Headstall

That's if August tells him the truth about who he was looking at. He would be a fool not to take his gran up on her offer... he needs to get away from his father. That man is scary. As far as Rob, I'm not so sure he cares about his brother. He seems too bent on pleasing his pa. Who knows, though. People can and do change, though I wouldn't hold my breath. Maybe he will think about how he treats August, and that would be a good sign. Thanks, my friend. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Cheers! Gary

Lol. I used to winder about that too. Good job of explaining it, dad. We used to walk three and a half miles to school when I was a kid. It never seemed that bad, but it was a whole group of us. My seven cousins lived right across the road, and the one-room schoolhouse had seven rows, each one a grade.

I find this fascinating, Sherye. Thanks very much for this comment. It is so validating for you to say it is still common that people treat their kinfolk the way August is treated. I have experience with domineering fathers who felt like they were entitled to act however they wanted. I'm sure they exist still all over the world. In some countries women are treated like second class citizens... or worse, and children are expected to follow whatever path their parents set them on. Sorry you weren't treated as well as you should have been. The south has always felt unique to me... in their customs and adherence to certain ideals, and you have just backed that up. I would love to hear you and your family and friends talking in Old West speak. That would be my happy place.

Thanks very much, Albert. I appreciate the support and the very kind words. It's a very different kind of tension from the first part with Rob to the second part with Fletcher, that's for sure. What will August do? Will he close back up again, or stick his neck out? I agree there is chemistry happening in this chapter... frontier drama? Definitely. Cheers, my friend.

Yes, it is, dugh. It's one thing to face it yourself, and quite another to open up. That feeling of vulnerability is a powerful one. You're right too that Fletcher is an anomaly... asking that question is really pushing the envelope, but I do admire his courage. There appears to be a dance going on here, and neither one is sure of the steps. Will some feet get stepped on? We... shall... see.

Absolutely, Sherye! That's what he should do, but will he? He's spent a lot of years pretending... and hiding, so he will need to find the courage to take that next step. At any rate, living with his father is not an option if he wants to find peace. He never will with Albert interfering in his life. Thank you, sweet lady. Cheers!

You're exactly right, Chris. Rob patterns himself after Albert, and of course he would since he inherits everything, and he has the same scruples. Yes, August has a plan... but will he escape? Hmmmm.... Thanks, buddy!

So true, my friend. The contrast is unbelievable, but to those folk, 11 miles really wasn't considered much of a distance. By horse it would take roughly an hour and a half if you mixed it up, walking, loping and trotting. The average horse walks 4 mph, so that would be less than three hours if you only walked. I rode two competitive pace trail rides(and won them both), and they were 26/28 miles. I can't remember my times, but it was roughly five hours... maybe five and a half for the longer one. Glad you were encouraged by his conversation with his brother. he showed just how ready he is to get away from the family and strike out on his own. That decision to leave can't have been an easy one to make, given he has his father to deal with. Yes, a lot of that needed saying to Rob, but I wouldn't hold my breath on Rob changing his ways. Appreciate this very much, Kris, and pleased you are engaged with the story. Cheers! G

Hi, Neal! Glad to know you look forward to a new western. Yeah, August and Fletcher need to communicate honestly, and August can't hold himself back. I won't tell you where the story's going, but I do like romance. And yeah, there are all kinds of things that could interfere with a good outcome. Guess we'll just need to be patient. As far as letters, folks have to pick up and send letters through the post office. Many of them were situated at train stations or close by. Mail was collected and sent by train, and sorted from town to town along the train route. Any not on the train route had to rely on stagecoaches and riders. There was quite a network. Hope that makes it clear, my friend. Thank you for this. Cheers! Gary

Hey, Patrick! August has an option, one his grandmother held open for him, waiting for the time he was ready and old enough to make a break from his father. I think her timing was pretty good... but is Fletcher going to change that? Rob is a chip off the old block, and he knows where his bread is buttered. You're right that he will always do his father's bidding. I had two awesome grandmothers too, though one could be cold at times. It was her upbringing I believe, but she was always warm to me. Four great grannies? That is amazing! We don't know yet how the meeting with Fletcher will turn out. Will things progress, or get stalled? Will August lose his nerve? We shall see.... Thanks, buddy, got sharing your thoughts so far. I appreciate it. Cheers! G

It was a temptation I fought hard against, dugh. It would have been satisfying to see Rob on his ass, maybe with a bloody nose. Not that I would sever advocate for violence. August doesn't trust any change in Rob would stick, and he knows him best. Yup, Barnswallow is his for the taking. He doesn't seemed scared of the idea, but he has no money... so no stock or seed or help. Still, back then plenty of folks started with nothing or very little. They hunted and foraged until they could get on their feet. Yeah, I'm sure Albert won't like the idea at all, but August sounds determined. Hopefully things will work out for him... and Albert doesn't stand in his way. Fletcher's question has him wanting to run again, but I believe we are seeing him change before our eyes. Will he speak the truth like he said he would? Time... and another chapter or two or three... will tell. Thanks, bro.

Grasshopper on a Fishhook “Well, well, well, looky here, looky here,” Rob crowed, looking smug as a cat wearing feathers. “Reckon I found your secret hideaway, little brother. Knew you had one somewhere, what with you disappearing all the damn time.” Disappearing? “What the fuck you doing here, Rob?” August clenched his fists as he stared the man down. Rob’s gleeful expression changed like the sun being covered by clouds. “Whoa, son. What the fuck’s got you riled?”

Rainy Sunday here.

