TEXAS LONGHORNS
By Waddie
Greywolf
Chapter 12
Sidney quickly whipped out his cell phone, and dialed his number.
“Hello,” Sidney senior answered.
“Hey, Dad, I’m home. We’re in the front drive. May I invite Mr.
Longhorn and my brothers in for a minute? Are ya’ll decent?”
Sidney Jr. asked.
Sidney heard his dad chuckle. “After last night, I don’t know how
decent we are, but at the moment, we’re fully clothed, if that’s
what you mean. Sure, invite ‘em in. We’d love to see them. I’ll
meet cha’ll at front door.”
Sidney’s dad and Mr. Wiggins met us at the front door. It was
obvious they were in a rare mood and couldn’t wait to see their
boy. Sidney was bouncing from one’s arms to the other. He was
thrilled for them, and they were laughing at his enthusiasm.
Sidney pulled Mr. Wiggins down to whisper something in his ear.
Mr. Wiggins laughed, winked at Dwayne and me, hugged and kissed
Sidney again. We didn’t have to ask what our little brother told
him. Mr. Wainright gave my dad a hug and a kiss only to be
followed by Mr. Wiggins. Dwayne and I weren’t disappointed, we got
the same. We also got instantly hard when the big cowboy hugged
and kissed us.
“Did my boy behave himself?” Sidney asked dad with a concerned
parental tone.
“Behave himself? What? Are you kidding? That young man? That boy’s
a good boy. You couldn’t a’ made him no finer. He’s a joy to have
around. I’ll be honest with ya,’ breaks this old cowboy’s heart to
bring him back to ya.’” Dad chuckled. “We’re probably the only
ranch in the Western states what has a Frank Lloyd Wright style
bird pen on our back lot. You won’t find another like it in the
state, I guaran-damn-tee ya.’ It should be written up in
'Architectural Digest.' I think them three are quite pleased with
themselves and well they should be. It ain’t jes’ no bird pen,
it’s a fuck’n work of art. Don’t know where them damn boys expect
to find any birds worthy enough to keep in that pen,” Dad broke up
laughing. He could always come up with the most outrageous
bullshit. The men laughed together at my dad’s take on our
project.
“By the way, Sidney told us about your message to him,
congratulations, Gentlemen. It’s about time,” Dad said.
Sidney’s dad threw back his head and laughed with my dad agreeing
with him. He pointed a finger at my dad. “See, Cowboy, ya’ jes’
never know how your words are gonna’ affect somebody. I got to
think’n all the way home about what you said, and I knew I had to
do something about it. I didn’t wanna’ lose one of the greatest
treasures I ever found in my life simply because his contract
might run out in a few years. I ain’t about to let that happen.”
Sticker walked up beside Mr. Wainright, dropped a huge arm over
his shoulder, pulled him close and kissed him behind his ear.
Sidney was smiling from ear to ear and Dwayne and I damn near
pissed our Wranglers. I noticed my old man’s snake was moving in
his pants. He wasn’t immune to Sticker’s overt display of
affection for his main man. “I’d be a fool to let a prime piece of
beef like this big cowboy get out of my corral, right Men?” Mr.
Wainright said directly to Dwayne and me who were, by that time,
glassy eyed and dumbstruck. We could only nod our head in
agreement. We probably looked like two hula dolls in the back
window of a ‘chee-vee’ low-rider with our heads bobbing up and
down.
“Ya’ll come on in. Let’s go to the kitchen. We got us an honest to
goodness New York cheesecake sent to us by a friend in the Big
Apple yesterday. I think Sticker and I can rustle up some hot
chocolate or coffee.”
We followed Mr. Wainright and Mr. Wiggins into their huge kitchen.
It was beautiful. Everything was done in stainless steel. It was
impressive. We sat around a bar-like counter with recessed lights
shining down on the counter. They served us a piece of wonderful
cheesecake and made a pot of coffee. Dwayne and I never had
cheesecake before, but it was delicious. Our little brother was
thrilled to have us in his world. He sat between his two brothers
and had one hand on me or Dwayne the whole time. He was such a
love. His affections for us were not missed by his dad and Mr.
Wiggins.
“Well, Son, did you treat your brother’s right?” Mr. Wainright
raised an eyebrow and smiled at his boy. We watched Sticker wink
at our little brother.
“God, I hope so, Dad. They sure as Hell treated me right.”
“Well, I have to say, I don’t think this is the same kid we took
over there a couple of days ago. What da’ ya’ think, Sticker?”
“Hell, I know’d it the minute he walked in the door. He either
grow’d six inches, he’s walk’n taller, or he’s got new heels on
his boots.”
The men were having a good time teasing Sidney. Sidney was loving
it. “After last night, I shore’ nuff love my brothers all right,
but my main man is Mr. Longhorn, Dad. I ain’t ashamed to tell
ya’ll, I love him. He’s my personal hero.”
