Chapter 31
The trip down was a blur. The yellow lines were the only things that guided him because his mind was completely occupied. His worry over Lonnie was fierce; wondering how badly he’d been hurt. His worry over Rebel was strong as well. Even though his lover had given his blessing for him to go, there was something there, a sadness that he vowed fix. He would make up for everything as soon as he got home but first he had to take care of his friend.
Yeah, so sure he felt more for Lonnie than friendship but he didn’t have to act on it. He didn’t have to be with the man, he wasn’t an animal but if for other reason than just to return the kindnesses he was shown when Martin had passed he needed to help Lonnie. His friend.
He looked at the text from Dennis as soon as he got into town to check the directions. The town was small, not much bigger than Apishipa Creek, but it was still a page full of directions and soon Jack found out why. There were only two streets that actually had names. Dennis had mentioned once that any mail that was sent to Lonnie’s family had to be marked General Delivery. It was crazy, most of the houses weren’t even butted up to the roads, but scattered here and there among the rough-cut blocks. He turned right where he was supposed to and then left where he was told. There was the big Quonset hut that served as the town’s community building where if he turned right just past it he would see the house where Lonnie had run.
When Jack pulled up he frowned. The mishmash of add-ons that were put together to form a residence was pathetic. Even Lonnie’s apartment must have seemed like a palace compared to this, but he wasn’t a judgmental person so he pushed away his disdain for the place and got out. He walked up wishing that the moon had been fuller. The yard, such as it was, was littered with booze bottles and all forms of trash. Once he got to the door he raised his fist and knocked, listening to the laughter from inside and finding that it just pissed him off.
The door opened to an older woman, too much make-up on and blurry eyed like she’d been up for a week.
“Yeah? You want Charming?”
Jack took a step back, the stench of stale booze and cigarettes overwhelming. “I actually need to see Lonnie if he’s here.”
She laughed and gave a smirk. “Oh! Well, he’s back in his room. Around the back of the house. Don’t worry about making noise.”
Giving her a nod he stepped away from the door and heard screeching laughter inside. He walked around the house, avoiding more trash and a garden hose on the way and saw what the woman had meant. There was a broken down shed there in the yard and a light was on, penetrating the cracks. He went to the door and started to lift his fist to knock but thought again. He just pushed the door open and the sight that he found made his heart break.
Lonnie was on the single mattress on the floor, bare-chested and in his underwear. The bruises over his chest and face were fading but still horrible. There was a cut on his lip and below his eye and in his hand was a bottle of vodka. Anger joined the pain and he stepped over to the bed fast and knelt down, grabbed the bottle and threw it against the wall.
The loud noise in the small area barely made Lonnie’s eyelids flutter. This made Jack all the more angry so he grabbed the man up off the bed and flung him over his shoulder. Finally Lonnie woke enough to protest sleepily but still not awake enough for Jack. Jack threw the door open and started for the house, fully planning to parade him through the house to the bathroom to throw him into a cold shower but as he passed through the yard he remembered the hose.
He put Lonnie down hard on the ground and quickly found the faucet, turning it on and grabbing the end. He put his thumb across the spout to make it shoot harder and pointed it at Lonnie. As soon as the icy cold water hit him Lonnie sat up, screaming. His hands tried to cover his face and he started trying to crawl away from the water but it was no use. Jack was on him, hitting him with the spray relentlessly.
The others in the house started crowding out and Jack dropped the hose and stormed over to them. “I’m a fucking sheriff and unless you want me to call in on you I’d get back in the fucking house.” They all just stared at first so Jack screamed, “Now!”
Jack went to the faucet and turned it up, then went to Lonnie and pulled him up by the arm. Lonnie was yelling, trying to get away but Jack’s firm grip wouldn’t allow it. He took Lonnie back into the shed/room and pushed him up against the door when it was closed.
“What the fuck is wrong with you boy?”
Lonnie was shivering, his teeth clattering but he still tried to look defiant. “Go back home to your lover.”
He couldn’t remember the last time he had wanted to punch someone so badly than at that moment but he kept himself somewhat restrained. “You are fucking your life up and if you think I’m going to let that happen you are crazy.”
“Crazy? Yeah so, I’m crazy. The crazy Indian and the big bad white man thinks he has to save me. Well fuck off, white man!”
