WHEN ARDORS COLLIDE
by C.V. Puerro |
|
Unbounded courage and compassion join'd |
|
WHEN ARDORS COLLIDE
by C.V. Puerro |
|
Unbounded courage and compassion join'd |
|
Are you sure you're okay with this?" Chris Larabee asked his second-in-command. He waited patiently for a reply as he watched from across the room as the other man methodically stroked his shaft.Vin looked up at Chris while continuing to rub up and down the barrel of his Winchester rifle with an oil-moistened rag. He finally nodded in answer.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable sending any of you up there alone to testify — not with Rowlin's brother still on the loose."
"I'll be fine, Chris," the younger man assured him, adding a small smile hoping to ease the discomfort of the man in charge. "Me and JD are adults."
"That's what I'm worried about."
Tanner laughed quietly to himself, but then paused to wonder: was this jealousy or concern he was hearing in his partner's voice? He couldn't tell. "Are ya sure yer gonna be able to keep this town safe while I'm gone? When will Buck and Ezra be back — tomorrow?"
Chris nodded, and then downed a half-shot of whiskey, before setting the glass back on the sheriff's desk. "And Nathan's around, even if he is busy tending Josiah's chest cold."
"He's gonna be okay, right?" Chris nodded. They both knew the preacher was a strong man, despite those black crows that kept following him around. "He should be up and about by the time you and JD get back."
"Well, depends on the judge and how the trial's goin' but unless they need JD ta stay, we oughta be back Tuesday night."
"I'll have breakfast for you Wednesday mornin'," Chris offered casually, not even looking at the tracker now.
"Will there be eggs?" the younger man asked eagerly.
There was a faint smile on the gunslinger's lips when he looked up to meet Vin's blue eyes, answering: "I know there'll be a good lay, but I doubt the chickens'll have anything to do with it."
"Fine, go be with Vin. See if I care." She threw the words at him, and then tried to storm off, but JD caught her hand and held her.
"It's not that I don't wanna ... ride with ya, Casey." He reached out and fingered the brown bandanna she was wearing around her neck: the one JD had given her after their first time; the one Vin had given him after their first time. "But, I gotta testify at this trial. I'm the only eyewitness. Vin and I'll be back in a couple of days; the other fellas'll be back, too—"
"I don't care 'bout the others," she interrupted.
"But that means I'll be able ta get outta town more, come out and spend time with ya."
Casey nodded her head, though she was obviously disappointed that her plans for the afternoon had been altered. JD kissed her, then held her horse as she mounted up. A moment later, he was closing the livery door, watching her ride toward home.
He walked over to the boarding house and packed up his saddlebags, and then he headed for the sheriff's office where he knew Chris and Vin were waiting.
"Hey, fellas," he said as he walked in, heading straight for the gun cabinet, where he retrieved his Winchester carbine rifle and enough bullets to fill all the slots in his gun belt.
"So, you know the drill, JD," Chris began in his sternest voice. "There and back. No stopping anywhere, no side trips, nothing. Not until both Rowlin and his brother are behind bars. Understand?"
JD nodded his head, as if he could do anything but! "Chris, I can do this. And I don't need Vin along ta watch my back. Ya oughta keep him here in case ya need some extra guns while I'm gone."
"Vin's going. And he's in charge. When he tells you to duck and cover your ass if any shooting starts, you damn well better do it! This bastard isn't gonna walk because you're too dead to testify. Got it?"
Again JD nodded, though he didn't feel it was right Chris treating him like a kid after all this time.
Moments later he and Vin were outside, heading toward the livery to saddle their horses.
"He's just worried, that's all, kid," Vin tried to explain Chris's tone.
"It's just, well, I ain't a kid no more. Not after ... everythin' I've been through." JD suddenly hoped Vin wasn't thinking about that night they'd spent together — it really had nothing to do with that. "I can take care of myself."
"I know," Vin nodded, a small, sympathetic smile playing across his lips.
The plain fact of it was the kid was confused. He'd been with Vin, and then he'd been with Casey. He liked them both — he'd die for them both — but then he would have before he'd made time with either of them. He just didn't know whom to choose, or if he even had to choose. He hadn't told Casey about Vin, but Vin had found out about Casey and hadn't appeared to mind. The night they'd spent together was still somewhat cloudy in JD's head, but he vaguely remembered Vin talking about women, like the whole point of the exercise had been to give him an advantage with the fairer sex. So, did this mean Vin didn't ever want to be with him again? That he'd meant it to be a one-time thing, for both of them?
