TLH_10

TEXAS LONGHORNS
By Waddie Greywolf

Chapter 10

Sidney and Mr. Wiggins pulled up out front of our house at nine on the dot. We were pleasantly surprise when Sidney’s dad got out of the huge Humvee as well. Mr. Wiggins and his boss were dressed in Western clothes with boots and hats, and so was our little buddy. Damned if he didn’t look sharp. It was obvious his trainer knew how to dress like a cowboy and taught Sidney Junior the same. Mr. Wainright is almost as an imposing man as Mr. Wiggins; however, Mr. Wiggins is about a foot taller than Sidney’s dad. They made a fine looking pair of cowboys together. They both are strongly masculine, ruggedly good looking men.

Dwayne and I got to Sidney first. “Damn, Little Buddy, you look almost good enough to eat,” Dwayne said and laughed.

“He ain’t lying, Sid, you look hot,” I agreed and hugged him next.

“Mr. Wainright. Mr. Wiggins. Pleasure to see you gentlemen again,” Dwayne was shaking their hands and I followed. Damn, I wondered if Dwayne got hard shaking Mr. Wiggins hand. I looked over and sure enough, my bubba was at full salute. I couldn’t help giggle.

“S’all right, Son,” smiled Mr. Wainright, “he has that effect on a lot of folks. Damn, Sticker,” he laughed, “we can’t take you no wheres,” his boss said. Mr. Wiggins broke up at Mr. Wainright. After years of living closely with Sticker Wiggins, Sidney Wainright gave up trying to talk proper English around his own. He found it much more comfortable to lapse into his native tongue: Texas speak.

“Gentlemen, welcome!” my dad exclaimed coming down the front steps. He shook hands all around but stopped to look at Sidney. He held him at arm's length, looked him up and down, and turned to me. “Pack a bag, Case, I’m trading you to Mr. Wainright for this here cowboy,” he said. Everyone broke up laughing. Sidney was in love. He threw his arms around my old man and hugged him close. He had no immunities against my dad’s outrageous affections. “Come in, Gentlemen. C’moan in, sit, visit a’ spell. Glad to have ya.’ We live in the same damn community, but we don’t git to see nearly enough of you men,” Dad said.

“We feel the same, Vince,” Mr. Wainright agreed as they followed dad into our house, “It’s always a pleasure when we do get together, though,” he added.

Mr. Wiggins was lingering behind with us. That was fine with Dwayne and me. We had school boy crushes on him big time, but we didn’t care and obviously Mr. Wiggins was enjoying our attentions. “You men gonna’ win division this year?" he asked.

“We hope so, Mr. Wiggins. Me’n my brother here, we figure we’re gonna’ be a pretty hard team to beat with him as quarterback and me receiver. Hope you’ll be there to cheer us on, sir,” Dwayne said.

‘Or anything else you might like to do for us,’ I thought wickedly to myself. I swear, Sidney could read my thoughts, shot me a raised eyebrow, and I giggled like a school boy. Sidney laughed at me. Mr. Wiggins wasn’t a stupid man and picked up on our exchange. He dropped one of his huge arms over my shoulder and pulled me close. “And, as for you, Mr. Longhorn,” he said in a booming bass voice, “I been hear’n some good things about you. Hear'd you been look’n out for our boy, here. 'Bout laughed my cowboy butt off when Logan told me what you told Gary Peacock.”

“Logan, Mr. Wiggins?” I asked him.

“Yeah, ‘at’s what I call him most of the time to keep him and his dad separate. His third name is ‘Loganbotham.’ I jes’ dropped the ‘botham out.’” he declared.

For some reason that struck me as funny play on words and I laughed; so did Dwayne and Sidney.

We got to the kitchen, the two men sat down and dad got coffee for them. He went to town early that morning and bought a variety of fresh donuts and sweet rolls, enough for everyone. Us boys grabbed a donut and a cup of coffee and headed up to my room to talk. We wanted to let the men have time to themselves.

“Gees, Casey, this is a great house. It’s huge. How many bedrooms does it have?” Sidney asked.

“Let’s see, there’s four downstairs and six upstairs. It was built for a large family, no doubt. Dad and I use one of the bedrooms downstairs as an entertainment center. He uses one for a ranch office. I have my bedroom and use another room at the end of the hall to keep all my junk in. We don’t use the other bedrooms.”

“We’re so glad you could come spend the day with us, Little Buddy,” Dwayne told him.

“You ain’t gonna’ get chore’ nice clothes all messed up if’n we get to building, are you?” I asked concerned.

“I brought some older, work clothes with me. I’ll get them out of Mr. Wiggins’ truck before they leave. I didn’t have to do too much talking to get Mr. Wiggins to come inside. My dad insisted on coming. I thought, at first, he was being his overprotective self and wanted to check out everything, but that wasn’t it. Come to find out, he has a deep fondness for your dad, Case, I never knew about. He came specifically to visit your dad.”

“Yeah, dad surprised the Hell out a’ me, too. He said a few things that made me think they knew each other pretty well.”

* * * * * * *
“So, Vince, how’s the ranch coming along?” Sidney senior asked.

