Follows Three's a Crowd
It was a restless and somewhat uncomfortable ride back to town for Sheriff JD Dunne. Restless as his mind still struggled to come to grips with having just watched two of his friends - two of his male friends - fuck each other and uncomfortable as he tried to comes to terms with the fact that he had enjoyed watching it. He had never seen, never imagined…Chris Larabee had been a husband and father. Buck had told him endless stories about their time together, and how much Chris had loved his wife and child and how their murder and changed him.
Suddenly what he had seen made perfect sense. That was it, he reasoned. The shock of his family’s murder, that’s it, that’s what ‘changed’ Chris, yeah.
Quite pleased with his thinking, JD’s gloating instantly faded as he remembered Vin, and the feelings the tracker had stirred in him. That wasn’t so easy to figure for the young man.
Once back within the comfortable limits of the town’s streets, JD’s sighed as he physically relaxed. It was as if the normalcy of the town and its people settled his troubled thoughts and put what he had seen into the perspective of a dream. “That’s what I need,” he muttered away to himself as he handed the reins of his horse to Tiny, the stable hand. “Get back to doing my job.”
Tiny opened his mouth to ask the sheriff if there was something wrong, but instead shook his head and began to go about his own business. He had enough to do without worrying about some crazy-in-the-head sheriff.
Still muttering to himself, JD was just about to go to his office when he glanced up to see two familiar, but now fully dressed figures riding into town. Unable to face the two men, JD panicked and ducked into the first door he could find.
“Did you see that?” Chris asked as he took note of JD's hasty exit from the street.
“Yeah,” Vin said with a shake of his head.
“I think he’s going to be a problem, Vin.”
Vin disagreed with his lover. “He’s just embarrassed is all. Don’t know where to look,” Vin chuckled.
“It’s looking that got him this problem in the first place,” Chris snarled. “Didn’t ask the kid to come snooping where he don’t belong, and I sure as Hell don’t remember inviting him to stick around and watch.”
“Yer just upset ‘cause somebody other than me got to see the ‘Larabee weapon’ in action,” Vin chuckled as he dismounted at the doors of the livery.
“Damn it, Tanner,” Chris growled, “This isn’t funny," he reprimanded loudly. Lowering his voice, he dismounted and stepped closer to the tracker so as not to be overheard. “This could be a real problem for us. If JD can’t hold his tongue the whole town could know by the end of the week.”
“When did ya start worryin’ what anyone thought?” Vin asked as he stroked Peso’s nose.
“Since I met you, and since I’ve put some effort in to saving that tasty young neck of yours from a lynching and since you know as well as I do, that if we get found out, it won’t be just your neck they’ll be stretching.”
For the first time, Vin showed real concern. The thought that what they had would be viewed as something to be put to death for was totally unthinkable to young tracker, but the thought that his lover could pay the ultimate price for loving him turned Vin cold with fear. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Just talk?” Chris asked.
Looking around to make sure they weren’t being seen, Vin grabbed handful of black shirt and pulled Chris closer without actually letting their bodies touch. “After today, ya think I got anything left for JD?”
Desperately fighting the urge to lean forward and capture those inviting lips with his, Chris scowled, “You’re going to be the death of me, Tanner.”
+ + + + + +
JD’s accidental entry into Mrs. Potter’s store suddenly left him face to face with the exuberant young Casey Wells.
“Hi ya, JD,” the pig-tailed tomboy greeted the young sheriff.
Rubbing the back of his neck, JD nervously glanced back though the window, as he barely managed to grunt back in acknowledgement.
Curious as to what had the handsome young man all flustered, Casey stepped to the window and peered out. “What ya lookin’ at?” she asked as she noticed the two peacekeepers walking down the street toward the saloon. “Hey, there’s Vin and Chris.” Forgetting that she was with company, Casey sighed, “He sure is pretty.”
“Pretty…what?” JD stuttered as turned to look at Casey.
Noting JD’s sudden interest and mistaking the emotion for jealousy, Casey decided to continue. “Vin, I mean. With that long hair and those pretty blue eyes of his.”
What was it with Tanner; did he have this affect on everyone?
“Men ain’t pretty, Casey,” JD snapped as his own thoughts regarding Vin’s attractiveness came back to bite him with Casey words. “Anyway, ain’t you supposed to be working or something?” he asked before storming from the store.
Casey smiled as she watched JD storm down the boardwalk toward the jail. “He loves me,” she giggled as she picked up the broom and began to sweep.
+ + + + + + +
Buck was about to head to the saloon for a beer when he saw JD slinking - that was the only word for it - off into his office. “What’s the boy gone and done now?” Debating between the beer and finding out what was bothering his young protégé, Wilmington sighed, as he crossed the street to the jail.
+ + + + + + +
Pacing the floor of the jail, JD was torn between feelings for his fellow peacekeepers, feelings for Casey, and the feelings he felt while watching those two men fuck each other.
“Damn it!”
“Now kid, that ain’t no way for the town’s sheriff to be acting.”
Spinning around, JD found Buck with his arms crossed, leaning on the door frame.
