This story presumes the events of Mady's Relief and our story, Two's Company, Three's....
Disclaimer: The story is mine, but the characters belong to CBS and a bunch of other folks. No copyright infringement intended.
"Keep a close eye out, Vin," Chris said in a low voice, squinting up at the tracker as he sat astride his horse. "Cletus's a wily sombitch." Chris patted the horse's neck. "He ain't got a conscience and ya know what he's done."Vin caught the look in Chris's eyes. A look deeper, somehow more intense than was usual in the past. The tracker tried to look nonchalant as he nodded down at his friend, but funny stuff was happening in his gut. Like feathers knocked loose from a pillow were settling down in the there. Not sure what to say, he just nodded.
"Ready?" Buck asked approaching the pair. He was saddled up and leading Cletus's horse on a short rein. The prisoner--a scarecrow of a man with an adam's apple that vied with his prominent nose for attention--sat tied to his saddle, wrists together in handcuffs.
Vin noted that Cletus's posture reflected his temperament. Sullen. And, although he'd been apprehended as part of a train-robbing gang, his greatest offense was his, well, offensiveness. He was a nasty thing, given to perversions, some even said with goats and dogs. Vin had a hard time believing anyone would do such a thing, but mentally shrugged the thought away as Chris spoke again.
"Marshall Bay over to Discovery's expecting you boys and Cletus here in two days time. Watch fer renegades and steer clear of Copayo Mesa and you shouldn't have no trouble."
"Not to worry, Boss," Buck spoke up. "Me and Vin's got it under control. You and the rest jest keep a lid on here. We'll be back 'fore the week's out. Let's go," he said turning to Vin. As the trio road out of Four Corners, Vin noted another glance from Chris that made him wish he wasn't leaving town.
+ + + + + + +
The day's ride had been quick-paced and hard. The summer heat made Vin feel like he'd been tossed into a fry pan over a high flame. Conversation had been minimal. Just enough to concur on directions and rest stops. As night approached, the gunslingers chose a campsite near a poor excuse for a stream.
Alighting from his horse, Vin kept his mare's leg trained on Cletus while Buck released the ropes tying him to his mount. He slid to the ground and Buck looped shackles around his ankles.
Attempting to flex his arms to restore circulation, the prisoner suddenly declared, "Damn! I gotta take me a piss," and went knock-kneed to prove his point.
Buck and Vin stared at each other. Buck's moustache twitched at the corner.
"Shi..." muttered Vin and twitched his gun barrel toward a bush to show Cletus where to take care of business.
Cletus's beaked nose seemed to grow as he sucked on his upper lip while concentrating on undoing his breeches.
"Hurry it up," said Vin.
"It ain't so easy with these here on," he whined holding up his cuffed wrists. Wanna help?" he leered at Vin, thrusting his hips forward.
Vin tried to look bored, but found himself getting uncharacteristically annoyed. "Piss in your pants," he said irritably.
Cletus managed to get himself free enough to take a leak. An audible sigh joined the sound of fluid gushing into the bush. The prisoner looked slyly out of the corner of his eye while still occupied with his task. "Hey. Lawman. You a lady's man? Or mebbe you do men? I'm gettin' all bothered at the thought of stickin' my dick up yer pretty, tight ass."
Vin had a sick feeling sweep over him, like when he used to get called on in Miz Robbin's one-room schoolhouse and he didn't know the answer. It was the reason he'd quit school almost immeditately and never learned to read or write. Of course, he told himself, this pond sludge didn't know about him and...about his night with.... Vin couldn't even make himself think the thoughts in this thing's presence.
"--or a group bang with that big fella, yonder?" Cletus's nasaly voice intruded on Vin's worried rumination.
"Shaddup! " he snapped at Cletus.
"Yer kinda cute when yer mad, lawman."
Leaning against a tree, gun trained on Cletus, Vin stared coldly at the man.
"Strong, silent type, huh?" Cletus declared, turning to Vin. His hand held his paltry member out for viewing, and made efforts to stroke himself in spite of cuffed wrists impeding his progress. "I could use some help here." He cackled merrily as Vin nudged him roughly with his gun to move back toward the place where Buck was preparing to build a fire.
~~~
Dark had come suddenly and the three men sat quietly around the campfire, eating their skimpy meal of beans and bacon. Vin leaned toward the fire to help himself to more when Cletus swiped an arm across his sweaty, grimy chin and spoke. "Yer sure a purdy thang, lawman. Don't see too many looks as purdy as you." He shifted his legs, causing the chains to clank a concurrence.
Vin ignored Cletus and set the spoon back in the pot. He thought maybe he'd heard a snicker from Buck's general vicinity and was glad it was dark as he felt a sudden surge of blood in his neck and face.
"Ain't he purdy? Fer a man, that is?" he queried Buck. "Hell. He's purdy period, iddn't he?"
"You wanna a gag to go with them shackles?" Vin hissed, squinting his eyes across the fire at Cletus. His admirer only smiled, showing a complete set of rotten teeth.
Settling back against his bedroll, Vin spooned up a mouthful of food.
"Yup," said Buck, in a drawl. "I'd allow as he's a purdy man--friendly, too," he added in a deep, soft voice.
Vin spilled the beans down his shirt. Shooting a hateful glance at Buck, he tossed his dish on the ground. "I'm gonna patrol," he said unnessarily and strode off.
~~~
Returning three hours later, Vin stole up silently behind Buck who sat guard over a sleeping Cletus and, placing the blade of his knife against Buck's throat, whispered angrily, "What the hell's wrong with you, talkin' like that in front of him?"
"Shit, Vin, you are a fine-lookin' fella. And one I been happy to know real personal." Buck put his hand over Vin's, patting him like he would a favorite child, ignoring the weapon it held. Then he chirped, "Yer turn to watch," and brushed aside Vin's erstwhile threat.
"Asshole," Vin muttered, sheathing his knife.
Stretching himself out on his bedroll, Buck looked up at Vin standing in the dim light of the dying fire. "Yeah," he grinned.
+ + + + + + +
As the three rode on toward Discovery in the morning, the heat build-up was oppressive. Vin searched the sky for signs of rain, but without luck. At a dribble of a stream, they paused to refresh the horses and themselves. Once again, Cletus needed to relieve himself and once again it was Vin's turn to escort. Vin tapped his toe impatiently. At a sudden gasp from the prisoner, Vin stepped closer to the man's back.
