Victor J. Banis ~ Longhorns
From: Running Press
Their first time out, Les let Buck ride along with him as a “spotter,” so he could get himself a better idea of what the kid could do. Catching longhorns wasn’t a job for anyone didn’t know what he was doing, fancy roping or no, and he didn’t want no fool half breed getting himself hurt, and then they would have him to take care of.
They rode a ways in silence. Les wasn’t a talkative sort, but he was aware of the kid looking over at him often, and it made him feel a little uncomfortable, considering what he suspected might be on the boy’s mind. After a bit, thinking it would be safer, he stirred himself to make some conversation.
“Where’d you learn to ride the way you do?” he asked.
Buck shrugged. “Indian blood, I guess,” he said, and then added, “If I was to tell you the truth, it’s this here pony more than it is me. He is the smartest horse I ever did see.” He patted the pony’s long neck affectionately.
“He’s a good horse, I can see that,” Les said. One thing every cowboy respected was a man who knew his horses. For most cowboys, his horse was his best friend. “I reckon you know how to ride him well enough, though.”
Buck accepted the compliment with a nod and an embarrassed smile, but he was pleased by it. He did not figure
Les was a man given to flattery. “That’s a handsome palomino you got there, too,” he said.
“Yep. He is a pretty good one, old Silver.” Les glanced over and saw the boy looking at him funny like. “What are you thinking?” he asked, suspicious.
“I was just thinking, as long as we are comparing what we got, how about if…?”
“Don’t even finish saying it, boy,” Les said, frowning. He ought to have known, he thought, aggravated again.
“Wouldn’t bother me none, if that is what is worrying you,”
Buck said, “I mean, about your palomino being bigger than my pony, which I can plain see for myself.”
“Well, maybe he is, and maybe he ain’t,” Les said. “I don’t let nobody mess around with my stock, is the thing.”
A red tailed hawk had been circling above them, and now they watched him swoop down from the sky. There was a quick movement in the brush and a moment later he soared upward
again, a field mouse caught in his talons, and disappeared against the blaze of the sun.
Victor J. Banis ~ Longhorns
I love this book. As much as I love J.L. Langley ~ The Tin Star but in a different way because it has a harder, gruffer, deeply masculine feel to it like the leather of an old pair of boots. While reading it you are always aware the romantic intentions and the emotions are present but it gets coded under all this sweaty manly man type “dancing around the subject” that works for a Pulp Western story. The way the story is told reflects the men it is about and that is pure talent of the writer to make sure nothing is ever done out of character. You just are not going to get sudden declarations of TRU LURVE out of guys who just don’t talk like that. Hell, they barely act like that and they sure don’t live like that.
It’s become a comfort read for me. Something I pick up when I want to get lost in a certain feel of a wild bronco ride while also knowing everything will end just like I want with two burly cowboys in love even if they never ever admit to it. I have to say though this time around I definitely picked up a more noticeable ménage feel to the romance even though that does not get worked out in the book but it is apparent it will be happening afterward. So be aware the romance between the cow poke and the boss man has a right hand man on the sidelines waiting to join in.
I hope Victor gets back to writing pure Western Gay Romance like this again. I love his voice and his interpretation of the old west. I like the really smart idea of mixing the traditional Western Pulp style with a simply told Gay Romance thrown in to spice it all up like aftershave on a cold winter morning. The hard riding men of honor with the simple ideals and the big landscape sucks me in.
I need more comfort reads Victor!
Why is this thing only in Amazon Kindle format still? Running Press really needs to have other formats that other vendors can sell. Oh well, if you have Kindle for Windows go grab this one and enjoy.
Tags: Gay Romance, Grade B, Victor J. Banis, WesternTags: Gay Romance, Grade B, Victor J. Banis, Western
Sarah wrote,
I love this book. Remember finding it in a store in town, buying it and coming home and devouring it. :)
Link | January 21st, 2010 at 5:32 pm