24.1.12

THE TALBOT RANCH



© 2012 by Jeff Austin
   
"I need a good, tough man ta help me locate stranded cows near the Lost River range!" When Price was looking for a cowhand, he just drove out to the local feed store on a busy Saturday morning, stood on the creaky, old wooden floor and yelled out what he wanted so that the local ranchers would hear. He was a primitive guy who little regard for formalities. 
But it turned out to be much more effective and direct than a newspaper ad and the internet he had no interest in using.
    "I'll guarantee a man enough work till spring. If he's real useful, he could stay on through summer, but I ain't making no promises." Price wasn't a large man, but he was incredibly strong, buff and a ferocious fighter. In his twenties and early thirties, he rode bulls with the Professional Rodeo Association and did well enough to earn a three  World Championship in Las Vegas. The belt buckle he wore everyday was a reminder to all men. 
   "I got a man I could spare ya, Price." 
   "I'll pass yer offer, Luke. You ain't got nuthin' but farm boys over on yer place. I've seen walk around with music plugs in their ears, no thanks! Jus' like I said, I need a strong cowboy." Price was often rude,  brutal and fearlessly direct.  
   The man who was offering spoke from behind a row of brand new, fresh leathered saddles that were set up for display. Other cowboys looked down to the floor or away in embarrassment for the poor fool. Once more, no man dared take too long a look in Price's direction. He had a mean eye and didn't take kindly to any lengthy glances. Any long glance was viewed as a challenge, of course he never backed down from a challenge. Price wasn't an easy guy to be around and had very few friends which suited him just fine. His sprawling ranch ran the length between two mountain ranges east to west, and the distance from one river the the other, north to south. No one was quite sure how much property he owned, but within the past 5 years he made three purchases of no less than 1200 acres and owned quite a bit before those purchases. 
   He had little use for socializing and the only time he came to town was when he need supplies or to pickup one of his boys who had gone into one of the taverns, got drunk and got into a fight. While most ranchers discouraged their men from drinking and fighting, Price felt a man needed to throw his fists around every now and then just to keep up his toughness. He took pride knowing that all his ranch hands were the best fighters around. No one disputed that, however, some quietly disputed whether his cowboys were the best riders around or not.
   "Is that it? Guessin' ain't none of you men know of any cowboys looking for a job?" He stood there cocky and defiant with one boot perched on top of a bag of oats, both thumbs dug in behind that big silver belt buckle reminding all those men just who they were dealing with. A brazen grin spread across his whiskered, handsome face. There were about a dozen guys milling around, carrying coffee cups and doing their best not to challenge Price. 
    "Awright, you enjoy yer fancy-ass coffee," he laughed to himself and then pulled out a wad of one hundred dollar bills, dropped a few on the counter while the clerk nervously rang him up and handed him back his change.
   "I'll bring my truck 'round the back. I want it loaded all up while I head across the street to the hardware store." He looked the store clerk straight in the eye and asked very slowly, "You ain't gonna have any kinda' problem getting my rig loaded up while I'm over there now, are ya?"
   "No sir, we'll have it loaded up."
   "Good man, I'll be back in about 15." His boot heels clacked against the old, rickety wooden floor slates as he moved across the room. "Ya'll got any good cowboys, send 'em over to my ranch, got that guys?" The bells on the front door clanged as he opened it and walked out. Most of the men in the room wanted to make some kind of comment about him after he left, but no one dared. A few made eye contact with each other, then moved on.
  Brandon was tough, buff and a talented wrestler who grew up working on a Kansas farm. He went on dates to simply to deflect any ideas that he might be gay. Although he never had sex with a man, the truth was, he really had no interest in women. As long as he could recall, he loved men's bodies and loved to wrestle them. 
   After a year in college, he realized he didn't want to be a student and yearned to go back to work in the outdoors again.  Extremely handsome and very quiet, he kept his secret to himself and never told a soul. He would certainly miss wrestling because it was the only chance he had to be close to another man's body. But now at least,  he would be free to try and find another man who might want to do what he wanted so badly to try. Almost every moment of every day he fantasized about sex with another man. He wanted something more than just showering with them after a wrestling meet. He wanted to find a good looking man who might agree to get naked with him. He wanted to touch him, hold him, maybe try kissing; even be open to doing sexual things together. 
   He left University of Iowa and drove out west, clear over to Idaho to see an old friend of his father's. When he arrived the man hobbled down the steps of the ranch house while his wife stood inside the front door wiping her hands on her apron. 
   "Dang-blasted, look at you Brandon! Gee-willikers, I ain't see you since you was a toe-headed boy riding goats at Pee-Wee Rodeo at the county fair!" The big man smiled and held out his massive, calloused hand. Brandon bypassed and gave the tough old man a bear hug. 
   "Dad always spoke well 'bout you Mr. Nelson," Brandon whispered into the man's ear as the two released each other.
   "Aw, now call me Don for geez-sakes," he said, showing a little embarrassment. "Look at you boy, you're in fine shape." The big man stepped back and admired Brandon's big, athletic build. "Your aunt Ida says you was a college rass-ler. I know you did well in high school back there in Kansas." 
   "One year, was all the college I wanted. I liked wrestling, just didn't care much for college."
   The big man took off his ball cap with the chainsaw logo and scratched his head. "Yea, I don't blame ya son, I was never much fer book-learning ma-self;  gotta be working with my hands." He heard his wife clear her throat from the top of the big porch. "Oh, yea, you remember May Dee, ma wife?"
   "Bring that young boy in here now Mr. Nelson, it's cold out there!" she said playfully from behind the screen door.
   "Oh, geez, c'mon in. I hope you haven't had dinner yet?"
   "I don't want to put you through no trouble." The two men climbed the stairs and made a beeline to the front door where the smell of pot roast was wafting through the screen and into the frigid air.
   After dinner, Brandon got right to the point, "Any other farms or ranches needing a good hand round these parts?" 
   "Well, lemmie see here." He took off the cap and scratched his head again. Things will be starting to pickup a bit in the spring. I can use you then and in the meantime if you want to do a few things around here, We'll give ya room and board till ya git on yer feet. Oh, I'm sure May Dee won't mind."
   As she got up to gather the dishes from the table, she smiled directly at Brandon, "We'd love to have you here. Come spring, Don will put you to work."
   "That's awfully nice of you folks an' I don't want to seem ungrateful, but I'm wanting to get busy right away. Maybe do some cowboy work. Ya see, I'm used to working real hard to stay in competitive form for the wrestling team. Fact is I'll get soft and lazy sitting around eating all this great food that your wife is cooking." He smiled at her as she blushed.
   The old man studied him for a moment, than offered, "Well, I actually do know about a man who is looking for a cowboy to pull strats out of snow drifts till spring. He'll fire ya if he loses so much as one head of cattle. He's a tough, mean bastard an' he likes his ranch hands rough and ready."
   "I can work for anybody, John an' I love working hard!"
   "Yea, I know it Brandon." He took off his cap again and scratched his head.
   "Is it full time cowboy work?"
   "Oh yea, but I am reluctant to give you his number, 'cause you'll never forgive me!"
   "You talking about Price Talbot?" his wife shouted from over the sound of the dish water filling up the sink.
   "Yup. He was shouting out at the feed store today."
   "Sounds like a character," Brandon smiled. 
   May Dee walked into the dinning room wiping her hands on her apron and looked Brandon square in the eye, "I would not describe him that way. No, I would describe him as a very mean man." She gazed narrowly at Brandon and then went back into the kitchen to finish up the dishes.
    "Well, I have to back my wife up on that, son." He moved closer to Brandon's ear and whispered, "He's a bastard!"
   "I heard that Mr. Nelson! Ought'ta be ashamed using that kind of language 'round the boy."
   It took some work, but he finally convinced the old man to get him in touch with Price Talbot.   Brandon used his cellphone and called him the next day.
   "Mr. Talbot, name's Brandon Laramie. Don Nelson says you're looking for a skilled cowboy to handle some winter work."
   "Where ya from boy?"
   "Kansas, sir. Grew up working on farms and ranches most of my life."
   "I don't need no farm hands, boy. I need real cowboys who can rope and ride, you understand me boy?"
   "Yes sir. And that's what I do."
   "What the hell you doin' in Idaho?"
   "Well, with all due respect, looking for a job, sir."
   "Wha', there's no jobs in Kansas?"
   "Well, I was in Iowa, wrestling for the University of Iowa. Just had my fill with collge sir, wanted to get back outside and work with my hands."
   "Yea, hmmm. College boy," he snickered. "Well, I'll tell ya boy. The last thing I want is some smart-ass college kid coming up to my spread an' tellin' me how ta run my goddamn ranch!"
   "Yes sir," replied Brandon. He was then silent, waiting for Price to speak.
   "So, now, who told you I was lookin' fer a cowboy?"
   "Don Nelson."
   "Oh, yea, that crazy-ass farmer over by Clear Creek?" Price snickered again in the phone.
   "He was a good friend of my pa's," answered Brandon confidently. 
   "Well, if you want a job, boy, go on down to the feed store at noon today and I'll meet ya there. I don't want strangers up at my ranch. That's about I'll I can promise ya right now. "
   "I understand Mr. Price and I will be there today."
   "Yea, is that all ya want, boy?" 
   "Yes sir, see you later."
   Brandon hung up the phone and walked over to the feed barn where Don was busy tending to his milk cows. "I'm looking for the feed store. He didn't give me any name."
   "That be Krammer's Feeds, owned by Ned and his his wife Darlene. Price only calls it the 'feed store.' They're wonderful folks. Ned gets a little nervous around Price; he has a way of certainly intimidating just about any man, let alone those laid back, easy going kinda' guys like Ned."
   "Well, we'll see about that. I'm planning on meeting him over there today at noon. You were right, he's a tough customer," Brandon smiled. "But it ain't nothin' I can't handle. I ain't looking for nothing but a good, honest day's work."
   "Well, that's certainly the right attitude, son. You know gosh-dang well I wish ya nothing but the best."

