NOTHING LIKE LONESOME

by LadeeVix

The sun was low and all I could make out was a silhouette of a rider. His hat hung low, he was obviously weary from the ride. I lifted my hand in a greeting and he kicked the horse's sides, making it gallop the few hundred feet to where I stood. The winter had been long and I was looking forward to an early spring. I took the reins as he slid down and shook the icicles off the fringe of his leather coat. "Bad day for riding."

"No worse than yesterday."

I smiled as Vin stepped up and hugged me, feeling the warmth of another human being after so long alone, I wondered if he'd stay, just a little while. "What are you doing here?"

"Heard you were here."

"Come inside, let's get you warmed up." I pushed open the heavy door and the heat flooded to my face. It was always good to be back home after a long day of working. "I'll get the pot on, then put your horse in the corral."

"You have any hay, been kinda scarce on the plains."

"I have some."

"I don't wantta put you out."

"I have enough." I wanted to reach out and touch his face, reassure him that all was forgiven and that I was truly a whole man again. But fear stopped me. Vin had been back with the Indians the past year and I wasn't sure he'd want me getting close again. The friendship had already been strained enough. "Just sit down, rest." The coffee began to perk and I poured him a cup. He tasted it and frowned. "Sorry, I like it strong."

"It's okay."

I watched him sip it again slowly this time and wrap his hands around the mug. "You look like hell."

"Been riding for four days straight."

"Away from who?"

"Sheriff mostly, I'll leave in the morning, Chris. No need to get you involved."

"Been running the past year?" He nodded and looked down. "Thought you said you were going back to the Indians, live with them."

"I tried, but…"

"Damn it, Vin. Why didn't you come to me?"

"I'm here now."

My heart ached. If only this man knew what he meant to me. "Look, we'll figure it out." He nodded and I headed out to put away his horse.

Night came and as he soaked in the tub, I wondered how to tell him what I was truly feeling. "Come on, let's get you dried off and in bed."

"I'll be fine in the chair or the barn."

"You're not sleeping in the barn, or the chair, Vin. You're sleeping in the bed, with me." His eyes shot up and I tried to rephrase. "We're two grown men, surly we can handle being in the same bed without…"

"Without what?"

His look puzzled me; he wasn't thinking the same thing I was. "Without it interfering with our sleeping. Besides body heat will keep us warmer."

"Body heat, yeah."

He nodded and stood up. The water dripped from his thin frame and I had to avert my eyes as he stepped out, the round mounds of his ass, jiggling as he hopped on the cold floor. I wrapped a large cloth around him and rubbed his arms. My hands skidded lower and I rubbed the water from most of his body without a complaint from him. He turned in my arms and I couldn't help but look down, his cock was perfect, nestled in a bed of reddish-brown curls, it grew erect as I watched, but Vin pulled the cloth around him and stepped away. I avoided his eyes, not wanting to see the disapproval in them. "You can borrow some of my clothes, till we get yours washed, if you want."

"Thanks, Chris."

I retrieved the clothes, handing one item to him at a time, prolonging the view of his nude body for as long as possible. When he took out a comb and started pulling it through his matted hair, I took it and sat him down. "I'll do it." It took a little effort and a few `ouches' from him, but I got his hair done and soaked up most of the water in the cloth. "There, nice and clean." I couldn't help it. I leaned down and kissed him on the side of the face. "Except for that." The back of my hand grazed the unshaved face and he looked up.

"Do it."

I took my time, but got him pretty well shaven. My own whiskers needed the same treatment, but tonight, tonight was for Vin. He yawned as I finished and I held tight to his shoulders. "Best get some sleep."

"Sounds good."

I straightened up the house and washed my own face before retiring. The large gown provided little comfort when it came to warmth, but it would do for sleeping tonight. I did after all, have a bed warmer. I sank into the warmth of Vin's body just as he turned toward me. He yawned and stretched and curled almost against me. "Asleep?"

"Yeah, just about." He scooted closer. "Bed's nice."

"Made it myself."

"Warm."

"Yeah, feathers."

"Lots of feathers."

"Took six months to get enough, but it's worth it."

"Yeah."

I heard the tiredness in his voice and reached over and rubbed his back. "Get some sleep." I toyed with the damp curls around his cheek. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

"I know."

Those beautiful eyes met mine and he smiled. I was so shocked when he leaned over and kissed me, that I wasn't sure what to do, so I did nothing. What an idiot, I didn't kiss him back. He turned away then and I scooted close. I needed his warmth, not just for my body, but also for my soul. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed him.

Sometime in the middle of the night, I felt the warm, soft hand on my cock. I never knew how Vin kept his wind whipped hands that way, but right now, with the raging erection I had, I was glad of it. It was deliberately slow, as his lips grazed my neck and I felt him shift lower and work his way down my body. When his mouth covered me I nearly screamed, but Vin was there, kissing me again, sliding his naked body on top of mine. I wondered when we'd undressed, but just for a second. Next thing I felt was his body opening to me and me sliding full hilt into him. I gripped the firm ass and pushed deeper making him whimper. My fingers slid up his side and down his chest, pausing to pinch a pert nipple. He started moving and I had to gasp at the sensation of being inside him. Nothing had felt this good in a long, long time.

His cock was hard and I gripped it with unsure hands, but he smiled down at me and nodded. I tried to stroke him using the same technique I used on myself, but it didn't work. He'd slow my hand, or speed it up, or just plain do it himself. What a sight, Vin, sweaty, naked, hand gripping his cock as he bounced above me, his body accepting me as if it was meant for me. I smiled, Vin made for me, just me. I liked that idea. His breathing changed and I knew he was close, too close. I wanted this to last all night, but I knew neither of us would hold out. He came with a cry and held tight to my fingers with his free hand as his body shook with release. I joined him soon after and wrapped my arms around his torso and held on as his body milked my essence from me. I looked up into the flush face and knew I'd found the one true thing in my life. Vin had been what was missing the last year. I'd ask him to stay this time, stop running and let me take care of him. We fell back together, bodies still tangled and I slept, hard.

When morning came I roused slowly, expecting to find the warm body beside me. Instead I found a cold pillow and cursed myself. "Vin." Nothing, not even the birds singing outside. It was a little before dawn and I could barely see as I stumbled out of the bed and found my pants. Vin's clothes were gone, his jacket not where I'd hung it last night. Maybe he's checking the horses, I thought. I dressed as quickly as I could and headed outside. The wind assaulted me, cold and biting and I felt the chill run through me as I noticed the single horse in the coral. "VIN!" I yelled, but the wind howled louder and my cry was lost on the treetops.

Back inside I found a piece of paper by the lantern and on it, scribbled was just a few words. "Love you. Always. Vin." Mary had done one thing right by us, she'd taught my love to write. But now, as the wind made the shutters clank on that February morning, I think I would have been happier, believing it was all just a dream.

Nothing Like Lonesome To put the moon behind the cloud Nothing like lonesome To make a joyful song too loud Start listing the failures Start walking the floor Start weeping and a wondering What a life is for Nothing like lonesome To make a easy thing too hard Nothing like lonesome To tip a fragile house of cards. Trap you on the high wire, no rescue below Make a tear fill a river up and over flow. Nothing Like Lonesome.

End

Comments to: ladeevix@yahoo.com

Continues in What Life is For