As soon as the guy drove away, Harry guided Louis into the house, hanging onto Louis' wrist the entire way, got them both a glass of water, and, at Harry's direction, they sat on the couch.

"You alright?" he asked Louis as they sat, both a little dazed. Louis didn't bother to answer. He was still pretty numb, and mutely shook his head.

"We'll get through this, Lou."

Louis had to force himself to speak. "I felt so helpless! If I'd had a memory I might have had facts to throw at that bastard!" Louis said this with vehemence and weariness in the same breath, and Harry commiserated silently.

"I know. It's a tough spot to be in. We'll ask around town and find out who that guy is. After that, it's up to you as to how far we take this."

"How far we take it? What do you mean?"

"Well, we could go to Stockholm Ranch, or maybe just I could go, since they obviously know you there. It would be safer."

"No, Harry. I don't want you maybe puttin' yourself in danger."

"Well, I was thinkin' I might be able to get some information. Even a little is better than nothin.' If not, what can we do then?"

"Do you think I stole the saddle?" Louis' blue gaze was steady and unwavering.

Harry winced and instantly gave the thought a dismissive wave of his hand. "Not for a minute. I wasn't lyin' when I told that prick you didn't do it."

Louis sat back, running his hands through his hair, something he didn't do on a regular basis except when he was uptight about something.

"But what if I did? You don't know for sure, and neither do I!"

"Louis, listen to me! You're not that kind of person. In any case, once we both calm down a bit about this, we really should find out the details about exactly what happened, or as much as we can. That guy was an employee. He said you got him fired. So he must be a suspect. Either he, or another ranch hand there stole it, or maybe even someone travelin' through. We need to find out as much as possible from the owner of Stockholm Ranch. That is, if he'll even talk to us."

"I know, I know. I'm just . . . hyped to swipe now."

"Of course you are. You need time to process it. In the meantime, we need to keep a sharp eye out for that guy, or anyone else that might come 'round."

"At least I know me name is Louis for sure now. Louis Tomlinson," said Louis, enunciating the words slowly, his eyes looking like he was a million miles removed.

"Do you think the sheriff will come 'round?" Louis asked.

"No tellin.' We'll just have to take it one day at a time and see what evolves."

There was a flicker of apprehension in Louis' eyes, and Harry could totally understand that. Here he was, no memory, and being accused of stealing an expensive saddle. Grand theft.

"You'll be fine. If they come here, you'll handle it just fine. Just be completely honest. You arrived here ridin' that older saddle of yours, but of course, I know they could say you sold the other one. But you also arrived here with no money. You have nothin' to hide."

"Yeah that might be true if I knew what really happened!"

"That must make you feel completely in the dark."

"That's exactly how I feel. Kinda like I don't even know meself."

"Even if you don't, I know you, and I know you well."

"But you didn't know me before I got here, or what my character was," Louis reminded him.

"True, that. But I doubt your character changed after you hit your head. You're a good person, not a criminal nor a thief." Harry said this with absolute conviction, and it comforted Louis more than he would ever be able to explain.

"So me name's Louis Tomlinson," said Louis thoughtfully, again rolling the name off his tongue a few times.

It must feel strange, thought Harry.

"And Tomlinson's a fine last name. It fits you. Wish we had a computer – we could search you. You're not nervous, are you?" Harry scooted closer to Louis, reaching behind his head and lightly skimming his fingers along the back of his neck, his arm now in a convenient position to slide along the back of the couch behind Louis. Sneaky devil, thought Louis. He almost drew back, but then seemed to remember how intimate they'd been. It wasn't that he didn't want Harry to touch him – it was just that he was not used to Harry touching him in this way. He enjoyed it, but it would take some getting used to. Even so, goose bumps rose on his skin from the pleasure of Harry's touch.

"No, not really. Just a little uneasy. Like you said, they can't prove I took the saddle. But then again, I reckon lots of people go to jail that are innocent."