   Brandon drove clear over the Saw Tooth Mountains till he reached a small town south of Challis. He drove slowly down through Main Street till the very end, then turned his pickup into a parking lot where there was a huge brown building with a large hay barn and small grain silo. The lot was just about loaded full with pickup trucks and flat beds.  He drove clear around to the back where there was a two-truck loading dock. Don told Brandon that Price always parked his big Dodge Ram diesel there, as if it were his own private parking spot. Apparently nobody, including the owner -- ever challenged him about it. He also told him not to be surprised if Price showed up with one or two other guys just for intimidation purposes. 
   Brandon parked his rig, then hopped up on the loading dock and went in through the back door where it was busy with ranchers and cowboys moving bags of feed around with hand trucks, drinking coffee and talking shop. Brandon walked over to where a small group of cowboys were gathered. As he approached, two of them turned to glance over their shoulders at him. They were wearing worn, faded Wranglers that formed perfectly to their buff, shapely asses, he thought to himself. 
   "Anyone here seen Price Talbot?" as Brandon spoke, all three men sized him up. 
   "Can't say we have, not yet; he'll probably be here at some point."
   He could tell they were sizing up how muscular he was. He worked hard to have such an incredible body and loved showing it off.  He often fantasized, when handsome men looked at him, that one day, one of those men just might be the man that asks him to get naked. He imagined that was probably how it happened. The fact was, he surely didn't know any man who was gay and in these small towns, certainly couldn't start asking around. 
   "Well, I'm a little bit early, I guess." he said glancing at the clock on the wall with a seed corn logo from the 1970's printed on it.
   "Name's Brandon Laramie." He held out his hand and prepared to lock gripes with each one.
    "Why, you must be Don Nelson's friend," the man with the trimmed mustache and wonderfully kind browns eyes said to him as they shook hands. 
   "Yes, I am." 
   "Glad to meet you! I'm Colt, this here's Jace," Brandon turned and took Jace's extended hand. Like Colt, he looked handsome and rugged, perhaps, also in his early 30's. He had clear, blue eyes and a classic cowboy mustache that completely covered his mouth. With his chiseled jaw and high cheekbones framed under a worn straw Stetson he looked as if he walked right out of a classic western movie.
   "I'm Cutter." The last guy had his back towards Brandon, but once he turned around and put his hand out and introduced himself, Brandon was caught off-guard by his mesmerizing, ice blue eyes. His classically handsome face was incredibly remarkable; he looked like one of those models for a Ralph Loren western clothes.
  "Hear you were a professional wrestler?" Cutter asked him. For a fleeting moment he could barely think. Cutter was such a beautiful man, that his looks were distracting him. He knew he would have to learn to control his thoughts. He'd just arrived and with so many gorgeous men around,  it was far too dangerous if anyone would suspect him to be gay. 
   "No, I wasn't a professional. Gee, word gets around these parts mighty fast," he said good-naturedly. All three men laughed, "Yup, you're gonna learn quick that a secret won't last long around this little town. Word to the wise, watch what you get into!" Jace laughed. He looked like old black and white photos he had seen of a young Paul Newman. 
   "Awright, guys, I'll remember that for sure." Just then a big Dodge pickup sped into one of the two spaces in the loading dock. All the men stopped smiling. 
   "Well, buddy, there's the guy you're waiting for," Jace pointed. As the passenger door opened, a cocky young cowboy emerged who was chewing gum, wearing a black cowboy hat, boots and an arrogant smirk across his face. From the drivers side door, a man in his early 50's sporting a three-day beard with a neatly trimmed neckline, emerged. With a beefcake physique and Wranglers that were ironed with a perfect regulation crease down the center of each leg, he looked more like like a brawny Marine Lieutenant who had taken a little war-time off so that he could work around his ranch for the weekend. 
   Brandon watched him step away from the loading dock area and over to the side of the building where Ponderosa Pines came from atop the mountains in the distance, clear into town. His face serious, stern; his steel, cobalt blue eyes seemed able to slice through steel as if they were lasers. Price Talbot surly looked every bit intimidating as he sounded on the phone.
   Both man climbed the stairs up to the store level. As they passed the men who were gathered, Brandon stepped up and extended his hand.
   "Brandon Laramie, I'm here to see you at noon Mr. Talbot."
    Price stood back and looked him over before he accepted his handshake. His partner stood next to him snapping his gum and smirking.
   "Hey Brandon, it was nice to meet ya," Cutter said as the three men politely turned away. "Good luck to you," Jace added.
   "Hey, yea, hope I see you guys, around." He turned and faced Price who was staring him down.
   "So what do you want from me, boy?"
   "Well, as I mentioned on the phone, I'd like a shot at that job you have open."
   "What kind of experience you got," as Price questioned him, the other guy was chewing his gum loudly and grinning with his arms crossed at his chest. 
   "I've trained horses, green broke 'em, cut, roped, branded, did it all, sir."
   "Yea, well how 'bout working in the cold? Need a man to head up to the Lost River range and keep a herd of cows I got up there out of the snow drifts,  icy river water, two maybe three weeks at a time." He studied Brandon closely, squinting. "Will you be able to stay out there for a few weeks without whining? I've had other pussies out there pissin' an bell-aching 'bout being too fuckin' cold. I'll tell ya right now, I have no tolerance for that pansy-ass shit." The other man laughed a little too long and too loudly.
   "As long as I have food and shelter, I'm fine." 
   "Yea? Well I got an old cabin and plenty of grub. Woodstove, but you'll have to chop your own damn firewood. Sure as hell ain't choppin' wood for a grown man." Again, the other man laughed hard.
   "So when can I start?"
   Price and his partner laughed as if they'd just took the last dollar from some poor sucker in a poker game.
   "Sheeeeee-it! You think I'm gonna put you out there on one of my expensive cutting horses before I can check you out?"
   " Well no, I mean..."
   "You think I'm some kinda' dumbshit?" Price asked Brandon as if he were a child he was punishing.  
   "Absolutely not, sir."
   "Be a big mistake if you thought that, boy," Price seemed to be challenging him, but Brandon wasn't about to be intimidated by any man, including Price. He wasn't about to back down on him, but he also didn't want to appear to be arrogant.
   "Look sir, I'm just looking for some good, honest cowboy work. That's all. I ain't here to get involved with making judgements about another man, I just come to work." 
   Price studied him again long and in silence, then spoke. "Good answer, boy.  Good answer. So, you said you was from Kansas, huh? What were you doing in Iowa then?"
   "Went to college," Brandon wondered if he had forgotten all these details he'd already told him earlier on the phone or if he was just sizing up the story to see if it all squared with what he'd already been telling him. "I just wasn't interested in going to college anymore."
   "So yer a college boy, heh?" Price's sidekick thought this was pretty funny and made a condescending facial expression.
   "Well, not exactly. I was there on a wrestling scholarship. To tell you the truth, I was really only interested in college for the sports."
   "Rass-ling, heh?  You mean that stuff were ya'll throw chairs around the ring at one another and beat yer chests and dance around with leotards on?" This brought out another big howl from the other man.
   "Ah, not really. I believe you might be referring to World Wrestling; most of that stuff is staged, fake. We did collegiate wrestling. A match was usually over with in less than five minuets."
  "Any good at it?"
   Suddenly the other man spoke for the first time, "If he had a scholarship, he must've been pretty good, Mr. Talbot."
   Price's eyes shot back at him like a laser guided missile, "Don't second guess me, you hear boy? Don't do it!" Price moved closer to the other man and jabbed his stout, leathered index finger into the man's breastbone with enough force to push him back on his heels.
   "Yes, sir, I'm sorry Mr. Talbot!" The other man went from arrogant and cocksure to apologetic and contrite immediately. 
   Price then turned back to speak to Brandon. "Well, you sure look like your in shape, but I'm gonna have to see you in action. How about you coming up to my property tomorrow and let me see what you've got; hear me boy?"
   "Indeed, I'll be there, thanks for the great opportunity, sir!"
   "That's all I got ta say to you. Make damn sure you are at my horse barn at 5 a.m. sharp! Rhett here is our Trail Boss, he'll give you directions. If yer late, then just better just turn around and go back home, 'cause I don't tolerate that shit." Price ignored Brandon's extended hand, instead turned around and walked away. The other man introduced himself as Rhett, then blurted out directions for Brandon
   "Don't forget to turn at the Rural Route sign off of 20. It's right when you start coming down from the summit of the mountain, allright?" He looked at Brandon with a little more respect.
   "Thanks pal," Brandon slapped him on the shoulder. 
   "Yea, good luck. Look, Price is the toughest man I know. He'll treat 'cha right if you break yer ass for him, for sure! 
   "The ranch is awesome, you'll be totally blown away. Hopefully it'll all work out for ya."
   "Yea, I'm hoping for it. I ain't blowin' my own horn here, but I'm a pretty good rider. Mr. Talbot should be fine with my abilities."
   "Well you better be better than 'pretty good' 'cause that there ranch is loaded with damn good cowboys. Boss don't hire nothin' but the best!" He smiled at Brandon using the arrogant act he was playing a few moments ago. "O.K. now, you want to come up the road for exactly 12.5  miles, ya see?The horse barn will be the first building you'll see, on he left."
   "Is that where the ranch hands live?" 
   "Naa, it ain't that bad!" he laughed heartedly again. "The ranch hands have two different quarters father up the road. There's a barracks and then a few miles up from that, there's a nice ranch house. It's for us top tier cowboys. We have our own rooms, a chef who does our cooking, some big flat screen T.V.'s too. He takes good care of us. 
   "So where does Mr. Talbot live?" 
   "His house is way the hell up on top of the hill. You can see that big 'ol mansion sitting up atop of that hill for miles around. Being invited up there is like being invited to the White House! Only a chosen few have ever been invited to Mr. Talbot's mansion. It's another 12 miles up there."
   "Have you ever been invited?" 
   "Nope, as a matter of fact, the only one around here that's been up there is Kendall. He's in charge of about 45 ranch maintenance guys who all live in the barracks. His first year he did such a great job with those guys that Mr. Talbot invited him to stay the night up there on Christmas. We tried to get some details out of him but all he would tell us is that it's an awesome home and that he had one of the greatest evenings of his life." 
   "Wow! Do you know anything about the job that I'm hopping to get?"
   "Oh, you won't even be out there on the ranch. They'll put you clear over near the mountains. Deep in the woods in a nice little cabin. It's all very accommodating and the place will be stocked with great food. Like I told ya, you work hard for Mr. Talbot, he'll take real good care of you!"
   "Sounds great! Well, thanks Rhett. I gotta some chores done for Mr. Nelson and hit the rack real early tonight so I can get out there first thing at daybreak! I really want to impress him badly!"
   "Oh, you're already well on your way to impressing him; I can see that in his eyes. And that's no small task, buddy, believe me! If you're just half the cowboy as you were the wrestler we've all been hearing 'bout, then you'll be sittin' real good!" If you can really ride, you'll get the job, I'm here to tell ya that fer sure!" 
   Brandon helped the old man with some chores in the barn, had another home cooked meal with the Nelsons and went to bed just before eight p.m. He wanted to get up at three, so he could give himself plenty of time to drive. The snowy dirt road turned just as Rhett had promised. As his pickup turned into a parking area, there were already about the same amount of pickups that were at the feed store. He walked through the big doors and about a dozen cowboys were all busy with tack or feeding the horses. Some were cleaning stalls, others were unloaded bags of feed from the back of a pickup. Two or three cattle dogs stayed close by. Brandon quickly noticed that the men called him Mr. Talbot, Sir or Boss. He was told that the term 'Boss' was reserved only for his favorite guys, the ones who had been around the ranch the longest. If was settled that he would have to choose between calling him Mr. Talbot or Sir, at least for now.
   As Brandon climbed onto a cutting horse, he was told to pick the three calves with bulls eyes painted on their backs, from the dozen or so that were gathered in a large corral, and move only across the corral and into a small pen without any of the others going in. Brandon completed the task within half the allowed time. Seated at the bleachers seats that were set up at the end of the pen, Price motioned for him do do it again. Apparently he was so impressed with Brandon's speed and skill, that he wanted to watch it all over. 
   Then he walked over, looked Brandon square in the eye, "You want to come to work for me 'er what?"
   "Yes sir!" Brandon said seated calmly in the saddle.
   "Good, Rhett here will give you the lowdown." Price extended his hand for the first time to Brandon who accepted it eagerly. His gripe was almost painful, thought Brandon. He had the strongest handshake of any man he'd ever shake hand with.  
   Rhett was Price's right hand man. He was given certain responsibilities and pretty much carried himself in the same no-nonsense way that Price did and was also ruggedly handsome. As he explained Brandon's living situation, he spoke very directly and instructional. He looked directly into his eyes as he spoke, but lowered them twice, smiling, while he seemed to be looking at Brandon's lips. This was a tremendous turn on for Brandon, but he was careful reading something into the situation that was probably false. Now that he was hired, he certainly didn't want show any hint to these guys!
   He was shown to his room, where he would spend a couple of days before Rhett would saddle up with him and take him to the cabin where'd he'd be staying. 
   "We'll give you a nice room, because you're gonna be roughing it big time where you're going!" Rhett smiled standing in the doorway as Brandon laid his pack down.
   "Gee, thanks." Brandon sat on the bed and took off his denim jacket. 
   "They say you were a wrestler in college 'er something?"
   "Yea, did OK?" 
   "Heard you were a high school state champ back in Kansas," Rhett said while inviting himself to sit down on the bed beside Brandon. 
   "Yea, that's how I got the scholarship to college."
   "So this isn't that TV wrestling is it?" 
   "No, not sure exactly what you mean, but this wrestling is like Olympic wrestling."
   "Yea, like with that tight suit and all," Brandon laughed along with him. 
   "Well, ya what we where is pretty tight, but it ain't no leotard."
   "But you can definitely see yer ass cheeks and your cock clear as a bell through those things," as he spoke, he looked down again at Brandon's lips. It sent a wonderful feeling through his body, it was very exciting to Brandon. 
   "Well yea, now that you mention it."
   "I like Ultimate Fighting, where a man uses his fists, feet, whatever. Usually just wears workout pants, ya know. That leotard shit's kinda of faggy."
   "Got no choice." Brandon said as he tried to look unaffected by Rhett's homophobic undertones. 
   "I never played any sports, I was too busy doing bull riding," Rhett bragged. "Still keep me in pretty damn good shape, huh?" He raised his arms and flexed his biceps. 
   "Yea, you look in pretty good shape."
   "Not like you, damn you must have been working out constantly?" 
   "Pretty much, that's why I want to get back to work before I get soft."

