Two Sides of the Same Coin

by Jake Mactire

  “What in the hell… Are you okay, Jeff?”

  “No damage done. Sheriff called in that the bikers were headed east on Highway 20, so they’ll probably get caught goin’ through Rockport or Newhalem. There’s really no place else to go, unless they take a forest service road.”

  “I wonder just what in the hell is that stupid fuck playin’ at. It’s one thing to get your ass kicked, but another to shoot at someone.” Wayne still radiated anger.

  “I didn’t mean to get you all upset, Wayne. I just wanted to stop by and say howdy and find out if you needed anything.” His scowl softened.

  “I’m fine, Jeff. I’m just upset about you gettin’ shot at and feelin’ a bit cranky because my side hurts.”

  “I don’t want to bother ya any more, Wayne. I hope you get a good night’s sleep.”

  “You too, Jeff, we’ll talk tomorrow.” He raised his voice. “Night, Mike.”

  Mike answered and we headed into the ranch house, kicked off our boots in the mudroom, and stopped in the kitchen for a shot of whiskey. It seemed we were both fallin’ asleep as we climbed the stairs. We stripped pretty quick, just throwin’ our clothes around, too tired to pick ’em up.

  Mike laughed, “Jeff, this looks like a straight boy’s room, socks and underwear and clothes scattered everywhere.”

  “We’ll get it in the morning.” We got in bed. I lay on my back. Mike turned on his side with his back to me, wanting to be spooned.

  “Hey, buddy?”

  Mike’s response was a sleepy, “Yeah?”

  “I know every time we slept together I held you, but tonight can you hold me? I just wanna be held.” He turned over, and I felt him scoot against me once I’d turned on my side. He fitted himself against me and put his arms around me. I could feel the hair on his chest against my back.

  He nuzzled his beard into the back of my neck and whispered, “Good night.”

  “Night, Mike.” We drifted off to sleep beneath the waxing moon shining through the skylight.

  MORNING twilight was coming through the skylight when I woke up. We must have shifted around at night, ’cause Mike was laying on his back next to me snoring softly, and I was on my belly next to him with my arm thrown over his chest. It was a comfortable position, and I didn’t want to get up. I figured that we’d better get up though, since we had to continue on with the roundup. I rubbed Mike’s chest gently, and he opened an eye and smiled over at me.

  “Mornin’.”

  “Mornin’, buddy. You about ready for some coffee?”

  “Sure am.” I got out of bed and picked up my long handles and stepped into them. I buttoned up and sat on the edge of the bed while I pulled on my socks. Mike watched me dress.

  “Okay, I’m gonna get the coffee started ’cause if you keep lookin’ at me like that, I might not let you outta bed.”

  “Promises, promises.”

  “C’mon! Get that sweet ass of yours up, and I’ll get coffee ready.”

  I ran downstairs and got the coffee boiling and thought, what the hell, and mixed up some biscuits. I’d just popped them into the oven when Mike came down. He looked really cute in his red long handles all yawning and stretching and looking sleepy.

  “Coffee will be up in a minute. Bacon, eggs, and biscuits okay for ya?”

  “Yep.” He went about getting all the condiments on the table, and I continued with the bacon and eggs. This was mighty comfortable. It was funny, I’d had boyfriends before, but no one was really a best buddy. Someone who shared my interests, would joke around with me. I remember before I came out my dad telling me that not to worry too much about not really wanting to date any of the girls from school. I remember him saying that when I found the right “person” I’d know it. That gave me pause to stop and think. Maybe Dad took my coming out so well since he already knew? He certainly thought Mike and I’d get on thicker than thieves, and he was right in that.

  A sense of loss swept over me. Now that I thought on it, there were so many things I wanted to ask him. So many things left unsaid. I wished he were around to tell he was right. I had found the right person, and I knew it. It was a deep down gut feeling, not just some flighty thought.

  I put my attention back to the stove. Bacon was done and so were the eggs. I dished them up and pulled the biscuits out of the oven. Just then I heard the back door open and then shut. It was José.

  “Buenos días, José.” I liked to speak with him in Spanish. “You want some coffee and biscuits?”