"What's wrong, Cletus?" he asked with a sigh.
A grunt and a gasp were his answers.
Steadying his gun, Vin moved closer to peer over the wiry man's shoulder.
"What the--!"
Cletus turned, showing Vin his cuffed hands actively pumping his distended organ and a grimace of concentration on his hawk-nosed face. "Aaaahhhh," he exclaimed and a jet of milky white fluid spurted onto Vin's thigh.
Sucking in a gasp of disbelief, Vin bent over to examine the goop and received a direct hit on the side of his head with the remnants of his prisoner's ejaculation.
"Aaagghh!" cried Vin, swiping at the stuff dripping from his face, hair and shirt. "You fucking maggot!" Dropping his gun, he let go an explosive punch with his fist that met Cletus's dreamily dazed face and sent him flying backward.
When Buck arrived on the scene he found Cletus flat on his back, unconscious, hands still wrapped around his shriveled penis. Vin had stripped off his shirt, using it to wipe vigorously at his hair and face, then bending and scrubbing at his pants leg, then flipping the shirt over to have a go at his ear and neck, making noises of disgust and outrage all the while.
"Holy--That little pecker jerk off on you?!" Buck busted out laughing.
"Don't know what the fuck you think is so funny 'bout it," Vin complained bitterly, bending by the stream to soak his shirt and have another try at eradicating the evidence of Cletus's ardor from his person.
Buck tried to stifle his mirth, smoothing his mustache with two fingers and rocking back and forth on his boot heels. "Seems I've seen you covered in cum a lot lately," he chortled.
"That's it!" Vin huffed, throwing his shirt into the dry dust alongside the creek. He stalked up to Buck and looked into the big man's eyes. He inhaled like he was going to let out a stream of invectives, but instead just stood there and seethed.
By now, Buck had lost all remnants of amusement. "Git a sense a humor, Vin," he said without any of his own. He sidled around his friend and bent down to hoist the senseless Cletus over his shoulder, then carried him off to be dumped like the sack of shit he was over his horses's back.
Vin snatched his shirt back up, shook it out and yanked the filthy garment on over his head. He leapt into his saddle, gathered up the reins and took the lead toward Discovery. Buck and Vin didn't speak until they got to town. Cletus snored.
+ + + + + + +
The two gunslingers from Four Corners delivered Cletus to the jail and handed over the papers to Marshall Bay, a tall blonde man who had a disconcerting way of staring straight at a person that made Vin want to wriggle under a rock. He felt Bay's eyes rake over his clothes and blushed fiercely at the thought that the marshall knew exactly why he smelled so rank. Vin pulled his hat a little lower over his eyes and shifted his weight to the other foot.
"You fellas got a place to stay the night?" the marshall asked.
"Naw," Buck answered easily. "We'll just get a meal while the horses rest up then head on back out tonight."
"But one of you needs to testify at the hearing in the morning before the judge."
"Well, that ain't customary," Buck replied, looking sideways at Vin. Vin nodded his agreement.
"Yeah, I know," acknowledged Bay, "But this train robbery is a federal case and that requires that the judge hear your statement concerning Cletus's apprehension."
"'S'that so? Well, we oughta wire Chris and let him know we ain't comin' straight back," Buck pointed out.
"Yeah," said Vin, not looking too happy as he headed for the door.
"You boys need a room, there's the Casa Grande yonder," Marshall Bay added helpfully, pointing to a wooden hotel that didn't do its name justice. "Can git yerselves a hot bath, too," he added.
Vin gave the marshall a disdainful glance and pulled the door open with more force than was necessary, heading out to the dusty street without waiting for Buck.
"Kinda quiet, ain't he?" said the marshall.
Buck's moustache spread in a small smile. "Yeah. But he gits his point across anyway. Thanks, Marshall. What time you need us tomorrow?"
"Nine sharp. Over at the courthouse."
The men said their good-byes. Buck mosied out to the wooden walkway in front of the jail and watched Vin negotiate the crowded street of horses, wagons, buggies and pedestrians. Then
Buck went to the telegraph office to let Chris know about their change in plans.
+ + + + + + +
"Chris," Josiah said by way of greeting. He stepped up onto the wooden porch of the jail where Chris sat hunched over a piece of paper.
"Huh? Oh. Hey, Josiah."
"Bad news is it, brother?" the preacher asked, inclining his head toward the paper in Chris's hand.
"Bad--? No. Uh. No." He shook his head as if to convince himself. "Buck and Vin. They won't be back til Friday. Seems they have to testify about Cletus. Wasn't planning on 'em being gone an extra day is all."
"I see. Well, life here seems fairly quiet. Of course, nothing is a given and things can change at any time. Yet, we five are fairly capable," the preacher went on, squinting out into the cloudless sky, "and with God's good grace we'll skim by until our comrades return. Until then, if--"
"S'cuse me, Josiah," Chris interrupted, jumping up from his seat and leaving the other man with a thought still on his tongue and a suspicion forming in his mind.
~~~
Chris strolled through the streets of town making small talk and looking for all the world like he was doing his job. But inside, he was a jumbled mess of perplexity. Why, he wanted to know, did Buck's news disconcert him so? Okay, okay, he admitted to himself. He knew it had to do with last Saturday night. God, it was such a fine night. He'd never even imagined....
After Sarah--after he was left all alone--grief and lonliness threatened to disable him. Buck, his closest friend, had let him know there were ways he could be comforted that left him feeling satisfied yet unencumbered. Buck. He was a friend for all times. Not your fair weather variety. Stalwart, dependable, dedicated, and in firm knowledge of how to have a genuinely good time. The first time Buck had eased Chris's needs, he, Chris, had been so distant from his feelings, he hadn't even thought to be shocked. And after, when he realized how soothed he felt, he decided that being with Buck now and again was a good thing--for both of them, seeing as Buck certainly seemed to enjoy his company on occasion. And being such close friends, they really hadn't ever needed to talk about it.
Then comes Vin. A flicker of...desire ran straight through Chris's insides at the thought of his quiet friend. He tried to block out the memory of their nights together. It had all just begun recently, and actually, it was unexpected. Oh sure, the thought had crossed his mind once or twice. He snickered to himself, well, maybe a few more times than that....
