months. All those times he had seen him eating alone and he never
made a move to join him, never took the opportunity to invite him
to spend the evening at the livery, or take a ride with him on
Sundays. He wondered if he had been affected by what was said
about Todd or by Edgar warning him not to associate himself with
the man?
The thought that he might have been, upset him. Had he turned
his back on someone who needed the support of a friend who
understood?
Don’t suppose there’s time now to make it up to him without it
looking a mite phony. He kicked the dirt with his toe and jammed
his hands in his pockets as he walked back to the shed and his
work.
* * * The last week in Laclede’s passed quickly for Sam. He met with Garrett several times for dinner and, with each meeting, his excitement about the trip across country grew, as did his attraction to the man. Both Mary and Edouard expressed their reluctance to see Sam leave, but also let him know they were pleased for him. Wolf seemed to take the news they were leaving in stride. He sat, head cocked to the side, tail making a fan shape in the dust, his tongue hanging out as Sam gave him the word.
“So, you see, boy, we’ll be together all day every day again.” Wolf rose and walked to Sam, pressing his head between Sam’s knees. Sam bent down and buried his face in the thick, golden fur.
We’re leaving you farther and farther behind, Nils. Sam swallowed hard.
After work the day before he was to leave, he went to the mill office to say goodbye to Mr. LeBlanc and Todd. Todd was not there. Disappointed, he asked LeBlanc to say goodbye for him. He left the office and was walking between the sheds in the semidarkness of the rising spring moon.
The Sprouting Grass Moon, he thought, letting his mind wander back to the village of his youth. How far away that seemed to him now.
He heard voices.
“Do it, I tell ya!”
The voice was barely audible, but Sam could tell the speaker was angry. He stopped to listen. He could not understand the reply.
“Ya did it for Donovan, so now you kin do it fer me, moffie!”
Sam turned and quickly made his way down a narrow passage between the sheds, where the voices seemed to be coming from. There he saw a large man whom Sam had never seen before, towering over another smaller man, pinned against the side of the shed. The larger man was pushing the small man to his knees. Sam could see the large man’s erect cock sticking out of his pants. Todd! Sam thought frantically.
“I said suck it!” the attacker almost shouted, thrusting himself forward against Todd’s face.
Todd turned his head to one side and struggled against his assailant. The man pulled Todd to his feet, punched him twice in the face, screaming, “I’ll teach you to say no to me, you little puff.” He threw Todd to the ground and kicked him savagely.
Sam took off at a run. He reached the pair and grabbed the large man by the shoulder, spinning him around. His fist connected with the man’s protruding belly, knocking the wind out of him and throwing him against the side of the building. Recovering from his surprise, the man launched himself at Sam, knocking him off his feet. Sam pulled the man to the ground with him and the two rolled in the dirt, exchanging blows.
When the pair stopped rolling, Sam had the upper hand, straddling the man’s chest, pinning his arms to the ground with his knees. He got up, pulling the man to his feet by the front of his shirt. He brought his knee up quickly between the man’s legs. When he bent with a bellow of pain, Sam bashed him on the chin. The man crumpled to the ground.
Sam stood for a moment, breathing hard. He tasted something warm and wet. Raising his hand, he wiped his nose and mouth. His hand came away covered in blood. He then went to Todd, who had pushed himself up to a sitting position against the shed wall. His cheek was swollen, and already black and blue. He held his side.
“Come on,” Sam said. “You’re coming with me.”
Sam helped Todd to stand. Supporting him, he took Todd to the boardinghouse. When they came in the front door, Mary was behind the counter. Looking up from her work, she saw the men and her eyes went wide.
“My Lord,” she cried and came around the desk to help Sam with Todd.
Mary and Sam took Todd up the stairs and into Sam’s room. There, Mary poured water from the pitcher into the bowl and cleaned Todd’s face. She helped him take off his shirt. Todd winced as she applied the warm, wet cloth to the angry bruises on his ribs.
“I don’t think they’re broken,” Mary said with kindness in her voice.
“Thank you,” Todd said softly.