“Casey and I made better profits this year than the last three put together. If things keep going like they are we’re even gonna’ do better next year,” Dad replied.

“Damn glad to hear it,” Mr. Wainright allowed.

“Ya’ got a nice place here, Vince. It feels downright homey and comfortable like a home should,” Sticker told my dad.

“Thanks, Sticker, coming from you that’s quite a compliment. You men been doing all right?”

“Oh, yeah,” Sticker took a deep breath, let out a sigh, leaned back in his chair, locked his hands behind his neck, stretched out his long legs and crossed his boots, “I keep hoping ole Sid here’s gonna’ make an honest man out a’ me one a’ these days, but he’s still a bit shy to the bridle after almost a decade together,” Sticker allowed.

Dad almost fell off his chair laughing at Sticker’s blatant honesty and terrible pun. Mr. Wainright had a big smile and a smirk on his face.

“Shame on you, Sid, making a fine cowboy like Sticker live in sin,” my dad said. They shared another laugh.

“That’s just the problem. I think Sticker would settle for living in sin. Ain’t none a’ Sticker’s fault, it’s mine. I just can’t seem to get over the stigma,” Sidney Wainright said honestly and shrugged his shoulders.

“What stigma? Two men love’n each other? Ain’t nobody’s business but chore’ own. Stigmas be damned. I know that’s easy for me to say, but it ain’t so easy for some folks. My advice, Sid, jump in the pool with ole Sticker here, the water’s jes’ gotta’ be fine,” Dad poured on the cowboy bullshit. The men shared another laugh.

“Well, I jes’ might, one a’ these days. I sure as Hell think about it a lot. We have a rule around the place we can walk around naked if we feel like it. It’s just us men most of the time when the help ain’t there in the evenings. I wanted to expose Sidney to men being naked, not being ashamed of his own body, or being shy around other men. Well, that’s all well and good, but I never counted on getting an erection ever’ damn time I see my hired hand here, in the raw,” Sidney said, threw back his head and laughed, “So something’s gotta’ be going on with me. I told him to give me a little more time. I'm sure it won't be long before he breaks me to his halter,” the men laughed again.

“I'd venture to say it's probably better for Sticker to break you to his 'haulter' than it would be to suffer that long trip down to the 'alter,'” Dad punned and the men laughed at his terrible pun.

“You got a good, strong point there, Vince,” Sticker agreed, “I already done told ‘em, I’ll stay a virgin until he decides. Ain’t many men can claim to be a virgin to both sexes at thirty-eight years old, but I am. Ain’t ashamed of it. I’m told I’m a fairly decent look’n cowboy, but the opportunity jes’ ain’t never presented itself; howsomever, that don't include the number of notes I get sent to me when Sid takes us to a four star restaurant. I stopped being embarrassed after the first fifty. I ain’t never gone out there and beat the bushes for it neither. However, me’n my right hand here,” Sticker said and held up his right hand, “we’s awful damn close. We be on a first name basis,” Sticker said and roared with laughter.

“I ain’t much better, Sticker. If’n it weren’t for my boy taking pity on his old man now and again, I’d be in the same boat,” Dad said.

“You have a remarkable relationship with your son, Vince, and I for one, have no problem with it. I’ve learned a lot from you and seeing how you and Casey relate. I think Casey’s one of the finest, most stable young men in our community. On top of that, you taught him how to give of himself and how to love. What greater treasure could any man ask from his father?” Sidney asked.

“Amen to that, Brother,” Sticker strongly agreed.

“Thanks, Gentlemen. I appreciate your vote of confidence. I know it comes from your heart,” Dad replied.

“Do you know what’s happening with them boys, Vince? My boy ain’t been able to talk to me or Sticker in weeks without mentioning your boy and his brother. We’re beginning to think Dwayne really might be Casey’s brother. We’s jes’ wondering if you know anything about what’s going on?” Sidney asked.

“Yeah, I do, Sid. Not only do them boys think the world of your boy, they’re including him in their lives more and more. They had a dream several nights ago; separate dreams, same subject, about yore’ boy. He was helping them with some’um they’s going through what’s really bad for ‘em right now, but they couldn’t tell in their dreams what it was Sidney was helping them with. They been planning to git together with Sid Junior for several days, now. They wanna’ tell him about some things to see if he can figure out what they were dreaming about.”

Dad noticed Mr. Wainright slowly turned to the big handsome cowboy, raised an eyebrow, and they both shook their heads. “Something wrong, Gentlemen?" Dad asked.

“Naw, Vince. Forgive us. Telling us about the boy’s dreams struck a chord with Sticker and me, s’all. We believe in the power of dreams, and if the boys dreamed the same dream, the same night, about my boy, then there’s something important they need from him. Believe me, after what them boys done for him a couple of times, he can’t wait to help ‘em. My God, that boy almost drove me and Sticker nuts. He’s told us no less than – what Sticker – how many times he told us about Casey taking Gary Peacock down a notch or two several days ago?” Sidney asked his partner.

“I lost count at an even dozen,” Sticker replied.

