Him Who Made the Seven Stars 30

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Him Who Made The Seven Stars
By Waddie Greywolf

Chapter 30

Otis Elmer Breedlove ~ The Bull of the Hill Country

"As a youngster I had an enormous will to believe that every unexplained experience in my life was supernatural. Much the same as people who are determined to believe that everything they see in the sky which they can't easily identify is a flying saucer full of aliens. As a certified old fogey now pushing retirement age, a lifetime of personal experience and reading about such things has unfortunately led me to the conclusion that there is nothing mystical in the word except for the cleverness of the human imagination. Those who are desperate to ascribe significance to the unexplained will never lack for bedtime stories." ~ Mitchell Glaser

“What do you mean you can’t stay with me no more, Jethro?” Oatie Breedlove asked his big hired hand, Jethro Quince. Jethro was a typical cowboy, several years older than Oatie, bigger than most, and better looking than many. He stood a head taller than his bossman and outweighed him by fifty pounds of brute muscular strength. When he ran with his watcher brothers, he looked like a bit smaller version without the luxurious fur. He could even duplicate and keep up with their extended stride without tiring when migrating from place to place. He allowed what considerable body hair he grew naturally to stay in place, including a full head of blond hair, a full ginger beard and mustache. He reminded young Oatie Breedlove of pictures he’d seen on the Internet of men who took part in the Highland games in Scotland.

“I just think it’s time I moved on, Master Oatie. I recently learned me some things. Things I hear’d about the future. I shouldn’t be tell’n you none a’ this, but it’s important to you -- and, it indirectly affects me. Your granddaddy’s coming home to be with you again. There won’t be room for me around here no more, sir,” Jethro Quince replied like it was tearing him a new asshole to say the words. The big man was obviously very much taken and deeply in love with the young rancher he called his bossman and master, but he was painfully shy, naive, and insecure in his relationships with anyone; especially someone he admired and respected as much as he did Doc Oatie, the medicine man. Jethro had all the earmarks of someone with Asperger’s syndrome, but until that time, his bossman was unaware of his ramrod’s disorder. Oatie remembered having learned about it in an entry level psych class when he was going to med school but never made the connection between many of the daddy long-legs who might exhibit classic symptoms of the disorder.

Because Oatie saved his life and asked nothing in return, Jethro honored the ways of his bother watchers who strongly urged him to give himself to their medicine man as Master Oatie’s slave, companion, and protector. If Jethro was born into a society which practiced such a commitment, it might have been easier for him, but Jethro was raised with the false sense of freedom all Americans tell themselves is their birthright. In theory, they would be correct; in practice, not so much. In all his years in the Marines, and later, on the run from imagined and sometime very real terrors as a daddy long-leg, he never found the peace he experienced serving, protecting, and making love to Oatie Breedlove. Oatie paid him a monthly salary of which he would only take a few dollars and return the rest to his master for safekeeping.

The young cowboy never considered Jethro’s pledge to be his slave a binding contract between them, and because he failed to do so the big man began to feel insecure because of Oatie’s lack of personal demands and strong leadership. Even the smallest symbolic rituals to clearly define their positions with each other was what Jethro Quince most needed; just as a blind person needs to reinforce his master status with his guide dog several times a week with proven rituals and commands, Jethro needed the same reassurance. He craved a more tightly bonded relationship with someone who would be demanding of his talents and appreciate his strong and steady masculinity in the sack; however, like so many men in his position, he didn’t know how to voice his needs. Otis E. Breedlove, or Oatie, the grandson of Otis Elmer Breedlove, the bull of Mason county, didn’t understand this simple need and tried to have a balanced relationship with his ramrod; a man broken by war, life, and society who was still very much a warrior at heart with a few simple but special needs.

“What in the hell you talk’n about, J.Q.? You got a whole bunkhouse originally built for thirty hired hands all to yore’self, cowboy. If’n that ain’t enough, they’s eight gotdamn bedrooms in that big empty house up yonder on the cliff. You can take yore’ pick of any one of 'em, or share mine wiff’ me if’n you like, and it would be fine with me. It would be nice having another soul rattle’n around in that big empty whale up there. It might even make it easier on me and more comfortable for bowfus. I wouldn’t have to trudge all the way down here in the cold to share a little rack time wiff’ ma’ ramrod. They’s plenty of room up there. I begged you and begged you to move up there with me until I jes’ plumb give up,” Oatie replied.

“That ain’t the kind of room I’s talk’n about, sir,” Quince said.

“I don’t know why not. Even if, by some miracle, granddad got better enough to come home, h’it ain’t a’ gonna’ change nothing between you and me. You’s still gonna’ be my foreman and right-hand man -- unless, you ain’t comfortable no more and feel like you jes’ gotta’ answer the call of the wild again. If you wanna’ go back to being a daddy long-leg, you know I ain’t got no legal claim on you other than my love and admiration for you as a damn good man. You’s your own man, Jethro; a damn fine hired hand and a better bunk mate.

“I was at my wit’s end trying to hold ever’thing together after I had to put granddad in that rest home in Brady, and you come along like an answer to a prayer. It was like somebody was watch’n over me and you to bring us together. We needed each other. I think we still do, but I ain’t never put no demands on you. I ain’t never throw’d no rope around yore’ ass. I always leave the sex thing up to you and your appetite. Fortunately for me, you seemed to develop a sweet tooth for my brand of cowboy loving and found a comfortable scabbard for your rifle in my ass; however, if’n the man-on-man thing is too much for you, I’ll do my best to understand. My granddaddy done taught me the cowboy way. I’ll miss you more than I got words to tell you, but I’ll adjust. I neither asked nor expected more from you than what you wanted to give.

“I done told you when your big daddy protector 'Catfish’ brung you to me with two broken legs, an ankle, your right arm fractured, several broken ribs, and a huge gash in yore’ side, I would tend your wounds; however, once’t I got you healed and on yore’ feet, you could stay or you were free to go your way. Somehow, over time, we just become easy with each other, and you ask if you could stay on for a bit. That was a little over six years ago. Hell far, you still got over fifteen thousand dollars in pay on the books coming to you I got socked away in savings you can have when you go. Have you talked it over with Catfish?” Oatie asked.

“He’s the one what told me what’s come’n down the line from them big chiefs of his tribe. That young cowboy over to the Daniels ranch where you took me to look at some of his cattle, he’s been chosen by them Ancient races as the savior of our world. He’s been gifted with powers beyond anything you and me can imagine. They done turned him into some kind of archangel. Catfish told me, with his band of angels, he can heal anybody and even reverse the aging process. Remember that church organist your granddaddy used to visit the second Friday night of every month?” Jethro asked.

“Yeah, we had him out here for dinner a couple of times, and he’s a good friend. Granddad and him were butt-buddies for years. Mr. Humana goes wiff’ me to the rest home and he gives granddad blowjobs while I stand watch outside his room,” Oatie said.

“He’s out to the Daniels ranch right now, and Catfish said he don’t look a day over thirty-five or forty. He was all crippled up from arthritis and hurt s’damn bad he’s about to commit suicide when Billy Daniels took him under his wings and give him a minor tune up until he could get him to Catfish’s people on their world. I heard tell they rebuilt him. They done a nice job on him with a major engine overhaul, a lube job, and a tune up. Old Vox looks like a new model what just rolled off the assembly line. Catfish tells me he’s got orders from his leaders to go over to the Daniels ranch to pay homage to Master Billy and offer his’self for milking. Catfish wants to see about becoming one of his protectors and slaves. He said Master Billy treats most of his slaves like they’s family. I’s think’n I might do the same, since you won’t be need’n me around here no more if Master Breedlove is coming home,” Jethro said.

“Bullshit! I couldn’t do my vet job and run this damn ranch if’n it weren’t for you, brother. I was going down for the third time when Catfish brung you to me ‘cause he know’d I’s an animal and slave doctor. I been patch’n him and his kind up for a number of years. I know most of the watchers what roam the hill country. Sooner or later they come to me for some’um. I ain’t never had a one what was mean or threatened me. I looked on a couple with lust in my heart, but I never said nothing. I think they knew though; they shared their milk wiff’ me and sang to me,” Oatie said.

Suddenly, the young cowboy got silent, and he felt tears beginning to well up in his eyes. Jethro’s last words kept ringing in his ears. His companion said he was going to offer himself to Billy Daniels to be his slave when Oatie did his best to be his friend and companion for six years. Wasn’t his love and compassion for the daddy long-leg enough? Though Oatie never asked, Jethro gave himself to the young cowboy when he saved his life. Did his spoken commitment to be Oatie’s slave mean nothing to him? Now he was talking about leaving him for what he imagined as greener pastures. Oatie was confused and hurt. He felt himself withdrawing his affection and understanding from the big man. He felt his emotions folding up like a cheap theodolite used by early navigators.

