Krista

Aww, a happy accident. I only realized that Luke did plan most of the evening, prom aside, since the girls did take most of that on. I thought it was a decently memorable night for both of them at least.

Thanks or reading. Turn of events? 😮 Could you elaborate on that a little further, you have me worried... lol. I didn't see anything all that story turning in the chapter when I wrote it. Aside from what Luke told Jackson, showed him, and so on. Lol. Well, Jackson has shown in the past that he can be a bit dense at times. Part of his charms? 😮 You can't have it all, our boy... lol. And hmm.. Maybe if Cindy saw the outgoing applications to Georgia, she might get creative. I wouldn't put it past her, if the college was more than a couple of hours away. Definitely if it was on the other side of the country. But, at least she isn't pressuring him into going to a private christian university... although, mostly those are expensive AF and I doubt they could afford that, even with financial assistance, scholarships, etc. Now hold on a minute... Lol. 😮 I'll have to defend Jackson a little bit... he didn't know Luke was applying to UGA! Luke dropped bomb after bomb on him and he was reeling a little bit... Not to mention, Luke's hand was sliding around poor Jackson's thigh... no wonder the boy couldn't think... poor thing.

After the limo dropped us all off back at Rick’s, he wasted no time turning around and hauling ass back down the road. It was getting late and dealing with us all evening probably hadn’t been easy. I saw Derek slip him some tip money just before we all stood around in the driveway, everyone checking to make sure they had everything they started the night off with. I couldn’t help staring at Luke, I wanted to make sure the night wasn’t ruined for him. That he wasn’t ready to just go home and end

Wait. 😮 It's over? --- Well, this chapter was just full of sweetness. A fitting end for two people that went through the ringer to where they are now. I know putting Will to rest was important to Coy, to finally do that, Boone too. The story came full circle and I highly doubt Will would be enjoying himself, wherever he was - seeing the two of them the way they are. As for the Mommas and the Lord, I can see where they felt blessed by them, looking around at the bit of a full life they were able to build together. Loving the work you do makes it easier, I felt that. And this... this right here, the simpleness of doing that nightly, is how you know your love is still readily given and received. If you can lay down beside yours and talk about your day. Nestled in and safe. Making plans for the next day, the distant future, or whatever. That's when you know. It is such a small thing, but it is so huge. So I love this part of the chapter. I'm also glad that it was Coy that said the words, it solidified his growth even more, as we already knew Boone was there. He was there in the dusty campground, if he were allowed the be honest. His life now is just... extra blessings. Thank you, I really enjoyed this story. I'm glad I took it on, despite it being out of my usual depth.

I must admit, the first section of this chapter was difficult to get through. LOL. It was just surprising to see the talk of, that sort of preparedness in fiction. Being the setting, it was a different choice. It was interesting having you figure out how it would have been done, in a realistic way back in the day, aside from skipping meals, mind you. These scenes were a lot more organic in nature. I was able to connect to it on a better level than the first time, which I felt was completely necessary for the story, in a way. So this second go at it, was nice, like I figured it would be. The shaving scene was adorable. I'm glad we're seeing them truly coming together as a pair, working their way through. I was expecting the toils of labor and building the life to start, but it is good for them to slow down and enjoy the new horizons and scenery and not burdened down by all the work. Lets hope the townsfolk in Larkspur proper didn't think a wild beastly thing has come to town with all the noise they were making.

Okay, Corker I love. I also like that the conversations between Coy and Boone has grown to be far more relaxed. Although careful, not too runaway with the breeze sort of thinking. I can only imagine how long it would take to get their homesteads in order. As they're still building two cabins and whatever else they'll need to make it look like two separate properties. They may get by with just building one for now, it is later in the year and they are pressed for time. Especially if they don't want to be too dependent on buying hay and necessities to feed their stock. Yeah, Phineas Lemon might have had sly motivations for his warnings, but they may need to heed some of them. There's only so much time and so much they can do with it before winter... and they have a ton to do. But, it will be nice to see them journey through that, I'm sure. So I'm looking forward to that.

and Woops, again. I was a chapter ahead of where I left off..

