Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
By Waddie
Greywolf
Chapter 22
"No government has the right to tell its citizens when or
whom to love. The only queer people are those who don't love
anybody. ~ Rita Mae Brown
After handshakes, hugs and kisses, the Sheriff was duly welcomed
back into the fold of the Daniels family. Will never felt like he
belonged more in any one place in his life than he did at the
Daniels Ranch. Only one day passed, but everyone had to know about
how things were going for him. He couldn’t thank Billy and his
Cowboy-Angel slaves enough for transforming and rebuilding his
body back to the way it was before he went off to fight in the
never ending wars in the Middle East. He, also, thanked Billy,
Nathan, and Zelma Jane for their generous contribution to his
reelection campaign fund.
“You’re just in time to help with the milking, Sheriff. Our
Watcher herd needs to be milked, so you can see how we collect the
milk you drank last evening,” Billy announced.
“I’d like that,” Will said enthusiastically.
“C’moan then. Us Watcher milkers is headed for the barn,” Billy
said and motioned for Boomer, Nick, his twins, Hank, Buck, Clyde,
and Balthazar to follow them. Billy moved the milking area to a
small store room on the side of the old barn. His men spent a day
cleaning it to meet sanitary conditions. It contained an old sink
with hot and cold running water. Nathan told them in the old days
of the ranch it was a tonsorial station for the owner, cowboys,
other ranch owners, and their cowboys around the area. Nathan said
he could remember when a cowboy who was good at sheering sheep
would double as the local barber. After months of sheering
cowboys, he got enough practice so’s he could give a pretty decent
haircut. While cleaning up, Billy’s men found an antique barber’s
chair in the back of the store room covered in old oil tarps and
canvas sail cloth. They got it out, cleaned it up, and it worked
fine for a Watcher to lie back and relax as he was being milked.
Billy even mulled it over in the back of his mind to find an Irin
slave who might like to be a full time barber and send him to
school, or learn by having his brothers submit to him for
practice. Even the worst haircut will grow out in time.
The men undressed so they wouldn’t rip their clothing when they
morphed and transformed to the huge creatures. Billy assigned Hank
and Buck the task of connecting the milking machine, and they
didn’t morph along with the rest. They would morph last. Will
watched in awe as, one by one, Billy and his immediate family
morphed into a Stomping of Bigfoot right before his eyes.
Boomer was the first to take the chair. Hank hooked him up and
turned on the machine. It started to hum, and Boomer’s eyes got
glassy. He looked like he was going into a trance while
experiencing a very sensual prolonged orgasm. Will could only
wonder what the feeling must be like. The scene of Boomer getting
milked, and the good looking men around him removing their
clothing was almost too much for him. It reminded him of his
younger days when he played high school football and the four
years on the varsity team for Texas A&M. He was successful at
hiding his attraction to other men, but he knew on the Daniels Ranch
he didn’t have to hide anything.
He was delighted to find out Billy held a progressive attitude
toward sexual openness. Will felt like he belonged with these men.
He felt comfortable with them. Will got a wet spot at the crotch
of his uniform. Billy looked at him and grinned, “You don’t have
to be shy around us. You’s family, Sheriff. If you wanna’ strip
and play with yourself or have one of my slaves relieve you of
yore’ heavy load, feel free,” Billy invited. Billy took off the
last of his clothing and stood completely naked before the
Sheriff. “Or, you can have your twin bother give you a blowjob,
if’n you like,” Billy said and immediately morphed into a perfect
copy of the Sheriff.
“Holy shit, that’s hot, Billy!” the Sheriff exclaimed, “I always
wanted me a brother. A twin would be good, but a perfect copy even
better. If’n I’s to turn you over my knee like 'at and give you a
good spank’n would it qualify as self-abuse?” he asked.
“That trope has already presented itself, Sheriff. My adopted dad
can morph to look like me and asked me the same question the first
night we spent together. Believe me, we’ve pondered it, but ain’t
come to no conclusions yet. While it does present somewhat of a
conundrum, I imagine it would have a lot to do with the spanker
and the spankee,” Billy replied and laughed.
Billy could see Will ogling the twins with their smaller but
magnificently perfect bodies. He was as taken with them as any man
who appreciates other men. “Or if you thought Enoch Redbone or
Moss Garrett were more to your liking this evening – ” Billy said
and snapped his fingers for his halflings to morph. They instantly
began to grow and expand to perfect replicas of Moss and Enoch.
“Woah! That’s fantastic. Do you men take that shape often?” he
asked.
“Pretty much ever’ e’nin, Master Tate,” Polly answered, “We take
care of our husband, Boomer, almost every night, but he’s too
large for us as halflings. He’s also our master’s bonded mate or
husband, but we think on him as our protector and husband, too,
since we’s Master Billy’s little brothers. Boomer likes Master
Enoch and Master Moss a lot. He think’s they’s just about the
sexiest cowboys he’s ever seen. When he’s around them he can smell
their strong sexual pheromones for each other, and it keeps him
erect for hours or until we provide him with some comfort and
relief.
With Hank and Buck’s permission we asked Master Enoch and Master
Moss if we could suck them off to copy their DNA. We was honest
with them about why we wanted their genetic information, and after
they picked themselves up off the floor, and stopped laughing,
they agreed it would be a good idea. They were all for it. We,
also, have Master Billy’s DNA on file, and we can morph to become
him if Boomer gets a powerful hanker’n for his mate when Master
Billy’s busy with other matters. We sub for Master Billy when he’s
with his Demon Dad. It works out well for us. We love our master,
we love Nick, and we love our husband, Boomer. We’s family,” he
added.
“Who could gainsay your reasoning, Gentlemen? That’s remarkable.
Who’s to say what best defines a family but the members
themselves? If it works for them, they’s family – end of
conversation,” said Will firmly shaking his head, “Howsomever, to
be honest, I rather like you as halflings. Am I too big for you?”
the Sheriff asked waggling his handsome cock at them.
“Naw, sir, Sheriff, we can handle you jes’ fine, sir,” Cass said
and grinned.
“You heard the man. Morph back and take care of him,” Billy said
to Polly and Cass as Enoch and Moss. “Of course you realize, once
they got yore’ DNA copied and on file, they can morph to be your
double to please their husband with another handsome cowboy
treat?” Billy asked and grinned.
“They certainly have my permission. I wouldn’t even mind helping
them bring comfort to their husband some evening, if they’s a mind
to share him,” Will said.
“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind as long as they can watch and be a
part of your conjoining, but for that we’ll have to book a night
in the castle on board Captain Nick’s spaceship,” Billy tossed
off.
“What spaceship? Where?” the Sheriff asked.
“Sorry. I forgot. We ain’t told you the story of how Nick Samuel
come to be my slave and surrogate Pa. I’ll leave that to my little
brothers,” Billy said.
Will wasn’t expecting a group orgy with Billy and his slaves, but
that’s pretty much what the afternoon turned out to be. Will Tate
was first and foremost a cowboy and a Sheriff second. His daddy
raised him like most every other western man raises his son, to
accept goodness and pleasure graciously when it comes your way,
but never expect anything. If you do, you set yourself up for
rejection and disappointment. While that homily might prove
useful, or at least sustainable, to keep a cowboy’s back straight
and stiff most of the time, Will thought it didn’t prepare him for
two harsh winters nor two long, hot, drought-filled Texas summers
of loneliness and discontent. The Sheriff was without his pa as a
companion for over two years, and he missed him terribly. The
emptiness inside him was amplified by being around a group of men
who seemed to include him into their brotherhood as a
welcome-worthy addition to their family. They seemed to give so
much to one another, and asked very little in return save their
appreciation and respect. Within the boundaries of common decency
and collective brotherhood, the Sheriff let himself go and enjoyed
wallowing in the physical excess of having Cass and Polly bring
him comfort.
