Headstall

Yes, he is. He leads a miserable kind of existence, and his secret would not go over well if word gets back to his pa. Rob... well he is just a colossal ass, liking nothing more than to harass his younger brother. The big question is, is Fletcher really the enemy he sees him as? This was a hell of a way to get exposed... literally and figuratively. Cheers, my friend! Hope you stick with it.

Doc! I can't lie... I've been worried about you. Haven't seen you around much for a while, and I know losing a good friend like Geron was a shock to us all. So great to see you here. Binge away... I hope you enjoy this little tale. Cheers!

That's wonderful news. I think you are doing the right thing not going to PA just yet.

My heart breaks for you, dugh. Keep hoping, and God bless you and Mum.

Yeah, I thought so. I'm pleased you did too, Parker. It was an end befitting such a momentous day. I felt the rain really helped make the scene extra special, but maybe I'm biased. Oh to be that young and full of eagerness again. Cheers, my friend.

Necessity is the mother of invention, right, Doc? These boys are giving this some deep thought sure enough. Ingenuity was a priceless commodity back then, for gays and straights alike. Glad you enjoyed this one, and I thought some readers might get a kick out of Willy James' gun barrel idea. Thanks, buddy.

That must be scary for her and you. Remember to look after yourself too, dugh.

I'm praying for you both, brother.

Thank you, good buddy! Appreciate that, and I hope the down under is all you could hope for. Stay safe.

If you felt like you were there with them, them I am happy. Imagery is so important for the reader experience. Yeah, so far so good. I wondered what readers would think of a big storm coming... if there would be flashbacks to another western I wrote a while back. We've been figuring things out about lovemaking long before manuals were written and the internet existed. And yes, good experiences require some care. I've stood naked in the rain... more than a few times... and there is nothing quite like it. It is invigorating. Thanks, my friend.

Hi, Sherye! You've caught up! Happy to hear you found this chapter heartwarming. There has been enough early drama already, and I wanted this chapter to feel peaceful. Thanks, my dear friend.

Couldn't agree more, Kris! August deserves to have this... to share a life with a man like Fletcher. Their journey has been well-earned so far. Loneliness will eat at a person no matter how strong they are, or how much they tell themselves they can handle life alone. Thankful for your sharing and support, buddy.

I just lost my entire response to you! Arghhhh! Anyway, thank you so much for such a wonderful comment. Lion and Tiger were named by Maureen when they first arrived at the ranch. I love writing the banter when characters become comfortable with each other. It provides me great joy. The alone line you quoted really got to me when I wrote it. It's a powerful reminder of what having Fletcher now, means to August. "... memories even time cannot steal" Beautiful. As is "... ruin them for anyone else" As aways, I treasure you as a friend and am thankful for you support, lovely lady.

Thank you, Cane. Love the new avatar! Yeah, there are no manuals or internet, but love has always founds its way. I'm so pleased you see my writing/storytelling as having consistency. I really do strive for that, and spend hours and hours working on getting the atmosphere and descriptions right. I have learned for myself, the easiest thing in the world is for a writer to overdo it. That can be even worse than not giving the reader enough. Enough prattling. I do appreciate your kind words and support.

Thank you, my dear friend! Gyrate away! I wanted this chapter to give us the warm and fuzzies while being true to the journey itself. I hope you could see the trail like I do. The rain surrounding them made it feel somewhat magical to me. Cheers, and much appreciation, milady.

Delicious? Love that, centex! Yeah, they are meant to be together... I've felt that from the first river scene. There is a fine love between love and hate... isn't that what they say? That passion had to come from somewhere. Water was life... and still is for some areas of the world. Dry land was dead land back then, and they were at the whim of the weather. August knows there is no journey without healthy horses, but more than that, they are like family. And yes, they are a resource to be used by breeding them. August and Fletcher have each other, but if Willy James and Runyan have left Enniskillen, they are riding on their own with no backup. Fingers crossed for them both. Those times could be very harsh. Thank you, friend. Your support means a lot to me. It is so easy to feel discouraged sometimes. Cheers!

Glad you felt this way, Patrick. They were in a world of their own under that wagon as rain poured down on all four sides. I hope it seemed a bit magical, this little bit of self-education and sharing. We have been figuring things out since we were put on this earth. Thanks, buddy.

I appreciate the kind words, Albert. I was hoping readers would see and feel this new world for them... this freedom that has been hard-earned. In some ways it might seem it is them against the world, but that is not a bad thing. Their love and closeness is being solidified as they embark on this journey, and the rhythm of it will stand them in good stead as a couple as they settle into a routine. There is no internet or how to books, so they must learn life's wondrous secrets together. Cheers, my friend.

The chores never end. My Son-I-L and I cleaned up a downed section of an old maple, and trimmed some branches off a big elm yesterday. Now I have some broken fence boards to take care of. My mom used to say idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Their new life has begun, and August has seen what a loving family is like! He's a part of it now. We won't know about Willy James and Runyan, and what they do, for a while yet. The main thing is that Albert is not suspicious any more. Cheers, my friend.

Thank you, sweet lady. I wondered where y'all got to. We covered a lot of ground in this extra long double chapter. Things are looking up, but there's still some questions to be answered. Cheers! G.

Chapter 11 is now posted....

Skin to Skin By midday the team dripped sweat, more from the heat of the hazy sun beating down than the work, since August hadn’t pushed them hard a’tall. According to the map he’d copied, they should soon be moving in a south-west direction, closer to a river what meandered up towards the old trail. They’d traveled past the north border of his father’s sprawling main ranch hours back and were finally entering into a treed stretch away from overhead sun. “They’ll be needing a

I'm only allowed to sit in them.

Hi, Tink. My S-I-L just left. he came with his chain saw and cut up a fallen maple blocking one of my paths into the woods, and also trimmed some branches of my Carolina Elms that were blocking my view out the back. I wasn't allowed to use the ladder, but he was.