Lakota once again sat at his makeshift desk to record the information
from the two exams he had just finished. Both these patients wanted the
earliest possible appointments of the day so they could get about their assigned
duties. Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly. One of the men arrived
before the sun was even up and the second one just before breakfast.
There were only two physicals left to do and he’d have medical information
updated on all twenty-eight members of their little community.
Brock Foxx: age thirty, six foot four inches in height and solid muscle.
He is taller here to all but Aiden Shea, though he certainly rivals Aiden in
robust health. He bears a few scars from his life in the outdoors, but all are
well healed and cause no issues. Although a no-nonsense type of man, I find
Brock to be a very personable individual, most especially for someone who
spends the majority of his time alone in his pursuits. He will make an
excellent member of this new community.
Hendrik Van Der Berg, age twenty-six and six feet tall. This young man
is healthy but slightly rundown from his time in jail and on board ship. He is
used to the life on a ranch and I feel he suffered a great deal from his
confinement. He confessed to me that he is mourning the loss of his long-time
partner and I fear this is causing him a great deal more pain than he is
willing to admit. He seems a bit lost here and in need of someone to make him
feel wanted and useful. Despite his need to mourn, I think he would do well with
finding a partner sooner rather than later as he is very lonely.
Notes done for the time being, Lakota headed for the mess hall to enjoy
his morning repast. He met up with Yancey and reminded him of their upcoming
plans to perform physicals on each other. After a leisurely meal they returned
to the infirmary together
“Yancey, you’ll do fine I’m sure. You certainly know all the
rudiments. The only thing I’ll need to walk you through is the rectal exam. It
is after all, a little difficult to perform on oneself,” Lakota chuckled.
“Though I no more relish the thought of it than you or any other man
here, if we’re to have an accurate health baseline for everyone then we
must include ourselves.”
“Of course, you’re quite right.” Yancey nodded his agreement with the
doctor’s logic.
“I appreciate you doing this for me, as I do believe in the saying ‘the
doctor who practices medicine on himself has a fool for a patient’. Would
you prefer to do my physical first or get yours out of the way?”
Yancey’s reply was interrupted by a new arrival.
“Hellooooo! I’m here early!” Galen merrily announced as he skipped into
the infirmary, catching Lakota and Yancey off guard.
“Why would my most reluctant patient arrive early?” Lakota asked.
“’Cause Thomas has had to drag me here for every other visit and last
time you said I only had to come one m-more time. So today I came on m-my own
first thing to get it over w-with.” Galen climbed up onto the examining table
and undid the top of his overalls, letting the bib fall to his lap. So
accustomed was he to the routine Lakota had established, he automatically began
undoing the buttons on his shirt. Glancing up at the silence, he stared in
wide-eyed innocence at the bemused expressions on the older men’s faces.
“Well?” he demanded and grinned up at them.
Neither the doctor nor his nurse could stop themselves from responding
with smiles of their own.
“Did you finish eating breakfast?” Yancey inquired.
“Of course.” Galen rolled his eyes. “W-what do you think the chances
w-would be of Thomas letting me leave the table b-before cleaning my p-plate of
every last b-bite?”
Yancey chortled his understanding. “Well, Doctor, I think we better see
to him, don’t you?” he suggested.
“Okay, young man, we may as well get this taken care of.” Lakota placed
the stethoscope against Galen’s chest and had him breathe deeply. “Your lungs
sound clear,” the doctor announced. He examined the recently injured nose and
found it healing as expected. Checking further, he was pleased to note the lad
had regained much of his badly needed weight. “Looks like you are well on the
road to excellent health, Galen. Keep up the eating regime you were put on and
you should have no future problems.”
“So I’m free to go?” Galen asked, doing up his clothing. Getting a
smiling nod, he jumped down. But before he could head for the door, the doctor
laid a firm hand on his shoulder.
“However, I still want to see you once a month for a while longer,
alright?”
“I guess,” Galen mumbled reluctantly. H flashed the men an impish grin,
threw his arms around Lakota waist and hug him, then followed suit with Yancey..
“Thanks, guys.” His whispered words hung in the air as he hastily exited the
tent.