“Hell, nobody’s told me a thing about it. I still don’t know,” Dad said.

Mr. Wainright went on to tell dad how he found Sticker to be his wrangler for Sidney Junior almost a decade ago, how Sticker and Sidney communicated through their dreams and bonded before Sidney’s dad ever met Sticker. Dad was wowed. He knew these men well enough to know they wouldn’t be joking about something so serious.

“Can you tell us anymore, Vince? I’m not trying to be overprotective of my boy; although, my wrangler here, is quick to tell me when I am. I thank God for this man ever’ day, though. I think Sticker and I agree we feel something heavy is going down.”

“Well, seeing as how they’re bringing your boy on board with all this, h’it would be irresponsible of me not to tell you what’s going on. As a parent, I would certainly wanna’ know. I have no doubt you men will keep this to yourselves. I know’d you too long and know the kind of men you are. I would trust you men with my greatest treasure, and that would be my boy.”

“We feel that same about you, Vince. I told Sidney as long as he’s with you and your boys he can stay over here as long as he wants, but to let you know he needs to be home before his curfew of ten o’clock if he ain’t gonna’ stay the night.”

“No problem. We’ll git him there on time,” Dad assured Sidney. Dad went on to describe what was going on in the Dunbar household. The more he told the more upset he could see the big cowboy was getting until he had to stop for a minute for Sticker to get himself together. Sidney Wainright couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but he listened to every word in a stoic manner.

“I never did like that pompous son of a bitch,” Sticker growled wiping away a tear.

“Please, go on, Vince. It hurts to hear it, but we need to get over the shock to help the boys,” Sid said.

“You’re absolutely right, Sid,” Dad agreed with him.

* * * * * *
After we gave Sidney junior a tour of the upstairs we went to my junk room where I keep my desk computer, games, trophies, 4-H ribbons, and stuff I collected over the years. I had high school banners on the walls from competing high schools and a couple of college banners I liked. I had a student from Texas University I met on the Internet send me a Texas Longhorn’s banner. I was really proud of it. Dad and I moved several overstuffed chairs in the room that were old but serviceable. I spread clean sheets over them and washed them from time to time. Sidney loved the room. He thought it was a total reflection of who I am. We sat down and began to talk.

“I’d give anything to know what them men’s talking about down there,” I said.

“Mr. Wiggins is pretty open with me. He’ll tell me most anything I ask him, but we have an understanding. If I ever once betray his trust, I will never have it again, and he promised the same with me. I don’t ever wanna’ betray that big man’s trust. He means way too much to me.”

“All bullshit aside, the more I hear about him the more I think he’s probably a great person as well as being a sexual icon,” I told Sidney.

“Oh, he is. The funniest thing about him is, he knows he’s sexy and attractive to a lot of people, but he has no interest in that sort of thing. He’s not asexual, he just ain’t never done anything before.”

“What?” Dwayne choked on his coffee he brought with him.

“I’m not kidding. He’s a virgin. He’s never been with a woman or a man. He’s not shy about it. He’ll tell you if you ask him. He doesn’t see it as anything to be ashamed of, and he really doesn’t know what the big deal is all about. He laughs and tells everybody he's not worried about sex. He's got a family he's happily devote to – end of story,” Sidney said.

“How could a man as hot as him not ever be propositioned or had it dropped at his feet? God knows, I have to hold my brother back sometimes from making a complete fool of himself in front of the man,” Dwayne said and motioned to me. I laughed and pointed a finger at him.

“Never make the mistake of underestimate Mr. Wiggins, Gentlemen. We can't take him anywhere nice. He's blatantly got offers from men and women many times when Dad takes us out to a fine restaurant. I lost count after fifty. Most of the time they send him a note with their name, address, and phone number. They even send expensive bottles of wine to our table, along with a small note. When he first started working for my dad he used to take days off and one night a week. That lasted all of about six months, and then he just stopped taking time off. He said he’d rather be with me and my dad. Hell, my dad takes him and me with him almost everywhere he goes when I’m not in school. During school Mr. Wiggins takes care of me 24/7. He’s completely devoted to me and my dad. If you wanna’ know the truth, I think he’s in love with my dad, but I don’t know for sure. I know my dad loves him, but I think my dad is terminally straight. There again, I’m not real sure about that either. I know he looks at Mr. Wiggins sometimes when he doesn’t know I’m looking, and I can tell there are nasty thoughts running through his mind; however, they’ve never shared a bed together that I know of, and I think I’d know. Besides, knowing them, they’d never try to hide it from me anyway. I’d be the first they’d tell.”

“I believe you. You can look at me and tell what I’m thinking,” I said.

“Well, Mr. Wiggins and I share being a virgin in common,” Sidney confessed and got a half smile on his face.

“At our age, there ain’t nothing wrong with that. I guess I’m a virgin too in one area. My dad told me I couldn’t have anal sex until I was eighteen. I trust him, and I ain’t gonna’ do it ‘til then.”

“But I thought you and Dwayne...?”

“Dad never said nothing about oral sex or jacking off yore' buddy. Dad and I been doing it since I was fourteen.”