Harry paused at this. He sure hoped there was no circumstantial evidence that might make Louis look guilty. But, wisely, he didn't voice it.

"Well, if we have to gather our own evidence, we will," Harry assured him. "If it comes to that." He couldn't imagine, however, what evidence they could possibly find to prove Louis' innocence. Again, he didn't voice his thoughts. His main objective now, in this moment, was to pacify Louis enough to ease his fears somewhat.

Louis was blown away by Harry's sincerity. He knew Harry meant every word he said. He was so grateful to have Harry on his side. When he'd heard Harry's gruff voice behind him as he'd faced the guy, no words could have described the relief.

"Uh Harry. Um, thank you. Thank you for standin' up for me the way you did."

"You would've done the same for me, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, well, sometime real soon we'll have to go to town to try to find out who that guy is. Time is of the essence."

Louis nodded. Then he snuggled up to Harry, simply because he couldn't help it, and even though he was scared of what the immediate future might hold, he didn't let on to Harry. But the fact was, he didn't feel alone in this. Harry hadn't doubted him for a moment. Louis was overcome to the point of feeling like his tears would well over at any moment.

But then, Harry was kissing him, and it took his mind completely off crying. His lips had just materialized, and Louis had gladly accepted them. All he wanted to do was stay as close to Harry as possible. All thoughts of avoiding each other vanished. Louis realized how petty he had been this morning.

Harry had doubts, sure, and that was because he was terrified of losing what they had. He had to prove to Louis how much he cared. And if he had to do it over and over, so be it.

The passion was back in full force. They couldn't keep their hands off each other. Harry's hands encircled Louis' slim waist, Louis' fingers combed through Harry's hair. At last, he could touch Harry! He could do whatever he wanted. He felt like a bird finally released from a small cage and into total freedom. Harry was so eager, and Louis was pliant in his arms, holding his face when they kissed.

"You know sommat?" Harry murmured sometime later.

"What?"

"I was thinkin' about it the other day, and we never did take a single nap during our holidays."

Louis smiled. "That's 'cause we were too busy enjoyin' our time together."

"You're right. We never would have admitted it though. I didn't want to waste a minute of our time by sleepin.' I hadn't been with anyone in so long, but you know, you recharged my system," Harry smiled as he said the words.

Louis was soaring. He felt special. He was privileged to be here. Staying here had been the right choice after all.

"Sweet creature," Harry purred.

Oh, how he loved the sound of that! It was just what Louis needed to hear right now, when background uncertainty was hounding him.

"Do you care if I . . . I mean, would you mind if I . . . got that picture of you on my phone printed out and framed?" Harry was hesitant to bring it up, but he felt like now, now that they were intimate, Louis might understand.

Louis looked startled, then a smile crossed his lips.

"Well sure . . . if you want to," he said shyly.

"I do – I want to very much."

In bed that night, things started out tender and sweet, and turned into red hot pretty quickly.

"When you said I recharged your system, what did you mean?" Louis asked between passionate kisses.

"Well, I've always had quite the libido, but I kinda pushed it aside for the last four years. I think you brought me back to life, and I don't know what I'd do without you now."

His words were like a gift, and Louis was rendered speechless. But he didn't have to worry about speaking right now, as Harry was kissing him again.

"You taste so sweet," Harry murmured against his lips. Things happened in an unhurried, almost sedate way. Then he deepened the kiss, sucking Louis' tongue sweetly and softly, then, gradually with more force and sound effects – groaning and moaning into Louis' mouth. Harry might have been deliberate at first, but as the passion grew, they melted into each other, and Louis felt more needy than he ever had.

Wandering into the bedroom, leading Louis by the hand, Harry undressed them both then. His hands shook, and he couldn't seem to draw a proper breath. He was so aroused that he became clumsy, something he was, unfortunately, an expert at. He was on the bed, busy trying to throw their clothes onto the floor, but the clothes were caught on their legs and feet. No matter how he flung his legs to dislodge them, they twisted and clung to him.