“I think we might have won him over.” Lakota laughed. “I’ll just take a
moment to update his medical report before we proceed with our physicals.”
Galen Deon Manara, although small in stature is presently in good health
having gained weight since arriving here. Chest infection has completely
cleared up. He continues to eat well and thrive under the watchful and caring
guidance of Thomas Fields. As always, he maintains a sunny, positive
disposition.
“Now let’s get our exams done and recorded, Yancey,” Lakota instructed
as he put aside his pen.
Meanwhile Spyke had waylaid one of his partners. “Larry, have you got a
few minutes, or do you have to rush off to the logging site right away?” Spyke
asked as he wiped up the last of his egg yolk with a crust of toast. He washed
the final morsel of his breakfast down with a mouthful of coffee and waited for
his partner’s answer.
“I reckon I can spare you a couple of minutes, kid.” Larry re-seated
himself and laughed at the tongue that was stuck out at him.
“I kinda wanted to talk to you about last night,” Spyke mentioned
hesitantly and looked around to make sure they had some semblance of privacy in
their corner of the mess hall.
Accurately guessing what was on the younger man’s mind, Larry hastened
to assure him. “Everything was absolutely wonderful, Spyke. And while Aiden is
a well-endowed man, he is able to make love without any of the expected pain we
were both fearful of. Trust me, there was very little discomfort. You’re in for
a grand experience, my friend.”
Spyke blew out a long sigh of relief and smiled up at the other man. “So
tonight’s my turn, huh?”
“It sure is! And by the way, Spyke, thanks for giving Aiden and me some
alone-time last night.” Larry leaned in and gently kissed his friend’s cheek.
“Oh, and one more thing….it was more than worth waiting for.”
“It better be,” Spyke hotly declared. “He made us wait long enough.
Seems like we’ve been in a relationship forever,” he exaggerated with a sassy
grin. He held up his hand when it looked like his partner was about to argue
that point. “I know, I know, it has only been a couple of weeks. Aiden wanted
to give us plenty of time to change our minds. Yeah, like that was gonna
happen,” he scoffed.
Larry ruffled Spyke’s hair and headed out for a morning’s labour at the
building site.
Lakota smiled as he took up
his pen once again to fill in the last notation on the physical exams; that of
his nurse, Yancey. He had requested the other man to write up the notes
for the doctor’s own physical, as the nurse had performed it.
Yancey Hayes, age
twenty-eight, height five feet and eleven inches (though he tried to tell
me he was six feet tall). This young man is in excellent health. He has
obviously learned the value of solid nutrition and physical exercise from his
nursing practice. He had the usual assortment of childhood illnesses with
nothing out of the ordinary to note. I anticipate no problems for
him.
Yancey sat on a log behind the infirmary to write up his report of the
doctor’s physical. He recalled with amusement his feeling of intimidation at
the prospect of examining someone as renown throughout the medical society as
was Lakota Evans. But with the guidance provided by his mentor, everything had
gone smoothly.
Lakota Evans, age thirty-five, six feet in height. This is a well-built
man in exceptional physical condition. Although extremely ill at one time
during his childhood, he suffers no aftereffects from either the illness or
the medical treatment provided at the time. He sets an example for the rest of
us to follow. He not only utilises his knowledge of herbal medicine to care for
his patients but also to maintain his own well-being.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m sure thieving was on the list of things not to do!” Kevin’s voice
sent shivers up Dallas ’
spine “And do not even begin to say you have never stolen anything! I just
caught you before you could actually steal anything this time.”
“March!” Kevin began to steer Dallas
away from camp down to the beach.
“Where are we going?” Dallas
had finally found his voice. “I don’t have to listen to you!” He recoiled as
Kevin whirled him around.
“You really don’t understand, do you?” Kevin was almost beyond anger.
“If you continue the way you’re going, you’ll alienate everyone on this island.
This is going to be our home for the rest of our natural lives and you’ve
already made a lasting impression. And let me tell you, it wasn’t the best!
Look here, I care for you and I’m determined to make sure you have boundaries
you don’t cross and too see to it that if you do cross them, you answer for
it.”
