pickuptoy

Another great chapter. Finally John Grant Sr. has come up in the story. I keep wondering when John Grant Jr. and Wylie might be brought up. Doc did mention that John Sr's son had become his dead son's lover. But nothing more about him. I was surprised that he wasn't asked more about that. Anyway. Looking forward to reading more.

Yeah right! Like anyone is going to stop reading now that you have everyone guessing, or rooting for one or the other. Jim you are like a Tomcat charming a bird until he has it in his mouth. Let's see how you handle the unlucky ones. That is going to be the interesting parts. Wish I could read a few more chapters tonight but really have to get my ass in bed. Great Job Jim

I am enjoying this story and I am also enjoying the reviews. After all I have the luxury of reading this years after it was written. I have read 8 chapters of the next story in line, only after sojourn stopped me and re-routed me to read this one before going back and finishing "Change of Heart". I know who T.R. is with a few years later. Doesn't mean he didn't choose another one first, anything is possible. But seems like he is very much in love with a guy 5 or 6 years in the future. I can't wait to finish this story and then get back to Chapter 9 of "Change of Heart". In a way I am glad I got out of sequence. Thanks Jim

I don't think David knows about T.R. and Bill, but there is something that worries Bill about David. I think dinner may be very interesting. I wonder if Bill is invited to the BBQ at David's? Great story!

I am loving it!

Remember T.R. has a pistol he keeps in LBJ... Julie is well intentioned, but she tends to be blunt. Thanks I like Julie. She just states what's on her mind. And I don't think she gives a damn what anyone thinks.

I enjoyed this chapter. I thought most of it was funny! People assuming a lot about nothing. Keep you the great work Jim.

I was thinking the same thing as T.R. being a closeted State Trooper, Bill sure likes taking risk in public. Having already read 8 chapters in "Change of Heart" I am trying to figure some things out in my head since it was a timeline after this. But all will fall in place somewhere along the line. Great story Jim. I look forward to reading more chapters.

Great story! Even though I read "Gordy Comes Home" I did not put two and two together about this being Gordy's Dad. I knew he was a vet, but didn't relate him to any big clinic with a large staff. I just thought he was a one man show. Anyway you are impressing me more with your writing abilities as I read chapter after chapter. And I am not trying to blow smoke up your ass. I tell it like I see it.

Well listening to your advice I stopped reading "Change of Heart" after chapter 8 and switched over to this one. So far I am not disappointed at all. I had already been introduced to Julie in "COH" and really liked her. After meeting T.R. and David briefly in Chapter 8 also in "COH" and liking them I am trying to turn back time and really get to know them before returning to Chapter 9. I was really liking "COH" and looks like this one is going to be just as good as it is. Thanks Jim. And sorry I got your recommendations out of whack. Will get there in the end.

Yeah, I thought you had recommended me to read "Change of Heart" after Gordy. But I must have read it wrong.

I think Paul brushing if off for Raymond being a Tom Selek look alike was just that as a brush off. I first thought that he may have seen Raymond around the ranch when Raymond was visiting Joe and Mellie and Paul was out checking on the livestock, but was never introduced. But there seems to be something else about the recognition. Hopefully it will come out soon. I first got a pump bb gun when I was 8 for Christmas. I received my first gun (Winchester 22 Single Shot Bolt Action Rifle) for my 10th birthday. And I think it was either my 12th or 13th birthday I got a Winchester 12 Gauge Single Shot Shotgun. And I was taught by my father how to safely use it. How to safely clean and take care of it. I spent many hours with cousins stealing a handful of my Dad's Tampa Nugget cigars or sometimes his Blue Tip cigars and us going squirrel hunting. We didn't eat squirrels but my Grandmother did. Being from a small rural town in the south most all of us were taught to respect a gun and how to use it responsibly and safely. I am now 63 years old and have pretty good collection of guns (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) and don't plan to ever give them up. It should be my decision to own guns, just as much as it is someone else's decision to not own a gun. But home invasion's are real. I would rather be able to defend myself at home or stopped at a traffic light from a carjacker, than rely on law enforcement to show up in time to save me or my family. But that is my decision. If you want to call 911 and let law enforcement save you are you family that is your decision. Responsible gun owners are not the problem. Criminals can get a gun not matter how strict gun laws are. Rich people, politicians, celebrities, sport stars can afford their own person security/body guards. I can't.

Great comments above! I believe Jeff and Paul, not only will become good business partners with T.R. and David, but very close friends. And young Maria and D.J. already being friends from Pre-school. I think that Maria the housekeeper/cook/Boss of the house is also going to be a great friend to them also. She sounds like she really is the boss of the house.

Great Chapter! Now I am wondering if the senior vet and the fire chief may be related. Sounds like they go to the same fire and brimstone church. Can't wait to read more. Uncle Raymond sounds interesting. Looking forward to meeting T.R. and David they sound like some good guys. Thanks Jim and all of the other authors that bring us so much enjoyment mainly only to be repaid with a kind note of appreciation. You all really deserve a lot more. Keep up the great work.