Mary turned her attention to Sam, who stood next to the dresser, watching the proceedings.
“Your turn.” She pushed him backward until he was sitting on the bed. “Take that bloody shirt off,” she commanded.
He obeyed. She took the shirt, pitcher and bowl and left the room.
Sam looked over at Todd, whose eyes were on him. He let his own eyes roam over the small man’s body. Sam was surprised at the man’s muscular frame. His eyes went back to Todd’s face. He was smiling, though there was pain in his expression. Sam returned the smile.
“Thank you, Sam.”
Sam nodded, as Mary returned to the room with fresh water and towels. She began to clean the dried blood from Sam’s face. She pressed the warm cloth against his swollen lip. Sam winced, and Todd chuckled. When she had finished, Mary gathered the towels and bloody clothes.
“I’ll see about getting these clean. Will you come down for supper, or do you want me to bring it up to you?”
Her care and concern touched Sam. He looked over to Todd, then to Mary. “I’ll come down. I need to talk to Garrett about tomorrow.” Looking back at Todd once more, he said, “Do you want to come down with me?”
Todd hesitated a moment, then said, “I think I’d rather not.”
Mary smiled at him. “I’ll bring your supper up here then. Can’t have you going hungry, can we?”
“I don’t want to be no trouble,” Todd said.
Mary just smiled again and waved a dismissive hand in his direction as she made her way out the door.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Todd began apologizing again.
Sam stood, walked to the dresser and pulled out a clean shirt. “No thanks needed,” he said, putting the shirt on. “I couldn’t let that scum treat you like that. Who is he anyway?”
Todd looked away from Sam. “He’s new. Started day before yesterday on the logging team.” Todd shuddered. “I don’t know what he’ll do when he sees me again. He’s got a mean streak.”
“Well, you just relax and don’t worry. You stay with me tonight. We’ll take care of things tomorrow.”
Todd looked back at Sam, relief on his face. He stood up and took a step toward him. He wrapped his arms around the taller man’s waist and laid his head on his chest. Sam returned the embrace, being careful of the injuries to Todd’s body.
He stroked Todd’s hair and said, “It’s gonna be all right. You rest here. I’ll be back soon.”
The men broke apart. Todd looked up into Sam’s eyes. He started to speak.
“You don’t have to say it again,” Sam said. “I understand.”
* * * An hour later, Sam returned to the room after eating with Garrett. All had gone as he had hoped. Garrett had agreed he would find a place for Todd on the wagon train crew. Sam was relieved the wagon master had agreed to take him on. There was no way Sam could let Todd go back to the abuse he received from the men at the mill.
Todd was on the bed. He seemed to be sleeping, so Sam closed the door as quietly as he could and looked around the room. He usually slept on the floor, taking the covers off the bed. However, Todd was already in bed and snuggled down under those covers. Sam shrugged and stripped off his clothes down to his shorts. He blew out the candle and walked around the bed, climbing i
n, trying not to wake the sleeping man.
Todd stirred and turned toward him. Light from the Sprouting Grass Moon coming through the window illuminated the handsome boyish face. Sam felt himself respond. Todd’s eyes were open now. He leaned forward and kissed Sam’s chest, wrapping his arms around his rescuer. Sam pulled the small man to him and kissed the top of his head. Sam could feel Todd’s erection pressing against his own. He thought of Nils. There was no guilt or regret. He smiled in the pale silvery darkness. He was free to move on.
CHAPTER 7
SAM, GARRETT AND TODD
Sam woke to pale light filtering through the curtains. He knew it was early, so took a few moments to luxuriate in memories from the previous night. He recalled how he and Todd had made gentle, tender love: a long period filled with kisses and caresses had culminated in a wonderful union. Todd had straddled Sam and guided the big man’s tumescent manhood into the welcoming confines of his body. Then he had pulled Sam to a sitting position, whereupon he wrapped his legs around Sam’s waist, pressing his chest against him. They had kissed and stroked each other’s backs as Todd skillfully brought them to a prolonged and intense climax.
