“I dinna like the looks of that sky, Thomas,” Aiden muttered worriedly.
The two men were standing on the shore next to the tree-line separating the
beach from the encampment and looking out over the horizon.
“I’m afraid I have to agree
with you, my friend. Those are serious storm clouds if I’ve ever seen them,”
the farmer replied. “I wonder if this is a normal occurrence here for near mid-July.”
“Whether ’tis or not, all I can
say ’tis a bad sign, I’m afraid. We best be prepared for the worse and get as
much as possible tied down.”
Both leaders took their responsibilities for the well-being of the
community very seriously and their concern over the approaching squall was well
warranted.
“Thomas!” Galen had quietly come upon his mentor and was vying for
attention by pulling on the older man’s shirt sleeve. “How come it looks so
w-weird out there?”
“We’re in for a bad storm.
See those dark clouds, how high they rise up into the sky? They are waterspouts caused
by temperature changes. Fortunately, many will lose most of their power once
they hit land but are still going to
bring us a good downpour I’m afraid,” he explained.
“Is it going to get really w-windy? Do you think there’ll b-be thunder
and lightning?” Galen was bouncing with excitement and hoping for an
affirmative response.
“’Tis best I be returning to camp while ye play the endless question and
answer game with this wee scamp of yers,” Aiden chuckled, walking towards the
trees with a farewell wave.
“Yes, I think it will be
windy with thunder and lightning. I believe we’re in for quite a blow,” Thomas
answered patiently after letting Aiden know they would soon be following him.
“Great! W-wait ‘til Spyke and Jordan hear the news!” Galen turned to run
back to camp but was waylaid by a large hand on his shoulder.
“Hold on there. Storms are
not a game and I do not want you or anyone else to be running about playing in
it.” He took hold of the younger man by the upper arms to emphasise the point.
“Oww!” Galen cried out in pain and tried to remove Thomas’ hand from
around his right arm.
Thomas pulled his hand away. He
suddenly realised his young friend was wearing a shirt and had been for the
last couple of days. This was unusual as Galen only wore overalls, and
sometimes boots when made to. “What’s wrong with your arm?”
“I can’t tell you yet. It’s a secret.”
“Galen, if it is hurting you,
I want to know why.” He pulled up the sleeve of the younger man’s shirt and was
shocked to find a red patch of his upper arm oozing a small amount of
puss. He could make out what looked like
a drawing under the hot swollen skin. “My God, Galen, what is this!” he
demanded, already dreading the answer.
“It’s a unicorn! B-but you w-weren’t supposed to see it until after it’s
healed.” Galen’s disappointment was obvious in the pout on his face. “Jordan
did it for m-me and I did one for him.”
The older man shook his head
in dismay. “Galen, this is infected. You could get very sick from something
like this. What were you thinking? And Jordan , is his as messy as yours?”
“It was b-but I’m not sure if it still is ‘cause I haven’t asked him yet
this m-morning.”
“Alright, we need to get
Lakota to look at this right away. We’ll go find Walker and Jordan first to see
if he’s in the same condition as you are,” he said as he began to lead the
younger man back to the campsite. “Once the doctor has seen to you, we are
going to have a talk about this.”
Arriving back at the compound, Thomas wasn’t surprised to see it
bustling with activity. A talented organiser, Aiden had divided the men into
teams and assigned various responsibilities. Everyone was busy; most of the
day’s activities well planned out.
Having already re-located the outhouse, Gille, Larry, and Levi made up a
team under the leadership of Troy. They were presently engaged in clearing the
immediate vicinity of objects in danger of becoming missiles should the winds
prove forceful enough.
Quentin, Yancey and Lakota were re-enforcing the ropes and pegs holding
the tents in place while Brock worked side by side with Raythe and Kelby to
ensure the safety of their livestock. They were double checking the hen house,
pig pen and another much larger enclosure that housed the sheep, goats and
mule.
