Rancho Bonito

Chapter 5

"Sure," Keith said. "You know I never get tired of showing off the place."

"Take the dogs?"

"Why not?"

"They don't bother the other animals?" Ty fell into step beside me. Charlie took up on the other side. Keith slipped his arm around my waist and made it four. "I noticed a few chickens and such on the way in. Not to mention the horses."

"No, they don't." I watched Shadow and Sleuth race ahead of us, rocketing across the yard and disappearing around the broodmare stable. "They know better. We had a couple of incidents in the beginning but now they know what's acceptable behavior. Dobes are fast learners. And they hate to be punished by the people they love."

Our path took us by the pool. I pointed out that they could exit from their room and bypass the front of the house to reach it. To complement the pool, Keith had added a hot tub that was on a raised deck overlooking the cool azure water.

"Come out here at night and the stars are phenomenal," I said. "We're far enough from Santa Fe not to get any light pollution. You can hear coyotes howl sometimes."

"We'll have to try it," Ty said and I wasn't surprised at the look that passed between them.

Knowing what they were thinking I casually added, "Let Keith or me know and we can reserve it for you for the night, and supply a bottle of bubbly. That way you wouldn't be disturbed. You're the only guests with us this week so you don't even have to worry about it being booked up."

Charlie's eyes darkened when he looked at Ty. I had a feeling the hot tub was going to see a lot of 'private parties' this week. I made a mental note to make sure the towel supply was replenished frequently.

"Don't you ever use it?" Ty seemed genuinely puzzled. "If I had something like this at home I don't think I could resist."

"We do on occasion. But we put it in for the guests, so we make sure it's available for your use while you're here."

On occasion that speech had led to offers to 'share' the facility. We were always very diplomatic about turning down those suggestions. I wouldn't feel comfortable fraternizing with guests and besides, both Keith and I were committed to leading a monogamous relationship.

Still, it was comforting when neither Charlie or Ty made any such offers. I wouldn't have been human if I hadn't wondered what it would have been like. I looked at Keith and smiled. Wondered but quickly lost interest. Look at what I had at home!

Keith smiled back and pointed out the huge stone barbecue at the other end of the pool. "Our chef, Tom Beaudry, tends to move his kitchen outside in the summer. Unless otherwise requested, he sticks to grilled meats and a lot of cold salads. Sound good?"

"Sounds great. Are there menus available?"

"No menus, per se. Tom always offers at least two main dish choices and he writes them up on a board in the common room, usually around one or two o'clock. You just tell us your preference at least an hour before you want to eat."

Ty grinned. "Now you're making me hungry. What about breakfast and lunch?"

"Breakfast is in the kitchen between seven-thirty and nine. It's strictly cooked to order. Lunch, you're on your own. I'll show you the kitchen later. We always have a lot of fresh fruit available, or cold meats and a variety of cheeses. A lot of guests like to go into town in the afternoon. I can give you the names of several popular restaurants."

"Lots of choices."

"Hey, this is New Mexico," I said. "Land of Enchantment. If the food sucks how can you be enchanted?"

Charlie laughed this time. "Never thought of it that way."

We moved out of the pool area. Down a well-tended path that was bordered by lots of brilliant flowers and shrubs - we had a local gardener come in once a week - we led Charlie and Ty toward the pair of stables.

I saw Darrel in the training paddock with one of our barrel racing prospects, putting the bay gelding called Bound for Glory through his paces. It seemed only natural to drift over and watch the action.

Darrel was a Texan, born and bred, and it showed in his easy drawl and quick temper. He'd been in the market for a move outside of Texas when Keith had started looking for a head wrangler for our growing stock of horses. Keith was up-front with all his employees about his orientation. Once, he reasoned aloud to me. 'Why lose them after the second week when they realize I'm gay and you and I are a couple?' The revelation hadn't phased Darrel, who as now as much a part of the Rancho Bonito family as Mandy and Tom the chef were. He was incredible with the horses and I, for one, was glad to have him.

He was running the bay through figure-eights and sliding stops. Barrel racers have to maneuver fast around the drums used to mark the corners and be able to make tight turns without losing speed or ground. Races were won or lost on split seconds. A sloppy corner or a too cautious turn and you were out of the money.

Barrel racing used to be a token women's sport on the rodeo circuit. Something for the little lady to do while the real cowboys were out getting bones broken on bulls with names like Terminator or the Duke of Hell. Then rodeo fans started getting hooked and the prize purses climbed accordingly. With the money came the serious competition, which is why the horses now command such premium prices. As Darrel was quick to point out, no one ever got rich selling barrel racers, but we could pull in some comfortable money and get a name for ourselves. Advertising like that is priceless. Besides, I like the idea of having our name attached to some fine horseflesh.

