Brock was deep in the woods, checking out his snares. Hearing the stealthy footsteps behind him, he
pretended not to notice. He turned a sharp bend in the path he had beaten down
earlier, hid behind a tree and waited. Moments later, he jumped out and caught
his would-be tracker unaware.
“Why have you been following me?” he demanded as he shook the object of
his feigned anger.
Showing not an ounce of remorse, Hendrik flirtatiously answered,
“because I like the sight of you in these buckskins, but I believe I’ll like
what’s under them even better.” Sexual relief and a little human contact were
all he wanted; it was too soon after losing Eric to contemplate anything else.
Brock put his four-inch height advantage to good use and glared down at
the slightly shorter man. “And just what makes you think I’d respond to such a
bold move on your part?”
“Look, man, I don’t know about you, but it’s been awhile since I’ve been
with someone, if you know what I mean. I even came prepared,” Hendrik
announced, digging into his pocket and pulling out a small jar.
“True, but why me?”
Hendrik looked a little stymied by the question as he had been expecting
either a flat-out ‘No’ or a resounding ‘Yes’.
“I’m not exactly sure why I’m attracted to you, but it seems I am; sexually that is. I wouldn’t ask just anyone; in fact, I’ve never had to ask before.” Not getting a response, Hendrik turned on his heel to retrace his steps and muttered, “forget it! It was a stupid idea and I’m sorry for insulting you with my unwanted advances.”
“I’m not exactly sure why I’m attracted to you, but it seems I am; sexually that is. I wouldn’t ask just anyone; in fact, I’ve never had to ask before.” Not getting a response, Hendrik turned on his heel to retrace his steps and muttered, “forget it! It was a stupid idea and I’m sorry for insulting you with my unwanted advances.”
“I never said I was insulted!” Brock was not yet ready to admit his
attraction to the younger man. He never made decisions without weighing all
ascertainable facts and besides, he had his eye on someone else. However,
suspecting the blond man of not being completely truthful about his reason for
approaching him and seeing an unspoken need in the appealing green eyes, he
reached out and put his hand on the younger man’s arm.
What took place next may have lacked romance, tenderness and emotion,
but it was more than adequately compensated with hot, fast, satisfying sex.
With a primal grunt, Brock swung Hendrik around, bared him and bent him over.
Then he unceremoniously rode Hendrik until the needs of both men were met,
after which they adjusted their clothing and amicably parted company.
Brock stood still as Hendrik slowly disappeared from sight. “You can
come out now,” he suggested in a quiet voice. “Or you can wait for me to drag
you out!”
“How did you know I was here?”
“I heard the puppy yelp.”
Raythe glanced down at the little dog in his arms. It was true; he had
squeezed the tiny animal a bit too tightly when the action taking place before
his eyes had drawn a response from him. “How could you when you were busying
fucking him senseless?”
There was not the slightest trace of embarrassment in Brock as he
regarded Raythe steadily. “I’m a mountain man, boy. Believe me, when I am in my
element I am always aware of my surroundings!” Brock succinctly informed the
one who had been spying on him.
Raythe was unable to maintain eye contact with the big man. He dropped
his head and nuzzled into the soft bundle of fur he was holding.
Brock’s voice softened. “You really are very good to that small creature
and as I have already said, I’ve noticed the care you’ve been giving him.”
Brock watched the boy peek out through the long-black hair that had fallen over
his face and shuffle from one foot to another as if unused to receiving praise.
Once again, he sensed a need in the young man and a growing need inside
himself to answer it. ‘Someone should be taking care of him too. I think it has
been a very long time since anyone has, and he deserves to be cherished as much
as the next person. I’d definitely appreciate being given the opportunity to do
just that.’
Seeing dark brown eyes fill up, Brock opened up his heart. How he wished
he could take the lonely, mistrusting lad into his arms, but instinctively knew
Raythe wasn’t ready for such a move. ‘If it’s meant to be, then it will happen
in its own good time,” the big man thought.
Back at camp, Samuel helped Nathan put several pieces of wood together.
They began tying the slabs to form a flat surface, then nailed four legs to the
rough corners. It certainly wasn’t the steadiest of tables, but it would have
to do for now. Minimally, Nathan had a place to store his scissors, needles and
thread, and he could at least cut patterns and cloth on it.
