"What do you want to do today?" asked Jon.

"I don't care."

"Wanna walk down to the river and go skinny-dipping?"

"Whatever."

"Something wrong, Luke?"

"Yeah, something's wrong. Maybe you don't remember, but you were all over that guy last night. You acted like I wasn't even there."

"I did not. I know him, we were just talking."

"Sure. So why did you keep your hand in your pocket all the time? You might as well have taken your ring off."

THE INN -- Chapter 31

"Luke, what the fuck? Do you think I'd ever cheat on you? Let's get one thing straight--you are the only man I love. Period. End of story."

Luke sighed. "But you really ticked me off. You never did anything like that before."

"Maybe I was a little buzzed. I sometimes tend to get friendly when I am. Luke, how do you think I feel when we go to Boystown? You always have a parade of guys you know coming up to you and flirting. If I went nuts every time that happened, we'd be history."

Luke looked at Jon. "I suppose. I guess I'm not used to you running into people you know, but after all, this is your territory. I can't expect you to not know anyone or ignore your friends. But that guy did seem to be overly chummy with you. I wanted to deck him."

"He was hot for me at one time, but that was years ago and nothing ever came of it."

"Okay, sorry. Maybe I was feeling a little out of place and that just put me over the edge. I know I don't have anything to worry about, I know you love me."

"Like you ever had a doubt. So, wanna go swimming in the river?"

"All right, but you first. I want to watch your dick to see how cold the water is. Or maybe not--with your dick, I might get a false sense of security."

Jon smiled. "Come on, let's have breakfast and figure out what we're gonna do today."

After a shower and dressing in shorts and t-shirts, Jon and Luke went to the kitchen. There was a pot of fresh coffee and bacon on a plate.

"Looks like we have to fend for ourselves," said Jon. "I guess dad's at work and mom probably has aerobics or something like that."

Peg must have fed Rocky, since he was content to just sit on Luke's lap. Jon looked in the freezer and pulled out some Eggo waffles.

"I can't believe my mother bought these--she must be getting lazy. She always makes her own waffles."

"She probably still does when it's just her and dad. With us here getting up at different hours, I don't blame her. They're not bad, just use a lot of syrup."

Jon toasted the waffles and sat down to eat. Luke offered Rocky a piece of bacon but Rocky only took a small bite. Luke shrugged and ate the rest himself. Peg must have fed Rocky a good breakfast. When they had finished, Luke rinsed the dishes.

"It's already getting warm out," said Jon. "Ready for that swim?"

"Yeah, but what about Rocky? I don't think we should leave him alone in the house."

"Why not? He's alone at home a lot."

"I know, but there's more here he can get into. Can we take him with?"

"It's about 400 yards to the river, think he can make it?"

"Probably. If not, I'll carry him. He'll enjoy it."

They walked through the fields and eventually came to the river where there was a bend that gave them some privacy. Jon promptly shed his clothes and was ready to jump in.

"It's only about five feet deep here, so don't do a nose-dive."

Jon let out a whoop and did a flat dive into the water as Luke and Rocky watched. Not to be outdone, Luke quickly followed.

"Oh, shit! This is freezing!" yelled Luke.

Jon swam a couple of strokes and stood in front of Luke. They embraced each other and kissed. Rocky watched from the bank, not sure what to make of this. He ventured forward a few feet, testing the footing and fascinated by the water.

"Oh, you feel warm," said Luke.

"And I'm getting warmer," replied Jon. He pushed his cock against Luke, wedging it between his legs. They kissed and hugged for a minute, and then Jon turned around with his back against Luke's chest. He craned his head and kissed Luke again.

"How 'bout it, sailor? Wanna show this buccaneer what ya got?"

They played for about five minutes and had fun, but the cold water wasn't conducive to sex. They settled for swimming a little and dunking each other. Luke was swimming underwater, planning to attack Jon's legs when Jon heard a small splash, then a yowl. Rocky had become a little too curious and tumbled into the river. Luke grabbed Jon's legs and pulled them out from under him. Jon laughed and splashed Luke.

"You'd better rescue your son," he said to Luke.

