Thursday, January 30, 2020

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 7-Finale (A Serial Novella)

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 7-Finale (A Serial Novella): dontravis.com blog post #374     Courtesy of maxpixel.net So their experiences, their romps, their joy in one another continues. B...

Impotent-Chapter 7-Finale (A Serial Novella)


dontravis.com blog post #374
  
Courtesy of maxpixel.net
So their experiences, their romps, their joy in one another continues. But for how long? The stalled weather front has moved on, and the outside world will soon be making demands on the industrialist. Let’s see what happens in this final chapter.

*****
IMPOTENT

The next day, the world intruded on the two men… big time. De la Roche’s phone burst the dam. Business problems began to pile in on the industrialist. Despite the interruptions, he went out in the field with Austin, but before noon, the call he had been dreading came. The helicopter was ten minutes away. Austin took the phone from him and gave instructions to the co-pilot, advising of the closest safe place to land. De la Roche wondered if the man on the other end of the phone recognized how sexy the voice in his ear was.
Before long, the noisy craft appeared as they waited at the edge of a broad meadow in the middle of the forest. Austin helped lug his bags to the chopper, where two men hopped out and relieved them of their load. De la Roche ignored his Executive Vice President and Chief of Security as he shook hands with the man who had been his lover for the past two days. He was reluctant to release the grip.
“Call me,” he said, finally letting go. “You have my direct line, my satellite phone number, and my Executive Secretary’s phone. You’ll go to the top of her ‘put through’ list,” he added with a chuckle. ‘I won’t forget you, Austin Andino.
“You’re kinda hard to forget too, Forrest De la Roche. I’ll always remember finding you standing like a drowned ape in the middle of the road that day. And other things.”
De la Roche forbade his exec from speaking for the first thirty minutes of the trip to Albuquerque, preferring to savor the bitter, wrenching pain of separation in silence. Then he asked for a briefing and was soon lost in the business of business.
De la Roche quickly found himself immersed in talks with Charles Industries, and was frankly disappointed that his Executive Vice President for Acquisitions had not taken the negotiations farther. Moreover, he was shocked to learn that his interest in the mega-deal had waned. In spare moments and at night when he was alone in bed, his thoughts centered on Austin Andino and his cozy cabin in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico. Strangely, he did not think of the young man in a lascivious way, but as a man who had assumed an unexpectedly important role in his life. He thought of the way the black hair fell across the broad forehead rather than the black, curly pubic bush. He remembered their moments of easy comradeship more than their exciting nights of hot passion.
De la Roche desperately willed the young man to call him, but weeks passed without contact. He swallowed his pride and dialed the rancher’s cell phone more than once, but it went unanswered. He refrained from asking his super-efficient Executive Secretary, whom he secretly considered the source of his power, to raise Austin on the phone.
Weeks turned into months. His daughter’s wedding passed. Rachel looked as radiant and virginal as the first time she married, even with two impish children participating in the ceremony. He was proud of her. Elaine called a truce during the process and was downright likeable. She only mentioned the Filipino houseboy once in passing.
He spent the Christmas with Rachel and her family. New Year’s was to be Elaine’s turn with the children. After a Christmas dinner, he retired to his son-in-law’s home office and considered the situation. Austin would be back in Albuquerque by now. His cattle would be sold. He’d be at loose ends. What were his plans for New Year’s Eve?
