“I know you’re not too thrilled about still being laid up, Brodie, but
I’m glad you are,” Thad commented as he cut another freshly peeled potato in
half and dropped it into the large pot of water.
“Well it’s not that I mind helping out with the meal preparations, but
it’s going on two weeks since I hurt my foot and you’d think I’d be able to get
my boots back on by now. I mean how long does it take for broken toes to heal
anyway?” Brodie silently admitted that having stubbed the foot on at least
three separate occasions may have some connection to the healing process being
prolonged. “I feel I might have left them short-handed in the fields,” he
guiltily explained, allowing the conversation to distract him from the job at
hand.
“Not really! It’s given Jordan
“That’s true, just like you and I are learning more about each other and
the things we have in common.” Brodie quietly concurred. “Besides, there will
be plenty of rocks still requiring removal when I get back on my feet.”
Thad’s resulting laughter lightened his friend’s mood considerably,
especially when he added his own joking comment. “You’re right. I can’t see
there being a shortage of the blasted things any more than there will ever be a
shortage of these.” He held up a partially peeled potato.
“Thomas was saying at supper last night that the planting is right on
schedule, so I guess my not being available hasn’t slowed them down any.” Brodie
grinned as he picked another spud out of the pile.
“Yeah, and it sure made my day when Aiden informed everyone the tree
cutting would be complete as planned. Man, I can’t wait until we can start work
on the lodge.” Thad tossed potato halves into the pot, splashing Brodie in the
process. He smirked over at the other man. “Ah, sorry!”
“It’s okay. I’ll get even,” Brodie promised as he wiped water off his
face. “You know maybe not having any rain since we got here is good for the
logging crew, but it’s going to be needed soon for the seeds to grow and to
test out that irrigation system some of the guys have been working on.”
“Hmm, Walker
“True, but let’s hope it’s the hottest because it is one of the reasons
the planting crew can only work the fields in the morning while those cutting
trees can put in longer hours because they’re in the shade instead of the
blazing sun.”
“But then all farm hands have to do other chores like chopping and
stacking firewood, keeping fresh water on hand, washing and hanging mounds of
laundry….”
“Don’t forget that stinky process of making lye soap. Ugh, the rendering
down hog fat is putrid.” Brodie expressed his disgust by wrinkling up his nose.
The other man’s laughter caused him to look up and grin, thereby taking his
attention away from halving the just-peeled vegetable. “Ow!” he cried, as the
sharp knife neatly slid through the potato and sliced the palm of his hand. He
stared in shock at the blood dripping down and soaking into the ground. He
threw down the potato as its juices added to the burning sensation of the
opened wound.
“Walker
Within minutes, Walker was walking through the doorway of the infirmary
with Thad trailing behind.
“Lakota!” Walker
“What happened this time, Brodie?” the nurse inquired as he started
removing the bloody towel. He didn’t care for the lack of colouring in the
young man’s face.
“Brodie has cut his hand rather badly and I think it’s going to require
stitches,” Walker
“And he’s lost a lot of blood too!” Thad added from where he stood on
the far side of the table, his pallor almost matching Brodie’s.
“Lakota left only moments ago in search of herbs. Maybe one of you can
catch him before he gets too far.”
Picking up on Thad’s dazed expression, Walker volunteered and returned a
few minutes later with Lakota accompanying him. He then took Thad’s arm
and led him out of the tent. Walker knew neither the doctor nor the nurse would
have time to care for a second patient should Thad pass out in there.
Lakota approached his patient with a gentle smile on his face. “Well, Brodie, I hear you went one on one
with a knife and lost.”
“Uh-huh,” Brodie nervously nodded.
“Let me go and wash my hands then we’ll have a good look at it, okay?”
the doctor suggested.
Brodie tried to move closer to Yancey, seeking comfort while waiting for
whatever was going to happen next.
“It is going to be alright, Brodie,” Yancey whispered reassurance as he
smoothed back the damp, sweaty hair from Brodie’s forehead.
