A Ranch In Idaho

Title: A Ranch In Idaho (1/4)
Author: laeglass
Pairing: VM/OB
Rating: NC-17 overall, this part perhaps R for language
Warning: language, sex (the usual stuff), spoiled brat!Orlando
Disclaimer: It's just a dream and a lie. No money made and no harm intended.
Summary: On their way to Des Moines Elijah and Orlando’s car breaks and they are forced to rely on the kindness of a stranger.
beta by tularia :)


Part One

“I don’t fucking believe this.” Elijah’s voice sounded dazed as he carefully put down the phone in its cradle and turned to look at Orlando. “I think we have pissed off God at some point. There’s no other explanation.”

“What’s up, Elwood?” Orlando asked casually from the couch he was currently occupying. He had lifted his designer jean-covered leg to rest on top of his other knee, displaying his expensive Gucci boot. “Did you catch Robin?”

Elijah buried his face in his hands. “That fucking bitch”, he moaned. “They’re already in Des Moines, man. She said they’re not gonna get here until tomorrow or the day after that. Fuuuuck.”

Orlando let his leg drop and stood up. “They’re just gonna leave us here? They can’t do that, can they? We don’t have any fucking cash, man. We’re flat broke. Not to mention that your bitch of a car is broken. And why the hell did I leave my cell phone to her”, he said and ran his fingers through his hair in an annoyed manner. “So what do you suggest? After all it was your bright idea to take a different route than the crew, and now we’re stuck in fucking Idaho of all places.”

“Did you catch your friend?” said a voice from the kitchen door. The boys turned to look at the speaker and Orlando pasted a smile on his beautiful face as his eyes met those of the blond cowboy.

“Yeah, thanks for letting us use the phone”, Elijah said resignedly. The man lifted an eyebrow at him and the boy continued. “Unfortunately they’re quite far away, and Robin, she’s our… boss, in lack for better word, insists that we wait here until they get to us, so that we can then travel together with them and start shooting.”

“Shooting?” The man’s sandy blond eyebrows climbed to his hairline.

Orlando nodded absentmindedly. “Yeah, we’re making a TV show called Cuntry Boys, that’s Eli here and me. We were supposed to travel with the crew but Elijah had to have this wonderful idea of us taking a different route and then his fuh- damn car broke and… Yeah, well you were the one who saved us from the road so you know what’s up.”

The man’s lips twitched in wry amusement. “Country boys? Forgive me for sayin’ but you look more like a pair of city boys to me.” His gaze travelled up and down Orlando’s toned body that was currently covered in a pair of Armani jeans and a ridiculously tight white t-shirt. Elijah’s attire was a bit different but no more suitable for country life.

Orlando helpfully spelled the name of the show for him but gave up when it became obvious that the man either didn’t get the pun or simply didn’t find it that amusing. “So who can we thank, mister…?”

“Mortensen, Viggo Mortensen”, the man said and offered his hand. Orlando was a bit dismayed to see that he had dirt beneath his nails and scratches on his palm, but he shook the offered hand briefly and then wiped it in his t-shirt. “So what are you boys planning on doing, then? I’m sorry to say this but there aren’t many hotels or motels nearby”, Viggo said almost apologetically after shaking Elijah’s hand.

Elijah shrugged his delicate shoulders. “We’ll probably sleep in my car, I guess. Thanks for trailing it here, by the way. I don’t think there would have been much left of it say, tomorrow morning.”

Mortensen waved off the thanks. “Don’t mention it. I couldn’t have left you boys there, or your car. It’s far too fancy to be left abandoned on the side of a road.”

Orlando looked around in the house. It was very cozy and very domestic, he noticed. Two battered sofas, a coffee table, a big bookshelf on the other side of the room and a fireplace. There weren’t any flower arrangements, or expensive sculptures, or pretty much anything he was used to. “So, Mr. Mortensen, do you live alone or do you have a family?” He asked almost flirtatiously, as was his way.

The house looked like it needed the touch of a woman, but Orlando wasn’t sure if that was what Mr. Mortensen needed. The man looked fine, the well-groomed socialite had to admit, in a manly, scruffy kind of way. Nothing like his usual conquests, that’s for sure, but Orlando was pretty much open to trying new things. His gaze slid downward on Mortensen’s hard body and tried to picture what kind of cock the cowboy had beneath the faded denim. It looked pretty impressive to him and Orlando made a mental note to find out the true size of it later.

