember you Charlie," said a young man coming through the group
of men. "Wondered what happened to you."

This young man was Ray Hartcliff, 25 years old, black curly hair, 5' 6" and
a find looking man.

Charlie smiled as he walked towards the boy and taking his hand pulled him
close and hugged him tight as he whispered, "I've missed you boy. Missed
you like all hell." And planted a kiss on the boy's neck.

Ray hugged Charlie tighter and whispered, "I've missed you too old man,
though I'd never see you again."

Pushing Ray away, Charlie said, "Let me look at you boy. You sure have
become a find looking man. Making you daddy proud I bet."

The men didn't know what was going on between Ray and Charlie but knew
better than to ask. Not if they wanted to keep their jobs.

"So boy," said Charlie pointing to the tall man. "Who's your protector over
yonder?"

Ray turned to see where Charlie was pointing and laughing said, "Hell
that's only Andy, our foreman. Come on let me introduce you. He's a real
nice guy but a bit serious at times."

Charlie took Andy's hand and gave it a hardy shake. "Sure glad to meet you
and right glad you watch over the boy."

"That's my job," said Andy. To watch over him and his father and to keep an
eye on the ranch. You never know who might be out to do harm." Replied
Andy.

"How long you been watching over the boy' and his daddy's interests?
Somehow I spect it's been a while." Smiled Charlie as if he could read more
into what Andy was not saying.

"I've been with his daddy for many years and have watched the boy grow into
the man you see now." Replied Andy as he looked at Charlie with that
knowing smile. He knew somehow Charlie understood.

Ray had not let go of Charlie's hand and was gripping it as if it was a
safety line, one that he was not going to let go of anytime soon.

As Ray led Charlie to where the horses were, he turned to Andy and said,
"Charlie is going to be staying with us from now on and you will treat him
as you do me and pa at all times. Is that understood by everyone?"

"Yes Sir!" replied all the men as they looked at Andy with a look of
amusement.

When they got back to the ranch house, Ray led Charlie into the study and
introduced him to his dad.

The study was a typical type den only done in a western style. Chairs and
sofa made from tree branches, Horns and stuffed head mouthed on the walls.
Paper and books scattered about.

Charlie stood there looking about and liked what he saw. He noticed a big
man sitting behind a desk talking to Ray.

Ray smiled and called Charlie over.

"Dad, this is Charlie, the man I told you about who saved my life down in
Australia. I own him a great deal and I have asked him to live with us."

The man reached out and took Charlie's hand and shook is hard. "Well it
sure is fine to finally meet the man who saved my son for me," he said.
"You are welcome here for as long as you desire to stay. Make yourself
right at home. Boy why don't you show Charlie where to stow his things."

"Sure dad, come on Charlie. I'll show you up to our room. You will be
staying in my room. Hope you don't mind."

Charlie looked at Ray's dad, who had looked up and noticed him smiling,
"Sure, boy, that would be just fine."

Ray ran up the stairs ahead of Charlie and Charlie could only stand at the
foot of the stairs watching the young tight butt of the boy swing back and
forth. He knew is was going to be hard to keep his hands off, not that he
really wanted to and he was sure Ray had the same idea.

"Come on old man," Ray called. "Can't make the stairs? I didn't think you
were that old."

"I'll give you old when I get my hands on you," Charlie said smiling and
taking the stairs two at a time.

Ray opened a door to a large room with a huge bed. Looking at Charlie he
could not help but check out the bulge in Charlie's jeans.

"This is it, Charlie. I hope you like it. The bed is real comfy. Come on
try it out."

Ray ran and jumped onto the bed and lay on his back looking at Charlie,
knowing that Charlie was fighting the urge to possess him again.

Running his hand between his legs, Ray squeezed his bulge making it grow
harder.  This was not escape Charlie and he soon felt his own jeans growing
tighter as he walked over and lay on the bed next to Ray.

Putting his hands behind his head he let out a low sigh. "Yeah this will do
just fine boy. But where you sleeping?" He looked at Ray with a twinkle in
his eyes.


"I'm sleeping right here with you Charlie," ray said turning onto his side
and placing his hand on Charlie's chest. "I have dreamt of this for so long
and now you are here."

"Charlie?" Ray asked softly. "Will you kiss me please? I want to marry you
so much and dad knows how I feel."


Rolling onto his side, Charlie pulled Ray closer and kissed him like never
before. He felt his heart fill with love for the boy and wanted to spend
his life with him.

"Boy," said Charlie. "If you dad okays it, I'd be more that please to make
you mine for all my life. You're sure it what you want?"

"Oh yessss more than anything," Ray said as he kissed Charlie and pumped
off the bed and ran down the stairs into the den.

His dad looked up as he burst in and smiled. "Well son, I guess you have
made up your mind and he seems like a real find man. Yes I give you both my
blessings."

So it was that the ranch had a wedding that week and Charlie became part of
the family. All the men including Andy congratulated them both.

Charlie picked Ray up in his arms and headed for the bedroom.

"Looks like it's going to be a busy night," Ray's dad laughed. "What about
you and me getting drunk Andy?