7Stars

Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
By Waddie Greywolf

Chapter 73

"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” ~ Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

The days began to pass quickly. News spread far and wide about the young cowboy from the Hill Country of West-Central Texas who was fast becoming the darling of the more enlightened in every society around the world. People sat in front of their computers waiting while some formed groups to watch the latest YouTube video to come from the Highland Shire Barnyard Concerts.

Aunt Helen and her staff became skilled masters at manipulating the videos from so many cameras, there were limitless shots from which to choose. When the concert was over, their work began. She trained a battery of twenty highly skilled digital wizards, each one a virtuoso at a computer keyboard in their own right, feeding what they were seeing on their screens onto a larger screen in front of them. Aunt Helen was acting like a conductor, and she would pick and choose a new view onto the screen as the music played on. It was like she was a master switch-person making sure the train got started on the right track to travel to its final destination. Once in a while, she would hit a kill switch and mother-hen her chicks to return to the last jump and then she would introduce another, better camera angle, and her people would approve. They cut, backed-up, edited, and started again hundreds of times until they got it as perfect as they could. They worked swiftly and tirelessly until they finished, and they got Aunt Helen's final seal of approval.

“We've done it, my Children! Mother Hen is pleased with her Chicks,” she would say and everyone laughed and applauded.

Billy never set a schedule for them, but her people got together and decided from the untold numbers of people from all over the world wanting to know when the next video would be released, they set a goal for themselves to release the Saturday afternoon and evening concert by midnight the same day. The most amazing thing was the first run of the DVDs would be sold out before they could even edit and get the video into a first class production.

They were very careful not to release too many shots of the audience, but they included a goodly number to show the people's response to the music. The editors were clever to exclude some of the more exotic members of the audience. However, Billy gave them permission to include a fleeting glance at certain members of their exotic family which he thought would add a bit of mystery to the show. It would be their first two DVD set because each half of the concert was considerably longer than their usual times. They offered either the classical part or the county part separately, but they could order both at a discount. Only a handful bothered to order one or the other. Most everyone ordered both.

After the two videos were posted on YouTube there was such a flood of people trying to watch, YouTube contacted Aunt Helen and begged her to submit five more postings of each part to handle the crowded systems. Helen and her staff obliged. YouTube announced a record number of hits from people around the world. The July Fourth Barnyard Concert not only went viral faster than any video before, it instantaneously made the greatest splash in the history of the Internet. Unwittingly, Billy was gaining favor with his audience for circumventing the hugely overcrowded advertising market who would have chopped the concert up into bits and pieces interspersed with three to five commercials every fifteen minutes. Their greed was insatiable.

YouTube only had one commercial at the beginning and Billy told Aunt Helen to strike a deal with them, the commercial would be about how to purchase the videos they were about to watch. There were no ad interruptions during a performance, as Aunt Helen negotiated with YouTube; if they wanted to showcase the hottest property to appear on their web site, they would have to meet their demands. It was one of the first occasions someone had the balls to go against corporate television. Handsome Cowboy Andy became the announcer for the advertisement and occasional narrator for the concert. He had a deep unmistakable cowboy voice and made an excellent guide for the show.

* * * * * * *
“How in the name of holy Hell did they get shots like that!” Wes Taylor exclaimed to his boss, Doug Quilty, jumping up from his set to point at the screen, “I didn't see no cameras anywhere and some of those close up shots of the musicians had to have several cameramen up there with them. Did you see any, Boss?” he asked.

“I'm as baffled as you are, Wes. Ain't no tell'n what them men are capable of. You watched the video overhead at the concert just like I did. I gotta' say, I ain't never seen me nothing like it,” Doug replied.

“You're beginning to talk like them,” Wes said and laughed.

“Don't forget, I come from folks just like them, and I relate to their way of speaking. I went to college just like you did, but after I'm around country folks for a while, my tongue grows thick and lazy, and I get's me a tendency to lapse back into my old West Texas drawl. I notice I start talk'n like a cowboy. I forgot how comfortable it is and how it made me feel like I'm a part of them. It's part of my heritage. They's a part of my heritage. If you ain't noticed, I'm afraid I'm taken with them, Wes,” Doug said.

“Who wouldn't be after what we saw today. You'd have to be a rock in the middle of the dessert not to be moved by those people. I'm glad we stayed up and watched it together, Doug. It was like we experienced just a little more time with them, and I swear to you, I enjoyed the concert as much or more the second time than I did when we were sitting there watching everything going on. I ain't easily overwhelmed, but I was today. I'll go on home now and get some rest, but I know I'll have dreams which will call me back to the Hill Country. What are we gonna' do about it, Boss?” Wes asked.

“Absolutely nothing!” Doug said firmly, “Other than accepting another invite to the ranch, if we're lucky enough to be invited again. I ain't gonna' rush him, Billy knows I'm here when he needs me, and mark my word, he will. Not a word to that back-stabbing bitch we're forced to work with because she's putting out to one of the station owners. You can't push a man like Billy Daniels. He made a fool of Parsons twice, and she deserved it both times. I didn't think they'd let us waltz in there and film, but she was convinced she could use her feminine wiles to get Billy to dance to her tune. Boy, did she get a wrong number!” Doug exclaimed and the men shared a laughed, “If Billy wants to work with you, he will, but I don't care to jeopardize my good relations with him we already done formed. I ain't worried none. He'll come around when he's ready and when he does, I plan to do everything in my power to help his cause,” Doug said.

“Yeah, I agree. I'll do the same, Boss. I got me a feeling we'll be asked back and as dull as my life is right now, I'd crawl on my hands and knees to the Hill Country to spend another day or two with them folks,” Wes said.

“Now, who's talking like a cowboy?” Doug asked and laughed at his young assistant.

“You're right, and for the first time in my life, I feel proud and comfortable about it,” Wes replied and grinned.

* * * * * * *
The main phone line into the Daniels home was ringing from well before Kate and her ladies came to the kitchen to help with Sunday breakfast. They had a new answering machine which would answer silently with no audible ring. The ladies laughed to see the number of messages. There were over six hundred. Kate switched on the ring tone and activated the speaker so she could filter strangers from family. The ladies took great delight listening to some of the messages who were trying to make contact with Billy Daniels. Major TV stations from across Texas were trying to get an interview. Popular News people were begging for Billy to come onto their show to interview him. Then there was the occasional shy caller who didn't have any ax to grind and just wanted to tell Billy how much they appreciated his music and the Barnyard Concerts.

Finally, they heard Will Tate's voice and Kate picked up the phone, “Good morning, Sheriff,” she answered.

“Howdy, Ms. Kate. I been try'n to call for over an hour and this was the first time I even got through to leave a message,” Will declared.

“I know, Will. I'm sorry. There's over six hundred messages on this phone. We got to get another private line put in so neighbors and family can get through. You can always send Catfish and Mouse to check on us or come yourself. Billy said something about going to church this morning. You men coming for breakfast?” Kate asked.

“My dad and little brother would scalp me if'n I's to say 'no,' Ms. Kate. Besides, Sunday morning at the Daniels ranch is special. Wouldn't hurt us none to go to church this morning, neither, “Will said, “Dad won't be eat'n with us, Mrs. Kate, he's meeting the Breedlove family, with Perry Reed and Mick Flynn on Captain Nick's ship. They's got something special going on he won't tell me about, but me and Everett will be happy to break bread with you good folks,” Will added.

“Well come on. You men are always welcome at our table. We'll see you when you get here, Son,” Kate said, and they said their 'goodbyes.'

Billy and his immediate family arrived in the hallway. Poly and Cass ran ahead to the kitchen to join Hank and Buck who were already at work getting things ready to feed everybody. Billy, Nick, and Boomer met and greeted Clyde and Cowboy Andy. They were accompanied by Sheriff Andreeson and his boy Pard. The Sheriff's Grandmother, Evangeline, came down with the women and was already busy at work helping in the kitchen. Kayla was with them. She stayed the night with the ladies.

“Where's your little brother?” Billy asked Kayla.

“He's on the ship. He stayed the night with our new Foreman and our Ramrod. They're having breakfast with the giants, and the Breedlove contingency,” she said.

“We'll miss him, but he's got a new idol to see to, and I can understand. I'm glad he didn't forget his Ramrod,” Billy said.

“I stuck a bee in his bonnet. Fortunately he took my advice. He invited Ram for the day and to stay the night with him and Billy Bob Bane. I'm glad he did. That cowboy worships my little brother,” Kayla assured him.

“They're very much alike, and I'm sure Ram will take to the new Billy Bob Bane like lint to wool,” Billy said.

The rest of the Daniels family gathered, except for Moss and Enoch, they were on Captain Nick's ship. They were invited to join the other men. Tron and Nathan were there. They sat down to a great ranch breakfast. Talk was lively and varied. There was much talk about the phone and Billy promised to get another private, dedicated line installed. No one bothered to take the time to listen to the six hundred messages. Usually Clarice Wombat was there for breakfast but when Billy asked about her, Roz said she stayed the night with two of the cowgirls who had an extra bunk in their compartment in the bunkhouse. They invited her to stay with them. “There's something I need to tell you, Master Billy,” Roz said hesitantly.

“What is it, little Sister?” Billy asked.

“Clair confided in me, but I don't want to be rat-fink-tattle-tale who gets a reputation she can't keep a secret. Us ladies share lots of secrets,” Roz said.

“You won't have to, Roz. She came to Zelma, Evangeline, and me a couple of mornings ago. We think Clarice is pregnant, Billy,” Kate said.

“Holy crap! I thought she was a virgin!” Billy exclaimed.

“She swears she's never been with a man, and the three of us older women checked. We're convinced she's telling the truth, Billy,” Zelma backed Kate, and Eve shook her head in agreement.

“Oh, my god! Clyde?” Billy exclaimed and asked.

“In the name of some unknown god, don't look at me, Master Billy! You gotta' know by now, I'd never do nothing like 'at without asking your permission. Besides, you know us Angels is mules,” Clyde said firmly.

“No, that ain't what I'm asking, Son. You didn't gimme' a chance to finish,” Billy laughed, “You remember the way we sent Clarence to the Irin?” Billy asked.

“Yes, sir, Boss! I remember like it was yesterday. I was the one what took him. He was naked with a plug up his butt to hold in Harley-Buck's...” Clyde trailed off his sentence like he just experienced an epiphany, “Uh, oh! All them dirty-darn-ducks in a row! Are you think'n what I'm think'n, Boss?” Clyde asked with a grin spreading across his handsome face.

“We have no idea how the Irin made the change or whether they were aware Clarence was carrying another man's seed in his gut when they transformed him from a 'he' to a 'she,'” Billy declared, and there was nervous laughter around the room. “Can you imagine? We just might have the first virgin birth on Earth to ever happen rye-cheer on the Daniels ranch!” he exclaimed, “Now won't that be fun?” Billy asked and everyone laughed at his enthusiasm.

“Then that means Harley-Buck Johnson will become a daddy?” Tron asked, slapped his knee, and almost fell off his chair laughing, “A daddy wiff' a big set of horns!” he added and everyone laughed with him.

“Worst yet, Harlen Johnson, is gonna' be Grampa Harlen. He's gonna' love that!” Billy exclaimed and got another round of laughter from his family.

“You really don't think that's what happened, do you?” Kate asked like she was stunned.