The young cowboy looked directly into Jethro’s eyes like a deer caught in the headlights as one damnable tear escaped and ran down his cheek. His spirit was crushed. He felt like Jethro just drove a wooden stake through his heart, and he was about to breathe his last. Oatie’s sense of self-worth and his male pride were deeply wounded. He shook his head in disbelief. How could Jethro be so uncaring and uncharitable? Oatie felt as rejected as a used rubber thrown out a truck window or a soiled trick towel kicked under the bed after sex. The cowboy way be damned, Oatie was profoundly hurt and embarrassed. Almost as embarrassed as the afternoon his daddy caught his lead cowboy, Perry Reed, butt fucking him in the barn the summer before his senior year in high school.

Oatie didn’t have the emotional strength to consider reason. He started gasping for breath like he couldn’t get enough oxygen. He felt a panic attack coming on he hadn’t experienced since his daddy fired his ramrod, Perry Reed, on the spot and told Oatie to go to the house, pack a bag, and be off the ranch by sundown; he never wanted to see him again. Oatie began to hyperventilate just like he did in his daddy’s barn. Oatie decided his best option was to run from the hurt until he had time to think and sort things out. He was embarrassed and had to get away from Jethro. His spurs made an angry sound as he stomped out of the bunkhouse slamming the door behind him. Because Jethro failed to respond in any manner made the situation all the more awkward. Oatie was convinced the big man’s lack of response was the final nail in the coffin. Their relationship was over, and it cut him to the bone. He mounted his pony and rode up the hill to the big barn in back of the main ranch house. He took care of his horse, watered and fed him, and went to the house. He threw himself across his granddad’s bed and cried himself to sleep.

He dreamed fitfully, but the smell of his granddad filled his senses as he slept, offering him some solace. He purposely didn’t change the sheets after his granddad’s last visit for that reason. He could lie across the old man’s bed, breathe in his essence, and once again share his love with him even if Oatie was only hone’n in on Onan on his part. He could imagine his granddad filling his void, giving him the love he needed, and taking from Oatie what the old man needed as was his due as his bossman. It would bring him to climax every time. It was a comfort for him. He didn’t allow himself to consider Jethro’s words about his granddad coming home. Nor did he give credence to some angelic savior who could perform miracles. He was a man of science and didn’t believe in myth or superstition. Long ago he cast aside the lies and deceit embedded in the children’s Sunday school song, 'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so,’ as misleading propaganda; brainwashing at best; child abuse at worst. Oatie considered Jethro’s information a rumor; a pipe dream; little else.

Oatie dreamed of the day he packed his bag and called one of his granddad’s best old saddle buddies, Mick Flynn. Mr. Flynn was a rancher, but when times got rough financially, he took a mortgage on his ranch and bought a big eighteen-wheeler truck. He established a reputation for himself and drove between Houston and L.A. to have more income to payback the mortgage and hold onto his ranch which had been in his family over two hundred years. Oatie asked if he could hitch a ride with him to L.A. He wanted to run and get as far away from his small town as possible to start a new life.

“Sure, Son, be happy to give you a ride to L.A., but if I remember correctly you got one more year of high school. Are you eighteen or do you have yore’ daddy’s permission?” Mick asked.

“You might say so, Mr. Flynn. He done kicked me out of the house and told me he never wanted to see me again. H’it don’t matter none. I turned eighteen last week. Nobody remembered my burf-day but my granddaddy,” Oatie replied.

“Ouch! That’s pretty dang harsh. You had to do some’um pretty bad. He catch you do’n the nasty wiff’ some young lady, Son?” Mick asked and chuckled.

“Worse, Mr. Flynn. He caught his ramrod, Perry Reed, riding me like the Lone Ranger mounts Silver,” Oatie said.

He heard Mick Flynn stifle a laugh on the other end of the phone. “Dang and double ouch, Son! That’s gotta’ smart, cowboy,” he said and laughed.

“You ain’t upset about it, Mr. Flynn?” Oatie asked in surprise.

“I’m a truck driver, Son. I done seen it all, and ain’t ashamed to admit I done dipped my old wick in more’n a few fine looking cowboy butts over the years. I done appreciated more blowjobs in truck stops than I can remember when I’s tired and lonely for some small bit of comfort and didn’t wanna’ cheat on my wife. No, your news don’t bother me a bit other than I feel s’damn sorry for you. I don’t feel no sorrow for your old man or family. Yore’ momma loves herself some Jesus and she’s convinced your daddy, anyone who strays from their narrow minded beliefs is part of a great satanic conspiracy to rob them of their souls. Of course, that would assume they have souls to begin with, and your momma and daddy have long been suspect in my humble opinion of having little or no compassion for their fellow man. Thank God, yore’ granddaddy ain’t that way. Have you called him, Oatie?” Mick asked.

“Naw, sir, I’s too embarrassed to bother my granddad. He’s had it rough since grandma died. I tried to help him as much as I could. I didn’t wanna’ cause him any more pain,” Oatie replied.

“Yeah, and your daddy and momma ain’t made it no easier on him, neither. Since your grandma passed away they done went and joined that bat-shit crazy ultra-right wing fundigelical church “Deep River Congregational Assembly” run by that demented little troll, Clarence Womack. They been ride’n your granddaddy’s ass to attend their church and join them in a closer walk with Jesus or Womack. I ain’t real sure who they worship, Jesus or the preacher. Your granddaddy is a cowboy from the old school. He believes in the cowboy way first and religion second. What’s yore’ situation right now, Oatie?” Mick asked.

“I gotta’ be out a’ here ‘afore sundown. I got my bag packed. I can hitch a ride out to your place wiff’ one a’ my buddies,” Oatie replied.

“No, you walk out to the highway and wait for me. I’ll be right there,” Mick said.

Oatie did as he was told and Mick picked him up. “How you feel’n, cowboy?” Mick asked as the disgusted looking young cowboy threw his bag in the back of his truck and got in the passenger seat.

“Like I just shit in my own bed,” Oatie replied.

Mick roared with laughter. “That’s normal. It’s to be expected. It will pass. It may stink for a while, but it will finally go away. Did your dad, Pete, say anything about pressing charges against Perry Reed?” Mick asked.

“Yeah, he was yelling and threatening Perry. Called him a pederast and child molester. He said he was gonna’ call the sheriff and have Perry thrown in prison for sodomizing his first born son. God, my momma and daddy can be so frick’n overly dramatic when they get all riled up. I stopped going to church with him and my family ‘cause they embarrassed me so much. All the hand waving and crying about how much they love Jesus while hating our black president and anyone from the middle east. What hypocrites. It’s all overwrought emotions from unsupported beliefs. I want more out of life than bow’n and scrap’n to some imaginary deity without some fat ass ignorant little preacher telling me how I should live.

I told my dad, if he stopped ranting long enough to think, I turned eighteen last week, but nobody in my family, cept’n ma’ grandpa, remembered ma’ burf-day. If he pushed the matter, I would refuse to testify against Ramrod Reed. I told him it weren’t Mr. Reed’s fault. I had a hard-on for him since he come to work on the ranch, and it was me what actively seduced him. I asked him to fuck me for ma’ burf-day. He threw up his hands and settled for throwing Ramrod Reed out along with me. I don’t think he even paid Mr. Reed what he had coming. I gotta’ talk with Mr. Reed. I gotta’ make it up to him. I don’t want him hating me,” Oatie said.

“They's plenty of time for that later, Son. I gotta’ ask,” Mick said with a wicked grin, “how was old Perry?” he asked.

“To be honest, sir, h’it t’weren’t our first time, but my daddy don’t need to know that. I know Mr. Reed thought I already was eighteen. Perry Reed is a thoughtful and compassionate lover. He’s a true man’s man, and a fine buckaroo. I admire him greatly. We never hooked up what he didn’t see to it I got my share of pleasure and comfort. I asked him to teach me to become a lover of men, and he did. He done a good job. I ain’t got a bad word to say about Mr. Reed. I’m just s’damn pissed I didn’t take better precautions. If’n we’d done like Perry wanted and rode down to the old cabin ever’thing would a’ been fine; but noooo, being the little piggy my butt-hole can be, I couldn’t wait to get that handsome cowboy inside me for a good hard ride,” Oatie lamented.