Sam had lain back down, drawing Todd with him. Todd now lay where he had fallen asleep, his head on Sam’s chest, his legs draped on either side of Sam’s hips. Sometime during the night, Sam had slipped out of Todd. The desire to return to the soft warmth of Todd’s body came back to him. Sam bent and kissed the top of the young man’s head.
The small man stirred, opened his eyes and raised his face to Sam’s.
“Good morning,” Sam said, kissing him first on the nose, then on the lips.
“Good morning,” Todd returned.
Todd’s weak smile reflected the sadness Sam could hear in his voice.
“There’s still some time before we need to get up,” Sam said in a low voice.
The veil of sadness lifted from Todd’s face and he snuggled into Sam’s embrace. Then he rolled off Sam, and the two lay facing each other. Todd began to kiss Sam’s face, lips and neck. He lowered himself until he was swirling his tongue in Sam’s rug of chest hair, taking each of his erect nipples into his mouth in turn, kissing, sucking and licking them. Sam moaned softly and held Todd’s head in his hands.
Following the trail of soft black fur past Sam’s navel, he buried his face in Sam’s forest of pubic growth. Todd inhaled deeply, letting the air out with a shudder. For several moments, he remained there, his hands slipping around to find and knead Sam’s firm buttocks. Sam responded by contracting his butt muscles and pressing his erection against Todd’s throat.
Todd took hold of Sam’s erection and began to lick the tip still enshrouded in its foreskin. He slipped his tongue under the hood and swirled it around the moist glans. Pushing the foreskin back with his lips, he took the length of Sam’s organ into his mouth and once more buried his face in Sam’s lush pubic hair. Todd’s ministrations brought Sam close to his peak. Todd released him and began to lave Sam’s sac, taking each of the egg-shaped glands into his mouth by turn.
Todd then crawled up to straddle Sam as he had the night before. He kissed him and then lay down next to him, his back against Sam’s abdomen. Raising his leg and taking hold of Sam’s engorgement, he led the organ to the entrance to his body. Sam thrust forward and, once again, the two men became one.
Sam reached over Todd’s body and took hold of his erect phallus. Todd was small, but what his manhood lacked in size, it more than made up for in beauty. Rising from a soft nest of dark hair and above a pair of rounded testicles, its gentle curve and well-shaped head sent waves of pleasure through Sam’s hand to his head, and back to his own organ buried deep inside his partner.
Todd erupted first, accompanied by soft groans of contentment. Sam followed soon after, filling Todd with his seed for the second time in a few short hours. Sam breathed deeply, letting the satisfaction and contentment of the moment flow through his being. He pulled Todd more tightly against his chest and kissed his ear. Todd pressed back into his hero’s protective embrace. They dozed once more.
* * * When Sam woke for a second time, the room was bright. He shook his sleeping partner. “Todd, wake up, we need to go.”
Todd turned toward him. “I’m not ready to go back to the mill. And I don’t want to say goodbye,” Todd whispered, his voice revealing the anguish inside him.
“Who said anything about going back to the mill? And we definitely are not saying goodbye,” Sam said, hugging him tightly. “Now get up. We have to clean up and get down to breakfast.”
Sam got out of bed and held out his hand to a confused Todd, pulling him to his feet. “How are the ribs?”
“Better,” said Todd, wincing slightly. “But what do you mean I’m not going back to the mill?”
“You’ll see. Now get dressed,” said Sam, giving Todd an affectionate pat on the butt.
* * * The two men walked down the stairs and into the foyer of the boardinghouse, where Mary was arranging some fresh spring flowers on the counter. She turned as the men approached.
“Thank you for washing my clothes for me,” Todd said. “Land sakes,” Mary replied, “that weren’t no problem. Happy to help out. ’Morning, Samuel.”
“Good morning, Mary, and I need to add my thanks to Todd’s.”
“Tush,” she said. “If a body can’t help out a friend, then they aren’t much of a friend.”
Sam gave her a warm smile. He was going to miss her.
“Garrett’s waiting in the dining room,” she said, going back to her flower arranging and nodding in the direction of the doorway.