De la Roche picked up the phone and dialed a number the rancher had given him. A woman answered.
“Is Austin in?” he asked. “This is Forrest De la Roche calling.”
“Oh, Mr. De la Roche, this is Marina Wells. I’m Austin’s sister. He’s out in the garage working on the Jeep. Would you like me to get him, or would you prefer to call back?”
“I’ll wait, if you don’t mind.”
Eventually, the deep bass voice he knew so well came on the line. “Happy Holidays, Forrest. You have a good Christmas?”
“A fine one, thank you. Spent it with my daughter and her family. And you?”
“Great! Had a roof over my head, food, and presents for the kids, so everything’s okay, I guess.”
“How’d you do on your cattle?”
“Got a good price. Say, I spent a little time at New Mexico State and learned a little more about your small unit ranching. Think I’m going to give it a try on the home place. If it works, I’ll see if I can convince the Forest Service to let me try it on the permit. Looks promising.”
“Great. Glad I could contribute something.”
“By the way, I got your Christmas present,” Austin said, referring to the twenty-year-old sipping whiskey he’d sent. “My brother-in-law and I are going to open it New Year’s, and then it’s going up to the cabin with me next spring. Sorry I didn’t get you something.”
“Didn’t expect it. Speaking of New Year’s, why don’t you come out and spend it with me. I’ll send the company plane to pick you up.”
“Aw, gee, Forrest, that would be great, but I’ve already made plans with the family. I promised to take my nephew and niece to dinner, and then I’m baby-sitting them while my sis and her husband go out for the evening. The kids are already talking about it. I couldn’t disappoint them.”
“I understand. Family comes first. But I’ll toss one back at the stroke of midnight and think of you.”
“Same here. Guess what! I got a letter from the President thanking me for saving your ass! He signed it and wrote a comment across the bottom. Guess I’ve got a collector’s item.”
De la Roche laughed. “What you’ve got is your name on a potential contributor’s list.”
“Oh, well. He’s not a bad president. Maybe I’ll throw in a dollar or two.”
“Here’s a thought, Austin. Why don’t you come out and spend a week with me after the holidays. My schedule’s not too bad for the next two weeks or so.”
“Can’t. Have a couple of meetings. One’s a Cattleman’s Association committee I’m on. Won’t be able to get away.”
“Well,” De la Roche thought quickly, “I’m in DC most of February, you can join me there. I’d swing by and pick you up in the jet.”
“Oh, no! You’re not going to get me mixed up with that crowd.”
“Might do you and your Cattleman’s Association some good.”
“Thanks. But no thanks. Well, the kids are yelling for Uncle to come have some Christmas pie. Good of you to call me, Forrest.”
He waited, sensing something else was coming.
‘Uh… I guess this is really goodbye. I-I don’t think we should see one another again. Damn! That was hard to say.”
De la Roche spoke around a large lump in his throat. “Then why say it?”
“Think back over our conversation. We live different lives in different worlds. It won’t work. At least, it won’t for me.”
“I love you, Austin.”
“I-I guess I feel that way too.”
“Then—”
“It’s too painful,” Austin said, putting the nail in the coffin.
“We could meet for a week or so in the summer at the cabin.”
Austin didn’t speak for almost a full minute. When he did, a sob hid in his voice. “I can’t, Forrest. This puppy dog can’t live half in and half out of the basket. Sorry.” The sob became real. “I-I feel just like when I had to leave Selim… only worse.” With that cry the cowboy closed the call.
De la Roche’s heart shriveled as he dropped the telephone receiver in its cradle, snipping the tie with the most man he had ever known. Hell, Austin Andino was Man. Man squared. Man cubed! Man…amplified!

