Riding for a Fall

by R.L. Ferguson

Dear Author,
I love cowboys. Hot days and sultry, sexy nights. So, who's this guy got in his barn?

Photo Description: In the dark doorway of a barn stands a burly, muscular man, wearing only a white stetson and buckskin pants. His hands pull the pants open and low on his hips, exposing his hairy torso down to the curls at his groin. A straw juts from his mouth, and his eyes are intent under the brim of his hat.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Hot Summer Days" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Read the story here or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 4.
__________
Genre: contemporary
Tags: gay m/m, cowboys, friends-to-lovers, reunited, first-love, HFN
Warnings: implied homophobia (as a regional issue)
Word Count: 10,167

Genres: M M Romance, Short Stories, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Westerns, LGBT, Contemporary

18 pages, ebook

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

In real life, R.L. Ferguson makes a living as a cook. She is the single parent of two lovely pre-teen daughters, and is the human staff for two cats, a horse, and a newly acquired Australian shepherd puppy. She has been writing short stories and journaling since the age of 9, but has recently returned to writing after a 5-year hiatus. Her preferred genre is m/m erotic romance. She lives a ‘selectively secluded’ life, on a farm in northeast Missouri. She firmly believes the famous Eleanor Roosevelt quote: “Well behaved women rarely make history.”

Reviews

[Exina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jake and Dylan are best friends and secretly in love with each other since forever. Now they finally come clean and admit their feelings.

Hot cowboys and straw bales...

It was okay.

[Marte - Thunderella · Rating 2 out of 5]

** 2,5 confusing POV stars **

An okay story, but the mixed up POV changes in the middle of a paragraph was confusing.


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A short story in the collection "Don't Read in the Closet, Volume Four" from the MM Romance Group Hot Summer Event 2011.


Prompt:

Dear Author,

I love cowboys. Hot days and sultry, sexy nights. So, who's this guy got in his barn?



Genre: contemporary

Tags: cowboys, friends-to-lovers, reunited, first-love, HFN, short-story-under-15K-words, anthology, free read

Warnings: implied homophobia (as a regional issue)

[SueM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story, filled with so many emotions; regret that they had been separated for 10 years; uncertainty - whether their best friend will still feel/be the same; fear as to whether their love for the other would be accepted or would it be rejected; hope that they might have a future together; and lastly lots of love. Throw in some hot sex and the story has all the ingredients to be a keeper. Thank you so much for writing this RL! 

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed like very realistic reactions from both guys to the idea that your best friend, who you thought was straight, is suddenly gay and has the hots for you (but I still wanted to shout, "come on, talk already")! Loved the hot sex and all the cute furry critters:) Wonderful story, thanks R.L.!!!

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is a distant 3rd person with phrases like "his friend" "the blonde" or "his guest" used a lot. each time it just interrupted the flow for me since they were unnecessarily overused. then it was almost all the already forgotten MC's POV with it randomly switching to Dylan's in a paragraph before switching back to the MC's by the end of the paragraph. :(

When Dylan gets there they clean the barn and feed the animals. then Dylan asks him to go swimming. The MC says he has more work to do and then Dylan mentions he brought his horse and was wondering if he could put it in the stable. The poor horse has been in a trailer on the road for two days and he was going to just leave it there while he went swimming, after already leaving it there while they did all this other stuff? But its ok they let it out of the trailer and into a small stable, sure they will exercise it later.

Then there is Betsy the dog there the first day Dylan arrives but then never mentioned again. Did it die or run away from the neglect? Wish authors would write animals into a story if they aren't going to be treated right.

Then there are the guys. don't know much about them. They haven't seen each other for ten years, and only talk on phone "every bluemoon."

Dylan only there cause he was caught with his boyfriend. Town started talking and BF wont answer his calls. So he doesn't even tell MC just packs everything and moves to live with MC.

Oh it's cause he is in love with the MC. Reader just didn't know it. Yep he has loved him since high school. Dylan was surprised MC didn't know it since he followed him around like a puppy. Well Dylan maybe the fact it is said numerous time that you dated every girl in school and were also caught having sex with them at school that made MC think you might not be gay? But yeah you're right, how could he not know?

So after ten years barely talking still in love. Reader doesn't need to know why or be shown anything, we are told they love each other.

[Kendra T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story! I really enjoyed this one. Jake and Dylan seemed like such a great match and it was nice to see them reunited and become lovers since it seemed to be what they both wanted, just were afraid to go for.

[Britta ★ Nachteule ★]

***Read as part of the free Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four anthology. Story #6***

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cowboys and I love stories about friends becoming more, so this was just a great read for me. I really enjoyed the characters and their story, it was sweet and hot. Thanks!

[Lila Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice friends to lovers cowboy story.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little story! I would have given it 4 stars, but there were just a few too many spots with either too many commas or not enough...I'm such the grammar police!

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, second chance, friends to lovers story. Wish it was dual POV and it needs a bit of a clean up but for a free short story it was good. I wish there was more.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the story thanks for writing it

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really like cowboy stories but this was ok. Nothing too spectacular.