"I think we should go ahead and call Mr. Hoffman about Fletcher. Get his last name, and make plans to go into the town of Douglas and ask around," Harry said the next morning.

"We puttin' up the hot wire first?" asked Louis.

"Yeah. Let's get started on that first. I've got plenty of hot wire in the barn."

So that was what they did. They put two strands of electric wire on both cow paddocks, then called Mr. Hoffman. The man was pleasant and more than helpful. They found out Fletcher's last name was Montgomery, and Mr. Hoffman had no reservations about them snooping around about him in town.

"Oh, and by the way," said Louis. "Our cow paddocks had holes cut in them with bolt cutters."

There was a brief shocked silence.

"When was this?" Mr. Hoffman asked.

"Night before last."

"Is that right? Well, listen to this. One of my own paddocks was cut up last night. Now I know who did it. Brian and Nathan – if they didn't actually do it, they were at least involved. They got both our ranches, two nights in a row." Mr. Hoffman sighed heavily. "I wish I knew what it'll take to stop those guys from continuing to vandalize our properties. To think they haven't done a thing until now – six months later."

"Well, they found out where I am so I reckon they're takin' out their frustrations on us both. If nothin' else, maybe we can find out who stole the saddle. It might give us some leads as to where to find it," Louis said.

"Now, you boys don't worry about that saddle. Protecting your ranch is the priority here."

"We're takin' steps. We've hot wired two paddocks, and are thinking about doin' the pastures too."

"Good idea. I think I'll do that myself," Mr. Hoffman sounded a bit more hopeful.

"We'll let you know if we find Fletcher, or get any leads."

"Thank you, but be careful, and let me know if you get any more vandalism."

"Will do. And let us know if you have any more trouble as well."

"They're just punks," said Harry after Louis rang off. "But they can still stir things up just the same."

"Wish we knew how to scare them off, once and for all," Louis said thoughtfully.

"There's gotta be a way. I wonder where they're stayin.' Like, if they're closer to Stockholm Ranch, or in this area. We could always spread rumors that we're lookin' for them. We could do that both here in Hereford, and in Douglas."

"Too bad we can't tell people why we're lookin' for them."

"True, but then we'd have to divulge the whole story," Harry agreed. "And it's kinda complicated."

"True, but that could be a good thing. The whole story might spread the rumors faster. If they find out people are watchin' them, it might encourage them to get the hell outta Dodge."

"And then the saddle is more likely to disappear forever."

"We have to decide which is more important, "Louis reminded him. "Findin'the saddle or protectin' ours and Mr. Hoffman's ranch from gettin' hit again."

This fundamental element got Harry to thinking. Louis was right. It was simple. Mr. Hoffman's and their own animals needed to be safeguarded first, before anything else. But doing that would be nearly impossible. Stockholm Ranch was forty miles away, and Mr. Hoffman had a big ranch – big enough that watching over all of it would be a monumental task only for someone who had nothing else to do with all their hours. Patrolling the perimeters would be ideal, but a guard would be cost prohibitive.

"I sure do wanna help him, with all he's done for me,"Louis said pensively. Ïn fact, if it weren't for him and you, I don't know where I'd be."

"Lou, you're clever, intelligent, and a survivor. You'd do fine. But I do have to agree that when he hired you to help you out when you had no experience, it shows how kind-hearted he is. It also demonstrates, however, how impressed he was with you. I was too – it's why you're still here." Harry smiled, and Louis blushed, even though he had hoped he was finally over that kind of thing.

"Ï just don't know how we can go about being helpful in a situation like this. "We could actually make things worse for Mr. Hoffman, you know."

"Ï've thought of that too. Those punks, instead of backing off, could decide to retaliate even more."

"Älright then, how about we just concentrate on findin' Fletcher right now?" Louis suggested.

"Wanna go into Douglas soon?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, I really do. If we stay 'round here, we're likely to worry ourselves to death," grinned Louis.

"Yeah, and we seem to feed off each other that way. Maybe we'll get a start on findin' Fletcher. And there's nothin' we can do about anyone comin' 'round here. They'd probably come at night again anyway."

Louis was relieved. Harry had been very uptight over this, and he felt responsible. It seemed that all he'd done since he'd shown up here was bring trouble with him. Harry wouldn't hear of it though. It didn't slow his resolve in any way to keep Louis around.

Nothing happened during the next few days and nights, and they didn't hear from Mr. Hoffman, so assumed he hadn't had any trouble either.

When they had the time to go to Douglas a few days later, they were surprised to find that people did know Fletcher there. But no one seemed to know much about him – where he lived, if he worked, what days he shopped, or any patterns in his appearances. Really nothing that would be useful. It seemed he never kept a job for longer than a few months. He'd been seen as little as a few weeks prior. Harry decided they should take another trip to the library to use the computer and see if they could find out where he lived, where he might be working, or anything that might be helpful in finding out if he'd ever had possession of the saddle.

