For much of the week, after that afternoon of fishing, I spent time with Granny. Canning fresh vegetables was a science, worthy of any sterile laboratory in a major hospital. All I had to do was touch something wrong and Granny would give me a look, I soon knew what the word clean meant.

Touch your nose, wash your hands, touch that and wash again, she wasn't kidding either. I understood why, everything had the potential to get spoiled by bacteria and thus was boiled or at least scalded, and that included me. Touching a jar at the wrong time produces blisters, I had a few.

But the scale was staggering, some six hundred jars of goodies went in the pantry, you could hardly move around in there. The tomatoes still seemed bright in their containers, they would look the same eight months from now if Granny had her way ... and she did.

The canning gave me ideas, recipe thoughts that we discussed as we worked. If we combined this with that and made a sauce, what would it taste like? The variety was almost endless, after all look what the Mexicans did with only seven ingredients, they created a cuisine.

Granny played the game with me, and then when I was sure she was tired I began to ask questions about Jessie and the farm.

"I told you he was a preacher before we started farming, the soil was his idea of heaven," Granny said. "I know he used to walk the fields and talk straight up to God about the crops." Then she laughed. "I also know he didn't always get the response he wanted. He blamed hisself of course, said he was vain in the eyes of the Lord for questioning the rains, or lack of."

"I think Reverend Layne understands the relationship between God and a farmer," I said.

Granny smiled. "And here I thought you were daydreaming during the sermons, good for you."

I blushed, or maybe it was the heat off the boiling water. "I do daydream, but a lot of it has to do with the same things he talks about."

"What do you dream about, Evan?"

"A lot of things, mostly the future ... and of course Tally."

"You see him there I'm sure."

"Yes ... And what do you dream about Granny?" I asked.

She sighed. "Jessie of course and how proud he would have been of the way this family has kept his dreams alive. I think he wanted something better for Tally, that boy has brains."

"Will he hate me if I push him on his school work?" I asked.

Granny smiled. "No, I don't think you could do anything to upset him. He may resist until he sees the wisdom of your thinking, you ever teach anyone before?"

"No, I just hoped having gone through it would do the trick," I replied.

"Teacher has to have more patience than his students; you have to allow for mistakes. I think his English suffers most, and that's probably our fault. Country ways don't always make a good example for the boy."

"Speaking and writing are different forms of thought. If he learns grammar and spelling he won't fail," I said.

"Then you work on him about those things, he'll make us all proud, you'll see."

Tally went with his dad to the Motor Vehicle office and came back with a learner's permit, now we could legally teach him to drive. I knew the thought of independence was the lure for most boys, Tally would be no different. So after four days of sweating over a boiling pot of water I took Tally out for a driving lesson in my Jeep.

We went through town and down to the highway, Route 40 in this neck of the woods. People drove fast through here, the speed limit didn't mean much but I had Tally stay under the limit. Some honked at him doing fifty-five in the right lane and he cringed every time.

"Why do we have to go so slow?" Tally asked.

"Speed limit ... and that," I said, pointing at the State trooper who had a car pulled over. "I imagine they make a lot of money from speeders, do it too many times and you lose your license."

"You ever get a ticket?" Tally asked.

"Yes, and I was speeding too, thirty-two in a twenty-five mile an hour zone, I was pissed. Ticket cost me a sixty dollar driving class to get the points taken away."

"OK. I get it ... no speeding," Tally said.

"If you drive as well as you do most things there won't be any problems," I said.

"Cool ... you're a good teacher."

We were home two hours later, I would let Tally drive us into Asheville on Saturday ... I planned to call it a date. I wanted to take him to dinner and a movie, but since it would be after dark when we drove home I would have to be behind the wheel.

Tally would take the driving class at school in October; they had already sent him the notice. The school would then sign off on his ability and Tally could upgrade to a provisional license. It didn't mean much, there were still a ton of restrictions, but he would enjoy the status amongst his peers.

I hadn't pressed Tally on a whole range of issues, one of them being friends. Outside of Jerry he'd never dropped a hint about friendships and that was a bit curious. But I had to know, it was all a part of making sure he succeeded.

We were out on the back porch shucking corn for dinner, more of that delicious white kernel variety.

"Tally do you have friends at school?" I asked.

"Sure I see Jerry all the time," He said.

"And ... there must be others?"

"A few, not so close though. There's Pete and Tim, they're pretty cool."

"But you haven't seen them all summer; do they live close by here?" I asked.

"Nope, other side of town ... they aren't farm boys."

And there stood the difference. I imagine the social barriers between the farm and city kids were pretty big. I was sure Tally didn't chase girls at school, but he would never chase after a boy. I wondered if they made him feel uncomfortable.

"Any cute boys at your school?"

He laughed. "You mean that I look at? No way, Jose. I sit with the farm boys in the cafeteria, keeps me out of trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" I asked.

