rockycs

Can anyone remind me approximately what month it is? I'm trying to determine how long until winter. It's easy for the land agent to say "someone could get a crop in" but I don't want to see the boys tenting it through winter. I too think Coy will stay and buy an adjoining plot. They can work together while Coy keeps his options open. 😀 I had also wondered if the Sheriff might have telegraphed a good word or two to the Sheriff of Larkspur (providing they have one.) Seems like something he might do.

Well it's a bit weird this story is popping up in newest stories. I'm guessing a bit that the author re-posted chapter 1 rather than updating the chapter? Something happened on 12/20/2020 to trigger this but it isn't easy to determine what.

Hmmm. May not work but what about a stall for the horse with a two foot trench on the side allowing the farrier to be a bit lower? Of course there would need some guard to prevent the horse from stepping off the edge. You should be proud. Creating things from metal with just heat and force is an art. There are still quite a few blacksmiths around, oddly enough. At least in Canada. Out in the country, of course. On the quoting thing my problem is there can be a comment followed by a response. I want to quote both the comment and the response with my new comment. Can't seem to figure it out. I can quote the reply portion only, but not both.

Sorry. Try as I might I just can't seem to figure out quoting on this site and how to do it properly. I think I will just give up commenting.

😀 yeah, I hear you. Me, I'd buy a plot in town and start a nice Livery Stable. Over time a good Blacksmith Shop next door. As the town grows I'd probably end up with a couple more businesses as well. Would still take hard work and a bit of good luck! To each his own, I guess. 😀

Geez... Farming. Work your butt off all year and bang - a sudden rainstorm, or no rain at the right time, or a swarm of grasshoppers - and suddenly you are wiped out. The boys couldn't be satisfied with a Stable? A Saloon? A decent Dance Hall? A mid-market Bordello? 😀

Well I'm too practical with these kinds of things so can only think of something like "Golden Eyes". It really requires something more romantic. I'm sure a number of current readers can come up with something better.

So I kinda don't think this story doesn't have a title because you were just laid back/busy/distracted or any number of alternate reasons. Were you fishing for some reader feedback or is the odd title the final title?

G** Damn!! I was reading this chapter and the discussion turned to "streams" and my mind said Julian. And sure enough he pops in. Excellent! Julian's participation in a story always seems to be both entertaining and unpredictable.

Good Lord. Rabbit, rabbit and more rabbit. Those boys must dream about a chicken or two and a few eggs!!! I wonder if scurvy was an issue then? My recollection is it takes at least a month without vitamin C for scurvy to take hold.

Thank you very much..... Going back to the title of this story - the common definitions are: sidewinder (plural sidewinders) A North American rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes, that inhabits lowland deserts. (slang) A person who is untrustworthy and dangerous. (slang, dated) A heavy swinging blow from the side which disables an adversary. I wonder which we will encounter here?

Western dialect can be difficult to write. I think one has to have lived it a bit or read it a lot! This story brought back some memories. I have only about 20 or so hardcover books on the shelf now. At one time I had retained about 500. But we paid for the last big move across the country ourselves so alas, I had to give most of them away. 🥺 But this story caused me to go back to the shelf and guess what? Seven Larry McMurtry's. (I couldn't part with them). So keep up the good work. Perhaps there is one more Pulitzer for Westerns.....

Well. Coy was back faster than I thought ☺️

So, kinda late to the story given this is chapter 4 of seven. Really enjoying it though. I admit to being partial to western novels. Passed through many in 60 odd years of reading. I understand people's thoughts on both Coy and Boone and their relationship. At first I thought the story would drop Coy and carry on with "the life of Boone" so to speak. But now I am inclined to believe Coy will be popping back from time to time. I hope so, because there is a real and important friendship there that means a lot to the both of them even though it's unlikely to be a love affair.

It seems a bit odd the "renter" is responsible for paying for maintenance repairs. Around here that would be the responsibility of the owner/landlord. Is that how it works in Wisconsin? For an old place like Cedarcrest it could be a financial disaster. Hope the roof doesn't go any time soon. 😬

Nope.

The problem I have with this is the breakup is all made out to be Robbie's fault. "You walked out on me." My recollection of the time is that Nathan was not only hell bent on flirting with everything in sight, alive or dead, but was also pushing Robbie toward a threeway that Robbie clearly wasn't comfortable with. If Nathan has now matured - I've yet to see any evidence of it.

There is probably Dad forcing a relationship with a girl in there somewhere! 😬

I don't know one way or the other but when James uses "Ali" and Cameron uses "Jamie" it does seem to imply that they both know.

I didn't miss it. I was intentionally ignoring it. 😬

Poor Nathan !! Two broken arms! I expect we'll see nurse Robbie 'helping out'..... I hope our boy has the maturity to break up with Connor first. But I do a lot of hoping around here. I'll put my wager on devious Don being the villain and Alex coming to Nathan's rescue. Alex did have some knowledge he wanted to pass on to Robbie. Jo better cancel any vacation plans for awhile because her case load has probably just gone up by three (Nathan, Alex & Luke). 😵 It goes back to Robbie and Alex's last discussion about the missing money jar money: “You didn’t steal it, did you?” “That’s what I said, dickhead. But I think I know who did.” “Who?” “I’ll tell you tomorrow. Maybe we can meet up someplace. There’s some stuff you need to know. I don’t care anymore. I got nothing to lose.”

Yes, I came to the comments just to mention a bodyguard. Stratos cannot be everywhere at once. There could easily be a slip up.

Who stole the swear jar money is not really Robbie's problem. I was hoping when Alex asked for the $2,000 that Robbie would take a look at his accounts. I've a nagging feeling Don may have invested some of Robbie's funds into a sure-fire can't go wrong Church investment scheme.

".....hope for Robbie going forward." I don't know. Our boy Robbie is still about a 4/10 on the maturity scale. He does surprise us from time to time but then tends to backslide. The trouble with Nathan being with Robbie is that Nathan is in about the same place. He did try to get Robbie to buy into a threeway knowing full well Robbie didn't want to, and it seems whenever a new shiny object comes along that catches Nathan's attention Robbie gets pushed off to the side. Although it may sound a bit tough, perhaps some time confined to his hospital bed will give Nathan an opportunity to reflect on the possibly fleeting nature of life and what he wants out of it. I'm more worried about Alex who never seems to catch a break. Especially around here. I'm sure all the characters read these comments through the Author. Alex must find it all just a bit depressing...... 😟