   For the next two days, he would shadow Rhett and learn the system the way Price wanted it. Then they would ride to the cabin on the third day. As he laid in his room at night, he imagined the other men inside the house sleeping. He wondered if they slept in their briefs or if they slept naked. The very first night, Brandon stripped off all his clothes and couldn't wait to slip under the warm flannel sheets and thick wool Indian blankets. He grabbed his tooth brush and a bath towel and wrapped it around his waist. He opened the door of his room and walked down to the end of the hall. As he quietly walked the hall, he noticed some of the men's doors were left ajar with lights turned off. He could see the outlines of their bodies while they lie in bed. When he reached the bathroom, it was locked and he could hear the water running in the shower. Another man poked his head out of his room and told him  there was another bathroom upstairs where Rhett's bedroom was.  This building housed about a dozen of Prices most important and most skillful riders. Those who had been on the ranch longest and where at the top of Price's pay scale had rooms on the top floor.  
   He climbed the staircase and walked by the bedroom doors till he reached the end of the hall. Once there, he noticed that bathroom was also occupied. A bedroom door next to the bathroom was open and he could hear Rhett saying something to him. He poked his head in the door as a dim light was on, his door slightly ajar. 
   "Brandon, c'mon an' use my bathroom. I have one right in my bedroom here." He was rather  stunned to find Rhett lying on his bed completely nude. His body was so beautiful and sexy, Brandon had to turn away quickly; he was anxious that he would develop a hard on. It would be horrible, he thought, if his erection where to pop out from under the towel.  
   "Go ahead and make yourself at home," he spoke without glancing back at Brandon; he appeared quite comfortable with his bare ass fully exposed while a small TV sat on a desk nearby. The sound was mute, with a football game playing. 
   "Those bathrooms down the halls seem pretty popular around this time of night," Brandon spoke while moving across the floor. He was trying to be as unconcerned as possible with Rhett's lack of modesty. The tiny bathroom had a very small shower, a toilet and sink. Rhett continued talking and so he didn't want to be rude and close the door. While standing in front of the sink brushing his teeth, he turned his head slightly and was greeted with a perfect view of Rhett's beefy, buff ass. He admired how Rhett's balls where displayed between his big thighs. Knowing how dangerous it was if Rhett were to look back over his shoulder and catch him starring, he causiously made quick, but precious glances while the water ran in the sink.  
  "Are you checking out my naked ass you fucking faggot?" Suddenly Brandon's heart was in his throat. He turned his head back to the sink and wondered how it was possible that Rhett knew he was watching. Few a moment he said nothing and silently kept brushing his teeth while his brain worked in a frantic state trying to find a way out of the predicament. He decided to just pretend he didn't hear him. He gathered himself up and turned off the water, then walked over to the bathroom door.
   "What, you talking to me?"
   Rhett turned around and looked over his shoulder, "Are you checking out my ass you fuckin' queer?"
   "Look, I got no interest in your ass partner," he tried to be as staunch as possible, however it was hard seeing as Rhett had perhaps one of the hottest asses he'd ever seen on a man.
   "You saying I ain't got a hot enough ass?" Rhett answered back, laughing.
    "Let's just change the subject," Brandon sighed, realizing he was just playing around with him and didn't actually know that he was in fact admiring his beefy, backside.  
   "I was jus' kiddin' ya pal. Glad ta see you have a good sense of humor; you'll need it around here."
   "So, who gets to sleep upstairs?" Brandon asked.
   Rhett pushed himself up and laid on his side with his head resting on his hand. "Upstairs is reserved for the trail boss, that's me. Also Kendall and Wesley sleep up here. The rest of the "A" crew sleep downstairs."
   "Is that al the hands you have?"
   "Hell no, there's another 2,500 hundred acres in the Lost River Range. There's a whole 'nother crew that handles that herd. There's a big boarding house up the road another 10 miles where the rest of the guys stay. It don't look this this! They get bunks and it's all laid out like a dorm. Wesley used to be the cook for them but they teased him so bad that we moved him over here."
   "Teased him?" Brandon asked curiously.
   "Oh, shit man, once they hid all the clothes he owned in the hay loft! He was forced to run around up there stark-assed naked, crawling up and down the loft ladders diggin' his underwear out of the hay bales! We laughed our fuckin' asses off for weeks over that one! Another time we replaced all his underwear with girls panties!" Rhett laughed loudly recalling the fond memories, while unconsciously  scratching his balls. Brandon smiled, halfheartedly. "Not that it really mattered, he wore these damn undies that already looked like gils panties to begin with!"
   "So, whose in charge?" 
   "I am in charge of all the ranch hands in the house, Kendall is in charge of all the hands in the barracks, as we call it. You'll met him probably tomorrow. He rode up yesterday to the cabin where you're gonna be staying and stocked it with supplies. Then there's little Wesley, our cook. You'll meet him tomorrow too. Those two couldn't be more opposite!" While Rhett turned to position himself on his side with his cock fully exposed, Brandon felt the urge to sit down on the bed beside him, but instead, shifted his weight from on leg to the other, and tightened the towel hanging around his naked frame.
   "How so?"
   "Kendall is a big, tough stud who is the best cowboy on the property, period. No bullshit kind of guy, ya know? He and I are the boss's right hand men. Oh, by the way, you will call him Mr. Talbot or sir, but never boss. You're gonna have to be here a while before you're allowed to call him that; he'll let you know. None of the guys at the bunk house can call him boss. Anyway, Wesley is a skinny, pretty boy, ya know? Certainly worthless on the back of a horse. But he's an incredible chef, I will give him that. And he keeps house for us and certainly keeps us all well fed."
   "Does he cook for Mr. Talbot too?"
   "No, he's got his own chef up there, but we ain't met him. Welsey hopes that one day he'll get the call to move up to Mr. Talbot's mansion and be exclusive to him. Personally, I don't think that'll ever happen. He's too faggy for Bossman."
   "Faggy?" asked Brandon.
   "Yea, a little light in the sneakers, if ya know what I mean," he laughed and made a limp-wrist gesture. "Boss gets uncomfortable with guys like that being around him. He likes all his men to be manly, macho, tough, even his cooks."
   "Well, hopefully I won't disappoint him."
   "Shit, buddy, don't be foolish! You ain't no fuckin' fag!" 
   "Well, I'm off to hit the hay. Thanks for letting me use you bathroom," Brandon said as he returned a smile.
   "Hey, no problem, buddy. Jus' c'mon up here tomorrow morning if ya need ta shower; that way you won't have ta deal with waiting to get into the shower. I think we're gonna get along pretty good!" They said their goodnights as Brandon turned around and walked downstairs to his room. 
The next day, Brandon was up early and on horseback well before sunrise. He was going to ride with Rhett out to check in on a herd close by. There were about 500 head, clustered on the valley floor between to peaks. Price had ordered Rhett to take him out and see how he handled himself on horseback. 
   The big doors of the horse barn remained closed to keep snow from piling up inside. Still, each man's breath was visible in the barn light under the glow of the long fluorescent tube lights which hung on the barn rafters overhead.  Up until the new year, the weather had been mild. But going into the second week of the new year, temperatures had dropped to below freezing. It had just started to snow two hours before sunrise. Inside the barn, men were busy feeding horses and saddling up to head out. There was no small talk, Price Talbot discouraged idle chit-chat while on his dime. 
   "Hopefully you have yourself good, warm gear like gloves and whatnot. It's gets damn cold out there," Rhett cautioned. 
   "Yea, I'm good. Kansas winters aren't very kind to a man working outdoors either," Brandoned smiled. As they were preparing to walk their horses out through the barn doors, Price walked in carry a hot cup of coffee.
   "Ready to go to work?"
   "Yes I am sir," Brandon answered.
   "Good mornin' Boss," Rhett said, looking surprised to see him in the barn. "Didn't know you were gonna be up here this mornin'."
   "Yea, well I want to make damn sure our new boy gets off to on the right foot." From the look on Price's face, he looked as though he was ready to go to work hours ago.
   "You bet, sir. Just gettin' the cobwebs out," as Rhett spoke, Price interrupted him. 
   "You leave your cobwebs in your nice, warm little bed. This here's man's work and you need to be wide awake when you walk into this barn."
   "Indeed, sir," Rhett seemed caught off guard by the scolding.
   ""You know where you're headin'?"
   "Yes, sir. We're gonna check on the herd between Lemhi and Borah."
   "Take a head count while you're out there, I wanna know if we need to out out looking for strays." He turned to address Brandon. "This is what you'll be doin' for a livin' right now, boy. You won't be workin' with this herd, but you'll be takin' a constant head count, makin' sure all my cattle is safe and secure."
   "Yes, sir. I'm ready to go to work, sir."
   "OK, get the hell out of my barn and go to work; I ain't payin' you boys to chit-chat!" With that, Price signaled to another ranch hand to open the large barn doors and cracked Brandon's horse on the ass. He darted out into the flying snow.
   After a half hour ride on horseback, through a small climb and back down into a wide open valley, they saw the herd gathering close to shield away the freezing winds.
   "I want you to get out there in the creek beds and in the woods and bring all the strays into this group here," Rhett yelled out over the frigid, howling breeze. "I'll keep them together here."
   "With that, Brandon was off. He worked fast and furious, find four strays immediately hung up in a drift below. He circled his horse around several times and spooked them up the hill and into the group. He moved quickly up and down the creek where icy waters rolled fast over river rock and where the snow had piled up knee-level all along the banks. Two more strays were on the other side of the rushing waters; he blasted right through the drifts and into the waters, chasing them back towards the canyon walls. He found a trail and pushed them through a thicket of Alder. When he reached the top he could see Rhett at a distance slowly circling the small herd. He whistled wildly and dug in his spurs as he pushed those two strays from the creek along with two more he'd picked up on the trail his way down. Rhett looked up as he saw all five animals rushing towards them. He dropped them in the group, circled around and headed back up the canyon trail as Rhett gave him a thumbs up with leather, gloved hand. 
   After a few hours, Brandon pulled up alongside Rhett. He was breathing heavy, his cheeks and nose bright red. "It's beautiful out here!"
   "Damn, you are one hell-of-a cowboy!" Rhett said enthusiastically. Boss is gonna be really happy with you.
   "How many we got in there?" 
   "Forty-one when we rode in, looks like you picked up another twenty-four! Damn, good job. Let's move 'em back towards the ranch house; there's another herd back that way an' I want to get 'em together."
   The men slowly merged the small herd back into a larger herd situated near a corral back at the house where the men stayed. "we're gonna leave 'em here for a week before we rotate another herd back in," Rhett explained. Two riders came up to greet them.
   "This here's Riley and Kendall," Rhett said, as he introduced them. "Guys, this is Brandon and he's one killer, fuckin' cowboy!"
   "Pleased to meet you guys," Brandon said as he pulled off his gloved hand and gave a hard, firm handshake to each of them. "You must be the 'barracks boss.'"
   "That's right," Kendall answered. He was yet another gorgeous, buff, young cowhand, thought Brandon. Price only hired cowboys who were well-built, strong men; they were also all handsome and he wondered if that was just a coincidence. 
   "What's the difference between the barracks guys and the guys at the house?" asked Brandon.
   "Well, the house guys are better cowboys and better lookin'." Rhett said laughing.
   "The barracks guys are used for all around maintenance, while the house guys are strictly working with cattle," Kendall explained.
   "Plus, we get paid more," laughed Rhett. "They're the bottom guys!" 
   The dinning room was filled with all the men as Welsey scurried around making sure that all the food was on the table in a timely manner. He was thin and pretty, just as Rhett explained. He worked very hard and seemed to enjoy his job. From what Brandon could tell, he also enjoyed being around all the men like he did. After he had cleaned up all the dishes and was finishing the kitchen, Brandon wandered into the kitchen to visit with him. 
   "I just wanted to tell you that dinner was awesome," Brandon complimented. 
   "Well, thank you Brandon." Welsey tossed the hand towel a table, then jumped up on the sink counter to sit down. "Hear you were a hot wrestler."
   "Did OK." He admired Wesley's high cheek bones and full lips. "Do these guys treat you OK here?"
   "Yea," he laughed. "Sometimes they get carried away with the games, but boys will be boys!"
   "I heard about that."
   "Oh, yea?" He quickly looked up, his sky blue eyes twinkled in the kitchen light. "Which one?" he laughed, somewhat embarrassed. 
   "Oh, never mind."
   "You are probably referring to the girls panties! I don't know what they told you, but I was not running around wearing girls panties! He tried to look stern, but he couldn't hold back his laughter. 
   "Anyway, it was really nice to meet you."
   "You too, Brandon. Good luck." Their eyes stayed glued to each other's until Brandon had turned and left the kitchen. 
   The second day, there was more stays to pick up. Only the word of Brandon's incredible skills brought a crowd out to see him work. This time they rode a bit south, in the foot hills of the Pioneer Mountains. A larger herd was gathered on a huge meadow of frozen clover. These cattle had no desire to move anywhere, even in the winter with snow, they could dig into the frosty ground and enjoy thatches of wild clover grass. The ride was extremely easy. Low lying pastures stretched out miles under the shadow of snowcapped peaks. 
    When they arrived, several other cowboys from the house were held up waiting to see the show. Even Price Talbot was there, situated high on a plateau overlooking the valley for a perfect seat.
   "Looks like I have a crowd," Brandon said as he scanned the horizon. There were perhaps a dozen riders stationed around the hills waiting to see this kid work cattle. 
   "Yea, I kinda' bragged you up a bit," Rhett smiled. "We don't really have strays, these cattle wanna stay right here an' eat forever. Here's what I want you to do. I had Kendall ride out here earlier and wrap red bandannas around the horns of 3 young bulls. Your job is to cut them out of the herd an' get 'er down within 15 minutes. 
   "Piece of cake, my pal!" Brandon took off on full gallop across the field and gained speed. He figured this would add a little drama for the boys watching. He cross about ten acres before he slowed down. He didn't want to spook any cattle. From a cantor he moved around the outside of the herd and immediately spotted two. He quickly shuffled them out and noticed the third in the middle of the pack. he headed straight at him, pushing him right behind the other two. As they attempted to veer off left or right, he kept flanking them cutting his horse from side to side keeping them heading forward and not turning. About half way through the valley, he broke out again to a full gallop and delivered the three head to a waiting Rhett. "You are incredible pal!" He yelled.
   "What's my time," Brandon responded out of breath.
   "Six, thirty! It's gotta be a record." As Brandon flew by, he gave him a high five.
   Brandon held up and noticed all the riders in the distance descending down from their perches and heading for him. One by one, the men congratulated him. Finally Price rode up and everyone remained quiet.
   "You are one stud-cowboy!" Price held up right next to him and slapped him on the back.
   "Thank you sir."
   "I certainly scored big. Now you guys got some catchin' up to do!" Price warned the others.
   "OK boys, tonight is Brandon's last night here, he's going up to the cabin to watch the Lost River herd. It's also Kendall's twenty-second birthday party tonight, so I have some good stuff planned. I have  Wesley getting fillet beef ready for the grill and we'll be sippin' some of the best Tennessee Bourbon money can buy." Immediately a round of cheers went up and most of the men acknowledge by thanking Price.
   "Awright, boys, git yer work down an' I'll see you for dinner!" All the men split up with Price and Kendall going off one direction,  and Brandon and Rhett another and the rest of the boys heading back towards the house.  
   The steaks were the finest, served with huge bowls of salad, baked potatoes and chocolate mouse desert. After dinner as Wesley worked to clean up the dinning room and kitchen, Price Talbot broke out 3 bottles of Gentlemen Jack Danieals whisky, it was their finest and most expensive whiskey. Fine crystal glasses and Cuban cigars were handed out. Within minutes every man had a glass in his hand and were chatting it up over the sound of George Strait that was being blasted on the stereo speakers. Some of the men went out onto the deck in the cold night air to smoke. A frozen moon hung overhead, illuminating the snow peaked mountains. 
   Price made his way to each man, toasting and spending time with them. It was well before ten p.m. before he told the boys to make sure they all play nice together, then jumped into his big rig and drove up the hill. After he left, whiskey started flowing and was being consumed at a rapid rate. At one point, one of the guys went into the kitchen and threw Wesley over his shoulder, then went around to each of the guys who gave him whack on his ass, demanding him to say which one of them had the strongest ass crack. It was apparent that they were spanking him with a solid hand good, yet Welsey didn't look frightened and actually seemed to enjoy it. They gave him shots and even one extremely drunk ranch hand lobbied to take off Wesley's pants and spank him bare-assed. Although he seemed very excited about that idea, he was more afraid of that idea and quickly knocked that down.  There were also a couple guys who had pulled each other's shirts off and were stumbling around trying to fight each other wearing nothing but Wranglers and boots. Everyone seemed way to drunk to notice that Brandon was admiring their  but were too drunk to even fight. 
   Danny was approached by some of the guy that he's yet to meet who introduced themselves and complimented him on his riding skills. When he looked at the wall clock, it was almost midnight. It seemed like a test that Price was putting on his men, he thought. Which one's could hold their liquor and be able to show up at 5 a.m. to go to work in the morning? He figured the one's who didn't make it or were late, were out of a job. It was true, only the toughest and most skilled cowboys worked for Price Talbot. 
   As he walked through the dinning room, two drunk cowboys were leaning on each other. One was trying to help the other into his bedroom. Brandon was grateful that he didn't go overboard and drink too much tonight. Three shots of great bourbon made him feel real good, anymore would make it too difficult to get up the next day. But it seemed some guys just never learned. He offered to help get the real drunk cowboy to bed. 
   "C'mon, you get one side, I'll get the other," he offered. They moved slowly down the hall as the guy in the middle kept laughing and telling them both to promise they weren't gonna throw him in a cold shower.
   "'Cause if'n you try, I'll whup both yer asses!"
   "Shut your mouth Devon, you best be lucky we're even helping ya ta bed," his drunk buddy slurred.
   "You'd better git yer ass up early tomorrow, 'casue your know Mr. Talbot will fire us clear as shit!
   "Yea, I know, jus' git me ta bed, partner." They dropped him on the on his bed and pulled off his boots. Before they turned around he was asleep. With that, Brandon said goodnight and walked out the door and down the hall into his room. he pulled off his own boots ands socks, then unbuckled his jeans and slide them off. Tomorrow was the day he'd ride out to the cabin. He was told he'd be there about three weeks, then be relieved for a few days by Rhett. They'd rotate back and he'd ride back out to stay another three weeks. He pulled his t-shirt over his head and slipped his underwear past his knees and let them drop to his ankles. The only thing he loved more than being naked in his room, was if he had one of those guys with him. Rhett or Kendall would be his first choice. They were the hottest in a pool of handsome cowboys. He just couldn't get the image of Rhett's naked ass off his mind. 
   He was looking forward to getting out in the wilderness all alone in the cabin. Perhaps it was a good thins as well. If he stayed any longer around here, he'd almost certainly be 'out-ted.' His third choice was Wesley. It was almost certain that he was gay and loved all the teasing the guys gave him; even if most of it was bordered mean-spirited. Although he wasn't the big, buff guys that Brandon liked, he was very cute. Could he be the first? With Kendall and Rhett certainly not gay, if would really be his only shot. Then suddenly he caught himself. Attempting to have sex with any men on Price Talbot's ranch would be a horrible mistake. Not only would be lose his job, but he'd certainly have to fight his way out, plus he'd have to keep on moving. Once folks in town found out, including Don and May Dee, it would be real disappointing. 
   Like the night before, he gathered up his tooth brush and tooth paste, wrapped the towel around his waste and headed for the door. Since Rhett had offered the use of his private bathroom, maybe he should just head straight upstairs. 
   Out in the halls, everything was silent. Things had quieted down and it seemed certain that all men were fast asleep, trying to get as much as they could get before the 5 a.m. bell. He moved around the corner and started up the staircase, but paused a moment to gaze out the window at a frozen, full winter moon. Putting a hand on the railing, he prepared to ascend the staircase to the top floor.  Glancing to the top of the staircase, he was just in time to see two men standing there embracing. Apparently, they did not see him standing in the darkness. He continued backing up into the shadows, slowly. His heart raced so fast he could hardly catch his breath. It was as if he were in a bizarre fantasy or day dream. The two men were Rhett and Kendall. They were embracing and kissing very passionately like lovers. Rhett was completely naked and had a full blown erection which was pointing upwards and wedged in between both of them. Kendall was shirtless, still wearing his jeans. He watched as Rhett opened them up and pried his hand into them. The adrenaline thumped in his throat as he watched Rhett unpack Kendall's massive erection and massage it rub it and stroke it under the dim, staircase light. 