Well, I'm back to reading this tale. Got extremely busy over the weekend and this week. Both tracts of land sounds too good to be true. No wonder the land Agent attempted to sway them out and away from them. I could see big timber buyers or deeper pockets maybe paying more for the land than it is actually worth. Or maybe it is listed cheaper than it should be, after being surveyed in the hopes the Agent can someday buy both tracts and make a small fortune - or at least the one Boone is wanting. Either way, the guys were at least thorough and found some surprises like the Orchards and lacking of rocks. The meadows, it does sound very pretty, the way you described both. It would be a nice place to build a life. Also knowing they're coming from a rocky/sandy/dusty region to a greener, coming into a later Spring or early Summer just added to the niceness of those visuals. Their relationship also took the next jump forward. Remembering as I read the scenes, I know Coy is far less comfortable or aware of all that it entails. Maybe not unaware, just less inclined to think of the pleasure to be gained by such physical acts, as he's always been told how inappropriate or demeaning those acts are. I'll have to admit, having Boone take him step by step along for the ride, left me lacking some of the organic sort of natural closeness I wanted to feel with them first growing together in that way. For the time, setting, place, and lacking of awareness and experience from Coy, Boone taking the lead and talking through it, was nice. I'm sure they'll get to the more organic and natural togetherness later on.

oh, and my book on the Cheeky one will be thicker and a lot more thorough.

This whole chapter was a breath both of them needed to take. Glad they got a chance to be distracted by everything that's new and not burdened by everything that's not. That will come later, it has to, it is the inevitability of it that I'm looking forward to. I want the explosion or whatever happens to happen. It needs to, so this breath they got in this chapter can lead to more. Larkspur, I wondered where the name came from. I didn't look it up, thinking it was fictional. I do garden, but I never remember names of flowers. I just hope these townsfolk are as good as they seem, even if they do settle on the tracts farther away. And, even I know never to trust land Agents, I've seen just enough of the benign Westerns that I have to know that... lol.

Right now Boone needs to stop telling Coy how to think. He's done that once before and that ended up with them splitting up and going their separate ways. Now, I'm thinking they're falling back into old habits. Coy has questions, definitely things at war in his head. Boone hasn't listened, he's answered Coy's questions with how Boone wants the question answered, because he's afraid and set in the notion that Coy's mind hasn't changed. No matter if Coy may be working through something entirely different, but Boone isn't hearing any of that. But Boone's answers are not really to the benefit of Coy or the question itself. There is a push and pull, but most of it is Boone pushing himself away, and pulling Coy along with him, but in the direction Boone wants him to go. In their conversations anyway. They're both physically there because they want to be around one another still, even with the growing distance between them by the end of this chapter. It isn't benefitting either of them in the least. The tension though, will continue to build from this. Maybe Boone won't end up battered by a rain swollen and violent river by the end of this one though.

I do appreciate them, yes. Some of the most beautiful writings in my opinion are from the Bible.

Woops. One chapter off, it seems. LMAO. Now I'll move along.

Okay, this is where I left off, so I'll make the attempt to remember all my talking points between then and now. First, the storm was really well written. Very descriptive, I could imagine the details while Boone struggled to keep his tent intact. When it failed he moved on to self-preservation and the safety of his horse and mule. Blue's fear of the storm, it was all vividly in my mind whilst I read it, so I commend you for that in of itself. Before that, Boone and Coy were being stubborn. They both had good reason, and their communication kept failing as they riled one another up, instead of listening. Not that they were saying much to one another that would have helped the situation. I wasn't surprised that Boone and Coy parted ways, I felt that was the only way either of them were going to stop and think about the circular and a bit hurtful things they were saying to the other. The Sheriff is interesting. He is very observant. Him going out of his way to actually step his foot in it.. to get both men to see the errors of their ways, was far and beyond someone outside of the situation. Must have been a slow and sleepy sort of day, probably because Will is in the ground and not a whole hell of a lot of trouble has filled that vacuum his death caused. Seeing what he saw in both couples and being okay with it is a bit shocking for the time period, setting to be honest. I would have thought, even a group of like minded "built like me.." guys would still not really talk about it so openly. Even so, it was in a round about way, that had both Boone and Coy cocking their heads to the side like a confused puppy, so maybe it wasn't so apparent or open as it felt. I'm glad that at this point, after talking and coming to the realization and being as open as they have been, it didn't automatically jump to a different level. I don't think either character would benefit for that happening. The descriptive scene of Coy bathing was nice, the backdrop of the surroundings, time of day, it was just very nice writing. Obviously, I appreciated that.. lol. The care and concern from Coy after realizing that Boone was a "whisker from death," (line made me smile, btw), was nice. That the dreams/nightmares Boone was having were really his fear combined with his waking moments when he first awakened from the storm and unable to rectify or marry those two states of mind correctly was a nice realization moment. In the moment, I know people who are experiencing extreme fear or loss, as Coy did, they act irrationally. Him repeating that he loved him and kissed him, for the sake of the now, wouldn't be outside the realm of impossibility for someone to still react that way to a close friend. Not someone they're sexually/romantically interested in, so it will be interesting to know what comes next now that all of that has come to light. I do hope it eases the nightmares though.

