We finally had talked to everyone and it was time to leave. Dante was beaming as we stopped at the grocery store. We grabbed more things for the cookout, potatoes, corn, mushrooms, and bread to toast. Dante remembered asparagus just before we left.
Once home, we split up to get things done. I started the smoker and prepared the meat, I washed the potatoes for tomorrow.
Dante went down to care for the horses. They had to get used to him, and Dante needed to learn to care for a herd, not just one. He was part of my life now. He didn't even flinch at the idea.
"The horses are fine," Dante told me as he washed his hands.
"And Mouse?" I asked picking up a platter of meat to take outside.
"She's fine," Dante said. "It took me a few minutes to get her to trust me."
"Then she followed me around like a puppy."
We went out to put the meat on the smoker to smoke overnight. Dante had grabbed some towels for us.
Then he slowly started to strip off his clothes, making sure I noticed. I smiled as I admired his lithe young body. He was dropping his clothes on the patio.
"How about you put your clothes on the table," I told him. "Unless you want to find one of the three ess's in them later."
"One of the three ess's?" Dante asked with a puzzled look.
"Yeah. Scorpions, snakes, or spiders," I said with a crooked grin. Dante's eyes got bigger with each one named.
Then a road runner ran by with a little rattler in its beak. Dante nearly dove on his clothes as he snatched them up. Causing me to laugh.
"Put them here on the table," I said still chuckling.
"Not funny," Dante scolded. "Does that happen a lot?"
"Every so often," I told him as I took off my clothes.
If you see a big rattler in the middle of the patio. Leave her alone. That's Frankie."
"You mean you call him Frankie," Dante corrected me.
"No, her," I told him. "I saw her give birth one time. And I had to catch her and 12 babies up."
As I turned back around. Dante was smiling at me from the hot tub.
"Cumming in?" Dante asked with a grin.
"As soon as I'm out of these," I said sliding my underwear off.
"How about a kiss?" Dante asked as I got in.
"Well come here," I said. He was quickly in my arms.
So I gave him a deep, long kiss. And then as he turned. I smacked his bare, wet ass drawing a yelp.
"Hey! You have got to stop that," Dante said with a crooked smile.
"You love it," I told him with a smile. "But when you tease me, you deserve it more." Then I lifted his chin and I kissed him.
We settled down to soak and relax. I had Dante in my arms again and I was amazed at how I felt about this gorgeous young man. Dante caught me.
"You've got that, I'm amazed look again," Dante said bringing me out of it.
"Only because I find you so amazing," I told him as I stood up. I grabbed a towel as several coyotes howled. I checked the meat.
"Let's go in," I told him.
"Afraid of coyotes?" Dante asked as he stood up. I walked back and ran my hands down his lithe, wet body.
"I was thinking of something else," I said as I started kissing my way around Dante's neck. He moaned with pleasure.
"I think you're right," Dante said as he grabbed his clothes. And we started inside.
"Can I asks you something?" Dante asked me as I picked up my pistol.
"Anything," I told him sensing something serious.
"Do you think you and the others can take your pistols off for the cookout?" Dante asked as we walked in. "You shouldn't need them. Right?"
"Okay," I told. "There's a shotgun right here if it's needed."
"Sound good?" I asked as I showed him the shotgun."
"Almost as good as, you," Dante said, putting his arms around my neck.
We started kissing as we walked to the bed. We kind of missed judged and tripped on the side of the bed. Falling over laughing. After a little while we fell asleep.
About an hour later I heard a ding. It was a timer for the smoker.
"What was that?" Dante asked being awakened by my getting up.
"A timer to remind me to check the meat," I told him. "I thought I might get, distracted."
I leaned over and gave him a kiss. But as I turned Dante saw his chance. Smack! Dante spanked my bare ass. I just turned and smiled at him. Dante turned over. Giving me a free shot at his.
"Okay."
"No thanks," I told him. He stared at me.
"But aren’t you going to take a free shot?" he asked me.
"No," I said and stepped onto the patio.
"Hang on!" Dante said falling in behind me. "I’m coming too."
"Funny. I thought you just did," I said jokingly.
"Haha. Hilarious," Dante said with a fake laugh.
As Dante stepped out onto the patio. He froze next to me. Because curled up in the center of the patio was Frankie. All 6 feet of her. She never raised her head or rattled.
"Dante meet Frankie. Frankie, meet Dante," I said starting around her carefully.
"Are you sure that's the same snake?" Dante asked me as I flipped three racks of ribs.
"Do you see the scar on top of her head?" I asked.
"Yes."