Luke shook his head to clear the water and realized Rocky was in the river.

"Come 'ere, Rocky. You can do it."

Jon was surprised Luke wasn't freaking out. Rocky paddled toward Luke and didn't seem to be panicking. Luke picked him up and went back to the bank where he placed Rocky on solid ground. Rocky vigorously shook himself and with his fur sticking out in every direction, he looked as if he had been playing with electricity. Jon and Luke climbed up on the bank, having had enough of the river. After shaking the bulk of the water off, Rocky began grooming himself. Jon and Luke basked in the warm sun.

"I'm surprised you didn't go crazy when Rocky fell in the river," said Jon.

"He had his head above water, he's a tough little guy. I watch out for him, but I make him do things on his own. I try to teach him how to take care of himself. We were close by if anything happened."

"I think that's why he's so adventurous. He knows he can depend on you."

"How far does your property go, Jon?"

"To the river. The other side is the Miller's."

"So which of you gets the river?"

"That's a good question--I'll have to ask dad. I'm not up on riparian rights."

Luke smiled at him. "You think I don't know what that word means, don't you?"

Jon gave him an innocent look. "Doesn't everyone?"

"Wise guy. Just so you don't embarrass yourself, it usually depends on whether the river is navigable. This one isn't, so your property line probably goes to the middle of it. If this was the Mississippi, you'd only own land up to the river."

"How do you know that?"

"I've picked up a thing or two in my life. I think it came up one time at a job I was working. I remember stuff like that, I don't know why."

Jon rolled on his side and smiled at Luke. "You surprise me with some of the stuff you know."

"Yeah, not too bad for a grunt, huh?"

Jon moved over to Luke and hugged him. He maneuvered Luke onto his back and stretched out over him. Luke kissed him and put his arms around his back. He then raised his legs and wrapped them around Jon's waist.

Luke kissed Jon. "God, I love you. I want you to fuck me."

"We don't have any lube."

"I don't care. Let's do a 'spit 'n' shove'."

"Damn, you must be horny. I haven't heard that expression for a while."

Luke looked into Jon's eyes. "I just want you more than anything right now. Please fuck me."

They spent the next 30 minutes making love and Jon collapsed on top of Luke. They were both breathing heavily as their mouths locked. A few minutes later they had recovered and Jon rested his head against Luke.

"That was amazing," said Luke. "It's the first time we did it outside. It was awesome."

"I could stay like this forever. I wish we could just be like this with each other for the rest of our lives."

The two continued to embrace for another 15 minutes. Jon stroked Luke's hair and smiled at him. Luke looked around for Rocky.

"Where'd he go? Shit! I hope he didn't fall in the river again. Rocky--come here!"

They heard some rustling and Rocky came bounding out of a thicket with an acorn in his mouth. He trotted up to Luke and dropped the acorn on his chest. Luke picked it up and tossed it a few feet; Rocky dashed after it and brought it back again. It rolled down Luke's chest and settled in his belly button.

Jon chuckled. "Did you teach him to retrieve? I've never seen a cat do that."

"I didn't teach him, but he does it at home with some of his toys, usually the ones he likes best. Hey, what night do you want to take mom and dad to dinner? And where should we go?"

"Let's plan on Saturday night. I'll ask them where they want to go; I'm not sure what's good around here anymore. I know they like Outback, but maybe someplace nicer that they're not likely to go to by themselves."

"I'll leave it up to you, I like everything. Wherever they would like to go is fine with me."

On Friday after dinner Jon asked Luke what he'd like to do.

"Let's go back to that bar we were at last night. I think I owe it to you and I'd like to make up for being an asshole. I promise I'll be more personable."

"Do you really want to do that? I don't care if we don't."

"I want to. I don't want your friends thinking your husband is a jackass. Let's give it another try."

Jon was glad Luke was game for another go at the local bars. Friday was a lot busier at the bar and Jon ran into several old friends. Jon was glad he ran into as many guys he knew as he did--it was a nice change from always being the outsider who had to be introduced to Luke's friends. Jon was pleasantly surprised Luke was as sociable as he was with his friends. They all enjoyed the company and Luke was a hit. He danced with several of Jon's friends; it was casual and everyone enjoyed themselves. Jon felt good and took pleasure in showing off his husband. They wound up having a surprisingly good time.

