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One of the ranch hands came by and stopped to talk a minute. "That shore was some fancy dancing' you did with your stepdad, Jack. 'Mazing how he didn't get one punch in. An' he shore was intent on takin' you down a notch 'r two. You wouldn't consider teachin' some of us how to do that kinda Kung Fu stuff, would ya?"

I laughed. "Randy, I spent four years trying to learn that kind of defense, and I'm still a long ways from being an expert. Besides, I'm not around here enough to give you men lessons."

"I just thought it would be kinda neat to know some a that stuff."

I grinned at him, nodded, and he wandered off.

The day was waning. I'd noticed all the ranch hands had headed off to do their evening chores. Sammy stood up and stretched. "I guess we best be heading home. I'm sure Dad and J.C. are tuckered out."

I stood there with my fingers stuffed in the waist band of my Levi's trying to imagine what it would be like to make love to him. He'd had such a sweet body back when we were seventeen. I recalled how I'd race home to jerk off after an afternoon of hanging around one of the tanks in our underwear. We were both too modest to go totally naked. Looking back on that time I'm amazed we never even jacked off together. But then I thought he was straight. I guess he thought the same of me.

"We're going to have a big bon fire this evening if you want to join us. You could let your dad babysit. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"Thanks, Jack, but I got things that need taking care. Gran's invited us to join y'all tomorrow . . . so we'll see you for breakfast tomorrow morning."

We picked up our plates and empty cans and dumped them in the appropriate containers. I walked him over to his dad who was holding his sleeping grandson. I felt a wistful envy watching Sammy take his son in his arms, but shook it off and hugged Dad Bowden. I wondered again for the ten millionth time what it would have been like growing up with a dad that loved me like Sammy's dad loved him. Gran and I walked them over to their pickup. Dad Bowden had only hugged me a handful of times, and each time it gave me this funny feeling - a little uncomfortable to be that close to him physically, but not wanting him to let go either. I loved it that he was accepting enough of Sammy's and my relationship to give me a hug. I was feeling sort of depressed as Gran and I watched them drive off.

I still had my arm around Gran when she looked up and asked, "So, did you two boys get your differences worked out?"

I pulled away from her and shrugged as I tried to grin and miserably failed. "We talked about everything but us."

"Well, at least you're talking. That's a step in the right direction." She took my arm. "Let's walk back to the house. I've got some things I need to talk over with you."

"It's a long walk, Gran, are you sure you're up to it?"

"Just don't make me run and I'll be fine."

"So what's on your mind?" I asked.

"First off, I want you to know that I'm proud of you. The way you handled your stepdad today was most commendable. He walked away with his dignity bruised but still intact. And you rose several notches in everyone's eyes."

"I'm kind of ashamed of the things I did to him. It didn't look like anything to everyone watching, but I really punished him, Gran. He's going to be very, very sore tomorrow, and if he takes his shirt off, quite colorful."

"The ass brought it on himself, Jack. He deserved a lot worse, so don't you go feeling guilty about it."

We walked in silence for a few minutes. Gran eventually broke it by saying, "Your mother has been a good daughter. I know she chafes living in the same house with me. I'm such a controlling tyrant, you know."

We laughed.

"She always loved that ol' house you're living in up on the Pecos spread. It is a beautiful place with all the big old cottonwood trees around it. Just before your granddad died, he was planning for your stepdad to take over up there."

She paused talking and we walked on for a bit before she picked up again.

"With the play out of today's events, I think that this is the perfect time to make the change. Maybe more 'to do' should been made when you turned twenty-five and took over your inherited role as owner of the two ranches, but personally, I think we did right in letting you get a little experience running the Pecos. I believe you're now ready to take your place as boss. I loved the way you informed the ass that he is now, and has been for a while in your employ. That was just perfect. I'm not sure he's totally realized it yet, but he will.

