“Have ye by any chance seen that wee partner of ours, Larry?”
“No, I haven’t. Last night he mentioned something about having an early
breakfast and being the first one out to help with the fencing this morning. I
wonder who he thinks he’s in a race with?” Larry responded with a soft chuckle.
“Hmm, now why would I be thinking that rapscallion is trying to evade
his physical this morn,” Aiden grumbled as he set off to locate his partner
with every intention of seeing to it that Spyke kept his scheduled time with
Lakota, even if the big Scot had to carry him to it.
Aiden and Spyke arrived at
the infirmary on time for Spyke’s appointment. The achievement hadn’t been
accomplished without a heroic effort on the younger man’s part to impede his
partner’s intentions.
The plain fact was Spyke
totally disagreeing with the council’s arbitrary decision regarding mandatory
physicals. It wasn’t that he objected seeing a physician or that he disliked
the island’s medical staff. No! It was strictly a matter of principle. He felt
it violated his rights as a free man.
Aiden strolled into the
infirmary with his youngest partner slung over his shoulder. He let Spyke slide
down until his backside landed on the examining table, but before the Scotsman
could take his leave, the young man jumped down and tried to get out of the
tent first.
The insubordination was quickly squelched by the big Scotsman. Yanking
down Spyke’s trousers and underwear, Aiden delivered half a dozen hard swats to
the upturned naked bottom causing an outburst of swear words to escape his
captive’s mouth.
Once the chastened man was set back on the table, Aiden turned without
uttering a word and walked out leaving Lakota to deal with another
unenthusiastic patient.
Kevin was in the medical ward and he had glanced up at the raised voices
and again when the sounds he perceived coming through the curtain were clearly
those of a hand slapping against bare skin. Though it was the accepted way in
these days and times for parents and mentors to physically punish their
charges, it was not an overly common occurrence for one partner to reprimand the other in a physical way.
Still, Kevin knew enough of the ways of the world to know that such
things did happen, and he was suddenly glad that he had been privy to the
confrontation in the other room. It made him feel less alienated, in fact even
more accepted in this new yet strangely comforting environment. It was not only
his sexual preference as the common factor that had landed him here. Apparently
his desire to someday engage in an authoritative role with his partner was also
shared by some of the others exiles as well. It had set him apart in the other
world, but not any longer. Maybe there were men here who shared his predisposition.
Fortunately, the brief discord had not disturbed Dallas, who was sleeping
soundly for the first time that morning.
Looking up at Yancey, Kevin noticed the man hadn’t given any sign of
having heard what transpired in the examining room next to the ward they were
in. Could Yancey also be one of those who believed in physical discipline
between partners or was he simply too much the professional? The nurse merely
continued attending the patient presently in his care.
‘Admirably proficient to the end,’ thought Kevin as he turned his
attention back to the young man lying on the cot in front of him.
Samuel appeared right after
the noon meal. Considering he’d spent the greater part of his adult life living
alone, he was open and sincere when conversing with both Lakota and Yancey. The doctor easily recognised the effort the man was putting forth to emerge
himself in this new life and become a part of their developing community.
Lakota was also impressed by the man’s willingness to work hard at any task assigned
him.
“Hey, Wayne, I gotta ask you
something.” Galen spoke somewhat breathlessly as he tried to keep up with the
longer strides of the other man. They were taking scraps from the noon meal to
the puppy they had been concealing for the past several days.
“What?”
“I’ve b-been hearing some
talk about Kelby m-missing a p-puppy. W-would you know anything about
that?"
Wayne’s eyes opened wide, but
he shrugged carelessly at Galen. “No!”
His voice was cold and invited no further discussion.
“You’re sure you didn’t take
Kelby’s p-puppy by m-mistake?” Galen didn’t let his companion’s dismissive
attitude deter him. He needed answers to quell his rising suspicions and
although he was willing to give the other man the benefit of the doubt, he had
his own involvement to think about.
“Look, you keep your mouth
shut about the puppy, okay? You told me you’d keep it a secret! You promised!”
Galen stepped back in surprise at Wayne’s verbal attack. Were his worse
fears being confirmed? “You did take Kelby’s p-puppy! And w-what’s w-worse; you
knew it w-was his!” Galen accused, the hurt from the other man’s duplicity
easily discernible on his young face.
