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

“I don’t mean to trouble you, Jack. I just need…hell, I don’t know whatI need. Tell me to move on, and I will.”


“I don’t know what else to do but tell you how it is with me.”


He moves off along the shore and I leave him to it. Ned has come up to nibble grass, and I go to him, my one sure friend. I rub his nose and look into those big welcoming eyes. After a bit, Jack comes over.


“You broke my heart, Luke. There’s no mending that.”


“I disagree. I can’t undo the past, but if you’ll allow me in, I can make amends and maybe more.”


“You have no idea about anything,” he says, face coloring. “You know what you’ve brought on? Anger. You make it like it was yesterday, running off, me standing trial in your place. You’re blind to what you’re doing. Blind!”


Chapter 13