Mortensen nodded. “I live here with my dog. At summertime I usually have hired help but now that it’s fall it’s pretty much just me and Brigit.”

“So you raise horses?” Orlando asked interestedly. He had of course seen the large building when they’d arrived, but thought that there’d be cattle or pigs or something equally boring inside, but horses were a different matter altogether. “So that big house there is the stables?”

“You want to see?” Mortensen asked and was pleased as the boy nodded. Orlando, as he’d been introduced, was truly the most beautiful human being Viggo had ever met in person. Viggo wasn’t usually taken by people’s looks but there was something in this boy that made something that he thought he’d buried long time ago stir anew. He could tell that Orlando was quite arrogant and more than just a bit self-centered, but then Viggo believed that everyone had always been quick to cater to his wishes and eager to please him; that was how beauty usually affected people.

Elijah seemed softer, somehow, but there was also a trace of that nervousness and twitchiness that marked all people that came from Los Angeles (that the boys were from L.A. was another tidbit of information that had been gained in the car). Viggo looked at Elijah inquiringly but the boy shook his head.

“I think I’ll just go sit in my car and feel sorry for myself”, Elijah said morosely and displayed his trademark grin.

Orlando followed Viggo out of the house and was met with a black ball of fur just outside of the door. “Down boy”, he almost shrieked as the dog jumped up against him with dirty paws and tried to fend it off unsuccessfully.

“Actually Brigit is a girl”, Viggo said with an amused smile and then spoke to the dog. “Come on B, leave Mr. Bloom alone.” He winced a little in sympathy as he saw the muddy marks the dog’s paws had left in Orlando’s expensive jeans. “I’m sorry about that, she gets a bit overzealous at times.”

“No biggie”, Orlando lied with a smile that never quite reached his eyes. Great; now he’d have to walk around in dirty jeans, since all his other clothes just had to be in his suitcase that was in the trunk of Robin’s car. “And please, don’t call me Mr. Bloom. It makes me feel like a dainty flower or something. I’m just Orlando or Orli, take your pick.”

“All right, Orlando”, Viggo drawled. “Come with me and I’ll show you my boys.”

Orlando bit down the quip that had come unbidden to his lips and followed the man meekly. The building was really nothing all that impressive other than for its size, Orlando thought, but it was very well maintained and clean. One would think that a place where one kept horses would smell of horse shit and be practically painted with it, but Orlando was glad to be proven wrong. There were stalls on both sides, some of them occupied while others were empty. Viggo came to a halt in one of them and turned to look at the boy.

“This one is my favourite; his name’s Uraeus”, Viggo said, looking at the proud animal with a smile playing on his lips. The horse was a warmblood stallion, dark in colour and regal in bearing. Uraeus whinnied softly as Viggo stroked his nose while making small soothing noises in the back of his throat.

“He’s really magnificent”, Orlando said softly and came to stand next to Viggo. “Can I touch him or does he dislike strangers?” The horse snorted at him and Orlando couldn’t help the ungraceful giggle that escaped him. “What a smart horse”, he praised. “I think he answered the question for you.”

Viggo smiled, too, and took Orlando’s hand in his, bringing it closer so that Uraeus could smell him. “Let him get used to your scent”, he instructed, proud of the calmness of his voice. Orlando’s wrist was slight compared to his, and his hands were a bit smaller; they were the hands of a very attractive man and Viggo found out that he was affected by him. Orlando shivered a little as the man’s callused fingers inadvertently stroked the base of his thumb, sending small tremors down his spine.

Uraeus smelled Orlando’s hand and pushed at it with his nose. Orlando giggled again at the soft touch and let his gaze slide to Viggo. “I like him”, he said approvingly and wrinkled his nose as the horse licked his fingers. “But eww, can you please tell him to stop doing that”, he said, still laughing, and pulled his hand from Viggo’s to wipe it on his t-shirt.

