by Drew Hunt
Colin smiled. “He sits.”
“Ah, of course.”
Martin emerged. “Okay I’m back, you can stop talking about me now.”
Out of the corner of his eye Colin saw Bruce’s already dark complexion grow a couple of shades darker. “You wish.”
“Ready to look around?” Bruce asked.
“Uh, I couldn’t find the sink,” Martin admitted, dipping his head.
“Let’s have a look,” Colin said and went into the bathroom behind Martin.
As soon as the door closed Martin grabbed Colin and laid a kiss on his lips. “I lied, I found the sink just fine.”
Colin kissed him back. “The Aussie air must suit you ’cause you’ve been a right randy bugger ever since we arrived.”
“Nah, it’s ’cause we’ve not had a chance to make love.” Martin cupped Colin’s rapidly hardening dick. “Except for a couple of nights ago in that motel.”
“Sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
But Colin did think it was his fault that he couldn’t love his husband while listening to his uncle and his uncle’s…foreman having sex in the next room. “Maybe when we get back to the homestead we could make some excuse about jet lag or something and go to our room. Hopefully there won’t be anyone else around.”
“I like the ‘or something.’” Martin rubbed Colin’s now totally stiff cock. “Can’t you tell Bruce you’ve got a headache and we’d like to go back now?”
“Knowing him, he’s probably got some pills here.”
Martin groaned. “Besides, I think he likes hanging around two out gay men.”
There was knocking at the door. “You blokes dropped the soap in there?”
Martin laughed. “Something like that. Be out in a minute.”
“Okay, I’ll be on the main wool floor when you’re both finished.”
“Thanks,” Colin called out.
“Come on,” Martin growled, “drop your trousers. I need a taste of home.”
* * * *
“You two can come with me into Walleroo this morning if you want a change of scene,” Nance told Colin and Martin at breakfast the third morning of their stay. “I’ve got that bloody doctor’s appointment Bruce made for me.”
“Want to?” Colin looked over at his husband who had just laid down his knife and fork. Colin was glad to see Martin had regained his appetite over the previous couple of days.
Martin shrugged. “Okay by me. Are there any shops?”
“A few,” Matt said, “but it’s pretty limited. Walleroo isn’t very big. If you need anything special we could go into Broken Hill, but it’ll be packed this close to Chrissy.”
“No, I just wanted to get something for Colin to open on Christmas morning.”
“We said we wouldn’t get each other anything this year,” Colin pointed out. He left unsaid that they were saving money.
“Nothing major, just a token.”
Colin had been thinking about a gift for Martin, although it was as much for himself, too. He bet there’d be somewhere in Walleroo that would meet his requirements.
* * * *
“Get back on your side of the bloody road you stupid drongo!” Nance yelled through the open window while laying on the horn. “Stupid sod shouldn’t be let loose on the roads,” she muttered once they’d driven past.
Gripping the sides of his seat, Colin was beginning to wish he and Martin had refused Nance’s offer of a lift to the shops. The woman drove like a maniac. Make that a suicidal maniac, he amended when Nance took the next turn at a speed that had to be way above the limit. Colin resisted the temptation to look over at the speedometer to check how fast they were going.
“Be there in a sec,” she called out above the radio that was playing upbeat Christmas music about snowflakes falling and icicles hanging from tree branches.
Colin mopped at his brow.
“Sorry, the air in this old jalopy doesn’t work right,” Nance said, handing him a tissue.
“Uh, thanks,” Colin unclamped his jaw long enough to say.
“You okay in the back there, Marty?” Nance asked.
“Yes, thanks.”
Colin knew Martin hated the baby-like changing of his name but was much too polite to say anything.
As Nance wove past a startled bicyclist, Colin spared a momentary glance to the back seat at his husband who was looking rather green around the gills.
“Just round this last corner, then we’ll find somewhere to park,” Nance said, waving to someone she obviously knew, Colin willing her to pay more attention to the road.