“Well, I don’t know’s you could a’ picked a better man to love,
Son,” Mr. Wainright told Sidney.
My dad got the biggest shit eating grin on his face and blushed
like a school boy. He opened both his hands in a gesture of
what-a’-ya’-gonna’-do?
“I never seen no man be so calm and collected as he was in the
face of potential danger from that mad man, Colonel Dunbar. I
thought for sure the Colonel was gonna’ hit ‘em. I stood watching
Mr. Longhorn stand his ground without so much as batting an eye,
and I told myself I’d be happy if I grow’d up to be half the man
he is.”
“Com’mer, Son,” my dad growled at Sidney. Sidney got down from his
stool, went to my dad who embraced him, held him for an minute,
then bussed a kiss behind his ear. “I love ya’ for them words, but
your main men should always be them two sit’n right there beside
each other. Don’t mean there can’t be room in yore’ heart for this
old cowboy, though. I love you, too, Son.” My old man actually got
tears in his eyes. I could see Sidney’s dad and Mr. Wiggins were
moved.
“We’re you able to help your brother’s with Dwayne’s problem?” Mr.
Wiggins asked Sidney.
“I hope so, Mr. Wiggins. I came up with a plan, but they’re gonna’
need me to implement it. They can’t do it by themselves. They need
my help. That’s what they couldn’t see in their dream. It was the
part I have to supply.”
“Since we’re all here, and tomorrow ain’t a school day, you wanna’
share it with us?” Mr. Wainright asked his son.
“Yes, sir. We will, but before I tell you and Mr. Wiggins, Dad –
please, Sir – hear me out before you make a decision; maybe, even
sleep on it tonight. I really wanna’ help my brothers, Dad. I need
to be a part of this for me as well as for them. They been s'damn
good to me over the last several years. I don’t wanna’ let ‘em
down, Dad.”
Mr. Wainright nodded his agreement, and Sidney started to tell him
every detail. It must have come together in Sidney’s mind exactly
the best way to present his plan to his dad and Mr. Wiggins. I
even saw my dad looking at him in awe a couple of times from the
way Sidney was weighing all the options like a good defense
attorney fighting for his client. I could see big Sidney listening
with a detached concern but his partner, Mr. Wiggins, had a wry,
proud smile on his face and placed his arm around Mr. Wainright to
lightly rest on the back of his bar-stool. It was in that moment
Dwayne and I saw how deep his affection was for both men. Sidney
exhausted his presentation and sat silent for a minute.
“Wow!” Mr. Wainright exclaimed, “Sounds like something out of
'Mission Impossible', except I don’t see this plan as quite so
impossible. I promised you I wouldn’t make a decision right away,
and I won’t. I’ll even take your suggestion and sleep on it
tonight. I need to talk it over with our head wrangler here,
anyway. I wanna' get his input on what we just heard. All in all,
at first hearing, I have to say it’s a damn good plan, and it just
might work. I won’t lie to you. Naturally, as a father, I have
some concerns. I won’t bring them up right now. I wanna’ think
about it tonight. I think the part about involving your uncles is
a good idea. Sticker knows as well as I do all three of us, me,
Sitcker, and Curly will have to sit on Frank until he agrees to
cooperate.
Frank never did like the Colonel. He treats him with respect and
courtesy because he is, after all, the husband of his employer.
When Frank finds out what he’s been doing to Dwayne, he’ll wanna’
take matters into his own hands and that could spell disaster. I
think we can get him to see the larger picture and benefit of
having a little more ‘permanent’ solution to the problem of the
Colonel. Frank thinks the world of Dwayne, partially because
Dwayne is Rance Harding’s son and Frank was in love with Rance. He
promised Rance he’d stay with Sadie and look out for you, Dwayne.
He’s tried to do just that. Bet cha’ didn’t know that, did ya,’
Son?” Sidney Wainright looked at Dwayne. Dwayne looked at me, then
back to Mr. Wainright, and shook his head.
“I done told him the other night, at Spencer Winchester’s, there’s
several things he don’t know about his dad. They ain’t bad things,
it’s jes’ he don’t know about ‘em yet,” Dad said.
“How much do you think we should tell him, Vince? I don’t wanna’
overstep my bounds here,” Sid asked.
“Well, I done me a lot a’ think’n on it, Sid, and I pretty well
figured it was gonna’ come up some'mers with all of this what’s
been going down between Dwayne and Dunbar. Dwayne’s of an age now,
I think he can handle it, and sooner or later, he needs to know.
He’s got his brothers to lean on, but I don’t think it’s gonna’ be
that big a problem for Dwayne. For all the shit he’s been through
lately, I’d say he’s a pretty tough young man.”
