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A Hard Man

By: SW_MO_Hermit



Jess Simpson walked out of the county jail into bright sunlight. He stopped and squinted his eyes against the suns glare. It was just past 11 p.m. and already sweltering hot. He watched the heat waves rise from the hot asphalt street in front of him. The grass was already dry and brown looking in the summer heat. 

Jess looked in the small parking lot beside the jail then up and down the street. He sighed in resignation. He could see no one waiting to pick him up although in truth he had expected no one. He moved slowly to a bench in the shade of a tree beside the sidewalk. After one more look around he dejectedly took a seat. Jess watched the traffic moving slowly along the street for several minutes after he sat down. Even in the shade and gentle breeze he felt the heat. The rustling leafs overlaid the muted hum of traffic and buzzing of insects from time to time.

Jess sat with his arms on the back of the bench. Sweat beaded on his face and forehead before running down his cheeks. From time to time he wiped his face with his hands to remove the sweat. He could feel his clothes soaking up his sweat as they dampened in the sweltering heat and humidity. He was overdressed and knew it but he wore the only clothes he had available. It was January 24th when he had been sentenced to serve six months in jail for assault and battery. Now it was the end of July and the Midwest was sweltering in the midst of a normal summer drought. He heard a deputy say it was already 98 degrees outside while he was out processing from the jail. He believed it.

Jess merely sat and waited, watching traffic and the occasional pedestrian for the next 45 minutes. His mind was busy sorting through possibilities and wondering about his future. Finally one of the Sheriff Deputies came from the building and stood beside Jess. He looked at him for a moment and then said, "You need to move on outta here Jess. We don't want no trouble from you and want you gone. You've waited here long enough. If they were coming for ya they wouldda been here by now."

Jess looked up at the Deputy and glared at him for a moment. He really didn't have anything against him and knew he was just doing his job. He felt the anger surge through him once again though when he thought about what had led him to be sitting here. He was reasonably sure when he took his seat that no one would come for him but he still held out some hope. Now even that little amount of hope was gone, dashed and swept away finally with the Deputy's last statement. Jess knew he was right. With a sigh Jess stood. The Deputy stepped back a step and rested his hand on his taser when Jess moved.

Jess allowed himself a small smile when he saw the Deputy tense and prepare for an attack. Jess knew he was not going to attack the Deputy. He had never considered it but it still made him feel a little better to be thought of as that dangerous a man. For years Jess had just been one of the unseen mass. He was born, went to school and dreamed of a better future like many young people do. His future included one of the most beautiful women in his graduating class and riches beyond compare after he finished college. Well, that was his dream of the future in any event. Now, after his jail sentence he was unsure what his future would be. Certainly it did not include college any longer. Jess lost his full ride scholarship when he was convicted and sentenced to jail. It also did not include the most beautiful woman in his graduating class any longer either. She had made that abundantly clear while he was awaiting his trial.

Jess let his smile become more noticeable. He looked at the Deputy and said, "Relax Clayton. I've had enough of your hospitality. I'm not going to do anything today to get locked back up again even if I did want to and I don't. I suppose it gave you some pleasure to have me inside these last six months but I don't hold it against ya. I gave that sniveling little shithead what he had coming to him and his high powered lawyer convinced the jury to send me up for it. Next time you see him though ask him if a little piece of skanky ass was worth it all hummmm?"

Jess turned and began walking down the street. He neither wanted nor expected a response to his statement so was surprised when he heard Clayton say, "Jess I know we didn't get along in school. I never did like you and I know you didn't like me but for what it's worth the little shit did have it coming. You just went too far. He'll never walk well again you know and his right arm is crooked and weak. You got off easy as you did because of what they did to you. Who knows? If you hadn't fucked him up like you did you might not have even been sentenced to the 6 months."

When he heard Clayton speak Jess turned to listen to him. He stood for a moment in shock and watched Clayton return to the building. He muttered, "Shit" and turned to continue his slow trek down the street. He had no idea where he would go. Oh, he knew his immediate destination but even then he didn't know how he would get there other than make a long walk.

It was almost ten p.m. when Jess arrived at his parent's home outside Hollister, MO. He walked the entire distance from Forsyth, the county seat of Stone County to his parent's farm outside Hollister. In the nearly twenty mile walk he had been unable to get one ride. He was passed by four vehicles driven by people who he knew and none of them stopped for him. Every one of the drivers ignored him.

Jess tiredly walked onto the porch of his father's home and tried to open the door. He was not too surprised when he found it locked. He was somewhat more surprised when he found his key would not unlock it. While he was fumbling with the key he heard footsteps then the porch light came on. Jess looked up and stepped back when his father opened the inside door. He was surprised when he saw him holding his pistol.

Jess's father looked at him for a moment then said, "Well, I see ya got here. All your things are in your truck over there. We got nothing here fer ya now. You just get inta yer truck and get outta here now boy. You disgraced this family and we want nothing else to do with ya. Now go on, git afore I call the law."

Jess looked at his father for a moment then moved his gaze farther into the house. His mother and younger sister were sitting inside watching. His mother's face was drawn up in her, to him, famous scowl. She looked as if she had been sucking on a lemon. His sister Clara looked sad and seemed to have been crying. Jess clenched his jaw, glared at his father and walked away.

Jess got into his truck and sat behind the wheel for a moment. He opened the door so he could see to put the key in the ignition. When he did that he saw his check book and other personal papers in the passenger side of the truck. It looked as if the drawers of his desk had just been dumped in the seat and floor boards. The extended cab behind the seat was filled with his clothing and other personal effects. When Jess got into the truck he saw that the bed contained other larger items such as his tools, fishing gear, camping gear and so forth. His small 14 foot camping trailer was already hooked to the bumper. He had taken it in trade for cleaning up a neighbor's yard last summer. It took him three weeks of backbreaking work to earn the thirty year old trailer. Almost all the rest of his summer's work had gone to purchase the twelve year old Ford Ranger 4X4 it was attached to.

Jess put the key into the ignition and closed the door. He turned his head to see his father watching from the porch. He was still holding his pistol. Jess looked at his father once more in hurt and anger then started his truck. As he drove from the yard he thought about what had just transpired. He was hurt but totally unsurprised. His father had always been a hard bitten sanctimonious and petty man. He was pastor of a small offshoot sect of the Church of God and had no use for anyone friend, family or otherwise who strayed from his concept of the straight and narrow. He was judgmental to extremes as were most of the people in the church. No, Jess wasn't surprised at his reception. Now he had to figure out where he was going to stay and how he was going to live though.

Jess drove slowly toward town and his uncertain future. He pulled into the small city park and crawled into the lumpy bed in the trailer. He was exhausted and fell asleep almost before he was completely laid down. It was after 9 a.m. before he woke. He was starving. He had not eaten since early the previous afternoon in Forsyth when he purchased one quarter pound hamburger and fries from McDonald's Dollar Menu. He finished filling up on the free ice water and carried one last cup out with him to drink during his long walk home.

Jess slowly got out of his bed and moved into the main part of his small trailer. He sat in a chair and pulled his wallet from his pocket. There was $27.00 in it. There was some loose change in his pocket as well but he didn't bother to count it. After counting his money Jess walked outside to the rest rooms in the park. After he relieved himself he took a deep drink from the public drinking fountain and moved back toward his truck.

Jess opened the passenger door of his truck and picked up his check book. He opened it to the register page and refreshed his memory as to the balance. It showed a little over $1100. Jess snorted. He wondered if he even had that much money. His father's name was on his account. He would not be surprised if his father hadn't cleaned him out. He was sure his father could figure some way to justify it if he thought about doing that.

Jess locked his truck and trailer then took off walking down the street. His first stop was the bank where, to his surprise he found he had a little over $1300.00 in his checking account. His last paycheck had been deposited from the part time job he worked during his Christmas break from his first year of college. Jess quickly closed his account and opened a new one with only his name on it. He was upset at the charge made for his first supply of new checks but he had no choice other than to pay it. He had them mailed to him general delivery at the local post office.

Jess's next stop was the post office to set up delivery and forward service from his parent's home. Finally he could take it no longer and went to find something to eat. He really, really wanted pizza but with his finances he decided to economize. He went to the local grocery store and purchased sandwich makings and some lettuce for salad. He also purchased some ice for the little cooler in his trailer.

After eating his brunch of two sandwiches and a little lettuce Jess sat in the shade of the park and thought about his circumstances. He needed a place to stay and a job. He could live in his trailer but he did need a place to park it. Renting a spot was not in the cards. The campsites in the area catered to tourists and charged exorbitant fees for the privilege of parking in them.

Jess walked up to his truck and stood leaning on the bed looking at his possessions. All at once his head came up. He saw many old tools, some of which were not his but were the same as he owned. None of his yard tools were there. He owned an older push mower and riding ZTR mower as well as a chain saw and weed eater. They were conspicuously missing. Before he entered college his summer work had been mowing yards for people in the Hollister and Branson area. He personally purchased the mowers because his father refused to let him use the family tools. Jess knew he needed to get home and get his yard tools as soon as he could.

While he was looking over the items in his truck bed a city patrol car drove up and stopped. The patrolman got out of the car and walked up across the truck bed from Jess. The patrolman leaned his arms on the bed rail, looked at Jess for a moment and said, "Jess I suspect I know why you're here but I can't let you stay. We ignored ya last night but you know you're not allowed to camp here in the park. I need you to move on now before we have to take you in. With your record that wouldn't go well for you ya know."

Jess looked over at the older patrolman. He had been one of the more lenient officers when the kids were letting off steam when Jess was younger. Jess said, "Yeah I know Tater. I been trying to figure out where I can go all morning but I can't come up with anywhere that I can afford. I need a place to park my trailer and I need a job bad. Don't suppose you know where I can do either?"

Tater leaned on the other side of Jess's truck bed for a moment with his head down. He looked up at Jess and frowned. He said, "What about your Uncle's place down by the lake? Why don't you go there? I know there's no electricity or water but you could at least park your trailer there."

"Can't do that Tater. Daddy ran me off and told me not to ever come onto his place again. You know how he gets when he's riled. He met me at the door with his pistol last night and ordered me off. I'm lucky I have any of my things. He kept my lawn care stuff and I have to go back and get it as soon as I can if he hasn't sold it. At least he didn't clean out my checking account. I suppose he never thought about it or he would have."

"I thought your Uncle was going to leave that place to you Jess. What happened?"

"Don't know. All I know was when Uncle died Dad began talking about his place down at the lake. It's not much but it would be nice to be able to park there. Hell it's almost straight up the hills are so steep."

"Jess your Uncle and I weren't great friends or nothin' like that but he used to talk about giving ya that place when we were in the coffee shop before he retired. You really need to check on it. Now I gotta get back on patrol. I might not see ya here the next time I come by but you have to be gone before dark."

Tater looked back at Jess just before he got into his cruiser and said, "Wasn't old man Harris your Uncle's lawyer? He might know something."