Will Tate was never a one-way street. He began to fellate Cass as
Polly was chowing down on the Sheriff’s ample cock, but Will
noticed several of the men were watching and exchanging grins with
each other. Billy came to his rescue. “Better be careful suck’n
that Halfling-Warrior’s cock, Sheriff,” Billy warned and smiled.
“How’s that?” Will stopped long enough to ask.
“Remember that old potato chip commercials on TV what claimed:
betcha’ can’t eat jes’ one?” Billy asked in reply.
“Yeah. You mean I gotta’ suck the other half to get a full shot?”
he asked with a grin.
“You’ll find out soon enough, but don’t say we didn’t warn you,”
Billy replied and smiled.
Will went back to sucking Cass more furiously than before and
Billy’s halfling was responding to the Sheriff like Will Tate was
the cowboy of his dreams. Hell, Will Tate was the cowboy of any
man’s dreams and many woman who didn’t know he had a hitch in his
get-along. The Sheriff worked hard to please the perfect little
man and finally got his treat. When the first taste of Cass’s
ejaculate filled the Sheriff’s mouth and throat, a look of pure
heaven crossed his face. He swallowed the first volley, then
sucked even harder and faster to get the rest of Cass’s wonderful
tasting halfling gizz. He didn’t pull off quickly, but kept Cass
within his maw sucking and enjoying the last small bits of flavor.
That’s when Polly gently wormed his forefinger into the Sheriff’s
ass and hit his prostate gland. Will enjoyed a climax unparalleled
in his experience of sex with other men.
“Jesus H. Christ! That was phenomenal, Men. Thank you for that.
Your master was right, I can’t eat just one. I must have both, and
not because Cass’s shot was short. It was a full man-sized meal in
itself, but the taste ain’t like nothing I ever experienced
before. It was wonderful,” the Sheriff raved. The twins were all
over him hugging and stealing kisses. “Let’s take a break for a
while, you can tell me about your master and how Nick come to be
his slave, then I’ll do the other half,” Will said hugging them
close.
Uncle Gregor and Albrecht on Retikki Prime weren’t joking when
they added ‘engaging story tellers’ to the long list of the twin’s
talents. Since they spent so much time with Madam Spartza and
Balthazar on Retikki Prime, they were the perfect men to tell of
their friendship and admiration for them. They spent a brief
portion of their recounting the happy times they spent enjoying
the Madam and her protective angel’s company. They knew many
personal tidbits and information they readily shared with the huge
Shedu beast, Beauford, Captain Nick Samuel’s number one protector.
In return, big Beauford favored them by sharing many secrets and
intimate knowledge of his master, Samu’el, one of the most notable
of the fallen angels. Since they crash landed on Earth, Nick and
Beauford became Master Billy’s slaves. The twins heard the story
from their masters on Retikki Rime, and later from Boomer and
their new master, Billy Daniels, from a place called Earth. They
heard Billy, Boomer and Nick, himself, recount the story. From the
twins many visits with their master and Captain Nick to his
spaceship, they heard the story again from the perspective of the
villagers.
The twins knew almost everything there was of interest to know
about the story and held Sheriff Will Tate and the other men
spellbound with their recounting. Even those who knew the story
well, were wowed by the twin’s story telling abilities and their
dynamic presentation. They told Master Billy’s story from rescuing
Nick, his being called to Retikki Prime by the elders of the
Grigori for enhancement purposes, his new family’s side visit to
Fort Adam Lear, Billy and his family’s further enhancement by the
Irin, and finally their return to Earth.
When Castor and Pollux finished, all you could hear was the quiet
drone of the milking machine hooked up to Bigfoot Billy’s teats.
Everyone broke into applause and the Sheriff began to make love to
them again. They didn’t stop until the Sheriff claimed his second
dessert from Polly as he exseeded into Cass’s hungry maw.*
Billy was happy, they collected almost two gallons of Watcher
milk, but he wondered if it would be enough with more people
depending on it by the day. He particularly wanted to share with
the Sheriff. Not only to help his body readjust more naturally to
his repairs, but also to awaken latent talents within the
Sheriff’s brain. Billy could tell from tapping someone’s mind
almost exactly the length of time it would take for the person
drinking Watcher milk regularly to turn on the dormant gene. With
Will Tate he predicted exactly seven days. Some were more stubborn
than others, but Billy sensed the Sheriff was a quick study and an
easy comer. Billy wondered if it was because the man was closer to
and more in tune with his basic animal nature than most, and
wasn’t afraid of it.
The men morphed back to their original state, cleaned up, and
returned to the ranch house where the twins, Hank and Buck joined
in helping get the final preparations for supper underway. They
didn’t have to worry that evening about a second shift. The thirty
Irin cowboys were flying solo on their own in their new bunkhouse.
Kate and Zelma seemed more relaxed and in good humor looking
forward to a good meal and some musical entertainment afterward.
They sat down to a nice dinner and talk was lively around the
table.
“How long do you play music for your people, Billy?” the Sheriff
asked.
“About two hours. We time it to end just about the time the sun
sets in the west. We don’t go longer for safety reason. We got
electricity run out there for playing electronic instruments, but
we ain’t got a real great sound system or many lights yet,” he
replied, "We sort of 'make-do' but we have a lot of fun," he
added.
“Good. I need to get home early. My little Missus is pregnant, and
she’s expecting any day now,” the Sheriff said.
“You never said nothing about having a wife, Sheriff,” Kate jumped
him.
“I don’t. I’s single, ma’am. My little Missus is a small but wiry
Australian cow dog. She’s been living with me for two years now,
and this will be her first litter. I hand raised her from a two
week old pup,” Will said.
“Not too many of her kind around the area I can think of,” Tron
Garrett said, “Most ever’ rancher what’s still running cattle with
work’n cowboys has gone to the Texas Blue Lacy. Don’t know why.
Probably a Texas pride thing, except the Lacy is a better game
dog, bigger, and will go after coyotes, Javelinas, and wild pigs.
Two or more have been known to bring down a mountain lion. The
Aussie Red and Blue Heelers are damn good cow dogs and some say
they’s better with kids. Last I knew somebody what owned a couple
was old man Klugle what lived out London way, but I hear’d tell he
lost his little female,” he added.
“Yes, sir, it was about two years ago. She give birth to four
pups, and they barely had their eyes open when she got jumped by
some coyotes, and they killed her. My little Missus was one of
them pups. He brought them into our animal shelter to give away or
put down because he didn’t have the time or interest to hand feed
them. I had to place my dad in the home in Brady a couple of weeks
before. I was lonely and grieving my heart out for him, when Lima
Bean, our animal control officer lady, brought her to me. Ya’ll
know Mrs. Bean. She’s married to that big cowboy, Bubba Bean, what
works out to the sand plant near Fredonia. They own a ranch not
far from mine,” Will said and several nodded their heads they knew
her.
“Anyway, she already placed the other three pups with good homes.
According to Ms. Lima they were pretty healthy and stout, but the
little female she was holding was the runt of the litter. Ms. Bean
decided what I needed to pull me out of the doldrums and feeling
sorry for myself was a project. She told me I needed a companion.
The only problem was, I had to become the pup’s momma, and like
most men, I knew little or nothing about that sort of thing. They
didn't even have their eyes open yet. I was more’n a little
skeptical about it, but Ms. Bean has a way about her and knows how
to work your conscience.
