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

“The fort became a refuge for anyone suffering abuse, including women, children, Native Americans, anyone who needed asylum. Pilcher also saw it as an outpost for artists, naturalists, explorers, and others to share their stories and craft their art. He and his wife, Anna, loved actors, dancers, and musicians and hosted both formal and informal productions, inviting their Native American neighbors to the entertainments.”


“Sounds like a pretty enlightened guy.” Vic had been staring at me as I talked. I couldn’t tell if it was me or Colonel Pilcher who’d enraptured him. I wanted to believe it was me.


“Yeah. Very enlightened.” I leaned in because I was sharing a part of history very few people knew. “And very gay.”


I waited for his reaction. I hadn’t told many others this about old Ebden, but I figured Vic would appreciate knowing the colonel’s secret.


Chapter 12