Then again, it wasn't right anyway: two men being together. People got beat, tarred, hung for such things, by lynch mobs and by public officials, in some states anyway, though the kid didn't know if there were such laws in the New Mexico Territory. He wondered if Vin knew.
The kid shook his head, trying to clear away the stacks of unanswered questions. Maybe he should just ask Vin. Hell, they were out in the middle of nowhere, just past halfway to Cutter's Creek. Who'd overhear them, especially if they talked quietly?
The kid slowed his horse to a walk and, a moment later, Vin noticed and slowed his. He turned around, "Somethin' wrong, JD?"
The kid shook his head. "Can we just walk for a little while? We got time, right?"
Vin nodded and waited for the kid to pull up along side him. "I'd like ta hit town before night fall." He looked around at the sky, at the sun, and between the patches of dense overgrowth at the horizon. "But, we should have plenty of time," he finally concluded.
They walked on in silence for another half mile, before the kid got up enough courage to speak. "Vin? Could I ask ya somethin' ... kinda personal?"
"Sure," Vin replied, though the kid didn't stop staring at his horse's neck to see if the tracker had looked over at him.
"Have ya ever been with a woman?" JD was fidgeting with his reins. He wanted to look at Vin, gauge his expression, but he couldn't bring himself to.
"A few," Vin said, his voice as low as usual.
"Have ya ever been with a man? I mean ... 'sides me," JD almost whispered the last, realizing this was far harder than he thought it would be.
"A few."
"Really?" JD turned to look at Vin, his eyes wide at the man's candid response.
Vin almost laughed at JD's expression. "I know I don't ever talk 'bout it, but that's prob'ly not surprisin'."
JD shook his head. "Guess I just didn't think ya'd fess up to it."
Vin did laugh now, but quietly. "Well, it ain't really anyone's business, but I reckon ya gotta right ta know."
"So, um...." JD tried to think of how best to phrase his next question. "Which do ya like better?"
Vin turned away at hearing the kid's question and JD wondered if maybe that wasn't such a polite thing to ask. Still, he felt he had to know, if he was going to find a way to sort through all the confusion churning inside of him.
Finally, Vin looked over at him again. "I don't think I kin answer that."
"How come?"
Vin furrowed his brow for a moment before responding. "Let me tell ya 'bout men in general, JD. There're some who've never looked twice at a woman. Then there're men who've never even looked once at a man. But others don't see a man or a woman, they just see a person and they base their choices on that."
JD nodded, though he wasn't sure he completely understood. Guess it was like Indians and Negroes, he thought — a lot of times folks just see color instead of people. Was this the same thing?
"Do ya think it's wrong fer people not to be like that?"
Vin shrugged. "I ain't one ta judge, but seems ta me the world would be an easier place if people didn't just see things as their way or the wrong way."
"What 'bout Buck?" JD asked and Vin raised his eyebrows waiting for the kid to explain his question. "He likes women an awful lot! I don't suppose he's ever thought that way 'bout another man. Does that mean there's somethin' wrong with him?"
Vin laughed, heartily. "Kid, there are a lot of things wrong with Buck Wilmington, but that ain't one of 'em. All I'm sayin' is, ya have ta figure this out fer yerself, make up yer own mind. Just know that whatever ya decide, ya aren't the only one in the world like that and there's always gonna be people who won't like ya, fer some reason."
As if that were asking for trouble, a shot ran out, striking the large rock near JD. His horse reared and twisted while JD fought to keep his seat; they both went down, hard. The kid's right leg was pinned beneath his horse for a moment, but he pulled it free as the animal struggled to its feet again.
JD then half ran, half crawled to the shelter of the rock outcropping just as three more shots rang out, one narrowly missing his boot. Vin was firing randomly into the surrounding brush from his vantage point behind the rock, just above JD. From his prone position, the kid fired in the same general direction, having less idea than Vin, he was certain, of where those shots might have come from.
Suddenly a man on horseback burst out onto the rode at a full gallop. Vin broke for his horse and mounted, racing after the gunman for a few hundred yards, but then he slowed and turned back to rejoin JD.
"What are ya doin'? Get after him, Vin!"
Vin shook his head. "He had too big a lead and his horse was prob'ly fresher than either of ours. 'Sides, I kin't leave ya."
"Dammit, Vin. I ain't no school girl needs protectin'."
"JD, that was just one man, but what if there'd been a gang? What if their plan was ta separate us so they could jump ya and shoot ya, so ya wouldn't make it ta that trial?"
JD couldn't fault the man's logic, and his gut filled with anger knowing Vin was right — he probably couldn't protect himself if someone was aiming hard to kill him.
