Speeding along the dirt back roads, the old flatbed truck left a blinding trail of dust. Frequent ruts caused the sideboards to clatter and bang as if they would splinter at any moment. The driver of the truck, 18 year old Jim Calfee, was singing off key to a twangy country song on the radio. Up ahead, flashing red lights signaled the approach of a train at the crossing.

"Shit! Come on, train! I ain't got all day!"

Not even the delay could dampen Jim's spirits. He reached in the glove box and pulled out a yellow envelope with his name carefully printed on it. For the umpteenth time in two hours, he unfolded the enclosed paper and read it again, this time aloud.

"Mr. James Calfee, Jr., has been accepted to attend Buckley State Agricultural College with major studies in Agriculture and Farm Management."

Boy, how he had wanted this! Not just anyone could walk into Buckley! It was the finest AG school in the state of Illinois. Your grades had to be near perfect and your farming experience impeccable. Even after those criteria were met, you were required to go before a school board and be questioned at length about your intentions and plans.

His teachers would be excited. His friends would be envious. His mother would be proud. His father wouldn't speak to him for a week.

Jim Sr. wasn't the type to accept what he termed "new-fangled technology." He came from a long line of farmers who spent their life, sweat, and blood scratching at the obstinate earth.

Jim and his father got along in a polite sort of way. They didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but Jim kept silent for the sake of his mother and family peace in general. But on the subject of college, Jim was adamant. He was going, by God! Even if his father didn't speak to him for the rest of his life!

The last freight car clacked by the crossing. Jim put the truck in gear and shot across the tracks before the red lights had ceased to flash. It had been a long drive up to the campus and back, and he was anxious to get home.

Jim geared down before turning into the side road that led to his family's farmhouse. Fronted by 120 acres, the house was hidden from the main road. As Jim pulled up beside his mom's old Rambler, his dog came bounding from around the barn, scattering chickens left and right, and leaping up at the driver's side door to greet him. "Get down, Patches! I can't open the door! Down, boy!"

"Jim? Are you home?" His mother leaned out the back door. "Hurry up! We're eating already!"

Throwing a stick for Patches to run after, Jim entered the back door and took off his seed cap. He heard talking from the kitchen; one of the voices was unfamiliar. After washing his hands in the bathroom, he walked into the kitchen. Seated at the table with his parents was a man he'd never seen before. He appeared to be 30-ish. A ruddy complexion. His dark hair was unruly, and he sported a thick beard and mustache.

"Honey, sit down and I'll fix you a plate. There's someone your father and I want you to meet." Before he could say anything, the stranger was on his feet.

"Howdy! The name's Buttram. Roger Buttram, but most folks call me Ace."

This man was not from Illinois. His Southern accent was too pronounced. Jim sat down in silence. His father was the first to speak.

"Jim, since I can't change your mind about this damned college business, I'll need some full time help around here until you come back for good. That is, if you come back!"

Jim ignored the little dig. His father knew full well that he would be back. Young Jim loved farming as much as he did. "Ace is originally from Georgia, but he knows his farming. He'll be staying in the extra bedroom."

Big, fucking deal, Jim thought. He had already decided that he did not like this "Ace," merely because his father seemed to.

Later that night as he lay awake in bed, Jim mused over the day's events. His mother had been happy, in a generic sort of way, over the news of his acceptance. He'd gotten the cool reception from his father that he'd anticipated, except that he was speaking. The fact that Ace was now in the picture seemed to take the heat off Jim in his father's eyes.

The night breeze was wafting through the second story window screen and felt good on his naked body. The tensions of the day drained away as Jim began to rub his cock. In his bedside table he kept a box of Kleenex and some hand lotion. Applying the lotion, he slowly stroked until he'd achieved a full erection.

His fantasies were usually vague. His mind would whirl back to 4-H camp when he was 12, and a kid named Howie. They had bunked together, and on the third night, Howie had wanted to "play with his thing." Jim obliged him. He felt tremendously guilty afterward. So much so, that he could hardly look at Howie for the rest of the week. Now, lying there, he imagined an adult Howie between his legs, licking his balls as Jim pumped his meat. With a quiet groan, Jim arched his back. A stream of semen pelted his chest and stomach.

"Jim! Get up! Breakfast is ready and getting cold!"