Mick Flynn was laughing his ass off at Oatie’s candor telling about his escapades with Perry Reed who was one of the most well thought of cowboys in the county. He was honest, hardworking, and a loyal employee. In the five years he worked for Pete Breedlove he had over a dozen offers of better jobs for considerably higher wages, but he turned them down because he didn’t want to get the reputation of being a job hopping cowboy who a rancher couldn’t depend on. This might be a small setback for him, but there were too many ranchers who needed good hands they could trust and depend on. Perry Reed would have no problem finding another job. If nothing else, Mick knew with his and a handful of other men’s recommendations, Perry Reed would have a job within a couple of days; perhaps, even better than what he had with Pete Breedlove.

Oatie knew the way to Mick Flynn’s ranch and didn’t understand why he took the back way through town to the highway what led to the ‘whitewater’ area of ranches. “Where you taking me, Mr. Flynn?” Oatie asked.

“To your granddaddy, Son. I called him and told him what was going on. Me and your granddad have been asshole buddies for as long as I can remember, and I didn’t feel right extending a hand to you without talking with him first. He insisted I bring you out to him. I can tell he’s awful damn hurt you didn’t come to him about this, but he’s glad you had enough sense to call me instead,” Mr. Flynn said.

“I didn’t want him to know, Mr. Flynn. Of all the men in my world, I love my granddad most of all. We always had some’um special between us I knew he didn’t have with my little brother and sisters. I just wanted to disappear and not embarrass him ‘cause his grandson’s a cocksuck’n butt-fuck’n homo-faggot,” Oatie lamented.

“Don’t chu’ never use them words around yore’ granddaddy, boy, if’n you don’t want the hide on yore’ backside stripped off with his big leather belt,” Mick said, “Take it from me, Son, you don’t wanna’ be on the receiving end of that cowboy’s wrath. I learned the hard way. We was grown men, and I said something similar what set him off. I don’t even remember what it was about now; h’it don’t matter none. He told me I had a choice. I could drop my wranglers and bend over his knee and take his punishment like a man, or he would take me out with his fist. I figured I’d take the coward’s way out, dropped my pants, and bent over his knee. I still got the scars from that belt’n he gimme,’ but he was right. I later admitted to him I was wrong. I never challenged him again, and I love that old sum’bitch more’n I loved my own daddy,” Mr. Flynn said with tears in his eyes. “A bit of advice: if he wants to help you, Son, don’t deny him. It would be the worst goddamn thing you could do,” Mick Flynn added firmly.

They arrived at Breedlove ranch and Elmer was walking out of the barn in his cowboy gear. He was wearing his big silver belly hat and bright blue shirt, Wranglers, chaps, spurs, and his big buckaroo boots. Elmer was a huge man. His boot size was eighteen and a half triple E. He was out checking the cattle when he got Mick Flynn’s phone call and rode back to the barn to put his pony away for the evening. He had a look of stern determination on his face which made Oatie a bit uneasy. He couldn’t read his granddad like he usually could. He didn’t know how to react. Finally the older man opened his arms to his grandson and Oatie was in them in a flash.

“I’m sorry, Grandpa,” Oatie said.

“For what? Having sex with another man or git’n caught?” Elmer asked and winked at Mick.

“Both, but I’m more sorry about get’n caught than having sex with Mr. Reed. I’m mostly embarrassed about it, and I feel sorry for Perry Reed. He didn’t deserve the things my dad said to him,” Oatie replied.

“Well, we’ll talk about it. Where’s yore’ stuff, Son?” Elmer asked.

“In the back of Mr. Flynn’s truck,” Oatie replied.

“Well, get it, take it to your bedroom and put it away. When you finish, strip naked, and wait for me in my bedroom. I’ll be along in a few minutes, and we can talk. I got me some things I need to discuss with Mr. Flynn,” Elmer said.

“Yes, sir, Grandpa,” Oatie said quietly and went to get his bag and Western hat. Elmer shook hands with Mick Flynn and pulled him into a bear hug and stole a kiss. Mick returned his fond embrace. They heard the screen door slam on the front porch and knew Oatie was out of hearing range.

“C’ain’t thank you enough for your call and heads-up about my grandson, Mick. You done the right thing,” Elmer said putting his arm around Mick’s shoulder and pulling him close as they walked toward his truck.

“I didn’t lie to him about anything, Elmer. We didn’t really talk about much. He said he wanted to get lost in Los Angeles and start a new life. I can understand the embarrassment and hurt he must feel, but I got me a feel’n you’s gonna’ give him a whip’n. Don’t be hard on the boy, Otis, he needs your strength, understanding, and support if he’s to come out of this all right, but most of all he needs your love,” Mick said.

“You know me pretty well, but he needs to know he done wrong by not coming to me in the first place and a good old-fashioned butt strap’n will establish a solid peck’n order between us. If I got to raise me another son, I’m doing it different than what I done wiff’ my other kids; especially my two boys. I let their momma do most of the raising and look how they turned out. One’s dead from the middle East wars and the other’s a tool for them fundamentalist fools. My daughter’s an old maid school teacher in Harlingen what’s lived with the same women for twenty years. She was the only smart one. She divorced me and her mother to live her life the way she wanted without the guilt of religion. She and her mate visit me a couple of times a year since her momma died. I told her she didn’t have to hide her love from me. Me and Oatie is gonna’ be different. Don’t worry none. I ain’t gonna’ lay it on him like I done you. I always felt bad about that. I was being a bully and was way out of line. I punished you out of anger and that ain’t right. I’m gonna’ use ma’ belt on Oatie because of hurt; his and mine. It will be just enough adjustment to set it right with us. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me for that time with you,” Elmer said.

“Naw, now, I learned my lesson and you already done made it up to me a hun’nert times over. I don’t know what I’d a done without you in my life. I’ve always looked up to you as the big brother I never had, and I’m grateful for what time we could spend together over the years,” Mick said sincerely.

“Not to worry. I’m just gonna’ lay some groundwork wiff’ Oatie and give him enough to remember who’s the bull and who’s the calf. You an me’s about due for another get together, ain’t we?” Elmer asked.

“I’ll give you a call as soon as I get back from my run to L.A. I ain’t taking off until Monday morning so you got the weekend to call me in case you and Oatie decided some’um different, and he still wants a ride to L.A.,” Mick said.

“I’ll look forward to your call when you get back, but I plan to see him through high school and college if’n he wants to go. I don’t plan to lay it in his lap. He’s gonna’ have to work for it, but I’ll see to it he has a home and what he needs,” Elmer said.

“You’re a good man, Otis, and I couldn’t love you more,” Mick said.

“You know I feel the same, pod’na,” Elmer said as they hugged again. He stood and watched as Mick Flynn turned his big truck around and headed back down the gravel road to the blacktop. Elmer turned and walked into the house. He climbed the stairs to his big bedroom on the second floor.

Oatie could hear the clomp of his granddad’s buckaroo boots and jingling spurs as he came up the stairs. He didn’t know why, but he immediately popped a boner. He remembered how hot his grandpa looked coming out of the barn and the picture in his mind only confirmed his attraction to the big man. Oatie thought his granddad was about the hottest cowboy he ever saw. For him, Elmer Breedlove was the epitome of a West Texas hill country cowboy. He could remember from his earliest days, when he was only four or five years old, crawling up into the big man’s lap and feeling Elmer’s big penis swell with joy. When no one was looking, he would move his small hands around behind him to feel it, pet it gently, and encourage it to grow some more. It always seemed to respond to his touch and would get him an extra hug and a stolen kiss from his grandpa. Oatie wondered if Elmer knew in those early days he was probably going to grow up to like sex with men.

Oatie was sitting on his granddad’s huge bed, but stood at parade rest with his feet apart and his arms locked behind his back before Elmer came into the room. He learned that from his many years in the Boy Scouts. He was assistant troop leader since he was a freshman in high school. His little brother, who would enter high school in the fall, was also a member. Oatie wondered how his recent sexual indiscretion would relate to his continuing with the Scouts. He was only one merit badge away from Eagle Scout. He did all the work and was approved but not yet awarded the badge. He wondered if they had a merit badge for butt fucking; or cock-sucking; or perhaps, memorizing the lyrics to Broadway show tunes. He thought those might be badges he could wear with pride.

Elmer took off his big hat and hooked it on his hat rack next to his bureau. He turned and walked up to Oatie like a general about to inspect his troops. His spurs were jingling, and he had a gleam in his eye. “I’m gonna’ ask you some questions, boy, and I expect nothing but the truth from you -- understand?” he asked firmly like a drill sergeant.

Oatie came to attention and replied crisply, “Sir! Yes, sir, Bossman!”

Elmer looked for any sign of insincerity or mockery, but found none. The boy was sincere and waited patiently for Elmer to continue.

“Are you a man’s man, boy?” Elmer asked equally firmly.

“Yes, sir, Bossman, I’m a man’s man, sir,” Oatie replied.