Jess watched Tater drive off then sat back down and thought about the small parcel of ground near the lake. After the government took the farm for the lake it was all that had been left. Jess didn't know how much land was there but it was just a small amount of the original farmstead. Most of the old farm his mother's parents used to own was under the water of the lake. That was when Uncle Taylor came to town and was elected Sheriff. With an oath Jess stood and walked once more toward the business district. It took him almost 20 minutes to walk to the attorney's office. During that walk he got several glares but not one person spoke to him.

When he walked into the attorney's office the receptionist gave him a cheerful greeting and asked, "How may I help you today sir?"

Jess told the receptionist what he needed. He was surprised to get a pleasant greeting from her. Most of the people in town who knew him shunned him since he got out of jail.

To Jess's surprise Mr. Harris came from his office to greet him before he was seated in the reception room. The old man looked at Jess and frowned slightly then smiled and reached out to shake his hand. He said, "Jess you look a lot like your Uncle. Come on in and sit down."

After Jess and Mr. Harris were seated in Mr. Harris's office the attorney looked closely at him. He leaned back in his chair and said, "Not only do you look a lot like your Uncle but from what I hear you have his temper too. I suspect he would have responded just like you did when you had your little trouble. It took him a long time after he got elected Sheriff before he could control his temper. Now most folks just remember Sheriff Andy Taylor as a mild mannered man but he was a ring tailed terror when he was younger. Now young man what can I do for you? You're not still having trouble with the law are you?"

"No sir, nothing like that. When I got out Dad told me I couldn't stay with him and ordered me off his property. When Uncle got sick he told me he was going to leave me what was left of his place out by the lake but he never did. Tater said he was sure he was going to and suggested I come see you to see what the deal was since you were Uncle's attorney."

Mr. Harris leaned farther back in his chair and laced his fingers together. He rested his hands on his upper belly and looked at Jess. He said, "Yes I was your Uncle's attorney. I was his friend also and what Tater said is true. That's been several years back though. I remember we read the will and probated the estate about a year after he died. I sure don't remember what all was done with his things but you're right, I'm positive your Uncle left you the land."

Mr. Harris turned his head toward the door and yelled, "Hey Trina look in the files and see if we have anything on Andy Taylor. It might be in the dead files."

Jess and Mr. Harris visited for almost ten minutes before Trina came into the office carrying a thin bifold folder. She put it on Mr. Harris's desk and quietly left the room. The attorney opened the file and sorted through the papers. He made several notes as he went.

Mr. Harris finally raised his head and said, "Jess your Uncle left you the entire 13 acres out on the lake. He also left you his remaining funds in the bank after his final expenses were paid. I have a receipt here from your father for the money. There was $4317.92 left for you plus the land. Your father signed for the money because you were just 13 at the time we settled the estate. Are you telling me you never got that money or the land son?"

"No sir. As far as I remember I never got anything from Uncle's estate. Dad and mom always said the land was hers because she was his closest relative after Opie died. They never mentioned any money at all."

Mr. Harris leaned over and picked up the phone. He dialed it and leaned back in his chair. Soon he began talking. He introduced himself and asked, "Can you check on the ownership of a piece of property for me?" He sat up and pulled the will to him then read the legal description of the land to the person he was talking to.

"Unh Huh. Still recorded as belonging to Andy Taylor huh? Thanks. Can you transfer me to the Collector's Office now please?"

Once again Mr. Harris introduced himself and then asked, "I need to know about back taxes on a piece of property please." Once again he gave the information and waited for a moment. Then he said, "So the taxes are paid up to date? Mr. Taylor is deceased can you tell me who has been paying the taxes please? Unh huh. Reverend Bart Simpson huh. Ok. Thanks." 

Mr. Harris looked up at Jess and said, "Well boy I think I have this figured out and it looks bad. I already told you we disbursed the money to your father for you. He never took the deed to the courthouse and recorded it in your name. The land is still in your Uncle's name and your daddy's been paying the taxes on it. He's done that now for the last six years son. The law says if he pays taxes on the land of a deceased person for seven years and the rightful owner doesn't show up to claim it he can petition the court to deed the land to him. He would have to go to court and get a ruling of ownership but if he did it quietly since your mother is next of kin it would be almost a done deal if not contested. I suspect he will have the land deeded to your momma after next tax season and you'll lose it. You might be able to get it back if you go to court but it would be an expensive battle.

"We still have time to take care of this though if you want to son. I can make out a new deed for you to take over there and record. I'll go along with you and we'll take the will and everything to get it taken care of."

"How much is this going to cost me sir? I don't have much money and no job."

"Won't cost you anything except the recording costs son. They charge $50 to record a deed. I'll do the rest of it for nothing. I got paid to take care of this when I worked on the estate. I guess I sort of dropped the ball when I didn't make sure the deed was recorded in your name but hell, I gave it to your poppa to take care of and I trusted him. I know your Uncle didn't trust him and they never got along but I never thought he would do something like this."


A Hard Man Is Good To Find



"It's OK Honey," I said to my dear, sweet husband. "I had a really great orgasm when you licked me, Babe. I always do. You know I much prefer oral to anything." I did, but it's been a while since I've felt a firm hard cock in my wanting pussy and John's oral was becoming a little too routine.

"I know Precious," he said, "but I use to be such a stallion and I know how you liked a good fuck." My pussy contracted at the word. 'Fuck,

God how I needed a good fuck. A bone rattling, earth shattering, lay me down and do it again, fuck,' I thought to myself as he went on.

"I know that I'm fifteen years you senior, but I didn't realize that things like this happened to men of fifty-two." John is fifty-two and I am thirty-five.  

You see, my husband John, has an affliction referred to as ED. Erectile Dysfunction. He can't get it up. Sometime he gets it semi-hard, but it doesn't last long and is usually much too soft to try any form of intercourse. We've tried almost everything. We first tried viagra, but John almost had a heart attack, so that was out. We tried creams and ointments which were guaranteed, but they didn't work. We even went to a sex therapist, but he tried to make time with me and set up a date, so that was out. It seemed like nothing would solve our problem. Then it happened. Out of the clear blue something happened that change our sex life for the better and for many years to come.

I was out one day in the back yard, hanging clothes on the line. It was a beautiful sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, but it was a little windy. 'Perfect for drying clothes on the line,' I thought to myself. I had just started to hang a bed sheet when a gust of wind caught the hem of my dress and lifted if up past my waist, exposing my long tanned legs and my thong panties to the sun. I allowed the wind to have it's way with me as I continued to hang the sheet. The breeze felt wonderful as it caressed my inner thighs. I widened my stance as to give the wind full access to my crotch. As I finished hanging the sheet, I turned to pick up another one and I noticed our next-door neighbor, Bill, standing by the fence taking it all in.

"Enjoy the view?" I asked of him as I pulled my dress down and turned to face him. That's when I noticed the extremely large bulge in his pants. I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

"Sure did!" he exclaimed with fire in his eyes. His face was starting to blush. I don't know if it was from me catching him getting a peek, or if it was because I was staring at his manhood. I started to blush as well when he said, "I'll be looking forward to next wash day". He turned and walked away now that the show was over.

Bill was forty years old and had live beside John and I for over eleven years. He was a widow. His wife had died long before we had ever met him and had never remarried. He would date occasionally, but nothing too serious. I guess he just couldn't bring himself to being with anyone else since his wife had died. 'What a waste,' I thought to myself as I went in the house. I carried the laundry into the bedroom and bumped into John. He had a big smile on his face and an evil look in his eye.

"Precious look!" he screamed as he dropped his pants and stood there naked with a beautiful hard-on. Well seeing the neighbor with a stiffy and then to be greeted by another one, well let's put it this way, I was ready. I tore off my thongs and guided John's hard cock into my sodden pussy. John didn't last more than seven pumps before he came in spasms. 

"John!" I screamed. "What brought this on?" I was puzzled. I mean John hasn't had a hard-on in over two years and now he was still hard and still pumping. Yes, it felt good.

"Well, when I saw Bill getting turned on by looking at my wife's ass, I just started to get hard," he shrieked as he came again. "And then when I noticed you staring at his erection my cock became fully erect and stayed that way until you came in and found me. Isn't it great!" He was excited and so was I.

"So, what does that mean?" I questioned John on his new found toy.

"I don't know Precious, but I know that I still can get it up," he said as he kept on pumping me. "Maybe seeing Bill and visualizing the two of you together just turned something on inside of me." I clenched down on his dick at the thought of Bill and I together. I have never cheated on my hubby, even though I have thought about it over the last year or so.

"That's a lark," I giggled to hide my desire.

"What do you mean?" John questioned. "I saw the way that Bill looked at you and the way that you stared at his pants." 

He was still hard as I said in my little girl voice, "What ever turns you on, Daddy." 'God, just the thought was starting to turn me on,' I thought.

"Do you mean it, will you let Bill see you again while I watch?" He was almost to the point of begging. I guess it has been a long while for both of us.

"Well that was an accident, Bill getting an eyeful. I know that accidents happen, but not on a regular basis, so just how do you plan to do this?" I was trying to not appear too eager, but it was hard.

"Bill is coming over for dinner on Thursday, remember?" he said. I could see the wheels turning in his head. "I'll come up with something

before then," he said as he rolled off of me, exhausted from his first fuck in two years.

Wednesday night John was a little late coming home from work and I was beginning to get worried when I heard his car pull into the drive. He brought several packages into the house with him. He had that evil look in his eye as he handed them to me and asked me to go try them on. Obediently I went to the bedroom and opened the packages. The first one contained a leather skirt, that was much too short to wear in public, and a black semi-transparent blouse. The second package held a black lace demi-bra and a black lace thong. In the third package was a black lace garter belt and sexy black stockings with butterflies on them.

"Go ahead," John coaxed, "try them on." I could see the excitement building as he described how he wanted me to flash Bill.

"Are you going to be able to keep it up for that long, I mean until Bill goes home?" I asked as I settled my breast into the bra.

"We'll see what happens. Who knows where this is going to lead us," he said as I pulled on the stockings and fastened them to the garter.

As I buttoned the blouse John said, "Perfect! Very, very sexy!"

I looked at myself in the mirror. John was right. I did look sexy. I thought about Bill seeing me like this and whatever else that he was going to see and it was turning me on. I felt sexy.

Thursday dragged on. I couldn't wait until this evening. I fumbled through making supper as my mind was on Bill and seeing his bulge in his pants again. John arrived home a little early that night and had stopped at the liquor store on the way home. Neither John nor I drank that much, usually just on special occasions. 'Well, I guess this was a special occasion,' I thought. John went up to shower and change. I had already done so. I was just setting the table when the doorbell rang. Of course it was Bill.

"Good evening, Sexy," he cooed as he came in and handed me a nice bouquet of flowers. I leaned over and kissed his cheek and thanked him. "You even smell sexy," he said. "Very nice perfume."

"Full of compliments tonight, aren't we sir?" I said as I led him to the livingroom and poured him a drink. "John will be down in a minute."