Mrs. Calfee's voice drifted into Jim's semi-consciousness. As he turned his head on the pillow, his face came in direct line with a brilliant beam of morning sun streaming through the window.

After relieving himself in the bathroom, he splashed cold water on his face and studied himself in the mirror. Freckles sprinkled across a soft, boyish face belied the adult body of the young man. Except for a thick thatch of pubic hair and some silky underarm hair, he was completely smooth. He had to shave only once a week! Running a comb through his short, blond hair, he bounded downstairs and into the kitchen.

"There's a stack of hot cakes on your plate, and the sausage is almost done. Don't bolt your food like that! Do you want some milk?"

"No thanks, Mom, I think I'd rather have some coffee."

Mrs. Calfee was scurrying about the kitchen as Jim had seen her do almost every day of his life. Her mock complaints couldn't hide the fact that she enjoyed being a farmer's wife and taking care of her two men.

"Where's Dad?"

"He and Ace have already eaten. Your father's taken him down to the feed store." Jim had forgotten about Ace. He had nothing but bad feelings about this intruder.

"Mom, what do you think about that guy?"

"Who, Ace? Well, he seems like a nice fellow. Eats like a horse, though!"

After breakfast, Jim walked to the barn to begin his chores. Inside was parked an old, beaten motorcycle; a Harley. Must belong to Ace, he thought. As he was filling a feed bucket, he heard the Rambler pull up outside the barn and two doors slam shut. Jim's dad and Ace entered the barn.

"Jim, I took Ace down to the feed store to meet Mr. Crawford; that way he'll know Ace when he comes in to buy things. Are you about finished feeding the stock, son? I want you to show Ace around the place."

Great, Jim thought. I get to spend my day with the country bumpkin!

"I just started, Dad!"

"Tell you what, Mr. C, I'll help Jim with the chores, and I can look the place over at the same time."

"That's a real good idea, Ace. I've got to take Amanda into town to do a little shopping and stop by the bank. We'll probably be gone most of the afternoon. I'll have her make you boys some lunch and leave it in the fridge." His dad left them to it.

"Well, Jim, I don't know why you're givin' me the cold shoulder! Your dad hired me to help, and you sure ain't cooperatin'!"

Jim had said very little to Ace while the man followed him around during the feeding. This L'il Abner character didn't seem to be a bad fellow, but Jim didn't want to admit that he was a little jealous of his father's attention.

"Your old man's not easy to get along with, is he?"

"No, he's not! He's treated me like an outsider for a long time now, and this college incident seems to have iced the cake!" Jim didn't know why he was telling this to a perfect stranger.

"At least you got a father. Mine died when I was a young-un. When my momma passed away, I joined the service. Since I got out, I just travel the country on my bike. I've seen a lot of people and places, but your dad's offer looked like a good opportunity to settle down: for a few years, anyway."

Ace was right. There was no reason for Jim to dislike this guy. "Look, Ace, I'm sorry if I've acted like an asshole. I've had a lot on my mind lately. It's almost noon; why don't we take lunch down to the pond. Have you seen it yet?"

"This is real nice, Jim," Ace said between mouthfuls of a roast beef sandwich. They were stretched out beneath a large elm tree whose canopy of leaves extended over the quiet water. The pond wasn't very large – maybe 50 yards long and 25 across – but the water was deep and clear. It was fed by a little stream that emptied in over smooth rocks and trickled out again the other end. "Ever swim in there, Jim?"

"I used to a lot… seems like I never make the time for it anymore."

"Is it OK if I take a dip?"

"You didn't bring anything to swim in, did you?"

"Shit no! Thought I'd just skinny-dip; 'course, if that's all right."

"It's fine with me. There certainly isn't anyone around to see!"

"You comin' in too?"

"I'm going to finish my lunch."

Ace unlaced his work boots and removed them, then stood to strip off his clothes. Folding his socks and shirt and placing them on top of his boots, he unzipped his jeans and stepped out. Jim tried not to stare as Ace stood naked in the summer sun. The man wasn't the least self-conscious about his body, and had little reason to be. He wasn't overly muscular, but well-proportioned and covered with dark hair. Jim had never seen such a hairy man in his whole life. He was afraid Ace would catch him looking, but he couldn't resist the long, uncut cock that hung between his thighs. It was almost humorous to see Ace standing there without a stitch on besides a cap.

