The Cowboy Poet

by Claire Thompson

  I‘ve seen it on cable a few times.

  Well, I had a powerful hankerin‘ for Adam Cartwright. You know, the oldest son who always wore black. Tyler nodded. When I was about twelve and discovered masturbation, he was who I thought about. I imagined he would ride up to my family‘s farm late at night and steal me away. He‘d keep me holed up at his cabin somewhere in the mountains, his captive sex slave, forced to do all sorts of unspeakable acts.

  Clint grinned at the memory, shaking his head. How lonely he‘d been as a boy, never telling a soul who or what he really was until he‘d left home at the age of eighteen, as his brother had before him, desperate to get away and find himself at last.

  You imagined yourself as a sex slave? Tyler looked confused. But you‘re the one who likes being in control.

  I am now. Back then I was findin‘ my way. My first sexual experiences were an exploration. I didn‘t know what I was, to tell you the truth. It was Lee who showed me how powerful this kind of lovin‘ can be. He taught me a lot.

  So you started out like me? Tyler still looked perplexed.

  Clint nodded. When you‘re first gettin‘ involved in that stuff, you got no clue what you‘re doin‘. It‘s natural to gravitate to someone who does—someone who wants to teach. Clint handed Tyler the bundle of towels and blankets, and returned to the truck cab to retrieve the cooler.

  The idea of sex, power and pain always fascinated me, he continued, as they walked toward the creek. At first I explored it from a different side, I guess you could say. Took me some time to figure out what I was and what I needed.

  Tyler seemed to ponder this. Then he asked, So what happened to Lee? You said you‘re still friends…

  Yeah. He hooked up with a guy who lives in Fort Worth. Occasionally I get out that way and we get together for a beer or what have you. He taught me a lot, and I‘ll always be grateful for the lessons. He respected my limits and never took me farther than I was ready to go. It‘s one reason I‘m comfortable today with who I am. You see, everythin‘ I ask of you, Ty, I‘ve done myself.

  You don‘t say… Tyler seemed genuinely puzzled by this, making Clint wonder anew just what his previous experience had been.

  They set up the blanket beside the creek, which looked very inviting, the water clear as it rushed over smooth pebbles on the sandy bottom. They stripped to their underwear. Tyler looked around. You sure this is safe? Nobody‘s gonna suddenly show up with their picnic baskets and kids?

  Clint shook his head. Nah, no one ever did when Lee and I used to come here. There‘s a lake not too far from here with a nice sandy shore. That‘s where folks with families go. I reckon we got the place all to ourselves.

  All right then, Tyler said, as he pulled his briefs down his strong, tan legs. Before Clint could finish admiring his naked form, Tyler stepped down into the creek bed, moving toward its center, which at its deepest only came up to his chest. He ducked down into the water, rising up a moment later like some kind of blond sea god, shaking his hair and spraying the surface with droplets of water that shimmered gold in the sunlight.

  Man, that‘s cold! he said, hugging himself. But it feels great. You coming in?

  Clint shucked his underwear and stepped into the rushing water, moving toward Tyler. The cool water hit his hot body with a shock, but after a few seconds he‘d adjusted enough to submerge his sweat-soaked head, letting the water sluice over him and wash him clean. It was colder than he remembered, but that was probably due to the rain of the day before.

  He resurfaced, looking for Tyler. He felt him before he saw him, curling around his legs like a large fish before he popped up in front Clint, laughing and spraying him with water as he shook back his hair from his face.

  Clint caught him in a bear hug, happiness surging through him. He couldn‘t remember feeling this carefree in many a year. This had gone way beyond a simple pickup of a likeminded gay man for some casual, if intense, sex. He was falling for Tyler Sutton, though he hadn‘t a clue what the future held between them, if anything at all.

  Tyler was a big guy, a little taller than Clint, and broader in the shoulder and torso, but in the water they were more equally weighted. On an impulse, Clint reached down, catching Tyler beneath his ass and hoisting him upward into his arms. Tyler laughed, wrapping his strong legs around Clint‘s waist.

  Clint‘s cock rose in appreciation as he kissed Tyler‘s warm, inviting lips. He shifted, lifting Tyler higher in his arms until the head of his cock rested against Tyler‘s nether entrance. He would have liked nothing better than to plunge into that tight passage right there in the creek.