"Take your time John," Bill yelled upstairs to John and laughed out loud. We toasted one another and then John came down. After a quick greeting John quickly downed his drink and got himself another before Bill or I had half finished ours. Then he downed that one. I could tell he was trying to get up the courage for the night proceedings.

"Slow down a little, Darling," I cautioned him as he took me in his arms and kissed me deeply. As he hugged me he pulled my skirt up just a little revealing my black lace thong panties and my black garter to Bill.

"I'm alright Steph. Besides, I don't have to drive and neither does Bill, right Buddy," he said and shook Bills' hand. I could see Bill had the start of a lump in his pants.

"Right," Bill agreed as John got himself another drink and one for Bill.

We all sat down. Me beside John and across from Bill. As we talked I occasionally let my knees wander apart. I knew Bill had a good view from where he was sitting. Then I reached for my drink on the table and I spread my legs wide open to let Bill get a real good look. This caused my skirt to ride up above my crotch and all that covered my steamy pussy was the thong panties I had on. I enjoyed letting Bill see me and I couldn't believe how turned on it made me. I just hoped that he couldn't see how wet my panties were becoming. As much as I hated to, I had to get up and put dinner on the table. I could hear John and Bill laughing and carrying on. The booze was certainly having an effect on the both of them.

"Dinners ready," I said and they both came into the kitchen. John opened a bottle of wine and we had a nice supper with nice conversation to boot. When we finished, John and Bill went into the livingroom and I cleaned up. When I was done I joined the two men.

I went back to flashing Bill at every opportunity. John by this time had become quite drunk and was not paying any attention to what was going on. Bill had the familiar bulge in his pants showing his interest in what I was showing him to the point of ignoring what John was saying. I could tell that John was starting to run out of steam as he lay his head back and started to drift off. 

This seemed to perk Bill up as he reached over and put his hand on my knee and pushed my legs wide apart. He looked at my crotch with lust in his eyes. He slowly rose up and took my hand and placed it on his pants where his cock was. I squeezed it and was amazed at how big it felt. I guess the lust in my eyes was obvious to Bill as he slid his hand under my panties and thrust two of his fingers into my wet pussy. My scent filled the room as Bills fingers fucked my pussy. With his free hand, Bill undid my blouse and grabbed one of my breast and squeezed the nipple until it hurt. He lay me on the floor and tore off my panties. He quickly unzipped his pants and took out his swollen manhood. He was quite a bit larger than John, length and width. He inserted the end and drove it deep within me. I have never been that full of cock in my life. He buried his cock to his balls and withdrew it slowly and then rammed it into me again and again until he came. I could tell it had been awhile for Bill by the amount of cum he pumped into my sodden pussy. I must have had three orgasms before he ended his assault. I don't think that I have ever been more satisfied. 

Bill pulled up his pants and thanked me for the meal and the sexy dessert that had followed. I gave Bill a wet kiss on the lips and told him that I had enjoyed it as well. We both agreed that we would do an encore in the near future as he left.

I returned to the living room to find John with a raging hard-on and a smile on his face. All he could say was, "Honey, I'm cured!"



A Hard Man



Within less than an hour Jess and Mr. Harris were in the Recorder of Deeds office recording ownership of the parcel of ground. After they left the courthouse they began the short drive back to Hollister. Mr. Harris looked over at Jess and said, "I feel bad about what your Daddy's done to you son. If he gives you any trouble about this let me know and I'll help you out with it. I won't charge you anything for that either. I can't believe a father would do something like this to his own son."

After they got back to town Jess shook Mr. Harris' hand and got into his truck. He slowly drove out of town and down the old roads toward his new home. He hadn't been to the place in three years and was saddened by what he found. The driveway onto the property was overgrown and so badly blocked he had trouble getting down it. There were some tree limbs fallen in it that he had to remove and a lot of young trees growing up in it also. Jess unhooked his trailer and backed his truck down into the driveway. He used a chain to pull the limbs out of the way three times. He hated driving over the growing saplings but he had no way to cut them other than use a small hatchet he had in his camping supplies. He didn't want to do that because of leaving the sharp stumps that would puncture his tires. He decided it would be potentially less damaging to just drive over the smaller trees.

Jess did use his truck to pull a few of the very largest saplings as he worked his way down to the point they used to camp and picnic on. It was between the lake itself and a small stream that flowed into the lake. The small clearing they used was grown up in weeds and young trees also but Jess finally got a trail into the area and pulled his trailer down to his chosen camping spot. By then it was dusk and he was exhausted. His clothes were muddy and wet from his sweat. He was almost shaking from dehydration, hunger and the heat.

It was almost full dark when Jess finally had his trailer leveled and unhooked from his truck. He quickly stripped and moved to the small stream to take a quick bath and cool off. His supper consisted of two more sandwiches and drinking water from the melted ice in his cooler. After his meal Jess quickly made his bed outside under the trees along the stream where it was cooler. He collapsed onto his sleeping bag and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning Jess unloaded his truck bed and drove back to his parent's house. He started to go to the door then decided to hell with it and drove straight back to the open shed in which they stored his yard equipment. He loaded the smaller items in the bed of his truck then hooked the small trailer he owned for hauling the ZTR mower to it and started the mower. As he was loading the mower his father came out of the house with his pistol. He fired a shot into the ground and said, "What do you think you're doing boy? Are you going to add theft to your resume now? I'll give you one chance now. You unload all my equipment from that truck and get out of here and I'll forget this because you were once my son. Now get busy."

"This is my equipment and you know it. I'm taking it with me before you sell it or steal it like you did the money Uncle left me."

"That done it boy. Looks like you're going back to jail again. Now you just set down there 'til the law comes."

Jess looked at his father and reached out to begin chaining the larger mower down. He heard another shot and dirt flew up beside his foot. He looked at his father in shock and saw him waggling the pistol ordering him away from the trailer. Angrily Jess moved back and sat on the ground in the shade.

About ten minutes later a sheriff's car pulled into the driveway. Jess felt his stomach lurch when he saw it was Clayton driving the car. Clayton saw Bart standing holding a pistol on Jess and put his hand on his pistol. He said, "Sir put the weapon down."

Bart looked over at the deputy and said, "Not until you restrain this man. I caught him trying to steal my yard equipment. I told him if he unloaded it and left I would forget he was here but he didn't. I need him arrested before I put this weapon down. He's a violent man and I don't trust him at all."

The deputy came closer to Bart and gently took the pistol from his hand. After he had the pistol in his hand he relaxed and looked over at Jess. He turned to Bart and said, "Damn Bart you're holding a pistol on your own son? What's really going on here?"

"I told you. I caught him stealing my yard tools and I want him arrested."

Jess looked over at Clayton and got slowly to his feet. He said, "Clayton this isn't what it looks like. This isn't his equipment. It's mine. I bought it and I can prove it if you let me get some paperwork from my truck."

"OK but don't do anything foolish now Jess or I'll have to take you in." Clayton followed Jess to the cab and watched while he sorted through the papers still in the seat and floor boards. Finally Jess turned from the cab and handed the papers to Clayton. The papers were receipts with serial numbers for the ZTR, push mower, weed eater and chain saw. Also included on the receipts were some other hand tools that Jess had not yet loaded into the truck.

Clayton walked back and checked all the serial numbers against the paperwork he was holding. Finally he stood and turned to Bart. He said, "Mr. Simpson Jess's name is on the invoices when these items were purchased. All the serial numbers match those on the invoices. It looks to me as if these items do belong to Jess sir."

"No sir they do not. Those items were purchased when he was still a minor. He was too young to own property like that so they are rightfully mine no matter what is on those pieces of paper."

"I'm sorry sir but that is incorrect. Now I suggest you just relax and I'll supervise Jess while he finishes gathering his belongings then I'll follow him off your place."

"You'll not! Them's my tools and he'll not take them." Bart turned and stomped back into the house.

About twenty minutes later a car turned into the driveway and the county Sheriff himself got out. He walked up to Clayton and asked, "What's going on here Clayton? I got an emergency call from Mr. Simpson alleging you were derelict in your duty and letting young Jess here take machinery that didn't belong to him."

Clayton glared at a smiling Bart then explained what was going on to the Sheriff. The Sheriff took the paperwork and once again checked serial numbers then he looked at the hand tools that were in the truck. He handed the paperwork to Jess and turned to Bart. He said, "Mr. Simpson my Deputy was absolutely correct in what he was doing. Those items in the truck belong to Jess Simpson and he is legally allowed to take them unless you can prove otherwise."

"No Sir they don't. I done explained to you why they don't and I demand you make him unload them and get off my property."

"Well sir if you come up with proof they do not belong to Jess you can get a court order for him to turn them back over to you. Right now however I am authorizing him to remove them from this property if he so desires."

A spluttering Bart turned and stormed back into the house. The Sheriff looked at Jess and said, "Son I really don't want to see you again. Now I suggest you get into your truck and get out of here before your Daddy tries something else." 

The Sheriff turned to Clayton and said, "You follow him and keep your eye on things until he gets away from here."

Clayton followed Jess the nearly seven miles from his parent's home to his little acreage. While Jess was unlocking the lock he put on the gate into the property Clayton got out of the car and walked up to him. He looked down the brush covered lane then turned to Jess and said, "Aint this your Uncle's old place?" After Jess nodded his head yes Clayton continued, "We aren't going to have more trouble with your father over you being here are we?"

Jess stood for a moment and sighed. He looked at Clayton and said, "Yeah when he finds out I'm here and what I've done you might."

"Crap. Why don't you explain that to me now Jess." Jess explained what he had discovered and done that day.

"Shit. Wait here. I need to call in."

Clayton moved to his cruiser and called on the radio. He was back beside Jess soon. He said, "Jess I got the Sheriff before he got back to town. He's coming down to talk to you about this."

When the Sheriff arrived Jess once again told the story of his discovery that day. He delved into his paperwork in the truck once again and showed the Sheriff the copy of the will, the deed and proof of filing.

"Damn. Things just keep getting worse here. OK Jess I can't see where any of this is your fault. You need to keep your head down and stay away from your Dad. You're pretty far out in the sticks here but I'll try to have someone check around here off and on until we see what happens. You didn't say anything to him about this place did you?"

After assuring the Sheriff that as far as he knew his father knew nothing of the Deed being recorded the two lawmen left and Jess drove back to his trailer after first locking his gate.

Over the course of the next week Jess spent the cooler part of the morning and evening clearing his driveway and the area around his trailer. He also took some of his cash and purchased some plastic tarps to make a tent to park his lawn mowers in and to protect his tools. He used saplings and small trees he had cleared to build the frame for his 'plastic garage'. The hottest part of the day he spent looking for work.

After three weeks Jess had his driveway and yard in pretty good shape. He was getting tired of eating cheap food and his bank account was dropping at an alarming rate. He was becoming desperate to find any kind of work. Finally in desperation he began contacting some of his old lawn care customers. Every one of them he contacted had already hired a replacement for him. He left all of them his cell number and asked them to call him or give his number to anyone who might need him to do yard work or odd jobs.

