raven1

There's a lot of great humor and inventiveness in this chapter. I can understand Boone's embarrassment in telling Coy what needed to be done. They're not teens, but at their age I was easily embarrassed by talking about things like that. I needed just that talk one time. The rest of the night seemed like they kept very busy. It was a very hot time in the tent. I wouldn't have been surprised if Blue isn't a little skittish in the morning.

Boone may have had to pay the half of a percent as a fee to the bank for gold, but he earned a lot more back in the discount given by Crooker for the horses and harnesses. Less than $3 dollars in fees saved them $40 dollars on their purchases. Crooker is a good man. They also get a buyer for the fine animals Duke will sire. Lemon is probably disappointed the boys outmaneuvered him and now own the land. Tough luck for him. I like how Coy is all in and excited about their future together. He also has a way with words. It's a skill that has greater worth than just for sweet talk.

Hi Albert! Hope you and Steve are having a great weekend!

As most comment said, this was hot! There was the innocence as they tentatively touched and Coy learned about both his and Boone' bodies. It quickly raced to quick lessons, quickly learned. The several awesome climaxes. A very nice follow up to the last chapter.

They have a plan, each other and going to get the land to build their future together. This brought some every happy tears once again. I beautifully written chapter filled with the excitement of exploration of the land, and a confirmation of the love they feel for each other.

Awesome picture @Albert1434. I love larkspurs with their beautiful flowers. Coy had the nerve to call them weeds!

The guys have arrived in a very nice and prosperous Larkspur. I didn't like Coy referring t Larkspurs as weed, since they are very beautiful flowers in the mountain I came from. The town's people the met sure sound like nice people. Well Mr. Lemon seems more like a sneaky salesman than a professional agent of the government. Boone is right to want to check out the soil and its depth. You can always plant to replenish good soil, but it takes a long time to build new soil rich with nutrients if the soil is bad to start with.

It looks as if Larkspur is not too far away. Coy and Boone are also getting close as they talk. Both are skittish about what they want their relationship to be, but I think Coy is very close to making it clear he is the same as Boone. I also think he wants to settle down and work on a farm. I am enjoying how each conversation brings them closer to what I think is now inevitable. I am sure that the area around Larkspur will provide many opportunities for them to farm, and yet maintain their private lives. Back then neighbors were hours away and towns could easily be a full day trip or more. This was a very powerful statement by Boone, and as @Albert1434 pointed out beautifully written with the emotions expressed. I also believe that Boone has given Coy something to work for, a goal.

Not sure if I would call them pitfalls, but there have been many times that were rough. After 12 years living together most problems are usually minor and quickly resolved. There have been only a couple that relate to the generational gap. That is because of the Thai/Buddhist culture which sets a structure for honoring age, economic and professional levels, but encourages friendship and love between them. If I were to advise you, I would tell you much the same as anyone else. Patience, communication and careful picking battles are the most successful strategies. (Also, try to filter your mouth so the words coming out won't be regretted. I may have been right in some fights at first, but ended up regretting the words I used as I heard them thrown back at me for many months after the fight. ) Just relax and enjoy. I wish you both the best life together. Feel free to PM/DM if you have any more questions or concerns.

I wish that sidewinder was as dead in their thoughts as he is in the ground. He still haunts these two and stirs up a lot of guilt for Coy. At least Coy is now talking and revealing more of the reasons he had for hiding his love for Boone. He's protecting Boone. That's my kind of religion. No need for priests, prophets, or popes. The most inspirational churches are found in nature. Coy's suggestion of cuddling again while they sleep should give Boone some idea of where Coy really wants to be.

Coy is finally opening up to Boone and Boone is allowing Coy to talk without pressuring him. That bodes well for their future. I wonder how they'll both feel as they wake up (hopefully in each other's arms) in the morning.

Boone and Coy are now back together as a team. It's great to see this improvement. I do feel sorry that Boone is still feeling that his love for Coy is unrequited.

Your comments, @Doha pretty much describe what happened to me and where I'm at now. Intergenerational love is a fact not a dream or fantasy.

That's the reason a lot of us follow you too! The great thing for you is that this it the beginning of the series. I like how James has continued the story by having characters grow up and still around, but focuses on new generations of characters as they become the new main characters. The descriptions of Ravello are alway a great anchor, but the plots are very different each time.

