FanLit

It was a great pleasure to read the progression of Nash and Penn’s relationship. I’ve always believed in the power of words....It took me a long time to recognize how actions speak louder than words, yet I still retain the belief in the impact a written or spoken word can hold. Though Nash showed it, Penn needed to hear Nash say that he’s in love with him and even though he knew it, hearing Penn admit he loved Nash was important, too. Nash’s encounter with Lee showed that if there is a chance for friendship, it is slim and way down the road....now that Penn and Jason had their conversation, will they still be able to be friends? It will be nice to see Nash and Penn under the same roof and whatever glimpse you give us of where their future will take them. ❤️❤️

They’d both make great dads....

This chapter proved that Penn’s fake marriage to Cam made him innocent not only in the ways of sex but also in the ways of relationships-romantic relationships, anyway. He knows how to be a loyal friend, as evidenced by his relationship with both Cam and Nash but his years spent pining gave him low self esteem and made him unaware of his attractiveness to others. When I read Penn’s description of his and Jason’s relationship, my thought was that maybe I misread Jason’s intentions....It was Jason’s phone call with Penn after he and Nash got together that made me realize it was Penn who misread Jason’s intent....though to be fair, Jason unintentionally friend zoned himself with the inconsistent nature of his and Penn’s intimacy. Nash correctly told Penn he does need to have a clarifying conversation with Jason to salvage any degree of friendship they may have in the future. I’m thrilled that Nash and Penn are together and that communication between them is so open, it’s the only way for a relationship to remain healthy and successful. The hunt for “supplies” made much of the humor in this chapter and I get why they’d initially need it; I would think with the serial monogamists both Nash and Penn are, as well as their emotional devotion to each other that unprotected sex would soon be the norm for them.

I think it did.

You referenced my favorite prayer. 🙏 YIPPEE❣️❣️ They’re together again!! YAY for Blue and Daisy, too....the cantankerous, stubborn nature of that mule proved good for somethin’, lol. Boone undoubtedly suffered a concussion among his other injuries but in a time before X-rays and modern medicine, all he could do is what he’s doing now, move as gingerly as possible. “Like an angel, Coy appeared right above him, his black hair floating in the water around his face, his blues eyes shimmering as he moved closer and kissed him. His friend was crying. Yep, Boone was dead and they would never see each other again, and he’d come to say goodbye.“ I wonder when Boone’ll realize that weren’t no hallucination (sticking my chest out and pulling on my suspenders) Coy and Boone do better together than apart. I’m very pleased they are reunited and it looks like Coy ain’t goin’ to be leavin’ Boone by his lonesome anytime soon.... I wonder if’n Boone’s near death experience made things clearer for Coy or if he came to clarity before (that is, if he’s come to clarity at all). Was Coy the one watching or will there eventually be another traveling partner? *Tune in next week to find out on the latest, exciting installment of....Sidewinder* 🐍

And bummer about the leather coat (new!!) They have waterproofing methods now for some leather but I’d imagine your coat was cured, even without the salt.

I absolutely concur.

My guide could have been a cyclops with bad breath and I would’ve tongued him down if he asked me to for getting me to safety, LOL!! I have since learned that rivers swell and experience stronger currents in the spring and autumn.

I made the mistake of doing my first (and only) rafting trip in the spring. I’m not a nature girl (I favor “glamping” over camping) but one of my best friends is and she convinced a bunch of us city slickers to give it a shot. She was in my raft with me and the others....until a rough current knocked her over; She was the only experienced rafter in our group and it was one of those planned excursions so she didn’t get a chance to come back to us. For a bunch of novices, we did okay, even though we were last coming in and overturned twice (knocking me out of the raft the last time....thank God for life jackets and tour guides!!) I laughed when I read how you wrapped your arms around your horse when he decided to travel across the river to go back, it put me in mind of the death grip I had on the guide who rescued me, as he had to drag me in the swollen, current heavy river to a part of the river where I could securely get in his raft. (I had never been in such physical fear of my life, before or since) Never say never but my non swimming, city bred ass has not made that attempt again and that was about 17 years ago, lol.

I was also deeply affected by the line you wrote in a previous comment: “With feelings mixed and brain churning, he reined Daisy to the right and set out for Larkspur. Eventually, he stopped craning his neck to look backwards." I want to say it’s human nature to always hold out hope of some type but I’m amending it to say it’s more apt to humans of a specific nature. I didn’t say it before but I am also a member of the storm description fan club-there was a lot going on and you successfully detailed the escalation of the storm and the danger faced by man and beast against Mother Nature; It was frightening in the reading and as much as storms fascinate me, it is only in reading that I would want to directly experience a storm like this....or maybe in a extremely sturdy shelter behind strong storm proofed windows, lol. It was an amazing job, Gary but I expect no less from you. 😘

I’m glad you survived, how did your horse fare?

That line resonated with me too.