Wes had found himself actually working, much to his chagrin. The rough
wood had splinters and hurt his hands but on the bright side, Nathan had a
ready humour which kept him in stitches and Samuel smiling. He realised at the
end of the afternoon that he had rather enjoyed working with both of them. He
wasn’t above batting his eyes at both men though and while Samuel chose to
ignore his teasing, Nathan’s eyes gleamed with amusement. The tailor allowed the young man to employ
his flirtatious antics, secretly enjoying the mischievous playfulness.
Samuel eventually excused himself when he saw a figure walking towards
the kitchen area. Nathan waved him away, suddenly glad to have the captivating
young imp to himself for a while. He slyly opened one of his trunks and Wes
began to excitedly examine the items inside.
Samuel could hear Nathan’s amiable responses and the smile was
apparent in the older man’s voice as he described what the material would be
suitable for.
By the time Samuel rejoined Wayne, the young man was trying to wash
his uninjured hand in a pail of water behind the stove. He looked up and smiled
as he saw Samuel approaching and the older man’s heart skipped a beat. It was
identical to the ones he had been receiving all afternoon, and yet it was
different. He shook his head in wonder. How could both twins look so alike and
yet affect him so differently? While he found Wes amusing and entertaining, he
much preferred the way Wayne’s eyes called out to him and the ghost of a smile
that touched his lips when he found Samuel looking at him. It never failed to
make his pulse beat a little faster.
The afternoon was waning when the five council members sat down with
heads together, going over details of the plans they would soon be presenting to the rest of the community.
“All assignments have been made and accepted,” Larry announced. “Well,
that is with the exception of a couple of the men who are unwilling to
co-operate at the moment. We may be given no choice but to make it a rule that
those who refuse to work go hungry?” Larry knew it would be something they’d
try to avoid at all costs.
“Can you tell us briefly who is doing what?” Thomas requested.
“The seven men Aiden suggested I ask to work on the tree-cutting are
more than willing to do so. That crew consists of Preston, Mitchell, Brock,
Samuel, Hendrik, Aiden and me. And yes, I actually managed to corner Brock
when he came in from his latest hunt.” Larry smirked on the side to Aiden. “I
have assigned twelve men for working the fields. They are as follows: Thomas,
Troy, Levi, Gille, Brodie, Spyke, Wayne, Wesley, Quentin, Kevin, Dallas and
Seth.” Larry read from the list in his hand. “Oh, but first Gille and Dallas will be assisting Kevin
with constructing the new outhouse for the next day or two before moving on to
fieldwork. Galen, Kelby and Raythe will be taking care of the livestock, as
well as keeping plenty of wood and fresh water on hand. Walker insists on
assuming the majority of kitchen duties with Thad and Jordan assisting. That
leaves Lakota and Yancey in the infirmary, and Nathan up to his eyeballs in
sewing.”
“Very good, Larry!” Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle at the ex-marine’s
last sentence. “I have found several fair-sized areas that should provide us
with the approximate twelve acres I feel need to be ploughed and seeded. We will
have to plant two acres of potatoes, another of carrots, beets, parsnips, and
turnips, plus three acres of corn to be used for baking and animal feed with
the cobs being available for fuel. I am pretty sure Walker intends to grow
tomatoes, beans, peas, broccoli, onions, and squash as well as his herb garden.
We’ll be sowing a mixture of wheat, barley and oats in the remaining six acres.
Of course, clover will also be planted as a winter crop for feeding the
livestock, along with rye grass in one area to be turned back into the ground
to replenish the soil for future rotation purposes.”
“How long is it going to take to do all this, Thomas?” Larry asked, his
voice alive with amazement at all that was in the making.
“Naturally, all this can only be started when we have a well dug to cut
back on having to tote water such a distance, and the aforementioned outhouse.
The latrine we’re using now is only temporary. We will cut the first couple of
furrows around the parameter of each half or quarter acre to form the base for
a stone barrier that has to be built to keep out wildlife.
