Ranch Hand Trilogy
By Francis Ashe
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Table of Contents
Part II – Ranch Hands Ride Again (MMM)
Part III – Ranch Hand: Oiled and Tied (MM, BDSM)
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Dave had been an investment banker for the eight years since he graduated from college, but he never liked it much. The money was good, and he bought all sorts of things to distract himself with, but he knew deep down that he wasn’t the sort to sit in an office all day. He felt like a caged bull sitting in a pen as he stared out his high-rise window down onto the city below. In early May, he decided that it was time to move on, although he had no idea what to do next.
He grew up in a small town in Texas, surrounded by cattle land but had moved to Dallas for college, and then stayed in the city to work. At first, he had enjoyed the bright lights and constant entertainment, but over time he grew tired of it. All the rushing, the crowds and the traffic wore him down and eventually he started to long for the open spaces and big skies he grew up under. The other thing he realized was that he had no ties to the city. He had dated here and there, but never had a steady girlfriend and didn’t really want one. He was in a terrible rut and he knew it. He figured that going back to the country, where he felt at home, was his only real choice. The first day of June, he quit his job, packed the few possessions he cared about into his truck, and left the city for good.
His parents had moved to Florida for retirement, and had left him a small house that he used as a vacation home on the rare occasions that he took time off. Moving back in felt really, really good, and he knew immediately that he had made the right decision. He needed to find work though, and so the next morning he drove down to the local breakfast spot about a mile from his house, and started asking the regulars if they knew anyone that needed a ranch hand. He grew up on a ranch, after all, so he had a good background for that sort of work. Most of them were old-timers that he had known for years who had mostly all retired. About a half hour after he got there, someone he’d never seen before walked in. A city type that looked a little confused and a little frustrated.
“Morning,” Dave said to the stranger. “Name’s Dave and I just moved back to town. You wouldn’t happen to know anyone lookin’ for a ranch hand, would ya?”
“Actually, I do. I’m a new rancher myself. I had a job off in Houston and just couldn’t take it anymore so I thought it would be a great idea to buy a plot of land, some cows, and try something new. Oh, sorry, I’m Vance, nice to meet you.” Vance stuck his hand out and they shook.
Vance was about five years older than Dave, and bigger. Dave had always kept himself in good shape, but Vance was a sight to behold. He had big shoulders and a broad chest. His upper body tapered slightly to meet the waist of his tight jeans. Dave was a little surprised that he took so much notice of Vance’s physique. He’d never been one to pay much attention to what men looked like. He dismissed it, thinking he was just happy to meet another person his age in this tiny town.
They talked over breakfast, and decided that the next day Dave would start on the ranch. Vance had moved to town only two weeks before, and so his whole operation was just getting up and running. He hadn’t even managed to buy any cows yet, but was almost ready. He mentioned that the first thing he’d need Dave’s help with was the barn. He had paid someone else to fence his pasture, but decided that he should build the barn himself.
At 5:30 the next morning, Dave arrived at the address Vance had given him. Making his way up the long, dusty driveway, he started to wonder if he had made the right decision. After all, he had left a good job and a nice apartment behind in the city. He felt good though. His thoughts returned to his new job as soon as he saw Vance out front of the house. “Over here!” Vance shouted and waved him down.
“Let me hop in with you. The site for the barn is just down that dirt path, maybe a quarter mile from here,” Vance said as he got in the back of the truck. “Tools and supplies are already there.” Dave’s thoughts wandered again as he drove, but this time it wasn’t his old life he was thinking about, it was Vance.
They worked most of the morning, but by noon, Dave found it hard to focus. Vance had taken his shirt off shortly after they arrived, and had been working in a tight undershirt, which was soaked through with sweat. “Let’s get something to eat, I’m starved.” Vance called down from the scaffold where he was hammering framing boards into place. As he climbed down, Dave pulled the water cooler and a huge lunchbox out of the back of the truck. When he bent to put the water cooler down, he smelled Vance’s musk close behind him.
“I’ve seen how you’ve been looking at me all day,” Vance said in a near-whisper. “Don’t worry, every time you look away, I watch you. Hammering, driving nails into boards. Jesus Dave, I can’t believe I never realized it before.”
Surprised as much by his own desire as by what Vance was saying, Dave stammered, “wh-what do you mean? Realized what?”
“Don’t act like you weren’t thinking the same thing in that restaurant yesterday,” Vance answered. “I saw it then, too. I saw how you were looking at me.”
Moving close, Vance grabbed the buckle of Dave’s belt and pulled him in. Dave gasped in surprise and Vance pressed his lips to Dave’s. “The barn can wait,” he said as he pulled back, “but I can’t.”
Dave had never felt like this before. He desperately wanted Vance, but was confused at the same time. “I don’t know Vance, this is really sudden,” he said.
Vance answered him by putting his finger to Dave’s lips. “Shut up. The first time is always like this. I know what it’s like. Just trust me.” The bigger man put his arms around Dave’s waist and pulled him in close, kissing him again. Vance’s hot breath raised goose bumps on the back of Dave’s neck and he parted his lips allowing Vance’s tongue to work its way in. He had never kissed a man before, but he suddenly knew why he never took much interest in women. The roughness of Vance’s stubble turned him on and the hardness of the muscles of Vance’s back began to make him hard.