“Who made you my boss?” Dallas
whined.
“You did,” Kevin replied calmly.
“Far enough from camp that the other men don’t hear you yelling,” was
Kevin’s response. “Thieving will only ever earn you one thing so before you
ask, you’re going to get a bare-ass spanking that’ll make you think twice if
you ever have an urge to steal again.”
Dallas blushed again. ‘I asked for this,’ he thought to himself. ‘I
admitted I needed boundaries. Why did I go along with that idea? I knew Kevin
was watching me. God, did I actually want to find out if he was going to follow
through?’ Dallas was appalled at the thought.
Kevin found a place just off the shoreline, which seemed perfect. A
large tree had fallen there and seemed secure enough for him to sit on with a
young man over his lap. “Last chance, Dallas !
I’ll give you the choice of taking down your trousers and laying yourself over
my knee or of leaving and we’ll never talk of us having a relationship again.”
Dallas looked into
Kevin’s eyes, which had lost their iciness and saw a glint of resolve he hadn’t
seen before. Unsure of exactly what he expected from a relationship, he
strongly felt the urge to at least explore the idea and find out one way or
another.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he mumbled as he approached Kevin with
fingers fumbling at the buttons of his trousers. He followed Kevin’s
instructions and quickly found himself bare over the bigger man’s lap. He
wasn’t a total stranger to the position as his father had occasionally punished
him this way when he was a much younger. He soon found out that Kevin had a
much harder hand than did his old man.
Kevin spanked steadily. He smiled grimly when about halfway through
Dallas began to make promises he’d never steal again. It was only when Dallas ’ bottom glowed red
and his cries of pain had mutated into remorseful sobbing that Kevin finished
the spanking. He lifted Dallas off his lap and helped him stand up. He watched
him re-arranging his pants carefully to avoid the material scraping too roughly
over his hot bottom.
Dallas felt well reprimanded and hopefully having paid the price.
“When we get back to camp you’re going to apologise to Yancey and accept
whatever punishment he gives you,” Kevin firmly informed the penitent young
man.
“Not another spanking,” Kevin assured him. “But be prepared for extra
chores.” He laughed when Dallas
groaned audibly. “Now let’s get back to camp.”
Fifteen minutes later, Dallas
was walking stiffly and in obvious pain, but Kevin had no sympathy. Theft was not
negotiable. It would mean a spanking every time he even suspected Dallas of thinking about
it.
“Yancey is probably in the infirmary,” Kevin said. “Now is the best time
to apologise.”
“Can I clean up first?” Dallas
asked meekly.
Kevin looked at Dallas who had tear tracks running down his face and
very red eyes.
“Wash your face,” Kevin replied, unbending slightly.
Kevin had no patience with Dallas ’
attempts to delay and a swat to his already painful rear got him moving. They
found Yancey straightening up the examining room.
“Yancey, I need to apologise to you,” Dallas embarrassingly mumbled. “Earlier when
I was alone in our tent, I went through your bags. I know there’s no excuse and
I am willing to take any punishment you decide on.” Dallas braced himself for what Yancey was
going to say.
After taking a few moments to absorb this information, Yancey quietly
asked, “just what were you expecting to find, Dallas?”
“I swear I wasn’t looking for drugs, if that’s what you’re thinking!” Dallas answered, looking
Yancey directly in the eyes “I don’t really know what I was looking for. Something
small and valuable I suppose. You squealed on me to the doctor about my showing
signs of drug usage, remember?” he spat angrily. “I just wanted to get even.”
Not responding to the young man’s anger, Yancey patiently stated, “I am
sorry you felt that way, Dallas .
I was merely concerned about your health and well-being.”
“Kevin already punished me,” Dallas awkwardly admitted. “That’s because
we’ve made an agreement that he would make sure I had boundaries and if I
crossed them, he’d deal with me. The reason I’m apologising is because I
offended against you and he threatened to punish me again if I didn’t.” Dallas hastily reacted to
Kevin’s growl. “I really do mean my apology though. I had no right to go
through your belongings. I know you were only doing your job and looking out
for me. I do appreciate what you did.” Dallas
lifted pleading eyes to the nurse’s face.
