Howzat

@Wayne Gray - wow that was some chapter. I can't believe I was correct about Tag actually now owning the Yoder Ranch! (see my comment in Ch15 at 07.45pm, though that may be UK time). Good old Grandad Bill - how disappointed he must have been in his son to have even though that any of this was necessary. The Dead Man Switch is just pure genius! When Tag revealed all of the brand scar to Ash was very moving - I think they'll be together for a long time to come. Nothing will now drive them apart. Ash must have murderous thoughts in his heart now - though I don't think he'll act on them as he loves Tag too much. When Branford saw Tag in the showers at the end of a long shitty (literally) day he knew without being told who had done the branding. I'm sure Branford has plans for ZY that don't involve being nice to each other (conversely to Tag, he may well act on those plans). I don't know if you plan on Tag revealing the branding to the rest of the crew - but they will be 100% behind Tag & Ash (if you do). I think ZY is going to be getting a big shock when it comes to the auction - hopefully we don't have to wait the full six weeks until we get to that point!

Just had a sudden thought - what if one of the parts of the Yoder Ranch that Tag now owns is the actual ranch house, where I assume ZY (et al) lives? Once proven, Tag could evict his father! How'd I do @Kitt@Wayne Gray?

Rebecca will do her damnedest to stop ZY from doing anything that will prevent Tag getting what his grandfather left for him. Bert will 100% be in support as well - with his team of lawyers providing all the legal niceties. ZY is going to go absolutely ballistic when he finds out:- 1. what his father did in setting up the trusts. 2. what portions of the ranch aren't his any more ('cos they now belong to Tag). 3. just where Tag has been since he left and who he has been working for. That is when Tag, Ash and the rest of the Nasser ranch will be in the most danger from whatever ZY plans to do next - whether it be physical intimidation of anyone connected to Tag or legal attempts to change what his father did. Great chapter @Wayne Gray Are we back on four day posting now - so next chapter on Thursday? 😁

Yes! You!!

I'm shocked, I say SHOCKED that any of our esteemed authors would obfuscate, dissemble or downright lie! Excepting @kbois of course - she is well known for leading her readers astray in the story comments

And not forgetting the actual swimming pool (I'm assuming the school has one) when the boys have to get changed and see each other nekkid!

The single word that stood out to me in this chapter - SAFE. Tag now knows that with Ash he will be SAFE. When Tag reveals to Ash what happened to him he will be SAFE. Ash (especially Ash) and all of the other guys (including Cara) will support him and he will be SAFE. Great chapter @Wayne Gray - I'm looking forward to Sunday (unless there's a chance of you being bored again and posting early - that would really tick off @kbois if you did that! Go on, I double dare ya!!)

That other ally could be Beth?

@Mark Arbour - hope you had a great 4th of July - the anniversary of our King George III losing the colonies. If at anytime there are enough of you who wish to return to the fold, I'm sure you only have to ask and King Charles III will gladly be your real king. Anyway - back to the story! There be plotting going on on - not sure who is involved and to what extent our George will be affected. Is it Palomar? Is it the new guy? Is it someone else in the crew? Great story as always.

So Ryder is still in town and Owen has only just got home. Will Owen grow some cajones and actually go out to meet Ryder - I'm sure that is what Ryder is asking him? Will Owen & Ryder have their first kiss (definitely Owen's first and definitely not Ryder's first)? Will this be Owen's first step to getting out of the grip of Margot? Great story @mastershakeme!

Wow - those two are just complete idiots, but so loveable with it. Even though neither of them are gay, they just did some REALLY gay stuff - maybe they'll just be gay for each other and be real bro's. Great story @Boy Mercury X!

Mentored by @kbois of course!

Oh Owen - you're still hiding aren't you? You didn't tell Ryder about the "double date" that you've been forced in to going on by Margot and her big mouth! And the "engagement" as well (how could I forget about that). Ring him back and tell him right now!!! PS - get a different phone! I've never heard of one that loses an unsent text message because the person you were going to send it to then rang you before you hit send!

I suspect this could be a case of both of them thinking the other one is gay and is trying to come out to the other without destroying their friendship. I don't think my shower hose would be able to go where Bailey's went - haven't got the ability to control the water pressure that well. So would either be painful and/or messy as a result!

Have we got any LEO's from Massachusetts on here? I'm sure that was @kbois just admitting to breaking the law by not transferring her driving licence from Florida! That must be worth several years in the state pen!! (Look at me getting down with the local lingo!)

Well, that goes without saying!

At least we don't have to do that in the UK - although we're a nation made up of four distinct parts (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) the driving licence is standard across all four. If you colonials hadn't taken funny with old King George III, 250 years ago, you could have had a standard driving licence as well!

Or Psycho, Dial M For Murder, Rear Window or The Wizard Of Oz (just for the scene where Dorothy's house crushes the Wicked Witch Of The East)!

When I started writing this comment, no-one else had posted so here's hoping that stays the same! Great chapter @Wayne Gray - we've found out a little more of what makes Tag (I love the nickname) tick - not everything, but something. More to follow, I'm sure. Cara planning Terry's birthday party was a pleasant diversion for all the guys - even Rupert! I bet there was loads of cornmeal left and Cara just hid it. I'm guessing we're back to 5 days again before the next chapter - unless you get bored again @Wayne Gray? Hope you feel better soon.

We don't actually know (for now) why Ryder isn't answering Owen's texts - maybe his phone is broken or he lost it (it happens), maybe he had an accident on the way home from their disastrous first meet-up (and could be on life-support in the ICU) or maybe he really is just ignoring Owen! I'm currently swinging between all of those options!

That's just what we used to think about @kbois and @Mrsgnomie!

Ryder is going to be just what Owen needs to get out of his self-imposed shell/rut. Even if it's only when he's with Ryder, he'll be able to see what life is like outside the world of Donnelly & Sons! Looking forward to the next chapter @mastershakeme

Yeah - he'd have "arrived" twice and Owen would still be thinking "what the hell is this - when do I get to "arrive"?" 😄

That's sneaky of you - but thanks for doing it (fingers crossed the next one will be a day - or two - early too). Great chapter - Ash & Taggert are almost at the point where things will progress over just looking at each other. The other guys (I'm including Cara in that as it's easier) just don't care who loves who. Comments lead to laughs not embarrassment or anger. Even Taggert lets out a laugh now and then. I'm looking forward to the "Maybe later. Not now." conversation - just what has Taggert hidden from everyone? Does Bert know; is that what he wants to talk about to Branford? Hopefully answers to follow but no doubt @Wayne Gray will throw some other stuff in to frustrate us!

Just what I was thinking!