"Sure you won't come in?"

"I think I'll wait awhile," Jim said, staring out across the water and avoiding Ace's gaze. "But I think you'd better take off that cap!"

"Oh yeah!" Ace looked genuinely embarrassed for the first time.

Jim watched as he walked slowly over to the edge where the pond was deepest, and stared back at him with a silly grin. Letting out a war whoop, Ace jumped, drawing his knees up in a "cannonball" position. The splash was tremendous, and he seemed to be under the water's surface for a very long time. Jim was about to begin worrying when Ace shot up out of the water, breaking the surface like a whale coming up for air.

"Jeezus H. Christ, that water is cold! Why didn't you tell me? I'll freeze my dick off!"

Fat chance of that, Jim thought to himself. "It's spring-fed! I thought you knew that!" Almost immediately, Ace was out of the pond, shaking his head like a doused dog, sending a cold spray over Jim.

"I ought to whup your ass, that's what I ought to do!" His stern expression broke into a grin, and soon they were both laughing.

"I think you'd better lie down in the sun and dry off, Ace."

"Yeah, I think I'll do just that!"

Using his rolled up clothing as a pillow, Ace lay spread-eagle in the midday sun. They didn't say anything for a long time. Soon Ace's deep, rhythmic breathing told Jim that he had fallen fast asleep. Now he could look at him without fear or embarrassment.

Ace's head was turned away from Jim, and the water was glistening in his slowly drying hair. His chest rose and fell steadily, the endless expanse of body hair giving him a burnished aura. At first Jim thought it was his imagination, but Ace's cock seemed to move slightly. As Jim stared at it, it slowly lengthened and unsheathed itself, until it was fully erect, lying against Ace's hairy stomach.

Jim was overtaken with a strong urge to touch Ace. It was totally insane! He'd never thought of himself as "queer" before, but images of Howie danced in his brain. All of the pent-up fantasies that he'd never given faces to became embodied in this naked stranger.

He quietly crept over to Ace's side and looked down on the peaceful sleeping form. Though not a perfect body, it was finely chiseled. Extending a trembling hand, the boy held nervous fingers above the man's still-hard member. He could feel the warmth of Ace's skin. Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed Jim's wrist in a steel grip. "Just what in hell do you think you're doing, boy?!"

Jim's stomach lurched violently, and he felt a wave of nausea sweep over him. He stammered for words that refused to come. "I … I … Let me go, Ace … I'll explain!"

"No, let me tell you something'!" Ace's eyes flashed cold and hard. In a single, swift movement, Ace pushed Jim flat on his back and straddled him, pinning his arms to the grass. "I had you pegged when I first laid eyes on you. Let's see how right I am!"

Without releasing his hold on Jim's wrists, Ace lowered his head until they were face to face, noses almost touching. His steely eyes locked into Jim's frightened gaze. In a second, Ace's mouth was on his, kissing hard and forcing a warm tongue between weakly protesting lips. Jim had kissed a few girls before, but never like this! He was caught between the feelings of terror and intense excitement. It was as if this were terribly wrong and wonderfully right at the same time.

Abandoning Jim's wrists, Ace cradled his head in one strong hand while fumbling with the boy's belt buckle with the other. "I can show you a lot of things; if you want me to, Jim." Ace's hrd expression had softened, and he had a slight trace of a smile on his lips. Jim, still unable to talk, nodded slowly and deliberately. He wasn't sure what he was getting; he just knew that he wanted it.

Ace sat up, still straddling him, and unbuttoned Jim's old work shirt. From Jim's vantage point, Ace seemed to tower above him. Laying open the shirt, the man began to caress Jim's bare chest, occasionally running his rough thumbs over the rosy, hardening nipples. Bound by briefs and jeans, Jim's hard on became unbearably uncomfortable. Seeming to sense this, Ace reached down, loosening and unzipping the jeans, and set the anxious prisoner free.

"My, my, my! What have we got here?" Jim's cock sprang moistly into Ace's hand. As the hired man slowly stroked the warm shaft, Jim's hips began to move involuntarily. Ace shifted his position to remove Jim's sneakers and jeans. Kneeling between bare legs, he nuzzled his damp beard in the boy's crotch.