Lakota washed up thoroughly, drying his hands on a fresh towel before
returning to Brodie’s side. “I’m just going to examine the cut and see how deep
it is. I promise to be as gentle as possible,” he assured the young man.
Wide blue eyes stared up at Lakota as Brodie nodded. The young man
appeared slightly dazed.
“Yancey, can you please bring me some gauze and sterile water so we can
wash away some of the blood and I can better see the damage?”
“Of course.” The nurse quickly filled the doctor’s request.
Lakota took the soaked pieces of gauze from his nurse and gently wiped away
the excess gore from the wound. It was still oozing fresh blood but at a slower
rate. He carefully noted the depth of the slash and knew it was going to
require several stitches to close it properly.
The nurse exchanged a glance with Lakota and although nothing had been
spoken, Yancey too knew what was required.
“Brodie, I know that this is hurting you, so I’m going to give you
something to make it less painful. Then we’re going to take care of that cut.”
Lakota went to the drug locker and filled a glass syringe with a dose of
morphine. He placed the items needed in a small basin so as not to be
immediately visible to his patient.
Yancey talked soothingly to the young man as he rolled up Brodie’s right
sleeve and tied on a tourniquet.
Brodie watched Yancey’s movements suspiciously. “What are you doing that
for?” he asked, apprehension creeping into his voice.
“The medicine Lakota has for you must be given a certain way, Brodie.”
Yancey didn’t want to frighten their patient, but he didn’t want to mislead him
either.
“Brodie, I’d like you to make a fist with your hand for me please,”
Lakota instructed.
Finding reassurance in the older man’s calm approach, Brodie did as he was asked. Yancey stepped into Brodie’s sight path, preventing the young man
from seeing what was happening.
“You’re going to feel a little pin-prick in your arm for a second. You
need to hold still for me, please,” the doctor requested.
Lakota swabbed the arm with alcohol over the bulging vein and quickly
slid the needle in.
Brodie whimpered but didn’t try to look.
“Good boy, you’re doing just fine,” Yancey murmured, offering
encouragement.
Working a smoothly as possible, the doctor depressed the plunger to
administer the drug and extracted the syringe.
Yancey took one of the swabs from the basin and applied pressure to the
injection site.
“It is okay, Brodie, we’re done with this part. The medicine will work
very quickly and you might feel a bit lightheaded or a little funny,” Lakota
explained. “Just lay still for me, please.”
“Okay!” Brodie’s speech was already beginning to slur.
“Yancey, can you bring me the sutures, needle and iodine so we can get
this done as quickly as possible?” the doctor whispered.
Again, Yancey efficiently carried out the doctor’s instructions and
passed him the supplies.
"Brodie, Yancey and I are going to get this laceration fixed up
now. I want you to close your eyes and try not to move.”
“Hmmm..” was the only response as the young man did as he was told.
Yancey stepped closer to the examining table, firmly took hold of
Brodie’s left arm and gently held the injured hand opened to enable the doctor
to see what he was doing.
Lakota quickly moved in to suture the gaping wound, pulling the skin
closed with tiny stitches.
Brodie began to squirm when he felt the bite of the needle and the pull
of the sutures but settled down when Yancey tightened his hold and spoke
calming, reassuring words to him. Brodie was unaware of the tears slowly
rolling down his face.
Lakota tied off the last knot and then cleansed the injury site with
iodine, staining the skin surrounding it. “Gauze and rolled bandaging, please,”
he asked his nurse and then proceeded to dress the incision.
“There we go, Brodie, all done. Yancey is going to help you to a bed in
the back of the infirmary. I’d like you to lie down and rest until the medicine
wears off.” the doctor instructed.
“Thank you, Lakota,” Yancey said, knowing Brodie was in no condition to
express his gratitude. “I’ll straighten up in here after I’ve seen him
comfortably situated in the ward.”
“That will be fine, Yancey. I know he is in good hands.”