“I admire you coming to me like this, Dallas . I really do! I know how hard it must
have been.” Yancey paused for a minute as he thought about his response to the
situation. “Starting next week when your strength has returned, for one full
week I will expect to see you here at the Infirmary each day immediately after
breakfast and again right after the evening meal. To make your amends, you will
see to it that the wood box is filled and our water supply replenished. Do you
agree to do that?” he gently asked, smiling kindly at the apprehensive young
man.
“Yes Sir,” Dallas agreed with a sigh of relief. He realised he was
getting off easily. A week of extra chores was not too bad, and he was
pleasantly surprised that the nurse had not demanded he go before the council. He
looked up into Yancey’s warm brown eyes. “Thank you for everything,” he added
sincerely.
Kevin stayed silent throughout
the exchange. This was something Dallas and Yancey had to sort out between
them. He smiled at younger man’s exhalation when they left the tent; the nurse
had been far more lenient than either of them had expected.
With all the medicals finally behind them and a little over an hour before
the noon meal, Lakota slipped off in search of medicinal herbs as was his habit
whenever he had free time on his hands.
Taking advantage of their free time, Yancey was sitting in the mess hall,
enjoying a cup of coffee and mentally mulling over Dallas’ confession, when
three young men sat down at another makeshift table a short distance away from
him.
“What’s up, Yancey?” Galen inquired.
“Not much! I am taking a well-deserved break after completing the final
physicals which just happened to be the good doctor’s and mine.”
“And I bet you passed with flying colours,” Raythe grumbled sourly. He
was still holding a grudge from several days ago for what he felt had been an
intimate assault on his person.
“I did, Raythe. Thank you for asking.” Yancey smiled pleasantly and
resignedly accepted that the young man needed time to deal with the results of
his own medical exam. He was happy to observe Raythe was no longer scratching
and appeared rather comfortable.
“Lakota too?” Galen asked with a smirk.
“Yes, Lakota too.”
“Where’s Brodie?” Kelby glanced around the tent in hopes of seeing the
injured man.
“He’s reading in his tent,” Yancey informed them as he smiled up at
their approaching chef.
“Here you go, fellows!” Walker announced as he set a large plate in
front of them and took a seat at the far end of the table Yancey was sitting
at. “Morning snacks for everyone.”
When passed the tray, Galen immediately reached for the only mug
containing milk while Raythe grabbed a coffee; black just the way he liked it. Kelby
picked up the same but added a splash of cream and two teaspoons of brown sugar.
Little by little, the men were beginning to learn one another’s likes and
dislikes. It wasn’t a big deal, but it offered them comfort in finding a little
piece of home amidst their eating habits and brought a degree of normalcy back
into their lives.
“Whatcha m-making for dinner, W-walker?” Galen asked around a mouthful
of bread and jam.
“I don’t see the point in my
answering that question, Galen, as you habitually turn your nose up at everything
on the menu,” Walker
commented dryly. “And don’t talk with food in your mouth.”
The sparkle in Walker ’s
eye belied his stern reproof. He was actually rather fond of the sweet-tempered
lad and he took special care to tempt him with nourishing food. He was well aware
of most the men’s eating preferences or lack of them as the case may be. As per
Thomas’ request, the ex-magistrate had been setting out these extra mini-meals
to encourage Galen’s adherence to Lakota’s orders.
“Are you baking something? Yancey asked carefully, not exactly thrilled
with the possibility.
“No,” Walker
replied, equally curious about the unfamiliar odour he was breathing in. “And I take umbrage at that question, young man!
Nothing I bake would ever smell like that!”
Yancey grinned and pretended to look apologetic.
No one else seemed to notice anything amiss and the conversation flowed
smoothly as the men polished off some of the biscuits Walker baked daily, the homemade preserves,
the feta cheese made by Galen from goat’s milk and the slices of dried apples.
“Well I gotta go see Nathan about some clothes,” Raythe grumbled as he
got up to leave. “Ah, thanks, Walker ,”
he shyly murmured.