"Ya okay?" the tracker asked as the kid sat up and leaned against the rock for a moment to still his anger and catch his breath. "JD, yer bleedin'!"
JD looked down at his pants and saw the damp patch of bright red blood. But he checked his right leg and while his knee screamed at the touch, there was no hole or tear in the fabric.
The tracker then noticed a few drops of blood on the ground, nowhere near where JD had been. "I think it's yer horse."
Vin trotted down the road, then returned with the horse. He dismounted and both men inspected the wound they found on its chest. The animal protested their prodding, but JD was able to calm him down.
"Just a scratch," Vin proclaimed. "Musta got nicked by a bullet or a chip of rock." Vin reached into his saddlebag and removed a small tin of thick, yellow liniment, smearing a daub on the wound.
"How 'bout you, kid?" Vin asked turning his attention away from the horse. "I saw ya flinch when ya touched yer knee."
"It's nothin'. I got pinned for a minute, but that's all. Prob'ly just a bruise."
Vin nodded, then mounted up again. "We better git goin'. I'll feel a whole lot safer with ya locked up in a hotel room 'til that trial tomorrow."
JD did his best to hide the agony caused by the flash of pain in his knee as he swung himself up into the saddle. The two then spurred their horses into a jog and remained silent for the rest of the journey.
"Kid, what's the matter?"
JD had to suck in some air to clear the pain from his head before he could speak. "My knee. Musta swelled up durin' the ride."
Vin nodded, then moved JD over to a nearby crate, sitting him down, saying, "Wait here." He then took the horses inside, returning a few minutes later. JD assumed he'd paid the owner or even the stable boy to take care of the horses. Vin then put his arm under JD's and helped him to his feet again.
"There's a doc in this town. Just o'er yonder," he added the last when JD shot him a pained expression. The kid knew he wouldn't make it far.
The two worked their way slowly across the street, taking extra time mounting the boardwalk, but then they were inside the doctor's small office. The place reminded JD of Mary Travis's newspaper office — though hers wasn't as small — with living quarters in the back, no doubt.
The doctor came from behind a curtain just a moment after the bell above the door jingled. He and Vin helped JD through that same curtain into a slightly larger side room — Mary only had the one front room, about the size of the doctor's waiting room and this one combined. Vin helped JD onto the examination table, and then left him with the doctor.
"I'll be back, JD. Don't leave."
JD nodded, but rolled his eyes feeling like a little kid again. Not that he could leave, even if he wanted to, with his knee feeling like it did.
The doctor had to help him off with his pants and he felt mighty uncomfortable about that, though he didn't know if it was because this man was a stranger, or if he would have been uncomfortable even if Nathan had been the one attending him. It made him think about Vin, about the night they had shared.
JD didn't think he should be feeling guilty about the encounter, at least that was the impression he got after his brief conversation with the tracker earlier that day. Vin made it seem so natural. Was he right? He did remember feeling awkward when they had first started, but he couldn't recall feeling that way while they'd been in the midst of it.
The doctor moved JD's foot just then, causing a sudden flash of pain that brought the kid instantly out of his reverie. The man continued to have him move his foot and leg: "Rotate this way ... that way ... now bend ... now extend and lift," he'd instructed — as he nodded his head, making hmmm sounds.
Finally, the doctor scooped a fair amount of liniment out of a tin, which looked and smelled worse than the stuff Vin had used on his horse, then spread it over the right knee and the large bruise on the kid's hip. JD tensed at the man's touch, but then relaxed when he realized it didn't produce the same stirrings Vin's — or even Casey's — touch had. He instructed JD to reapply the liniment every few hours until the swelling went down.
Then, the doctor began to wrap a good amount of clean dressing around his leg, explaining the best way to wrap the knee so as not to make the pain worse or cut off blood flow to his foot. He told JD to rewrap the bandage each time after applying the liniment.
JD realized that this task would be difficult for him, at least the wrapping part, because of the dark bruise forming on his right hip where he'd hit the ground; thankfully, the doctor didn't think that needed wrapping. Still, he'd have to ask Vin for help. He knew the tracker wouldn't refuse, and he was nervous about asking for that very reason.
JD was just struggling back into his pants when Vin returned — and he was thankful that Vin hadn't seen him undressed on the doctor's table. Though he knew it was a stupid thought — Vin wouldn't have stared, nor would he have said anything. Still.
The doctor gave JD a pair of crutches and, while Vin settled the bill, the kid tested them out on the boardwalk just outside the office. Vin joined him a minute later. "Ya actually look like yer enjoyin' that."