“You and your dad? How great is that? Your dad’s a hunk, Case!” Sidney exclaimed.

“I told him the same damn thing, Sid. I couldn’t believe it when Casey told me. Mr. Longhorn is also one of the finest men I’ve ever known,” Dwayne added.

“We can talk about that stuff later. I’ve been on pins and needles for the last two days worrying and wondering what the Hell you two have to tell me. I about drove Mr. Wiggins and my dad nuts telling them about you two and how Casey took Gary Peacock down a notch.”

“Well, Sid, what we have to tell you ain’t pretty, and it can’t go beyond us; however, I don’t think you’ll have to tell Mr. Wiggins or you dad what we’re gonna’ share with you, ‘cause I know my old man well enough to know he’s a responsible man. He’ll figure if their boy is gonna’ be involved in our problem they have a right to know, and he’s probably telling them about it right now. I’d bet my lap-top on it,” I said.

“So what’s so secret?” Sidney asked.

“Remember we told ju’ we’d tell you why my step-dad, the Colonel, gave yore' Uncle Frank and Curly the weekend off?” Dwayne asked.

“Yeah, I wondered about it,” Sidney replied.

“My step-dad kept me tied up in the barn the whole weekend, repeatedly raped me anally, and forced me to commit oral sex on him. The worst part is, it wasn’t the first time. He’s done it to me almost ever' day over the last six months,” Dwayne sadly hung his head.

Poor Sidney’s face fell like a final curtain. “Oh, my God, Dwayne, I’m so sorry,” he said with remorse.

We told Sidney everything. A few times we had to pause and take a break for Sidney to recover long enough to go on. We didn't consider how it might affect him. We knew he was sensitive and capable of great compassion, but he broke into tears several times. In a way, his reaction was almost a reflection of how much Sidney cared. We had no idea Sidney felt so strongly about us. His reaction wasn't only a comfort to Dwayne and me, it was a humbling experience. After a couple of hours, we heard dad call up to us to come down, Mr. Wainright and Mr. Wiggins were leaving. Sidney was barely recovered, but when he saw his dad he ran to him and held him. He was strong though, and didn’t shed a tear.

“Be strong for your brothers, Logan,” his dad encouraged him, “they need your help and support right now. We know you’re capabilities. We know what you can do. It’s time you started accepting responsibility for others as well as yourself.”

Sidney looked at his dad and smiled. “You’re right, Dad, I’m ready. I can do this. I’m not afraid. Casey and Dwayne are my brothers, they need me, and I have to help them.”

Sidney went to Mr. Wiggins and offered his hand. “Ah, to Hell with that. Gimme’ a big ole hug and a kiss, Boy. I done taught chu’ better’n ‘nat,” Sticker teased him to lighten the mood. Sidney chuckled and jumped into Mr. Wiggins’ arms. Dwayne and I would’ve traded places with him in a minute. Virgin or no, we still wanted to run jump in the big man’s arms.

We said our goodbye and dad promised to have them over for dinner soon to keep them informed. Sidney got his small bag of work clothes and his lap-top out of the back of Mr. Wiggins’ Hummer. After having another donut and talking to dad for a few minutes we returned to my junk room for a while.

“You guys have shared something with me for which I'm totally unprepared. I’m usually good at figuring things out. I tried to imagine all sorts of things about what it might be, but I never expected this. Dwayne, I don’t know what to say except I’m so sorry and offer you my love,” he said. A couple of tears escaped Sidney’s eyes. Dwayne went to him and took him into his arms, held him close, and kissed him on his forehead. “There, there, Little Brother, I’m all right, but I gratefully accept your kind offer of love. I wouldn’t have made it this far if it hadn’t been for the love of three wonderful men, Casey, Mr. Longhorn, and Mr. Winchester. Now I got your love along with theirs. Ya’ gotta’ know it really helps, Sid, thanks.”

“Has anyone come up with a plan, any ideas you guys might have?” Sidney asked as they sat down to continue their conversation.

“Not yet. We met with Mr. Winchester a couple of times, but primarily, he wanted to talk with Dwayne to explain to him what his step-dad is doing to him and for what reasons. I think he’s also helped Dwayne see why he’s so confused and conflicted about the situation,” I said.

“Yeah, he’s helped me a lot, Sid. At least I learned my attraction to my step-dad and what he’s doing to me ain’t because I’m a bad man or can’t control my sexual urges,” Dwayne added.

“Of course it ain’t, Dwayne. He’s a monster for God’s sake; the epitome of all that’s evil,” Sidney said.

I wasn’t real sure what ‘epitome’ meant, but I got the idea it wasn’t good. Sidney was adamant. I think if Dwayne had any lingering doubts about his step-dad, Sidney slammed the barn door shut on that one. “So tell me what you talked about. Bring me up to speed,” Sidney was enthused to know more. He was taking it all in, and I could just imagine the digital synapse in his brain taking info in at an enormous rate, correlating, sorting, resorting, arranging, and systematically filing important bits and pieces for later use. Dwayne and I told him everything including our meeting with Mr. Winchester the previous evening. We told him about Mr. Winchester’s startling revelation about his conclusions why the Colonel was doing all this. It was as big an ‘ah-ha’ moment for Sidney as it was for us.

