mayday

This writer is far too good at cliffhangers. I am now not surprised at Taggert getting together with Bert instead of James to strategize. After all, Bert is the owner of Nasser Ranch, not his son. Taggert will use his trust money to stop Zane, who won't handle disappointment well, as we know. Then I hope for Zane to have to watch his father's message with a huge audience. No idea if such a feat is possible at an auction. I can't wait for the next chapter. Yet I do not want to read the final one so soon.

My hope as well, but for that Taggert will have to overcome his fear of his father, which seems to be almost too much to ask at the moment. But I am sure they will come up with something. I would love it if James and Taggert came up with an idea as ingenuous as Bill's choice of land for his grandson, perhaps with input from Ash, who definitely is not dumb.

Spot on! Every one of your observations. On reading your comment I wondered how many times I would have had to read to gain your insights.

What a chapter! After the reveal of Bill's stratigically and superbly engineered trust I had to pause reading. Then again, when I saw Taggert's state of mind, his grief, his terror of being found, of facing his father again. Yes, Taggert is right, it was a setup. Carefully planned by a monster, helped by his utterly ruthless enablers, three of them. The vet, the manager and his son. Ash relieving Taggert's fear was like a present to me, too. I could feel his relief across thousands of miles and an ocean. And I was so glad it was Ash who relieved his fears. Branford - what an impressive man! How well he can read people! How humane, kind and respectful in his response to Taggert. There can be no bigger contrast between the two managers. Phew! This bears re-reading more than once.

Phew! What a ride to take us on! A really great story, which kept me on edge with every paragraph. Thank you for sharing with us!

I have read the last two chapters several times today. And another instance of irony has just struck me: it was his mother who made him go to VBS, which made Owen choose teaching. Beth must have spoken at home about him there. How else would Eric have learned about it. And only just now I realised that his parents were never intrested in how his day went, otherwise they might have learned something about their son...

Spot on! Kudos

She cannot understand him. How could she? I am sure the thought her son might be gay has never crossed her mind. And I guess by putting her hand on his arm, she stopped her husband from saying more and worse to Owen. At least she asked her son to stay in contact. That is more than I expected. Ryder's ma could not even do that...

That was both great and hard to read. Eric astounded me. S. Donelly didn't much and T. Donelly not at all. I am relieved that Owen has at least two relatives who stand by him.

Couldn't turn out any better! Great. Just great.

They are still standing together at the end. It may still happen...

Unless you are Owen's mother....

Great guesses all of them!

I had to read this again. And I found Margot being the maid of "honour" very fitting because she showed her true metal by outing herself to a whole community. Until that feat I found her role at the ceremony deliciously ironic. And it made me terribly sad and shocked to realize that Owen hasn't experienced more kindness from his family than Beth's four words and embrace. And this does not bode well for Owen.

Finally. And Beth's reaction is probably what we all felt, and so so true! I wonder what the parents' reactions will be and if they have an ounce of love for their son and daughter.