We swam and washed away the remnants of our lovemaking. I saw Tally differently now, he was a boy I very much desired. His laughter filled my ears as he and Jerry played while my eyes beheld a thing of such beauty. The angle of the setting sun sent shimmers of light off the water, Tally seemed to stand in a pool of glittering diamonds and I was stunned by the vision.

The whole thing was totally impossible; I couldn't love a fourteen year old boy. He was approaching fifteen but I was three years older, our love was forbidden. Tally had parents, siblings, Granny ... none of them would approve of this love.

I knew my rejection would crush the boy, this was my fault. In sixty days I would be off to school a thousand miles away, Tally was just beginning ninth grade ... impossible. There were a world of reasons this shouldn't go any further, it had already gone too far.

But I loved him. My thoughts didn't deter the feelings, I wanted to love him. Didn't we deserve to love one another? Impossible ... I was beginning to hate the word.

Tally sensed my changing attitude, he didn't attack me like before, focusing his play on Jerry. But I caught his glances; he knew I was watching and thinking. He had been the first to declare love and in a rare moment of maturity he was awaiting my answer. I had to tell him something.

I climbed the bank and brought back a bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap. Tally never said a word as I tossed him the soap. The uncertainty of our relationship kept him silent so I turned to Jerry. I poured shampoo on his head and worked it into lather. The boy almost cooed at my attentions. I was still in a totally mind numbing state, calm yet pensive, and I was well aware of Tally's eyes watching me.

I had come out here to find myself and instead found the greatest quandary of my life. I had to go to college; my parents expected that of me. They didn't expect me to fall in love with a nearly fifteen year old boy. My own expectations of my self were at issue here, was I willing to compromise everything to love Tally?

Yesterday I would have denied any reasonable suggestion that I could love a boy. Hell, I'd only know Tally for six hours tops. I wasn't gay ... was I? Did I have to be gay to have these feelings? What would people think about me now, what would Stan say?

I understood the feelings, Charlie and I had shared them if only for a short while. Tally had committed himself, he now understood himself to be gay and he was only fucking fourteen. If I really loved him I had to be gay.

Look at him Evan. Have you ever seen anyone that makes your chest feel tight like it does now? Has anyone ever overwhelmed you with feelings of warmth like this boy? I knew the answer and yet I was afraid of it.

Yes ... yes I was in love with Tally; there was no longer any doubt. I just didn't see how this would work beyond tomorrow; I just knew there had to be a solution. I had found someone who needed me almost as much as I needed him. I had to make this work.

We got out of the river and I set about lighting the small fire. I had Jerry fill the collapsible bucket with river water and told him he was on fire watch. Then I set a gallon of water on the fire to boil and took stock of our supplies.

Dorothy had provided a huge amount of canned vegetables, I took one jar of each kind and opened two cans of jerked beef, we were having Mulligan stew, and it was simple as that. Jerry watched my preparations while Tally went down to sit on the river bank and watch the sun set.

I knew Tally was pondering what my feelings were, it was all so new to me I couldn't put it in words. Making dinner was a distraction, Tally needed to be alone and think about what this all meant as well. Fortunately Jerry could provide some of the answers I needed.

"Jerry, what kind of farm does Tally's family run ... is it just dairy?" I asked.

"Oh hell no, they have acres of corn and stuff, mostly feed grains. Come harvest Uncle Terry has to hire folks to bring in all the hay and alfalfa. He was planting tobacco until some years back, said he didn't feel right growing a crop that just killed people."

"So lots of work come fall, huh? What about the rest of the year?"

"Uh, granny does all her canning, that takes weeks. Come spring there are all the livestock things, new calves and piglets. I was pullin feathers off the chickens before they were sent to market up until last year, now I got my own chores at home to do."

"Your family works close with Tally's?"

"Oh yeah, we share the work and the profits my daddy says. It's too much for just Tally's family, that's why they hire on. You wanna come work with us?"

"I don't know anything about farming," I said.

