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

Lloyd turned to me as we stood in the hallway. “Yarnell’s bringing up a collapsible stretcher and his emergency bag.”


As we passed number 306, hotel caretaker Jax Sax stuck his head out of the room, his arthritic hand clutching the door.


“You got things under control, boss?” His salt-and-pepper hair stood at attention, and his rheumy eyes blinked. “You need help?”


“No, Jax, We’ve got it. Go back to bed. It’ll be quieter now.”


The old man nodded, took a long look at the sheriff, and then closed the door. None of the other residents on the floor came forward, so I guessed they either had slept through the ruckus or were hiding behind their doors, waiting until daylight to find out what was happening.


Chapter 7