"Hell, Chris! Watch where'n tarnation yer headed, willya?!" cried the general store manager, bending to pick up sacks of grain from the street where he'd been loading a cart with a customer.
"Sorry!" The lawman scooped up the fallen bags and helped the men complete their task. Tipping his hat, he continued on his rounds and his ruminations.
So. Vin. Vin was the trouble. Sweet Jesus, he had to stop thinking of Vin naked and hard before him, in his arms, under him, behind him. Those huge blue eyes, pleading him to take him with passion and abandon yet trusting that he'd keep it all to himself. Because Vin was a very private person, as was Chris himself. He hadn't meant to breach that trust.
He'd never meant to bring Buck in on this arrangement. Well, shit. He'd never meant to have an "arrangement" with Vin at all. It just sort of happened. And, dear God, there was no stopping it now. And when Buck found them out and--like typical Buck--not been dismayed or scornful, but downright happy, Chris felt like it was perfectly right to include him in helping Vin understand the pleasure that they could bring each other.
But Chris could tell that, although they'd all had a helluva good time, Vin was not really comfortable with the idea of Buck being in on their little secret. This past week, after that night, Chris had made a point to see Vin as much as possible. Alone. Neither of them was a big talker but Chris knew without benefit of lengthy discussions that the young tracker was having trouble with all these new twists on old friendships. So he confided to Vin that what they had done together with Buck was a first for him, too. And that it wouldn't ever happen again, if that's the way Vin wanted it.
Buck, on the other hand, had seemed like his old self. Jocular and flirtatious to a fault with women. But Chris would swear that Buck kept giving Vin a different sort of glance when he thought no one was looking. That Buck was maybe just a pinch more concerned over Vin's whereabouts than normal. And was it his imagination or was Vin perhaps spending a little more time talking that quiet talk of his with Buck?
Chris used his thumb and forefinger to stroke his bristly chin thoughtfully, missing the step down in the sidewalk.
"Oooofff!" he exclaimed as he landed in a sprawl on the ground. Standing up, he dusted his pants off with the stunning realization that he was jealous.
+ + + + + + +
Buck sauntered into the Casa Grande's lobby. A pleasant-looking, middle-aged woman was behind the desk. Buck liked the way wisps of her honey brown hair fell from her bun and framed her face.
"Howdy, ma'am," he grinned, his lady-killer smile in place.
"Afternoon, sir," the woman blushed automatically in response. "How can I help?"
"Looking for my pardner, please. Vin Tanner. He check in a short while ago?"
The desk lady consulted her register and nodded. "Why yessir, he did. Would you be Mr. Wilmington?"
"Yes ma'am, at your service," Buck intoned deeply, sweeping his hat from his head. "Pleased to make yer acquaintance, Miss--"
"Archer. 'Mrs.' Archer, Mr. Wilmington. Pleased to meet you."
"I declare it's just my bad fortune that all the pretty ladies are already spoken fer."
"Now, Mr. Wilmington, why do I get the impression you've said just those words many times before?" she chided him gently with a knowing smile.
"Ahem. Yes'm," Buck acknowledged, feeling just like he had twenty years ago when he'd been caught peeking up Margaret Jane Templeton's dress. "If you'll just direct me to Mr. Tanner, then, ma'am, I'd appreciate it."
"Well, yes, of course. Mr. Tanner is in the room at the end of the hallway on the right," she indicated with a pointed finger, "But--"
"That's fine, Mrs. Archer. Thanky for yer assitance," and Buck strode down the hallway. He heard her calling after him, but he didn't want to suffer Mrs. Archer's knowing eyes a moment longer. He opened the door to the room without preamble and blinked into the semidarkness. Fingers of late afternoon sun streaked through the wood-slatted shutters over the windows imprinting light and dark stripes across the small room. At first, Buck thought he'd gone to the wrong place. This was a washroom with a big cast-iron bathtub smack in the middle.
At the precise moment that Buck realized his misunderstanding, Vin's head and shoulders broke the water's surface. He came up sputtering, drinking in large gulps of air. After raising his hands to brush his hair straight off his forehead and knuckling the water from his eyes, Vin opened them and found himself staring at Buck.
Neither man spoke nor took his eyes off the other. Buck reached over to grab a chair sitting by the wall, placed it near the end of the tub and sat down, facing Vin. They continued to take stock of each other, Vin gripping the sides of the tub, Buck leaning forward, elbows on knees.
At length Buck cleared his throat. "You wanna tell me what's gnawin' at you?"
Vin glared at Buck. At his obvious ease and relaxed manner. It rankled him. "Go away, Buck."
"Why don'tcha finish up that bath and let me have a go at it. It's lookin' mighty invitin'."
"Yer makin' me....uncomfortable."
Buck swatted the air with his hand. "It ain't like I never seen ya without yer clothes on, Vin. And not just during toe-curlin' sex, either," he added with a big grin.
"See?!" Vin splashed the water with his hand, sending spray into Buck's face. "Ya just can't let it go!" His face flushed dark red, highlighting the pulsing vein in his temple.
Buck stared stupefied at his friend, then hitched his shoulders innocently. "I ain't the one with a problem with 'It.' Yer the one's been more skittish then a unbroke colt whenever I'm around."
Vin sat motionless in the water, staring at Buck staring at him. Vin was obviously angrier than a homeless hornet, but Buck was just confused. He'd been mulling over their little argument by the creek ever since it happened. But he couldn't figure it all out. Thought maybe he'd misunderstood Vin's touchiness, that it had nothing to do at all with the night of lovin' they'd had with Chris. After all, Vin had been entirely too enthusiastic during and even the next day for him to be upset by it somehow. But now he could see he was looking past the obvious. He studied Vin for a moment. Then he spoke softly. "Do you regret what we did?
Vin closed his eyes. "No," he exhaled.
"Are ya embarrassed? Vin. It's supposed to make ya feel good, not twist yer guts up feelin' guilty about it. If I'd known you'd react like this, I woulda never..." Buck shook his head at a loss for words to fix Vin's problem.
Feeling entirely vulnerable and hating it, Vin slouched into the high curved back of the tub and dropped his chin to his chest. His voice was barely a whisper. "Buck?"
"Yup?"
"Git."
Buck was flustered. Stuff just didn't sit so hard on him and he couldn't figure out how to make Vin quit fretting over something so.... unimportant. "Sure, pard. I could use somethin' to take the parch outta my throat. You comin' soon?"
