Chapter 3

Before he knew what hit him, Lance had released him from his pants and enveloped him into his mouth. Edwin was in heaven. That had to be it. He had never experienced anything else like this in his life. When Lance swallowed and then started to move on him, Edwin knew he wouldn't last long.

"Lance!

Lance wait...

I'm too close." He pleaded. Edwin didn't want this to end so quickly and he could already feel the tingling begin.

Lance pulled up and gave him an evil look. Edwin knew he wouldn't win this.

"Don't worry; we have plenty of time to do more. Later." With the promise of a long night ahead, Lance went back to work making his best friend reach new highs and enjoying every second of it.

*

Shawn wiped the sweat from his brow as he placed his pick fork against the truck. Baling hay was hard work, but somebody had to feel the cows. He took a glance around, taking in the land. He loved this place. The outdoors always appealed to Shawn. The sun was shining; the grass was green, flowing over hills.

Visually, it was just striking.

Shawn took a deep breath, preparing to get back to work, when he caught sight of Ivan. Ivan was another ranch hand. His dark brown locks curling from under the brim of his hat, lean frame moving smoothly. He was currently leading a resisting horse into the corral. Wait, that was the new one, he had yet to be broken. What the hell was Ivan thinking?

When Ivan entered the corral with the horse, Shawn made his way over.

"What the hell Ivan, you can't break that horse in!" He held.

"Shut it, Shawn. You know I'm the best choice with Edwin off with Lance on vacation!" Ivan hollered back.

Sighing, knowing Ivan was right didn't make it any easier. If anything were to happen...

shaking the thoughts from his head, he picked up his pace to the corral. They didn't need to be yelling with all the animals around anyway.

He watched as Ivan mounted the horse. The brown beast almost bucked him off before the man was fully seated. Crap. Shawn's nerves sky rocketed.

To His surprise, though Shawn knew Ivan wasn't that bad, Shawn watched as Ivan held tight.

Moving with the horse, Ivan anticipated its movements and acted accordingly.

Just when Shawn was starting to relax, the horse bucked left and then reared up, not allowing Ivan enough time to adjust. Ivan flew off the saddle, landing hard on his side.

His head slamming against the ground.

The beast continued to buck, back and forth, threatening to trample Ivan.

Shawn didn't even think, he jumped the gate in a flash and raced to the man on the ground.

Another hand saw the scene and distracted the wild horse on the other end of the coral as he made it to Ivan. His hands moved to touch, shaking with fear, but he knew better than to move the other man. Covering Ivans body to protect him from the horse still running around, Shawn tried to assess the damage. It looked like he was fine. No blood.

But one never knew, internal damage could be just as bad.

Ivan moaned, opening his hazel eyes, blinking to try to clear his vision and focus. He stared up into Shawn's worried brown gaze.

"Ivan?" Shawn whispered.

"Can you hear me?"

"Unh, y-yeah." Ivan tried to sit up.

"No stay down, Brown is getting the horse out.

Tell me, you hurt bad?"

"Nah," Ivan said, trying to be strong, and then he moaned again. "Shit, yeah...

my head feels like it's gonna explode. Never even had a hang over this bad."

"Clear Shawn!" Brown yelled, allowing him to help Ivan to his feet. They made it about half way when Ivan yelped and started to drop again.

"Ivan?

!"

"My freaking knee. Shit.

Shit!"

Shawn grabbed Ivan around the waist, pulling the man's arm around his shoulder, supporting his weight. They made it to the barn and Shawn helped him sit.

"Just let me sit for a minute, I'll be fine."

"Bull shit," Brown said, seeing the way the man could hardly walk. "Called the doc," He said looking to Shawn.

Shawn nodded, "Thanks man."

"Tell me how it goes, need to head back." Brown indicated his exit with his head and then left.

Shawn was looking Ivan over, assuring his safety and trying to find if anything else was hurt. Goodness knows Ivan won't tell if it does. 'Specially if the docs coming. He wished he could use his hands...

Stopping the thoughts as fast as possible, Shawn took a step back. Distance, he needed distance.

"What else hurts?" Not bothering to ask 'if' because he knew Ivan, knew he would just say nothing and be done.

"Just my head and my leg," glaring up at Shawn. He hated to admit weakness, what real man did?

>>>

The doc came and went. He indicated Ivan had a slight concussion and a dislocated knee. He would need to stay off of in for a few days and not put too much stress on it after that for a couple weeks.

"You're going home and resting." Shawn said, no nonsense.

Ivan huffed but new he wouldn't win this. Shawn was too forceful when he put his mind to it. This was going to be the worst few days of Ivans life. He hated to be still, needed to do something, anything, not sit on his ass all day.

Shawn helped Ivan into the truck and brought him home after letting the foreman know what happened and what the doc said. Jace, their foreman, put Shawn in charge of making sure Ivan followed the rules. They couldn't lose him as a ranch hand for doing something stupid, like working, and damaging his leg beyond repair.

Ivan had been grumbling the entire ride back, He didn't need a babysitter. He was a grown ass man, hair on his chest and privates to boot!

Shawn pulled up and got Ivan out of the car, practically carrying him to the house like a damn bride.

"SHAWN!"

Jumping at the outburst Shawn looked to him in shock, "What?"

"Put.

Me.

Down."