Darrel had a couple of plastic, sand-filled drums set up on either end of the rectangular training ring. The hand-raked surface was swept every day to ensure there were no stones or cracks that might trip a horse and rider.

The bay loped past us. I knew Darrel had seen us; he touched his gray Stetson in greeting before taking his mount around the outside of the ring one more time. Flying lead changes on each inside turn and the bay loped across the ring. I barely saw the signal, but suddenly Darrel sat back and the young horse dropped his haunches and threw his head back and slid to a stop in the center of the ring. Then, before he could straighten, Darrel spun him around in a tight circle, first one way, then the other. Foam flew off the bitless hackamore and I could smell the heavy sweetness of horse sweat and leather.

"Impressive," Charlie said quietly. "I take it this is not one of the horses that's available to us for riding?"

"No, this is Bound for Glory," I said. "Darrel there is training him for the rodeo circuit. Barrel racing. He's got at least another year of training before he's ready to be sold."

"You don't ride him yourself?"

I laughed. "I wish. I couldn't do that horse justice. Good barrel riders start young and usually have their best years before they're thirty. I'll just be happy to have our name on him as trainer. Someday, maybe, breeder."

Darrel waved and started jogging the bay around the ring in the other direction. I slipped my hand into Keith's and squeezed. He squeezed back.

"Come on, speaking of breeding, let's go see our newest addition. My pride and joy - little Button."

We entered the warm, rich-smelling brood mare stable and almost immediately Sally's Mark stuck her head out of her stall and nickered at us. I grabbed an apple from a basket I had nailed to the wall for just that purpose and approached her. She took the apple and chewed noisily while I retrieved a halter and lead and opened the stall door.

"You're in luck: this is actually her first day outside with the new foal. It's always a treat when they first go out."

I slid the soft halter over Sally's head and snapped on the lead. I could hear Ty exclaiming over the red and white colt when he bounced after his mother, his tiny hooves tapping on the cement floor. Funny, Ty had struck me as the big city sophisticate who wouldn't be caught dead making mushy noises over something as uncomplicated as a newborn foal. But when I looked back he was clinging to Charlie's arm and had the biggest grin on his drop-dead handsome face. Charlie's smile was nearly as big, though I'm not sure it was directed at the foal so much as at his lover. It was obvious the two of them adored each other, though from the sounds of it, there had been a struggle to get to this point.

I might have envied them if I hadn't had Keith. And we'd had our own rough path to tread to get here. Did straight people have so much trouble in the pursuit of love?

Keith opened the paddock and I led Sally in, followed by the stiff-legged foal.

"Why do you call him Button?" Ty couldn't seem to resist coming to stand beside me as I coaxed the foal around to me. Sally tugged on the lead, wanting to be off and rolling in the ground for a dust bath.

"'Cause he's cute as one." I shrugged. "Most horses have a stable name that has nothing to do with their registered name. Just something fun."

"What's his registered name?"

"Destiny's Road." I held my hand out and succeeded in getting the foal to stick his nose in my palm. Then he squealed and took off. "Kind of a heavy thing for such a little guy."

I unsnapped Sally's lead and she took off after Button. The two raced around the outer perimeter of the paddock, kicking up their heels in sheer delight. Then Sally stopped and ponderously lowered herself to the ground where she spent several minutes rolling in the sandy surface. Button watched her, fascinated. Then he decided he'd had enough inactivity and took off again.

We stood on the paddock fence for nearly twenty minutes watching their antics before Keith's rumbling stomach interrupted our interlude.

I buried my face in my hands and shook my head at his embarrassed look.

"That, in case anyone didn't quite catch it, was the sophisticated Dr. Anderson announcing it's time to go in for dinner."

Charlie and Ty returned to their rooms after checking out the written notice Tom had posted about dinner choices - both of them went for the marinated chicken breasts and skewers of grilled vegetables - and I followed Keith into our part of the house.

"What do you think of the new guests?" I watched Keith change from his work clothes to his at home with guests ensemble. I never tired of seeing him in varying stages of undress - though I much preferred him naked.

"He's not what I would have expected." Keith slid on a tan shirt and left it undone. His nearly hairless chest looked very tempting from where I stood. "I wouldn't have pegged him as an artist in a million years."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. What about the boyfriend?"

"Mr. I'm-Too-Hot-to-Handle? Talk about being too sexy for his clothes."

"Gee, is he? I hadn't noticed."

"Funny man. I saw the eyes falling out of your head earlier." Still bare-chested, Keith hooked one arm around my waist and dragged me against him. I could feel the heat from his crotch burrowing into my hip. "As long as you look and don't touch, I don't care. He is hot."

