The painful deception (for Sinclair)

[BitterChalice]

James stretched, snorting with fatigue.
Country life was tiring.
He picked up the hay bale again, carrying it up to the barn, stacking it with the others and taking a minute to catch his breath, wiping his hands on his skinny jeans and black shirt.

James was a tall boy, just turned twenty-four, with a lean, athletic build. He wasn't as muscular as some athletes, but he was still quite successful among the girls.
And among the boys.

He peeked out of the barn, to see if his boyfriend was coming.

He wasn't really his boyfriend, actually. James had recently moved to the area and found a seasonal job at the ranch while he decided what to do with his life
The owner of the Ranch was a rough and overbearing man who never missed an opportunity to scold him and make him work hard.
But his son was very different.
They had found themselves in harmony and, from time to time, they escaped their chores to seclude themselves in the barn and have some fun without the boss's knowledge.

 

[Sinclair]

Colton. The farmers son, made his way to the barn to meet with the person he had been spending such time with. He was usually pretty good about doing what his father asked, and said, but something about James just made Colton comfortable enough to bend a few rules, even if privately knowing his father wouldn’t agree. The young man had tan skin, from all the yard work, with short blond hair and his eyes looked rather grey-green, a contrast to the looks of his little friend he was meeting, but that didn’t seem to matter.

Slowly opening the door, Colton peeked inside and gave a small whisper. “James? Are you in here.” He asked the darkness

[BitterChalice]

James smiled in the dim light.
"I'm here," he replied as he approached. “And I have no desire to go back to work, how about we get some rest?” he asked, sitting down on one of the rectangular hay bales.
He reached out his hand to him, inviting him to come closer.
Their 'rest' was always quite pleasant.

Meanwhile elsewhere Bruce, the owner of the ranch, as well as Colton's father, was looking for his son to ask him a few things, but the boy seemed to have evaporated...

[Sinclair]

Colton chuckled at the proclamation that he wouldn’t be working again and nodded as he made sure to shut the barn up and made his way over with a smile. “I think a little rest would be nice.” He remarked in turn and took his head and joined him on the bale of hay, sitting beside him with a soft sigh, and looked him in the eye. “Not liking the work I take it?” He joked a small bit to make light talk with him as he leaned back a little. He didn’t mind it one way or the other, Colton only really liked having him around regardless, unsure of how his father would take such a thing. He didn’t even know his father was currently searching but he wouldn’t worry too much, knowing how he could deceive things if needed… even if it didn’t end well for his partner, particularly his backside

[BitterChalice]

James relaxed, he was really tired anyway.
"Come on, your father might as well hire a few more employees and make us work less," he said. "Don't you see how tired I am?" he chuckled softly.
He stretched, the shirt lifted slightly, showing a strip of smooth white skin. He was a city boy, he didn't yet have the tan typical of those who lived outdoors.

James then began to chat about this and that, quietly.
Meanwhile, Bruce, after looking everywhere for his son, headed towards the stable.
They would hear his footsteps approaching when it would be too late to hide…

[Sinclair]

“You know my old man’s philosophy.” He chuckled resting alongside his, and remained oblivious through his fathers advances on the farm, smiling kindly at James. The moment he heard steps though, he gasped and stood up in a panic as he knew they might’ve been found. With nowhere to run he looked at James and whispered softly ‘follow my lead’ and nervously waited for the barn to open but it seemed he had a plan ready. As soon as the barn would open, all the father would hear was “Didn’t I already talk to you about slacking on the job?” He immediately tried to Hide the truth

[BitterChalice]

James had risen too, hearing the footsteps approaching a moment too late, his eyes widening as the door opened.
He looked at Colton, confused by his words, but then realized where he was getting at.
Well, better to pass for lazy than the man to find that they were apart to flirt.
“Ah… yeah, I'm sorry…,” he said, trying to look guilty.

Bruce entered the barn, looking at the two. He had caught the last words and had already guessed what was happening. “Hey, son,” he exclaimed, turning to Colton. "What's up, the city boy can't keep up with the work?"

[Sinclair]

“I’m trying to get him to keep up just fine dad.” He said and crossed his arms as he did his best to keep up the act. “I had caught him slacking some so I dragged him here to get to talking about it and see what could be done.” He lied to his dad rather convincingly, a silver tongue definitely graced the farmers son as he kept going, and turned his focuse back to James. “Well?”

[BitterChalice]

Bruce nodded, crossing his arms.
“I love that you've finally started acting like a leader, son,” he exclaimed. “I guess you know what to do in such cases,” he sneered, leaning against one of the wooden supports of the stable, intending to enjoy the show.
Besides, he was proud that Colton had taken such an initiative.

James shot a confused look at Bruce, not quite understanding the situation. But he continued to act. "You're right, I'm sorry, it won't happen again, sir", it felt strange to be so respectful towards Colton, younger than him, but still better than getting fired. "I'll get right back to work," he said, getting up as if he wanted to go.

[Sinclair]

Colton realized what his father wanted and grunted silently but remained stoic and composed through it all as he took a look at the man before him. “Yes, it better not happen again. And I have ways to remind you do they don’t happen again.” His heart raged as he said such, nervous with his father looking over them as he placed his free hand on his belt buckle to give a bit of a hint, and thought on how to approach this as he looked at James. It was clear the hint bring thrown up was a good spanking. “And like my father said I need to take care of it.”