2. Axel

Chapter 2

Axel

The McPherson residence was one of the nicest houses in all of Eagle Ridge. And this wasn't surprising given that the McPherson family were the town's richest family with a history dating back well over one hundred years.

As far as Axel was concerned though, no amount of money or historical success was more valuable than the trees that grew out of the Eagle Ridge ground. And it was with this in mind that Axel took a step back from the McPherson's problematic fir tree and cast his expert eye over it once more.

‘We can save this old gentleman,' Axel said, putting his hands on his hips and taking in as much of the tree as he could from ground level. ‘It won't be easy, but it'll sure as hell be worth it.'

Axel was forty-three years old and loved being a tree surgeon more than anything else in the world. Having grown up with an affinity for nature and the great outdoors, working as a tree surgeon had always been a natural fit for Axel – and to be able to do it in his hometown was the icing on the cake .

With his dark brown eyes and cropped black hair, Axel cut a handsome figure as he continued to survey the tree with his canine companion Laser by his side. Laser was a greyhound husky cross, and as his name suggested was more than capable to tearing across Eagle Ridge's many green spaces at great speed.

‘We never cut a healthy tree down, ain't that right?' Axel chuckled, reaching down and playfully ruffling Laser's ears. ‘And while this one might need some serious TLC, I know we can keep him standing for at least another fifty years.'

Laser barked in approval and then took himself away to explore the McPherson garden's westerly quarter.

Alone with his thoughts, Axel set about making a rough plan for what steps he would need to take in order to make sure that the grand old fir tree would be safe and healthy for a new generation of McPherson's to enjoy.

‘Hey, Axel, what's the verdict?' Jackson asked, walking from inside the large, rambling old mansion.

Jackson was the McPherson's youngest son at thirty-two years old and in the last couple of years had taken a more prominent role in the running of the family business, McPherson Ltd. With his brothers and sisters living in New York, Jackson was more than happy to take charge and show his parents that he was more than capable of being the number one son when it came to ensuring that their business continued to thrive.

‘The verdict…' Axel said, jotting some measurements down in his notepad. ‘the verdict is that I can keep this wonderful specimen firmly planted in the ground. But we'll need to make so me strategic cuts, and also put in place some stabilizing ties to retrain the growth.'

‘In English,' Jackson chuckled.

‘We're good,' Axel laughed. ‘I can save the tree.'

The two men laughed. Axel and Jackson might not have had much in common, but there was one thing that bonded the two of them. And it was a pretty damn big thing to bond over too.

Both Jackson and Axel were Daddies.

And unfortunately, both of them were single too.

As far as Jackson was concerned, his business life was too hectic to even contemplate looking for a boy to settle down with at this stage. It wasn't like he was living a life of celibacy or anything, but as far as finding his Forever love, he knew that this was something that would probably have to wait at least a few years.

For Axel though, the very thought of being in a relationship was something that made him shudder. It wasn't that Axel didn't want a boy to protect, have fun with, and even discipline too. That side of being a Daddy was something that Axel could very easily get his head around. However, the thought of placing his trust in a young man was one barrier that Axel simply couldn't get past.

Axel had a scar on his calf that was a result of a near-catastrophic accident with a chainsaw some years ago. But there was another scar that Axel had too. Except this kind of scar was on the inside. Coming up on three years ago, Axel had been very happily in a relationship with a boy who he thought was going to be his forever. Sadly though, things hadn't worked out anything like Axel had banked on.

But that was in the past.

Right now, all Axel wanted to do was shoot the shit with his Daddy buddy Jackson. And much to Axel's pleasure, Jackson was very keen on the pair of them taking a hike up one of the peaks that surrounded Eagle Ridge…

‘I'm thinking we hit the trail and then descend into Sunset Forest,' Jackson said, his broad shoulders and powerful thighs very much on show in his training vest and shorts. ‘Maybe loop back afterward and really set our calves and quads on fire.'

‘Sounds like a plan' Axel said. ‘But don't come crying to me when I'm powering ahead on that return trail up Chasm Creek.'

‘ Pffft . As if!' Jackson laughed, playfully punching Axel in the arm. ‘We'll hike, swim, hike some more, and then hit The Tap House. Deal?'

‘Deal,' Axel said. ‘Now as fun as this is, I need to get back to the truck and put all this planning onto paper for real. Saving trees ain't easy.'

‘I don't doubt that for a second,' Jackson replied. ‘Catch you later, brother.'

With that, Jackson walked back up the immaculate lawned grass toward the McPherson house. Axel called Laser and together the two of them walked back to his truck that was parked at the rear entrance gates .

As Axel sat in the driver's seat, he watched Laser make himself comfortable in the rear. Laser was six years old but it felt like the two of them had been together forever. Laser's unwavering loyalty and unquestioning love filled Axel's heart with joy.

Damn, I'm one lucky sonofabitch to have a dog like Laser.

It's just a shame not all boys are so loyal.

Fuck. Don't even think about it.

Axel shook his head and put any thought about cheating boys as far out of his mind as possible. It might have been three years ago, but Axel would still sometimes find himself thinking about the boy who betrayed him in the worst way. Axel knew that it wasn't good to dwell on things, especially things that had already happened and couldn't be changed.

‘Screw it, I've got you,' Axel laughed, brining himself out of his funk as he rummaged in his bag and passed a handful of crunchy biscuits back to Laser. ‘I've got you, the great outdoors, and some solid as a rock friends too. Who needs a damn Little to spoil all that?'