“What other answer could there be? Occam's razor? Dirty-darn-ducks in a row? One taste of her blood, and her DNA will tell me who the father is in an instant,” Billy replied.

“But she was on Fort Adam Lear for over one of our years to complete her transition and re-imprinting. Why wouldn't she become aware something was amiss long before now?” Evangeline asked.

“Yeah, what Eve said!” Zelma exclaimed like a Greek chorus. “Besides, you tasted her blood when she came back to make sure her DNA and Womack's were a match. Wouldn't you have noticed a second DNA pattern?” Zelma asked.

“Not necessarily. It might not have had time to introduce its DNA into Clair's system. There's two possibilities. One: basic metabolism is much slower on Fort Adam Lear and Retikki Prime. It could have taken hold, but it didn't have a chance to develop until she come back to Earth. The time transition accelerated its growth, and she started missing periods; or, another possibility is, the technicians were bio-droid drones who found the sperm in Clarence's lower intestine, saved it, and thought they were suppose to re-introduce it into a more proper place once't their job was done and just before they allowed her to return. They were just doing their jobs and being thorough. Assuming that's what they were programmed for, that's exactly what they did,” Billy said and everyone sat looking at each other around the table like they were stunned.

“H'it only takes one a them tiny little woolly-buggers to fertilize an egg,” Nathan said, and started laughing. Everyone at the table broke up.

“I hope she got the pick of the litter. Since Harley-Buck was wear'n them horns when he done the dirty deed to old Clarence, you think the kid might be born with a set?” Tron asked.

Nick was pretty quiet until then; however, the idea broke him up, and he started laughing, “I'd say the chances are better than even,” Nick allowed and got the men laughing again.

“I don't know if it would be such a bad thing, but it certainly would leave no doubt who the father was,” Billy mused, “It would mean we'd have to tell Clarice about her past, but I'd like to avoid that if possible. I was hoping we could make Clarice's life so much more interesting for her than the parasitic life Clarence chose to live for himself. I's hoping we would never have to tell her the truth; however, we have options. I could abort the baby, but I don't want to if we can find a better solution to the problem. There has to be another way. I suppose we could remove the zygote and reassign it to another host to keep it in an artificial environment until it's old enough to move into a watcher's condo,” Billy said like he was thinking out loud.

“Artificial environment sounds pretty damn cold to me. Wouldn't you need a genetically compatible host to accomplish that little slight-of-hand trick, Son?” Tron Garrett asked.

“Yeah, but we got one: Harley-Buck his'self,” Billy said and several mouths dropped open around the table.

“Sweet Jesus, I'd love to see that! A man having a baby? Now that really would be a first for Earth and mankind! Darwin on a fast-track!” Zelma exclaimed, but no one laughed. They were stunned by the implications.

“Sweet Jesus is right, Auntie Z,” Billy responded, “If word got out, we might have the nation of Islam down on us like a chicken on a June bug. It's been rumored, very probably as a form of societal racial denigration, certain factions of Shia Islam believe the next messiah will be born of a man. Whether or not it's really one of their beliefs, it would be enough to encourage further investigation, and we got enough explaining to do with everything else we got going on here. After yesterday's public exposure, there's bound to be some questions. I feel like I just set myself up for the biggest dodge-ball game of my life,” Billy said, “Is my idea a viable option, Boomer?” Billy asked his husband.

“I far as I know, it ain't never been done before, but I suppose it would be possible. First, you would have to download it into one of my proto-embryos. It should be easy enough for you to trans-locate it from her body to a proto-embryo in mine. After about an hour or two for my embryo to take on the zygote's DNA, I could off-load the proto-embyro into Harley-Buck's lower tract. Once it's attached, it won't go nowhere until it's time for it to come out about four and a half to five months later,” Boomer said.

“It just might be a way to save having to tell Clarice the truth. Most of the time, I'm all for sharing the truth with people, but the truth of Clarence Womack is not something I want to deal with right now; maybe later when we got more time, but not now. I want to give Clarice a chance to become something greater than that fat little moron could ever imagine. So what if it turns out to be a Great-horned Johnson? We can rightfully claim it took on Harley-Buck's DNA with him acting as a surrogate mother for the wee bairn,” Billy mused to himself.

“What if she turns out to be like the late great-horned Phyllis Shoe-fly? Evangeline Andreeson asked, “I don't think this generation is ready for a right-wing, uber-conservative, cafeteria-christianist hag like her,” she added. Several of the older adults laughed at Eve's description of Phyllis Schlafly.

“You can actually do a procedure that complicated?” Sheriff Bob asked in awe.

“If my husband says it can be done, we got the means to make it so, Sheriff,” Billy replied.

“Do you plan to be honest with Harley-Buck and tell him the truth?” Uncle Nathan asked.

“Of course! Absolutely! After all, if'n it's his child, I got me enough faith in the big cowboy he'll do the right thing. If he risked his life for a pony, I'm a' bet'n he won't have no problem wiff' giving birth to his own son or daughter. I know he won't have no problem taking my husband,” Billy said, grinned, and winked at Boomer.

“Why can't you just have Boomer impregnate another Irin heifer, Master Billy?” Roz asked.

“Fair question, Little Sister. We're playing the genetics gamble so's we don't disrupt the flow of Clarice's life by arousing any suspicions. I'll be able to tell with a taste of her blood if'n it's Harley-Buck's kid, but I'll tell her it's too soon to identify. It's inconclusive,” Billy replied.

“Pardon my impertinence, Master Billy, but if it were me, I'd be suspicious you contracted with a cowboy instead of a cowgirl or heifer to carry the baby to mid-term?” Roz said.

“No pardon necessary, Little Sister. That's what little or big sisters are for, right Kayla?” Billy asked and winked at the young girl.

“We got a duty to keep our cowboy brothers on the straight-and-narrow, sister Roz,” Kayla said and everyone laughed.

“And you and Roz do a fine job, Miss Kayla,” Billy said and got another laugh, “It's simple. Next week most all but a handful of guard cattle will be morphed to join our work force here or on other grange ranches. We's git'n low on people for specific jobs. I need the guard cattle until we get the next shipment of replacements from the Irin. We're getting so low on available personnel, I have to ask for a volunteer, male or female, to carry the child for the first four and a half months. The slim pickings I got left include my punishment slaves. Once't again, we make sure old lucky-duck Harley-Buck Johnson done drawed the short straw; cep'n, this time, he'll know he's git'n screwed for a goodly purpose,” Billy explained.

“That could work!” Kayla said firmly while forking another cowboy-fried potato and dipping it into a little ketchup.

“I agree with my little Sister, Master Billy,” Roz allowed.

“I will say one thing,” Kate said.

“What's 'zat, Grandma?” Billy asked.

“This will be the third most anticipated birth at this ranch after you Billy and Billy Junior,” Kate explained, “I'll never forget when they brought you to me. You were already nine years old but you didn't look a day over two and were barely walking,” she added.

There was a stunned silence around the table. “Ma! You know better than to speak about that!” Nathan exclaimed, firmly rebuking his mother. “This ain't the time. We swore a solemn oath,” he added.

“Oh, fiddle-sticks! He's gonna' find out soon enough, Son. A grandmother knows these things,” Kate defended herself.

“Kate's right, Nathan. We been talking about it now for several years. The time is here. Today is the day. Billy will learn the truth behind his birth,” Zelma said.

“Does this have anything to do with a letter you sent Grandma some years ago, Ms. Zelma?” Billy asked.

“Yes,” Zelma replied wiping away a tear from Kate's eye.

“You mean I'm actually older than eighteen?” Billy asked.

“Yes, Son, in Earth years you're the same age as Bubba Kirkendall. You're twenty-seven years old,” Kate said.

There was a deadly silence around the table. No one dared speak. They heard Billy take a deep breath, held it for a moment, and slowly let it out before speaking, “Like Hank and Buck don't look a day over forty-five; yet, in reality, they's in their late eighties?” Billy asked.

“That's a sound analogy,” Kate said.

“No more, Ma! Don't overstep our bounds. You promised just like the rest of us. I got it on good authority, Billy will learn the truth later this afternoon. The remaining Horsemen are gathered,” Nathan said firmly, “Leave it be, Ma!” he added.

“Your uncle is right, Billy. I already said too much,” Kate said.

“No harm done, Precious,” Zelma said putting her arm around Kate to comfort her old friend.

“I must have been a great burden for you, Grandma, after already raising two boys,” Billy said quietly like a wounded animal making his peace with the inevitable.

“Don't you ever think that, Billy Daniels! You were and still are the prize of your granddad and my lives. At my insistence, you're granddaddy moved the heavens and the Earth to make sure you lived as normal a life as possible without the usual set of parents to guide you and show you the way; however, there was a price to pay. Your Uncle Nathan can tell you how you were the only reason I pulled myself together after your granddaddy died way too young. You became my reason for being, and I don't regret a day of it,” Kate said.

“Hosanna!” Tron Garrett said quietly and everyone joined him.

“Hosanna, in the highest!” they replied.

“Then, does that mean you won't mind if I keep you around for a while longer than you might have anticipated?” Billy asked softly almost in tears.

“As long as you need me, Son,” Kate said and tears began to fall. Zelma handed Kate her kerchief she always carried with her.

The family went on with breakfast and other things were talked about, but nothing more was said about Billy's surprise discovery. He wondered how he seemed to sail through school with little or no effort making straight A's and never having to study. It was like he knew everything they were trying to teach him, and it was just one giant review for him. He spent most of his spare time cowboying and learning to play the piano.

After breakfast Billy asked who would like to go with them to church? The Andreesons declined. Billy knew Pard wanted to go, but he had his dad to see to and promised him he would show him around the ranch. “Mr. Garrett and I won't be going with you this morning. We have other obligations and Captain Nick, you're presence is required to join us on your ship,” Nathan said.

“Billy and I ain't been apart since he returned from Retikki Prime the first time,” Nick said like a challenge.

“We know, Captain Nick, and we mean you no disrespect, but your presence is required. It is important you accompany us, sir; besides, along with his regular posse he'll have fifty Cowboys and Cowgirls to protect him and his family,” Nathan was polite but firm in his conviction.

“Go on, Pa. I'd rather you be there if it's important. I got Clyde, Cowboy Andy, and Balthazar to be with us and protect me. Boomer will be with me as well. He'll be near but invisible,” Billy said.

“If you're sure, Son,” Nick said.

“I'm sure. I don't think we're gonna' have that many of our family go to church with us anyway. The Sheriff and Everett are going so there ain't nothing to worry about,” Billy assured him.

As it turned out, Hank and Buck were asked to join the other men on the ship. It left only Billy, his three Angels, Will and Everett Tate, Boomer, and the ladies; Kate, Zelma, Kayla, and Roz; and a school bus full of smartly turned-out Irin cowboys and cowgirls. Billy took the large ranch van which easily seated ten not including the driver and a seat next to him. Billy drove and the Sheriff sat next to him. Boomer sat on the floor in the back and made himself invisible. When they arrived at the church and drove down the street to the parking lot, they could see two television vans with satellite dishes on the roof like they were there for some time and set up waiting like giant insects ready to devour their prey. Each had two teams of cameramen and a news man or lady in front with microphones.

“Oh, Dear, who would think they would go to such trouble?” Kate asked rhetorically, “One's from San Antonio and the other is from Dallas. They drove a long way just to get a few words from Billy,” she added and sighed like their lives would never be the same again.