Suddenly, Wayne felt tears
prick at the back of his eyes. The whole situation was getting totally out of
hand. He had acted on impulse. He hadn’t meant this to turn so ugly. He had no
idea what he was going to do.
For a moment, he considered
running to Samuel and confessing the whole thing to him. Samuel seemed about
the only friend he had, and Wayne thought if anyone could save him, it would be
the ex-miner. But just as he started out, something held him back. ‘What would
Samuel think? Would he be appalled as well?’ Wayne thought fearfully and
shuddered.
“I only p-promised to keep it
a secret if it w-was a surprise for Wes. I didn’t know the whole truth b-back
then,” Galen sadly whispered out his explanation.
“Go to hell, Galen. You are a
tattletale! I’ll never trust you again if you snitch on me. I swear I will
never forgive you ...” Wayne’s voice trailed off.
Galen was every bit as upset
as Wayne was. “I never said I w-was gonna tell. Right now, I don’t know
w-what to do.” His chest tightened as his mind raced to come up with a
solution.
Wayne turned on his heels and stalked off, his back straight. He knew
Galen would squeal. He could see the disgust in Galen’s eyes and if he were
honest with himself, he felt the same disgust. Well, for the time being he was
just going to put it out of his mind.
Galen watched the other man stomp off and threw himself down on the ground.
The puppy coming over and nuzzling into him provided a small amount of comfort.
“How can I tell Thomas about you?” he asked, lifting the little dog onto his
chest. “I don’t w-want to tattle on Wayne and I don’t w-want to get into a b-bunch
of trouble either, but Kelby’s really w-worried about you.”
He gently laid the little dog back in its hiding place. “I b-better get
b-back to camp. I got other chores that need tending to.” Galen then hastily
made his way back, hoping his absence hadn’t been noticed.
Yancey was unhurriedly finishing up some chores in the infirmary when he
heard the tent flap opening behind him. He glanced up from where he was putting
away the instruments used during the previous physical. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, please. Mitchell sent me to see the doctor,” Brodie explained,
lifting up his left hand that was tightly gripped in his right one.
“Lakota has stepped out to search for herbs. Would you let me take care
of that for you, Brodie?” Yancey requested in an easy friendly manner, noticing
the blood on the front of the man’s shirt.
“Sure! You’re almost as good at this as the doctor is, right?” Brodie
asked nervously. His thumb was throbbing and he didn’t think he could wait for
the doctor’s return to have it cared for. “I mean, you wouldn’t be here if you
weren’t, right?”
“Right to both questions,” Yancey assured the younger man. “If you’ll
have a seat, please,” he invited, indicating the large piece of tree trunk,
which all the earlier patients had used as a chair. “Let’s see what we have
here.”
He gently examined, cleaned and bandaged the injured digit, quietly
talking the entire time. “Let me guess, you’re working on the fence being built
to enclose the pasture, right?”
“Yeah, and I’m not very good at it. Never did have much need to wield a
hammer before coming here,” Brodie replied absently, concentrating on what the
nurse was doing while trying not to squirm.
“Well, fortunately, this is not too serious.” Yancey kept an eye on his
patient and seeing how jittery the young man was, decided to change the
subject. “So, Brodie, how did you find the voyage here?”
“It wasn’t too bad. At least I wasn’t sick like some of the others.”
“Luckily, I wasn’t very ill either. But let me tell you, if I had to
depend on my sea-faring abilities to make a living, I’m afraid I’d starve to
death.” Yancey was pleased when the young man chuckled and relaxed slightly.
“There, all done! Now, as difficult as it might prove to be, try not to
hit it again,” the nurse teased. “We’ll change that dressing when you come in
for your physical in a couple of days; unless, of course, you get it wet or too
dirty before then.” Yancey began tidying up and putting away the supplies he
had been using while Brodie stood up to leave.
“Ah, I-I’d like to thank you for all your help,” Brodie stammered. He
looked towards the curtain made from sheets that divided the Infirmary when a
groan was heard from behind it. He turned quizzical eyes back to Yancey.
“You are more than welcome, Brodie. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve
another patient to attend to.” Yancey smiled before dismissing the younger man
and stepping behind the roughly improvised drapery.
