Trevor and Mitch finished the house and equipped it with all new appliances. In the winter of the following year, steam rose from the compost pile in the early morning chill, and the basement shelves were stocked with canned green beans, tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, okra, and sweet, dill, and bread-and-butter pickles. The freezer was filled with blanched corn on the cob and beef that had been cut and prepared to their specifications. They bought chicken in bulk from a local farmer, along with their eggs and dairy. The farmer's wife taught them to preserve the eggs in large jars so they would last for months. The milk was fresh from the cow, and they skimmed the cream off to make their own butter and used the extra cream for coffee or desserts.
Mitch had taken up bread-making and made all their bread, rolls, and sourdough for sandwiches. He ordered a small mill, bought various grains to make fresh flour, and made his own yeast. They bought fresh honey from a beekeeper outside Vinita. The grandson of the horse farmer who supplied manure to Trevor’s Grandpop remembered the arrangement and let Trevor and Mitch clean out a stall or two whenever they needed more.
When Trevor looked at their lives, he felt proud of their accomplishments in such a short period of time. They lived as organically as possible, and their good health was a testament to their avoidance of processed foods and chemicals. He had elevated their lifestyle to a level higher than that of his grandparents, but he did so to make them proud, building on everything he learned from them.
The biggest issue, which was minor, was that the boat was docked at Arrowhead, about a 10-minute drive on back roads. Mitch had never fished, but Trevor taught him everything he knew, and the quiet time spent casting and reeling in crappie and catfish was another part of their bond.
Another hobby Trevor wanted to revive was playing Bingo on Wednesday nights, hosted by the volunteer Fire Department in Ketchum. They donated some of their produce or loaves of bread as prizes. The two men built a solid reputation for helping those in need. Neither Trevor nor Mitch flaunted their relationship in public, but neither did they hide it. The world had advanced, and they were respected for their character and willingness to help others. They did laugh occasionally when some of the men made comments about them, dashing the hopes of any young ladies who didn’t realize they were gay.
One morning, Trevor received a notice from the Corps of Engineers, which managed the lake's water levels. Everyone received the same notice – the dam would stay open to lower the water level significantly for repairs. The water levels would remain low for about two months.
Mitch said, “Damn. There goes fishing, right during spawning season.”
“You know, Grandpop mentioned this happened before. He used the time to walk the lake bed of the coves around here to spy out the best fishing holes.”
Mitch smiled, “That sounds cool.”
“Grand Lake of the Cherokee’s used to be the largest man-made lake in the country. I don’t think it holds that title anymore, but there’s a ton of old houses and all kinds of junk on the bottom. All that shit we get our lines hung on. We can scavenge hooks and lures while we poke around.”
“Nice. So when’s this gonna happen?”
“It starts in two weeks, so everyone has time to pull their boats out, and the docks can pull up close to shore. It’s gonna look weird around here.”
Trevor had already been out to check the mail and get the morning paper. He tried working the crossword puzzles like his Granny did, but they didn’t hold the same draw they did as a child, and he understood that it was his time spent with Granny that made them special.
Mitch hadn’t dressed yet and wore only boxers. They slept naked, but usually slipped on shorts to mill about the house while they drank coffee. Trevor never tired of admiring Mitch’s tanned, muscled body. His handsome face topped everything off, but it was his heart that Trevor loved the most. Mitch glanced over and saw Trevor looking at him, and he grinned. Standing, he moved over and pulled Trevor’s head against his stomach, putting his arms around him in a hug.
Leaning over, he said, “I love you,” as he kissed the top of Trevor’s head.
Trevor’s arms wrapped around Mitch, pulling them more snuggly together. His warm, firm, furry tummy felt wonderful against his cheek, and he inhaled Mitch’s scent. He still smelled of their lovemaking from the previous night.
Holding each other, they relaxed into their bond. They often professed their love verbally, but they also expressed it physically every day in multiple ways. Trevor’s hands moved up, feeling Mitch’s strong back, and he kissed his abs softly, one by one, working his way down. By the time he was close, Mitch’s cock was hard and straining against his boxers. Tugging Mitch’s boxers down, they fell around his ankles, freeing his erection. The drop of precum at his piss slit was too enticing to pass up, and Trevor took Mitch into his mouth. He kept one arm around his lover and fondled his balls while he sucked his cock.
