by BA Tortuga
Loadin’ Up
by BA Tortuga
“Get that big mare loaded up, will you, Jonny?” Kaycee Johns hated to see people doing stupid shit. Jonny, his sister’s step-son, was being damned stupid. Kid had supposedly grown up on a ranch. How could he not know how to load horses on a trailer?
The mare kicked, reminding everyone why her name was Cyclone June, and why she was one of the best bucking horses in the country, winning the title for the PRCA two years in a row. Kaycee had bred her up himself, back when he was wet behind the ears and his pop-pop had given him a couple of brood mares and one incredibly contentious stallion named Hurricane.
“Shit! Kaycee!” Hooves hit metal, June kicking at the trailer, and boom, Jonny let go of the lead. June was loose.
“Heads up in the loading area.” He got his rope, hobbling a little because he had a broken bone in his damned foot, which was why he’d brought Jonny.
One of the safety men -- a new kid, all braids and hawk nose and beaded chaps -- looked up from where he’d been cooling down his buckskin and the rope flashed out, easy as you please. The kid caught June right around the neck, and she settled at the weight of an experienced hand. She wasn’t mean; she’d just get away with anything if you let her.
“Thanks.”
“No worries.” The kid loaded her up, slick as you please. “There you go, man. Watch that foot.”
“Yeah. Been a long weekend.” He checked the guy out, trying not to be obvious.
“I hear you.” Boots hit the ground and a scarred, brown hand was offered. “Julian Martinez.”
“Kaycee Johns.” He shook hands, liking the strength of Julian’s grip.
“You got some good stock.”
“Thanks.” His horses were his first and, right now, his only love. “You working for Butler, or you local?”
“They picked me up in Santa Fe when Charlie had his heart attack. I said I’d ride ‘til they didn’t need help no more.”
Oh, fuck. He remembered that. Charlie had been just about green and then, boom. “Those were tough days for everyone.”
Jonny came trotting over. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay, kiddo. Just be more careful. How about old Sarge next?” Kaycee waited until the kid moved away. “You eat yet?”
“Me? No, man. You?”
Oh, that was interest. Maybe heat. He would have bought Julian supper for his help anyway, but he might throw in dessert if what he thought he was seeing was really going on.
“I haven’t. You like barbecue?”
“Am I alive and kicking?” Kaycee got this smile that lit the entire world. “Only thing better is tacos.”
“No good taco joints here, I don’t think, but if you know one, I’m there.” Kaycee decided Jonny could take the truck with the hitch, and he’d take the other rig.
“My first time up here, believe it or not. I got a place near Taos.”
“Oh, I like it there. Come on, then.” He knew Colorado Springs okay.
“Let me get my girls settled in their trailer and it’s a deal.”
“Sure thing.” He watched Julian load two fillies, both beauties.
They were smaller, a buckskin and a paint, and they loaded like a dream. It was obvious that they were well loved, well cared for, and so were the ropes and chaps, both locked away.
“You got someplace you need to take them, or you want to ride with me?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not a bit, if they can stand in the trailer.” Some horses could, some would kick and fuss.
“They’re good girls and I’ll drive them to the next venue tonight, sleep there.”
“Cool.” He jerked his head toward Jonny. “Head for Pueblo, Jonny. I’ll catch up. Don’t you wreck my horses.”
“Yes, Uncle. I promise. I swear.”
“Good deal.” He led Julian to his truck, feeling the weight of the man’s stare.
He imagined he could smell Julian -- wood smoke and leather and horse. It was the scent of old Westerns and good honkytonks, without the tinge of booze.
They settled into his truck and he pulled out, heading for Holy Smoke, where he knew he could get good brisket. King George was singing on the radio, and Julian hummed along, the singy-songy tone of the man’s voice making him grin.
“What?” Julian broke off, smiling along with him.
“I like how you hum, is all.”
“You know how it is, you got all the road and nothing but the radio. The songs are important.”
“I do know.” He turned off on the weird little county road that led to the barbecue place.
“So, where’s home for you?”
“Cody.” Wyoming was a great place to raise bucking horses. “You’re from New Mexico, you said?”
“Taos, mostly. My folks are there on the pueblo. It’s a good place.”
“I been fishing there more than once.” Skiing, too. Once. He’d made an ass out of himself that trip.
“I never thought I’d go anywhere else. It’s been fun, meeting folks.”
“I’m glad. This way I got to meet you.” He liked Julian’s ready smile, the way the man bounced a little at neat birds and stuff on the side of the road.
They pulled into the parking lot and Julian gave him a smile, slow and easy. “Smells good.”