"Fights and stuff, we get called names, OK? I don't have to like it but no one is stupid enough to pick on a bunch if us together. They don't dress like us, they think they're better and all that shit."

"So they pick on you, any big problems ... bullies?"

Tally laughed again. "They don't last long at my school, too many farm boys. Last year this kid Steve picked on Dale ... he's Darryl's boy. Anyways, he punched Dale while he was in the boy's bathroom and we stomped him for it. Steve is at the Baptist school now. Now you'll understand why I wear boots to school, we all do."

I had never considered Tally might be the bully, but what he said made sense, at least in their terms. "Frontier justice, huh ... that's still pretty harsh," I said. "Did you get in trouble?"

"No trouble, nothin happened ... nobody saw a thing."

"High school might be a little different. Jocks usually rule the roost," I said.

Tally smiled. "Exactly, and most of them are farm boys."

Lord, these kids had their own control over events ... frontier justice all the way. I suppose for eight hours a day the farm boys took care of themselves, that explained the barriers to friendships ... the other kids were afraid of them. So how did they date, or did they?

"If you do all this to keep the other kids away from you how do the farm boys get girlfriends?" I asked.

"They wait until they can drive. That udder balm is good jack off lube, we all know that."

I laughed. "Have you used it?"

"Hell yeah ... don't need to any more. You wonder when I say I'm lucky?"

"No Tally, we both are."

I pondered Tally's words, it explained a few things. Both Rick and Barry often drove off on Friday or Saturday night, coming home late but still getting up for work in the morning. They had to be going somewhere, a girl's house probably. I wasn't about to ask, not sure I even wanted to know.

But Tally wouldn't go dating and that would be noticed eventually, if not here then at school. It was a problem we would have to solve together. I had my own concerns about what the family might ask me, but not Granny of course.

Saturday came and we finished up our chores and took a shower. I had promised to take Tally shopping, and that was my story. Even said we might take in a movie and have a bite to eat, but Jim just nodded and asked if we needed any money.

I had asked him not to pay me until the harvest was over; I wanted to be treated like the seasonal workers. My work would contribute to the profits of the farm or cause a loss, I wanted to be judged on that basis and Jim had agreed. I said Tally was payin and Jim laughed, knowing that birthday money was burning a hole in Tally's pocket.

I had money in the bank and an ATM card to get at it. The Jeep had gas and we set off, dressed up real nice for our date. I let him drive and tried not to distract him with too much talk. He did very well until he almost side swiped a car as we pulled into the parking lot downtown. OK, Jeeps drive a bit funny and turn on a dime; he would have to learn that.

It was three o'clock. I figured a four o'clock movie, some adventure shoot em up thing he wanted to see. A fine dinner at Olivetti's around six and then maybe an hour's worth of necking up off Glenn Road.

We walked through Meyers and then Kimble's, but Tally didn't see anything special to buy me, I didn't want his money spent on me anyway. But we made it to the film on time and sat through a hundred minutes of car chases and bullets flying. Tally loved it and so did I, mainly because he held my hand through the entire movie. We had to wait fifteen minutes for a table at Olivetti's.

But it gave Tally a chance to look around the restaurant and he asked the same thing Granny had.

"Is this the kind of restaurant you want?"

I explained about the franchise and the specialty menu I wanted, and then he said something that made my heart leap. "We could do that." He said.

The fact that Tally had bought into my desires and wanted to do this with me was my own dream come true. I would do anything to get into something with him, something that would bond us and make our love so real. This would take years, but now was the time to think about it.

He was a perfect gentleman at the table and I wondered who had taught him, I had been taught by a judge and didn't care to address those lessons. Turns out Granny had learned proper manners as a preacher's wife and passed it along to her grandchildren. Tally liked the lasagna I chose for him and ate every bit if it, but he was full and politely refused dessert.

The nature of our evening wasn't lost on Tally, this was his first date. The eyes enticed me; they were filled with humor and a lot more love. I could stare at him for hours, but that always made him think he had something on his face. It was adorable, I was enraptured.

I drove the highway out towards Glenn Road and suddenly decided that was not the place to take a boy; I wanted Tally all to myself. Just over an hour later we pulled off the highway and headed for home. Tally was in a dreamy mood, his hand on my leg and his thoughts drifting back to the first time we met.

"I just saw this canoe at first and then you looked down at me. Jeez you were so cute smiling at me."

"Oh, I was cute. What happened to change your mind?" I teased.

He giggled and my heart flopped, he could always twist me around his little finger with a giggle. I entered Winslow territory and slowed down, looking for the pasture entrance we'd first used.

"Can we stop and kiss a while?" I asked.

"Yes ... I was waiting for you to ask," Tally said.