Ten days later Jess got his first phone call. It was an old woman who knew one of his previous customers. Her husband had a heart attack and could no longer do their yard work. She offered him the job on a one time trial. She promised if he did a good job he could care for her yard the remainder of the season. That was Jess's start. He did a good enough job she kept him on. She had a large yard and he charged her $100 to mow and weed eat. Unfortunately for him it was late in the season so he there were not more than three or four mowings left. She did give his name to some of her friends and he picked up some odd jobs along. That provided a small income stream. Jess managed to replace the money he spent before and still have funds to live on.

When he was not working on yards and after the weather turned cooler Jess began cutting firewood for sale in town. He was pleased that he began selling wood almost immediately. He was cutting up dead trees and windfalls so the wood was fairly dry. Jess tried not to cut large trees and limbs that required splitting. All he had to split them was a splitting mall and wedges. That was hard work for little gain. He hoped to purchase a hydraulic wood splitter in the near future. That purchase depended on how much wood he could sell however.

In early December Bart was in the local café when one of the local men slapped him on the back and said, "Well Bart I bet you're happy with that boy of yours now. Looks like he's finally back on the straight and narrow."

"What do you mean George? I haven't seen him since he got out of prison and I don't care to."

"I've been buying firewood from him and so have a lot of other folks around. He gives fair measure and delivers quick. He even stacks it for you and most wood cutters just throw it off the truck and take off."

"I hadn't heard. He say were he's getting the wood?"

"I thought you knew. He said he was getting it off his Uncle's old place down by the lake. I think he said he lived there too."

"Oh. Well thanks. I need to be getting back home now."

Instead of driving home after talking to George Bart drove straight to the lake property. When he got there he stopped at the gate in anger. There was a new lock and chain on the gate. The driveway back to the clearing was clear of brush and well travelled. He could hear a chain saw close by and saw several cords of wood stacked alongside the drive or within sight of the gate.

Bart climbed over the gate and moved through the woods toward the sound of the saw. When he was about thirty feet away from him Jess saw his father. He put the saw down and stood facing his father. Bart began yelling as soon as Jess saw him. He said, "Get your thieving ass off this property right now. I told you to keep off my land and that I never wanted to see you again. Now git afore I call the law."

"No. You git. You know as well as I do this isn't your property."

Bart bent, picked up a club shaped stick and advanced toward Jess. Jess moved back and reached into his pocket for his phone. He dialed a number and talked as he moved through the woods. He headed toward the gate into the property with his father following carrying the stick. For the next several minutes they circled his father's car and traded comments.

After about fifteen minutes a sheriff's car came flying down the road ahead of a trail of dust with its lights flashing. The Deputy quickly got out of the car and stepped between the two men. Before he reached them they were all three enveloped in the swirling dust. He asked what was going on and Bart immediately said, "I came out here to check on my property and found this man trespassing and cutting my wood. I ordered him off and he refused to go. Thank the Lord you showed up to help me get rid of him. I want him arrested for theft of wood and trespassing."

Jess looked at his father in contempt and then turned to the Deputy. He said, "I just want him off my land. This is my land, not his and if anyone is trespassing it is him. The Sheriff knows all about this. If you will call in he can clear it up quickly."

The Deputy looked at the two men and moved back to his cruiser. After a short radio call he returned to the gate and addressed Bart. He said, "Reverend I'm going to have to request you leave immediately. Mr. Simpson is correct. This is his land and he is within his rights to be on it and to cut and sell the wood."

Bart spluttered then yelled, "No Sir. This is not his land. It was his Momma's Brother's land and when he died it was hers because she was his nearest relative so she should inherit. We been paying taxes on it proper like and it's her land."

"No Sir. The Sheriff has seen the will and the deed recorded that shows this land belongs to Jess Simpson. He has asked you to leave sir and I am afraid I will have to do the same."

Bart' face got deep red and he picked up the stick he had been carrying before. He jumped at Jess as he yelled, "You ungrateful whelp. How DARE you steal your Mother's inheritance? I'm going to beat you within an inch of your life then you can transfer this here land to your Mother and get out of here. I can see now we were too easy on you growing up. Spare the rod and spoil the child. I guess you done been spoilt and are working with the devil now for sure."

Jess ducked and the first swing slammed into Bart' car denting the sheet metal. That, of course, made him angrier and he redoubled his attack on Jess. The Deputy quickly moved and subdued Bart. He cuffed him and placed him in the back of his cruiser. He moved back to Jess and asked what he wanted to do.

Jess stood and looked at the bitter old man in the back. He looked at the dent in his parent's car then turned to the Deputy. He said, "Take him in. I'll file charges against him. Could you get his car keys first though and move his car so I can get out of my driveway? If you can't do that can you have it towed at his expense?"

The Deputy smiled and agreed. When he opened the car door Jess could hear his father ranting and raving in the back. The deputy had to force Bart to give up his keys so he could move the car. Jess just stood and watched.

The next morning Jess went into town and visited with Mr. Harris about his father. They discussed the situation and Jess agreed to drop the charges if his father agreed to stay away from his property and his person. They obtained a restraining order from the court as well. Jess did request Mr. Harris not to discuss dropping the charges until after his father was bailed out from the jail. He waited two weeks to see if his father would cause further disturbance before they officially dropped the charges.

By now the family drama was causing quite a stir in the little town. Shortly after the first of the year Jess heard that his father had been asked to leave his church. Of course that meant they could no longer live in the parsonage. When they were asked to move Mr. Simpson packed his family up and left the town, destination unknown. There was already a new Parson and his family living in the parsonage before Jess heard the news.

Jess was not getting rich from his small business selling fire wood but he was paying his living expenses. Jess's expenses were few. He purchased propane for his heat and cooking stove in his small trailer as well as fuel for his truck and saws. He owned a 22 rifle so hunted small game for meat. He also fished even if it was out of season. He purchased most of his food but still managed to save a few dollars every week. Most months he grossed $750 to $1,000. His operating expenses and living expenses usually only left $100-$200 to save but he did save that religiously. He finally saved enough money to purchase a hydraulic wood splitter to make his business easier. He had several tree trunks cut to length waiting on the splitter purchase. 

The last week of January Jess got a large order for wood. He sold three cords to the same man for use in his small shop and home. The first two trips into town he noticed a young scruffy looking woman huddled on the sunny side of a building near where he delivered the wood. On his third trip to the same place she diffidently approached him while he was unloading his truck. When Jess looked at her standing beside where he was working she licked her lips. She looked as if she was about to run away. She was so skinny he thought a stiff wind would blow her away.

The woman licked her lips once again and said, "Please Sir. I need work bad. I been watching you haul this wood back here and heard you talking about needing to make six trips to get it all delivered. Do you need help with it? I can't find work anywhere and I need work bad."

Jess looked at her and shook his head. "No, sorry. I only have this little truck and I can only haul about half a cord at a time but it's easy to work with for one person."

The girl looked as if she was about to cry. She ducked her head and said, "OK, sorry," then turned and shuffled off toward town.

On his way back to deliver his next load Jess decided to splurge and treat himself to a cheap meal at McDonalds once again. He could eat two quarter pounders and some fries from the dollar menu for $3.27 after tax. He pulled into the parking lot and drove around behind the building to park on the side opposite the one he had entered. When he passed the enclosed garbage area he saw the young woman holding some wrapped burgers in her hands and trying to evade two boys about her age.

Jess parked his truck and walked back toward the dumpster. As he got closer he heard the boys laughing. He caught sight of the three just in time to see one of the boys strip the wrapped food from her hands. When it landed on the asphalt he quickly stepped on it then pushed her back when she tried to hit him. While the other boy laughed he said, "That food was thrown out 'cause it wasn't any good any more Angel. It set too long and wasn't safe to eat. Instead of hitting people you should thank them for keeping you from eating things that weren't good for you."




A Hard Man



The girl was still crying. Her face was red with her anger. She took another awkward swing at her tormenter and tried to rush past the boys out into the parking lot. Jess heard her say, "Damn you Steve that was the only food I've been able to find since yesterday and you spoiled it. There's nothing else in the dumpster and now I probably won't be able to eat all day and you know it. What did I ever do to make you act like this?"

Steve laughed and said, "You never done nothing Angel. That's the problem doncha know. I told ya in school you'd be sorry you didn't give me some pussy. We been keeping our eyes on you. You need to learn your place here missy. Maybe we can make a little deal if you take a bath now and then."

The girl tried once again to get past Steve and he once again caught her and threw her back into the enclosure while his buddy laughed. Jess walked up behind Steve. He saw his friends eyes enlarge and he almost whispered, "Oh, Shit. It's Jess." He made his statement just as Jess violently pushed Steve into him. Jess looked over at the girl and held his hand out. He said, "Come on Honey. Let's get out of here before someone gets hurt."

The girl looked at the two boys who were just trying to get up from the ground where they had fallen. She looked back at Jess and seemed to make up her mind. She rushed out of the enclosure and took off out of the parking lot. Jess watched her a moment then glared at the two boys. They were trying to convince themselves to attack him he was sure. Finally the one who had been watching pushed Steve toward the opening and said, "Go on asshole. I told ya that's Jess Simpson. Let's get outta here. I don't want nothing to do with him. Steve turned white and seemed to slink back. He licked his lips and said, "We was just havin' some fun with her. We don't want no trouble here Jess."

"Well you're going to have some trouble if I find out you've been bothering that girl again. Now git outta here!"

Jess watched as the two ran to a truck parked beside the trash enclosure. They jumped inside and squalled the tires as they took off.

Jess went into the building and ordered double what he stopped to buy. He got four quarter pounders and two fries to go. He left and jumped into his truck. When he got to the street he turned in the direction the girl had gone when she ran off. He saw her in the distance and sped up to catch her. He was almost a block from her when she turned into an alley and disappeared. Jess turned and followed her into the alley with his truck. He saw her duck behind a building and honked his horn. She looked up in surprise. Jess could see the fear on her face. He slid to a stop beside her and rolled down the window. He held up the bag with the food in it and said, "I bought us some lunch if you want it."

The girl looked at the bag and licked her lips. Her face showed her hunger and her fear both. She hesitated and started to duck through the fence beside the building. Jess said, "Hey. That's all it is. Just lunch. I've been hungry before and no one helped me. Come on. That's all I'm offering."

The girl slowly got into the truck. Jess put the sack of food between them and put the truck back in gear. She watched him as he drove. Out of the corner of his eye Jess saw her attention shift back and forth from him to the food to the road. She seemed to relax when he drove up to the business he had first seen her at and stopped the truck beside the wood pile.

Jess opened the sack and handed her two burgers and one fry then picked up his food. "I'm going to sit over there in the sun to eat mine. You can stay here or join me or even leave if that makes you feel better."