“Cowboys! Listen up! We'll make for the back door of the church; you men run interference for us. Don't be rude, but firm. We'll try to be as pleasant as possible. If you feel me tickle you, listen up. We may have to take out the power to their trucks and cameras if they get out of hand. Until then, smile a lot,” Billy said, parked, and set the brake.

The four camera crews were on them before they could even get out of the van shoving microphones in their faces. They were not asking questions in a calm voice. Everyone was yelling and demanding their question be answered first. Billy just grinned and waved his hands for them to calm down and hear what he had to say, “While we appreciate your enthusiasm, we didn't come to be interviewed by you people. We came to worship in our church. Please be respectful of our right to privacy. Beyond this little speech, I'm sorry, but we won't answer any more of your questions,” Billy said politely.

That didn't stop them. They once again began to shout their questions at him and moved along with his family. Clyde, Cowboy Andy, Balthazar, Sheriff Tate, and Everett were trying their best to move everyone along. Finally, Will had enough and whipped out his wallet to show his Sheriff's badge. “I'm Sheriff of this county, and if you folks don't stop harassing these good folks, I'm gonna' call my deputies and start arresting people. Now calm down, back off, and give them room,” Will said with considerable authority. They shut up and calmed down when one asked a decent question. “When will you let someone interview you, Mr. Daniels? You're the hottest item on the Internet right now after that fantastic performance yesterday. All the main stream news stations have nothing to go on. All we have is hearsay and speculation. We've heard some pretty wild and crazy stories. We've yet to hear anything from you,” the young man asked in a conversational tone.

“We don't watch TV much, Son, so I only know what my family tells me. We had a station from Houston with Miss Elaine Parsons try to crash our Fourth of July celebration. Due to her poor track record with us, we sent her packing, but we invited her crew for the day. I've made a good friend of Mr. Douglas Quilty and his cameraman Wesley Taylor. I promised Mr. Quilty, he would be the first and only news man I would allow to interview me. I will get in touch with Mr. Quilty tomorrow and make arrangements for an interview. Until that time, it's sort of a futile effort on your part. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing for my family to have you yelling and shoving us to gain nothing. I'm sorry, but now is just not the time for interviews, so please forgive us if we don't respond further,” Billy said with all sincerity.

They finally moved apart and let Billy and his family by and the fifty cowboys and cowgirls walked into the church and took available seats. The preacher came running up to Billy. “Mr. Daniels, I'm so glad you're here. Mr. Humana called this morning and said he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be able to attend services this morning. After all you've been through, I hate to impose on your generosity but ...” he said and looked frantic.

“You need me to fill in for Vox this morning, sir?” Billy asked.

“If it wouldn't be too much trouble, Mr. Daniels,” the preacher replied.

“None at all, sir. I'll be happy to help,” Billy said.

Billy's posse saw the Daniels family to their seats in front of the Daniels cowboys and cowgirls.

“No choir this morning, sir?” he asked the minister.

“We were suppose to but the television crews frightened them, and they backed out at the last minute. I can't blame them. You know how small town folks can be, Billy,” he said in defeat.

“Do you mind if my people fill the choir seats. We may be able to do a number for the offertory if you like,” Billy suggested.

“Anything, Billy. This is the worst organized Sunday I've experienced since I been pastor. Those news-people want to broadcast the service. Do you have any objections?” he asked.

“No, I just don't care to be interviewed nor speak to them,” Billy said as they walked to the front of the church together.

Billy motioned for his cowboys and cowgirls to fill the choir seats. There were only forty seats; twenty on each side. It was the first time in years the choir loft was filled. Billy took his place at the organ. Kate heard one of the announcers say, “Not only is Billy Daniels going to play the organ for the service, his slaves are sitting in the choir seats,” he said as quietly as possible.

Billy began with a rousing organ prelude in C Major by J.S. Bach. When he was through his slaves and some of the audience applauded politely. He told his people not to be tossing their hats today, but they could applaud with the rest of the audience. The first song was an old Lutheran hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God.” Billy played a spectacular improv intro to the hymn and his choir and extra cow-people were primed and ready. They burst forth with a sound of joy like the singing of the hymn was a battle cry, and they really got into the spirit of the words. At the end of the next-to-last verse, Billy broke into another improvisation, changed keys up a full step, and they started singing the last verse at a slower tempo. While his people were keeping the melody going Billy went crazy with a fantastic improvisation over and above the melody. It was the most amazing thing anyone ever heard and when the final note was sung and Billy played the final chord, the audience went bananas applauding for him and his people. It was the most arousing and inspiring reading of the old hymn they ever heard.

Not only did the preacher's regular organist stand him up, his choir director came down with a bad cold and couldn't make the service. He was all alone, but the success of the hymn they just sang inspired him. He walked up to the pulpit and spoke, “I'd like to thank Mr. Billy Daniels and his family for their wonderful participation. I was so distraught this morning our regular organist and choir director both called in sick, but Mr. Daniels was gracious enough to fill in. We had a wonderful day at the Daniels ranch yesterday and those of you who couldn't attend have no idea what a fun filled day we experienced. I can't remember a time when our family has felt more love or appreciation for the people around us and the blessings and joy fine music can bring to our lives,” he said. The preacher went on to make announcements and they sang another hymn. This one Billy played straight, and his family followed suit.

Everyone sat down and the preacher gave his sermon for the morning. He made no apology his sermon was about the love of your neighbor, your fellow man, and was inspired by what he observed and how he felt about the people he met and the joy of a great family he experienced at the Daniels ranch the previous day. He was lavish with his praise and compliments for the Daniels family. He used the analogy of the good Samaritan a couple of times. When he finished he said a prayer and called his ushers to the front with their gold plates for the offertory. He said a brief prayer and sat down.

The rest of Billy's slaves walked to the front of the the choir to join them. Billy began to play the intro for Howard Goodall's wonderful setting of the twenty-third psalm.* One of the smallest of the women stepped in front of several huge cowboys and began to sing in a clear, pure voice like a young boy, “My lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” Billy thought she got the words wrong, but when the choir came in to back her up and they sang, “Our lord is our shepherd...” Billy knew, without a doubt, they were singing a subtle love song to him, and he damn near lost it. He choked back the tears only to hear others in the audience weeping at the beauty and simplicity of the tune and the beautiful words.

“If the pious self-righteous locals only knew who they were singing about, they would be incensed,” Zelma whispered to Kate and took her hand in hers.

“They do love him, don't they?” Kate agreed and smiled at her beloved friend.

“Billy's earned their love. He knows them all by name, and what talents they bring to his family,” Zelma said.

They sang one more hymn, the preacher said a prayer and blessed everyone. The service was over and Billy began his postlude on the organ. He played the last movement, the grand toccata, from Widor's Fifth Organ Symphony. Usually people start leaving the church while the organist plays the postlude, but they didn't that Sunday morning. Billy pulled out all the stops and dusted out a few of the old pipes what hadn't been played in a good while. His playing rocked the building. One of the announcers was heard to say, “I hope you're all hearing this. You have no idea what the sound is like here. If this cowboy can ride a horse as well as he can play an organ, he's got to be one Hell of a buckaroo!” he effused.

They gave Billy a standing ovation, and he took a bow as he came down from the organ loft. The preacher came running up to him again with a look of horror on his face. “Billy, one of our members just went into labor a minute ago. You know the Ropopopadopolous family. They're Swiss, you know,” he said and grinned, “We took her to the caretaker's apartment. We don't have a caretaker no more. Me and Paul, our choir director, do all the work around here. Her husband is really upset. It's their fourth child and their last chance for a boy. George wants a son more than anything. We can't get anyone to come help his dear lady. They're poorer than our church mice, Billy, and our mice are so wretchedly poor we have to bus them to the Catholic church twice a week for a good meal to sustain them,” the preacher said knowing Billy loved cowboy hyperbole. The Ropopopadopolous family are good hearted and will share anything they have with others. It's one of the reasons they don't don't have anything. Could you take a look at her. She don't look real good to me,” the preacher begged.

“Why me, Pastor?” Billy asked.

“I've heard rumors, Billy. I put two-and-two together and while I was never a whiz at math, I'm pert-damn good at reading people. I think you been blessed by a higher power. You have a gift and you are the good Samaritan I spoke of this morning. You ain't a man what will pass his brother-in-need on the road of life and turn your head the other way,” Ray Reynolds said.

“Sure, take me to them. I'll gather my posse, including the Ssheriff and his younger brother. My cowboy and cowgirl slaves will stand guard to keep out the news people. They won't let anyone through,” Billy said, “It might help if you tell everyone except our people to vacate the building immediately, and I'll have my slaves guard every entrance,” he added.

“I can do that. Why is secrecy so important to you, Son?” the preacher asked.

“Privacy mostly, but you'll find out the rest soon enough, Pastor,” Billy promised and smiled, “But before I drop all my shields and honestly share with you, I have to ask you one important question. Yes or no; are you a true believer?” Billy asked.

Pastor Reynolds face fell like a ton of bricks. “If I tell you the truth, I'm afraid you won't like my answer, Son, but I'll take a leap of faith and tell you anyway. I used to be a solid four-square warshed-in-the-blood evangelical firebrand when I was younger, just out of college, starting out in the ministry, but thank God, I weren't no Clarence Womack for Christ's sake! I still had my compassion, and it was fully functional. Later I came to understand religion and real honest-to-god compassion for my fellow man was like a nonstop wrestling match with a big bear. They just didn't seem to get along at all. I was sure I could save everyone's soul what bothered to hear me preach. I was a ball of fire, or as big a fire as any Methodist can boast about, but the more experience I've had with life, living, and trying to understand the ins and outs of scripture combined with watching our country and people grow poorer and more desperate by the day, I just can't claim to be a true believer no more.

"I been bitten in the butt too damn many times by that big ornery bear named 'Dogma.' I'm like Fox Mulder, I dearly want to believe, but sometimes I just can't; then I feel like I'm a miserable failure not only for myself and family, but for our community. That's why you and your family have been such a breath of fresh air for me and my wife. I told her yesterday there's something you folks know I ain't got no clue about, and I want to have what you have; and by that, I don't mean material goods or money. You folks donate far more than the average church goer. We couldn't keep our doors open if it weren't for your generosity. I only wish we could do more for people like the Ropopopadopolous. I only want to know what you know, and what makes it all come together for you and your family,” Pastor Reynolds said like he just placed his head in a guillotine and was expecting the blade to drop at any moment.

“To learn what we know is simple, Pastor, even a child can understand it, but you must agree to become part of our family. As our Mexican brothers put it: mi familia es su familia and vice versa. No one will stiff arm you into any binding pact or make you take some solemn oath. You make the choice and decide if you want to work with us and for us; or not. You don't even have to give up your religion, your church, or your role as one of the finest pastors in our community. As far as religion is concerned, believe what you will. Compassion for your fellow man will always triumph. Personally, I admire your bravery to share the truth with me rather than try to hump my ass with lies like a rabid dogma with a big boner,” Billy said and smiled.

“You have a way with words, Billy. You would know in an instant, my mouth ain't telling you the truth what dwells my heart, if I lied to you, Son. I've come to know that about you,” Reynolds said.