"Soon," Vin murmured, slowly sinking beneath the water.
+ + + + + + +
Buck had hit the saloon in a mood. He'd had enough of that swine Cletus and was glad to dump him in someone else's care. And, although he tried to quash the thoughts, he couldn't get Vin's troubled face out of his mind. Hell, didn't Vin know that what happened last weekend between the three of them was just a...a...diversion? Something that felt real good and eased everyone's aches? Damn. Why'd it even matter? Vin's a big boy, he knows what's what. Why should my conscience be bothered, he thought. Then it hit him. Maybe Vin didn't know the ropes. Maybe Vin had never done anything like that before. Well, he'd sure acted like it was something he knew about. And he sure as hell enjoyed it. No questions there. Aw, screw it, he thought and sat in an empty chair at a poker table, slugged down a whiskey and enjoyed the immediate attentions of a skinny but kinda pretty working gal.
Buck was feeling relaxed and easy when Vin finally arrived. They nodded at each other but didn't speak. Buck figured if the tracker wanted company he'd let him know. So he left him alone, although he kept an eye on his partner as he walked over to the far corner of the bar and went into his customary slouch.
~~~
It was getting late and the saloon was crowded. The heat of the day never really left. It just settled in like a moist warm blanket, making everyone's movements languorous. Vin leaned against the end of the bar. He felt better having gotten the filth of the trail and that turd, Cletus, off himself. He'd exchanged his nasty shirt for the one clean spare he had in his saddlebag and scrubbed away the worst of the evidence from his buckskin pants. But to his nostrils, Cletus's stench was everywhere on him. He just hoped in the general stinkiness of a packed saloon, his particular odor wouldn't stand out. Nursing a whiskey, he surveyed the crowd from under the brim of his hat.
Buck seemed to be enjoying himself, behaving in his usual manner. In a way it was a big relief to Vin, who was getting desperate for something normal to cling to. He just couldn't put his finger on the thing that was chewing on his innards. It had to do with Buck, yeah, that was for sure. And it had to do with Chris. The mental image of the blonde man caused Vin an almost physical ache in his middle. He didn't want to think about this right now. So he turned his attention to a bunch of half-dressed women who were singing and dancing up on the stage. He had a sudden realization that he hadn't been with a woman in quite some time and, until this moment, hadn't even given it a thought. He tried not to stare, but the dancers were wiggling and yanking up their dresses teasingly and he swore he caught a glimpse of bare ass. He started feeling grumbly again, not sure what the hell it was he was feeling or wanted.
When the song ended, the dancing ladies filtered through the crowd. Vin could hear their high-pitched giggles and the sounds of drunken cowboys groping and hoping. It didn't do much for his twitchy feeling. He ducked his head over his glass and tried to shut it all out.
"Gettin' your fortune outta the bottom of that glass?" asked a female voice. A voice dipped in brandy and rolled in honey.
Vin tilted his chin enough to peer at the owner from under his hat. The face wasn't what he expected. Heart-shaped with wide blue eyes and a freckled nose. Tendrils of fine light blonde hair wisped along the sides of her head, which she tilted at the same angle as Vin's, trying to catch his eye. He really didn't want to flirt right now. But he'd been raised right and years of conditioning wouldn't let him be out-and-out rude.
"Naw. Just a promise of a headache in the morning."
"Not if you quit drinkin' it now."
Vin upended the glass and drained it. He closed his eyes while the searing liquid forged a path down his gullet, spreading like a fire in his stomach. When he opened his eyes, the sweet-faced gal was still there. She smiled, displaying deep dimples, and Vin thought she was right comely.
"I'm Velvalee," she murmured in her sexy voice.
"Ma'am," Vin responded, touching the brim of his hat cordially. He didn't think to introduce himself. Didn't think it really mattered. Besides he was too enamored of the syrup in Velvalee's voice and thinking about how it kinda oozed up out of her throat from her ample bosom.
"I was noticing you from the stage," she said. "You look lonely."
"No'm. Just...alone." He eyed her generous hips and the milky skin of the tops of her breasts, which bulged upward from their tight-fitting bodice and thought Velvalee was a damn sexy woman.
"Ok. Alone. And I'm wonderin' why that is. You being such a handsome man and all." The working girl moved in close to him, letting her breasts brush against his arm and chest. The tracker began to experience a faint, yet distantly familiar inner tingle. He liked the sensation of her soft, full body up against his own.
"I seem to have company now," he breathed out.
"Is that what you want?" She looked up at Vin from under long lashes and ran a small hand up and down his bicep.
Drawing the woman right up against his body, letting her feel the stirrings of desire between his legs, he said, "You tell me." He let his hands run across her backside and up her front, brushing at the hardened nipples clearly delineated beneath the thin fabric of her low-cut dress. The dancer gasped with delight. Vin took the opportunity to kiss her parted lips.
When they stopped kissing, Velvalee smiled again and took his hand. She pulled him toward the staircase that lead to the places where so many men wanted to go, but only the luckiest--and those with ten dollars--were admitted. On the way, Vin glanced at Buck with cards in his hand and the same scrawny, dark-haired girl on his knee, smooching away at the big man's neck. Vin felt smug, knowing that he'd for sure got the better deal.
~~~
Velvalee ushered Vin into her room and closed the door. Swinging her hips seductively, she crossed the room to where Vin stood beside the bed. She pulled the hat from his head and tossed it expertly to land on the bedpost. Rubbing his chest appreciatively, she said in her sultry tones, "I'm gonna give you the holiday special, cowboy."
"Why the holiday special?" Vin whispered in Velvalee's ear as he rubbed his groin against her hip and dipped to kiss her neck.
"Cuz I feel like Santa Claus dropped a big, ol' beautiful package by my bed." She held a hand up to his chest to stop his onslaught of passion. "And I'm about to do some serious unwrapping. You stand right there and let Vel do all the work, sugar."
She plucked at Vin's suspenders, taking them from his shoulders. She turned her arms behind her own back then and deftly unbuttoned her dress. Next she freed Vin's shirt from his pants and unbuttoned it, pushing it off his muscular shoulders. She ran her tongue over her bow-shaped lips and tugged the dress down to her waist, letting loose breasts that were the envy of the saloon's stable of working girls. Erect nipples brushed against Vin's bare chest as Velvalee unbuttoned his trousers. She heard him suck in air as their flesh connected and his hand came up instinctively to caress her exposed skin.