“That’s incredible!” Sidney exclaimed, “Of course, it makes perfect sense. He has bigger goals than getting back at Dwayne’s dad or Dwayne for that matter. We can’t let him get away with it. We won’t let him get away with it. Look, Guys, if Dwayne goes to his mom, all Hell will break loose, and it might get messy. Dwayne’s mom may or may not believe him depending on how brainwashed she might be by the Colonel. If she doesn’t react and kick his ass out immediately, that still leaves Dwayne vulnerable. The son of a bitch will still be free to make life miserable for Dwayne. I think Mr. Longhorn’s right. He isn’t going to jeopardize his ultimate goal. Besides, if Dwayne goes to his mom it becomes his word against his step-dad’s. He doesn’t have any tangible proof other than his accusation.

Even if he uses his whip on Dwayne, he can come up with some lame excuse to get out from under it. He can claim Dwayne came home from a night at your house, Case, and showed him the lashes and bragged about them. If he’s a true sociopath, which I have little doubt he is, he can think on his feet faster than any of us, including me, and make another person believe any garbage he wants. No, going to Dwayne’s mom isn’t an option. It has too many loopholes to his advantage. We need to grab him by his balls. We have to come up with a plan that’s neat, clean, and can destroy him without Dwayne being more involved than simply being his victim. We’ll have to have proof positive that will nail his Jar-head ass to the barn door.”

“That’s basically where Mr. Winchester left it last night. He wanted us to consider actions and reaction. In other words, if we do this or that, what the consequences might be. That’s what you’re doing right now. I don’t think Dwayne and I would’ve ever thought about those things you just brought up, not because we ain’t smart enough, but we’re too close emotionally to even reason rationally.”

“Exactly. That’s why you need me. All right, here’s what we know. The next chance he gets, he’s going to continue his little plan by raping Dwayne again. It's a given. It’s inevitable. We know it’s gonna’ happen. It’s just logical to assume he’s steadfast in his plan and doesn’t think anyone’s the wiser right now. Let’s let him think that. It’s to our advantage. Let’s let the son of a bitch think he has everything under control, and everything is on track for realizing his ultimate goal. Dwayne, would it be too devastating for you to submit to another session with him?” Sid asked.

“No, not at all. Sidney, you have to understand, for all he’s done to me against my will, I find myself enjoying it. Certainly, I don’t want him to have that power over me, but while I’m going through it, it’s wonderful. I know that sounds really sick, but I’m being honest,” Dwayne lamented.

“Of course it sounds sick. It sounds sick to anyone who doesn’t know the circumstances and can’t understand the situation. There’s a psychological condition where victims who are held prisoners and subjected to sexual or physical abuse fall in love with their captors. It’s call “the Stockholm syndrome.” It’s quite common, Dwayne. It’s the mind’s way of making sense out of chaos in a situation a person can’t comprehend.”

“Do I see a plan forming in that fertile mind of yours, Sid?” I asked him.

“You do, indeed, Cowboy,” Sidney replied and smiled at me. “It’s basically simple. We set him up. We hide three video cameras in the barn in three separate positions. I can control them from my lap-top. We burn a DVD of him forcing sex on Dwayne. It’s neat, clean, and we can decide what to do with the evidence later.”

“How you plan to do that? Won’t you have to run cables all over the place. It would take days to set it up and test it,” Dwayne said.

“Nonsense, where have you guys been? I’ll do it all through RF, radio frequency, signals. It will all be wireless. Do you have a video camera, Case?”

“Yeah, my dad gave me one for my birthday last year.”

“I got two. There you go. We have the cameras. My lap-top burns DVD’s. I can even rig it to where the cameras will zoom in and out of the shot from a command from my lap-top. I can watch and monitor all three cameras on the same screen. Simple, I do it all the time to spy on our household help,” Sidney confided with his friends.

“How long would you need to set up the cameras in Dwayne’s barn,” I asked.

“Thirty minutes to an hour, max.”

“Son of a bitch. How long to test the system?” Dwayne asked.

“Once we get the cameras set up, we can test everything. Another thirty minutes, maybe less. The main part will be hiding the cameras. Testing is a piece of cake. There’s only one small hitch. I have to be within three hundred yards of the barn to receive the information and record it to DVD.”

“What about the bunk house where your uncles stay?” Dwayne asked.

“Is it within three hundred yards?”

“Easy,” Dwayne replied. “Son of a bitch, Case. I think we just discovered why we had our dreams about our little buddy, here. Sounds like a plan to me,” Dwayne said enthused.

“Yeah, it does sound good,” I agreed.

“Okay, Dwayne. If we do this you understand you have to play it up like he’s doing this totally against your will. Of course he is, but even though you may be enjoying it, you have to convince an audience who looks at the DVD you’re not enjoying it, it’s totally against your nature and convictions to be doing what he’s forcing you to do. You have to make it difficult for him to take you. Then when he does, no matter what he does, you have to make it seem like he’s killing you and you aren’t enjoying it, understand?” Sidney asked.