Mitch stood with his eyes closed, lost in love for his partner and the pleasure he received. If they followed their usual pattern, when Mitch climaxed, he would return the favor, and then they would go to the bedroom and cuddle. Sometimes that led to fucking. Trevor had come around and offered his ass to Mitch the year before, and they didn’t fuck very often, but when one felt the desire, the other was ready to satisfy the need. Their sex drives were high, and they fulfilled each other's needs as often as they wanted, and more.
They knew each other’s buttons and used them to bring each other the utmost pleasure. Neither one had any unusual kinks, which they laughed about. For a gay couple, their sex lives were simple, mainly sticking to the basics. Their favorite thing to do was to jerk off together, jerk each other off, or suck each other off.
<><>
Trevor waited an extra week for the lake bed to dry before he and Mitch started exploring the exposed area. The weather was cool, and they wore tight-fitting Henlees under sleeveless down vests. The knit fabric, open around their thick necks, hugged their muscular frames. Trevor ordered their clothes online, and they dressed alike, almost like twins. To the few people still living around Duck Creek Landing and Arrowhead, Trevor and Mitch had become known as the cool gay couple who got along with everyone.
Mitch carried an empty five-gallon bucket, and they both had entrenching tools for cutting limbs or digging holes. Exposed tree stumps and brush were covered with jigs and bass lures, and they made out like bandits. The topography was more varied than Trevor imagined, and using his memorization techniques from Sniper training, he flagged landmarks and distances. Coupled with Mitch’s recon skills, they became intimately familiar with the entire area that made up Duck Creek Landing.
Mitch noticed movement in a small mud pool and called, “Trev! Come take a look!”
Trevor grinned when he realized it was a large channel catfish burrowed into the mud. Catfish often survived long droughts by submerging themselves until the water levels rose.
“It’s a catfish. You want to dig it up? We could fry it up tonight with some pan-fried taters, peppers, and onions.”
Smiling, Mitch said, “You’ll use any excuse to make those. Sure, let’s dig him up.”
Using their entrenching tools, they dug around the small pool. The catfish was large, probably eight to ten pounds. The suction of the mud was strong, but they managed. What surprised them were some bones mixed in with the mud. Both men had seen human bones before, and one of larger ones was undeniably a femur.
Trevor frowned, “What the hell?”
They made eye contact and, with serious expressions, began digging in earnest. After an hour they uncovered five skulls and most of the related skeletons. A few pieces of jewelry and scraps of beaded leather somehow survived. Mixed in with everything were dozens of flint arrowheads in pristine condition.
Mitch asked, “What the fuck, Trev? Should we call the sheriff?”
“Yeah, but let’s make a video and take pictures first.”
Mitch said, “The jewelry is turquoise and silver. Along with the beads, it appears Indian in design. Maybe the sheriff will want to contact the University and have someone from the archeology department come out.”
“Yeah. Good thinkin.’
Mitch winked and said, “I’m not just another pretty face.”
Trevor burst out laughing and managed to say, “No, you’re not. And I’m so glad.”
After a few seconds, he continued, “You aren’t pretty, you’re handsome as fuck.”
Mitch blushed and said, “If we’re gonna fry this guy up, we need to keep it alive. There’s some standing water still by the bridge. Let’s head back to the truck and get it some water and we can eat our sandwiches while we wait for the sheriff.”
“You’re full of good ideas. Sexy and smart. You'd better watch it. Some random, hot guy out here might hit on you.”
“If his name happens to be Trevor, and he has a big dick, I’m countin’ on it. Rumor has it he can’t keep it in his pants.”
Continuing their banter, they returned to the truck and called 911 to explain their discovery.
<><>
Sheriff Barklay pulled up behind their truck, and Trevor and Mitch introduced themselves.
“Afternoon fellas. Mr. McCain, you’re John and Amber’s grandson, right?”
“Yes, Sir. I used to live with them in the summers growing up when I was out of school.”
