one hand and patted his back with the other. “It’s okay, buddy, just let that big ol’ heart break. Just let it break.” And he did, sobbing so long and so hard that by the time the tears stopped flowing Jimmy couldn’t even speak, his throat and his heart so raw.

Ian finally poured Jimmy a cup of coffee and helped hold it as Jimmy drank thirstily. “Let’s get you to bed and some sleep, okay?”

Jimmy nodded his head, and Jimmy seemed pretty steady only using Ian as a crutch a couple of times. Ian finally got him to sit on the bed. “You can just sleep here tonight. I’ll check on you just to make sure your okay. You just relax. I’m here for anything you need.”

Jimmy looked at him with red puffy eyes and just nodded. Ian took a fresh towel and wiped Jimmy down with it. Jimmy held out his arms and feet while Ian cleaned them like a toddler dutifully being bathed.

Ian could still smell vomit strongly and realized that Jimmy had puked all over himself; his boxers were caked with it. “Jimmy let’s get these off you. They’re pretty nasty, okay?”

Jimmy just nodded and raised his hips as Ian slid the soiled garment off him. He rolled it up in the towel and promptly put them in the hamper.

By the time he had dampened another towel and returned to the guest room, Jimmy had managed to stretch out on his back, hands at his sides staring straight up at the ceiling. Ian wiped his groin area, and then covered the naked cowboy in a throw. “Good night, Jimmy.”

Ian turned off the light and turned to go. Jimmy grabbed his hand and pulled him back. “You want the light on?”

Jimmy nodded. Ian turned to go, but Jimmy refused to let go of his arm. “Do you need something, Jimmy?”

He nodded again. This time he said, “I’ve never played with another guy’s peter before.”

“That’s good to know Jimmy, and you don’t have to worry about that happening tonight. Okay? Don’t worry. You are safe, absolutely safe.”

Jimmy nodded his head, and let go of Ian’s hand. In a moment he was sound asleep. Ian pulled the throw around the sleeping cowboy’s shoulders and quietly pulled the door too.

He found the group out by the pool; Billy had joined them in snapping beans. As soon Tippy saw Ian she grinned broadly, “This is so “Beverly Hillbillies” don’t you think? All of the clan sitting around the cement pond as the sun goes down snappin green beans.”

Ian put his hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “He’ll be as fine as he can be, Baby Doll. He’s got family all around him.”

“Friends anyway,” Ian said as he sat cross-legged on the ground and started stringing a handful of beans.

“Honey, friends, are people who send you get well cards and say ‘Oh was it your birthday?’ Family are the ones who are just there, doing nothing special, just always there.” She didn’t take her eyes off her work.

“Whether you like it or not.” Jesse added.

“My baby is pretty smart for just a smart mouth.” Tippy chucked his chin. “Jesse, Darling, when you snap ‘em, pull the strings off, too.”

“Sorry, mama, I haven’t done this much, the bean thing anyway.”

“It’s alright