Chapter Text
“Hey, Johnny! Let me know when you’re ready to get back on a horse. I’ll ride along with you so I can watch you bounce!”
The comment came from Chet, who was standing beside the swimming pool wearing cut offs and a smirky grin, drinking a beer. Chet, Johnny, Marco, and Roy were joking around together and enjoying being together again. Mike, part of their group, was wearing a shy smile, quietly listening while the others clowned around. Nearby, Kel, Hank, and Joe, who were deep in conversation, quieted at Chet’s comment.
Kel watched and listened. He had become very protective of his husband since the accident that ended his career. Dixie, Mama Lopez, and all the moms were at the shallow end of the pool along with their children, including Becky Stoker with little Cora and baby Sarah. Everyone stopped talking and held a collective breath. Chet’s boisterous comment raised their protective ‘mommy’ hackles for their friend. Everyone liked Chet, but sometimes his jokes went a bit too far.
It had been six months since Johnny broke his neck and back in a building collapse caused by a bomb detonating while he and his brothers were inside. It had severed his career with the fire department but not his spinal cord. Nor his friendships. He looked at Marco. He had been next to Johnny when the building came down and had also been critically injured. They were lucky to have escaped with their lives, much less whole and intact.
Johnny looked at Roy before answering Chet. Roy and Chet had been luckier than he and Marco. Before the building came down, they had safely made it into the stairwell and suffered only minor injuries. Roy looked back at Johnny and saw the expression on his face. He tried to hide his grin. ‘This is going to be good.’ He waited for Johnny to respond to Chet’s tacky comment.
“Let’s go, Chet. I’ll saddle up Hoot for ya.” Johnny watched Chet’s face for his response.
Chet paled. Johnny turned away and started heading toward the barn, grinning big. ‘Gotcha!’
Kel stood and quietly spoke. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” and headed swiftly toward the barn.
As Chet slowly followed Johnny toward the barn, he stopped.
“Hey, wait. I don’t have any jeans, just these bluejean cutoffs. I can’t ride.”
“I’m wearing jean shorts, too, Chet. It’ll be okay. We’ll take a short ride.” Johnny told him, then continued.
“Do you want a saddle, or do you want to ride bareback? I can guarantee you’ll make it about five feet further into the air without the saddle. It’s quite an experience. I recommend losing the saddle.” Johnny told Chet as he moved further ahead of him.
If possible, Chet paled even further. But he wasn’t about to let his former pigeon show him up in front of everyone. He was stuck. He had to get on the horse, the worst horse on the ranch. His experience riding a saddled horse, or riding bareback was next to nil, and nil. ‘At least there are two doctors here for when I break every bone in my body.’
Chet continued slowly walking toward the barn. When he heard noises behind him, he looked around and saw everyone following. ‘Oh great, everyone gets to watch me die.’
He perked up. ‘I’ll have a great funeral. They’ll put my coffin on top of Big Red. Can’t go out any better’n that.’
When he entered the barn, he found Kel, Johnny, and three saddled horses, Jem, Scout, and Traveler. He looked at Johnny, who responded to Chet’s raised eyebrows.
“I thought that since you don’t have much experience riding, I’d take it easy on you today. Scout is a lady. She’ll take good care of you.”
“I thought that you were gonna make me ride Hoot? Without a saddle?”
“Chet! Do you really think I would do that to you?” Johnny waited for his answer.
Chet looked at Johnny and thought. ‘My life is over. Everyone will think I’m a fool.’
Johnny was disappointed in the man. Chet didn’t answer his question; instead, Chet looked at Kel.
“Are you here to take care of me when I get thrown and break every bone in my body?”
Kel tried hard not to laugh. He lowered his head. Once he was under control he looked up and answered the lineman.