  Tyler wriggled back against Clint‘s cock with a sexy sigh, lifting his legs to Clint‘s shoulders. The head of Clint‘s cock nearly slipped into him. Clint moved back. Whoa there, Ty. You‘re gonna get somethin‘ you ain‘t ready for if you keep that up.

  Oh, I‘m ready for it, Tyler said, his eyes narrowing as he licked his lips. I want it, Clint. I want it bad. The way Tyler was positioned, the backs of his strong thighs resting against Clint‘s shoulders, his tight, muscular ass spread so Clint‘s cock nestled between its cheeks, was so inviting that it took every ounce of Clint‘s willpower not to penetrate him then and there, condoms and lubrication be damned.

  Instead he ducked down in the water, pulling away so Tyler‘s body slid from his. They both stood again, pressing close as they reached for each other‘s cock beneath the cool, rushing water. They kissed as they stroked one another, panting against each other‘s lips as their tongues danced.

  I want you to fuck me, Tyler murmured throatily. After a beat he added, Please, Sir.

  Clint needed no further invitation. They waded back to the creek‘s bank and clambered out, bodies dripping, cocks at the ready. Tyler flopped down on the blanket, watching as Clint reached for the wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. He riffled through it, frowning. Dang. I can‘t find what I‘m lookin‘ for in here.

  Tyler jumped up, eager as a puppy. I got some. Pre-lubed and everything. He grabbed his jeans and jammed his hand in a pocket, tossing a small packet toward Clint, who caught it, laughing.

  Once he was properly sheathed, he said, Get on your hands and knees. Offer yourself to me, boy.

  Tyler, who had been lying on his side, cocked on one elbow with his head cradled in his hand, rolled over and positioned himself as ordered. He twisted back to watch Clint as he crouched behind him. Clint entered him slowly, letting Tyler‘s body heat the lubricated latex so it eased inside.

  I don‘t want you to move, he said, as he draped his body over Tyler‘s strong back. This is an exercise in discipline. No matter what I do to you, you stay stock still. Don‘t push back, don‘t try to take any control. Okay?

  Tyler nodded and Clint could actually feel his barely restrained, restless desire, like an eager stallion who, once saddled, anticipates the wild ride ahead. Answer me, boy, Clint added. I want to hear you.

  Yes, Sir, Tyler said, his voice thick with lust. Clint‘s cock surged and he felt the involuntary clutch of Tyler‘s muscles spasming against it. He groaned with pleasure and began to move inside.

  When Tyler arched slightly back, Clint reached for his hair, which he used like a rein to jerk Tyler‘s head back. I said, don‘t move, he reminded the boy, who gasped, his lips parting.

  His fingers still entwined in Tyler‘s thick, wet hair, Clint moved again, shifting and sliding inside the hot, perfect grip of Tyler‘s body. Tyler groaned, a shudder moving through him. Clint reached for his cock, wrapping his hand around it as he fucked Tyler from behind.

  As if he were not only inside Tyler‘s body, but also his very soul, he could feel Tyler‘s act of will, trying desperately to hold still while Clint moved inside him, all the while stroking and teasing Tyler‘s rock-hard shaft. Clint couldn‘t deny the deep, satisfying thrill he got from bending this strong, sexy man to his will. He didn‘t know which was better—the hot, slick clutch of Tyler‘s ass on his cock, or the sweet tremble of Tyler‘s body as he struggled
to obey Clint‘s dictate to be still.

  Oh, god, Tyler groaned, as Clint stroked his hard cock with a sure hand as he moved inside. I can‘t…Clint, I can‘t stay still. My body needs to…oh… He began to shudder, his back arching, his hips thrusting back to take Clint in deep. Clint jerked Tyler‘s head back by the hair and Tyler twisted toward him, accepting Clint‘s rough, desperate kiss.

  Clint felt the rushing rise of his own release as he kissed the boy, all the while pumping Tyler‘s cock in his fist. Tyler was no longer trying to be still, and Clint gave him a silent reprieve. They were both sweating again in the hot, dry air, their bodies slippery as they moved together, panting and grunting.

  Clint was poised on the edge of orgasm, savoring the exquisite torture of holding himself back as long as he could. He finally let go when he felt the sudden warm spurt of semen over his fingers as Tyler cried out.

