wordlessly; snuggling was good for an hour or so. He gave Ben a smile and Jeff a wink, then wedged his head into the crook of Tor’s neck. Sleep was very good.
Bareback
41
Chapter Five
The Boss always called the big barn dance a reward for a year’s hard work, but this was the first year that Jake even came close to agreeing with him. Usually the dance, really just a big drunken two day barbeque with music, was an event he made his way through by telling himself that it would be over in 'X' many hours, and life would return to normal. The first four years Jake was on the ranch he didn't even come out of his room for the event, convinced that there was no way in hell he'd make it through a weekend full of that many people, that much booze around, and that much noise, without drinking.
He didn't think the Boss had even noticed that he wasn't there; after all, there had to be more than a hundred people on the yard, tents everywhere, trucks parked three deep all along the lawn. But then, about a week before the party in Jake's fourth year there, the Boss had just asked him if he was going to join them this year. Jake had just shaken his head and said, "Not this year, sir. Maybe next." And the Boss had nodded and let it drop.
Over the years, and with a certain amount of trial and error, Jake had worked out what his endurance was. The first afternoon, when people started arriving and there were the sounds of happy greetings and the bands warming up, was fabulous. The early evening, when people sat around in tight circles, or moved from group to group talking to everyone they knew was fun. It wasn't until full dark, when the music was loud and the voices grew louder with too much drink that it got rough. Even that had changed over the years though. Early on, it was a dread of wanting to join them in their excess, the burning need for a bottle of his own that drove Jake to his room. Now it was just a need to be away from that many drunken people. The booze itself didn't faze him anymore; he didn't even notice the beer in the fridge of the bunkhouse unless it was in front of his apple juice. It was just the idiocy that came with it that got to him after awhile. He still found the second day a trial.
But right now it was just dusk and Jake was feeling fine. It was a big gathering this year, over a hundred and fifty people, since most started bringing their families and camping out. He was wandering around, talking to people he didn't see that often, meeting new faces, and generally just enjoying being social. He liked the sound of the band, liked the smell of the food; it was going to be a good night. The beer was just starting to flow and he figured it would be a couple of hours before he would really want to be somewhere else.
He knew that his tolerance was high this year due to actually missing the first night altogether. Spending the night on the riverbed with Ben and Jeff had been much more enjoyable than trying to make his way through the Boss's party. He was feeling relaxed and easy with himself after taking the entire day to just lay around. He even thought that his body was almost fully recovered, if not quite normal. Jake was just as glad; as much as he had enjoyed the night before, and that morning as well, he just wanted to settle back tonight, be apart from it all. And if he happened to wander into Tor, well, that would be nice, too.
42
Bareback
He was talking to a rancher from a spread south of theirs when Elias wandered up and asked to have a quick word with him.
"What's up?" Jake asked, as they walked up toward the stable.
"River. I was just feeding the horses and saw him favouring one leg. No one told me anything about it, so I just thought I'd mention it."
"Damn," Jake said. "Nothing wrong with him this morning. Anyone have him out this afternoon?"
Elias just shrugged, and said, "Don't know. Listen, I didn't even take a close look, just thought I'd tell you, seein' how you seem to favor him. I could
Bareback
41
Chapter Five
The Boss always called the big barn dance a reward for a year’s hard work, but this was the first year that Jake even came close to agreeing with him. Usually the dance, really just a big drunken two day barbeque with music, was an event he made his way through by telling himself that it would be over in 'X' many hours, and life would return to normal. The first four years Jake was on the ranch he didn't even come out of his room for the event, convinced that there was no way in hell he'd make it through a weekend full of that many people, that much booze around, and that much noise, without drinking.
He didn't think the Boss had even noticed that he wasn't there; after all, there had to be more than a hundred people on the yard, tents everywhere, trucks parked three deep all along the lawn. But then, about a week before the party in Jake's fourth year there, the Boss had just asked him if he was going to join them this year. Jake had just shaken his head and said, "Not this year, sir. Maybe next." And the Boss had nodded and let it drop.
Over the years, and with a certain amount of trial and error, Jake had worked out what his endurance was. The first afternoon, when people started arriving and there were the sounds of happy greetings and the bands warming up, was fabulous. The early evening, when people sat around in tight circles, or moved from group to group talking to everyone they knew was fun. It wasn't until full dark, when the music was loud and the voices grew louder with too much drink that it got rough. Even that had changed over the years though. Early on, it was a dread of wanting to join them in their excess, the burning need for a bottle of his own that drove Jake to his room. Now it was just a need to be away from that many drunken people. The booze itself didn't faze him anymore; he didn't even notice the beer in the fridge of the bunkhouse unless it was in front of his apple juice. It was just the idiocy that came with it that got to him after awhile. He still found the second day a trial.
But right now it was just dusk and Jake was feeling fine. It was a big gathering this year, over a hundred and fifty people, since most started bringing their families and camping out. He was wandering around, talking to people he didn't see that often, meeting new faces, and generally just enjoying being social. He liked the sound of the band, liked the smell of the food; it was going to be a good night. The beer was just starting to flow and he figured it would be a couple of hours before he would really want to be somewhere else.
He knew that his tolerance was high this year due to actually missing the first night altogether. Spending the night on the riverbed with Ben and Jeff had been much more enjoyable than trying to make his way through the Boss's party. He was feeling relaxed and easy with himself after taking the entire day to just lay around. He even thought that his body was almost fully recovered, if not quite normal. Jake was just as glad; as much as he had enjoyed the night before, and that morning as well, he just wanted to settle back tonight, be apart from it all. And if he happened to wander into Tor, well, that would be nice, too.
42
Bareback
He was talking to a rancher from a spread south of theirs when Elias wandered up and asked to have a quick word with him.
"What's up?" Jake asked, as they walked up toward the stable.
"River. I was just feeding the horses and saw him favouring one leg. No one told me anything about it, so I just thought I'd mention it."
"Damn," Jake said. "Nothing wrong with him this morning. Anyone have him out this afternoon?"
Elias just shrugged, and said, "Don't know. Listen, I didn't even take a close look, just thought I'd tell you, seein' how you seem to favor him. I could
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