Jess picked up his water bottle and took off. Angel opened one of the burgers and was wolfing it down as she watched him. After several bites she opened the truck door and followed Jess. She sat down near him and continued to eat. Angel finished her two burgers and fries before Jess started on his second burger. Angel sat watching Jess finish his first burger and the fries. She kept looking at the remaining burger.

Finally Jess picked up the wrapped burger and tossed it to Angel. "Here. Looks like you need this worse than I do. Go on. Eat it."

Jess stood and took a deep drink from his water then held the bottle out to Angel. "Here's some water if you're thirsty." He turned and started for his truck to unload the wood.

Angel looked up at Jess with gratitude, almost worship in her eyes. She quickly grabbed the offered food and whispered, "Thank you." She opened the last burger and took a large bite before Jess turned away to return to work.

Jess had only taken a few pieces of the wood out of the truck when he looked up to see Angel working alongside him. He said, "Whoa. I told you there were no strings attached to the meal. You don't have to do that."

"Yes I do. You helped me back there then you fed me. I owe you. I offered to work last time you were here and I meant it. I don't steal and I don't use people."

When they were almost finished Angel looked over at Jess and said, "From what I overheard this morning you have two more loads for here today don't you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Angel just looked at Jess and turned toward his truck. She opened the door and got into the passenger compartment then closed the door once again. Jess shook his head and got in behind the wheel. Before he started the truck he said, "You don't have to do this you know. I can handle it."

Angel just looked over at Jess and frowned before turning her head to look out the front window. Jess sighed, shook his head and started the truck. He drove his usual route out of town heading back toward his little acreage. Angel sat silently beside him watching the scenery.

When they got to his gate Jess stopped the truck and started to get out to unlock it. Angel looked at him and held her hand out. She said, "Give me the key."

Jess handed the key to her. When she started to close her truck door he said, leave the gate open. We'll be leaving pretty quick."

Angel looked at Jess nodded her head once and only said, "OK."

Jess pulled forward and stopped beside Angel after the gate was open. Angel jumped back into the truck and was silent as Jess drove down to the clearing his trailer was in. When he got there he parked beside a large pile of wood and got out without a word. Jess was already loading the wood when he heard Angel's truck door close.

After he put the arm load of wood he was carrying into the truck he looked over at Angel. She was looking around the clearing as she moved toward the wood pile. Jess said, "Not much is it? Well it's all I have. I make enough to get by if I can sell wood in the winter. I hope I can get some yards to mow this summer or I'll be getting old burgers out of the dumpster like you do."

Angel gave Jess a sharp look then turned to the task at hand. With two people working they had the next load on the truck rapidly. They didn't' talk much either. It was all about the work. Angel looked and acted weak to Jess but she stayed with him. She only moved a little over half the wood he moved but she worked steadily.

After the last load was delivered Jess went to find the owner to get his money. When he came back to the truck Angel was gone. Jess looked around for her and saw her walking down the street toward an old deserted house in the next block.

Jess jumped into his truck and drove toward Angel. He watched her look around then duck into a small building, probably an old smokehouse, behind the house. Jess turned off his truck and walked quickly to the building. He opened the door and looked inside. Angel was huddled in a corner shivering already. She was sitting on some cardboard and wrapped in a piece of old plastic tarp. There were a couple of pieces of what appeared to be clothes strewn across the cardboard.

Angle looked up in fright when she heard the door open and saw Jess's shadow. She relaxed slightly when she saw him but her face still showed distrust. Jess asked, "What are you doing here Angel?"

Angel just looked at him and pulled the tarp tighter around her shoulders. She was almost shaking in the 34 degree cold. Jess felt sorrow and disgust when he realized what Angel was doing huddled in the corner. He sat on an old rusty bucket beside the door and looked at Angel. He said, "You're living here aren't you Angel? Shit. I thought I had it bad. You're lucky you aren't sick or dead. What do you do when it's really cold?" Without thinking Jess exploded out, "FUCK!"

Jess jumped to his feet and Angel jerked with fear at his rapid movement. He looked down at her and said, "I can't just leave you here. I was following you to give you your pay for today but damn..."

Angel looked up at Jess and said, "You already paid me. You gave me the burgers."

"Crap. Come on. I don't have much. You've seen it. At least I have gas and a heater. You can stay in my trailer for a while."

Jess reached out for Angel and she shrank away from him. He looked at her in surprise for a moment then said, "OH come on. I'm not going to do anything to you. Hell, if I'd been going to hurt you don't you think I'd have done it while we were hauling the wood?"

Slowly Angel seemed to relax. She held her hand out and allowed Jess to help her stand. After she got up she bent and picked up the clothing on the cardboard. She moved to a small box and took out some small items, a tooth brush and tooth paste and feminine products then wrapped everything in the tarp.

Jess turned and moved to the truck with Angel following. This time on the way out of town Jess stopped at a Wal-Mart Super Center. He looked at Angel and said, "I need to buy some groceries. Is there anything you need while I'm inside?"

Angel bit her upper lip and looked at him then quickly shook her head no.

Jess went inside the store and spent more money on groceries than he had ever spent at one time. He bought some cheap chuck roast and several cans of vegetables as well as some fresh vegetables. He replenished his bread and sandwich supplies also. He even splurged and bought a gallon of milk and the cheapest container of coffee he could find.

As soon as they got back to his trailer Jess began preparing a meal. He cut the meat into small chunks then put it into a large stew pot and filled it with canned and fresh vegetables and water. Angel sat quietly watching. She was still holding her possessions on her lap. She was staring at the one small bed in the back of the trailer.

After the meal was cooking Jess said, "I cook outside a lot of the time to save gas. We worked too late to do that today. Besides this will be a little easier and faster. I'll go outside now and start a fire to heat some water for you to take a bath."

Angel's eyes got large and she licked her lips when Jess told her about the bath. She looked as if she was about to run again. He smiled and said, "Don't worry. After the water's hot I'll bring it inside and you can lock the door if you want while you clean up."

Almost a half hour later Jess opened the door into the trailer. He wrestled a small blue plastic child's wading pool into the trailer then went back outside. He came back in with a piece of wood that had rings burned into it and a steaming five gallon metal bucket. He placed the wood on the floor beside plastic pool then set the bucket on the wood. He went back outside again and came in with another bucket full of cool water.

After he delivered the water Jess went toward his bed. He opened a drawer and pulled a wash cloth and towel from it. He closed one drawer and opened a second. He pulled a pair of sweat pants and a hoodie from it and closed it also.

Jess walked back beside the small pool, smiled at Angel and said, "Your bath awaits my lady. I usually sit on that small plastic stool over there and dip my rag in the hot water to wash but sometimes I pour the water into the pool. I use that small pan beside you to dip the water to rinse off with. It's a bitch to drain the pool if I get a lot of water in it though. You can use these sweats until we can clean your clothes. Here's a towel and wash cloth also. Let me know when you're done so I can get my bath before the water gets too cold if you don't mind."

Angel looked at Jess then quietly said, "OK." She watched him as he backed out of the door and closed it. Jess pulled his coat tighter against his frame and walked back to his fire. He sat in his chair and looked at the fire while he waited on Angel to finish her bath.

In less than ten minutes he heard the door open and Angel say, "Jess. I'm done."

Jess stood and turned toward the trailer. When he saw Angel he smiled. She was almost lost in his sweats. They were puckered around her waist like an accordion. Angel smiled up at Jess when she moved past him heading toward the chair beside the fire. She was shivering slightly in the cold air as she walked.

By the time Jess finished his bath and removed the evidence from the trailer the soup was done. Once again Angel ate as if she were starved. Jess thought to himself she probably was and sat watching her after he finished.

After her third bowl of soup and second glass of milk Angel looked up at Jess guiltily. She cast her eyes down and said, "Thank You."

Jess moved to clean up after the meal. Angel followed him and watched while he put the left over soup in a plastic pail with a lid on it. Jess took the soup outside and hung it in a tree beside the trailer. There were several other pails and some bags hanging in the tree already. Jess looked at Angel and smiled then said, "Natures refrigerator. In the winter I can keep my cold things cold without having to buy ice. I spend a lot of money on ice during the summer. If I decide to stay here I will have to get the electric cooperative to repair the power lines and set me a meter so I can use the refrigerator and lights in the trailer. I don't normally use lights inside because of keeping the large battery charged and the cost of flashlight batteries."

After he had explained the tree to Angel Jess picked up a bucket that was sitting on a flat rock inside his fire pit. The water in the bucket was boiling wildly. He carried the bucket into the house and poured some of the water into the sink where he was going to wash the dishes. When she saw what he was doing Angel pushed him out of the way and said, "Move. I'll do that. I told you already today I was willing to work for my keep."

After the dishes were washed they dipped them in the remaining water to rinse them then Jess dried them off and put them away. When the job was done Jess took the bucket outside and walked to the stream. He filled it and carried it back to the fire pit where he placed it on the stone once again. Angel watched him with a puzzled expression on her face. Jess smiled and said, "I'll bank the fire and the residual heat will begin heating the water for morning. Most mornings the water is still warmer than the stream when I need it so I can get it hot faster."

Jess headed toward the trailer and followed Angel inside. He moved toward the bed and began taking off his outer clothes. Angel once again looked apprehensive. Jess saw her and said, "I don't usually sit up long in the evening. I'm usually tired enough to go to sleep and it saves money not burning lights." Angel looked around and Jess got the hint. He continued, "Oh. Angel the couch behind the table makes into a bed. You take the table off its pedestal and put it on the ledge between the seats then use the back cushions for the rest of the mattress. Here, let me show you."

Jess moved to the front of the trailer and prepared the second bed for Angel. He reached into a cabinet and pulled a couple of blankets from it for her. He looked embarrassed and said, "I don't have any more sheets. You'll have to just use these blankets. I don't keep the furnace turned on very high so you will probably want to sleep in those sweats also."

Angel gave Jess a small smile and took the proffered blankets. She spread them over the bed then sat and removed her shoes. She swung her feet up and pulled the covers over herself. She looked up at Jess and said, "Thank you Jess. I don't need sheets. This is so much better than the shack I'd be an ungrateful fool to be upset over not having sheets." Jess felt helpless and sad when he saw the tears trickle down Angel's cheeks.

Jess turned to his end of the trailer and quickly dropped his jeans. He turned off the remaining light and climbed into his bed. Both of the young people tossed and turned a time or two then dropped quickly off to sleep.

Just as dawn was breaking Jess woke the next morning. He quickly rose, dressed and made his bed then rushed outside to take his morning leak. He built up the fire to begin heating his bucket of water. On the way back into the trailer he grabbed the pail from the tree that had his breakfast meat inside it. Jess kept his bread and eggs inside so was now ready to prepare breakfast.

When Jess opened the door Angel was returning the table to its daytime position. She squeaked and jumped when she heard Jess open the door. After she folded the blankets Angel placed them back in the cabinet from which Jess took them the night before. Angel watched Jess work on breakfast for a moment then shoved him aside. "Go. I can cook the breakfast."