Kevin had been given a team comprising of Dallas, Seth, Samuel, Wayne,
Nathan and Wes with instructions to gather and store extra firewood as well as
filling all the water barrels. Meanwhile Mitchell, Hendrik, and Preston
together with Aiden had gone to the building site in order to gather up all
tools and secure as much of the area as possible.
Brodie and Thad had just finished lowering and tying down the canvas
sides of the large communal tent and were heading inside to assist Walker , Jordan
and Spyke with the on-going preparations of the day’s meals.
Thomas followed them into the mess hall, keeping a tight hold of Galen’s
hand in order to prevent the young man from taking off and joining his friends
in caring for the animals. He approached Walker
and apologised for disturbing him.
“I was wondering if you knew anything about the tattoos Jordan and Galen
gave each other. I am also worried that Jordan ’s, like Galen’s, may be
infected.”
“This looks rather sore, my little mouse,” Walker
softly commented, his anger having rapidly changed to concern as he gently
touched the reddened area on Jordan ’s
right bicep. “Thad, can the three of you keep things under control here while I
accompany Jordan
to the infirmary?”
“Of course, Walker. Brodie, Spyke and I will take care of the noon
meal,” Thad quickly assured his older partner while anxiously studying his
younger one. “You needn’t worry about anything here.”
Black clouds were rolling in and the wind was picking up as four
not-so-happy men made their way to the infirmary where they had to interrupt
the medical staff and take them away from their task of securing the facility.
Glaringly aware of Thomas and Walker’s presence, Galen and Jordan
struggled with mixed feelings of gratitude and trepidation as they stood on
shaking legs before Lakota, trying not to squirm under the doctor’s questioning
gaze.
“Now what do we have here?” Lakota asked, wondering what mischief the
young men could have gotten themselves into that would require his expertise.
“Tattoos!” Walker
answered when neither culprit seemed prepared to do so. “Infected tattoos!” he
impatiently clarified.
“Up here, both of you,” the doctor ordered, patting the examination
table. “Let’s get a good look at what we’re dealing with, shall we?” He wanted to
better read their facial expressions.
Galen and Jordan exchanged worried glances but hastened to obey rather
than court additional displeasure.
“Please show me where these tattoos are,” the doctor requested.
Both of the young men slowly removed their shirts to reveal their failed
attempts at body art. Lakota examined each arm closely, clicking his tongue in
disapproval. “Well you two have made a fine mess, haven’t you?” he asked, not
really expecting an answer.
Turning to his nurse, who had been waiting patiently to assist him,
Lakota requested, “Yancey, can you go to the mess hall and get some day-old
bread please. We’ll have to make a poultice to draw out the infection.”
“There are a few slices of yesterday’s bread in the box beside the
larder,” Walker
offered.
“Thank you; I’ll be right back with it,” Yancey replied as he headed
out.
“While we are waiting for Yancey to return, I’d like to hear just how
you went about doing this to yourselves.”
The doctor put a pot of water on the small stove as he listened.
Once again, Jordan and Galen glanced at each other; this time to issue
silent challenges as to who was going to speak up first.
“It got started on Saturday w-when Jordan and I w-were w-waiting to get
our hair cut,” Galen nervously ventured forth with an answer for the first of
what they knew would be numerous demands for the particulars.
“That was two days ago,” Walker
stated, frowning in consternation when both miscreants responded with ‘huh-huh’
and wide-eyed nods. He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Go on!”
“We w-were getting a b-bit b-bored, so w-we decided to look through some
of the b-books on the shelves. W-we found some p-pictures of eagles and I
remember m-my brother’s tattoos and told Jordan about them.”
Galen was beginning to warm up to the story-telling. “We found a
p-picture of a unicorn and thought it w-would m-make a nice one. Dino has two;
he got the eagle at the summer fair b-back home; it’s m-much b-bigger than ours
and really b-beautiful. The second one he did himself; it’s a small heart
w-with his wife’s name next to it.” He continued babbling, quite oblivious to
the frown appearing on Thomas’ face. “Mama didn’t like them, and Papa was angry,
b-but they got used….”
Thomas put a quick halt to the young man’s jabbering. “Galen, that’s
enough about the past. We need to know about you and Jordan here in the
present.”
