Headstall

It's awesome to think of this little story being read in so many far off places.

*gets out dusty old globe and checks*

Sacre Blue!

Ribbit.

Caught up! This was a feel good chapter with Michael on the mend. One thing I get from this chapter is what a wonderful start the boys had with a wonderful mother who did a great job. You showed that beautifully through Michael's memories while he ate his soup. As a reader, I just want these boys to feel safe and loved. Great job, my friend. You and your cohort Terry( @raven1) are doing a fine job.

And I'll take the homemade tomato and basil soup as well.

I enjoyed the trip to Bearpaw too, Thalia. Thanks for coming with me. Going as far away as Greece might not be in the cards for me... but you just never know. I was going to go with someone one once upon a time, but alas, it didn't happen. It's 4pm here and I am watching snow fall outside my bedroom window as I type. There's very little traffic on my road, so I am blessed with a beautiful quiet. Thanks for your kind words, my Greek friend. Gary.

Infamous.

Hello, Thalia from Greece! Yeah, I guess it is pretty much around the globe. I've always wanted to go there, from the time I was 13 in high school. We had Greek Studies, and we had a field trip to a Greek restaurant called The Acropolis. I loved all the history and beauty of your land. It looked to be a magical place. I can't just give kisses away easily. Well... I can... but not my characters. So patience is good. Lucas has some recuperation ahead, and they definitely need to reconnect... and talk. They definitely need to talk. At the farm, you could hand me stuff... I'm very good at building things, but my old body protests quite a bit now. Maybe we could just dip our feet in the creek, and then walk over to the orchard and look out across the river? And I'd like to see those wildings... Thank, Thalia. You're my first reader from Greece... that I know of...

Thanks, guys. The coughing has started up again, but I feel better overall.

Hey, all. Not coughing as much so far today, and I slept better than I have in a long time.

All around the globe, eh? Yeah, I wonder what Lucas thinks about Jubal holding his hand. He sure seemed happy about it. Jubal has been a hard man to figure out, so I expect he will be cautious of his interpretation. I think he understands how quick Jubal's walls can go back up. They might already be starting to rise. The doc is a smart man, so I would tend to agree with you. He's seen Jubal's devotion/love for the man first hand, and appears accepting of it. Reid, the same. Excellent observation, my friend, about Reid waking Jubal both nights before dawn. I agree he was protecting Jubal. I think he has fully accepted Jubal's feelings for Lucas, and he has gone out of his way to not intrude on the time he can spend with the man. I'm happy you are seeing all this. As far as the doc sending Jubal home and telling him to stay away, I think it is mostly concern for his health, but you could be right that he is protecting Jubal too. I don't know if Reid's heart is still with Lucas... we don't know the whole story, but however he feels, he already is a friend to them both. Seems I stirred up some interest in Billy. Never, ever apologize for a long post... I thrive on excellent, observant and intuitive comments like this. Wouldn't it be nice to spend a day on that farm, just prowling around and helping where we can? That would be a dream come true for me. Thanks, t. n.! This was great!

Happy you're doing well, my friend, and thank you for your words. Bearpaw has been very rewarding, and it's nice to hear again that Jubal might be one of your very favorite characters, Terry. He's an interesting guy, and I can't help but admire him. As far as Billy, there isn't much I can say. He is a side character so far, and he might have to stay that way. I knew he would stir some interest in this chapter... so.... Thanks again, buddy. Be well...

I promise you I am doing as I'm told. This double whammy has been testing me, but I'll get through it.

Gurl, you look stunning! Love the chapeau. Thanks for thinking this chapter was perfect, my friend. The reaction has been great so far, so I guess the wait was worth it. I'm sure Jubal will kiss Dinah, but the chickens and hogs? Nah. Always a pleasure, sweet lady.

Well... there goes my idea for a vampire story setting. All kidding aside, I get you, and it struck a chord with me... after I had a laugh at your wit. Jubal really was/is devoted to making Lucas's life better in any way he can... and without him it would have been a flat-roofed, crooked window cabin with no back door to begin with.

Yeah, it happened at their first meeting during the introductions. Jubal had a choice between Lucas and Luke and chose Luke. It's hard for readers to remember everything from chapter to chapter when they get posted once a week... so this info was 17 weeks ago. It's one of the downfalls of serial posting. I know when I read, I sometimes have to go back and check things because I forget, so I understand when there is confusion.

Um... vampires?

No you didn't miss anything, Darryl. Jubal is really the only one who calls him Lucas, and that's because it was how Lucas introduced himself to Jubal. He said he could call him Lucas or Luke, and Jubal chose Lucas. Reid, the doc, Morey... they all call him Luke. Billy called him Lucas in this chapter, but that is probably because he was talking to Jubal at the time, and knows it is what he calls him. Thanks, Darryl.

I like this interpretation a lot. It fits with what Jubal was actually doing. He felt the need to do whatever he could for Lucas... and this was something that gave him some power back... poor substitute for having Lucas alive and healthy, but it kept him going.

I treasure every comment from every reader. Sometimes a reader will blow me away when I least expect it, and you and @84Mags have both done that numerous times.

Well... that was cheery, Doc.

It sure is. My oldest son's whole family has the same thing, and my son who lives with me is staying downstairs, as far away from me as he can get.

The Taj Mahal comment had me busting a gut too. I forgot to mention it in my comment response. Perfect moments is what we authors strive for, so thanks for finding them in this chapter. I have four kids so I know all about crapping yellow. Doesn't even seem human. We will hear a bit more about Billy... I reckon that's okay to say.

Yep. Praise be! Two days that felt like two weeks. I like that. That line was what Jubal said to Lucas right after they met on the road when he asked him if he could shoot. It's definitely one of the favorite lines I've ever written, giving us an insight in to this down on his luck man's humor. Thanks for appreciating it. What Lucas said was swoon worthy, wasn't it. Nothing overt, but there was real feeling there if Jubal was to trust it. Of course he probably won't, because he doesn't believe he has that right. I enjoyed showing that fun side of Doc. He was still irascible, but he was funny too. We don't know much about Billy, but I think we can trust he has a case of hero worship. He's young, though, so I can't say how much backstory I'll tell. Will Jubal stay away the whole day? We should take a poll. Thanks, my dear, sweet friend.