“So, you two made any decisions about maybe emigrating?” she asked, breaking hard at the traffic lights.
Settling himself back in his seat, Colin said, “We’ve talked about it, but it’s a big change. We’d both have to find jobs here and—”
“Matt’d take you on, no worries there.”
Colin knew that, his uncle had said as much, but did he want to be a sheep herder? Driving sheep was a world away from driving a delivery van. And what would Martin do?
“It’s certainly a beautiful country,” Martin put in. “Plenty of open spaces.”
Colin wasn’t sure open spaces were helpful to blind people who needed physical landmarks to navigate by.
Their discussion was cut short when Nance suddenly announced, “We’re in luck, there’s a space outside the post office.”
Colin looked over at the kerb. Surely Nance didn’t think she could get her large car into such a small space. He held his breath, but Nance deftly manoeuvred the vehicle into position. Who said women couldn’t park?
“Thanks for the lift,” Martin said, sounding more chipper than Colin felt.
Colin was wondering if there was any other way of getting back to the sheep station.
His hopes were dashed when Nance said, “I need to pick up a couple of things myself after the doctor’s. Do you want to come with me, Marty? I think lover boy here wants to buy you something special and it’s a secret.”
“Uh, thanks,” Martin said, “if that’s okay with Col.”
“No worries, mate.” Colin grinned. He’d wondered how he’d be able to buy his gifts without Martin knowing what he was getting.
They got out of the car, Colin watching the usual dance routine as first Martin’s guide took hold of his arm with Martin reversing the process. Colin shook his head, he’d done exactly the same thing the first time he’d guided a blind person.
* * * *
“And no, Colin Rogers, it isn’t time to get up and open presents,” Martin said, his head still resting on the pillow.
“You sure? You’re still not fully adjusted to the time change.”
It’s the same every year, Martin mused to himself. Colin’s such a kid where Christmas Day’s concerned.
The previous year Colin had altered Martin’s bedside clock so it seemed later than it was. Only when Martin went downstairs to start cooking Christmas dinner, turned on the radio, and heard a time-check did he realise he’d been duped. Revenge had been swift, sweet, and sweaty as the two of them had wrestled on the living room floor, Seth acting as an over-enthusiastic referee.
“Well, it feels later than it is,” Colin protested. “I must still have some jet lag.”
Martin sighed, there was no changing his man, and he wouldn’t want to.
He played his trump card. “Your gifts are in Matt and Bruce’s room…so you’ll have to wait until they get up before you can have them.”
“Them, as in more than one?” Colin sounded excited. “And why did you put them in there?”
“They’re there because I knew they would be safe from inquisitive fingers.”
Over the years Martin had had to be quite inventive about where he hid Colin’s gifts as his husband was likely to go looking in the backs of rarely visited cupboards for a drill or other piece of equipment he didn’t really need to use.
“Then it’s a good job I asked Uncle Matt last night if he wou
ldn’t mind getting up early today to help me get your gift ready.”
“Huh?” Martin asked.
They heard movement from the other room; it only then occurred to Martin that things had been quiet next door the previous night.
“Sounds like my cue,” Colin said, getting out of bed.
“Colin!” Martin whispered loudly, “you’re not going to just barge in there this early.”
“Don’t worry, love, it’s all arranged,” Colin said, opening a cupboard door.
“What’re you doing?” Though Martin suspected he knew. Colin was getting his gift. Still, going into Bruce’s furniture was a bit much.
“It’s okay. Like I said, it’s all arranged.”
Martin sat up in bed and prepared to receive his gift. Maybe Colin isn’t the only one who gets excited on Christmas morning.
“Damn!” Colin said.
“What?”
“No, it’s okay. Got it.”
“What?” Martin repeated. He could hear the rustling of fabric and something clinking, Colin must be getting dressed.
“I’ll be back soon, no, better still, get dressed and meet me in Uncle Matt’s room.”
Colin left before Martin could reply.
Martin was confused. Why didn’t Colin give him his present? Maybe he wants me to have mine the same time I give him his.