Galen immediately closed his mouth, turned to Jordan and shrugged his shoulders
as if to say, ‘I tried, it’s your turn’.
“Galen told me all about it. Ah, we liked the unicorn best.” Jordan ’s
statements were rather disjointed and didn’t really provide a lot of
information; at least none that the older men were looking for.
“Whose idea was it for you to tattoo each other?” Walker asked in an attempt to get nearer to
the heart of the matter.
Finally succumbing to the pressure, Jordan quietly admitted, “it was
mine.” He was doomed, knowing full well Walker ’s
opinion on the subject; it having been debated at length not too long ago. He
hung his head and blinked back tears when he felt Galen’s supportive hand on
his back.
“How did you even know how to go about doing this?” Thomas inquired,
still baffled by the very notion of them inflicting these injuries on one
another.
“Dino taught m-me how,” Galen readily responded, referring once again to
his older brother. “You just-need to take two needles and tie them together
w-with thread, m-making sure the p-points are almost touching, but not quite.
Then you m-mix a little soot from the oil lamps in a drop of m-milk to m-make
the ink.” He was surprised at none of the others knowing this. “Choosing a
p-picture was the hardest p-part, w-wasn’t it, Jordan ?”
“I guess,” the other young man groaned, fully aware that the hardest
part of this little escapade was still ahead of them.
“I am going to have to be more suspicious when I see the chimneys on the
lamps cleaned without my having demand anyone do it,” Walker muttered partly under his breath.
Knowing now what he was dealing with, Lakota took the simmering water
and added a mixture of dried herbs to the pot. It filled the tent with a strong
but not unpleasant aroma. Yancey returned just as he finished. He was carrying
a bowl containing several slices of slightly dry bread. The doctor placed two
slices in a small tray and poured just enough of the herb mixture over them to
soak the bread.
Next the doctor divided the remaining mixture in half while Yancey
carried the first part over to the exam table along with some clean squares of
cloth. The doctor requested Jordan get down
while he attended to Galen first.
“Galen, I’m afraid yours is worse than your partner-in-crime here but
both are going to need treatment. Before I apply the poultice, I’ll have to
clean the area. Then I will be placing the warm, moist bread on the wound site
and wrapping it in gauze. We’ll change it twice a day until the infection is
cleared, which will probably take two or three days.”
Galen cringed as the doctor and nurse took possession of his arm.
Although he trusted Lakota not to intentionally hurt him, he was still
frightened by any medical procedures. He relaxed slightly when Thomas stepped
up behind him and place a calming hand on his shoulder.
“I’m here, Galen; you’ll be just fine,” Thomas intoned softly.
Galen glanced up at Lakota and Yancey. He sighed in relief at seeing only
concern in their kind faces instead of the censure he expected. He leaned
heavily against Thomas’ chest and closed his eyes, not wanting to watch what
was being done to his arm.
“This will only take a few moments, Galen; please try and stay still,” the
doctor requested.
Galen held his breath and clenched his teeth in an effort to undergo the
treatment in silence, feeling he had only himself to blame for the situation he
found himself in. But try as he might, a whimper or two escaped his lips and a
tear slowly made its way down his cheek.
Thomas slid his arm around Galen’s waist and stroked his head soothingly
with his free hand.
Soon Galen felt the gentle hands of the nurse wrapping the bandaging
around the poultice. Though it still stung a bit, it was quickly beginning to
feel more comfortable.
“Alright, young man, we’re done for now. We’ll need to change that again
this evening after supper,” Yancey informed him with a kind smile.
Galen expelled a long, drawn-out breath, wiped his eyes on the shirt he
had scrunched up in his hand and hopped down from the examining table. He sent
a sympathetic smile Jordan ’s
way as they passed one another and received a fretful grimace in return.
Unlike Galen, who had kept his eyes closed, Jordan was curious enough to
watch the entire procedure; although he too flinched a few times.
Soon it was over and done with and the two tattoo artists were sent on
their way with admonishments to keep the bandaging clean and in place.
