Wayne Gray

Well, this one is special. You'll see. Enjoy the story. 🙂

Thanks, Quixo. I'm glad you found this one. I'm gonna warn you ... this story is really emotional. If you're okay with that, then by all means proceed.

Thanks, molly. Things are okay. Plugging along, doing my best. I hope the day is going well for you too. We're almost through this week!

You're very right. He's complicated, not clean cut, nothing is quite clear with him. We'll see more of all of those qualities you mentioned, and we'll get a better picture of the man behind the mask he almost always wears. If we get to it'll be thanks to Bailey, and his influence over him. Thanks for the comment, Parker. 🙂

Thanks, tim. People are allowed to dislike and distrust Harlan. I don't take that personally. you're right about the "family" dynamic, and Harlan lived in that world for many years. Harlan's job for Luca (his old boss), specifically, was to hunt down other family who betrayed or sought to betray the organization. So ... he was the scariest of the scary. Like an internal affairs for the mob. It is smart to fear what he's capable of doing. Though now that he's working for Corbin, things have changed drastically. Corbin has yet to ask him to slip back into his old role - he has had no need to do so. So far, Corbin's organization has not done anything illegal. Maybe that's a part of why Harlan is beginning to notice Bailey. He feels like he's allowed to have a life again. But ... should he be allowed to? I don't think I can answer that one.

Thanks for the comment, Tom. There are lots of new connections happening for all of our guys. There are important changes in multiple lives, one in particular that may have saved a life (Rayne). Maybe they are broken, and maybe that's just fine.

Hehe. I know what you mean. It felt a bit like a "happily ever after" chapter, didn't it? But that'd have left far too many things dangling, and I don't like doing that. No. Before we can enjoy the sunset, we've got to make it through the day. Thanks for the comment, frosenblum!

Somehow, I'm sure you're right. We'll get to see Gary again ... so we'll get to find out. 🙂 Thanks, droughtquake.

I like the lines you mentioned too. This story has a few of those. Hehehe. Huck is a father again. It took some meddling on Harlan's part, but he is. I think Harlan earned his moment with Bailey. Harlan's feeling something for Bailey, and it's getting returned too. They're both content, thanks to allowing each other in a bit. There are obstacles ... and those will come up. But they seem to be on the right path. Thanks for the comments!

Thanks, Geemeedee. Well, Huck has some making up to do, that's certain. He has started immediately too. Now, Harlan ... heh. Yeah. He does have some explaining to do. And that'll be fun. 😄

Thanks, Rupert. I'm glad you're reading and enjoying. 🙂

Thanks, Butcher. Huck never wanted to be apart from his son, and now he gets to fix the problem caused by that. He's trying to be the dad that Rayne needs. It took a while, but he got there - thanks to Harlan. He'll get more help too from others at the campground. That's just what they do.

Oh, I had to put it in here. No way I could leave this scene out of the new edition!

Thanks, CLJobe! Did you notice the topic our pastor chose? Forgiveness. Hrm. I wonder what sort of flock he has built, railing against the different and the "other." I wonder how he feels about his chances at being forgiven, should his sin be brought to light? Harlan really has done some dark things. He has had to, considering the world he lived in. Now with Corbin he's allowed to relax a bit. He's allowed to let himself be a human being, and less of the monster in the dark (though we have seen he can still pull that off just fine). But you're right. Luckily this is fiction, and a mob enforcer can show more care for his fellow man than a supposed servant of God. Though ... stranger things have happened in real life.

Thanks, chris! I'm happy you liked it. Yeah, it was a feel-good chapter. Huck and Rayne needed this so badly, and then Bailey and Harlan both did as well. Their situations are very different, but yes all of these souls needed what they're giving each other.

Thanks, kbois! Huck and Rayne really needed this breakthrough. Right now, Huck knows how he feels about his son. He knows he felt crappy for how he had treated Rayne, and that loving him feels much better and right. That's really all there is to his approach. He just wants to love his son - no matter what. Bailey has had a hard go. Next chapter, a little more will be revealed there concerning Bailey's past, and what put him in the place he's in now. We know he was hurt in an accident. Well, more is coming on that so stick around. I'm familiar with the show, but I've not watched it. I've heard good things though. From what I know, I can see why you'd call out the similarity. 😄 Thanks again!

Huck nodded in greeting at the church-going regulars and took his habitual seat near the front. His hip was flush with the end of the pew, and nobody took up the few feet beside him. That was reserved for the family Huck used to come with. He looked over at the empty spot, his eyes a little lost. Then Huck's attention went back to the front of the room. Pastor Rogers slowly walked across the slightly elevated stage, a sheaf of papers in his hand. Huck straightened, preparing to hear the

Thanks, rick! Characters should grow and change, I think. The core remains the same, really ... but as we get to know them by watching how they react to new situations, we come to understand more about who they really are. I would like to believe that Harlan is an example of that.

Thanks for the comment! I'm happy you're interested in both sets. Oh, yes. Harlan is quite the cat with the canary right now. Read another chapter and you'll see why. 😉

Thanks, David. Though "Refuse" doesn't quite describe the camp. 😛 There's a lot of judgment wrapped up in some churches and church leaders in particular. Baptists ... let's just say I'm intimately familiar with that particular brand. It baffles my mind too. You stay safe too. Thanks for reading and for the comment!

I can't recommend these resources more, @kbois. They steered me in my own writings. Mike and Mac are tremendously knowledgeable and experienced here. No one way is the right way, but it's good to follow the trail laid down by others and decide to deviate from there if you feel the need. I particularly find the ways respect flows from Dom to sub interesting, though that's not often the focus.

Great, insightful comment, Clancy. Thanks. You're right about Huck. He believes. Though he's beginning to question how the path set for him by the pastor could possibly be the right way forward when it makes him feel so damn awful. The pastor feels he's right. That if he doesn't "help" Rayne, he'll burn in hell when he dies, simply by virtue of his orientation. And he ignores his own sins, for the most part. I mean, he feels guilt over them ... but not enough to come clean. So Harlan's right. He conveniently picks and chooses which "sin" deserves attention. Harlan isn't about to let that go on. Have no doubt ... if pushed, Harlan would make good on his promise in a spectacularly awful way.

Harlan is blunt, at times. He doesn't waste time with social niceties. He's annoyed by his heart. He has worked hard to rid himself of emotion that doesn't directly contribute to his success at his work, but ... he still finds himself feeling and dealing with it. There are a few moments in Camp Refuge where we see it. At first blush, "kind and honest" are hard descriptors to assign to him. Then you watch him a while ... and little things begin to bleed through. He's a hard man, but he didn't have to help Rayne and Huck. Yet, he did. Thanks for the comments. 🙂

I agree with your first point. 🙂 Now, the second. I also am not surprised, in the slightest, that you came up with a totally unique skeleton in the pastor's closet. Though, he wouldn't think of it that way. So it wouldn't have been something Harlan could have used against him.

You know, this is an exceptional question. It's also one that gets answered ... albeit obliquely. Thanks for your comments, Geemeedee!