“Did you lie to your daddy about being your first time with Ramrod Reed?” his grandpa asked.

“Yes, sir, Bossman. I lied to my dad to protect Ramrod Reed. We done it lots of times before, but we never talked about it. I know in my heart, the ramrod just assumed I was old enough. I’ve always been big for my age. I’m the biggest kid in high school,” Oatie replied.

“Did you fall in love with that cowboy?” Elmer asked.

“Yes, sir. I did, sir. It would be hard not to love a man as good and understanding a partner as Perry Reed, Bossman. He also taught me a lot of other things about being a cowboy, the cowboy way, and ranching,” Oatie replied.

“Was it true you seduced Ramrod Reed?” Elmer asked.

“The only thing I didn’t do was the dance of the seven veils and that’s only ‘cause I’s one short, Bossman,” Oatie replied.

Elmer didn’t expect his grandson’s answer and broke his attitude for a minute to look down at his boots and laugh. “That’s inexcusable, boy! In this world you gotta’ think on your feet. You could always substitute one a yore’ bandannas,” he shot back.

“Yes, sir, Bossman. I’ll keep that in mind, sir,” Oatie grinned but held to his seriousness.

“Did the ramrod teach you the necessary hygiene for man sex?” Elmer asked.

“Yes, sir. He bought me what I needed and taught me how to use it,” Oatie replied.

“Are you clean now?” Elmer asked.

“I am, sir. H’it ain’t been that long ago. I got one of Ramrod Reed’s loads up there, but that’s it,” Oatie replied.

“I thought your daddy interrupted your homo-coitus,” Elmer said.

“If that means ‘caught-us-fuck’n,’ he did, sir. That’s why we got caught. Ramrod Reed already done shot a big load up my ass, but I was a piggy. My butthole has a mind of its own, and it was scream’n for more of that fine buckaroo’s cock. I insisted Ramrod Reed fuck me again. He was work’n up a lather doing his best to satisfy me, sir, he was a' slap'n leather like a pony express rider late wiff' the mail,” Oatie said and shook his head in remorse.

“Do you ejaculate while he’s fuck’n you, boy?” Elmer asked.

“Ever’ damn time, sir. He never failed to fuck me until I got mine. He said it was part of the cowboy code, ‘If’n yore’ buddy is generous enough to let you fuck him in his butt, a good cowboy will make damn sure his partner shoots his gun,” Oatie said.

“He’s right about that, Son. That’s one of the most important laws every Western man should know and practice,” Elmer confirmed. Elmer relaxed and took his grandson into his arms. Oatie melted and embraced his grandpa. “Is that little hole of yours still hungry, boy?” he asked.

“It’s always hungry, Bossman,” Oatie replied.

“Are you ready to become my boy?” Elmer asked softly and stole a kiss.

“I been your boy since I’s old enough to walk, grandpa. I sometimes think I was born to the wrong pa and wish’t to hell I could a’ been your son instead,” Oatie replied.

“I remember you sitting in my lap and playing with me when nobody was looking,” Elmer said.

“I remember. You never scolded me or told me it t’weren’t the right thing to do. You just stole kisses and held me tighter,” Oatie said.

“You think that made you into a man’s man, Son?” Elmer asked.

“Naw, sir, but my occasional chance to have some small secret physical contact with you and understanding you enjoyed my touch as much as I enjoyed playing with you, went a long way to imprinting on me what I felt weren’t wrong. I understood what we shared was outside the norm, but it was something mutually rewarding for bowfus,” Oatie said, “It was like sharing a secret love with another person all these years,” he added.

“It ain’t gotta’ be a secret no more, Son -- at least, between you, me, and a few close friends,” Elmer said.

“I’d like that, Grandpa, more’n anything in the world,” Oatie said.

“We gotta’ get a few things settled between us what’s important,” Elmer said.

“You gonna’ take yore’ belt to me ‘cause I turned out different, Grandpa?” Oatie asked.

“Oh, hell, no! Not ‘cause you’s different, boy, but because you didn’t come to me first when all this shit went down between you and your family; but, it’s also to set in place our new roles with each other. I’m gonna’ be your new daddy, your bossman, your ramrod, your head bull, and you’re gonna’ be my son, my cowboy, and my young calf. I’m gonna’ set my brand on yore’ butt wiff’ my big black belt to remind you who you belong to and the seriousness of our commitment to each other; and, whenever I tell you to do something or I explain how something’s gonna’ be between us, I don’t want no backtalk, arguments, or disrespect,” Elmer said.

“Sounds fair to me, Grandpa,” Oatie replied.

Elmer let Oatie go, walked to his closet, and got out his wide, black leather Western belt. There was no belt buckle attached. He sat down on a cedar chest at the foot of his bed which was covered with a warm blanket. He motioned for Oatie to lay himself out over his knees. Elmer was still wearing most of his cowboy gear including his heavy bat-wing work chaps and his spurs still on his buckaroo boots. He noticed Oatie had an erection before he positioned himself over his chaps. He thought to himself his grandson was definitely of his linage from the size of the piece of meat hanging between his legs. He raised his belt and came down fairly hard across Oatie’s fine young cowboy butt. The boy didn’t cry out or even flinch. Elmer tried another with the same result. There was a pregnant silence between them.

“Some’um wrong, boy?” Elmer asked.

“I’m waiting to feel the love, Grandpa. Either you’re getting too old, or you don’t love me very much,” Oatie replied.

“Why you little ingrate, I’m still young enough to tame the wildest ass, and I got a shit load of love inside me for you,” Elmer said trying to hold back a laugh. “You need some love. I’ll show you my love,” he added.

“Show me what chu’ got, old man,” Oatie egged him on.

Elmer let the next one come down pretty damn hard but not with all his strength. It made Oatie squirm just a bit.

“Better, I almost felt that one,” Oatie gigged him again.

The next hit with his belt was a strong and sure one. It got a deep groan out of Oatie but no tears. “I’m beginning to feel the love, Bossman,” he said, “That’s one,” he added like he was counting for his grandpa.

“One?” Elmer asked.

“Yeah, them other two don’t count. They’s jes’ warm-ups,” Oatie declared.

“Okay, count 'em out, boy,” Elmer said and brought down another onto Oatie’s red butt cheeks.

“A half a’ cup of love in number two, Bossman,” Oatie critiqued Elmer’s last effort.

Elmer brought down two more in quick succession and Oatie really begin to squirm under him. “Three and four filled the cup, Bossman-- one more and my cup a’ cowboy cream is gonna’ spill all over you,” he said.

Elmer gave him another hard hit with his belt and he felt his grandson’s whole body shake as he shot his load all over his granddad’s chaps and boots. “Quick, Bossman, another just like that one to get the rest out,” Oatie hollered and Elmer complied. His body began to spasm again and more gizz flew from his young cock and went everywhere.

“That’s enough for this evening, boy. I think we both learned some’um from this little session,” Elmer said wondering who taught whom a lesson? Oatie didn’t shed a tear. He was exhausted but in great spirits. Elmer was sure the boy could probably go another round. He never witnessed such a display of personal self-control or sexual bravado. ‘Oh, to be young again,’ he thought.

“Get one a them hand towels from the bathroom, wet it, wring it out, and come clean me wiff’ it,” Elmer ordered.

“Yes, sir, Bossman,” Oatie said eagerly. He returned in less than a minute and knelt in front of his granddad. He looked Elmer in the eye and grinned. He set the towel aside and started using his tongue to lick and clean every inch of his Bossman’s chaps and boots where his come landed. He was really enjoying himself, and it reminded him how he used to color pictures as a kid; he never could stay within the lines. His granddad’s chaps and boots tasted too good, and they were like a grand feast set before a starving man. Elmer let the boy get his fill, then pulled him up into his arms, and kissed him deep and hard. When he broke it off he whispered to Oatie, “You’s one sick puppy, boy. I like that in a cowboy,” he declared and Oatie roared with laughter.

“You gonna’ scratch my itch for me, Grampa?” Oatie asked with a wicked grin.

“Since we got the understanding and initiation out of the way, it’s my behold’n duty to take care of my boy. I think you’ll be pleased to find your new daddy has enough to scratch your deepest itch, Son,” Elmer said.

Oatie looked at his granddad’s bed covered in one huge black leather bull hide and smiled. “Will you fuck me wear’n your boots and chaps, Bossman?” Oatie asked.

“Will it get me a longer ride?” Elmer asked.

“Hell, you can ride me as long as you can stay in my saddle, Bossman,” Oatie challenged.

