Rancho Bonito

Chapter 15

The ride through the area we had searched yesterday went quickly. Not because we didn't look -- there was no telling if those kids would backtrack or not -- but because as a team we felt more confident in our ability to spot anomalies. And that's what it came down to -- knowing what was familiar and being able to instantly spot what was different. It was a trick I understand astronomers use to spot things like comets. They could see the single minuscule spot of light that didn't belong in the night sky because they were so amazingly familiar with the thousands of specks of light that did belong.

But by noon we were getting discouraged again. We had been riding for nearly six hours and had seen nothing that even suggested the two teens had come this way. How could two people vanish so completely?

Nor was there any sign of Sally or her week old foal. I was beginning to have a sick feeling about those two.

Less than thirty minutes later Faron called a stop for lunch. He advised us to try to keep our line as best as possible, so we hobbled the horses and gave them nose bags full of oats to keep them occupied in this grassless region. Then we gathered in small groups to eat our tasteless lunches and discuss the hunt so far.

I caught sight of Roddy standing on the fringes of a group of over dressed townies. He was drinking something out of a thermos and when he finished he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before recapping it. When he glanced my way I made sure I was looking elsewhere.

By the time he moved back to his mount, and Faron called us all back, I had made up my mind. I remounted Whiskeyjack and legged him around to fall into place in line within sight of Roddy. From now on I intended to keep my eye on Mr. Roderick Black.

We continued to move more quickly than we had the day before. We were already past the point where we had turned around yesterday.

I held Whiskeyjack back, letting the others slip ahead a couple of feet. I could still sweep my area, but now I could also keep an eye on Roddy. For someone who had volunteered his time to try and find two missing kids and a couple of horses, he wasn't paying much attention to anything around him.

In fact Roddy seemed more interested in impressing the red head on the palomino mare who rode beside him. If he was, she wasn't buying what he was selling.

After a while he let his horse drift away from the mare. Doing so took him even further from the rest of the search party. When his horse paused to grab a mouthful of leaves he made no move to push it on. I drew rein and Whiskeyjack dropped behind the others. I kept Roddy in sight as the day waned.

The gloom of the forest helped to cover our surveillance. I don't think Roddy had a clue I was watching him. I also got the feeling Roddy was more interested in where he was going, rather than who was around him.

When he turned away from the path I followed without hesitation. I know Roddy was up to something now and his actions alone told me it was nothing good.

I glanced back once and realized we had put a surprising amount of distance between us and the other searchers. Did Keith even know I was missing? We'd all been so intent on watching the ground we hadn't been paying much attention to the other riders.

I began to wonder if I had made a major mistake. Roddy was a big man. He had to be close to three hundred pounds. Did I really want to confront this guy alone, in the middle of nowhere?

Then all thought of turning back fled as I stepped past a massive oak tree and saw the cabin.

It was run down and had clearly seen better days - maybe back when Kennedy was president. Grey wood had buckled in places, leaving cracks that would do nothing to keep out the elements. The roof was shingled with tin that was black with nameless stains. The front step was cracked cement which listed at one side.

I skirted the building and discovered a second building in the back. This one was in worse shape and had clearly been a small animal shelter. Roddy's horse had been tied up to what remained of a corral and was trying to pull a few strands of sickly looking grass from around the base of the cedar pole.

I kept moving, hoping I could pass unnoticed. Within seconds I was out of sight of both buildings. I took a deep breathe when I slipped back into the shelter of the trees.

Okay. Now what?

I circled back around to the west side of the main building where I dismounted and tied Whiskeyjack to a low lying bush, slipping the feedbag over his nose so he wouldn't be tempted to call for company and alert anyone we were in the neighborhood. With a final pat on Whiskeyjack's spotted neck I made my way back.

At the edge of the clearing, I crouched behind a thick bush and studied the cabin. It wasn't until I saw a feeble light pass by one of the grimy windows that I realized Roddy was inside the building. He must have been carrying a candle since the light flickered and glowed with a soft, natural light.

I waited until the light moved again and I was sure Roddy had moved to the back of the building then I stood up.

A hand fell on my shoulder.

I bolted upright and twisted away from the hand, wondering if I could outrun Roddy long enough to get to Whiskeyjack. Then a body blocked my path.

"Todd! It's us."

I stared into Keith's eyes where I saw amusement war with love. Beside him Charlie and Tyler held back, their look more sober.

"I told you I saw him ride off," Tyler said.

"Yeah, you want to tell us about that?" Keith said. He grew more serious, his hand kneading my suddenly stiff shoulders. "What the hell were you thinking, going off after this guy alone."

"I didn't--" I fumbled for words, my heart still pounding in my chest from the fright they had given me. "I don't know what I was thinking."

"That was obvious." This from Charlie.

"Hey," I protested. "He was acting suspicious so I went along to see what he was up to."

