I stared at him, taken aback by the vehemence of his righteousness, though why I was surprised, I don’t know.Oscar had always defended our love this way.
“This is our life, and if we want to spend it together, as friends, or sweethearts, or anythin’ else, that’s our right, as long as we ain’t hurtin’ nobody.”
“Of course,” I said.“I know.”
“Then let’s not worry about it.We won’t be back for at least a few weeks, and probably it’ll be longer.And I ain’t gonna think about anythin’ except our cozy house, Irene and Clarence and the friends we’re goin’ to help in Telegraph Creek—and how much I love you and want to always be where you are.”
“All right,” I said.“Then I’ll do the same.”
Chapter Three
Mischief
After a long day’s riding, we came upon a promising spot at the edge of a mountain stream, in the thick of some brush.We watered and fed the horses, took a quick dip ourselves and sat down to eat some of the beef jerky, bread and cheese that we’d brought with us.Tomorrow I’d see if I could hunt us a rabbit or a fox for some fresh meat, but this was good enough for our first night.
I brought out the whiskey.
This time we had two tin cups—one for each of us—and after I poured us each a dram, I proposed a toast.
“To what, Jimmy?To having to leave our nice home and worry about a friend in trouble?”
“Oscar, I know things ain’t perfect right now, and we’re heading away from a place of safety and friendship, but”—I settled a hand on his knee and gazed into his dark eyes, where the reflection of the campfire’s flames leapt and twisted, while owls hooted and frogs chirped, and the comforting smell of wood smoke surrounded us—“we’re together, and that’s what counts.When I met you in Dawson, I expected to spend a day or two with you, then see you off with a full belly and a good sight cleaner, but I never expected what happened.”
Oscar gave me a leer as he was reminded of that fateful morning.
“You never expected to wake up with your cock in my mouth.”
I blushed, still conflicted about it.I’d not known Oscar’s age at the time, and I’d suspected he might be awful young.Yet, I’d not protested when he’d thanked me the only way he knew how, and that had led to other questionable but thrillin’ things.He’d told me later he was twenty-one, a fact I’d accepted at face value with relief, e’en thought he didn’t look it.And not too long ago he’d admitted that he didn’t exactly know the year he was born, so how could he even know how old he was?
Oscar was a man, sure enough, but he was a young one, and eight months ago when I’d hauled him o’er my lap and spanked him for kicks, he’d been even younger.
“No, I didn’t.Not at all.”
Oscar chuckled.“Didn’t take you long to adjust, though.”
I raised my eyebrows at him and sipped my whiskey, enjoying the burn as the amber liquid slid down my throat.
“That’s a fact, though it ate at me for a few days.I didn’t rightly know what had happened.”
“Well,Idid.I’d woke you up to what you wanted…and needed.And I’d only hoped ’twas me and not simply the fun of bein’ with any other man.”
I smiled and cupped his chin.“Oh, ’twas you all right.I suppose I might have figured it out eventually with someone else, but I’m glad ’twas you who did the deed.I thank God every day for sending you to me and giving me a chance to do the right thing.”
We sat gazing into the fire and remembering those early days of insatiable passion.
Oscar cleared his throat.“You, uh, you…remember how you laid me o’er your saddle that time, when we’d barely started out?”
At those words, my cock, which was already half-hard, went to a full stand in about three seconds, and I nodded.
“I think so.”
Oscar gaped.“Youthinkso?”
I grinned wide at his outrage, but I had a plan.
“You tell me what I did, if you remember it so good.”
An expression of understanding dawned on his features, and he grinned.