“No, Chet. Scout’s very gentle. She’s the horse Johnny’s been riding since his accident. She won’t let anything happen to you. I’m here to watch over Johnny. It’s for my own insecurity. Johnny is a great rider; I still worry about him, so he lets me—hover.” Johnny grinned at his husband, his eyes full of mirth and warmth.
Chet noticed that Johnny and Kel had put on cowboy boots. 'Ah, another excuse to use to get out of this mess.'
“Wait, I don’t have any boots to wear. I can’t go.” Chet congratulated himself on finding a way to get himself out of this mess.
“Here you go, Chet. You can wear a pair of Kel’s. They should fit ya.”
Johnny held out a pair of boots for Chet, who sported a huge frown as he slid them on. Unfortunately, they fit well enough for a short ride.
Johnny patiently instructed Chet before they left the barn. Everyone was gathered nearby and watched as Chet easily controlled his mount like a pro. Scout was making him look good.
After being gone for about 30 minutes, they returned to the barn and unsaddled the horses. Hank and Emily watched them as they approached the patio. Chet was limping slightly.
“Chet. Did you fall off the horse? You’re limping.” Hank asked him.
“Not exactly fall.” Chet said sheepishly.
Chet had gotten brave and kicked Scout with his heels. She began to trot. Johnny closed his eyes, waiting for Chet to come off the horse. Instead, Chet yelled.
“Stop! Stop! Hey, how do you get her to stop? She’s killing me!”
Johnny and Kel watched as Chet bounced down the pasture. Johnny was laughing so hard his side hurt. Kel called out to Chet.
“Drop the reins!”
“What?” Chet shouted as he jerked on the reins.
Kel yelled out as Johnny took off at a lope. “Johnny, no!!”
“Don’t jerk the reins! Drop them!” Johnny yelled at Chet.
Chet finally heard Johnny’s words and let go of the reins. Scout, being the gentle and obedient animal she was, came to an immediate stop as she’d been taught. Chet didn’t. He wasn’t thrown, exactly. And he didn’t fall off, exactly. It was more of a clumsy gymnast type movement. He was propelled forward from the momentum created by Scout’s sudden stop, then gracefully flew ass-over-teakettle off the horse and landed with a flourish flat on his back on the hard ground. He lay there, gasping like a fish out of water as Johnny rode up at a fast gallop.
His dismount was the stuff of legends, a perfect 10 out of 10. His cowboy boots hit the ground together-a perfect stick. Chet lay there, waiting for Johnny to cap off his humiliation. Johnny obliged.
He quickly eyeballed Chet and didn’t think he had any serious injuries. He was moving his arms and legs. But his face was turning blue.
“Hey! Chet! Take a breath. That was a great dismount. You didn’t even bounce. How’s your uh, injuries?”
Kel came riding up at a fast gallop on Traveler and was off his horse before it stopped. Talk about an impressive dismount.
“Chet, don’t move. Where do you hurt?” Kel asked. By then, Chet had drawn in the most painful breath since birth.
“I’m alright, Doc. The only thing that hurts is my pride.”
“Well, stay still while I check you over.” Kel proceeded to check him over completely. Satisfied that he had no serious injuries, he told Chet, “Let’s get you up on your feet. Slowly.”
Kel helped Chet to a standing position in stages. He again palpated Chet’s spine from his neck to his sacrum and coccyx.
Chet blushed. Johnny grinned. Kel caught it.
“Don’t laugh, Johnny. You’re next.”
Johnny’s grin fell. He protested, forcefully.
“Hey, I’m fine. Not a twinge. It felt great!” He put a splayed hand on his own chest and loudly proclaimed.
Kel silenced him with a look. Johnny was glad that Chet hadn’t seen it. He switched back to Chet.
“So, how’s your pride, Chet?” he asked.
“Oh man, just sore. I wanna apologize to you, Johnny. I know you would never set me up. I should’ve told you that before we left the barn. I hope you can forgive me?”
“Of course I forgive you, Chet. Now, do you need some help getting back on the horse?” Johnny asked sincerely.
