He knelt and began feeling his way along the heap. It squirmed a bit as it took shape under his hands - it was definitely Blair, his hands and feet were tied and from the way he jerked at certain touches, he'd been hurt.

"Just lie still, Chief. I'll get you out." Jim rummaged in his own pocket for the Leatherman tool Blair had given him for his birthday a year or so ago. He carefully cut all of Blair's bindings.

The moment Blair's hands were free, he pulled off his gag and Jim found himself with barely enough time to close his knife before Blair pounced on him.

"Jim! I knew you were going to find us!" Jim had been kneeling on the ground. Blair pushed him further down and swarmed all over his lap, kissing and hugging him in between a running commentary of what Bob and Jerry had said and done. Jim just let it happen, while enjoying every moment of it. Blair was alive and well and in his arms and that was enough.

Until he heard the soft sob. "Chief, what was that?"

"What was what?"

"I heard someone."

"Marian! I forgot about Marian. Damn, sensory deprivation is so *not* good for my mental processes. Can you find her?"

The sobs increased. Jim followed them a short distance. She wasn't gagged, although her hands and feet were tied. She allowed Jim to cut her loose as well. He helped her to stand, and she collapsed in tears on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Marian. We're here. Everything's safe now." He patted her back. When her breathing calmed, she stepped back.

"Thank you. Where's Scotty?"

"She hasn't moved by herself or set a word until now." Blair's voice was pitched low enough that Jim knew only he could hear it. She'd been in shock.

"Right outside, Marian. I'll get us out." He spoke as gently as he could.

"It's so dark, and they took the lantern."

"Jim will get us out. He has a...great sense of direction." Blair had found his way towards them. Jim felt his arm brush his as he, too, did his best to reassure her.

"We'd better go. Scotty wants to see you."

"All right. What do I do?"

"Just hold on." He put her hand on one of his shoulders, and guided Blair's arm around his waist. Slowly, he used his hands and ears to find their way back to the surface.

As soon as it was light enough to see, the three of them ran towards the entrance of the cave. Jim was momentarily blinded by the late afternoon sun and stunned by all the shouts of surprise and relief. By the time he'd recovered, with Blair's help, Marian was safely in Scott's arms crying her eyes out.

Still holding Blair's hand, Jim walked up to Scotty. "Where are they?"

"Got 'em hog-tied in the truck. Sheriff'll be out here soon. Marian, did they *touch* you at all?"

"No, Scotty. Not at all."

"Sandburg?"

Blair, who had wrapped his arms tightly around Jim, shook his head. "They talked about it, about...both of us...but Jerry said he wouldn't, so Bob dropped the subject."

"Damn good thing he did." Scotty looked straight into Jim's eyes.

Jim met his gaze. "Oh, yeah." He felt Blair shiver at those words. It didn't matter. No one hurt *his* angel and got away with it. As it was, he owed them. Blair was sporting a black eye.

The sheriff arrived and took statements and evidence and only looked at Jim and Blair funny a couple of times. Then everyone piled into cars and trucks and drove away, leaving the two of them alone with Dancer, whom Jim had untied from Bob's ranch truck.

The sun was beginning to set, and a chill wind was starting to blow. Blair shivered again. Jim cursed himself for making Blair wait. He may not have been as badly off as Marian, but he was in shock. The only time he'd separated himself from Jim since the cave was when he had to relieve himself behind some rocks.

"Want to go back now, Chief?"

"How?"

"Dancer'll take you."

Blair looked at the tall, slender animal and what must have looked like a strange, flat saddle. "You sure, Jim?"

"Not a problem." He boosted Blair up and then swung himself in front. "Just wrap your hands around me. Dancer is a strong lady. She can carry double for a while, can't you?" He stroked the horse's neck. She looked at him as if to say, "Of course I can, silly human."

It didn't take them long to get back to the ranch. That same girl, who was not quite so flustered anymore, took Dancer and promised to take care of her properly. Jim helped Blair down and then took him back to their room.

He took his shower with Jim hovering anxiously by the bathroom door, listening for any signs of trouble. He finally emerged wrapped in a terry robe a couple of sizes too big, with his hair wet and dripping. He was still pale, causing the bruises on his face stood out in shades of purple.

Jim watched him crawl into bed before apologetically taking a very fast shower himself. When he emerged with a towel around his own waist, Blair was sitting up with his laptop, working busily.

He slid in beside him, letting his towel loosen. Blair, feeling the bed move, turned to him and smiled. He closed the computer and put it aside. Then he gathered Jim up in his arms as he'd done the night before.

Jim sighed as he nuzzled into Blair's damp, clean chest hair. Blair responded by stroking Jim's back. Jim found himself purring like a contented cat. Then Blair kissed him, as softly and gently as he could, on his forehead, and every muscle in Jim's body reacted.

He looked up at that lovely face. The expression was intoxicating - a mixture of love, and desire overwhelming pain and some small fear.

"Chief? Are you all right?"