Thomas guided Galen out of the infirmary. “How is your arm feeling now?”
he asked with concern.
Galen stretched the injured limb to test it. “M-much b-better now,” he
grinned happily.
“I’m happy to hear that. Let’s take a walk, shall we? I’d like to
discuss this whole tattooing business.” Thomas’ voice had an edge of
seriousness to it. He led the younger man along a path towards the stream a
short distance from the encampment.
“Ah, shouldn’t w-we be helping the others p-prepare for the storm?”
Galen was just now beginning to grasp exactly how much trouble he might be in.
“The efforts are well underway and I’m sure we can be spared for a while
longer,” Thomas responded, holding onto the hand of Galen’s uninjured arm.
There was something familiar going on and Galen was getting a
not-so-good feeling of familiarity. He tugged ineffectually at Thomas’ grip, but it held fast.
“Tell me something, Galen?” Thomas asked as they walked. “When your
brother got his tattoo, you said your parents were not happy about it. Do you
remember some of the reasons they gave for objecting to it?”
Galen chewed his lower lip in thought. “Well, Mama didn’t like him trying
to m-modify his b-body like that.”
“Modify his body? What did she mean by that?” the older man inquired.
“Mama thought everyone should b-be satisfied with the w-way they were
b-born. She said tattoos and p-piercing and the like were unnatural.”
“And did she have anything else to say about the process of tattooing
and its risks?”
“I don’t think so b-but Papa m-might have.”
Thomas chuckled slightly at the younger man’s evasive manoeuvres. “Just
what did your Papa say about that?”
“Umm, something about getting sick and b-blood p-poisoning,” Galen
murmured before speaking up. “B-but nothing b-bad happened to Dino.”
“So when you and Jordan sat down to discuss giving each other these
tattoos, did you think at any time about what your parents had said to your
brother and how those things might apply to what you were doing?”
“Nooo. M-mostly I just thought how nice it w-would look once it healed,”
Galen answered cautiously. “Jordan did tell m-me Walker didn’t w-want him to
have one though,” he quietly disclosed.
“Mostly you thought about it. But at least it occurred to you that there
was a valid reason for your parents’ concern?” Thomas asked.
“I guess it did,” Galen softly admitted, not too keen on the direction
this conversation was heading.
“Jordan also
told you his partner didn’t want him to have one and yet you still decided to
go ahead? Am I correct?”
“Yes, Thomas.” Galen hung his head under the older man’s disapproving
bearing.
Their walk quickly led the men to a small clearing by the stream and
Thomas guided them to sit on a fallen log there. “Though you and I did not
specifically discuss tattoos when we had our talk about rules and reasons for
using discipline, we did discuss you doing things that were potentially harmful
or dangerous. We also discussed you coming and talking to me first before you
made decisions that could affect your health or well-being, didn’t we?”
“Yes, b-but I didn’t really think anything w-would go wrong.”
“That is not the point, Galen. You had been made aware in the past of the
potential risks involved in tattooing, and yet you decided to go ahead and do
this thing without even discussing it with me first. Also, you were made well
aware that your friend’s partner objected to tattoos and you still decided to
assist him in this,” Thomas stated. “I am not at all pleased with these
decisions you made. You have risked your health, as well as the health and
well-being of a friend.”
“I didn’t m-make Jordan
get a tattoo, Thomas. He w-wanted one.”
“I know that, Galen, but you knew it would not make his partner happy. I
would think that you should have told Jordan
you wouldn’t do this thing until after he had at least discussed it with Walker .”
Galen looked intently at his mentor, slowly accepting that Thomas wasn’t
about to let this issue go without consequence. “I’m sorry, Thomas. I w-wish I
hadn’t even m-mentioned the tattoo to Jordan in the first p-place,” he
sorrowfully murmured.
“I’m sorry too, Galen, but you did do something that broke the rules we
agreed to.” He soothingly rubbed the younger man’s back. “Stand up, please, and
lower your pants. Let’s get this done.”