Saturday night Jon and Luke took Jon's parents to a very nice steak and seafood restaurant. The food was excellent and they all had a good time eating and talking together. As they finished dessert Jon excused himself and located their waiter. He knew his father would want to pay the check, so he took care of it before he had a chance. Luke was having a very nice time talking with Bill and Peg. It was now to the point he was totally at ease with them and could relax. He had become more at home with them than he had ever imagined. Initially it had been a little strained to call them "mom" and "dad," but now he was comfortable with it. Luke appreciated how Bill and Peg accepted him into the family.

When they arrived back home everyone was ready for bed. Jon and Luke went into their room and found Rocky on the bed. He meowed at them, and they saw he had a thimble, a spool of thread and one of Luke's socks next to him.

Jon laughed. "Looks like Rocky's been on a scavenger hunt." He smiled at Luke. "So am I."

Luke stepped out of his jeans. "Hunt no further."

Peg was up early, fixing breakfast for everyone. She was sorry Jon and Luke would be leaving today, and she decided she'd make sure they didn't go home hungry. She had a big supper planned for that afternoon. Rocky came into the kitchen and Peg fed him, then he watched as she continued with breakfast. She liked having Rocky around--with just her and Bill, it was too quiet. Peg thought maybe they should get a dog or cat. When Jon lived with his parents at home, there had always been all kinds of animals around and she realized she missed the commotion.

Luke woke up and looked at his husband for several minutes, then ducked under the covers and took him in his mouth. Initially Jon was startled, but he soon relaxed and enjoyed Luke's attention. Luke began to work his way up to Jon's chest.

"Get back down there!" said Jon as he pushed Luke's head under the covers. "You started this, and you're gonna to finish it!"

After breakfast the men decided they'd take a walk. They ambled through the fields and wound up walking through an area that was more like a forest with trees and tall grass. Luke noticed an area where the grass was flattened.

"What's that? Why's the grass so flat?" asked Luke.

"Deer. They probably sleep here at night."

"Do your parents hunt them?"

"No, but we have a friend who's a very good and responsible hunter. He's the only one they trust to hunt here. You have to do it, otherwise the deer population would get out of control and they wouldn't have enough to eat over the winter. Have you ever had venison?"

"No, but I'd try it."

"It's wonderful. Maybe we'll have some around Thanksgiving. If we're lucky we'll get a turkey, too. There's a lot of them around. They're hard to get, though. They're smarter than you'd think."

"What do you mean?"

"If we were walking here with shotguns, you wouldn't see them and you'd never get close to them. But if we were riding on a tractor they'd hardly pay any attention. They seem to know that if you're on a tractor, you're busier with other things and they don't feel threatened."

"Maybe you should hunt them on tractors."

"I've never heard of anyone doing that. It doesn't sound sporting."

Jon and Luke made their way back toward the house, their arms around each other and Jon's head cocked against Luke's shoulder.

"Bill, look at them," said Peg as she looked out the window. "They are the picture of love."

Bill walked over to his wife and hugged her from behind. "I know. I knew it the first time Jon brought Luke here. I'm happy they're together--I've never seen Jon so content and happy."

Rocky was in the yard and came running up to the guys as they neared. He grabbed Luke's ankle as he walked. Luke picked him up.

"Oh, man, he as all kinds of burrs. He's going to need a good brushing."

"Mom will do it, she likes to groom animals. I think it's relaxing for her. Let's see what's for dinner."

"Dinner? I thought we'd be on our way by then."

"I mean lunch. We always called it dinner."

"So what do you call dinner?"

"Supper, what else?"

Luke laughed and kissed Jon. "You really are a country boy, aren't you?"

They loaded their belongings into the car and Jon's parents brought enough food to feed them for a week. Rocky seemed reluctant to leave--he had enjoyed the freedom to go outside and investigate new things whenever he wanted. Luke promised either he or both of them would be flying to Rockford often and would see them soon.

"Want me to drive?" asked Luke.

"If you want."