"She ruthlessly wheedled me into seeing things her way. Somehow,
she convinced me that little tiny lump of fur what she held in her
hand – no bigger’n a hair-ball I seen an average size cat cough up
– would be the best therapy for me ever, and she was sure I’d save
a fortune on visits to a therapist. She wore me down with her
arguments like a farrier uses his bastard file to round off the
rough edges of a horseshoe. Out of frustration and fear – you
ain’t never seen a lady what can be as passionate about some’um as
Ms. Bean can be – I threw up my hands and told her to stop, I
couldn’t take no more. I agreed with her. After all, I thought,
how hard could it be?
“That was before she showed me how to fix the formula, feed her,
take a Q-tip, wet it with warm water, rub it over her little
smusskie to make her relieve herself, then clean her up. That’s
when I choked and decided Lima Bean was talking major
responsibility way outside my ballpark, and I had a job to do. I
really didn’t think I could handle it, but everyone in the office
was on Lima’s side. They ganged up on me. They promised they’d
lend a hand during the day, and all I’d have to do was tend to her
at nights. It sounded a bit easier that way, so I agreed again.
Lima gimme' a small bottle with a tiny nipple and some powdered
animal milk substitute.
“I remember it was a bitterly cold day. She was so small I just
slipped her into the pocket of my heavy fleece-lined jacket and
forgot about her. She rolled up into a tiny little ball like she
returned to her momma’s womb and slept peacefully all afternoon.
When I got home, I gently took her out and set her on a big fluffy
towel I had on my table. She opened her little eyes, shook her
tiny head to focus, drew a bead on me, and looked straight past my
eyes into my heart. I was like a deer caught in the headlights. I
was stunned. I couldn’t move. I didn’t know what to do. How could
something that small, fragile, and innocent look right to the
bottom of my heart; into the very depths of my soul?” Will asked.
“What ju’ do, Sheriff?” Roz asked him politely sitting on the edge
of her chair.
“I did what any good lawman worth the name would do when he ain’t
got no clue how to handle a situation – I read her her rights!”
Will exclaimed and everyone fell out laughing. “I done told her,
‘You have the right to remain silent. Anything you bark or do, can
and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right
to an attorney, but if'n ya' cain't afford none, an attorney will
be provided for you. Do you understand these rights I just told
you?’ I asked her.”
“She looked me right in the eye again, crawled to my finger, and
gently licked it. Then I swear to you good folks, she smiled at
me, and I heard her in my head, clear as day, she read me my
rights: ‘Anything you say or do for me will be greatly
appreciated; especially, if you hold me against you, close to your
heart, so’s I can hear your heartbeat and the pattern of your
love. I have nothing to give you in return but my unconditional
love and devotion, and I will be your faithful companion all my
days. I will be good to you, but I expect you to be good and kind
to me in return. I will always love you for what you do for me
today,’ she said. Well, sir, I knew right then and there, I not
only had been Mirandized, I also fell head over boot heels in
love," Will said.
“What ju' name her, Sheriff?" Billy asked caught up in Will’s
story.
“Miranda!" everyone around the table said in unison and laughed.
Billy got a stunned look on his face. “How come I’m the only one
who didn’t figure that out?” he asked like he was disappointed
with himself.
“No you weren’t, Master Billy. I didn’t either,” Roz said in his
defense.
“It’s because you both love animals so much, you were caught up in
the story and didn’t think about the obvious,” Kate declared and
everyone agreed.
“Are you sorry you took the time and effort to become her
surrogate parent, Sheriff?” Roz asked.
“Lord, no, Ms. Roz. I’d never admit it to Lima Bean, but she was
right. Miranda was the best dang thing what could a’ happen to me
at that moment. I had to stop my grieving long enough to think
about her and her needs, and slowly, over time, brought me to my
senses. Life goes on, and while I didn’t have to give up hope for
my dad, taking responsibility for another life helped me
understand. That pup helped me understand and realize I done the
right thing by him,” the Sheriff said.
“I’ll make up a box of scraps for you to take home with you for
Miranda’s dinner, Sheriff, and a Daniels care package for you,
too, so you can have some cold chicken for your lunch tomorrow,”
Kate said.
“We’d both be most grateful, Ms. Kate. I know Miranda would love a
break from canned dog food,” Will said.
“We’ll give you some Watcher milk to take with you. She should
have four ounces in the evening and four more in the morning. It
will make her pups stronger and help her have a more natural,
uncomplicated birth. If you know the day she conceived, I can have
one of my Irin cowboys stay with her for a couple of days to make
sure her first whelp goes smoothly. If not, he can contact me, we
can be there in an instant, and I can help her,” Billy offered.
“You know, she’s awful small for an Aussie cow dog, but she’s
compact and wiry. She ain’t afraid of nothing, but I worry about
her first whelp. Lima told me if anything was to go wrong, it
probably would be her first time. I took her to a breeder Ms. Lima
recommended, who lives outside of Ingram on the Guadalupe, and she
spent an afternoon with one of his best males. Miranda seemed to
know what we were there for and allowed him to breed her. The
breeder, Mr. Hollenbeck, told me the average gestation period for
a blue heeler is about sixty-three days, give or take. I been
marking the days off on an old feed calendar at work and today was
fifty-nine,” Will said.
“Then when you bring your dad over Sunday, I’ll have a cowboy
ready to go home with you to give you a hand for a while. With a
little luck and the backing of them ancient critters, let’s hope
you won’t have to take your dad back to the home. An extra hand
will come in handy to help with both,” Billy said.
“I’d be much obliged, Billy,” Will said.
“It’s what neighbors do for one another, Sheriff,” Nathan said.
“Hosanna!” agreed Tron.
“Hosanna, in the highest!” everyone responded.
* * * * * * *
Billy’s crew was busy during the previous week. Billy gave Roz his
orchestral piano reduction of the Bach double violin concerto and
told her to copy out a basso continuo line to double his bass line
of the accompaniment. He wanted a more full sound for the piece.
He told her he wanted her to learn to double on the cello and to
learn the continuo for the concerto. She spent one afternoon in
her room at her desk carefully writing out the part. She loved
Billy for wanting to include her even if it was only the
accompaniment with the cello, and she worked hard to please him.
The more she worked on it, and practiced on the cello, the more
she saw the possibilities for expansion of the part. With Kate’s
help and a few suggestions of her own, she wrote and re-wrote
until the second movement almost became a trio. It was masterfully
done but neither veered from Bach’s original intent nor his
unmistakable style.
Since Billy put her in charge of collecting more music for the
quartet to play Roz managed to obtain both the Debussy and Ravel
string quartets and had been practicing her viola part with the
twins when they could spare the time and join her in the basement
where no one could hear them. It didn’t take Kate and Zelma long
to put the kabosh on that and insisted they practice in Roz’s
apartment off the kitchen so they could enjoy their playing. Billy
managed to get away for a couple of practice sessions, and they
were shaping up well as a quartet.
Everything was set up for the performance, and after everyone
pitched in to clean the kitchen area, they all moved to the back
of the barn and the make-shift stage. The Sheriff escorted Kate
and Zelma, one on each arm, to the front row of the folding chairs
brought out from the bunkhouse by the cowboys. There were fifteen
new members for them to seat, and behind them a sea of brown
shaggy cows and steers.