"I've talked with your mom and your brothers. With Josh settled over in Monahans as a high school math teacher, Dwayne in his junior year at State, and Donny a freshman at UTEP, that just leaves Jake, who will be graduating at the end of the school year. Your mother is more than willing to move up to the Pecos, and she's agreed that Jake should stay here and finish high school."

After contemplating and absorbing what Gran had just laid on me, I let out a lusty sigh. "So . . . all that's left is informing my stepdad that he's being deposed."

Gran laughed. "Well put, Jack."

"How do you think he'll take it?"

"He may be upset at first, but when he realizes that the hands up there weren't witness to his take down today, he'll probably be grateful for the move. That's something that possibly should be pointed out to him. Also the Pecos is larger. That should appeal to him."

"So we wait until Monday to present this to him?"

"Monday is soon enough. Everyone else should be gone by then."

* * *

I left Gran at the top of the steps and headed for my room in the far bunkhouse. I wanted a hot shower and some thinking time before the late supper gathering. First thing I wanted to think about was Sammy. I stripped off my clothes, adjusted the water temp, then stepped under the hot spray while I envisioned his long V-shaped torso, his cute little butt and his long muscular legs.

Last time I'd seen him without his shirt he was seventeen. He was now a mature man with a naturally muscular chest and a flat belly all covered in a fine dusting of golden brown hair, a thicker patch across his pecs narrowing down to a trail that led into the top of his Levis intimating a promise of a thick patch above his trimmed rod. After nine years my memory still held a clear picture of his cock. I wondered if it had grown more. Mine had grown a little more than an inch since that night we'd rubbed each other to a climax. I started to wilt as I thought about that night and reminded myself what Sammy had said earlier today. I wondered if he'd beat off tonight thinking about me and the intimacy we'd shared that night. I imagined experiencing it again and shot all over the shower stall wall.

With the physical relief that brought, I dried off and spread out on my bed thinking about how to handle my stepdad tomorrow. I wondered if he'd even be able to get out of bed. I momentarily felt guilty for working him over like I did, but the guilt was a fleeting thing.

I then thought about how I'd reacted this afternoon. I'd for a few minutes really felt like I was again twelve years old and totally intimidated by my stepfather. I was reliving the fear that he'd instilled in me with the beating and the threats. As I thought about it, I still had no doubts that he'd have found a way to kill me if anyone found out about how badly he'd beaten me. I was thankful that I'd snapped out of it when he called me a pussy. I lay there assured that the SOB would never again intimidate me. I'd not kill him if he tried, but I'd make damn sure he'd wish he were dead.

I rolled onto my side hugging my extra pillow and fell asleep thinking about Sammy, wondering how to build a relationship with him living miles apart, having our own spreads to care for. Could we be more'n good buddies with benefits?

* * *

I must have been exhausted, I fell asleep at dusk, missing the late supper, and didn't wake up until dawn was lighting the eastern sky. I washed my face in cold water, dressed and headed for the kitchen in the main house seeking coffee.

Once I made a pot and downed a cup, I figured I'd get started on the morning chores before my youngest brother got up. I'd just sat down to milk ol' Gerty, one of three milk cows we kept here at the Girvin spread, when I heard Jake say, "Are you trying to show me up, Jack. Dammit, it's barely a quarter to six."

I smiled at my grumpy youngest sib and commenced squeezing milk out of Gerty's teats. "Just giving you a helping hand, Little Brother."

I noticed that little inward smile thing he does every time I call him that. It made me feel that everything was going to be okay. He headed off to slop the hogs, feed the chickens and gather the eggs, leaving me to milk the other two cows.

* * *

A little later, I was in the pantry pouring milk through the cream separator when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked around to see Cass smiling at me. When I set the empty bucket down, he offered me the cup of coffee he was holding. "I didn't know what you like in it, so it's just black."

I smiled. "That's just the way I like it. Thanks."

"It's nice the way you pitch in to help your little brother with his chores. You're a good man, Jack."

I glanced at him over my cup as I sipped it. The look in his eyes went straight to my groin. I put the separated milk and cream in the big pantry fridge, then picked up the empty pails and headed for the utility sink. Cass followed me and refilled both our cups while I washed the pails and left them upside down on the drain to air dry. Gran would later have the maid take the separator apart and wash it.

