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

“At first, because I was so different from them and we weren’t blood related, I figured I just didn’t understand white ways. I thought there was some innate something I was missing. And I’d wonder how my own father would have handled the crisis.” He gave a soft laugh. “I imagined my father as a great chief whose insight and wisdom commanded respect from everyone around him.”


“Then one night when Hayden and I were hiding in the barn, running away from one of his dad’s endless rants and his angry fists, it hit me. While I’d built myself up as a mighty warrior, the perfect son for the perfect father, I suddenly knew who my dad was. He wasn’t a warrior, but a coward. Instead of fighting for his infant son, my dad had abandoned me.”


Chapter 23