Jack closed his eyes, the feeling of fury making him tremble. Lonnie tried to move past him but he grabbed Lonnie’s wrists and held them along side of his head, stuck hard to the door as Lonnie struggled to get away. Not relenting, Jack just stared at his friend, Lonnie…his Lonnie.
“Lonnie I didn’t know. I didn’t know. I would have, well I don’t know what to say.”
Lonnie’s eyes search his then. “You would have what Jack? What? Loved me? You thought of me as a fucking kid. You kissed me then ignored me for weeks! You felt bad about kissing me!”
With his grip on Lonnie’s wrists just getting tighter he said, “I did but not because it was you! I thought you were asleep, I thought of you as my friend! I didn’t know you were even gay!”
Lonnie’s face broke then and Jack let go of his wrists, taking Lonnie into his arms and leading him over to the mattress on the floor, the only place to sit in the room. He sat them both down and held Lonnie while the man cried. His heart hurt hearing it, and knowing that it was his fault. He’d caused this pain.
“Get your stuff. You are going home. Dennis is waiting for you. You’ll stay with him while you recuperate and if you need rehab after that we are going to pitch in and get it for you.”
Lonnie’s head shook. “I can’t. I can’t go back and watch you.”
Jack turned his face and the overpowering need to kiss the man had to be pushed back, pushed away. “You are a lot stronger than you think. You’ll find someone…” God just hearing himself say it made it sound lame but it was true. Lonnie was sweet and beautiful. Any man would be proud to be with him.
“Never.”
“Never doesn’t exist.”
“Go with him boy,” someone said from the doorway and Jack looked up to see a sick old man standing there. Lonnie stared up as well. “Go back there and get away from us. Don’t end up like me Blackbird.”
Getting off the mattress Lonnie was shaking. “I can’t leave you Dad. I can’t leave you here to…”
The old man’s face cracked in a toothless grin. “Die? That happens to us all and your mother is waiting for me. She waits for you but she doesn’t want to see you on the other side yet. She will if you don’t go back with this man. She says there is someone there for you. Not this one, but a good man who will make you whole.”
Jack watched the touching scene and was glad Lonnie had someone who was willing to let him go so something better could happen for him. They said their goodbyes and Jack could tell Lonnie thought it was likely the last time he saw his father alive.
Lonnie was dressed, packed and within the hour they were on the road. Lonnie’s uncle wasn’t thrilled with him leaving but Jack didn’t give the older man a chance to talk Lonnie out of it. Besides a stop for food, which Lonnie only ate because Jack insisted on it, they made it back to Apishipa Creek before four in the morning. He pulled into Dennis’ and for once Dennis didn’t come to the door. Maybe he knew they needed the time to say some things.
“Thanks Jack.”
“Lonnie, this will all work out. The way you feel, I know how hard it is, but you will be okay.”
Lonnie’s hair was tangled and in a curtain over his face so before he could stop himself Jack pulled it back, his fingers brushing Lonnie’s beautiful face. “I’ll be okay, Jack, but I do. I love you and I really don’t think that’s ever going to stop.”
Jack’s thumb ran over Lonnie’s high sharp cheekbone and he looked into those dark eyes for a long time. “I know. You know that if I’d known, things would have been different right? I just…I love Rebel. I fell in love with him and we are together and that isn’t going to change no matter how much you want it to.”
“I know,” Lonnie said as he opened the door. He leaned over and kissed the side of Jack’s mouth quickly then he was out of the truck and headed into his uncle’s house. Jack watched him until the door was closed and he felt like he’d lost something. Something wonderful, but he had something equally wonderful waiting for him at home.
He drove off heavyhearted and before he got home, he had to pull off of the road just to catch his breath. This was all too much. This was all way too much.
“Most people would be happy to have two beautiful men in love with them,” Martin whispered and Jack looked to him, all the world on his shoulders.
“Why did you leave me? If you were still here, none of this would be happening.”
Martin looked out of the window, tiny whirlwinds stirring dust on the fork in the road. “Things always happen for a reason Jack. You had our love to take you through the first part of your life. Now you have another to take you through the rest.”
Once he pulled in the doubts and hurt went away. He saw his lover in the kitchen window and just the sight made Jack know that he was where he was supposed to be, with the man he was supposed to be with. The love he felt for the man who was busying himself there, was beyond measure. It took up the sky, could fill the oceans and he owed the man a lot.
He went in and Rebel turned, his face had flour spots and his shirt was covered with the stuff. Jack couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s five in the morning. What the hell are you doing up?”