After their breakfast Angel gathered the dirty dishes and looked over at Jess. She said, "Is the water hot yet so I can wash the dishes?"

Jess looked at her then smiled and said, "It should be. I'll check." Soon he returned with the hot water and watched while Angel did the dishes.

They sat and looked at each other for a moment after the dishes were done then Jess stood. He said, "I need to get to work now. I don't have any wood to deliver today so I'll be out in the woods cutting more if you need me."

Jess stepped out the door and began loading his tools into the truck. He was sharpening his saw using the tailgate as a work bench when Angel came around the side of the trailer dressed once again in her filthy clothes from the day before. She stood watching him until he finished the saw. When Jess moved toward the driver's door Angel got into the passenger side of the truck without saying anything.

While Jess cut wood Angel stacked the brush out of the way and stacked the cut wood where Jess told her to place it. Jess knew having a helper was faster but he was amazed at how much faster the work went with Angel helping. They got over twice as much wood cut in the morning as he usually did by himself. About noon Jess told Angel they would break for lunch. He normally brought a sandwich to the woods with him but hadn't this day. They got into the truck and Jess drove back to the little trailer to make sandwiches and eat. They did have chips with them but drank water to wash them down.

While they ate and relaxed Jess and Angel talked. This was really the first conversation of any length they had. About halfway through the meal Jess looked at Angel and said, "If you're thinking about hanging around you need to know about me Angel. I'm not the nice guy you seem to think I am. Or maybe you know what a bastard I am. I've seen you look at me and cringe when I startle you. I won't hurt you Angel. Have you heard anything about me? Do you have any questions about what I did?" Angel looked scared and shook her head no.

"No what? You haven't heard about me or you don't have any questions?"

"I've not heard. I just know those boys were scared of you when they figured out who you were."

"Yeah I guess they were. They were on the football team with Troy Parker when we had our fight. I hurt him pretty bad Angel and spent six months in the county jail for Assault and Battery. He'll never walk right again and I messed up his right arm so he can't throw a football again. I pretty much screwed his chances of getting a football scholarship to college."




A Hard Man



"Why? You don't seem like someone that would do that to someone. You must have had a good reason to hurt him that badly."

"It's a long story Angel. I had a reason for the fight but now I'm not sure it was a good one. I was an angry jealous kid and lashed out in pain and anger without clearly thinking about what I was doing. Oh, I had to fight but I went too far. 

"I was dating Ashley Thomas and he wanted to take her out. I was jealous of the attention she was giving him and almost ready to break up with her but I hadn't yet. I think looking back that she was playing with us and trying to get us to fight over her but I'm still not sure. She was beautiful and knew it. She was a big flirt and knew that pissed me off. Anyway she began flirting with him about two weeks before our fight.

"We were at a victory party after the school football team won a big conference game when we got into it. I graduated the year before. Ashley and Troy were seniors in high school. I really had no business at the party but I was dating Ash and she wanted to go so we did. 

If there was anything good about the fight it is that we were all over 18 or I might still be in jail for messing with a minor. At least I lucked out there. Anyway Ashley was flirting with Troy during the party and pushing me away. I saw him pulling her toward the trees and she was resisting I thought. She was giggling but pulling back as if she wanted to get away from him. I followed them into the trees and up to a clearing where he already had blankets spread out. It was obvious he planned the whole evening. I'm not positive he planned on screwing Ash but he definitely planned on screwing someone from the looks of his little love nest.

"Troy pushed Ashley back onto the blankets and tossed her skirt up over her waist. Sometime during the evening she removed her panties. Or hell, maybe she never even wore any that night. I really can't say for sure. Her uh. I could see she was ready for sex. I moved into the clearing and started to curse Troy and Ashley. He looked at me and laughed. I felt two of his football friends grab my arms and hold me. Troy said, "You just stand there asshole while I show you how your betters treat a woman. When we're through I'll teach you some manners. You should know better than to follow a man and his woman when they're looking for a private place.

"Well ole Troy was sure a two minute wonder. His friends made me watch while he took my girlfriend. I still wasn't sure he wasn't raping her but she cleared that up right quick. She looked up at him and pulled him down for a kiss then turned to me and said, "You just couldn't take the hints could you Jessie? Maybe this will teach you that when a woman finds a real man and is ready to move on you should fade away like you are supposed to."

"I said to Ashley what do you mean? You never told me we were through. You let me take you out tonight.

"She looked up at me and said well DUH! What, do I have to draw you a picture? Now you know.

"I was fighting against Troy's friends but I couldn't get away. It seemed like no time before he finished with Ashley and got up. They made me watch while he put his pecker back in his pants. I could see his spend draining from Ashley before he got to me. That pissed me off also. She always made me use a condom and she let him go bareback.

"I had been working pretty hard for a year or so and was able to take Troy's first two punches into my stomach pretty well. His friends got careless after he began hitting me and I got away. I raked my boot down one's shin and stomped his foot. He screamed and let me go while he collapsed onto the ground. I slammed my then loose fist into the second one's neck and put him down then I went after Troy. I kicked his knee and broke it then after he was lying on the ground I stomped his arm and broke it.

"I'm not proud of what I did Angel. I should have never followed them into the woods. I might not have if I was sure he wasn't forcing Ashley. I don't know. I was pissed enough I probably wasn't thinking straight. All I know is the one whose foot I stomped had some broken bones and the other one almost died from his bruised trachea swelling up. I'm just lucky I didn't hit his voice box and kill him. Troy's parents are rich. They pressed charges against me. I got time. If there hadn't been a couple of witnesses that testified it was three against me I might have gotten even more time. Anyway now everyone is afraid of me. My father kicked me out of the house and has even left town now because of some problems we got into after I was released.

"I understand if you are afraid of me Angel and want to get away. I want to help you though if you can trust me. I don't have much and can't pay you but you are welcome to stay here if you want to. After today I can see the two of us can do a lot more than I can alone. I can use your help until you get on your feet if you do want to stay."

Angel sat looking at Jess in shock. She heard about the fight while she was in school. She didn't know it was Jess that had been involved. She went to school in Branson instead of Hollister so did not know any of the people personally.

Angel looked at Jess and said, "I told you I wanted work. You're the only one who has given me a chance and at least now I have a safe warm place to stay and food to eat. I'd be a fool to leave unless you do try to hurt me. I don't know you well and you have scared me several times but that is mostly because of how I've had to live recently. Yes I want to stay at least for a while if you will let me. Besides I'm not that much different from you.

"I had to leave Branson a couple weeks ago because I got into trouble there. My daddy died in the spring last year. Momma was Mexican and didn't have her papers. She worked as a maid in a third rate motel. She got $70 a week and we got to live in one of the rooms. Her boss wanted us both to sleep with him or he would turn her in. Momma let him have her but when I refused the bastard turned her in to the INS and they deported her. I was born here in the states so they couldn't deport me. Daddy was a citizen but they never did the paperwork to make Momma a legal permanent resident. I don't know why. Anyway I went back to the motel and fought with the asshole that turned Momma in. I was trying to get our things from the room but he wouldn't let me have them. I pushed him down and he hit his head. The desk clerk called the police and I had to run. So you see I'm no better than you are. Are you afraid of me?"

Jess looked at the little slender woman and laughed. "No Angel I can't say I'm afraid of you. What say we just agree we're both dangerous outlaws and see if we can make a living out here in the sticks?"

Jess stood and walked toward the door. Just before going outside he said, "I think I'm going to go check my limb lines to see if we have any fish before I cut more wood today. You want to come with me? We have to be careful because it's not fishing season but I fish to save money on food. Besides I like fish."

The rest of the winter Jess and Angel worked building a stockpile of firewood for future sale. They sold enough to support the two of them but feeding Angel and buying her some warmer clothes almost eliminated Jess's ability to save money. In mid March Jess's wood deliveries almost completely stopped and he knew he would need to find something else to make a buck on. 

One day it was raining and they couldn't work in the woods. Jess was sitting in a chair in his plastic garage watching the rain fall. He was gazing out over the cleared part of the clearing when a thought came to him. He hated to spend the money but he decided to purchase a garden tiller. They could put out a garden to see if he could grow some food to help cut expenses. 

The next day Jess went to town and purchased a used tiller. Jess figured he had at most two acres of open ground in the little clearing. He picked what he thought was the best location and began working removing the grass and undergrowth then he began tilling. For the next two weeks almost all he and Angel did was work on their garden. It was a horribly hard job. The ground was rocky. There were a lot of roots in the garden plot from the underbrush and small trees Jess cleared out. The soil was hard. He even went to the farm of a friend and got several truck loads of manure and some topsoil to till into the garden spot.

Many evenings Jess and Angel were almost too tired to clean up and eat before they went to bed. They slowly made headway on the garden however. As Jess cleared and tilled Angel hauled the rocks and roots away. As soon as they had a small place cleared they put in their manure and planted some early crops then moved on to clear and prepare more ground for later planting. Finally by mid April the entire space they intended to turn into a garden was cleared and ready for planting. Jess then took soil samples and took them to the county agent for testing to see how much fertilize and lime they needed to apply. He hoped it would be very little since they tilled in cow manure, soil and some straw from his friends farm.

As the days passed of course the gardening was shoehorned in between work in his (now their) lawn mowing business. By warm weather Jess managed to pick up enough lawns to mow that they grossed an average of $300 a day. Normally Jess operated the ZTR mower and Angel did the trimming and most of the weed eating and edging. They did not work Saturday afternoon or Sunday in the lawn care business. They used those days to service their equipment and do their chores at home. Many evenings after getting home from doing yard work they worked in the garden weeding or picking and preserving their crops.

As spring and early summer warmed the air and water Jess stopped bathing inside the trailer and began going back to the stream as he did the previous year. Angel bathed inside until late May because she said the stream was still too cold but Jess began using it in early May. By this time the two were fast friends and trusted each other implicitly. They knew each other so well they could almost finish the other's sentence sometimes. They now joked and laughing with each other as friends do.

Memorial weekend Jess decreed a holiday. They did not work any of the three days. On Sunday Jess picked up his small cooler with beer inside, his soap and towel and said, "I'm heading for the creek. If ya don't want to see me naked you probably oughtta holler before you show up so I can put my shorts on."

Almost an hour after he went to the stream Jess was laying on his back floating in the quiet water. He heard a swishing sound and felt some waves rock him then something landed across his chest and he went under.

Jess tried to yell and got a mouth full of water. He began floundering around fighting whatever had landed on him when all at once the weight lifted. He stood in the chest deep water coughing. He heard laughter and turned to see Angel standing behind him. She was wearing panties and a bra. It was obvious she had dunked him.

Jess let out a roar and dove for her. Angel screamed and backed away but she wasn't fast enough. She held her arms out toward him trying to ward Jess away as women do at times. He brushed past her arms, grabbed her and picked her up. He turned her sideways and dropped her into the water. She hit with a splash and went under. Jess stood watching while she came spluttering to the surface.