Speaking of Daddy friends, it was time for Axel to put his truck into gear and haul his ass into town. There was a pot of black coffee and a pancake stack with his name on it – and if Axel left it any longer, he knew that Kipp and Max would probably make light work of it all…

The Hot Plate was full of its usual hustle and bustle as satisfied customers crank their coffee and chomped down on the wholesome food on offer.

As far as Axel was concerned, he had worked up an appetite that morning that would need more than a simple serving of pancakes to cover it.

‘Pancakes and a side of scrambled eggs please,' Axel said, nodding at Marshall as he fired back a customary wink. ‘And make that a double serving of eggs if you don't mind.'

Axel smiled and walked over toward the corner booth where Max and Kipp had already taken their seats and were knocking back the coffee and pancakes like there was no tomorrow.

‘So… how are the ranch renovations coming along?' Axel asked, fist-bumping his two closest Daddy friends.

‘Funny you should mention that,' Kipp replied. ‘We were just saying that I could do with some extra help this weekend. That's if you're not too busy saving a local oak tree or planting some new hedge rows.'

‘ Hmmm . Very funny,' Axel said, rolling his eyes. ‘But, yeah, I'd love to help.'

Axel loved the fact that Kipp was converting his uncle's run down old ranch into a place where Daddies and Littles could hang out and simply be themselves. With a play barn, changing facilities, and even a discipline barn all on the agenda, Eagle Ridge Ranch was soon going to be a perfect haven for all those who identified as a Daddy or Little.

Kipp was a good guy, and Axel was proud to call him a friend. The same could be said for Max too. Max ran his diner to make money, but perhaps his biggest motivation was providing a friendly, wholesome place where the residents of Eagle Ridge could come and hang out and feel part of the community – the fact that Max had two cute Littles on his staff was simply a bonus. Marshall was single, but Dale was very much taken by Kipp.

However Axel was more than happy to enjoy being served by two sweet young men. There really didn't need to be anything more to it than that.

‘I'm thinking we pull an all-day shift at the ranch,' Kipp said, brining Axel back into the real world. ‘Don't worry, I'll supply plenty of ice cold beers along the way. And Dale will be making some of his patented cupcakes for a little sugar boost too.'

‘Hey, I hope he's not thinking about moving into my territory!' Max bellowed. ‘Unless he wants to cut me in on any future profits…'

The three Daddies laughed together but suddenly Axel's eye was taken away from his friends and onto the young man who had just that second stepped into his line of vision over by the service counter…

Wait. Who the hell is he?

That hair. Those eyes. That butt…

And is he wearing… military cargo shorts?

Axel turned to look back at his friends and see whether either Kipp or Max knew the mystery boy. But as he turned once more to check him out, all Axel saw was the boy leaving the diner .

‘Whatever. I'm not looking for a boy anyway,' Axel said, a wry tone in his voice. ‘Probably not even my type.'

Axel could tell by the looks on both Kipp and Max's faces that he was fooling nobody. The boy had something special. It was hard to say precisely what, especially given that Axel only had the briefest of glimpses.

But the boy was gone.

Axel knew he'd probably never see the boy again.

And anyway, he was just a boy – and Axel was more than happy with his life precisely as it was.

Speaking of which, Axel remembered that after his lunch he had an appointment over on the other side of town that involved Japanese knotweed, a walled garden, and probably a very tough conversation with a potential customer.

Axel loved his life as a tree surgeon, and it certainly provided enough of a challenge that he didn't need to be factoring in a Little on top of that too.

The day of the hike with Jackson came around quickly, but there was one glaring problem… Jackson was nowhere to be seen.

‘Are you kidding me,' Axel exhaled, not impressed with Jackson's tardiness as he leaned up against his truck, impatiently waiting to begin the hike. ‘Laser, my man is at least half an hour late. And counting… '

Axel wasn't exactly known for his patience, and Jackson's non-arrival wasn't going down well at all.

And sure enough, Axel's worst fears were confirmed when he saw his phone flash up with a message from his AWOL Daddy friend…

JACKSON: Bad news, brother. My father has fallen again. It looks like a broken leg. I'm headed to the hospital with him right now. Sorry, but I guess this means no hike for me today. Apologies for not getting to you sooner, but it's been kind of crazy trying to persuade the old guy that he actually needs to go to the emergency room. He's as stubborn as hell. Anyway, talk later.

Axel felt bad for assuming that Jackson was simply running late for no good reason. But it was nothing that a supportive message couldn't resolve.

AXEL: No worries. And send your Dad all my love and support. He's tough as hell and twice as old! A broken leg won't keep McPherson Senior out of action for long, we can all be sure of that. Catch you later.

Axel smiled and put his phone back in his pocket.

Jackson might have been a no-show, but that didn't mean that there still wasn't a deadly double-loop hike and swim to be done. Axel loved his own company, and flanked by the ever- enthusiastic Laser, Axel was all set on setting a new personal best for the route.

‘Come on, Laser,' Axel said, fixing his hiking backpack into place. ‘It's time to show these mountains who the true Daddy of Eagle Ridge is. Let's work up a sweat and then we'll hit that refreshing lake water… clothes optional.'

Axel laughed and ruffled Laser's ears just the way he liked.

It was time to hit the trail and work up a sweat – but what Axel didn't realize was that his plans for a naked swim might not work out exactly as he imagined they would…