“It is.” That he was confident about.
“You smell pretty damned good, too.” The words were offered over, just as relaxed and easy as pie.
That surprised a laugh out of him. “I smell like sweat and horses. I guess that ain’t so bad.” At least they were on the same page.
“It’s better than cheap-assed cologne and horse-piss beer, man.” Julian popped off his seat belt, the man’s bracelets jangling together.
“I’ve had my share of that. I was a lot younger then.”
“Yeah. I hear you on that.” They headed in, boots crunching on the gravel. The place would be packed in an hour, but they’d managed to beat the crowd.
“I think you’re a way better bet, buddy.”
“Mmm.” That sound was pure sensuality and it slid down Kaycee's spine heading right to his balls. Yeah. Dinner was just gonna be foreplay with this one.
“Well, hey, cowboy.” The waitress he’d had last time was still there, so he looked like a regular. That was always cool.
“Ma’am.” He tipped his hat, smiled.
“You want that table over by the window? Sunset ought to be a showstopper tonight.”
He nodded, and soon enough he and Julian were seated and had a pair of iced teas.
It felt good, to get off his foot, to spend a second admiring the strong, fierce lines of Julian’s face. He grinned. “Not a drinker?” They had both turned down cocktails.
“No, sir. There’s lots of trouble with that in my family and I don’t need that sort of trouble.”
“I get that. I might get me a beer though, and let you drive back to the arena. If it don’t bother you.” One beer would help his foot and give him an excuse not to drive anymore that night.
“Not a bit. I’m not a bitch about it. I just seen what happens with my folks.”
“Yeah. I got a brother who can’t lay off it. He’s ten years older, so it made me cautious.” He waved a hand at the floor. “If I had Advil, I’d skip it.”
Julian nodded, then looked to the menu. “How’s the sausage here?”
“Spicy. The turkey is good.” The small talk would normally bother him, but this was better somehow.
“The combo plate, then, huh?”
“It’s a good deal. Save room for pie.”
“Oh, I could have something sweet.” Everything that came out of the man’s mouth was sex. It made Kaycee hard as a rock, his cock pushing at his jeans.
“Me,
too. Though we might get dessert to go…”
“Then we could share.”
“We could.” He wanted to sing hallelujah. It was a breath of fresh air, Julian’s straightforward hunger, direct. Kaycee had been in a pretty big drought. He could use a good, hard fuck.
Hell, he could use a friendly hand. Or a willing mouth.
He shifted, his jeans too damned tight.
Julian’s dark gaze dragged down his body, then back up, obviously admiring.
He sucked in a couple of deep breaths, wanting to leave now. Still, he owed the man supper.
The waitress came back, offering enough of a distraction that he could order and not just slip under the table and find out how well-hung Julian was. That would probably get them killed, after all, and he wanted to live through this.
Julian ordered the combo plate, soft voice like a caress from across the table. Jesus, this one got to him. Hell, Julian got to their waitress, too, the way she wiggled and giggled. Not that it made a difference, those dark eyes were on him.
They got bread, and he liked that Julian wasn’t afraid of a little butter. The man was sensual as fuck.
“You ever get Navajo tacos when you’re in my neck of the woods?”
“Uhn, fry bread. I love that shit.”
“My mom’s is amazing. Honest.”
“I bet it is. My momma, she makes amazing beef and potatoes.”
“Like roast?”
Was Julian’s boot against his ankle?
“Yeah. Wyoming. Meat and potatoes, huh?”
“Mmhmm.” Oh, yeah. It was totally Julian’s toe. That was hotter than some guys had been with a hand around his cock.
Julian swallowed, the tanned throat working, turquoise beads moving on the dark skin.
Kaycee nodded, a slow grin spreading across his face. He could take this one and ride him all night.
“You look like the cat that stole the cream, hmm?”
“I feel like I won the lottery.” He rubbed back with his foot.
“Oh, that’s a good one. I approve.” Julian smiled wide enough that Kaycee caught a glint of a gold tooth.
Lord, there was just something there, a hot, juicy sort of Native American pirate.
The food came and they dug in, both of them hungry enough to not waste time talking. The sauce was spicy and rich, delicious. The brisket fell apart, and Julian moaned over the sausage.
Okay, he could watch Julian eat for hours. The way the man licked sauce off his lips was like porn. Good porn, not the crappy shit with bad skin and white socks.
Better music, too.
He leaned back in the booth, sucking down his beer, letting it warm him and ease the ache in his foot. Adjusting his cock under the table, he thought about pecan pie. Cobbler.