Oatie watched as his granddad slowly undressed, pulled on his boots, and strapped on his chaps. The young cowboy was more than a little impressed with his granddad’s size and wondered no more how Elmer got the nickname, the bull of the hill country. For a man in his early sixties Elmer was a fine looking man; his body still hard and well defined from years of hard physical labor on the ranch. His body hair had a salt and pepper look to it, but that only made him more attractive to his grandson.

They lay down together and began to make love. “Go easy with me the first time, Bossman, and I’ll give you a good ride,” Oatie whispered.

“After that display of physical stamina and outright sexual defiance to your bossman a while ago, and you ask for mercy?” Elmer asked with a grin.

“I ain’t seen your cock then. I wouldn’t a’ been so sure of myself if’n I did. That damn thing ain’t no penis, it’s a weapon of mass destruction,” Oatie replied and laughed.

“I’ll take your request into consideration, cowboy,” Elmer said as he greased up his huge cock. He took his grandson with love and tenderness. Elmer was so good at what he did, Oatie wasn’t even aware when the big man bottomed out inside him.

“Woofff! That feels s’damn good, Bossman. I’m almost glad my dad found out about me. I think you can put the rest in now, Ramrod,” Oatie encouraged his grandpa.

“You’re right about being a piggy. You done got the all the bull inside you, and you’s moan’n for more?” Elmer asked.

“I’m sure I died and went to heaven, sir,” Oatie said respectfully, “I’m your cowboy, Bossman. Make the best use of me for bowfuss,” he added.

Elmer took him at his word and treated his grandson to the ride of rides. He was strong and sure, but gentle and compassionate. By the time Elmer was ready to shoot his gun, he had Oatie so worked up he was almost in tears holding back his own ejaculation. When his grandpa growled for him to let go, he was going to ride him to the barn, that’s all Oatie needed to flood the area between them. They climaxed together in one grand orgasm. They lay hooked together with Elmer making sweet love to his boy and complimenting him on his partnership. “Since your grandma passed away, I’ve had fantasies about this moment, breaking you to ma’ saddle,” he said.

“Really, Bossman. That’s sweet. I guess I must a been read’n yore’ mind. I swear on the name of some unknown god, I told Ramrod Reed I wanted him to teach me how to be a good partner for a man ‘cause I had dreams of one day giving myself to you,” Oatie confessed, “Grandpa, do you think what we just done is a sin?” Oatie asked.

“Lord, I hope so. I don’t wanna’ go to hell just for cussing,” Elmer replied and they held each other laughing.

“I ain’t never suspected you might do what we just done. Do you consider yourself bisexual?” Oatie asked.

“Naw, just sexual -- period. I’m a bull, Son. What do I mean by that? I’m always on top and in control. J’ever watch a lead bull in a herd? He will run all the other’s off so’s he can have his choice of cows for himself?” Elmer asked.

“Yes, sir, I also seen ‘em try to mount the younger bulls,” Oatie said.

“Yeah, you’re right. They do that to confuse and keep the younger bulls think’n they gotta’ be bred just like the cows. That way, they don’t challenge him for dominance. You ever wonder about the term ‘proven bull’ a rancher has for sale?” Elmer asked.

“I just thought it meant he was proven to be fertile,” Oatie replied.

“True, but that ain’t all. ‘Proven’ means he ain’t no gay bull what’s got used to the other bulls breeding him and ain’t interested in the ladies,” Elmer explained.

Oatie laughed, “I did not know that, Bossman. Good to know. But you only answered part of my question. I have to believe, from the way you fucked me, you gotta’ know what you’s doing with a cowboy. I ain’t your first time by a long shot,” Oatie said.

“You’re right, Son. Years ago, I was a young draftee. They sent me to boot camp, shoved a rifle in my arms, and sent me to Vietnam. I was your age and just graduated high school. I was young and naive. I didn’t know squat about sex but soon learned the ropes. A lot of men were pairing together as asshole buddies to get through it. I didn’t at first and would wait until we come back from being ‘in-country’ and head to the small towns what sprung up around the military bases. I’d try to buy me a hooker, a native Vietnamese whore, for a couple of hours, but they demanded damn near half a month’s pay. I’s only get’n seventy-eight bucks a month as a raw recruit. I decided right away I couldn’t afford them, and I was get’n mighty tired of lope’n my old mule. One of my buddies explained the Benny Boys to me. They were men who dressed up like lady whores and bound up their genitals. They would sell their buttholes for ten bucks. That was more in my price range, so I tried one, and liked it. Hell, they acted just like a woman, and I even got to where I could make love to them while I was fucking them. It sort of done a number on me about sexuality in general.

“Since you asked, and I feel you have the right to know, I’m gonna’ tell you a few things about me our other family don’t know -- or, at least I don’t think they know. Rumors fly fast and free in a small Texas town, but they ain’t always correct. Nevertheless, they do their damage if you’s a sensitive and caring person. A man like me don’t give a shit what filth them gossip mongers spread and you should adopt that attitude as well. You’re gonna’ need a strong backbone and a lot of fortitude to keep from punch’n somebody’s lights out. If you ever hit somebody, they won -- hands down. You can rip them to shreds with your tongue, but you don’t never raise a hand in anger. Understand, Son?” Elmer asked.

“I understand, Bossman, and I see the merit of your advice. I promise I won’t raise my hand in anger,” Oatie replied.

“Good. Since you gonna’ be living with me you need to know some things. Mickey Flynn was the other soldier I finally settled on to be my mate. I got tired of them Benny Boys affectations and thought, ‘Hell, I think I’d rather be fuck’n a real man than one of them cheap female knockoffs.’ Mick knew I’d been going with Benny Boys and asked me to partner up with him. He told me what he wanted from me, and it met my needs; so, I decided to give it a go. After one night with Mick I was hooked. We stayed together throughout our time in Nam. He saved my life several times, and I done the same for him. Have we kept up our relationship after Nam?” Elmer asked.

“You don’t need to tell me. From the way Mr. Flynn talks about you and the tears what come to his eyes, I know you get together,” Oatie replied.

“You’re right. We get together about once’t a month and did for a good while after we got back. Mick ain’t from this area. He was born and raised down around the big pine area of Southeast Texas, but came back to the hill country with me 'cause his family owned a ranch near here, the lease was up on it, and they told him he could live on it and work it for a reduced sum because he was family. Eventually, they passed away and left it to him. It’s one of the biggest spreads in the county. We helped each other over the years and formed a relationship like no other I ever had. I love Mick Flynn like he was ma’ brother. I’d do anything in the world for him. He means that much to me.

“We both got married about the same time, but would still find time to get away together to share a little love and enjoy each other’s company. Then we had families and started drifting apart because of other commitments. We didn’t get to see each other but about twice a year. After your Grandma Sadie had your Aunt Jessie she decided she didn’t want any more children and rather than get her tubes tied decided there weren’t no sense in us having sex no more. She told me sex was something you do only when you’s gonna’ have kids. The rest of the time it’s lustful, dirty, and sinful. I told her she might as well cut ma’ balls off. She didn’t like that very much, but I could tell the idea appealed to her. I even thought about divorcing her, but decided to stay together for the sake of the kids.

“After that, we grew apart, and I’m afraid I become bitter. We hardly spoke to one another for a couple of years. I stopped going to her church in defiance and told her I’d only go to church when she started putting out again -- what I saw as her duty as my wife. She didn’t bother to read them parts of the bible what says women should subjugate themselves to their husbands. She passed them off as not applying to her. It was then I began to see the light of reason. There were many situations in life the church, bible, or some ignorant preacher didn’t have a clue about, and many times their beliefs were in direct contradiction to what I reasoned as natural and acceptable behavior. Then, if you showed them how they should be acting in the words of their own holy script, they would claim that didn’t apply to modern man. That sure didn’t stop them from hating gay people and denying them equal rights because of a couple of scriptures condemning their behavior as unacceptable and sinful.

“That’s when I began to hear talk about one of my Grange buddies Daws Butler Daniels spending one e’nin a month with the young church organist of the Methodist church; the biggest church in town. I found out through the husband of the church secretary Mr. Daniels was supplementing the organist’s salary and taking him a cheque once’t a month. My suspicious mind got to cogitate’n, why would he need to visit the man when he could just mail him a cheque? When I inquired, I was told he took him produce from their garden, and fresh beef, pork, and venison when they slaughtered animals on the ranch. I was still suspicious. So, I got myself cleaned up one Sunday morning and put on ma’ Sunday-go-to-meet’n clothes. Sadie asked me what I was doing. I told her I was going to the Methodist church. I was think’n on joining. She asked if she could go with me, and I agreed.

