Headstall

Hey, Doc! Lol. I don't believe there has ever been a vaccine or shot against bullies, and that's what Albert is, and what Rob is in training for. It must be hard for August to see a relationship between father and son like Fletcher and Roland Crawley seem to have. Certainly, he has to be envious. My older brother always tried to bully me, but it never worked. I grew bigger than him rather quickly. Still, a distemper shot might have been something to consider. Thanks, friend. I appreciate your support as always. Cheers! Gary

Is this because I mentioned Drew riding cowgirl?

It's a job Rob does willingly. From what we know so far, my money is on August being the smarter brother, but you're right. If Rob ever figures it out, August would be in serious danger. His pa would never accept August's secret, and he knows that. August is only beginning to face it himself. It's amazing how we humans can fool ourselves into pretending we are not who we really are. It's also sad. Cheers, my friend, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. My hope is that readers become engaged with this one.

Thanks, Albert! There's a lot of inner narration in this chapter as August tries to sort through a mess of feelings. I'm pleased the tension stays throughout the chapter with only a few short respites. Every time the tension eases, it snaps back, whether through interactions with his pa... and then his brother, and the whole time his mind is centered on Fletcher and what it all means. August is raw, confused, and scared, and we also see how much he thinks of Fletcher, and how well he does know him. I guess I should say he's confounded as well. Any control he had seems to be in another's hands for the first time. Appreciate you reading and commenting, friend. Cheers!

I don't either, Sherye. Albert Cooley is that family patriarch I often saw in my childhood (no I wasn't born in the 1800s ), the one you didn't dare question. His rule was law, and he got away with some awful behavior. Rob is an asshole, doing anything he can to impress his father. As first son, he knows he will inherit Cooley ranch one day, as long as he stays in his father's good graces. I thought it was telling that Albert said August looked too much like his mother for his own good. In a way, I could almost feel sorry for the man's loss, even though he doesn't deserve any sympathy. Cheers and thanks, dear friend.

Actually, you are the second reader to tell me that about the names being too similar (one in a PM). Wish I could go back and change it, but at the time I was looking for two last names that sounded good together... the Cooleys and the Crawleys... and that was all I was thinking about. I won't do it again. Fortunately, Fletcher and August are very different, and those last names won't be important later, I promise. Rob is definitely a concern. August worries about trusting a Crawley, but his brother seems way worse. Thanks, my friend, for sharing your important thoughts and letting me know you are enjoying this one. It means a lot. Oh, and I have that aging brain thing too. Cheers! Gary

Chapter 2

Purgatory Slowly, very slowly, August’s brain began to recover from the wallop of being found out. He’d never felt so raw, so terrifyingly exposed in his whole life, and had no clue what to do next. He used to push his secret from his thoughts, to convince hisself it had no place of any concern, but he’d been a damn fool to think so. Apology? Yep, he supposed he did give Fletcher one for them poor sheep, but it weren’t the craziest thing what happened back there on that s

Hi.

Radio in the car and on my TV (my satellite TV has a lot of radio stations, and the sound is excellent with my soundbars. Sometimes, when I'm writing or editing, I put on a satellite station, like the one out of Whitehorse. Otherwise, I listen to my albums on my record changer.

Happy Saturday, folks.

Riding cowgirl isn't topping.

Hi, Albert.