“All will be revealed to you in a few minutes, Pastor, so cinch up your belly-strap and hitch up your pants, you're in for a surprise. Just take everything in stride and rather than asking yourself 'how' or 'why' ask yourself 'why not?'” Billy urged him and grinned.

“I think I mastered that lesson yesterday at your ranch, Son. You mean there's more?” Reynolds asked.

“Beyond your wildest dreams, Pastor,” Billy replied.

The news men got word there was a problem with a woman going into labor, and they weren't going anywhere. They did everything they could to get back into the church, but Billy already set up his cowboy and cowgirl guards. They wouldn't let anyone pass. All the news-people could do was interview Billy's slaves. They were open and friendly with them, but they were warned not to give too much information. The news-people were stunned to find out the fifty slaves from the Daniels ranch were well adjusted adults and looked upon their experience being Master Billy's slaves as a good thing. The news-people were even more impressed by them when they found out each slave had their own computer to communicate with the outside world, each other, and surf the Net. They soon began to refer to them not as slaves but part of Billy Daniels family.

Billy sent the three Ropopopadopolous girls off to the living room to be entertained by Roz and Kayla. They were told they would come for them when they knew anything. Roz and Kayla knew what was about to happen and immediately alleviated any fears the girls might have for their mother. They assured them, Master Billy and his cowboys knew what they were doing and wouldn't allow any harm to come to their mother or their little brother. Billy included Sheriff Will Tate and his younger brother, Everett, because Billy thought he might need the extra power. The other adults in the room with Pastor Reynolds and the Ropopopadopolous, Martha and George, were Kate Daniels and Zelma Redbone. Older women have a way of bringing reassurance to a younger woman no matter how many children she birthed. Martha Ropopopadopolous was more frightened and worried than she ever was before when she gave birth. Having a boy for her husband was of major importance to them.

“Has her water broke?” Billy asked as he threw his cowboy hat on a table with the rest of them and began to take off his shirt. He nodded to his men, and they began to take off their shirts.

“Yes, but something's wrong, Billy,” Kate said, “Zelma and I think the baby's breeched,” she added.

“That's bad but not too dangerous unless little George gets his cord wrapped around his neck but he don't,” Billy said.

“How would you know, Billy?” Pastor Reynolds asked.

“'Cause I asked him,” Billy replied, “He's afraid, and he's looking for warmth. Pastor, go into the bathroom and draw a tub of warm water. Not real hot but warm enough to draw his attention, but wait just a minute before you go. You wouldn't wanna' miss my posse's transformation. Ready men, let's do it!” Billy exclaimed. There was a great flash of light. Billy and his men disappeared and reappeared in an instant fully fledged with their splendid wings.

“Holy shit!” exclaimed the big Greek cowboy, “They be Angels!” he added.

“Angels unawares,” Pastor Reynolds said in awe. “Why, the fuck, not?” he exclaimed and laughed like a school boy. “Forgive me, Ladies, it ain't often a country preacher gets to see real Angels. Hell, yes, I'll join your family, Billy Daniels, if you'll have me,” he added.

“Count me and my family in, Master Billy,” George said.

“Draw us some water, Preacher!” Billy ordered and the Pastor Reynolds was off in an instant. “Are you in pain, Sister Martha?” Billy asked.

“Yes, sir, your holiness,” Martha replied.

Billy laughed. “I ain't holy, Little Sister. I'm just a brown-dirt Hill Country Cowboy like your husband. I been enhanced by two different races of humanoid aliens what's looking out for our best interest; however, I got extraordinary powers and can do many things the average person might think on as miraculous; howsomever, it's just advanced technology we ain't never had explained to us before. It will all be explained to you later, but first we got us a little boy what needs to come out of your body. I'm going to eat your pain, but I need you and your good husband's permission to give you a goodly kiss right on your mouth so's you can feed your pain to me,” Billy explained.

“You got my permission, Son!” Big George said.

“And mine, Master Billy. I'm hurting pretty bad, sir,” Martha said.

Billy leaned over her and started kissing Martha. She got the feel of what Billy was trying to do and eagerly fed him her pain like a momma bird feeding her hatchling. George was amazed. He could actually see Billy eating and swallowing his wife's pain. They finally finished and Billy withdrew. “You were right, Little Sister, that was a lot of pain. You women amaze me sometimes. Do you feel better now?” he asked.

“I have no pain at all, sir. Thank you. I've heard of pain eaters before, but I always thought it was myth and superstition,” she said.

“Do you think you can walk to the bathroom with help from me and your husband?” Billy asked.

“I think so,” she replied and turned her legs to the side of the bed to sit up. George offered his hand and pulled Martha into a sitting position.

Billy got on one side and George on the other and helped her stand. The preacher hollered he had the tub almost filled. Billy and George helped Martha slowly walk to the bathroom. When they got there, the enormous cowboy told his wife to lock her arms around his big, thick neck. George physically lifted her and gently lowered her into the tub of warm water. Martha took a deep breath and let out a sigh like she was Sheba enjoying a bath on her barge while sailing down the Nile. After a few minutes, Billy watched her belly move about, and saw Martha's eyes grow really big. “He just shifted position. His head is in the right place. I think he's ready to come out, Master Billy!” she exclaimed.

“Let's get her out of the tub, George,” Billy said firmly to the big cowboy. They managed to get her up and Martha stepped over the edge. Billy got behind her and put his arms under her armpits and around Martha's front. “Kneel before your wife, Brother, and get ready to catch your son. Martha, spread your legs a little further apart – that's good – when I tell you to push, give it your best effort, and we'll let gravity do the rest. You got that?” Billy asked.

“Yes, Master Billy. I'm so glad you're here with us, sir,” she said.

“Now push, Martha!” Billy said strongly, holding her tight. Martha made a valiant effort but nothing moved. “Do your part, Daddy. Call for your son to come to you. He can hear you. Call him by his name!” Billy ordered and the big cowboy did as Billy told him.

“Come to your daddy, George. Come to me, Son. Daddy is waiting for his baby boy,” George said leaning in to get closer to his wife's extended belly. Martha pushed again but still nothing happened.

“No, that's not the name he wants to hear. He knows you're Daddy George. You done already give him his name. Use it! Call him by his full name, Cowboy! Now!” Billy said loudly.

“Billy George July Ropopopadopolous you come out of your mother this instant. Come to your daddy, Son! I know you can hear me and you want to come to me. Your daddy loves you and wants to hold you in his arms. Come to me, my darling boy. Come Billy George July!” the big buckaroo said loudly. Martha shuddered and with Billy's raised wings gathering added strength to feed her, she gave one mighty heave and gravity did the rest. Billy George July Ropopopadopolous slid out of his mother like he was exiting a ride at Water World to have his daddy catch him in his big arms and hold him close. Billy George July was a big baby. Billy handed George his pen knife they sterilized with some alcohol to cut the umbilical cord and with a wave of his hand Billy healed both ends and took care of the rest.

“Turn him over on his stomach and give him a couple of sharp raps on his back to get any water out of his lungs,” Billy told George and he did. The baby coughed and released a good bit of fluid into the large towel, then gasped as he took his first breath of air. “Welcome to Earth, Billy George July,” Billy said softly, "May you walk in the path of righteousness and make your steps strong and brave," he added.

“Hosanna!” said Sheriff Will Tate.

“Hosanna, in the highest!” echoed the rest of his family.

Martha and George were beside themselves with emotions. They weren't the only ones. The pastor was a mess with tears flowing down his face, followed closely by Billy's cowboy posse of angels. They were wiping away their tears with their bandannas. The only two strong one's in the room were Kate and Zelma. They'd seen it all. The mature ladies smiled at each other and nodded knowingly.

“Impressive, Master Billy,” Pastor Reynolds said.

“Ah! T'weren't nothing, Preacher. Just another work day for us cowboys,” Billy scoffed and everyone laughed at his humility.

“How can we thank you, Master Billy?” Martha asked as Billy took little Billy George July into his arms.

“His daddy done give him my name along wiff' his. That's quite an honor. What more could I want? Maybe you good folks might consider becoming part of our family,” Billy said.

George handed him to Billy swaddled in the large towel. They walked together back into the bedroom. George was helping Martha, and Billy was carrying the baby. Billy opened the towel to get a good look at the boy and show the others, “Jesus H. Christ-a-mighty! Dayam!” he exclaimed in his best cowboy exclamation, “Would ju' look at the tally-whacker on this little guy! He's his father's son, no doubt. This cowboy is gonna' have brag'n rights,” Billy said and everyone laughed. “If I ever find out you people removed this buckaroo's god-given foreskin, and mutilated his penis, I will not be pleased, and you will have me, his self-appointed god-father, to answer to,” Billy said strongly. They knew Billy was kidding, but he got his point across, and they understood he wasn't joking about his anathema for the ancient barbaric rites of circumcision.

“Don't chu' worry none about it, Master Billy. I suffered that fate at the hands of my step-dad and was forced to have it done as a teenager. It was the most horrible thing I ever experienced in my life. I hated and cursed him behind his back until the day he died and one dark night I sneaked into the graveyard and pissed on his grave. I know first hand, full-well, how precious that small piece of flesh can be to a man, and I would never do that to a son of mine. I would give anything to have mine back. I don't feel like a complete man without it, and I'm still embarrassed to this day to be naked with other men,” George lamented his loss.

“That's not good, but I can understand your feelings. At least you know I ain't joking about it,” Billy said.

Martha looked at her husband, and they exchanged the same thought. She nodded her approval. “Were you kidding about being our boy's Godfather or would you do us the honor, sir?” George asked.

“I would be downright proud and humbled to be this young buckaroo's Godfather. After all, he carries my name, and my son will carry my daddy's name what was Augustus, so they will be July and August. That's too much of a coincidence not to mean something,” Billy said and grinned from ear to ear. Everyone agreed and applauded the decision. “I'll bet you're hungry little guy. What's that? You say you's a might peckish? You think you could eat a little something? I got just the very thing for you. Watcher milk! You can smell him? I know you can. You can almost taste his sweet milk, can't you?” Billy asked, and the baby became animated. He started making happy gurgling sounds like he was following every word Billy was saying and anticipated being fed. “Now you folks don't jump out of your skins when I introduce you to my biggest slave who is also my protector and bonded mate. Right now, he's invisible, but he's been here all along watching over us. Boomer show yourself!” Billy said firmly.

Boomer appeared before them, and their eyes got really big. “Jesus! I done seen me several of them big creatures around our place!” George exclaimed, “They never cause no harm. They's shy and retiring. They hide when they see me coming, but I can smell them. I know when they's close. I can feel them when they's watching me. Our youngest, June, wandered off and got lost in the mesquite thicket last spring. She couldn't find her way out, and we couldn't penetrate it. I yelled across the creek to them to please help me find my daughter and return her to me. Late in the night we tried to go to bed, but we couldn't sleep. We heard a big banging on our back door. We went downstairs and there was little June, sitting on the back steps scratched and bleeding, but she was okay. She told us she was exhausted from trying to find her way out and passed out. She came to in the arms of one of the big beast we call 'Rusty,' and he was trying to offer her some of his milk. She was starving and sucked on his teat until she couldn't hold no more. She said it was the best tasting milk she ever done drunk; said it tasted like warm vanilla ice cream. Since then, they ain't been so shy. Juney ain't afraid of them. She'll run right up to Rusty, and he'll offer her some of his milk. He ain't never turned her down. I wave to them, and they wave back. I try to help them when I can. But this giant beast...he's remarkable,” George said.