Jerry laughed. "You think I did? Plucking feathers, shoveling shit and driving a tractor doesn't take too much brain power, you could learn." And then he looked down towards the river where Tally sat. "You could be close to Tally."

I looked over at him and he smiled. "I think Tally is a very special boy," I said.

"He's been lookin for a guy like you almost forever. We was foolin around years ago and he always said he was gonna find someone to love ... I think he means you. It don't matter if it's gay, I just want Tally to be happy."

"I just don't know how to make it work, Jerry. How are his folks gonna feel if they ever find out about us?"

"I don't think Tally cares if they do find out. I never heard Uncle Terry say a mean word about anyone, he's not like that. Tally's got a spare bed in his room, I get that during the summer, but you could sleep there if you hired on. On cold nights we used to pile in one bed, that's how Tally and I got started."

I smiled. "You're a lucky boy then ... you really love Tally don't you?"

Jerry blushed or maybe it was the dying rays of the sun that lit his face. He had real feelings for Tally but somehow that would all change as Jerry grew older. The love of family was important to Jerry; he would do anything for Tally now, in a few years the sex would end as he moved on. In his own way he was trying to keep me involved with Tally, it was a sweet gesture.

"Yeah, I do love Tally sorta, but it's a lot different than what he wants. Do you think he's really gay?"

"You'd have to ask him that, Jerry. I know if he was I would probably never leave him ... I don't know how it would work, I still have a lot of thinking to do about that."

"Ask Tally, he knows how to make all kinds of things work," Jerry said.

The water was boiling by now and I added the veggies and the meat. The adventure company had provided soups so I dumped in a packet of onion soup mix and moved the pot to slow down the boil. Tally came back to the fire and sat down opposite me. It was already twilight and the features of his face were lit by the fire, this was all so familiar.

"I used to go camping when I was in the Scouts; we even took a canoe trip a lot like this one. But that was up in Virginia closer to Tennessee. The mountains were all around us that first night and it was hard to sleep because of the noises.

"The troop leader said there were all kinds of animals in the woods around us. You could see the paw prints of raccoons by the river bank and deer tracks in the grass, it was really cool. Occasionally we would see a snake but most of the wildlife was scared off by our noise. Well ... all except one.

"The second night I was just goin to sleep when I heard a noise outside the tent, like some big dog sniffin around. A few cans rattled in our trash pile and then there were some snorting sounds. I sat up and looked around but my two buddies were both sound asleep. I really wanted to see what it was out there so I reached for my flashlight and crawled towards the flap of the tent."

Tally was on to me, I could see the beginnings of a smile. Jerry on the other hand was gullible and I saw the look of suspense on his face. I reached a hand back behind me and grasped a short bit of firewood, and then I continued.

"I opened the flap and looked out across the campsite but I couldn't see anything, everything was quiet. I switched on the light and shone it out across the picnic table and the cooler we had left outside ... nothing.

"There was a noise to my right and I turned my head to look and there was a shape by the next tent. It was about as far away as the corner of our shelter is here ... how far do you think that is Jerry?"

Of course Jerry turned to look and I heaved the log into the trees. The log tore through the leaves and made a thump when it hit the ground, Jerry whipped around to look.

"What was that?" he asked.

I glanced casually towards the point of the sound and squinted in the dark. "Nothing ... I hope."

"Anyways, the other tent was about eight feet away and I swung my light over there and right into the face of a bear ... "

Tally stood up and pointed behind Jerry. "Oh My God ... " he yelled.

Of course Jerry freaked and then I yelled, "Bear."

Jerry screamed and ran behind me as Tally dropped to his knees with peals of laughter. I raised my hands, turned around to face Jerry and growled. He punched me in the stomach and I went down. End of joke.

"Not funny ... not funny at all," Jerry yelled. "You scared me ... " And then he realized what he'd done.

I was on the ground with a belly ache, the kid had hit real hard. Tally was in tears from laughing so hard and Jerry was down on the ground beside me.

"Sorry Evan ... I'm so sorry."