“Get back on? I just got off! And very painfully too.” Chet miserably stated as he rubbed his backside.
“You don’t want them to see you walking back in shame, do you? We’re quite a way from the barn, Chet. It’s a long walk back and you have quite a hitch in your get-along. It’ll probably hurt a lot less to ride back than walk. Besides, the first thing you do when you get thrown is get right back on.” Johnny grinned at the last part.
Once Chet was mounted, Johnny lectured him.
“Don’t forget what I told you in the barn earlier. If Scout starts to do something you’re not comfortable with, just-”
Chet butted in and sheepishly finished the sentence.
“-let go of the reins. I remember. Now. There’s just one thing you didn’t tell me, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Hold on to the horse.”
Johnny snickered as he helped Chet, painfully, mount the horse. Kel stood by and monitored both men.
“Attaboy, Chet. We’ll make a cowboy out of you yet.” Johnny told him.
Coming back to the present, Chet finished his sentence.
“I didn’t fall off the horse. It was more like… Well, it’s hard to describe.” He finished, not wanting to appear the fool in front of all his friends.
“Man, you should’ve seen Chet. Jem spooked and took off. Chet just nudged Scout and they were off like a shot! Chet grabbed my reins and Scout brought us all to a stop.” Johnny completed the tall tale. Chet looked at Johnny and grinned. His eyes spoke his silent thanks.
“Speaking of…” Kel said as he walked up. He took Johnny’s hand and announced,
“I’m taking Johnny inside and checking him over. Chet, lay in the pool. The cool water will help with any swel….The cool water will help. Johnny and I’ll be back out in a few minutes.”
Hank looked over at Kel with raised eyebrows and received a smirk and a slight nod. Hank read the look correctly, a tall tale. He tried to smother his grin and went over to Chet and helped him in the water. The poor man looked miserable.
Kel led Johnny through the back door. As soon as they were inside, Johnny began.
“Kel, I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with me.”
Kel planned to see that for himself. He stood, listening to Johnny list excuse after excuse. He finally said,
“Baby, I am going to examine you. The sooner you stop talking, the sooner we’ll be done and can get back to our guests.”
Johnny closed his mouth. Kel took him upstairs and removed Johnny’s shirt and loosened his cutoffs. He examined Johnny’s spine from top to bottom. The feel of Kel’s hands touching his spine was causing things below to stir to life. When he got to the sacrum and coccyx, Johnny turned around and grabbed Kel’s head and began to kiss him rather eagerly.
“I didn’t know touching your back was such a turn-on, Baby.” Kel gasped out as he hungrily returned his husband’s kisses.
“Neither did I. I want you, Kel. Now.”
“Our guests.” Kel said as he began caressing his lover’s chest.
“We’ll be quick.” Johnny said as he dropped his shorts to the floor. Kel’s quickly followed. He lay Johnny on their bed and began searching for the lube.
“Under the pillow.” Johnny read his mind.
Kel grabbed the lube and covered his palm and fingers. He lubed his thick erection. Johnny didn't need any preparation after last night’s loving. Kel grabbed hold of his straining erection and quickly thrust all the way inside his lover. Johnny gasped.
“Move, Kel. Give me more.”
Kel began pistoning in and out of his lover with sharp deep thrusts. Johnny quickly reached his apex.
“I’m close, Love. Harder.”
Kel thrust harder. Seconds later Johnny came all over his stomach. Kel continued to thrust as Johnny’s muscles clenched in orgasm. He felt his own orgasm starting.
Kel rode his lover to completion. He felt his semen forcefully explode from his body and deeply into his husband’s. He leaned down and kissed Johnny deeply.
Once they recovered, they cleaned up, put their clothes back on and headed downstairs. Johnny’s comment had Kel sputtering as they walked out the back door.
“Wow, four minutes. That’s the fastest quickie I’ve ever had. How about you?”