“Makes sense to me, Little Buddy. I just knew you’d come up with something,” Dwayne said.

“Yeah, me, too, Sid. I knew you were gonna’ make a great brother,” I agreed with Dwayne.

“Well, what’s a brother for, Guys?" he asked.

* * * * * * *
We didn’t realize we’d been talking so long. It was noon and I was hungry. Dad went for donuts so Dwayne and I didn’t bother to fix breakfast. I knew he must be hungry, too. We heard dad holler from the kitchen to come down for lunch. After a group hug, we bounded down the stairs laughing and in great spirits. Dad had everything laid out on the kitchen counter for do-it-yourself sandwiches, two different kinds of bread, sourdough and wheat, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles, mustard and mayo. He set out a big bowl of potato chips. There was a big pitcher of sweetened iced tea with some mason jars placed around. Dad and I didn’t mess with finery. I noticed our use of appropriate crystal-ware impressed the shit out of Sidney. He held his mason jar up to toast me and Dwayne with a big, pleased smile on his face.

“Thanks, Dad, this is great,” I hugged and kissed him on the cheek.

“Yeah, Mr. Longhorn. You should a’ hollered at us. We’d a’ come down and helped ya,’” Dwayne said.

“I had a feeling you men were in some kinda powerful pow-wow up there. I could feel the vibrations coming from upstairs. Ever' now and then the house would rock on it's foundation," he said using his best cowboy hyperbole and grinned. We laughed at him.

“This is really great, Mr. Longhorn, thanks,” Sidney said as he spread mayo onto his sourdough bread. “I love sourdough bread,” he added.

“You men came down much too cheerful and happy not to have come up with something. Less’n, of course, ya’ll been up there all this time play’n hide the little green snake.”

“Daaad!” I exclaimed indignantly, “That’s jes’ plumb awful. Between you and my brother’s mouth, I’m a doomed man for sure,” I said and laughed. I thought Sidney was going to choke on his iced tea and Dwayne almost fell into his plate laughing. We finally calmed down. He made his sandwich, got himself a glass of tea, and sat down with us. “After that statement, I don’t know whether we should tell him our plan or not. What da’ ya’ think, Guys?” I asked. They laughed again. This time dad laughed with them.

“Well, he was thoughtful enough to fix lunch for us,” Dwayne allowed.

“He gets my vote, Case. Any man who can be so off-the-wall and up front at the same time deserves to know what the hell we been up to,” Sidney said. We laughed with our little brother.

“Why don’t you do the honors, little brother, since it was your idea.”

Sidney basically outlined for dad everything we discussed and his idea. Dad sat eating all the while. He nodded every now and then, but he never asked a question or commented until Sidney finished. He sat quietly for a few minutes afterwards as if he were running it over in his mind. “Sounds like a damn good plan to me, Son,” he said to Sidney. Sidney beamed with pride from dad’s compliment. “You’ve convinced me. Now, you have three other men to convince. I don’t think Spencer Winchester’s gonna’ be hard to convince, but you git’n involved with something like this what might have potential danger involved, your dad and Sticker ain’t gonna’ be so easily swayed.”

“You may be right, Mr. Longhorn, but all I can do is try. Mr. Wiggins is all the time after my dad to let me have more freedom, to give me more of the reins, as he puts it. Besides, it’s important. It’s important to me and my brothers.”

Dad smiled and winked at me and Dwayne. We knew he picked up on Sidney’s use of the word ‘brothers.’ He was pleased. He didn’t have to say a word.

* * * * * * *
We helped dad put things away and cleaned up the kitchen. It didn’t take but a few minutes. “What do you men want for supper? We gotta’ take the boys over to do chores at Dwayne’s ranch about four o’clock. We can stop and get pizza on the way back, or I can fix something here for us?” Dad asked.

“Dad cooks good, but I ain’t had pizza in a coon’s age. I vote pizza,” I said.

“That would be great, Mr. Longhorn,” Sidney said, “I ain’t had pizza in a long time either. I love pizza.”

“Fine with me, Mr. Longhorn,” Dwayne agreed.

We went back upstairs to my room and Sidney decided to change into his work clothes. He didn’t ask to be alone or go into another room. He just stripped right in front of Dwayne and me. When he removed his shirt his upper body was more than a little impressive. Sidney was perfect in his form, shape, and overall development. He wasn’t massive like his trainer, but he was big where it counted, to say nothing of the two, round mounds, he had for a butt. Holy Aunt Jemima! It looked like two bowling balls were implanted into his ass cheeks. They were breath taking. Made my tongue hard, they did. Must have made quite an impression on my brother, too, he was drooling out the corner’s of his mouth like an idiot. Mr. Wiggins must have trained Sidney well about being a cowboy. When he dropped his Wranglers he wasn’t wearing any underwear. Dwayne gasped when he caught sight of Sidney’s cock. I chuckled at Dwayne’s reaction and my own surprise. Sidney was hung slightly smaller than a Shetland pony. We’d never been in a gym class with him because we were heavy into sports which counted for our gym time. We never had an opportunity to see Sidney naked before. What a pleasant surprise it was for Dwayne and me. We got our heads together and decided Gary Peacock's beef with Sidney was very probably brought about by penis envy.