Rebel blew his hair out of his eyes. “I was baking bread. Well, trying to anyway. I don’t think the loaves are going to come out. I wanted to surprise you.”
Jack was across the room fast and taking his lover into his arms, kissing him soundly before he laughed again. “You did and I love it. I will take you covered in flour anytime.”
Laughing but blushing Rebel lowered his eyes. “I must look like the abominable snowman.”
Not even close. “Let me melt you then snowman.” Jack pushed Rebel back up to the counter and lifted him up on it. He kissed him long and deep as he unbuttoned his lover’s jeans, reaching down inside to pull out his rapidly filling cock, for once glad he had forgotten to put Rebel in chastity. As his hand wrapped around it Jack swallowed Rebel’s groan before he started stroking.
Their lips parted and Rebel’s eyes fluttered open to stare into his Dom’s face. “I’m glad you came back to me.”
Jack’s hand stopped. “Rebel I…-“
Rebel kissed him to quiet him then pulled back once again. “You didn’t have to you know? I’m glad you did though.”
Feeling his tears well in his eyes Jack smiled and nodded. “There is nowhere I would rather be in the world but with you.” His hand started moving again, stroking Rebel’s cock in tight long strokes, thumb brushing over the tip just often enough to make Rebel crazy. The way his boy’s breath quickened and the way his eyes glazed over was amazing, purely sensual. Rebel was as in your face about his sexuality as he was with his rebellion.
The cum poured and shot out over his hand and shirt while Jack kissed Rebel and he smiled in the kiss. The man licked it from his fingers while Rebel watched and threw his arms around Jack’s neck.
“We have a contract to sign baby,” Jack purred into Rebel’s ear and he felt the shiver take Rebel’s body.
“I’m ready Master.”
Jack helped him down slowly while kissing him and pushing his jeans over Rebel’s hips. “Get your clothes off. I want you to be bare for this. Start out without anything holding you back from me even your clothes.”
He could tell Rebel couldn’t even speak but his boy nodded and stepped out of his pants before pulling the shirt over his head. Rebel tried so hard not to let anything brush his sore nipples forcing Jack to quiet his laughter.
Together they walked to the table and Jack pulled Rebel onto his lap once he sat down. “You’ve read it over?”
“Three times,” Rebel laughed.
“Any problems with it? Any questions or anything? I want to hear from you because once we sign you will be held to all of it.”
Rebel closed his eyes for a minute as if reading the contract from memory. “It says you will have all control over me and my body is yours completely. I will take discipline and punishments at your discretion. My safeword stops all.”
“Very good boy. What else?”
Rebel bit his lip, one of the first things Jack would curb under the new contract, which laid out in no uncertain terms Jack’s control was more important than ever. “I have to earn things like going without the belt and coming.” He swallowed and Jack kissed him for encouragement. “You aren’t going to back down about helping me financially.”
Jack was ready for this one. “I have lots of ideas for your shop. Not the design or anything, which will be for you to work over with Lynn and Mike but you can use your house as collateral. That would make it so you don’t have to sell your aunt’s house but you can rent it and use the rent money to help pay the mortgage. I will cosign for you if you can’t get the loan for yourself. No negotiation. I don’t want you to have to give up the house.”
Looking confused he asked, “I thought you wanted me to live here with you.”
“I do, but you shouldn’t give up something like that. You loved your aunt and she loved you enough to leave you the house. Rent it, but don’t sell it. I think in time you will thank me.”
For a minute Jack thought that his boy wasn’t going to agree but then Jack watched him reaching for the pen and taking it in hand. The feeling he got as Rebel signed the contract was what it must feel like to win the lottery. The prize he got, however, wasn’t money, it was deep trust and love that ran through each and every bit of him. Jack Colton felt whole again.
Jack looked up from the contract and saw Martin smiling then sending a blown kiss to him as he started to fade.
The End Book 1 Apishipa Creek Chronicles
Apishipa Creek Chronicles Book 2 Coming in the Summer of 2014 and until then check out Honky Tonk and Honky Tonk: Coastal Cowboys, books 1 and 2 in the Honky Tonk series only on Amazon.com.
Watch for Honky Tonk: Wedding Bells and Bullets coming soon!
Rain Carrington can be contacted at [email protected],
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Rain Carrington is the author of several books, two of which can be found on Amazon.com.
Honky Tonk
Honky Tonk: Coastal Cowboys