"Not yet, lover. I'll let you know when you can touch," she chided him with a wink, gently pushing his hand to his side. Noting with satisfaction that his deep blue eyes fairly flamed with lust, the whore wiggled her dress to the floor and stood before Vin clad merely in a garter belt and stockings. A small groan escaped from deep in Vin's chest. Making a production out of ever-so-slowly pushing the tracker's pants to the floor, she then slowly stood, slithering herself like a snake up the length of his body.
"Now, sugar. Now you can touch." With that she captured his mouth with her own. But he was a willing prisoner and gave her a taste of his own special brand of lip-lock. Each one's hands roamed and kneaded, tweaked and scratched at the other's flesh. They tumbled onto Velvalee's plush, lacy bed, Vin on his back with the lovely lady straddling his hips. After engaging in a tongue-twisting kiss, which caused Vel's full bosom to squash softly all over Vin's chest, she worked her way down to his straining organ to begin a slow taunt with fingers, tongue and lips.
Vin sighed and closed his eyes. As the woman's soft lips teased the tip of his manhood, Vin had a sudded vivid picture of another blonde head bent over his crotch, this one attached to a large, muscular neck, and felt a surge of panic.
Velvalee lifted her face and searched Vin's questioningly. "Well, cowboy, that wasn't exactly the reaction I was hopin' for," she said, her voice as smooth as warm satin.
Vin squinted a peak down his torso and groaned inwardly. Damn! Double damn! What the hell was wrong with him?
"Maybe yer heart's jest not in it right now, lover," she said soothingly.
"I don't think it's my heart that's got the trouble," Vin said quietly between clenched teeth, thinking it was his mind which was about as fucked up as it could be that was causing him this extreme embarrassment. He laid still and thought while Velvalee clucked and cooed and stroked him elsewhere with her delicate touch.
"Miss Vel?" Vin said at length.
"Yes, sugar?"
"I'm the paying customer here, ain't I?"
"Indeed you are, cowboy," Velvalee confirmed in her made-for-sex voice.
"Then let's do this my way."
And before Velvalee could protest, Vin was sitting up and trading places with his whore, laying her down on her back. He crawled on top of her, planting kisses on her mouth and jaw. Scooting southward, he took as much as he could of one of her big, inviting breasts into his mouth and suckled. Vel moaned. Vin let his hands soak up the sensation of her soft flesh, rubbing and touching lightly along her rounded belly and thighs. Moving to her other breast he teased its tip with his tongue and at the same time gently probed her opening and found it exactly as he had hoped. Inserting a finger into the moist, hot place, Vin glanced up at Vel's enraptured face and felt a wave of delight. He moved further down on the bed, nudged her knees apart and placed his lips where his fingers had just been. Velvalee moaned and bucked her hips, inciting her cowboy to work doubly hard at manipulating her most pleasureable spot. Hands playing in his hair, hips gyrating to assist his movements, Velvalee's panting grew louder until she erupted in orgasm, letting out a moanful cry of ecstacy.
Vel tossed her head on the pillow, still reeling from the magnificent sensations, as Vin raised himself above her letting his now-interested erection bob in the air, hanging just above its hopeful destination. He lowered himself on steel arms until their bodies barely met and kissed her deeply. Her hands found his throbbing organ and guided it to its starting point and then Vin entered her, gradually, tantalizingly. In a long, slow motion he buried himself deep inside the woman's lush body, retreating at the same controlled pace. In and out he worked, keeping himself raised just above Velvalee so that their chests and stomachs glanced against each other with each inward thrust. Then he wrapped his arms around her and rolled them over together. Velvalee righted herself, still impaled on Vin's stiffness. She increased the rhythm, moving up and down his shaft while leaning over letting Vin's hungry mouth work at the tips of her breasts. Vin used his hands to guide her hips in a quicker and quicker rate until he tightened every muscle he owned and closed his eyes as the orgasm rolled over his entire body.
~~~
They lay naked side by side, lost in their own thoughts. The sounds from downstairs were dissipating as the night drifted into morning. At length, Velvalee hitched herself up onto her elbow and stroked Vin's chest. He turned his face to look into her wide eyes.
"You've got a real giving nature, cowboy. Most men want a quick poke or for me to blow them. Why'd ya do it? Not that I'm complaining mind you. I'm surprised is all, real pleasantly surprised."
Vin studied her kind face for a moment, then spoke softly. "Ain't the whole point of laying with a lady to appreciate the beauty of her natural form? There's lots of ways to take care of a man's urge, but a woman's a one-of-a-kind pleasure. I wanted ya to know how much I was enjoyin' myself."
A rumble of throaty laughter escaped Vel's lips. "Oh, honey, you weren't the only one."
Vin smiled and wrapped his arm around the sensual blonde and they slept lightly until dawn.
When Vin slid out of the bed and pulled on his clothes, Velvalee stirred. He turned to see her sleepy eyes smiling at him. He tucked in his shirt and pulled up his suspenders without speaking. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out some money. Laying it on the bedside table, he leaned over the tousled blonde and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Thank you, Miss Vel."
"Keep it, cowboy," she said, glancing at the bills. "It's me who should be thanking you."
Vin stood and turned for the door, ignoring the money on the table. "You're welcome," he said softly and left Velvalee to ponder over the best night of her life.
+ + + + + + +
Vin walked around town sucking in the fresh air of the early day, before it got so hot and stifling it was better for choking than breathing. He had a lot to think about.
~~~
After court, which Vin declined to attend, letting Buck be the responsible party, the two men headed back to Four Corners.
They rode side by side. Normally taciturn, Vin was out-and-out unfriendly. Buck felt the tension as plain as the scorching sun that beat mercilessly on their heads. Occasionally, Buck tried to chase away the boredom--and Vin's silence-- with a stab at conversation. He told Vin how his testimony before the judge had gone easily. Vin grunted. After a bit, Buck told the tracker a joke he'd heard the night before. A derisive snort was Vin's only response. Hours passed, the men pressed on toward home, and Vin wouldn't get over whatever it was that was making him sour.
They made camp by the same puny creek as before, except it being two days drier and more pathetic. The only talking was done by Buck and that was just the most neccesary things. They sat on opposite sides of the fire now, their meager meal finished. Vin scrunched down until his head rested on his saddle. He pulled his hat over his face, crossed his ankles, and folded his hands across his chest.
