Chapter 5
Chapter Five
WYL
Driving home after my first day as a college student, I thought about what brought me to this point.
Walt made an extra effort to persuade me to work on a degree.
I considered forty as too old to be a college student.
I feared the glares, whispered snickers, and old-man comments from other students.
But he kept at me until I relented. Disappointing my brother was not an option. And as it turned out, Walt was right.
Meeting Rod helped. Both during class and afterward, he helped me be comfortable being an…
as he called it…older student. During my time in the Corps, I learned to read people.
My job dealt with sensitive information, so knowing who I could trust topped my list. One guy slipped under my radar, and I swore never to repeat the mistake again.
In Blackfield, nobody I met matched my idea of a friend, much less more.
Rod impressed me as trustworthy, but I needed to be cautious.
One: I told nobody about my gay side, my brother in particular.
Two: I read that student/teacher relationships led directly to disaster.
I understood. An older professor with a teenage student raised all kinds of red flags.
Since Rod and I both grew out of our teens many years ago, maybe the rule didn't apply. But I got way ahead of myself.
The garage door rose, and I pulled the truck into my space and got out.
I strolled outside and took in a lungful of the warm, clean, late-August West Texas air.
I grew up on this ranch, but after twenty years in the Corps, again being a permanent resident struck me as odd.
During my annual visits, I spent time with Walt and my folks.
Two weeks of no worries and no responsibilities.
Our parents died three years ago, and Walt needed help running the ranch.
Having worked with him this summer, I was amazed by how he handled the ranch by himself.
In the distance, horses whinnied, and a calm settled over me. This ranch, my home, is where I belong. Inside, I found Walt lounging in one of the leather armchairs in the den, socked feet on the coffee table, reading the newspaper, and sipping a beer.
“Hey.” I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.
“Hey, yourself.” Walt folded his newspaper and tossed it to the floor.
“You sure do look happy. After all the whining and complaining you did this mornin’ ‘bout going back to school, I expected you to be a basket case after your first day.” He pushed himself out of the chair.
“How did it go? I’m guessing by your smile, the day didn’t turn into the disaster you expected.
” He downed the rest of his beer and padded toward the kitchen for another. “Want a beer?”
“Sure. Shiner, please.”
Walt, one year younger than me and one inch shorter, had a build and facial features much the same as mine.
He kept his raven hair cut short, though.
After I graduated from Blackfield High, I took a year to explore the States.
During those years, I let my hair grow out.
Except for an occasional end trim, I’ve not cut it since. Walt never wanted long hair.
I set my satchel on the leather couch. “My first day as a college student turned out better than expected.”
Walt shook his head. “Your time in Europe kinda spoiled you for dark beers. It’s a good thing we have dark beer brewed here in Texas. That’s all I’m sayin’.”
Walt embodied the label Texas Cowboy. And as I tugged off my boots and let them clonk to the floor, I guessed I fit that label, too.
But I enjoyed seeing the world while serving in the Marines.
“I’ll drag you across the Atlantic someday.
” I wiggled my toes in the heavy boot socks.
We grew up going barefoot, and both of us still enjoy not having shoes or boots on when relaxing in the house. I followed him into the kitchen.
“Ixnay on the foreign trip.” Walt reached into the fridge and grabbed two beers.
“My ex-ball-and-chain tried to persuade me to go on an extended European tour, but I refused her.” He twisted the tops off the Shiner bottles with a hiss and a pop and handed one to me.
He held up a hand to stop whatever he thought I started to say.
“Yeah…lots of ancient history in Europe, but I figure our ranch is all the history I need. After all, our great-grandad founded this ranch in the 1800s.” He took a swig. “Now tell me about WBCC.”
I took a draw. The mellow brew fizzed as it went down. I drew the back of my hand across my lips, making Walt wait for my assessment of the first day on campus. “The day went better than I expected. I think I’ll enjoy this school thing.”
“School thing?” Walt chuckled. “What are you, twelve again?”
“Shut up.” I grinned and wiped the back of my hand on Walt’s shoulder.
“You know what I mean. I’m taking economics, biology, and music appreciation.
The economics class is okay. The biology teacher is a little stiff, but I’m familiar with basic biology from growing up on the ranch.
The music course is the best. Dr. Bonner invited me to have coffee with him.
Wonderful sense of humor. His approach got rid of my stress. ”
“His approach? What did he do?”
“He started with each student standing, introducing themself, and sharing why they came to WBCC. I learned about my classmates, and they learned about me. Afterward, my tension about being back in the classroom faded.”
“Your music professor did this?”
“He is a great guy, Walt. I enjoyed his class. Being a college student is way different from what I thought.”
“And you and he had coffee together?”
“I stayed behind after class to ask about a coffee shop or snack bar on campus. Nothing but the cafeteria, which was closed after breakfast. But he invited me for coffee in the Fine Arts break room. We sat and joked back and forth about our ages.”
“Wow.” Walt shook his head. “He sounds like your next friend, yeah?. Except for Stewy in high school, you never mentioned friends. At least none you told me about. You’ve been home four months and haven’t gone out to meet people.
" Walt thumbed his chest. "Maybe fate and yours truly played a part in you meeting Dr. Bonner.” He grinned.
I sipped my beer. Walt made a point. In high school, Stewy and I did everything together.
We played football and won a lot of games for Blackfield High.
We hung out. After graduation, Stewy accepted a football scholarship at a university.
He disappeared after getting his degree.
After I joined the military, reassignments kept me globe-hopping.
Making friends never topped my list because of the sensitivity of my job.