Excellent story indeed! Every chapter is getting better and better. Wish I could stay up and read another chapter or two tonight but it is now 12:44 A.M. and I have to be up at 6 A.M. Hope to sneak a chapter or two in tomorrow morning. Thanks for your great story Jim.

I agree with Timothy M. I don't think Tom would do something like that and especially that would hurt Maria or Paul. And like Tazzle001 I also worry about the puppy. And I hope Pistol was left in the Tahoe. I wonder if Paul's part time guy I believe his name is Seth or Sean or something like that, might have had a crush on Paul and is now jealous or pissed at him because of Jeff or that he is afraid he might loose his job part time job if Paul goes to work for the other guys. Or Paul's parents might have located him and caused this. But great story Jim. On to one more chapter for tonight.

I am loving it! I hope there isn't a lot of friction between Jeff and Tom. I figure Tom is paid well for what he does. I hope he takes that in consideration in the coming chapters.

I am definitely liking this story. I like how Jeff is already referring to Paul and Maria as his family. Can't wait till reading more.

Wow! I have fell in love with this story, just like I did with most all of the characters. And Maria would charm anyone. I am looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks again for the great story!

I really did enjoy this story. Going thru so many chapters before finding out who Gordy was also kept me wanting to hear more. But still wanting John and Wylie to work it out and become a couple. Then after Gordy was brought into the story, my emotions change more toward him then. I was totally caught off guard, by the last chapter to find out the Gordy wasn't coming home from college after graduating to John's arms but to find out it was in a coffin. Wow! I guess I missed the hints. Great work Sojourn. Looking forward to reading more of your works.

Very good story. Especially since I have found out this was the first one posted by this author. Story has a lot of highs and lows. Keeps you wondering what is about to happen next. I was surprised by the way it ended. But in the end it turn out how I had hoped it would. Does that make sense?

I don't understand the complaints about long chapters. Hell they can be 4 or 5 times the length you have been giving us. That is what I look for when I am trying to find the next story to read. Being a member on here makes it easy to sort by longest stories. The more chapters and word count, or if it is in a series of books, and then I go read the synopsis of the story. I am probably missing some very good stories of 8 or 9 chapters, but so be it. If I find an author I really like their style and story lines after I read their long story or stories, I will sometimes read their short stories to see if there are any ties to any of the others. So I for one am not complaining about the length of your chapters.

I does make you wonder how deep the relationship Joe Don and John's father relationship was before Sally. And where does the Doc fit into the scheme of things. I had kind of gotten the feeling that there might have been something there between him and John's Dad also.

Exactly my thoughts when I read that part and the dorm mates telling him she was looking for him.

I think Wylie was drunk but because he knew what he aimed to do when he got back to the dorm. He knew he had fucked up. He knew he loved John and felt like John loved him. But he felt he had to make John now hate him so bad that he wouldn't try to hold on to their relationship and he felt it would best getting him to hate him would make John push away from his life he had fucked up. He ended up loosing all control and toke it a lot farther, or more extreme than he intended to. I cannot understand the appeal of someone eating fucking broccoli, or liver, or nasty ass spinach or Blue Cheese that smells and taste like puke . Or someone dinking a Mtn. Dew or carrot juice. I am 63 years old and haven't been drunk since I was about 22 or 23 years old. I love the taste of beer and wine. I like the taste of some liquor (Brandy, Grand Marnier, Cordial's) Some tequila, and some mixed drinks. I don't drink these alcoholic drinks to get drunk. I drink them because I like them. Just like I don't drink a milkshake to get a sugar high. I drink a banana or pineapple milkshake a couple of times a year because I love the taste of them. Like you I don't like dealing with drunks. Nor do I like dealing with loud boisterous people. Nor nasty stinking unwashed people. Nor real fat extremely obese people that abuse food. Or narrow minded motherfuckers. Everything can be used to extreme. I have friends that smoke a good expensive cigar every now. But they are not the ones out smoking 3 packs of cigs a day destroying their lungs and lives. Also some that will smoke a joint every now and then, not those that smoke so much they are like a walking zombie that have fried their brains from smoking so much. I will spend $4 on two lottery tickets when the jackpot reaches about 150 million dollars or more because lightning might just strike 1 place 25 times. But not like the people that go out and spend half their paychecks on lottery or bookies or slot machines every week and not be able to provide for their family. Or like the people that go out and keep spending on everything just to keep up with the Joneses, and end up broke or bankrupt. Or diet and be in shape, but some people take that to an extreme and turn into anorexic behavior or bulimic. A person can enjoy have an alcoholic drink or even a few and not abuse it. Just like you can enjoy and nice meal and not abuse food. Or have a cigar, or cig, or a joint and not abuse it. Same with the lottery or buying what you might need. Or dieting and keeping in shape. Alcohol is not the problem. It is using it as a crutch, or the abuse of it.