Angel dove for Jess and began wrestling with him trying to dunk him once again. She was pushing on his chest and her hands slipped. That caused her to ram her breasts against Jess with one of her arms on either side of his body.

Jess looked down at Angel. She was looking up at him. All at once Jess grabbed Angel and pulled her tightly to his chest. He bent his head down slightly and found her lips. Had there been someone watching they would have never believed this was their first kiss. Angel wrapped her arms around Jess and pulled him to her as tightly as she could while her tongue thrust deeply into his mouth. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around Jess's waist while they kissed. 

How long is a kiss? Sometimes it is just a microsecond in cosmic time. Other times it seems to go on forever yet actually lasted seconds only. This was one of those kisses. Neither knew how long it lasted. However long it was it was not long enough. After they caught their breath they dove into another one, then another. Jess was panting. His hard cock was pressing against Angel's wet panties, pressing them into her cleft. Angel was moaning and writhing against Jess as she tried to grind her pussy into his hard cock.

Jess walked from the stream carrying Angel. He clumsily but carefully knelt beside the blanket spread alongside the stream and laid her on it. He knelt beside her and looked deeply into her eyes. Jess placed his hand gently on Angel's bare stomach and bent forward to give her another kiss. She grabbed him and pulled him down with one arm while her other one reached for his hard manhood. Angel grasped the object she was searching for and gasped at its apparent size.

The kiss continued and Angel spread her legs pulling and pushing until Jess got the hint and moved over her and between her legs. Angel thrust her hips upward while she pulled Jess's cock toward her still panty clad pussy. Angel removed her arm from around Jess and pulled the crotch of her panties aside. She pulled Jess's cock toward her dripping pussy with the other hand.

When Jess felt her well lubricated lips and thrusting pelvis he involuntarily thrust his hips toward her. A slip, a wondrous smooth, wet warm feeling then nirvana. His cock slid into Angel. She gasped then wildly thrust her hips upward driving Jess the rest of the way into her hungry pussy. There were no words spoken. None were needed. Jess and Angel stared into each other's eyes as their bodies began that age old dance of love and lust.

For several minutes all that was heard in the small clearing beside the stream was the slap, slap, slap of the copulating couple and their moans and groans of pleasure. Then Angel screamed. Her heels locked around Jess's thighs and she slammed her crotch upward. Faster almost than the eye could see she slammed and thrust repeatedly against Jess as her orgasm ripped through her. When he felt her inner muscles throbbing, gripping and milking him Jess dove over the precipice and crashed into his own orgasm. He slammed against Angel and held himself rigid while his cock throbbed and jerked pumping his seed into the center of her being.

Jess groaned and collapsed over Angel holding himself off her on his elbows. He gave her a gentle kiss then rolled to the side and lay panting on his back. Angel rolled toward Jess and threw her leg over his thigh and an arm over his chest. She moved to give him a gentle kiss then laid her head on his shoulder. They drifted off to sleep entwined together. 

A few minutes later, perhaps more, perhaps less Jess returned to wakefulness. He felt the pressure of Angels contact. He turned his head toward her and stared into her eyes. When she saw him look at her Angel smiled and moved the arm she had lying on his chest. She gently caressed Jess's face then moved to give him another gentle kiss. Her eyes were glistening. After the kiss Angel hugged Jess tightly and rose from beside him. She reached behind her and released the hooks on her bra then shrugged it off. Next she pushed her panties off and threw them onto the blanket. She smiled down at Jess as he looked at her beautiful naked body then she laid beside him and put her head on his shoulder once again. She threw her arm and leg back over Jess and snuggled into him.

Jess tightened his arm and pulled her tighter to his body. He lay on his back looking up through the tree leaves. Without looking at Angel Jess said, "You know I love you don't you? I've never felt this way before. If you want to leave now it would tear my heart out. I would understand but it would gut me. I know I have nothing to offer a woman though so if you want to go I'll help you all I can. Just please go now before I fall more in love with you."

Angel moved until she was sitting beside Jess. Her face showed anger. She looked down on his reclining body and said, "Do you think I would have made love with you if I didn't love you too? Don't you think I know we don't have much? We have our health and strength though and you have this land. We have a job doing yard work in the summer and selling wood in the winter. We can get by just fine. I stayed with you before we fell in love. Why would you think I would leave now?"

"Things changed today. I took advantage"

"Jess nothing happened that we didn't want to happen. You know as well as I do that we were headed toward this now for weeks. I sneaked up on you in the creek today and started all this. I love you Jess or I would never have let you make love to me. We can't do this often though because I'm not on birth control. I finished my period yesterday or I would not have let this happen today. Next week would you please take me to the health department so I can pick up some birth control pills?"

Jess pulled Angel down across his chest. He raised his head and gave her another kiss then said, "Yes. Oh HELL yes. We'll go by the office the next time we're in town."

Angel stood and held her hand out to Jess. When he took it she helped him rise and led him back to the stream and their private swimming hole. After the two new lovers swam a while longer Angel stood beside Jess. When he stood also she leaned into him and gave him a gentle kiss. She stepped back and said, "It's getting late. I'm going back to the house to fix supper now."

Jess stood watching as his Angel moved slowly and sensuously out of the water. She had filled out and put some meat on her bones since they first met. Now she looked perfect. When they first met Angel was unhealthily skinny. When she got to the blanket Angel picked it and her discarded underwear up and walked toward their small trailer without bothering to dress again. Jess felt his cock twitch as he watched her absolutely perfect ass disappear from his view.

Jess slowly walked from the stream and gathered his clothes together. He followed behind Angel carrying his clothes also. When he got to the edge of the clearing he stood watching Angel move around the fire preparing the meal. She did not bother to dress. Naturally she was being very careful working around the fire. When she bent over, hell every time she moved, Angel's beautiful C cup breasts wobbled and shook for the world to see. Her perfect pink nipples led the way. He didn't know why they were still hard but they were and he loved to see it. Of course Jess loved looking at the pretty little pussy she showed occasionally much more than he did the titties.

After the meal it was too warm still to go inside the trailer. Jess brought some chunks of wood close to the trailer several days ago to sit on but they were not comfortable. He looked around a few minutes then pulled his pants and boots on. He went into the plastic garage and got his chain saw and walked toward the lake.

Angel watched him go then when she heard the saw start and keep running for a while she dressed in her work clothes and followed. Jess cut down several cedar trees several feet tall and from three to six inches in diameter. He trimmed the limbs off up until the diameter was a little over an inch. Angel moved the brush out of his way and piled it as she normally did when they cut wood. As they worked Angel asked, "Jess what are you cutting these cedars for?"

"It's a surprise Angel. I want to make something but I'm not sure I can."

After several minutes Jess turned his saw off and picked up one of the tree trunks. He began walking back to the trailer pulling the tree and carrying his saw. Angel grabbed a trunk and followed. It took the two of them several trips to pull all the tree trunks to the plastic garage.




A Hard Man



After all the trunks were piled up Jess went into his tool belt and took out a tape measure. He then went into the house for a moment and came back outside. Jess began measuring the trees and marking dimensions with a hatchet. From time to time he sat down and looked at the trunks while he thought. Finally it got too dark to work any longer. While it was still dusk Jess picked up his soap and towel and went to the stream for another bath. Angel followed as she felt dirty too after the work they had done. Once again the two lovers made a short stop on the blanket beside the stream. It was fully dark before their lust was once again satisfied and they stumbled naked back to the trailer for a night's sleep.

This was the first night Angel did not make her bed in the front of the trailer. Instead when they entered the trailer she followed Jess to his bed in the back of the trailer. He was surprised but said nothing when she crawled into bed with him and snuggled against his body. They exchanged a gentle kiss and drifted rapidly off to sleep.

The next morning Angel was already up and outside when Jess woke. He put on his shorts and walked outside. He could see Angel working in the garden. He knew he should go help her but his project was calling. Guiltily he turned toward his garage and the project instead of helping Angel. He worked several minutes before Angel came looking for him. She stood looking at his work a moment then said, "Breakfast is ready Honey."

As soon as he finished eating Jess returned to his work. From time to time when she took a break from the garden work or later when she was cleaning the vegetables Angel went to see what Jess was doing. He had the tree trunks cut into several different lengths and had cut notches in some of them. He drilled holes in several of the trunks as well.

Finally just before Angel called Jess for the evening meal he yelled at her. "Honey can you come help me for a minute please?"

Angel walked rapidly toward the plastic garage. When she got there she stopped in shock. Jess was sitting on a native cedar love seat he had built. He grinned and said, "Would you help me move our new furniture out front please?"

Angela grinned and moved toward Jess. He stood and started to move toward one end of the love seat sized bench to pick it up. Angel stopped him and pulled him into a kiss. She stepped back and said, "It looks nice honey. I'm afraid those sticks in the seat will be awfully hard to sit on for long though."

"Yeah but I think we can find some old couch cushions in the dumpster behind one of the furniture stores to put over them then we'll have a nice comfy padded seat. I'm going to make us a table next too then we can eat at a table outside."

Over the course of the next month Jess made several pieces of outdoor furniture from small trees. He made two chairs, a table and a rack to use when cooking over the fire. During one of his trips to town to collect for their work Jess mentioned his furniture to the owner of a small campground they mowed the yard for. They spent nearly thirty minutes talking about the rough furniture and how Jess made it. 

Howard, the campground owner, said, "Jess I need to replace some of the furniture back behind in my picnic area. Could you let me see what you built? It sounds like something I might like to put out there. I've seen some of that kind of furniture for sale from time to time and thought it looked nice. Besides Rustic Furniture is a fad right now and I think it would be good advertising to show it in my pictures on the net and in the brochures I send out."

"Sure, I don't mind but it's sort of heavy. I don't think I want to haul it over for you to look at though. Could you come out to my place to see it?"

"Oh hell yeah I can come to your place. You don't need to haul it in. I can come to your place and look at it if you don't mind showing it to me."

Howard had nothing he needed to do that afternoon so he followed Jess to his place. Jess and Angel had become used to running around naked if they could safely do so. When he stopped to unlock the gate Jess walked up to Howard's car and said, "Uh Mr. Sprague my girlfriend lives with me. Could I ask you to wait here for a moment while I let her know I'm bringing someone out so we don't surprise her? I'll honk when it's ok for you to come on down if you don't mind."

As he expected when he got to the clearing Jess found Angel working in the garden naked. He watched her in admiration for a moment then walked toward her. He told her she needed to dress because Howard was there to look at their furniture.

After Angel was inside Jess honked and Howard came down the trail. Howard was impressed with the furniture. He sat in the chairs and love seat with and without the pads. Angel brought the two men a cold beer then sat in a chair while they visited. To Jess's and Angel's surprise Howard offered to purchase some furniture if Jess would make it. He did say he wanted smooth lumber used for the seat and table tops though. He didn't want to bother with caring for cushions. He even wanted some of the racks and tables to place beside the BBQ grills.

