Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2019 12:02:51 -0800
From: Backwoods Boy <backwoodsnatureboy@gmail.com>
Subject: The Ranch Boy Next Door - Part 5

Expanding Horizons

We didn't get up until eight o'clock.  Logan made huckleberry pancakes,
something which took too long on a weekday.  After we finished eating and
the dishes were done, we headed out for the fence inspection.  Logan drove
and showed me the rest of the ranch.  I realized how much work he did
taking care of it, and was amazed by everything he knew and could do.

"Gramps works all day too.  He keeps an eye on the fences and makes sure
the cattle stay inside them.  Sometimes he does things like weed control.
Sometimes I help him move cattle between pastures.  We cut hay together
too.  He does plowin' and diskin' too.  It all depends on the season and
what needs to be done.  And there's always equipment to repair and
maintain."

"Do you have horses?"

"No, we don't have enough use for them to have our own.  They take a lot of
time and energy to take care of properly.  We use four-wheelers when we
can, and if we need more help, we hire neighbors with horses, usually with
herdin' dogs too."

"Here's the fence I wanna check out.  You can see that it's leanin' a
little, both along the road here and the section goin' across up ahead.
There's several broken posts too.  That's somethin' ya can't let go for
long, or the cattle will discover it and get out.  So next week I'm gonna
be doin' a lot of fence work after the irrigation is done."

He parked the pickup at the cross fence he'd pointed out.  We got out of
the truck and walked the fence for a half-mile or so.  Logan was using his
cell phone to make notes about what needed to be done and what supplies
needed to be ordered.

"I'll give Gramps a list at the end of the day.  Sometimes we have it
delivered, but this will be a small load, so he'll take the bigger truck
into town and pick up what we need."

We walked a couple more fence lines while he took notes.

"There's a lot of walking in this business."  I hiked a lot, so I wasn't
tired, but a whole day of this could be a bit much.

"When I do the repairs, I'll drive inside the pasture.  There will be a lot
of barbed wire, posts, and tools to bring along.  Now, I got somethin' else
I wanna show ya."

Logan drove to the end of one of the fields, and then a short distance
along the end of it to a draw.  I realized this was a higher part of the
creek I was already familiar with.  Pulling to a stop, we got out.  The
creek here flowed through a natural meadow, full of flowers.

Logan grabbed the pack that held our lunches.  He led me through the meadow
to the creek.  Here, it passed through a swimming hole which made the other
one look small.  With a gray wall of basalt rock on the other side, it was
a stunning location.

Logan took off his clothes.  "Time for a swim."

I stripped too.  From a rock about three feet above water level, we dove
into a deep pool.  The water was refreshing after all the walking we'd
done.  It was also cold, so we didn't stay in very long.

Climbing out on the flat diving rock, we let the sun dry us as we ate our
sandwiches, entertained by the music of the creek and the dragonflies
hovering overhead.

"I've always wanted to have sex in this meadow.  It's the perfect place."

I grinned.  "What are we waiting for?"

He led me to an area near the edge of the meadow where the grass was
shorter.  Pulling me down with him, he rolled me onto my back.

"I don't got no lube, so we gotta do it the natural way."  Spitting into
his hand, he spread it on his pole and slowly entered me.

Logan gently moved inside me, pleasuring himself.  I knew this was for him,
and I didn't expect or want him to look after my needs.  We kissed gently,
and my hands roamed over his back, urging him to do whatever he wanted.

The only clue that he was going to cum was a brief gasp before he blew his
load.  He relaxed on top of me, his hand stroking my hair and the side of
my face.

"That was perfect, hot-body Toby.  Thanks for makin' my dream come true."

That was the first time he'd ever thanked me for something sexual.  He'd
always just taken, as if it was his natural right, like a bad-boy should.

I looked into his eyes and smiled.  "Thank you for showing me this
beautiful place.  I hope we can do this again sometime."

We both wanted to stay there longer, but we had work to do.  Specifically,
I needed a lesson in tractor driving.  As we reluctantly left the meadow, I
paused to look back, capturing the moment in my memory before shifting back
into work mode.

************

"This here is a John Deere 4020 tractor.  It's old, but it's reliable.
It's been part of the ranch since Gramps was a young man.  His father
bought it new.  Now, I want ya to sit in the driver's seat and tell me what
yer gonna do."

I climbed into the driver's seat, and Logan climbed up and sat on the left
fender beside me.

"On the left side of the steering column is the clutch.  It works just like
a car.  On the right are two brake pedals, one for each wheel.  I'll be
using them as if they were a single pedal.  There's an ignition key here in
front of me.  The tractor is in park right now.  Once I start it, I'll put
it in a gear, probably fifth, and leave it there."

"The main difference between this and the truck is that there's no gas
pedal.  The throttle is on the steering column.  I'll pull it down part way
and start the engine.  When it's running, I'll set the throttle to about
1000 RPMs.  Then I'll push the clutch all the way in, put my other foot on
the brake pedals, put it in gear, slowly release the clutch and brake
pedals, and I'll be moving at a working speed.  When I wanna stop briefly,
I'll push on the brake pedals.  If I wanna turn off the engine, I'll push
the throttle to the top.  Then I'll use the clutch to put it in park."

"Excellent!  Now do it."

I'd studied well.  Although it felt completely different than the pickup, I
quickly had the tractor moving down the road.

"Okay, now stop it and back up about thirty feet."  Using the brake, clutch
and shift lever, I did as instructed.

"Now turn it around and head back to the shed where we got it.  Stop
outside the shed and we'll talk about it some more."

When I had the tractor parked, we both got off.  Logan walked me around the
tractor, pointing out safety and maintenance issues and identifying all of
the working parts.

