I have several acres of bush beyond my house and love to walk there in the dappled sunlight that filters through the high canopy. I also manage the small forest for winter fuel for a wood stove and heating. I love to strip to the waist and feel the sun on my torso as I swing the axe and split the wood. I work up a sweat and enjoy running my hand over my muscles as they tighten with the work. I had discovered a tall tree that had developed a dangerous lean after a season of extra heavy rain followed by fierce winds. The tree needed to come down and although I usually fell my own trees, this one needed an expert tree feller to avoid damaging two beautiful blackwoods close by.

I made telephone enquiries to find someone who would come to my remote location and found a man who agreed to travel the distance. An already beautiful day was made more so when he arrived. He was magnificent to behold! About 6 feet tall and ruggedly built. Early thirties I surmised, with a shock of unruly, dark brown hair, green eyes and a smile that radiated well-being as he shook my hand and introduced himself. “Jake”, he said. We chatted briefly and then drove in his ute to a clearing off the track that gave easy access to the tree he was to bring down. He admired the bush and said how he too loved to bush walk: breathing in the scent of the Eucalypts and the earthy smell of the forest floor.

We went for a stroll to the small creek that flowed not far away and talked a little of ourselves and what had brought us to our current situations. Like me, he preferred a solitary life. Not cut off, and with good friends, but a private man. There was an untold element also, I felt. I looked him full in the face and said, “well you look as if the life suits you.” That was all but I hoped it carried the other thought I was having: that he was gorgeous! He grinned and said that life was O.K. A brief pause and then he added that I too seemed to fit well into my environment.

We returned to the site where the tree was to come down. He walked around the tree looking up and then standing back from it extended his arm in a direction, looked up again, re-sighted with his arm to the right and gave a small nod and ‘yep’. I was entranced as I watched. He had on a sleeveless shirt and the muscles in his upper arms flexed and tightened and relaxed again. He looked at me, grinned and said ‘yep’ again. He checked his chainsaw, put on a hard hat, slung earmuffs around his neck and indicated to where I should remove myself to safety. I retreated. Once more he circled the tree, extended his arm in the direction of fall, covered his ears, revved the saw and bent to begin.

He moved beautifully. A slight sway as he cut the first cleft. Knees bent and his arse tightening his pants to fantastic contours. I felt my crotch stir! He cut the cleft and stood up: stretching backwards to ease his back. In my fantasy I quickly ran my hands down his front before he stood upright again. I grinned to myself and felt my cock stir. He cut in from the other side of the tree until there