  Clint jerked hard, the weight of his orgasm propelling him forward as they fell together to the blanket, Tyler beneath him, Clint‘s cock still buried deep inside. They lay still for a long time, the only movement the combined galloping of their hearts, which finally slowed in tandem to a cantor and then a walk.

  After a time, Clint became aware of the jangle of his cell phone from the heap of their clothing nearby, and realized he‘d been drifting in a contented, easy doze.

  Tyler stretched languidly beside him. You gonna get that?

  While Clint was considering this, the phone stopped ringing. Guess not. He grinned and playfully smacked Tyler‘s bare ass. Pushing himself to his feet, he said, Race you to the creek.

  With his limp, he didn‘t have a chance in hell of beating the younger man, but he didn‘t mind. He enjoyed watching Tyler lope toward the water in all his naked glory. He joined Tyler in the water, smiling as he watched Tyler duck down and rise a moment later, shaking his wet hair and laughing. Clint found himself laughing too, just for sheer joy.

  Ain‘t it great, Tyler said, echoing his thoughts, to be alive?

  Chapter 6

  It‘s like I told you the other night, Hoss Johnson said. Couple of our tanks disappeared. One of them didn‘t even have nothin‘ in it. But even empty, they don‘t come cheap, you know.

  Was Doc Crawford here sometime around when you noticed them going missing? Tyler tried to keep his voice neutral, feeling almost like he imagined a trial attorney might, who didn‘t want to lead the witness.

  Hoss glanced at Tyler, but focused on Clint to answer, which mildly annoyed Tyler, but he let it pass. Hoss Johnson had no doubt labeled him a city boy not worth his time or attention. Tyler shrugged inwardly at this. He was on a story, and if this country boy preferred to deal with one of his own, that was fine by Tyler.

  Now that you mention it, he drawled, his eyes still on Clint, as if Clint had asked the question, he was. Him and that new assistant of his. He looked at Tyler now and furrowed his brow suspiciously. How‘d you know that?

  It seems to be the one consistent thread between all these thefts, Tyler said. Every time one of these tanks go missing, the vet appears to have been on the scene.

  Hoss laughed, shaking his head dismissively, as Clint and Lucky Harding had done before. Not Doc Crawford. He‘s the salt of the earth. As honest as the day is long.

  New assistant, Tyler said. What‘s his name? Do you know him? Has he worked for Doc Crawford long? Tyler glanced at Clint, who shook his head and shrugged.

  Hoss answered, He‘s pretty new. Helps the doc with drivin‘ and routine checkups and vaccinations, that sort of stuff. Learnin‘ the ropes, I‘d say. Seems like a nice enough fellow—very polite. Seems to know his stuff.

  Hmm, Clint mused. Are you thinkin‘ he might be the culprit?

  I‘m just collecting information at this point, Tyler said. Then we sift through it and see what we come up with. Turning back to Hoss, he asked, Have you noticed anyone else around when the tanks were taken? Anything else unusual we should follow up on? Any new employees?

  I have two new hired hands, Jake Johnson and Ronnie Gray. But I‘ve known em both since they was kids. I don‘t hire just anybody, you know. He scowled at Tyler, as if Tyler had just accused him of something.

  Just collecting facts, Tyler reminded him. Getting the big picture. He underlined the wordsvet’s assistanton his pad, determined to follow that lead. We should find out more about Doc Crawford‘s new assistant, he said to Clint.

  You think so? Clint mused. Texas may be big, but ranch folks is tight, and word‘s bound to get around. There‘s no way in hell he could sell that semen to anyone within a hundred mile radius. He‘d be busted in ten seconds flat.

  Tyler sucked at the tip of his pen, musing. Yeah. But somebody is taking these tanks, that‘s a fact we can‘t get around. I wonder, he turned questioningly to Clint, if there‘s a way we could check this guy out without tipping our hand or offending the vet. Maybe, he added, warming to the idea, we could do a kind of stakeout! See if we couldn‘t catch him in the act.

  Not a bad idea, Clint said. But how we gonna know where they go next? We can‘t just trail them around the whole county and show up on folks‘ property.

  I could call Betty Jo, Doc Crawford‘s receptionist, and see if she‘d tell us the doc‘s schedule. Hoss offered. She‘s my cousin.

  That might work, Clint said, nodding.