   As he saddled up his horse and packed up his supplies in preparation for the ride out to the cabin, his mind was occupied with the image of Rhett and Kendall at the top of the stairs the night before. Frozen in the shadows, he was afraid of being caught either by them or another ranch hand who might have happened to have walked by and possibly seen him standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring at two naked men making at the top while the rest of the house was sleeping. Either way, it wasn't good for him.  
   About nine hours later, he was still mesmerized by those images.  For just a moment, after those two men had gone inside the bedroom, he contemplated climbing the stairs and knocking on the door. He  would ask Rhett if he could use the bathroom, just like he had offered. He watched till they stopped kissing. They turned and walked through the bedroom door,  grasping each other's erected poles in each fist as if they were given gifts to take to bed with them. This was the most  erotic thing that has ever happened his entire life. Maybe what was happening behind those bedroom doors, was what he could only imagine his whole life long.  But in the end, he was frightened. Frightened that he would get caught and that it would certainly cost him his job and his reputation. It would be an awful way to come out to the world. 
   The next morning as he saddled his horse in the frigid morning air, he stopped for a moment and watched the bustle of cowboys busily working all around him. They were saddling horses, cleaning horse stalls, feeding, shoeing and stacking hay. All this at a time when most folks are still in bed. The  the floor of the barn was bathed in cold sunshine as it leaked threw the open windows of the horse stalls. This was life on a working cattle ranch and he loved it. 
   He thought again about Rhett and Kendall. Why were they were so bold in the hallway? Even if they are the only ones living upstairs, anybody can walk by like he did. Maybe it was the thrill of being caught that drove their excitement? Maybe they knew he was standing right there watching him. This was getting complicated.
   "Morning cowboy! How'd ya sleep last night?" Brandon was startled and didn't hear Rhett come up behind him.
   "Hey there, ah, great, great, an' you?"
   "Slept hard as a rock; always do out here in God's country!" Rhett was smiling from ear to ear. "Well, it's almost four-fifteen. We need to get cuttin' cowboy. I wanna make it over the pass before noon. Supposed to be a big ass snow storm head in higher elevation. Wanna make sure I get you delivered safe an' sound." His smile was kind and sexy, thought Brandon.
   "We got an extra rider coming with us?" he asked, noticing Rhett leading another horse out from the paddock and tying him next to the other two horses which were already saddled.
   "Nope, jus' me an' you. There's a gelding here; it's an extra horse for you."
   They followed a trail that led them through the pass and up on top of the ridge. It was if the sun had hidden itself behind those craggy hills, waiting till they arrived. Once they held up on top of the ridge,  looking down on a sprawling valley floor, they watched as the sun rose above them. The breath from them and their horses billowing in the nippy morning air.
   Just as Rhett hoped to do, they reached the cabin about noon. Located in the foothill between two peaks, it was a simple one room cabin with a wood stove, bed and an out house in the back. The snow started coming down pretty good just as they arrived, so they chopped about a cord of wood  and bulit a nice fire.
   "You'll wanna keep that fire going damn near all day and night," Rhett warned. "When you go out in the morning tending cattle, stoke that thing up and close the door to the stove tight. When you get back, why you'll have a nice, warm cabin and you'll be ready to cook."
   "Sounds like you've been here before."
   "Oh yea, I've worked out here in the dead of winter, jus' like you are for two months straight. IF you can do well out here, Mr. Talbot will take notice. If you can round all most of his brands before spring, he'll be impressed."
   Once they got a fire going, Rhett showed him the map on the wall. "You'll see where Mr. Talbot's property runs. Pretty big stretch. Beautiful country out here. I'll stay tonight and saddle up in the morning." Rhett showed him where all the food and supplies were kept, then they settled down for a dinner of boiled potatoes, chili and a few shots of whisky. 
   "Hey, I wanted to ask you if you came up to my bedroom to use the bathroom last night? I fell asleep and forgot you were coming." Rhett took a sip and squinted at him as they sat across from each other in front of the wood stove.
   His brain spun as he was blindsided by the question. He remained cool inside as he scrambled for an answer. "Ah, no I actually used the bathroom downstairs." 
   "Sorry 'bout that. So you didn't come up to m room? "Cause Wesley made a comment that he's seen you by the stairs last night."
   "Oh, ah, yea, but I turned and went into the other bathroom."
   "So I must have already been in my room?" 
   He hated lying, and he really wanted to tell Rhett how turned on he was actually seeing two buff guys kiss. He wanted to tell him how he was aroused by seeing Rhett's beautiful, buff body and when he and Kendall started to rub their erections together, he was almost to the point of orgasm himself. He wanted to ask him so many questions about how it felt! But it was best to remain secret about it.  After all, it may be something they surely don't want anyone to know about, especially Price Talbot!
   The time seemed to pass quickly. He was content working by in the peace and beauty of the mountains all alone. When he was lucky, he was able to snag a grouse or rabbit to cook on the trust wood stove. When Rhett arrived three week later, he was glad to see him. 
   "How's life at the house?" 
   "Same ol', same ol'," Rhett smiled.  "Looking forward to sleep in a nice warm bed again?"
   "Well sure, but I like it out here, too!"
    "You'll be back out here before winter is over." They loaded up their gear and saddled the horses. He brought another cowboy to take over while Brandon was at the house. He quietly got himself comfortable and Brandon as Rhett rode back to the ranch.
   It was great to eat home cooked food again and stay in a nice bed. Rhett had switched Brandon to  room closer to the downstairs bathroom. After dinner, when all the guys had left, he walked into the kitchen to visit with Wesley. During dinner he found himself catching a glimpse of Wesley's cute little behind. It wasn't the big, beefy ass he usually thought about, it was more like a piece of candy.
   "So, you had a nice time alone up there?" Wesley asked while loading the dishwasher.
   "Yea, gets a little lonely."
   "Yea, I'd get lonely!"
   "Hey, I was meaning to ask you, no big thing, but the night before I left, you mentioned that you'd seen me by the staircase. I didn't see you."
   "I should have never said anything," Welsey looked shaken.
   "Hey it's no big deal."
   "The truth is, Brandon, I was kind of lurking," his plump lips and small hips made him appear impish. "Do you know why?" 
   "I'm not sure," Brandon answered, somewhat regretted he'd open the can of worms.
   "Maybe it's because of what we both saw?" Wesley stopped and stared right at Brandon.
   "Do they carry on much?"
   "Yes, well, kind of."
   "Do the other guy's know?"
   Wesley had a mischievous grin on his face, like a sexy little elf. "I'm not sure. But they know I know, for sure, if you understand what I mean?"
   "I'm not the brightest light in the house."
   "I have joined them," Wesley whispered closely to his ear.
   "You have...?"
   "Shhhhh! Didn't they look hot?" he said as he clutched Brandon's bulging bicep tightly and got on his tip-toes to whisper into his ear, "They both took off all my clothes tehn took turns spanking me over their knees! Then they turned me over and licked my little butt till I came!" As he giggled, Brandon realized that the longer he listened to such an erotic story without objecting, the more was admitting to Welsey that he also found it sexy. In a way, he was finally coming out and it felt great. 
   "Yea, wow, I'l bet you had fun?"
   "Oh God, it was exhilarating! Do you like your ass rimmed?"
   "Ah, yea, sure," Brandon was embarrassed but turned on at the same time. Suddenly Price Talbot came unannounced into the kitchen. 
   "Good evenin' guys," it was the first time Brandon had seen Price speak in a pleasant fashion. Both he and Welsey quickly changed their demeanor and bid their greetings back to him. They both silently felt like grade school boys who had been chatting about sex right before the headmaster arrived unexpectedly. There was an uncomfortable silence between them before price continued the conversation. 
   "You guys getting to know one another?"
   "Yes, sir. It's good to have a home cooked meal again,"
   "Well you deserve it, cowboy. Your numbers show that you've found another 20 head for the brand that we had written off. That's money saved for then ranch, good job." Price pated Brandon on the arm then walked out though the same swinging kitchen door that he arrived in.
   "Wow, Boss very seldom does that!"
   "What do you mean?" Brandon asked Wesley, not having any idea what he was talking about.
   "Telling a cowboy that he did a good job. That's something he just expects. He certainly likes you!"
   Later, he digested all what had transpired in just one night. For the first time ever, he actually discussed man-sex, with another man.  He also realized that he had discussed this with Welsey as if he assumed Brandon was gay. Brandon hated complex situations; he loved having life be just as simple as possible. Would Wesley tell  Kendall and Rhett what they had discussed in the kitchen? Would it leak out to the other guys? And what about Price's sudden kitchen visit extending encouragement. God forbid if this ever got out to him. He was sure Price would fire him, but also the embarrassment would be too much to bare. He wanted Price to be proud of him;  from the way he handled himself in the saddle, all the way to how he handled himself at the ranch. He decided to go to bed early and just sleep on it all. 
   The next day he was up before sunrise, ready to drive cattle in a herd nearby. They spent the day moving about 600 head, closer to the creek and back in time for dinner. As he sat there with all his fellow ranch hands, he noticed that every one was of those cowboys were pleasant to look at. As he watched them passing food, smiling and joking, he realized how lucky he was. He often found himself daydreaming about discovering Rhett and Kendall naked on the top of the staircase. He promised himself if he were to catch them again, just might play dumb. He also even found himself getting turned on by Welsey.  He wasn't the buff, tough, cowboy with large, powerful, Wrangker-clad, ass cheeks he was normally so fond of, but for some reason he found his slim little body fascinating. He was certainly a cute lad. Perhaps if Welsey were to walk in on him, while he was naked and again he'd just play dumb. Just that thought was enormously erotic and something he was scheming to pull off.  He'd seen how Welsey looked at him, how he clutched his huge biceps while conversing with him, how he moved closer. In turn, Brandon loved that he liked to touch him. He was sure that a twink like Brandon was turned on at his buff, college athlete body. He loved the sweet smell of all those exotic body soaps, colognes and shampoos he used. They were subtly intoxicating. There was something powerfully erotic going on and he was getting very excited about it.
   Later that night, he was approached by Rhett, "Hey Brandon, we're gonna' send you back out to watch the herd near the cabin, can you be ready to go Saturday mornin'?
   "Yea, sure. Ready and willin'." 
   "Great. C'mon upstairs later, I have a map I want to give you that shows some better detail. Price thinks there are some more cattle held up around the other creek."
   "Yea, what time?"
   "Ah, ya know, after dinner, before you go to bed."
   "Sure." 
   It all sounded kind of strange, he thought. Later that night, he finished dinner and headed upstairs just as Rhett had asked. He came across Wesley as he got up the the top of the stairs.
   "Hey, Rhett has some map he wants me to give you."
   "Oh...well he told me to come up to his room and get it."
   "Yea, well he gave it to me," Wesley looked back at Rhett's bedroom door that was at the end of the hall. "He's kind of busy now." Then Welsey smiled and lowered his eyes to Brandon's waist. "How 'bout I just bring it up to you later?"
   "Yea, sure...OK. I'm going to take a shower, then I'll be back in my room in about 20 minuets or so. If felt exciting for Brandon to announce that to Wesley. "
   "Taking a shower, huh?" Welsey smiled then lowered his voice, like he was mimicking a coach, "OK cowboy, hit the showers! I'll be in later to jump in with you and scrub your back." 
   The remark caught Brandon off-guard, he didn't know if Wesley was kidding or serious. 
   "Oh, yea, OK..."
   "I'm jus' kidding! Wow, really? You're seriously gonna let me get naked with you? Sure I'll take you up on that!" Wesley reached in and grabbed Brandon's arm. "You're such a hunk!" Brandon's face turned beat red as he grappled for words.
   "Well, I mean...ah, if that's what we are supposed ta do, I mean..."
   "Damn, you are so cute!" Brandon could feel his cock grow inside his cotton briefs.