Pastor Reynolds was speechless. He only saw the Stomping of Bigfoot at the concert from afar. It was his first experience up close and personal. Billy turned to show Boomer baby George and his beast got the biggest smile on his face. Boomer gently took him from Billy and the baby acted like he knew what was about to happen. His little arms and legs were going in all directions like he was looking for the wonderful smell of some sweet watcher teat. He zeroed in on Boomer's left teat and began to suck like he was a starving beggar late for the feast.

“You must taste watcher milk to understand why Billy George is going after it with such passion. Obviously your daughter, June, would know. Everyone in our family drinks it. Of course, Momma Martha, you must feed him from your breasts so's he can gather your immunities, but once't you get your own Watcher-protector he will be Billy George's preferred food for a while, but we can talk about all this later. Sounds to me like you got your own Watchers. Once't you give a Watcher a name he's bound by their laws to serve you. Speaking of eating, you good folks look like you could use a good meal. You and your family are invited out to the ranch for Sunday dinner. We'll take you with us and bring you back. You and Mrs. Reynolds are welcome to join us, Pastor,” Billy said.

“Do you feel up to it, Dear?” George asked Martha.

“To have lunch with the Angels who helped deliver our child? Are you kidding? Of course, we'll be happy to join them. We would be honored and grateful. We have nothing to eat at home, George, and Master Billy's right, we need a good meal to raise our spirits,” Martha confirmed.

“Why didn't you good folks accept our invitation to come to the feast and concert yesterday?” Billy asked.

There was a short silence as George blushed and looked to his wife. “We did call and accept your invitation; unfortunately, we didn't have the money for transportation, Master Billy. It's further to your ranch than we had gas. We figured we had just enough to get to church and back home today, and we would apologize for not being able to make it to the ranch,” Martha said as the ladies were helping her clean up and get dressed.

The Pastor's wife, Cindy Reynolds, found a used but clean baby blanket. It was soft and smelled of lavender scented anti-static cloths used in the dryer. They wrapped Billy George July in it, and he was snug as a bug. His little belly was full of good warm Watcher milk, and it made him sleepy. His small barque made of giant sweet pea-pods already set sail for a good long visit to the land of Nod. He answered his daddy's call and joined him in a new world. He was in the safe arms of his family and under the protection of giant Watchers and fiercely protective Angels. He would rest soundly without concern.

The Daniels, the pastor and his wife, and the Ropopopadopolous family finally exited the church. The news-people were still there with their cameras rolling and tried their best to get more information about the Daniels family and Billy in particular. “What's the baby's name, sir?” one asked George.

“Billy George July Ropopopadoplous,” George replied.

“Did you give him Mr. Daniels' name?” he asked.

“Yes, out of four tries, he's our only boy, and we asked Master Billy if he would consider being our boy's Godfather? We we're pleased and proud he agreed, and allowed us to use his first name,” George said proudly.

“We heard rumors your wife was in grave danger and Billy Daniels saved her life. Is that correct?” another asked.

“It became a family project, but I won't deny the lives of two people, my wife and my son, hung in the balance. The mature ladies shared their wisdom, advice, and encouragement. We merely followed their suggestions and obviously their advice was sound. We appreciate everyone's help and concern but aside from being an excellent musician, Master Billy proved to be an outstanding organizer. He played a crucial role in bringing everything together. It's difficult for folks to think straight when they're faced with an emotional, highly charged, emergency situation. That's when you should allow cooler heads and the warm hearts of mature wisdom prevail. We're certainly grateful for everyone's input, but most of all, Master Billy for his no-nonsense approach to our situation,” George said like a well-seasoned diplomat. He gave them just enough but didn't elaborate. It didn't tell the news-people much, but Billy's family-slaves could read between the lines and knew their master was once again a hero.

“Where are you folks going now?” another asked.

“We're invited to the Daniels Ranch for Sunday dinner,” Martha spoke for the first time.

“Can we come, too?” the first man asked.

“No, so don't even try to follow us. We got guards stationed at the front gate, and they won't let you on the property,” Clyde spoke for Billy and his group.

Everyone loaded up and headed for the ranch. One news truck actually followed them to the turn off to the ranch but drove on South toward Fredericksburg and San Antonio. Kate used her cell phone earlier to make a call to alert her kitchen staff it would be a while before they returned. They got involved with birthing a baby, and they would be back as soon as the baby was delivered. They were late getting back. There were many more for lunch than there was for breakfast and Kate's staff took it upon themselves to go-ahead and get Sunday dinner ready. With Hank, Buck, Poly, and Cass running the show, they knew how Kate wanted everything, and they brought it all together just like she would. Kate was impressed and proud of her kitchen staff they paid enough attention to her way of doing things and flattered her by getting everything just right.

Everyone came out to welcome the family back to the ranch. Martha held Billy George July on the way back to the ranch, but Billy took him from her when she exited the big van to show the rest of his family. Big George grinned when Billy told them it was another one of his little cowboy brothers. Several young cowboys were with the adults and George was impressed. Several dogs came running up yelling, “Make way! Let us through! We wanna' see the new bairn,” Daffy and Chloe, along with Pancake, Dolly, Molly, and Gertie came to see the new-born child. Billy got down on one knee and gently pulled back the blanket for them to see. “Family, meet Master Billy George July Ropopopadopolous,” Billy said to everyone. There were many 'oohs' and 'aahs.'

“He's so handsome! He's adorable!” Chloe said and everyone laughed.

“Perfect! He's gonna' make a fine looking buckaroo, Master Billy,” Daffy said in admiration.

“He's awfully big for a baby,” Pancake said, and her sister agreed with her.

“So is a baby calf. You were bigger than me and Gertie when you were a pup,” Molly reminded her and everyone laughed.

Miranda came running up a little late, but her flock of puppies took to the air. Each one found a big cowboy to catch and hold them in his arms so they could get a good look from a higher vantage. Miranda said Billy George July had to be the finest looking human baby she ever saw and the pups agreed with their mother like an angelic chorus. George and Martha looked at each other with completely blank faces like they just walked into another world. Then they grinned at each other like two kids who just shared a naughty secret. Their girls, April, May, and June, were more prepared than their parents. Kayla and Roz already told them about the talking dogs what lived or visited on the ranch. “Are we home, Mother?” George asked quietly.

“We're home, Daddy,” Martha replied, and patted him on his big arm.

* * * * * * *
The table was jammed with people, but they managed to squeeze everyone into the dining room. Several of the kids volunteered to sit and eat in the kitchen since there were unexpected guests. Randy had his Ramrod Ram Snoddy and his foreman Billy Bob Bane over to the Daniels ranch for the Fourth of July celebrations and they stayed the night together in the huge bed in Bossman Randy and Billy Bob's suite of rooms on Captain Nick's ship. The afternoon of the concert was the first time Randy introduced his Ramrod to his new Foreman and there was something electric which passed between the big Foreman and Randy's smaller but fully packed Ramrod. For the longest time, they didn't have very much to say to each other until the concert was over and they were sitting together, alone, at a table finishing their supper and having a final mug of Texas Tea.

“Are you uncomfortable with me coming to be the new Foreman of the Rutherford Ranch?” Billy Bob asked.

“No, Mr. Bane, not at all. Certainly not uncomfortable. I pride myself on being able to work for any man what will give me a fair shake and won't lie to me. I think a better word might be 'awkward,'” Ram said.

“Yeah, I think I understand. I would say that's a pert-damn good description about how I feel, too, Mister Snoddy,” Billy Bob responded.

“You ain't suppose to call your Ramrod 'Mister,' sir. You must call me 'Ram.' I's the one what's suppose to show you my respect. It's important. It's your due as boss for me to refer to you as Mr. Bane, or Foreman Bane, sir,” Ram said.

“Yeah, I'm aware of cowboy protocol. I lived it in my previous life before becoming Leather-face,” Billy Bob said.

“I know who you are, Mr. Bane?” Ram said without looking up.

“Did Randy tell you?” Billy Bob asked.

“No, sir, he's about as faithful as they come. He will protect your secret with his final breath. I got the same gift as our little buddy. I can see your aura, and it's the same as my Bossman's. I knew you were his uncle before you had your accident and Master Billy fixed you up. Randy could see your aura and knew there was something familiar about you, but he can't see his own aura. He couldn't make a comparison. The pieces didn't fit together. He was sure his uncle was dead. Being an outsider, and a bit more mature, I began to have my suspicions. I watched how you looked at him, and it wasn't the look of a child molester. It was a look of longing to openly express care for someone with whom you were closely related and desperately needed to love. H'it didn't take no genius to make a couple of quick deductions and come up with a reason,” Ram said.

“Randy was right about you. He chose the best man for the job. Then I can count on your silence to the rest of my family?” Billy Bob asked.

“Absolutely, sir. Why would I even consider such a thing. I would be destroying the trust and faith of two very important men in my life; the younger, who realized my potential despite my smaller statue and gave me the chance of a lifetime, and his uncle with whom I share an unparalleled desire to make love to until he ex-seeds. Thus the awkward situation...” Ram laid his cards on the table.

“Would it be less awkward for you if I told you I share the same feeling for you?” Billy Bob asked quietly.

“No, it would still be just as awkward, but a lot sweeter and a tad less frustrating, sir,” Ram replied with a big grin.

“We'll find a way, Ram,” Billy Bob said firmly, “I've lived too long without the love and touch of another human being. The Watchers were wonderful, but it t'weren't the same. Would you believe, I'm still a virgin to either sex; man or beast?” Billy Bob asked.

“On this planet, in this state, in this backward area? I don't find it hard to believe at all, sir. Would you find it difficult to believe I share the same fate; although, mine is because of my big-man in the body of a little-man syndrome, sir?” Ram said and sighed deeply.

“I suppose it would depend on how big the man is what's living inside your body, Ram. From what little I've observed about you, and heard you speak your mind, the man you got inside is certainly big enough to rope, ride, and brand this cowboy, I assure you,'” Billy Bob confessed.

“Do you think we could make it work?” Ram asked.

“I would certainly like for it to work. I'm willing to give it the old college try, if you meet me halfway?” Billy Bob replied.

“I ain't never been to no college,” Ram said.

“Neither have I, Ram. It's just a saying,” Billy Bob laughed.

“We'd have to be discrete,” Ram said.

“Agreed, but our nephew is so caught up in the Daniels show, I think there might be ample opportunities for us to come together; pun intended,” Billy Bob said.

Ram laughed. “It just might work, but you're all ringed up like a walled fortress,” Ram said.

“Trust me. Master Billy will grant you the power and application to remove my rings, if we ask him; but they can only be removed by you,” Billy Bob assured him.

“It just dawned on me. You's wear'n them rings for protection from your nephew,” Ram nailed him.

“You're sharp, Brother. Little-man my ass!” Billy Bob exclaimed quietly and winked at the smaller cowboy sitting across from him like he was shamelessly flirting with him.

Ram blushed like a school boy on his first date.