Brodie peeked through the tiny opening to see what was going on. Gossip
had been going around the small community about one of them being treated for prior
opiate use and Brodie realised he was seeing the truth behind the rumours. He
saw Yancey speaking softly to the two men in the other room. Brodie remembered
them from previous occasions when they had crossed path; something that happened
regularly in this small community of theirs. The blond man nodded in understanding,
while the black-haired man writhed around on the cot and whimpered.
Even knowing he shouldn’t be spying; Brodie was unable to move away from
the curtain. Yancey’s kindness, his sensitive, calming speech, his gentle touch
had his unseen audience mesmerised. Brodie almost envied the man on the bed, as
he found himself wishing it was he whom Yancey was touching. He forced himself
to back away from the scene. He left the tent and with his mind racing, slowly
made his way over to the mess hall.
It was late afternoon when Lakota finally sat down with a cup of tea and
started writing out two new files. He began with Spyke Lambert, age twenty. A
slight smile crossed the doctor’s handsome features as he recalled the young
man’s rather unorthodox arrival for his morning exam. He appeared, slung over
one of Aiden’s massive shoulders, and was deposited unceremoniously on the exam
table. In the end; despite his initial reluctance, Spyke did manage to
cooperate enough for Lakota to complete the physical.
The doctor wrote the following: At five feet, eight inches this patient
is slight in stature and build but proves to be in good health and has a very
colourful vocabulary. He was quite embarrassed and reluctant though when asked
to turn around. The reasoning soon became evident when the large red hand-prints
on his backside came into view, caused of course by Spyke having given his
partner a difficult time about coming in for his physical. Aiden had felt the
need to impress upon the young fellow the importance of obeying the rules.
‘I must confess that I had initially been surprised at the three-way
relationship which has so quickly developed between Aiden, Spyke and Larry.
However, I am certain that Aiden Shea is man enough to handle two young lovers
and keep them in line.” The doctor shook his head and smiled at his thoughts.
Samuel Boyd, age 30, six feet in height, ex-miner. This large well-built
man of heavy musculature is of robust health. He has numerous black blemishes on
his back and informed me that he’d worked in the mines when a boy in Ireland. There
are also several additional scars to his arms and chest from burns as a result
of his short stint as a blacksmith. A profession he apparently didn’t excel at.
I am of the opinion that as reserved and mild-mannered as this man is, he may
also be a force to be reckoned with. I doubt he would suffer fools gladly. I
have seen him spending time with one of the Bentley twins and think the lad will
be in good hands but had better learn to toe the line if he wants to maintain a
peaceful relationship with Samuel.
Lakota opened the book in which Yancey had been recording his notes on
Dallas. He carefully read each hour’s vitals and comments. Their poor patient
was having a difficult time of it and this last twenty-four hours must have
felt like a journey through hell. However, the young man was strong and had an
excellent supporter in the person of Kevin. Lakota had little doubt about the
future of that relationship.
The doctor had prepared some herbs to help Dallas’ stomach settle a bit.
It was important they keep him hydrated and with the amount the young man was
vomiting, that was becoming a concern. Lakota planned to have Yancey prepare a
tea from the herbs and administer two drams each hour.
Lakota checked the time on his watch and sighed. It was time to fetch
Gille. Last night’s emergency left him unavailable to instruct Gille on the
chores the young man was to perform as his week’s punishment was drawing to a
close.
The doctor knew he needed to get in an early bedtime as he was to
relieve Yancey at midnight, and it was sure to be another long difficult night
for both them and Dallas. He had made Kevin promise to sleep for at least six
hours before returning to the infirmary, as the man would have exhausted
himself if left to his own devices.
Lakota found Gille sitting
quietly near the fire pit, seemingly deep in contemplation, shoulders hunched
and keeping to himself. Lakota gave him a long-measured look and then suggested
that if the younger man was ready, they should get over to the medical tent.
Gille flushed as he got to
his feet. He gave a tiny nod of the head as he obediently followed the doctor and
was surprised and pleased to once again feel that unexpected spring in his
footsteps. Somehow, he didn’t feel like he’d really been punished at all! Their
conversation throughout dinner each evening had been light, with both men being
very aware of one another’s presence and silently acknowledging they would wait
to be alone and have sufficient time before they allowed what they’d been
feeling to show.
As Gille accompanied Lakota
back to the infirmary, he stole a look at the big man’s strong features. He
felt a shiver run down his spine. ‘What would it be like to belong to someone
like him,’ Gille wondered. ‘He looks so serious and yes, even a little stern.’