“Some’um wrong, guys?” Sidney asked with a smirk. He knew damn well what Dwayne and I were chuckling about.

I laughed and could barely get out my next statement. “We better go back downstairs and tell my old man it weren’t no little green snake what was chasing us around up here, Brother,” I laughed. Dwayne fell across my bed and rolled with laughter. Sidney had to sit on the bed, he couldn’t get his pants on from laughing.

“Now that was jes’ bad, Case,” Dwayne got on me.

“Yeah, I guess it was. Sorry, Little – uh – make that Big Brother, Sid,” I said and we laughed again.

We went out to start building the bird cage. Sidney was appalled we didn’t have any plans drawn up. We didn’t know how big to make the damn thing or what to build it with. We were just going to start slapping boards together. I was going to use a bunch of old two by fours we had lying around for scrap after an addition to our barn the previous year. We had a lot more two by threes, though. Thankfully, Sidney took over. He got a piece of paper and started sketching and labeling everything. He asked about bracing and Dwayne and I just looked at each other in dismay. We needed bracing? Who knew? What’s bracing? Sidney smiled patiently and just shook his head. As we watched Sidney finish his sketch, Dwayne and I were beginning to see something of quality coming together. By the time dad walked out to check on our progress and tell us it was time to go do Dwayne’s chores we had the main structure built and only had the roof left to build to go over the sheltered area. Dad took one look at it and smiled. He knew we never would’ve built it that good by ourselves. It was, indeed, an impressive structure. He winked at Dwayne and me and just shook his head. Once again he didn’t have to say a word.

“C’moan, Men, it’s time to go do Dwayne’s chores. You come, too, Son,” he said putting his arm around Sidney, “May as well meet the enemy.”

“I’ve met him a couple of times, Mr. Longhorn. Once, here, at your place at your Fourth of July barbecue. I thought, at the time, he was a good looking man.”

“Yeah, he is, Son, I agree. Too bad that’s all what’s good about him,” Dad said.

In the truck, on the way over to the Dunbar ranch, dad review our position like a General briefing his troops. “Dwayne, if I tell you to get in the truck, don’t hesitate, just do it. Casey, in the glove compartment there’s a three by five card with the personal telephone number of my buddy, Leland Bard, our sheriff. Use your cell phone and give him a call, but only if I tell you to, understand, Son?" he asked.

“Yes, sir, we understand, Mr. Longhorn,” Dwayne spoke for both of us.

“All you have to do, Case, is tell the sheriff, Vince Longhorn needs him out to the Dunbar ranch, muy pronto. Sid, you stick close to me. You don’t know what to do to help the boys anyway, and it will go quicker if they do it. They’re used to doing it. Don’t speak unless spoken to directly, Son. Let me do all the talking. Be pleasant and well met if I decide to introduce you to him.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Longhorn, I understand.”

We pulled onto the gravel road to the Dunbar ranch and Dwayne audibly gasp when he caught sight of the Colonel’s pickup truck parked along side the house. Dad heard him. “Easy, Son. You ain’t alone no more. Remember, you’re with three good men what love you. Jes' keep that in mind. We won’t let nothing happen to you. Got that, Son?” Dad said with conviction.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Longhorn, and thanks.”

Dad pulled up and around and headed the Bronco back out to the road so he wouldn’t have to turn around. Smart man, my dad. We no sooner got out of the Bronco than Brad Dunbar came fogging out the front door of the house onto the porch with blood in his eye. He threw open the screen door with such force it made a loud bang against the side of the house. It was obviously a well planned move to display his anger, irritation, and frustration to Dwayne.

Sidney had a sharp tongue and a quick wit, “Holy shit! Gimme' a break! What a fuck'n drama Queen! Let's pray he's practicing for his upcoming role in our stunning new parental horror movie, 'Daddy Dearest.'” Sidney declared, and the four of us shared a laugh. Unfortunately, the Colonel thought we were laughing at him.

Dad motioned for Dwayne and me to go do the chores. We heard dad hail the Colonel as he walked toward them. “Howdy, Brad! Good to see ya’ again,” he said and stuck out his hand to force Brad Dunbar to shake hands with him. The Colonel took his hand and shook it like he was only doing it because he had to and certainly not because he was glad to see my dad.

“Longhorn!” was his short business-like acknowledgement.

“This young man is Sidney Wainright, Brad. Sidney this is Mr. Dunbar, Dwayne's step-dad,” Vince said.

Sidney stuck out his hand and the Colonel took it. They shook hands. “I believe the Colonel and I met last summer at your place, Mr. Longhorn. Good to meet you again, sir,” Sidney was pleasant but reserved.

“Huumph,” Brad Dunbar commented on Sidney’s greeting like he wasn't important enough for him to greet. Sidney told us later he hoped it didn’t cost him too much. Our Little Brother had his own understated wicked streak.

“I better get down there to make damn sure them boys get the chores done right,” the Colonel said in disgust.