Raythe had returned the borrowed shirt and pants to the doctor, and
since his one and only outfit was about to disintegrate, Brock had made
arrangements with the tailor for new ones. Raythe made sure to let the big
mountain man know he was getting measured under protest, but Brock hadn’t been
at all troubled by the younger man’s objections.
.
The departing man’s opening of the tent flaps stirred up a small gust of
wind and caused the unidentified smell that had been permeating the room to
intensify.
“Where in the name of God is that stench coming from?” Yancey groaned,
wrinkling up his nose again.
“Huh?” Kelby and Galen were the pictures of innocence.
“Just what chore did you boys get accomplished this morning?” Walker suspiciously
demanded, glaring over at the two young men sitting a short distance away from
him.
“We mucked out the pigpen,” duel voices responded simultaneously.
“OUT! Get out of my mess hall!” Walker shouted, getting
to his feet. He hauled up each of the miscreants and sent them on their way
with a resounding wallop on the seats of their pants. “And don’t come in here
again until you’ve cleaned up!” He turned his glare on Thad and Jordan who were
unsuccessful in stifling their mirth at the sound of the departing boys’
giggling.
“Your mess hall?” Yancey chuckled as Galen and Kelby ran out the door.
“Kinda possessive, aren’t you?”
“Precisely! I have assumed the responsibility of overseeing our meals
and therefore consider this area mine, which I share with Thad and Jordan. Are
you refuting it?” The imposing blond man raised one eyebrow as he crossed his
arms and waited for a reply.
Yancey threw up his hands defensively, still chuckling. “No, no, not at
all. It is exactly how Lakota and I feel about the infirmary. And I do want to
compliment you on the homey atmosphere you’ve established in here.”
Yancey executed mock salutes to the guffaws of laughter and
encouragement from the others present. He slowly swung his arm around to
encompass the entire space consisting of several uneven tables that were
formerly packing crates, and rough boxes and various sized tree stumps serving
as chairs. “Using the extra bed sheets for tablecloths is indeed a nice touch,”
he added with a grin.
“Humph! Glad someone appreciates it.” Walker growled as he returned the light
bantering.
It was mid-afternoon when Troy stretched his aching back after dumping
yet another sack filled with rocks from the field. It was gruelling, back breaking labour; however, there was
satisfaction to be found in the work. He was looking forward to setting up
classes in hopes of providing the men with the opportunity to take a break from
their manual efforts and enjoy some mental stimuli. He would have liked to
start his school sooner, but the council had chosen to agree with Thomas’
suggestion to wait until the fields were planted and all the trees needed for
the various buildings cut down.
The ex-tutor raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun as he
searched for the one who meant the most to him. Spotting his partner
across the field working alongside Spyke and Seth, he felt a swell of
pride. Levi had been raised in a home of affluence and
privilege. Before arriving here, the young man had never known hard
physical toil. His life had revolved around his studies and his parents’
carefully cultivated social connections. One would have expected him to be
a spoiled little rich boy. However, Levi was anything but. He gave his all
into everything he did, sometimes to his own detriment.
It was a very warm day and time to take a break. Troy called out to the others.
“I say we take twenty minutes for water and some of those biscuits Walker packed for
us.”
The other men nodded or called out their approval as they deposited
their loads of stone on the side of the field and headed for the shady spot
where the canteens of water and container of biscuits had been left.
Levi approached his lover with a happy grin. “Lord, I’m thirsty. This is
hot work,” he exclaimed as he accepted the embrace and quick kiss he was given.
“It will be worth it, my love, when the fields provide us with a bounty
of produce and grain.” Troy
led Levi over to a place of soft grass under a large tree. “Sit here and
I’ll bring you refreshments.”
“You’ve been working just as hard as I have,” Levi protested. “Besides,
if anyone should sit it should be you, old man,” he teased.
“Old man!” Troy
responded in mock horror. “I’ll show you ‘old’!” He scooped up his lover
and threw him over his shoulder. He applied four swats to the upturned bottom
before falling to his knees and rolling the two of them onto the soft grass. Troy sat straddling his
partner between his legs and tickling him along his very sensitive ribs. “Do
you take back that ‘old man’ remark?” he asked his laughing husband.