Without saying much, Lakota
explained what chores he wanted Gille to finish up. The younger man had already
been shown how to clean and tidy the area; so he was left alone while the
doctor went into the back of the tent to check on the patient there.
Gille was curious. He’d heard
about someone requiring constant watching until he was through with the drugs.
His curiosity got the better of him and he stole a quick look through the
sheets that were hung to divide the examination room from the patient care
area. A dark-haired young man lay shivering on a bed even though he was
swaddled in blankets,
Lakota was talking softly to
a blond man who had introduced himself during the earlier days on the island as
Kevin. Gille correctly surmised the shivering patient was the one who had said
his name was Dallas .
The doctor was explaining that Dallas’ reactions were normal, and that Kevin
was doing a good job of caring for him.
‘The guy is crapping in his
bed!’ Gille realised with horror. Though repulsed, he watched as Kevin and
Lakota quickly cleaned up the sobbing man and changed his bedding. They’d
obviously done this before, as neither appeared bothered by it.
Suddenly realising he should
not be a witness to this, Gille pulled back and hurried over to complete the
tasks Lakota had assigned to him. A moment later, Lakota came back to the exam
room, went to the basin and washed up before looking over to Gille. “Let’s go
for a walk now, okay?”
They walked in companionable
silence until they had moved far enough from the campsite as not to be seen or
overheard by anyone.
“Gille, do you know what
confidentiality means?” Lakota softly asked.
“I think so,” the younger man
replied. “It’s like a secret, right?”
“Yes, it is. But for a
physician it is also a trust. A trust your patients give you that you will not
talk about what you know of their health or any illness they may have or any
personal information they might give you. There are exceptions made at times
for immediate family or a special person the patient had designated as being in
their trust, but even still some things are kept just between patient and
doctor. Just as the things you told me during your physical exam are
confidential, so is Dallas’ care and treatment. When you work in the infirmary,
anything you see or hear must never be repeated outside. Nor should you be
going out of your way to watch things which are not your business. How do you
think Dallas would feel if he knew you’d been spying on him?”
Gille hung his head in shame.
“You knew I was looking?”
“I saw the curtain moving,”
Lakota explained without accusation.
“I’m sorry, Lakota. It won’t
happen again.”
Lakota stopped walking and
turned the anxious face towards him. “No, it will not. I will not tolerate my
patient’s privacy being compromised at any time. If I ever find you doing so
again, you will think the sanctions given you by the council are a picnic.”
Unshed tears welled in the
younger man’s eye as he feared he’d lost his chance at forming a relationship
with this man. “I understand. I’ll go back to my tent now. You won’t have to
worry about me talking.” As he turned to go, Gille felt a hand on his shoulder.
“I was hoping we could
continue our walk, if you’d like to that is,” Lakota softy invited.
Gille brightened visibly.
“You’re not angry with me?”
“No, Gille, I am not angry
with you. Just remember what we discussed, and everything will be fine.” Lakota
looked out over the ocean. The sun was getting low in the sky and colouring the
horizon in shades of pink. “I have always loved watching the sunset over the
water. It is especially nice to do so while in the company of a handsome man.”
Gille looked down at himself
uncomfortably. They’d both discarded their shoes to walk barefoot in the sand
so at least he didn’t have that to embarrass him, but his clothes were still
tattered and threadbare. He looked exactly like what he was, a poor man. What
could possibly motivate Lakota to call him handsome?
“You are, you know!” Lakota
stated.
Gille started. “I’m what?”
“Handsome, of course. Very
handsome as a matter of fact,” Lakota repeated with sincerity. He reached for
the younger man’s fair-skinned hand and drew it into his own larger dark one.
“I am very attracted to you, Gille, more so than I’ve been to anyone in a very
long time. But we are living in a very small community and we need to be
careful. All of us do. We will be here for a very long time, so it’s important
we don’t do anything rash that we might regret in the future. I do not want to
make a mistake with you. I am looking for a committed relationship with someone
who wants the same. I know such a commitment cannot be formed in a day. If you
have no interest in a permanent relationship, then I will take this no
further.”
Gille looked into the dark
eyes of the man before him and felt his heart squeeze. Hardly daring to believe
how lucky he was, he was equally gripped with fear that this wondrous chance
would pass him by. Grabbing courage in both hands, he spoke as firmly as he
could. “I don’t know much about relationships, but I do know I’m attracted to
you too. I would like very much to have someone in my life who will stay with
me and love me as much as I love him. I’ve been on my own since I was twelve
years old and I think I’m very tired of being alone and scared in this world.”