   "Oh, I am embarrassing you, sorry." He winked. "I'll bring it up later." When he got to the bottom of the stairs, he turned and looked up at Brandon. "So, see ya later," he smiled, then put his finger to his lips. "Oh, yea, ya better close Rhett's door, if ya don't mind? But, Shhhhh, be real quiet." He giggled and scampered off. Brandon took the bait. When he reached the end of the hall, he could hear some moaning and other erotic sounds coming from Rhett's bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. He stepped slowly towards it, then when he reached the opening, he quietly peered inside. Immediately his heart raced and his brain spun. There was Rhett wearing his Wranglers and no shirt, kissing one of the other cowboys that Brandon had seen at the dinner table earlier at dinner. He was naked and extremely well built. Rhett had his hands all over his large, beefy, perfectly shaped buns. Brandon was frozen in his tracks, was watching them kissing passionately while Rhett's hands continually massages and groped those beautiful ass cheeks. With the cowboy's back towards him, Brandon had a perfect view through the opening in the door. Never in his life had he actually seen a man, man-handle another man's naked ass like that; although many times in his secret fantasies. And it looked just like that! Suddenly, they stopped kissing as Rhett looked up at him. The cowboy turned his head and looked back at Brandon; he was mortified.
   "Ah, sorry guys, I...ah you mentioned I should get a map from you, I'm sorry..."
   "Go see Wesley, didn't he tell you he had it?" Rhett was completely at ease speakink with Brandon, a naked man-bun still in each hand. 
   "Yea, yea, I'll run down there right now..."
   "Hey, close the door, would ya?" As Brandon slowly closed the door, the cowboy smiled at him as Rhett went back to groping his nude ass. 
   As he walked down the stairs, he thought how strange it had seemed that they didn't care in the slightest about him seeing them.
   He had trouble with his erection while in the shower. It had grown rock solid. As he soaped-up his body, he lather-ed up and stroked his erection, thinking about what he'd just seen. The more he did, the harder it was for him to come; this was something that had never happened to him before. So he rinsed himself off, wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back to his room. He waded up his jeans and shirt and held it in front of his erection so he could make it down the hall without anyone seeing him. Getting caught would run the risk of massive embarrassment. 
   Once inside the privacy of his own room, he let the towel drop and stood in front of the mirror admiring what he saw. He loved his strong ass, he figured it was even nicer than the cowboy that was with Rhett. He loved his body but he wanted someone else to see it, touch it even play with it. Then there was a knock at the door.
   "Brandon, are you there? I have that map for you." It was Wesley, this was the situation he wanted. 
   "Yea, I'm coming, hold on." He swallowed hard and walked towards the door, naked.
   As he put his hand on the door handle, ready to twist it, he could heard Wesley talking to someone else. 
   "This is Price, you awright, Brandon?" Quickly, he turned back away from the door and scurried to look for his pants. His big cock began softening; there was a big pit in his stomach. Once he had his jeans on, zipped and buttoned, he could throw a t-shirt over his chest and make it to the door. 
   "Hey, sorry guys," he said to Wesley and Price who stood there. Price was holding a saddle bag, while Wesley was holding the map. His erection had deflated and lay discreetly in his pants.
   "Mind if we come in?" Price asked as he barged his way inside. He tossed the bag on the bed and motioned for Welsey to drop the map.
   "OK, cowboy, you'll be heading back to the cabin in the mornin', ya got that?"
    "Why yes, sir."
   "Now then, have you noticed any strange behavior around here?" As Price spoke, he looked straight into his eyes. Brandon tried to return the stare, but could see Wesley behind Price, subtly motioning for him to be cautious, he tried not to let his eyes wander behind Price's steely stare.
   "I'm sorry sir, I'm not sure I know what you mean."
   For the longest time Price starred back at him without saying a word. It seemed as though he was trying to determine if Brandon was lying to him. Brandon had no idea of what he should say. Then when it appeared he was satisfied with Brandon's response, Price looked back at Wesley.
   "I will not tolerate any faggot shit under my roof, is that clear?" 
   "Of course sir, I, I am only here to work, sir."
   "I know you are, you're a good kid." He turned again to look at Brandon,"Both of you boys are. I am not talking about you boys. There is something going on here and I want to know about it. Don't be afraid to tell me, understand?"
   "Yes, sir." They both answered in a positive cadence.
   "If that shit is going on in this house, I want you to tell me about it, immediately!" His stern stare was cold and callus. "This is a house for men." He paused a moment, then automatically switched the subject. I have some stuff here you'll need in this bag, here's the map of the creek. You'll need it when you go looking for stranded cattle, got it?"
   "I do sir, of course." Brandon answered.
   "Great then, lights out, you ride out in the morning at 5 a.m. You, get into the kitchen and make sure that place is spotless." Yes sir," Welsey answered back. 
   

   

   
   
   
   

   
   
   
  
   

  
   
   
   
   








   
   

   



   As he saddled up his horse and packed up his supplies in preparation for the ride out to the cabin, his mind was occupied with the image of Rhett and Kendall at the top of the stairs the night before. Frozen in the shadows, he was afraid of being caught either by them or another ranch hand who might have happened to have walked by and possibly seen him standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring at two naked men making at the top while the rest of the house was sleeping. Either way, it wasn't good for him.  
   About nine hours later, he was still mesmerized by those images.  For just a moment, after those two men had gone inside the bedroom, he contemplated climbing the stairs and knocking on the door. He  would ask Rhett if he could use the bathroom, just like he had offered. He watched till they stopped kissing. They turned and walked through the bedroom door,  grasping each other's erected poles in each fist as if they were given gifts to take to bed with them. This was the most  erotic thing that has ever happened his entire life. Maybe what was happening behind those bedroom doors, was what he could only imagine his whole life long.  But in the end, he was frightened. Frightened that he would get caught and that it would certainly cost him his job and his reputation. It would be an awful way to come out to the world. 
   The next morning as he saddled his horse in the frigid morning air, he stopped for a moment and watched the bustle of cowboys busily working all around him. They were saddling horses, cleaning horse stalls, feeding, shoeing and stacking hay. All this at a time when most folks are still in bed. The   floor of the barn was bathed in cold sunshine as it leaked threw the open windows of the horse stalls. This was life on a working cattle ranch and he loved it. 
   He thought again about Rhett and Kendall. Why were they were so bold in the hallway? Even if they are the only ones living upstairs, anybody can walk by like he did. Maybe it was the thrill of being caught that drove their excitement? Maybe they knew he was standing right there watching him. This was getting complicated.
   "Morning cowboy! How'd ya sleep last night?" Brandon was startled and didn't hear Rhett come up behind him.
   "Hey there, ah, great, great, an' you?"
   "Slept hard as a rock; always do out here in God's country!" Rhett was smiling from ear to ear. "Well, it's almost four-fifteen. We need to get cuttin' cowboy. I wanna make it over the pass before noon. Supposed to be a big ass snow storm head in higher elevation. Wanna make sure I get you delivered safe an' sound." His smile was kind and sexy, thought Brandon.
   "We got an extra rider coming with us?" he asked, noticing Rhett leading another horse out from the paddock and tying him next to the other two horses which were already saddled.
   "Nope, jus' me an' you. There's a gelding here; it's an extra horse for you."
   They followed a trail that led them through the pass and up on top of the ridge. It was if the sun had hidden itself behind those craggy hills, waiting till they arrived. Once they held up on top of the ridge,  looking down on a sprawling valley floor, they watched as the sun rose above them. The breath from them and their horses billowing in the nippy morning air.
   Just as Rhett hoped to do, they reached the cabin about noon. Located in the foothill between two peaks, it was a simple one room cabin with a wood stove, bed and an out house in the back. The snow started coming down pretty good just as they arrived, so they chopped about a cord of wood  and built a nice fire.
   "You'll wanna keep that fire going damn near all day and night," Rhett warned. "When you go out in the morning tending cattle, stoke that thing up and close the door to the stove tight. When you get back, why you'll have a nice, warm cabin and you'll be ready to cook."
   "Sounds like you've been here before."
   "Oh yea, I've worked out here in the dead of winter, jus' like you are for two months straight. IF you can do well out here, Mr. Talbot will take notice. If you can round all most of his brands before spring, he'll be impressed."
   Once they got a fire going, Rhett showed him the map on the wall. "You'll see where Mr. Talbot's property runs. Pretty big stretch. Beautiful country out here. I'll stay tonight and saddle up in the morning." Rhett showed him where all the food and supplies were kept, then they settled down for a dinner of boiled potatoes, chili and a few shots of whisky. 
   "Hey, I wanted to ask you if you came up to my bedroom to use the bathroom last night? I fell asleep and forgot you were coming." Rhett took a sip and squinted at him as they sat across from each other in front of the wood stove.
   His brain spun as he was blindsided by the question. He remained cool inside as he scrambled for an answer. "Ah, no I actually used the bathroom downstairs." 
   "Sorry 'bout that. So you didn't come up to m room? "Cause Wesley made a comment that he's seen you by the stairs last night."
   "Oh, ah, yea, but I turned and went into the other bathroom."
   "So I must have already been in my room?" 
   He hated lying, and he really wanted to tell Rhett how turned on he was actually seeing two buff guys kiss. He wanted to tell him how he was aroused by seeing Rhett's beautiful, buff body and when he and Kendall started to rub their erections together, he was almost to the point of orgasm himself. He wanted to ask him so many questions about how it felt! But it was best to remain secret about it.  After all, it may be something they surely don't want anyone to know about, especially Price Talbot!
   The time seemed to pass quickly. He was content working by in the peace and beauty of the mountains all alone. When he was lucky, he was able to snag a grouse or rabbit to cook on the trust wood stove. When Rhett arrived three week later, he was glad to see him. 
   "How's life at the house?" 
   "Same ol', same ol'," Rhett smiled.  "Looking forward to sleep in a nice warm bed again?"
   "Well sure, but I like it out here, too!"
    "You'll be back out here before winter is over." They loaded up their gear and saddled the horses. He brought another cowboy to take over while Brandon was at the house. He quietly got himself comfortable and Brandon as Rhett rode back to the ranch.
   It was great to eat home cooked food again and stay in a nice bed. Rhett had switched Brandon to  room closer to the downstairs bathroom. After dinner, when all the guys had left, he walked into the kitchen to visit with Wesley. During dinner he found himself catching a glimpse of Wesley's cute little behind. It wasn't the big, beefy ass he usually thought about, it was more like a piece of candy.
   "So, you had a nice time alone up there?" Wesley asked while loading the dishwasher.
   "Gets a little lonely."
   "Yea, I'd get lonely!"
   "Hey, I was meaning to ask you, no big thing, but the night before I left, you mentioned that you'd seen me by the staircase; I didn't see you."
   "I should have never said anything," Welsey looked shaken.
   "Hey it's no big deal."
   "The truth is, I was kind of lurking," Brandon noticed his plump lips and small hips made him appear cute and impish. "Do you know why?" 
   "I'm not sure," Brandon answered, uneasy. Wesley knew.  
   "Hmmm... let's see, Maybe what we both saw?" He was now grinning at Brandon, he felt it was safe to continue playing with him; after all if Brandon wasn't the least biu
   "Do they carry on much?"
   "Yea, well, kind of."
   "Do the other guy's know?" Brandon was curious.
   Wesley with a sexy, mischievous grin on his face, was playing with him, now. "Oh, I'm not sure. But they just all might know, if you know what I mean? What do you think Brandon?"
   "I'm not the brightest light in the house," he was clearly embarrassed. 
   "Can we have a secret between us?"
    Brandon nodded, "Yea, sure."
   Wesley moved closer,  playfully tugged Brandon's flannel shirt and whispered in his ear,  "I actually joined them later that night." 
   "Really...?" He was uneasy and speechless.
   "Didn't they look hot?" he said while still clutching Brandon's bulging biceps. Then he rose on his tip-toes and whispered even closer into Brandon's ear, "They made me take off all my clothes in front of them." He pulled back a little to Brandon's reaction. It was clear to Wesley that Brandon was a virgin and still very much in the closet. He was skillfully working Brandon into an erotic moment, but keeping it harmless, yet curious. Brandon was willingly taking the bait.
   "So what do you think went on in there cowboy? Could you hear us?"
   "No, ah, I just saw those two on the staircase..."
   "Naked?"
   "Ah, well yea, one of them was...an' the other one had his shirt off and his jeans, you know..."
    "No I don't know, Brandon."
   "Well," Brandon carefully continued. "He had his jeans and underwear down past his knees, I believe."
   "You're kidding?" Wesley tried to balance his reaction so that he appeared genuinely surprised without being sarcastic. He did not want Brandon to think that he was messing with him, even if he was.
   "OK, wow, so did they both have erections?" Wesley studied Brandon's body language, he wanted to make him squirm with curiosity, not with embarrassment. 