I nipped the skin above his right nipple then slid my tongue around the hard nub of flesh. It contracted under my wet touch.

"Not as hot as you."

Keith held my head against his chest. "As long as we're in agreement on that," he said hoarsely. He ground his fast swelling cock into me. "How about we meet back here after supper and you show me how hot?"

"Deal."

He slapped my butt. "Now let's go take care of our guests."

I followed him out of the room.

Chapter 6

As usual Tom's barbecue was damned near flawless. The man should have been working in some five-star restaurant in NYC or the Big Easy but instead he wanted to stay in Santa Fe for his family's sake. He'd told me once that he'd had his fill of big cities during his sous chef days. Now he was more than happy to tend our trickle of guests and townies who came out for the public spread we had been putting on every Saturday since we opened the place.

I tended the pool side bar while Keith made sure Charlie and Ty had enough to eat. Once the main meal was done, Tom vanished back into his kitchen and wheeled out the dessert tray. The four of us selected what we wanted and I sat down beside Keith to share forkfuls in our own nightly ritual.

The air was taking on the faint golden quality that spelled the end of the day. A breeze blew up, washing cool air over the pool. The distant smells of the forest that pressed up against our land blew over our small group. I saw Charlie take note of it first.

"I saw in your literature that your ranch butts up against some federal land. How many acres?"

"About a million and a half," Keith said. "There's some rough land out there. No roads into some of it. You ride?"

"Some. Not together though." Charlie glanced at Ty. "Would you be interested?"

Ty grinned. "Interested? You bet. Especially since we can use the hot tub after to settle all those sore muscles."

Keith glanced at me. I knew what he was thinking. Darrel would be busy tonight, like he was busy every night these days, with Mandy, wher due date was still over a month away but she had already had a couple of false labors. He was willing to do his job during the day, but come night he had made it clear that right now he wanted to be with Mandy. At least until the baby came.

So evening rides had to be conducted by one or both of us. "I don't mind taking Mistral out. Why don't you join us - I'm sure Quincy could use the exercise."

Keith didn't need much convincing. That meant another trip inside to change into jeans and a long-sleeve jacket, since nights could still be cool this time of year. We met Charlie and Ty in the common room.

I was pleased to see that neither one of them had succumbed to the silly tourist craze that seemed to dictate dressing up in what the tourist perceived as ranch wear. Usually some horrible city slicker version of chaps and boots that no self-respecting cowboy would be caught dead in. Keith and I always had to be so careful not to laugh - our guests' dignity had to be maintained at all costs -- but at times it was hard.

Tonight wasn't one of them. Charlie and Ty emerged hand in hand, wearing nothing more outrageous than snug jeans and T- shirts under jean jackets. Charlie had a baseball cap pulled down over his bound black hair. Ty was bareheaded. He hooked his thumb at Charlie's head.

"Do I need one of those?"

"Not for an evening ride," I said. "If you plan to go out during the day I recommend head gear. Sunstroke can be a nasty way to ruin a honeymoon."

Ty nodded. "We were going into town tomorrow to the gallery. I'll pick one up then."

"Borrow one of mine," Charlie said. "You know I always bring two or three."

Ty gave him a withering look. "Honey, I love you to distraction, but what you would put on your head is beyond disbelief. I'll pick out something myself."

Charlie met my gaze and actually smiled. "Well, I guess I got told. Suit yourself."

"Are we ready?" I asked and it turned out we were.

After a short conference we saddled up Buzz for Charlie and Waco for Ty. As usual, I rode Mistral's Gold, my original American Paint horse, and Keith got Quincy. We set off toward the distant line of trees that outlined our property and led deep into federal land.

I'll be the first to admit our guests looked sharp on horseback. Charlie and Buzz had been a good choice, Buzz's black hide matched his dark craggy looks perfectly. Waco, a beautiful buckskin, suited Ty's sleek good looks. Keith looked good on anything and I was just along for the ride.

The two of them proved to be adequate riders. We rode back into the well-lit yard nearly thirty minutes after the last traces of sun had bled from the sky. I saw Ty wince when he slid off Waco but he gamely hung around to unsaddle and help us brush down the four horses before turning them out in their box stalls for the night. The last I saw of them was Charlie solicitously leading a shambling Ty back to their rooms. I suspected the two of them would be in the hot tub before long. I hoped it would be enough to sooth Ty's overworked muscles. Otherwise he was going to be sore tomorrow. Well, at least he had Charlie to dote on him.

"Shower?" I murmured to Keith as we entered our bedroom. He glanced up from stripping off his jacket.

"After you."