Lakota drew the younger man
to him, wrapping his arms protectively around the lithe body. “If you would let
me, Gille, I would like very much to keep you from being alone and scared
anymore.” This said he tipped his head and kissed him deeply. When they finally
broke the kiss, both men were left breathless and aroused.
Gille tilted his hips to
press his erection against that of the larger man. Lakota in turn grasped the
smaller man’s buttocks and pulled him tightly against his raging response. His
body was screaming out to further the contact, but a saner part of his brain
won out and forced him to pull back.
“Too fast!” he said
breathlessly. “We need to take things a bit more slowly and be sure we know
what we’re doing.”
“I know what I’m doing, Lakota,”
Gille replied. “And I want this! Maybe I’m crazy but I know this is right and I
feel we are meant to be together.” He dropped to his knees and reached up to
undo his soon-to-be lover’s trousers. He pulled the heavy twill pants down and
fumbled to release the string holding up the soft cotton under drawers.
Lakota felt no desire to stop
this onslaught and he gasped as he felt Gille take his hardened member into his
mouth. Although he suspected the young man had never done it before, Gille instinctively
seemed to know just what to do in order to please him and Lakota soon found
himself thrusting into the moist warmth surrounding him. Within minutes, he
felt his balls drawing up and the shudder that accompanied his impending
climax. He tried to pull out but Gille held fast and soon he was spurting into
the waiting mouth. After taking the time to savour every drop, Gille let the
softening penis slip from his lips.
Lakota bent and drew the
younger man up right again. “Oh God, Gille, you’re incredible!” He kissed him
deeply, tasting his own seed in his lover’s mouth. Lakota reached between them
and quickly had Gilles pants undone and pushed to his ankles.
‘Tomorrow,’ he thought, ‘this
beautiful young man will have some decent clothing including underwear. Nathan
has promised to take care of it.’ He grasped the hard penis in his hand and
caressed it firmly before dropping to his own knees and pulling it into his
mouth.
Gille let out a wail of
pleasure. No one had ever done this for him before and he could not believe the
feeling. He felt embarrassed when he found himself coming only seconds later as
he’d wanted to last long enough to enjoy this pleasure as much as possible. As
soon as Lakota released him, he fell to his knees with his lover and the two
men toppled over into the sand to lay side by side, sated and happy.
After they had recovered from
their post coital bliss, Lakota drew Gille to him and lay gentle kisses on his
lover’s face. “We need to talk, Tehila. I had planned to discuss this with you
before we went so far but,” he laughed, “we seem to have moved a little faster
than I had anticipated.”
His voice then took on a more
serious tone. “Gille, I have very strong
beliefs in the way a relationship between two men should be conducted. I
believe greater harmony can be found when each member of the partnership has
specific roles. I am a leader, Gille, and I need to have a partner who is
willing to follow my direction and accept that there will be rules of behaviour
and consequences if those rules are broken.”
Gille’s eyes were wide open,
taking in the words of this wonderful man he’d come to trust in such a short
time. “Consequences?” he asked.
“Yes, Tehila, consequences. I
would apply discipline, which would include spanking if I felt it was warranted.
I want to love you, care for you, and protect you. Gille, I would never harm
you or do anything without your consent. However, once given I will take the
responsibility to care for you and discipline you when necessary. You would be mine and I would be yours
exclusively.” He paused to watch Gille’s face, looking for fear or discomfort. Seeing none there he continued, “we can discuss the rules and expectations
we both want for our relationship later, but I need to know now what you think
of this.” Lakota held his breath. He wanted this to work. He knew he was
quickly falling in love with this beautiful young man and he needed to know
Gille could live with the structure he would maintain and the discipline he
would administer.
“I think I like the sound of
this, Lakota. I have been alone so long with no one to help me learn what is
right. It’s what got me in trouble and how I ended up here. It would be good to
let someone else take on that responsibility. I’m not sure that I would like
the discipline part but I know you will be fair and kind so I will trust you to
do what is right.” He smiled. “I also like what you were calling me. Tehila?
What does it mean?”
Lakota laughed. “It means
beloved, which you are.”
TBC….
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