JD grinned. "Well, it's kinda fun, but I can't rightly say I like bein' stared at." The kid indicated the people idly standing outside the dry goods store, staring in their general direction.
"Don't let it bother ya none. They'd be starin' a lot harder if I picked ya up and carried ya ta the hotel." JD frowned, but Vin only laughed. "Come on," the tracker gestured and they made their way further into the small town.
"So, I talked ta the sheriff, told him we was here and what happened on our way. He said he'd send out a posse, but I doubt they'll turn up anythin'. He also said he'd post a guard at the hotel, but I don't think we'll need it. I told him he might wanna make sure he's got enough men he kin trust coverin' the trial tomorrow, though."
"Guess maybe I am glad Chris didn't send me up here all alone."
Vin just nodded.
They reached the hotel a few minutes later, detouring out back to use the outhouse first: "Trust me. Ya don't wanna have ta come back down here later tonight — not with that leg of yers," Vin had easily convinced him.
Inside the hotel, JD discovered his partner had already check them in, so it was only a matter of Vin helping JD up the stairs, which he couldn't manage just using the crutches.
Once upstairs, JD realized Vin had only gotten them one room. "After what happened on that road today, I ain't gonna leave ya alone. Like Chris said, not until both those brothers are behind bars," again Vin had explained.
JD couldn't argue. He didn't honestly like being shot at and he knew, in his current condition, he was like a sitting duck, only bigger and easier to pick off. He nodded his thanks to the tracker as the man helped him onto the bed, then grabbed the pillow off the second bed to place it under JD's injured knee. The kid dozed off after that — the injury and the long ride having taken a lot out of him.
When JD woke, the tracker was seated by the window, staring down at the main street. He really was worried something else might happen and this worried JD, too. Vin's instincts were rarely far a field. The kid checked the location of his gun belt — hanging over the bedpost — making sure it was within easy reach. It was. He removed one of the pistols, and the movement caused Vin to whip his head around, his long hair falling across his shoulder.
"Didn't know you were awake," the tracker said, relaxing as quickly as he'd reacted.
JD just nodded as Vin turned the wick up in the lamp on the small table that separated their two beds.
"Ya hungry? I had somethin' brought up." Vin indicated a tray sitting on the dresser that looked to hold bread, meat, cheese, and two bottles. JD looked at Vin and smiled, and the tracker brought the tray over while the kid tried to reposition himself on the bed.
Setting the tray down, again, Vin propped up the pillow, which JD'd been laying on, behind him. He smiled sympathetically as the kid leaned back against the headboard. "Still hurts, huh?"
JD nodded, realizing that he didn't need to put on a brave face with them stuck in this room for the rest of the night. He felt bad, noticing the bottles on the tray contained cider instead of beer. "I'll be okay here, if ya wanna head over ta the saloon or somethin'," the kid offered. Vin turned him down, but JD persisted. "Ya might learn somethin' 'bout that man who ambushed us today."
"Forget it, kid. Yer stuck with me."
The two applied themselves to the food and quickly stuffed themselves, leaving little more than a few slices of bread on the tray. Vin was now leaning against the headboard of his own bed, tipping the green cider bottle to his lips and taking a slow draw from it.
"So, now what?" the kid asked, on the one hand, bored without the other men there to distract him, and, on the other hand, scared without the other men there to distract him.
Vin shrugged. "Guess we could play cards. Did ya bring any?" He got up and headed for JD's saddlebag, but the kid stopped him just as he reached out for it.
"No. I usually play with one of Ezra's decks." The kid was silent for a moment, realizing something. "Ya know, funny thing, I always seem ta lose whenever I play with his cards — even at solitaire."
Vin laughed and the kid smiled.
"Say, I gotta book in my pack," JD then remembered. "Grab it, would ya?"
Vin opened the flap on the saddlebag and withdrew a small hardbound book titled The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
JD settled back against the headboard, the pain in his knee growing again, from having sat up to eat. "Read it ta me, would ya, Vin?"
Vin stared at the cover of the book for a long time. JD stared at the back of the man's head as he sat on the far edge of his own bed. After a while, JD asked Vin to help him straighten his pillow. Vin came over, setting the book on the small table, then reposition the pillows behind JD's back and under his knee. Vin then returned to his own bed, lying on his back as if he were under a blanket of midnight stars.
JD picked up the book and began to read aloud:
Preface: MOST of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but not from an individual — he is a combination of the characteristics of three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order of architecture.The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children and slaves in the West at the period of this story — that is to say, thirty or forty years ago.
Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in. — THE AUTHOR. HARTFORD, 1876.