“Yore' daddy and Frank Mayhew met on the rodeo circuit years ago,
Son," Mr. Wainright began, "They fell in love and rodeoed together
for a number of years until your daddy got drunk one night and got
blamed for a robbery he never committed. He was just in the wrong
place at the wrong time. It was a small town judge, your daddy was
appointed a public defender who was a lousy attorney, and they
sent him up for five to ten. There was a lot of talk about the
sheriff being involved with the robbery and framing your dad. The
sheriff was never brought to trial, but eventually he was kicked
out of office. It created enough doubt, another attorney who Frank
paid to take your dad’s case, got his sentence reduced to
probation.
"He was released after three years. All that time Frank was
working for the ranch my family owned, the Lazy 8. I know all this
because I worked right along side Frank as another hired hand for
over six years. Why I was work'n as a cowboy at a ranch my family
owned is another story for another time. While yore’ dad was in
prison, he wrote to his old high school sweetheart, your momma
Sadie, and she would go every visitor’s day to visit him. They
fell in love and got married wile your daddy was still in prison.
His great aunt left him some money when she passed away and left
it in trust for Rance.
"When he got out of prison he used it to buy the ranch you live
on, but not before he paid Frank back every penny plus interest he
spent on your dad’s defense. A year after I left the Lazy 8, Frank
came to California to work for his friend. After all, if it hadn’t
a’ been for Frank Mayhew, your daddy probably would still be
rotting away in prison for a crime he never committed. How could
yore’ daddy help love a man who would go to bat for him when he
had no one else in the world who believed in him?
"Frank Mayhew is a cowboy. He didn’t do what he done to claim
yore’ daddy’s love. He did it for no other reason than he loved
yore' dad. He would never consider your dad owed him a damn thing
for doing what he done even if Rance Harding never made an effort
to pay him back, but your daddy’s a cowboy, too, Son, and a damn
good one. He paid Frank back and then some, but you don’t forget
or leave behind someone who has meant as much to you as Frank
Mayhew did to him. Rance wanted Frank to come and share in
the joy of his new life. If they shared a little physical love on
the side— so, fuck’n, what?
"There’s no doubt, your daddy loved yore’ momma, Dwayne. He still
does, today. She was the only woman for him and the only woman
he’ll ever love, but there was enough love in your old man’s heart
he carried on a relationship with Frank on the side for several
years until Sadie caught ‘em in the barn one evening with Frank
suck’n yore’ daddy’s dick. Frank tried to warn your dad it might
not be safe, but Rance was horny and didn’t wanna’ listen to
Frank. He had to have Frank’s love right that minute. Frank tried
to cover for him, but it didn’t do no good. I don’t mean to judge
your momma, Son, but I feel she might’ve handled it a little
better’n she did.
"So you see, there's more to it than your dad jes’ letting Frank
suck his dick once. Sadie never knew about the other. If she did
she probably wouldn’t a’ kept Frank on as a hand. Perhaps, if
Rance was honest with Sadie and told her about Frank's and his
history she might have softened her stance, but he chose not to
and Frank did the same. As far as I know, she don’t know to this
day. Rance never told her it was Frank who spent all his money for
almost three years to get him out of prison. It really wasn’t any
of Sadie’s business. It was something private between him and
Frank. When Rance lost everything and left to go back on the
circuit again, he made Frank promise he’d stay with Sadie and look
out for you. Sadie hired Curly, and you know the rest.”
I had my arm around Dwayne and Sidney had his around him, too. I
was proud of my brother. He seemed to take it all in stride and
didn't seem overly affected by Mr. Wainright’s news. “That don’t
make me love my dad a whit less, Mr. Wainright. If anything, it
makes me love him more,” Dwayne said.
“'At ain’t the reason I told ju,’ Dwayne. Of course you shouldn’t
love your dad a whit less, and I was hope’n it would make you just
a little more proud of him. There's been some awful things said
about yore' daddy around this uptight little community by folks
who judged him without know'n all the facts or the truth. Rance
Harding is one of the finest men I ever did know and still is
today. He’s welcome in my home anytime, and I’d trust that man
with anything I have, except, maybe this big cowboy next to me.
Then I’d have to do me some powerful think’n on it,” Mr. Wainright
grinned and winked at Dwayne.
“I think I can understand, sir,” Dwayne replied and laughed with
him.
“Well, Gentlemen,” Dad said, “I think it’s time for us to be
head’n on home. Sid, Sticker, we certainly do appreciate your
hospitality and the talk. We’ll keep in touch and have you men
over for dinner soon.”
“We’d enjoy it, Vince, I’m sure. Thanks for bringing our boy
home,” Sid said.
“No problem, and as for you, Young Man,” Dad pointed a finger at
Sidney, “talk’s cheap. Git chore’ butt over here and show this old
cowboy how much you love him.” Sidney was in my dad’s arms
in a flash and wouldn’t be satisfied with a hug and a peck. He
kissed my dad full on the mouth, and dad didn’t hold back. I saw
wet spots form at the crotch on Mr. Wainright’s and Mr. Wiggins’
Wranglers. They looked at each other and smiled. Once again,
Dwayne and I simply pissed in ours.