Howard ordered four tables, four racks, 16 chairs and four of the love seats. To Jess and Angela he offered an indecent amount of money for the furniture also. He was willing to pay $250 each for the love seats, $50 each for the chairs and $200 each for the tables. The racks were only $100 each however. Jess agreed to use bolts to hold the furniture together instead of the wood pegs he used in his and to purchase native cedar boards for the seat and table tops.

It took Jess and Angel almost six weeks to make all the furniture working evenings on it after mowing yards all day. After the job was completed they made a profit of almost $2500.00. Jess and Angel thought they were rolling in money. Two weeks after they finished the furniture for Howard the owner of a flea market came to Jess and asked if he would make some of the furniture for him to sell in his shop. Of course Jess agreed immediately.

By now it was getting cooler and the firewood business was picking up. Jess and Angel began cutting and delivering more wood so had less time to work on the furniture. Of course the furniture building took a back seat to that. It wasn't that big a deal however because the prime tourist season was almost over. There was a little surge during the holidays but by far the majority of the flea market's sales were in the summer.

During the winter when it was bitterly cold Jess and Angel didn't cut much wood. They hauled what had been cut and stacked in reserve and stayed inside as much as they could. One day after they delivered a load of wood they decided to spend some time fooling around on Branson Landing. It got old sitting in their small trailer passing time. The two young people went into several of the shops that were open and, of course, spent a lot of time in Bass Pro. One of the shops they looked into was a clock shop. Jess was intrigued by some of the more rustic designs he saw there. Later that afternoon after they got home Jess went into the plastic garage and another product was born. He found some smaller pieces of wood and one of the boards left over from furniture making. He fooled around with it and made a clock face. He sanded it smooth and found some small pictures depicting rustic rural America in an old magazine. He put a coat of varnish on the wood then stuck pictures on the varnish and covered the pictures with another coat of varnish. When he finished he had a clock face with beautiful pictures on it. He was so into the project he even went into town and purchased a cheap battery powered clock to get some works from for his home made clock.

Later that spring Jess took the clock to his friends in town and they loved it. It was put in the flea market on consignment and sold for $75.00. Jess doubled his investment money on the clock.

That spring a tornado passed through Branson. Jess and Angela made several dollars helping clean up the mess. Perhaps more useful to them than the money they made cleaning up the mess though was all the material they salvaged from their efforts. When they took a job they wrote into the contract that they were allowed to keep any material they wished. All they guaranteed to do was remove the debris and clean the lot to the owner's satisfaction. One of the jobs they got was cleaning up a small business that was damaged beyond repair. They salvaged several steel roof trusses and pieces of sheet metal roofing and siding. Additionally they salvaged many of the metal building studs.

After much of the clean up was completed Jess had the electric coop run lines to his place and install a meter. He and Angel began building a new shop near his little trailer. They debated for several days whether or not to use a concrete floor or just build a pole building and leave the floor dirt. One day Angel made a telling argument from Jess's point of view. She said, "Jess Honey we're doing ok now and we are both getting tired of living in that little trailer. If we put a concrete floor in the shop we can turn one end of it into a small apartment for us to live in and still have a lot of room to work in and store your tools.

Jess and Angel looked over their plunder from the storm and decided they had enough trusses and almost enough studs to build a 30 X 24 foot building from the 30 X 40 store they salvaged. They would have to purchase windows and doors in addition to the concrete. They would also have to purchase the insulation and interior wall coverings and finishing for the apartment but Jess thought they could swing the cost if they did the work themselves. The finish work didn't have to be completed all at once.

Jess went to town the next day and rented a small tractor with a back hoe attachment to level the floor and dig the footings for the buildings pad. After the footings were dug he used the tractor's front loader to run back and forth to the small stream and haul gravel up to place underneath the concrete. Three days later they were ready to pour the concrete. Jess priced out doing it himself mixing the concrete from scratch, buying redi mix or contracting the work. Contracting cost so much for labor he decided against that almost immediately after he got the first bid. Finally he decided to purchase the redi mix and do the footing and floor himself in one days pour. It took them all of one day to build the forms and place the rebar and rewire. He called the redi mix company and ordered the concrete for delivery first thing the next morning.

Angel and Jess decided after doing the concrete that NEVER AGAIN. That was extremely hard and exhausting work. To his pride Jess not only remembered to place bolts for the walls in the concrete he remembered to place drains and piping in the floor for future addition of water and a toilet. That was one of the things he and Angel were most tired of doing without—running water and an inside toilet. Jess even got the bolt pattern correct in three of the four corners for the main steel building studs. On the corner that was off only one of the bolts was out of position. He managed to drill the hole in the metal larger to make the fit.

When they got finished they had a 24 X 16 apartment in one end of the building and a 24 X 14 size enclosed shop in the other. They even had enough material left over to make a covered porch over the entry door and a covered 14 foot wide shed on each long side. The building was NOT pretty by any means using as it was made out of scrap salvaged from many other buildings but it WAS much better than they had. Even nicer they had electricity inside and Jess bought a used wood stove to heat with in the winter.

On Labor Day that summer Jess proposed marriage to Angel and she accepted. They were married two weeks later in the local Judge's chambers. 

Shortly after their wedding one of the shops in Branson that sold antiques and rustic furniture came to Jess. They wanted him to make some rustic furniture for them to stock. They specifically wanted bed head and foot boards, night stands and even some coffee tables in addition to the rougher things he made for outside use.

Jess and Angel discussed the request that evening while they were eating supper. They still used the outside table from the first furniture Jess built. It was a much rougher job than they now turned out but still very sturdy and functional.

When Jess told Angel about the offer she excitedly said, "Oh, Jess! That's wonderful! You told them you would do it didn't you? I'm so excited for you." She stopped talking for a moment then she looked worried. She continued talking, "But where would we work and where would we store the completed items? How could we do it?"

Jess looked around their little clearing then turned back to Angel. He said, "That was the big thing I thought about. Another thing that bothers me is the time it would take to build the furniture. We don't have any spare time now to do anything else. We work almost all day in the summer doing yard work and in the fall and winter we cut and deliver wood almost all day. I don't know how we could do more. I guess we could work Saturday afternoons and Sundays but we would totally burn ourselves out working seven days a week all year long."

"As for where we would build the furniture though I have an idea. I can enclose one of the covered sheds on the side of the building and we can do some of the work in the new room and store the completed furniture there until we deliver it."

Angel sat for a moment and slumped in defeat. She couldn't think of a way for them to expand the furniture business either. Sadly she looked at Jess and said, "I guess you'll have to tell them we can't do it then. Damn. I really enjoyed building the furniture too but I am so exhausted now I don't see how we can work seven days a week."

Jess leaned back in his seat and looked around their place. Most of the clearing was stacked full of wood waiting to be sold that winter or was in use in some other way. He looked around at the forest he could see from where he sat. Finally he looked back at Angel and said, "You know Angel we've cut almost all the dead trees and downed limbs from the woods. We could cut live trees and probably could cut wood for as long as we wanted. Wood cutting is damn hard work though even using the hydraulic splitter. Building the furniture isn't a whole lot easier but it is easier and we could do that inside in bad weather. I would have to buy some wood working tools to make things easier but if we stopped selling firewood we would have time to do the furniture. We even make better profits on the furniture. Until we saw if we could make it on the furniture we could just cut back on the amount of wood we cut and sold.

I think we could do the furniture in the apartment and shop building and the enclosed shed if we had another place to live. We could use the apartment for the finishing room. We have almost $9,000.00 in the bank now. Why don't we go to town and see if we can buy a cheap used trailer to move down here?"

Angel looked at Jess and smiled. "Ok. That sounds like a great idea honey. Do you think we can afford something like that though? What if one of us gets sick or we have to buy a new machine or have a large repair bill?"

"We all have to gamble sometime Angel. I'll buy some medical insurance if I can find an inexpensive policy. If we do well we can make a lot more on the furniture unless the fad ends and we can't sell it any longer. If that happens we can always go back to cutting more firewood. I have some other ideas about things we can make also. Maybe we can make some shelves for displaying souvenirs or jewelry boxes or flag display cases. I have seen some beautiful display cases for soldier's medals and keepsake display we might make also. Let's see if we can do this."

Jess and Angel lucked out finding a trailer home to live in. They went to one of the larger sales lots in Springfield and found a 40 X 14 foot unit that was previously used as office space for construction sites. It had two rooms that could be used for bedrooms a small bathroom and a larger main room that could be made into a kitchen and living area. The large room had a few cabinets installed with a sink and two burner stove and microwave that had been used by the crews to heat their lunches and fix coffee and snacks. Perhaps the best thing about it was the price. The company that owned it had gone bankrupt and they were able to purchase it for only $5,000.00. That was more than they wanted to spend but they both felt like this was a good deal. The trailer had been built for the north and had 2 X 6 wall studs so was much better insulated than most. It also came with free delivery and installation including insulated skirting. They spent the money and excitedly returned home to pick out the perfect location for their new home. Jess even decided to spend the money to rent a backhoe once again. This time he dug a pit and laterals to install a septic system. Once again Jess did the work himself. They would still not have running water in their home but they would have indoor plumbing from then on. They still had to bring potable water from town and would carry water from the stream to flush the toilet.

Finally the day arrived when their new home was delivered. They set it near the small camping trailer they lived in for over two years. It had a better view of the lake and was slightly closer to their swimming hole. Angel almost fucked Jess into an early grave the first night they spent in their new home. They owned almost no furniture but that did not matter to her. She had a real home now. She was a very happy woman.

As soon as they moved their few items of furniture and preserved food into their new home Jess turned the old apartment into a finishing area for their furniture. He and Angel began building the furniture already ordered. Three weeks after the first pieces were delivered to the Antique store and flea market Jess received a phone call from another retailer wanting to know if he would make some items for them to stock. Jess and Angel worked ten to twelve hour days most of the winter making and delivering their furniture and a few other smaller items Jess built from scrap lumber. Even selling much of their furniture wholesale Jess and Angel made more money than if they sold firewood. Another plus was the work was easier and they got to work inside where it was warmer.

They did not make as much per piece of furniture as they did at first using trees Jess cut from their land. They had cut almost all the smaller trees that were fit to build his rustic furniture with so they had to purchase a lot of the material now. Jess and Angel did still cut some of the wood they used however. Many of the contractors in the area hired them to clear brush from land they were going to build on and they were able to cut smaller trees on neighbors land also. Some paid them to clear the land, some charged them for cutting the small trees but they still got them. It was the lumber, bolts, fastenings, varnish, sand paper and so forth that ran the cost up now. Their volume was such that they still made great money however. They averaged 65% profit on the sale price of a piece of furniture and even more on the smaller items they built. Many of their clocks and decorator items were made from scrap wood or even driftwood and root balls they picked up around the lake.

In the spring of the third year Angel and Jess were together they decided to have a child. It was the happiest day of her life when Angel was able to tell Jess he was going to be a father. Unfortunately her pregnancy and later the care for the child slowed down their production drastically. Finally their order backlog was so great Jess decided to hire help.