Our Senior Year and More

Our Senior Year and More Part 16

A few hours after our first fun filled sexy honeymoon session, I suddenly awoke to strange light flashes reflecting off the wall as if dancing, the soft romantic music was still playing in the cabin and the lights in the living area were still lit. I couldn’t figure out what was causing the odd images I was seeing, perhaps I was still somewhat asleep. I further wiped the sleep from my eyes and eventually went to the window where off in the distance I could see a glowing in the sky beyond Tommy’s house, at first I figured maybe some of the guests were still gathered and having a private “after party” when I realized it was 4 AM and then I saw what appeared to look like vehicles coming up his drive, with red lights, I began to panic as I realized the glow was very large and not a small camp or bon fire in Tommy’s yard.

My heart immediately sunk, as I further came too, and realized it was a real fire, I quick yanked Josh out of bed, we threw on some clothes from our overnight bag, and we jumped on the golf cart we left outside last night and drove across the property toward Tommy’s house. The closer we got the worse we felt, and then we both realized the old wooden barn was a blaze. Oh my god it was fully engulfed. My initial thoughts were oh no, some of the fireworks from last night must have caused this. Then we saw Tommy, Devin, Hulk, Sammy, Juan and the fire men all running around trying to save horses, some were already in the coral, Josh and I and other relatives and guests that were staying at the dude ranch eventually were all there at the site. They realized the tragedy by sunrise and the fire was out and the old barn was just a smoldering pile of ruble. Finally we were able to take a break and rest a bit and take inventory of our lives and what just happened.

Several paces away, I saw Tommy alone as he collapsed to his knees against a fence in apparent tears. I think it finally dawned on him, his parent’s original barn was gone. Devin went to his side along with Josh and I to try to comfort him. Devin and I each reached down and put our hands on each of his shoulders as we stood next to him, Josh stood beside me and held my waist knowing I needed his support to help Tommy through this ordeal. We then helped Tommy to his feet as Hulk approached us several moments later with some more bad news, he somberly announced quietly to us, that it seems two horses are missing, Devin’s horse “Halifax” and “Pudgy”. Just then as we were ready to split up to try to look for them, the fire chief and sheriff approached us together and let us into the scene and what was left of the barn, now just a charred pile of rubble and ash.  Immediately Devin ran to where Halifax’s stall was, and he began trying to remove debris and charred beams where he saw his horse on the ground obviously dead and severely burnt, he continued his efforts trying to save him till Josh and I pulled him off the pile, and he and Tommy embraced in a hug, I couldn’t help but cry for them. Then there was Pudgy, he too was in the space that used to be his stall, I’ll never forget the sight of his still glossy eye, seemingly following us as we moved about. The fire chief then told us to move carefully and not to upset anything. We were all devastated at the sight as we leaned on each other and realized suddenly the tears were nonexistent, could it be we were all just cried out and numb?.

 The only positive side, if there was one, thankfully none of the clients horses were injured but the loss of the barn was a total loss, the equipment, the hay, the saddles, tack and blankets all the tools and memorabilia tacked to the walls over the years. Then the news which we didn’t think could, got worse, as the chief began asking and questioning each of us individually. Based on his questions it was obvious they were thinking it was deliberately set. We each consoled each other after we were questioned and discussed each other’s line of questioning and responses. Devin was not only in shock but he was morning the loss of his horse. Tommy was a complete mess and was crying through the whole ordeal, as if almost giving up on life, then there was Josh who was acting like a strong guy, but I could see in his face after seeing Pudgy’s body on the ground he was shaken to the core. Now don’t get me wrong but everyone was shaken because each of us had a personal attachment to this barn and its contents. Meanwhile I thought the only good in this is, that this is where Devin was raped and almost killed a few years earlier, but that was little justification to the overall event, in fact for Devin it may have now been worse as this is where he lost his prized horse too.

After we regained some our composure and most of Josh’s family members who had gathered at the scene from the dude ranch came over to offer their condolences. The guests, who were staying, gathered back at the dude ranch and made the breakfast that we were supposed to have this morning and loaded it on the golf carts and gators and brought it over to us and the remaining fire fighters. Because the police investigation was now involved, we couldn’t disturb anything till the state fire Marshall got there later today, it was Sunday and luckily he was home, he lived about 2 and ½ hours north of us so it would be a while. Meanwhile the chief walked Tommy, Devin, Josh and me through the debris and pointed to areas that he thought it started and it was obvious it was an accelerant all around the outside. Then about 30 feet away from where the back corner of the barn once stood, Josh noticed in the brush, something red, as we all walked over. There were three plastic gasoline containers scattered as if thrown from a distance. Fuck this was set. No doubt about it now, but who and why?

Mom showed up, she left Dad home sleeping, she kicked into "mom" mode, and joined Josh’s family with helping to feed everyone, but not before checking on Tommy and Devin first, forcing them to sit down and take deep breaths, and to eat something. Josh’s parents arrived from the Springfield Hotel a bit later, with some other relatives expecting to continue the party at the planned breakfast, and couldn’t believe anyone didn’t  call them, as they immediately joined right in to help.

The state fire Marshall showed up about 3 hours later and sure enough he declared it arson, he collected the gas cans and other items that he thought might be suspicious as well as questioning us all over again. Then the towns people began showing up, the Bakers and others all bringing additional food, the fire Marshall finally released the scene and Tommy, Devin, Josh, Hulk, the Bakers, and me gathered as we prepared to bury the two horses. The other guests kept their distance back at the dude ranch mulling about under the wedding tents eating or continuing to prepare food.