Master Billy and his musicians took the stage to great applause,
stomping of hooves, yells, and whistles. Billy took the
microphone, “We usually play the ancient music first, and tonight
won’t be an exception. Our halfling twins, Castor and Pollux, will
be the soloist in J. S. Bach’s concerto for two violins and
orchestra. Unfortunately, we don’t seem to have a complete
orchestra handy this e’nin, nor a smaller Baroque ensemble, so I
will have to play the orchestral part on my synthesizer loaded to
sound like an ancient instrument called a harpsichord. Our
faithful third member of the Highland Shire String Quartet, our
wonderful viola player, Ms. Rosalyn Q. Cumber will play the cello
to double the base line of the harpsichord in an old tradition of
Baroque music known as a basso continuo. I’d also like to point
out, Roz carefully wrote out her part from my keyboard reduction
of the original orchestral score, and I cain’t wait to hear how
everything comes together,” Billy said and everyone applauded for
Roz. She blushed and made a move to stab Billy with her bow, but
he was too quick for her, and waggled his finger at her in mock
contempt. The audience loved it, laughed, and applauded again.
Billy set down to his electronic keyboard counted to three, and
they were off on a trip to visit the early part of the eighteenth
century by recreating some of the most glorious music ever penned
by the hand of man. They weren’t into the piece more than a couple
of minutes when Billy called a halt to the music. Even though Roz
was playing her heart out, Billy could barely hear her part. He
took his hand mike, hung the cord over her music stand so it would
be right in front of the cello, and asked her to play a few bars.
She did as Billy adjusted the volume to his satisfaction. Once
again they started and this time Roz’s contiuno bass was well
presented and supported Billy’s part well. The twins even seemed
to have more get-up-and-go to their playing and polished off the
first movement beautifully like it was a mere bon-bon for two
seasoned professional musicians.
It was the second movement Billy wanted to hear. Roz told him she
took some liberties, and from what his grandmother told him, he
was anxious to hear what she accomplished. The further they got
into the slow movement, the more Billy was convinced he had more
than just a budding talent in Roz. The music she was bringing
forth from the cello and her rewriting of the base part was
genius. Billy watched the audience out of the corner of his eye.
He only had to provide the chords, but it was the twins and Roz
who were making the real music; and, it was heavenly; the music of
the spheres. Billy watched Kate and Zelma slowly rise from their
chairs, and one by one, everyone in the chairs were standing,
holding hands, and swaying gently to the music. It was like they
were entranced and became united as a spiritual body with the
beauty of the interplay of the three instruments as Roz, Cass,
Polly, and Billy played on, until the last chord was sounded and
slowly faded away like a light cloud on a warm spring day.
The audience couldn’t help themselves and burst out into applause
for the group. Kate looked up at the big strong stalwart Sheriff
and grinned at him wiping away tears from his eyes. Zelma borrowed
his bandanna to do the same. Billy held up his hand, motioned for
them to sit and they did. They began the last movement and Roz
continued to shine. She not only doubled the bass solidly, she
provided chordal accompaniment with double and triple stops on the
cello. Billy was wowed and amazed at her musicianship. He even
caught his usually flawless halflings listening to Roz and almost
forgetting an entrance. Roz was magnificent and the audience
adored her. She was one of their own and represented them well.
They were rightfully proud of her.
When they finished, the crowd went crazy yelling, applauding, and
calling Roz’s name. The four joined hands and went to the front of
the stage and took a bow. Roz and Billy backed away and allowed
the twins to hog the lime-light. The audience continued to shout
and applaud for them. They backed up to let Billy and Roz take a
bow, but Billy held back, bowed deeply to Roz, and with a gallant
wave of his hand directed her to the center of the stage. Everyone
went nuts applauding for Roz. She seemed pleased, but just a bit
overwhelmed. She turned and walk over to Billy, took his hand, and
led him to the middle of the stage. Billy took her into his arms
and gently kissed her on her forehead, “You can double my ground
bass anytime, anywhere, Young Lady. Ain’t never heard nothing no
finer, Roz,” he said.
“I was so worried you might not like it or think it too florid or
ostentatious,” Roz said.
“Ostentatious? I think not! Too florid for Baroque music?
Nonsense, it was the stuff of genius, Dear Heart. I hope Billy
Junior is enjoying this and taking the goodness unto himself,”
Billy said while the crowd was still applauding.
“He is, Master Billy. I can feel him listening. You may laugh at
me, but when I was writing out my part, I could swear he was
helping me every step of the way like he was encouraging me to do
my best,” Roz declared.
“I believe you, Roz,” Billy said and stole another kiss.
“Is there something between Billy and Roz I don’t know?” the
Sheriff asked Kate.
“Nothing much,” Kate said and grinned, “Oh, but there is one small
thing I almost forgot, Roz is carrying my grandson, Billy Junior,”
Kate added like an afterthought.
“Damn, the kid gets around, don’t he?” Will asked and laughed.
“It ain’t what you think, Sheriff,” Zelma interjected, “It’s
Boomer and Billy’s son. Roz volunteered to carry it for them.
Boomer impregnated her while she was still a cow,” she explained.
“How is that possible?” Will asked looking frustrated.
“Once you hear the how and why of it, it don’t seem so complicated
or unnatural, Will,” Kate said, “Ask Billy. It’s no secret. He
just hasn’t gotten around to telling you about it yet. I just
thought I’d have a little fun with you,” Kate added and grinned.
“What else am I gonna’ learn about you people?” Will threw up his
hands and laughed.
“Fasten your seat belt, Son. I’m still learning new things every
day, and I’ve only been here a week,” Zelma said, “You’re a part
of Billy’s family now. He has no secrets from his family. He’s the
personification of wysiwyg: what you see is what you get,” she
added.
Billy took the microphone again. “Thank you for your kind
appreciation. For our second and final part of the first half of
our small barnyard concert we would like to do a reading for you
of a more modern piece of music from the first half of the
Twentieth Century by a French composer by the name of Claude
Debussy. It’s his only string quartet. It is a lovely work and we
hope you enjoy it as much as we have in practice. We’d also like
to dedicate this to our family member who made the suggestion we
learn this quartet, Mrs. Zelma Jane Redbone,” Billy said and took
his seat with the cello. Roz was in her chair with her beloved
Viola and the twins were ready. They reminded Billy of two eager
horses in their racing paddocks waiting for the bell to sound.
Polly, Roz, and Billy watched Cass, and with a nod and a start of
his bow they began in unison.
They played from beginning to end flawlessly. This time the
audience allowed them to go from movement to movement without
going bananas; however, when the final note of the quartet was
sounded, Zelma and Kate were on their feet applauding and everyone
joined them. They applauded for several minutes with equal amounts
of shouts, whistles, and stomping of hooves. Billy was growing
quite fond of his small ensemble and wondered how long it would be
before he got up in front of a ninety-eight piece symphonic
orchestra composed of Irin enhanced men and women. If they loved
music, they wouldn’t know it’s full effect until they learned to
make it themselves. There’s just something about making music
together which bonds people like nothing else. You may not speak
the same language, but you can play the music together and
communicate as one.
* * * * * * *
After a brief recess Billy’s musicians took to the stage again for
the last part of their Friday evening Cow Concert, as it was
becoming to be known. It was a time to let your hair down, relax,
and enjoy yourself. Billy and his band became quite good at
entertaining the herd and much of their performance was downright
silly. It didn’t matter. It was a time to come together to have
some fun. They relaxed and allowed themselves to have a closer
communication with their audience.
After the previous Friday, the playing of the ‘Virginia Reel’
became a 'must-do’ regular thing. The cows would go crazy
cavorting around and actually dancing to the music. Billy was
almost sure they couldn’t be seen from the road, and he had a
handful of guard steers who alternated guarding with attending the
concert. They arranged six groups so the guards would only miss
one out of six performances. They didn’t actually miss the music.
