I awoke at first light to the chattering of birds and the soft snores Tally made lying close beside me. There was a moment of doubt, had I really committed myself to this wonderful creature? Yes, suppose I had, and I almost laughed at my ignorance.

God, I knew nothing about what I was headed into, this could very well be a complete disaster. But I was undeniably in love with Tally and it was more than just about sex. I envied his youth and mourned the loss of my own, that was part of the equation. But he was so driven to find the answers in his life and now I had become one of them.

None of this would have happened if I had just waved at the boys and kept on going down the river. I would never have felt the sheer elation as I had at that moment when he first kissed me. I would have drifted away and never discovered the joy of loving someone like him.

Tally was like a mirror, and in his eyes I saw myself as the person I was meant to be, a loving and caring young man, a gay man. That realization still overwhelmed me; I had really accepted myself, no more dodging the issue, I was gay.

The next few days would determine how well I accepted the challenge of being that gay man. Unfortunately I would be starting down that path with lies and deception, aided by Tally of course. He seemed to dance around the issues I considered so vital to our future, how could he be so confident?

I had to get us down to the ranger station by noon tomorrow. For the return trip there was no way I was going to paddle my brains out through that current with two boys in the canoe. Alone it might have been possible, but the guys at American River had this all pretty well figured out by now. Trips were usually one way and a truck ride back to base where I had left the Jeep.

A call to my parents would be in order, I wouldn't be having supper with them and that needed an explanation. Fortunately I hadn't registered for classes at the college, I was hoping they would refund the deposit or at least hold it until ... no, face it, that career was shot to hell. I was going to learn to be a farm boy.

We had some river to cover today and something I had almost forgotten about, the portage. It was only a short distance to get around the fallen remains of a railroad bridge but alone it would have been a bitch. It was time to make some breakfast and get going.

I left the comfort of the sleeping bag and pulled my pants on. Jerry was curled up and all I could see was the top of his head, I really liked the boy. This trip had been liberating for him and I hoped he would accept what Tally and I shared. I was going to make sure he stayed close enough for their friendship to continue.

I cleared off the top of the wood pile and sought some dryer pieces underneath, at least enough wood for a fire to make some breakfast. I put some water on to boil and dug out the frying pan. Granny had provided us with canned peaches and homemade bread; the dried food supply produced powdered eggs and milk. Ingredients enough to make French toast with peaches on top.

I took enough of the hot water to make my coffee and dumped four packets of hot chocolate mix in the pan before I went to wake up the boys. There was still a chill in the air so they were both snuggled down tight.

Tally came awake at my kiss; Jerry only took gentle swat on the rear.

"Come on guys, breakfast is ready," I said.

Both of them had a good case of morning wood and hurried over to water a tree while I dished up the food and drink. I urged them both back into their overalls and they huddled by the fire for warmth.

"Damn, I slept like a log," Jerry said.

"The sun beat you up pretty badly yesterday, we have a bit of cloud cover today so I don't think it will be as bad," I said.

Tally grinned through a mouthful of food, simply adorable. "What's this called?" He asked.

"French toast, the best thing I can make with powdered eggs and milk."

"Granny makes awesome pancakes," Jerry said.

"So what do we do today?" Tally asked.

"There's about thirty miles to the next shelter, we can do that easy. But then Saturday morning we'll need to make a fast eight mile run down to the ranger station to get picked up," I said.

"We don't paddle back?" Jerry asked.

"Alone I might, the three of us add too much weight unless we turned around right now. Are you ready to go home?"

"Naw, this is all kinda fun," Jerry replied. "I like doin this with you guys."

We washed up, packed up and reloaded the canoe. All of yesterday we hadn't seen another soul on the river, but it seemed things were different today.

Tally saw them first and let out a yell. "Guys ... look, what the hell?"

The contraption we watched float right on past us had to be some college boys idea of a raft, and there were three more right behind. I knew the guys from Appalachian State held some weird parties, but this looked like a floating beer-fest because beer kegs comprised the main part of their flotation device.

The guys in bathing suits yelled and waved as they went gliding by, several of them even stood up and mooned us. Oh yeah, frat boys. Tally laughed and pointed.

"I don't even think they have a way to steer those things, do you see any paddles?"

I had to laugh; it did look like they were having a lot of fun. "Damn ... about four miles and they get to the rapids; guys...those rafts won't last long."

"Rapids ... oh," Jerry said. "How we gonna get through then?"

