Chapter One - Kyle

Chapter One.

The Arrival of Kyle.

Coming out onto the porch, Cowboy stood for a moment and just smelt the air. He had been inside working on his books since early morning and it was already mid afternoon. He knew the importance of keeping proper books and had always taught his “boys” to be self-disciplined even when it came to the everyday chores they didn’t like doing.

And Cowboy was very sure of one thing. If he taught it, he had to demonstrate it himself. Even so he was very pleased to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine once more and a smile came across his rugged but friendly face.

Raising his hand to shade his eyes from the sun he looked out across the ranch. It was a quiet afternoon and none of his boys were staying or due to visit that day. “Shame really.” He thought, to himself. “I could do with a bit of company right now.”

It was at this point that his mind thought of Kyle. “Young Kyle.” Cowboy thought to himself. “I still haven’t quite figured that boy out.” Taking a handkerchief out of his back pocket, Cowboy removed his hat, mopped the sweat off of his brow. “Man it is hot today.” He thought.

Placing the handkerchief back in the pocket of his wrangler jeans, adjusting his hat and pulling and his leather belt to raise his jeans slightly, cowboy stepped off of the porch and towards the barn round back.

It had been but a few weeks since Karl first arrived at the ranch and even then he had not arrived in the normal way and no matter how much Cowboy liked the lad, he did not class him as one of his “boys.” Not yet at least.

As Cowboy made his way round to the barn, he thought back to the day that Kyle had arrived.

Cowboy had been down the end of the drive collecting mail when he had noticed a lone figure slowly approaching down the highway. The ranch was isolated and highway not a busy one. Heck seeing a passing car was a fairly rare occurrence let alone seeing a passing hitchhiker.

It was for this reason that Cowboy decided to wait a while and see if the approaching stranger was all right, or if he needed any help. Although too far away for Cowboy to make out his features he could plainly see that he had no bags or luggage with him. “Perhaps his car broke down somewhere.” Cowboy thought to himself.
But by the time this stranger had reached Cowboy and the end of the driveway, Cowboy could see that was in fact a young guy and judging by his dusty clothes and tired, weary posture he had walked a long way.

“Excuse me mate.” The stranger spoke. “Haven’t got any work going have you?”

Cowboy studied the young stranger before him for a second or two. The stranger’s rough looks did not suit the youthful looks that were almost hidden behind the unshaven chin and dusty, dirty clothes.

“I don’t know about any work.” Cowboy replied gently, but it looks to me like you could do with a bath some hot food and a place to bunk down for the night?” His statement was made both as information and an invitation.

“I, I can’t pay you?” The young stranger nervously replied.

“I don’t recall asking you to.” Cowboy smiled. “Come on hop in the truck and we will go on up to the house.”

On the drive up to the house the stranger had introduced himself as Kyle and had thanked Cowboy for his help and the offer of hospitality. He was a soft-spoken lad who struck Cowboy as having a good heart no matter what his current troubles may be.

The drive up to the house was fairly short and it wasn’t long before he and Kyle were in the house and Cowboy was showing the lad upstairs to the bathroom.

Reaching an open doorway to one of the bedroom’s Cowboy told Kyle that he could bunk down in there for the night. “You will find it pretty comfortable in here,” He told him. “My room is just at the end of the hall.” And with that Cowboy gestured to a white door at the end of the hall.

Walking over to the set of drawers, Cowboy opened one of them and lifted out a neatly folded pair of blue denim dungarees. He turned and placed them on the bed. “Put these on when you have had your bath.” He told him. “And I’ll get your clothes washed for you.” Turning to the lad he smiled and then led the lad to bathroom. Kyle followed quietly, almost too tired for conversation.

Inside the bathroom, Cowboy started running a bath for the lad. “Help yourself to any toiletries you need.” Cowboy told him as he ran the bath water, lifting a box of Epsom salts and emptying some into the bathwater.

As he did so, Kyle went to the bathroom washbasin and putting his hand into his shirt pocket pulled out an old razor and placed it on the washbasin before beginning to undress.

Standing up and turning to face Kyle he was met by the site of the young lad standing there before him crouching down slightly as he pulled his boxer briefs free from his leg.

Cowboy admired the lad’s physique but was slightly shocked by his confidence and lack of inhibitions. “Um there is a robe hanging on the back of the door.” Cowboy told the lad. “Help yourself to it whilst you are here.”

Kyle dutifully obliged by pushing the door shut slightly and reaching up lifted robe from the hook on the back of the bathroom door. As he did so, Cowboy noticed the leather strap that was left hanging there on the hook. And Cowboy wasn’t the only one to have noticed it.

“You got kids then?” Kyle asked, un-phased by the sight of the strap hanging there.

“No, no kids, I am not married and live alone.” Cowboy replied. “But sometimes my boys need a little lesson in good behavior.”

Cowboy looked at the pile of clothes in the middle of the Bathroom floor. “Looks like they aren’t the only one’s.” He thought to himself, as he reached down and picked the clothes up ready to take down and put into the wash.

“Ok. I am going to go fix us some food, whilst you have your bath.” He said. “See you downstairs when you have freshened up.” And with that, Cowboy turned and left the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Dropping the robe onto the floor and climbing into the bath, Kyle looked at the strap now swinging slightly on the bathroom door hook, before lying back and sliding down into the fresh, hot bathwater.

“Damn that feels good.” He thought to himself, closing his eyes and relaxing. “But I wonder who and where his “boys” are?”