They started on their way and Luke had to keep pushing Rocky from his lap. Finally Rocky gave in and settled for Jon's lap.

Luke said, "I'm surprised he threw in the towel. He knows if he keeps it up long enough, he'll usually get his way."

"Only because you let him get away with it. He has you wrapped around his little finger--or toe."

"I was thinking I might take him flying tomorrow. I want to see if he likes it."

"Luke, no. You can't be flying an airplane with a cat that might go bonkers on you. It's too dangerous."

"I don't think he would. He's pretty laid-back."

"The only way you're doing that is if we have a carrier and I'm with you. That way if he goes nuts I can shove him in the carrier. Wait until next weekend and we'll try it if you insist. I don't know why you want to do this."

"I don't like to leave him alone all day. If he likes it, we can spend more time together."

"Oh, for God's sake. Do you really think Rocky's going to like flying more than relaxing at home? He's not going to like it."

"Let's just see. It won't hurt him."

Jon wasn't looking forward to having to catch up with everything at work on Monday. He checked his email and saw the first one was from Cecil. It consisted of emails arranged under three headings...Stuff Ya Gotta Take Care Of, Stuff That Can Wait, and Bullshit. At the top of the list of stuff he had to do was an email from Jon's mother. Peg wanted to know how they enjoyed their stay and if they'd gotten home okay. Jon smiled at how Cecil had categorized things and he was impressed. Cecil had become quite adept at knowing what Jon needed to know and what he could handle himself. Jon wondered how he had managed without him.

Luke and Charlie were walking into the office after their flight. Luke asked Darleen to make an appointment for him with Charlie the next day.

Charlie said, "No, Luke, I think you should take some lessons with Dutch. You need to fly with someone else and get a different perspective. Everyone has his own way of doing things, and it's important to learn that. He's good, and he'll have his own slant on things. You need that kind of exposure."

"If you say so, Charlie, but I like flying with you."

"I do, too, but it will be good for you. You need to learn different ideas and ways to fly. Eventually you'll develop your own style. But you do need to learn different techniques."

As Luke drove home he was somewhat disappointed with Charlie's suggestion that he fly with another instructor. It was almost like Charlie was breaking off their relationship. When Luke arrived home, he fed Rocky and looked in the refrigerator. He decided he'd make the meatloaf Peg had given them, along with mashed potatoes and stewed tomatoes. Once he had that started he played with Rocky for a while. He wasn't sure what time Jon would get home; he probably had a lot to catch up with at work after being off for a week. Jon walked in the door at six o'clock.

"I'm surprised you're home this early."

"So am I. I had a bunch of customers I had to contact, but Cecil did a great job of taking care of things. I never realized how good it would be to have an assistant. He takes care of some things before I even think about them."

"I'm glad he's working out so well."

"Me, too. Did you go flying today?"

"Yeah. But when we were done Charlie told me he wants me to fly with another instructor."

"Why?"

"He says I should get a different perspective on flying. See how someone else handles it. I'm not too keen on that."

"I think it's very responsible of him. He's giving up some hours of time because he feels it's something you need. You've always trusted him, so trust him now. It's not like you'll never fly with him again."

"I know, but it'll be strange. I always know what Charlie is thinking."

"That's why it's a good idea. It'll keep you on your toes."

Jon's phone rang. He glanced at the display and saw it was Cathy.

"Hi, hon, how are you?"

"I'm fine, I'm at The Inn. Is it okay if I stop by?"

"Of course. We're just chillin'."

"I'll see you in a few minutes."

"How's Cathy?" asked Luke.

"Okay, I guess. She's gonna stop by."

Cathy walked in and kissed the two guys. She sat on the couch and Jon brought her a glass of wine. Rocky came out of the bedroom and sat next to her.

"Is everything okay?" asked Luke.

"Yeah, I guess so. I'm just thinking about things and I wanted to talk to you guys."

"So what's going on?" asked Jon.

"It's Joe. I'm starting to feel he's going to ask me to marry him. I love him, and my mother is pushing it; she loves Joe. But I'm not ready yet."

Luke said, "Do you really think he's going to ask you to marry him so soon? Look how long it took for him to even ask you on a date."

