Hoyle’s Valley 1
I am about to move to a new apartment, so I am cleaning up my rented house and packing away my personal stuff into boxes. While doing that I found an old diary about my early days as a free-lance journalist. One entry caught my eye and triggered off some fond memories, which I will share with you.
“March 8. Story about Hoyle’s Valley. Autumn leaves. Get a photographer. A weekend job.”
That took me back to an earlier time. What a great weekend that turned out to be! This story is mostly about getting recognised as a journalist and how that weekend became so memorable in my early writing career.
I started off by going to Hoyle’s Valley to see if I could create a story from the beauty of this rarely-visited park and its unknown waterfall. I heard about it from some bush-walking friends. I didn’t know of its existence previously. I made some notes, took a few snapshots with my cellphone, and came home to compile some quick notes about the place.
It was clear that to get the full value of the wonders of the place I needed to engage a professional outdoor photographer. I knew a few, so I called the first one on my list. He was interstate, so I went to the next one. Two others were also busy with sports carnivals, so I called the last one on my list.
“Hello, are you Colin Freeman?” I asked the person who answered the phone. He confirmed that he was Colin Freeman.
“My name is Wendy Bradley and I am a free-lance journalist. Reasonably new to the profession,” I told him before asking if he could do some outdoor photography for me, explaining what I had in mind and the location. He asked me where it was, because he had not heard of it, which was not surprising, I had asked the same question of my friends.
I gave him the date and that I particularly wanted to get images of the leaves turning to autumn colours. He said he liked the idea and could give me the time. We talked prices and I was happy with his charges, so I told him, “Colin, I am going to book a hotel from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Do you want me to book a separate room for you, or would you like to share a twin room with me?”
There was a long silence before he responded, “Would that be risky, or can you be trusted not to kill me in my sleep?” I knew he was joking, but it was my opportunity to set the scene,
“I am a lady with impeccable manners, a pleasant disposition, and a modern outlook. Also, I am 30-years-old, with no encumbrances and I like good company. What do you think?” I asked him.
“Wendy, when you put it like that, I think I will be happy to share with you. I am sure you will find my company also acceptable,” he answered.
We swapped email addresses and after the call I sent him an email message suggesting we meet for coffee the following day at 2.00PM to discuss my photographic needs for that weekend. Within a minute, he had responded and suggested his favourite coffee shop. My replied briefly, “See you there. Wendy.”
I prepared myself very carefully before meeting him, looking like I was a real business woman and a journalist.
As I entered the café, I saw a young man sitting alone looking towards the door. I walked up to him and asked, “Are you Colin?”
He said he was, adding, “When I saw you walk in the door, I was hoping you were Wendy. I am very pleased to meet you,” he told me. We shook hands and I sat opposite him at a small round table at the rear of the café.
Coffees were ordered and I started talking about my plans and what images I wanted for the article I was writing. He seemed impressed. We settled down and soon chatted easily about other things, like how I became a journalist and I asked about his background as a photographer. We had a second coffee and spent a pleasant afternoon together making our arrangements. I gave him the motel details and assured him I would be always polite. I heard him say, “I shall be equally as polite to you.”
As we walked outside, he said, “It has been a pleasure meeting you, Wendy, and I look forward to our business arrangements being fulfilled.” We shook hands and parted. I wondered what he thought of me, but it didn’t matter, I liked his style. I am sure we will get along very well.
The day before we were due to leave, I offered to take him in my car as it is a two-hour drive, my email read, “Give me your address and I will pick you up at 6.00PM so that long drive won’t be too boring for either of us. Long trips seem quicker with company. Wendy.”
His response was quick, “I agree,” he included his address. “See you at 6.00PM. Colin F.”
On Friday, I was getting excited at the prospect of a job and the opportunity to know Colin in the confines of my car. I arrived at his house just before 6.00PM and he was ready with a heavy camera bag and a tripod, which just fitted in the back of my car with my luggage.
As I started the car, I said, “I am glad you agreed to travel with me, Colin, it is a long drive alone. I did it last weekend to see where this place was and to get some idea of what photos I want you to take for me,” I showed him my cellphone with some quick photos I had taken. “Here’s what the place looks like,” I added.
