Headstall

That too.

She's so fortunate to her loving son at her side. Glad it is looking better than last time. Sending her and you

Thank you, Terry! Sometimes I get in a Haiku mood, and there are many more to come over the next two days, as well as other poetry. I appreciate the kind words, my friend.

Thanks, centex! I appreciate you taking the time to share such encouraging thoughts. The scenic route is always the best route to take. Just so you know, there are two more collections to publish over the next two days, so please return if you can. Cheers! Gary.

The Scenic Route Whether by finger tips Or tongue Investigating skin Through touch and taste With nostrils flared as they feed I devour you Traversing the scenic route And marveling at how you make me feel So alive Emotionally As much as physically Whenever our hearts And bodies Collide This must be what God intended When he made you for me And me for you This sublime peace Mixed with des

Life is fascinating. It is both joyful and painful and everything in between, but there are lessons to be learned, and yes, treasures to be found. If we ever think we are in control, we are mistaken, but that is the beauty of our journeys. I hope you find something in these poems to give you pause, to make you think, or to make you feel.

Lol. Yeah, this book is over, but there is a sequel called "Larkspur: A Sidewinder Tale". Happy to hear you liked this first multi chapter western of mine. It was a wonderful experience in every way, and while I don't usually write sequels, I just didn't want to say goodbye to these guys completely. Will, the Sidewinder, had a negative effect on almost everyone who knew him, and maybe on Coy worst of all, but holding onto hate does no one any good. Coy and Boone are happy in spite of him, so in the end they won. Faith was a theme throughout the story, and they have become comfortable with theirs as gay men. I enjoyed including that in this story. Love what you quoted. You're right that it is the little things that give life its most profound joy. That sharing at the end of the day... talking about what you've done, and how you feel and what you want for the next day... it deepens your connection each time, strengthening your love for each other as a matter of course. And yes, it is important it was Coy who said the words. He took those words of Boone's to heart way back when, and now he understands and feels the same. I love that man to death for what he gives Boone. And you are welcome. Thanks for taking the ride, Krista. I know you are busy, so this means a lot to me. I hope someday you find the time to read the sequel, but if not, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me. You give good comments. Cheers, and be well. Gary.

Lol to the noise. No worries... they are in a very private location. Glad you liked the shaving scene. I love writing these two, especially now. And I get that first section could be difficult, but I felt it was right to show how they handled that kind of situation. There was no internet or even books to teach them about gay sex. There was no such thing as porn to learn from. It made Boone uncomfortable, but Coy was insistent, and had a right to an answer. I adored when he tells Boone that shaving sounds more work than preparing. That is the real Coy in a nutshell. Lol. Skipping meals would suck. I think it is always easier that second time, and I'm glad you found it more organic. This has become very natural for both of them... all the hard parts are over, and they are well on the journey of loving each other. Hopefully a lifelong one. I think the highlight of this chapter for me was Coy copying Corkers gesture as a way to tell Boone he loved him, before they fell asleep. The work starts tomorrow. They already have their team, so it won't be long before they are felling trees for a house. They are on a timeclock because winter is not that far off, but they'll be fine. They have each other.

What a joy old man Corker was to write. He had the kind of irrepressible inner strength needed to survive and flourish in the new lands. The boys relationship has grown in leaps and bounds after sharing intimacy. On this trip, I think they really learned how to communicate, so once all the walls came down, they were both ready. Glad you liked their conversations and how much more relaxed they are. They are in sync, and flush with the shared pleasure of being able to say how they feel to one another. Lots of men shared residences in those times. In many places, there was a shortage of women, and there was also safety in numbers. It wouldn't appear strange for them to share a dwelling after purchasing land, but maybe in a few years it could cause some talk. There is really nothing Phineas Lemon can do now that the deal is done. Whatever plans he had were thwarted by the fact both men had the money to pay in full. Tough luck for the bureaucrat. You're right that there is a ton of work ahead, but these two aren't afraid of hard work, especially since they are building a dream together. I envy them. Thanks for leaving another great comment. Cheers!

Lol. Hope you liked this one. I remember being so happy for both of them when I wrote this... Boone especially. This was something he'd convinced himself could never happen, yet by the end of the chapter he recognized Coy's love for him had been around a long time. He hadn't misread the situation before the kiss. It made me hate Will Diamond all the more. Thanks and cheers! G.

Nice to have you back, Krista. As good as both tracks of land are, the fact is it will take a tremendous amount of work to make them productive. Still, they understand that the way any frontier person would. These aren't grasslands, but that is not what Boone wanted. Yes, definitely, it would be what timber guys would want, especially that big valley to the north... land that could be leased because it won't be suitable for any kind of farming, It is thick wilderness. I think having the river property would have be very attractive to an enterprising lumber man. So yeah, Lemon is likely waiting to make some grift. All land surveyed is priced at three-fifty an acre by the government, so he couldn't sell it for more, but he could charge a fee for steering folks away, or find someone to be a silent partner with. Regardless, our boys are smart. They know it's available, and have the money, and they are determined, so we'll see what happens. Happy to hear you liked the visuals. I approached the land as another character in the story. The apple trees are truly a bonus, and the meadows give them a leg up on getting started. Unlike a family who pays in installments and has a family to support, they won't need to plant a lot of crops to start. This is the real beginning for them as something more than friends. They have slept side by side virtually every night for the last five years, but as well as they know each other, this is new territory. Coy needed Boone to take the lead, but I got to hand it to the guy. Coy got what he needed--his fears calmed sufficiently--and now he is all in. I hope that translated well for you. Coy didn't need to be convinced... he just had to get his head straight (er... gay). Yeah, I don't think there is any stopping them now. We have watched Coy come into his own, and he's not one to waffle. Thanks for this, Krista. I loved reaching this point in the story. Cheers!

My old mare took off running when I let her out. She's obviously feeling good.

Rehab not available during winter months.

Oh... I bought an airhorn yesterday that should scare bears away. It's one I can carry comfortably in my hand or even in my pocket. Beats carrying a heavy brass school bell.

This is not how it should be... you lost one parent already. I'm so sorry, clo. Stay strong, and try to forgive if you can... not for him or her, but for you.

Hey, puddin'

Beautiful sun here too, but the temperature is 0C. I've been getting lost in my old poetry, being self indulgent. It's time to get off my butt and finish my chores.

Have a great day, all.

Sweet dreams, Terry.

It's why they kicked him out of the Shire.

Back in my biking days, I wrote a poem about roadkill... https://gayauthors.org/story/headstall/headstallsreflections/59

Hang in there, buddy.

It's true. For some reason, doctors think it is all right to schedule appointments too close together. Sure there are emergencies, but most of the time they just don't schedule enough time for each patient, and it's the patient that pays the price. I had a doctor who charged money for missed appointments, and if you were late, they would make you wait to the last opening. I'm always early, but I seen it happen to others. Yet, doctors can be late as they want with no penalty. A very privileged attitude they have. I've waited for hours longer than expected while in the hospital for a scheduled procedure.

See.

Dad joke.