  “Sure, boss.” He got himself a mug and poured some coffee, then added enough sugar to bake a cake with. He then got himself a biscuit and put some butter and jam on it.

  “Boss, Mike? I hear you guys had a close call last night. Digame, tell me about it.”

  Mike started on the story before I could open my mouth.

  “That fat biker that Jeff beat the shit out of the other day took a shot at him. Fuckin’ coward, he wasn’t man enough to fight, so he felt all macho with his gun.”

  “How’d you hear about it, José? You guys were asleep when we got back.” I assumed he must have spoken with Wayne.

  “I spoke with Maria this morning on the telephone. She is coming up here for the weekend and staying with Sandy again. Sandy had told her.”

  “She probably heard it from her dad. José, Mike and I are goin’ to the brewery tonight for karaoke. You and Josh wanna come? I’m gonna invite Sandy and Maria too.” I was watchin’ Mike outta the corner of my eye. When José came in, he scooted up real close to the table, like he was tryin’ to hide the fact we hadn’t gotten dressed yet.

  José answered me. “That sounds like a plan, boss. I will ask Josh. Do you want me to call Maria too?”

  “I reckon I’m gonna talk with Sandy, so she can set that up if they don’t already have plans.” I couldn’t help but notice José looked a bit disappointed. Hmmm… that was an interesting thought, José and Maria.

  “Wayne is back, boss.”

  “We noticed that last night. I went up to the trailer, and we talked with him a few minutes.” José turned and looked at Mike with a big grin on his face.

  “Miguel, I am surprised you and ‘Jeffy’ noticed anything but each other last night.”

  Mike turned bright red at this, but grinned back. “Would ya rather we’d come in the bunkhouse and noticed you?” José wasn’t quite that easy to fluster.

  “I would have been very complimented, but I know that would not happen.” José clapped Mike on the shoulder. “You are a good man ‘mano. And you have a good man. He is like a brother to me, and I am happy for you. I may tease you a bit, but that does not mean I am not very happy for you. He brings out the good in you.”

  “Thanks.” Mike really didn’t know how to take this, but realized José was sincere.

  “Mike, since Wayne is back, he asked that you and me go up and round up the cattle in the back pastures and check around for any more steers to the north side of the ranch. He and Josh will start on the south. When we meet, then we will drive the beeves here to the holding pens.”

  “Okay. When we gonna start?”

  “We are ready, Mike. When you stop staring at ‘Jeffy’ and get dressed, we can go.” I wondered if I should remind José, only one guy could call me Jeffy and get away with it. I figured since he wasn’t speaking directly to me I’d let it pass.

  “So what’s Wayne got planned for me?”

  “He says he wants you to work on your art, boss. You need to have esculpturas for all the people who will buy then after the articles come out.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Mike and I finished eating quickly, and he headed up to get dressed. José grabbed another biscuit and headed out the door. I got on the phone and asked Sandy about the karaoke. She was all for it, so we made plans to meet at the brewery at seven-thirty. We’d eat there and then stay for the karaoke. Mike came down just as I was hanging up with Sandy. He gave me a quick hug and a kiss and then headed out the door.

  I went out into the s
hed where I had my casting equipment. I had made a plaster mold the other day, and I was ready to cast one sculpture, but I had another idea in mind, so I wanted to get the idea down before it went away. When Jonathan and his group were here with Tom, Ann, and their family, he’d taken a picture of Mike and me with his digital camera. I’d noticed it this morning when I checked my e-mail. It was a real nice picture. We were standing together, arms draped across each other’s shoulders and smiling at each other. Looking at the picture, I could understand Sandy’s comments about our “mutual admiration society.” It was a nice picture, and I thought it might make a nice casting. We both had our cowboy hats on, I had on chaps, and Mike had a lasso over his shoulder.

  I had printed out the picture, and while looking at it, I began to carve. Once I had the general idea down, I started to work on the sculpture that was ready to be cast. I fired up the stoves, one for the metal, and one for the mold. I got on all my protective gear and started to cast. While the metal was very slowly cooling I continued to work on the plastic sculpture for the model. I was doing pretty well on it when I noticed that shadows were lengthening and we were heading toward dark. I’d put a lot of detail into this sculpture, so I was feeling pretty good about it. I headed back into the house to shower and change. I’d just finished dressing when Mike walked in.