“My mother knew Amber and John. They were good folk. Your grandfather was quite the mechanic and helped a lot of people out in his day.”
“Really? I didn’t know that. I just knew him as my Grandpop who took me fishing.”
“John was a great man, a World War II Navy vet. His generation was something else. I can tell you follow in his footsteps. We haven’t met, but you have a good reputation around these parts.”
Mitch smiled, filled with pride for his partner.
“So what’s this about human remains?”
“Yes, sir. It’s not too far from here. With the water levels down, we were taking the lay of the lake bed, and Mitch found a burrowed channel cat. We dug it up and found a femur. We delved a little further and found five skulls, along with most of the related skeletons. There may be more. There’s some jewelry and beads, clearly Indian design. We weren’t sure, but thought you might want to contact the University.”
“Let’s take a look first. There aren’t any unsolved missing persons reports on record from around here. It’s possible they were buried here before the lake was made. To my recollection, the lake was filled around 1940, so whoever you found was probably here long before that.”
Trevor and Mitch led the sheriff to the spot and said, “We took pictures of what we uncovered so far, but figured we’d better call you before we did any more. I can send them to your phone or email them if you want.”
“I’d appreciate it. Just to be safe, I’m going to declare this a crime scene so no one else pokes around. I appreciate you guys letting me know, but for now, you’ll need to clear out.”
“Yes, Sir. If it’s alright, I’d like to follow up and find out the story, if there is one.”
“You, bet. I’ll call you if any questions come up that you haven’t already answered.”
<><>
Even with indoor gym equipment, Trevor and Mitch still preferred to exercise outside when the weather was nice. The temperature was moderate and the day sunny, so they had their shirts off as they did push-ups, pull-ups, and burpees. Both had a good pump and were slightly sweaty when a UPS van pulled into the driveway. As they walked out to greet the driver, they saw two large cardboard boxes on the ground that the driver was placing on a dolly.
Trevor, “Afternoon. You sure you got the right place? We aren’t expecting any deliveries.”
The driver was unusually muscular, with big arms and a handsome face. His legs were so thick that the fabric of his uniform shorts looked ready to split at the seams.
“Are you Trevor McCain?”
“That’s me. This is Mitch. You can leave those if you like. We’ll take them in.”
The driver, whose name tag showed “Greg,” said, “They’re a bit heavy, but you look like you can manage.”
“Do I need to sign anything?”
“No, Sir. They’re all yours.”
“Thank you, Greg. Have a good one.”
Greg tipped his cap, hopped in his van, and pulled out, leaving the two large boxes in the grass. Mitch knelt to look at the shipping label and said, “These are from Anadarko. Do you know anyone from there?”
“I have cousins there. What’s the return address say?”
“Yellow Bird Estate Sales.”
“What the hell?”
“Let’s get them inside and see what you got.”
The boxes were heavy for their size, and Mitch's arms and shoulders bunched as he lifted the larger of the two. Trevor put the smaller one on the kitchen table and used a box cutter to open it. Four rectangular Tupperware tubs with sealed lids were inside, along with a letter.
Scanning the letter, Trevor’s eyes widened, and he muttered, “Oh shit.”
“Good, “Oh, shit?” or bad, “Oh shit?”
“Both. These are family pictures. My cousin Cindy passed away and pre-arranged to have her lawyer track me down. Fuck, there are hundreds of them, maybe a thousand or more.”
Mitch helped him unbox everything, and they stacked the Tupperware containers on the table.
Trevor’s eyes were bright as he said, “It’s going to take some time to go through all these.”
“You’d best get started, then. I’ll make lunch while you start.”
Trevor seemed enraptured, drawn into his past through the pictures. Faces he remembered from his childhood were in front of him again. His great Aunts, Janie, Jeanette, Irma, Leona, whom he called Aunt No No because when his dad was little, he couldn’t say her name right, Dolly, and Willa, Uncle B. Y., which stood for Bruce Yeager, and his wife, Aunt Ruth, Margarette, and his two great uncles, Richard and Bob. Of his Granny’s thirteen siblings, he met all but three, because they were killed in the war.