*****
Think about it. That’s the way things work more often than not. Two people genuinely in love, but neither is able to alter his lifestyle to accommodate the other. Tragic, but both men are strong and will survive. And they have an experience against which to measure others who come into their lives. But is that good or bad?

Those of you who are writers will know that I cut a considerable amount from the original novella. Seven episodes are more than enough.

The following are buy links for the recently released The Voxlightner Scandal.


Now my mantra: Keep on reading and keep on writing. You have something to say, so say it!

My personal links: (Note the change in the Email address because I’m still getting remarks on the old dontravis21@gmail.com. PLEASE DON’T USE THAT ONE.)
                                                                                                    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/donald.travis.982
Twitter: @dontravis3

Buy links to Abaddon’s Locusts:


See you next week.

Don

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 6 (A Serial Novella)

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 6 (A Serial Novella): dontravis.com blog post #373     Courtesy of svgsilh.com It finally happened. They got together, and it was explosive. Wonderful. ...

Impotent-Chapter 6 (A Serial Novella)


dontravis.com blog post #373
  
Courtesy of svgsilh.com
It finally happened. They got together, and it was explosive. Wonderful. Magnificent. What comes next? Do they try it again and find the novelty wore off? Or do they try it again and find it better than ever? Or do they try it again at all? Read on.

*****
IMPOTENT

They repeated yesterday’s work pattern except the count was wrong in two pastures and they spent hours patiently hunting down the missing livestock. Once again, De la Roche was impressed by the deliberate, unhurried, efficient way Austin went about taking care of his animals. They found a late calf on the ground, and the rancher spent half an hour with the mother making certain the afterbirth was passed. The young man did not run a cow-calf operation, he bought young animals to pasture, and was mystified over the pregnancy. Obviously, some bull got into the pasture, but search as they might, they could find no sign of the beast nor how he might have gotten in or out of the fenced area.
Observing carefully, it was clear to De la Roche that the young man was capable of handling a much larger operation than this one. He had to swallow his tongue more than once to keep from pressing Austin with ambitious ideas.
Austin permitted his touch occasionally, but his mind was on his work, and De la Roche knew that he would consider an overt approach to be a distraction. The older man understood this from his own experience. When he was at work, he was at work. When he was at play, he was at play. He normally did not permit the two to overlap, although his near constant longing was becoming painful today. Finally, he settled for simply observing the handsome, graceful man’s easy masculinity. He wondered if Austin Andino recognized how striking an image he cast. Probably not.
Austin headed for the bathroom the moment they arrived at the cabin, emerging later freshly bathed and shaven. De la Roche claimed the shower as soon as the young cowman was finished. Thirty minutes later, clean and barbered, he found Austin leaning against the kitchen table covered only by the towel around his waist. Without waiting for an invitation, De la Roche stepped in front of the cowboy and pulled the towel free. He took a long look at the lanky, powerful body. It was like carved marble covered in a sheath of tight, elastic flesh. Breathtaking! Beautiful! Intimidating.
Austin submitted to the examination for a long minute before he pulled the dressing robe from the older man and conducted his own examination.
“Don’t,” De la Roche said.
The young man raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Why not?”
“Because I can’t hold a candle to you. You have it all, Austin. Handsome as all get out. Put together like everyone’s idea of Apollo. And hung like one of your bulls,” he finished.
“Don’t own a bull,” Austin said, his ears flaming at the praise. “Wanna know what I see?” he asked, his eyes sweeping De la Roche’s body. “I see a hell of a man. A man who keeps in shape despite being busier than a beaver building a dam… and they’re busy little critters. You’re handsome in a way I never will be. You know, sleek and smooth. I have trouble imagining you wanting me.”
“Oh, but I do. And I’m going to show you how much,” he replied, starting to kneel. The cowboy grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into an embrace, claiming his lips in a kiss. He stayed passive, allowing the younger man to set the tone, do the probing.