"I know, but I'm not sure, and I don't want to discourage him. I think I love him, but it's too soon. I'm afraid if I don't say 'yes' right away, it would freak him out."

"He hasn't even asked you yet," said Jon. "Joe isn't impulsive, but I know he loves you. Don't get ahead of yourself. I think we would have heard if he's thinking of popping the question."

Cathy smiled at the guys. "Maybe it's just me. I think about being married and with Joe, but it's a big step."

"Don't worry," said Jon, "I don't think he's ready yet, either. Did you eat? We have my mom's meatloaf, and Luke's making mashed potatoes. Stay for dinner."

"Okay, sure. I don't have anything ready, and Joe is working late."

"Great! It's about time you let us take care of you for a change."

The three enjoyed their meal and Cathy made Jon promise to get his mother's recipe. Around nine o'clock she thanked them and headed for home. Jon and Luke stayed up for another hour, then decided to turn in. Luke had his arm behind Jon's head and kissed his shoulder.

"I feel like we've always been together," whispered Luke. "Having you beside me seems like the most natural thing in the world."

"I know. The few times we haven't slept with each other it was like I was lost. I felt lonely."

"I don't know how I lived without you before. I guess I just didn't know what I was missing."

Jon asked, "How did you get through your teens and twenties?"

"You mean being gay?"

"Yeah. I had Michael, but you didn't have anyone. What did you do?"

"I beat off a lot."

Jon hugged him. "Who did you think about when you did?"

"I don't know, no one in particular I don't think. It was just a physical release. I guess I was still hoping maybe I wasn't gay. I wouldn't let myself think what I felt."

Jon said, "I'm so sorry you went through that. I know I was lucky to realize I was gay and my parents were supportive. It wasn't a cakewalk, but it wasn't that awful, either. I feel bad you went through all that time feeling the way you did."

"I think it was worth it. If I'd met some guy earlier, he might have been a schmuck. Like Tom, I think, said, I guess I was waiting for the right guy. I didn't know it, but I found him."

Jon smiled and kissed him again. "I can't believe a guy like you got this far in his life being single. I'm glad you did, though. I'm just sorry you had such a hard time."

"I've said it before--you were worth it. Maybe you thought I was being flippant, but I wasn't. I mean it, Jon. Before I met you, I was fucked up beyond belief. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't still be around. You gave me a reason to go on. When I first moved here, I was really bummed out. I'd left my friends and I missed the city. If I hadn't met you, I'm not sure what I would have done."

"Luke, don't talk like that. The thought of you being so desperate blows my mind. So many young gays decide to end their lives before they know what life is about."

"I know, I guess that's why I reached out to George. I hope he's doing okay, I don't know whether I helped him or not."

"I know you helped him. Did you see him at our wedding? He was awestruck. It was like it opened a whole new world for him."

"I hope so. I don't know where he's coming from, but I hope I did the right thing."

"You did."

Luke ran his hand across Jon's cheek. "God, that's so hot!"

"What?"

"Stroking your face. Feeling your beard. You don't have any idea how many times I dreamed about it before I actually did it."

"You mean to me?"

"To any guy. I used to fantasize what it would be like to be intimate with another man."

"Luke, you could have had any man you wanted. Why didn't you go for it?"

"I never felt comfortable. But that changed the first time I held and kissed you. I knew you were the guy I was finally going to let myself go with. You've taught me more than you know, Jon."

Rocky jumped into the bed and positioned himself between them. Jon petted him.

"I guess Rocky thinks we're getting too serious."

"He'll just have to get used to it. I don't know why he's so possessive of me, you've been around just as long."

"Maybe because you rescued him. I'm sure the fact that you spoil the hell out of him has nothing to do with it."

The men chatted for a few more minutes and drifted off to sleep. Rocky tunneled under the covers.

As Luke drove to the airport Wednesday afternoon he found himself not looking forward to his lesson as much as he usually did. He wondered what it would be like having Dutch for his instructor. He'd seen Dutch around the flight office, but they had never done more than exchange hellos. Luke felt he seemed arrogant and a little too full of himself. Luke decided he'd try to keep an open mind and take advantage of whatever he could learn.