Five minutes later, having washed the tear-tracks from Brodie’s face and
helping him change into a clean nightshirt, Yancey was tucking his patient into
one of the beds in the ward.
“It is hard to believe you’ve gone and hurt yourself again, Brodie. At
this rate, your medical file will be as thick as all the others put together.”
Yancey gently scolded once he had his patient comfortably settled.
“I told you I was accident-prone, Yancey. I think it’s a family trait
because my grandfather seemed to always be sporting a bandage or two.” Brodie smiled rather dreamily.
“Humph!” Yancey snorted. “I don’t completely go along with the notion of
one person being more likely to have accidents than another. I’m inclined to
think a great deal is strictly due to a lack of proper attention being paid to
what one is doing.”
“Grandma said something the same,” Brodie giggled. “She used to say that
either my nose was in a book or a book was on my mind.”
“Maybe the next time you allow your inattentiveness to result in bodily
harm, I should spank you.” Yancey crouched at the side of the cot to get closer
to the other man.
“Too late! My grandmother beat you to it years ago.” Brodie grinned at
the other man’s raised eyebrow. “For all the good it did!” he cheekily
commented and smirked.
“Then perhaps someone should darn well do it again.” Yancey couldn’t
decide if he meant what he’d just suggested or not.
“Someone, huh? As in you?” Brodie surprised them both by throwing out
the challenge.
Yancey found himself gazing into large, irresistible blue eyes. Unable
to help himself, he leaned in and kissed Brodie’s slightly parted lips. As the
older man backed away, Brodie latched on and returned the kiss, causing the
nurse to let go of his professional demeanour and draw the younger man into his
arms.
Settling his patient back against the pillows piled behind his head,
Yancey tenderly caressed the scar running along the side of Brodie’s left cheek
next to his ear. The slightly crinkled, pale discolouration extended below his
jawbone and disappeared behind his shirt collar.
“How did this happen, Brodie?” Yancey quietly questioned.
“I wasn’t watching where I was going and bumped into my grandfather. He
had a pan of hot bacon fat in his hand at the time.” Brodie shrugged in an
attempt to appear nonchalant. Secretly, he feared being rejected because of
what he saw as a deformity. “Some spilled on my shoulder, too. It was just an
accident,” he murmured. Glancing up he was relieved to see only exasperated
patience in Yancey’s kind, dark brown eyes.
“Famous last words, Brodie?” Yancey teased. He reached up to push the still
moist brown hair away from the younger man’s perspiring forehead. Using his
thumb, he gently rubbed across the lines of pain furrowing his patient’s brow.
Within minutes, the soothing touch had Brodie’s eyes closing as he drifted off to
sleep.
Yancey bent down and lovingly kissed the now smooth forehead. “Rest, my
treasure,” he whispered. “We will repeat this conversation when you are not so
lethargic.” He knew Brodie had not been fully conscious of all that was said or
the implications behind it. He affectionately smiled at the sleeping man and
shook his head in wonder, then quietly left the ward. He found Lakota in the
examination room, writing up his notes.
“Asleep, is he?” Lakota asked.
“Yes. I’m going to keep him here for the rest of the day so I can be
within earshot, should he have need of assistance.”
Lakota nodded his agreement. “The noon meal will be ready in less than
an hour and I have put my morning plans on hold. Maybe Gille will be free to
accompany me on my herb gathering quest this afternoon.”
Yancey smiled. Both men were well aware of one another’s interests in
two very special young men.
Wayne strained for release as Samuel worked his hand faster. He was
trapped in between the older man’s massive thighs, his back against Samuel’s
chest. The big man held him close with his left arm while his right hand performed
between Wayne’s legs. With a cry, Wayne arched his back and shot over his
lover’s fist. Samuel waited until Wayne’s breathing evened out before planting
a kiss on his partner’s temple.
“Did you enjoy that, my pet?”
Wayne turned around and leaned his cheek against Samuel’s shirt. “Oh yes!”
Samuel rocked him, enjoying the feel of Wayne’s weight against his body.