Laughing through his intense sexual excitement, he enlisted Louis' help without having to say a word. Louis slowly disentangled the clothes, having difficulty because of his own desire, and suddenly they were both buck naked. And scared.

That wouldn't last long though, because they'd already been intimate, and Louis hoped if they just let things happen naturally, it would all come together.

"I want to taste you," Louis whispered as if he was afraid his voice would shatter this delicate moment.

"I was just gonna say pretty much the same thing," Harry's dimples teased, and Louis just about lost his senses. Their excitement fed off each other.

"Well, we can remedy that," Harry said sagely as he turned his body around on the bed so his head faced Louis' feet. He saw how hard Louis was – just as rock hard as he, himself was.

Louis was startled and confused. That is, until Harry licked his dick and then covered the head with his mouth. Harry's own cock was right in Louis' face, but the intense feeling of Harry's warm mouth on him caused him to be oblivious of anything else for a few long seconds.

Harry gently rocked his pelvis to give Louis the idea. Louis was delighted when he comprehended the intention, and he began his inelegant ministrations with his own mouth. He'd gotten a pretty good idea of what Harry liked, and where his most sensitive spots were, so he took advantage, although he needed to fine-tune his technique.

Harry was now finally able to do what he'd been longing to do for about six months. He held Louis' beautiful ass in his hands, marveling at how firm the cheeks were, kneading them, and tugging Louis closer so he could get more of his cock into his mouth.

It was the most amazing feeling, all of his senses rushing to below the belt. Louis was overwhelmed, totally immersed in sexual stimulation. Between what Harry was doing to him, and what he was doing to Harry, it was like double the pleasure. He reacted voraciously, sucking avidly, being rewarded by the slight tang of Harry's pre-come on his tongue, and feeling his own pre-come leaking into Harry's mouth.

Harry was cupping his balls and jostling them, making his rapture reach new heights. This was all almost too much. The electricity was skimming over his spine, reaching deep inside his abdomen, sparking at every pull of Harry's eager mouth. The more Harry got into it, the more Louis got into it, and it ricocheted back and forth between them, making for one hell of a sixty-nine.

Their hips pumped, not in a steady rhythm now, as they were too excited for that. It was haphazard and uncoordinated, but it didn't dampen their desire; it in fact increased it. The sound of their sucking mouths brought Louis to the edge very quickly. This was pure erotism, and he didn't want it to end, but he knew he certainly wasn't going to last long.

He felt it building, licking his insides like flames, his balls becoming heavy and his cock increasing in length and girth, becoming even harder. It felt like he was all the way into Harry's throat. Harry's mouth was around his entire cock, and he didn't know how Harry did it, but it was bringing him closer and closer to the edge. He hoped he wasn't choking Harry, although there were no noises to indicate that, and he was too far gone to stop anyway.

Louis suddenly erupted, his spine drawing inward, his mouth dropping off Harry's cock, so deep in his bliss that he couldn't function in any way except to feel what Harry was doing. He felt himself shooting streams down Harry's throat, he heard Harry making satisfied noises and swallowing.

As his orgasm reached its peak, Louis couldn't help but to seek out Harry's cock again and suck at it ardently. It seemed he would never stop shooting his ejaculate, and he sucked hard as the waves of orgasm continued to splash over him.

The renewed suction on his cock pushed Harry over the edge, and he whined as his hips rocked and he continued sucking Louis as Louis took his impressive load into his mouth and swallowed fluently. Harry's hips continued to jerk for some time, the flow of the last of his ecstasy draining down Louis' throat. At last his orgasm ebbed.

They were both blinded with the euphoria of their massive orgasms, and once every drop of come had been coaxed out, they both rolled onto their backs, completely out of breath and sated.

"Wow," Harry said sometime later, looking at Louis and smiling.

