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

When Stone sat down, I kept going, telling them both about Vic’s search for his ancestor and how we’d meshed even though when you looked at us you wouldn’t think we had anything in common. I was starting in on more of the same when Stone stopped me.


“Wait. Go back there. What you said about the Indian chief.”


“Yeah, whatever, babe.” Stone looked puzzled. “What’s this photo look like?”


“Tell Vic to come talk to me when he gets back to town. I gotta surprise for him.”


Stone wouldn’t say anything else, but I relayed the message to Vic when we Skyped. Did Stone know where the photo was hidden? Seemed like it to both of us.  12


Chapter 29