  “How’d the roundup go?”

  “Pretty good, we got several truckloads of beeves off to market, and Wayne’ll have the paperwork for you. We separated out all the heifers and bulls, so we’re set. Just gotta move the rest of the beeves out. Even with the rustled cattle, it looks like you got a good crop this year.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I talked to José and to Sandy. We’re all set for the karaoke tonight.”

  “I’m lookin’ forward to it, Jeffy. You gonna want some company tonight?”

  “Depends on whose company.”

  “Gee, I wonder.” He was cute when he was sarcastic. I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You got a standin’ invitation to be my bunkie. I’m gettin used to it.” I slapped him gently on the backside. “Now get that sweet ass of yours in the shower and dressed. If you’re lucky, I’ll take good care of it later.”

  “Hell, you’re lucky I share it.”

  “Mike, buddy, ain’t a time I look at ya or think of ya I don’t know that. Now get!”

  He headed back to the bunkhouse to shower and change. I reckoned that just maybe I ought to ask him to move his stuff up here. Jeez, I had it bad. Going from “Let’s wait and get to know each other first” to thinking about asking him to park his boots under my bed on a permanent basis. I’d admit it. I was smitten. I couldn’t help but smile as I thought that though.

  I took my truck to Winslett. José and Josh rode with us. José actually volunteered to drive back afterwards since he wouldn’t drink. Josh didn’t want to sing, and that was for the best. I’d once asked him not to sing to the beeves because he might cause a stampede. We got to the brewpub, I parked, and we ambled in. Sandy and Maria were already there and had saved us seats.

  Sandy gave Mike and me a big smile.

  “Mike, I hear you’re just about all moved into the ranch house? You workin’ on gettin’ a raise?”

  Josh jumped in with a smirk and said, “Sandy, I don’t think a raise is what he’s workin’ on up there. I do bet he gets a raise outta Jeff here.”

  Mike was coming out of the closet fast, or he just felt comfortable with our friends, so he scooted real close to Josh, batted his eyes at him, and said, “Well, Josh, darlin’, can I get you a beer? Gotta get you drunk enough to join us!” Josh turned about ten shades of red. The rest of us just laughed. Tim was waiting on us again tonight.

  “Hey, guys, beer?” We all ended up ordering the rye ale. Mike ordered a couple of orders of onion rings and some hot wings. Tim looked at me and Mike and asked about last night.

  “I ain’t gonna say I wasn’t shook up, but Porky’s gotta be the biggest coward this side of the Cascades.”

  “Porky?”

  Mike jumped in and said, “Yeah, that’s what Jeff was callin’ ’im the other night when he beat the shit outta ’im twice.”

  “Twice?”

  “Yeah, Jeff kicked ’im outta One Eyed Jack’s, and then Porky tried to pick a fight later.”

  “I’d just heard about the later. Jeff, your beer’s on the house.”

  “Thanks!” Tim went back behind the bar and began pouring the beers.

  “You up for the weekend, Maria?”

  “Yes, I am. I had a lot of fun last weekend doing the little rodeo with you.”

  “I think a fun time was had by all, right, Mike, Sandy?” They both nodded. “How are you doin’ Maria? It must be really hard for you now.” She looked at me sadly, and a tear came from the corner of her eye.

  “It is. It feels like someone ripped my heart out of my chest. Sometimes I just can’t believe that life is going on. Pedro would not want me to be sad though. So I try to appreciate him in everything I do; anyway, how’s roundup going, Jeff?”

  “Hell, most of it’s done. We got the cattle in, and the beeves separated from the rest. Now it’s just herdin’ ’em onto the trucks.” Tim came back with our beers and took our food orders. I had the green chile cheeseburger, and Mike had the bacon cheeseburger.

  We’d started eating when Maria asked me, “Jeff, José told me that you and Mike are doing karaoke. I would like to do a song; will you do one with me?”

  “Sure, Maria, which song?”

  “I was thinking ‘Picture’ by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. If that works and we want to sing again, maybe we can do ‘Whiskey Lullaby’ by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss.”