It reverberated in the small canyon which acted almost like an
amplification chamber, and they could listen all the way to the
front gate.
While Billy and his band were playing a spirited hoedown number,
Billy got a tickle in his brain. << Speak to me,
>> he said never missing a beat of the music.
<< Master Billy, them two men is back who tried to film
our dancing cows last Friday. They got a big pair of wire
cutters, and they’re cutting through the fence to let themselves
in. How do you want to handle it, sir? >> he heard
Thor ask.
<< Gimme’ a minute, Thor, and I’ll get back to you, >>
Billy replied.
<< Polly, let Cass play with Roz. You take my place at
the keyboard, but keep the music going, >> Billy said.
Pollux stopped playing and carefully put his fiddle away in its
case and took Billy’s place. He picked right up, and it sounded
like the full ensemble playing again. Billy motioned for the
Sheriff to come with him. Will excused himself from the ladies and
walked over to Billy.
“What’s up, Cowboy?” Will asked.
“Walk up to the rise wiff’ me, Sheriff. Thor just sent me a
message them two what tried to film our hoedown last week are
back, but this time they got wire cutters to let themselves onto
the property,” Billy explained.
“C’moan, let’s take a look,” the Sheriff said.
The two men walked up the incline to the top of the ridge and lay
down on the rocky topsoil to peak over into the next valley which
ran up to the fence along the road. Sure enough the two men just
finished cutting a hole big enough they could crawl through.
“Damn, 'at’s old Bubba Ray Kirkendall and Bobby Earl Hickson. Two
shiftless characters you don’t never wanna’ turn your back on,”
Will declared.
“Looks like they got brand new camera equipment hanging around
their necks. They must a spent a pretty penny on them,” Billy
commented.
“Don’t know how. They’s both out of work and ain’t got a pot to
piss 'tween 'em – unless – ” Will tapered off.
“Unless, what, Brother?” Billy asked.
“That’s probably what Womack wanted to tell me this evening when
he stopped by the station as I was leaving. I wanted to get out of
there, and I was late getting off work because my deputy had an
emergency with his kid. I just pointed to my watch I was late for
a date, and I pulled away without speaking to him. I’ll bet you a
buffalo nickel, Womack paid for them cameras,” Will
allowed.
“How should I handle it, Sheriff? They’s trespassing on my land.
They cut through my fence to get in, so I got the right to assume
it’s for some nefarious purpose. By open range law, I got the
right to shoot bow'fubbum under the assumption they broke in to
steal my cows,” Billy put to him.
“You’re absolutely right. Ain’t no argument, but I’m gonna’ let
you handle it the way you want to, and I’ll back you up with
anybody what tries to say different; howsomever, I got me a gut
feel’n you’s gonna’ do some’um so unorthodox it will put the fear
of Womack’s God in them,” the Sheriff drawled and grinned
wickedly.
<< Thor – you, Zeus, and them other bulls move over to
the fence where they cut their way through. Send for
reinforcements from the bulls at the hoedown, have them meet the
interlopers ‘afore they get a chance to see anything, and
surround them. Don’t let them go in any direction, >>
Billy said and laughed.
“I don’t think I like that laugh. I can tell, you’s up to no damn
good, Billy Daniels,” Will Tate broke up laughing and rolled over
on his back to hold his stomach.
“Watch, Sheriff!” Billy exclaimed as he saw Thor, Zeus, and a
dozen other bulls moving at a good clip to block the men’s escape,
while at the same time, about a dozen large bulls came running
over the horizon in a cloud of dust their hooves kicked up. It
took the Sheriff only an instant to see what was going on, and he
started laughing again. Will couldn’t contain himself. He swore he
never laughed so hard in his life as he did when he saw the look
of abject horror on Bubba and Earl’s faces when they realized they
were cut off in every direction.
“I think yore’ good looking demon dad’s been butt fuck’n you way
too much, Cowboy. You got a devilish streak in you – devilishly
funny, that is,” the Sheriff allowed and laughed again.
“How do you know what we do in bed?” Billy challenged.
“Are you kidding me? If’n I had me big good looking studly hombre
like him, I thought enough of to call ma’ pa, it’s what I’d want
him doing for me,” Will said and grinned, “You’n me’s alike in
several ways, Billy, and all I can say is, if'n you ain't serve'n
that pretty, tight little ass a yorn up to that hunk of a fallen
angel plenty and hot, you's a crazy man!” Will added firmly and
laughed again.
“I assure you, Sheriff, I ain't no crazy man. I knew the minute I
saw his handsome cock, there was only one home for it. Old Nick
shore’‘nuff ain’t stingy with his affections, neither, Sheriff,
but he swears and be’damns I was a demon-in-the-rough 'afore he
became my slave, and I took him for ma’ pa,” Billy said and
grinned.
“You done figured out about me and my pa, ain’t chu?” Will asked
quietly.
“Yeah, ‘at’s why I need to fix him for you, Sheriff,” Billy
replied, “You need yore' daddy's solid love'n,” he added.
“Angel or Devil, you’s first and foremost a good man what believes
in the Cowboy Way, Billy Daniels,” Will allowed.
“Ma’ granddaddy taught me about the Code of the West and the
Cowboy Way, but my Uncle Nate taught me to be a cowboy and a good
man,” Billy said.
* * * * * * *
“My God! We’re surrounded!” Earl yelled at Bubba.
“Now I know how Custer felt at Little Big Horn,” Bubba said.
“You mean where’d all them fuck’n Indians come from?” Earl asked.
“Yeah, only we’s facing a tribe of angry cows. Ain’t much chance
we’ll be scalped, though,” Bubba allowed.
“‘At ain’t much comfort when you’re looking at being gored to
death by them big horns,” Earl said.
Thor sent a message to slowly move together and force Bubba and
Earl to the center of a circle. They slowly began to form an
impenetrable circle around the men and moved closer. “Now, now, –
nice cows. We didn’t mean you no harm. We only wanted to watch the
show and maybe get us some nice pitchers of your brothers and
sisters dancing. Being cowboys, we jes’ love ourselves some
dance’n cows. Don’t we, Bubba? Bubba? Help me out here, Brother.
We watched you last week and tried to take some pitchers, but some
damn bird zapped Bubba’s camera, and it burned up,” Earl pleaded.
Billy began to speak through Thor and spoke out loud so the
Sheriff could hear what he was saying. “Where’d ju’ boys get them
new expensive cameras?” Thor asked.
“Bubba? Bubba, are you listening to me? Open your eyes and look at
me, Bubba! Bubba, 'at damn cow just spoke to me! Did you hear him
or am I going crazy?” Earl asked.
“I didn’t hear a thing! Nope! Not a word. You’s definitely going
crazy, Earl,” Bubba replied with his eyes still closed trying to
make reality go away like an ostrich with its head in the sand.
“Don’t lie to your brother, Bubba, or I’ll shove one a my big
horns so far up your ass you’ll have to sneeze to take a fart! And
further more, Earl, in case you ain’t noticed the set of horns on
my head, I ain’t no damn cow. I’m a bull, and right now us bulls
ain’t none too happy with you men trespassing on the Daniels
Ranch. Our master has the right to shoot you on sight without
question because you’re trespassing on his land. This is open
range cattle country and you men lived here all your lives. You
know the laws and ignorance of them ain’t no excuse,” Thor growled
at them. “Now lets try this one more time. Who bought them cameras
for you men?” Thor demanded.