The tracker had not moved an inch since first lying down. His hands were both tucked behind his head, like a makeshift pillow, and his legs were crossed at the ankles. JD could see the very slow rise and fall of his chest under the red shirt he was wearing — his coat and hat, along with both their pairs of boots, having been set aside the moment after JD had first been settled into bed.
JD set the book quietly on the small table next to the lamp, then flexed his foot, just a bit, to test it out, but the pain shot up through his knee so he stopped. He could see the darkness now heavy outside their hotel room window, so he figured it had been a few of hours since his visit to the doctor's. He thought now might be a good time to reapply the liniment like he'd been told to — now, before Vin woke up, because he knew the man wouldn't leave him to his privacy, merely turning his back, if that.
JD pulled the pillow slowly out from under his knee, gritting his teeth to stop himself from crying out, even the smallest amount. He then undid his pants and tried to wiggle out of them while maintaining the same level of silence. He failed, and Vin was immediately awake.
"Ya okay, kid?" He sat up instantly — his gun, while not raised, was in his hand. Then he noticed JD with his pants part way off his hips and he smiled before setting his weapon aside. He then waited for the kid to explain himself.
JD flushed with embarrassment. He wondered what Vin was thinking — dreading the worst, that the man might think JD would do something while he slept.
Finally, Vin answered his own stare with a question. "Ya need to reapply the liniment the doc gave ya?"
JD let out the breath he'd been unconsciously holding, then nodded.
Vin smiled as he moved over to JD's bed. "Don't be embarrassed, kid," Vin assured him. "Ain't nothin' I haven't seen before."
"Yeah, that's what I'm worried about," the kid mumbled, but then realized the tracker had heard him. "Sorry, I ... didn't mean anythin' by that."
"Yeah, ya did. It's okay," Vin replied, pausing with his hands on the hems of JD's pant legs. "Look, JD, just 'cuz we did it that one time doesn't mean it has ta happen again."
"We were both drunk that night — maybe if we hadn'ta been...."
"Maybe. Fact is, though, we did. Kin't change that. And if ya never wanna do it again, that's up to you."
JD was silent. Was Vin saying that HE never wanted to do it again? Or was he saying that he did, but JD was the one who'd have to do the asking?
Finally, JD just nodded, though his mind was still not settled on the issue.
He allowed Vin to pull the trousers slowly off his legs, exposing the large wrapping around his knee. JD tried to unwrap the dressing, but it was all he could do to keep from crying in pain. Finally, Vin gently pushed him back against the pillow and managed the unwrapping himself.
"Damn, JD!" he said once he'd exposed skin. JD looked first at Vin, and then seeing that his eyes were still on his knee, he moved them there as well. The flesh was swollen near twice its size, and there was a faint bluish cast beneath the pinker-than-normal skin. "Did the doc say ya dislocated it?"
JD shook his head, no. "It seemed ta work all right in his office — despite it hurtin' so bad."
Vin shook his head again, and then reached for the liniment. JD took it from him. "I can do this part," he said a little too quickly.
Vin didn't act like he'd noticed the odd tone as he handed JD the tin and returned to his bed. JD began to smear the pungent balm but it quickly became apparent that leaning forward caused him too much discomfort. Vin silently reached out and took the tin from him, then began gently spreading the yellowy salve over the inflamed area. He worked in ever increasing circles from the kneecap out. JD sunk back against the pillow, staring hard at his knee and clenching his teeth, but soon he relaxed and closed his eyes.
"Thanks, Vin," he finally said. "That's startin' ta feel a lot better."
"Yer welcome," was all Vin said as he continued to gently work the cream into JD's skin.
A while later, the kid remembered the bruise on his hip. He opened his eyes, staring at the still-gentle workings of Vin's fingers on his skin. The man hadn't made a single advance. Did he want to? JD wondered. Did he want him to? JD still hadn't decided.
"Doc says the liniment's for this bruise on my hip, too." JD shifted just slightly to expose the large purple blotch, twice the size of a man's fist.
"Yer just fulla surprises, ain't ya," Vin smiled trying to make light of it. JD appreciated the effort. He held out his hand to take the tin, but Vin didn't seem to notice. He simply scooted up the side of the bed a bit, and then began rubbing his already-liniment-covered fingers over the bruising.
JD felt his penis begin to swell and he moved his hand in front of his shirt which was the only thing covering his bare pelvic area. He suddenly wondered why the doc hadn't thought to just cut his pants up the side — at least then he'd be partially covered right now and not so beholden to the slight excess of broadcloth.
