Part 7


Over the next week, the two men fell into a comfortable rhythm, living together as if they’d done it for years. Justin worked hard, striving to earn the money JC had advanced him. He continued his work on the upkeep of the house, fixing wobbly floorboards and peeling paint. He repaired the henhouse, spending all of one day chasing after the chickens that had roosted in the stables and bushes. And he beamed with pride as his garden started to sprout, tender shoots of vegetables peeking through the soil.

JC had been busy as well. Mr. Anderson had brought another horse for JC to train. Justin had hidden inside the house, his heart beating rapidly as JC dealt with the other man. But it seemed Mr. Anderson had accepted JC’s decision not to marry his daughter, even as Kati, as Mr. Anderson reported, still insisted upon it happening. Justin had never told JC about Kati watching them in town that day, fearing it would complicate their newfound love. For Justin did, in fact, love JC.

He just hadn’t told JC yet.

A summer rainstorm kept the men inside one night, precluding them from their normal stargazing. JC sat on the battered sofa, a lamp burning brightly as he read a book. Justin finished cleaning the dinner dishes and joined JC on the sofa, his head lowering into the older man’s lap, smiling as JC’s arm came to rest on Justin’s chest, rubbing softly.

“What are you reading?” Justin asked.

JC smiled down at Justin as he turned a page of the book. “A Tale of Two Cities, he told Justin.

“What’s it about?”

“Two men, in love with one woman, during the French Revolution,” JC explained. “You can read it when I’m finished.” Silence greeted JC’s offer. He looked down at Justin’s pink face, understanding dawning. “You can’t read, can you?”

Justin shrugged. “My pa took me out of school before I really learned, and, well, just never had the chance to go back.” Justin toyed with JC’s fingers as they lie on his chest. “Never really missed not knowing.”

JC opened his mouth, intent on offering to teach Justin how to read, but thought better of it for the moment. Plenty of time for that in the future. For now, JC would do what he could, what he hoped Justin would enjoy. He deftly flipped the book to the beginning, reading aloud.

“It was the best of time, it was the worst of times.”

***************

The stars were back the next night, bright in the inky sky. Justin rested his hand tentatively on the porch rail, the bandage shining whitely in the dark. He’d burned his hand on the stove earlier that day and had tried, unsuccessfully, to keep that fact hidden from JC, not wanting the other man to know how he failed.

But JC had seen the injury to Justin’s hand and had been angry, but only because Justin had tried to hide it, not because he’d hurt himself. Justin had tried to explain to JC, but the older man had silenced him with a kiss, bandaged his hand, and then fucked him senseless on the kitchen floor. JC hadn’t allowed Justin to cook dinner or clean up; instead, he’d waited on Justin, ordering Justin outside while he did the dishes.

The creak of the screen door signaled JC’s approach, and Justin sighed contentedly and leaned back as JC’s arms came around him. They stood quietly for a few moments, enjoying the night sky and each other’s presence.

“Why were you in prison?” Justin’s question was quiet and hesitant, but it was something he’d been thinking about for a while.

JC smiled against Justin’s hair. “I was wondering when you’d ask me that,” he said, squeezing Justin a bit harder.

Justin covered JC’s arms with his own. “You’re not a thief,” Justin declared. “Despite what the sheriff and Mr. Miller say.”

A chuckle rumbled in JC’s chest. ‘You don’t think I could steal?”

“I think you could,” Justin said. “But somehow, I doubt you would.” He twisted his head to look up at JC. “You didn’t, did you?”

JC kissed Justin’s nose. “No, I didn’t go to prison for stealing,” JC said. “I was in a federal Army prison after being court-martialed for disobeying a direct order.”

Justin blinked owlishly. “You were in the Army?”

“That so hard to believe?” Justin laughed. “Not only was I in the army, Justin but I was an officer. A West Pointer.” JC’s news was greeted by a blank expression on Justin’s face. “Never mind.”

“What did you, I mean, what didn’t you obey?” Justin queried.

“I refused to participate in a raid against an Indian settlement.”

A few words calmly spoken. But to Justin, those few words spoke volumes. In his travels, Justin had witnessed various episodes of mistreatment of Indians, and always felt bad for them. Mainly because he felt those that abused the Indians acted like bullies. It wasn’t as if the Indians could really fight back. The news that JC actually did something about it filled Justin with a sense of deepening the respect for the older man. He turned in JC’s arms, eyes bright in the moonlight.

JC cocked his head at Justin’s expression. “What?”

Justin shook his head. “I’m just…it’s nothing.” He lowered his head to JC’s shoulder.

***********

Justin watched as JC removed his clothes. This part was still foreign, still a bit awkward for Justin. Though he loved sleeping with JC, the actual getting into bed was rather…odd. He scooted away a bit as JC slipped beneath the covers. JC looked at Justin, smiling as he pulled Justin close.

“Trying to get away from me already?” JC joked, blowing out the lamp and flooding the room with soft moonlight.

Justin lifted and shook his head. “No, just.” He shrugged. “I’m just not used to this, JC.”

“This?”

Justin waved a hand. “This. Us. Being with someone.”

JC yawned broadly, snuggling deeper into the bed. “Me, neither.”

“Really?” Justin squeaked.”

“Really,” JC affirmed, laughing.