Gary. Gary!! Lol!! Reading this before I got to the end, (and that cliffhanger!!) I was struck by the fact that though this particular story is fictional, it dramatizes journeys actually taken. Everyone in existence today are descended from the hearty, hardy souls who endured trials and error that killed others on the same path. I think it worth holding onto in these treacherous times of a different nature that the blood of the strongest survivors-pioneers, slaves and trailblazers of all kinds-flow through our veins. “As excited as he was for what lay ahead, he sorely missed what lay behind.” *Sigh*. So Boone really left. 😏 Boone’s sentiment at the start of the journey reminds us it’s okay to be sad, to be afraid to leave what you know to go toward the unknown....you do it anyway, sad and afraid. His “gaydar” and gut instinct for reading people should stand him in good stead with the future interactions he has with the two legged animals he comes across in the future. If someone was indeed keeping watch on Boone, I hope they can help him survive that fall....I don’t hold out much hope for Blue but would love to be proven wrong. It’s a good cliffie but sad that it happened to nice guy Boone. I await their fate next Monday. 🍻

No but that’s just my opinion. It doesn’t have to be back and forth between them both for the rest of the story (however many chapters you have left) but hearing Penn’s point of view on certain events of importance (like this! lol) would be cool.

Penn’s view on this would be awesome.

Go Penn, good for you!! He wasn’t faultless but he was voiceless and that isn’t the case anymore. I’m glad he cleared the air with his brothers and with Nash and I rejoice in their second chance, everyone’s off their pedestal and open lines of communication have been established. They will crawl before they walk but what they have is worth it, these are two inherently good men who deserve each other. Nash’s short refraction time is impressive, lol and I thought the corny jokes very cute. I read it, reread it and I’ll probably read it again. This chapter was well worth the wait. Thank you.

Ramble away, lol. I love your stories and while the greedy reader I am would love a posting more than once a week, I understand each author’s creative process is different....in no way, shape or form would I want you doing anything that makes you produce content you are less than satisfied with. (Thanks to Tim and all editors) It is appreciated that you post completed stories (with the exception of one, 😄 😬) and the weekly postings add a dramatic, serial flavor that enhances the reading experience, IMO. Also, for clarity-any frustration expressed with the characters and choices they make is due to my investment in the story and never at the author. 😊

😮 👏

I honestly don’t know what emoticon to leave at the end of the chapter. I am frustrated with both Coy and Boone, yet I understand each one’s actions. Boone more than likely needed to release all his pent up emotions and said pent up emotions may have been the driving factor in his decision to go left while Coy goes right; Now that those emotions have seen light, his love for Coy (both platonic and romantic) have him wavering on going it alone-he knows for all their best intentions, they may never see each other again and I don’t really know if he can live with that. Coy’s wounded stubbornness has him giving Boone the bum’s rush (here’s your hat, what’s your hurry? Lol). He doesn’t want to be parted from Boone but Boone’s confession makes Coy feel like a millstone around his neck (I am idiom and saying rich today!! 😆) and he more than likely wants to just get this over with. I really won’t believe Boone goes until he’s gone. I love the verses you choose at the start of each chapter. ✝️ 🔦 “My stomach was touching my backbone afore I ate.” ....No lie- today, two sayings for hunger were floating through my head- “my stomach was rubbing against my backbone” and “I’m hungrier than a hostage”. Great minds, Gary. 😘 🍻

☹️ 💔

👏

That’s a timeless search and requires more bravery and strength than one might think. 💞

*Sigh* Boone did what he had to do....didn’t make the doing any easier but at least now it’s done. I reckon if Coy intends to change his mind at this point about going separate ways, he’s going to have to show him, not tell him. A visit to Boone’s bedroll or an afternoon interlude might clear Coy’s mind once and for all as well; Maybe he doesn’t want to know. Coy’s bible quote about last suppers sounds like he may initiate their parting sooner than Boone intends. “Sorry… you’re a growed man, and a good one. Do whatever you want. I got to do what’s right for me, and it ain’t got nothing to do with gold, broken nose, or Will.” I appreciate your vernacular faithfulness in this story (“growed man”) 😊 I’m sad for the guys right now....Can either really make the break from each other? Will their future actions be rash or rational?

This chapter was a reminder of how stand up a guy Nash is. His innate ability to relate to young people allowed him to take the teens to task in a non aggressive but to the point way about how uncomfortable they were making he and their uncle Penn with their antics; Then he cursed out without cursing the clueless adults who should have known better about their intrusive questions. Honestly, if I were Nash, I’d leave the vacation the next day BUT Nash is here for whatever he can have with Penn so he’s going to put with a lot. Thanks for the new chapter so soon, @Mrsgnomie, I hope all is well.

So this good deed goes unpunished. Good for Boone and Coy and kudos to Sheriff Willard, who seems a wise man and a most capable law enforcer. Boone Dixon (😊) and Coy Diamond now have a nice stake to build upon, we knew Boone intended to take the sheriff’s advice before it was even issued, I wonder if Coy will as well. Will Boone wait until all the reward is collected by both men to have a discussion about their future or will he have it now? The gold rush may have started in California but it spread far and wide and its impact on life in the Old West cannot be underestimated. Towns lived and died on the prospects of panning from many a river. I don’t know if it’s been deliberately left out (and I apologized if I overlooked it) but what town/state are our intrepid heros? Or is it just Old West, U.S.A.? 😊 I suspect the next chapter will bring the conversation needed between these two about the future, whether that will involve divergent paths or not.