drsawzall

Oh my, I need a bottle of that wine! I loved this chapter and can’t wait for the next!

I’m sorry but I can’t find any empathy for Brian. I still feel he used Tommy for his own shellfish, cowardly ends. Knowingly stringing him along. I’m reminded of Charlie Brown and Lucy where she always pulls the football when he goes to kick it. And after so many years he still can’t truly face the truth. This was a well written story that grabbed the readers as one can see from the comments…

Tell me the winter chains are for something else….jeepers….house smoosh…it’s the car boys!,,,

How in the heck did I miss these words?????

As you noted, Wayne, we know, actually assume, that we know/understand some of the horrors of Taggert's past, a singular M/M experience, and the boy/man ran away. Pretty much that's all we can count on other than the constant wearing of the T-shirt, along with an overwhelming snippet of memory of fire and metal, and scrambling. The realization hit him so suddenly, it almost hurt. Safe. No disgust and shame. No shouting and fear. No regret curling through the room afterward. No fire and metal. No blinding pain. No exile. No scrambling to leave. No pretending it hadn’t happened. There's much to unpack and only limited, first-person flashbacks that, for us, are inconclusive. Hopefully Saturday's instalment sheds more light on Taggert's troubles, and if they are following him. For me, what truly sets this story apart is the depth and richness of everyone who is working on the ranch; they are all three-dimensional folks with their own quirks, follies, and peccadilloes, and yet form a strong team! Loved the following... That earned him a look. One dark eyebrow rose beneath Branford’s hat. “Cowboys have been finding comfort with each other for damn near two hundred years,” Branford said plainly. “Some folks don’t like it and pretend it doesn't exist, or like it never has.” A shrug. “Doesn’t make it stop happening.” He smirked. "You think you an' Ash are the first paired men I've met?" Taggert blinked once. Because Branford didn’t sound scandalized or uncomfortable. He sounded practical. Branford straightened slightly in the saddle as Ash started riding back toward them. “It may be different at Yoder, but here,” Branford continued, voice lower now, more deliberate, “we respect hard work.” His gaze settled fully on Taggert then. “You an’ Ash are fine.”

I could give a flying f%ck about the house, tell me about the fuc&*ng car...what kind of classic car would need winter chains? The left bay was the stillest of the three. A covered car rested beneath a heavy canvas tarp, its shape just discernible — the sweep of fenders, the slope of a hood — something classic, kept not for prestige but for what it meant. A car that had stories in its seats and engine, preserved not to impress but to remember. The air in this bay was cooler, shaded, faintly laced with cedar from a nearby cabinet. Inside that cabinet sat bottles of wax and spare oil, cloths neatly folded, and a cardboard box stencilled in black marker: winter chains. There was a smell here — metal and wood, a hint of motor oil — that clung to the walls like a kind of loyalty, as though this room remembered every pair of hands that had worked here.

These folks deserve each other....my goodness...it's like a revolving door of angst....

I can see a scenario where Ruder is 'grooming' Owen, bringing him back to his apartment, drugging him up, and hiring him out.... Ruder is assuming much, and Owen is leaving one trap for another...

Looks promising, what was Sander B up to?

If Vicky was blackmailing Diana over her abuse of Caleb, I could see her, if not carrying out the killing of Vicky, at least in the planning; we still don't know who was in the car that was spotted. Would Caleb have the ability in his medicated state? It's possible...Then there is Billy, Daune...aka Don/Dawn.... A central theme is the photos; we know Vicky took some, as did Isaac Foster... Who is the mysterious texter, the "I know what you did" blackmailer? Could it be Isaac...Daune, or are they all red herrings? Could have been a 'community project, à la a neighborhood clean-up as @Summerabbacat suggested??? Marcus Webb has access to some, if not all, of Vicky's electronic life before the police do; is he altruistic, or seeing an opportunity? Will the 'destroyed' phone now in a velvet jewelry bag under a pile of dirty laundry in a gym bag have any bearing on this case, or the message on his other phone that he didn't delete? Welcome to Red Herring city folks, where all your questions only lead to more questions...Next week on your favorite TV show Soap...