He sat quietly looking at the images as we drove onto the Eastern Highway. Neither of us spoke for some time, until he said, “Looks like an interesting place.”
“I thought so, especially as the leaves are turning to red and gold,” I confirmed. “You won’t see anything tonight. It will be dark soon and the motel is about an hour from that park.”
“Talking of tonight,” he started, “Have you had tea yet?”
“No, I haven’t but I know a great roadside truck stop in about 100 kilometres. I was planning to stop there for a meal,” I told him.
“I didn’t have time for food before, because I was getting my photography gear ready for you,” Colin said.
“I must tell you I had a feeling of anticipation as I drove to your place. I realised I know nothing about you. Just your name on a business card I was given some weeks ago,” I explained.
“Well, Wendy, that’s more than I know about you, so I guess we are on even ground,” he laughed jovially.
There was another silence before he asked, “What’s your background, Wendy. Workwise I mean, not your personal stuff,” he added, sounding a little uneasy, “Where have you been working?” It was a big question.
“I will explain all about me when we stop for a meal, we will have plenty of time because we still have 50 kilometres to go after the meal, before we get to the motel,” I told him. He made general observations about the sunset, the road and talked about his travels. It was interesting, impersonal chatting between us until the large sign of the truck-stop beckoned us. “Here we are. I can smell the food already,” I quipped.
Shortly after we arrived at the Truckers’ Café, I parked the car.
“Gee, this place looks busy, with all the big trucks and all,” Colin spoke as if in awe of the trucks.
“These are the best places to stop if you want good food,” I told him. Then I thought about what he said, “Haven’t you been to a truck-stop for meals before?” I asked and was surprised when he shook his head negatively. “Well, you are in for a big treat,” I assured him.
We got out of the car and stretched our legs. I locked it and headed to the flashing lights that surrounded the entrance and we headed to the restrooms. “Meet you back here, when you are ready,” I said and heading to the women’s door.
We chose a table away from the noise of truckers laughing, joking and talking rather loudly, as they often do. Colin seemed out of place. He asked me, “You come here alone? With all these men?” he asked.
“Yes. Why not? Good food, good facilities, which you saw, it also has great menu choices.”
I ordered our meals at the counter and brought back two cold beers for us to sip as we chatted.
It was idle chatter about where he had been and how this assignment was so far from his normal work areas.
“That’s because I have to find work in places where no-one else has been to stay in business, so I look for interesting places that are not commonly known. You said you didn’t know about the place before you saw the photos on my phone,” I reminded him.
“That’s because I had never heard of it either, but I see your reasoning. I hope my work lives up to your expectations,” he said as though he was unsure of his ability.
“If this works out and I can sell the finished article to club magazines or camping magazines, you will be credited with the photography. That’s how you get known in this business. For both of us, I mean.” He smiled when I said that. Just then our meals arrived, and we started eating in silence.
Some of the truck drivers were heading to their big rigs, the noise level dropped and we were able to talk. “They will be well ahead of us by the time we get back on the highway, they have schedules to keep. We don’t,” I explained.
After some talk about cameras, family and travelling, all rolled into one, I asked him an important question. “Colin, when I asked you if you would mind sharing, you didn’t seem too worried, other than I may kill you. But ignoring all that, I have to say the only room I could get at the only motel near the falls has only one double bed. Does that bother you?”
There was a silence and a smile crossed his face when he answered, “No, I’m good with that, but I didn’t think you meant it when you asked me,” Colin said, somewhat surprised. He went quiet as he drank the last of his beer.
“Colin, are you happy with that, or do we make other arrangements?” I asked.
“No, it’s fine, but I didn’t think you were that type of girl,” he said.
“And what type of girl would that be, Colin? I am quite normal, I think, but if you have a problem, now is the time to tell me.” I was getting concerned by his quietness.
“No, it was the way you told me; I was surprised. I had formed an opinion of you when we met for coffee and I was prepared to work with you, but I didn’t think we would start the work by sleeping together. That’s what you are suggesting, isn’t it?”
“Either that, or one of us sleeps on the settee. I will tell you it gets cold in those high plains and you may like warm company. I know I would,” I told him.