Trevor kept commenting or laughing at things he saw, so caught up in his memories that he didn’t realize how quiet Mitch was. After lunch, Trevor continued while Mitch cleaned up and went outside to the garden to weed and tend a few chores.
Hours later, Trevor said, “Hey Mitch, look at this! This is me when I was a year old!”
It wasn’t until Mitch didn’t answer that he realized he was alone in the house. Going outside, he found Mitch, shirtless, sitting by himself, looking at the yard. Hummingbirds still fluttered about at their feeders, but would soon migrate south as winter approached.
“Mitch?”
Mitch didn’t respond, and when Trevor moved in front of him, he realized Mitch had tears in his eyes.
Kneeling beside his partner, Trevor put his arm around Mitch’s shoulders and asked, “What’s wrong?”
It took Mitch a moment to respond. He took a few deep breaths, cleared his throat, and gripped Trevor’s hand so tightly it hurt.
“I’m not sure, Trev.”
With Trevor there and touching him, Mitch broke down, crying even harder. Trevor wrapped his arms around him, feeling unsure and scared that he had done something or, worse, that Mitch was having some kind of PTSD episode.
“I’m here, Mitch. I love you.” With his words, he kissed the top of Mitch’s head. His hair smelled of the sun and heat of the afternoon. It reminded him of how his Grandpop smelled after being in the garden all day. Not sweaty, but the heat scent of a working man. Trevor gave Mitch all the time he needed to calm down, holding him the entire time and just being with him.
After a while, Mitch said, “I’m sorry. I’m not sure where this came from. I heard how happy you were looking at those pictures, and these emotions hit me… don’t for a minute think you aren’t enough for me. You’re my world, Trev, and I wouldn’t be here… I couldn’t make it in this world without you… But an emptiness I wasn’t even aware of hit me. I don’t have anyone but you. I don’t have a family like yours. I don’t know who I am or where I come from. I kept thinking about how great it is that you were here as a kid and how much you were loved. I know you love me, but I don’t remember being loved as a kid by anyone other than my mom and dad.”
Tears appeared in Trevor’s eyes at the pain in his partner’s voice.
“I’m sorry, Mitch. I didn’t realize....”
“Fuck that, Trev. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m happy you got those pictures. I can already tell how much they mean to you. I’m not jealous. Go through ‘em, and relive the good memories. I just wish I had memories of my own.”
“Mitch? Why don’t we take one of those DNA tests that show our heritage? Maybe you’ll find family you don’t know about?”
Mitch’s brow furrowed at the thought, and he muttered, “Wouldn’t that be something?”
Trevor smiled as he helped Mitch to his feet. “God, I love the way you smell after being out here all afternoon. I wish you knew what you do to me.”
They made eye contact, and Mitch’s temporary malaise lifted at the love staring back at him. Trevor knew how to make him feel better, emotionally and physically.
Trevor’s hands remained on Mitch’s shoulders, sensually kneading them before his hands moved over his chest. He gently ran the backs of his knuckles over Mitch’s nipples, sending a shiver through him. His nipples hardened, making them more sensitive.
With a smirk, Mitch said, “You’re overdressed.”
Mitch lifted the hem of Trevor’s shirt over his head, revealing his muscular torso.
“It’s still warm enough that the cinderblock house should be a hotbox. Let’s get sweaty and have some fun.”
Often, Trevor and Mitch weren’t gentle with each other. When they entered what they laughingly called ‘rut mode,’ they let their urges run free. They loved the sweat, smells, and the strength of their bodies, but this time, Trevor did everything he could to show his love for Mitch. He still wasn’t gentle, but he focused on Mitch and made him feel loved. His expression couldn’t have been clearer, even without words. It was another part of their soul bond, and just how powerful it was.
<><>
That evening, Mitch went online and ordered a DNA Heritage kit for both of them. It was a risk because if he didn’t find any family, it could make him feel more lonely, but the chance of discovering someone, no matter how distant, worked in his favor. Trevor noticed that Mitch had taped the Polaroid of his parents from the cigar box to the side of the computer monitor.
