Wayne Gray

Thanks, Parker. They're all moving forward. Harlan is having to adjust, but Bailey seems worth him trying. Harlan’s breakfast is what makes him happy, and he’s trying to share that with Bailey. Though, yes. I’m in the same boat as you! Lol

Two important questions. Pretty timely in a chapter titled “trust,” too.

Those yolks will be powder! Lol

Oh, my. Breakfast and a willing boy? I'm sure that will be a proper way to start a birthday! Thanks for the comments, tim. I think it's nice to watch them grow into their relationships a little more. Little steps that add up are important.

Hi, Quixo. I'm happy I could help. 🙂 You're so right. Fear, excitement, wonder ... all wrapped up in trusting, in giving someone more of ourselves. It's a process, but one worth undertaking if we want to really be a part of someone's life. They're all making that journey together, and that's nice to watch.

First, thanks for the comment! Second, I am a science geek myself, and I had to correct heterograph to heterotroph. 😛 Bailey definitely got a treat in the morning. He had his great date the night before, then woke to breakfast and sex. Can't really complain about that! He and Harlan are twining together tighter every day. Bailey is effortlessly pulling apart that wall around Harlan that you spoke of. It's just happening as they interact and get to know one another. A natural progression that feels right and maybe even inevitable. That scene with Bailey spooning him was fun for me. Huck, Rayne and Elias all are now linked, and that's thanks to Huck's willingness to reach out. He was desperate for help, and thanks to Clay he got it. He's trying to be the dad that Rayne needs. I like the pairing of Elias and Rayne. They're pretty different, but compliment one another. Elias is unrepentantly gay, not afraid to show his emotions, and fond of Rayne. Huck is figuring out all of those things.

Thanks for the comment, Zeke. Not a lot of excitement here, but progress for everyone. I'm happy for them too. 🙂

I really love my little campground. The setting is beautiful, but the people make this little collection of cabins a home. They all do their part to help each other, and they'll continue to do so. Where it's so hard to find acceptance, love, and trust for many of us, it can be found at the campground. Thanks, Tom.

Huck really is. And Rayne knows, more than anyone that is true. Rayne is thrilled to be back, safe and loved with Huck. The eyes tell things words can't. Huck can see what Elias has suffered. He knows that Elias won't hurt Rayne, that he'll be careful and loving, and that's really all he wants for his son. Thanks, Fae.

Thanks, molly. They're lovely people, and they're trying their best. Even Harlan. 😉

Are you? I really scarred some readers. Delicious! 😄

N'than is the lone surviving member of his race. His slight stature makes him a target for those who would take advantage of him, but he ends up with strange allies along his journey. Give this one a read. It won't take much of your time, but it will stay with you long after you finish. Nice story, tim.

I don't doubt that at all. It has to be a tough adjustment. *hugs* Thanks, molly. 🙂

Thanks, kbois. I completely agree. Breaking trust can mean it's impossible to regain. Luckily for our folks, that doesn't seem to be a worry. And yeah ... that line was fun, and was a great snapshot into Harlan's mind. Huck is trying so hard. He's scared for Rayne, but he has resources at the campground, and he has used them. That scene in the car with the boys ... it felt good, cute, and affirming for me as the writer. Rayne is a full on science geek, and Elias is decidedly not. But he's interested because Rayne is passionate about it. I hope that came through. Thanks again. 🙂

Thanks, Jeffrey. I rather like this bunch of characters too. The very first scene with Harlan, way back in Guarded, I knew he was going to be more than a bit player. I knew he'd appear down the line in Camp Refuge, and have a larger role in that story. He got some screen-time as he helped Gary, but ... I wasn't quite done with him. He didn't grow enough. Here we are. I'm pushing him toward something. What happens at the end of this story will see him changed ... for better or worse. Then we've got the rest of them. All have a part to play, not the least of which are Rayne, Huck, and Elias. I'm really glad their journeys are worth following.

Harlan gets to trust Bailey a bit, Rayne and Elias spend time together, and Elias wins Huck over just a bit. Overall, a pretty good day for the campground. Thanks, Butcher.

He is struggling. But he's got the best resource he could possibly ask for in Clay. The campground is doing it's job.

Hehe. Thanks, droughtquake. Bailey saw it written right there on his face, no words needed. Intuitively, he sort of just knew it too, even before he made Harlan switch things around. Harlan has always been the guy in charge. Even Luca didn't push him. Some men would rather break than bend, and until very recently that was Harlan. Bailey has quietly but insistently required trust of him. That Harlan handed it over, even though he struggled ... well, that tells us a lot. And yes. Harlan's a top. 😄

Thanks, chris. Some chapters I describe as "building chapters," and I think this one qualifies. It's a progression of relationships and a deepening of the ones already there. Hopefully that happens in a believable, measured way. I love the insecure, off-balance Harlan, and the slow way Elias and Rayne are proceeding. 🙂

N’than smiled. “Our simple life.” I rather liked that little bit. Funny how three words can mean so much, eh? 🙂 Great chapter and a wonderful story, tim.

It was Sunday morning. Huck woke up in the little, but cozy bed of his cabin rental and looked at the ceiling. The room brightened slowly as the sun cut through the fog to come in through the eastern window. Stretching, he smiled. He was comfortable, warm, and things with Rayne were going well. Huck had gone to bed last night, while Rayne had been out and about with the boy, Elias. Though at some point during the night, Huck had heard Rayne come in. So one of his first thoughts centered arou

I feel similarly. Belief isn't the problem. It is the institutions linked to belief that take advantage of others' dedication. I'm not religious at all, but there's a simple rule to follow in my book if I judge a religious institution as wanting. And that is: Anytime religion is used as a weapon or an excuse to hurt someone, then it has ceased to be a good thing.

Thanks, Parker. I like that kiss between the boys. I was going for innocent, tentative and sweet, and I think I got it right. That dinner scene! I had so many early readers comment that they thought it was going to be very awkward, but they ended up really liking it. Writing it was a fun exercise. Shawn definitely made things go better for the guys. As for more to Shawn, well ... we'll have to see about that. Additionally, time will tell how Harlan handles moving forward with Bailey. I shall reveal nothing! 😛

Thanks, tim. Harlan is not afraid of physical discomfort. Emotional, or socially inspired situations where he's not in control ... now those take pushing himself. But he did. Bailey must mean a lot to him to do that. 😄

Oh, Pastor Rogers is a believer. There's a difference. He's not flat out evil, wanting to see the suffering of others. He believes the suffering of others is worth the cost if they fall into line. Because that means they will be "saved." Hurting someone now is worth the cost if they are eternally at peace. This is the mindset. It's not "Oh, I'm going to hurt you because you're different." No. Religion is the wall men like him stand behind when inflicting misery. But he genuinely believes that what he is doing for Rayne is right. You take a true believer, and you threaten to expose them as a hypocrite, then you have done something beyond which they can hope to fight. They're now due for their own medicine, and they don't want to take that pill. Harlan has immense power over him. Not only can Harlan end his livelihood, he could take away the moral high ground he has stood on for most of this life. Plus ... you've never met Harlan in the dark either.