“OK. That’s settled, I would enjoy sharing a bed with you, Wendy, but you don’t know anything about me,” he conceded.
“That’s true, but I bet I will by tomorrow morning,” I told him. I hoped my smile dispelled any anxiety.
I told Colin I was going to freshen up before we get back on the highway. He thought it was a good idea and we went in different directions. When we were back together, I saw he had a bottle of red wine with him. He held it up and said, “I thought you might like a nightcap before we hit the sack.”
“What a great idea. Thank you, Colin,” I said, as we headed out into the chilly night air for the final leg of our journey to the motel.
I was hoping Colin hadn’t been scared off, but I did want him to feel comfortable with me before we reached the motel, so I started a conversation, “Colin, tell me about what you thought of me after our coffee date. I really want to know,” I said.
“I don’t think you would believe me if I told you,” he said, trying not to answer. I urged him,
“Go on, tell me, I want to know what your first impressions of me were, so I can follow your thinking — or refute it, if I need to.”
He finally told me that he didn’t think I would make arrangements to ‘sleep together’ on a first date. He wasn’t expecting to be involved in any personal way with me at all. He said he was not embarrassed about the shared bed, but that I may have pre-planned it. I soon changed his mind of that.
“Colin, I like your thinking, but I am a practical person. It was not pre-planned. I need you to take photos for my story, we both need to work and we both need somewhere to sleep. This motel is the closest, so we can make the most of our two days. If it means sleeping together for those two nights then we can make the most of that, too,” I told him.
He was quiet, I could hear was the quiet purr of the engine as we continued climbing higher on the winding road. To break the silence I said, “About another 20 minutes to go and we can get warm for the night.”
“Good,” Colin said, “this road looks spooky with overhanging trees and no lights. The night air is cold on the windows too.”
“It will be colder as we get higher, so I hope you brought some warm PJs,” I suggested as a joke.
“No, I don’t wear them, I get tangled in them,” he told me; I believed him. Maybe I will have to cuddle him to keep him warm.
“I’m not a PJ girl either, just a long T-shirt and briefs for me,” I confided truthfully.
In the distance there was the lonely blue light of the sign announcing the Mountain View Motel.
“Look, that’s where we are going. See the blue light on the right? That’s where our warm bed is waiting.”
“Does it have good meals too?” he asked.
“Yes, it has room service or a restaurant for breakfast and a good selection of other meals. No problem with food up here and it is all home cooked.” I explained to him.
“Sounds good,” he said and became silent again. I thought he had dozed off, but he became alert when he heard the car’s turn signal clicking. I pulled up at the office, and went to register. I was given the keys and room number which was a short drive into the large park.
“Here we are, Colin.” I stopped the car; we got out and I took what I needed for the night into the room and turned on the heating. Colin had his overnight bag. I’ll put the kettle on to make us a hot drink to thaw out,” I told him.
“Hey, this looks cool,” he told me. It was now that I confirmed that he was younger than me, but it didn’t matter.
“Yes, I suppose it is cool, although the heating will help a lot,” I quipped. He sensed I was mocking him and he laughed. Thank God, I hope he relaxes before we get into bed.
“Do they have wine glasses in here?” he asked, as he removed the seal from the top of the wine bottle.
“Not wine glasses, but ordinary drinking glasses. They will do,” I said.
The small room was warming quite quickly as we sat together on the settee to enjoy the wine with our coffee.
“The choice for sleeping is that warm double bed, or this cold, vinyl-covered settee, what’s your preference?” I asked him.
He looked at me and said, “The bed looks more comfortable and obviously, it will be warmer.”
“That settles it. Which side do you prefer? He sipped his wine before answering,
“Do you have a preference, Wendy?” I said ‘no’, but he still hesitated to make a decision.
“OK. Which side do you sleep on in your own bed?” I asked him.
“The left side,” he said then qualified it by pointing to the left side at the foot of the bed.
“Good, I will have the other side.” Decision made!
The wine bottle was nearly empty, so I poured the remainder of the wine into our glasses and then asked him,
“When was the last time you slept with a woman, Colin?” I asked him out of curiosity.
“It’s been a while; my last girlfriend went to Canada a few weeks ago. I haven’t been out with anyone since then.” I felt sorry for him, he was probably missing her.