Still, he couldn't deny the feeling stirring in his loins. Despite the pain in both his hip and knee, Vin's ministrations felt real nice. JD allowed himself to relax again, remembering Vin's words, "It's up to you."
When he felt Vin stop rubbing, JD's eyes flew open. Vin was putting the lid back on the liniment container, setting it down on the nearby chair. He then turned back to JD. "Ya are awake. I wasn't sure."
JD nodded. "Just thinkin'." Vin waited quietly for the kid to continue in his own time and that was another thing JD decided he really liked about the man. But, even so, the kid couldn't find the words. He tried to sit up a little more and Vin almost immediately reached around him to readjust the pillow behind his back. Vin's face was just inches from JD's. That's when he decided. And it was a decision, not just an ah-what-the-hell.
"Vin," he said softly and when the man met his eyes, JD kissed him.
A moment later, Vin pulled back, smiling with his now-moist lips, but frowning with his eyes. "Ya sure?"
JD nodded. "And I'm not drunk this time."
"Neither am I," Vin replied as he bent his head down to meet JD's lips once again.
JD brought his hand up to tangle it in Vin's hair, urging him not to break their kiss again any time soon. He tastes so sweet, JD thought, as he ran his tongue inside the other man's mouth, teasing the other man's tongue. He didn't know why Vin was just leaning on the bed, not touching him. He wanted to be touched again by this man. So, JD moved his free hand to Vin's, caressing the back of it, then gently grasping the wrist, but the tracker twisted it away.
Vin then broke the kiss and stood up. "What's the matter?" JD asked, slightly out of breath.
"Nothin'," Vin said as he moved away, to stand before the chest of drawers. He poured water into the ceramic basin and used the small bar of soap that was there to wash his hands. He returned to JD wiping his hands on a towel. "That liniment woulda made ya crawl outta yer skin if I'd touched ya where ya wanted me to," he said, this time placing himself on JD's uninjured, left side.
"I guess I should be thankin' ya then," JD remarked easily.
"And how would ya do that?" the tracker asked, his eyes wide with anticipation.
JD smiled smugly, before pulling the man down on top of him, again possessing his lips. Vin repositioned himself so he was lying along JD's side and his fingers immediately started to work free the buttons on the kid's shirt. Then he pushed the fabric apart and allowed his hand to play with the dark hairs that graced the pale skin. His other hand found JD's hand, tangled again in his own soft, brown tresses, and he caressed his fingers.
Vin then moved his kiss down JD's chin to his neck and finally to his chest, capturing a nipple as soon as he encountered one. The young man responded with a sharp cry, digging his nails into the smooth flesh of the slightly older man's back.
Vin himself cried out, nearly leaping back from JD's painful grasp. He looked down at the kid, anger flashing briefly in his eyes until he noticed the tears. "What's wrong?"
JD swallowed hard. "My ... knee," he gritted out through clenched teeth.
Vin glanced at the wound, but there was nothing new to see — the new layer of liniment still shone in the sallow lamp light. JD, however, was now gripping the bed sheets in his fists, trying to hold back the tears.
"Maybe we better just wrap that leg of yers back up," Vin decided as he retrieved the old dressing, rolling it up as he returned to the bed. Very gently, he took a hold of the kid's leg, and then set the foot on his own thigh, to give him room beneath the knee in which to wend the long strip of fabric.
JD had to close his eyes to fight the tears. Damn, he kept repeating over and over to himself. Damn that his stupid leg hurt. Damn that he had to spoil the moment with Vin. Damn that Vin had to play nursemaid. Damn that Vin would probably be too worried about hurting him to touch him again.
JD then felt a warm hand on his cheek and he opened his eyes. The incredible blue of Vin's eyes struck him then: the color of the open sky above the prairie, the color of the South's bonny blue flag, the color of the ocean just off the New York harbor at mid-morning, the color of his friendship. A true blue.
Vin was smiling at him as he stroked the kid's cheek, but he didn't say a word. He didn't have to, JD realized. It was all there in that touch, that look. JD swallowed his tears and managed a smile, albeit a weak one.
"Did I hurt yer back?" the kid finally asked, but Vin shook his head, again concentrating on wrapping the bandage around JD's knee. "Sorry," he added, his voice, he thought, sounding rather pathetic even though he wished it didn't.
A moment later, Vin's lips were covering his in a deep kiss. Then Vin broke away and returned to his nursing task. "Don't be sorry. Ain't yer fault yer hurt." Then he shot the kid a quick grin, adding, "We'll just have ta be a little more careful."
JD smiled, too, suddenly feeling lucky it was Vin tending him instead of anyone else.