Wayne’s eyes were half closed and his lashes cast shadows on his pale cheeks.
Samuel felt a stirring of tenderness and protectiveness over the slender figure
in his embrace. All his life he had dreamed of having a young man he could
pamper and protect. Someone who depended
on him like Wayne did. He never thought being exiled would bring him such a
prize nor did he ever think he would one day be able to openly love another man
without fear of exposure or recriminations.
Wayne rolled over and peered up at him lovingly while he began to undo the
fly of Samuel’s pants. He playfully licked at Samuel’s chest where his shirt
was open.
Samuel responded at once. He leaned back against the log, spread his
legs further and moaned softly.
It had been hard enough finding men of a similar disposition back home,
much less have the opportunity to lay with them in this manner. The handful of
times Samuel had been with another man, he had feared being discovered. The few
encounters he’d taken part in had been filled with tension and peril. The fear
had effectively robbed him of any real pleasure. Every sound made him jump and
it was always a hurried affair. Heaven only knows they’d never risk spending a
whole night together.
With Wayne, Samuel found a deep contentment he had never encountered
before. Wayne was cute and intelligent. True, sometimes he could be a bit moody
or stubborn and acted without much thought, but it all added to the charm of
the young man. He instinctively turned to Samuel for answers and submitted to
the older man’s authority and discipline. It was as essential for the older man
to have someone who needed him in that way as it was part of his nature to be in charge.
Wayne slid down on the grass and pressed his face into Samuel’s crotch.
He began to lick, suck and stroke the engorged penis. Then he suddenly stopped,
causing Samuel to open his eyes.
“What, love?” Samuel whispered, his body aching with desire.
“Samuel? Do you want to ...”
Samuel looked down and understood immediately. “No, babe, this is fine.
Finish what you’ve started, please.”
Wayne obligingly lowered his head and took Samuel into his mouth again.
Samuel would like to have intercourse with his young lover but, upon noticing
the other man’s hesitation during their initial attempt at anal sex, had put
his plans on hold. At first he had thought perhaps the lad was shy and had been
totally unprepared for the way his young lover had tensed up and become
distraught when he began to part his cheeks. Wayne had been bashfully apologetic, but the incident had totally deprived both of them of their desire to
continue.
When Samuel asked Wayne about his reaction, the young man had evaded
answering directly by proposing they try again another time. However, when it
happened a second time, Samuel firmly decided they’d not make a third. It was
too upsetting for Wayne, who tearfully apologised once more.
“It’s alright, babe, we don’t have to do it that way. There are other
ways in which we can physically love each other and find release together,” he had patiently suggested, and Wayne had nodded his head with a mixture of reluctance
and relief.
Samuel grunted loudly as he came inside Wayne’s mouth. It felt so good.
He gathered his lover into his arms after he had cleaned up. He could tell
Wayne was tense.
“What’s on your mind, love?”
Samuel gently inquired.
“I am sorry.”
“For what?”
“Not being able to ...”
“Hey,” Samuel squeezed Wayne reassuringly. “Didn’t I tell you we don’t
need to?”
“Forever?” Wayne asked in a small voice.
Samuel gazed down at the upturned face. He wanted to enjoy his lover in
all way possible, but he also wanted to make it right for the young man. Could
he be satisfied having a life-long relationship without anal sex? He thought carefully before he answered.
“Wayne, I love you. That means I want what’s best for you. I hope one
day we can have anal sex, but it doesn’t mean I love you less if we can’t have
it. If you don’t like it, then we don’t do it.”
“I want to, but I am just scared. Something must be wrong with me.”
“No, my pet, there’s nothing wrong. Listen to me.” Samuel’s voice took
on a commanding tone as Wayne buried his face deeper into the older man’s shirt.
“Everyone is different, and every couple is different. There is no standard, so
to speak.”
“But there is!” Wayne protested.
Samuel’s strong arms surrounded Wayne, giving him comfort. “No, there
isn’t. Because I say there isn’t and that’s all that matters.”