Just wanted to pop in and say the title is adorable. I think I'm getting caught up to where I left off from when I couldn't respond. I'll do a bit of a synopsis in the comment of that chapter.

I'll confess, I read offline some during my downtimes at work. So I didn't get to respond to each chapter, and I've lost my organic reaction/train of thought from when I first read it. Blue is most definitely not the most stubborn being in that campsite though, by the end of this chapter he is a distant third. I'll jump forward to where I'm at now though.

Well, a lot of my own thoughts from the last chapter were resolved with this one. So... I wouldn't understand, glad I don't really, what Coy is actually going through. It is also no small feat back then to pack up and leave, it takes timing, planning, and a lot of good health along the way. I also realized that the western aspect was a bit lost on me. I slighted the three guys shot in the back. That was just something you didn't do, you faced your foes head on, there was honor in that. It struck me about midway through reading this chapter, what a terrible act that would have been. It should have been more clearer to me, but that is my lack of awareness with the genre... not the writing. The writing has been really good. I do understand Coy's reluctance to be alone. I understand Boone's stubbornness to want space. The conflict with those counter weights of thought was bound to happen once brought to light. I don't think either of them are listening to the other though and they're beginning to talk in circles, I hope it frustrates them as much as it is starting to frustrate me. (I would say, in a good way, but in future, if that keeps your regular readers from the torturous plotting, I'll not say it).

I think they need to heed the Sheriff's warnings. Will's nasty reputation may have actually saved them from bars and judgment too. I would have thought he would be more inclined to not believe their story. Even with the testimony of three dead men on their character. Although that likely would have helped as well. We're only seeing bits of Will's actions after the fact. It would feel different if we were witnessing first hand, and allowed inside Will's head a little through his dialog and mannerisms. Which could also lend weight to my thinking of Willard being too lenient on Boone, especially after hearing the timeline of events and the seemingly preventable death of Dan. It is still rather impactful, we know Boone's motives and I'm not blaming him for having them. Self-preservation is a good enough reason and he had two lives to protect. Also, forgot: He was also giving the opportunity to allow Coy to decide just who his brother was, and that I felt was worth waiting for, otherwise I felt it could have broken what little time they have left together. And maybe sent Coy spiraling.

I really, really, really liked the descriptive storytelling in this chapter. Boone's notice of Coy while riding behind him, with the bunching of his shoulder muscles, and the fly, the sweat, all came together to really paint the scene out nicely. The leaning cottonwood, the riverside camp. Very nice. Did cowboys really name their horses in westerns? The few westerns I've seen, the horses were rather expendable and I can't recall names, aside from the tamer westerns, but the true gritty ones? Mouse is an interesting name for a horse, but the description of her made the name fit in better. I honestly hope the good deed doesn't lead to hardship, Coy may have to pay for some of Will's crimes, maybe not with Willard, but maybe some of the other victims. I doubt he's going to be allowed to be blameless, but that's me breaking my own rules.

I'm not a speculative person, I like to read in the 'now' and either accept what comes or rail against it and keep reading. lol. So I'll do that with this story. Boone comes across very likable, steady headed, a bit pessimistic and guarded. Back in the old west, I'd imagine someone like him needing to be rather guarded and careful. Will definitely gave him a lot of reason to hate him too. Which is what some of the pessimism is from, the outcomes of Will's meanness led him to have relationships tested, bonds a bit broken, and the loss of friends and that's just in the first two parts. Coy too for that matter not by his own actions could cause him pain, if Boone cared enough for Dan to entertain a life without both brothers. When someone you can't have eclipses someone you could spend a long happy life with, it is a bit gut wrenching to play with that decision time and again. Especially if they know, at the end of it all they'd still choose the way they did. I'm not sure if Dan will be mentioned much in the coming chapters, but I would like to know more about him. If not, I'm also aware that his role in the story may just be another weight/guilt Boone must carry for awhile longer. Maysie is a simple and pretty sounding name as well.