"What do you think he's doing in there?" Keith asked. "Does he have our horses? What the hell did he do to those kids?"

"I think we need to go look."

The last of the late afternoon light was fading above us. It gave us more confidence as we left the shelter of the forest for the shadow-filled clearing.

Avoiding the crumbling step Keith and I approached the nearest window, the one I had watched the flickering light in. The light seemed stronger and cast a feeble path of light out onto the weed covered ground around our feet.

Keith stretched up and peered in the window. I followed suit.

The walls of the cabin white-washed plaster board. Water stains from years of leaks had turned green around the edges. An empty table was the only piece of furniture I could see.

I couldn't see Roddy anywhere.

I glanced over in time to see Charlie reach the other window. Tyler was close behind him. From the look on Charlie's face I knew he had seen something. I prodded Keith and we slid along the walls of the cabin toward our two guests.

Tyler was whispering to Charlie. He broke off when we approached. He gestured frantically at the window.

"They're in there. He's got them tied up."

"Where's Roddy?"

Charlie looked grim. "I don't see him--"

"Shit." Keith straightened and pressed his face against the window. His voice rose in alarm. "That's no candle. He's set the place on fire!"

Chapter 16

I stared in horrified fascination as flames climbed the water stained walls beyond the window. I swear I could feel the heat from it wash over me.

Then I saw Sylvia and Donovan tossed in the corner like so much hog-tied garbage. Their eyes bulged with terror.

When Tyler yelled I swung around in front of Keith in time to deflect the blow Roddy aimed at his head with a hammer. Instead it glanced off my shoulder, sending a numbing jolt down my left side.

"You goddamned faggots shoulda minded your own business," Roddy spat as he raised the hammer to strike again. "Just like them damned kids, messing where they shouldn't."

I threw myself at him, but he shoved me aside. I crashed into the cabin wall, my head ricocheting off the rough wood. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Charlie dart forward.

"Bastard!" he yelled and I heard Roddy grunt. The hammer blow that had been directed at me went wild when Charlie's fist slammed into his gut.

I kicked his kneecap and he stumbled to the ground. I rained blows down on his head, while Keith wrenched the hammer from him and flung it into the distant woods. I grabbed a handful of hair and jerked his head back.

Behind us I heard the crash of breaking glass. A female voice started screaming.

"Where are my horses?" I wanted to rip his hair out by the roots. "Where are they, asshole?"

Roddy glared at me, then grimaced when my grip tightened and I lay my knee against his throat and pressed down.

"Tell me, or I swear--"

"Todd!" Keith pulled at my arm. "Forget him. We need to get those kids out."

"My horses--"

"We'll find them, Todd," Keith said. "Trust me."

Roddy rolled away when I stood up. He spat at my feet then yelped when Keith twisted his booted foot into the man's hand. I grinned.

"Let's go."

Charlie had already dragged the two teenagers out of the cabin. He and Tyler were struggling with the bonds that held Sylvia and Donovan. I rushed to help them then watched Charlie take some of the frayed rope and approach Roddy. He quickly trussed the sputtering man up and left him leaning against a tree at the edge of the clearing.

I knelt beside Donovan. He looked up at me with round eyes.

"Do you know what he did with the horses?"

His plump, pimply face whitened under the soot stains and his mouth opened and closed in silent distress.

My heart plummeted into my stomach. Oh God, was it something terrible? What had that monster done to my horses? I hated myself for it, but I wanted to shake Donovan. I needed to hear the words.

Instead it was Sylvia who sputtered, "He brought them up here with us. I think they're out back."

I would have hugged her if I hadn't already been half way around the burning cabin. The glow from the fire lit up the decrepit structure. I approached the door and yanked open the unsecured door.

Sally's Mark whinnied at my entry and even little Button managed a few brave squeaks before he ran to hide behind his mother.

Keith appeared in the door.

"Better move them, hon," he said. "The fire's spreading."

We scrambled out of the stable, leading Sally's Mark. She snorted and stamped her feet at the sight of the inferno that had fully engulfed the cabin by now. Charlie and Tyler trotted out of the dancing shadows ringing the clearing leading our horses. I scrambled onto Whiskeyjack, never releasing Sally's Mark. Button bounced along behind us as we moved as fast as we dared away from the fire.

Charlie had draped Roddy over the saddle of his own horse, while Tyler had taken Sylvia behind him and Keith had Donovan. I saw Donovan point to our right and we followed his lead and found ourselves on a fire road. It must have been how Roddy reached the cabin with the stolen horses and the kids who had obviously stumbled on his rustling operation.

We had barely gone half a mile when lights appeared ahead of us. Within minutes we were surrounded by Faron and several of his deputies. They took Roddy, replacing his ropes with handcuffs and a female deputy offered to the two kids.

I was surprised when Sylyia declined.

Shyly she glanced from Keith to me. "I want to go back with you." She moved to stand beside Roddy's horse. "We helped rescue them after all."