“Garrett?” said Todd, turning to Sam.
Sam just smiled. Putting his arm around the young man’s shoulder, he steered him through the doorway.
Garrett saw them and stood. He had just made love to Todd, so Sam was surprised at the waves of desire that flooded him as he looked at the handsome man. He took a deep breath to steady himself.
“This must be Todd,” Garrett said as they approached the table.
“Yes, I am,” Todd said, taking the hand Garrett offered him and looking at Sam with a questioning expression.
“Todd, Garrett is the wagon master of the train I’m joining. I talked to him last night, and he’s agreed to take you on as well. You’re coming with me to California.”
Todd’s mouth fell open. He looked from Sam to Garrett, and back again.
“That’s what you meant about not goin’ back to the mill, not saying goodbye?”
“Yes,” Sam said, smiling broadly.
Todd grabbed Sam around the waist and buried his face in his chest. Sam could tell he was trying not to cry. He looked up and smiled at Garrett, who was grinning at them. Sam also caught what he thought was an almost imperceptible downward glance at Todd’s behind. He shook it off as his imagination.
Following breakfast, Sam gathered his belongings from the room that had been his home for the past few months. He looked around. Other than missing Mary, he would not regret leaving. He rejoined Garrett and Todd in the foyer of the boarding home to say goodbye to Mary. Gus was waiting there, too.
“I hope to see you in the fall, when you and Gus get back,” she said.
Sam was not sure he was planning to return to Laclede’s Village. He passed over her remark by saying he would miss her and thanking her again for all she had done for him.
Mary shooed them out the door with the excuse that now she was without her cook, she had dinner to prepare. Sam knew it was to keep the parting from becoming too emotional.
Garrett and Gus headed for the livery. Sam steered Todd down the street to the general store. True to his word Todd would never return to the mill, Sam bought him clothes and supplies he would need on his trip across country. Todd protested, but in the end acquiesced, acknowledging he had no desire to return to the mill. The few possessions that would be left behind wouldn’t be missed.
When the pair arrived at the livery, Sam introduced Todd to Wolf, who took t
o the man with an enthusiasm that gratified Sam. Their traveling companions had already saddled up the horses, including one for Todd. There were six horses in all, one for each of the men, and two to carry the supplies they would need on the two-hundred-mile trek to Independence. The two packhorses and the ones ridden by Gus and Todd would pull the chuck wagon and Garrett’s personal wagon on the trip west. Todd’s job would be to drive the team that pulled Garrett’s wagon.
Another round of goodbyes ensued, with Edouard showing the most emotion when it came to bidding farewell to the big wolfdog.
“Vous avez été un bon ami. Je vous manquerai le beaucoup grand loup-chien,” he said, kneeling and holding the dog tightly against him.
Sam had picked up enough French in his time in Laclede’s to know Edouard was telling the animal he would miss him, as he would miss a good friend. Sam smiled at the man who had taken such good care of his dog. It meant a lot to him.
The party rode out of Laclede’s Village. Neither Sam nor Todd looked back.
* * * The four men took a northward route out of the town, following a trail beside what Sam knew now was the Mississippi River. They would follow the river until it intersected with another large river. Garrett called it the Missouri and they’d follow it to Independence, where the wagon train was being organized. He said they might even meet up with folks on their way to join the train. Some people even went to Independence by boat on the river, he told them.
At times, the trail was wide enough for all four men to ride side by side. Other times it was so narrow they had to ride single file. Most of the time they rode by twos. When that was the case, Sam usually rode next to Todd, with Garrett and Gus leading the way. Sam breathed deeply of the clean, fresh air of the forest. He felt a sense of freedom that he had not had in a long time. This was familiar. It reminded him of the village and the people he had left behind.
Wolf thoroughly enjoyed being away from the city as well. He gamboled about the party, making frequent forays into the surrounding bush to chase a rabbit or flush a quail, the wolf side of him expressing itself. When he returned to the group, Sam was sure Wolf had a prideful grin on his face.
The Search for Soaring Hawk Page 13