When Austin released him, De la Roche pushed the man across the table and took him the way he wanted… hungered to do and was rewarded with Austin’s groans of pleasure. He took his time, teasing Austin, nearly bringing him to climax and then easing off until the cowboy begged him to finish what he’d started.
Panting heavily, the young man came up off the table and seized him in a bear hug. The eager mouth found his lips. After a moment, Austin drew back to search De la Roche’s eyes.
“Why is it so good with you?” he demanded in his deep voice.
Without waiting for an answer, Austin exchanged places and ministered to him so slowly, so lovingly, De la Roche was certain this was a virginal experience. A delicious sensation of helplessness, of impotence swirled through him. He laughed aloud at the absurdity. Being under the control this big, strong, intimidating man should have bothered the hell out of him. Instead, he realized with a thrill, he gloried in it!
After the orgasm, he needed help to regain his feet. “You’re something special,” he whispered.
“Yeah, but a special what?” Austin said gruffly.
“Do you regret what we did?”
“No. Yeah. I don’t know. It makes me uncomfortable in a way.”
“Why? Did you do anything you didn’t want to do? Did I do something you didn’t want me to?”
“Not at the time,” the cowboy answered, turning away to recover his towel. The young man handed De la Roche his robe. “But after it’s over, I feel sorta ashamed, I guess.”
De la Roche followed Austin to his bedroom and watched as the young man dressed. “Do you feel that way with a woman?”
“No. Well, sometimes. And to tell the truth, I don’t feel it as much with you.”
“Did you feel it with Salim?”
Austin paused for a moment to consider the question. “No. When we were alone, I didn’t. That first time when I was with my buddy, we both felt funny. But not when I was alone with Salim.”
“That was because you knew that he wouldn’t look down on you. Wouldn’t consider you less of a man.” The agate eyes speared him for a moment. “Well, neither do I. I consider you a hell of a man.”
“How could you after what I did?” he asked, a bitter tone in his voice.
“And liked it,” De la Roche said harshly.
Austin turned to face him. “And liked it,” he responded after a moment of indecision.
“And how do you look at me? Like a fairy? A faggot? A queen?” the older man pushed.
The cowboy gave him an astonished look and sat on the edge of his bed. “No, I look at you as someone who takes what he wants. Hell, Forrest, you’re a world-famous entrepreneur. A power broker. One of the Ten Thousand or however many there are.”
“Did I look like a power broker a few minutes ago?”
“No,” Austin replied slowly.
“Did I look like a fairy?”
The young man frowned. “N-no, that’s not the way I looked at you.”
“And I didn’t look at you like that. I kept thinking how wonderful it was that this beautiful man was doing that magnificent thing for me, after he’d honored me with the gift of his body.”
The agate eyes looked up at him shrewdly. “No you didn’t. You thought, ‘Wow, I’m getting my way with the dude.’”
De la Roche laughed aloud. “That, too. But I knew it was a man doing it for me.”
“Why do we do it?” Austin asked, getting to his feet and heading for the kitchen. “We both like women.”
De la Roche considered the question while the rancher started supper. At length, he spoke. “When I stop and think of it, except for the Filipino houseboy, my male partners were strong men. Respected men. I think maybe it was the strength in them that attracted me. And every time I got with a man, it made being with a woman that much more special. Added spice. Zest.”
Austin shook his head. “Not that way with me. When I’m with a woman, I don’t even think about being with a man.”
“Nor do I. Not consciously, but it’s there underneath. Somehow I feel much more of a man because I’d been with a strong man.”
“You’re not trying to tell me you want to go to bed with every strong man you meet?”
“No. It takes a special combination. Strength. Looks. And what I sense inside a man is as important as anything else. You attract me on every level, Austin. Physically, you’re a Greek god. Mentally, you’re sharp and bright and educated. Your mind draws me to you. And inside, spiritually, I’ll wager you’re as beautiful as you are on the outside. In truth…” he paused, reluctant to put voice to his thought. “In truth, you attract me more totally, more completely than any man I’ve ever known.”
Austin kept his eyes on the skillet he was using. “I’ve never known anyone like you, either.”
Both men backed away from the brink of something neither fully understood. De la Roche did so reluctantly, desperately hoping Austin would pursue the thing even though he realized that the cowboy was constitutionally unable to vent his feelings. Not quite understanding his own reluctance, De la Roche kept his mouth shut. Neither spoke again until they were at the table ready to eat.
Austin Andino came to him later, and they spent the night exploring one another without restraint, without embarrassment, without hesitation. Nirvana.