I grinned back at her. She was right. All this time I'd been blaming her and Donovan for taking our horses and they'd been as much victims as we had.

Keith and I nodded at Faron.

"If it's all right with you, Simon," Keith said to him. "We'll see they get back safe. You can tell Vincent for us?"

Faron smiled and tipped his Stetson. "Fine by me, Dr. Anderson. I'll be sure to let Vincent know."

It took us over an hour to reach Rancho Bonito. Word must have gone out because the yard was filled with neighbors and local media people. I groaned when I saw Felicia from the Channel 8. We all looked like hell and the last thing I wanted was to see my face plastered all over the late night news.

Darrel was waiting too, and with him a very pregnant and very indignant Mandy.

"Just what do you two think you're doing with those horses?" She crowded into my face. "You of all people know better."

"Now hon," Darrel murmured. "You can't be blaming them for what Roderick done."

Tyler slid off his horse and carefully helped Sylvia and Donovan off of Roddy's mount. The boy sagged against the horse's sweating flanks.

Instantly Mandy was contrite. "Oh you poor children. Let's get you inside--"

Keith had already dismounted and was talking softly to Felicia. Charlie had joined them.

I turned back in time to see Mandy grab her belly. Her face went white.

The next three hours were a blur. We got the horses put away and Keith was able to examine both Sally's Mark and her foal and declared them fit. Vincent came to collect Sylvia and Donovan who were only to happy to go home.

At last Keith and I ended up alone at last behind our closed bedroom door. I took him by the hand.

"Shower?"

Before he could answer I began to undress him. Our shirts and pants ended up in a dusty heap on the bathroom floor. I pulled him into the steaming flow of water.

Despite my tiredness my cock rose and pressed against Keith's thigh. His mouth sought out mine and our tongues grappled together. I groaned when his hand closed over the swollen head of my pole.

"Have I told you lately how much I love you?" he murmured against my throat. His heavy cock fit snugly against my belly.

I could never hear it enough. I bit at his throat and nuzzled his ear, then I slid my mouth down his smooth chest. I encountered a hard nipple and pulled at it with eager teeth. Keith moaned my name. I worked my way over to the other one, then skimmed my lips down his writhing belly, briefly dipping my tongue into his belly button.

Water flowed over us, warm and sensuous. Keith's fingers were entwined in my hair and gasped when my mouth closed over the fat mushroom head of his cock. I clamped my hands over his ass and pulled him deeper into my mouth.

Keith braced himself against the wall of the shower, his hips undulating in rising urgency.

Suddenly he tugged at my shoulder. I reluctantly straightened.

"Fuck me, Todd," he said. "I want you inside me."

I hardly needed more invitation than that. I grabbed a thick bath towel and led him into our bedroom, drying us off as we went. Still damp, we tumbled on top of the thick comforter and I immediately pressed him down, my tongue back down his throat.

Keith grunted and dug his fingers into my scalp, driving his hips up to mesh with mine. Without breaking contact he groped on the bedside table for the lube, which he generously slathered all over my straining cock.

I entered him gently, probing first with a lather covered finger at the sphincter muscle guarding his hole, then with the spongy head of my dribbling cock. But once inside I lost all gentleness. I pulled his legs up over my shoulders, braced my hands on either side of his head and began pounding into him. Our soft grunts and breathless words of love turned to groans and filled the room with the sound of our growing passion.

I reached between us and wrapped my fist around his thick, pulsing pole. His fingers kneaded my ass. My balls crawled up against the base of my throbbing cock. The first pulse of my orgasm left me groaning his name. Then the rest of it poured out, filling his dark channel with white hot jism.

Keith thrust his hips up again and again. I pumped his cock and felt the resultant orgasm shudder through him. He whispered my name as his body sagged back on the bed in release. I leaned down and swallowed his soft sighs. I eased away from him, my cock slipping out of him with a soft pop.

We came back together and lay together on top of the rumpled bed, too enervated to pull the covers up over us.

"We should check on our guests," Keith said making no move to get up.

"Somehow I doubt they need anything we could give them." I grinned against his sweaty skin. "Did you see the way Charlie nailed that asshole? I wouldn't want that guy getting pissed at me."

"You did pretty good yourself."

"I wouldn't let anyone hurt you," I said gruffly. I nuzzled the skin around his throat. "Not now, not ever."

"I love you, hon."

"Ditto," I said just as the phone rang.

It was Darrel.

We raced to the hospital in time to meet our family's newest addition. Mandy gave birth at 9:35, to Brooke Caroline Peltier. It was official now, I was an uncle.

Keith and I smiled at each other over the heads of the delighted parents. Our world was intact again. Sally's Mark and her precious foal were safely back at our ranch, our guests were snug in their bed and my best friend and lover in the whole world was here with me now and forever.

What more could anyone ask for?

[The End]

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