As he giggled, Brandon realized that the longer he listened to such an erotic story without objecting, the more was admitting to Welsey that he also found it sexy. In a way, he was finally coming out and it felt great. 
   "Yea, wow, I'l bet you had fun?"
   "Oh God, it was exhilarating! Do you like your ass rimmed?"
   "Ah, yea, sure," Brandon was embarrassed but turned on at the same time. Suddenly Price Talbot came unannounced into the kitchen. 
   "Good evenin' guys," it was the first time Brandon had seen Price speak in a pleasant fashion. Both he and Welsey quickly changed their demeanor and bid their greetings back to him. They both silently felt like grade school boys who had been chatting about sex right before the headmaster arrived unexpectedly. There was an uncomfortable silence between them before price continued the conversation. 
   "You guys getting to know one another?"
   "Yes, sir. Its good to have a home cooked meal again,"
   "Well, you deserve it, cowboy. Your numbers show that you've found another 20 head for the brand that we had written off. That's money saved for then ranch, good job." Price pated Brandon on the arm then walked out though the same swinging kitchen door that he arrived in.
   "Wow, Boss very seldom does that!"
   "What do you mean?" Brandon asked Wesley, not having any idea what he was talking about.
   "Telling a cowboy that he did a good job. That's something he just expects. He certainly likes you!"
   Later that night, he digested all what had happened in just one night. For the first time in his life, he actually discussed man-sex with another man; but what was even more shocking to him was that he discussed this with Welsey as if he assume Brandon was gay. This worried him and seemed to complicate his situation. Brandon hated complex situations; he love life to be just as simple as possible. Would Wesley tell  Kendall and Rhett what they had discussed in the kitchen? Would it leak out to the other guys? And what about Price's sudden kitchen visit extending his encouragement. God forbid if this ever got out to him. He was sure Price would fire him, but also the embarrassment would be too much to bare. He was growing very fond of Price and wanted him to be very proud of Brandon all the way from what he did in the saddle to how he handled himself at the ranch. Worried and stressed out,  he just decided to go to bed early and just sleep on it. 
   The next day he was up before sunrise, ready to drive cattle in a herd nearby. They spent the day moving the herd closer to creek and was back before dinner. As he sat there with all his fellow ranch hands, he noticed that every one was of those cowboys were nice to look at. As he watched them passing food, smiling and joking, he realized how lucky he was. He enjoyed being around them all, they were sexy and he often found himself dreaming about discovering Rhett and Kendall naked and together again, only this time the temptation would be to walk in on them and perhaps play dumb. He even found himself getting turned on by pretty, little Welsey.  Sure, he wasn't the tough, buff cowboy with large, powerful, Wrangler-Clad, ass cheeks he was so fond of, but the thought of having Welsey walk in on him, while he was naked, was becoming enormously erotic and something he was scheming to do.  He'd seen how Welsey looked at him, how he clutched his huge biceps while conversing with him, how he moved close to him and how sweet Wesley's body smelled from the body soaps, the colognes and the shampoos he used. There was an underground of something powerfully erotic going on and he was getting very excited.
   That night, he was approached by Rhett, "Hey Brandon, we're gonna' send you back out to watch the herd near the cabin, can you be ready to go Saturday mornin'?
   "Yea, sure. Ready and willin'." 
   "Great. C'mon upstairs later, I have a map I want to give you that shows some better detail. Price thinks there are some more cattle held up around the other creek."
   "Yea, what time?"
   "Ah, ya know, after dinner, before you go to bed."
   "Sure." 
   It all sounded kind of strange, he thought. Why would he need a new map and why could Rhett just give it to him? Later that night, he finished dinner and decided to head upstairs as Rhett had asked. He came across Wesley as he got up the top of the stairs.
   "Hey, Rhett had some map he wanted me to give you."
   "Oh, well he told me to come up to his room and get it."
   "Yea, well he gave it to me," Wesley looked back at Rhett's bedroom door that was at the end of the hall. "He's kind of busy now." Then Welsey smiled and lowered his eyes to Brandon's waist. "How 'bout I just bring it up to you later?"
   "Yea, OK. I'm going to take a shower then. I'll be back in my room in about 20 minuets or so."
   "Taking a shower, huh?" Welsey smiled. "I heard we're supposed to conserve hot water, so, I'll be up there to jump in with you." 
   The remark caught Brandon off-guard. "Oh, yea, OK."
   "I'm jus' kiddin'." Wesley reached in and grabbed Brandon's arm. "You're so easily fooled!" Brandon's face turned beat red as he grappled for words.
   "Well, I mean...ah, if that's what we are supposed ta do, I mean..."
   "Damn, you are so cute!" Brandon could feel his cock grow inside his cotton briefs.

   "Oh, I am embarrassing you. I'll bring it up later," then he winked and walked down the stairs. When he got to the bottom he turned and looked up at Brandon. "So, see ya later," he smiled, then put his finger to his lips. "Oh, I think you might wannna close Rhett's door if ya don't mind, but, Shhhhh.  Be real quiet." He giggled and scampered off. Brandon took this as a temptation he couldn't resist. When he reached the end of the hall, he could hear moaning and other very erotic sounds coming from Rhett's bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, so he stepped slowly towards it, then peered inside. Immediately his heart raced and his brain spun wildly. There was Rhett wearing his Wranglers and no shirt, kissing one of the other cowboys that Brandon had seen at the dinner table and in the barn. He was extremely well built and many times Brandon had snuck a peek at his buns; they were large and beefy. He assumed that he was doing squats with large amounts of weight. It was the only way that he could develop such massive, muscle ass buns like that.  But now he was nude! Brandon, now frozen in his tracks, was watching them kissing passionately while Rhett's hands were all over those beautiful ass cheeks. With the cowboy's back towards him, Brandon had a perfect view through the opening in the door. Never in his life had he seen a man, man-handle another man's naked ass, although in his many fantasies, it looked just like that! Suddenly, they stopped kissing as  Rhett looked up at him. The cowboy turned his head and looked at Brandon. He was mortified.
   "Ah, sorry guys, I...ah you mentioned I should get a map from you, I'm sorry..."
   "Go see Wesley, didn't he tell you he had it?" Brandon didn't know how to answer that question so he avoided it.
   "Yea, I'll run down there right now..."
   "Close the door, would ya?" As Brandon slowly closed the door, the cowboy smiled at him making no attempt to hide his beautiful nude ass. In fact they bought remained embraced, not embarrassed whatsoever. 
   As he walked down the stairs, he thought how strange it had seemed that they did not to care in the slightest about him seeing them. It was similar to the night he saw Rhett and Kendall at the top of the stairs; only he was certain they didn't see him. 
   He had trouble with his erection in the shower. It had grown rock solid and as he soaped his body, he couldn't help but lather it and stroke it thinking of what he had just saw. The more he did, the harder it was for him to come; this was something that had never happened to him before. So he rinsed himself off, wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back to his room. He waded up his jeans and shirt and held it in front of his erection so he could make it down the hall without anyone seeing him. Getting caught,  he would run the risk of massive embarrassment. 
   Once inside the privacy of his own room, he let the towel drop and stood in the mirror admiring what he saw. He loved his strong ass, he figured it was even nicer than the cowboy that was with Rhett. He loved his body but he wanted someone else to see it, touch it even play with it. Then there was a knock at the door.
   "Brandon, you there? I have that map for you." It was Wesley,  for a moment he contemplated going to the door, naked. He was so excited at the very thought of seeing the look on Wesley's face as he stood there in front him, stark naked. 
   "Yea, I'm coming, hold on." He swallowed hard and walked towards the door. 
   Then as he put his hand on the door handle, he heard something startle him; he could hear Wesley talking to someone else. 
   "This is Price, you awright, Brandon?" Quickly he turned back away from the door and scurried to look for his pants. His big cock lowered itself quickly along with the pit in his stomach. Once he had his jeans on, zipped and buttoned, he throw a t-shirt over his massive chest and then finally made it to the door. 
   "Hey, sorry guys," he said to Wesley and Price who stood there. Price was holding a saddle bag, while Wesley was holding the map. He could feel his erection had deflated and lay discreetly in his pants, soft and subtle.
   "Mind if we come in?" Price asked as he barged his way inside. He tossed the bag on the bed and motioned for Welsey to drop the map.
   "OK, cowboy, you'll be heading back to the cabin in the mornin', ya got that?"
    "Why yes, sir."
   "Now then, have you noticed any strange behavior around here?" As Price spoke to him, he looked straight into his eyes. Brandon tried to return the stare, but could see Wesley behind Price, subtly motioning for him to be cautious, he tried not to let his eyes wander behind Price's steely stare.
   "I'm sorry sir, I'm not sure I no what you mean."
   For the longest time Price starred at him without saying a word. It seemed as though he was trying to determine if Brandon was lying to him. Brandon had no idea of what he should say. Then when it appeared he was satisfied with Brandon's response, Price looked back at Wesley.
   "I will not tolerate any faggot shit under my roof, is that clear?" 
   "Of course sir, I...I am only here to work, sir."
   "I know you are, you're a good kid. Please, I don't mean you. There is something going on here and I want to know about it. Don't be afraid to tell me, OK?"
   "Yes, sir." They both answered in a positive cadence.
   "If that shit is going on in this house, I want you to tell me about it, immediately!" His stern stare was cold and callus. "This is a ranch house for men." He paused a moment, then switched the subject. 
   "I have some stuff here you'll need in this bag, here's the map of the creek. You'll need it when you go looking for stranded cattle, got it?"
   "I do sir, of course." Brandon answered.

