Headstall

Reading this chapter again felt like coming home for me. I love these guys. The trauma they have been through has been relentless, but their love is not going to be denied. Carly will have no say in it. There is more coming about this wonderful old house. Thanks, buddy.

Thanks, Patrick. I loved weaving this story together with all its intricacies and drama. Carly got beaten today, beaten badly, ant it's hard to say how she will respond. And yes, they are still so young.

She sure is, and you ain't seen nothing yet. Thanks, Patrick. I'm really enjoying reading this again. Cheers!

Lol. Well said, buddy. Carly is definitely garlic in this salad. Believe it or not, Carly is based on a real person. There are people in this world who only care about themselves. Thanks, Patrick.

Hey, Patrick! It's easy for stories to get buried, but I'm so pleased you've found this one. I've said it before... I really found my writing voice with this story, and I see it as a benchmark to my improvement as an author. Once I decided I didn't need to contain it as a short story, I had the best fun writing this one. Jared remains one of my favorite characters till this very day. If anyone needed a guy like Craig, it was Jared. Thanks, my friend.

Hello, freaks! (Spikey included)

Because it turns the little Hobbit on.

I just threw up in my mouth. You, sir, are a pervert.

Your face don't look good in panties.

Is Looping better?

Hey, Kris! Yes... Kevin! My goodness, he caused some vitriolic reactions. @Wesley8890 led the charge in hating his guts. I must admit it was the most fun I'd had in posting a story to that point. How could anyone not love Dawson? Every once in a while I will reread the Amorak chapter. I feel connected to these four men too. Definitely nicer than Kevin. Thanks, buddy!

Very beautiful.

No one expected such a bounty, but they are all thankful for it. Runyan's Ma, like most mothers, understand what's important. So glad you saw and mentioned the nuances of strength. Willy James has been finding his since falling in love, and he is willing to do the hard, unknown stuff to protect what he has with Runyan. I see Runyan as strong in mind, love, and body. He's a pillar WJ can lean on, but I don't think he needs to do as much leaning as the others thought. Even the way he deals with his parents' rejection of him is admirable. He doesn't wallow, he just give thanks for what he has. Standing up for what he wanted tells us he carries no shame or feeling of inferiority. His pride is intact despite what he's gone through. He's not the guy who was giving up when August found him outside the Emporium. Reverential? I like that. I wanted that exploration of the upstairs to just be between August and Fletcher, a chance to absorb the special family history of this wonderful home. Yeah, Runyan's folks will come around someday, and his father has learned his lesson, you can trust me on that. WJ's? I can't see it. It's a bloody shame, but not all parents should be parents, and that has never changed. As August would say, it's been a day, and now the partnerships have been cemented as they explored the farm and had their conversations, sharing the way families do. There is strength in numbers, and they all get what is at stake. Thanks, me dear friend. I love this story... even though I am writing about the Old West again, it feels fresh to me. I hope it does to you too.