"She was going to the fundamentalist Baptist church in town, but she decided the Methodist church would be all right. They were in between the Baptist and the Catholics. She would go with me three Sundays a month, but would go alone to her Baptist church one Sunday. She thought I should go with her, but I told her I could be as strong willed and stubborn as she could be; she should be grateful I’s even going to church a’ tall,” Elmer said in disgust. “Truth was, I weren’t going to church for anybody but myself, and it shore’ weren’t to have my soul saved. Well, maybe it was in a way. I had me a gut feel’n the fine looking young man what was their organist was a man’s man and Daws Daniels, for whatever reason, was get’n himself some good hot man sex on the side,” Elmer said and roared with laugher. He got Oatie laughing with him.

“Gosh, Grandpa, some day I want to do two things: write a book about your life and have your baby,” Oatie said. He got Elmer laughing again.

“After about six months, I joined the church, and afterward I was talking with Mr. Daniels and his lovely wife when they invited me to their ranch for Sunday dinner with them and their family. It was the Sunday Sadie went to her Baptist church so I didn’t see no reason not to accept their gracious invitation. Little did I know at the time, they considered the church organist, Vox Humana, as part of their family,” Elmer said and rolled his eyes. He started Oatie on another round of laughter.

“I called Sadie and told her not to hold dinner for me, I had an invitation to have dinner with a family what were members of the church. I joined their church that morning and they asked me to share Sunday dinner with them. She weren’t too happy about it, but then we were pretty much living separately sharing the same house. We slept in separate bedrooms. Well, sir, it couldn’t have been a more perfect day. After a delicious meal, Mrs. Daniels played the organ for us and then Mr. Humana played for the folks they invited to dinner. I did ever’thing I could to get Mr. Humana’s attention. I guess I was being obvious. Daws Daniels walked up to me, handed me another drink, and grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Mr. Humana is a very talented young man,” he said like a hunter setting the spring for a trap.

“He is a very talented young man. His playing impressed the shit out a' me, but that ain't all what impressed me about him. He stirs something deep within me, brother,” I replied.

“What stirs you the most, cowboy, his firm luscious lips, what look like they could rap themselves around a cowboy’s cock and suck him 'til his head caved in, or his tight little butt what looks like two bob cats fighting in a burlap sack when he walks, what would make the biggest bull’s penis weep for joy at the sight?” Daniels asked.

“I couldn’t answer. I doubled over with laughter. Daws put his hand on my shoulder and shared a laugh with me. ‘Both!’ I managed to get out. ‘God help me, and with your blessing, I would certainly be willing to contribute support and bring comfort to such a fine musician one e’nin a month,” I told Mr. Daniels. We fell together laughing again. One thing led to another, and by the end of the evening, I had a firm date to take Vox to dinner the second Friday of the month. I was nervous as a cat on coffee our first date, but he was nothing but gracious and charming. We went back to his place and got comfortable. I spent most of the evening with him. It was well worth the small sum I contribute to his income, and I certainly have never looked upon Mr. Humana as a whore. His is my friend and close companion. I love him very much. I would do anything in the world for him. So you need to know, I will be with him the second Friday of every month,” Elmer said.

“Fine wiff’ me, Bossman. To be honest, I’m glad you got somebody you see regularly. Do you see Mr. Flynn more these days?” Oatie asked.

“I do. Since his kids are grown and his wife passed away, he’s been lonely, and we get together about once’t a month and go fishing, hunting, or he comes over here and stays an e’nin wiff’ me. He won’t get in our way,” Elmer said responding to the look on Oatie’s face.

“I ain’t worried about it none. I just feel damn lucky to become a bigger part of your life, Grandpa, and your stories make me more proud of you than ever. You are a man among men, Grandpa. You are a bull, and you can mount me anytime you feel the urge,” Oatie said.

“Oh, God, don’t tell me that. You may get fucked in the middle of a field at high noon some day,” Elmer said and laughed.

“So be it! I’ll be ready,” Oatie assured him.

And so it went. Elmer and Otie returned to his daddy’s ranch and got the rest of Oatie’s things. He just walked off and left his desktop computer, but copied everything of any importance to his laptop. They got all his things and loaded them into his granddad’s pickup truck. There were a few choice words spoken, but Oatie’s dad pretty much kept his mouth shut around his dad. Oatie’s religiously crazed mother tried to start in on him, but Elmer shut her up pretty damn quick. He told her to shove her false religion up her butt and get back in the kitchen where she belonged. The hatred and rancor didn’t stop there. Oatie’s mother Janice was a harridan of the first magnitude and did everything in her power to blacklist and cast aspersions upon her own son and his granddad.

Oatie finished his last year in high school with many hurdles and complications from his good Christianist family. They refused to let his little brother play on the high school varsity because his homo brother was captain of the team. They wrote letters to the school and coach about their homosexual son who shouldn’t be allowed to play on the team let alone represent their town. Neither the principal nor the coach gave a shit about whether Oatie Breedlove was gay or not. He was a top notch student who was captain of their football team and led his team to win the State Championship for their division three years in a row. They were looking forward to a fourth. In a small Texas town, Friday night football is king, and the coach saw another year of being State Champions as his ticket to the bigger schools and more money. He wasn’t about to deny Oatie playing and became very protective of him.

Janice and her evil spawn came to the home games with big cardboard signs which read: “Repent Homo! Jesus Saves!” It got so bad the town called Oatie’s dad, Pete, into a meeting and told him they wanted his family to either tone it down or don’t come to the games anymore. Janice was incensed and wanted to sue the county for religious persecution and denying them their right to freedom of speech, but fortunately her husband, Pete, was a little cooler head, and was beginning to get tired of his wife’s bat-shit crazy routine and infecting his kids in the same manner. Through it all, Oatie and Elmer kept their heads high and the more Oatie achieved and awards he won, the angrier his mother became. She, of course, was fueled and fed more hate by Clarence Womack, who was behind her a hundred percent.

Janice even went so far as to have a ceremony on the town square to cast out the homosexual demon from their family. They billed it as casting out and denying any relationship with their former son, Otis Elmer Breedlove, the second. Clarence Womack was the ring leader and foamed at the mouth while spewing forth his religious bile over a boom box. Many came out of curiosity but soon left in disgust. Clarence Womack and Janice Breedlove did more to encourage tolerance than they won over to their side. There were so many complaints from the town folks the sheriff shut Janice and Womack down. They cried he was trying to suppress their freedom of speech and were persecuting them for their religion. He told them they were welcome to practice their religion at their church and voice their opinions there, but not on the public square. He had to draw a line between church and state, and they lost. Oatie received several cards and letters from the community saying they neither agreed with Janice and the preacher nor did they approve of his lifestyle, but he should have the right to live his life like he wanted.

Much to his family’s dismay, Oatie survived swimmingly. His granddad became his defender and strong right arm. Sometimes the hatred would get to him and Oatie would start to withdraw into himself. Every time he looked like he was about to fold up like a telescope or have an attack of the screaming green meanies, his bossman would yank him up by the short hairs, take his belt to him, and fuck him 'til his eyeballs spun in opposite directions. Once Elmer, the bull of the hill country, got through with him, nothing could touch Oatie. Once he got another intense, super charged, Texas size dose of his granddad's heavy duty cowboy loving, it would inspire him to greater heights to gain his granddad's, his bossman's approval and affection than he ever experienced with his parents. For a while, Oatie would be immune to the worry and strife his family was heaping on him, striving to break him to their will.

Oatie did get his Eagle Scout badge and was unanimously voted into the Order of the Arrow. His mother wrote a horrible letter to the Boy Scouts telling them not to award her homosexual son the honor of Eagle Scout. They returned her letter telling her she was too late. His last merit badge had been approved and along with it the award of Eagle Scout. Janice Breedlove was livid. She was inspired to new heights of mean spirited madness when she made her kids wear T shirts with her to the football awards dinner which read, “Homo’s Go To Hell!” The local sheriff came and made her and the kids leave. Elmer finally talked some sense into his son and Pete was there to support Oatie. He had it with Janice and told her to shape up or ship out. He was tired of her meanness. It only made Janice more furious and she redoubled her efforts to destroy her homo son.

Elmer saw Oatie through four years of college and three years of medical school to become a Doctor of Veterinarian Science; however, Oatie's undergraduate degree didn't cost either of them a dime. Oatie was so strong a quarterback on his high school team, scouts from all the major universities were at every game his team played his senior year. He had offers from a dozen or more schools, but the best offer was from the University of Texas at Austin. They paid for everything including a yearly salary and a brand new vehicle of his choice. Oatie graduated Valedictorian of his high school class which went a long way to convincing the scouts he would be around for four years. Every year more awards and honors were given to Oatie. Elmer was his biggest fan. The more Oatie achieved, the more Janice railed against him. Her family was beginning to tire of her antics and started to withdraw from her.