*****
They definitely tried it again, and it was… zowie! Only stands to reason they’ll take full advantage of the time they have together. But what happens when the outside world comes to claim the entrepreneur. That answer comes with next week’s final Chapter 7

The following are buy links for the recently released The Voxlightner Scandal.


Now my mantra: Keep on reading and keep on writing. You have something to say, so say it!

My personal links: (Note the change in the Email address because I’m still getting remarks on the old dontravis21@gmail.com. PLEASE DON’T USE THAT ONE.)
                                                                                                    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/donald.travis.982
Twitter: @dontravis3

Buy links to Abaddon’s Locusts:


See you next week.

Don

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 5 (A Serial Novella)

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 5 (A Serial Novella): dontravis.com blog post #372     Courtesy of publicdomaininvectors.org The power dynamic shifted considerably in Chapter 4. Does t...

Impotent-Chapter 5 (A Serial Novella)


dontravis.com blog post #372
  
Courtesy of publicdomaininvectors.org
The power dynamic shifted considerably in Chapter 4. Does that mean anything? Will it encourage young Austin Andino or intimidate him? Read on.

*****
IMPOTENT

De la Roche admired the cowpoke’s masculine grace until Austin disappeared into the bedroom. Then he rose and went into his own, only half-closing his door to admit heat from the fireplace.
As he settled beneath the covers of the bed, he experienced a bit of uneasiness. Had that look betrayed him? His ex-wife used to say that he could say more with his eyes than most men could say with words. She’d touch the lids covering his big orbs and tell him they were his best and worst feature. They could be fiercely intimidating. Pin a victim against the wall. Express pleasure, displeasure, joy, sadness, desire, disdain without his moving a facial muscle. Normally, he controlled what they said, but he wasn’t certain about tonight. Damn, he wanted that young man!
Warm beneath the thick covers, De la Roche tried to quell his busy mind. He had almost achieved sleep when he became alert as Austin stirred around in the cabin. The young man tossed another log on the fire. Moments later, his door swung open. Silhouetted against the glow of the flames, Austin Andino stood looking into the dark room, seemingly naked and powerful. When he moved into the bedroom, it was apparent he wore briefs. De la Roche stirred on his bed, pulling to a half sitting position against the headboard.
For a long moment the cowboy said nothing. Then he spoke in a throaty growl. “I’ve seen that look before.”
“What look?” De la Roche asked through dry pipes.
“The one you gave me at the table. Men have been looking at me that way since I was twelve.”
“I’ll bet they have,” he rasped as Austin took a few steps forward. “You’re mighty hard not to look at.”
The young cowboy stood at the side of his bed. “I thought a man like you took what he wanted.”
“I do,” De la Roche responded. “But like this big cowboy hunk I know, I do it in my own time.”
“And when is that?”
“Now,” he answered.
Grasping Austin’s hips, he twisted, throwing the cowboy onto the bed beside him. Austin stretched across the mattress, making no protest as De la Roche’s hands wandered his body. The firm young flesh, the hard muscles gave him a high he hadn’t experienced before, made even better when exclamations of pleasure escaped Austin’s lips.
As Austin’s orgasm finally died away, the cowboy sighed contentedly. De la Roche admired the rangy body by the faint light before covering them both with a blanket and lying beside Austin.
“You’ve done that before,” he said into the silence.
Austin stirred. “Yeah.”
“In the army, right?”
The big cowboy started. “How’d you know?”
“Yesterday you looked uncomfortable when you mentioned you hadn’t seen a GPU since the army.”
“Yeah, it was in the army. I got sent to the Gulf after Desert Storm ended, and there wasn’t anything to do and nobody to do it with. One day out in the middle of the desert, these two nomad kids came up. They weren’t little kids, you understand. Hell, they were about as old as I was, and I was eighteen at the time. But in a way they seemed a lot younger.” The cowboy frowned into the darkness.
“In other ways they seemed older. Lots of the kids tried to sell things to the GIs. Had to be careful they weren’t bad guys, but these two were okay. We didn’t want any of their trinkets, but the kids hung around anyway. First thing I know, my buddy’s with one kid. The other one’s got an eyebrow cocked at me. I looked at him for the first time… you know, really looked at him. Big bedroom eyes with the soul spilling out of them. Shit, Forrest, he was pretty as a girl. So I just closed my eyes and let him have at it. Salim, that was his name, Salim did it for the money, of course, but he liked me a lot. Would rather do it for me than anybody else. So I used to see him sort of regular. Made sure he had money for food and clothing for his family. He made sure I stayed relaxed.”
Austin paused in his narration. “Made it sorta hard to leave when my time came. I was fond of the little fucker. Woulda brought him back with me if I could.” He shifted on the bed, and De la Roche was afraid he was leaving, but he wasn’t. “What does that say about me?” he asked harshly.
“Says you’re a caring man. Says you take your sex seriously, not casually. Says a great deal about you, Austin.”
“Yeah, says I’m a fucking fairy.”
De la Roche laughed aloud. “I’ll bet you’re the only guy in the world who’d say that.”
“Maybe. I’ve pounded on a guy or two who made a move on me. But this was different. I don’t know how, but it was.”
Silence fell over the room until the cowboy spoke again. “How about you? I wouldn’t have thought a big, important man like you would… you know.”
De la Roche chuckled. “You’d be surprised what a big, important man will do. Hell, Austin, I’m human like anybody else. But for your information, mostly I stick to women… just as you do. I haven’t been with a man since my divorce. That’s why I got it, incidentally. Elaine hired a houseboy. She likes beautiful things, and he sure as hell was beautiful. She was shocked out of her shoes when she found us together.”
“Be damned,” was Austin’s comment.