“The Pentecostal preacher, Pastor Womack. He bought 'em for us to
take some pitchers. He done put us up to it. He’s gonna’ pay us a
hun’nert bucks each to get some pitchers, and said we could keep
the cameras. It took us damn near three days to learn how to use
‘em, and now we didn’t even get one pitcher,” Earl lamented.
“Who’s gonna’ pay to repair the fence you men destroyed?” Thor
asked.
“We didn’t destroy it. We just cut it some. Mr. Daniels got lots
of cowboys. It won’t take them anytime to put it back together,”
Bubba said.
“He’s got to pay the cowboy for his time to do the job,” Thor
said.
“Hell, that’s all cowboys do is herd cattle and mend fences. You
should know that. One more little hole ain’t gonna’ amount to a
hill a’ beans. None of you cows can fit through it no ways.
Besides, most cowboys on the bigger ranches is slaves. He probably
don’t pay them a’ tall,” Earl countered.
“What we got here, Gentlemen, is a failure to communicate. Some
men you just can't reach,” Thor said in frustration trying his
best to sound like Strother Martin, Jr.
“Let’s just gore ‘em to death, scatter their innards for the
vultures to eat, and be done with ‘em,” Zeus said playing bad bull
to Thor’s good bull.
“Now, now, let’s not be hasty. You handsome bulls don’t wanna’ do
some’um you’ll regret later. I know you ain’t blood thirsty
critters. I’m sure we can work this out,” Earl insisted.
“Okay, here’s our offer. You leave your camera gear on the ground
in front of you, and if you agree to our demands we’ll let you go.
If you don’t do what we agree, we’ll have Master Daniels show this
video to the Sheriff,” Thor said. A three dimensional video sprang
up in the air of Bubba and Earl cutting the fence and crawling
through onto the Daniels property. In the background you could
clearly see the ranch sign hanging from the front gate with the
name Daniels Ranch fully visible.
“My God they got videos of us, Bubba. How’d you cows do that?”
Earl demanded.
“You don’t need to know, Cowboy. All you need to know is we got
chu’ by the balls, and we won’t let go until you do what you
promise,” Thor said firmly.
“What’s zat?” Bubba asked trying to sound brave.
“Go home, gather up all accessories and booklets to these fine
cameras, take them to the Sheriff’s office, and drop them off.
He’ll know who and what they’re for. I’m sure they will make nice
presents for our master and just might keep your asses out of
jail. I hear tell they’s making slaves out of men like you for the
least infraction. It’s only one more reason you should do as we
say. And one more thing, stay away from that ignorant, conniving,
fat ass pulpit-pounder. If you get into trouble because of him, it
will be you what pays the price – not him. He’ll claim you’s
lying, and who would believe your word over his, a man of God?”
Thor said.
“Okay, we agree to your demands,” Earl said.
“Aww Hell, Earl! Cain't chu' get us a better deal than that? I
come to like ma’ new camera,” Bubba lamented.
“Shut up, Bubba! You ain’t got the sense God give a goose! Them
cows is smarter than you and me put together. They done got us
dead to rights. I ain’t gonna’ go agin ‘em if’n they's offer’n a
way out of this mess, and I damn-well advise you to do the same,
Brother,” Earl said.
“Awe-right! Goddamn it! But, it was a really nice camera, and I
liked it a lot!” Bubba groaned taking his camera from around his
neck and setting it on the ground next to Earl’s.
“Do we have your word?” Thor asked.
“You got our word,” Earl replied.
“Okay. Let them pass,” Zeus said, the cows parted, and let Bubba
and Earl head for the cut they made in the fence.
Billy and Will watched them hightail it back to Bubba’s truck and
burn rubber on the black top as they turned around and headed back
into town. Will was snickering like a school boy as he and Billy
walked down the hill to talk with the guard herd and pick up
Billy’s new camera equipment. “I have to say, you handled it
better than I would have, Son,” the Sheriff said, “You gonna’ keep
their cameras?” he asked.
“Naw, I don’t want ‘em. I thought I’d give 'em to you to take back
with you. You can give them an option, if they wanna’ come back
out to fix our fence and do a good job, they can have their
cameras back; however, they must promise never to come on our land
again without an invitation or as someone's invited guest, or they
will be shot the next time, no questions asked,” Billy said
firmly.
“Would you really shoot them, Billy?” Will asked.
“In confidence, no – but they don’t need to know that,” Billy
replied and grinned.
“I like the way you run, Cowboy,” the Sheriff said.
Billy thanked each and every bull and told them they were an
important part of his staff right now, and they would be given a
chance to contribute more as soon as they could accommodate them
with housing. The Sheriff had a few good words for them himself,
and told them it was a honor for him to meet and get to know them.
They seemed pleased and those who left the concert returned.
By the time Billy and Will came walking over the rise, everyone
heard about the brouhaha which took place in the other valley. The
music stopped and everyone applauded for Billy and the Sheriff.
Billy took the microphone and told everyone what happened. Of
course he used his best cowboy hyperbole to make the encounter
much more funny than it really was, and his bulls in the herd
'amen-ed’ every word he said as gospel truth. He had everyone
laughing so hard they were holding each other, including the
Sheriff. Kate clung to Will Tate’s big muscular left arm and Zelma
Jane clung to the strong right arm of the lawman.
“So much for our little invasion of privacy,” Billy ended his
story. “We understand and appreciate you folks having to live as
cattle for a while, but until Thor and Zeus said something to me,
it never occurred to me you folks might enjoy some entertainment.
So my attitude is, to Hell with snoopers. We’re doing our best to
keep what we do private, but I’ll be danged if I’ll stop our
Friday e’nin barnyard concerts. Let’s do another couple of rousing
numbers, and you folks kick up your heels and dance your asses
off. Let’s have some fun! Hosanna!” Billy shouted and there came a
roar from the crowd back to him, “Hosanna, in the highest!”
They performed several more country and western pieces and a
couple of dance tunes. The cows danced their hooves off, and
everybody had a good time. They were such fun to watch, the rest
of the audience gathered around just to see them perform. They
were really quite good and surprisingly graceful. One never really
thinks of a cow as graceful, but the Highland cows were the
exception. They were the Fred Astaires and the Ginger Rogers of
the bovine world. Kate and Zelma conspired to consider it rather
reminded them of the dancing hippos in Disney’s ‘Fantasia,’ and
Bubba and Earl were the intruding alley-gators.
The barnyard concert came to an end as the sun was setting in the
west. It was a lovely spring evening and everyone wanted to come
around and have a word or two with their master, welcome the
Sheriff, and pay their respects to the family. The cows chosen to
come forward couldn’t thank Billy, Roz, and the twins enough for
their wonderful music and expressed what an enjoyable time they
had.
Will began to see Billy in a totally different light. Any other
young man his age would probably have been bored to the tits, but
Billy wasn’t. He was at the top of his game playing the serious
role of being the young master of his small but potent realm. Will
began to think of a comparison to any other figure he could think
of and the legend of “Arthur” kept coming to him. He smiled to
himself thinking the Highland Shire was a long way from becoming
Camelot, but the Sheriff thought if any man of any age might pull
it off, his money would be on Billy Daniels.
* * * * * * *
Billy’s immediate family returned to the ranch house to the
kitchen for some refreshments. Kate and her staff served dessert
and coffee to everyone. While Kate and Zelma Jane both knew Will
was probably devoted to male relationships, they couldn’t help
flirt and court the young Sheriff’s attention. Will certainly
didn’t seem to mind and reveled in their conversation. He learned
a lot about the family and Billy he never knew listening to Kate
and Zelma. They were a veritable never-ending source of
information about the young cowboy and his growing family and they
held back nothing from the handsome lawman.