Oatie led the U.T. team to four Southwest Conference championships while maintaining a sterling four-point-oh grade average. They played in the Rose Bowl and won all four years against the best teams in the nation. Oatie won the Heisman trophy two years in a row and gave them to his granddad. Pete was devastated and withdrew into himself for months. Having a son as talented as Oatie is every man's dream, but he turned his back on a potential treasure which could have handly supported his sense of self-worth in his later years. He began to wonder if his wife's view of a hearafter and heaven was worth it? He felt cheated he couldn't brag about his boy, and his resentment for Janice grew stronger by the day. Everyone in the community saw what was happening. Pete Breedlove was a defeated man who was being castrated by a harridan who ignored her husband and made a pact with a devil; a mean sprited little fundamentalist preacher who saw evil in everything but his own shadow. No one was surprised when Pete stopped going to church with Janice and the kids. They made excuses for him, but everyone knew.

Oatie graduated Valedictorian of his class at U.T. and was outrageously popular with the student body. They knew the persecution he went through in his home town and gave him a standing ovation after he finished his speech. Half of the county was there sitting with his granddad. His former family did not attend. By that time, Oatie didn't give a shit. His main man was sitting there beaming with pride. Pete and Janice had great hopes for Oatie's younger brother, Stan, but he didn't have the talent Oatie did and barely graduated high school. Oatie got a Christmas card from Stan his junior year at U.T. It was simple but contained a small note: Dear Oatie, my heart is heavy. I's so damn proud of you, but I'm also a coward. Go all the way for both of us, bro. All my love, Stan. Oatie cried when he read it.

Med school was two years, but Oatie went an extra year to add ‘Slave Doctor’ to his title as privately owned slaves were becoming more common and owners didn’t want to spend huge sums for medical care. While he didn’t make the money a regular M.D. might, he was as fully qualified and did well for himself. Immediately, upon completion of his final medical degree, when he returned home to the ranch, his draft notice was waiting for him. He spent another two years as a Captain in the Medical Corp. One year in the Middle East patching up wounded men and another year at a medical center in Del Rio, Texas. He traveled home every other weekend and holidays to be with his granddad. He sent every other paycheck to his granddad to pay him back for supporting him while in Medical school. Elmer didn’t take a dime of it, and put the money in a joint account under both names.

After his military service, Oatie returned to the small town to practice. He quickly gained a good reputation, and he was in great demand. He was busier than a cat covering up shit. He worked those years living with his granddad. He paid Elmer back every penny he spent on his education beyond his undergraduate degree and bought him a brand new truck for his birthday. They spent a number of happy years together. He renewed his friendship with Perry Reed and would go out to the ranch where he was working to take care of the animal’s medical needs for him. Ramrod Reed was working for a wealthy rancher who was absent most of the time and only came to the ranch one weekend a month, holidays, and to hunt during deer season. Perry was doing well and happy to see Oatie again. They spent several evenings together and Perry would laugh at Oatie, who was at that time almost thirty years old, calling his granddad to ask his permission to stay the night with Ramrod Reed.

“You don’t understand, Mr. Reed, when my dad kicked me out, my granddad took me in, but under his terms. I became his boy and readily agreed to his demands. There are no gray areas when you live with the bull of the hill country. He’s strict and stern, but loving and generous to a fault. What more could you want in a dad or a master? I ain’t sorry for a minute I agreed to do it. I don’t do nothing I don’t run by my bossman first. In all these years he ain’t never given me wrong advice,” Oatie said. Perry Reed and Oatie became good friends and spent a lot of time with each other over the years. Oatie helped Perry when he could and Perry never failed to be there when Oatie needed him.

Being the only reliable Veterinarian within a hundred miles, his dad, Pete, would have to call on him from time to time for his services. They never talked about anything but the animals and ranching. Nothing personal was discussed. Oatie came to look on Elmer as his daddy and never called Pete ‘dad’ again. He was respectful and called him Mr. Breedlove. When Pete slipped one time and called Oatie ‘son’ the young cowboy immediately, but respectfully, asked him not to call him that. He didn’t consider himself Pete nor Janice Breedlove’s son anymore. He belonged to his granddad. It broke Pete's heart, but he knew Oatie was sincere. He meant it. He also knew Oatie had a right to demand it of him.

When he went out on a call to his old home, Janice never once dained to come out of the house or invite him in. Her rejection said to Oatie he was a non-person unworthy of her attention or hospitality. Times and money got tighter. Oatie billed his dad the same rate he charged everyone else. The bills went unpaid and piled up for months, but Pete would still call him to come out to take care of another animal. Interest and late fees were added like any other bill which wasn’t paid in a timely manner. Oatie never said anything to his dad about the unpaid bills for fear of appearing disrespectful and putting him in a bad position. He didn’t know what Pete’s financial situation was. Oatie discussed it with Elmer and told him he would do as his granddad suggested, “After all,” he said, “I don’t care how high I climb, you’ll always be my bull, my bossman,” he said to his granddad.

“I have a feeling Pete don’t know these bills ain’t been paid, and I don’t think it’s your or my responsibility to tell him. He’s made his bed. He turned his back on you and ultimately on me as well. Let him hash this out with his wife. I’ll bet you a dollar she’s sit’n on them invoices gambling you won’t do nothing about it because they’s family. If’n you don’t do something about it, you’ll have to deal with the bull, he’ll lay you over his knee, but it won’t be for fun and games, boy,” Elmer said sternly, smiled, and winked at his grandson.

“I hate to do it, Bossman,” Oatie lamented.

“I know, but unless you do, you’re validating your mother’s right to treat you the way she did. If you was in the same position, she wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger to put you out of yore' misery. She'd have no remorse shooting you like a dog with rabies. You may not want to remember it, but I’m here to remember it for bowfus. I’m get’n old, but there ain’t a damn thing wrong wiff’ my memory. Do it, Son, for you, me, Vox, Mick, and many other men who don’t choose to live their lives like Janice Breedlove thinks they should because it says so in her damn bible,” Elmer said firmly.

Oatie would never question his granddad. He filed the papers with the sheriff and county clerk’s office the next day and the county started the procedure to foreclose on the Breedlove ranch for unpaid Veterinary bills. Oatie knew his dad could never raise the amount of money he owed his son. It was over nine months of bills running into thousands of dollars. When the sheriff and his deputy delivered the writ of foreclosure to Pete he turned white as a sheet. “There must be something wrong. We done paid these bills. My boy is our Vet, and he wouldn’t do something like this to us. My wife takes care of all our finances. I’m sure she’s got the canceled checks for all this,” Pete said in panic mode. “Give me a minute to talk with her,” Pete excused himself and went into the house. He found Janice in the kitchen on the phone to one of her girlfriends with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

“Hang up the goddamn phone, Janice. We gotta’ talk,” Pete said.

“Just a minute! About what?” she said refusing to hang up the phone. Pete grabbed it out of her hand, slammed it to the floor, and stomped it with his boot heel.

“Janice! The sheriff is here with an order to pay Oatie thirty-eight thousand dollars for overdue Vet bills,” he yelled at her.

“Yeah! So?” she exclaimed.

“Where are the canceled checks? I need to show the sheriff we done already paid him to keep them from placing a lean on our ranch, slapping locks on the house and front gate, and foreclosing,” Pete demanded.

“There ain’t no canceled checks. Oatie’s our son. We don’t have to pay that homo nothing. He’s lucky we even allow him on our property,” Janice spat back at him in anger.

“What the the fuck do you mean there ain’t no canceled checks? You didn’t pay him? This couldn’t be a mistake. There’s nine months of unpaid bills in this file, Janice. What the hell were you thinking?” Pete yelled at her.

“He’s bluffing. He won’t really foreclose. He should be paying us. He owes me that much money and more just for giving birth to that damn pervert,” she yelled back at her husband. "It ain't my fault he turned out to be a cocksuck'n butt fuck'n faggot," she added.

“Yeah, well money talks and bullshit walks, Janice. Unless we come up with the money, that ‘damn pervert’ as you call our son is going to own our ranch, and we’ll either be at his mercy, or be out of a place to live, you fuck'n moron!” Pete yelled back at her.

“I don’t know what you’re so worried about. He ain’t got the balls to put his mother and father and two sisters out on the streets,” she said putting her cigarette out.