"It's OK," I gasped.

"Jerry punched the bear," Tally said, and then he went off laughing hysterically once again.

"You scared me ... I didn't mean to hit you," Jerry said.

I sat up and smiled, pulling the boy down into my lap. "Yes you did, you punched the bear ... what a brave little man."

Jerry laughed and I tickled him. "You go punch Tally, I think dinner is ready."

The boys traded slaps until I called them off and handed out bowls. The stew was delicious if I say so myself, the boys seemed to agree.

Jerry seemed to continue the earlier conversation now that we had Tally to respond.

"Tally, how many acres of corn does your daddy have planted this year?"

"Four hundred, plus the south end ... twelve hundred or so acres just in corn, another eighty in alfalfa and soy, then there's the grains ... just plain lots, Jerry. All that work comin up, I'll be glad when school starts."

"You don't have to work when school starts?" I asked.

"Hell yes, I just miss most of the day. I got chores start at four, get the bus at seven-thirty and get home at three. I can bale hay until it gets dark and we have supper, then I have homework and get in bed by ten. Its hell for a while and then it snows. Nothin stops when it snows, the work just gets more difficult."

"But you have the crops in by then, what happens in winter?" I asked. I really knew nothing about farming.

"I shovel shit from Christmas right on until spring. Livestock has to be fed, and cows are just so dumb you wouldn't believe the things they get into. Sometimes it takes hours to round them up and get them back in the barn when it snows. Thank God we got only a few hundred this year."

"Oh, where did they go?" I asked.

Tally laughed. "We're eatin one of them."

"Oh, you butcher the cows too?"

"Naw, daddy has a place does that, it's too tiresome and makes a hell of a mess, I seen it done. Why you want to know all about the farm?"

Jerry couldn't contain himself one second longer. "He's thinkin about hiring on to be close to you, dummy."

Tally's jaw dropped open and he stared at me. I smiled back and nodded. "I would, you know ... I love you, Tally."

He was all over me in a flash, bowls flying in every direction as the boy leapt into my arms knocking me to the ground. The time for tears was past, Tally was too happy to worry about the consequences of that declaration. Jerry cleaned up the mess and sat back down to finish his dinner, but he was happy too.

It took ten minutes of hugs and kisses before Tally settled down enough to think about what this all meant to me.

"What about your school? You were going to chef school, this ain't right."

"So I take a year or two off. I'll tell my parents I need to study the food chain; I can always go back to school. Maybe I should to switch into agriculture; I ought to learn something about that from your daddy."

"Evan ... you know how hard this is? You work for my daddy from dawn to dusk and sometimes beyond. He don't let up on anyone and we respect him because he works hardest of all of us. You better think about this some more."

"I have to be near you, Tally ... I don't care what it takes. It's gonna be three years before we can do any of this legally, your parents may never understand us, I don't know what to do if they find out."

"Daddy won't kill you; he'll just ask you to leave. But we have Granny to help us, she already knows about me I think. She liked you from the first or we wouldn't be here."

"OK, but I think signing on will get us started. You do want me there don't you?"

Tally reached a hand to my face; his eyes seemed to glow in the firelight. Fingers caressed my cheek; slowly he leaned forward and kissed me. It was a movie kiss, so tender, so sweet ... I had my answer.

"I know I ain't much, bein so young and all ... but you're like a dream come true. I've been comin down to the river every day because I knew that if I was to meet someone it would be here. I've been thinking about that for years, Jerry will tell you. I need you more than anything, Evan. Just tell me what you want and it's yours."

It only took me a moment and then I remembered a similar conversation with Charlie, only this boy wouldn't leave me like he had.

"I don't just want a boyfriend, Tally. I want someone I can share love with for life. I have plans, things to accomplish for myself ... and hopefully for you. I never considered a partner so young, but in three years it won't matter anymore, in twenty we won't even remember this conversation.