Some of the less experienced men will be taking the rocks dug up by the plough and using them to make these partitions. Others can follow behind the plough,
dropping seed into the furrows. If we average half an acre a week and baring
any inclement weather, we can conceivably have all planting completed before
the end of May, which is just over a month away.”
“But will all that yield enough to feed us until the next harvest?”
Larry wanted to know.
“With a good growing season, yes! Not only for us, but also the
livestock, and with enough left over for next year’s seed.” Thomas smiled
patiently and asked, “any more questions?”
“Not at the moment.” Larry shook his head. “You seem to have it all under
control,” he said with a wide grin.
“Now, I know you’ve put in a busy afternoon, Aiden, so what do you have
for us?” Thomas turned everyone’s attention to the big Scotsman.
“Well, here are the plans I’ve drawn up.” Aiden unrolled a sheet of
paper and spread it on the ground. “The lodge ’twill be sixty feet in length,
with a width of thirty feet. Also, a height of twenty feet at the back side where ’twill be a loft that’ll hold seven rooms, five measuring seven by eight feet
and two measuring seven by eleven. The area below the loft ’twill be built in a
similar fashion with seven more chambers of approximately the same size, for a total
of fourteen bedrooms. Each is capable of housing at least two men for those of
us who do not mind sharing and there is also plenty of space for several sets
of bunks in the main room. The lodge ’twill have one wide, double door in the centre of the front wall, and a regular size one in the kitchen area with a matching one next to one of the fireplaces. ‘Twill be a large stone fireplace at each end of the great room. As ye enter the
building, ye’ll see the kitchen and dining areas on yer left, a spacious
sitting area on yer right, and before ye, dividing the two areas, ’twill be a
staircase leading to an open hallway running almost the entire length of the
loft.” Aiden paused to allow for questions to be put forth.
“Have you made plans yet for the infirmary?” the doctor asked.
“Aye! ’Twill be twenty-eight by sixteen feet with a height of ten feet. ’Twill house two rooms, one as an examining or operating room and another for a
ward. The barn ’tis approximately the same size as the infirmary. ’Twill also
be several outbuildings to use as workshops and for storage, plus a large
outhouse of course.”
“Wow, how many trees is it going to take to build all that?” Larry asked
a little breathlessly.
“Och, now we’re getting to the crux of the matter. This project ’twill
require between two hundred-fifty and three hundred trees be cut down, the number
depending on their circumferences and lengths o’course. Taking into account any
possible need to clear around each tree, I figure ’twill take nigh on a month
to fell, limb and section this quantity before we even start cutting lumber for
floors, roofing and inside divider walls. Fortunately, we have in our
possession an abundant supply of saws and axes as well as the necessary equipment to keep them sharpened.”
“How do you make planks?” Larry knew nothing on the subject but was fast
becoming fascinated by it.
“Preston and I believe the best method is one called pit-sawing. Ye dig
a rectangular pit about seven feet deep and wide enough for a mon to walk in.
Ye set a platform o’er the pit to lay the tree on. The pit-mon hauls the saw
down and the mon on top hauls it back up while a couple more men slowly move
the log along the platform. ’Tis a dirty, backbreaking chore to be sure and
will require a lot of time, but ’tis necessary and quite unavoidable.”
“Sorry to disturb you, gentlemen,” Walker interrupted the conversation.
“But supper is ready and there are a lot of hungry men lining up to eat.”
“Please invite them to start, Walker. I believe we’ve covered all we
need to,” Thomas replied, receiving nods from all.
Sometime later, Walker finally served himself. He’d been keeping a
watchful eye on the others gathered around the mess hall. Most were hungrily
cleaning their plates while a few just pushed their food back and forth. He
noticed his assistants sitting together. As usual, Thad’s dish had been licked
cleaned; Jordan on the other hand needed a little encouragement. Walker
strolled over and sat down between the two men he was slowly becoming attracted
to. He was optimistic of the three of them becoming more than a working team.
He visualised them as someday being partners and lovers.
With the evening meal over, Larry diligently updated his diary while
Thad and Jordan worked quietly around him, cleaning up from supper and readying
the mess hall for the morning. He grunted out a ‘see you later’ in response to
their words of ‘we’re out of here’. He tried to ignore the banter coming from
the far corner where three young men were engaged in a game of poker and
concentrate harder on his latest entry.