“I don’t w-want you to spank m-me, Thomas.” Galen turned sad, pleading
eyes up to the older man who meant the world to him.
Thomas gave him a reassuring smile. “I know you don’t, Galen. That is
the point behind the punishment. It is not
something you want; it’s something unpleasant that
will hopefully help you learn not to repeat certain behaviours. Now off with
those pants. The sooner we start, the sooner it will be over.”
Galen reluctantly got to his feet and obeyed the order, trusting in
Thomas to take care of things.
Thomas pulled the young man gently over his lap. He smiled at the bottom
laid out before him. The first time he had held Galen in this manner the cheeks
had been pale white, but the lad’s inclination for running on the beach
unclothed had coloured the globes the same golden brown as the rest of his
skin. He pulled himself from his musings and got down to business.
Galen shifted to get as comfortable as possible knowing full-well he
wasn’t going to be so for long.
Thomas wrapped one arm securely around Galen’s waist and brought the
other hand down in a sharp slap that echoed in the clearing. He continued to
rain down the spanks for several lengthy moments until that golden brown was
over-toned with crimson red.
Galen struggled to escape and finding that impossible, kicked and
squirmed to evade the punishing hand, causing his overalls to fly off and land
in a heap on the grass. Then ultimately accepting the futility in fighting the
inevitable, he settled for just trying to breathe through his sobs of pain.
Finally feeling the lesson had been well taught, Thomas stopped the
spanking, slowly lowered the younger man to his knees and rubbed soothing
caresses on his back. He hated seeing this special young man so upset but he
hated more the thought of him endangering himself. He tenderly pulled Galen up
into his arms and held him as the last of the sobs left the trembling body.
Galen wrapped his arms around Thomas’ neck, seeking the comfort he
desired and the assurance all was forgiven.
When Galen had at long last quieted, Thomas placed a light kiss on his
cheek. “I’d like to say one more thing about this tattooing and then we’ll
forget about it, okay?”
“Uh-huh,” Galen tearfully hitched.
Thomas pulled his face back to look deep into the large grey eyes before
him. Stunning grey eyes made even more exquisite by long, wet, spiked eyelashes.
“Galen, you have a very beautiful body and no amount of man-made art put upon
it could improve your looks. If anything, I think it would detract from them.
After all, you wouldn’t draw a unicorn upon Michael Angelo’s David, would you?”
“I’ve never seen it but m-maybe a tattoo m-might have added to it in
case David w-wasn’t at all good looking,” Galen hiccuped.
Thomas laughed aloud. “The David statue is one of the most magnificent in
the whole world, and almost as delightful as you.” He followed that comment
with a tender kiss to Galen’s lips.
Galen gazed into warm brown eyes and fervently wished that the kiss would
have continued.
Knowing he needed to move before he got carried away, Thomas put the
beauty in his arms on his feet and quickly said, “let’s get back to the camp. We
have a storm to prepare for.”
Galen sighed out his disappointment as he picked up his overalls and
stepped into them. He hissed as he drew them up and over his very sore bottom.
Thomas drew several bracing breaths to calm his body’s desires and took
Galen by the hand. “Ready?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever b-be,” Galen shyly smiled up at the older man.
The two made their way back to the hub of activity; both thinking of
that kiss as they walked.
“You and I are going to find a private spot to hold a badly needed
discussion, young man,” Walker firmly informed Jordan as they
left the infirmary and walked across the compound.
After checking with Thad to see the noon meal well underway, Walker
placed a heavy hand around the back of Jordan’s neck and firmly steered the
younger man around the big tent, past the herb garden out back, into the forest
and along the path leading to a well-known glen that would afford them some
privacy.
Upon reaching their destination, Walker
immediately turned Jordan
to face him. “Tell me, Jordan ;
did we or did we not recently have a conversation regarding tattoos?”
“Yes, sir, we did,” Jordan
mumbled, looking down at the ground and shuffling uncomfortably from one foot
to the other.
“Look at me please, my little mouse,” Walker softly requested. “What
conclusion did we come to at that time?”