The lesson went okay and Luke learned some ways of executing maneuvers that were different from the way Charlie did them. When they returned to the office Dutch filled in Luke's logbook.

"Well, I gotta go," said Dutch. "The wife has a 'honey-do' list waiting for me. You're lucky you're not married."

"I am married," said Luke.

"Well, not really."

Luke bristled. "Yes, really. I'm just as married as you are."

"You aren't actually married. It's just a symbolic thing. Two guys can't be married."

"Let's get something very clear here--I don't have to fly with you, and I'm not going to put up with any crap. If you have a problem dealing with me, then say so. But I'm not going to spend my money with someone who doesn't respect me."

"I didn't say I don't respect you. But it's not the same."

"No? Why don't you ask the State of Iowa if it's the same?"

"Look, I have to get home. I'll see you tomorrow."

Dutch left the office and Luke sat on a chair. Darleen had been making herself busy at her desk as the confrontation unfolded.

"Luke, I'm sorry about that. He can be an asshole sometimes."

"You don't have to apologize for him, Darlene. I've run into people a lot worse than him."

"Do you want to re-schedule your times with Charlie instead?"

Luke thought for a moment. "No, not yet. I'll see what happens."

As Dutch drove home he thought about the altercation. He wasn't comfortable with gays, but he realized he had provoked Luke. He was surprised Luke had been as defensive as he was. He had to admit he was impressed with Luke's flying skills--not too many pilots were as proficient as Luke was at this stage of their training. Dutch decided he'd talk to him before his next flight, if Luke hadn't cancelled his lesson with him. He hoped not; there were a lot fewer students these days.

When Luke arrived home he fed Rocky and decided he'd slice some of a beef roast Jon's mother had given them. Jon called when he was on his way and Luke made sandwiches and tomato soup. When Jon got home he kissed Luke and petted Rocky.

"I can't believe I got this far without Cecil," said Jon.

"That's good, you're learning to delegate responsibility. That's what he's there for."

"I know, but I still have to keep an eye on him. He's a great guy, though. I'm comfortable with him when I'm not there. He's very smart and he has a good take on how to handle everything. How did your lesson go with your new instructor?"

"It was okay, a little different. But I did learn some ways of doing things that were new."

Luke decided he didn't want to tell Jon of the discussion he'd had with Dutch. He'd wait and see how that developed. Luke wasn't so upset about it that he felt it would mean he didn't want to fly with Dutch again.

Jon woke up early and made breakfast for Luke. Usually he didn't have enough time, but today he felt wide-awake and energetic. He took a shower, dressed and roused Luke.

"I'm making breakfast. Come on and join me."

Luke kissed him and got up. Jon went to the kitchen and started making French toast. Luke threw on a robe and joined him.

"I was thinking of getting Rocky micro-chipped today. I picked up a brochure the last time I was at the vet's. What do you think?"

"Well, it's not a bad idea. But he's never more than ten feet from you."

"I know, but I think it sounds like a good idea. If something happened they'd know where he lives."

"Sure, if you think you can handle it. You wouldn't go to the vet's the first time because you were afraid of him getting a shot."

"He's older now. And I know he can deal with almost anything."

"Okay. Are you flying with the new guy today?"

"Yeah, I'll see how it goes. I'm not crazy about this guy, but I am learning some different stuff."

Jon left for work and Luke showered, got dressed and picked up Rocky.

"Come on, we're gonna see Dr. Chris."

Luke placed Rocky on a chair in the reception area. He pointed at the chair and said, "Stay here!"

Rocky settled into the chair and watched Luke; the last time he was here Luke took off on him.

"I know I should have made an appointment, but can I get him micro-chipped?"

"Sure, that's easy," said the receptionist. "We're not that busy right now anyway. Fill out this form and we can do it right now."

When Luke had filled out the form he was asked to take Rocky to Exam 2.

"Rocky, come on."

Rocky followed Luke into the room.

"I can't believe that!" said the assistant. "Usually cats and dogs freak out when they're here."

"I don't know," said Luke, "that's just the way he's always been. He trusts me."