“What’s in Canada for her?” I asked him.
“She is a language teacher and was offered a short-term appointment in Quebec. That’s all I know.” he said.
“So, you are quite happy to share this bed with me?” I wanted to be sure he had no worries. He nodded.
It was time for bed, but do I get undressed in front of him, or do I change in the bathroom? I chose the latter to avoid any surprises for Colin. “I’ll get changed for bed in the bathroom first, if you don’t mind, Colin.”
“OK. I’m in no hurry,” he answered.
When I returned, wearing a dressing gown over my nightwear, I saw he was already in bed.
“That was quick,” I told him.
“It was too cold to stand around half-naked, so I got into bed until you finished in the bathroom. Now, I will make myself look pretty for bed,” he told me with a smile.
I switched off the bedside light on my side and lay watching to see him emerge from the bathroom. When he did, he was wearing only boxer shorts, his body looked well kept, with muscles in the right places and some fine chest hair — a good example of manhood. My type of man!
He slid into bed and turned off his light. “I hope I don’t snore and keep you awake,” he said.
“That’s not a problem, I have slept with men who snore before. We will be OK.” I assured him.
Without another word, he turned his back towards me. I was tempted to get closer to him and put my arm over his body and press my hand against his chest. I was of two minds, should I do that, or should I just go to sleep or take the opportunity to check out his equipment. I lay there thinking about my options.
The temptation was too much, I wanted to check out his equipment. The other option was to waste a great opportunity and not know. If I were a man, I would use the expression, ‘One you knock back, is one you’ll never get.’ A few more minutes passed and I acted. I put my arm over him and felt for a nipple. If he were still awake, he would make a comment or move, if not, I would make my next move without his knowledge.
The result was immediate, “I thought you wanted to go to sleep,” Colin told me.
“And I thought you would be asleep and not notice me,” I told him. He rolled onto his back, pushing me back over to my side of the bed as he moved.
“Do you want to fuck, Wendy?” His question seemed obvious, so I told him,
“Well, we are both here together. No-one to interrupt, so what better way is there to get to know each other?” I asked.
“I guess you’re right, it does seem like a chance not to be missed,” Colin agreed.
Before I could make my next move, I felt his hand on my tit, followed by a gentle squeezing. I took this as my cue to reach down into his shorts and check out his vital parts. I wasn’t surprised, he allowed me to fondle his balls and rub my fingers along his circumcised cock. So, here we were, like two teenagers hiding under the covers while our parents were watching TV. To take this fondling to the next step I kissed him on the cheek, with the comment, “That is not a love kiss, it is a fuck kiss. Do you understand the difference?” I added in almost a breathy whisper.
“Message understood, loud and clear,” he responded, which I thought was amusing. He turned to face me and placed his mouth over my tit that he had been fondling. I was still feeling his cock and playing with his testicles; they were quite large and he had a hard-on. What a good start, I thought. I was waiting for his next move which I thought was to roll on top of me and work his way between my legs, but he didn’t. He seemed content sucking my nipples and exploring my pussy with his fingers.
I thought we were getting along quite well, when he stiffened and I found my hand covered in sticky cum. He had prematurely ejaculated in his shorts and on my hand.
“Oops!” I said, as I felt his cock pulse and the sticky stuff, “I wasn’t expecting that so soon. What happened?” I asked him.
He looked embarrassed, “I don’t know, it hasn’t happened before,” he said, as if apologising for the spill.
“Don’t worry, there’s always tomorrow. Maybe in the morning you will be ready to go again. I find most men are morning starters,” I said to ease his obvious disappointment.
The truth was, I was disappointed too, I really wanted to feel that thick shaft inside me. So, I suggested the next best thing, “You can still finger-fuck me. I’d like that and I think you would enjoy the opportunity to get your fingers in me, wouldn’t you, Colin?”
“Yes, I would, but I have wasted a fuck, haven’t I?”
“Was it really wasted? Didn’t my hand working down there make you feel good? Isn’t that why you came so quickly?” My questions were to lessen his embarrassment, so I added a long kiss on his lips. He seemed to respond to that and I could feel his fingers pleasuring the place so often neglected by a busy girl, but tonight I combined work with pleasure.