Life continued as they explored the lake bed before the water levels rose again. The amount of jigs and lures they collected was incredible. Neither of them enjoyed bass fishing and would give away those lures, but they kept the jigs for crappie. Trevor told Mitch that his Grandpop used to make his own jigs and flies, so Mitch went on YouTube, learned how to do it, and started making them too. He studied local insects and imitated their colors. After Trevor rescued him and as Mitch became his true self, he discovered a strong connection to nature. Working in the garden and doing everything organically brought him as much peace as Trevor, and sharing that with his man gave him a life he never thought he’d have.
One afternoon, Trevor received a call from Sheriff Barklay.
“What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
“There are some folks at the University of Oklahoma who are interested in those bones you and Mitch dug up. I didn’t want to give them your contact information without permission. I don’t know what they want to talk to you about, but I figured I’d call and see if you’re up to it?”
Trevor’s curiosity piqued, and he said, “Sure. Give ‘em my number and address. We’ll be happy to talk to them.”
“I’ll pass it on, then. You boy’s doing alright?”
Trevor smiled, “Yes, sir, just gettin’ ready for winter. The crappie will be spawning soon, and with the water levels back up, I hope they find their way back into our area.”
“Well, good luck. I hear the stripers are hitting good in the deep water by the dam, so I hope that’s a good indication. You boys take care.”
“You, too, Sheriff. By the way, we’ve got more than enough canned vegetables for the winter. If you want to swing by, we’d be happy to share. Your wife might enjoy some.”
“That’s mighty nice, son. I’ll stop by in the next few days.”
Mitch only heard half the conversation, so Trevor filled him in on the University personnel wanting to talk to them.
Much to their delight, Sheriff Barklay stopped by the next day with a deep-dish apple pie from his wife as an exchange for some canned tomatoes and green beans.
Before he left, Sheriff Barklay mentioned, “I don’t know if you heard, but the old dock here at Duck Creek was bought. I don’t know what the new owners are gonna do with it, but you might see some new faces around here.”
Trevor and Mitch both thanked him for the pie and the information, wondering what new ownership might mean.
Trevor said, “It would be awesome if we could keep the boat here instead of Arrowhead.”
<><>
A few days later, an SUV they didn’t recognize pulled into their drive. Trevor and Mitch sat outside, burning old wood in the fire pit, enjoying the smell and the warmth. It was a typical cold day for them. The garden was cleared, the compost pile steamed in the cold air, and the sky was overcast. Mitch had dough proofing in the kitchen. The first snow of the season was expected in the next few days.
Trevor and Mitch made their way between the house and the cinderblock house to the drive, where they saw two men and a woman exiting the SUV.
Trevor politely asked, “What can we do for you?”
The older of the two men asked, “Are you Trevor McCain and Mitch Evans?”
“I’m Trevor, and this is Mitch.”
“I’m William Degataka, a professor of archeology at OU. These are two of my grad students, Anetta and Rich.”
Dr. Degataka clearly had Indian heritage. His hair was separated into two long braids secured with silver and turquoise clips that had feathers hanging from them.
Trevor and Mitch moved forward and shook hands with all three visitors and asked, “Would you like to come sit by the fire? Or we can go inside if you prefer and put on a fresh pot of coffee.”
Professor Degataka said, “Inside might be better, if you don’t mind.”
Mitch led the way, and Trevor brought up the rear, escorting their visitors into the den.
Anetta looked around and said, “This place is beautiful.”
Mitch said, “Thanks. We built it ourselves. It’s a bit unconventional, but it suits us well.”
Trevor started brewing coffee, and Mitch got everyone seated. Once coats were off and everyone was comfortable, Trevor asked, “So what brings you here?”
Dr. Degataka said, “The artifacts you uncovered, along with the human remains.”
“There’s not much to tell, really. The water levels were low, and we were surveying the lake bed for good fishing spots. Mitch spotted a burrowed channel cat, and when we dug around it, we found a leg bone. We were careful, dug around some more, and uncovered the skulls. We didn’t want to damage anything, and we weren’t sure how old they might be, so we called Sheriff Barklay.”