I used to be an avid runner and biker. I can't begin to tell you how many times it was my therapy. Chase has another tool in his toolkit. I am such a sap. I just reread this and did some crying myself. Is it weird to sat there can be beauty in pain... at least for us readers? Chase is trying his best, and that awkward meeting was the last thing he needed. Hank's reaction was beyond the pale in my opinion, but it does raise some very serious questions. Is he actually dealing with their breakup in a healthy way? We shall see. Kevin? What is he about? I think the best news is Chase now has a home, and he doesn't have to go through that ordeal of finding a place and living alone. Thanks for this, Patrick. I love being back to this story. Cheers!

Irvine's sounds like my dream store! As far as horse stories, I have a million of them. The one that comes to mind first was getting swept downstream in early spring in a storm flooded river on my young gelding. I still have periodic nightmares. I was with a friend and we were anxious to get back to riding in the Grand Valley in Pickering, Ontario after a rough winter. It was a few miles from our boarding barn. I had no intentions of crossing the river. I was just standing on its edge shocked at how different it looked when my gelding leapt in on his own, following the path we always took in summer. We were completely submerged and I was swept off the saddle when he was flipped over by the current, only finding the surface after thinking I never would. I couldn't tell up from down. When I saw daylight I was along a very tall bank quite a ways from our leap off point, where the river had a sharp bend. It had eroded that bank. I clawed at the dirt and grabbed roots and rock until I managed to get a good grip and clear the water. I really shouldn't have survived, and my friend watched in horror as the whole thing happened. He told me once I found solid enough ground that my gelding made it across once we had flipped over. He righted himself and got to the opposite bank. So there I was with bleeding, ripped fingers (badly injured) and wearing a soaked and very heavy leather jacket, and my horse was on the other side. Long story short, my friend climbed up to a railway trestle and started crawling across because I was in too rough shape to do it. Meanwhile, I was on his horse, a smart old gelding who was huge. My gelding was calling , very upset, and Beau, my friend's horse decided he was going to cross too. It was the last thing I expected, but he leapt in and I was back in the river. Fortunately, though we got swept, he didn't flip over and I hung around his neck with my arms and legs. He leapt and thrashed, and he was powerful enough that he finally reached footing. My friend, way up high, watched in horror again. He made it across the trestle and we left the valley by what was the long way. I shivered for hours but we made it back to the barn and the owners put me in a warm bath after I fell to the ground. It took a week to get skin back on my fingers, but I was fine, and so were the horses. *shudders at reliving it*

Superb, perfectly informative review that makes me want to find some time for reading. Well done, @Gary L. Sounds like a great story, @andy cannon. Thanks for this! Cheers!

Yes, it is. This chapter is a whole lot more than a bit of rassling on a newly formed spit in the river. Thanks for reading, friend. I hope you stick around for the whole journey... it'll take a spell. Cheers! Gary.

A special hello to Mum. I just finished all the mowing, and the heat made me feel ill. It was relentless, but I am done for the day.

I'm so pleased you are asking that question, Patrick. It is possible Hank wanted to be seen, but I don't believe that was his intent. He let Chase have Rex to himself, and I don't think he could even bear such a scene as that. There is no doubt Hank is suffering... how he will react to the pain is something we can ponder for sure. Cheers!

How can a person not accept a dog's love? I agree about Dawson. That moment did say something. As far as Hank, I don't think he can handle seeing and talking to Chase. He's holding himself together, and Chase is a danger to that. It's how I see it anyway. It's a big park, and he thought he could hide there. He underestimated that knack someone has to recognize the one they love, just by posture for example, or the tilt of a head, even covered up in a hoody. Chase is similar as far as accepting Dawson's invitation. He's not ready, even for socializing. The only reason he went to that work lunch was because Alan exerted some pressure. Of all the little positive steps Chase has taken, that email to his dad was the biggest. It was honest, and he was telling his father what he needs. That is huge for someone who tends to hold things in. Thanks, Patrick. This is fun for me. Cheers! G

Greetings.

I loved writing the mac and cheese scene between Chase and Cindy. It reveals so much, some of it about Christine herself. Cundy has been fighting this battle too, and Chase is finally seeing that. I believe that is important, to know someone else struggles with the same thing. His sister is a no bullshit type of person, but she is warm and loving too. I still miss my mother's cooking. I try to copy some of her dishes, but they are never quite the same. For the most part, this is a positive chapter, with Dr. Chorney making some points that made perfect sense to Chase. I love how open he's being, and yeah, I hope he keeps it up. Stacey tried. She's caught in a difficult situation, but she was a voice Chase needed to hear. We are learning Chase has some good people in his life, and when you are fighting depression there is nothing more important than people you can rely on. Thanks, Patrick! G

I like Dr. Chorney. I believe he has seen it all when it comes to individuals searching for answers without the tools to do so. Chase is beyond that point, as in he is not a newbie to this. He's learned the tools, and he knows they can work. So yeah, he is emerging from that black hole, but he and we know it is only one step. Success requires a continual acceptance he needs help. he can't take shortcuts, and he can't quit like last time. Professionals do have their place when it comes to fighting darkness. You/we are right to be hopeful. Chase is makinng some good, positive moves, and he didn't crumble when he moved it stuff. I see that photo as telling too. I'm sure Hank knows its importance to Chase, and I suspect he couldn't bring himself to remove it and pack it away. For sure he will notice the pillow was put back, and it will have an affect. Yes, Patrick, well done, Chase! I think the biggest eye opener was the talk of manipulation, and how Chase realized what he was doing... wanting to go on medication. If he is weak, will Hank come back? It was feeble and completely understandable. He saw the truth, and committed himself to doing this on his own. Huge step forward. Thanks, friend. I am enjoying rereading this along with you. Cheers! G

Lololol. Now that is venting! Message received, buddy. Bring it on.