Wayne Gray

Thank you for the compliment and for the read of the chapter. No, it'd have to be Bert and not James. While James serves a lot of critical functions for the ranch, he is not the owner. Not yet. And Taggert needed the owner. We'll see what Taggert has decided to do, and yes, it likely involves the trust he has been gifted. We will see Zane again. As for your wish, we'll have to see about that. However it goes, it will be Taggert's choice. The story returns for the final time on Friday. See you then.

Chapter 17: Pillars The bank sat in downtown Enid between a law office and a feed supply storefront that had probably looked exactly the same for the last forty years. Brick. Tinted windows. The American flag snapping lazily in the Oklahoma heat. It was the following day, and finally time for Taggert to gain full access to the trust's funds. Ash stared up at the bank from the backseat of Rebecca’s SUV as she parked. “You sure this isn’t gonna somehow end with me accidentally owing

Instinct will not be denied, and Prince Candir tests the conviction of his guardian, the Knight Xan. Once the royal's intention is known, and the momentum of the awakening irresistible, doubt is sown for a man who'd had none. When awareness of such a tryst could be their undoing, what will a knight risk for a moment with his prince? https://gayauthors.org/story/wayne-gray/story-promptsideas/6

You know what this chapter made me think of? Solarpunk. The idea that technology can and should be used in lockstep with ecological principles. Solar panels providing shade for canals to decrease evaporation. Ferns and bushes growing on the sides of buildings, helping the structure shed heat through their respiration. Walkable, bikable cities running on clean energy. This chapter really shows a humanity that has learned from its mistakes. And that alone made me happy. Mateo and James make a great pair of non-violent desperados. I really look forward to chapter 3.

I'm glad to see this one here. Thanks for the early look at it, tim. I appreciate the connection between Silas and James. It certainly mirrors the connection between men - two individuals who society may not approve of together. Nice start.

I know this isn't the answer to everything, but... I love overnight oats made this way. And I don't wait after I make them. you COULD, and it'd thicken up into a pudding. But as it is, you can just make them and eat them. They're tasty. I use flax seed instead of chia, but you can also sub in your favorite nut (walnuts!) instead, too. And maybe you'd dread eating just a little bit less. 💚 https://youtu.be/uJy0oLYdPSs

tim. Tell those teeth to just settle down.

Wowzer. I guess I should have expected that branding could be a kink, but I didn't. I can say with certainty that it's not one Taggert shares either. And no, he didn't choose the brand. That's a really insightful statement - concerning if he was afraid to show it due to shame for himself or was it for his family. And... yeah. It was probably a bit of both. No. Ash knew already. But seeing it bare beneath the sun is different. Yet hearing Taggert tell the tale is far worse. But Ash would bear that burden again if Taggert needed him to do so. It's what people who love us do. And we'll see what Taggert does about his father. That's coming. Thanks for reading and for the comment, tim. I appreciate it. xoxo

Thanks for the read and for the comment, Parker. Taggert finally shared the most awful thing that has ever happened to him with the man he trusts and loves. And then Ash's support gave him the strength to do so with Branford. He is loved and respected. And now, he has people who would protect him at any cost. Importantly, he knows that. More to come soon. We're getting close to the end of this one.

Oh, if only!

You know, you're not wrong about a fate worse than death when it comes to Zane and his reputation. Right now, he's a respected but feared rancher. And should he wish it, Taggert could erase that respect. He did for Branford in a single moment without having to say a word. Yes, Bill Yoder knew what kind of man his son had become. And he knew he had to protect Taggert from him. And... he did. Yes, it was from the grave, but he did what needed to be done. Tony was a part of the plot with Zane. Randy... was pressured into doing what he did. Again, his sin, really, was cowardice. He could have done what was right, and he chose not to. Does it absolve him? No. But it does mean he was used as a weapon against someone he had called a friend. Ash doesn't get the financial situation apart from the broad strokes. But you're right - he loves Taggert. He would do just about anything for him. That happened fast, but Ash fell hard. Taggert feels that. He sees it. And being worth the love of someone as pure as Ash... it does something to him. Branford is such a man's man. He really is. He doesn't posture or pose. He doesn't coddle or pretend. So what he said in the shower, he meant. Taggert knows that about him. Hearing it from someone Tag respected that much... it meant a lot to him. Thank you for the nice comment. More is coming.

I'm glad you feel so protective of Taggert. Taggert is in the process of healing. And we don't know if he tried leveling charges at Zane and others, but probably not. Frankly... he wasn't ready. He was reeling from multiple losses and stressors, and he wasn't ready. Is he now? He's closer. And the time with Nasser means he's getting closer every day. There will come a time when he's able to stand up to Zane. And when he's ready for others to know what kind of violation he has been through in the pursuit of justice. That day is coming down the line. But... to your other points. The bank will certainly lend $ to Zane against property he can prove he owns. And he does own most of Yoder Ranch. About 95% of it. It's just that 5% he doesn't own is veeeery important to operations. And if Zane can't pay his debt due to that? Well. The bank just got some land, didn't they? So, they'd still lend to him. He already has to provide proof of ownership for any land used as collateral, and he has likely already done that. And he has yet to find out about what Granddad Yoder did concerning the trust. Which means... Bill Yoder's plan worked exactly as he'd hoped. So far. I don't know for sure, but I think you will enjoy the rest of the story. Thanks for reading and for the comment. More to come on Monday.