"That's where a road runner tried to take her here on the patio," I said resetting the timer. "I buried the poor thing up on the hill."
"When I got back. Frankie was gone."
"So what about tomorrow?" Dante asked concerned.
"Well, we can catch her," I told him. "Then we'll take her out on the ranch and turn her loose."
"You handle Snakes?"
"When I have to," I said as we went in. "For this we wear clothes."
After we got dressed, pants and boots. We wrangled Frankie into a bag. Then a plastic tote with holes. Then we hopped into my side by side and took Frankie to a pack rat den down from the house.
Then we took a quick shower to get the dust off. Then we settled down on the couch for some television.
"Thank you," I said suddenly and I don't exactly know why. Dante was surprised and a little taken aback.
"For what?" He asked. Having turned to look at me. "I haven't done anything." But then.
"Yes, you have," I told him. "You came into my life and brought love with you."
Then I kissed him. He got up on all fours and we kissed long and hard. Then we turned in.
I rose before the alarm. Dante still in my arms. So I woke him with a kiss like he had done to me just a few days before.
After a quick breakfast, we got on the chores. We checked several of the horses so the boys and some of us could go riding. We brought saddles to the door of the barn. I was surprised when my stallion wanted to be curried.
Then we laid out fresh clothes and took a quick shower together. I'll admit I liked soaping Dante up, and vice versa.
We were dressed and outside just before 11 am. I was checking the meat when I had a thought.
"Hey Dante," I said as I checked the ribs.
"Yes, my love?" He asked with a smile.
"I was thinking we should cool the kissing and… well, you know. Till after everyone gets use to the idea or is gone."
"I can see that with the boys around," Dante said walking over to me. "But how about a kiss that will hold me till tonight."
"I'll do my best," I said with a big smile.
So I pulled Dante in close. I gave him a long and deep kiss. So deep we didn't hear the Driscolls come around the corner.
Daniel was first. Followed closely by Charlie.
"Wow!" Daniel said as Jean came around the corner. Then she dropped a tray of cookies she was carrying. Startling me and Dante so bad we both jumped.
"Hi Jean," I said with my arms still around Dante's waist. Bob and the Greens came running around the corner.
"What happened? Bob asked as he cleared the corner. Seeing cookies everywhere.
"Billy was kissing... Dante," Jean told him a little confused. "Why were you kissing Dante?"
"Jean it's fine," Diane said before I could answer. "Sam and I know all about it."
"So you two are okay with this?" Jean asked Diane and Sam.
"Basically, " Sam told her with a smile. "Now where can I put these baked beans to keep 'em warm."
"Sorry. Bring 'em over here Sam," I said showing him a spot on the grill. "Jean would you like a beer?"
"Oh God yes!" She said sitting down on the bench.
"Mom," the boys' chorused.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that the way it sounded," Jean said. "And there goes dessert."
"That's okay, Jean," I told her as I twisted off a cap. Then I handed it to her.
George and Sherry stepped out of my bedroom onto the patio.
"Sorry Billy," Sherry said holding her baby bump. "Baby pitstop."
"Well we'll let me catch you up on everything!," I said as George eased her down into a chair.
"No you don't," George said. "We heard everything from the crash on."
"But we still don't have any dessert," Jean said. "I made these especially for Sherry."
"No worries. Mary Weather's is coming," I said. "Hopefully with dessert and a plus one."
Jean didn't catch it. But Bob did raising an eyebrow.
"So she called you?" Bob asked opening a beer of his own.
"Not exactly," Dante said blushing. Diane and Sam noticed. "She stopped by."
"Sort of surprised us," I explained.
"And?" Sam asked with a smile. Causing Diane to punch him in the shoulder.
"Dad!"
"Well Dante and I were enjoying the hot tub," I said. Dante got redder at that.
"But Dante. You left your trunks on the bed at home," Diane said realizing what that meant.
Sam and Sherry started most of us laughing. The boys and Dante didn't laugh.
"So you were naked!" Daniel said obviously amazed at the thought.
"Yes Daniel," Jean told him as she laughing just as hard as everyone else.
"Well I can't confirm that for sure," Mary said with Paula next to her. "But Daniel, odds are they were."
"This is Paula O'Hara," Mary said pausing for a second. "My girlfriend."
Paula was a pretty redhead. With the required freckles across the nose. Poor Jean could have been knocked over with a feather by then. Since she had been trying to get Mary and me together for a few years. It was a shock to say the least.
Bob sat down next to Jean. Where he gave her a hug and a kiss.
"Well Hell!" Jean said suddenly. Which took us all by surprise.
"Mom! Language," said the boys.