They made love two more times that night, either jerking or sucking each other off. By morning they were dead to the world, sleeping peacefully, when Monkey began barking from the inside of the house. The dog was very agitated, and his bark reflected it. He was running up and down the length of the house, hackles raised.

Harry rolled out of bed, noting it was seven-thirty. They had to stop sleeping so late! Monkey was at the door, begging to go out. Harry watched from the window as the dog ran faster than Harry had ever witnessed him run, right to the gate where the stranger had appeared the day before. This time though, there were two people waiting impatiently, and one, Harry saw, was the guy with the dirty blond hair.

"Oh shit," Harry went back to the bedroom to gather his clothes and shoes from the floor and put them on, Louis watching him, wide-eyed, still under the covers.

"Your stalker is back," Harry informed him in a stilted, staccato voice as he turned his back and went for the front door.

Instead of fretting inwardly about Harry's cold behavior, Louis had the presence of mind to know how serious this was. He combed his hair in about fifteen seconds, and had his clothes and shoes on in another thirty seconds, joining Harry outside in a rush.

Harry put the snarling Monkey into his run, noting the dog was intent on attacking the two strangers even though he couldn't get to them through the gate. But then again, Monkey rarely saw anyone but Harry and Louis. No one ever visited the ranch, so Monkey assumed danger was lurking.

"I thought I told you to stay off my ranch," Harry gritted out at the blond guy, his green eyes storming.

"Think I'm gonna give up that easy? Louis caused me to lose my job!" the guy growled. Beside him was a very tall, lean guy who sported an indignant look nearly equal to the blond guy. Harry eyed him and sized him up. He could probably move fast with that slim, wiry body, and he had to be six inches over six feet, making Harry's mere six feet look inconsequential.

Seeing Harry's grim look as he came out of the door, Louis knew this was not a good situation. Then he saw the blond guy along with a companion. Ominous. He slapped on a no-nonsense look himself, and marched up to the gate, faking confidence.

Harry wondered distractedly if these two could take himself and Louis. On second thought, he doubted it. Louis was the type that would not back down, no matter what, and was a ball of fury judging by the look in his eyes, and Harry himself was pretty riled up.

"Why're you so sure Louis stole the saddle?" Harry asked, and Louis could see he was barely keeping himself in check. Good thing there was a gate between them, because Harry looked like he was ready to deck the guy. "I'm sure the two of you weren't the only ranch hands there," Harry added.

"No, there were three of us. But Louis always admired that saddle," the guy replied.

Harry jumped right on this.

"So? Does that make a person guilty of stealing it just cuz he admires it? I'm sure he's not the only one who admired it." Harry looked astonished that the guy's only argument was that Louis had appreciated the saddle. He was right, thought Louis. If everyone who admired something ended up stealing it, there would be a hell of a lot of thieves in the world.

"I have a feeling it was him, and so does Brian, here," he gestured to the tall guy. Well, now they had the name of one of them. Hopefully he'd slip up, and they'd find out this jerk's name too.

"Where's the owner of Stockholm Ranch?" asked Harry, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Seems to me if Louis is the thief, the owner would be with you."

The blond guy shifted his weight, not quite squirming, but almost.

"Don't worry about that," he said weakly.

"I have a feelin' the owner has no idea who stole it," Harry voiced his opinion. "I suggest you get solid evidence Louis is the thief, which you won't, and for the second time in two days, get off my ranch!"

"What are you gonna do if I don't?" the smart-mouthed blond guy returned.

"Beat the shit outta you, that's what we'll do!" shouted Louis, no longer able to remain in control.

Harry fumbled around in his own mind for a solution. Physical fighting wouldn't resolve anything. He needed to get these guys to leave and then do some investigating himself. He'd need to find out who the blond guy was, and that meant making a trip to Stockholm Ranch.

But just when he was going to order them again to leave, both guys began to climb the gate . . .