It seems as if Coy desires to go to Larkspur with Boone to check things out, although he isn't committing to more than that. Is it because Coy is unsure of himself, or unsure of Boone. They still have a ways to travel so I imagine there will be more conversations and adventures before we find out.

You got this so very right, Albert! I know I was agitated and suffered high anxiety while I read this part. I think Gary is one of the best authors I have read, because he is a master at writing dialogue as well as narrative with great effect on the readers. He creates moods, images and events in the narratives that involve the reader in the action and create a great deal of emotional responses. This is especially true when the narrative describes nature or nature's forces. Just like his great poems.

I am of the same mind on this. She's the kind of hateful person "he who sees all" would chose as a priestess.

I agree that Boone didn't listen or possibly believe Coy's hints. He kind of treats Coy like a younger brother who Boone feels is saying things out of fear and not what Coy really wants. Boone wants Coy, but feels it is in Coy's best interest to send him off to experience independence away from his dependance on Boone. I think you got it right when you said Boone has little faith that things could be different with Coy. Boone has 5 years of experiences that would reenforce this kind of thinking.

I liked that Coy and Boone are together and talking a bit more openly. I was surprised at how freely Coy told Boone why Coy was following him. I did suspect that Sheriff Willard would talk with Coy as he did with Boone. I loved this observation of the sheriff. I hope that they have more talks like this as they make their way to Larkspur.

The NALC team has safely arrived very close to the ALC's headquarters greatly upsetting the Emperor and his generals. It is strange that Auryon, the Emperor's first mate knew of the NALC team's arrival before the generals did. Where did she get her information? She is a female reflection of the hate and greed of her mate, Kintu. Her revulsion and hatred of Tau and Chikondi makes me want to do to her what Kintu threatened. It was obvious from the first meeting with the Emperor that he was setting up a trap. His vitriolic rant was targeted and showed how much he wanted to kill all the bears as well as their lovers. That buried presence is just plain creepy. I still think it is Amun Ra, the god of the African Lions waiting to get his revenge on Odin by killing Bernie. Great new chapter Grumpy!

This is one great cliffhanger! Boone isn't out of the woods yet. He still has to heal his body. It's great that Coy is there to help. I bet Willard had bent Coy's ear for a long time, and finally made Coy realize what Coy really wanted. Willard probably gave Coy the courage to go chasing after Boone. It was a stroke of luck that Coy ended up at the same spot of the Snake River and found the animals. Blue is a hero!

I too think Sheriff Willard sees and knows a lot. Also, he is probably judging Boone a fool. Nice use of nuanced dialogue to develop a deeper interest as well as unanswered questions about the sheriff. I do like the man. He obviously doesn't care that Boone is gay. His own best friends were Wes and Lee, so we know that he has no problem accepting Boone. I wonder why Coy still insists that he came between Boone and Dan. He should know and accept that Boone didn't have that kind of feeling for Dan. I guess we'll see if Boone can start a new life in Larkspur without Coy. It's going to be a tough, long trip before he arrives. I do wonder where Coy will take off to when Boone is gone. One thing I am sure of is that Coy will get an equally pointed talk with the sheriff. Almost forgot! Wahooo!! The cliffhanger has begun! You don't know how many times I have referenced this cliffhanger Gary. It is one of the most thrilling one I have ever read!

Cloudy thinking was an apt description of how both Boone and Coy are thinking. It seems as though they filter what each other says based on their past assumptions. It is sad to see them both hurting so much at parting, but still planning on going separate ways. There is a great deal of pain revealed in the agonizing dialogue of these two headstrong men.

I enjoyed the clip, then watched the one for Center Stage. That was definitely steamier! Hope Max didn't notice that one. It would take more than a chat about language.

Blue may be stubborn that mule isn't the only one. Both Coy and Boone have a lot to say, but leave too many things unsaid. Both these guys will leave each other with a heavy heart. Both have regrets. I understand Coy wanting to go back to his family farm, but that is a fruitless endeavor that will leave him alone living in the past. Boone's idea of starting again in Larkspur has better chances of success, but can he forget Coy and find someone else? Boone has already made a strong bond to Coy that will not be easily broken.