"But to be with me you have to work hard at school, harder than you ever have before. Only this time I will be there to help you. We have to be the smartest guys around so no one will ever laugh at us ... never. It won't be easy for either of us, Tally.

"You don't know me very well ... well maybe better than most right now after what we did. God, we just met and here we are makin plans for life ... but I love you, I really mean that. Am I crazy or what?"

"Crazy ... no, I don't think so," Tally said. "I think we're lucky, we found each other. I know I've been lookin a long time, I imagine you have too."

"I got very hurt last time I tried to love someone," I said.

Tally smiled. "You didn't hurt me when we had sex, I thought that was gonna be a world of hurt but it wasn't. You were gentle, you kept your promise and didn't hurt me ... I promise to never hurt you, Evan ... never ever."

Jerry had heard enough, he started humming the wedding march, "Dum-dum-de-dum ... "

I laughed and looked over at Tally, "Is he a good fuck?"

"Oh yeah, he squeals like a piggy," Tally laughed.

"Oh no ... no way," Jerry said.

"You giving up sex then?" Tally asked.

"With you no, I could never do it with Evan ... wouldn't you hate me if I did?"

"He doesn't want to make you jealous, Tally," I said.

"Yeah, he just wants me until he can get into Jenny Burkes' pants," Tally said. "Now there's an impossible wet dream."

"Oh, you like this Jenny?" I asked.

"Yeah, but she thinks I'm nobody," Jerry replied.

"Then she's a loser, she's missing out on the nicest guy around."

Jerry smiled at me. "Thanks."

"So let's clean up," I said. "Don't want any bears comin round in the middle of the night."

"Jerry will just punch them," Tally laughed.

We rinsed out the dishes in the river and tossed the little bit of stew left over in the fire. I told Jerry to give it fifteen minutes and we would douse the whole thing. All that rolling around on the ground had made us dirty so we washed off in the river. It was dark but there were a million stars over head and their dim light was enough for us to see what we were doing.

This naked thing was pretty cool; none of us had been erect since we had sex earlier. But as we settled into the shelter for the night I could see both boys starting to bone up. I wondered what Jerry wanted to do, would Tally still feel like going anal with the boy?

I lay in the middle with two boys clinging to my chest. The dim light of our lantern cast shadows on the walls and roof of the shelter, it almost seemed cozy.

"So ... I have not one but two sex starved maniacs on my hands tonight ... hmm, wonder what to do?"

"You can't fuck me, but Tally can," Jerry said.

"Do you want me to fuck you?" Tally asked.

"Is Evan gonna watch?" Jerry asked.

"Oh yeah, maybe I can give Tally some advice." I said.

"OK, he makes me cum without even touchin myself," Jerry said.

I almost laughed, so Jerry was a prostate junkie, no wonder he liked being fucked. And if he held true to type, once Jerry got off he would quickly fall asleep. Then Tally and I could have a quiet talk.

Jerry lay down on his stomach and I handed Tally the bottle of lotion. He applied it to Jerry's bottom and managed a couple of fingers inside just to show that the boy was ready. I had no idea how many times this ritual had taken place between them. But for all I knew I might be witnessing the final act, Tally would be mine.

And I think Tally had the same thought, he seemed to do everything he could to please Jerry and right on cue the little man squealed like a piggy and shot cum on his sleeping bag. Tally laughed so hard he slid out.

"Oh man, that was awesome," Jerry said. He looked down at Tally's stiff cock. "You didn't ... " And then he looked over at me. "Oh ... "

He knew, Tally was saving it for me and Jerry's face went from happy to sad.

"OK, dirty boys in the house, time to clean up," I said.

I handed Tally the bar of soap and we went back to the river. They washed up and then we were back to the shelter. Jerry yawned right on cue and Tally gave him a big hug. Jerry had it all figured out by now and I suppose in time he would be happy for Tally, he just wasn't there yet. Once again I rubbed his back and Jerry fell asleep purring.

"I wish it didn't have to be like this," Tally said. "He's always been there for me and now ... I just can't, you know that."