"Tally will steer us. The guide book just shows a few zigzags and we're clear until we get to the fallen bridge, we will have to carry all this stuff around that."

"Carry ... the whole canoe?" Jerry yelled.

I knocked on the sides and it gave off a hollow thunk. "It's Kevlar, the whole thing probably doesn't weigh as much as you do. Our friends on the rafts will never make it that far. So come on, let's go watch them crash and burn."

The boys seemed excited, we were about to witness the biggest nautical disaster since the sinking of the Titanic, or so they thought. We trailed about a half mile behind the college boys and most of the time they were out of sight because the river twisted and turned. But we could hear their yells, were they really drinking this early in the morning?

The cloud cover seemed to evaporate and the sun beat down on us so I kept the canoe close to the bank and we slid in and out of the shade. Suddenly Tally dug his paddle in the water and the canoe swung out towards the middle, and then I saw the snake.

A damn black snake was hanging down off the limb of a tree and we would have slid right into him if it weren't for Tally's swift change of course. Jerry sat there stunned and let out a little squeal of fear as we passed the snake not more than four feet away.

Tally looked back at me and grinned. "Bet he was lookin for some breakfast."

"Good lookout, Tally. I think Jerry would have crapped himself if that thing had dropped in the canoe."

"Ha, who says I didn't?" Jerry said. "Just joking ... damn, he was a big 'un."

We started to hear yells from up ahead and rounded the curve to see the frat boys freakin out at the signs of rapids ahead. Seems they had some two by four planks to use as poles and were pushing off towards the middle. There were four or five guys to each raft and the first two made it, the third struck the rocks and came apart as number four glided by unharmed.

"Tally, see that middle path just to the left of that big rock, steer us towards that. After we get through that ripple them we have to hang left to miss another bunch of rocks." I was coaching him as we watched the first two rafts plow right into the second series of rapids and come to a halt on the rocks.

"They're stuck real badly now," Tally said.

"So we have to go further left to avoid them and then we'll be clear," I said. I hoped he got all that because we were closing fast on raft number four. The guys on that one had learned from the other's mistakes and they swung left and then back right, grounding themselves on a sand bar off to the side.

No one was hurt but there was a lot of laughing going on as guys clung to the beer kegs or slid off into the water. Jerry waved and Tally slid us between the first set of rocks, dug in with his paddle to swing us left and dodged the second set. Our maneuver got us a round of applause from the college boys. Tally laughed and grinned back at me.

I was beginning to realize what a smart kid he really was, he had pulled that off amazingly well. What struck me was that I wouldn't have to coddle him through the next few years, he was already capable of so much, and it would be like partners right off.

Two hours later we came to the fallen bridge which had partially dammed the river. The blockage caused the current to pull us towards the chute formed by the unfettered waters swerving around the pilings. I paddled hard on the left side and swung the head of the canoe towards the right; Tally understood and used his paddle like a rudder to keep us heading towards the bank.

There was a small pile of trees stacked to form a breakwater and we slid into calm water behind it and up against the bank. The ground rose fairly steeply on either side but someone had cut steps into the hillside to make the portage easier.

I stayed in the canoe and passed our belongings up to the boys, and then it was time to get the canoe out of the water. There was a flat ledge for just such a purpose and Tally and I managed to lift the canoe out the water quite easily. I was right; it barely weighed a hundred pounds.

With Jerry and Tally taking the front end I hoisted the rear up on my shoulder and we took the steps slowly. With a couple of stops to rest we were soon at the top of the hill and could see the old rail bed the trains once used. And then on the other side they had cut a slice in the hillside, a long slow ramp back down to the water's edge.

In all it took us less than an hour to make the transition and go on our way. We were all hot and sweaty now, looking forward to our next encampment and a cool swim in the river. But the river held some wonderful thrills as we passed between high cliff walls. Small streams plunged over the edge and sprayed water down on us passing beneath.

At one point there was quite a refreshing mist and a rainbow stretched across the river, it was so beautiful to see nature like this. The forest around us was ancient, the trees tall and graceful. I noticed even the boys seemed awed by the sight, it certainly affected me. And then we were through the cut and the high walls faded, we had glided through a mountain.

It was almost four when Tally spotted the American Rivers logo once again, and a duplicate of last night's shelter stood deep in the trees. We tied up and the boys stretched as we unloaded. We were about eight miles from the ranger station which was right up on the Virginia border, an easy run according to the guide book.