"I've got to go shower before breakfast," I told Cass.

"Mind if I tag along?" He asked.

I grinned. "Come on, I'd enjoy the company."

No sooner had I closed my bedroom door than I was wrapped in his arms with his mouth planted on mine; his tongue seeking entrance. I welcomed it in and kissed him back; our hands exploring each other's body. I felt him press his rock hardness against mine and I undulated against him, making him groan.

I pulled away. Taking off my shirt, I said, "I've got to shower first."

"Please don't. I love the way you smell."

I sniffed my underarm and grinned. "I'm a little potent."

"Mmm, yeah," he muttered running his nose through the small forest of hair on my chest. I felt his tongue tasting me.

"Let's get naked," I suggested.

We had our clothes off in no time at all. He pushed me onto the bed and dove right down on me. Loved what he was doing, but I wanted to do it to him, too. I pulled him up my body and engaged him in a long lusty kiss, then flipped him over and slid down his body, sinking my nose in his bush. I lost myself in his stimulating aroma; his muskiness mixed with soap wafting from his balls, from his taint. I moved down and inhaled more. "You smell so good."

He laughed and pulled his legs up inviting me to go lower. I did. Soon I was lapping his little pink rosebud; making it pulse - making him moan, "Fuck me, Jack. Stick your big hard cock up my ass."

I pulled back grinning at him. "Are you sure, Cass?"

"Since the moment I laid eyes on you. Fuck me, please."

I pushed his legs apart and drove two saliva-wetted fingers effortlessly into his ass. Then I put a third one in as far as I could, found his prostate and lightly massaged it.

I laid my head on his tummy and flicked my tongue at his cock head a few times, teasing him before swallowing it. I was bobbing up and down on his rod while working his prostate with my three fingers when he suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled my fingers out of his ass. "I want your cock. Now."

I grabbed the KY out of my bedside table and lubed his hole, ripped open a condom and rolled it on, lubing my shaft, too, before moving between his legs and aligning with his hole. He pulled a pillow over his head to muffle his yell as I plunged into him.

It only took about six thrusts aimed at his prostate before he started shooting cum all over his face and chest. A few more thrusts and I was filling the rubber. I collapsed on him, squishing his cum between us. He chuckled. "I swear you were as horny as me." I rose up and looked at him. He added, "And it was every bit as good as I imagined it would be."

I rolled off him. We were both a mess. Sitting up, I pulled off the condom and knotted it. "Want to shower with me?" I asked.

He grinned. "Damned right. Wouldn't miss it."

I wrapped the used rubber in toilet tissue and dropped it in the waste can; can't have them stopping up the septic tank.

We soaped each other up and rubbed against each other until we filled the space between us with more body fluids, then rinsed off. We kept giving each other looks as we dried and dressed. Cass's glances were confusing me. I found him so hot - exciting like no man I'd ever been with before. Was I infatuated with him? 'Shee-it, I'm twenty-six years old,' I told myself. 'I'm way beyond the age of infatuation.' I wondered if it was because he looked so much like my dad, who I never knew. Were my childhood dreams coming to the fore? At this point in my life was I still looking for a father figure? Or was he just so much better a lover than any other man I'd been with? He was definitely one hot fuck.

I thought about Sammy and wondered if we ever got to the point of making it, would he be as exciting? Then with that thought I suddenly felt guilty, like I was cheating on Sammy. For the last nine years I'd had all the sex I wanted and never felt guilty. I mentally kicked myself for feeling guilty now. Sammy had no hold on me. I could fuck who ever I wanted, so why was I feeling like this? Damn, who was I kidding? I knew why I was feeling this way. Not for one of the men I'd made it with had I ever developed any feelings. Yeah, I couldn't kid myself; I was developing some strong feelings for Cass. I even wondered how he'd take to living on a ranch out in the middle of nowhere.