a little scruffy maybe, but harmless…had a backpack slung over one shoulder…dark hair…Levis, boots, no shirt, wearing an open leather vest…interesting! He wasn’t in the habit of picking up hitchhikers…but, throwing caution to the wind…he stopped. “Hop in, man…” The young man got in, bringing with him a sensual, masculine “could use a shower” scent. “Where’re you headed?”

“Denver, I guess…”

“You guess?”

“Yeah…gotta get outta Dodge, so to speak…figured Denver’s probably the best place anywhere near here to join the Navy or somethin’…”

“You on the run?”

“Not really…just got booted out of the house by my stupid bastard step-father!”

“What’s your name? I’m Randy…”

“Josh…”

“So, what happened…if you want to talk…”

“Why not…short version, he married my mom when I was real little…used to beat the shit out of me every chance he got…and when I graduated from school in the Spring I told him I’d kill him if he ever laid a hand on me again…”

“And…?”

“That was in June. I got a job workin’ at a neighbor’s ranch – enrolled in the local Community College…was even paying him rent…then – last night he got drunk and took a swing at me and I cold cocked him right in the kitchen. When he came to about five minutes later he told me he had a gun, and if I didn’t get my fag ass outta there he’d shoot me…so I grabbed a couple things and took off…walked most of the night…been hitchin’ all day today…”

“Fag ass?”

“Yeah…used to tell me all the time he was beatin’ me that he knew I was a fag and he was gonna beat it out of me…”

“Sounds a little like the story of my life when I was young…I left while I was still in high school…just before my step-father kicked me out…”

“No shit…why was he gonna kick you out…?”

“Same reason…”

“You mean you’re really, um…?”

“Yeah – I really am…but if that spooks you I’ll let you out at the next exit…”

“No way, man…damn, is this cool or what?”

“Cool?”

“Yeah…he was right about me but he never knew it – and the only ‘gay’ thing I ever tried was jackin’ off with a couple older guys that were workin’ the ranch…but, man – meetin’ you like this…I mean, I don’t have to talk about pussy and all that shit and pretend that I’m…DAMN, this is so fuckin’ cool…!”

“You hungry?”

“Yeah…didn’t eat today…”

“Tell you what…since we’re still five hours from Denver – I think there’s a restaurant and motel about twenty miles ahead…we can stop there - eat, shower…shoot the shit…get some shut eye and then I can drop you off at the recruitment office in the morning – when they’re open…that is, if you’re sure you want to sign up…”

“Sounds good to me – specially getting’ somethin’ to eat…but, you sure it’s ok? I don’t have any money…like maybe five bucks