Dressing quickly and grabbing the small bag of gifts for Matt and Bruce that Nance had kindly agreed to wrap, Martin knocked on Matt and Bruce’s door and was told to ‘come in.’
“Happy Christmas,” three voices chorused, making Martin smile.
“And to you, too.” Martin remained in the doorway because he didn’t know the layout of the room.
“I was going to show you your present now, but Uncle Matt says he has an announcement,” Colin said excitedly.
Matt laughed, “Martin was right, you’re like a kid when it comes to Chrissy.”
“Am not,” Colin protested.
“Okay then, give Martin his gift and I’ll stay mum.”
Martin was pretty sure he already knew what Matt had to say, but held his tongue.
“Me and Bruce…” Matt began.
“Bruce and I, you ill-educated ignorant bastard,” Bruce corrected.
“Rack off,” Matt said good-naturedly. “Anyway, like I was saying, him an’ me have talked and after seeing how happy you two are as a couple we decided that we’d had enough of hiding our feelings from each other and the men. So from today, I formerly announce that Bruce Anthony Wilson is my lover, partner, heck, whatever he wants to be called.”
Martin’s smile widened. “Congratulations!”
“And it’s all thanks to you two meddling pommy bastards,” Bruce said once he and Matt had exchanged loud kisses.
“Us?” Martin said, aiming for innocence.
Ever since their talk at the windmill Martin had deliberately not brought up the subject of Matt and Bruce becoming a couple again with Bruce. He hadn’t raised the issue at all with Matt. However, he’d had a sneaking suspicion Colin had talked with his uncle, despite his insistence they not interfere.
“We should go and, uh, let you two celebrate,” Martin said, feeling for the door handle.
“Hang on, you haven’t given me my presents yet,” Colin whined.
Martin rolled his eyes and Matt laughed.
“I couldn’t get you much,” Martin told his man, thinking back to his brief shopping trip with Nance.
“I’ll get them,” Matt said.
“Uncle Matt!” Colin gasped.
“What?” both Martin and Matt said at the same time.
“You’re naked,” Colin said.
Martin laughed. “Doesn’t bother me, and I don’t suppose Bruce minds either.”
“Too right I don’t, mate.”
Matt gave Martin the two small wrapped packages.
“Thanks,” Martin said. “We got you and Bruce a few things.” He handed Matt the small bag.
“Thanks, mate, but you shouldn’t have.”
“Of course we should,” Colin said. “You and Bruce, and Nance, too, have opened up your home and looked after us and… Well, just enjoy.”
“We will, thanks,” Bruce said. He approached Martin and gave him a hug.
Returning the hug, Martin realised Bruce was naked, too.
“Now, who’ll go first?” Matt asked.
“Me, me,” Colin said.
Martin grinned and shook his head; he could have predicted that. “Okay, Mr Impatient, here you go.”
He handed over the smaller of the two packages, putting the other in his pocket. If he gave Colin both together his man would open them at the same time. Martin thought delaying things would increase his husband’s pleasure.
Martin heard paper being ripped.
“Careful, it’s delicate.”
Martin had asked Nance to double wrap Colin’s gifts in an attempt to slow him down.
“It’s perfect,” Colin said a moment later.
Didn’t slow him down long though, Martin thought.
“It’s a shoestring, uh, do you say bolo tie here?” Martin asked.
“Either,” Bruce said.
“It’s wonderful, just right. Thank you.”
Martin smiled and expected a kiss, but didn’t get one. Hiding his disappointment he continued, “The lady in the shop said turquoise helps bring good fortune to the wearer, as well as peace to the home.”
“Put it on for me, and you can feel your gift at the same time.”
“Huh?”
“My gift to you is a bit, uh, different,” Colin explained.
Martin reached for his husband’s neck and discovered he was wearing a shirt, one that didn’t feel familiar. His hands began to explore the man’s wide shoulders.
“It’s a blue and white checked chambray shirt.”
