COMPASSION
Chapter 14
John and Sheila left the ranch the next day and that night, with a new cook installed to look after Jack and Darren, Jack sat his lover down for a serious talk.
"When we die Darren, what happens to the ranch?"
Darren knew instinctively that this was serious.
"I don't know lover, all I've ever been interested in was being with you and being good at my job."
"Dad said something today that made me think. My great grandfather started this ranch. Dad says he has so much archive material including my great grandmother's diary that he is going to write a history of the Double M. Then he said, `I don't know what will happen to the ranch when you die but I think I'll write it any way.' Lover, I want a son to follow in my footsteps."
Darren was almost speechless with shock and only just managed to splutter out, "How on earth do you intend getting that?"
"I want you to take some samples of my sperm and find a good woman who will have my baby."
It took a while for Darren to regain his equilibrium and confirm with Jack that he was serious. When that was sorted he thought about all the patients in the clinic, and then decided he needed to go out of the county. The next few days he spoke to doctors all over the States and told them what he wanted. The result, nearly 1,000 miles away, a married couple desperately wanted a child but the husband was infertile. After extended negotiations it was agreed that Jack would supply the sperm for a son, using this woman as a surrogate. He would pay all medical bills involved with achieving that end and take the child immediately it was born. He would then supply the sperm for the woman to have as many more children as her and her husband wanted. If the first child was a daughter the woman agreed to keep it and keep trying for a son.
The process started and after a couple of false starts she became pregnant. It was established that the foetus was male so Jack and Darren kept their fingers crossed. Darren immediately sent out feelers to find a suitable nanny for the child. She had to be young, single and trained in child care. She must be well educated so that she could be teacher as well as the boy grew. She would live at the ranch and have every facility to make her life pleasant. The salary would be at the top end of expectations to make sure she stayed. The boy must have stability as far as Jack and Darren were concerned.
The two of them interviewed prospective nannies from about two months before the baby was due, intending to get her settled in early. The suite of rooms that they had used when John and Sheila were in residence was revamped for the nanny and a nursery. The nanny was called Katelyn and at 24 was a degree carrying state registered nanny. Perfect in Jack and Darren's eyes. She was a country girl and fell in love with the ranch and her accommodation. She was a competent horse woman, not essential but pleasing to Jack because he expected his son to take to the saddle the same as he had.
The excitement built until Darren got a telephone call from the clinic telling him Jack had a bouncing baby boy weighing in at 8 pounds 6 ounces, ready for collection. Katelyn and Jack immediately flew out with a travel cradle for the baby and all the necessary bits and pieces to carry them through the next few days.
"We'll charter a light twin to bring the baby home Katelyn. Darren has told me it's not good for the baby's ears to travel scheduled because of air pressure differences. We'll return at the lowest level allowed."
"You'll need a name for the baby Jack so that his birth can be registered."
Darren and Katelyn looked expectantly at Jack because up to now he had avoided talking about a name. He grinned at his lover and his new nanny.
"He is going to be lumbered with three names, Michael, after his great great grandfather, John after his grandfather, and Darren, after his second father."
Darren's eyes shone with pleasure and he still managed to blush.
"Thank you Jack, I didn't expect that."
"Why not, he's our son, Lover, not just mine."
Katelyn wasn't surprised. She had very early in her residence realised that these two gay men had great love for each other. To her it was quite a novel set up that she had come to. She would have no hassle with unwanted advances from her employers, the same with the next people in the chain of seniority on this ranch. The manager and foreman were a gay couple as well. She thought that one day it might make a great story, which she hoped to be a part of.
None of this plan had been communicated to John and Sheila, it was going to be Jack's surprise gift to his parents. A grandson they never expected to have.
"We'll be home as soon as we can Lover, hold the fort for me. Adam will keep an eye on my techs until I get back."
And with that they left.
Jack was totally blown away when he saw his son. The baby was so obviously his he was quite shocked. He went to see the mother and her husband, thanking them most profusely for what they had done.
