The sounds of building could be heard for miles-hammers, saws, drills pounded out incredible noises-and Jim heard it as he was riding his horse near the edge of the Circle-T land. He turned his horse to the edge of the canyon, and tied it to the fence. Then he walked to the top of the hillside and looked down at the scene below. He couldn't believe his eyes! Long-haired, sandaled men and women and kids were building the most beautiful barn he had ever seen. Suddenly pangs of guilt rode through his body. He lingered on, watching intently, as he heard laughter and the shouts of happy people in the midst of all the noise.
His father had instructed him to ride along the entire edge of the ranch, to check the fence for any breaks. He knew he was wasting time, but there was some force that pulled him to the canyon, to the people below. He was standing in the exact spot he had stood that night when he had the matches in his pocket. At that time he had been responsible for destruction. This day he wanted to be responsible for the opposite, He wanted to help build the barn. He needed to help build the barn.
He ran down the hillside, bracing himself so he wouldn't fall. As he hit bottom, Jerri noticed him from the middle of the yard. "Rob, look! Trouble!" she said sharply.
There was a sudden hush over the group as everyone turned to stare at Tex's son. The boy stopped dead and looked around at the many eyes staring at him.
"What do you want?" Rob asked.
The boy said nothing. He was frightened. He wanted to turn and run, but he knew he couldn't do that. He had to tell the truth. "I… I came to help."
There was a murmur as faces turned to other faces.
"If you need me," Jim said, almost timidly, almost apologizing.
Rob's face changed from a look of concern to joy. "Sure, we need you! We need you more than you could ever guess!" Rob ran to him and patted him on the back. Jim smiled and wrapped his arm around him. Jerri joined them and put her arm around Jim, and the three of them walked across the field to the new barn. Jim grabbed a hammer and, without a word, climbed into the rafters and began to work as all the others were doing. He was the only one with short hair.
"Can you believe it?" Carol said to Russell, standing on the porch of the house.
"Actually, no," Russell said, looking at the boy on the roof of the barn. "Oh, hell, yes, of course I can believe it!"
Chapter 14
The barn was finished in exactly four days. Jim was given the honor of pounding the last nail into the weather vane at the peak of the roof. He sat there straddling the peak, and held the hammer in one hand and the nail in the other, and slowly-almost in slow motion-set the nail to the bottom of the vane and pounded it in. Then he raised his fingers in the "peace" sign and the crowd below applauded.
After Jim had crawled down from the top of the barn, they all began to feast on the dinner the women had been preparing. Long tables had been set up and an endless line of women carried roast chickens and ducks and pots of vegetables, salads, and hot homemade loaves of bread across the yard and set them before the men.
"Jim, are they coming?" Rob asked, as they watched the food being set up on the tables.
"I don't know, Rob. Dad was pretty pissed that first day when I didn't check the fence, but I think the shock of the Christmas gifts has never quite left him. I don't know though, I just don't know."
Just as the last word came from Jim's mouth, a car turned up the drive leading to the house. Tex was at the wheel, with his wife, Jack, and Granny in the car with him. Rob and Jerri ran to greet them.
"Hello! Wow, we're so glad you came!" Jerri said, as they stepped out of their automobile.
"Well, we got your invitation via Jim and we couldn't resist the smell of all that great food!" Tex kidded.
"Really, we could smell it up at the house," his wife added.
They turned and began walking toward the group in the middle of the yard. "Mighty nice barn you got there… "Tex said. Jerri and Rob began to laugh, and then Tex smiled and put his arm around both of them.
By eight in the evening, everyone had gone home. It had been a great day, one filled with hard work, love, good food, and the breaking-down of conventions. Rob and the rest of the tribe were pleased and proud of the barn, but they were even more pleased with the fact that Tex had finally accepted them.
Jerri and Dave were sitting in the living room when there was a knock at the door. Jerri got up and opened it. Jim stood there.
"I forgot my wristwatch in the barn. I took it off when I climbed to the top. Can I get it?" he asked.
"Oh, sure; Here, let me go with you, I'll get the lantern," Jerri said, opening the little closet.
"Hi, Jim," Dave said smiling.
"Hi."
"Dave," Jerri asked," are you going to write Mom and Dad tonight?"
"No, I'll wait till the morning. I'm really tired. "He got up and stretched. "Think I'll go to bed right now. Tracey's asleep already."
"I'll be back in a minute," Jerri said.
"Good night, Dave," Jim called as Jerri closed the door.
"Night!" Dave responded.
Jerri held the lantern high in the barn as Jim walked to the far end and fetched his watch from the top of a shelf.
"We'll have to get electricity in here soon," Jerri said softly. She watched the boy in the faint light and realized he was better-looking than she had thought. She liked the way his jeans clung to his trim young body. The attraction was different this time-again the opposite of what she was used to, a young boy with short hair-for it was sexual alone. She had been curious about Jim's cock ever since Carol had related the story of sucking his penis in the barn.
Jim returned to Jerri's side. "Thanks, I mean for everything. You think I can come back some time and smoke some grass with all of you?"
"Any time. Anything." Jerri said it with all the sensual tone she could find.
Jim stopped and looked into her eyes. "I really want to have sex with all you guys. I really don't know where else to get it!" He giggled.
"Would you like some right now?"
"What?"
"How about a fast one, here, now?"
"Oh, God," the boy said, his eyes opening in wonder. His cock jumped in his pants. He was ready.
Jerri set the lantern on the floor and the light flickered. She opened her blouse and exposed her breasts to his gaze. He reached out and touched them, pressing them in his hands, rubbing his fingers over the nipples.
"Suck one," Jerri said, leaning against the wall of the barn.
Jim brought his lips to her left tit and took it in his mouth and swirled the nipple under his tongue. The tip hardened under his warm caress and he held the breast with both hands as he sucked on it.
Jerri quickly found his zipper and opened it, drawing his slender penis out, fondling it in her hand. He sucked harder as she pulled down the length of his cock, feeling the sticky substance already at the tip.
Jerri fell to her knees and took the entire length of his young penis into her mouth. Holding it there between the roof of her mouth and her tongue, she undid the clasp of his pants and pulled his jeans down to his feet. Letting go of his cock for a moment, she pulled his underwear down, almost ripping it. She took his cock back in her mouth and sucked in heavy, long strokes, as she felt the head swelling inside her lips. She rubbed his balls as he played with her shaggy hair, feeling his hips moving now, fucking her in the mouth, as her breasts rubbed his naked legs. He was ready to come and she knew it.
"Can I fuck you?" Jim asked, barely able to get the words out.
Jerri pulled the boy's penis from her lips, holding it in her hand. She looked at it closely. It was long, slender, young, surrounded by soft hair. Yes she thought, yes, she wanted that nice cock in her! She stood up and without a word slipped her skirt to the floor. Then she leaned against the wall of the barn, spreading her legs wide. She knew that he was just the right height-his cock would slip into her easily if he stood directly between her legs. She took hold of his penis and pulled it, moving him into position.