Buck wanted to punch him.
When Buck had seen Vin head upstairs with the buxom blonde last night he felt that Vin must have finally made peace with his inner demons. So when the two men hooked up again this morning, Buck was dismayed to find Vin still in an uncommunicative state. Not that the tracker was ever a big talker, but his foul mood was starting to make the naturally ebullient gunslinger begin to lose his patience. Mentally, he settled on a plan to end this stalemate.
"Saw ya with the lovely lady last night," he drawled nonchalantly.
"Yeah?" came Vin's muffled voice from under the hat.
"She's got some mighty tits on 'er, but she's plumper'n I like," Buck observed.
Vin removed his hat and said with eyes still shut, "Guess that explains the scarecrow you was with."
Buck smirked. Okay, he thought, now we're gettin' somewhere.
"Still," he pressed on, "That gal's gotta be a handful. Could ya manage?"
Vin shifted his weight. "What's it to you?"
"Hey. Pard. No call fer gittin' defensive." He paused for a few beats then said, "Oh," like he'd just puzzled something out that had been eluding him.
Vin sighed loudly. "What?" he asked tiredly.
"Mebbe you don't wanna talk about the gal cuz you wasn't, er, able--?"
"Tch..." Vin clucked through his teeth in disgust, still not bothering to look at his teaser.
"--on accounta how yer a faggot now," Buck finish off, watching with satisfaction as his verbal arrow hit its bulls-eye.
Vin shot to his feet and came to stand above Buck, fists clenched, chest heaving. He blinked his eyes furiously until his thoughts coalesced enough to growl, "Oh yeah? If that's a fact, then what's that make you?"
Buck was about to tell the outraged tracker that he was only joshin' him to get him out of his funk, when the younger man unexpectedly turned the tables.
"What's the name fer a grown man as goes around fuckin' boys? Huh, Buck? Buggery! Ain't that what it's called?"
Buck's jaw dropped and he stared up at Vin. "Wha--?"
"Aw, c'mon. You 'spect me to believe you ain't corrupted JD?
"JD?!" Buck couldn't fathom how Vin had made that leap, but it pissed him off so bad he wanted to smash that handsome face to a pulp. He flew at the tracker, tackling him to the ground. Fists flew, delivering punches and jabs wherever they could land. Elbows jabbed, boots flailed blindly seeking a body part to harm. A cloud of dust surrounded the writhing, grunting men. Vin was the first to assume some control, pinning Buck with an elbow to the throat and a knee to the groin. And Buck probably would have surrendered at that point, except that his left foot landed in the fire. With the heat inching up his calf, Buck suddenly realized what the burning smell was and rolled away from the flame with such force that he threw Vin flat on his back, knocking the wind out of him. Buck landed flat on top of him. As the two tattered, bleeding warriors sucked desperately at what seemed like too little air, their chests and stomachs rapidly expanded and contracted against each other. Buck was still too rattled to think about letting go of Vin's arms, which he had pinned at the wrists above the tracker's head.
The men glared at each other while waiting for the ability to speak to return. Then, as their breathing turned less frantic, Buck dropped his head toward his captive's and kissed him lightly on the lips. Vin was so startled he didn't even protest. Buck took this as a positive sign. He eased up his iron clasp on Vin's wrists and bent down for another kiss, this one with more conviction. And again, Vin didn't stop him. But, when Buck found himself getting aroused and ground his hips against those beneath him, it was enough.
Jerking his mouth away, Vin stared Buck full in the face. "Yer sure a randy bastard, Buck. Git offa me." He pulled his hands from out of Buck's and gave the big man a shove at the shoulders. Then he stood, rubbing at his bruised jaw, and used his hat to whack at the dirt on his clothes.
Buck sat up, encircling his knees with his arms, watching Vin closely. "Why in God's name would ya think I'd be havin' sex with JD? He's closer to me 'n a brother. That's disgustin', Vin!"
Buck actually sounded like his feelings were hurt. Vin was so confused at this point, he just scowled at him and swiped at the blood trickling from his nose. He didn't hold a thing against Buck for what happened with him and Chris, but he knew something was wrong with the whole picture, only he didn't know how to explain it. He just sat down some distance from Buck, speaking in a low voice. "I figgered, if you'd do it to me, why wouldn't ya be doin' it to him."
"If I did that with JD, it sure as hell would be buggery. And I'd have to lock myself up. But I got news fer ya, pal. What we did? That was just a good old-fashioned fuck. And as I recall, you was beggin' fer more." When Buck could see even by firelight that Vin was blushing, he went on. "Didn't ya? Am I 'memberin' it all wrong?"
"Why ya gotta go 'round making jokes outta it all the time, then? Even in fronta scum like that Cletus." Vin shook his head wearily. "It's such a...personal kinda thing. I don't understand yer attitude is all."
"Jokes? Vin. I was only teasin' ya. Trust me--when I think of you and last Saturday night, the last thing I'm thinkin' is about jokes. I thought I was making that perfectly clear."
"Like mud," Vin mumbled. He took in a breath then blurted, "You and Chris been..." he waggled his hand in the air in a vague circle, looking for the right words. "....together, that is, with each other, I mean, a lot?"
"It ain't a regular occurrence, if that's whatcha mean. We been there fer each other in the past," he shrugged. "Not often." Buck paused, thoughtfully. "It's just kinda natural, Vin. Ya git an urge and someone else git's it too, and no one objects. How can somethin' that feels that good be wrong as long's nobody's gettin' hurt?"
"I didn't say I thought it was wrong," Vin said unconvincingly.
"Well, then, what's the problem? I'll tell ya what it is. Yer problem is that yer feeling with yer heart and head when all yer supposed to do is feel with yer dick. Save that hearts and flowers stuff fer the ladies. Fer when ya 'fall in love.' Ya know?"
Vin looked down at the ground and picked at a loose rock in the dirt. "Yeah...yer right."
Buck sighed and dusted himself off. "I'm goin' to sleep, pard. Your watch. Wake me." Just like that, Buck brushed away Vin's troubles like the dirt from his clothes. He rolled over and headed for slumber.
"Buck?"
The big man grunted.
"I'm sorry. What I said. About J.D. Sorry."
"Fergit it, pard." And Buck instantly fell to snoring.