I sat with the food supply as the boys laid out the sleeping bags. Tonight I was planning to make a chicken and dumpling stew, I had all the ingredients. I bet this was not something the boys had ever eaten, this was a northern dish and the closest thing down here would be biscuits and chicken gravy.

I laid out the fire, my cooking gear and then turned to find my two little brats stark naked and engaged in a little quiet masturbation. I don't know how they got the urge, I was pooped. Tally grinned and beckoned me over.

"Wanna join us?" He asked.

"I thought you were gonna swim and cool off," I said.

"We sorta got horny first," Tally said.

"Tally said he thought you would be a good fuck cause you have such a nice ass," Jerry said. "That did it."

"Oh ... so everyone wants to fuck me now, is that it?"

Tally grinned and Jerry nodded. They were double teaming me again but strangely I was willing. Tally wanted to return the favor and I wanted us to be equal partners, Jerry on the other hand surprised me. He hadn't been willing to do it with Tally; I wondered why I made the difference?

"I suppose this has to happen now?" I asked.

"Yeah, why waste a good cum." Jerry said.

"Ok, then you first, Tally can wait for seconds."

"And thirds and fourths ... ," Tally laughed.

"Fuckin SEX MANICS," I yelled and they both broke up laughing.

I stripped off in a hurry and turned around, running towards the river and jumping off the bank. It was damn cold, refreshing and just what I needed to wake me up. A minute later I was back at the shelter and lay down on my sleeping bag.

I looked up at Jerry. "Come on, little man ... time to lose your virginity."

Jerry blushed so it had to be true. I fumbled for the bottle of lotion and squeezed some out on my fingers. I raise my legs and slapped the lotion on my ass hole. Jerry got up off the bench with a cock so hard between his legs I was afraid he'd hurt himself walking.

The boy knelt between my legs and I lubed his cock. The last cock that had been inside of me was Charlie's, damn near a year ago. But Jerry wasn't as large, this ought to be easy. I had him hold my ankles as I guided his cock to the opening between my ass cheeks.

"Push gently, you'll see how easy this is," I said.

Jerry smiled and leaned forward, making contact and then pushing into me. I actually felt a little pain as he entered and then as only a boy his age would do, Jerry slid in to the hilt. I gasped and Jerry started stroking like a boy in heat. OK, I was being pounded; this would all be over for him much too soon.

Tally sat watching, his face impassive but the amusement showed in his eyes. He'd probably known Jerry was a horn dog and would do it fast and sloppy. Jerry groaned and I knew what was coming, he began to squeal and I felt the spurts begin as his cock swelled, releasing every drop he had in those tight little balls.

Once spent, Jerry pulled out and lay down staring up at the ceiling of the shelter.

"OK ... fuckin wow, no wonder Tally likes fuckin me."

"Kinda makes jerkin off seem silly, doesn't it," Tally said.

"Yeah, but when that's all ya know it works, now I might start lookin at those heifers a while lot different."

Tally laughed. "Don't you be messin with the cows, Jerry. You'll get stomped and have a hard time explaining that to my dad."

"You wouldn't really fuck a cow ... would you?" I asked.

"Barry and Rick did," Jerry said.

"My stupid brothers," Tally explained. "The only thing they didn't fuck was each other, and that would have been the right thing to do. Rick got a whoopin so hard he couldn't sit down for a week, I never seen my daddy so mad."

"Oh great, and what is he gonna do to me when he finds out what I've done?" I asked.

"Nothin, we ain't doin anything ... are we Jerry?"

I almost burst out laughing; now I knew what had just occurred. Tally had convinced Jerry to fuck me to keep his mouth shut; the boy couldn't say anything now even if he wanted to. Of course Jerry hadn't figured that one out yet, but he would.

"Bath time, dirty cock in the house," I yelled and took off for the river once again. The boys were right behind me and the three of us plunged into the frigid water. Oops, I did forget to tell them the water was cold coming down off that mountain.

"Jeez, my nuts," Jerry yelped.

Tally laughed and fled to the river bank. I grabbed Jerry's cock and stroked it underwater to clean it off. At the same time I let myself go, cleaning out my rear in the flowing waters. We were both anxious to get out, but it did feel refreshing.

I opted for an early supper and began to cook. Jerry went and lay down while Tally kept me company.

"I suppose you'll want yours later," I asked.

"If you want, I'm not anxious about it ... I don't have to be."

"Smart boy, I'm all yours from now on," I said.

"Yeah, isn't it a great feeling. Love sure does change a man," Tally said.