"Jerry understands, maybe it will push him towards talking to that girl. I can see he's more than your cousin; you guys have been the best of friends. He won't be sad for long and we can still include him in some of the things we do."

"I only wanna be with you, Evan, like you said ... partners."

"Yeah, partners, now all I have to do is figure out what that means. I don't imagine I'll get a whole hell of a lot of sleep tonight." I reached over and turned off the lantern, allowing night to creep into the shelter.

The sounds of the river, crickets and night birds all seemed to provide a great sense of peace, but not in my head. Tally lay quietly beside me, respecting my need to think. I knew he was wide awake, the moment seemed too important.

"Tally?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't know me very well."

"Same goes for me. What'cha wanna know?"

"You said you came down to the river looking for someone like me. What do you mean by that?" I asked.

Silence. "I met some guys here and there, nobody special. Some guy sucked me off when I was ten, I didn't even know what that meant when he asked me for it. Stuff like that happened a few times, I just let them do it."

"When did you think you were gay ... after that?"

"No, getting sucked was just for fun and because I was bored. I've seen my brothers jerk off before; they didn't know I was watching. I mean they're family and I shouldn't have felt anything strange about that but I did. Somehow I knew I liked guys, and at my school that's a dangerous thing to be thinkin."

"Do you know any other gay boys at school?"

"A few ... not that they know anything about me. They get treated like shit, everyone picks on them and I don't even know if all of them are gay. I couldn't suffer through that crap, I would have to hurt someone or die tryin."

"I have a friend named Stan; I think you'd really like him. He came out when he was sixteen and some jerks picked on him, I stopped that cold."

"Aw, that was cool. Does Stan know about you?"

I laughed and stared up at the ceiling. "Tally, I didn't know about me until this morning when I met you. I would have sworn I wasn't gay even though I had gay sex before with another boy."

"Is he cute?"

"Charlie was ... he's gone from my life now; it hurt a lot when he left. I've been in fights so physical pain is something I understand, but losing someone you love is a pain that I never want to feel again."

"Evan ... is that why you want to hire on with my dad, are you afraid of losing me?"

I nodded in the dark and rolled towards him. His hands reached out for me and we embraced, releasing the flood of emotion that I had been holding inside. The tears felt hot on my cheeks, I had to let go of the painful past, now there was only Tally.

I grasped his head and kissed him, feeling his body melt into mine. I wanted him so badly, I had to love him and there was no way around it. Tally seemed to sense my need and he slid his body on top of mine when our lips parted. I knew he was staring down at me, trying to sense my emotions.

His fingers caressed my cheeks and encountered the wetness. "Oh Evan, please don't cry." How could I explain, I was crying because of him, because of what he meant to me. I sobbed and the tears kept flowing.

His hands caressed and his lips kissed all over my face, and then he put his cheek against mine and began to hum. It was a lullaby, a soft and soothing sound that he had probably heard from his mother as a little boy. It was the sweetest thing he could have done and I focused on the sound.

Nowhere in my wildest dreams could I have chosen a better match than Tally. He was sensitive to my weakness, aware of my pain and so full of life it astonished me. I had come out here to discover myself ... and I had because of this boy. God, how did a boy so young capture my heart so fast?

I would have to remember this moment in the days and weeks ahead, it would bring me comfort. Now I had to face not one, but two sets of parents if any of my plans were to succeed. My dad would be shocked, but I knew his mind only too well. He would try to see it from my point of view; it's what always made him a successful judge of my actions.

Tally's father would look me over and evaluate my value to his work. Farm life would probably seem brutal at first, but my goal was clear. By the time harvest was over either I would be a wreck or become the strongest man I had ever been. I would probably kill myself because of Tally and still beg for more.

I ran my fingers through his hair and he stopped humming and raised his head.

"You are so good to me," I said. "That was sweet."

I knew he was smiling. "Granny used to sing that when I was a baby."

"I figured something like that. Where did you learn to be such a wonderful boy?"

Tally giggled. "It just comes naturally ... you OK now?"