   "Great then, lights out, you ride out in the morning at 5 a.m. You, get into the kitchen and make sure that place is spotless." Yes sir," Welsey answered back. It looked like the fear of God had been installed in the boy. With his heart beating almost out of his chest, Brandon closed the door and walked back to his bed. He sat down and slowly removed his clothes. He felt as though he was scolded by his headmaster. He wondered what would have happened had he opened the door nude, not knowing that Price was standing there, expecting Wesley. 
   His erotic state was at a peak; with so much bulging around him, yet so far from it, he could take it. He pulled off all of his clothes and slipped back under the covers. He thought of Wesley catching him naked, coming out of the shower. He imagined dropping his towel and walking across the room as sweet little Wesley smiled and stared at his buff, naked body. He imagined his thin, pretty hands all over his ass and as he did, he stroked his cock. He kicked off the blanket and then imagined Price walking in and catching them both in bed together. He fantasy followed Price taking of his rodeo buckle and belt, then telling them both he was going to give them an ass whipping. The thought of Price laying his belt across his big buff ass was overwhelming. Before he could come, he fell asleep with his fist wrapped around his big cock.
   It was well after 2 A.M. when he heard a tapping on his door. He woke to his cock still erect and his fist still securely wrapped around it. He listened closely, thinking it was a dream. The tapping was slight, with no voice behind it. He got up and walked to the door, naked. Slowly he turned the door handle and peered out into the hall. 
   "Are you asleep?" Wesley whispered close to the door.
   "Not anymore." He whispered back. "Where's Price?"
   "He went back to the mansion, it's OK. I'm sorry to wake you; can we talk?" 
   His initial thought was to tell Welsey to wait while he closed the door and put something on, then he  just couldn't resist the enormous temptation.
   "Sure, come on in, but, ah... be quiet." As he stepped back behind the door in the darkness, his heart exploded in his chest.  He was stark naked and the thought of Wesley coming into his room was overwhelmingly erotic. For the first time in his life he flet He didn't want Wesley to think he was being deviant,  but after all, he was sleeping and it was Wesley who had the gall to come back up to his room after Price had just been there. What if Price came back up? What if he was being set up? Oh, he just didn't know anymore. The underground current of electric eroticism that had been stinging him since he'd arrived was just too much to behold any longer. He quickly thought that he would step back over to his bed and get under the covers. If Price were to come back in, he'd just pretend he was sleeping and was awakened.
   "Hey, I'm sorry if I woke you, Brandon," Wesley said as he slipped past before he had a chance to close the door and move inside the protection of his dark bedroom. 
   "I was just thinking, ya know.  Since I won't be able to see you for a while,  you know,  because you'll be headed out to the cabin early in the morning...and so I thought I could just slip back up here and say goodbye. " As Welsey spoke, he walked casually towards the opposite wall in the bedroom. He walked through the strip of light that divided the room, and continued to the other side. He still hadn't yet realized that Brandon was nude. 
   Brandon stood there holding the door open, the stream of light from the hallway painted a path between both men. He wondered if he should close the door quickly and make a mad dash for the bed and cover up with the blanket before Wesley could turn around, or just cool it and wait till Wesley reached the wall. Then once he turned around and was facing him, Brandon could enjoy the bold position of showing off his buff, naked body for a moment before he closed the door. This would indeed be the boldest and most erotic thing he'd ever done in his virgin life. He had certainly fantasized about this, many times. After reasoning with himself for just a split moment, he decided it was time to be a man; an erotic, sexy man. So he waited till Wesley had reached the wall and turned around. He was still chatting about something, but stopped talking immediately once he saw Brandon facing him, in the darkness. The light from the hall separated them and it was difficult to make out Brandon's naked frame.  Brandon took a deep breath and stepped into the splash of light momentarily so that Wesley could view his massive chest, sculpted biceps, cut, six-pack abs, and impressive hanging cock. He watched Wesley's eyes drop. Then he turned and displayed his big, voluptuous, muscular ass.  
   "Ooops, I better close the door," he said as the light show brought and end to his exhibitionist display.  It felt exhilarating, awesome! He could tell Wesley was impressed; he wanted to show off more! But now they were both alone in the dark. 
   "Sorry, you caught me before I had a chance to..."
   "Oh that's OK, I mean, glad I did." Wesley said as he giggled. What was he to do now? Should he move to the bed and get under the covers, before he turned on the light? Or maybe he could turn on the light that sat on his chest of drawers, that way he would have to walk across the room for five or so steps letting his pretty little friend take in more of his gorgeous body. But before he could make up his mind, Wesley had leaned over and turned on the light next to the bed.
   "I hope I'm not intruding," he said while catching Brandon off guard. He smiled playfully as he leaned against the wall as he watch the big, nude bull walk across the room. This time Brandon was a bit self-conscious, but tried his best not to make it known. He walked across the room very slowly and paused before he reached the bed.
   "We should be careful and not let our voices carry. We wouldn't want anyone to think something was happening in here."
   "You're right," agreed Wesley, "I'll sit on the bed so we can speak softer." He climbed up at the end of Brandon's bed and sat crossed-legged, yoga style. Brandon pulled back the covers and slipped in between the blankets and sheet. It wasn't a moment too soon, as his cock began to swell into an impressive erection. 
   "So, do you know how long you'll be at the cabin?" Wesley asked, trying to avoid the obvious. Brandon couldn't help but take notice of the sparkle in his lovely blue eyes and the crooked little smile that wouldn't leave his pretty face. He tried his best to act as if this were a situation that was a situation he was used to.
   "Oh, I don't know. Price wants me there till spring drive. I guess he'll send a few guys to help me drive 'em back to the other side of the river."
   "So, do you get lonely out there by yourself?"
   "I dunno; it's actually kind of nice." 
   "Yea, well for a tough cowboy like yourself! Man. I'd be scared shit-less! Hell, I wouldn't even know how to chop firewood, or get a fire started. I'd probably freeze to death the first night!" He wrapped his arms around his tiny chest and made a shivering gesture. Both men laughed.
   "Oh, you'd pick up survival skills pretty quick," Brandon assured him. 
   "I don;t think so, I've never even camped out before,"
   "Are you serious?" 
   "Yep. Closest thing for me was sleeping in a van on the beach when I was in high school."
   "What beach is that?" Brandon asked.
   "Zuma Beach, in Malibou."
   "You from California?" 
   "Yea, I'm a California boy."
   "What brings you out here to the wild west?"
   Wesley studied Brandon's handsome face for a few moments in silence then smiled, "You really want to know?"
    Brandon knew he had suddenly waded into erotic territory. "Sure."
   He leaned close to Brandon and whispered, "Because I wanted to be around cowboys." He smiled back at Brandon as their eyes meet for a few, long, silent moments. "Rugged, handsome, quiet, kind, tough-as-nails, cowboys. Just like you, Brandon." There was another few moments of silence while Brandon tried to process the compliment. 
   "That's, nice of you to say, Wesley."
   "And while I'm dishing out compliments to you, I, ah, jus' gotta say that...ah, Jesus, you have the most awesome ass I've ever seen! OK? Whew, I got that out of the way!"
   This time, Brandon just stared back at Wesley's sky-blue eyes and smiled. He loved hearing this, it was exciting. He wondered how he could show off again to this pretty boy, without being too creepy. His heart raced inside, this was like a fantasy coming true.
   "And gosh, you probably worked pretty damn hard to get an ass like that, huh?"
   "Lot's of squats, you know. As a college wrestler, we worked out twice a day. I'm actually looking forward to getting back to the cabin where I'll be chopping firewood and doing some heavier chores. I don't want to get soft." 
   Wesley took advantage of the opportunity to make a joke, "So, that would mean you're not soft, now?"
   Brandon loved the pout on Wesley's pretty lips. The soft light from the table lamp beside the bed fell exotically across Wesley's beautiful high cheekbones and full, plump lips. He always had such a fetish for the tough, rough and tumble cowboy men -- like himself -- and had never even thought twice about pretty, boysicle, twinks like Wesley. However, each time he looked at Wesley he could see something so sexy. Lying on his stomach in bed, he was sporting a full-blown erection that was beyond control. He propped himself on his elbows and looked at Wesley's boyish charm, his innocent advances and his pretty physical appearance. 
   "Can I ask you a personal question?" Wesley was now lounged on the bed -- right next to him -- wearing a t-shirt and loose-fitting sweatpants. 
   "Yea, sure." He was close enough for him to smell the body soap on Wesley's tender skin and the minty-fresh breath from his just-brushed teeth.
   "When did you come out?" 
   "Well, you mean confirm I was gay?"
   "Yea, silly," Wesley chuckled. For the first time ever, Brandon was all alone with a beautiful man in bed, just like they were lovers.
   "Well," he searched for a way to admit to Wesley, that this was indeed, new territory. "First of all, what makes you think I'm gay?"
   "Well, let's see... you're laying in bed, naked, with another man?"
   "Yea, I guess you have me there. Well, to be honest, I've never really admitted this to anyone." Wesley looked at him for a while before smiling wide,"Wow, I'm honored." It was a tremendous weight off Brandon's soul. 
   "I should hope you'll be kind with this newfound information."
   "Of course, Brandon." Wesley whispered so close that his breath tickled Brandon's ear and giving him a warm swirl in the pit of his stomach.  He pushed his hips down into the mattress and slid his massive erection slowly against the sheets. He wondered if Wesley had any idea he was sporting such a stiff rod under the covers. 
   "I like talking to you. But we have to be quiet, so that no one hears us in here." Wesley laid his head down on the pillow next to Brandon as he spoke.
   "You'll be getting up so early... maybe I should be going back to my room..."
   "No...I mean, will you stay?" He interrupted Wesley before he could finish. His own words surprising himself.
   "Yes, I would love that," Wesley whispered back this time his lips brushed lightly against Brandon's earlobe like the flutter of a butterfly wing. For a moment, he felt the warmth of Wesley's breath against his neck.
   "If I do, could you share your blanket with me?"Wesley giggled and tossed his head back, framed in the dim, bedroom light.
   "What are you laughing at?"
   "Well, I was wondering if I have to go back to my room and get my own?"