I smiled. "I kinda figured you haven't felt like a boy inside for a while now. You have grown up responsibilities on the farm, and it makes you feel like a man. As for me, I never stopped being a boy because I didn't know what I was. Now we meet and things are equal, we both feel about the same inside."

"See, you do understand me, I knew it," Tally said.

"I'm dreading tomorrow night's supper, Tally. If you so much as look at me the wrong way they'll know something is up. What you had Jerry do was very clever; he won't talk about us now."

"I knew you'd figure that out, you aren't mad at me are you?" Tally asked.

"No, I understand, you did it to protect us. If your daddy hires me when would I have to start?"

"Couple of weeks, maybe sooner if you want to get in on the equipment overhaul. We have to make sure everything is in good running order," Tally said.

"I have it figured you could just about run that farm yourself if it came down to it, your daddy must really value the way you work," I said.

"He does. He'll hire you, Evan. I'll make sure of that. Just don't be mad at me if it damn near kills you at first."

"Hard work deserves a just reward, and then I'll have you," I said.

Tally giggled. "Yeah we can sleep together, but I'm afraid that's all we'll do at first."

"No, I'll save just enough energy to love you because you're worth it. I woke up this morning and felt like the luckiest man alive, I mean that. Without you this would have been a wasted trip, I never would have found what I was looking for."

Tally's eyes gleamed and that wonderful smile made me want to kiss him, so I did. There was none of the desperation he felt yesterday, Tally felt secure in what we had started. At least two of us had found something on this trip, and fortunately it was each other.

The cream of chicken soup started to boil a little so I started dropping the biscuit dough into it a spoonful at a time. The little clods floated and boiled as I slid the pot back from the fire a bit more. I opened the can of shredded chicken meat and scattered that on top of the mix.

"Where did you learn how to cook, Evan?"

"My mom mostly, I used to watch her. When I was younger she used to let me taste the ingredients as she put a meal together, it was the best thing she could have done. Now all I have to do is think of how things taste and put the ingredients together. My mind sorta figures out what the final flavor will be."

"Hmm, makes sense," Tally said. "I used to think about guys like that. They come in all sizes and shapes so I tried to imagine what my perfect guy would look like, how I wanted him to act and how smart he should be. I finally put together the right combination of what I wanted."

"And what did you decide?" I asked.

"That's a silly question, you of course."

"Tally, you are the sweetest person I ever met. I'll never grow tired of loving you."

"Better not, I'll send Granny after you."

I mocked horror. "Oh no, not Granny."

We both laughed even though I held a little doubt in reserve. Granny was an unknown to me, the x factor in all this. But Tally seemed to know what he was doing, I had to trust him.

Supper was ready and the sun hadn't even set quite yet. Tally rousted Jerry who was napping. We ate it all, even though the boys thought the dumplings were strange. I gave them a bag of cookies for dessert and we watched the sunset behind the trees.

There was something magical about the forest at twilight. The sudden silence as the daytime life around us became silent and the night creatures took over. Fireflies floated in the trees and down along the river bank.

"Tally has heard about my friend Stan, but you haven't Jerry."

"Oh no, this isn't another bear story is it?" Jerry asked.

I laughed. "No, that only works once, next time you can do it to someone for the laugh ... just be prepared to get punched."

"I'm still sorry I did that."

"If I ever meet a bear I don't like I know who to call, OK?" I said.

"Sure ... then who's Stan?"

"We started in school together, he was my best friend, still is. But we were always goin places together and sometimes we got the craziest ideas. Seeing all those fireflies reminds me of something we did."

"Did you get in trouble?" Tally asked.

"Almost. It was one Saturday night, just about this time of year when the fireflies were out. We were going to the movies and my mom was going to drive us there even though it was only a mile or so from my house. I talked her into letting us walk and she agreed, but only if we stayed out of the cemetery which was behind the movie theatre."

"Oh, spooky, I hate cemeteries," Jerry said.

"Yeah, but it was the shortcut across to the main part of town. Stan and I always walked that way in daytime, but it was just getting dark so we hesitated. There was a creek through the place and Stan used to go there with me when I caught frogs, of course he wouldn't dare touch a frog."

"Why not, frogs are harmless?" Jerry said.

"Of course they are, but Stan was a little ... uh, sensitive about such things. I told Tally, Stan is gay and finally told me that when we were sixteen. But here we were at age twelve and I didn't know about that, I just thought it was silly.