Kate made him up two boxes of food and carefully labeled them. The
twins got him a half-gallon of Watcher milk to take home with him,
and Billy told him to drink two eight ounce glasses a day. He
promised the Sheriff, if he followed his instructions to the
letter and drank the milk accordingly, by the end of the week he
would have a new world open unto him. He would have a closer
relationship to his little Missus than he ever dreamed possible.
Several overheard Billy’s comment and laughed or chuckled. They
knew Billy was referring to non-verbal communication, but the
Sheriff didn’t have a clue.
After many hugs and kisses, Will said his goodbyes and left. He
drove back through town and everything seemed quiet. His ranch was
out the other road going due west from the town toward the small
town of London. As he passed the small building the Pentecostal
church used for services, he saw preacher Womack’s Mercedes parked
and sitting next to it was Bubba’s big pickup truck. Will Tate
could only imagine what they might be telling the ignorant little
prat. Then he laughed to himself thinking about how Billy handled
the situation and while it was inventive and strong, it was funny
and could be redemptive for Bubba and Earl. He gave them a chance,
but from the looks of it, they were in too strong with Womack’s
dark side to abide by Billy’s wishes or his hopes for them to come
around and do the right thing.
Will pulled up outside the house, but he didn’t see Miranda
anywhere in the yard. He installed a six foot high chain-link
fence around a large area surrounding the house so she could come
and go through her doggy-door and not be concerned about coyotes
getting to her or deer coming into the yard to eat everything in
sight. He took his two boxes from the back seat of his patrol car
and went up to the porch. He unlocked the door and went in. He
looked for his little Missus and found her lying in her whelping
bed he made just for the occasion from plans the breeder gave him.
She seemed to intuitively know what it was for.
“Hey, Little Girl, how’s my favorite mother to be?” he asked
gently as he lovingly stroked her head. Miranda was in heaven now
her beloved master was home and looked like she had a big
satisfied smile on her face. “And did I score some food for you,
Sweet-heart? Such a feast I done brung you back from the Daniels
Ranch. Come with me to the kitchen. I got us some magic milk I
want you to drink first,” he said like she understood every word.
Sometimes he wondered if she didn’t. Will carefully measured out
half a cup of the sweet Watcher’s milk, poured it into a small
bowl, and set it before her. Miranda took one sniff, sucked it up
like a small tornado, and looked at her master to ask if she might
have more. “In the morning, you can have a bit more, but now you
need solid food, little girl,” he said.
Will fed her a goodly portion and saved some for the next morning
to feed her before he left for work. He debated going in as he
usually only worked half a day on Saturdays and there wasn’t
anyone in the jail except Orville Higginbothem. He thought about
calling in and leaving the morning to his two deputies. They were
good, faithful, devoted, hardworking, honest men, and he knew he
could depend on them. He hadn’t taken a Saturday off in over six
months. To Hell with it. He would stay home and try to get some
things done around the house. If they needed him, they could
always call his private number. He needed to clean his dad’s room
and put clean sheets on the bed just in case there was a
possibility he might be coming home with him. Will decided to
think positively, push negative thoughts aside, and act like it
would be a joyful homecoming. He wanted it to be that way more
than anything.
Miranda didn’t wolf her food down like she usually did. She took
her time and seemed to really enjoy every morsel. After she
finished, she joined Will on the old sofa in the large living area
and lay next to him. She put her head onto his knee and gently
licked his hand in thanks for her food.
“You’re welcome, Sweet Heart, did you enjoy it?” he asked. Will
looked and saw her tail thumping on the couch. He took it as a
‘yes.’ He wondered about Billy’s words, if he drank two glasses a
day of Watcher milk for a week, what wonderful new relationship
would he have with his beloved little pet? “I’m worried about you.
I think I’ll call Billy tomorrow morning, and ask if he could
spare his man a day early, so’s I’ll have somebody here with you
Sunday while I take my dad over to his place,” Will said quietly.
Miranda looked at him and Will swore to himself, if she could talk
he would have heard her say, “It probably would be a good idea,
Master, I’m a mite worried myself.”
* * * * * * *
Meanwhile, back at the ranch,* the family dwindled down to just
Billy, Nick, Nathan, Tron, Moss, Enoch, Kate, and Zelma. The
others were off doing chores or getting ready for bed. “How much
do we know about the Sheriff?” Billy tossed out for a subject of
conversation. “I know he’s always been a major hero of mine from
early memories. I remember Granddad taking me to high school
football games and he was the star quarterback. I remember him
going through A&M and leading his team to two Southwest
conference championships in the Cotton Bowl. I would see him
occasionally when he come home. Then, he went off to one a them
Middle Eastern countries and come back a hero but somewhat of a
broken man. I remember watching him and his dad rope together and
wanting to be just like him. The unspoken love and admiration they
expressed for one another was palpable. Moss and I would watch
them for hours, and they would give us tips to improve our roping
skills. In small ways, Will Tate has drifted in and out of my life
since I’s just a toddler, but I ain't never really got to know him
until now,” Billy said.
“Well, we know a good bit more than you men do. His dad went to
school with me and Nathan so Buster Tate is of our generation. He
ain’t no old man or at least we don’t consider ourselves old men
in our early fifties. Should we share what we know, Boss-man?”
Tron asked Nathan.
“I don’t think it will come as any shock to anyone around this
table, Ramrod. Ever’ body at this table, without exception, has
fallen in love with Will Tate in the last couple of days,” Nathan
said.
“Hear! Hear!” said Nick, Enoch, Moss, and Tron. Kate and Zelma
agreed.
“Buster ain’t Will’s biological father, Billy,” Tron said and
paused to let his words sink in. No one said a word, and he
continued, “Buster was in the same class in school as your uncle
and me. We was running buddies. We knew early on, we three shared
something in common. We seemed to mature quicker and were a little
more advanced in our exploration of sex with one another,” Tron
said and stopped to look at his audience to see if he got a bad
reaction from anyone. When he didn’t, he continued, “Nathan and I
sort of paired off at an early age, and because of it, Buster
became somewhat of a third wheel. We tried to include him, but it
never felt right for any of us. Nathan and me went our way, and
I’ll have to say, to me and Nathan’s sorrow and regret, Buster
became a solitary man. We done our best to be his friend and were
always the first he’d call upon if’n he needed help over to his
folk's ranch. We helped him every year with fall and spring
roundups, and he rode right along side us on our roundups,” Tron
said, “You can jump in at anytime, Pod’na,’” he told Nathan.
Nathan picked up the story, “Two years after we graduated high
school his parents died within months of each other and left the
ranch to Buster. He become a single rancher for several years, but
we still got together for holidays and lending a hand working each
other’s ranches. Then one day he come to town with a pretty little
lady about eighteen years old and introduced her to us as Agatha
Tate. She was obviously pregnant. “We thought it was odd Buster
didn’t introduce her as his wife, but we didn’t say nothing. Being
country folks, we knew better’n to ask, and Buster didn’t
volunteer nothing. We didn’t push, but would go to visit and help
him like we always done. Agatha worked around the place, taking
care of the house, cleaning, and cooking up a storm. We just
assumed old Buster jumped the fence and decided country life just
don’t make no sense without a wife as a help mate,” Nathan said,
“Your turn, Ramrod,” he said looking at his mate.
