Chapter 5
Chapter Five
They chatted over scrambled eggs, bacon, sliced fresh garden tomatoes, and toast on Sunday morning.
“So, how do we shoot this video?” Wyl bit off the end of a bacon slice.
“I created a short script yesterday while you grilled the steaks for supper. We can run through it a couple of times to get the timing. We’ll saddle the horses, dress in cowboy attire, and ride to the spring.
After I set up the camera, we’ll do several takes so we can pick the one we like best.” Rod stuffed the last bit of buttered toast in his mouth and followed it with a swallow of coffee.
“Sounds simple enough. How do we get it ready for YouTube once we record it?” Wyl’s drained coffee mug thunked onto the breakfast bar.
“We’ll come back here and pick the version we like. We’ll edit it, add fade-in and fade-out effects, and remove anything that might be incorrect. When we are satisfied, we’ll upload it to YouTube.”
“Do we need to set up a YouTube account?”
“We’ll create a Gmail account and use that. Not only does that give us a name, but it also provides an email for any responses. We’ll also set up a Facebook account under that name.”
“How do you know all this stuff?” Wyl gathered the breakfast dishes.
While he was an expert in computer cryptography, he knew little about the sites and applications Rod had mentioned.
He had no fascination with computer games, online entertainment, or social media.
He had enough behind-the-scenes computer work in the Marines to last a lifetime.
“It’s the 21st century, babe. Kids in elementary school know this stuff.”
Wyl shook his head. “I don’t. I never needed to know simple applications. I worked with the code.”
“A good reason for you to keep me around,” Rod laughed.
“Wrong,” Wyl laughed. “I keep you around as a sex slave.”
“So, when does the sex start?” Rod punched Wyl in the arm and then carried the coffee mugs to the sink.
Wyl snaked his arms around Rod’s waist from behind and nuzzled his ear. “Whenever you want, baby.”
Rod turned his head to offer a kiss. “How about we save it until after we do the video?”
Wyl returned the kiss, reminded of their very first kiss. “So, you’re sure about this video thing?”
“Do I need to drag you back out of the closet?” Rod picked up a towel to dry his hands. “What are you unsure about?”
Wyl stepped back and sighed. “I don’t know. It just seems so, well, risky.”
“Says the man who doesn’t want the Dustys of this world to tell him who he can be.”
Wyl elbowed Rod. “Shut up. How do we get ready for our big scene, Mr. DeMille?”
* * *
Running through the script after breakfast took a few tries before they eased into it. They were both comfortable with the language but preferred talking off the cuff. Following a script took discipline, accompanied by laughter and teasing.
They saddled the horses, then dressed in their starched jeans, belts with Texas buckles, crisp white shirts with bolo ties, and full quill ostrich boots.
Grabbing their cowboy hats, they headed to the stables where Princess and Sarge waited.
Rod packed the tripod and camera in the saddlebags, and they rode out.
At the gurgling spring, Rod pointed the camera at the tall mesa in the background, the spring in the foreground. Rod and Wyl stood near the spring with their horses behind them. Rod started the video camera, and they quoted through the script as rehearsed.
(Wyl) Hi, I’m Wyl Sterling.
(Rod) And I’m Rod Sterling.
(both) Welcome to Sterling Ranch.
(Wyl) We own 6,400 acres in the rolling plains of West Texas, a few miles outside the small town of Blackfield. The ranch has been in the Sterling family since the 1800s. Rod and I are now sole owners.
(Rod) We met last August and got married in February. I proudly took Wyl’s surname, making us a legal couple in every sense of the word.
(Wyl) Some disagree with our lifestyle and our relationship, but we are here to proclaim to the world that we love each other and are as committed as any couple on earth.
(Rod) These are our horses, Princess and Sarge. We spend many happy hours riding the ranch and enjoying the outdoors. And we even enjoy romantic overnight camping at this very spring.
(Wyl) Let us know what you think. Share this video with your friends, and like us on Facebook.
(Rod turns to Wyl) I love you, Wyl.
(Wyl faces Rod) I love you more, Rod.
(remove hats and kiss).
They did four takes, and Rod wrapped up the video while Wyl watered the horses.