I turned onto the lane and shut off my lights, but since there was no light in the sky and nothing to hit in the road ahead I went slowly. We crested the hill and looked down at the house all lit up below us, even that seemed romantic. I pulled in next to the fence and off the track, shutting down the engine and removing my seat belt.

Tally came into my arms and I kissed him, long and slow, with passion. It went on and on until we came up for air. His face was soft and warm under my fingertips as I stroked him gently. My thoughts directed me to make passionate love to him here and now, but I didn't want to spoil the quiet mood we were in.

His hands roamed my body and yet he didn't push for anything. Maybe sex wasn't necessary this evening, romance alone felt so good, so I kissed him again ... .and again. It was what we needed ... it was enough. Tally was such a romantic creature, so tender and ... headlights?

The lights of a pickup truck swept across the field just missing us as it drove on down the hill; it was Rick's truck for sure.

"Did he see us?" I asked.

"I don't think so, it's real dark," Tally replied.

The pickup came to a stop facing downhill and the lights went out.

"He'll see us when he leaves," I said. "Is he alone?"

"I couldn't see, wanna sneak up on him?"

"No Tally, that would start things again and your dad will get pissed. If he's alone then maybe he just stopped to jerk off or something."

Tally laughed. "Think he had a bad date?"

"I'm not interested in his love life, just yours," I said.

"Hmm, so how do we get out of here without him seeing us?" Tally asked.

I reached down and slid the gear box into four wheel drive, engaging the front axle. It would move us real slow and I wouldn't need to use the brakes. One tap on the brakes and the darkness would light up; Rick would see us for sure.

"Sorry, Tally, but we better continue this make out session in bed."

He giggled. "Works for me."

I started the Jeep and felt the low gears engage as I rolled forward; it was like driving a tractor. All I did was keep a light foot on the gas pedal and we followed the fence until we were back on the track, but I didn't ease off until we approached the road, then instead of stopping I turned left away from the house.

I disengaged the front axle, turned on my lights and drove about a half mile before turning around to return to the house, we couldn't even see Rick's truck up in the field. Tally looked back as we pulled in the driveway.

"I bet he is jerkin off up there, sure can't do it at home with Barry in the room."

"So how did you end up with your own room in the first place?" I asked.

"I was Granny's sewing room, she gave it to me and no one argues with her."

I smiled, Granny again. I would not have been surprised to find out she had interceded with the Lord to bring me into Tally's life.

The family was spread out around the house when we walked in. Tally went to use the bathroom and I found Granny reading a magazine that the kitchen table.

"You boys have a good time?" She asked.

"Sure did," I replied.

"Your mother called, I didn't tell her you were in town, doubt you would have stopped by there anyway. Said I would have you call her back ... Oh, and I invited them to supper tomorrow, hope you don't mind. Guess you better give them directions."

I gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Don't mind at all, you want me to cook?"

"No dear, you just spend some time with your parents, I'll make something simple," Granny said. But I knew she wouldn't. OK, time to call my mother back.

"Hi Mom, you called?"

"Hello Evan, guess we'll be seeing you tomorrow, did Mrs. Winslow tell you?"

"She did, looking forward to the visit. Did you need something?" I asked.

"Oh, I called because you got a letter from those folks at the school in Florida, it feels like a check."

Sweet, they had refunded the deposit. "Bring it along, Mom. I'll sign it and you can put it in your account."

"Fine ... now how do we find you?"

And so I proceeded to give her directions, it was fairly simple.

"Good Night, Mom ... see you tomorrow."

"Good Night, Evan."

And that was it, tomorrow the judge would be here, I was sure he would want to get a feel for the place, hope he brought some boots. I would let Jim give him a tour, the proud farmer showing off his work, my dad would respect that.

I told Tally what was up and he grinned. "Checking up on you are they?"

"Probably, but Granny started it. Why is your family so interested in meeting my parents?"

"The judge, now there's an important guy, he deserves respect," Tally said.

I laughed. "He's just my father, that's who I respect, the black robe means nothing."

"I respect my dad too, you see how good he treats me," Tally said.

"Yes, and you earn that respect from him every day. He loves you very much," I said.

Tally looked at the door to the room which was standing open. "I just hope nothing changes when he finds out ... "

I understood, I had the same fears. I knew my father wouldn't hate me for being gay, what he would dislike was my relationship with Tally. I knew what the law said, I didn't care ... but he had to. Keeping this quiet until Tally turned eighteen seemed like a giant task, but I was willing to try, I had to try, there was too much to lose.

My father would simply ask me to stop seeing Tally; he might even counsel that I wait until we could have an adult relationship. If I said no then he would turn his back on me and refuse to recognize what I shared with Tally, he had to. The other side of that coin was to have me locked up.