+ + + + + + +
The men were up with the sun, breaking camp. Six hours later, under an intense noon sky, they were still in the saddle but making progress toward home. Not so Buck with Vin's steadfast silence. But he felt that at least now Vin was merely deep in thought versus harboring a misguided grudge.
~~~
Vin was indeed, deep in thought. He pondered Buck's comment from last night, just as he'd stayed awake most of the night trying to figure out what was happening to him. Like Buck said, he'd always let his "romantic" feelings be ruled by physical desire. If one gal didn't want him, another would, and that was fine by him. If he'd been a vain man, like his companion, Vin would have realized that there never had been a time when he'd been turned down by a woman. But Vin didn't keep score or pay any mind to such things.
Shifting in his seat, Vin sighed and wiped sweat from his brow. He thought of talk he'd heard from men who claimed to be in love. Men who suffered ailments that sounded more like symptoms of a dreaded disease than affairs of the heart. Fluttery stomachs, tied tongues, forgetfulness, orneriness and plain out jealousy that resulted in uncharacteristically poor judgement calls. A wave of nausea swept over him as he made his self diagnosis--yup, he thought, I got it bad. But how in hell to deal with it? Chris and Buck both admitted they'd had sex together just to feel good. Nothing more. Was that what Chris was feeling about Vin, too? Well, good. Fine, he thought. I can handle that. I don't need no entanglements, that's fer damn sure. I'll jest keep on to myself and take what comes...or doesn't. Good, he decided. That's settled. He felt a nugget of calm edging through his innards and sighed again.
Buck looked sideways at him. "Ok, pard?"
"Fine."
"Mmm hmmm."
The men rode on accompanied by the cloppity clop of hooves and the creak of saddle leather. Vin felt that he'd finally got a hold of his confusion when he suddenly remembered the alluring Velvalee. She came on him like a weatherfront: warm, sultry breezes of fond memories suddenly swept away by a frigid gust of guilt. Like a burst soap bubble, Vin's false calm was shattered. Guilt? Why?! I ain't got nuthin' to feel bad about, he thought defiantly. But his conscience nagged at him, picked, until he couldn't ignore the fact any more. He got a sensation when he was with Chris that was finer than any he'd ever known or dreamed there could be. Despite his resolution of moments ago to let nature take its course, he knew he had to have Chris--all to himself. Which, of course, meant he had to come clean about Velvalee. But what if Chris didn't even care?! Shit.
Vin heaved a deep sigh. He closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose.
Buck turned completely toward him in his saddle. "Yer reminding me of my ma."
Vin groaned. "Guess yer gonna tell me why whether I wanna know or not?"
"I am. Yessir, I am. Ma always said it was a heavy loada guilt that made a body sigh. I'm figgering you must be carrying a wagon full for all the deep breathin' you been doin' today."
Vin grumbled under his breath about Buck's mother.
"Say again, pard?"
"I said, yer ma--"
"What's this, ya reckon?" Buck interrupted.
Vin looked into the distance to where Buck's gaze settled. A dark horse and rider emerged from a dust cloud, forming into a cohesive image as they neared. It was Chris, coming upon them at a brisk pace. He reined in, pulling up alongside the travelers, keeping Buck between himself and Vin.
"What's up, boss?" Buck inquired.
"I'm headin' out to work on my place some."
"Yeah?" said Buck. "Yer place is west a here, ain't it?"
"Uh, a little. But since I was headin' out, thought I'd ride on a little further and see if you boys was near to home." When Chris spoke it was to Buck, avoiding a direct look at Vin. The tracker felt his nervous pleasure at seeing the black-clad man sink like a stone in a pond.
"Well, here we are," said Buck, looking Chris over deliberately.
Chris cleared his throat and put on his business attitude. "Did ya have any trouble handin' over Cletus or with the testimony?"
"Nope. Went fine. He is a disgustin' thing, though. Ask Vin," Buck said nodding his head toward the tracker.
Vin sucked in his breath and glanced at Buck with annoyance long enough to see Chris peering around the big man at him.
"What happened? Vin, you okay?"
"Yeah, fine," he responded angrily.
"Don't mind him," Buck said teasingly. "He's been grouchy fer days."
"Yeah? What's wrong?" Chris leaned around Buck again to address the younger man.
"Nothin'," he said emphatically.
Chris sat back in his saddle and fell quiet until Buck asked about happenings in Four Corners while the two had been away. Chris roused himself long enough to answer Buck's questions, but he seemed preoccupied.
As the three neared the outskirts of town, Buck looked to his left and then his right and shook his head. "I'm gonna ride ahead," he declared into the silence. "Jes' remembered a date I have with the fair Jolene. See you boys later." Buck spurred his horse and cantered off toward town.
~~~
Two men with mountains to say to each other rode along with a silence between them like a massive ravine. Seconds ticked, lengthening into minutes and still neither could think of what to say. At last, they reached the place where the road to Chris's place veered off. Vin hitched his shoulder to his chin to wipe at some sweat and squinted into town. Chris peered at Vin, vainly trying to see what was going on behind the blue eyes effectively hidden beneath a hat brim. When Vin finally turned his head back in Chris's direction, both men spoke at once. Neither heard the other. Silence fell once again.
Chris drew a breath and paused to see if Vin was getting ready to speak again. When nothing else came out of the tracker's mouth, Chris spoke. "Can ya come out?" he nodded his head in the direction of his cabin.
Vin nodded slowly. "Reckon."
"Got somethin' I wanna talk to ya about."
Vin's head jerked up and he stared into Chris's eyes. "Yeah? Go ahead."
"Not here. C'mon." He clicked at his horse, yanking gently on the reins.
Together the men and their horses plodded out to the lawman's humble home. To Vin, those three miles were the longest he'd ever traveled. His insides felt like mush and he wanted to turn his horse around and high-tail it right outta there. Aww, Damn! How'd he ever get himself in this mess?
+ + + + + + +
Chris handed Vin a glass of whiskey. "Why don'tcha sit," he indicated a chair at the table, taking the other one himself.
Vin stood in the middle of the small room and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I'm fine," he managed to say. His voice sounded squeaky to his own ears. He hated to think what it sounded like to Chris.
"Vin." From his chair, Chris looked up at the beautiful man standing awkwardly in the middle of his house. He stood and looked the tracker in the eye. He sat again, then slapped his knees and huffed. Standing, he paced across the room, turned and came back to stand in front of the younger man.
