Applause and Feedback

Nebraska Wildfire:  Wouldn't it be wonderful to see these two ex-outlaws age this gracefully?  I loved picturing them in a sleepy, little town on the desert.  Who knows?  Maybe that's what really happened.  Fun tale!

WichitaRed:  Your introduction made me miss the fall sunflowers and the meadowlarks.  A perfect interchange between them:  “I know I am.”  Perfect Heyes  “Heard that before.”  Perfect Kid.  And then the other true Heyes comes out, doesn’t he, as well as the Kid, who tempers it.  Interesting to think that the Kid, the gunslinger, has to regulate Heyes.

Nightwalker:  Thanks for more of this fun tale.  I loved the Kid’s response to their posters in her room.  I also liked learning more about Jocelyn, that she has real challenges other than dreaming about the boys.

InsideOutlaw:  You put me back into an aspen shrouded forest, expecting a posse or worse around the next corner.  I’m glad it all turned out for the better, and hope the Kid has a great time.

WichitaRed – You wrote an extremely „audible“ story which suits the prompt in every dimension. I love the atmosphere you created as well as Heyes’ deliberate usage of facial and verbal expressions. Just wonderful.
The boys face a nearly futile situation: a posse on their tails, robbed of their horses and waiting at gunpoint to be killed. Only that they don’t wait, but silently work on a plan. I love the way you showed us the nonverbal interaction between the boys.
They sure know what scum they ran into and you had me on the edge until Kid Curry suddenly exploded into action to turn the tide. As a perfect team they fight their capturers back and gain the upper hand. Now you show us how much of a difference there is between the two sets of outlaws. Even with Heyes’ dark side arising, it couldn’t be more significant.
 
Nebraska Wildfire – What a beautiful story. Lydia is one lucky lady, that her car broke down just there and then and gave her the opportunity to be rescued by a famous ex-outlaw, who’s always at his best when he gets the chance to help a lady in distress. I’m so glad the boys finally found a place to live and seems to live good lives, too. Even coming into age their personality and habits haven’t changed a lot. Heyes may act grumpy considering himself as some kind of tourist attraction, but I bet it would hurt him rather more if anyone wouldn't pay him attention at all. Speaking of it: you forgot to mention where we have to go to, to find our boys in real. Can we hope for a continuation to your story?
 
InsideOutlaw – You chose an interesting arc for your plot. You start your story with an almost spooky ride through the woods, have us on the edge, when the boys reach the cabin and finish it with a celebration.
I like your descriptions of the surroundings, the way you build up the tension and most of all the interaction between the boys.
It’s not an easy task to organize a surprise for a man as protective and alert as Kid Curry, and only one man could manage it :-)

October stories:

Wichita Red: There really were a lot of bad men out there and an awful lot of them weren't "pretty good." Somehow I think those ambushers aren't going to be helping out another out of their fix. Hoping Heyes will be okay.

Nightwalker: I really like the spectral figures of Heyes and Curry giving advice to Jake, who probably is not smart enough to take it. 

Nebraska Wildfire: I remember one time being stunned into silence by a pair of vivid blue eyes; I know just how Lydia felt! I love Curry's modesty, just providing his first name, and Heyes being a little disappointed that she didn't come to town to see him. And it's really nice seeing our boys settled into a relaxed old age.

Inside Outlaw: Only the members of the DHG would inaugurate a birthday party with gunfire! Glad it worked out alright, despite Curry's misgivings. Heyes, my advice to you is, don't make your partner unnecessarily nervous!

Nightwalker: Grudges
This part was so good, I had to go back and re-read it. ///“Could be easily one of us alone in here...”  Busy hands stilled. Silence spread. Brown eyes and blue eyes met. Jed opened his mouth, but closed it again without voicing a word. Everything needed to be said was said by their glances. Silently he nodded and continued working on the mounds of potatoes.///
BRAVO! BRAVO!
 
And, WOW…..really great, ///“I’m glad, we’re not,” Han murmured as he remembered motionless bodies lying in the dirt.”///
 
Nice little peek into their lives story, thank you so much for sharing your work.