“Damnation, Son, you really do love this old man!” Dad exclaimed.
“Don’t never have no doubts, Mr. Longhorn. I meant what I told my
dad, sir,” Sidney said in triple negative cowboy vernacular.
We said our goodbyes all around, and it took us another thirty
minutes to get out of there. It was a good visit, and it
solidified our bond with Sidney Jr. all the more.
* * * * * * *
We drove home in silence. We were each in our own thoughts. Dwayne
leaned up against my chest. I put both arms around his arms and
locked them at his chest holding him tightly against me. I reached
over to steal a kiss from time to time. We were almost home. I was
glad because my ole cock was up and down so many times in the last
several hours it was getting cramps.
“Is there more I don’t know about my daddy, Mr. Longhorn?” Dwayne
asked my dad.
“Just a bit, Son, but I promise it’s all good. It’s something he
would wanna’ tell you his-self,” Dad replied.
* * * * * * *
We got home, I helped dad with his shower and got him into bed. He
told us it was all right if we wanted to stay up for a while, but
he was tired and wanted to go to bed. I kissed him goodnight and
went to join my brother.
Dwayne didn’t feel like watching television, and I wasn’t really
interested in it either. He wanted to take a shower. “Ya’ want
company, Stud? Might need someone to 'warsh' yore' back for ya.’”
“Sure, you know where I could round me up a handsome cowpoke to
gimme' a hand?” he asked.
“I jes’ might,” I replied and grinned real big.
I showered again with him, and he seemed to enjoy the closeness.
We held each other under the hot water for a good while making
love. We finished and returned to my junk room to the huge bed. We
took one look at it, he turned to me, I turned to him, and we both
knew without a word being spoken, we couldn’t sleep in the big
bed. It was just too damn empty without our little brother. We
went back to my main bedroom and stayed the night.
* * * * * * *
The rest of the weekend Dwayne and I spent helping dad with some
projects he wanted to get done around the place. It was a
wonderful two days even though we did work our butts off, but
working with my dad wasn't like ordinary work. He was always full
of stories, and could keep Dwayne and I entertained for hours.
Before we knew it, we accomplished a lot and wasn't even aware of
the time going by. We talked with our little brother on the phone
a couple of times and exchanged a couple of e-mails. His dad still
hadn’t talked with him about his decision whether to let him help
us, but Mr. Wiggins told him to hang tight. That meant Mr. Wiggins
was going to bat for him. He felt good about it.
Sidney dropped us an e-mail around Sunday noon and told us his dad
invited his two uncles for dinner that evening. That was a good
sign his dad might be thinking about talking to his Uncle Frank to
convince him to go along with our plan. Saturday night dad rented
a couple of movies we watched and we got to bed early. It was just
as well. My brother and I had a lot of loving to get in and
Saturday night just seemed like the right time to do it. For all
of my dad’s love and mine, I felt my brother slipping more and
more into uncertainty. I was afraid he might go into severe
depression. Things couldn’t have been more up in the air as far as
his immediate future was concerned, and he was rightfully worried.
Sunday afternoon dad got a call from Sadie. “How are things going
back there, Vince? Is Dwayne all right?” she asked.
“He’s fine, Sadie. Him and his brother are out back putting some
finishing touches on their bird pen. It turned out real nice.”
“I ain’t bothered to call before now, but I got a call night
before last from Brad. He was ranting and raving about you
refusing to bring the boys by to do the chores. I told him I knew
you well enough to know you wouldn’t do that sort of thing less'n
you had a pretty damn good reason. I asked him what he done and he
told me he didn’t do anything. I love Brad, Vince, but that’s just
a little hard for me to believe,” she said.
“Well, I hate to tell ya’ this, Sadie, but he was gonna’ make
Dwayne stay home with him the rest of the weekend to punish him,
because he said Casey and him didn’t do the chores the night
before to suit him. I talked to Casey after we got home the other
night, and he assured me they did everything exactly according to
Brad’s instructions. I told Brad I was sorry, you left Dwayne in
my care, and he would be returning with me. He got in my face,
tried to intimidate me with a lot of verbal posturing and empty
threats, try'n to get me to jes' give in and let him have his way,
but I’m sorry, Sadie, I just couldn’t. He yelled at Dwayne telling
him he had to stay home with him, he was being punished, and not
to get into my truck. I told Dwayne to get into my truck and we
left. I just didn’t feel like exposing the boys or their friend to
his ranting and raving again, so I called him, told him to do his
own chores until you got back and could iron it out between him
and Dwayne.”
“Oh, Dear Lord, Vince. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I
done figured it was something like that. You done the right thing.