“Oh,” Martin felt a tingling in his dick. The material felt wonderfully…rugged and outdoorsy.
“And if you feel what’s on my head…”
Martin did so and gasped. “A straw cowboy hat.”
“And if you feel lower down my body…”
Martin knelt and at Colin’s waist discovered a wide leather belt with a large oval buckle.
“Check out the design,” Colin encouraged.
“A kangaroo?”
“Right. A genuine Australian cowboy belt buckle.”
“Probably made in China,” Matt put in, but Martin didn’t care. In fact he wished Matt and Bruce weren’t there so he could properly examine this…gift. And it really was a gift for him, even though Colin was wearing it.
“But what we got Colin is definitely made in Oz,” Bruce said, setting a box down beside Colin.
Martin started to get up, but Bruce encouraged him to stay where he was.
Colin made quick work of unwrapping that gift, too. “Boots? Oh wow. They’re beautiful, but they must have cost a fortune. We didn’t get you—”
“Don’t even start with that. You’re my nephew, and Bruce’s, uh, nephew-in-law, so you deserve the best riding boots we could find.”
Colin handed one of the boots to Martin to examine. Martin was glad he was kneeling as it helped hide his erection. The boot felt wonderfully soft, but strong. The stitching felt as though it had been done by hand. And the smell. It was heavenly, spoke to Martin of long rides in the saddle, of walks across a paddock of…
“We got you a similar pair, too,” Bruce said, setting another box next to Martin.
“Oh, wow, thanks.” Martin raised his head to where he assumed Bruce was standing. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t have to say anything, mate.” Bruce kissed the top of Martin’s head. “They’re partly a thank you for kicking my arse into gear about telling that gorgeous hunk over there that I love him.”
Martin smiled and got to his feet to give Bruce a hug. Using Colin’s legs to give him balance he discovered his man was wearing a new pair of jeans, Wranglers he’d bet.
There
were hugs all around—Bruce and Matt were still naked. Then Martin got the chance to put the bolo tie over Colin’s head and push up the slide.
“There,” Martin said, reseating Colin’s hat and bending to kiss the small, polished turquoise in its silver setting.
“What about my other gift? The one in your pocket?” Colin asked Martin, kissing him back and disturbing the hat in the process.
Martin, Matt, and Bruce laughed.
Martin produced the other small packet. “Here you go. And be gentle with it.”
Colin still tore at the paper, but Martin knew he was doing his best to take it slowly.
“It’s a wristband isn’t it?” Colin asked. “Wow, the leatherwork is so intricate.”
“Kangaroo leather,” Martin put in just before Colin kissed him.
“Damn,” Colin said when his hat fell off.
Martin realised why he hadn’t been kissed the first time, it would have spoiled the surprise.
“Isn’t this Braille?” Colin asked.
“Uh huh.”
“How’d you get them to do that?”
“It was my idea. The lady in the shop wasn’t sure it could be done, but I told them if they used a sharp pointed tool they could emboss the leather.”
“Oh wow.”
“I had to describe each Braille cell to them, dotting my fingers on the counter to demonstrate.”
“It’s amazing. Thank you. What does it say?”
Martin smiled. “I told the woman it read Colin Rogers, Christmas 2011.”
“Cool.”
“That's what I told her it said. Actually I had her write, ‘Colin, big, strong, and Martin's! That way any blind person who starts coming onto you will know you’re mine.”
Everyone laughed.
Martin received another kiss, and this time Colin's hat stayed in place. “I love you so much.”
“Love you more.”
“Oi, you two, get a room,” Matt said. “This one’s ours.”
“Leave ’em alone. It’s wonderful,” Bruce told him. “But, yes, if you two would bugger off I could, uh, bugger my lover.”
Colin and Martin laughed.
“I still have one more part to your gift,” Colin told Martin.
Martin wasn’t sure he could cope with more.
“Uncle Matt has agreed to loan us one of his horses. I thought we could ride out somewhere, have a breakfast picnic, and…”