  Tyler tried to keep his face neutral, but inside he felt warm and excited. These men were taking him seriously, and together they might actually solve this thing. He‘d make sure the case was wrapped up tight, getting all the facts and evidence to write up a good article for the magazine. He could go into depth on the background of the case— the underlying motivations for the crime, the local color, how local law enforcement deals with situations like these… He pulled himself up short, reining in his imagination. The crime wasn‘t solved yet. He needed to focus on that first. They‘d need solid evidence before any accusations were made.

  Hoss, who‘d been busy on his cell phone, flicked it shut. You boys are in luck. The doc‘s makin‘ house calls today. He‘ll be headin‘ over to the Riley ranch this afternoon for some annual checkups. Takin‘ the big equipment truck and his new assistant with him. If you get a move on, you might make it there before he does.

  Great! Tyler enthused, excited at the idea of a stakeout. Maybe they‘d catch the guy right in the act. He turned to Clint. You know this Riley fellow, Clint? We could call ahead and make plans.

  Sure, yeah, I know him. Clint spoke in a flat voice, his eyes shifting away from Tyler. His easy, relaxed demeanor had shifted for some reason, sending a strange tremor of foreboding through Tyler‘s gut that he didn‘t understand. Surely he must be imagining it.

  Is there a problem? he asked carefully.

  Clint shrugged. No. No problem. Seems like as good a plan as any.

  They said their farewells to Hoss Johnson and climbed into the truck. Tyler kept waiting for Clint to offer some explanation for his sudden change in mood, but Clint remained silent, eyes on the road.

  They‘d been driving a full twenty minutes before Tyler, silently debating whether to press the issue, finally blurted, What‘s going on?

  It took Clint a while to answer. Tyler waited and finally Clint glanced his way. Ain‘t nothin‘ goin‘ on, he said, but his eyes said otherwise.

  It suddenly occurred to Tyler where they were headed. Riley‘s ranch was a stone‘s throw from Clint‘s ranch, at least in Texas terms. Could it be Clint didn‘t want to be seen with him around folks he knew well? Was all that talk about being comfortable with who and what you are just so much guff when it came down to it?

  He looked at Clint, who kept his face doggedly focused on the road, and felt his heart contract with confusion. Damn it, he had begun to trust Clint in a way he never had another person, even though their time together had been so brief. Was this the end then? Would he return to Austin, Clint to his ranch, and that would be that?

  Tyler tested the idea in his mind, trying it on. He would go back to the big, impersona
l city, to the gay bars where guys without names would invite him home for an hour or a night of empty pleasure. Clint and the possibility of what he‘d offered would be relegated to memories he hauled out at night until even the memories faded into half-forgotten dreams of what might have been.

  This was stupid. Clint Darrow couldn‘t possibly do such an abrupt about-face with no rhyme or reason. Tyler forced himself to be calm. Something was troubling him, was all.

  Clint? Tyler reached out, putting his hand on Clint‘s forearm You going to talk to me? Ever since the mention of Riley‘s place, you went all quiet and strange. Did something happen to upset you?

  Here‘s the thing, Clint said slowly, as if marshaling his thoughts. You and I met in a kind of a vacuum, if you understand me.

  No, not really. What‘re you trying to say? Tyler held his breath, not sure he wanted to hear what came next, but knowing he had to.

  Meanin‘ we both have lives we been livin‘ before we met each other. I hadn‘t counted on how close you and me got, and how fast. It‘s about more than just the sex between us. We got somethin‘ important happenin‘, at least I think we do, and now here comes real life to mess with us.

  Tyler felt something cold enter his stomach, making it churn. Real life?Just what‘re you saying, Clint? Stop speaking in riddles.

  Clint took a breath and blew it out. I guess I should probably have said somethin‘ sooner. At the Riley ranch, there‘s a guy there, name of Jonas Hall. We‘ve been, uh, friends for years.

  Friends, Tyler said, drawing out the word as his heart sank.

  Friends with benefits, Clint admitted, confirming Tyler‘s fears.

  And you were planning on telling me this…? Even as Tyler said this, he knew he had no right. They‘d been together, if you could even call it that, for all of three days. He had friends too, back in Austin, so what was the big deal?

  Clint didn‘t answer, and Tyler tried to take him off the hook. Hey, it‘s okay. I mean, you and me, we‘re…just friends too, I guess. Aware even as he said it that he was speaking more out of disappointment than truth, he added, Shit, maybe not even that.