“Lord, you’re like sex on a stick.” Julian’s words almost were too soft to hear, but he caught them.
“I’m way more interested than I have been in years, if it makes you feel good to hear it.” He wanted this man like crazy.
“Good.” That was self-satisfied as hell, smug and pleased.
“You want dessert, boys?”
Kaycee nodded, not taking his eyes off Julian. “Pecan pie to go, honey.”
“Sounds perfect. Make it two, please.”
“Ice cream? I can put it on some dry ice.”
“That will get you an extra good tip,” Kaycee murmured.
Julian chuckled. “Ice cream works for me.”
“Good deal.” She popped her gum, hips swinging as she walked away.
“She wants you bad.” Julian was laughing, and it lit the man up from inside.
“I think she likes anything she can get from this table, but all I want from her is pie.” Was that tacky?
The laughter got louder, filling the air and making people look and smile.
They got their pie and he did give their waitress a fine tip, hoping she’d remember him next time, too. Then he limped out to the truck, gritting his teeth at the pain. There was no damned way he was letting this ruin his night.
“Give me the keys, eh? You’re sore.”
“Thanks, buddy.” He handed over the keys, smiling, feeling better already.
“You want me to head back to the rodeo grounds or…”
“We could get us a room.” That would be nice. Soft bed. Hard man.
“I can handle that. I need to make sure my girls are okay.”
“You got it. We can set them up for the night if you want.”
“I want. They’re good girls and I worry.”
He had to respect a man who loved his horses. That was Kaycee’s life, after all, not just his livelihood. They’d put the girls back in the arena stable.
They pulled up into the parking lot and Julian put the truck in park. “You let that foot rest. I’ll be two shakes.”
“Thanks.” He would just sit on his ass and watch the man move. Worked for him.
Julian worked like he’d been raised around horseflesh, the mounts following the man like dogs, heads bobbing. They were fed and settled, the stable owner talked to and paid before the girls were penned up.
The mares seemed happy to be out of the trailer, kicking a little before settling in. Made Kaycee smile.
Julian looked like something out of a movie, in the twilight, black hair like a raven’s wing, ass tight and tiny in those jeans. Kaycee pushed at his cock through his pants, just floating on the beer and the horny thoughts swirling in his brain.
He wanted that tiny ass, wanted to watch Julian ride him, then he wanted to let Julian fill him up.
Christ, that was hot. His brain shut down, his body taking over.
His hand was working the front of his jeans, knowing it’d be too dark to see. He didn’t want to come or anything, just keep the good feelings going.
Julian’s face appeared, strong and eager, staring at him, moving toward the truck, a smile on his lips. The man had his go bag in hand.
He didn’t try to hide what he was doing. He thought Julian might like to know what he was up to.
Julian’s steps slowed, then the man licked his lips, letting his desire show. Kaycee watched how Julian’s walk changed, like the man was hunting him now. Predatory. Fucking A.
He groaned, the sound loud in the cab, echoing against the glass. He was steaming things up in there, already heating up the oil for them to cook later.
“Damn, man. You’re fine.” The door opened and Julian slid in next to him.
“I’m glad you think so.” He rubbed a little more. “There’s a decent Comfort Inn off the highway.”
“As long as there’s a clean bed and a door with a lock, man.”
“Good deal. I can get you there if you’re still willing to drive.”
“I’m totally willing to drive.”
“Thanks. How are the fillies?”
“They settled in fine. They were happy to have a night out of the trailer, to be honest.”
“Yeah. Jonny will get mine to the next arena, get them settled.”
“Lucky. I’ll drive out in the morning.” He got a heated look. “Sore and happy.”
“Hell, yes. That much I can promise you.”
“That’s what I need.” One hand reached over, cupped his balls, fingers warm and sure.
“Christ.” That was forward, stunning him a moment before he bucked hard.
“Mmm. Gonna be a wild ride.” Julian backed off, put the truck in drive. “Point me and shoot me.”
Kaycee cleared his throat, trying not to squirm. “Take a left out at the main road.”
“You got it, man.” Julian handled his truck easily and the confidence made him ache. This one might ruin him for life.
That was a pleasant hope.
They pulled into the motel parking lot and Julian hopped out again, heading with encouraging eagerness into the lobby. All they had to do was sign in and give a credit card. Then they would have a room door between them and the world.
Julian tossed in a room card, pulled the t
ruck around. “We got one in the back, first floor.” He got a quick look. “King-sized bed.”
“I like that idea.”
Julian’s answer was a wicked grin, pure evil. It sent a happy shot of energy to his crotch.