  “Sounds good to me, I know and like both of those songs.”

  “What are you gonna sing, Jeff?” Sandy couldn’t sing a note herself, but she and José and Josh would applaud and cheer us on.

  “I was thinkin’ ‘Why Don’t We Just Dance’ by Josh Turner, ‘I Like it, I Love it’ by Tim McGraw, and ‘Friends in Low Places’ by Garth Brooks. Then my buddy here and me are gonna sing ‘Seven Bridges Road’ by the Eagles.”

  “It sounds like a good lineup. You gonna sing anything on your own, Mike?”

  “Yeah, Sandy, I was thinkin’ of ‘God Bless the Broken Road’ ’cause it reminds me of Jeffy, and ‘Chicken Fried’ by Zac Brown Band.”

  “That sounds very good, boss, Mike, but why nothing Mexican?”

  “You wanna get up with me and sing ‘Cielito Lindo’, José?” I asked.

  “No, boss, people will think there is a wet cat here if I sing.” We all laughed. Tim came by again, and we ordered another round. We had just finished our food when the DJ guy came to set up his karaoke machine and mikes. He did his introductions and then asked who wanted to sing. I ain’t shy, so I got up first. I told the DJ to play “Why Don’t We Just Dance.” The music began to play, and I began to sing. I was having fun with it. Sandy, Maria, Mike, José, and Josh were all cheering me on, and the other folks in the bar seemed to be enjoying themselves. I noticed a group of middle-aged women over in the corner who really seemed to like the song. They had that tanned, expressionless look that seemed to say money and cosmetic surgery. When I was done, I tipped my hat. Everybody was clapping, so I figured I didn’t bust any eardrums or anything. I had just sat down at the table and was listening to everyone tell me they liked it, when Tim came over carrying a mug of beer and a shot of whiskey.

  “This is from the ladies over there,” he said with a smile as he set it down. I raised my glass to their table, tipped my hat, and took a sip. I decided I’d better walk over there and thank them properly. I ambled over and sat in an empty chair next to them.

  “Thank you kindly, ladies, I’m much obliged.” They giggled at this. Their names were Pam, Renee, and Carol. They were tickled to learn I was a real cowboy. Sandy walked over, and I introduced her. We invited them to join us. After some table rearranging and introductions, we were all chatting like old friends. Mike s
tepped up to the little stage then and took the microphone. It seemed to me he was smiling straight at me when he introduced himself and his song “God Bless the Broken Road.” I couldn’t stop grinning as he looked right at me when he sang.

  When he was done, he gave kind of a shy smile and tipped his hat. When he came back to the table, I gave him a high five. Pam called Tim over and ordered Mike a beer and shot. It turned out they were three friends who were up from Seattle for a girls’ weekend. Renee got up and sang some pop song. I didn’t recognize it, but Sandy did. We all applauded, and then Mike and I stood up. We walked over to the little stage and asked the DJ guy to put on the music to “Hillbilly Bone.” We began singing it quite loudly. Mike and I do a good job of singing together, and it seemed like we had rehearsed the song, even though we hadn’t. We got lots of applause.

  When we got back to the table Carol asked us, “Where did you guys learn to sing? We always hear stuff about singing cowboys, and it seems to be true.”

  Mike leaned into me, and I answered, “I reckon just from singin’ to the cattle on herdin’ days.”

  Mike jumped in and said, “Yeah, it keeps ’em calm; they don’t stampede.”

  Pam laughed and said, “Just think of the story we’ll have to tell the girls back home, serenaded by two genuine hunky, handsome young cowboy studs.” Sandy laughed quite loudly at this. The ladies looked at her quizzically. Maria grabbed my arm and dragged me up on stage. We launched into “Picture.” I thought we did a great job. Maria and I were able to harmonize together very well.

  As we got back to the table, I helped Maria to her chair. Renee looked from Maria to me.

  “Sandy tells us your heart’s taken, Jeff. You and Maria sing beautifully together. I can tell you care about each other quite a bit.”

  “Jeff is a brother to me. I love him just like a brother, but I am not the one who has stolen his heart.” Maria smiled at me. In that moment, I realized again just how lucky I was to have her and my other friends in my life.