Does anybody know? Can kbois climb redwoods?

Yes. I was worried about how technical the first section was. And... that was partially why the second scene, with Ash and Taggert, existed. I hope that worked how I wanted. Taggert has been through something terrible. And it was something engineered by someone who was supposed to love and protect him. A person doesn't just get over something like that. It takes time and support. He's getting that support. But it'll probably be a bit longer before he's truly free of the fear, shame, and trauma. We'll see how Yoder Ranch fares. Because the auction is coming. And both Nasser and Yoder will need to pull out all the stops to win it. I'll update this on Monday. Till then, thanks for reading and for the comment.

Really sorry to hear of the family emergency. Thanks for letting us know, @Valkyrie.

*looks around* "What?" * reassesses* "Who? Me?" *scoffs* "Surely you jest, madam!" *smiles slyly*

You absolutely nailed it. 100%, A+, Excellent.

Yes. You were correct that Taggert now owns key portions of Yoder Ranch. Bill Yoder was both disappointed and determined, and I think that's now plain to see. The brand reveal was something Taggert was ready to go through. It still wasn't easy. But Ash made it as gentle as he could have. I really don't think Ash could have done a better job. But he loves Taggert. And now, being trusted with something like the brand, he loves Taggert even more. Yes. Branford knew. He knew instantly. As soon as he saw it. And now, Branford has moved from a certain amount of respect for Zane to despising him. I don't write anything concerning the reveal of the brand to the rest of the crew. But... Taggert stops protecting the brand from this moment on. And yes... the crew all quietly understand, and they close ranks around him. Because that's what they do. We will certainly see Zane again. That'll be soon. So... hold on to your cowboy hat. Thanks for the comment and for the read. Chapter 17 lands on Monday.

The leverage created by the trust serves one purpose: To make it extremely painful for Yoder Ranch if Taggert dies. That's really it. Could Taggert liquidate all of his parts of Yoder? Sure. Would there then be a reason for Zane to want to keep him alive? Nope.

Now we really know who Zane is and what he's willing to do to hold on to "his" empire. I think people may underestimate what is at risk for him and why he'd go to such lengths. He owns a chunk of land bigger than some counties and a multi-million-dollar operation, too. Bert does too. But... Bert has yet to brand anybody trying to protect his. Bill did his best to protect his grandson. And I think his best was pretty damn good. There's a simple question to ask, though. "Why not just leave Taggert the whole ranch?" He could have done that. And that question will get answered in the next chapter, because there's certainly a reason. Again, one tied to his deep understanding of Zane, and his realization of who it is Zane had become. Taggert is lifted up by Nasser and Ash. He has found his place. His home. And there's nothing he won't do to protect that now. Thanks for reading and for the comment. I appreciate it.

Eric has certainly suffered a lot. He watched his dad waste away and die, in spite of bankrupting the ranch to save him. He struggled to save their ancestral home and failed. And now, he's watching as the vultures circle his memories and legacy, ready to tear them apart. All of the Nasser crew feel deeply for the man. They know all of this. But what can they do? All I can say is, we'll see. Your remarks concerning Taggert are spot on. He was in survival mode. Then Nasser and Ash have let him unclench the fist around his pain. They didn't force it. Just... allowed him enough safety to do it on his own. And that is such a gift. Thanks for the great compliment. I've written the whole story now (even though I tinker on the remaining chapters obsessively), and I know how it ends. I hope it's satisfying and sensible for readers. It is to me. But I want readers to feel that the time, emotion, and thought spent on the tale were all worth it. I've really been working hard on description. I'm glad it's showing through! Thanks, Dave. There's more to come.

I understand what you mean. And I consider it a compliment. Thank you for taking the time to leave the comment and for reading. There's more coming.

Thank you for the nice comment. I know this one started off pretty slow, and as a pure romance. Gradually, the plot gathered complexity, and it has become something of a drama. When writing, the author promises a certain story after a few chapters. The reader assumes they know where things are going based on the chapters before. My hope is that I have left enough clues for the reader to know the story won't remain simple. That's the goal. Otherwise, the reader can feel robbed of the story they committed to read. Does that make sense? Well, it does to me. But that doesn't mean a lot. LOL

Hehe. I'll admit, I wondered if this chapter was just too much. There's a LOT here. But it all needed to happen. And it needed to happen in the order it did. I toyed with that, but the way the scenes are arranged now is the best I could do. I think it works, but... yeah, it's a lot. Bill was clever and necessarily ruthless. He learned how Zane worked and what he was capable of doing in his quest for power. And he prepared for what he knew Zane would probably do. Ah, that quote. I was hoping people would call it out, because I was so proud of it. LOL DRAMA! So, thanks for highlighting it. I wondered if the scene between Ash and Taggert would get lost among all of the rest. It was a bit quiet by comparison. But... it's important. Now we know Zane has no reason to hunt Taggert down. Not yet. So he's still safe. And it's all because a "simple" cowboy asked a question. Yeah. Taggert is beginning to trust those around him. First, Ash. And that gave him enough strength to let his guard down with Branford. It's all building on itself, and he was in dire need of that reassurance. Thanks for the great comment and for the read. I appreciate it.

You're not wrong about revealing the terms of the trust to Zane. That does need to happen. It will become a critical point if Zane ever discovers where Taggert is. Until then, he's relatively safe, but at that point, it'd be absolutely imperative. Nice thinking. Thanks for reading and for the comment. More is coming.