“Colin?” I asked him, “Have you done many photo assignments like this one? I mean, out of the city area?” He raised his head off my twin mounds and said,
“This is my longest trip away for a photoshoot,” he told me.
“Have any of your clients fucked you before?” I asked, just to start a conversation with him.
“No, and I didn’t think it would happen on this one either,” he told me.
“Can I ask you if you have a girlfriend, or a wife, or is that getting too personal?” I was trying to get answers without asking direct questions. I didn’t want to scare him off, but I was hoping he would say ‘no’ about the girlfriend.
“No, not now, and no wife. My first girlfriend was a model for women’s underwear and was commissioned by the Marketing Manager of a well-known brand name.” He paused, looked up and our eyes met, “When the shoot was over, he took her overseas and that was the end of that.” He made it sound so final.
Where to from here, I was wondering when I had a great idea.
“Come on, Colin, let’s both have a shower to rid you of your cum and for my enjoyment, I will give you a blow-job to see if are fully discharged.” I tried to make it sound funny, but I am not sure he noticed. He agreed and we headed to the bathroom, where we both stripped off, I turned on the shower to full force.
For the first time we saw each other naked. For me, it was like the first time I saw by brother naked, but Colin said, “I have an older sister that looks about the same build as you, but she shaves her pussy.” As the water ran over our bodies, I applied soap to him in a sexy way and when I reached his cock, I gave it extra treatment.
I gave the soap to him when I was sure all his cum was gone, I told him, “Your turn.” He looked slightly startled as he took the soap. There was some hesitancy as he looked for somewhere to start.
“Come on, here I am ready to be soaped all over by a man I have just met. It’s a first for me too,” I said.
He stood staring at me with his hand motionless, as he were a statue.
“It’s a first for me too. I haven’t washed a girl before, where do I start?” he seemed baffled.
“Didn’t you just say you saw your sister naked? Was that in the shower, or the bath?”
“No, it was in her bedroom, she was getting dressed to go out with her boyfriend,” Colin told me.
“So, this is a new experience for you?” I asked, trying not to sound astonished.
“Yes. I… I don’t know where to start,” he said.
“OK, I’ll tell you. Start with my tits and you can stop when you reach my cunt. OK?”
He looked shocked at my advice, but did start rubbing the soap over my tits. When he reached my vagina, he had a partial erection, so I stroked that to see if it could get harder.
“Hey, look at this,” I said, as I pointed to his slowly rising manhood, “if this keeps growing you will have to fuck me. How does that sound?” I asked him. He smiled and seemed to put more effort in washing me.
“That sounds good. Do you always fuck on a first date?” he asked me.
“No, never.” I told him, “But this not a date, this is a business trip and I don’t know anyone who goes on a business trip without fucking somebody before they go home.”
“I didn’t know that. I have never done it on a photoshoot,” he confessed.
“Well, this one is different, I am hoping to do it both nights we are here. Is that all right with you?” I said, in a sexy voice and at the same time rubbing my hand down his belly.
We quickly dried and I suggested he need not put on a fresh pair of trunks and added, “Let’s just get into bed naked and see how it all works out. Are you up for that?”
He nodded and headed for the bed and hopefully, some real fun.
It didn’t take me long to get his cock hard again, with my mouth, tongue and some hand work. Meanwhile, he was enjoying running his hands all over me and right underneath between my legs. I was watching him as he smiled at me then when our eyes met.
“You look gorgeous, Wendy,” he told me.
I had raised my knees high enough for him to see where he should be aiming and with a smile and some encouragement from me, his cock was inserted up to his big balls.
I was pleased he put some effort into drilling me and I responded by grinding my hips on the inward stroke. We kept it up for about 10 minutes before I felt his cock pulsing and felt a spurt of cum inside me. He fell flat on my belly and kissed me on the lips.
“I hope that wasn’t a lover’s kiss. Remember, we are not lovers,” I reminded him.
“No Wendy, it was ‘thank you’ kiss for making me feel so good. This is the first time I have been with a woman in months. I really enjoyed it.” He told me in a voice fully of sincerity.