I grinned and began undoing the buttons on his shirt. "What? Haven't you heard of the concept of water conservation? Besides, you owe me one, remember?"

"Owe you? Who's keeping score?"

I traced a line of kisses down his neck to his arm pit. There I inhaled the natural scent of him, which never failed to arouse me. I wrinkled my nose in mock dismay.

"You smell like a barn."

"Hmph. Like you smell like a flowerbed."

He tugged at the zipper of my jeans, dragging it down around my rapidly swelling cock. He shoved my jeans down my legs and I managed to kick them off without breaking my hold on him. I moved my mouth to what I knew was one of the most sensitive areas of his body, his nipples. I nibbled the left one, then slurped it like a tiny ice cream cone. It swelled and hardened under my busy tongue. Then I moved to the right one and gave it the same careful treatment.

Keith held my head in his strong hands and I could feel him trembling. His heart beat, strong and timpano-like, under my roving lips. I slipped my hands under the waist band of his jeans and pushed them down his hips, cupping the round globes of his ass in both hands. He groaned and dug his fingers into my hair when I slid one finger into the tight confines of his hole.

I moved my mouth up to his, nipping his parted lips and darting my tongue into his mouth. His breathing was ragged now, and matched my own. I ground my rigid man-pole between his legs and continued my assault on his ass.

He raised one leg and wrapped it around my hip, pressing himself more tightly against me.

"Come on, cowboy," he whispered. "Take me to bed." He bit at my chin and throat. "Consider that doctor's orders."

"Ah, well, whatever the doctor wants..." I lifted him up against my pelvis, and pivoted toward the bed. I fell sideways across it, taking him with me. We ended in a pile of arms and legs and unleashed cocks straining against each other. God this man had the capacity to make me so hot.

I fluttered my tongue over his nipple again. He shuddered under me. I tasted a trail of shivering skin down his chest, across his flat stomach and down to his pelvis, where I buried my nose in his thick bush. He opened his legs for me, and I accepted his silent invitation. Gently I slipped one of his balls into my mouth, where I played with the loose skin and rolled the soft mass around my tongue. When I took both balls in my mouth Keith moaned and squirmed under my ministrations. I pushed his legs apart and ran my wet mouth over the tender skin right behind his scrotum. Then I shoved my stiff tongue against the puckered skin guarding his back channel. He cried out and thrust his ass into my face.

I rimmed him thoroughly; he bucked and writhed under me, moaning my name. His cock dribbled tiny droplets of nacreous pre- cum and I used it to stroke him while I plied my skills on his hole. I had him pumping my mouth, trying to fuck my tongue, then later my finger as I inserted one digit into him.

His balls began to pull up and I knew he was close. I wasn't ready to let him, so I backed off, content to lick a path up his rigid pole to his glistening helmet and the salty droplets which kept on exuding from it as fast as I could lick them off. He tried to hump my face, begging me to suck him. Instead, I teased him with my mouth. Circling his fat cock head with my lips, cleaning out his piss slit, I had him crying my name in a mantra of blind need.

When I rose above him and pushed his legs open he came off the bed with a shout. I eased the head of my well lubed cock into his dark, tight channel. He grabbed my ass in both hands and drove his own up to engulf my dick. My balls slammed into his tail bone and he clamped down on my throbbing pole. I groaned at the pressure and abandoned the slow tease. I began to slam into him, all pretense of gentleness gone. He anchored his legs over my back and used his strong hands as a lever to pull me into him. Our rhythm grew frantic and his mouth slammed over mine, his tongue diving down my throat, swallowing my guttural groans. Sweat poured off us, mingling and sliding as our bodies tried to become one unit.

I felt my cum boil out of me, exploding deep into his bowels, splashing against his naked flesh. He cried out my name and his cock thrashed and blew hot jism across his tension-riddled stomach and chest. I sagged across him, our juices and sweat mingling and drying together as we lay in each other's arms. Slowly my cock subsided and grew soft. Finally it fell out of him with a soft pop and I rolled my weight off him, taking him with me so that we lay side by side, still touching our whole length.

I kissed his mouth and throat and finally paused above his sternum, where his heartbeat slowed and returned to normal. I pressed my lips to his rib cage and inhaled the rich tantalizing smell of him, sex and sweat and a musky sweetness that was entirely his own.

"Baby," I murmured.

"Hmmmm," his lips vibrated against my damp skin.

"We really need to take a shower. If we fall asleep like this we'll be super-glued together."

"I can think of worse things."

"Me too." I wiggled to bring him closer and our skin squelched as we split apart then came back together. That seemed to convince him.

Reluctantly he rolled away from me.

The shower did nothing to revive me and when I slid back under the sheets and rolled into his arms I was asleep almost instantly.