I may not have been old enough to be real Daddy material, but I was old enough to know this boy, perhaps, needed a Daddy more than anything else right now.As much as he tried to play it cool, he seemed lost and out of his depth—fragmented and trying to reassemble his identity in this unusual setting.I wanted to comfort and guide him, even though I had no idea if he’d want me to.In fact, after our interaction just now, I knew I’d have to play the long game with him.I’d need to convince him I could be good for him, because he seemed skeptical, at the very least.And I had no doubt there were a few others who were going to make a play for Puck.
But I had six weeks.I was better at marathons than sprints anyway.
*
I WALKED BACKtoward the grooming barn and tried the staff entrance.It was unlocked, so I stepped inside and found Lorraine, the female trainer, writing on the whiteboard with a fat marker.
She smiled at me.“Good morning, Oliver.”
“Good morning,” I said.“Do you mind if I get a shot or two of your hands as you write?Since I’m here.It’s Lorraine, right?”
“Yes.And, no, I don’t mind at all.”
She continued to write on the whiteboard as I moved in close beside her so I could shoot over her shoulder.
The camera clicked as I took several angles of Lorraine’s delicate fingers on the marker, writingbasic gearunder the nameJoshua.
Andrew, Puck, and Justin had been in training yesterday afternoon, which meant Joshua, Teagan, and Lincoln were on this morning.The three attractive men I’d met in the bunkhouse would be naked and washed and tacked in front of me this morning.
Lorraine put her marker in the tray and turned to me.“I see you are going to be recording every last detail, Oliver.”
I grinned.“That’s my job.Adam wants a record of everyday life on the ranch.So, not always the sexy shots of bare asses and harnesses.”
I recalled shooting Puck’s early morning piss in the dew.Whether that would make it into the official collection, I had no idea.But something told me Adam would appreciate the raw and natural beauty of the moment.
Lorraine nodded and leaned seductively against the rectangular table, which held harnesses and efficiently arranged supplies.She looked me over carefully, then folded her arms across her chest.
“What’s your story, Oliver?”
I felt put on the spot.“Pardon?”
She smiled, flashing her teeth.
“What made you say yes to the opportunity to document the daily life at this kinky place?Hmm?Pure monetary motivation?Curiosity?What?”
It was a fair question.
“Well, to be honest, I needed something to fill my summer.So there was definitely a monetary component behind it.This is how I make a living.”
“Fair.”
“Curiosity?Definitely.How does a place like this exist?How does it run?What do the ponyboys look like in person?How is a ponyboy trained?”
“So many questions,” she said dreamily.“Have you gotten any answers?”
“Starting to.But this place is so detailed—so immersive—it’s probably going to take me the full six weeks to figure it out.”
Not to mention it was going to take the full six weeks to prove to a certain ornery ponyboy that I could show him a few things he might enjoy—and hopefully get him to fall for me during the process.
“Well, you’d better get started, then,” Lorraine said, walking past me to the door and glancing back.“I’m looking forward to seeing what you produce.”
She flashed me a smile and was gone.
I set my camera bag down and unzipped it, before pulling out the tripod.Once that was unfolded and situated, I pulled out my Canon EOS R5 and attached the zoom lens, then slotted it onto the tripod.I had taken my older Nikon camera on walkabout earlier, and it did a fine job, but for more steady work I liked the pricey Canon model.
The door opened behind me, and I turned to see Liv and a man I hadn’t met yet enter the grooming barn.
“Hi, Liv.I hope I’m okay to set up in here?”I asked.