I can’t blame you for not want’n to go back over there. Look,
Vince, I need your help. I ain’t gonna’ be able to git back before
Wednesday at the earliest. Would you mind taking care of Dwayne
for me? I don’t want him back over there with Brad until I get
back. I don’t know what bug he’s got up his butt, but I just can’t
deal with it right now.”
“I done told ju,’ Sadie, I’ll be happy to take care of Dwayne as
long as you need me to. He’s happy here, and he’s calmed down a
lot since he’s been here with me’n Casey. He’s got a second home
here, Sadie, anytime he needs it.”
“Thanks, Vince, I knew without asking I could count on you. I
really appreciate it.”
“No problem, Sadie. Do you wanna’ talk with your boy?”
“I don’t have the time right now, Vince. Tell him I love him and
to stay close to you and Casey until I get back.”
“I will, Sadie, and if you need to leave him here longer, that’s
fine, too. Hope everything works out for you.”
“Thanks, Vince, you’re a good friend.”
“Bye, Sadie.”
* * * * * * *
Dad was cooking. He hollered to Dwayne and me in to come in, clean
up, and help with dinner. We were working in the kitchen, Dwayne
was fixing a salad, and I was working on fixing a vegetable for
us. I put it on the stove and got out the ice to make tea.
“Dwayne, yore’ momma called a while ago," Dad said, "She was in a
rush and didn’t have time for me to holler to you to come to the
phone. She said she ain't gonna’ get back before Wednesday and for
you to stay here with Casey and me.” Dwayne had his back to dad
and me, but we could see his shoulders slump and he breathed a
deep sigh. “Her exact words, Son, was for you stick close to me
and Casey.”
“Did she say anything about the Colonel calling her, Mr.
Longhorn?" Dwayne asked.
“Yeah, she said he called and ranted and raved. He told her, after
Thursday I simply refused to bring you boys back over there to do
the chores. He told her he didn’t do nothing. Yore’ momma ain’t a
dumb woman, Son. She knew I wouldn’t a’ done some'um like 'at
unless I had me a pretty damn good reason. I told her how he
acted, and I think Sadie believed me. Whether she did or not she
wasn’t about to risk leaving you with him when she couldn’t be
around to control him. She’s try’n to look out for you, Dwayne.”
“I know, Mr. Longhorn, but it’s like I told you and Mr. Winchester
the other night, I wouldn’t be in this position if’n she hadn’t a’
married him. I asked her not to. I begged her not to, but she
assured me it would be all right. I never did like the son of a
bitch. That don’t mean I didn’t find him a good looking man and
hot as hell, but even back then, when they was date’n, I felt
there was jes’ some’um not quite right about him. I couldn’t put
my finger on it, but I knew he made me uncomfortable the way he
looked at me sometimes. He tried too hard to be my buddy. I guess
that, combined with the fact I don’t think she should a’ ever
kicked my dad out in the first place makes me feel bad about her.
I’m convinced she only married the Colonel to spite my dad so's
she could make him think she replaced him as her husband and my
daddy. All that makes me feel pretty bad towards her. It’s
confusing to me, too, because like Mr. Winchester said, it makes
me feel all the more alone in the world.”
“Look around you, Son. Are you alone now? You got two brothers who
couldn’t love you more and this old, has-been cowboy who’s more’n
jes' pert-damn fond of ya’ and thinks on you as family. You got
the Winchesters, Sid Wainright, and Sticker Wiggins who love and
think the world of you. Hold on to what chu’ got, Boy, it jes’ may
save yore’ life.” Dad walked over to my brother and took him into
his arms. Dwayne hadn’t broke down in a couple of days, but he let
it out that night. My dad held him and comforted him as I went
about getting the rest of dinner ready for us. Dwayne recovered
and was better for letting out his anger and frustration. He had a
lot on his mind. Neither dad nor I held it against him. He had
every right to be upset. He didn’t know if or when his world might
come crashing down around him.
We ate dinner and we were all feeling better afterwards. We
cleaned up the kitchen and Dwayne and I went off into my junk room
to do our homework for school the next day. It took us a couple of
hours, and it was time for bed. I helped dad again and Dwayne got
into the shower by himself. It was the end of a wonderful four
days. It was hectic, but it had moments of joy. After we
made a little love to each other and satisfied ourselves, we lay
there holding each other. “You’re old man’s right, Casey. Before
last week I didn’t have nobody. Now, I have some pretty wonderful
folks who are behind me and believe in me. I have a lot of love
coming my way. With yours and Sidney’s love I can make it
through. I love your old man, too, Case.”
“Lord, between you and Sidney you’re gonna’ give my old man a
complex. I’m jes’ kidding, Brother. If anyone has enough love to
go around for all of us, it’s my dad. I’m pretty damn fond of that
old, has-been cowboy myself," I said. We shared a laugh about my
dad calling himself a 'has-been.' My old man was far from being a
has-been. We drifted off into a deep sleep. I don’t think either
of us woke up once until I heard Senator Klegghorn start to crow.
