Boundaries: An Old West Tale

This is a short but sweet tale packed full of themes and conflicts facing the characters.  It touches on sexual assault, prejudice, tragedy, love , and self-acceptance.  It’s all handled masterfully and again it’s amazing how much Headstall can pack into such a short story.  This easily could have been spun out into a much longer entry, and yet it has a perfect stopping point.  I can’t recommend this story enough, if you haven’t had the privilege yet, check it out now. 

At @Headstall recommendation I started reading Sidewinder, then found the followup with Lark Spur (which IS deadly poisonous to cattle by the way) , and got surprised I found Bearpaw, which I read the chapters so far and caught up. I was completely thrown and excited this story has a connection, albeit loosely, to that series.  I loved the Story and was left wanting to hear more. The trip, finding land, maybe meeting our Sidewinder guys. That would be awesome & @Headstall you better not stop here! This is a potential for at least a couple books, and your writing style is phenomenal!!!

Folks, this is another MUST Read from @Headstall. Hats off to you!

Make time to indulge in this short story, four chapters. It’s not exactly love at first sight.

It’s love at first fight. First gun fight. 

Read this stand alone tale. 

Then read it again after you read Sidewinder and let it lead you to Larkspur: A Sidewinder Tale.

Start here, with a short story, four chapters, and you’ll want to read your way back here from the beginning. 

Love at first fight. ❤️

I appreciate and enjoy a story that can take care of business in less than 25,000 or less words. Boundaries: An Old West Tale delivers.

From the first to the fourth, and final, chapter the clear and concise writing provides an essential picture of setting, character and tone. Could the story be expanded into 75,000 words? Sure. Would that automatically make it better? Absolutely not. This is wonderful writing in shorter story form and I enjoyed it beginning to end!

I don't think I'm jumping the gun to say that Headstall is well along his way of finding a voice and niche that feels as natural, comfortable, and rewarding for him as it is for the many fans who continually clap for more of his writing. I'm clapping right along. 
 

What a great story. It’s got it all, first and foremost a few great characters and absolutely fantastic storytelling. I highly recommend to give this story a read!

The connection to Larkspur and the good doctor was just an added bonus and made me want to to back to those two stories again!

The reviews of the readers before me have already described perfectly why you should plunge into this wonderful story of Virgil Pruitt who embodies all the qualities we want to find in our best friend and the love of our life. Beautifully written, as always, Gary.  

Just a perfect western full of Gary Magic which is so beautifully written. With great dialogue and faultless description, a story which I dearly love. I love it I am sure you will also see if I am wrong but I am not! 

A lovely story set in antebellum Texas that has a town on the edge due to raiding and rising intolerance. I love Virgil's clear-headed frontiersman mentality, Wyatt's innocent sensuality, and the tension that you created in this story concerning bigotry and scapegoating is top notch.

A short tale filled with the full gambit of human emotion, Boundaries: An Old West Tale, allows us a brief glimpse of life and love in the old west. 

Virgil and Wyatt meet under tense circumstances and their emotional responses to one another and the subsequent character development is simply marvelous to witness.

A must read, whether you like westerns or not. 

I love a good western and Headstall nails it every time. This was no different. Virgil is strong, calm, observant, and doesn’t hold back how he feels. He’s kinda perfect. Wyatt, despite living a life that no one would envy, is still full of life and kindness.

this is a perfect binge story you won’t regret. 

A fantastic western set a few years after the Mexican American war, set way down in Texas just above the Rio Grande.

Action packed a compelling tale, you'll be glad you took the time to read this.

A story well told is a delight to most readers, no matter the genre.  The words create a setting that is easy to visualize, and the dialogue sparkles with a vitality that quickly bonds the reader to the two main characters.  The plot is simple, but also contains a bit of mystery to intrigue the reader.  This short story is a great introduction to Headstall, a master storyteller no matter which genre he writes.  He has written many different stories in different genres, but they all are crafted with the same love and care you will find in this wonderful tale.

A short tale of two kindred souls finding each other in the old west amongst the prejudice and hate that existed then, not to mention the betrayal and greed. I'd love to read a follow-up, read it and I think you will agree with me.

Love tales of the Old West; and perhaps one of the best writers of them that I have read in years is @Headstall.  

The writing and pacing were first rate and the character development was great for such a short story.  Came to really care about the main characters quickly.  And yes, I believe that love can happen at a glance, or at least the beginning of it.

I could easily see this as a prelude to a much longer story about either the journey to Larkspur or about after they arrive; or hell maybe both.

Sit a spell and enjoy a truly delightful few chapters that will draw you in fully and captivate you totally.

The great thing about anthologies is that IF you take them seriously and read tales whose genre isn’t your usual taste then it can be a real pleasure.

This story of Wyatt and Virgil is a great example.  It is beautifully written, delicately paced, and rich in character.  Don’t worry if you are not a western fan, this is a universal tale of discovery.  Excellent