Wayne settled down and in a few minutes, his soft breathing told Samuel
he had fallen asleep. Samuel stroked his partner’s back and thought about the
situation. Truth of the matter was that he himself was not all that experienced
in anal sex. He sure as hell did not want to do anything that would hurt Wayne.
He had done it a few times with men who were already experienced. It had been
easy as they knew what they wanted, and they knew his preference. He always penetrated,
having no desire to be the one receiving.
He surprised himself with the sudden realisation that he could wait
forever or live without it if he had to, so long as he had Wayne as his
partner. At that moment, everything took on a simple clarity. He loved Wayne
and would accept what he had to offer; no more was needed. The sensation was
overwhelming.
But Samuel also realised Wayne was still hounded by doubts about this
issue and that it would arise again in the future. And if unchecked, would manifest and
eventually drive a stake between them. He would need to find a way to get it
resolved; more for Wayne’s sake than for his own.
Shaking the sleeping form, he murmured, “Time to get up, my pet. I’m
sure the noon meal is long over, and you are needed to help stack firewood that is
being chopped. I also have to go back to the tree cutting. Come on, open your
eyes.”
Wayne kissed him at the edge of the clearing and stumbled to meet up
with the group of young men heading to the wood pile.
Samuel watched him disappear before turning in the opposite direction
and heading towards the infirmary. He felt the need to seek professional
advice.
Kelby hurried out of the mess hall to catch up to his friend. “Hey,
Spyke, wait up a minute. I’d like to talk to you before we get involved in our
afternoon chores, if it’s alright with you.”
“Sure, I’m in no rush to tote and heat water for the fucking laundry,”
the young man scoffed. “I’d rather be piling wood but Troy, Seth, Levi and the
twins lucked out with that chore.”
“Can we go to your tent so we can have a bit of privacy?” Kelby shyly
requested.
The young men casually strolled to their destination, each immersed in
their own thoughts. Spyke wondered what was on the other man’s mind, while Kelby tried
to figure out the best way to introduce what he felt was a delicate subject.
Upon entering the tent, Spyke with his usual no-nonsense,
cut-to-the-chase methodology, bluntly inquired, “so what do ya wanna talk
about, Kelby?” He threw himself down on his pallet and looked up expectantly at
the other man.
“Well, ah..it’s kind of…hmm..” Kelby stumbled over his words, suddenly
unsure of his decision to ask such a personal question. He sat down on the
pallet next to Spyke’s.
“For shit’s sake, spit it out, man!” Spyke exclaimed impatiently.
“Okay,” Kelby took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “I know you are in a
relationship with two men while I’m not in any. And even though I am very much
interested in someone, I don’t know how to make the first move. How did you get
together with your partners? Who instigated things?”
“I just asked Larry if we could be mates and together we decided we
would share Aiden. Everything sure as hell worked out good when the big guy
went along with our plans.”
“In other words, you made the first move, right?”
“Yeah, where Larry was concerned but it was Larry who approached Aiden.”
Spyke turned serious for a moment. “But it doesn’t matter who does what first as
long as you end up together,” he softly commented.
Kelby quietly nodded his agreement. “I just wish I was confident enough
to approach him,” he whispered wistfully.
“So, are you gonna tell me who the hell we are talking about here or is
it supposed to be a big secret?” Spyke had a pretty good idea but wanted
confirmation.
“Ah, I’m not sure if I want anyone to know just yet,” Kelby hesitated.
“Oh, fuck it. It’s Quentin, isn’t it?”
“Have I been that transparent?” Kelby blushed in mortification, looking down with a small smile gracing his face at
the mention of Quentin’s name.
“Hey, I’m a very observant guy!” Spyke grinned at his friend’s
discomfort. “Now if you don’t have any more questions, I gotta get to work
‘cause there’s a ton of dirty, stinkin’ clothes to be washed.”
“No, thanks, you’ve already answered them all and I have to get to the
supply tent where Quentin and I work together on updating the inventory every
Friday afternoon.”
TBC….
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