Day twelve: Well things are
starting to come together. I’m sure in my heart I have met the man I’ve been
searching for most my adult life. However, I am still hoping to also find a pal
of sorts with whom I can share my thoughts and feelings; something I really
haven’t had in the past.
Larry looked up several minutes later when a shadow passed across the
page he was writing on. He was unaware of automatically placing his hand over
the notebook to protect his thoughts from wandering eyes. “Did you want to talk
to me, Spyke?” he kindly inquired.
“Yeah, but I can wait until later if you’re too busy,” Spyke answered. He
was already having second thoughts about approaching the man.
“I’ve got time now,” Larry said, marking his place with the pencil and
closing the book. “What’s on your mind?”
Deciding to follow his usual tendency to jump in with both feet, Spyke
blurted out, “I’ve been watching you since we got here, and I was wondering if
there was any possibility of you and me getting to know each other better.”
Larry was astonished by this response and wanted to know exactly what
the young man meant by knowing him better. “What do you mean by that, Spyke?”
he asked.
Realising Larry may have the wrong impression; Spyke sat next to him and
explained his statement. “I know there are guys closer to my age, but you see I’ve always been around older people and kinda find it easier to trust and
confide in them. Although after the dirty trick that bastard pulled, I don’t
know why I still do,” Spyke muttered and shifted uncomfortably before quietly
admitting, “I’m scared here, Larry. I’ve been scared ever since I was arrested.
I really need a friend. Someone I can count on and someone who knows he can
count on me.”
Larry hesitated for a moment before asking, “Why me?”
“I admit we haven’t been on the island for a lengthy period of time and probably
not long enough to discover very much about one another. But even though you seem
to know a lot about what’s going on or what needs doing around the camp and
even with your take charge attitude, I still sensed a kinda loneliness too. I was
thinking maybe if we shared some of our past with each other we might find a
common bond so we can be pals.” Spyke waited expectantly. He took it for
granted the older, more experienced man would give the response he sought even though
he wasn’t sure if his reasons had sounded at all rational.
Larry swallowed in amazement at how fate so often seemed to intervene.
Wasn’t he just asking for a friend and along comes a young man on whom Larry
had also been keeping a watchful eye.
The two young men spoke for what seemed like several hours but in all
likelihood was probably only slightly over one hour. Although they came from
completely different backgrounds, it was as if they had known one another all
their lives, as they were able to talk so easily and openly with each other, something neither of them had done in the past.
Eventually, Spyke turned the topic to the other matter he had on his
mind. “Larry, there’s something going on between you and Aiden, isn’t there?”
The ex-marine blinked in surprise. This was the last subject he’d have ever
expected the younger man to come up with. “Why would you say that?”
“Shit, it’s so obvious! You try to spend as much time with him as possible,”
Spyke pointed out impatiently, refusing to be brushed off. “I mean, it sure as
hell not hard to miss how you always seem to find your way to him, reporting
daily events and sitting next to him at mealtimes. And of course, there was that
private excursion into the woods yesterday? I saw the two of you leave and I
saw the expressions on your faces when you returned.” Spyke smirked at the
other man’s very apparent discomfort.
“Oh my God, Spyke, I thought I was being so discreet about my
attraction. Was I really that transparent?” Larry hoped the younger man would set his mind at ease but Spyke’s shaking
head showed he wasn’t going to be that fortunate.
Spyke let out a whoop of laughter at his newly found friend’s
embarrassment.
“Quiet down over there!” Brodie called out. “Gille and I are trying to break
even here.”
“Spyke, I gotta tell you, he’s sure everything I’ve been looking for!” Larry
stated in a lowered voice. He suddenly realised Aiden wasn’t the only one he
was attracted to. This blond-haired, blue-eyed man, six years his junior and of
much smaller stature was pulling at his heartstrings.
“Are you willing to share?”
Once again Larry was taken back by Spyke’s bluntness. “You’re attracted
to him, too?”
“Who the hell wouldn’t be? I’ve hardly been able to keep my eyes off him
since he befriended me the day we got stranded here.” Spyke grinned. “Tell me,
Larry, exactly what is under that kilt of his?”
