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’d say their family had stepped beyond complicated to fucked up.


“Look, I’m not as bad as you’re thinking.” Vic’s seductive voice wasn’t so smooth now, but harsh. His ebony eyes were spitting fire. “Hayden may be blood-related to Calvin and Tobias, but I’m not. I washed my hands of everyone but Hay years ago when Tobias disowned me as the Red Bastard Mistake his brother Hebron made when he took me in.”


That changed things. I chided myself for jumping the gun before I knew the facts. I hated it when someone did it about me, the hotel, and the people who lived here. How could I be so stupid as to do it to someone else? Maybe I’d be better off finding out what the real story was.


“So why’d Tobias get in touch with you of all people?” I asked Hayden.


Chapter 10