"Boys, today it's okay," Bob told the them then kissed Jean again.
"Yeah, but how's it make Billy and Dante feel?" Daniel asked. Jean looked at her son, then to me and Dante.
I looked at Dante. He smiled and nodded. Then I motioned for him to handle it.
"It's fine Mrs. Driscoll," Dante said. "We gave you a lot to take in."
"I'm sorry," Jean said getting up to give Dante, and then me a hug. "I didn't mean to sound like I disapproved." She turned and look at Daniel.
"Jean you sounded overwhelmed," I told her as she hugged me. For a moment everyone was quiet.
Then Jean hugged Mary and Paula. Then she went around to everyone else.
"Hey Dante," Daniel said breaking the silence. "Is that your pinto in the corral?"
"Yes, she is," Dante replied a little puzzled. I was grabbing Sherry some apple juice.
"Ah, can you show her to me?" Daniel asked. "Before we do anything else."
"Yeah, of course," Dante said getting back up. "Charlie, do you want to come?"
"Not right now," Charlie said looking at his dad. "Besides dad and George have a grudge match going in horseshoes."
"I don't want to miss anything." Bob caught on to his son's hint.
"Yeah!" Bob said. "I believe this will be the tiebreaker."
"Well if Sherry's ..." George started.
"I’m fine George," Sherry said. "There's a lot of people here. Enjoy yourself. "
"Sam if you can fill in till I get back?" I asked. "I have a horse to check myself."
"I think I can handle it," Sam said.
Dante and Daniel had a head start on me. But I caught them easily.
"She's all mustang," Dante was telling Daniel as I caught up. "The mustang adoption was where I met Billy for the first time."
I grabbed a quick look over my shoulder. Then I kissed Dante's cheek as I forgot about Daniel.
"Woohoo!" Daniel crowed softly with a smile. I gave him a stern look.
"Okay, Daniel. What's on your mind?" I asked him.
"What are you talking about Billy?" Daniel asked pretending to be puzzled.
"Daniel, you and Charlie always do things together," I said. "So your mom is probably working on Charlie as we speak."
Looking back we could see Jean step around the corner of the house. As we stepped into the corral. I called Mouse to make it look good. And Dante called Spot.
While I pretended to check Mouse's ankle. Dante showed Spot off to Daniel. But Daniel kept looking up at his mom.
"All right," Daniel said finally. "Can you guys help me... to tell my parents that ... I'm gay?"
"Sure," Dante told him. "We'd be honored."
"Of course we would," I added. And I couldn't have been prouder of Dante.
"I'll tell you the truth though," Dante said coming clean. "I didn't have to tell my dad. He already had it figured out."
"Oh!" Daniel said realizing what that could mean. Then he looked up to the house to see his mother watching us.
"Our dads are cops," Dante said as he scratched the mare's neck. All the time appearing to show her off to Daniel.
Daniel walked over and patted the pinto's neck. Drawing the attention of my stallion. He walked over and want a scratch himself.
I grabbed a brush and started brushing him. He stood still.
"I call her Spot," Dante said with a smile. Daniel stopped and look at Dante.
"Yes, I call her Spot," Dante said a little defensively. "Look at her and tell me that isn't a good name." She had a white spot around her left eye.
"I get it. Spot for the spot," Daniel said laughing. More to let off nervous tension than it was funny.
"Sorry, Dante. It’s so obvious."
I glanced up at the house. And Jean was watching and pacing back and forth. Daniel noticed as well and paled some.
"Oh!" Daniel said and froze in place. "She's still there."
"We've got your back Daniel," Dante said, as he put his hands on Daniel's shoulders.
"You've got this," I told him. "Remember your parents and brother love you."
"Okay," he said then took a deep breath. Then we all started for the house.
"Now are you going to tell your parents about your boyfriend?" Dante asked catching even me off-guard. Daniel almost stopped.
"How did you...What boyfriend are you talking about?" Daniel asked surprised.
"First. You can do this," I told him. "Second. You might as well do it all at once."
"So what's his name?" Dante asked with a smile.
"Angel Montoya," Daniel said finally adding a smile. "He's in my class."
"Do your mom and dad know him?" Dante asked as we drew nearer to Jean.
"Not well, but he's been over to study once," Daniel told us.
"Does anyone, other than Charlie, know about you two? I asked.
"No," Daniel said stopping. "Can we do this later? In private?"
"Sure," I told him as Jean came closer. "You can use the living room when you're ready."
"What can he use the living room for when he's ready?" Jean asked having heard what I said.
"What's wrong Daniel?"