I raised up to see the first rays of light come through the
window. It was the start of a brand new day. The days were getting
longer and warmer. It was late spring and we would be out of
school in a couple of months for summer vacation. Summer vacation,
Hell. Sometimes Dwayne and I would work harder during the summer
than we did during the school year, except in the fall when we had
football practice every afternoon. Then the last couple of weeks
of summer we had football camp. When you live on a ranch, the
summer is a time to get things done you can’t in the winter when
you don’t have as much time.
* * * * * * *
Sunday evening at the Wainright home, Sidney and Sticker were
alone in Sticker’s bedroom getting ready for bed. “Well, it went
about like you thought it would with Frank,” Sticker commented to
his mate.
“Yeah, but thank God we got him simmered down and managed to talk
some sense into his head. Curly is a marvel with Frank. I wonder
sometimes if Frank realizes the prize he has in that cowboy. I
never fail, ever’ damn chance I get, to tell him how much I think
of Curly and how good for Frank I think he is. You know Frank, he
just sort of stoically agrees. He never says much of anything, but
I've known that old cowboy too many damn years. I know he loves
Curly. I’m still uneasy about all this, Ramrod. I know I have to
give Logan an answer soon.”
“Birds gotta’ fly, fish gotta’ swim,” Sticker started singing
under his breath. Sid laughed at him. Sticker could hammer home a
point with an economy of means.
“All right, Wise Guy, I know you’re right, but damn it, Cowboy..."
Sid didn't finish his sentence.
“Look! What chu' worried about? I’m gonna’ be right there by his
side. Jes' 'cause you be sharing my bed don’t mean I stopped
think’n 'bout doing my job; not jes’ because you pay me, neither.
I love that boy. He didn't pick you for his daddy, but he picked
me for his ramrod. You think I’d let anything happen to him? Not
on this old cowboy’s watch. As Vince would say, I guaran-damn-tee
ya’ nothing’s gonna’ happen. That kid’s got it figured out down to
the nat’s ass, Sid. I believe in him. I have faith in him. I know
what he’s capable of. So do you, Buckaroo. We brought him along
and raised him up for this moment.
"We’re the ones who taught him to accept responsibility for
helping his fellow man. Are we gonna' send him a mixed message
now, and tell him, 'Kings-X, Honcho. All this crap we been feed'n
ya' only applies when there ain’t no personal risk involved?’
Sidney, I’ve personally seen you risk yore' own life for someone
you didn’t care nearly as much about as Logan does them two men,
to say nothing of Vince Longhorn. That kid's plumb crazy about
that man. C'ain't say's I blame him none. I'm pretty damn fond of
the cowboy myself. No doubt our boy loves Casey and Dwayne, but I
think he's got a major adolescent crush on Vince Longhorn.”
“Well, if’n he does, all I can say is, my boy’s got damn good
taste in men. I wouldn’t have the slightest problem with my boy
sharing a little physical love with Vince Longhorn. The way he
treats his own boy and Dwayne is enough for me. Besides, I know
him well enough to know he’d never initiate anything between him
and Logan. I’m more afraid of our boy raping poor Vince,” Sid
said. The men shared a laugh. “I still can’t believe what Logan
told us about Vince, can you?”
“Well, I can honestly say, in all the years we know'd him, I never
noticed nothing,” Sticker told him, “He’s never said a word about
having artificial limbs, and if you weren’t told about it, how the
Hell would ju’ know? He sits as good a horse as any man I ever
seen. He’s made my old dick hard more’n once watch’n him’n his boy
rodeo.”
“Sticker!” Sidney exclaimed with surprise and smiled at his mate,
“Yeah, me, too,” he reluctantly admitted. Sticker pointed a finger
at him and laughed. “Logan told me he lost his legs in Vietnam and
Vince has several medals including a Bronze Star. Casey and Dwayne
told him. He wondered why Casey showered with his dad, but he just
thought maybe it was a tradition with them. Dwayne told him that
weren’t it. Vince needs minimal help in the shower, and since his
wife died several years ago, Casey took over helping him. You
gotta’ admire a man like Vince and even more, his boy Casey,”
Sidney allowed.
“Yeah, well, there you go. You think for one minute Vince is
gonna’ let his boy be involved with something he wasn’t pretty
damn sure would turn out all right? I don’t think so,” Sticker
allowed.
“All right, Cowboy, I know you’re right, and thank you for not
using the ‘overprotective’ card. I know you have it in your back
pocket ready to whip it out at a moment’s notice. I got a sneaky
feeling you’re counting on me coming around to yore’ way a’
think’n without having to play your trump card. I’ll tell him in
the morning he can do it.”