"I haven't seen him Mr. Hancock, but I carried him with love in my heart. What is he like?"
Jack found it difficult to reply, "I can't even begin to describe my feelings. He looks so much like a Hancock it's amazing."
The lady smiled and said, "I hope the next one is as handsome then."
"So do I, so do I. You can have as many as you like, all of the remaining samples are in storage here for your exclusive use."
With that Jack and Katelyn were gone. Hotel for a couple of days while the legalities were attended to and Michael John Darren Hancock was registered as a citizen of the USA.
The small commuter twin that Jack chartered flew them home, remaining below 5,000 feet all the way.
What a bunch of softies the ranch hands turned out to be when confronted with a week old baby. They came up to the house in small groups to see the boss's new son and made all the appropriate noises. For Katelyn, this was all a source of huge amusement. She had never seen men so totally besotted with a baby before, particularly not hard working hard riding cowboys. Jack remembered how he had been treated as a little boy on this ranch and hoped his son would receive the same treatment.
"Time to see Mum and Dad I think Lover."
Darren grinned. "They are going to be so totally blown away, when?"
"Let's see."
"Hi Mum, how are you and Dad."
"We're fine Son. How about you and Darren?"
"Yes, we are too. If you and Dad are in for the rest of the day we'd like to come in to see you both."
"Yes, we'd love to see you, any particular reason?"
"Yes Mum, but we'll tell you when we arrive. We'll just check that it's ok with Paul and Elise as well. We'll be with you in about an hour unless I call back."
"Call Paul and Elise, ask them to go to my parents Darren, then there will be no favouritism in who sees their grandson first."
Darren was overcome that Jack was thinking of his parents as grandparents for the boy as well. They were so excited driving in to town, Katelyn was having problems trying not to laugh at the juvenile antics of the two fathers, both highly skilled and mature professionals, they were behaving worse than teenagers.
When they walked in to John and Sheila's house, both sets of parents looked at the baby cradle and the pretty young woman carrying it.
"Mums, Dads, we've brought your grandson to see you."
Shock, disbelief, confusion. They all registered on the faces of the parents.
"I don't understand Son."
"You gave me the idea about a year ago when you talked about writing the history of the Double M even though there was going to be no heir after me. Well now there is. The baby is from my loins through a surrogate mother. Meet Michael John Darren Hancock. This young lady is Katelyn, she is going to look after him for us."
Introductions completed before baby Michael was swamped by four doting grandparents. Happy families wouldn't even come close to describing the mood in the Hancock household that day.
"I suppose we are going to have to keep two suites permanently ready for guests out at the ranch."
Both Mums looked at each other and laughed.
"Do you think the men will divorce us Elise when we are never home?
"Of course not, because we won't be either, will we Paul?"
Lots of happy laughter and once again John was looking on a family that he could not have been more proud of if he had tried. If he was very lucky, he would see his grandson grow into manhood.
"I haven't even run this by Darren yet, but perhaps we'll have another son, Michaels is such a good family name, and won't we have fun explaining to a Hancock and a Michaels how they are brothers when they grow up."
Darren nearly wet himself before the whole family wanted to talk at once. Out of that conversation Katelyn got the impression she might have a longer future here than she originally expected.
When they were alone that night, Darren asked Jack if he was serious.
"Yes, I think so, Michael ought to have at least one sibling, besides, when we retire the place is going to need another vet and another doctor."
Darren just looked at the heavens and sighed before speaking again.
"We are not going to be the sort of parents who force their children into careers they don't really want, are we?"
Jack laughed, "No Lover, they'll be whatever they want to be. I just hope one of them wants to be a rancher."
That comment wasn't lost on Darren either, the son from his sperm would be an equal son to the one from Jack's, that warranted a serious, `I love you' kiss. ***************************************************************************** Get your minds on nursery's and diapers rather than sucking and fucking.