“What’s got yer pants on fire this time?”
“Ain’t nothing,” JD attempted to casually toss back. “What do you want, Buck? Ain’t you got some woman waiting for ya?”
“Whooeee,” Buck hooted as he took his hat off and got ready for a long talk with the young man. “Must be some burr under your saddle. Come on, tell Uncle Buck all about it.”
JD knew there was no way in Hell he was going to tell Buck about the day’s events. Not because he didn’t want to cause Chris and Vin in trouble, but because he might let slip his ‘part’ in it. Though he couldn’t help wondering just how much Buck knew about Chris’ ‘relationships’ and being the ladies man that he was, how far Buck would go for a friend.
Needing to at least have some of his questions answered, JD took a deep breath. “Buck, have you ever heard about…well, you know…”
“No, I don’t, not until ya tell me,” a confused Buck said as he took a seat.
“I overheard some guys talking the other day,” JD lied, “They were talking about…”
“Spit it out son, ya look like yer goin’ to burst.”
“You know,” JD stammered. “Those funny cowboys, ya hear about.”
Of all the things that Buck had expected for JD to ask about, ‘funny cowboys’ wasn’t one of them. “Where the Hell did ya hear that?” Buck frowned as he jumped up from his seat.
“Just heard about them, and was wondering,” JD continued to ramble.
Rubbing his chin with his calloused hand, it was Buck’s turn to being pacing the floorboards as he began to ponder how to answer the younger man’s question. A sudden uneasy thought struck the moustached ladies' man and he turned and shot JD with a piercing glare. “Are you…?”
JD animatedly shook his head, “No, no, not me, just curious.”
Buck swiped at his dry mouth with the palm of his hand, before inhaling a deep breath, wishing he had gone for that beer after all. Reclaiming his seat, he decided that honesty was the better part of valour. “What do ya want to know, Kid? How, why?”
“I know how,” JD responded softly. “Just don’t know why they do it? Or how they knew they wanted to do with men, and not ladies?”
“Hell, JD, there ain’t no real rhyme and reason why we pick to bed, or love, who we do,” Buck replied honestly. “Can’t say I’ve ever wanted anything but full, soft lovelies under these hands, but that’s not say that I ain’t come across an attractive man now and then.”
JD was shocked to hear Buck admit to those sort of feelings, and his guilt lessened somewhat. “Did you do anything about it?”
Buck smiled as he leaned back in his chair. “Nope, never did. As I said, I prefer a certain shape. But I’ve learned that you can’t judge love JD, any way it comes to you.” Catching the sheriff’s eye, Buck pushed a little further. “Something ya want to tell me Kid?”
JD shrugged Buck’s concerns off. “No, I was just curious as I said.”
Buck stared at JD for a moment, before slapping his knees and getting to his feet. “Okay, kid, you know where to find me if ya need me.” Stepping to the door, he paused and looked back at the still pensive sheriff. “JD, there’s nothing wrong with being curious, but you being sheriff know the risks more than anyone. Just be careful, ya hear?”
+ + + + + + +
Vin had kept watch on the jail, waiting for JD to poke his head out and brave the streets. Thank God Vin had been lucky to have been born with more than the average amount of patience.
At first Vin had been amused, unconcerned that JD had discovered his relationship with Chris, but he had eventually agreed that they had to settle things with the younger man, one way or the other. The fact that JD hadn’t left the waterhole when he first came across them making love was a good sign or a bad one as far as Chris was concerned. Vin couldn't hold back the chuckle as he remembered Chris’ face when he offered to get JD down to join them. Not that Vin had been serious about the offer, but what if Chris had said yes, what would he have done then?
His musing was interrupted as he saw JD exiting his office. About time kid. Watching to see in which direction the nervous young man was going, Vin back-tracked down the alley, hoping to catch JD alone.
JD was so intent on scanning the streets trying not to run into his two friends, that as he passed the alley between two buildings, he was caught of guard as his arm was grabbed and he was yanked off the street.
“Hey!” JD protested, before snapping his mouth closed and hanging his head when he recognised his abductor.
“Thought we might need to talk.”
Unable to meet Vin’s eyes, JD shuffled on the spot as he looked for a way to escape. “Nothing to talk about, Vin.” An uneasy smile passed over his face. “Anyway, I’m busy. I’ve got to see to the town.”
“Town seems pretty quiet to me. I think it can wait while we settle this,” Vin said quietly as he hooked one thumb into his belt. “We’ve gotta talk about what ya saw today.”
JD feigned ignorance, “I’ve been in town all day. Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ya started lying now, kid? Thought we were friends?”
Without thinking, JD straightened his shoulders, and met Vin’s eyes. “Friends don’t do what I saw you doing today.”
“So ya were there,” Vin countered.
“It was disgusting,” JD shot back with more guilt than anger. “Damn it Vin, two men, it ain’t…normal.”
Vin sighed as he stepped back, and sagged back against the store wall. “Is that right? Of course ya’d know all about it, seenin’ ya know so much about love and all.”
