Hotel owner and part-time musician Zeke Bandy is too busy for love. His plate is full running the historic Bandy Hotel and upholding his family’s tradition of offering refuge to strays and runaways. For fun two nights a week, Zeke also plays and sings traditional folk music with his rewritten gay lyrics at the Stonewall Saloon and for occasional celebrations. Then at a gay wedding, Zeke meets Victor Longbow, who just might be the man of his dreams. However, Vic isn’t looking for love either. In fact, because of his upbringing in a strict, white foster family, Vic’s not sure he believes in love. He’s in Stone Acres to open a branch office of a national brokerage firm. He also hopes to track down a vintage photo of what might be his Native American ancestor. After their paths cross, they become friends. Connected by their experiences as orphans raised by flawed fathers, Zeke and Vic wonder if their future could possibly hold love and family or if they are destined only to be lifelong friends.

Relative Best

I shook myself. Damn, I didn’t need beer thoughts when I had to deal with a problem.


As I weaved my way through the crowd toward the door, I could feel Vic behind me, pushing back the men who flung compliments and requests my way. I zoned out from the male voices and jukebox music swirling around me and took a second to bask in having someone momentarily taking care of me. What a luxury.


When Vic and I got to the door to Stonewall’s backstage and liquor storage, I took a deep breath and turned.


“You’re going back to the hotel?” He sounded like he was concerned about me. What a strange, surreal night this had turned out to be.


“Yeah. Home.” What an odd word for the historic frontier hotel where I’d lived almost my entire life. “Gotta go to work.”


Vic gave me a quick hug. “Will you have time to show me around tomorrow?”


Chapter 4