The Inn at the End of the Road

"Oh, God, Evert!" With a groan, Prescott hurried to his lover of five years and hugged him with fierce, hard arms. "I love you so much." His lips touched Evert's, and it was the hardest thing he had ever done, to keep from deepening the kiss, but Prescott pulled back, stepped away. "Dinner," he announced shakily. He hurried towards the tiny stove. His loins ached with the need to make love with Evert, but his emotional love was greater, and he knew the man was not yet ready for the physical aspect of their relationship to resume. 
Yet, later that night, Prescott lay down beside Evert in the one bed the cabin held. When his arms went around the tall slim form, Evert tried to move away. "No," Prescott said firmly, "Don't pull away from me. You never used to when we slept together. Ray, I don't expect sex, honest I don't, but we're going to hold onto each other every night we're here, like we do when we're in London. I need that touching, and so do you." The slim man remained stiff at first, but the familiar warmth and feel of Prescott's body soon seeped in, and the young agent relaxed against his will, allowed his body to curve against Prescott's, and deep, peaceful sleep followed for them both. 

It would be over a week before Evert did anything on his own, and then it scared Prescott when it occurred. On the morning of the tenth day, the blue eyed agent woke up and found Evert gone. Puzzled he sat up and searched the one room cabin; it was empty ... so was the bathroom whose door was wide open. "Evert?" Alarm sent tremors up and down Prescott's spine. Surely the man wouldn't ... wouldn't ... Prescott jumped out of bed, jerked on a robe, and, barefoot, ran from the cabin. Evert was kneeling on the ground, examining tiny, green leaves just emerging from the ground. Relief made Prescott's knees weak as he hurried to him.
"Evert?" Tentatively he touched his lover's shoulder. 
Evert almost smiled up at him. "Prescott, look. See how fragile they are?" His slim finger caressed the tiny bit of green life. 
"I see." His voice was soft and tender, laced with love. Something fluttered in Evert's eyes when he glanced up, but the man retreated immediately back into his shell. "Don't!" Prescott begged as he pulled his lover up to stand beside him. "Evert, don't go away from me again. Evert!" 
But the bleakness remained. 

And another week passed. 
"Evert, let's go for a walk." Prescott stood in the doorway. "I'd like to see where Bridges was born. There are more houses now, but we should be able to grasp what he saw every morning." He turned, walked jauntily to the man, tugged him up. "Come on; Aren't you curious about old Cow? Stop being lazy." Evert sighed. "And don't make rude comments either." Pleasure flashed quickly in the green eyes. "You'll like it." 
They went out, and walked around in a leisurely manner, simply enjoying the sun and the clean air. When the sun was low, Prescott turned them towards the cottage again, but they walked for what seemed like hours, much longer than it should have taken. Bewildered, Prescott stopped more than once, trying to get his bearings. Nothing made sense... Unless ...No, they weren't lost; they couldn't be. Prescott moved forward again and soon stopped. 
"Bloody hell," he muttered as he looked around in disgust. He felt the other's eyes on him and flushed. "Don't worry," he said in false reassurance. "Everything's under control." Yet, his face grew pink once more as Evert's green eyes lingered on his face. "Okay, okay, we're lost!" The disgust was real. "I don't lose my way, now do I? But I did this time, and I don't understand how it happened either!" 

"So where are we?" Evert asked in a whisper. There was a definite teasing in the man's voice. 
Prescott's eyes darted swiftly toward the man. His heart thumped wildly. He didn't want to push , but he couldn't bear to see that life vanish once more from his friend-lover's face, so he answered lightly, "In Wales." 
Evert blinked, once, and said, "Oh." He took a deep breath. "Where in Wales?" 
"At the bottom of a hill by a trio of trees," Prescott teased. 

The wind blew up. It held cold, dampness. There was going to be a storm. Dark clouds bubbled ominously on the horizon. Their speed towards them was incredible. Prescott noticed Evert's shivering. "You're cold. I have to get you back." 
He glanced around again. Nothing seemed familiar; the landscape was totally alien to him. He stared at it, perplexed. Delicate raindrops splattered them; the front of the storm had arrived. "Come on. There are houses all over the place here. We're bound to run into one of them in a moment." Well, he thought, there should be. Where the hell were they? Prescott pulled an unresisting Evert after him. They walked for yet another hour but did not see another house, no sign of life other than trees and birds and vegetation. 

"This doesn't make any sense," Prescott muttered. "Damn it! It doesn't make any sense!" 
"Prescott?" 
"We're lost," the other man snapped. 
"Yes ..." Evert shivered faintly again. 
"I ... I'm sorry. I hate making mistakes, but I had no right yelling at you, now did I? 
Evert's voice held tenderness. "I know. Prescott?" 
Blue eyes left the surrounding area to meet the other's. "What?" 
"I'm cold." He sounded apologetic, sorry. 
Prescott flushed in guilt. "I know. I ..." They were both wearing jackets, but ... "Let's keep going." They started out again. 
The rain burst in a torrent, bringing sudden greenness to the sky, and the close rumble and flash of lightening, thunder. Prescott and Evert broke into a run. They felt a road beneath their feet and Prescott thought in relief, now we're getting somewhere. But the road appeared to go forever without the appearance of houses, roadside building of any kind. The rain was frigid, numbing ... punishing, relentless. 