“I know what you and Chris was doing wasn’t right,” JD responded a little less self-righteously as the obvious hurt and disappointment showed on the tracker’s face
“When did ya figure that out?” Vin asked, “When we started, or after ya’d finished watchin’ us fuck?”
JD actually blushed as he could no longer keep eye contact, and he suddenly found something very interesting to study on the ground.
“Isn’t that what this is all about, the fact that ya liked what ya saw?” Vin asked, trying to be gentle as he could with his friend's already raw nerves.
Biting at his bottom lip, JD refused to meet Vin’s eyes as he managed a barely discernable nod of agreement.
Vin couldn’t stand the hang-dog expression any longer. Pushing his body off the wall, he walked over to guilt-stricken man, “Ya ain’t got nothin’ to be ashamed of, JD. What yer feelin’ is all part of growin’.” Putting up his hand to intercept any denials of being too young from the already vulnerable man, Vin continued. “I ain’t sayin’ yer too young, or ya don’t know no better. I’m sayin’ no matter what age we grow to, we keep learnin’ along the way. JD, all that churnin’ in yer gut, that don’t mean ya want to be with a man.” he counselled.
“But what if…what if it does?” JD whispered as he at last garnered enough strength to look Vin in the eye. “I did something, while I was watching you and Chris…” The blush that coloured JD’s face now flushed a deep scarlet.
Vin struggled to keep the smile from his face as he quickly worked out what JD was alluding to. “Oh,” Vin nodded with understanding. “Well, yer not alone there, I’m sure even Buck’s had that urge once or twice.”
Shaking his head, JD was frustrated that he would have to actually voice his feelings.“No, no, I…Damn it Vin, it was you. It was because I wanted to be with you,” he blurted.
Any amusement Vin was feeling instantly disappeared at JD’s revelation. Fuck, Chris wasn’t going to be happy if he got wind of this.
“JD…?”
“You said it yourself, Vin, I’m not kid,” JD said as he took a deep breath for courage and turned to face the tracker.
Vin shook his head, “JD, I can’t give ya what yer wantin’.” Noting the younger man’s disappointment, the Texan continued as he briefly glanced to the streets and buildings for witnesses, “But I can give you this.” Leaning forward Vin gently pushed JD back against the wall and engulfed the stunned man’s mouth with his own.
+ + + + + + +
Chris was not a happy man, his dark mood had erected an invisible wall that no one was willing to cross. He had an open bottle of whiskey in front of him, and a full glass which he turned constantly on the table. Every now and then he would stop turning the tumbler, to glance toward the doorway of the saloon. When he was met by an empty space Chris would scowl and turn his focus back to the glass.
A silent group sat watching the scene before them, without a clue to its cause. Not even Buck, who besides Vin, knew Chris the best, was game to approach the man in black to investigate the reason for the odd mood.
+ + + + + + +
It was some time later that one of Chris’ brief glances was rewarded when the tracker broke through the swinging doors of the saloon. Though relieved to see his lover, he wasn’t pleased that it had taken so long for Vin to have his ‘talk’ with their young sheriff.
Finally tossing the contents of the glass down his throat, Chris relished the burning trail the liquid left behind as he watched Vin take off his hat, and claim a seat at his lover’s table.
Without a word, Vin picked up the bottle and took a mouthful before wiping his mouth with his sleeve and replacing the bottle back in its place.
Seemingly unconcerned with his lover’s dark mood, Vin remained silent, as he slouched in his chair and made himself comfortable.
Losing patience with the silent tracker, Chris leaned over the table and attempted to stare down his lover. “Well?”
“Well what?” Vin drawled.
Reaching down to his holster, Chris pulled out his gun and put it on the table. “Don’t make me use this.”
Though not at all fearful of his lover’s mock attempt to threaten him, Vin decided to put Chris out of his misery. “It’s done.”
“You talked?”
Vin had to agree that he and JD had talked. “Yeah, we talked.”
“So you just talked?” Chris frowned.
Just then JD pushed open the batwing doors, pausing to search the room, before coming to a stop at Vin, seemingly full of a new self-confidence. Acknowledging Chris with a nod of his head, he turned his focus back to Vin.
“I just wanted to thank you.”
Chris watched with a mixture of curiosity, jealousy, and anger as Vin took the offered hand, acknowledging JD’s ‘appreciation’.
“It’s what friends are for, kid,” Vin smiled as he released JD’s hand.
About to join Buck and the others, JD took a chance and leaned down to whisper something in Vin’s ear before throwing a fearful glance Chris’ way, and then scurrying quickly over to the other curious peacekeepers.
“So,” Chris stated coolly, “before I shoot him, do I get to know what he said?”
Not one to keep secrets from his lover and friend, Vin refilled Chris’ glass as he explained. “He told me, he hoped the next ‘girl’ he kisses, kisses as good as I do.”
“And I shouldn’t shoot him for that, why?” Chris growled.
As Vin leaned closer to his lover, the eye contact reached down into Chris’ soul and he was unable to look away.
“'Cause it was only a kiss.”
The end