* * * * * * *
The family gathered around the dinner table and joined hands. Billy asked the preacher to say a prayer, and Nathan told him to make it a short one, they were hungry. Everyone laughed. They sat down to a wonderful Sunday dinner and conversation was back to its usual interesting pitch. Billy's family and cowboys who didn't go to church and were on Captain Nick's ship were really on a tear. Billy noticed his surrogate pa was more quiet than usual, but he participated to an acceptable degree. Martha looked across the table at Roz. Roz began to show her pregnancy a couple of weeks before and was wearing noticeably loser clothing. “How many months until you're due, Roz?” she asked.

“About six more months, ma'am. I just began my second trimester yesterday. Nothing fits anymore,” Roz replied politely.

There came a great hush around the table. Martha wondered if she overstepped her bounds and wasn't going to ask anymore, but she saw Billy nod to Roz to tell her the rest. “I'm having Master Billy's son by him and his husband Boomer. Master Billy and Boomer created a proto-embryo the night of their bonding, and when us Irin slaves were sent to Earth to help him in the form of cattle like you saw as guards at the front gate, he asked for a volunteer heifer to have his and his mate's baby. If he weren't so busy, he would have carried it himself for four and a half months, and Boomer would carry it for the last four and a half months. The big handsome Watcher beastie has a pouch like a marsupial or a Panda. I got tired of standing outside in the cold and eating grass so I volunteered to have their bairn. Boomer impregnated me in my cattle form. Mistress Kate came to the line cabin where I was staying and decided she could use another hand up here to the big house. She had me morph into human form until my last couple of weeks of pregnancy, then I'll morph back into a Highland heifer and it will be easier for me to give birth to Billy Junior,” Roz said, enjoying the look on several of the new people's faces. It was old news for the family.

“After the scare and what I just went through this morning, it don't sound like a bad idea to me, Roz!” Martha exclaimed and everyone laughed, “If we decided to have another son for us, could you morph me into a cow the last week of my pregnancy, Master Billy?” Martha asked.

“Easy, but there are other options perhaps even more appealing. You only opened one door,” Billy said.

“I agree with you, Martha. After giving birth to two large boys, I told Roz I would gladly live my last two weeks as a cow,” Kate declared like she had no shame.

“I second that!” exclaimed Zelma.

“Me, too!” exclaimed Evangeline Andreeson, “Babies are a joy, no doubt, but giving birth is highly overrated,” she added.

George noticed the two men with rings through their noses sitting directly across from him. They were the only two men in the room who were his size or a little bigger. “Are you gentlemen twins?” he asked.

“Naw, sir, Mr. Rope-a-dope,” Jethro answered. Everyone laughed at Jethro's attempt at the Ropopopadopolous's last name. George laughed the hardest. He'd been around cowboys all his life and knew they were lazy linguist. They didn't mean to be rude. They just made a stab at it, and if it worked – fine – if not, they weren't going to worry about it much. It rolled off George's back like water off a duck. Jethro continued, “This man next to me here is Mr. Billy Bob Bane. He's ma' brother all-right, but we ain't twins. Well, we is and we ain't. He's one of our newest brothers. You want me to go on confusing these good folks or would you like to tell this handsome cowboy how we done come to look alike, Brother?” Jethro asked Billy Bob.

“You're doing a find job, Brother, go ahead-on. I'm sure you'll be discreet,” Billy Bob replied.

“Have no fear, Brother. I'm yore' man. I got chore' back,” Jethro assured him, “Brother Bane was a Daddy Long-leg what ran with the wild Watchers for several years and would come to our Barnyard Concerts with his Bigfoot friend, Ludo, who became Master Randy Rutherford's bonded protector. Mr. Bane was a casualty of one a them Middle-east wars and done got about half his face blow'd off. He wore a leather hood and mask over his face to hide his ugly wound. One day last week he was out running with his mates foraging for wild berries and somebody shot him and knocked him off them limestone cliffs down by the creek on the Rutherford ranch. He was pretty broken up when they found him. Ludo alerted Bossman Randy, and they brought him here to the ranch to work on him. Master Billy and his cowboy-angels saved his life, but they went a step further and restored Mr. Bane's face.

“Master Billy didn't have nothing to work from like an old pitcher, so Bossman Randy suggested he use my DNA to build him a new body and face. I'm Master Oatie's slave, but I work for Master Billy as manager of his new building project. Bossman Randy and me, we's buddies. We's tight with each other. I was working one afternoon and Bossman Randy come running to me and dragged me away so's I could tell Master Billy he had my permission to use my face. I told 'em to go ahead-on, if the man chose to live with a face as ugly as mine, I wished him well,” Jethro said and everyone laughed at him.

“Now I hear, Bossman Randy offered Mr. Bane a position as foreman over to the Rutherford ranch, and I wish my surrogate twin brother well in his new job. I know he'll do fine, but if'n he messes up he's got an iron-clad alibi 'cause he got such an ugly face out of the deal, and he didn't have no say in the matter,” Jethro said and they laughed again.

“I'm very happy with your face, Brother. I think I'll keep it for a while,” Billy Bob said and thanked Jethro for telling his story.

“My God! You mean Master Billy completely rebuilt your face?” George asked in awe.

“He didn't do it alone, Mr. Rope-a-dope. He had help from a goodly number of ancient Angels and newly enhanced Cowboy-Angels, sir,” Billy Bob replied, “I never saw me no Angels until I opened my eyes, and they were all around me. It looked like an Angel convention. Master Billy tried to tell me his mates attended a costume party, and they all showed up in Angel-drag. I didn't believe him for a second,” Billy Bob added and got a laugh from the folks.

“What's on your docket for this afternoon, Master Billy,” the Great Bull of the Hill Country asked.

“I got to take care of an unusual pregnancy. My staff done told me at breakfast this morning our wonderful flutist, the very lovely Clarice Wombat, is pregnant,” Billy said. There was another deafening silence except Oatie Breedlove dropped his fork in his plate and looked stunned. “She swears she ain't never been with a man, and she's still a virgin. My ladies up here to the big house checked her out, and they believe her. Their word is good enough for me. If they tell me it's so, then they's got to be another reason. I know! I know!” Billy exclaimed raising his right hand, “I wondered myself how it could happen, just like you men, then I remembered when we sent her male doppelgänger off to Fort Adam Lear to the Irins, and my angel, Clyde, confirmed it for me. I ain't had me a chance to check her blood to read her DNA, but I'll be able to tell in an instant if our hypothesis is correct. If'n it is Harley-Buck's kid, I plan to remove the zygote, implant it into one of Boomer's proto-embryos, and have him impregnate Harley-Buck. He can carry the baby for four and a half months, have the first birth of the little buckaroo, and we'll have a Watcher carry it the last four and a half months,” Billy explained.

“Then you won't have to explain why he looks like a double for Harley-Buck; especially, if the little buckaroo's born with a set of horns,” Oatie said, “That's brilliant, Brother. Then there's no need to tell Clarice about her sordid past here on Earth,” he added and laughed. Several other men fell out laughing with him.

The new men had no idea what the cowboys were talking about, let alone why they found the situation so funny. “You had a person changed from a man to woman and erased his past to begin a new life with you as someone else?” Parson Reynold's asked.

“We sure did, Preacher, and she's now one our finest musicians. She's a good hearted and sensitive young lady. As a man he was a poor excuse for a human and weren't worth the price of the bullet it took to kill him. As a lady, she's getting a second chance at a better life,” Elmer Breedlove replied.

“Oh, my God in heaven! It just come to me. Are you telling me Clarice Wombat was the former Clarence Womack?” Ray Reynold's asked with a stricken face.

“You win the big cee-gar, Preacher,” Tron Garrett said, and everyone laughed.

“Wait a minute, we were at Womack's trial and watched Kit Crocker shoot him dead. Then we saw these Red Demons with big horns what come and took him and a couple of other folks away including the young Breedlove girl what accidentally got shot. Holy Moses! It's all coming together. They weren't no Demons. It was you men! You saved the Breedlove girl and Womack. You brought him back to life. You done had your revenge on him, scared the holy-crap out of him, sent him off to be dry cleaned, sanitized, and returned in a different package,” Big George was on a roll. He couldn't get the words out fast enough. It was like he was reliving a stream of consciousness. “And then old Grover Parsnip come back looking thirty years younger! Who else could a' done some'um like 'at?” he exclaimed, and damn near fell off his chair laughing. He got Grover, Jack, and Bubba laughing. “I would love to see something like that!” Big George exclaimed.

“Y'ain't alone, Brother George. We were there, too, and I remember them Demons. So Womack didn't die and go to Hell?” Ray Reynolds asked.

“Oh, he went to Hell all right. He even met the Lord high Demon his'self, Big Daddy Satan, who pronounced judgment on him, but it was all our production. We got holographic videos if you men would care to watch. We ain't seen it an a while, but we always have a good time when we do. We get tanked up on Texas tea, giggle and laugh our butts off at our nonsense,” Billy said, slapped his knee, and laughed.

Dinner came to an end and everyone was so full no one but the kids wanted dessert. Kate decided they would postpone the sweet treat for later. Martha Ropopopadopolus decided she was really tired and needed some rest, but she didn't want to stop her family from having a good time. The ladies took her and the baby to their ladies infirmary and put them to bed. The girls were fascinated by Kayla's talents and went off with her to meet Aunt Helen and listen to the ladies play some music. Billy told George and the Pastor to follow him and his men and they would explain things as they went along.

Billy met with Clarice and had a good talk with her. She was upset and distraught at first, but Billy told her he was convinced it wasn't her fault. Billy took a small drop of her blood and tasted it after healing her finger. He and Clyde were right. There was no doubt the zygote was Harley-Buck's. He told Clarice the results were inconclusive but nevertheless, he didn't want her to have the baby. She was worried about the possibility of a virgin birth and could it have really happened in the past?
Billy and Doc Oatie assured her it was highly improbable. Nature just didn't work that way. Billy asked if she had physical exams before she left Fort Adam Lear, and she told him she had countless numbers of them. She couldn't remember how many, which gave Billy an opening to submit to her she might possibly have been fertilized by a male clinical technician what recently masturbated, was in a hurry, and didn't clean his hands properly before returning to work. Oatie backed Billy up like an 'amen' chorus. Clarice seemed to accept the idea, but she was still doubtful about giving up the zygote.

“Someone has to make the decision, and I'm hoping you will agree with me. Since you're still a virgin, I don't want you to have this child. Neither do I want to destroy the zygote. I want it to progress naturally and be born – just not in your body. I can extract it from your womb without any damage to you or it, place the zygote into one of my Watcher's proto-embryos, and impregnate a host parent. It will be fine. I want you to have a good life, meet a man, fall in love, and if you decide to marry and have a family, I will be the first to wish you the best, but not this way, Clarice. I don't want you to offer used goods to the man with whom you fall in love. I'm your master, but I feel more like your big brother who doesn't want his little sister to have to bear this burden when it wasn't her fault. I don't want to pull rank on you and tell you it must be done on my order. Try to understand and meet me halfway,” Billy pleaded.

Clarice began to cry. It wasn't unexpected. Billy gave her his big cowboy bandanna to wipe her tears away and held her close. He held her for sometime, but he didn't push. “When does it have to be done, Master Billy?” she asked.

“The sooner, the better. The quicker we accomplish the transfer the fewer possibilities of failure. I will schedule it immediately. Grandma Kate, and her ladies will prepare you and take you to our slave processing area. We will make the swap of the zygote into my Watcher. It will only take a couple of minutes. There will be no blood or pain. It will be done as quickly as possible,” Billy explained.