“You’re one cheeky little bugger, aren’t you?” Larry couldn’t help but
return the sassy grin that was spreading across Spyke’s endearing face.
“All joking aside, Larry. At first I was frightened by him, he’s so huge
and sometimes kinda stern-looking. But that first day when I felt like ending
it all, he held me and just let me cry out all my worst fears. If it hadn’t
been for him, I don’t think I’d be here now. Aiden saved my life when he
offered to be my friend, but I want more,” Spyke said quietly. “So, are you
gonna answer my question, Larry?” he asked, his voice brightening. The young
man’s sparkling eyes made it impossible for the older man to refuse.
“Well, my friend, Aiden is certainly
impressive!” Larry wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“You’re exaggerating, right?”
“No, it’s true! I tell you when I slipped my hand under that kilt and
wrapped it around his shaft, my mouth just about dropped to the ground. And
when he became aroused, it took everything I had to keep it in one hand, not to
mention trying to put it in my mouth.”
“No shit! Did you really put it in your mouth?” Spyke’s eyes widened
when his friend merely nodded.
“Although it hadn’t been part of my plan for the future, if you want to
share Aiden, it’s alright with me. But you’re going to have to accept him as a
man who insists on being in charge, ‘cause he won’t have it any other way.”
“And you’re okay with that, Larry?”
“Yes, Spyke, I am! Are you?”
For several long moments, the younger man gave serious thought to what he’d
been asked before nodding in the affirmative. “Yeah, I guess I can handle
that.” He grinned up at the other man. “So, Larry, you are willing to share him,
right?”
“It’s not up to me, Spyke. That would be Aiden’s call, but if he says
yes, then it’s sure fine with me.”
Two pair of blue eyes stared at each other, and then as if of one mind
they embraced in a way only true friends are comfortable doing.
“Ah Spyke, I’ve one last question for you.” Larry found the younger man’s
language choices amusing but was curious as to how and when it all started. “How
long have you been swearing the way you do?”
“Hmm, not sure. Shortly after my parents died, I think. I don’t imagine
I’d have sworn in front of them. My friend, ‘Arry swore constantly and I found
him funny. His name was really Harry, but he never pronounced the ‘H’.”
“Where did you meet him?”
“He was Lancaster’s stable man. I would spend as much time as possible
with him and help muck out the horse stalls.”
“And who was Lancaster?”
“He was the rich bastard who kinda owned my parents and me. They felt they
owed him for giving them a better life. Then again, they also thought he was
being kind to me. Man, were they fuckin’ wrong! He used me and did he ever hate ‘Arry.
Of course the feeling was mutual.”
“Do you know why they disliked each other so intensely?”
“I think ‘Arry had something on Lancaster. He would often warn me about
trusting the man too much. Lancaster never worked and yet he had scads of
money. I think it might have been from some criminal activity he was involved
in before coming to America from England. I’m pretty sure ‘Arry thought the
same. Anyway, Lancaster must of felt threatened by him because he finally
managed to get rid of him once and for all.”
“How did he accomplish that?” Larry was intrigued by the story and Spyke
didn’t seem troubled by sharing it.
“With a whopper of a fuckin’ lie, is how he did it. I get pissed just
thinking about it. He’d heard of a group of men hunting for so called ‘deviants’
and told them he’d caught ‘Arry with a man. That fuckin’ group of vigilantes hanged
‘Arry without a trial. They didn’t even ask if the accusation was true. That happened
a few months before this ‘exiled’ law came into being. Making false accusations
was how that miserable son-of-a-bitch got rid of people he no longer had a need
of. It’s kinda how he got rid of me.”
“Why was he so anxious to have you out of his life?” Larry had a gut
feeling that he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“Cause he likes them young.” Spyke sneered at the memory.
“Spyke, how old were you when he first started sexually abusing you?”
Larry asked softly, fearing he was about to hear something that would make him
sick.
“Not sure. Maybe eleven or twelve.” Spyke just shrugged but Larry felt
he had been punched in the stomach. “It was before my parents died. He made me
promise not to tell them. When I passed his age preference, he’d sell me to other men with a similar fondness for boys. He’d lie about my age too,” the young man quietly added before shaking off the
sombre mood. “It’s all the past now. No sense frettin’ over it. Right?”