“My boy’s with Dwayne. Casey knows the routine. He's been taking care of our stock for years. I’m sure between them they’ll do a good job,” Dad said in a tone that suggested Dunbar leave them alone. Vince could tell the Colonel wasn’t going to be deterred.

“Well, I’m sick and tired of him doing a half-ass job on his chores. I’m gonna’ go down there anyway and make damn sure they do it right.”

“Probably a good idea, Brad. We’ll come along,” Sidney told us later he could tell the Colonel wasn’t expecting that from my dad. He knew he couldn’t rant and rave with my dad around.

Brad stopped dead in his tracks. “Ah, what the Hell, I’ll just have Dwayne do it over again later. He won’t be going back with you, anyway. I've made a command decision, Longhorn. I’m keeping him here for the rest of the weekend. He fucked up his chores real bad last night so I’m gonna’ have to punish him by keeping him home until he can learn to shape up and do what the Hell I tell him and do it right the first time. He’ll learn one of these days I mean what I say,” Dunbar said.

“I’m real sorry to hear that, Brad, but you’re gonna’ have to take yore' 'command decision' up with Sadie when she comes home. She personally asked me to take care of her boy until she gets back. Dwayne’s going back with us whether you like it or not. Sorry to be that blunt with you, Brad, but if you’re rude enough to push the situation, I’m certainly rude enough to push back. Command decision my ass. What a load of crap. Dwayne ain't one of your recruits, Dunbar. He's your step-son over whom you have little say unless Sadie gives you permission.”

“You’re way overstepping your boundaries here, Longhorn. Dwayne’s my goddamn step-son. I tell him what to do and when to do it, not you. He’ll do what the fuck I tell him,” Dunbar yelled right in Dad's face.

“Let me remind you, Brad, you have no legal say where that boy goes or what he does. You’re not his legal guardian. His mother is, and she’s entrusted him to my care until she returns, whenever that might be. Until then, I will tell Dwayne where he may go and what he may do, not you, and it's my 'command decision' following the orders of Major General Sadie he will return to my ranch with us,” Dad said quietly but firmly.

“You’re really pushing your luck, Longhorn,” the Colonel growled at dad getting right in his face. Sidney said he never saw a man more calm and collected than my dad in the face of such wrath as the Colonel was projecting toward him.

“No, I’m not, Brad. I’m just here to bring the boys by to do Dwayne’s chores. After that, we’re out a’ here. You’re the one what’s pushing his luck, Dunbar. I don’t think you really wanna’ take this any further. If you escalate this, I guaran-damn-tee ya,’ you’re in for big trouble.”

“Yeah, Longhorn, from you and what army?” the Colonel challenged.

“No army, Dunbar. I don't need no fuck'n army to deal with a would be tin-horn dictator like you. Outside a military base, y'ain't as important as you'd like ever' body to believe. You're just another piece of dog shit in the Cantaloupe patch. Besides, I ain’t planning on going to war with you. This is a civil matter, and all yore' huff and puff and bluff don't mean jack-shit to me. If you chose to push me further, I’ll just call my buddy Leland Bard, the sheriff of our county, and let him come out here and settle this matter pert-damn quick. I don’t think you’d fare very well with Lee. He hates tight-ass military types. If you think you got the cajonnes, try me,” Dad challenged him.

“Harrumph,” the Colonel grunted in frustration.

Dwayne and I completed the chores and headed back to the Bronco. As we came up to them the Colonel yelled at Dwayne. “You fucked up you chores, big time, last night, Boy. I ain't let’n you go back with them. I’m keeping you home the rest of the weekend to punish you until you learn to do what the Hell I tell you to and do it right the first time,” Dunbar yelled at the top of his voice.

“Get in the Bronco, Dwayne!” my old man ordered Dwayne without raising his voice. My brother moved to get into the truck. I quickly moved to the other side.

“Ju’ hear me, Boy? I said you can’t go back with ’em. I mean it, Boy. Get chore’ ass out a’ that truck, right now. That ain't no request, it's a goddamn order,” Dunbar yelled even louder in his best Jar-head growl meant to put fear in the heart of any young man.

Dwayne and I were already in the back seat of dad’s truck. Dad motioned for Sidney to get in opposite him. Sidney moved quickly for the door, opened it, and got in. Dad took his good time getting to the driver’s side.

“You ain’t heard the last of this, Longhorn! You think you’ve won, but you ain’t. I’ll sue you for every goddamn thing you got. I’ll own your fuck’n ranch, Cowboy.”

My dad stopped, turned, looked at the Colonel and grinned a wicked grin. “I don’t think so, Dunbar. To do some'um like 'at you gotta' have two nickels to rub together, and I don’t think Sadie will give ‘em to you,” Dad drawled, snickered, opened the door to the truck and got in. He turned the key to the ignition, the Bronco roared to life, and my old man spun out spraying Colonel Jar-head with rocks and gravel. My dad had a mean streak to him once in a while. At that moment, I thanked God he did.

End Chapter 10 ~ Texas Longhorns
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01/25/2005
09/29/2016