Dr. Chris came in and she examined Rocky. Rocky didn't seem to mind most of her prodding.

"He sure is in good condition. He has excellent muscle tone. Does he get a lot of exercise?"

"He runs around a lot, and I take him for walks. He likes to climb trees."

"How do you get him down from the trees?"

"I tell him it's time to go home. I taught him how to climb down when he was a kitten."

Dr. Chris smiled. "You're doing a great job--he's in wonderful shape."

The assistant brought in a tray with the instruments for implanting the micro-chip. Luke gasped when he saw how large the needle was. He almost decided this might not be such a good idea. Rocky meowed once when the needle first went in, but it was quickly over. Luke held Rocky and reassured him. The doctor verified the chip with a scanner and double-checked the numbers. Rocky seemed to have gotten over the discomfort.

Luke took Rocky home and headed for the airport. He met Dutch in the office and they headed outside.

"Luke, I guess I was a little off-base yesterday. I don't understand gays, and I never will. But I guess it was wrong of me to talk about your marriage."

Luke was not that impressed with Dutch's half-hearted apology. Luke said, "Let's just leave it at that--it doesn't have anything to do with our flying relationship."

Over their next couple of lessons together, Luke and Dutch developed a mutual respect for each other's skills. They didn't have as close a relationship or friendliness as Luke did with Charlie, but they'd established an understanding that flying was their sole interaction with each other.

Jon called Luke Thursday afternoon and told him he'd be late getting home. Luke was glad he'd made something for dinner that would hold, and he settled down to watch "Dancing with the Stars."

Jon was finally able to head home around eight o'clock. It had been a long day and he was ready to get home. He was pissed to see his usual route was closed and there were detour signs directing him to the highway. It wasn't that big an inconvenience, but it was annoying.

Jon was tired and looking forward to being home. It was getting dark and suddenly he saw something on the side of the road. He swerved and pulled onto the shoulder. He got out of the car and walked back to see what it was. As he walked up to it, he saw a puppy cowering by the roadside.

"Hey, boy, come here."

The puppy ran up to him. He was shaking and Jon picked him up. He had a collar but no tags. The puppy whined and licked Jon's face non-stop, still quivering. Jon got back into the car and went to the Jewel to get some food for him, then headed home. He opened the door and announced, "We have a guest."

The puppy sat next to Jon's feet, not sure about things. Rocky went up to him and touched noses with him. Rocky wasn't sure about this, either--he got along with dogs, but here was one on his territory and it looked like he wasn't about to leave any time soon.

"Where did you find him?" asked Luke.

"He was on Route 53 all alone. I didn't want him to get hit. He has a collar, so someone's probably looking for him."

"He's a cutie. What kind is he?"

"I'm not sure, he looks like a Border collie mix. He is cute, though."

Jon got the food out and the puppy stuffed himself. Rocky watched as he ate. When he was done he walked up to Rocky and butted him with his nose. Rocky slapped him with his claws retracted, just to establish who was the boss.

"Jon, I don't know about having a dog. They're a lot more trouble than a cat."

"He probably has an owner. I'll call the vet tomorrow and see if anyone's looking for him."

Jon took the puppy to the vet's and she checked to see if a puppy matching his description had been reported missing. The county had a network with all the vets and authorities to report missing pets. There was nothing and he had no identification. Jon asked her to go ahead and give him a physical. Jon already had ideas about how to handle this.

"Luke, wanna fly to Rockford tomorrow?"

"Why? We were just there."

"I think my parents would love to have this little guy. We can't keep him here, a dog like this needs a lot of space and exercise. Border collies are herding dogs and they're high-energy. He'll love it there."

"What do you think your parents will say? You should probably call first and see what they think."

"That would spoil it. I used to bring home all kinds of strays and we always took them in. It'll be like when I was a kid with a puppy or kitten--only this time I'd be flying in with him instead of walking."

"If you think so. I'll see if I can get a plane tomorrow."