When the tracker was finished, he stood and looked down at JD, with an expression he'd last seen used by Chris Larabee; but Vin's had to be the sternest don't-fucking-disobey-me face he'd ever seen and he'd been subordinate to some good ones over the years. Then Vin spoke: "Ya tense that knee again and I'm gonna show ya the real meaning of pain. Got it?"
JD nodded. He had had no intention of tensing his knee to begin with, he'd just gotten caught up in the moment, but there was no way, after all that pain and now Vin's threat, that he'd forget a second time.
Then Vin smiled, almost laughing. "Good. Now, are ya up to givin' this another go?"
And JD realized it was a sincere question. If JD didn't think he could handle it, for whatever reason, Vin wasn't going to push him. He answered him by taking his hand and pulling him gently back down onto the bed. Vin seemed to melt against him, their lips brushing against one another's. The tracker was gentler this time, slower in his movements, more deliberate. JD was as well. As much as he wanted to just lose himself in all of this, he knew he couldn't, not tonight anyway. But, that didn't mean he couldn't be right there in the moment.
JD ran his hand gently over Vin's back, feeling sorry again when his fingers encountered three long welts, undoubtedly caused when he'd dug his nails into Vin before. He avoided the area, not thinking a touch would do much to soothe whatever pain there was.
JD felt Vin's hand slip down, rubbing slowly along his thigh, down, then up to his pelvic bone, then across and down the other side, the back of his hand just grazing the upper side of his penis along the journey. JD felt his muscles tense, but he was careful to keep his knee relaxed. Vin repeated the motion and this time JD didn't have to concentrate as hard on his knee.
Soon, Vin had wrapped his long fingers loosely around JD's shaft and he was slowly moving his hand up and down. The sensation was almost a tickle it was so feather light and it was one of the most incredible things JD had ever felt — he thought for sure he'd lose his seed right then and there.
His own hands were now at Vin's hips. The tracker was on his side, facing JD, so he didn't have far to reach the older man's own shaft. He gently teased the tip with his finger, rubbing back and forth, then in circles. Vin seemed to enjoy it, since a small smile broke over his lips every time JD changed direction. He allowed his one finger to slip down the underside of the shaft, circling at the base, then returning on the other side. At the top, his thumb joined his index finger to make a ring that encircled the long member — slightly longer than his own, he idly noted, though not quite as wide. Slowly, he moved his fingers up and down the shaft.
For some reason, this new contact seemed to drive Vin to distraction. He moaned JD's name into the young man's ear, sending tingles down his spine that caused JD to grip the tracker's shaft firmly. It was so hot to his touch, so firm. He'd never felt anything else like it outside of his own private moments. He continued to move his hand up and down; the motion was soon replicated by Vin on the kid's own hard member. In time, up and down, they both moved their hands, stimulating the other man as he was being stimulated.
With his knee propped up, JD couldn't reach far enough with his other hand to caress Vin's sacs, as Vin was now doing to him and, as his own muscles were beginning to tense and cramp, he forced himself to just lay back and allow Vin's hands to do what they would.
Soon, Vin was kissing him again and it made JD's head spin. He moaned inside the tracker's mouth and, for some reason that caused Vin to break the contact. A moment later, JD felt Vin's mouth on his cock — the warm moisture was incredible, but JD nearly lost his mind when Vin began to hum. JD felt for certain he was going to explode right inside Vin's mouth. He clutched at the tracker's shirt, at the bed sheets, anything to keep this from ending.
Then Vin released JD and looked up at him. "Ya ready?" he asked in a low, husky tone.
JD frowned. "For what?" He really had no idea.
Vin just grinned as he moved over to his saddle bag, retrieving a small bottle of neat's-foot oil — JD's memory reminded him that it had been what they'd used their first night together. But then the kid realized something.
"Vin, we can't. Ain't no way I can kneel like this," he indicated his sore, bandaged knee.
Again, Vin just smiled. Shrugging out of his suspenders, he finally striped off his red shirt and cream-colored pants, then peeled off his long johns. JD could do nothing but stare at the other man's form. He hadn't ever seen a man naked before, not really — except for that first night with Vin, but those images were still foggy in his mind. Still, he could appreciate the lean body before him, as if this was the first time he was seeing the man. Vin didn't seem to mind being stared at too much, though neither did he stand around posing.