Ahh, I started reading something on GA, finally.. look at me go. I read this first chapter last night, I really like the language and flow, along with the dialog in your story telling so far. It does feel authentic, although, I'm not all that accustomed to Westerns in general. I definitely want to see Coy a little less drunk. It is always interesting to mourn someone with seemingly little to no redeeming qualities, who have done bad things. As far as we know now, spiteful, greedy, and maybe even just plain evil. Coy is likely remembering Will some, for when he was little and innocent too, aside from being his last blood relative left. Despite everything, knowing that fact alone may hit harder. I also know that morality was very different and survival wasn't guaranteed without grey area sort of living. I'm actually shocked *clutching my pearls shocked* that you chose Will as the name for such a terribly motivated character. Usually Wills are the heroes. If that was intentional, I salute you, because in numerous fiction I've read that had a named Will, the Character is made of gold.

Ohhhh Happy Day!!! Christmas has come early. Now you can keep the cheeky one in line better. Very much deserved for all that you have done for GA over the years.

Yeah, Luke stood up to his mother in public and in front of Jackson. I wonder if there will be a fallout from that or not? And yeah, Cindy in Welker's office would be a great selling ticket on Ticketmaster at this rate. Damn right it is. So, poor Jackson. I wonder if it would be difficult even for him, student sections are only so many available seats too, I think. Which would be where he would want to be, and I doubt he'd be able to get a ticket otherwise. I honestly cannot remember every saying that Grace experimented with a woman? If so, it was completely unintentional and definitely not Cindy. Cindy would probably react to the situation similarly to a cat being put into a bathtub with water. And she was happy and a bit lenient in seeing Shay dancing so closely to Luke. Mind you, when all four of them were involved she had to draw a line.. lol. I wonder what that looked like to her, really. Seeing her son in that light. Sometimes I wish I was inside her head. Him smiling, maybe looking a little awkward, a little scared to have a girl's butt grinding against his crotch... as a mother of two boys, I will never chaperone a dance so that I can safely say that I will never see that happening. I am a mother of two girls too, so... a yikes on either/or.. on that one. 😮 😮 😮 Aww, Luke has left his mark on Jackson. I'm glad you mentioned the growth and Luke's influence on him for the better. Cindy characters, although I feel like I'm writing her on the more extreme spectrum so far, are pretty commonplace. It is out of love and worry, I get that part of it, but with little compromise it morphs into control, and for her in her extreme it has become rather ugly at this point. So I am aware that the focus would be more on her actions and maybe not the actions of the other characters. Jackson was a bomb that rippled from the first time he stepped foot into the park restoration project. I guess, if you've also already been told some troubling things, from Grace, and maybe witnessing true worry and fear over Jackson's past... ill thought out plans and repercussions, as well as his likely reputation leaking outside of school. She would preemptively worry, and judge. Who wouldn't be guilty of that to some degree, especially when that person takes an interest in befriending your son. Is it fair, not really, but she isn't solely without justification for some of it. A lot of it though, goes beyond that, so I would agree with the vendetta. To be honest, who is to say up until this year Cindy wasn't like this? We're only seeing her 'after' Jackson came into Luke's life. Henry is also a very patient, and calm sort of person. The opposite of Cindy herself really. If I were to write this story from Luke's point of view, the dynamics would look completely different. Albeit there would be a lot of problematic things, I mean she did take him out of school, segment him from his friends, and etc. So those would be frowned upon. But, maybe those outbursts aren't all that common inside her own home, where she feels safe and it being a Jackson free zone. Not saying she isn't full of flaws and all that though. But maybe she is someone Henry can love despite them. Lol. 😮 you think so? 😮 someone probably paid good money for that house.

I understand that, I was on an anti-anxiety medication throughout a very stressful time in my life and it dampened everything, my writing suffered, my motivation to continue college suffered. Migraines are awful as well, I've never truly had them, but my mother suffers from them from time to time and I couldn't imagine.