It's 1895 when Luke Straily returns to Gunnison, Colorado, after a twelve-year absence and reluctantly heads to the cattle ranch owned by Jack Hinch, the only man he’s ever loved. Looking to make amends for an intolerable act, Luke hires on at the ranch, but Jack makes it perfectly clear he's unable to forgive or forget just yet.<br><br>It'll take everything in Luke's power to set things right with the man he wronged and placed in jeopardy before he ran away, but he aims to earn back Jack's trust no matter the personal cost.  Complicating matters, though, is ranch foreman Tim Dutcher, who’s been enjoying a sexual relationship with the handsome rancher during the intervening years and thoroughly resents Luke's intrusion.<br><br>As Luke and Jack gradually rebuild their severed friendship and renew their former passion,  jealousy flares, leading to a volatile confrontation. Can the men settle matters without any shots being fired?

A River of Time

“You know damn well what happened. I was the last one seen with him, so I got arrested and stood trial.”


This is purgatory for me. Hearing the truth of what happened sears me through, but I press on. “Did you do time?”


“No. My lawyer put up a good fight and I was acquitted of murder, but I still bore the stain. With nobody else arrested for the crime, folks thought me guilty, and worse, that I’d gotten away with it.”


“I am sorry, Jack. Sorrier than you can know.”


He sets aside plate and towel, turns to face me, folds his arms across his chest, and studies me for a second or two. “Feel better now?”


“No, I feel worse, as is my due. I’m ashamed of what I did, Jack. That shame has been a constant companion all the years.”


“So you came here to get shed of it?”


I have to think on this. I finally say, “I’m not certain on details or reasoning. I just know I couldn’t get on with life any longer without settling things with you.”


Chapter 5