“Thank you, Master Billy for treating me like your younger sister. I know you're sincere, and you're right about finding myself in a situation I didn't have any control over. I was devastated. I thought sure you would think I was lying, and you might send me back to Fort Adam Lear in disgrace. It would have destroyed me, sir. I've come to love it here. I think on the ranch as my home and everyone here is a part of my family. I want to stay. I will be honest with you, I even had thoughts of suicide, but to take my own life would mean I would be murdering the baby along with me. My conscience wouldn't allow me to dwell on those thoughts. You're also right about meeting someone and falling in love. The man who thinks enough of me to ask my hand in marriage should get the best I have to offer. I understand your motives and find them honest and worthy. I trust your judgment, Master Billy. I'm ready, sir,” Clarice said. Billy hugged her tight and gently kissed the petite young woman on her forehead.

“It won't be like you're sacrificing the baby, Clarice. You will be able to follow its development, and we will certainly include you at his or her birth,” Billy reassured her.

“I'd appreciate it, Master Billy,” she replied.

“I'll get everything set up. Let's go up to the big house, and I'll leave you with the ladies. We'll meet you in the slave processing area in about an hour,” Billy said.

* * * * * * *
After Billy spoke with Clarice and got her underway to the big house, he and his posse sent for Harley-Buck. Billy told Randy to be ready to open a gate to the dungeon on Captain Nick's ship when he gave him the cue. Harley-Buck arrived wearing only his buckaroo boots, his slave harness, and his big set of ram's horns on his head. He was a sight to behold. Billy introduced him to the new men. Harley-Buck knew the pastor and shook his hand, but when he saw big George a smile of fond recognition crossed his face. They took each other's hand and George pulled the nearly naked cowboy to him and threw his arms around him. “Damn! You look good, Son,” George said, looking Harley-Buck in his eyes, winked, and kissed him full on the mouth. Harley-Buck gave as much as he got. The men obviously knew each other and were tight. They broke it off, but George continued to hold the big-horned cowboy.

“You're a sight for sore eyes, Master George,” Harley-Buck replied and shed a couple of tears.

“Here! Here! Ain't no need for tears. You look better'n I seen you in years, Boy,” George complimented him, “I frick'n love them horns. I heard how you come by them, and I'm proud of you. I always knew you had a good heart,” the big cowboy added.

“I'm happy here, Master George. H'it ain't like no prison. I know my place and got my part to play. The days fly by. There ain't never a dull moment around this place. I ain't never been happier in my life as I been since I come to the Daniels Ranch as Master Billy's slave,” Harley-Buck allowed.

“How's about another one a them buckaroo kisses for your master, my good slave?” Billy asked and they exchanged another kiss what caused more than one penis in the group to fatten up a bit. “I can't let you out of my sight with them horns, Son,” Billy joked after they broke off the kiss, “You's just too damn tempting!” he exclaimed and laughed, “We're here to discuss a delicate matter with you and to take you to Captain Nick's ship wiff' us to show you something I been keeping from you. We also need to talk with you about becoming a hero again and saving the life of your son,” Billy laid it on the table.

“Pardon, Master Billy, but you know I ain't got me no son,” Harley-Buck replied.

“You do now, Cowboy. You remember Clarice Wombat who recently come to us from them ancient people in the Andromeda galaxy about the same time, or shortly after you were in our dungeon?” Billy asked.

“Yes, sir. She's a small, fine looking lady what plays the flute like an Angel,” Harley-Buck replied.

“Well, in the last couple of days, she done come up pregnant with your son, Cowboy,” Billy said firmly.

Harley-Buck doubled-up laughing. “Aaahh, you's kidding me, Master Billy. You know better'n 'nat! I been wearing my cock cage since I come here. I ain't got no key to it, and I certainly ain't no Houdini. My life has been managed and controlled ever' damn day since I come to be yore' slave. I ain't had so much as one minute's privacy or alone time. I cain't even whack-off without permission. I ain't complaining none. I understood the terms before I agreed to become your punishment slave and I understand it's necessary during my break in days. There ain't no way in Hell it's my boy,” Harley-Buck replied.

“As it turns out, our version of Hell is exactly where you fucked her,” Billy said and grinned. The other men laughed at the game Billy was playing with his slave, "There's something I have to tell you we didn't share with you for reasons which should become obvious. Clarice Wombat is the former Clarence Womack, Son,” Billy said firmly.

“Hoe-lee-shit and fuck me in the butt! No! I don't believe it!” Harley-Buck exclaimed.

“What do your remember about that night, Baby Bull?” Billy asked almost tenderly and got a smile out of Harley-Buck.

“I remember butt fuck'n Clarence until I come and how proud ever' body was of me for fuck'n him so good I made him shoot his load. I remember how sad I was when I lost my horns 'cause I evened the score, and I weren't a cuckold no more. I's glad I settled the score between me and that god-awful little piece of shit what called himself a man of God, but I's plenty sad I lost my fine looking horns. Damn near broke my heart. I don't remember much after that. I think you put me to sleep after the devil, Master Gog, done told me about my dad and gimme' my new name," Harley-Buck said like he was trying hard to remember every detail.

“We think what happened is, after I put you to sleep, we sent Clarence to another world to be transformed into a woman by an ancient, more advanced race of folks, with your sperm still inside his lower tract. Clyde took him and he was still wearing the plug we shoved up his butt to keep your gizz from leaking out all over the place. We don't know for sure, but we suspect, someway, somehow, one of your little crotch-commandos found its way into the new Clarice Wombat's ovaries and done the wicked deed. Nature ain't really wicked, but I will have to compliment you on your sperm. They must be mighty strong little warriors. We just can't allow a life that determined to be extinguished.

“H'it t'weren't neither of your fault. It just happened. Howsomever, we got us a dilemma. We don't want Clarice to find out she was once't a huckster preacher with absolutely no morals and a major social parasite of the first magnitude. We traded in old Clarence for a bright and talented young woman. We want to give her a chance. She's a virgin, and I want her to remain that way until she meets the right man, they fall in love, and decide to share their lives together. I've decided to remove the zygote from Clarice, insert it into one of my husband's proto-embryos like we done with my son Billy Junior who's growing in Roz Cumber's womb.

“Here's where you come into the pitcher, Cowboy. We need a surrogate parent for your boy. Boomer can suppress up to ninety percent of the genetic information from Clarice's egg, but we need all the genetic info the wee bairn can gather from your blood and DNA. We need to impregnate you with little Harley-Buck's embryo so's you can carry him in your body for the first four and a half months and give first birth to your boy. We will get a volunteer Watcher assigned to you to carry little Harley-Buck in his pouch for the last four and a half months. As his second dad, the Watcher will act like an incubator for a premature babe, his wet-nurse, and a fierce protector. After four and a half to six months Harley-Buck Junior will leave his second dad's pouch to live in the world with the rest of us. Times may vary depending on the bairn and his need to return to his watcher's warm pouch. As my slave, I could order you to comply or forcibly have it implanted within you, but I wanna' give you a chance to be a hero again. We need your help, Son. We can't do it without you, and I don't wanna' lose the little tyke. If you don't want him, I'll raise him as my own. Will you help us?” Billy asked almost like a plea.

“Oh, Hell, yes! You know I'd do anything in the world for you, Master Billy. You's my Master and my Demon Master. I mean what I done pledged to you, sir. He's my son, you say? Are you absolutely sure, sir?” Harley-Buck asked.

“Absolutely! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Son. I tasted a drop of Clare's blood a while ago, and it was unquestionably your DNA what's grow'n in her womb. He will almost be like a duplicate of you with minor differences. Hell, we been talk'n amongst ourselves and making bets; he just might grow his own set of horns since you were wearing yorn' when you butt fucked old Clarence to pay him back for making you a cuckold,” Billy said enthusiastically.

“Oh, shit! That would be too wonderful for words, Master Billy. Gotdamn it! A boy what's born what can grow a set of horns is gonna' need his'self a daddy what's got a find set of horns to teach him to be proud of his inheritance. Do you think he might have a tail, sir?” Harley-Buck asked.

“He jus' might, Cowboy. I wouldn't rule it out,” Billy said and smiled.

“Hell far and damnation! No! Double damnation! I'll do it, Master Billy! What do I have to do?” Harley-Buck asked.

“We'll send you off with a pair of my grooms, and they'll clean you from stem to stern. They will have you drink several mugs of Texas tea spiked with some powerful relaxing herbs what also heightens any sexual experience. My husband will mount you and impregnate you with his proto-embryo. Once't it takes hold, it won't come out for four and a half months; five months max. We'll be with you all the way, and we won't let nothing bad happen to you or your boy,” Billy assured the big cowboy.

* * * * * * *
The transfer of the zygote was done in the slave processing center with as few people as possible to make Clarice comfortable while the rest of Billy's family and guests watched the video from Clarence Womack's night in Hell. They had a couple of mugs of Texas tea, got into the mood of the video, and laughed as much as the regular men. Harley-Buck was taken away by Billy's grooms and prepared for insemination. It didn't take them long, and he got to watch the last hour of the video before Boomer, Billy, and Nick took him off to Billy's apartment in the castle for Boomer to impregnate the big cowboy with his proto-embryo.

It took a while, but Billy's men and his guests returned to the big house to have dessert while Harley-Buck was receiving his new son. He didn't find the procedure painful or uncomfortable, and he certainly wasn't intimidated by Boomer's size. He was carefully trained to take the largest cowboy without a problem. As a matter of fact, Harley-Buck told everyone he found the experience stimulating and exciting. He begged his master for release and Billy saw to it his good slave ejaculated twice. After they were finished, they took the very pregnant Harley-Buck to the big house to have their just desserts.

* * * * * * *
Billy invited big George to accompany him to his office in the large round turret on the top floor of the big house for a few minutes. He explained to the big cowboy he wanted to discuss a business proposition with him. Billy gave George his usual down-home folksy spiel about ranchers sticking together for the benefit of everyone by joining the Daniels family and their grange co-op. Billy promised George a guaranteed monthly salary, and he would provide the manpower to increase his volume of production. At the end of the year, they would split the profits down the middle. He outlined the terms of housing his slaves on his property down to the last detail, and told him he was welcome to talk with any rancher who became a member of the Daniels Family Hill Country Grange Co-op. George was definitely interested but wanted to talk it over with his wife. Billy agreed it was the right thing to do. He reached in his desk drawer and pulled out a fat envelope and handed it to George.

“What's this?” George asked.

“Five thousand dollars in one hundred dollar bills. Take it home with you for listening to my boring presentation,” Billy said.

“It weren't boring. I'm seriously considering it, but I can't accept this, Billy. H'it just ain't the cowboy way,” George said.

“The Hell it ain't! Hey, I'm the first buckaroo to defend the cowboy way, Brother. I believe in it, and I try to live it to the letter. Am I Billy George July's Godfather or ain't I? Was you just blow'n smoke up my ass at the church to flatter me?” Billy asked rather indignantly.

“No, you know we didn't mean it that way. We was serious, Billy,” George assured him.

