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

“Let’s see. Would you consider this a date?” I teased.


“Oh yeah. I’m taking you to dinner tonight.”


“You are?” I didn’t know whether he was teasing or serious.


“Yup. We’re going to the Silver Star, where I’ve heard we’ll get a four-star meal.”


“Oh. Yeah? Okay.” I was stunned and flustered. I’d never eaten at Stone Acres’ four-star restaurant. Was this really happening to me? Where could I take him that would impress him? “All right then, for lunch we’re going to the best restaurant around.” I grabbed the keys to my truck from the board behind him.


“Better than the gourmet place everyone’s been telling me about?” He sounded skeptical.


“Oh yeah. Best American diner food in the area. Best you could ever eat.” I stepped out the back door and led him to where my truck was parked. “Unless you don’t eat American food.”


“What do you mean? Are you saying something about me looking like a Navajo?”


Chapter 11