Also, I kept my preference for men to myself.
Until Dusty outed me to the whole platoon.
The Marines immediately transferred me to a new assignment.
Later, I figured out the transfer protected me from potential trouble.
I’ll never forget the abandonment and betrayal.
I never wanted to lay eyes on Dusty again.
Being on the move gave me an excuse to keep to myself.
Despite everything, I found myself comfortable opening up to Rod.
And he made me laugh. Walt and I shared a laugh or two every day, but joking with Rod helped me relax.
“I dreaded being around all the young students,” I said.
“Most were born after I joined the Marines. The dread vanished after Dr. Bonner made a point about military service. Instead of the old guy in the back row, I became someone they look up to. And after class, we had coffee in the break room and chatted. He asked me to call him Rod. That’s why this school thing is right for me. ”
“So, you call him Rod? Most students don’t call their professors by their given name.”
“Since we’re about the same age, he said first names would help me be more at ease on campus. I think he's right.”
“I’m impressed. So, are you two gonna lie on the floor, read comic books, and chew bubble gum?”
I barked out a laugh. “I asked Rod the same question, and we laughed. Talking with him made me more at ease. I shared more with him about family than I have with anyone in a long time.”
I found myself drawn to Rod, my first attraction to a man since Dusty. Nobody at home knew about the disaster, and I intended to keep it that way.
“Aside from Dr. Bonner, did you meet anyone else interesting? I won’t ask if any gals caught your eye, as they’re probably all teenagers.”
My chest tightened. I sucked down the rest of my beer and frowned.
Walt drained the rest of his bottle, too. “What’s wrong? Did some little teenage gal pursue you?”
I shook my head. Walt didn’t…wouldn’t…learn my gay side.
I wondered how he would react if I told him.
Another topic for another conversation… far into the future…
like when he became too old to understand me.
“No. I also met Rod’s secretary, Stella.
She tried coming on to me and asked if my wife cared about my constant travels.
” I shook my head. “She’s a real piece of work, that one. ”
“Cute gal?”
“A little on the chubby side.” I shook my head again to dispel the visual of Stella brazenly pushing up her boobs when she crossed her arms as we talked. “The real kicker came when she mentioned Mitzi.”
“My Mitzi?” Walt reached for my empty bottle.
“Yeah. Stella and Mitzi are close friends.” I handed over the empty.
“Mitzi doesn’t have friends; she uses people,” Walt groused. The empties clinked into the trash under the sink. “What a bitch.”
I frowned as dislike for Mitzi churned in my gut. I rarely experienced intense animosity for anyone, but let someone harm my brother, and those feelings hit like a bolt of lightning. “I’m so sorry my time in the Marines kept me from supporting you. It sounds like she never got over the divorce.”
“You’re right. The divorce led to Mitzi losing a fat bank account. A much less fat account after she spent money like it grew on trees.” Walt pulled two more beers out of the fridge. He twisted the tops and handed one to me, smiling. “At least you’re here now.”
“Thanks, Walt. We haven’t talked about her since I returned home. She moved out of Blackfield, right?” I took a draw of the cold brew.
“Yeah, the last time I talked to her, she lived somewhere in the Dallas area. She still calls, but I ignore the call if a Dallas area code shows up on the caller ID. Not my century to care. But anyhow, she worked at the college before we married. She still connects with people there, and I’m guessing the secretary you mentioned is one of them.
” Walt shook his head. “Mitzi’s trouble, Wyl. Watch yourself.”
“I met only a few people on campus. If anyone else worked with Mitzi, they didn’t say.”
“Speaking of campus, since you got on so well with Rod, why don’t you invite him out for steaks? As I mentioned, is he someone for you to befriend?”
“Befriend?” I snickered. “Where did you learn such fancy words?”
“Hey, I’m not only a handsome face.” Walt spread his arms as if posing for a photo. “I learnt to talk good.” He stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth and pasted a goofy grin on his face.
I laughed, and he laughed with me. “You may be right about the friend idea, Walt. After Stella mentioned Mitzi, Rod wanted the story so he could steer Stella away. I shared the gory details with him. I hope that’s okay.”
“Okay? Mitzi is like a hovering storm cloud. I’m for anything to end her prolonged and predatory campaign to wrap her hands around Sterling money.”
“So, she’s been calling? I don’t remember any calls from her since I came home four months ago.”
Walt leaned in with a whisper. “That’s because I delete the messages as soon as her voice comes on. I don’t listen to them.”
I chuckled. “Good for you.”
Walt boxed my arm. “So, ask Rod out here for steaks. You need someone besides me to talk to.”
Sipping my beer, I thought about Rod. Warmth spread in my chest when I pictured Rod’s smile as we joked about being older.
Walt made a good point. I didn’t have any friends.
Not because I didn’t know people. I was a Sterling and one of the wealthiest men in the county.
Because of my wealth, I came in regular contact with several local politicians, business owners, bankers, and attorneys.
We made donations to a few local organizations.
We supported the Sterling Collection in the county library and the Sterling Gallery at the county museum.
We supported the local Food Pantry and Noah’s Attic, providing needy children with clothing, shoes, and school supplies.
So, our familiar name included connections.
After our parents died, Walt and I continued the traditions established by them.
Because my family is so well known, I am careful about personal relationships.
But I crave a close personal relationship with someone special.
A guy to talk with, have fun with, and be with.
Someone who focused on me, not my wealth or power.
Walt’s suggestion about Rod was worth pursuing. I would ask him to come out one evening soon.