Instead, he rejoined JD on the bed. He handed JD the bottle of oil, then straddled the young man's chest, facing away from JD, and returned his attention to the kid's still-hard shaft. JD took the hint, dribbling a bit of oil onto his fingers that he then moved to the posterior that Vin had poised just in front of him. He had no trouble reaching the other man now and he quickly set his hands to work, stroking the long shaft, kneading the sacs which fit nicely into the palm of his hand, moving his thumb over the small patch of smooth skin just behind, and finally to the pucker of skin between the man's cheeks. Adding a little more oil, he slowly, carefully moved one finger inside.
As he felt Vin's muscles relax slightly, he began moving his finger in and out, soon adding a second and eventually a third, after which Vin finally spoke: "A little more oil, JD." And the young man complied. Vin then swung himself off JD and turned around to face him.
"Vin, I still don't understand how we're—" but JD's words were cut off by a burning kiss, his own manhood a taste they now shared.
The tracker then swung his leg over JD again, this time straddling the younger man's hips. "Yer knee okay?" Vin asked quietly and the kid nodded. He had no idea what Vin was planning, but he was eager to find out.
Vin took the bottle of yellow oil from him and began running the liquid all over JD's shaft — the coolness of the oil felt blistering in contrast to Vin's hot mouth. Then he set the bottle aside and stood up on his knees. Taking JD's shaft firmly in hand, he moved it against his ass, lulling his head back slightly as JD felt the incredible thrill of his tip entering the other man. The intense sensations only increased as Vin slowly lowered himself down onto JD's thick, firm erection.
A broken sigh escaped Vin's lips as JD felt their pelvises finally touch. Vin then leaned his head down to look at his partner. The faintest of smiles touched his lips as he raked his eyes, like blue fire, across the kid's features. JD pushed himself up onto his elbows and Vin moved the rest of the way to meet his lips.
Vin broke the kiss as he began moving himself up and down JD's cock, and, again, ragged sighs seemed to be forced from him with each, slow stroke. JD moved his hands to Vin's shaft that was easily within reach in their current position. He teased the tip and caressed the length, all the while wishing he knew what Vin was feeling inside as the tracker continued his slow, methodical thrusting.
A rough gasp sounded, like it was torn from Vin's throat, as JD felt him tense suddenly. JD expected a spurt of liquid from this shaft, but only a small drop of creamy liquid collected at the tip. Then another tremor seemed to wrack Vin's body, his stomach muscles tightening, and then his head was thrown back. And again, this time through gritted teeth, came a small cry of intense pleasure.
Then Vin seemed to relax again. He smiled down at JD, reaching out to caress his cheek. JD licked the trail of tingles they left across his lips as Vin continued to brush his fingers softly over JD's face. When they returned, JD opened his mouth and Vin let one finger slip easily inside. JD tasted it, teased it, and sucked it as Vin moved it in and out of his mouth. The tracker then bent down and replaced the finger with his tongue.
But soon he sat up again, and resumed his hip thrusts, forcing the kid's thick shaft deep inside him. JD didn't know which he liked better — the hot taste of Vin's tongue inside his mouth or the hot feeling of Vin wrapped so tightly around his aching cock.
Then he felt it, the tingle, the tensing. JD opened his mouth as if he were going to scream, but only a tight, short groan filled the small space between them. It was followed by a gasp and then another groan, this one a little longer, a little loud. Then suddenly, his hands were in the bed covers, gripping them as fiercely as he'd done when that pain shot through his knee, but now the pain — and the pleasure — was concentrated in his loins. His hips spasmed beneath Vin, who eased up on his thrusting but did not stop. As JD released his seed into his partner, a groan was ripped from his throat.
He fell back upon the bed gasping for air, his head lulling to the side as he fought to keep his exhausted eyes open. Vin, however, was not finished. He moved one of his hands to his shaft, but only until JD recovered enough to notice, finally lending his hand in substitution.
JD could feel himself still somewhat firm inside the other man who was now moving up and down his shaft, hard and fast. The kid reached over to take the tracker's balls in his hand again, squeezing the sacs until Vin's semen exploded all over JD's chest. Vin's head was whipped back as heavy grunts were forced out of his throat with each thrust, until there was no more sound and there was no more movement.
The kid continued to milk the other man's balls and shaft until he felt the tissue begin to soften. Only then did Vin bring his head back, panting from the effort. JD wanted to kiss him again, but he could see the rivulets of sweat trickling down the other man's brow, down his chest, and knew that, of the two of them, Vin had worked the hardest to make this happen — because of JD's injury.
Vin eased himself off of JD, being careful not to bang into the younger man's knee in the process. Soon they were nestled together in the bed. JD on his back with one pillow behind his head and one under his right knee, with Vin curled up on his side, his head resting on JD's shoulder and his left leg draped easily over the kid's good leg.