If Jim found out ... no, when Jim found out, for surely he would if we made it to Tally's eighteenth birthday and he moved out with me. But we had been so careful this past month; we couldn't let our guard down. Jim would be disappointed in me and might understand this was all a part of his son's wishes, but he couldn't let it stand either. I would have to leave.

Tally and I finished our make out session in bed, nothing like a dose of sugar before bedtime. But the heavy meal and the long day behind took us both off to sleep fairly soon. Into the quiet night, we slept, oblivious to Rick stumbling into the room and falling on my bed dead drunk.

I awoke to snores barely minutes before the alarm went off. Snores? I turned my head and saw Rick in my bed passed out in his clothes. The image solidified in my head and I sat up. What was Rick doing in here ... worse, what had he seen?

The covers were in place, the air conditioning required that, but Tally and I were naked ... what did Rick know. I reached for the floor and snagged my boxers, sliding them up my legs until I was decent. Then I smelled it, there was beer on Rick's breath ... he had been drinking.

I blew in Tally's ear and placed my hand across his mouth. His eyes opened and I put my finger to my lips.

"Shh," I whispered. "Rick is in my bed, he's been drinking."

Tally's eyes got wide and he sat up, looking past me to his brother. Rick's snores continued, he was passed out.

"What the hell?" Tally whispered back. "Is he drunk?"

I nodded as Tally reached for the alarm and shut it off with seconds to spare. He too donned his shorts and we sat looking at Rick.

"I don't know what he saw when he came in here." I said.

"I think he saw an empty mattress and that's all. Now what do we do?"

"Let's get dressed for work before the others," I said. "Only one thing, I'm supposed to be in that bed not him."

"Yeah, and they'll wonder where you slept last night."

I smiled as a thought occurred to me. "What if I say I slept with you because Rick came into bed with me?"

"Oh shit, God he's never gonna live this down," Tally said.

"Then maybe we should help him before the others find out," I suggested.

"Help him ... but why?"

"To end all this game playing, he'll be on our side if we save his ass."

"You really want to ... Jeez, yes you do," Tally said. "I suppose love thy neighbor includes stupid brothers, OK."

We each took one of Rick's arms and pulled him up, dragging him off my bed in the process. The hall was still quiet as we dragged him into the bathroom and placed him in the tub.

"I'll do this, you just keep the others away, they can use the downstairs bathroom if they need to," Tally said, and then he grinned. "A cold shower do you think, Mr. Holmes?"

I smiled. "Ideal I think, Mr. Watson. Carry on." And I left the bathroom, shutting the door.

Jim and Brad were up and I pointed to the bathroom, holding my nose. "Tally, I wouldn't go in there." Jim hitched up his overalls and they went downstairs. Barry was only a minute behind. I heard the water come on in the shower head.

"You seen Rick?" He asked.

"Can we talk?" I said, pulling him towards the bedroom door. "Look, what's with Rick lately? You know him better than anyone."

"Why ... what did he say?" Barry asked.

"No games, is he upset about something?"

"Yeah ... sorta, girl problems ... why?"

"He came in dead drunk last night, nobody knows yet. Tally has him in the bathtub sobering up. He's out of it, pushed me out of bed last night and crashed."

"Oh God, Dad will kill him," Barry said.

"Unless he doesn't find out, we need to cover for him. What are you guys supposed to do this morning?" I asked.

"Uh, fix the gate in the north pasture, the tools are in the truck," Barry said. "It's a one hour job ... Lord, and then we have church. He can't miss that two weeks running.

"So we throw him in the back and you drive him out there, keep him away from your dad until later on."

"I don't know ... is he sick?" Barry asked.

"Not yet, that's your job. Make him work and he'll get sick enough," I said.

We went in the bathroom and Rick was sputtering under the spray, still not sure what was going on. His clothes were soaked as Barry and I lifted him up.

"Where you taking him?" Tally asked.

"To work, before Dad finds out," Barry said.

We dragged him down the stairs and I don't think his feet even touched the floor, Tally wiped up the water behind us. Out to the truck were Barry laid him out in the bed. One look told me it wouldn't be long before he got sick, and then Barry drove off.

"Barry says he's got girl problems, guess he was drinking up there in the field last night," I said.

"Too bad ... hey, we have some chores to do," Tally said. I knew this wasn't over; it would all start up again later.

The cows and chickens done, Tally and I helped Granny out a bit, dinner was at three, but there would be little time after church. Barry and Rick were back in time to change into good clothes, but Rick still looked like hell. On second glance, Barry didn't look much better, I wondered what had happened?

We were all dressed and drove off to the church, I wanted to talk with Barry and see what he knew. I figured that Rick must have told him something as they worked. It wasn't until the cars were parked and the ladies had gone inside. When Tally went off to find Jerry, I cornered Barry.

"OK, I guess Rick survived the morning, he owes us a favor," I said. "But you sure look like hell, what gives?"