“No, you won’t. You march yore’ cowboy butt into his room this
evening and tell him. Don’t make that kid wait another minute,
Sid. If you done made up your mind, tell him so’s he can get a
good night’s sleep. You were a kid once. You know how important
things like that is to someone his age.”
“Damn it, you’re right, again. Now I know why I pay you the big
bucks, Ramrod. It certainly ain’t because of yore’ pretty face,”
Sidney laughed at his mate.
“Oh, by the way, Bossman, I bet old Sticker knows something you
don’t,” Sticker said with a grin.
“You gonna’ share it with me, Cowboy?” Sid asked.
“Remember you talking to Dwayne the other evening and telling him
about his dad?” Sticker asked.
“Yeah,” Sid replied.
“I didn’t wanna’ say nothing, didn't know if it was my place, but
he ain’t riding the circuit no more,” Sticker said.
“How do you know?” Sid asked.
“Remember that Rodeo Stock Company you told me to buy about three
years ago? Told me you thought it had promise,” Sticker replied.
“Yeah. Last you told me it was doing really good and making you
some money.”
“Can’t complain, Brother. Half a mil every quarter is a little
better pay than punching cows for a living. Well, guess who I
hired on to be my main stock-man and ramrod of the outfit?”
Sticker asked.
“No, you’re shit’n me!” Sid exclaimed and got a huge grin on his
face.
“No, I ain’t. Rance Harding’s been working for me for over two
years now; damn near three. I got rid of that other no good sum'
bitch manager, and immediately after hiring Rance our profits
started going through the roof. I think the other guy was
siphoning off most of the funds, but I can’t prove it. I been
rewarding Rance accordingly. If he makes me money, he makes more
money. He’s making better than he ever did rodeoing, and it shore'
is a Hell of a lot more steady for him. He asks me every now and
then about you and your boy, and how you’re doing. Tells me to
send you his love. Now, I can tell him I don’t have to send it no
more, I can give it to you, up close and personal," Sticker
grinned wickedly at his mate. “Now, go do your fatherly duty and
tell ‘at boy he can help his friends.”
“On my way, Head Wrangler. You be here when I get back?” Sidney
asked with a grin on his face.
“With a fresh batch of cowboy love for you, Buckaroo. Got a good
scald on this one, too. Yore' gonna’ love it,” Sticker winked and
grinned at Sidney.
“Humm, wonder what wine would go with cowboy cream?” Sidney mused
as he left the room.
“For that big, hardy, beefy flavor of the Old West?" Sticker shot
back in his booming bass voice, "An eighty-nine Cakebread Merlot,
of course, what else?”
* * * * * * *
Dad dropped us off at school the next morning. We watched as Mr.
Wiggins pulled up in his new Hummer to drop off Sidney. He smiled
and waved to us. We walked to the curb as he rolled down his
window. Sidney was getting out on the other side and came walking
around.
“How you men doing this morning?” Sticker asked.
“Fine, Mr. Wiggins. Good to see you again, sir.” I said to him.
“Who you kidding, Brother? It’s always good to see this man,”
Dwayne laughed and punched me in the back. Sticker roared with
laughter.
“You’re brother’s got good news for ya.’ See you men later. Ya’ll
have a good day now, ya’ hear? See ya’ll this afternoon,” he said,
smiled, tipped his hat, and drove off.
We turned our attention to our little brother. We each put an arm
around him and walked him to the stairs where we sat every morning
waiting for the bell to ring. We did it because we genuinely loved
Sidney, but it was also a big social thing for him to be seen in
close company with the two biggest men on campus. Dwayne and I
began to notice there was a big change in the other student’s
attitudes toward our little brother. More and more were coming
around to talk with us and him.
“What’s the good word, little Brother?” Dwayne asked Sidney.
“My dad gave me the go ahead last night before he went to bed.
There’s one stipulation though, Mr. Wiggins has to be a part of
our commando crew.”
“You know we ain’t gonna’ have no problem with that, Little
Brother,” I laughed.
“Didn’t figure you would,” he shot back, “I got everything
together and threw it into a bag. I left it in the back of Mr.
Wiggins’ truck so it’s immediately available when I need it.
What’s going on with Dwayne’s mother?” Sidney asked.
“She called dad late yesterday and asked him to take care of
Dwayne until she gets back. She said the Colonel called her and
told her, dad just refused to bring us over to do Dwayne’s chores
for no reason at all. Dad told her the truth, and she said she
figured it was something like that. She said she won’t be able to
get back until Wednesday at the earliest. That gives us today and
tomorrow to get set up. I got the stuff you asked me about in a
bag I left with dad to bring if I called him. He said since the
Colonel won’t be there until later on in the evening we could go
over to do the chores, help you get set up, and be out of there.
Dad said he’d have Frank tell him we came by to do the chores.”