“Come on, turn the light out, we have work to do tomorrow. It we get it done we can come back and do this again. Does that appeal to you, Colin?”
“Sure does,” he said, as he reached for the light switch. We fell asleep in the spoon position, but we woke up lying back-to-back.
“Good morning, Colin,” I greeted him.
“Oh hi, Wendy. Did you sleep well?” Colin asked.
“I always do after a good fuck,” I told him.
“I don’t remember going to sleep,” he said.
“It’s the mountain air. Fresh air in your lungs. All good,” I told him.
We showered together again and dressed for breakfast in the restaurant.
The manager greeted us with, “Good morning, Mr and Mrs Bradley.”
I tried not to laugh and accepted his greeting with a nod of my head, “Thank you.”
Colin, also thanked him.
We chose our breakfasts from the variety of cereals, fruit and an array of drinks and sat at a small table. “The manager is presumptuous, isn’t he?” Colin said.
“Everyone in the country seems to be over-polite and often assume too much,” I told him. “You don’t have to feel guilty, now,” I said with a smile. Colin just smiled.
Before I left the restaurant I went to the kitchen and collected a pre-arranged picnic basket and we headed back to the motel room.
“What in the basket?” Colin asked me.
“Our lunch, including some special treats,” I told him. He looked at me with a querulous look.
“I arranged it before we left home. We can’t be wandering around all day without sustenance,” I said.
“Oh. Well done, you,” was all he said.
We put all we needed in the car, including the basket, and drove to Hoyle’s Valley.
“Who’s Hoyle, anyway?” Colin asked me. He looked towards me for an answer.
“I don’t know exactly, but he was a convict sent to Australia for theft in mid-1800s. Later, he was pardoned and given a large area of land by the government on which to farm and start a new life in Australia.” I told him all I knew, but I will need to research it further before my story will be ready for publication.
The road was narrow, winding and increasingly climbing, with hills, valleys and large trees on either side of the road. “How far do we need to go, Wendy,” Colin asked.
Soon after he spoke, I told him, “We turn down this road to the car park and start work.” The road became a worn track before we reached our destination. We got out of the car and could smell the cool, fresh, gum-scented air and hear the waterfall in the distance. “Do you hear that noise? That’s a waterfall?” I told Colin.
“That’s the feature of my story and the part I need you to get right,” I told him.
“OK. I’ll do my best,” he told me, with a smile.
Colin took his camera and tripod, while all I needed my tablet computer, to take quick shots and write notes. We reached the falls, after a walk down a steep slope. I was pleased to see there was still plenty of water flowing over the rocks. Autumn is the time of early rain and last week there was quite a lot of it. “Go for it, Colin. It’s all yours,” I urged him.
After two hours of photography, note taking and a lot of walking, it was time for lunch.
“How about stopping for lunch, Colin?” He didn’t need a second call. We walked back up the grass-covered track to the car. When we reached the car park, he said he needed to pee, so I watched as he found a tree and aimed his cock at its base. I saw and heard his stream splash on the tree in the sunlight.
Further down the page in my diary, I saw an interesting entry,
“March 14. During our picnic lunch in the autumn sunlight at Hoyle’s Valley, Colin talked about his family.”
We packed up what was left of our picnic lunch and drove to where the trees looked their best with the sunlight filtering through the leavy canopy to get more photos.
“Colin, this is the banner image for my story, make it look magical for me, please,” I asked him.
“It’s magical as it is, Wendy. What a beautiful piece of country.” He seemed entranced by the colours, which I hoped would give me my banner heading and give him recognition.
“I am glad you see why I want it included, so do your best,” then added, “There’s a reward for good work.”
He looked at the light and the shadows and walked away to get the ideal images for my story. I sat on a fallen log watching him at work, but my mind was set on getting his cock inside me again. I was getting to like Colin, but I must act professionally. I wrote notes on my computer and took a few quick snapshots of the area.
I was still writing notes and draft text when Colin reappeared and announced, “I think I captured the feel of it. Do you want to see what I have for you?” he asked. I nodded, he sat beside me and showed me the images he had captured. I watched as they appeared and disappeared from his camera’s viewer and I was very pleased with what I saw.