That night, Louis was enjoying Harry's physical touch. He was growing more and more fond of it. It was developing into a very real need. Harry was also craving Louis' touch.

"Why hasn't anyone grabbed you?" asked Louis off the top of his head, and without thinking first.

"What do you mean?"

"No one has claimed you."

This caused Harry to laugh. "I can't be claimed unless I want to be claimed, Lou." Harry's eyes speared his, and he had never looked so sober. "No one has been here, on this ranch, that I was the least bit interested in. Just people buyin' or sellin' livestock. You are the only one," he emphasized.

He hoped Louis would get the message. He wanted Louis to know just how special he was to him.

"Wish I could grab you," Louis laughed as if he were making a joke. He was, in reality, looking to see if he'd get a reaction from Harry. He studied Harry's features to see if there might be a hint of a reveal.

"You already have," Harry said simply.

Okay, that was too direct of an answer! Louis hadn't been prepared for that. No runaround here! He had to sit back and admire Harry's raw honesty. But of course, it made him blush.

"Why be embarrassed?" Harry was confronting him now like never before. His green eyes were direct and probing.

In his mind, Louis was flailing about for a way to answer that. Something that didn't sound cheesy, but didn't sound reserved or standoffish either. Nothing came to mind no matter how hard he wrestled with his thoughts.

"Don't sweat it, Lou. I can see on your face how you're strugglin' to talk about it."

Well, apparently Harry could read his expressions too! Or at least had a pretty good idea of the kind of turmoil he was enduring. He'd have to school his features a little better in the future. Well, maybe not. He and Harry had agreed to communication, and hiding his feelings would only create a barrier.

"I don't wanna struggle, but I'm . . . afraid."

Harry wrapped Louis in his arms. "You were in more than a few foster homes. You've been rejected. They kept passin' you around to someone else. I won't do that, Lou. I'm not sure how you feel about this whole thing with you and me, but if you ever wanna talk about it, I'm here."

Harry concluded he shouldn't say anything more at the moment. Without question, Louis didn't want to be free with his heart. He was attracted to Harry; that much was obvious. But as to feeling the same way Harry did . . . Harry knew he'd just have to wait to find out. There was no hurry-up here. It was all up to Louis, and not pushing him away would have to take precedence over anything else.

They got Louis' cell phone reinstated. Louis was distressed that Harry was intending on paying the phone payment, only to find out the phone was paid for. But the monthly bill still had to be caught up. It made Louis very uncomfortable, but Harry kept telling him how much labor he was saving him on the ranch. And Harry encouraged him to change the address on his Driver's License to the ranch's address. Their ranch. H&L Ranch. And so Louis did. That was another thing they accomplished in town. When they handed him his temporary license, he realized with excitement that when his new license arrived, it would have the ranch's address on it.

Louis couldn't wait to get into his cell phone. He found that it only had a few numbers in it. Louis decided he would wait a while before calling any of them. It was embarrassing that he didn't recognize any of the names, and didn't want to call someone without knowing who in hell they might be. He remembered a lot now, but not everything.

The next project was making a sign to hang from the archway. This gave Louis both a feeling of permanence and the jitters. His initial was on the sign! Meaning he belonged here! It was all still like a dream in some ways.

Louis steadied the ladder as Harry mounted the sign. It was simple and attractive; H&L Ranch, with a backdrop of a couple of trees on either end, and a cow and horse with chickens at their feet in the middle. Louis had drawn it, and thus Harry had discovered another of his talents, Ranching, training horses, whittling and now, drawing. Harry had the feeling he was only beginning to scratch the surface of what Louis was capable of.

Coming home from town, they decided to cut more firewood, as the weather was steadily readying for winter, even though it was only mid-October.

"I guess an Indian summer is out of the question this year," said Harry, a tinge of regret in his voice. "And you know sommat? You're hot as fuck," he murmured to Louis, giving him a steamy look. It had come out of the blue, and that sultry, heated expression in Harry's eyes accompanied it that Louis had come to look forward to eagerly. It hadn't been anticipated at all, which made it all the more sexy.

"Look at you, you're sensual and provocative, and you're mine," Harry added.

He couldn't help using that last word because neither one had made any kind of declaration other than they cared for each other, but he hadn't been able to discipline the words enough to stay in his mouth.

"I like that – I like being claimed by you," Louis returned, almost knocking Harry's feet out from under him from shock.

They still had a few hours of daylight, so they split some of the wood for a while. After half an hour of vigorous splitting of thick branches they'd had stacked, Louis was barely winded, although they were both sweaty. Harry noticed the sweat on Louis, and it seemed that everything about the man was tempting him.

"How about a shower?" said Harry a little later.

Why was this guy so obsessed with showers? He took them religiously, and seemed unsettled until he got one. Didn't he know that Louis found him sexy as hell when he was hot and sweaty? Hot and sweaty sex sounded mighty good right now, matter of fact.

"We can shower later, but right now, I'd like to get you alone in the barn," Louis commanded himself to say before he lost his nerve.