"I ... I can't ... oh hell, I can't keep this to myself, just promise not to tell anyone." I nodded and Barry sighed. "Rick's girlfriend Marlene is probably pregnant."

"Oh God ... your dad is gonna hit the ceiling," I said.

"And I warned Rick ... he just wouldn't listen," Barry said.

"No condoms?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, he always used condoms ... well, except once, Rick was drunk that time. I think Marlene did it on purpose to get back at her momma."

"Oh, now there's a fine reason to get pregnant, is she crazy?" I asked.

Barry tried a smile. "Yeah, she goes out with Rick."

"How long can we keep this quiet?" I asked.

"Dunno, a few weeks maybe. She has a doctor's appointment next week Rick said, we'll know then. Her time of the month is two weeks overdue ... maybe she isn't," Barry said.

"And if she is? What will Rick do?"

"Marry her ... Dad will insist," Barry said.

"So Marlene gets her way, poor Rick," I said.

Church was about to start as we took our seats and Tally gave me a quizzical look as Barry and I walked in together, I just smiled in return.

"In the eyes of the Lord there is no sin without intent; most sin is a result of our own carelessness," The Reverend began. I almost slid out of my seat in shock.

"If your mind is filled with self indulgent thoughts of malice, greed or lust, then you are already a sinner. The Lord over all beings knows we are weak; he said so many times in the gospels and forgave those who sought true redemption. But we need to pay attention in our lives; temptations surround us, and the devil lurks in the dark corners of the mind."

What was with this guy ... was he a mind reader? Rick must feel bad enough, but to sit through this? I didn't dare look down the row, but I knew Rick wished he had a rock to crawl under about now.

The stories of girls becoming pregnant to get away from their parents ran rampant when I was in school. Some did it to get even with their moms, I'd heard that before. Others did it so they could have a baby; maybe thinking then they would have a friend or something cute to show everyone. It made me glad I had never ... well, there had been an almost.

Mary Anne Lambert, I was in eighth grade ... she tried to rape me. It was in the 'deny at all costs' file in my head, what boy wants to admit a girl got the best of him? Not any boy that knew Mary Anne, there were those that simply drooled at the mention of her name.

I was fourteen; she was two years older, the older sister of a classmate. I had no idea she wanted anything from me, I had never had any feelings about her. That was back in my Stan days, he was the only thing I knew about sex. And then I went to Eddie Lambert's birthday party.

It was hamburgers and hot dogs, cake and ice cream, games and videos ... a full day of fun, until Mary Anne quietly asked me to help her get some ice from the freezer in the basement. I was a dumb kid; there was nothing to warn me of anything so I went with her.

I leaned over the open chest of the freezer and her hand slid down under my un-belted shorts and she grasped my balls. I froze colder than the bag of ice I was holding. While I still held the bag she gave me gentle squeeze and proceeded to unsnap my shorts. I dropped the bag of ice and went for my falling shorts and she squeezed again, a little harder this time. I squeaked in fear and she said nothing.

With the shorts around my ankles I was hobbled and she pushed me down on the carpet, her hand never leaving my balls. In my helpless state, real or perceived, I could do nothing. Her other hand swept off my boxers and grasped my cock, my very scared soft cock. No amount of stroking would get me hard, or so I thought, her mouth was a different matter.

I wished Mrs. Lambert to come down the stairs and stop all this, but sixteen kids upstairs was only background music for the drama playing out below their feet. And Mary Anne went down on my cock. As blow jobs go I only had Stan for comparison, Hoover Stanley of the gay school of vacuuming cock. Mary Anne was a total amateur.

But I rose to the occasion, a purely physical reaction. Once erection was achieved, Mary Anne pulled up her skirt and sans underwear she tried to sit on my cock. Penetration was her objective; I was in abort mode and lost my erection. She tried several times to get me inside her, but it just wasn't going to happen.

In frustration she got up and ran up the stairs, leaving me lying alone on the floor. I pulled up my shorts and walked out the basement door, I was home ten minutes later. I let my friendship with Eddie languish and die, I couldn't go back in that house again.

By her junior year Mary Anne was pregnant and dropped out of school. The rumors flew and she left town, moving in with her aunt in Charlotte, or so I heard. All I could think of was that party and ... What if? What if she had managed to fuck me? I had no condom and was shooting gobs of cum by then, what if I had made her pregnant that day?

I had never told anyone, not even Stan, my closest friend. I was ashamed that a pretty girl had tried to force me into sex. If she had asked me, if she had taken the slightest amount of time to work on seducing me I would have done it. It had been on my 'to do' list back then and pretty close to the top. Having sex with a girl was something I thought needed to happen at some point in life. An experience with her would have been cool to a fourteen year old, she just went about it the wrong way.