“Ah, I-I think I might of forgotten,” Jordan hesitantly answered in an
attempt to avoid the inevitable.
“I guess I’m kinda starting to remember,” Jordan forlornly responded.
“Why was I against you or Thad getting a tattoo, Jordan ?”
“Because of the chances of infection?” was the uncertain reply.
“Yes! That and the possibility of permanent scaring,” Walker pressed the point home as he stared
down at his partner, not at all looking forward to teaching the lesson in
obedience that needed to be taught. “I will never stand back and ignore either
of you placing your health and safety in jeopardy. Nor will I tolerate blatant
disobedience.”
“What’s going to happen now, Walker ?”
Jordan asked nervously, not a little frightened by the state of affairs he currently
found himself in. His apprehension increased as he watched the bigger man walk
over to a fallen tree, sit down and calmly pat his knee.
“Come here, Jordan .”
Walker ’s softly
spoken request acted like a homing signal beckoning his young partner closer.
When Jordan was within
arm’s reach, Walker
took his hand and gently manoeuvred him to sit on his lap. Gazing into the
youthful face, he patiently explained, “I am a firm believer in discipline,
Jordan, and happen to know that at times a firm hand warmly applied to the seat
of a problem can get the message across when other methods are less effective.
In other words, I fully intend to put you over my knees and soundly spank your
bare bottom.” Walker bit the inside of his cheek to prevent
himself from smiling at the wide-eyed expression of disbelief.
“I am fully aware of you being a full-grown man, Jordan, but we’ve
discussed this. In fact, over the last few weeks since becoming partners with
the understanding that I was in charge, the three of us have discussed this in
minute detail. You appear to have selective memory down to a fine art, young
man. However, that attribute is not going to save you from my displeasure.” Walker patted Jordan ’s hip. “Up you get, Jordan , and
lower your trousers please.”
Sitting on the same lap he had moments before been lying face down over,
Jordan
nestled into the strong arms holding him and gradually got himself under
control. “I’m s-sorry,” he tearfully stammered, burrowing into the junction of Walker ’s neck and shoulder.
“I-I’ll never get another tattoo. H-honest!” he solemnly vowed.
“I believe you, my precious little mouse, and all is forgiven,” Walker assured the still
quietly crying man in his arms. He kissed the damp, light-brown curls as he
rocked back and forth in a soothing motion. Eventually the heart-rending sounds
tapered to hitches and sniffles, ending with a long drawn-out sigh.
“How are you feeling, little one?” Walker
tenderly inquired, gently smiling into sad, hazel eyes surrounded by dark, wet eyelashes.
“I’m alright,” Jordan
murmured after thinking it over for several moments. He didn’t quite understand
why, but he felt safe and at peace with the world. “So we’re okay now, right?”
“We, my little mouse, are always okay!” Walker categorically stated. Another
reassuring hug and Walker
moved to set the younger man on his feet. “We need to get back, sweetheart. Thad
requires our assistance both with the noon meal and with securing the mess
hall.”
“Not yet, please.” Jordan
was not ready to face anyone this soon.
“Alright, a few more minutes won’t hurt.” Walker
slid off the log and lay down on the soft grass, pulling Jordan on top
of him. “Do you want to straighten out your clothing?”
“No way,” Jordan
muttered, vigorously shook his head. “I like the cool breeze blowing over my
bare butt.”
Twenty minutes later, they entered the mess hall, hand in hand. Jordan immediately let go of Walker ’s hand and ran over to Thad. The walk
back had caused his clothing to rub against his sore backside, re-igniting the
blaze.
Thad caught Jordan
to him and held him tight. He had seen the fresh tears forming in his partner’s
eyes and flashed a brief glare of accusation at their older partner. He quickly
dropped the attitude when he took in Walker’s raised eyebrow and concentrated
on his younger partner.
“Got yourself in a bit of trouble, eh bud?” Thad murmured in Jordan ’s ear.
He felt a warm sigh and a nod against his neck. He smiled sadly and whispered, “guess we all have to learn the hard way now and again.”
TBC….
No comments:
Post a Comment