FanLit

This was powerful. I like your figurative “flex”, tim. ”Words are the only sword I own”…. The pen is mightier than the sword, even in times of strife, (maybe especially) you wield it well.

With his talented, devoted, passionate storytelling skills, a story by @Headstall will always take you on an emotional journey….this story is no different, as we read about the resiliency of characters in the Old West. Jubal’s journey to Bearpaw is a courageous triumph over loneliness and despair as he finds love, friendship and a part of the world where he is wanted and belongs….Hmm, seems the more things change, the more things stay the same. 😊 Give this story a read, you won’t be disappointed.

Not at the end of a @Headstall story. 🙂

“Gentle enough. Wasn’t paying much attention to anything but that big cock of yours pounding me into the mattress after you flipped me over.” “I didn’t pound you… did I?” Holy Heck, was he being a rough lover? It’s understandable given Jubal’s past experiences he may have a strong aversion to roughness during sex, I hope time can show him the difference between rough passion and violence, as anything that transpires between he and Lucas will always have love woven into it….then again, rough ain’t right for everyone. 🤷‍♀️ “Surely you know I love every minute we’re together? Never had such good coupling in my whole life.” “I figured,” Jubal answered, happy to hear the words.” How nice to see a humble brag from Jubal regarding how he treats his lover, lol. Our friend is developing confidence in his new relationship. 🎁 “Fact was, I didn’t owe Billy a thing, but I owed me something, you get my meaning?” “Yep, and it be the smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say.” This was such an impressive statement, especially coming from Reid. When someone can come to this realization before they get into a relationship, they bring the healthiest, most clear minded version of themselves, which can only increase the chances for a successful union. “I think people be smarter than they might pretend, and it’s how things appear what they really care about,…” True then, true now.

Perfectly said, I couldn’t agree more.

Caught. It is an apt word for this chapter. We see our favorite newlyweds caught up in their physical passion for each other as a new chapter of their life begins….it seems loss of their leader finally caught the wildings for Jubal and Lucas….Reid seems to be caught up in developing a work life balance with Billy that’s leading to Samuel being given more responsibilities as town deputy. What a revelation that William Sr. walked down the same path Vincent did….I would imagine Vincent walking the same path Will Sr. did should any of his children be “made different” (though I hope Vincent has a healthy wife, longer marriage and bigger brood than Billy’s dad 🤞 ) It doesn’t get better than a parental seal of approval, unless it’s you realizing that you want to leave your boots under one bed once and for all, lol….it seems as Reid tamed Billy, Billy also tamed Reid, each caught up in the other. Kema lives on through Bean’s surprise foal and the name of Jubal’s land. ❤️‍🩹 You are a true horseman, Gary, your love and knowledge of them permeated the story, this chapter in particular; there is no doubt a subplot of this story is a man’s love for his horse….Sky is somewhere proud of her human. ❤️ You caught readers with the talented, devoted, passionate skill you bring to your writing long ago, Gary….it’s what enabled you to spin your yarn into a different genre and take us on a new lane of the same mesmerizing literary journey….each new time is the best time. 😉 Thank you for taking us on this jaunt through Bearpaw. I will miss Bearpaw Mondays. 🐾 🍻

What you said about cycle breaking resonates deeply with me, it’s what I’m trying to do with my son, who is very much like my father and sister. Growing from dysfunction had me choosing men like my dad, healing from dysfunction has me looking not to make the same choices again. 😊

If dysfunction are the roots from which we spring, how can we not be affected? One can only hope to grow and heal from it. 🙏

When you’re born into dysfunction, it’s hard to think you’re the right one when the majority of your family act wrong but deep down we know….the validation doesn’t come until you get away from that environment. Relatives are whom you’re related to by blood, family involves more than that.

I’m the eldest child of my parents’ union, (there’s another girl, two years younger). Through my father, I have an older brother (eight years older than me, ten years older than my sister). My sister and I were basically like this graphic, especially when we were younger…. I stayed quiet more than I should have on stuff because as the older sister, I was told my job was to look after and take care of her; in retrospect she deserved a couple of good ass whippings from me, even if it got me in trouble with the folks because “looking after her” set unhealthy boundaries I’m dealing with to this day. Ironically, I was the peacekeeper between my brother & sister-they argued like cats and dogs, I think the ten year age difference and the fact she was a girl was the only thing that kept my brother from getting physical.

Speaking of Jubal’s rescue….let's hope that nipple’s all healed up, our boys have a honeymoon coming up, 👀

Lawd, don’t get me started on things with webs, lol. as a young girl playing outside under a tree, a spider fell in my hair!!!!….the dance I did after that would’ve had passersby’s thinking I had a seizure, lol. Years later (in my womanhood) I have reason to believe a non poisonous 🤞spider bit my shoulder in my sleep, better in my sleep than wide awake, lol.

It also says something about Reid that he takes what Jubal has to say seriously, though I don’t quite know what, lol. Is he thinking out loud in his convos with Jubal?…This denotes a level of trust in a man he’s know a few days, which yes, speaks to his regard of Jubal but also his regard in his gut-like Lucas, Reid ran his own litmus test on Jubal and found his character sterling….no doubt this is something he must do often to people he meets as sheriff and he trusts his assessment and moves on accordingly, (very opposite to whom Jubal was when he first stepped foot in Bearpaw.) Are we seeing a vulnerable side to Reid in his conversations with Jubal?…like you mentioned before Gary, seeing Lucas & Jubal’s connection may have galvanized a change in the way Reid is looking at relationships, or maybe it started earlier when Reid unexpectedly fell in love with Lucas; maybe it’s Billy’s pursuit of him ( I get the impression Reid is usually the one saying “hello” first)….maybe it’s any of these things or some combination of all these things but a seismic shift is occurring in Reid….that he displays this underbelly to Reid is a sign of trust, as well as respect, something our dear Jubal’s not had enough of and richly deserves. Sorry for the long windedness-I meant to pose a question with two short possibilities and wound up writing a book, lol.