Nightwalker:  I can understand Jeds' grousing about their situation, but Haqn is right,they still have each other.  There are blessings if you look for them.  I think maybe Mr. Mason needed to look for his.

Wichitared:  Love this whole series.  I guess if you have blisters on your body and now dislike the taste of honey, you might find it hard to say thank you to the person responsible.  I think the last 'thank you' was genuine, since again the person responsible is leaving and finally leaving you alone.  I enjoyed it a bunch.

For November:

Nightwalker: Somehow I'm not surprised that those two hadn't exactly developed their thieving skills yet! They don't know how to steal walnuts without getting caught, do they? Peeling potatoes as a punishment certainly gives them time to reflect on their misdeeds, and to feel sorry for themselves - well, at least Jed is feeling sorry for himself. Leave it to his older, wiser cousin to remind him that having family is something for which he can, and should, feel grateful.

WichitaRed: Ha ha, sometimes the cure is worse than the cold! I grew up with Vicks Vapo Rub being applied to my chest whenever I got a cold, and no one had to feel that off. I can imagine that removing a mustard plaster would also remove hair and skin -- yeow!! It's hard to muster up proper gratitude while you've got a whole other source of pain. I especially love the last line of this story.

WichitaRed – Just love your story. Heyes acting like a mother hen and in talking mood can be a true trial to the nerves. Meaning well doesn’t necessarily mean doing well as poor suffering Kid Curry has to experience. Would he have been so bad off without Heyes’ care? We’ll never know, but he sure has an opinion about it and is convinced of it. They both have and they both are.
I loved the sounds of reassembling the gun accentuating the Kid’s words - who really isn’t in a forgiving mood – and giving them a deeper meaning.
Thank you for that short glimpse into one of the boys less glorious days, which still shows us what great friends they are.

Wichitared:  Loved it.  Crossing the scree was intense.  That posse was sure determined, but so were are boys.    I also very much liked all that went on in the extended version.

Nightwalker:  Oh, I really liked this one.  Christmas and looking forward to the party, but missing his cousin and maybe regretting some of his choices. Funny how cold weather can make your vision blurry.  And you know Kid is feeling the same way.

Wichita Red: You really know how to describe a scene. For example:"Their passing became muffled as the horses trod steadily on, across fallen reddish-brown pine needles, their route placing them under a jutting outcrop that became a solid bulging face which blocked the fiery, setting sun" You make it so easy to picture what's going on.

Nightwalker: I can easily see how even hardened men like the Devil's Hole Gang would still want to celebrate the holiday with food and jigs and a whole lot of alcohol. The memory of a candle in the window, lit by a family member, would surely be emotional for our boys. Nice that Heyes and Big Jim could share a quiet moment together, remember their losses, and still go on.

WichitaRed – Wonderful take on a missing scene. Your gripping story about the boys on the run is complemented by wonderful and vivid descriptions of their surroundings. Thank you for sharing it.
[You'll find a longer feedback as comment on AO3]

RosieAnnieUSA:  What’s not to love about a story with Wheat and Kyle?  The cadence between them is perfect.  I like the fact that it is Kyle who moves them on at points in the story.  He’s the one who suggests unloading the supplies, settling in the barn and making supper.  The end scene is very touching. I don’t really see it as depressing, but rather thought provoking and introspective.  Stars are pretty after all.

Wheat wasn't at all gruff in this story, just trying to help his brother the best way he could.  Kyle was being supportive in any way he could.  I felt for Martha, she was hoping for a fresh start, but that would have wait for now, now that her husband was hopeful.

WichitaRed:  They were only there long enough to order a drink and some food when everything went to h...  Even if they set guidelines on what to do in situations like that, Kid will still do what he feels he needs to do.  Yep, it is going to be harder than they think.  I liked it!!

WichitaRed:  As always you set the stage so well.  The story starts so atmospheric that I can feel the rain trickling down my back.  Interesting characters, with the boys true so to character.  The Kid defending the downtrodden and Heyes backing him up.  I love the end.  Lots of changes for them still, huh?  A great read.  Thanks.