De la Roche woke the next morning alone in the bed. The smell of frying bacon brought him to consciousness slowly. At first, he wondered if last night had been a beautiful dream, but when he threw back the covers and found that he was naked, he knew that it had actually happened. Now came the next crisis. How would Austin react?
The big cowboy, dressed in his work denims, gave him a shy smile when he came into the room. De la Roche realized that the handsome young man had been worrying about his reaction. Make it as normal as possible.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning, Forrest. Sleep well….”
De la Roche laughed aloud as the cowpoke almost bit his tongue over his slipup. “Extremely well—” He chuckled. “—after the night got past a certain point. Are we going to act like adults about this, or are we going to get mentally and emotionally constipated?”
Austin returned his laugh and relaxed. “Like adults, I guess… even if we did act like teenagers last night.”
“I never had a teenager give me anything so meaningful as last night,” De la Roche said baldly.
Austin turned serious a moment, meeting his steady gaze before going back to his cooking. “Neither have I.”
“How’s the weather outside?”
“Overcast. We’ll have a shower or two, but the storm’s over.”
“Austin,” he said to get the young man’s attention. “I’m going to tell them it’s too unsettled and to wait until tomorrow to come for me. If that’s all right with you, that is.”
The cowpoke flipped some bacon and then turned those agate eyes on him. “It’s fine with me.” He paused a long moment. “In fact, I’d like that.”
De la Roche’s chest swelled with a joy he had not experienced in years. His throat constricted, but he managed to squeeze out a few words. “Guess we better eat and get to work.”
Maybe we better," Austin said quietly, turning back to the bacon again.


*****
Well, well, well! Seems like both of them got something of value last night. Great. But will this turn into anything other than a wonderful memory for the men? Hard to say at this point. They come from two different world. Perhaps Chapter 6 will give us the answer.

The following are buy links for the recently released The Voxlightner Scandal.


Now my mantra: Keep on reading and keep on writing. You have something to say, so say it!

My personal links: (Note the change in the Email address because I’m still getting remarks on the old dontravis21@gmail.com. PLEASE DON’T USE THAT ONE.)
                                                                                                    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/donald.travis.982
Twitter: @dontravis3

Buy links to Abaddon’s Locusts:


See you next week.

Don

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 4 (A Serial Novella)

Don Travis: Impotent-Chapter 4 (A Serial Novella): dontravis.com blog post #371 Courtesy of publicdomaininvestors.org Chapter 4 might be a game-changer. Power denotes power, regardl...

Impotent-Chapter 4 (A Serial Novella)


dontravis.com blog post #371

Courtesy of publicdomaininvestors.org
Chapter 4 might be a game-changer. Power denotes power, regardless of the circumstances, and a couple of phone calls shifts the balance considerably. Will Austin be impressed?