“Maybe not, but him and my daddy is so tight you couldn’t drive a railroad wedge between them, and Elmer’s got a huge set of balls. He’s got enough for both of them. When Elmer says jump, Oatie asks how high? Oatie never said nothing to me about no overdue bills. I know him. He didn’t want to cause hurt feelings between us or embarrass me. He’s still got a shred of hope for me. Elmer figured out what you were doing and forced your hand. He controls Oatie like a sock puppet. Nevertheless, I gotta’ say, I admire and envy their relationship. Oatie has become Elmer’s son. I wish’t I’d listen more to my daddy and less to my momma. I wouldn’t have you to put up with. Oatie ain’t your or my boy no more. He ain’t been for a good while. Look what your hate has done to us, Janice. Our youngest boy left home after high school, and we ain’t heard from him since. He didn't even say 'goodbye.' I know in my heart you drove him away with your crazy religious bullshit. You’re doing the same with our daughters. I’ve had it with you. We’re done. Our marriage was over a long time ago, but I been too damn dumb to see it. It was over the day you insisted I kick Oatie out for doing something most ever cowboy's done tried at least once't in his life; including me. My daddy told me from the start I was marrying beneath my station in life, and he was right. You ain’t the kind of people what I come from,” Pete said like a broken man.

“Yeah, well, you weren’t no prize when I hooked up with you, neither. You can’t get along without me, Pete. I take care of you like a little boy,” Janice said in anger.

“Yeah, maybe you're right, but like your other little boys, I’m leaving the nest, momma bird, I’m gonna’ learn to fly, and I ain’t coming back,” Pete said quietly.

Peter Bromilow Breedlove was named after his mother’s father. Elmer always held a secret grudge against his wife because he wanted to name his first born after himself. He hated his wife’s dad who told her Otis Elmer Breedlove was a rounder and a no account cowboy who would never amount to much in life. To make up for it, his first born son, Pete, named his first born son after his dad. Good thing. The older Oatie got, the more he looked and acted like his granddad, and they were always pleased when someone mistook them for father and son. Pete was given three days to raise the money or he and his family would be evicted. There simply was no way he could raise the money in that short period of time.

He even went to his dad, whom he knew had the money, and begged him for a loan against any inheritance Elmer might have in mind to give Pete when he died. Elmer laughed at him. “When you disowned my namesake, you disowned me, Son,” Elmer said, “I immediately went to a lawyer and had my will changed. Oatie is my sole benefactor and this property and everything on it is in joint tenancy in a living will with right of survivorship. Upon my death, it automatically becomes Oatie’s with no tax burden for him. So you and your sister can’t contest it, I’m leaving you both five thousand dollars already set aside. If you so much as contest my decision, you get one dollar, and will be out legal fees,” Elmer explained.

“Do you think it would do any good for me to talk with Oatie, Dad?” Pete asked.

“No, Oatie become my boy when you didn’t want him no more, Pete. He was the finest of your spawn, the pick of the litter, and you let that bat-shit crazy ultra-right wing Jesus freak of a bitch try to ruin him. She made you throw him out for the same things you done with Snuffy Ragweed. You didn't think I knew about that, did you? I knew you and old Snuffy was cornhole'n each other. And h'it t'weren't just once, neither. I caught 'chall half a dozen times make'n the beast wiff' two backs. Talk about hypocrites. You turned your back on your son for doing the same damn thing you done as a kid. I never turned my back on you for it. I never even said nothing to you about it. I done figured you'd outgrow it or you wouldn't. Sometimes I wish't you and old Snuffy would a' hooked up together rather than marry Janice, but then, I wouldn't have Oatie for a grandson. For Oatie to forgive your debt to him would be letting Janice win, and I ain’t about to let that happen.

"She gambled everything on her stupid faith and lost. I think she truly believed Jesus his’self would make sure nothing happened. He didn’t, and now you’re facing being kicked out of your home you worked hard for all these years. You better ask yourself some serious questions about you and her, Son. To be honest, Oatie wanted to help you if you would apologize to him and leave Janice, but I told him ‘no.’ You had all these years to make an effort to repair something between you and you never so much as sent him a Christmas card. Now, it’s too late for that; too much water under the bridge. I’m sorry, Son, but you turned your back on me as well when you kicked Oatie out. It would seem your other boy done the same to you and Janice. Ya’ll ain’t got the best track record when it comes to raising kids. I suspect your girls will do the same. You’re already having problems with them.

"I know you think your old man's stupid and don't know shit about nothing, but I do know a few things. I knew after you and Janice got married, you and Snuffy still went fish'n and hunt'n together a couple of times a month. Funny, old Snuffy never got married. Why do you think that was, Pete? Then when Janice got bit by the terminal Jesus bug, and ya'll started going to that fat ass little preacher's church, you cut off your friendship with Snuffy. Cold turkey. He started drink'n heavy and within a year he was dead. You cut him off. You stopped sharing your love with him. He was in love with you, and you turned your back on your buddy you grew up with. You got a lot more to answer for than just your betrayal of your first born son, Pete," Elmer said firmly.

"You just don't know what it's like," Pete lamented.

"The hell I don't. What do you think Mick Flynn and I was doing all them years we went hunt'n and fish'n together? We met in Vietnam and he asked to become my boy. He took care of me sexually and never said 'no' to me when I needed him. I wouldn't a' made it through Nam without Mickey Flynn. I invited him to come live in the area when we returned. We decided we wanted families, but we still shared love with each other all these years and still do. I would never think of cutting him off. I love him and cherish our friendship. If I have my way about it, I'll have my old bull prick sunk up his sweet ass as far as I can get it when he takes his last breath," Elmer allowed.

The light of truth finally came to Pete. "That's why you never had a moment's problem with Oatie. Why ain't you never shared none of this before now? Why didn't you take me aside and talk with me when you saw what I was doing to Snuffy? Why didn't you tell me all this when I kicked Oatie out? You got to be as much to blame as me. Now I understand what he really meant when Oatie told me he become your boy; just like Mick Flynn become your boy. You're fucking him. He's getting all he needs from his granddaddy. I always wondered why he chose to come back to the hill country when he could be making much more money in a more populated area. No wonder he could grow and excel like he done after we rejected him and everything Janice and I put him through. He had a solid rock to lean on; the legendary bull of the hill country," Pete said angrily.

"I guess it's a question every parent asks himself after his kids are grown, Son. Why didn't I sit you down and tell you what you and Snuffy were doing t'weren't nothing to worry about, but if'n you decided to go your own way have the decency to slowly break if off and not shit-can him like you done? Some men are more fragile than others. I won't accept your accusation of blame, Son. Not for a goddamn minute. How many times did I preach to you to not get involved with that fundamentalist bullshit and not to be mean spirited to your fellow man? Remember the time I busted yore' butt for bullying the Crawford boy whose only fault was being a bit small and shy? Once you turned eighteen, you let me know you didn't want my advice no more, so I stopped. I still gave you my opinions. Didn't I tell you not to marry that woman? Your momma loved her because she talked the same Jesus shit she did. Didn't I tell you she weren't no damn good, and she weren't our class of country folks?" Elmer asked.

"Yeah, Dad, you did. I just hurt so bad, I guess I'm just looking for someone else to blame. I didn't have to go along with Janice's bullshit. I finally stopped. You never went along with mom's industrial strength religious views. You always told me to take religion with a grain of salt. I developed some scepticism from your example, but obviously, not enough," Pete conceded.

"If'n it's some small consolation, Oatie wanted to extend your time to get the money to thirty days, but I said 'no.' I reminded him you didn't offer him more time when you told him to be out by sundown," Elmer said without nuance.

Pete hung his head. He knew in his heart, Elmer's words were true. Pete knew there was no hope. The ax fell and Pete lost everything. He probably could have raised the money by selling his ranch equipment and what livestock he had on hand, but when word gets out, a quick sale is to avoid foreclosure, folks are looking to pay the least they can because of someone else’s misfortune. Janice and the girls moved into a section eight two bedroom apartment and Pete moved into a rundown, low-rent trailer a buddy of his owned to clean it up and keep the weeds mowed. The ranch was signed over to Oatie and Elmer Breedlove. Elmer immediately got on the phone and made Perry Reed an offer he couldn’t refuse. Elmer and Oatie would own the ranch but would take Perry on as a third partner to share equally in any profits and/or expenses if he would run the ranch and hire several cowboys. Elmer and Oatie would absorb all cost for the first three years until they began to realize a profit. Perry jumped at the chance.

* * * * * * *
Oatie awoke from his sleep, and while lying there drinking in his granddad’s essence, he had a thought: ‘To hell with this. I want to hold my old man in my arms. I’m going to go get him for the weekend.’ But for that, he knew he needed help, and he didn’t want to ask Jethro to go with him. He took his cell phone and punched Perry Reed’s number.

End of Chapter 30 ~ Him Who Made The Seven Stars
Copyright ~ © ~ 2012 ~ Waddie Greywolf
All Rights Reserved ~
E-mail to: waddiebear@yahoo.com
10/21/2012
WC = 13638