"Anyway, I had this old Mason jar hidden away down in the cemetery for catching frogs and that night on the way to the movies we saw all these fireflies along the path. Stan said they were pretty ... I probably should have known he was gay by the way he talked about things.

"So I decided to catch some fireflies and put them in my jar to take home. We had a half hour before the movie and so Stan helped me catch a bunch of the fireflies, maybe a hundred. It was pretty easy and they looked so cool in the jar. I decided we had enough and I didn't want to miss the beginning of the film."

"What was the movie?" Jerry asked.

I smiled. "A horror film, I loved the way Stan screamed at every little thing. Some of those movies were so bad it was almost better just watching him. I think this was one of those Jason films, I don't really remember. But we went in and I hid the jar under my jacket.

"The film started, Stan screamed occasionally and I laughed, it was all great fun. But I started thinking about the fireflies and wondered if they would suffocate in the jar. I decided the best thing to do was unscrew the lid and allow some air into it; I didn't want them to die.

"So I did that and set the jar down on the floor between my seat and Stan's. I must have made the lid a little too loose because one of those guys crawled out. And right in the middle of a quiet spooky scene the damn thing flew up in front of Stan's face and lit up."

"Uh oh," Tally said and he started laughing.

"Yeah, of course Stan freaked and screamed, the only scream in the theatre. He jumped and I heard the jar hit the floor and start rolling down under the seats towards the front. The lid had come off completely and the fireflies started escaping. Within a few minutes there were little flashing lights all over the place.

"By now Stan knew what had happened and he was embarrassed enough that he wanted to leave, and then a girl screamed ... and then another. Pretty soon the whole place was freaked out by the little glowing lights floating around. Ushers came down the aisle with their flashlights and that spooked some of the kids in the theatre, especially the ones makin out or drinking beer.

"Suddenly the overhead lights came on and I knew we had to get out of there. A lot of people thought the same thing and I bet that theatre emptied in about five minutes. It made the newspaper the following day and my mom asked me what had happened. I denied knowing anything, but I think she knew I was lying.

"Did you ever get caught?" Jerry asked.

"Hell no, fireflies can't talk," I laughed. "Stan never told on me."

"You know all kinds of cool stories," Tally said.

I smiled. "I'm gonna tell some new ones soon." I blew him a kiss and he smiled.

I washed out the dinner dishes and threw another log on the fire. It was only about seven when Jerry started yawning. It had been a tiring two days; I could sleep this early ... if Tally let me. I doused the fire and we crawled into the shelter.

I gave Tally a kiss. "Be right back," I said, and then I rolled over to Jerry and wrapped my arms around him. "Did you have fun today?" I asked.

"Oh yeah ... thanks for ... you know."

"Yeah, that's always fun, I hope you learned something from it," I said.

Jerry turned his head and kissed me. "I'm not gay you know," he whispered so Tally couldn't hear.

"Yeah, I know," I whispered back. "You're just a fun kid and that makes me like you a lot."

"Yeah, I see what Tally loves about you; you're such a great guy," Jerry said.

"You're very sweet, Jerry. I don't want you to stop being friends with me; I know Tally wouldn't want that either."

Jerry nodded. "What we did ... I just don't think that's what I want to do anymore."

"No, I understand. You have a whole school full of young ladies to work on, and the best part is now you know how it all works."

"It's not really the same is it?" Jerry asked.

"Close enough, you'll have fun discovering the difference. Just slow down, don't be in such a hurry to find out, OK?" I said.

Jerry yawned. "OK ... thanks Evan. It was fun."

"You're welcome." I squeezed him tight and heard him sigh. He was an affection junkie and that would keep us close. I allowed him to slip from my arms and I began to rub his back. Two minutes of that and he was out for the count.

Tally was waiting and he covered me with the sleeping bag he had been holding open.

"Is he OK?" Tally asked.

"Yes, but I think he's gone over to the straight side now, we probably ought to back off the games. It will take him a few years to develop girl skills but he needs to learn about that, he'll have a great time."

"Cool, he's still my best friend, but then so are you," Tally said.

"Friends and lovers ... couldn't get any better than that," I replied.

Tally slid into my arms and we kissed. His cock pressed against my thigh and he was hard as stone, he would not be denied tonight.

"You want it I'm your man," I said.

"Oh yeah."

I found the lotion and lubed my butt hole for him, but rather then lay on my back I rolled on my side and pulled a leg up. Tally scooted closer and pressed up against my back. His cock must have had radar because he was right on target.