“Do you think we got a good take?” Wyl stood by the spring, remembering when he and Rod washed up on the cold morning of Walt’s accident. The memory made him shiver, not from the cold but from the specter of Walt’s death. Rod was his only family now, and he thanked fate for bringing them together.
“Yeah.” Rod packed the camera and tripod in the saddlebag. “I think we got a couple of great takes. We’ll review them back at the house and can pick the one we like and edit it to make it perfect.”
“I’m glad one of us knows how to do this stuff.”
Rod chuckled. “I know how to do the front end, and you know how to do the back end.”
Wyl saddled up on Sarge. “I happen to think both your front end and your back end are pretty special.” He winked at his husband.
Rod laughed. “How you can turn computers into sex, I’ll never know. But I like your front and back parts too.”
They rode side-by-side back to the house. “Do you think it will get our message across?” Wyl noticed how handsome his husband looked sitting in the saddle in his cowboy finest.
“Oh, I think so.” Rod’s cowboy hat bobbed as he nodded. “Once we get the video edited and uploaded, we’ll send a link to everyone we know and ask them to do the same. It won’t take long for it to spread.”
They rode into the barn. As they unsaddled their horses, Wyl shook his head.
Outing themselves on the World Wide Web still made him jittery.
Once posted, the whole world would know.
“Do you really think this will work? I admit I’m still a bit uneasy about the whole thing. News sure does spread fast on the web.”
Rod led Princess into her stall and reached for the curry brush. “Yes, and I’ll link the video to our Facebook page.”
“That’s it?” Wyl brushed Sarge. “We don’t need to announce it or anything?”
Rod chuckled. “You just said things spread fast on the web, babe. We can sit back and watch the hits.”
They finished the currying and made sure the horses had ample feed and water, then latched the stall doors and walked to the house.
“Of course, there will be detractors,” Rod said. “Not everyone endorses the promotion of the gay lifestyle. So be prepared for backlash.”
“Backlash?”
“Remember Dusty’s harsh words and sneer? That’s backlash.”
Wyl sat on the couch to take off his boots. “Yeah, but Dusty is a grade-A number one asshole.”
Rod sat beside Wyl to take off his boots. “You could say the same thing about anyone who disagrees with our loving relationship. But the world is full of people with opinions. We just need to move on with our lives.”
“I survived Dusty…twice.” Wyl stood. “I suppose I can survive others.” He offered a hand to Rod. “Let’s go change out of these good clothes and have supper. I’m hungry!”
“How about you light the grill. I’ll wrap a couple of potatoes in foil to bake. You can prepare a couple of steaks to grill,” Rod said. “Then you make martinis we can enjoy on the patio while you grill the steaks.”
“You have everything figured out, don’t you? I notice you have one task, and I have the rest,” Wyl smirked.
“Pretty clever of me, I thought.”
Wyl wiggled his fingers and attacked Rod.
“STOP!” Rod screamed, wriggling away, falling off the couch, then standing and sprinting to the bedroom to change.
* * *
It was nearly dark by the time they sat on the couch again. Rod had his MacBook Pro in his lap. Wyl snuggled his husband, watching as he edited the video.
“I don’t know how you know how to do this,” Wyl chuckled. “I’m pretty good with computers, but I never did anything with videos.”
“You’re good with algorithms and programming. I don’t know anything about that stuff, but I am handy with a few useful applications, like this video editing program.”
Wyl tugged Rod’s chin and grabbed a quick kiss. “You’re amazing, cowboy.”
“I bet you say that to all the cowboys.” Rod chuckled through the words. “I’m almost done. Then we’ll watch the video to be sure it gives the right message.”
Together they watched the video. Rod made a couple of tweaks. Then they watched the video one last time.
“You’re very sexy on the video, Roderic Felix Bonner Sterling,” Wyl whispered in Rod’s ear. “The guy next to you in the video is one lucky bastard.”
“That guy next to me in the video is my whole life.” Rod planted a quick kiss. “Are we ready to upload?”
“As the guy on that space show on television said, make it so!”
Rod clicked the upload icon, and the progress bar began to move. The shattering of glass broke the silence and startled them both. A rock tumbled across the floor toward the coffee table.