*****
IMPOTENT

          Donning Austin’s spare slicker, De la Roche joined his host in the front seat of the Jeep. Since the rain had quit, although roiling gray clouds almost touched the treetops, he tried his satellite phone again. This time, through irritating bursts of static, he heard the phone ring on the other end. A sleepy voice answered, coming awake when De la Roche barked into the phone.

          De la Roche issued orders for someone to take his meeting today, arrange to have the Volvo picked up when the weather permitted, and agreed to take another call. “No, don’t try to pick me up today,” he said before closing the call. “Weather’s still too unsettled. Looks like it could break loose any minute.”
          “That was one of my executive vice presidents. He’ll check with the weather bureau and let me know when they think they can pick me up.”
          Austin peered out the windshield as the first of the raindrops splattered against the glass. “Won’t be today.”
          The morning was a revelation to the engineer. He always enjoyed learning new things, and everything about the day was new. During a lull in the rain, while nature gathered her energy for the next inundation, low, scudding clouds ran before a wind that swept the high, mountain valley, shaking the trees like dogs shedding water. Austin had trained his cows to respond to the horn and a whistle, and in each pasture, the placid animals lifted their heads and walked with bovine dignity toward a central place where the young cowman spread a few pellets on the soaked ground.
          “Don’t really need to feed,” he explained. “Grass is pretty good this year, but it’s the pellets that train them to come to me. Saves a lot of time hunting down a bunch of ornery critters spread out in the woods. We’re on leased land now, but I know how many are in each pasture, and if one’s missing, I go look for him.”
          They ate thick beef sandwiches for lunch while sheltering from a steady rain in an open-sided shed that looked out over a broad meadow as beautiful as anything De la Roche had seen in this country. He had just finished the second of his sandwiches when his phone rang, the call he’d agreed to accept The voice was clear enough, although interrupted by short bursts of atmospheric interference.
          “Hello, Bob,” he said to the White House Chief of Staff. “How are you this morning? Good. Believe it or not, I’ve been wrestling cows all morning in the middle of the northern New Mexico mountains. This local cowman saved my fanny in a raging storm and promptly put me to work to earn my keep.” He laughed at the man’s response. “You received my letter, I take it. No, it’s not subject to reconsideration. It’s hard to say no to the man, but I truthfully feel this is best. Yes, I’ll be available for an hour or so, providing the weather doesn’t deteriorate. But please warn him I won’t reconsider, despite his legendary powers of persuasion.”
          There was a question mark on his young companion’s face, but De la Roche made no move to explain the call. He’d explain the next one. Provided it got through. The rain was falling harder now. Reluctantly he joined Austin in the cab of the Jeep and they headed to the next pasture.
          An hour later, the phone burped as they were enroute to another bunch of cattle. De la Roche answered it respectfully. “Yes, I’ll hold,” he said, giving Austin a mute shrug. “Yes, Mr. President, this is Forrest De la Roche,” he said. “How are you today? Oh, he told you my current occupation, did he? No, I know nothing about cattle, but the man showing me the ropes certainly does. Austin Andino. Yes, sir. Circle-A’s his brand. I’ll tell him.” He paused for long minutes as the President of the United States made his pitch. Then he responded.
          “Sir, I must respectfully decline. The overriding consideration is that we are in talks for a merger with Charles Industries. You know as well as I that I’ll have to argue that one before the SEC, the Federal Trade Commission, and probably Justice before it’s over, if for no other reason than it’s a fifteen-billion-dollar acquisition. That would still subject your administration to criticism if I were the sitting Secretary of the Interior. A pause. “No, sir. I can’t in good conscience put it on hold. I’m caught on a hook, Mr. President. It’s best for all concerned if I decline your offer.”
          A few moment later, he he turned off the phone and noticed that they were sitting before a gate. Austin’s door was ajar and he flushed when De la Roche glanced over at him. The businessman eased the Jeep from the passenger’s seat so that Austin could close the gate behind them. The cowman got back into the cab dripping water all over everything.
          Although he was obviously burning to ask questions, Austin displayed the virtue of a true cowman and minded his own business. When they arrived at the spot where the cattle in the pasture were congregating, De la Roche laid a hand on Austin’s arm.