I can't add much to the comment being late to the party, other than I think all were spot on. I like the note about you 'inverting' the story, it give me some trends to spot in the directions you will take this. Again, a superb chapter, and I have to suspect old Albert truly wants to clear out any distractions for the new bride. Let's not forget, he left the ranch to go see her and get married. To me...for a city woman of means, to give up that lifestyle is quite the change. She must know how difficult life on a ranch can be, even a money making one...there' an incongruity here, and there's more to this piece of the puzzle that we haven't seen...something seems off... The boys best be going quickly and strike while the iron is hot, I would expect rather quickly after the argument between Fletche and his pa... And speaking of Fletcher and being called an arrow...aren't arrows long, hard, with a pointy tip???? One other note...the surprise Roland and the other ranchers are setting Albert up for sounds ominous to some extent that it may/might bring changes/conflict....God forbid Rob finds hisself on the road heading towards Barnswallow...

And here I thought it was "Pant's Off Monday"....good thing I'm the only one home tho....

Amen brother...amen...

Andrew Lloyd Webber - Love Never Dies Lyrics & Meaning

@Camy, and @Thirdly...here in Central Massachusetts, the center of the universe, I am surprised that you know nothing about the 'Fluffernutter' the scourge of many a regional dentist.... To make a 'Fluffernutter' on buys a jar of Marshmallow Fluff and a jar of Skippy Peanut butter, preferably the chunky kind, but regular works just fine, and use both to make a sandwich. For the bold and brave, a triple decker sandwich, turns one into a sugar fueled rocket...if you are curious, goggle the sugar content...and there isn't any proof, despite rumors to the contrary, that Marshmallow fluff is owned by the national association of dentists...

Brian needs to come to terms with what he wants, if I understand correctly, his life is transient with no deep, or real, lasting connections. He’s all but said and admitted what he’s seeking, needing, yet unable to cross the Rubicon in his thought processing. There, and given what we know, he’s facing a decision as to a life of unfilled regrets and vacuous existence. What compounds all of this is a repeat of past, hurtful behavior…None of us can speak for Tommy and what he should do, love is never easy. Brian would ask what he was doing, whether he was free, whether he wanted to go out. Sometimes it was just for coffee. Sometimes a late-night movie. Sometimes nothing more than a drive with no particular destination. “I just don’t want to be alone,” Brian said once, almost casually. “Feels weird after… everything.” Tommy understood that. Or at least, he told himself he did. So he went. Again and again.

Called it…. Atreus completely ignored him, jogging over to the wooden crate. He was radiating heat, smelling of wet earth and sweat, his bruised face lit up with an eager, bright smile. He didn't bother grabbing a stool or standing respectfully at a distance. He just dropped right onto the crate next to Casimir, his thigh pressing warmly against the Prince's. "Hey," Atreus breathed, peering over Casimir's shoulder at the heavy vellum pages. "What are you reading? Is that Latin?" Hook, line, and sinker, Casimir thought, experiencing a massive, triumphant thrill

Wow…this chapter has a bit of everything….I'm becoming addicted to reading 2 chapters at one sitting, one a day just doesn’t cut it…. It”s either lightning has struck, or the poor boy has been captured hook, line, and sinker….

Hoo boy, fasten your seatbelts folks, the ride is gonna get bumpy… Or…This is your captain speaking, there’s some rough turbulence coming… You’re going to take me on the ride of my life, aren’t you,” I said. He grinned. The real one. Not the almost-smile. The full thing, wide and sharp and so alive it made the stars look dim. “Yeah,” he said. “I am.”

OMF’ing god…I could see this scenario….

Loved this and watching the bond they all share grow and strengthen!

Neil’s growth and acceptance of his nature is truly remarkable and very enjoyable to read. Not so sure I would ever have the patience for Wagner…

This was a seminal chapter, tender and full of growth and loved it!

All of these were tremendous stories, along with the others submitted for this anthology! If you haven't read any of these, you're missing out on some great, no...simply fantastic works by some very talented authors...

Thank you for sharing this. I had to go with sad and with mixed feelings. At the end of this, while I feel parts of this friendship was genuine, I also feel that Brian used Tommy selfishly.