For an answer, Blair bent his head and kissed him thoroughly, deeply, his tongue exploring areas of Jim's mouth that not even he'd ever touched. Then as he pulled away and they were both gasping, he neatly flipped Jim over.

"I'm very all right." His eyes widened. The towel was long gone. Jim lay exposed to his view in the afternoon sun. He reached out a tentative hand to stroke Jim's side, his stomach, his hips. "I never realized...you are the most beautiful man I've ever seen...James." Blair's rich voice had become husky with desire. Jim felt himself responding to all it - the touch, the voice, the fact that Blair was looking at him, the name. The name no one ever used.

He shivered in anticipation. Blair smiled and let the robe slide off his shoulders. He was bruised on his chest, too. Jim raised a hand to touch one of the angry purple areas, but Blair shook his head once. He let his hand drop down to the bed. Blair's smile deepened. He began to trace a line down the center of Jim's body, stopping just short of his groin.

"What can I do to you, James?"

Jim had to fight to find his voice. "Anything." All that came out was a hoarse whisper.

Blair sat back on his heels at that. "Are you sure? This...I'm scared."

Jim leaned on his elbows. "Don't be. This is...whatever you do will be right. I know it. Angel."

Blair's eyes widened and he smiled. "Not as angelic as you think." Then Blair was on him, nuzzling and licking and kissing, sometimes so softly and gently Jim wanted to scream, sometimes rough and demanding enough to make him moan instead, but always in ways that kept him off balance and on the edge. And, maddeningly, he still wouldn't let Jim touch him.

"Angel...please...."

"Please what, James? What do you want me to do?" Blair began stroking Jim's erection, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Want you...want you...to...oh, yes..."

"Ah. You want me to do this..." He pulled at Jim a little harder, making him groan louder. "Or this?" He bent and began to lick everything between Jim's legs, turning him into a pile of jelly with one hard point. "Or, maybe, this...." Blair rubbed his fingers in the pre-ejaculate and reached between Jim's legs and began to rub them *there*. Oh, God, it had been so long...and Blair knew exactly what he was doing. Jim jumped at his touch and then settled down. It wasn't enough.

He could no longer speak. He could only look at Blair with longing eyes. He changed his position, resting his head on a pile of pillows while bending his knees and opening his legs wide. Blair's grin was wide and proprietary, and Jim could smell the heights of his arousal. Knowing Blair was looking him like that only inflamed him more. He was convinced a touch would send him over.

He was wrong, because Blair kept touching him with his graceful hands and clever tongue, because he was still ready when Blair prepared him and even more so when, sheathed in the latex he'd found in a night table drawer, Blair entered him.

And he roared his pleasure and his delight. Blair was inside of him, claiming him, owning him, taking what had been his for years, and it was better than any dream. And now, he was moving, faster and faster and Jim picked up the rhythm and they kept moving and Blair found Jim's erection again. His world was filled with Blair - in side and surrounding him, his taste, his touch, his scent, the sight of his beautiful, bruised, sweaty face, the sound of his harsh panting - Blair was everything and all Jim would ever need.

And as he thought that, as Blair hit his prostate with every movement, as his senses began to combine and recombine until he was tasting sounds and seeing odors, everything exploded and he fell back on the bed, Blair still inside of him, but moving rapidly to his own completion, shouting as it came.

The two lay in a tangle of limbs and semen, exhausted and sated, until the bedside phone rang.

With an effort, Jim answered it with a normal voice. "Ellison. Dinner? Up here? Yes, please. Whatever you make is fine, just take it real easy on the spices. Okay. Ten minutes?" He glanced at Blair, who shrugged and reached for Jim's discarded towel. "No problem. Thank you."

Ten minutes later, they had the worst wiped out and were dressed in sweats, just in time for the knock on the door.

Dinner was fried chicken and fixings, which suited both just fine right then.

As they ate, Jim summoned the courage to ask Blair the question that had been nagging him.

"Chief, you knew what to do today."

Blair swallowed his food, shrugging. "Yeah."

"How? I mean, you said you've never...with a man."

"I haven't. But I've dated some interesting women." He grinned. Jim grinned back and Blair changed the subject to more general things.

They polished off the huge servings, put the tray outside their door as the servant had asked, and went back to bed. They fell asleep in each other's arms, Jim's head once again resting on Blair's chest.

********

Things at the ranch got a little chaotic for the next few days. More and more guests came pouring in, local and federal officers poked their noses everywhere and Scotty had to run the ranch himself until he found a replacement for his foreman and his assistant - not to mention the wedding itself.

Jim and Blair spent the days helping as best they could and enjoying it immensely. Blair ended up on the wedding team, holding Marian's hand and helping her make decisions that a day or so earlier would not have bothered her at all. Jim helped with the horses and even took over some of the foreman duties. He also helped with the investigation, but mostly he stayed out of their way.

They made time for a ride each afternoon, which was the only time other than meals and bedtime that they saw each other.