Thank the good Lord, and a successful patent for that. I reconcile myself to sharing the air with things with wings outside, inside is a different story, lol.

I wanted to make a separate comment about Jubal’s lending Reid the balance he needed to purchase the land he wanted….it was a gesture that touched me deeply and speaks to the type of man Jubal is and how very high his regard is for Reid…. I got the impression that even as a sheriff, Reid was unaccustomed to such a largesse. Jubal let go of the fear that paralyzed him and who emerged from that chrysalis, is a stronger, more beautiful version of who he’s always been.

This chapter was sheer delight!! Thank you for the double chapter, O Esteemed Author. 😊 As wonderful as it was to see Jubal and Lucas’ relationship progress- “Jubal smiled at his words, and got close enough to wear the man’s skin. He was rewarded with a big sigh.“ (I mean what an intimately erotic turn of phrase) it was the practically instantaneous friendship between them and Reid (Jubal and Reid in particular) that sprung up after all the misunderstandings were clear what had me cheesy grinnin’ from ear to ear. Reid is great. Reid is great….oh and um, Reid is great, lol. While not quite the hedonist, Reid is definitely “experienced”….he is a man who enjoys and appreciates pleasure, he may not be reckless in its pursuit but I reckon he’s taken more chances to score than Jubal, Lucas and Billy combined. Reid is willing to have fun with Mr. Right Now while being open to Mr. Right….if sexual fidelity is part of whom he is, he’s damn near perfect, from what we’ve seen, of course. Is Billy Mr. Right or Mr. Right Now for Reid? As much as their relationship intrigues, it reminds me that every lover is not a forever love….while Billy has his sights set on Reid (and Reid seems reluctant yet reciprocal in his interest) what they may be may not be forever and that’s okay, you’ve got to crack more than one egg to make an omelette. Speaking of Billy….what an impressive amount of courage and formidable will he already possesses- to declare to his father that marriage to a woman is not on his life docket & that he’d leave if the issue was forced is not a frivolous choice to make; it seems William Sr. at the very least tolerates his son’s preferences, which is definitely more than most. Whatever relationship Billy wants between he & Reid, I reckon he will have. The threads are being stitched together for a very safe and secure corner of Bearpaw for a body to “spread out” & be its natural self…. I truly hope prying eyes don’t cotton on to Bachelor’s Corner. What will Jubal name his new piece of land? What will Reid? Will all that testosterone draw the wildings back? Find out next week when we check out “Bearpaw: An Old West Tale” 🐾 🍻

Aww, don’t be like that, lol. It’s your dadburn good way with letters that done got people to figgerin’ about stuff.

I’d be down to see his whole journey: what made him the player he became, how Lucas challenged him, (was he the first to do so?) as well as how his current relationship with Billy evolved & where it might lead. Billy is also a curiosity….he seems softer, dare I say more effeminate than most of the men made this way that Gary’s introduced us to; (bearing in mind that not every effeminate man is gay)….that’d be a conundrum for a man in the macho Wild, Wild, West; was that the source of his “troubled” path prior to Reid’s intersection in his life? Secondary and other supporting characters are just as important as main characters in a story….it’s a testament to a well done job by the author if they engender their own interest.

Me too? Three? 😊

I remember from “Endings”. Funny and insightful.

Prime, Grade A, Choice Cut. Yum. 😋 I LOVE this!!!! LMAO!!

I was trying to stay away from salacious admiration but I concur, lol!!

The clutching, fevered touches and kisses that signifies the end of a very long, lonely, emotional drought….or being “happier than a hog in mud”, lol. I got the impression that Jubal’s detour to tend the skins (while practical) was a needed step back for him from the realization of all his hopes and dreams….while Lucas is absolutely priority number one, having him accept Jubal’s orientation and returning his feelings is more good fortune than he’s had in a long time and the acceptance of it needs some time to digest. “Got plenty of sweet in me. Not used to speaking my feelings, not since Vincent, but I surely like doing it for you.” Let’s see if these two’ll give Boone and Coy a run for their money in the sweet talking stakes because Mr. Dixon and Mr. Diamond surely know how, lol!! Acts of service are truly Jubal’s love language; it wasn’t enough that he built Lucas a better cabin, he fusses over his love having the best of the best-wanting to buy dining chairs (I’m surprised he didn’t want to make them), as well as building a fire pit & turning the hay. “I sure was hungry,” Jubal said, finishing the tin plate of a stew what tasted better than it had the day before.” Now, certain meals do tend to taste better the next day….or it could be the added flavors of being happy and being in love that did it, lol. Their mutual physical admiration for each other is a nice reminder that lust can go hand in hand with love, that it actually can enhances it….It also speaks to how brave Jubal will be for this love and life with Lucas that they make love “in the bright light of day”. The beginning of new relationships is a heady, intoxicating time, especially when it feels like coming home…. I’m so happy for these two!! ❤️❤️ Will Jubal’s carry Lucas over the threshold? How long will they stay isolated in their new cabin? Will the new lovebirds’ luck extend to catching the wildings? Find out next week when we check out “Bearpaw: An Old West Tale” 🐾 🍻