   "No, I'll let you in, you can curl right up next to me!" He pulled back the blanket to reveal his ass cheeks again to Wesley. The cold bedroom air gave his bare buns goosebumps. 
   "Damn, what a stud ass, you have baby!" Wesley reached over and ran his tiny hand on Brandon's butt. He didn't really need any more arousal, but none-the-less, the touch of Wesley's smooth hand and tiny fingers running across his big, buff ass sent electricity down his spine and to the tip of his pulsating erection.
   "OK, cowboy, let me get ready for bed, first," Wesley said as he got up from the bed and walked over to the wall. He turned on a dim light using it as his spotlight.
   "It's show time!" he said as he stood with his back towards Brandon, his head looking over his shoulders and smiling wide. Then slowly and seductively, Wesley undid the drawstring from his grey sweatpants and slipped his thumbs into the waist.
   "Just imagine some real sexy music," he said while moving his hips back and forth until the sweatpants fell to the floor. He kicked them to the side and slide his thumbs back into his bikini-style, white cotton panties. Then grinding his hips in a sexy, circular motion he very slowly pulled at them until he revealed his small, nude ass. Then pulling them to his knees, he spread his legs and raised his arms against the wall. He turned his head around and smiled to Brandon, 
   "Do you need to frisk me?" he said as Brandon's heart thumped uncontrollably, his erection was throbbing and a thin bead of sweat had gathered at his forehead.  
   "My God, you're so cute!" He whispered as Wesley pulled the panties off and kicked them to the side. Still wearing his shirt, he turned around and revealed an eye-popping boner of his own. 
   "OK, I'm coming!" He scampered over to the bed, his erection bouncing up and down. Instead of going under the sheets, he laid on top of the blanket with his head at Brandon's feet. Then, on his belly, he looked back smiling at Brandon. Still wearing his little, striped shirt, he watched as Brandon drooled over his tiny ass.
   "Well, now I know why they call it a twink ass. Jesus, that sure looks like a delicious twinkie to me!"
   "Would you like to taste it?"
   "Oh...um, yea." Brandon was caught off guard. Being the first time he'd ever touched a man's ass, he proceeded with such extreme caution. His big, calloused hands he slowly moved his fingers softly across Wesley's delicate buns. As if he was examining a smooth, marble sculpture for imperfections, his hands maneuvered around and around until he finally drew up the courage to lower his face against his left bun and he kissed it as Wesley's giggled. 
   "I want to eat me," Wesley moaned softly.
   "What?" Brandon asked, lifting his face away from the buns.
   "Silly cowboy, haven't you ever..."
   "I have never done anything, I am new to this." 
   "OK, I'll be gentle...as long as you aren't." They both laughed quietly. Then Wesley sat up, gently pulled Brandon close to him and whispered in his ear, "I want you to insert your tongue into my ass. Don't worry, I cleaned and shined my little hole for you, hoping this might happen." He smiled and wrapped his thin arms around Brandon's neck, pulling their lips close to each other. For a moment they looked into each other's eyes in silence.
   "Have you ever kissed a man, deep and passionately without coming up for air?"
   "No...but I'm hopping I am about to."
   As they kissed, Brandon felt the tip of Wesley's erection rub up against his. Their lips locked for what seemed to Brandon as forever. 
   "So, am I a good kisser?" Wesley whispered, exaggerating a pronounced pout with his lips.
   "That was wonderful!" 
   "Now I want to feel your scratchy whiskers against my butt cheeks and your hot tongue deep inside me, cowboy."
   Just hearing Wesley's request sent an erotic electricity through Brandon's nude body. He went to work on his first sexual experience. It was almost 3 A.M. when he finally rolled over and fell asleep with Wesley in his arms.
   It was only a couple hours later when he awoke to find Wesley dressing in the dark. 
   "Hey, good morning cowboy," Wesley whispered as he leaned over and kissed Brandon on the forehead.
   "Did you enjoy last night?" 
   Brandon smiled and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "The short answer, yes!" he replied. "I'm going to pay for today."
   "Same here, I have to get down to the kitchen and get coffee and breakfast going; see you down there." He blew a kiss before he closed the bedroom door. Brandon climbed out of bed and pulled on his jeans and boots. He glanced over and the clock and moaned to himself when he noticed it was already 5:10. There was no time to shower, he just grabbed his saddle bags and made his way down to the kitchen for coffee. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he was met by Brett.
   "'Morning guy, how'd ya sleep last night?" Rhett asked with a cocky grin pasted across his face. 
   "Fine, why do you ask?"
   "Well, just want my cowboys to have a good night's sleep. Besides, you're gonna be shoeing horses today and you'll need all the energy you can muster."
   "Today? No, actually I'm riding out to the cabin."
   "Nope, plans changed. Got a call from Price first thing this morning. He wants you to stay here and he's sending Kendall out there instead."
   "Is there a problem?" Brandon tried not to show that he was alarmed by the sudden change of plans.
   "Not that I know of. Do you know of anything wrong?"
   "Well no, it's just that these plans have been in place for weeks. To change at the last moment like this is kind of strange."
   "Strange?" Rhett asked, as he leaned against the wall. "Well, yea, sometimes Price does do some strange things. But he's boss-man, ya wanna work here, you deal with it."
   "Was it something I did?" Brandon tried not to sound desperate, but deep down he was very concerned that maybe Price found out that Wesley stayed in his bedroom last night. 
   "Hell if I know, but you can ask him yourself. He wants to see you now. By the way, nice piece of ass that lil' twink is, heh?"
   "'Scuse me?" 
   "Oh, come on now! You got ta be a little better at covering up your little sex romps than that.  Maybe you're still a little green at this?" He moved in close to Brandon and lowered his voice. "Maybe I need to show you how it's done, instead? Better get to Price's house, cowboy." Rhett lowered his voice again." Quite frankly, the only time Price ever has anyone up to the mansion is when he's real pissed off at ya or real happy about ya. Wonder if the odds are in your favor." He laughed and walk off.
    Brandon was beyond shock. All the hard work he'd done to prove him self seemed to literally vanish overnight. For a moment he thought about just leaving the ranch immediately. Maybe he's just leave a  short note telling Price to keep his pay in exchange for keeping things quiet about sleeping with Wesley. He had some money saved, enough, even, to just leave the state. There was no way he could hang around now. The worse thing was if the Nelson's were to find out. His heart raced, beads of sweat gathered around his neck. He really hadn't thought about going anywhere, where would he go now? He certainly couldn't head back home to Kansas. Once word got out around there and his old school, no telling what folks would like about him. He would have to make a clean start. The worse things was, he finally had sex with a man and it was even more exciting that he'd fantasized about. There was no way he could go back to being straight.
   When he reached the kitchen, Wesley was no where to be found. He poured a cup of coffee and walked outside. The cold morning air made his sweaty body shiver. He felt dirty and greasy. How could making love be so wrong? There were such memorable moments last night that made him feel as close to nirvana as he could ever imagine. Now, in the light of a new day, he felt as if he committed a major crime, like murder, and was forced to flee. He looked out as the sun started to break over the hills. It was a gorgeous morning and instead of feeling like he was, he should be holding Wesley close to him and they should both should be watching a new day dawn, together. 
   The more he thought about it, the madder he became. After all, he'd done nothing wrong. He thought about the many people before him who have paid the price for what he did; the ultimate price. He felt as if he were living in hell and he should saddle up and go somewhere else, start a new life. Maybe the city, where he could live freely and be accepted. Giving up the life of a cowboy might just have to be and he'd just have to accept it.
   He piled his gear into his pickup truck and drove the long private road to Price's mansion. He didn't leave anything in his room, figuring he's probably be fired and certainly didn't want be humiliated by having to come back after have the dreaded conversation with Price. The song climbed over the ridge and warmed the frigid ground. Spring was in the air and he could see green shoots emerging in the prairie that rolled out from either side of the dirt road. He placed the palm of his hand on the dashboard; it felt almost hot from the sun. 
   At first it appeared as a tiny dot way back on the highest peak of the mountains. None of the cowboys who worked on Price's ranch had ever been there. The long dirt road that wandered through the hills and back to the mansion was supposed to be almost 20 miles, or so he heard. No one really knew how far it really was, or what it looked like. A few rumors circulated around about one guy who fell asleep while three head of cattle were carved up by a pack of wolves. He was asked to appear at Price's mansion before he was fired. As the story goes, Price fired him once he arrived, and then told him he was going to keep his final month's wage to pay for the dead cattle. He offered him a chance to keep it if he could beat Price it a fist fight. The man gladly accepted, but Price knocked him out cold after the hand had thrown the first punch. Another cowboy who had saved almost 100 head of cattle from an emerging flood by moving them to higher ground was also welcomed up to the mansion. Once he arrived, he was served dinner and spent the evening smoking Cuban cigars and drinking expensive Scotch with Price deep into the wee hours of the morning. That man went on to start his own cattle ranch in Eastern Oregon, funded with start up dollars offered from Price.
   As Brandon neared the gated entrance to the mansion, he wished he could have been coming to see Price on better grounds. He worked so hard to impress him, but seemed to have thrown it all away on a homosexual romp one night on Price's property. But he wasn't about to deny it; he decided to hold his head high and not back down. This was what he was, he had proven to Price he was a skilled horseman, if Price didn't like that he was gay, too bad. He had done nothing to jeopardize the ranch, what he chose to do behind closed doors was his own damn business. By the time his pickup slowed down in front of the gates, he was feeling good about what he'd say. He rolled down his window and leaned through the window of the truck and spoke clearly into the speaker.
   "I'm here to see Price, this is Brandon."
   "He's been expecting you, drive though," a deep voice spoke through the speakers. He watched as the tall, black iron gates opened and a green light flashed. As his truck moved through, he noticed a series of cameras that were probably capturing his image on video monitors inside. 
  After Brandon parked his truck, he climbed the wooden staircase to the huge, oak door. It resembled a luxurious, private ski lodge for movie stars. Once he reached the top of the stairs, he walked to the end to take in the wonderful view of hills and woods. Down below, there was a group of cowboys working horses in a rodeo arena. He noticed one cowboy sitting on the bleachers with chaps; he was beautiful. Slumped down in the stands, Brandon wondered what he'd look like nude. Then he remembered why he was hear. Was he about to get fired for a homosexual affair after Price had made it clear that he forbid this. But as the morning moved on, he didn't care anymore, he was liberated and horny.  There would be no way now he could not want to have sex with a man again, it was inevitable. 
   Suddenly the big door opened and a young lad with short, frosted hair popped his head out.
   "Are you Brandon?" he asked. The beautiful boy was maybe 18 or 19, wearing swim trunks and no shirt. He was so cute that Brandon wanted to lean in and kiss him; he had the fever and had it bad.
   "Uh, yea, here to see Price."
   The pretty lad smiled and said, "He says your his best cowboy." This kid was probable Price's son or nephew, Brandon thought.  It was strange, he thought,  he looked too pretty to be any relations to the brute and rugged good looks of Price's. 
   "Come on in," The boy held the big door open as Brandon followed him in. He couldn't help but watch the boys perfect ass move up and down as he walked. 
   The big house had tall pane glass windows against a fir lined ceiling. The floor constructed of river stone and Indian tile.
   "Wow, what a place," he said as the boy stopped and turned around and smiled.
   "Yea, I helped pick out a lot of the furniture."
   "Are you Price's son?" The boy laughed. Brandon's eyes were fixed on his tender, hardened nipples.
   "No silly cowboy! I work for Price, I'm his house boy." He reached his hand out, "I'm Justin."
   Brandon thought it was strange for Price to have such a gay-looking lad to run his house.
   "Pleasure to meet you. I don't think I recognize any of the guys down there training the horses," Brandon commented.
   "Do they work for Price?"
   The boy smiled as if he were keeping some kind of secret, "nope." He turned and ushered Brandon into a large room that resembled a man's study, with a couple big leather chairs and plenty of wood shelves with books and rodeo buckles displayed. A big glass door opened to a pool.
   "Wow, an indoor pool?" 
   "We like to get our laps in. As a matter of fact, that's what I'm about to do. If you'll excuse me, Price knows you're here and will be with you in a moment." He opened the sliding door and slipped into the pool area.  It wasn't long before Price's sturdy, buff frame filled the doorway. 
   "Well, Brandon, how are you this morning?" He smiled and extended his hand. 
   "Sir." 
   "Hey, when your in my home, just call me Price. I like to be very informal when I am not at the ranch in front of the men." They chatted small talk for a few moments as Price showed him some rodeo buckles he had won as a champion bull rider. 
   "I have to say, Iwas expecting you to be, ah..." 
   "Come boy, what's on yer mind?"
   "... in a worse mood." 
    Price looked at Brandon and smiled. "What reason would I have for that?"
   He was beginning to wonder if Price called him here for sleeping with Wesley last night, or if he even knew.
   "Yes sir, I mean Price. Why, why did you want to see me?"
   Price could tell he was nervous. He brushed against Brandon as he walked over to one of the big chairs to sit. He motioned for Brandon to join him in the other seat. From where Brandon sat, he could see right into the pool area, while Price's back was to it. "Well, first I want to tell you how much I appreciate your great work." Price chuckled and reflected, "You remind me of me when I was your age, in many ways."
   "How so, sir, er I mean Price?"
   "Your cowboy skills, your work ethic," he paused then looked directly into Brandon's eyes "your eclectic tastes..." He stared at Brandon a long time. Brandon was unfomfortable by the silence.  
   "Eclectic tastes?"
   "Yea, you know what I mean, son." There was another long silence between them. "Can I get you a drink?" 
   "Ah, it's kind of early to be drinking."
   "Lemonade, ice tea?  I'm drinking ice tea."
   "Ice tea would be fine."
   Price handed Brandon a tall glass of mint tea and held up his glass in a gesture of a toast. "To a long, good employment here at my ranch." Puzzled, Brandon toasted him and glanced out to the pool. 
   "Ya know, Brandon, I keep a low profile with my men. There's the men who work for me on the ranch side, and there's the men who work here at my mansion. Never do the two meet, ya know what I'm saying?"
   "Those cowboys outside work for you?"
   "No, they're," he paused for a moment, "they're just guests."
   As Brandon listened and wondered just where the conversation was going, his eye caught Justin, the house boy who had met him at the front door. He was now peeling off his shorts to get into the pool. Brandon watched in disbelief as he tossed them on a lounge chair, and was completely naked!
   "You see, the guys on the ranch are strictly cowboys, understand? Rough, tough, buff cow runners," As Price explained, his back was to the pool area. He looked different to Brandon. He was still rugged and tough, but their was an enormous sexy side he'd never seen before.
   "My guys are good men, all of them, but they work for one purpose, and that's to run cattle on my ranch. Now it's no secret that I'm a private guy." Price moved close to Brandon, he was short and very buff like an old bull rider. As he turned slightly, the sun flowed through the open window and across his creased, faded denim. Brandon quickly sized up Price's perfectly round ass. He tried to picture what the older cowboy would look like nude. 
   "Now, the guys that work here, well they have nothing to do with the ranch, you understand?" 
   Brandon quickly glanced past Price at the pretty  house boy's tiny, cute, ass cheeks, completely different than Price's man ass. The boy's neatly trimmed pubic hair glistened in the sunlight. Slowly he stepped into the shallow end of the pool and with the pool water just below his ass cheeks, he engaged in a Tai Chi type routine, bending and stretching his boyish, naked body. 
   "So, anyway, the real reason I asked you up here..." he stopped suddenly when he noticed Brandon  was gazing past him. He stopped speaking and turned around to look through the window. 
   "You see something out there you like?" Brandon's mind froze, he didn't know how to react. Why was a tough-ass, redneck boss cowboy who the whole town was frightened of and who warned against fags working at his ranch, have this twinkie, house boy nude in his pool?
   "Sir..." 
   "Call me Price, son..."
   "Price, I...I am confused. I mean, you have a naked guy in your pool!"
   Price grinned as if he just cornered his prey. He walked slowly over to Brandon and put his hand on his shoulder. "Look boy, I asked you what you were looking at?"
   "Well, the naked guy in your pool, I...I was just kind of surprised..."
   "Surprised?" Price said moving closer to Brandon's trembling jaw and whispered "...or excited?" He moved so close, Brandon could feel his gorgeous body up against his as he swung his arm around Brandon's shoulder.
   "Pretty ass cheeks, don't you think so, son?"
    Brandon was afraid to say anything.
   "Asked you a question, do you think he has a pretty set of buns?"
   "Ah, yea." Brandon answered, hesitantly.
   "Did you ever get yer hands on a nice, supple set as of cheeks like what's on that boy?" Price held up his two strong, calloused hands as if he were prepared to go out there and grab the boys ass.
   "Well..."
   "Oh come on now, according to Rhett, you was all over my boy Wesley last night."
   "Hey, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
   "Well, did you spend half the night with your tongue up his sweet asshole, while he was bent over in bed purring like a kitty? Why he's clean and sweet, just like that one out there!" 
   "Price, I am sorry..."
    Price pulled him close, Brandon could smell the mix of Price's faded morning cologne, pungent, sexy body scent and hot cum. Brandon's hard on banged against Price's through tight denim as their lips locked in passion. Price overpowered Brandon as if they were wrestling, bending him over and unbuckling his jeans. Price dropped Brandon to the wood floor like he was roping a calf; Price's powerful arms pulled Brandons's jeans to the floor in one motion. Brandon was stunned as his underwear was gathered under his balls by Price's paw and he ripped them over his boots. Brandon's boner popped out and bounced around in the air like an angry snake that had just been released from a bag. Price stood straddled over Brandon, reaching down with his fingers to grab hold of the stiff erection.
   "Nice pole cowboy," Price said, as they both stopped to catch their breath. 
   When Price leaned down and took Price's bulging knob in his lips and slobbered relentlessly, Brandon winced in ecstasy.
   "Ahhh, ohhhhhhh!"
   Price sucked and slurrped on Brandon's stiff cock, while he lied on his back looking at his buff, cowboy boss. Brandon kept his eyes opened, starring at the beautiful cowboy who was so feared. When Price paused momentarily, Brandon peered up from on his back and could see the naked pretty house boy giggling in the doorway, with another boy who was also nude. They were both laughing, jumping and hanging on to each other with their skinny buns moving and erections bouncing. 
   Brandon never went back to work on the cattle side of Price's ranch; two days later he moved in to the big Ranch house and within six months became Price's husband. He eventually talked Price in to letting Wesley come to work as the assistant house boy to the pretty twink how loved to swim around in the pool nude every morning and afternoon between chores. Both became irresistible boy-toys to the men and were invited in between the sheets frequently. It seemed a perfect situation for all and they lived happily ever after.
    

   
   
   
   

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