Chapter 1

Dreaming of a White Christmas

“Merry Christmas, Dad,” Brad Sturgis said into the phone, trying to keep the homesickness from showing in his voice. “I know Christmas isn’t for a couple of days but I just thought I’d check in.”

This was Brad’s first Christmas away from the Bennett-Barnes household since David and Andy had taken him in and adopted him following the death of his parents when he was in high school.

“How are things at home? Is Claudia up?”

Claudia was the family’s Christmas tree. It had been a family tradition to name their Christmas trees. Claudia was a seven-foot, artificial blue spruce, and decorating her each year was a major family event.

“Brad!” Dad David Bennett exclaimed. Then Brad heard, “Andy, it’s Brad. Pick up the extension!”

Brad heard a click, and then both dads were talking at once, asking questions one on top of the other. His heart warmed at this expression of enthusiasm for him.

“Whoa, whoa you guys,” Brad said, laughing, his melancholy mood of moments before evaporating somewhat in the love that poured from the receiver in his hand. “Hank and I are fine, only really busy,” Brad said in reply to one of their questions.

Hank Reynolds was Brad’s boyfriend and business partner. He was a horse trainer. The two of them were in Florida for Winter Quarter Horse Circuit in Tampa: a series of three shows which ran from two days after Christmas to well into January. They had traveled to the Sunshine State a week earlier to get things set up and the horses acclimated to the change in temperature.

“We’re gonna do all three shows this year. Hank has about ten riders to work with and coach, as well as showing our horses, Desi and Tango. The clients aren’t here yet so it’s up to him to work all the horses until they do. Sure won’t seem much like Christmas this year. With all the work and the heat…” Brad paused. Then, to keep from falling back into his funky mood, he repeated his query about Claudia.

“Well, I’ve been pretty busy with the practice,” put in veterinarian Andy Barnes. “So, we’re just getting around to decorating the ol' gal.”

They all laughed.

David added, “The kids and grandkids will be here Saturday, and we’ll decorate then.”

The kids were David’s four grown children from his previous marriage.

“Are Mike and John coming in?”

Mike, David’s oldest son, and his husband John lived in Boston.

“They’re flying in tomorrow afternoon,” David replied.

“Nelson and Norman will be coming as well,” Andy added.

Brad pictured the group gathered in the Bennett-Barnes family room. He could see the little ones vying for just the right place to hang a special ornament, his adopted brothers and sisters laughing and talking. He thought of Nelson, Andy’s dad and his eccentric partner Norman, and smiled. Their presence usually liven up any gathering of the family.

He wished he could be there. He especially would like to see Mike and John. As a young gay couple they were a source of inspiration to him in his relationship with Hank…as were his dads…but since Mike and John were closer to his age he felt he could relate to them in these matters more closely.

His thoughts were interrupted by Andy. “I’ve invited Ted to join us, too.”

“Oh?” Brad replied.

Ted was Brad’s first boyfriend. It was with Ted he had discovered his sexual orientation. Ted had graduated from Michigan State and joined Andy’s vet practice.

“Yeah, his family’s traveling in Europe for the holidays. We didn’t want him to be alone.”

Brad smiled. He was so grateful he had David and Andy. Ted’s parents hadn’t responded too well to his coming out. It was probably best for them to be away. Holidays hadn’t been comfortable for Ted. He would be better off with Brad’s family.

“We invited your grandmother, too,” David put in. “But she’s spending the holidays with your Uncle Ned and his family in California.

After a long conversation catching up on all the family news, Brad reluctantly said goodbye, promising he would call again on Christmas Day and ended the call on his cell phone. Just as he did, the door to the Fleetwood Discovery RV opened and his cowboy came in. Brad got up from his seat on the couch to greet him.

“Hey, babe,” the cowboy said, taking off his Stetson and hanging it on one of the row of pegs inside the door.

Brad walked over to Hank, wrapped his arms around his partner and kissed him. By the time the prolonged kiss ended, both men were breathless.

“Wow,” Hank said, “if I’d a known this was waitin’ for me, I’d been home way before this. What’s the occasion?”

Brad, not wanting to reveal the kiss had been inspired by his talk with his dads and his missing home, merely said, “Just missin’ my big strong hunk, that’s all.”

They kissed once more.

“If these kisses are the invite I’m thinkin’ they are, let me take a shower and we can do it proper,” Hank said, pressing his burgeoning hard-on against the bulge in Brad’s jeans.

“Can I join you?”

“Ya know better than to ask,” the cowboy said, cupping Brad’s firm butt and grinding against him

They kissed again.

Brad stripped his tank top off over his head, pushed his jeans to the floor and stepped out of them. He turned to face Hank, dressed now only in white socks and briefs, his already hard dick straining against the fabric.

Hank unsnapped his western style shirt. Dropping the garment on the floor, he sat on the couch. Brad knelt and unbuckled Hank’s spurs, got back to his feet and hung the spurs on the peg next to the Stetson. He came back to Hank to help with the removal of the big man’s boots. Turning his back to Hank, Brad straddled Hank’s leg, grasped the raised boot and pulled. Hank placed his other foot squarely on Brad’s ass and pushed. The boot slipped off and was deposited on the floor next to the shirt. The process was repeated for the other boot. This time, however, Hank’s stockinged foot rubbed Brad’s ample butt, wiggling his toes and causing his partner to laugh softly.

Once the second boot had been removed, Hank got to his feet. The two men stood for a moment gazing into each other’s eyes.

“Love me?” Hank asked.