“Never!” Levi shouted between howls of laughter.
Finally, Troy stopped tickling and leaned forward to capture his
partner’s mouth in a deep kiss. When the two men ultimately came up for
air, they noticed the others were watching them; some with expressions of
gentle understanding and others with airs of sad envy.
“Come on, my love,” Troy invited as he stood and pulled Levi to his
feet. “Let’s get some of those biscuits before they’re gone.”
The two lovers sat together enjoying cool fresh water and the large
tender baking-powder biscuits slathered with preserves. After they ate
their fill, Levi lay on his back watching the large white clouds float overhead.
Soon his eyes started to grow heavy and before he knew it, he had fallen into a
light doze.
The other men began returning to the field, but Troy was suddenly overtaken by the guilt
he’d been feeling since they had been arrested. ‘Levi shouldn’t be here,
wouldn’t be here,’ he thought, ‘if it weren’t for me.’ He stared down at the slender
fingers that had only a few months ago been well manicured and smooth. Now
the nails were torn and the palms were developing calluses.
An hour later he was bent over digging out a particularly large rock,
when a shadow appeared over him. Glancing up he saw Levi standing over
him with a very unhappy expression on his face.
“How could you do that?” the young man demanded incredulously.
“Leave me laying there taking a nap like some over-grown child!” Levi
snapped.
“Favour? How is it a favour to embarrass me by treating me like a
baby? What do you suppose the others were thinking of me, being coddled
like that? If that’s your idea of a favour, don’t do me anymore!” he yelled. He then turned his back on his lover and began to head back
across the field.
Levi didn’t get three feet away before he felt a strong hand take him by
the arm. A soft voice spoke very slowly into his ear. “Firstly, I
will not be spoken to in that manner. Next, I do not give a tinker’s damn
what the others think and neither should you. What you need to care about
is what I think and right now I think you need to be reminded just who is in
charge in this relationship.” Troy
turned them both towards the woods. “Let’s take a little walk, shall we?”
With the certainty that comes from hindsight, Levi realised the trouble
his little outburst had gained him. Part of him wanted to stop and apologise to
his partner in hopes of at least mitigating the trouble he was in, if not
getting out of it all together. However, another part of him was still
seething with righteous indignation over his partner’s coddling of
him. For some reason he could later not explain, the indignant part won
out and he tried to pull his arm out of his lover’s grasp. “No! I’ve done
nothing wrong here! I just told you how I felt. You’re always telling me I
should be honest.”
Levi went along quietly, knowing further argument would only dig him in
deeper. He thought back on how he’d spoken to Troy and knew his lover was right; his words
had been rude and thoughtless.
They made their way silently along the trail in the woods for a few
hundred yards until Troy spotted what he’d been searching for; a second smaller
trail to the left of the path. They wound behind some dense brush to a small
clearing where the sun filtered through the trees overhead.
With trembling hands, Levi complied. Slowly, he unbuttoned his
pants; he knew he’d earned this punishment, but still it was hard knowing it
was coming. Once bent as instructed, he felt a gentle reassuring hand come
to rest on his back. A second later his partner’s other hand cracked down
hard against his right buttock; the sound echoed in the little
clearing. Within a few moments both his buttocks and the tops of his thighs
were a burning mass of pain, and tears of contrition were sliding down his
cheeks.
As quickly as it started the ordeal was over and Troy was gathering the younger man into his
arms.
“I’m sorry, Troy,” Levi sobbed out. “I was horrible to you.”
Levi nodded and followed Troy
over to the small stream. He could never bear to be out of touching
distance with his lover after he’d been punished. He felt the need to keep in
connection with him for hours after, just to reassure himself that all indeed
was forgiven and well again between them. Not that Troy ever made him feel
otherwise. On the contrary, Troy doted on him. But residue uncertainties made
Levi crave the physical presence of his partner until the burn of the
punishment left his backside.
The two men soon returned to the field to take up the work again. Much
to Levi’s relief, no one either noticed or cared about their absence.
TBC….
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