This was it! This was the fantasy that Jim had longed for! Lightly flicking his tongue up and down the length of Jim's cock, Ace moved lower still until he was kissing and licking the balls. Seizing his own meat, Jim began to beat furiously, all senses charged in this raw moment. Sucking and nibbling gently on his scrotum, Ace's adventuresome tongue dipped lower still, rimming Jim's anus in the most teasing manner. Never having felt such sensations, Jim found himself groaning; barely audibly at first, and then louder and louder. Knowing that Jim was close to cumming, Ace stopped abruptly and placed a strong hand on Jim's.

"Hold off, boy. Save it for later!" Ace moved up and took Jim into a strong embrace, His breath was coarse and hot in Jim's ear. His cock pressed hard against Jim's. They lay that way for a long time. Finally, Jim broke the silence.

"Fuck me, Ace!"

Surprised, Ace sat up on his knees, looking puzzled. "Have you ever done it before?"

"No, but I want to." Jim's earnest expression told Ace he was ready to try anything.

"It may hurt at first – but I'll only take it as far as you want, Jim."

The warmth and compassion in the traveling stranger's eyes moved Jim to the core. Drawing up his knees and placing his calves over Ace's broad shoulders, Jim braced himself expectantly. Wetting a finger with saliva, Ace tried to insert it. To Jim it felt impossibly huge, and he tightened against the intrusion. "Jim, just relax. You're doing what you want to do."

Driving the fear from his mind, Jim concentrated on relaxing. The cool breeze and the sound of the water rushing into the pond had a calming effect on him. He was here in the grass with a beautiful man – a dream come true!

Suddenly, the tension gave way as Ace's cock slid completely into him in one slow, steady thrust. It wasn't exactly painful, Jim thought, but very uncomfortable. "Are you all right?" Ace seemed truly concerned.

"Yes … I think so. It kind of feels like I have to take a shit!"

"I know; but it gets better." Taking Jim's legs down from his shoulders and putting them around his waist, Ace straightened himself until he was lying on top of Jim; once again face-to-face. "How do you feel now?"

Without answering, Jim kissed Ace, hands creeping down his hairy back until he was gripping the cheeks of Ace's ass. Slowly beginning to fuck him, Ace nestled his face in Jim's neck. It wasn't a hard fuck: Ace moved slowly. His breath warmed Jim's ear with each thrust. Looking up over Ace's shoulder, Jim could see the azure sky through the leaves of the elm.

"I'm getting close!" Ace whispered in his ear.

Jim began to push against him, meeting each thrust with his hips. Issuing a long, low moan, Ace's entire body tightened. Almost crushing Jim in a bearlike embrace, he gradually relaxed, lying limp and spent.

Jim's mind traced back over the past two days. How had Ace known about him? How could anybody know? He hadn't even fully understood it himself, until today. Somewhere deep within, he realized that this was where he should be: in the arms of another man.

With considerable effort, Ace got up and grinned at the quiet boy. "Why so serious? You haven't even had your turn yet!"

With that, Ace dove into Jim's crotch with the fury of a starving man having his first meal in weeks. Reaching up and pinching Jim's nipples, he bobbed his head rapidly up and down. Jim's hands were on Ace's head, running shaky fingers through the thick, dark hair.

"Oh my god, Ace … That is soooo good! Oh, yes …"

He couldn't hold it any longer. Gripping Ace's shoulders tightly, Jim shot off. Ace held his cock in his mouth until it became flaccid again, teasingly nibbling at the now-sensitive underside.

"No! Stop! I can't take any more!" Jim was laughing and trying to catch his breath at the same time.

"I told you I'd get you back, you little fucker!" Before Jim could do anything, Ace had picked him up in his arms and was headed for the water's edge.

"No, Ace! I said no! … Put me down!" The cold water nearly took Jim's breath away. Ace was laughing so loudly he had to sit down in the grass. "You hillbilly bastard! You'll pay! Mark my words!"

The late afternoon sun found them splashing and playing in the middle of the pond. Alerted by their whoops, Patches came running and paced the shore, barking. Finally he leapt in with them.

That day, several questions were answered for Jim, not the least of which was whether or not he would drive home on weekends when college started.