Blair stood by as he curried Dancer the afternoon before the wedding day.

"You're really falling in love with her, aren't you?"

"I'm in love with *you*, Angel." But he did bite his lip as she leaned into his brushing.

"I wish we could keep her, James. Maybe your dad could....you said he kept horses."

"We have no place for her, and no way to get her to Cascade. The best I can do is to persuade Scotty to sell her to someone into dressage so she can have proper care and training. She should be in shows." He gave her once last pat and a bit of carrot, and taking Blair's hand, left the barn for the last time.

***********

"Jim, Blair...can I see you in my office?"

The two men handed their horses back to the grooms and followed Scott into his trailer. He motioned them to seats.

"Guys, I've heard from the sheriff. Bob and Jerry have been using my place as a drug drop off for years." There was no mistaking the anger on Scotty's face. "That cave was one of several sites. It was just bad luck you stumbled on to it."

"What's going to happen?"

"They were arraigned and pled guilty. It's all over but the sentencing. They found several million dollars worth of drugs on *my* property, and those bastards were going to kill Marian and Blair for a paltry 100 grand. I hope they rot."

Jim echoed his sentiment, with feeling.

***********

The wedding was perfect. The day dawned bright and beautiful. Jim and Blair pitched in with the rest of the ranch to decorate the fields for the morning ceremony and then changed to the clean cowboy shirts and riding jeans that Scott and Marian had declared official wedding garb.

It was beautiful. Marian, wearing a white cowgirl dress and ten gallon hat, was escorted by her proud and happy father to her equally proud and happy groom. The minister said the appropriate words. The couple would have added their own but Marian refused at the last minute. They kissed, and walked back down an honor guard of friends and family to their house, where lunch was served in the yard.

The cooks out did themselves, and the local band kept them hopping. Everyone was happy and smiling, eating and dancing. At first, Jim and Blair danced with unattached or older women, which got both their butts pinched. Jim also asked the ranchhand who'd helped him find the perps, and she giggled and blushed throughout the dance.

Both claimed dances with the bride, whom no else noticed was quiet and subdued, even as her eyes sparkled with joy when she looked at Scott. Blair was also not quite as *alive* as he normally was, but only someone who knew Blair well would even see that. Jim knew Blair would bounce back; he hoped Marian would, or that she would get help.

They danced the last dance, a waltz, together, at Scott and Marian's insistence. Blair felt wonderful in his arms. He knew his partner was graceful; he didn't know they would move to the music like one person. They took turns leading each other around the floor, and were almost able to forget the stares they were getting.

Afterwards, when the happy couple had ridden away for a shortened honeymoon, and everyone had helped clean up, they went for a walk.

By silent, mutual consent, they walked away from *that* cave, and towards a vista of the Colorado mountains. It glowed red in the light of the setting sun, and in its light, Blair, fading bruises and all, looked more beautiful than Jim would have thought anyone could. His dark curls were a fiery halo to his angelic face.

He brushed back a wayward strand so he could see that face more clearly. Blair trembled at his touch. "I don't want this to end."

"It won't, Chief. I promise."

Blair bit his lip. "It will end. Tomorrow, when we get back to Cascade and the PD and the university and real life, it will end. This was...a sweet vacation."

Jim touched a yellowing patch. "Not so sweet. Things will change, but they will not end. I've waited this long for us to be us, I'm not going to give you up. We'll face Simon and everyone else."

"Will we tell them, Jim?"

"We'll take it as it comes. I want to take out a billboard. 'Jim loves Blair!'" Blair laughed. He hadn't done much of that in the past couple of days. Jim smiled. "But I think it'll be more, if they ask, we'll tell and we won't try to hide it. These damn senses are a big enough secret. Deal?"

"If you say so, James."

"I love you, Blair."

"I love you." Jim gathered his lover into his arms and kissed him as the sun sank beneath the mountains.

************ Epilogue

"Ellison."

"Jim, this is Scotty. Take a look out your window."

Jim frowned and gestured to Blair to come with him. They looked down, and there was a horse trailer, and next to it was a beautiful chocolate brown mare with a white star on her forehead.

"Scotty...what the hell?"

"I'm giving you Dancer, Jim. No arguments. I've paid for the first year's training and stabling. You can take care of the rest from her winnings."

"I can't..."

"She won't let anyone else ride her. She's *your* horse, and anyway, I owe you for Marian. Take her."

"You talked me into it. How is Marian?"

"She's seeing a therapist, and it's done wonders. Blair's all right?"

"Nothing keeps him down. He's bouncing right now. Scotty, come down any time and see her...and us."

"Will do. You guys ever have a wedding or a commitment or something, call us, okay?"

"We will."

They said their good-byes, and Jim went down stairs to greet the horse that helped give him his dearest wish.

The End

Copyright 1999 Debra Fran Baker and NightRoads Associates

Copyright 2001 Debra Fran Baker and NightRoads Associates

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