Viggo looked at the laughing boy and decided that the sunny smile suited the boy’s delicate features much better than the cynical, world weary expression Orlando seemed so fond of wearing in public. This, Viggo thought, was probably the first genuine expression he’d seem from the kid so far, and he wished that Orlando wouldn’t be too quick in returning to his earlier, somewhat sulky self. He regretted the loss of the boy’s touch but tried not to let it show. “You like horses?”

Orlando still smiled a little, his eyes fastened on the horse in front of him. “Yeah, they’re really nice”, he said a bit wistfully. “I took riding lessons when I was younger, but you know, when you’re on your teens there are other things you may find a little more interesting.”

“Girls, huh”, Viggo said. It was easy to imagine someone as sensual and beautiful as Orlando in the throes of raging hormones, and the cowboy’s battered jeans tightened a little at the thought.

“More like boys, or rather men”, Orlando said carelessly and smiled secretly as the man visibly stiffened at his words. “Not that I haven’t been with a few girls before but nowadays that’s just eww. I just happen to fancy guys more.”

Viggo couldn’t really think of anything to say so he just kept stroking Uraeus’ nose until the horse grew bored and moved away with a snort.

“I didn’t shock you, did I?” Orlando said innocently, stealing glances at the handsome man next to him. Viggo seemed to be lost in thought judging from the way his blue eyes stared forward and hands were resting on the railing.

“Your preferences are none of my business, Orlando”, Viggo finally said and locked his eyes with the boy’s brown ones. “We’re just not used to such frankness around here. What we do behind closed doors or in our bedrooms is certainly no-one else’s business”, he said seriously, and for a moment Orlando felt a little embarrassed by flaunting his sexuality, but then he remembered that his role in Cuntry Boys consisted of flirting, pulling guys, having sex, being an obnoxiously sexy and unapologetic gay boy that fangirls (and many boys, too) adored. At least that was what Robin always said.

”They love seeing you flirt with guys and break a few hearts now and then. That’s a winning concept, Orli. With your looks and your charm you can pull any guy. It’s great entertainment, Orlando, just look at the viewing ratings.”

“Behind closed doors and in bedrooms”, Orlando repeated, waggling his eyebrows. “Come on, you can’t be that restricted around here. Surely everyone engages in some sort of tumbling in a hay every now and then.”

Viggo shrugged and turned away. “Wouldn’t know”, he simply said and raised an eyebrow. “You want to see more or should we get back?”

Orlando pursed his lips in annoyance. He always enjoyed sexy banter with a handsome guy but this bloke didn’t seem to be interested in indulging him. Fine. “Yeah, I think I should check on Eli”, he said coldly and pushed past the older man. Viggo stifled a smile that threatened to take over his lips as he followed the moody Brit outside.

They found Elijah sitting in his car, sound asleep. His lips were slightly parted and he snored softly, his arms wrapped around his upper body. Orlando rolled his eyes. “He can sleep anywhere”, he said sullenly. “What the hell are we going to do? It’s gonna be two or three days before Robin gets here. Shit. And I know her well enough to say that she doesn’t trust us to travel on our own anymore. Otherwise we could’ve just have the car fixed and be on our way.”

Viggo looked thoughtful. “I could probably give you a helping hand, so to speak”, he said, watching as Orlando opened the car door and shook Elijah awake. The boy turned to look at him with a hopeful look in his sienna eyes. “It’s nothing special, really, but I think you could stay here for as long as it’ll take for your friends to arrive, maybe help with the horses and the house chores.”

Orlando’s face lit up at the prospect of not getting kicked out of the house. “Really, that’s great man. Eli, wake up you wanker, Vig- Mr. Mortensen just said that we can stay here if we just help him with the horsies.” He then blushed deeply at the childish choice of word (horsie? who the fuck says horsie?) and ignored the little snort that escaped Viggo.

“You don’t have to, but it would be nice”, Viggo started to say but Orlando interrupted him.

“Shut up, of course we’re going to help with the horses, and the house too. Eli here is an ace at shoveling shit”, he said brightly and dragged the half-sleeping boy from the car. “Elijah, for fuck’s sake, wake the fuck up.”

Elijah blinked his enormous blue eyes and narrowed them in suspicion at the sight of Orlando’s wide grin. “Why don’t I like that look on your face?” he asked warily.


~to be continued~