Dr. Degataka said, “We’ve done our best to assess the age, and to our recollection, those bones predate Grand Lake by at least one hundred years, perhaps more. The jewelry, though, is what we found most interesting. The silver and turquoise pieces and beads are a design favored by the Osage tribes that inhabited this area. The bones showed no indication of a violent death, so we suspect that it might have been a burial site.”
Trevor and Mitch both raised their eyebrows, “Really? Well, we certainly didn’t mean any disrespect by disturbing it.”
Dr. Degataka said, “There is no accusation as to your intentions. Everything on your part seems quite innocent. I’ve written the Water Authority and the Corps of Engineers and asked them to lower the water level again so we can do a proper excavation. If it is a burial site, there might be dozens more bodies and many other artifacts. What you found was amazingly well-preserved.”
Trevor asked, “Do you think they’ll do that?”
Rich spoke for the first time, “We don’t think so, but we have to make the attempt.”
Mitch said, “It would disrupt a lot of business, even in Winter. Arrowhead and Shangri-La would be shut down. I’m all for it, especially if you can discover the heritage of anyone currently living who might be there.”
Trevor immediately knew Mitch’s motivation and why something like that would be so important to him.
Trevor asked, “So what brings you here to talk to us?”
Dr. Degataka said, “If our wish is granted, we would like you to take us back to that spot. You showed reverence for what you found, which shows honor. You called the Sheriff rather than keeping the artifacts.”
Looking at Mitch, he said, “You show wisdom in wishing to tie the remains with those still living. It is appropriate that you are involved, as all of this started with you.”
Trevor looked at Mitch, who nodded in agreement without saying a word.
“We’d be happy to help in any way we can. You have our phone numbers and know where we live. Contact us if we can be of any help.”
<><>
Record-breaking snowfall kept Mitch and Trevor at the lake. Out of boredom, Mitch baked a lot of bread and expanded his skills into pastries. They fished to supplement their meat and protein intake, and ate well and healthily from all the food they grew, canned, and made themselves.
One night, after getting each other off, as they cuddled, Mitch said, “You know, Trev, I know your grandparents are proud of you. I was thinking today how much you’ve done with this place.”
His words invoked an emotional response in Trevor that surprised him.
“What we’ve done. I couldn’t have done it all without you. But thanks for saying it. I know this sounds weird, and I don’t really talk about it, but I feel like they’re still here. Not just with me, but us. It’s too bad the family name will die with me. I wonder if they’re disappointed in that.”
“I don’t see how they could be. You carry their legacy and have honored it to the best of your ability. You were born gay. There was no choice, so I don’t see how they could ever think that. I bet, if you could talk to them, they would tell you how proud they are, and that you being gay doesn’t matter.”
Trevor sniffled and said, “I want to believe that.”
“They were of a different generation, but from everything I can tell, they were good people. Even Sheriff Barklay said so. Trust them and the love they had for you as a boy when you lived here with them. They instilled their values in you.”
To change the subject, Trevor grinned and asked, “Would you instill me with your dick?”
Mitch lifted his head and saw Trevor’s emotional tears. The powerful love he held for his lover welled up. When it came to the surface, it sometimes frightened him how much he loved Trevor.
Smiling, Mitch kissed him and said, “Slow and easy? Or rough sex Wednesday?”
“It’s Thursday.”
“Don’t bring facts into this.”
Trevor chuckled and pulled Mitch on top of him, manhandling him. Mitch’s warm, hard body covered him, and their cocks, pressed together, hardened quickly.
Trevor whispered, “Don’t be gentle, Marine. Fuck me like you mean it.”
Knowing what Trevor needed, Mitch gave it to him, prolonging it for both of them. By the time he came, Trevor had come twice, hands-free, and their bodies were slick with sweat. He put so much effort into it that it took Mitch a moment to come back to himself. His dick still twitched, trying to pump out more cum. Sliding out of Trevor, he rolled off and spooned him.
Kissing Trevor’s shoulder, he whispered, “I love you.”
With Mitch’s steady, warm breath on his skin, Trevor quietly said, “I love you, too,” and they drifted off to sleep, snuggled together.
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