“But you’s doing so well, Brother,” Tron said and smiled, “After
the baby was born, there weren't no doubt in our mind he was
Buster’s boy. He looked just like him, and we just accepted Will
as a part of Buster’s and our family. The love what passed between
the three of them was palpable, and we never thought nothing of
it. They were just part of our extended family. H’it t’weren’t
until after Agatha died from the cancer five years later we
learned the truth. Agatha was Buster’s second cousin. She got
herself knocked up by a rodeo cowboy what sold her an empty bill
of goods and passionate promises for one night of pleasure in a
deserted barn on the outskirts of town. Her family was hardcore,
roll-on-the-floor, speak-in-tongues, Pentecostal Fundigelicals,
what thought them'selves more holier than the Pope his'self, and
lived in a small Texas town east of Dallas. They couldn’t bear the
social stigma of a pregnancy out of wedlock. So they contacted
their bachelor cousin in Mason county and asked if he would take
her in to have her baby. Then, if she chose to give the child
away, she could come home and resume her life with her family,”
Tron said and paused for a moment to let it all sink in. No one
said a word or even moved. They were too engrossed by Nathan and
Tron’s story.
“Have you heard this story before, Grandma?” Billy asked Kate.
“No, Son, I haven’t. Listen to me, Billy. My husband took secrets
of half the county with him when he died. When cowboys want to,
they’ll carry a secret to their grave. I do recall your daddy and
granddad were quite fond of Buster and Will, spoke highly of them,
and included them in everything,” Kate replied.
Nathan picked up the story again, “Once Agatha and Buster sat down
and talked, they became friends, and as sometimes happens became
comfortably dependent on each other. Buster took her in without
any shame or reservations. He understood what it meant to be
alone. Her cowboy cousin helped her when she had nowhere to turn,
and the rest of her family turned their backs on her. Buster
neither spoke ill about Agatha nor admonished her for her
predicament. He gently supported her and encouraged her to make
her own peace with the universe. She was determined to make the
most of a bad situation and made herself an indispensable part of
Buster’s life. She didn’t want to give up her baby and Buster
agreed with her she shouldn’t have to; if she agreed, they would
raise the child together and no one would be the wiser. The
general populace of Mason County didn't need to know anything
about their business.
They had the same last name, so no one would question their
relationship. Agatha decided since her family turned their backs
on her she would do the same to them. She never tried to contact
them again and returned their letters unopened. Will became their
lives, and they were happy until Agatha got sick. Buster was left
without a help mate and a five year old boy to raise by himself;
except, he really weren’t by his’self. We all pitched in to help
him, and we just absorbed them into our greater family. That’s why
Nathan’s older brother and daddy included them in everything. Daws
gave Will his first roping pony for his tenth burf-day. Will and
Buster was like peas and carrots, but to this day, we don’t know
if Will knows Buster ain’t his biological father,” Tron finished.
“He won’t find out from me,” Billy said.
“Unless you’re told to do otherwise,” Nick said quietly, “Never
underestimate what them ancients want, but usually it’s for good
or a greater purpose for everyone involved,” he added.
“I know Will and his dad’s relationship grew to be more than just
father and son,” Billy said, “I suspected as much from the way he
talked about his old man. It was more’n just a son being proud of
his dad and longing for his companionship. They were lovers, and
he confirmed it for me this afternoon as a left handed compliment
to me and my adopted pa,” Billy said. Billy waited to hear a gasp,
but not a sound came from his family. Not even Zelma Jane. She’d
been around long enough nothing would surprise her. “For some
reason, Will wanted to make sure I knew and understood,” Billy
said.
“What did you tell him, Son?” Nathan asked.
“I told him I already figured it out, but I let him know it was
okay with me. My mission here on Earth ain’t to condemn nobody.
Love is love no matter the definition. Family is what you want it
to be; not somebody else’s rigid uncompromising definition of it
based on myths and superstitions that are exclusive and intolerant
of anything out of the ordinary,” Billy said.
“No one around this table will argue with you, Son. Hang on to
those beliefs. You’re forming a picture of what you want to
accomplish, and we’re behind you all the way. Will Tate is just
one of many lost souls what will be sent your way over time, but
his story and others like it are the small ripples in the stream
of life which eventually build into tsunamis. You have no idea
right now how your investment in Will and Buster will pay off in
the long run, but I promise because of your selflessness, your
reward will be great,” Tron said.
* * * * * * *
“You say them cows spoke to you?” Womack ask Earl and Bubba.
“Yes, sir, Preacher. They can talk as good as you and me, maybe
better’n me and Bubba,” Earl replied.
“Humm, that makes sense. I’m sure I saw that Tom McMartian fellow
go up to them cows and talk with them for a few minutes before
they parted and allowed him to pass. Then they closed ranks after
he drove through and prevented me from following him. That Daniels
boy must be a Warlock; a male witch, and them cows got demons
inside ‘em what can talk if they want. They must be his familiars
or they just might be an army of demons come to Earth in disguise
to take over and bring about Armageddon. Billy Daniels must the
the devil or one of his generals. Who else could do such a
miraculous healing?” Womack thought out loud scaring the crap out
of the two semi-literate cowboys who were products of the
austerity cuts in education by the new Theocratic government what
did away with science and reasoned thinking.
“And them cows made you leave your cameras behind to make up for
cutting the fence?” Womack asked.
“Yes, sir. They told us to gather the extras, computer hookups,
instruction manuals, and leave 'em at the Sheriff’s station. They
told us the Sheriff would know what to do with 'em. Then we have
to talk with him about it. If we don’t, they got videos of us
cutting the fence and trespassing on the Daniels private property.
We ain’t got no proof but our word we weren’t trying to rustle
their cattle, and you know what the penalty for cattle rustling is
in Texas,” Earl said.
“You men gather that stuff – every bit of it – and bring it to me
tomorrow. I’ll take it to the Sheriff and have a little talk with
him. I’m one of his largest campaign contributors. He owes me a
couple of favors. Leave it to me, and don’t do or say nothing
until you hear from me, understand?” Womack barked at them.
“Yes, sir, Preacher. Them cows warned us to stay away from you.
They called you an ignorant pulpit pounder,” Bubba replied.
“They called me ignorant?" he yelled, “I’ll have you know I have a
divinity degree from Oral Roberts Unimaversity,” he said
indignantly.
Bubba and Earl were impressed.
* * * * * * *
Will knew something was wrong when Miranda wouldn’t come to bed
with him. She slept every night at his feet for two years, and he
got used to her being there. She looked like it was breaking her
little heart to decline her master's invitation, but decided she
better sleep in her new bed – just in case. Will understood, but
he tossed and turned and couldn’t get to sleep. Finally, he
decided if the mountain wouldn’t come to Mohammad he would thumb
his nose at convention and move the mountain himself. He got his
favorite sleeping bag from the back bedroom closet and a couple of
pillows, laid it out next to Miranda’s whelping bed, crawled in,
and made himself comfortable. His little Missus left her whelping
box, moved closer, curled up next to Will, lay down on top of his
sleeping bag, and sighed deeply like she was content. Miranda
could hear the steady beat of her master's strong heart, and it
filled her heart with peace. Her master cared enough about her to
bring himself and his bed down to her level. Greater love hath no
man than him what lays down to comfort his beloved companion in
her time of need. Them Ancients were watching and taking notes.
End of Chapter 22 ~ Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
Copyright ~©~ 2012 ~ 2017 ~ Waddie Greywolf ~ All Rights Reserved
Mail to: Waddie Greywolf <[email protected]>
WC = 12,306
08/02/2012
01/01/2017
* Note to Grammer Nazis ~ Re: exseeded? I know it should be
'exceeded.' I like to play with words.
* Re: (Meanwhile, back at the ranch,....) I always wanted to write
that line in a Western novel. It's so radio "Lone Ranger."