Wichita Red: What a gripping story this turned out to be! I didn't anticipate the dramatic turn it took, but you wove it into the story smoothly. All the events flowed beautifully. Very well done.

RosieAnnieUSA – It’s so good to meet Wheat and Kyle again. They make such unequal partner, yet they work perfectly together. Nevertheless, they share a distinct kind of logic and a particular way to look at things.
Bad things happen when they split up? to be honest I don’t dare to imagine that. They are bad enough together ;-)
It’s interesting to learn more about their background. I like Wheat being of Swedish origin and as part of a (once?) big family. When things run bad, he showed more than once that he has a big heart somewhere underneath the rough cover of his behavior.
I see why you added a note telling us that you won’t write more in this story line. It sure is an interesting scenario with lovely characters which will readers make wish for more.
Me too.

WichitaRed – The boys on the run, soaking wet and just hoping for some rest and basic comfort surely hit the wrong town this time. It’s a more serious story which shows us very clear the difference between regular small-town folks and two pretty decent ex-outlaws.
Manners and decency don’t depend on wealth and status. It’s a choice to make and the most basic evidence of what kind of man someone is.
Heyes and Curry still tend to wrong decisions due to their new goal to get amnesty; not about their purpose in particular situations, but the ways they chose to accomplish it. One thing they are for sure: true men in the best meaning of the word.
I’m sorry the boys had to take their leave so soon, but I’m glad you shared this story with us that gives us a lot to think about.

WichitaRed:  What was wrong with those people?  Poor Wheat, he just wanted a drink.  With the other 5 members of the gang going in after Wheat, Heyes and Kid seemed to decided they wouldn't be needed and waited outside, smart men!  I enjoyed it.

RosieAnnieUSA:  I really liked this.  I did wonder who was telling the story.  I loved how Heyes stepped up to be Matthew, it was a real kindness to the grandmother.   They did everything they could to inform the family of the dangers they faced and helped them all they could while they were there and even after they left. Pretty good bad men, yeah!

RosieAnnieUSA
I like the rhythm of your storytelling, it just pulls the reader right in.
I like the way Tom noticed they had a whole conversation without saying anything at all.
Boy howdy, hearing about Colorado winters for the first time would make you fall silent, especially the situation these folks are in, and before Thaddeus said so, I had a gut feeling the supply/wood was not in good shape. Just love how they snuck the gold pieces to the family, and that even now they repay the families of Smith and Jones. Good read, thanks of sharing.

WichitaRed:  Such a great tale of Wheat and Heyes and the difference in their approaches. Made me laugh out loud. 

RosieAnnieUSA:  I could feel that snowstorm creeping up on me too, even though it’s 77 here. Our boys really are more good than bad men, aren’t they?

Wichita Red: LOL! Well, he did scout the town, didn't he? Not that it's going to make a difference, since he just raised a ruckus. Of course, the fight turned into a general melee, and of course, the DHG will jump in. All except the rational ones, who had enough brains to stay outside. I loved this!

WichitaRed – Wow, a lot of action going on in your story with detailed descriptions of the fight; very well written. Love it that Heyes and Curry stay out of the mess watching the street while the rest of the gang’s going to help Wheat. Interesting insight into the dynamics of the gang.
 
RosieAnnieUSA – Oh my, poor family getting caught in a snowstorm without enough preparation. The first winter is quite a dangerous thing for unexperienced folks. So lucky that two friendly ex-outlaws appeared just in time with lots of advice and willing to help out. It’s a lovely tradition the family started afterwards, remembering their kind guests and helping others in need.

Remuda:  I know next to nothing about poker but I liked this story and I could hear the sailors' accent loud and clear.

UK_rachel74:  At least they will get too eat every day for awhile.  I am hoping that there will be a part two so we can see what happens when they find the gang?

InsideOutlaw:  The telephone, one of the things that put them out of business.  Maisie didn't really want to get Heyes arrested, she just wanted to rile him up and have a good time.  As Heyes said, she could have had the law on them any time she wanted.