dughlas

Incredible. The build up of suspense and then the explosion of violence is very well executed (sorry, couldn't resist the pun). I suspect the rogue intended to submit but Jimmy's wolf was far beyond accepting. You've given us quite the cliffhanger but I'm going to speculate just a bit. The question for me is who was the other wolf? You've given us a number of hints that Sawyer is an unusual person. His affinity for night time runs in the woods and the sense of calm it brings. His preternatural senses i.e. smell and night vision and then there's his mother. Maddie's behavior with her little pack and dogs in general suggests she too may be something more. So my thought is that Maddie might be the child of an alpha that didn't turn and that she passed along enough werewolf dna to make it possible for Sawyer to be turned. That would also explain Jimmy being drawn to a "human" mate. I know you won't respond to my thoughts and I'm perfectly happy to wait and see where you take us. Oh, I think Fergus is gonna spit nails when Jimmy shows up with a freshly turned wolf as his mate and dragging the carcass of the dead rogue.

Thank you for sharing this story. I enjoyed it.

As do I bro, as do I.

I find each of these remarkable. The first because I am spending time preparing my yard and gardens for winter for in just over a week I begin the journey to my mum's to spend the winter. I feel somewhat like on to a wayward goose winging south for warmer climes. The second speaks to me for when I am here I am many miles from mum and when I am there with her I am those many miles removed from family and friends here and yet we are but a telephone call away. Thank you for your words.

My 85 year old mum says the same thing.

I wonder just how much that Sheriff knows about Boone and his feeling for Coy. He seems to have known what the relationship was between Wes and Lee and their relationship with Dan. There was talk too between them about Boone and Coy. He was at least sympathetic if not down right supportive to Boone's inclination to move on. The question is will Coy follow along. Interesting chapter, I liked it.

He could end up brainwashed. Seriously I hope you get relief.

It seems there's never enough thyme, oh wait, I think that should be time.

It's unfortunate and also fortunate that things didn't work out as Andre had hoped. Having a second person with culinary training is an asset to Jim. His return provides a stable assistant as the boys move on to other futures. I see a time when Jim will need to separate the food truck and catering activities and he'll need Andre to focus on one while he focuses on the other. Then too maybe there's another young man we've yet to meet who will become another long-term employee and become responsible for the day to day activities of the food truck. Jim might not realize just yet but a time is coming when he'll become more executive chef/manager then actively cooking. Such is success.

There's a small part of me saddened to see the first group of boys moving on but at the same thrilled to see them reaching for the future they want and it's all because of Jim and the helping hand he offered. I do worry though that there's some small-minded hard-hearted person who will learn of Jim and a group of young boys taken from the streets sleeping in the garage and imagine ill and cause trouble. Not everyone in life is as magnanimous as Jim, his family and friends. I'll hope not.

Salutations bro.

G'day y'all. We had intended an early morning walk until the rain started. The forecast is for it to end by mid morning so perhaps later. Thistle has an appointment at the groomers. I'm having him clipped again in a summer cut before we leave. It will still be warm in SC and we plan to walk on the beach. The shorter fur is a must and will have grown in again before any cold weather. Blessed be y'all.

Does anyone else hear Monty Python warming up in the background?

Enjoy the time with your sister ... is it just the two of you or has your nephew been pulled in for extra muscle?

You stated in a response to one of my comments that you'd written the story seven years ago and given hints that the food truck was kind of a novelty for Jim's hometown I presumed the story was pre-2000. However, the minimum wage was over $7 then but since Jim employes such a small crew and minors minimum wage didn't apply. It also explains his pricing.

Food items at fairs and carnivals are always over priced. I would cook the hotdogs on the same grill/griddle as the burgers and sausages. One less piece of equipment to tend. Something for the guys to consider is forming and freezing the burger patties back at the kitchen. The meat can be portioned by weight, hand formed then stacked with a piece of precut parchment paper available at the restaurant supply between each one. The supply should also have boxes for storing the stacked burgers in the freezer. One less chore to do on site blending the two meats and forming patties and those boxed frozen patties take up less space. Each night take the appropriate number of boxes out of the truck's freezer and move them to the refrigerator to thaw for the next day. If sales are better than expected pull another box from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to begin thawing. Conversely if you haven't cooked all you thawed the night before just take fewer from the freezer. Preparing an inexpensive hearty early morning breakfast for the people working on the grounds is a great way to boost sales but it also creates goodwill. The travelling carnies will keep an eye on your truck providing overnight security for it and you. I'm glad to see them expanding outside their routine. I enjoyed this chapter.

Howdy Spid ... er, Texy.

PAGE! Hi.

I'm glad for your visit.

I still have both my tonsils and appendix though half my thyroid has gone by the side.

Glad to hear that. I was wondering about the smoke.

Greetings Albert. I'm well enough thanks just being lazy. I have things I should be doing but I've been laying here cuddling with Thistle and reading. I hope you and Steve are well.

I'm with Albert. Try laying on a heating pad or a hot moist towel. Feel better bro.

I have not but it sounds like something I would like.

I'd like to propose another name for the business instead of the foodtruck or foodtruck catering. I think "Take A Chance Foodtruck and Catering" has more gravitas and better describes the business. Jim took a chance starting the business and again on each of the boys when he asked them to join him. Each of the boys took a chance too when offered, to improve their situation.