So I had empathy for Rick. But just because I'd never been laid by a girl I still knew how desperate they could get. I bet Rick didn't need to be raped to find out how sweet sex was, he was hot all the time, or so it seemed. I had not wanted to get close to any of the brothers simply because I sensed a threat there. If they found out about Tally and me I didn't think their reactions would be thoughtful, just very physical.

"My friends, we live in a world blessed by the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. His promise is that if we hold true to our faith in God then we will rise up and join him in the everlasting peace of heaven. Just imagine what heaven means in your heart.

"To some of you it will look like gentle fields of wheat that you won't have to harvest or corn so high that each stalk has forty ears. For heaven is different in every mind and yet the promise of that glory is the same to each of us. Now let me hear your voices raised in praise, stand and sing with me."

And the Reverend began to sing. "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound ... " And everyone stood to join in, some louder than others. My voice joined with Tally's, our baritone range blended, so soft and sweet. I looked over at him with a smile and he looked up into my eyes and grinned. We had never sung together, maybe we'd just never found the right song to share.

And when the two verses ended the Reverend smiled. "God bless you all, and have a good week. Amen."

"Amen," came the response. I liked this guy; he was always on the money with his sermons, what little I heard. He shook my hand as we left the church and smiled.

"Good to see you, Evan," He said.

"Thank you, Reverend, loved the sermon," I replied, promising myself that next Sunday I would listen to it all.

OK, now off to the house, the judge was coming. At least I knew that was foremost in everyone's mind, except maybe Rick. Granny started frying chicken and shooed Tally and I from her kitchen. This was her performance, she reckoned to take full credit or blame, but I knew it would be wonderful.

With three hours to kill Tally wanted a swim, I would never resist the chance to see him naked ... and who knows? But as we started for the river I saw Rick slide into the barn alone.

"Tally, you go on, I'll be right there," I said.

Tally had seen his brother so he knew where I was headed and he nodded. "Yeah, maybe you can talk some sense into him before Dad finds out."

Rick was laid out in the corner on some bales, his eyes staring vacantly into nothing.

"Rick ... can we talk?" I asked.

He sat up and nodded, so I grabbed a seat beside him. "I'm sorry about last night; I was out of my head ... "He began, and then he paused.

I couldn't say anything, I had promised. If we were to discuss the issue the revelation would have to come from his mouth, and it finally did.

"I'm sorry, I've never been that drunk before ... it was just ... " And he sobbed.

"Rick, tell me ... what is it?" I asked.

He started to cry and I reached out for him, pulling him into my arms. His sobbing left no doubt, this was the worst moment in his life and all he had was me. It wasn't like holding Tally; Rick was bigger and stronger than I was, just not at this moment. I let him cry even though I knew it would not ease the pain.

Rick was faced with the dread of the unknown, all because he'd given into temptation. I couldn't preach to him like the Reverend might, which would be unfair. No, Rick was scared. Scared of her being pregnant, telling his dad and what the aftermath might be of that discussion. Marriage at eighteen wasn't something Rick had even considered ... until now.

"I got drunk because ... " He sobbed. "Because I got a girl pregnant."

I hugged him, knowing nothing I could say would matter. "I'm sorry ... are you sure?"

He hesitated, the crying abated and he wiped his face. "We think so; she missed her period two weeks ago."

"But she hasn't been tested? You won't know for sure until she gets the test."

"She sees the doc next week," Rick said.

"You could find out tonight if you get a test kit at the drugstore," I said.

"Serious? You can?"

"Yeah, all she has to do is pee on this tester and you wait for the color to change. The box has instructions, it's pretty accurate."

"Wow, I had no idea ... she might not be," Rick said.

"But she might, Rick. Do you love her?" I asked.

"I ... I'm pretty sure I do. Dad will make us get married if she is. Don't think I'm ready for that."

"Do you trust your feelings, Rick?"

"Yeah, I guess ... what do you mean?" He asked.

"I think you need to go talk to Granny. Not now, she's cooking. But after dinner when the company is gone and things get quiet, go in her room and say what's on your mind. Tomorrow you can go get that test kit, but tonight go trust Granny. I think you'll be surprised at what she tells you," I said.

"She'll tell dad straight off," Rick said.

"I bet she won't. In fact I guarantee it," I said.

Rick looked at me and smiled. "Thanks for covering my ass this morning; I thought Tally would get me busted for sure."

"He's your brother Rick, you don't give him enough credit for being smart. Now I know why you got drunk, but I won't tell him or anyone else."

"Thanks, now I know why Tally likes you."

"Besides having someone to laugh at?" I said.

"I need to call Marlene about that test; I wonder why she didn't know about that?" Rick said.

"Why don't you ask her?" I suggested.

Rick left the barn and I ran down towards the river. Granny would set the boy straight, maybe Marlene wouldn't win this battle, but the war wasn't over yet. It just confirmed what I already thought about girls, they were called the opposite sex for a good reason. To me they were the opposite of what I wanted sex to be. I was gay, and that made me feel liberated from all the pregnancy worries in the world.