Justin lowered his head, resting it on JC’s bare chest. He breathed deep, the scent of JC filling his brain and stirring his desires. He lifted a hand, tracing a finger along JC’s chest, wondering at the feel of skin and muscle. Justin watched in fascination as JC’s nipple puckered at a slight touch.

He wondered how that nipple would taste.

Slowly, he slipped his tongue out and lightly flicked the nub of flesh, laving with his tongue. Yes, Justin thought. Oh, yes…tastes incredible. Justin continued his assault on JC’s chest, moving over to the other nipple, tonguing and biting and sucking.

JC moaned at Justin’s actions. This was the first time Justin had made the first move. The boy’s tentative touches were so exciting, driving JC wild. He twisted on the sheet as he felt Justin’s hand join his mouth, learning JC’s body, sliding slowing down to his straining erection.

Their eyes locked as Justin’s hand encircled JC’s shaft. “I love you,” Justin said quietly before dipping his head to JC’s groin.

JC’s eyes widened, both at Justin’s words and action. He groaned at the feel of Justin’s mouth on his most sensitive area…then screamed as his orgasm erupted.

************

Justin squinted against the bright sunlight. He snuggled closer to JC, willing the morning away.

“Come on, Justin.” JC’s voice rumbled in Justin’s ear. “Time to get up.”

Justin shook his head, covering his head with the sheet. “Go away,” he said, rolling over as JC got out of bed. “Hey!” he yelped as JC pulled the sheet away completely.

“We have to take the new horse to the Anderson place,” JC said, trying to pull Justin out of bed.

Justin’s movements stilled. “I’ll stay here,” he said quietly, climbing out of bed and slipping on his pants. He walked past JC and left the room.

“What’s wrong?” JC asked, getting his own clothes and dressing quickly. He followed Justin into the kitchen. “Why don’t you want to go with me?”

“I think it would be best if I stayed here,” Justin said, winching as he lifted the coffee pot with his burned hand.

“Let me do it,” JC said. He filled the pot and put it on the stove, stoking the fire in the box and adding more wood. “Sit down and tell me what is wrong.”

Justin sighed. “Remember when we were in town?” JC nodded. “Remember, you told that girl you wouldn’t marry her?”

Again, JC nodded. “I remember, Justin,” he said. “What does that have to do with you not coming with me?”

Justin looked down at the table, frowning a bit at the food bits left on its surface. JC hadn’t done a very good job cleaning last night, Justin thought, rising to the sink and grabbing a rag.

“Justin!” JC’s sharp voice broke his thoughts. “What about the day in town?”

Justin turned to JC. “I think she knows.”

“Knows?”

“About us.”

JC blinked. “Us?”

“Us,” Justin nodded. “She had this look in her eyes, like she saw something, knew something.” Justin walked over to the table and wiped it down. “So, I think it might be better for me to stay here.”

JC was silent for a long moment, watching Justin clean. “You’re right,” JC finally agreed. “I’m not happy about it. But yes, no sense in giving Kati anymore to think about.”

“Go clean up and I’ll get your breakfast,” Justin said, shoving JC across the room.

JC paused at the doorway. “Justin.”

Whatever else JC might have said was stopped by the sound of approaching horses hooves outside the front door. JC walked quickly to the door, pulling it open to find the sheriff dismounting from his horse. JC stopped at the edge of the porch.

The sheriff stood next to the porch steps. “Chasez,” he said.

“Sheriff.”

“Like a word with you, if you don’t mind.” His gaze squinted past JC, trying to look inside the open door. “About your, uh, hired man.”

“He paid the Miller’s for the things he stole, Sheriff,” JC said.

“Yep, heard about that.” The sheriff spat tobacco onto one of the porch steps. “The thievin’ ain’t what I’m here about, though.”

“Oh?”

The sheriff tipped his hat back. “Been hearing some interesting things from young Kati Anderson. About you and the boy.”

JC stiffened at the sheriff’s words. “Really,” he replied, keeping his pounding heart from affecting his voice.

The sheriff nodded, stepping up onto one of the porch steps. “Mind if I come inside?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I don’t really need your permission, Chasez,” the sheriff spat.

“Actually, you do,” JC countered. “A little thing called the Fourth Amendment to the Bill of Rights says you can’t come into my house without due cause.”

“I got cause, boy,” the sheriff countered. “We in this state have a little thing called the Anti-Sodomy Law of 1886,” he said, mocking JC. “Ever hear of it?”

“That’s quite an accusation, Sheriff.” JC said, his blood running cold. “Especially when all you have is the testimony of a scorned teenager.” JC caught the sheriff’s shocked expression. “Didn’t you know? I told Kati I wouldn’t marry her. She’s not taking it well. This could very well be her revenge against me.”

The sheriff’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t want to marry Kati Anderson?” he scoffed. “Why the hell not?”

“I have my reasons,” JC said.

“If they’re to bugger that boy of yours, then I can lock you up.” He stepped down from the porch step, placing his hat back on his head and walking to his horse. “I’d think twice about marrying up with that girl, Chasez.”

JC watched the sheriff ride away. “You can come out now, Justin,” he said, feeling Justin lurking behind the screen door.

“JC?” he said tentatively, touching the older man on his arm. “What are you going to do?”

JC looked down at Justin, smiling sadly. “The only I can,” he said, waking into the house.



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