I reached back and put my hand in the small of his back; he slid an arm around my chest and pulled himself into me. I felt his cock slide in, gently and slowly ... he wanted to savor the moment. I felt his lips on my shoulder and turned my head to kiss him, and then he was fully in me.

"God, this is so much nicer than doin it with a boy," Tally whispered.

He began a slow steady rhythm and I moaned in appreciation of his action. He felt so big inside me, so hard and wonderful. Slowly he picked up the pace and moved his body up on my side to gain better access. The position was good for a slow fuck but I knew he would soon feel like he needed to be tighter, closer. I slowly rolled on my stomach and Tally followed me over until he lay on top.

I could feel his stabs driving in deeper and felt him rise up off me arching his back. His thrusts became more certain, harder, more insistent. Little moans and groans escaped his lips and he started to pump away as hard as he could. The climax was too soon, I felt his body shudder and he let out a long slow groan.

His cock seemed to swell as he drove in deep and held it there, then I felt the spurts inside my gut, Tally shuddered and he was done. Slowly he lowered himself onto my back and lay there gasping. I could feel his heart pounding and that gave me a great thrill, I had pleased my lover.

Tally didn't move and I enjoyed feeling of his cock embedded in me but knew it couldn't last. He managed to stay hard for a good five minutes before the rush wore off and he slid out. I groaned at his exit, it left me with such an empty feeling.

The best part of this was that now we knew either of us could satisfy the other, it completed the partnership. I felt Tally scoot up and kiss my ear and neck so I rolled over. The kissing was beyond passionate, it left us awash in desire and secure in what we shared.

"God, I love you so much Evan ... that was incredible," Tally said.

"You could do that a million times and I'd never get enough," I said

"I loved what we did yesterday too. I'm not sore back there either, that surprised me."

"You were relaxed; can I have you for breakfast?" I asked.

"Oh God yes, I need it before we go home. I won't see you for a while, will I?"

"A few days Tally, we can survive that."

"I want to sleep with your arms around me every night," Tally sighed. "This love thing sure does give me powerful feelings."

I ran my fingers through his hair and brushed my hand across his cheek. "Love never felt like this to me before," I admitted. "Maybe I was just lookin for you."

Tally was silent for a minute and I thought he'd fallen asleep, but then I saw his eyes were open, he was staring at me.

"I know you thought I was just some little kid yesterday, but I don't feel like one any more. I started having these feelings a few years back and if we had met then I know you wouldn't have loved me. I hope you don't ever feel bad about my age, Evan. I just can't grow up any faster."

I put my fingers to his lips. "Shh, don't worry. I get to watch you grow; I want to be there when you do. A few years back I wasn't looking for a guy, it was all so confusing to me. Now I understand myself and we can grow up gay together."

I sighed and kissed his face. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Mr. Winslow."

Tally giggled. "Do you think we'll end up married?"

"In this state? That will never happen ... why, do you want to marry me?"

"I just want to do whatever makes us closer ... forever."

"Ahh, you're so sweet. You worry about runnin the farm and I'll worry about keeping us together, nothing is ever going to take me away from you." And I sure hoped that was true.

Tally closed his eyes and pressed his face against my chest, he was asleep within minutes. Tomorrow would tell the tale; I would get a glimpse of his whole family together. I didn't doubt his word; he probably did have a great influence on the way his daddy thought.

My simple life was shot all to hell, I would become a farmer. Stan would be incredulous, but I had to tell him the reasons for this move. How could I tell my best friends I was in love with a fourteen year old boy? It sounded so unreasonable like that, the reality was so different.

Then I knew, I would let him meet Tally first and form his own opinion of the boy. Tally had sold himself to me the minute he damn near dropped in the canoe. Thinking back on it, the little brat had started to work on me the second I said hello.

I had always been confident in my abilities to learn, to adapt to different situations, Tally made me look like a novice. He had decided I was the one and that was that. God, I am so lucky to have found him. I now had a purpose in life and it all centered on him.

I listened to his soft breathing and felt a wave of emotion overtake me. I would need to remember these quiet moments of love over the next few months. It might be all I had to sustain me through the hardship, but I knew Tally would be there to help me through the pain.

Working on a farm would make my dad's spiritual journey on the Appalachian Trail seem like a piece of cake; maybe he would understand it that way. My father would be the first real obstacle to overcome, I had to succeed with him or die trying. The stakes were too high, I couldn't live without Tally. And the thought occurred, maybe I didn't want to.

On to Chapter Four

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