There was no sign of Tally as I came running through the trees, and then I heard him giggle. The little devil was hiding from me, the game was afoot.

"Oh Tally ... where are you?" I called softly; another giggle.

I turned my head towards the sound. He might have been hiding, but a part of him was sticking out from behind a tree not ten feet away ... the sweetest part. And I tip-toed towards that spot and he looked around the trunk.

"I see you," I taunted and he ran. Maybe he figured to hit the water and escape, but I followed him into the river clothes and all. He laughed as I grabbed him, and my world was filled with sunshine.

He helped me undress, throwing my soggy clothes up on the bank, until we both stood equally bare, and just as excited. His arms and mine wrapped around one another, we were alone, and it was time for love.

No matter how many times we kissed, no matter how many times I slid into him or he into me, it was always the most unforgettable experience. Love made sure, there was no passion like our passion.

Ever since his birthday Tally had wanted me inside of him whenever we made love, I knew that quite easily. For some reason he wanted to be possessed. It was a simple desire and I was only too willing to give him my all ... and more if he asked.

So today as he rode my cock, my back pressed into the soft green moss that grew along the river bank, I could only feel that I was fulfilling his needs, it was why I existed. Rick might get drunk and lay down for lust, between Tally and I there was no lust that love had not already conquered.

Our groans filled the forest, the rippling water the only witness to our passion as I burst deep inside of him, giving Tally his moment of glorious feeling. And then I rolled him over, sliding us into the water as I went down on his cock and sucked out the life giving fluid he bequeathed me. It was a wonderful moment, we were both satisfied.

"Evan ... Tally ... where are you?" The voice called, it was Rick maybe a hundred feet away up the bank, standing beside the rope swing.

"We're down here," Tally yelled back, and Rick walked down towards us.

"You're parents just arrived," Rick said. "A little early aren't they?"

I should have known. My father hated to be late for anything, they always left early to make sure they were on time. Mom was probably concerned they would get lost, but they hadn't, now they were here too soon. And guess who had wet clothes?

"Damn," Was all I said and Tally burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Rick asked.

"Tally was hiding when I got here, when I found him he ran for the river and I jumped in with my clothes on. Stupid of me I suppose."

Rick laughed. "I'll go get you some dry ones, meet me in the barn." And he ran off towards the house.

"Close call ... did he see anything you suppose?" Tally asked.

"If he did ... well, I just think he'll say something to me later on," I said.

"So you're buddies now? What happened?" Tally asked.

We crawled out of the river and he started to get dressed, I didn't bother except for my wet boxers. "I can't tell you, baby ... it has to be a secret, at least until tomorrow," I said.

Tally grinned. "So you and Rick are keeping secrets from me now, is that it?"

"You know better, I'd tell you if I could, but I promised. Your answer will come tomorrow, OK?"

"Yeah, you can't keep a secret from me for long," Tally said.

It was my turn to smile. "I never want to, but just this once I must."

Rick was waiting in the barn with dry clothes, a T-shirt and my overalls. Great, my parents would get a real look at their farm boy son. It was inevitable. So of course we walk out of the barn, Tally and Rick in their Sunday go to church clothes and me looking like Farmer Evan, and straight into my parents.

"Hello, son," My father says.

"Hello, Dear," Mom says.

"Howdy," I reply, and Tally, Rick and I break up laughing. Then I had to explain and apologize, my parents smiled and so did Jim.

"Let me go change, was Jim going to give you a tour?" I asked.

"Yes, I wanted to see his milking operation," My dad said.

"I'll catch up with you then," I said.

"Right this way, Your Honor," Jim said, and I saw my dad wince.

I had figured something like this might happen; the Winslow's were uptight about the judge's visit. I had to get them out of that habit; my dad wasn't a judge here. He was just Richard Parsons without that robe.

I knew my dad was keen to look around, after all my Uncle Harry had raised horses; this was quite a bit different. I scrambled to get dressed in something decent, no way was I going to miss my mother standing in a yard full of cow pies, dad would simply love it.

I caught up with the tour in the milking shed as Jim was explaining the procedure. I slid in next to my mom and put an arm around her waist. Her nose was already twitching from the smell.

"How's about we go look at the chickens while dad takes in the cows and pigs," I suggested.

"Oh, chickens, sounds fine to me," Mom said. I'll bet.

I showed her the scope of the cow pens, the pig sty and the cow barn, all from a safe distance. The chickens were boring as hell, but then we were upwind.

"What have you been doing?" My mom asked.

"Everything they'll let me do. Driving tractors, milking cows, harvesting crops, and Granny and I canned a ton of produce last week. She's been cooking all morning for you guys," I said.