“Well, they look great. Thank you. Let’s head back to the motel for a review and your reward.” I suggested.
“OK, I’m in for that.” He was smiling more than he had been, so maybe he was getting more familiar with my off-handed manner. I hope so.
On the way back we stopped at a truck filling station for a snack, which was a Hawaiian pizza and a large mug of coffee each. As we drove back to the motel, I suggested we to visit a high point lookout tomorrow, because Colin had not been in this area before. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
Back at the motel room we both flopped onto the bed and chatted about the photographs, my expectations of his work and tomorrow – Sunday. We stayed like that, both of us just looking up at the ceiling and talking.
Some time later, Colin suggested we find out what to have for dinner.
“Do we eat at the motel restaurant, or do you want to go to that restaurant we saw on the way here?” he asked me.
“Do you have a preference?” I asked him. “The restaurant has a good menu. If you want to go there, we will need to go soon,” I added.
“I have an idea,” Colin said, “How about you drive to that other restaurant and I’ll buy dinner for us.” He smiled as we waited for my answer.
“OK, I’ll drive, you buy,” I answered enthusiastically. “I’ll need a shower first, I have to look good if we are dining out,” I quipped.
We prepared ourselves to go out. Colin found a clean shirt, which pleased me. We headed off down the highway. Along the way Colin started a conversation with the words, “What would have happened if I was married?” he asked, quite unexpectedly.
“What do you mean? What’s marriage got to do with this?” I asked sounding surprised.
“Well, you wanted a photographer and found me. You didn’t ask if was married or single,” he said.
“I didn’t need to know that, I only needed to know you could take photos, nothing more, so what’s your question about?” I asked him.
“Well, would you have shared a bed with me, I if were married?” He seemed confused.
“Colin, that motel had only one room available when I booked, so it didn’t matter if you were married or not, it wasn’t an issue in my mind,” I told him. I paused before I spoke again, “If you want to know if we would have had sex if you were married then only you can answer that. So, would you have done it, or not?”
We were almost at the restaurant before he spoke again, “Do you fuck all your photographers?” he asked with some hesitancy in his voice.
“No. Just the ones I like, and with you admitting not having had sex for some time, I thought you would enjoy a bit of a romp, even if only to ease the pressure in your cock. You seemed to need it, from what I recall. You enjoyed it and so did I. End of story.”
We walked from the car to the restaurant in silence, other than remarking on the late evening bird sounds. Colin held the door open for me and we were shown to a table by a waiter. Colin seemed uneasy as he sat, not knowing what to do with his hands, or so it seemed. “What’s the problem, Colin?” I asked him.
“Nothing… just thinking.” He replied.
“Can I ask what you are thinking about?” I questioned him out of curiosity.
“What if I was married?” he asked, as if I had the answers, so I thought about that.
“What do you mean?” I queried him.
“What would have happened if I had been married?” he asked then continued with, “Would you have still wanted me to take your photos?”
“You being married wouldn’t alter your ability to take photos, would it?” I was chiding him now; I knew where this was going. “Let’s order first,” I suggested. We ordered the meal and Colin added a bottle of wine.
“If I were married, would you still have slept with me?” he asked rather sheepishly.
“Of course… unless you preferred to sleep on the cold settee, that is another question only you can answer.”
There was an uncomfortable silence for quite a while before I asked him, “Do you think I chose you because you were single?” He smiled then nodded. “I chose you because my usual photographers were out chasing car races or football matches and a friend gave me your card. Just luck that you accepted and I am happy you did. Some of my other contacts are married and the same would have applied to them had they chosen to work with me on this trip. As you can see there is only one bed and it is freezing cold here at night, as you have no doubt noticed.”
As I reached the end of my explanation the waiter put the meals in front of us and bid us ‘bon appétit’.
We started eating and there was mostly silence until we had finished our meal. Colin picked up the wine bottle and started pouring wine into my glass. After a pleasant meal we headed back to the motel for bed and an early morning to photograph the sunrise highlighting the trees.
The next entry in my diary was on the following morning.
“March 15. Sunday. Early start. Woke Colin. Visit lookout. Get photos of leaves in early morning sun.”
(Continued in Hoyle’s Valley Falls 2)