"Really?" Harry's eyes brightened. "I've thought about that too, but didn't know how unrestrained and . . . reckless you were capable of being."

Suddenly, they had switched roles. Louis was showing his dominant side. Harry felt like drooling. It really revved his engine when Louis asserted himself sexually.

"Oh, now we're gettin' somewhere!" Louis was excited and aroused as hell. He could hardly wait to get his hands on Harry. And the best part was, there were no restrictions. He could do whatever he wanted right out here in the open, since the chances of someone getting close enough to see them were close to nil.

Without another thought, he dropped to his knees in front of Harry. Harry's gasp was very audible.

Louis was jarred by his own actions. He needed Harry so much, and at the same time, he wanted Harry to sense his passion for him. So, even though he remembered very little, if anything, about sex, he wanted to put his best foot forward and learn as much as he could about Harry's preferences. That took practice, and Louis was extremely eager to practice.

"Oh God, Lou," Harry murmured as Louis unbuttoned and then unzipped his jeans. No teasing was involved. He simply swallowed Harry whole, one smooth dive of his mouth on his cock had Harry making strange little sounds in his throat.

Harry had started feeling the blood rush to his cock the moment Louis had gone to his knees, and by the time his cock was in the open, freed from his pants, it was almost completely hard. It made Louis smile a split second before he devoured it.

And devour it he did! He was eating Harry up – slurping with no shame and savoring the pre-come that flowed sporadically over his tongue. Letting his teeth just barely skim over the sensitive skin; just enough to heighten Harry's desire by leaps and bounds. Louis was either a good guesser about what felt good or . . . he'd had quite a few lovers, reflected Harry. But now was not the time to talk about it, or even mention it. For now, it seemed to be a touchy subject between them.

Louis' mouth was ravenous and greedy. All he cared about was making Harry come. The smell of their sweat brought on by the hard work just aroused him further. He sucked hard every time he reached the base of Harry's cock, hollowing his cheeks, pushing himself to the limit for Harry's pleasure. His lashing tongue just added fire that burned with an intensity Harry had never felt before.

Louis was remembering what Harry had done to him, and trying to mimic it while simultaneously experimenting to find out more of what Harry liked judging by his reactions.

Louis began now to focus on the head of Harry's cock. It was ultra- sensitive, yet Louis soon discovered that Harry enjoyed strong suckling there. It was almost too much, yet he could tell Harry didn't want him to stop. Was silently begging him not to stop. His hands sought the back of Louis' head, gently urging him on, letting him know the effect he was having.

"Suck me, Lou. Take it down your throat. Suck me dry," Harry's voice was rough. The words along with the way he sounded had Louis worked up to the point of almost coming himself.

Harry was afraid of taking it too far and turning Louis off, or scaring him, but he was so far gone that he wasn't able to check himself.

Harry's hips were pumping back and forth, his eyes glued to what Louis was doing, knowing he wouldn't be able to stand on his own two feet when he came. The stimulation from Louis' magical mouth was just too overwhelming.

Harry moved slightly to his right. Luckily a tree was there so he could lean against it. He was getting incredibly weak as his orgasm approached.

"Lou, I can't . . . ." he couldn't even finish his sentence. That is, if he even knew what he'd wanted to say.

Louis moaned his approval, sending vibrations right through Harry's cock and balls. He continued to suck away at Harry like he was his last meal, and Harry was helpless to do anything but enjoy.

So. Fucking. Hot.

Harry erupted so quickly and so forcefully that it stunned him. He hadn't known it would happen this quickly until barely ten seconds beforehand, and by then, there was no hope for him. He was doomed. Louis had been so aggressive that he was not able to govern himself. More provocative, strong language flowed from Harry's mouth as he felt strong, hot jets of come being ejected, and he had no time to warn Louis.

Louis held his own, and swallowed some of it, but it was simply so much, and with Harry's assumption this was possibly only his second time, he faltered and only took a portion. Even that though, elated Harry. It was completely unexpected.

"Damn, but you're sexy," he said as Louis recuperated enough to get to his feet, Harry taking his hands and helping him up. "What got into you?"

Harry was clearly stoked by Louis' assertiveness.

"I . . . I wanted to make you feel good. Like you made me feel. And I discovered . . . it turned me on almost as much as receivin.'"

"Good! That's good. I'm so glad you're discoverin' how great it can be when you just relax and follow your desire," said Harry, hoping he'd worded it right.

"I'm findin' out I like sweaty, hot sex as well as clean shower sex, and in- the- bed sex," Louis said shyly.

How could he be more adorable? Thought Harry.

"We can get as adventurous as you want," Harry murmured, as they held each other, cheek to cheek.

With hesitation, Louis spoke. "Harry, I think . . . I think that maybe . . . I like it too much."

Harry held Louis' cheeks tenderly as he gazed into his eyes.

"Sweet creature, there is no such thing as likin' it too much. And you have no clue how fuckin' irresistible you are."