I slid my hands down his back and grasped his butt. "More than OK, I want to eat you," I growled.

Tally's erection was instantaneous, and he pressed it down into my stomach. I had watched him gobble Jerry's cum earlier so I knew he wasn't shy of doing that. It had been so long since I tried that, but I knew it would be as sweet as the rest of him. I owed him one for that lullaby and now would be a good time to return the favor.

We rolled over onto his sleeping bag and I began to lick and kiss him behind his ear. I felt him stretch his head upwards; exposing his slender neck and I trailed my tongue down below his chin. Tally moaned and placed his hands on my head as I traveled down his body.

There was only the barest hint of a glow inside the shelter, a reflection of the starlight outside. But it was enough for me to nearly see his nipples as I attacked them with teeth and tongue, Tally groaned as I nibbled his soft flesh.

My hands slid down his thighs and then between them. He had such strong legs which quickly parted as my fingers slid up and cupped his balls. I tongued his belly button, sinking the tip into the indentation and causing him to giggle.

"Sorry ... tickles," He said.

His cock pressed against my cheek so I turned my face towards it and lapped at the head with my tongue.

"Oh ... shit ... hmm," Tally moaned.

I couldn't stand it, I had to taste him and I closed my lips around his cock. He tasted wonderful as I ran circles around his cock with my tongue. OK here goes, and I lowered my head allowing his cock to slide down my throat.

"Oh ... Evan ... yes," Tally whispered.

It had been a while and I gagged a bit and withdrew as his cock touched the back of my throat. No way, I wanted it all and I slid back down, not stopping until my nose was in his pubes. Jeez, he felt so big, not like a boy at all.

I closed my lips around the base of his cock and applied suction as I slid back to the tip. Yeah, now I remembered how to do it, and I went after him with all the skill I could muster. My hands squeezed and caressed his balls while my thumb rubbed the flesh beneath the sac.

From the moans and groans I knew Tally was having a great time. I took great pride in giving him this pleasure and redoubled my efforts. I slid a hand up his stomach searching for his nipples. Capturing one I began to squeeze and pinch it lightly.

"Oh fuck ... yeah, don't be gentle, pinch me harder," Tally said. His breath was coming faster, almost a pant. I could feel his body shudder as I pinched ... and then suddenly he was there.

"Oh God ... fuck ... I'm gonna cum ... "

Well at least he got that much out as his body suddenly jerked upwards, shoving his cock down my throat as it swelled with the impending orgasm, I abandoned his balls and grasped the base of his cock, pulling my head back just in time to catch the full blast of his eruption.

My mouth quickly filled and I had to swallow, something I had to learn to accept. I did it quickly only to have my mouth receive another couple of spurts, the kid was full of cum tonight and I was greedy for the taste of him. The smell filled my sinus cavity and the cloying stickiness coated my tongue.

That was the point where I had barfed up Stan's jizz my first time. I had wanted to please him, make him feel so good and I felt like a failure. Jerking off had not been enough for either of us, we had to try oral. We stroked and sucked a lot those first few years, but I never went anal with him. He seemed to understand my reservations on that score, he was the only gay boy in our games.

Charlie had been completely different and I had felt glorious in our sexual encounters, we did everything. And now I had Tally, and I knew he was of the same mind as Charlie, nothing was off the table.

Tally grabbed my head and pulled me up onto his chest, his lips searching my face and centering on my mouth. Our tongues dueled and I shared the taste of him. God he was so fucking sexy, I felt positively light headed.

Our hearts were pounding from the excitement, but I was careful not to place my entire weight on his chest. Tally's hands roamed my back, fingers clutching as we ground our lips together and then I pulled away to let him breathe.

"God Evan, I never ... ," Tally said.

I smiled even though he couldn't see me very well.

"So I was pretty good, huh?"

"The best, I never exploded like that before. It's like you knew every spot to touch. How did you do that? I felt like I was flying," Tally said.

My arms were tired of supporting my weight so I rolled over, pulling him on top.