“That’s a good cover,” Sidney said, “How about letting Mr. Wiggins
drive us over to your place, Case? We put everything in your dad’s
Bronco and go from there. Mr. Wiggins can go with us. We’ll leave
his truck at your place so’s not to attract any undue attention.
Then, if by some unforeseen chance the Colonel should come home
early, we’re just there to do the chores and be out of there. He
won’t be any the wiser about our real purpose,” Sidney said. The
bell rang for first period. “Hope to see you guys at lunch?”
Sidney said.
“Count on it, Little Brother,” Dwayne said to him. I nodded my
agreement, and we were off to class.
* * * * * * *
The bell for lunch rang, and I got there before Dwayne and Sidney.
I found a place over in the corner by the large windows that
looked out onto the outside picnic table dinning area. It was a
gray, cool, overcast day, and I noticed Gary Peacock was sitting
at a table outside by himself eating a sandwich from a brown paper
bag. He had a cola he bought from the machine. I wondered if he
fell out of favor with his buddies. I kinda felt bad for him. I
saw Sidney and Dwayne enter the cafeteria at the same time and
waved to them. They went through the line and brought their trays
over to the table where I was sitting. They looked out and saw
Gary sitting alone. They looked at me, and I shrugged like I
didn’t know anymore than they did.
“Humm,” Sidney mused, “makes ya’ wonder don’t it?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Dwayne agreed.
“Well, I guess this is one of those times you told me to feel bad,
then let it go,” I said.
“Exactly,” Sidney confirmed, “Just consider, without his goon
squad, he’s a pretty pathetic figure. Someone like him needs an
audience for his cruelty. Take away his audience he’s little more
than the rest of us, a little man, unsure of himself and his
future.”
“Damn, Sidney,” Dwayne said, "sometimes you say things that make a
Hell of a lot of sense.”
“That’s not because I’m trying to be cruel to Gary, it’s because
I’ve been where he is. I’ve never required an audience, and I
certainly pray I don’t have a deliberate cruel streak, but all of
us need the love and support from people around us who care.”
“‘At’s fer damn sure, little buddy,” Dwayne agreed, “I don’t know
where I’d be if’n it weren’t for a few good men, including you
two, what love and care about me.”
“As long as you and Case have good hearts, you’ll never have to
worry about that sort of thing. The old saying, ‘You can attract
more flies with honey than you can vinegar,’ was never more true
than in Gary Peacock’s case. He’s not a bad looking kid. If he
just tired to be a bit more pleasant he’d have all the friends he
could want. Sometimes I get the feeling he must think it’s just
not cool to be nice to people.”
“You say you been where he is? I can’t imagine you being alone,
Sidney,” I said, “If it’s true, how have you managed to cope all
this time? We know’d ju’ since the first grade and while we’ve
always been friendly with each other, we just always figured you
were pretty much self-sufficient loner,” I said.
“I guess I do put on a pretty good front, Case, but it wasn’t the
truth. I’ve always felt like a freak, like an outsider looking in.
I told your dad, sometimes the only thing that ever made my day
worth a damn was being able to see you guys and say ‘hello.’ I
always prayed for more, but never in my wildest dreams entertained
the idea of being your buddy. You don’t know how much the last few
weeks has meant to me,” he said quietly.
“Well, Sidney, look at me and our brother, here. We been friends
since the first grade, played sports together, rodeoed together,
but it ain’t been until all this shit with his step-dad we bonded
as brothers. That was little more than – what, brother – a couple
of days before we brought you on board as our little brother? So
you’re getting in on the ground floor just like us. We weren’t
kidding about you belonging to us, and don’t have no fear, when
this is all over with the Colonel, we ain’t gonna’ let chu’ get
away. You be stuck with us, Bubba.”
A big grin spread across Sidney’s face. “I could imagine a lot
worse fates than belonging in a brotherly bond to you men, Case.
Now, let’s change the subject before I get all blubbery and make a
damn fool of myself,” Sidney said.
“Why break with tradition at this point?” Dwayne shot at Sidney as
a tear rolled down his face. “Sure, thanks a lot, Guys, leave the
biggest one to do the dirty work.” Dwayne complained. Sidney and I
broke up with laughter at poor Dwayne. His tender heart only
endeared him to us all the more. We sat eating in silence for a
few minutes looking out at the lonely figure of Gary Peacock
staring off into the distance as he silently consumed his
sandwich.
“Do you think I should reach out to him?” I asked my brothers.
“Do you think he’d offer you comfort if he destroyed you?” Sidney
asked and Dwayne agreed.
“Maybe not, Little Brother, but that ain't no means test for the
solvency of my own compassion,” I replied.
End Chapter 12 ~ Texas Longhorns
Copyright ~ © ~ 2005 ~ 2016 ~ Waddie Greywolf ~ All Rights
Reserved ~
Mail to: Waddie Greywolf <waddiebear@yahoo.com>
WC = 7,861
01/30/2005
08/23/2016