Riding Home - An Erotic Gay Cowboy Novel

RIDING HOME

JASON DOUGHTRY

Copyright 2012 Jason Doughtry

Smashword Edition

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At sunset, the sky was brilliant orange. It looked as if a forest somewhere off in the distance was on fire illuminating the sky overhead. Brody saw two eagles soaring high above, probably on their way home to nest for the night. The stars were already visible: this was not unusual because the air in Wyoming was so incredibly clean and clear. And fifty years ago there was no such thing as light pollution. The orange colour of the sky came from the setting sun and the purity of the air, not from big city lights reflecting on the clouds above.

Not that there were any big cities to speak of in Wyoming in those days. Brody Carter had just graduated from his local high school. There wasn’t much of anything except ranch land in his neck of the woods, so he had to travel pretty far in order to complete his high school education. Every school day, he walked from his family’s ranch house back along the stream out to the end of the lane, and then got on the school bus and rode for what seemed like hours to him.

Brody was a very good looking kid. He was a blond-haired blue-eyed All-American boy with a handsome face, high cheekbones and a strong masculine jaw. He was very muscular and had been the star quarterback of his high school football team, and he had done fairly well in his academic studies. Although he was wildly popular with just about all of the kids at his school, he was actually quite shy. He was a really nice guy, but he was still quite uncomfortable around large groups of people, and he tended to keep to himself.

Since he had been born and raised on a farm and it was in his blood, and since attending college was not a possibility because he came from a poor struggling family, he decided to take up ranching as his vocation. That way, if he worked long and hard, he’d be able to save up enough money to send home to his family. He had heard about a ranch about 50 miles away that was hiring ranch hands. So, one spring day, without much warning, Brody Carter packed a bag, said goodbye to his family, and headed out the lane to the main road.

He walked for a good long while. It was hotter than usual for this time of the year, but his hat protected his face from the sun’s rays. It took him several hours, but, with the help of his thumb and a couple of friendly drivers, he finally found himself at the entrance to Cottonwood Ranch. After he reached the end of the tree-lined lane, he looked around for someone to give him some information. He found some cowboys behind one of the outbuildings, and one of the cowboys told Brody that he should check in with the foreman, Chet Wenger, in a small wooden office that sat between the owner’s ranch house and the horse stables.

Brody knocked on the door of the office and took off his hat as he went inside. Behind the big old wooden desk sat a middle-aged man with slightly greying hair and a bushy moustache. He looked up from his desk and ran his eye over the newcomer at the door.

What can I do for ya, young man? asked Chet.

Hi, said Brody. My name’s Brody Carter, and I heard ya might be hirin’ cowboys here.

Yup, we are, said Chet. Do ya have any experience?

Yes, sir, answered Brody. Been workin’ on my parents’ farm pretty near all my life.

I see. How old are ya, Brody? asked Chet.

Eighteen, sir, replied Brody.

Ya look like a good kid, Brody, so I suppose I ought to give ya a chance, said Chet. Go around back and ask to see Dave Horn: he’s my right hand man. Dave helps me with the books from time to time, so he’ll be the one to show you the ropes. Get it? Show you the ropes. Lassoes? Ropes?

Brody laughed. Yes, sir.

If ya have any trouble or any questions, Brody, you jist come on in here and talk to me about it, said Chet.

Yes, sir, said Brody. Thanks.

Brody picked up his bag from the chair, put his hat back on, opened the door and went outside. He walked around to the back of the foreman’s office and saw several cowboys leaning up against the fence of the sheep corral. They all stopped talking when they saw Brody.

Hi, said Brody shyly. The foreman told me to talk to Dave. Dave Horn?

You’re lookin‘ at him, kid, said Dave. What do ya need?

Well, he said he could give me some work, said Brody.

"There’s plenty of work