"Nothing," Daniel replied. "I just want to talk later."
"Let's go up to the patio," I said deflecting Jean's inquiry.
As we came around the corner. Diane was talking with Sherry. Giving her some suggestions. We were ignoring Jean to a degree.
"Daniel Everett Driscoll!" Jean said almost yelling. "I asked you a question. And I don't think you're telling me everything."
Daniel stiffened. I squeezed his shoulder. While Dante did it with the other.
"Mom, Dad would you sit down please?" Daniel asked. "I have something to tell you both."
Everyone got quiet. While we waited for Bob to sit down next to Jean. "Okay, Daniel. We're ready," Bob said putting an arm around Jean.
"Mom, Dad. What I need to tell you is..." Daniel started then hesitated. Charlie gave Daniel two thumbs up from behind his parents.
"Go ahead son," Bob said in a reassuring tone.
"I'm...Gay!" He finally told them. Mary and Paula clapped.
"Don't forget about Angel," Charlie blurted out. Then clasped his hands over his mouth.
" Yeah! And Angel Montoya is my boyfriend," Daniel added with a smile.
Everyone else was watching Jean. Charlie, Dante, me, George and Bob were patting Daniel on the back. You could see a weight had been lifted. But not all the weight.
"Oh honey that's fine," Jean told him as she hugged him. "But no more closed doors when Angel is over."
"Dad!"
"Sorry bud, but she's right."
"And you know, had you told us sooner. He might have been able to come with us," Jean said looking at me.
"Why of course. He'd be welcome anytime," I said. But Daniel was looking at his parents.
"Yeah, sure," Bob told his son.
"So Angel can come with us next week?" Daniel asked looking hopeful. But for a minute we all drew a blank.
"The Law Enforcement picnic," Charlie blurted out suddenly.
"As long as his parents are okay with it," Bob told him, "Sure he's welcome."
"Daniel, is Angel out to his parents?" Jean asked. "So we don't accidentally out him."
"Just to his mom," Daniel told them. "He lost his father last year."
"But yeah, he's out to his family," Daniel said. "They've known since he was nine. So I think his dad knew."
"We need to get to know all their friends' parents better," Bob told Jean with a kiss on the cheek.
"Yes we do," she agreed. Then kissed him back.
"So does that mean I can ask Alice to the picnic too?" Charlie asked.
"Again, as long as her parents are okay with it," Bob told him. Jean was silent. But her eyes spoke volumes. Her babies were growing up.
"We told Daniel it was okay," Bob told her. "They're growing up."
"I know," Jean told him. "I was just hoping to keep my little boys little a while longer."
Charlie and Daniel looked at each other. Then they stepped forward to kiss their mom's cheek. Jean returned their kisses with hugs.
"Well if you want. I'll call their parents tomorrow," she said.
"Can we call later today," Daniel asked. "Just to keep them from making plans for next weekend."
"Of course, honey," Jean told him. "Billy do you have something a little stronger than beer?"
I looked at her for a moment in amazement. In the six years I'd known her. It was wine or beer.
"Sounds like a good idea," I told her. "Dante could you help me please."
"Can do."
Dante and I went inside. While Dante got glasses and a tray. I dug out a well aged bottle of bourbon.
I had Dante give everyone a glass. Even the boys. Bob and Jean said it was okay. Sherry got a fresh apple cider.
I poured almost everyone two fingers. The boys were excited.
"Remember boys. This is just a one time thing," Bob told them.
"Now this is sipping whiskey," I told them all. "So take your time and sip it." As I raised my glass.
"To love and new beginnings." Then we all tapped our glasses. And drank. Jean took a gulp and started coughing. Nothing a glass of water couldn't fix.
So Dante started talking to Daniel about Angel. While Sherry talked to Charlie about Alice. Jean and Diane talked about their sons coming out.
Before long we were playing horseshoes. It was Sam and me against Bob and George. Charlie and Daniel challenged the winners. The boys won hands down.
"And I thought we were on our game!" George said as we sat down to eat.
"Maybe it was luck," Daniel said with a smile.
"Yeah," Charlie said. "We can see next weekend."
"Sounds like a challenge," Sam said.
"Or a trap," Dante said. We looked at Dante. Then at the boys who had put their Angel wings on.
The afternoon slipped away. There was plenty of food. Ribs and chicken breast. Baked potatoes and Diane roasted asparagus.
I even made cow camp biscuits. We talked and ate. It was fun. Then Jean got Daniel to talk about how he met Angel. Daniel let it slip that he and Angel had kissed.
"Oh you have!" Jean said. Pretending to be shocked and surprised.