The only plane that was free that afternoon was the Aztec and Luke was happy he'd been forced to take it. It was more expensive, but he looked forward to flying it and he could use the time he would log. When they got into the plane the puppy sat in Jon's lap. He licked Jon's face and didn't seem too concerned when they took off. As they approached Rockford Jon was trying to understand the dialogue between Luke and the tower. It was almost like a foreign language.

"Did you understand everything he was saying?" asked Jon.

"Yeah, it sounds like gibberish when you first hear it, but you get used to it. You'll get to know what's going on."

They landed in Rockford and Jon's parents were waiting. He had called and asked them to meet them at the airport. Bill and Peg were surprised when they saw the plane Jon and Luke flew in with.

"Who's this?" asked Bill.

Jon said, "He followed me home. Can we keep him?"

Peg laughed. "You guys flew here with him and want us to keep him?"

"He'll be a good dog, mom. Border collies are smart and he'll love having a place where he can run."

Bill drove to Jon's parents' house and they relaxed in the living room. The puppy was worn out and napped next to Jon. Jon had brought the rest of the food he had bought for the puppy so his mother didn't have to worry about that until tomorrow. The four talked for about an hour, and then Bill drove Jon and Luke back to the airport. They were soon on their way home.

"Jon, did you ever think about what we'd do if the vet calls and tells us someone lost the puppy?"

"I don't think that will happen. I'm pretty sure someone dumped him because he's a mixed-breed. He doesn't have any commercial value. Probably someone's dog got nailed accidentally."

"Well, I'm glad you found him. I think mom and dad will love having him around. I hope he's a good dog."

"He will be, I can tell. I think I have an empathetic relationship with animals. I got good vibes from him."

Both Luke and Jon were eager to get home. Luke maneuvered the pattern and was on his final approach. He lowered the gear and got ready to land. A few seconds later he glanced down.

"Oops, let's try that again."

Luke retracted the gear, eased the throttles forward and climbed to do a go- around.

"What's wrong?" asked Jon.

"I didn't get a green light on the right-side gear. We'll try it again."

Luke lowered the gear once more, but the right indicator still refused to light.

"Maybe it's burned out," offered Jon.

"I doubt it, but go ahead and switch the left and right bulbs. Just unscrew the lenses and swap them."

Jon switched the bulbs, but the right one still was out. Luke radioed the airport. "Midwest, 7-0-Yankee."

Darleen's voice came back. "70-Yankee, go ahead."

"Darleen, I'm not getting a green on my right gear. I'm gonna do a low and slow over the field, can you tell me what you see?"

"Sure, Luke, just a minute."

Darleen grabbed binoculars and her walkie-talkie and headed outside. She spotted Luke's plane and peered intently as it flew past.

"Luke, it looks like it's fully down, but that doesn't mean it's locked."

"Okay, thanks. I'll keep you informed. 7-0-Yankee out."

"Now what do we do?" asked Jon.

"Remember when you asked what this red knob that says 'Hand Pump' is? You're about to find out. Pull it out all the way and start pumping. It's a manual hydraulic pump for the gear. It might lock things in place."

For a second Jon thought Luke was kidding, but by the expression on his face he could see he was dead serious. Jon pumped the lever as if his life depended on it--he felt it very well might. Jon watched the indicators as he pumped and saw the light for the nose gear, then the left gear illuminate green. He was breaking a sweat when Luke told him to stop.

"No good, we're still not getting an indication. Okay, take it easy for now."

"Luke, what are we going to do?"

"It's probably nothing, just some glitch."

Luke radioed Darleen again. "Still no go, Darleen. I'm heading to DuPage, I'll contact you when we land."

Darleen decided she'd wait at the airport until she heard from Luke. Even though she knew Jon and Luke were gay and married, she had a thing for Luke. She'd never known a guy quite like him.

DuPage County was a much larger airport and had emergency equipment and personnel available. Luke radioed the tower and described their situation. They were cleared to land on the longest runway.

"Jon, I really don't expect anything to happen, but be prepared. I'm going to land as slow as I can. Tighten your seatbelt, but be ready to get out if we have to."

Jon just nodded. He wanted to grab Luke and kiss him, but he knew Luke was concentrating. They approached the runway and Jon became even more nervous when he saw emergency vehicles flanking the runway with their lights flashing.

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