"When we start on Monday, I'll drive it out to the field with the trailer
attached.    Then we'll take turns drivin' it.  All yer gonna be doin' is
startin' and stoppin', just like ya did today.  I'll teach ya more when ya
gotta know how to do a particular job.  Good work, fast-learnin' Toby.  Ya
done good."

We could see Logan's grandparents driving out to the road en route to my
parents' house.

Logan seemed reluctant.  "We gotta shower and be sociable now, I guess."

"You don't sound excited about it."

"It'll be fine.  I'm just not a social person, and as Gramps says, I don't
idle well."

"Don't worry, we'll find things to do while the others socialize."

He grinned.  "Can we make use of yer bed?"

I grinned back.  "Probably not."

************

Before we left for my parents' house, Logan and I took showers.  I was
waiting to go when he came out of his room.  He was wearing his John Deere
cap, his newest work boots, clean Levis, and a muscle shirt that displayed
his hard body to its best advantage.

"You look great, Logan, but wouldn't a less sexy shirt be better for making
a good impression on my parents?"

Logan grinned.  "Relax, uptight Toby.  I wanna be myself.  Yer parents
would see through a false front immediately.  It'll be okay.  Trust me."

************

Everyone else was in the backyard when we arrived at my parents' place.
Logan and I walked around the house.

"Mom and Dad, this is Logan.  Logan, this is my mother Ellen, and my father
Don."

Dad followed up.  "Hi Logan, we're glad to meet you.  I'm sure we're going
to get along with you as well as Toby does.  He's enjoying being a ranch
hand."

Logan was on his best behavior.  "I'm pleased to meet both of ya.  Toby is
a hard worker and helps me a lot.  I'm glad yer lettin' him work with me."

Logan did introductions too.  "These are my grandparents, Toby.  They're
gonna want ya to call them Grams and Gramps like I do."

Gramps smiled at me.  "We're both glad to meet you, Toby.  You're a lot of
help to Logan, and we really appreciate it."

Gramps and Dad were discussing the finer points of barbecuing the steaks
that Gramps had brought over.  Mom and Grams were sitting at the patio
table getting acquainted.  Logan and I were listening from a distance, and
Logan was getting fidgety.

"Come on, Logan.  Let's take a walk in our wood lot.  It's only five acres
instead of 2500, but it's a nice quiet place to be in."

Logan and I soon found a log and sat down on it.  It seemed like a good
time for me to ask some questions.

"If you don't mind telling me, why is it that you live with your
grandparents?"

"My parents were killed in a car accident when I was five.  I've lived with
Grams and Gramps ever since then.  They've been both parents and
grandparents to me, and they do a great job with both roles.  Parents are
supposed to be more strict, and grandparents more easy-goin', but they
manage both at the same time.  I really appreciate them."

"How long have you been working with Gramps doing ranch work?"

Logan smiled.  "Actually, since I was six.  At first I just collected the
eggs and helped with the garden.  Gramps kept addin' new things every
year.  By the time I was ten, I was drivin' the tractor, and I had my
driver's license before any of my friends did.  I was movin' pipe by myself
at twelve, and helpin' to fix fence soon after.  It may sound like I'm
overworked, but that's not true.  I love it.  Now, Gramps and I are more
like partners."

Logan stood up, apparently having no questions to ask of me.  "I can't sit
for long.  Let's go back and see what's goin' on with the food
preparation.  Maybe we can help."

Mom had us take the food out of the house to the table.  Dad was done with
the meat, so we served ourselves and sat down to eat.  The conversation
revolved around things my parents might want to get involved with in the
community.

Gramps turned to my dad.  "There's one subject I want to bring up which
will probably require some thought from you and Ellen, and Toby too.  There
is some other work I would like Toby to help Logan with if you're willing.
The first is some fence work.  I need to stress that nothing we ask Toby to
do will be dangerous.  The law limits him to working no more than nine
hours a day, and no more than six days a week.  We won't ask him to do
anything beyond what he wants to do and what all of you are comfortable
with.  If you could get back to me tomorrow on that, I would appreciate it."

Dad responded without hesitation.  "Ellen and I have already made an
agreement with Toby that he can make his own decisions about work within
the framework of the law and common sense.  The decision is his."

Gramps turned to me.  "What about it, Toby?"

"I wanna do it.  Thanks, Gramps."

"I should be thanking you.  The fence work starts on Monday.  Logan will
give you the details."

I was so excited I could hardly contain myself, but I managed to act mature
and pretend decisions like that were a daily matter for me.

After dinner, we sat around talking as a group for a while.  Mom asked
Logan questions about his life on the ranch and the school we would both be
attending.  They were hitting it off very well.  I'd worried needlessly.
Logan had been right about being himself.

The evening was ending.  Dad and I walked out front with Logan and his
grandparents.

Dad shook Gramps' hand.  "Thanks for coming over.  I hope we can do this
often."

Gramps agreed.  "So do I.  It's been a great evening."

I walked with Logan to his truck.  "I'll be over for the night tomorrow.
Building fence is gonna be fun."

Logan grinned at me.  "It's gonna be hard work.  Don't kid yerself."

I walked back and stood by Dad, waving as they backed out of the driveway.

Dad put his hand on my shoulder, an unusual gesture.  "You love him, don't
you, Toby?"

I gulped.  I had to be honest.  "Yeah, I do."

Dad squeezed my shoulder gently.  "Don't let him break your heart."

Dad went into the house to help Mom.  I stood there for a few minutes
absorbing what had just passed between Dad and me.  I wasn't sure about
Mom, but Dad understood more about me than I'd realized, and he was on my
side.


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