"Can I do you now?" Tally asked.

"Nope ... not ready yet. The first time I did that I got sick, but it got easier when Stan showed me how," I said.

"Your gay friend, I'm glad he did ... should I thank him?" Tally laughed.

"I hope Stan will understand us, I want him to because I'm sure no one else will."

"You worry what he thinks of you, why is that so important?" Tally asked.

I sighed. "Because for so long I didn't understand myself, I denied being gay even when Charlie was in my life. Stan said I was ignoring the facts. I was screwing a guy and in love with him, what more proof did I need?"

"If Charlie didn't make you feel gay how come it works with me?"

"I don't know ... well maybe I do. I'm older and more experienced now, I'm not afraid of understanding my feelings, I just let them happen. Emotionally I feel like a kid again only this time I'm ready to be gay, to admit to myself that it's been there all along."

"I am so lucky to have found you, Evan. Being gay and alone is no fun, no fun at all."

"It's just ... you were so honest with me about your feelings, Tally. I respect that more than you'll ever know, it's what made me love you. I knew when you first said hello that you were something special, and now I know what it is. I feel like you've done something that I always feared doing, you discovered you were gay and accepted it."

"I saw something in your eyes when you first looked at me, maybe that's what it was ... you recognized me inside of you," Tally said.

"God, you are dead on. But how...how can you be so smart at only fourteen? I've been trying to work this out for years and bam, you get it right off. I have to love you, Tally or I don't love myself."

"You don't have to love me, but you will ... I'll make sure of that." Now I knew Tally was staring down at me with this big old grin on his face. He had me and he knew it, so I changed the subject.

"So what do I say to your daddy? Does he hire just anyone who asks to work?"

"Nope, but he'll know you're smart and strong because if he doesn't I'll kick him in the shins."

"So you're the real boss of the farm, huh?"

"Yup, weekend foreman, my daddy says ... and he means it. I've been watching the crews since I was little and always told him if they were doin something wrong. He listens to me now, you'll see come Saturday."

"What's Saturday," I asked.

"Supper, you'll be there, my granny already invited you."

"She did?"

"Yup, said be back Saturday. My folks will be back then and Granny will do us up a real fine supper, always does. Anyone that's around on Saturday always stays for supper, it's a tradition and that means you. You don't ever want to mess with Granny's traditions, oh no. Traditions are what make a family proud."

"So you think she knows about you ... guess that means she'll know about us pretty soon, I don't know what will happen then," I said.

"Granny will study the situation cause she's a great thinker, and then she'll ask me what's goin on," Tally said.

"Jeez ... what are you gonna say?"

"The truth, we love one another. Oh, Granny is a big believer in love, she says it's God's gift for all the misery we have to endure. Look at all I had to go through to find you, she's right you know."

"Tally, I don't think any adults will understand me and you together. Just the sex part alone will get me in a world of trouble if anyone finds out," I said.

"What sex? We ain't havin no sex, I just love you that's all," Tally said.

"Come on, you really think that will work?"

"They have to believe me or call me a liar and they never did that before. I'll be sure and tell Granny we're going to wait until I'm old enough, she'll probably guess different but she won't say anything."

"So it's back to what your granny thinks; now I know who the real boss is around there."

"You got that right, the farm is in her name, she owns it."

"Oh? That explains a lot," I said.

"Can I suck you now, it's gettin late," Tally said.

"You're tired, let's wait until morning ... OK?"

"Aw ... all right." Tally giggled. "Know how I'm gonna wake you up now."

"Sex maniac, let's go to sleep."

Tally rolled off me and snuggled up close. I pulled the sleeping bag over us both as I was sure it would cool down during the night. I rolled to face him and he turned to face the other way so I could but my arm over his chest. And the night got quiet.

"I love you, Evan."

"Love you too, Tally."

He sighed with contentment and I nuzzled his hair and kissed his neck. We were both fast asleep before the cricket's next chirp.

On to Chapter Three

Back to Chapter One

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