Hulk then lifted Pudgy first with the tractor forklift blade attachment, and ever so slowly drove him up the hill behind where the barn stood, on the brim of the wooded area, where Baker 2 was just finishing a hole with the bucket on the back hoe. Then Hulk lovingly lowered the blades and placed Pudgy in the hole and Tommy was a mess but he insisted on staying till Devin’s horse was also laid to rest. Baker 1 brought several shovels and we all began to backfill the holes by hand, before retreating to the tents back at the dude ranch property.

When the day was almost over, the sun was just about setting, many of the guests were getting ready to leave if they haven’t already left to catch flights back to NY, and thankfully many of our friends and townspeople drove them to the airport for us.

We spent hours into the night just sitting in shock under the tents eating leftovers and drinking more than we should have when Josh, god bless him, began to tell stories of our first visit to the farm and being introduced to “straight” Tommy and riding Pudgy almost in a reverse bounce smashing his balls into the saddle as he struggled to stay on him. Then we all began stories of the farm, growing up, and when and how we all met each other, and how we became a family. Josh’s mom and dad stayed with us, and he from time to time interjected legal options and was willing to help Tommy and Josh’s law firm sort out with insurance and legal issues. With that Devin and Tommy began a positive discussion about rebuilding the barn back, bigger and better, but I could see Tommy really wanted the old barn back, and he wanted to build the same barn back in the same footprint. After all it was his parents and he’s made so many changes and now a big part of the farm was gone forever.

About a week later we had a visit from the sheriff, he told us fingerprints were clear and undisputed, “BILLY PRESCOTT”, He said, they don’t know where he is, but there is a warrant for his arrest. Devin put his head down in his hands at the table and began to cry. Tommy jumped up screaming that he was going to kill that fucking bastard and torture his fucking ass, one inch at a time, and make him eat his own penis and balls while he bleeds out, then tie his legs to two horses that can rip him apart by the legs. I have never ever seen Tommy lose his temper or cool to that extent ever.

My god I was worried as I said, I have never seen Tommy be as angry and vengeful as this, but Josh quickly noticed and went to Devin’s side knowing that Devin still blames himself, as it was Devin who initially convinced Tommy to hire Billy. I tried to calm Tommy down by trying to make him realize he wasn’t helping Devin’s situation or his thought process. I know Devin was wondering if this would damage he and Tommy’s relationship, and Tommy unknowingly didn’t realize he was making Devin feel worse. Finally after my whispering to Tommy, to calm the fuck down, he realized what he was doing to Devin and opening up all those issues that Devin had years ago with the rape and beating, Devin had made peace with it, but it was all coming undone. Tommy stopped and went to Devin and stood him up and hugged him apologizing saying “nothing that jackass does will ever change what you are to me. Never in a million years, and I will never ever blame you, this is NOT your fault” he said, as they held an emotional hug for a long, long uncomfortable time, at least for me and Josh who could just stand nearby.

A few days went by and we hired extra help clearing and burying the old ashes as we cleared the area to the cement pad, we saved some lightly charred beams and hinges and some things that we could incorporate into the new building. Tommy contacted the company that built the metal barn that now would now become the “new old barn” and they had proposals to him in a matter of days. Insurance people were there it seemed every day. By the end of October Tommy signed on for an exact duplicate of the new steel barn complete with living quarters upstairs, it would be three times bigger than the old barn and it would be metal, however they proposed designing a wood façade that resembled the old barn on the front, even though it would be bigger it would be designed and painted the same as the old front, they also wanted to make an area inside perhaps one stall, with photos and a memorial to the horses, the old building, and Tommy’s parents. In the long run Tommy accepted the loss and was finally willing to move on, and thankfully the insurance coverage was excellent, thanks to Josh’s law firm who made recent recommendations based on the many expansions and increased property and coverage for the leased customers as well.

Within weeks our lives were somewhat back to normal, as building of a replacement barn was started before the first  snowfall, and we built temporary stalls and rented horse trailers for the horses that didn’t fit in the metal barn. Josh and I continued to spend the weeks after our wedding in the Dude ranch cabin, it was our only honeymoon escape after our daily jobs. We spent our spare time helping Tommy, and I went back to working half days at the store and thankfully Dad was doing better and continued his split time between the store and home. Tommy and Devin had a bit of a rough patch there, but the additional work load brought them together lovingly every night.

Soon Josh and I began to focus on our property and house plans as we delayed ground breaking till spring, now that we had the extra activity of the new barn raising, and the attempt to get most of it up before the heavy winter freeze and snow.

Josh was doing great in his job and he continues to impress his boss. Maryann was mostly working remotely from her home now, I took over her office at the ranch in Tommy’s house, when I wasn’t at the store. The Baker twins dad, the pharmacist, was pressing me to help him out with his book keeping and was hearing great things from his sons and my Dad about how the new programming was being a big help, and his book keeper was an older guy from Springfield 2 hours away and quite frankly I think he was looking for me to take him on. I gave him advice and told him we’d think about it, but in the long run Josh actually thinks it would be a great idea, and discussed me starting a private accounting firm in town one day.

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Note: I apologize for a no sex chapter but I felt the emotional circumstances needed for the sex to take a break, don’t worry I’ll bring it back next chapter

To be continued.