“I guess not,” Larry solemnly replied, swallowing hard on the anger
rising in him. “I promise this will remain just between the two of us, Spyke. Okay?”
“Whatever; it’s no big deal anymore. None of it can be change now.”
Larry was amazed at the younger man’s ability to so easily and almost philosophically
put such hideous events behind him. Deciding to follow his friend’s example,
the ex-marine reverted back to the more pleasant part of their conversation.
“Well, looks like we’re going to need a long talk with Aiden; and the
sooner the better,” Larry suggested as he gathered up his notebook and pencil. He
got up and reached out his hand to pull Spyke to his feet.
“Hmmm, I wonder how surprised he’ll be,” Spyke mused as he followed the ex-marine
who, according to the pact they had just made, was now his best friend.
They paused briefly to see how the card game was progressing and ask if
the men playing were almost finished.
“Yep, guess we may as well call it quits,” Brodie said with a chuckle.
From the self-satisfied smirks on his and Gille’s faces, it wasn’t hard to
figure out they’d been rather evenly matched with no actual winner declared, but
also no losers.
“I’ll blow out the lantern,” Brodie volunteered while Gille got rid of
the pebbles they had been using in lieu of poker chips or money.
Seth gathered up his cards, determined to find someone else to gamble
with who was not quite so lucky.
The day was drawing to a close and almost every man was more than pleased
with the day’s achievements. The evening meal had been filled with animated conversation
about cutting down trees and planting fields. Most of the men had retired for
the night with visions of their future to lull them to sleep. Only Thomas and
Walker were disinclined to turn in just yet.
Thomas sat down beside Walker at the campfire. He had been very pleased
with the land they were planning to farm, and Thomas wanted to ask the other man
his opinion on certain plantings. After they sorted it out, Thomas stared into
the fire. “Walker, I’ve noticed you watching those two young men working in the
kitchen with you. I get the impression you find them attractive?”
Walker looked at Thomas in surprise and then couldn’t help smiling just
a little. ‘The guy is perceptive,’ he had to admit. “I don’t know, Thomas,” he
responded with a sigh. “Thad’s fairly independent but Jordan hasn’t any life experiences
at all, at least not many good ones. He’s understandably nervous and
distrustful. He is going to require a fair bit of attention for sure, but
there’s just something about him, you know?”
“If you were to ask my opinion, and you haven’t,” Thomas replied with a
laugh, “the lad’s very easy on the eyes. But he’s in need of a lot of love and
a very firm hand to keep him from the wrong path.”
“You may have something there, my friend,” Walker chuckled.
Thomas gently placed a hand on Walker’s knee. “I didn’t mean to pry, but
I couldn’t help but notice that while you were looking at young Jordan, he was
looking back at you, as was Thad. We’re going to be here a long time though, so
there is no rush to become involved too soon. But then it would be a shame to
let a good thing pass you by.”
As Thomas spoke those words, he thought of Galen with a smile, but that
smile was quickly replaced with a flash of the memory of Jacob crying out to
him as he was hanged from the tree. ‘You’ve no damn business advising someone
else on his love life,’ he reminded himself. ‘Get your own life in order
first!’
Both men continued to stare into the fire without saying anything as
they relaxed in silent companionship.
Due to the lengthy council meeting that took up a greater portion of the
afternoon, Lakota had examined only one man earlier in the day. As the sun totally
disappeared from view, the doctor sat diligently writing out notes on his last
patient.
Mitchell Wolfe, twenty-eight years old, six feet and three inches in
height is a very strong, well-muscled man of colour. Though he is the only
black man in the community, he seems to be accepted by all. I am very
pleased to live amongst men who see beyond the skin. Being half white and half
Sioux, I have known the look of prejudice in other men’s eyes. Perhaps because
we have all lived with discrimination over our sexual preferences, we have
moved a bit beyond such pettiness as bigotry over skin colour, or at
least I fervently hope so. Mitchell is in excellent health but mourning
the recent loss of his partner. It might be good for he and Thomas to talk;
sharing a mutual loss can be beneficial to both.
TBC….
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