And then... 
In the distance... 
Lights appeared. 
Prescott ran faster, pulling a quiet man behind him. The lights represented shelter, warmth. a place to rest. The doors were suddenly in front of them. The blue eyed agent pushed them open and dragged his shivering, icy friend in behind him. It was an inn. The rich smell of cooking smacked them delicately in their noses, the feeling of warmth caressed their faces. Prescott sat Evert down and turned to the old lady behind the counter. "My friend could use a towel, if you have one." 
On the seat behind the solid built agent, Evert shivered violently. His lips were pale, his eyes drooped. 
"There are clothes, a shower and blankets in the back. Help yourself to what you need, free of charge." The old lady's gaze was one of sympathy and concern. She was nondescript, that woman, the kind people pass in the streets every day without really noticing. 

"Thanks." Prescott encouraged his friend-lover to stand, and had to hold him when Evert stumbled. 
"Is he going to be all right?" she asked in worry. 
"I hope so," Prescott informed her grimly as he looked at Evert's ashen face. 
"I'll have hot tea waiting," the woman told them. 
"I didn't bring my wallet with me but I'll pay you back when the rain lets up and I can go back to my cottage," Prescott promised. 
"I'm not worried." The old owner of the diner grew busy behind the counter. 

In the back, Prescott adjusted the shower, stripped off Evert's clothing, and encouraged him to go under the hot spray. Prescott rubbed the man's cold flesh until the trembling stopped. Moments later, the blue eyed agent briskly dried his lover's body, re-dressed him in clean, dry clothes and shoes he had found in the closet. After sitting the man down on the bed, Prescott placed a blanket around the slim shoulders. Then the blue eyed agent removed his own clothing and went into the bathroom to shower. When Prescott too was dressed, he led Evert back out to the front and seated him at a table close to the heating vent, but Prescott remained standing, hovering over his friend like a mother hen. The old woman brought huge mugs of hot, sweet tea to each of the men. "Thanks. I will pay you back." He put the cup in his friend's hand. "Drink it, Evert, while it's hot." 
"I'm not worried," the woman replied blandly. 
Prescott picked up his own mug and took a tentative sip. It tasted so good he finished it in record time. "Would you like another cup?" Prescott asked his companion in love. That emotion shone brightly in the blue eyes when they met Evert's. 

"Or boiled eel?" the elderly owner inquired gently. "Or steak kidney pie?" 
"Prescott?" Evert murmured in a low voice. When Prescott bent closer, the man whispered, "I have to go to the bathroom." 
Trying not to smile, Prescott stepped out of the way. As Evert vanished quickly into the back of the inn, the solidly built agent told the owner, "He'd like the pie, and I will pay you." 
"Like I said, I'm not worried. What about you?" She grinned. 

Prescott grinned back. "What ever is easiest for you to fix." He glanced at the torrential rain. "It doesn't look like it's ever going to stop." 
"It'll stop when it stops." The woman settled the steak and kidney pie into two white bowls. 
The smell made Prescott's mouth water. "It's a good thing you were open." Prescott sat at the counter. "It would have been more logical for you to close up and go home." 
"I live in the back and I didn't have anything better to do. You want chips?" 
"Yes, please. You're very trusting." 
"Why shouldn't I be?" 
"We could have been thieves or murderers." He watched the small up turning of her lips. "This place looks new to me. How long have you been here?" 
"Off and on for about one hundred years." She set his food down in front of him. 
"What? Oh ..." Prescott laughed and picked up his spoon, took a bite. "This is good." 
"Like I said, I aim to please." 

Evert came back out, sat down at the tiny table. Prescott took his lover's food to him, asking as he did so, "Are you all right?" 
"Yes." Evert simply sat, staring down at the food. 
"Eat it, Evert," Prescott ordered gently. Evert picked up his fork.
The old woman brought his food over and set it on the table. 
"Thanks," he murmured but instead of sitting down, he walked to the huge picture window. He saw only the thick, black curtain of rain. He stared at it perplexed, concerned. Such rain was not normal. 

"It'll stop when it stops. Your food is getting cold. I'm Jessie." 
"I'm William Prescott; this is Ray Evert." 
"Pleased to meet both of you. Eat." She pointed to the food with her chin. 
"Yes ma'am." Prescott returned to the table and began eating. 
One hour later, it was still raining, a midnight looking, cold storm that made the cafe seem like a prison. Prescott began to fidget. He didn't like this incarceration. He wanted to leave, return to the cottage. More than once, he walked to the window and glared out at the downpour. Evert simply sat quietly in his chair, eyes closed. 

"It'll stop when it stops, William. How about a hot piece of currant pie?" Jessie asked. "I made it fresh this morning. It'll taste good with a cup of coffee." 
"No, thanks. Evert? Would you like to try it?" 
"No." The man closed his eyes, sighing wearily, though it was not tiredness of the body but of the soul. 
Prescott walked briskly to him, hugged him. For one brief moment, Evert cuddled against him. "Do you want to lie down?" he asked in love. 
"Yes." It was barely a whisper but the other man heard it. Prescott looked at the woman hopefully. "Would it be all right with you if he lies down on your bed?" 
"Sure. He's welcome to use it. You can turn up the heat back there, if you want to." 
"Jessie ... thanks." Prescott wanted to say more but the words wouldn't come. 

"Wouldn't be much of a person if I didn't give help when help was needed. Your friend looks bad." 
"He's been ... ill. Come on, Evert." He lifted the man to his feet and supported him on the walk to the back. The bed was covered with a white, wool blanket. Prescott made the man sit, and then he knelt and pulled off the black boots they had borrowed earlier from the woman. Evert lay down and allowed his friend to cover him with the blanket. Prescott caressed the slim, warm cheek, kissed the man's forehead. For one fleeting instance, the man's eyes gleamed with the emotions touching involved, then the green orbs went blank again. "Sleep well, my love." And the blue eyed agent stepped quietly away from the bed. 
But at the door, Evert's voice halted his exit. "Prescott?"