          “I know that it’s unnecessary, Austin,” he began, “but I have to ask you to keep what you heard confidential.”
          The direct approach released the young man’s inhibitions. “Did I understand you correctly? You turned down the President of the United States when he offered to name you as Secretary of the Interior?”
          “Yes,” De la Roche said.
          “Jeez!” The young man exhaled. “And you told him my name?”
          “He wanted to know who’d succeeded in making me do hard labor. So I told him. Did I do wrong?”
          Austin flushed again. “No, but jeez! The President of the United States!”
          “He sends his thanks for getting me out of a sticky situation.”
          Late in the afternoon, they finished making the rounds of the pastures. De la Roche was physically exhausted, but Austin appeared as fresh as when they’d started out this morning. Thank God the electricity had come back on sometime during the day and there was hot water. This time he sat in the tub and soaked away the soreness in his muscles.
          Austin had beef stew ready when he emerged wrapped in two soft blankets. Too tired to dress properly, he sat at the table and ate half wrapped in terrycloth. After they cleaned the dishes, Austin took his own bath and came out with a big bath towel wrapped around his trim waist.
          Later, the two men sat at the table and discussed the day, De la Roche in designer sweats; Austin in clean, worn jeans and unbuttoned western shirt. The young rancher patiently answered a myriad of questions about what they had done and why and responded favorably to a couple of suggestions the older man made about the routine. Frankly, De la Roche admitted, Austin worked efficiently. The cowman could not quite hide his pleasure at the compliment.
          A comfortable silence grew as they sipped good, strong coffee. At length, Austin leaned back and threw his arm over the back of his kitchen chair, exposing most of his chest and belly. More excited than the situation called for, the older man took in the expanse of impressive flesh. One brown nipple escaped from behind the open shirt causing De la Roche to react. Thank God the table was between them. He could almost see the workings of Austin’s mind. so he wasn’t surprised at the young man’s next words.
          “Do you get calls from the White House often?”
          “I knew the previous president better, so I was invited to the Oval Office more often then.” He gave a wry grin. “After turning this one down, I probably won’t hear from him again… until he wants a donation.”
          Austin Andino studied him frankly. “I can’t begin to comprehend the power that represents. Probably an everyday occurrence for you, but not for me.”
          “Oh, I don’t think you ever get over awe of the White House, no matter how jaded you become.”
          The cowboy leaned forward, planted his elbows on the table, and took a sip of his coffee. “I can’t see you intimidated. Hell, you weren’t even intimidated when you were standing dripping wet in the middle of the road looking for a ride.”
          “I can assure you I was. Slipping in the mud and falling on your ass is a great way to knock the false pride out of a man.”
          Austin laughed, tightening the muscles in his stomach. Almost as if De la Roche willed it, the young man leaned back in his chair once more. The engineer could not help himself. His eyes focused on the broad chest. Glancing up, he saw that Austin had caught the look. The moment grew uncomfortable as Austin’s agate eyes watched him speculatively across the kitchen table. Neither said a word until the cowboy stood and announced his intention to retire.
          “I’d like to go out with you again tomorrow,” De la Roche said quickly.
          “Rain’s let up. Won’t they come for you?”
          “They’ll call first.”
          As if to remind them she wasn’t finished yet, Mother Nature unleashed another rainstorm.
          Austin raised his head and listened to the drops drum against the roof. “Might not let up tomorrow.”
          “Then they’ll come the day after. Hope you can stand me that long.” De la Roche sat where he was, admiring the exposed torso of the young cowman. He dropped his glance back to the table as Austin looked his way.
          “However long it takes. An extra hand for room and board is a decent deal.”
          “Only if the hand contributes,” he said depreciatingly.
          “A back’s a back. And for a big power broker you take instruction pretty good.” Austin smiled and turned toward his bedroom.

*****
Wow! I’d be impressed, and I believe Austin was too. Still nothing’s happened. Each man went to his own bedroom. What will Chapter 5 bring?

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