"Yes, something smells wonderful," She said.

I took her over to Granny's garden and showed her the vegetables and flowers, despite our heavy week of canning there was still plenty to see. Mom was impressed.

"So how do we get Jim to stop calling Dad that 'Your Honor' business, I know it makes him uncomfortable," I said.

She smiled. "Your father has a rule, the third time it happens he tells them he's not in the robe, then says call me Richard."

I nodded. "Yeah, these folks are pretty aware of that title, but they need to relax."

"Don't worry, dear, your father will handle it."

And obviously he had. We all met back in front of the house and went in the front door.

"So Jim, how's Evan working out?" My dad asked.

"Smart boy, he's darn near worn himself out a few times tryin too hard, but I think he'll be just fine, Richard."

So it had happened, good. "I told Mom that Jim has shown me a lot about farming, now I need to know the technical and business side of things."

"No knowledge is bad knowledge, all knowledge is good knowledge," My dad said. "My father pushed that knowledge into me the hard way, with his belt." And we all laughed.

"Don't need to spank these boys; they stay too busy to get in trouble." Jim said proudly. I just hoped he stuck to that after tomorrow, I could see Rick trying to be invisible in the corner.

Sam and Granny came into the living room and were introduced around; they had been busy preparing the meal and setting the table. Count on my mother to set the atmosphere between the women.

"Something smells wonderful," She said.

"Be ready in just a bit," Granny said. "Did Evan show you around?"

"Yes, and you have such a lovely and productive garden," Mom said. "I've been trying to get our church to do something like that for three years, imagine how many poor folks we could feed."

That did it, they were on the same path to God now, so I turned my attention back to the men. Tally was on the floor at my feet, the closeness made me smile down at him. All the good people in my life were in this room, we were only missing Stan and Freddy ... but they would never be here.

Despite the years of Stan coming and going at the house my parents never knew about us, or even his early identification of being gay. I had no idea what would happen if I suddenly blurted out I was gay. This was neither the time nor place, but the thought crossed my mind.

It would challenge what these people knew about me, it would certainly shock each of them. But it would also out Tally, something that didn't need to happen at such a tender age. For soon enough his family would be told and they would have to decide what to think. Granny already had, and for that we were blessed.

Yes, each of these families would have to make a decision about their gay sons. I didn't envy that moment in their lives even if I was going to be the cause of it. For if they had love in their hearts their only decision would be how to protect us, like Granny had done.

There was no intent to sin, as the Reverend had said this morning, there was only an intent to love. I would have that understood if I could, then the families would not be bound by any prejudice. Then they would have to decide on the merits of the case, my father would understand that much. Was loving someone like Tally a sin for me? I thought not as he was an equal partner in that love, but others would decide for themselves, we only had to show cause.

Tally had brought me into this reality of myself, my true self. For that he was my hero, he deserved his own poster on the wall upstairs. It was plain that the revelation of our relationship would disrupt so many lives if it happened too soon, we needed more time.

"I imagine dinner is ready, won't everyone take a seat?" Granny asked.

We spread out around the table as Sam and Granny disappeared into the kitchen, returning with plates and bowls of hot fresh food. Yes, she had done it again, Granny was the master of home cooking, and there was no one better.

"Let us pray," Jim said, heads bowed around the table. "Lord, we thank thee for this bounty and the company that shares in thy goodness. Two families have gathered under this roof to share a few hours of happiness. It is fitting we should break bread and understand the blessings we have all been given. Thank you Lord, in Jesus name we pray. Amen."

"Amen." Came the reply.

My mother never ate fried chicken, it was always broiled ... today she ate three pieces and complimented Granny profusely. The bounty of the garden and fields lay before us, now my parents could see that the Winslow family was in communion with the earth. All their labor and sweat had produced everything on this table, it was a glorious meal.

And somewhere along the line, maybe as my mother reached over for that third piece of chicken, I realized something. There was a piece of me on this table now too, my sweat and toil had brought forth this meal. And it all tasted better after that, I understood what it meant to be a Winslow. I was a part of two families now, Tally and I had joined our clans together.

The fresh fruit pies for dessert set my mother off, the ladies at church would be envious of the recipes Granny shared with my mother after dinner. It was a sweet thing to do, now if only my mother would start frying chicken. I had not told my parents what to expect, but traditions must be upheld.

And so before we all said our good byes, my parents setting forth with full stomachs for the drive home, we stood on the front steps for our picture. It was crowded but we all managed to fit as the camera wound down to the moment of shutter release on its little built in timer.

This was a photo I would cherish, for Tally and I stood together between the two families. It was an image I already knew would be unique. The farmer and the judge, city folks and county folks. To which did I now belong? If I thought about it, this might be the only time we would all be together like this, but then I had given no thought to the future, not yet.

On to Chapter Thirteen

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