Vin had trouble finding his voice. But Chris's discomfort was making him more nervous than he could stand. "Chris, if you ain't gonna say what ya got to say, I'm goin'." Oh shit, he thought, now what am I gonna do if he don't tell me!? I don't wanna go. I want ya to touch me, Chris, he thought. Just touch me.
"What happened out there?" Chris finally said. His voice was low, troubled.
Perplexed, Vin stood mutely and wagged his head, shrugging.
"Somethin's all wrong, Vin. I can tell. Did Cletus....did he hurt ya somehow?"
"No! 'Course, not," Vin responded too quickly. In his mind, he kept thinking all he wanted was to put things back the way they had been. Please, Chris, he pleaded mentally. Please, touch me. The older man stared at him purposefully. He knows, Vin thought. He knows I did something and he's not gonna let me outta this. "It wasn't him," Vin finally mumbled.
"Shit!" Chris banged his glass on the table. "I shoulda never sent you two out together. I knew something was outta kilter with Buck."
"Buck?" Vin squeezed his eyes shut and reopened them. "He didn't do nothin'. No. It was...someone else...." he trailed off, lifting his hands in a helpless gesture.
"Someone else?" said Chris. "What're ya talkin' about?"
The tracker tried to put his thoughts in a row. How could he explain his disgust with Cletus and the resulting confusion that escalated as he habitually misinterpreted signs and comments from his friend Buck. How could he tell Chris that all he wanted was to feel as complete as he had when the two of them had been together. That he didn't think Chris wanted it, though, and so he'd tried to persuade himself with the luscious Velvalee that he didn't care about Chris, but all she managed to do besides ease an immediate ache was drive home to him the endless need he had for this man. How should he explain what a goddamn stupid idiot he was? Kiss me, Vin thought. Just kiss me and don't make me have to explain this to you.
"There was a gal. Velvalee," he managed to get out. "Her name was Velvalee." He focused on the handsome, rugged face of his lover, who immediately looked crestfallen.
"Damn. I thought maybe you was havin' second thoughts about..." Chris wagged his head and kneaded the back of his neck while staring at the floor.
"No--I--"
"Shit. I've been such a selfish fuck," he said wistfully, looking up at Vin with sad eyes. "I just wanted ya so bad, I made myself think you was wantin' me as much."
"But I do," Vin blurted out. His chest heaved with the breath he couldn't catch. Did he say he wanted me? Did he just say that?!
Chris stopped berating himself and narrowed his eyes at the tracker. A flicker of something--different--crossed his face and his voice changed. "So. You was with a gal?"
Vin puckered his eyebrows in consternation and nodded.
"And?"
"And--what?" Please. Please stop this and touch me. Touch me like you do, Vin chanted in his head. Touch me like you do.
Chris stepped close to the man he'd been counting hours for. "And--" he leaned his forehead so close to Vin's their combined body heat was palpable. "--how was it?"
Vin's breathing came in shallow gasps. "She was, uh, real purdy..."
"Mmm hmmm. What else?" he whispered into Vin's ear.
The young man closed his eyes and swayed. "Soft. She was soft."
"Mmmm, they are that, women are. Nice ain't it?"
"Yeah, it was...nice."
"You like soft, Vin?" Chris continued to whisper.
"Soft is good," the tracker exhaled.
Chris shuffled his feet forward and now the men stood chest to chest, hands at their sides. Tilting his head a little, he licked all around Vin's lips with the tip of his tongue. "Or you think," Chris said huskily, "mebbe you like it hard?" His desire was so thick Vin could taste it. Or was that his own?
Vin's voice responded, sounding like someone else's. Deep and full of urgency. "Hard. I want it hard." He pulled his head back enough to look Chris straight in the eye. They panted as if the exertion of restraining themselves was too much. "Now."
Their mouths came together in a fierce kiss as the sound of ripping cloth filled the air. They wrestled with torn shirts, never taking their mouths from each other. Hands, finally freed, stroked and kneaded muscle and sinew and sweating skin. Together they crumpled to the floor where, between kisses and nips and tongue baths, Chris yanked off his own pants, got to his knees, and tore Vin's pants clean off of him without loosening them. Then he paused for a moment between Vin's widespread knees and looked down at the perfect face that stared at him expectantly.
"Now," the tracker demanded, lifting his ankles into the air.
Chris spit onto his fingers, made a cursory exploration of his lover's entrance and rammed himself into the young man with a power that surpassed desire.
Vin cried out in exquisite pain. His lover dragged himself from the brink of lustful insanity with a worried look that begged for permission to continue. "Give it to me," the man on the floor growled and grabbed onto the forearms that held up his legs.
They coupled like stallions denied for too long. Quick, hard, fierce. Joyful, hurtful, ecstatic. Hours passed. The first rush of lust gave way to slower, thoughtful lovemaking as the men found countless ways to please each other and themselves. In the dark night with only the bright moonlight illuminating the room, they lay in a sweat-soaked mass on the bed, legs intertwined. Chris turned on his side. Propping his head up with one hand, he drew senseless designs on Vin's smooth chest with the other.
"How come I never knew about you before? About...this...us?"
Vin wagged his head slightly on the pillow. "I dunno. Guess cuz I didn't know it 'bout myself til I hooked up with you."
"And then what? We just 'knew'? How's that ya reckon?"
Vin just shrugged and smiled sheepishly at his lover. "I, uh, thought of something while I was gone. A little poem. It's a stupid little thing, but it's about...this..."
"Tell me."
Vin closed his eyes, not wanting to see Chris's reaction and spoke, "I knew the land as well as it could be known.
Regularly passed same creek, same tree, same stone.
One day I stumbled on an unmarked trail;
Down that path a new territory was unveiled.
Unfamiliar and frightening, beautiful and beguiling
I wanted to run away, tried to fight the unknown.
But care, acceptance, and love made me see it was home."When he'd finished, Vin continued to lie still, eyes shut. The silence filled his head and he was terrified he'd fucked up being so frank about his feelings. He opened his eyes in fear. Chris looked down at him with such vulnerability and tenderness it brought a gasp to Vin's throat.
"Fer a man o' few words," Chris said softly, "you sure know how to say a lot." He kissed Vin's shoulder. Laying his head down on that spot, he draped an arm across the young man's chest. "Say it again?"
THE END