For Dave Felder, his junior year of high school starts with a move from his small hometown to a larger city. With the new home comes a new school, East Leyden High. He isn't the least bit reluctant to leave his old school. Once popular and well-liked, things changed when he was outed to his fellow students. A new school gives him a fresh start, where no one knows him or his secret. Tall, handsome, and athletic, he soon finds himself surrounded by new friends, the popularity he once lost regained. But he doesn't count on meeting someone who brings out the feelings he hoped to keep buried inside. Someone like Ricky. Once these feelings surface, Dave has to make a choice -- continue to hide who he really is and protect his popularity, or be true to himself.

Stallions and Studs: Shoulda Been a Cowboy

“…it’s just not for me. So, I looked into that resort in Louisiana I was telling you about and I booked us in for—”


“Jared, I’m going to the dude ranch whether you come with me or not!” Charlie blurted out, surprising himself. 


There was silence on the other end of the line for a time. Then Jared said, “Oh, I see. You’d go to some stupid horse farm alone rather than spend time with your boyfriend.”


Charlie took a deep breath, “First, it’s not a horse farm, it’s an up-scale gay resort that happens to have a ranch motif, and second, I do want to spend time with you, but I’m getting tired of my feelings being ignored.”


“Not all the time. Didn’t we go to McDonald’s for coffee the other day instead of Starbuck’s because you wanted a sundae?”


“Big whoop!” Charlie countered. “That hardly counts at all. Jared, this is where I want to spend our vacation. I think after seven years of going where you want to go I deserve to have my choice respected.”


Chapter 3