"Idiot!" Charlie said punching Daniel in the arm.
"It's okay, Daniel." Bob told his youngest. "But there are do’s and don'ts though."
Dante was moved to tell more of how he fell in love with me. How he had found it hard but he had waited. I just had to kiss him. Dante was surprised by it.
"I thought we weren't doing this today?" Dante asked looking into my eyes.
"I just had to change my mind after hearing what you just said," I told him with another kiss.
"I haven't seen you like this in a long time," Sherry said with a big smile. "You know she would approve, right?"
"Well you can tell they love each other," Sam said. "But it's getting late."
I looked at my watch and the light told me it was late. Our afternoon had certainly run out on us.
"Boys, I'm sorry," I told Charlie and Daniel. "But we'll have the whole summer."
"It's okay, " Charlie said.
"Yeah," Daniel agreed. "But we had a good time. And thank you, and Dante."
"Any time," Dante said hugging Daniel around the shoulders.
"Bob, how about you bring the boys back tomorrow," I said. "And maybe Alice and Angel can come?"
The boys looked at Bob with pleading eyes. Jean put her hand on Bob's arm and smiled.
"Well first we help clean up," Bob said. "And you guys call their parents so your mom and I can ask. Now move." The boys hopped to it.
Dante and the boys carried a load of dishes into the kitchen. While Jean and Diane helped Sherry into the house again. Bob, Sam, George and I were dividing up what was left. When Diane stepped out.
"Billy there's no spare toilet paper," she asked.
"Dante knows where it's at," I told her. "He'll get you some more."
She stepped into the kitchen. Then I heard the gravel crunch. And the cocking of a pistol. Turning there was Grossman. But he was tetering, obviously drunk.
"You ruined everything!" Grossman sputtered out. "My brother ain't no fag!"
"The girls love him."
"The term is gay," I said as casually as I could.
None of us were armed. We all had left our pistols in the house. But I kept him focused on me. I slowly moved to the up hill side away from the everyone.
"Now what do you want?" I asked after I got him off line with the others.
"I think I'm going to kill you!" Grossman spat out. "You took my brother and my job."
It was then we were all taken by surprise. The bedroom door opened. Followed by the sound of a shotgun being racked.
"You're not! You're not doing a damn thing!" Dante roared. Anger etched across his face. "Drop the pistol or I'll kill you right now!"
Then we heard the click of the safety as it came off. Grossman didn't hesitate. He wasn't that drunk. He dropped the pistol as if it were red hot.
Bob and George tackled Grossman. Sam and I turned to Dante.
"Dante you need to put the safety back on," I said as I edged toward him.
As I took hold of the front of the shotgun. I heard the safety click again. Then I eased the shotgun out of Dante's hands. Then Dante grabbed me sobbing.
Sam took the shotgun and patted his son's back. It was then I saw Charlie and Daniel were behind Dante. Diane stepped up to hug her son.
"Billy, we’ll come back to ride some other time," Charlie said patting Dante on the back . Dante's head came up off my shoulder.
"No! Not because of him," Dante told him. Then Dante looked at me, "If that's okay with you?"
"It's fine with me," I said hugging him. "How about you two make your phone calls to Alice and Angel. Let's see if they can come."
"Boys why don't you get your phones," Bob said. "We're going to be here a while."
"Why are we going to be here a while?" asked Daniel.
"Well the Sheriff's office is going to have to take our statements," Sam said walking back over. "Deputies are on their way."
Then Sam hugged his son. Diane hugged him again.
"Well you need to come home tonight," she said to Dante.
"NO!" Dante said emphatically. Then he jumping back into my arms. "I belong here!"
"You don't have to go anywhere," I told him. Then I kissed his cheek. Looking into my eyes. As a tear roll down the cheek I had kissed. Diane started forward after she saw it.
"Diane," Sam said, stopping her.
"Son you did the right thing," he told his son.
"Dante I'm proud of you," Diane told her son.
All in all, it took an hour to get all the statements. And we were told the PBT on Grossman was a point oh eight.
"See you all tomorrow," Dante said as we waved at the last of them leaving.
"From now on you wear your pistol," Dante told me suddenly. I looked at him for a moment.
"Dante," I said. "I usually leave my pistols in the house for cookouts," Dante's gaze burned a hole in my heart.
"NEXT TIME you wear your pistols," Dante said again.
"What ever you say," I answered and finished it with a kiss.
We went inside to curl up on the couch for some television. Dante hardly let go of me the rest of the night.
Even while we slept that night. Dante held on to me so tight I had to wake him up to go just to the bathroom.