“I was, too! I take the title of that boy's Godfather, and your girls, too, for that matter, very seriously. What kind of Godfather would I be to let you leave my place knowing you barely got enough gas in your truck to get home from the church, and you ain't got nothing in your house to feed your family. I helped bring that kid into this wretched world. I damn well plan to see it ain't quite so wretched no more. And don't go git'n no idea this is a loan. H'it ain't! I look on it as insurance. Hell, George, don't let the amount overwhelm you. It ain't that much. I done give the pastor a check for five thousand this morning for the church.

“You, your wife, daughters, and my very special Godson is more holy to me than that big building we met in this morning. I'd rather invest in good families in our community than bricks and mortar,” Billy said like an evangelist preacher thumping his bible, “However, our preacher's got to eat, too, and he's a good man what's trying to paddle his canoe in life just like the rest of us. I like him because he's done come to a place he's beginning to question life and his place in our community. I'd rather deal with a religious leader what admits he don't know everything, than a huckster and morally depraved monster like Clarence Womack and his ilk,” Billy expounded.

“I don't know what to say, Master Billy. You're right, of course. I done the same for others when I could. Maybe I should swallow my pride,” George lamented with tears in his eyes.

“Bullshit! Don't you never swallow your pride, Cowboy! You do that, and you be shaming bow'fus cowboys. Look on it as a new beginning to a better way of living than just eking out a bare existence. You and your family deserve better, George, and if you's serious about joining my family and our grange, I'll make damn sure I bring you along wiff' me. That's my firm promise to you, your ladies, and my Godson,” Billy assured him.

“Would I seem ungrateful if I asked one more favor, Master Billy?” George asked like a young kid ashamed of himself.

“Not in the least. I was gonna' ask if you wanted me to replace your foreskin,” Billy said.

George looked at him and grinned, “How did you know?” George asked.

“As passionate as you were describing what chore' step-daddy done to you, and the look in your eyes when you asked Billy Bob Bane if I reconstructed him, I saw a flash of hope come across your face. It didn't take no mind-reader to know what motivated your question, Cowboy,” Billy said and smiled. He reached over to his desktop computer, turned it on, clicked on a couple of things and a full page appeared. There must have been two dozen photos of men's uncircumcised penises with different foreskin coverings.

George was stunned there was such a variety. He knew from catching a glimpse of other mens' penises there were some differences, but he wasn't aware there was so many. Billy got up, walked to the door of his office, closed it, and set the lock. No one could enter without knocking, and the men couldn't be seen on the top floor.

“Take a good look, Buckaroo. Which one looks most like the one you lost? Or if you don't like your old one, pick one you like,” Billy urged him.

“In my wildest dreams, I could never imagine choosing a foreskin for myself. Do you think you could do a good business on Amazon.com, Master Billy?” George asked and got Billy laughing.

“Probably. We could call it “Foreskins 'R' Us” and ever' time some poor schmuck does a Google search, his computer would be filled with unwanted ads for uncircumcised cocks for weeks afterward,” Billy said, and they fell together laughing at their nonsense.

“Mine was most like this one here,” George said pointing to a cock in the right-hand corner of the screen, but I think I like this one better,” he said pointing to another which covered almost all the head and left a shorter tip than his previous one.

“Well, we could start with that one and see how you like it, but we ain't pressed for time. You can try it, wear it for a while, but if you decide you ain't comfortable wiff' it, we can always give you a new model to drive. It's quicker than changing a flat tire,” Billy said and laughed. Billy's sense of humor was infectious and both men were laughing their asses off.

Billy took off his shirt, winked at George, and winged-up in a great flash of light. “Don't know's I'll ever get use to that,” the big cowboy said, “It sends cold chills up ma' back,” he declared and laughed.

“Yeah, you will. You'll get used to it. It will become second nature. You'll just expect it when you come around us. Then, when you's ready I'll take you to the dungeon, give you the full enhancement package, make you one of my Cowboy-Angels, and a recognized member of my family posse,” Billy said and smiled.

“You got that kind of power, Billy?” George asked.

“Sure. I never asked for it, but them ancient folks on two other planets in two different solar systems thought it would be a good idea. It comes in handy sometimes,” Billy understated and grinned. He took a straight pin from his desk drawer, sterilized it with some alcohol spray he had in another drawer, and wiped it with a Kleenex. He took George's finger and quickly pricked it. The big cowboy jumped, and they shared a laugh. Billy squeezed out a couple of drops and licked it from his finger. He waved his hand over it, and it was completely healed to its previous state.

“What was that for?” George asked.

“To gather your DNA from your blood so's I can regenerate new tissue for your cock. Whip it out, Cowboy, and let's get to work,” Billy commanded and grinned. Billy didn't have to ask twice or tell the big man not to be shy. George undid his belt, unzipped his wranglers, and shoved them down to his boot tops, faster than greased lightening. Just as he suspected, George was a buckaroo; a true son of the west. He didn't wear no underwear.

“Jesus, George!” Billy exclaimed, “I got stallions out there in the pasture what ain't this big,” he declared and laughed.

“I'm proud of it, but it's difficult for my wife sometimes. I worry about hurt'n her,” he said.

“Goddamn! Whoever done your circumcision was a frick'n butcher,” Billy said.

“I agree. It's been that way ever since, and it's uncomfortable sometimes. If'n it's uncomfortable for me, I know it must be for her,” George agreed.

“You're probably right. It's bound so tight in an abnormally curved arc it don't go with the flow,” Billy said.

“Can you fix it, Master Billy?” George asked almost pleading.

“I ain't never thought of myself as no 'cock-doctor,' but it has a certain appeal. Hell, yes, Cowboy, I can put it back like it was,” Billy took George's big piece of meat into his left hand and waved his right hand over it. George threw back his head in a combination of ecstasy and relief from feeling the tightness in his penis beginning to relax its rigid binding from too tight a circumcision. Billy would take his right hand and pull the skin forward and then waved his hand over it again and again until it began to grow up and over the big head of the cowboy's penis. George never felt anything so stimulating as he could feel his penis returning to its natural state. Billy could feel George's body began to shudder. “You gotta' stop for a minute, Master Billy, or I'm gonna' shoot my load,” George said.

“You close, Cowboy?” Billy asked.

“Damn close, sir!” the big cowboy replied.

“Good, I always charge one good load per foreskin renewal,” he said and took the head of George's big cock in his mouth while Billy continued to pull and build his foreskin. George almost blew Billy's head off when he shot. Fortunately he had his big hand behind Billy's head holding it like it was sacred to him. It was a huge volley of fresh, hot, cowboy gizz and continued for a few seconds until George was thoroughly drained. Billy took it all and swallowed every drop. “Hmmm, beefy!” Billy declared and got George laughing. A few more strokes and Billy stopped. George's cock hung naturally like it should, and he now sported a new foreskin with a short tip. Billy pulled away to admire his work. “What do you think, Buckaroo?” Billy asked.

George took his penis in his hand and felt it give and move more freely. He skinned it back, and it stayed in place behind the head. He was so pleased he reached down, pulled Billy up from his chair, threw his arms around him, and kissed him right on the mouth. Billy let George do the driving and gave as much as the big cowboy demanded. They broke it off and stood holding each other. “You're a special man, Billy Daniels. There ain't no words good enough what I can say to make you understand how grateful I am for what you done for me and my family today, sir,” George said quietly.

“I think, the big beefy load of your cowboy commandos and that kiss done a right nice job of expressing your gratitude, Mr. Rope-a-dope,” Billy said and laughed, “You're certainly welcome,” Billy added. “Try your new equipment and let chore' cock-doc know how it's working out for you. If'n you think you need an adjustment, let me know,” Billy said.

“I will. I promise, I won't be shy,” George said.

“Just remember, what happens between a cowboy and his cock-doc don't leave this room,” Billy said and smiled.

“Cowboy's word of honor, sir,” George said and shook Billy's hand.

* * * * * * *
They came down the stairs together and found everyone in the kitchen area. Martha was holding Billy George July and in her arms and was feeding him from her breast as she ate her dessert. She wasn't shy about it, and no one said a word. In country households it's just the accepted norm. A woman doesn't have to go off into another room to feed her baby. The family was chatting and enjoying each other's company. Martha looked up and saw a glow about her husband she hadn't seen in a long time. George looked like he just had a large burden lifted from his shoulders. She smiled at him as he came around to look at his boy and gave her a quick peck on her forehead. “I think we should be taking off before much longer, Sweetheart,” he said.

“I agree. We got things to do before we can call it a day,” Martha agreed.

Billy, Nick, and Boomer drove the family back to the church to pick up their truck. George stuck a couple of hundred dollars in his billfold to buy some gas and much needed food supplies on the way home. He didn't tell his wife right away where he got the money, but when he did she didn't seem the least surprised. She was glad and seemed more at ease with the idea than George was at first.

“Billy and his family are good people, George. They live their lives like good people should, and if Billy's offered to bring us into his family, I think we should do it. It would be nice to have a steady income. You done your best as a husband and father, and you're of the same stock and ilk as the Daniels. I'm convinced, after today, our lives will become easier for us. Why do you think all this happened like it did?” Martha asked.

“I ain't sure, Hon. I still got questions,” George replied.

“It's always good to err on the side of caution, but this bonding we made with the Daniels family today didn't come about for no reason, George. It was meant to be, and you want to know why, my Dear Husband?” Martha asked.

“Why, Dear?” George asked in reply.

“Because, beneath your big, sometimes brash cowboy persona, you're a good man with a heart bigger than your pocket book,” Martha said and gave her husband a quick peck on his cheek.

* * * * * * *
On the way back to the ranch Billy was quiet. Nick didn't try to intrude in his reverie. “Am I too late to find out about my past this evening?” Billy asked.

“No, tonight, if your up to it. You've had a busy day. Tomorrow might be better, then I'll have one more evening wiff' my boy like he is now,” Nick said cryptically.

“Will it change me that much, Pa?” Billy asked.

“Some, but not your core. There's a part of you what will always be my boy,” Nick replied.

“Was that what the meeting on the ship was about this morning?” Billy asked.

“Not on the ship. We were called to Retikki Prime; all the major players and a few minor ones. We spent a week and a half between Retikki Prime and Fort Adam Lear being enhanced, some refurbished, others taught new systems. Fallen angels re-purposed, recharged, and realigned. We were gone just a little under an hour our time. We were back well before your scheduled returned from church,” Nick said, referring to their late arrival.

“Wonder why they didn't want me to come with you men?” Billy said.

“Because it was all about you and how best we can come together to help you. Besides, you needed to be here today. What you done for the preacher and the Rope-a-dope family was more important than you being with us. We will share everything we learned with you. There ain't no need for secrecy about it,” Nick said.

Billy drove on in silence enjoying the beauty of the Hill Country. The evening shadows began to cast larger images across the land as the sun was going down in the west. He was curious, but he was more content than he had been in a long while. He figured if his pa was without him for a week and a half, his ass was probably in for a good, long, hard Demon-dad ride. He smiled to himself. Life was good.

End of Chapter 73 ~ Seek Him What Made Them Seven Stars
Copyright ~ © ~ 2014 ~ 2017 ~ Waddie Greywolf ~ All Rights Reserved
Mail to: Waddie Greywolf <[email protected]>
WC = 19,692
05/26/2014
01/11/2017

* The setting of the 23rd Psalm by Howard Goodall is more popularly known as the theme song for the British series “The Vicar of Dibley” starring the heart-warming comedienne, Dawn French. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAZN1oVir5A