Awestruck comments - from 1st Nov 2015 to ...7th Oct 2016

RosieAnnie: That was wonderful!  I loved all of it.  You captured the Old West speech patterns perfectly and all the plot points were tied up in a right pretty bow by the end.  I also liked what I think was a nod to "The Virginian."  My favorite lines were:

* Even crooks like to have a day off sometime. Don’t they, Thaddeus?”  “How would I know?”

* When Curry said, “... While I’m gone, maybe you can start carving the ham that’s in the oven. Trudging through snow always gives me a big appetite.” “Breathing gives you a big appetite,” Heyes commented.

  Ghislaine wrote an ASJ challenge!!  What a wonderful !

Loved the fliclet  Can see them hiding from a posse with the Kid wishing Heyes a Merry Christmas and Heyes "seeing" the Kid's smile as he wishes him back.


I'll be joining you two AFTER Christmas madness.  Until then...

Brilliant Christmas ficlet, Ghislaine! Many thanks!

RosieAnnie: Lots of nice images drawn in this story. The extreme cold and poor Horace's condition to Lom's misgivings. But his friends come through and remind him that families are built on different foundations for everyone.

Ghislaine: On the run on Christmas Eve would be difficult for anyone to handle. It's impressive that the Kid still manages to find his blessings. Nicely done.

Inside Outlaw - What a sad... what an exciting... what a fun story that was - all rolled up in one like only you can write!  LOVED it!  

InsideOutlaw: Well, that was fun!  Who'da thunk Kyle had it in him?  Wheat was his usual cantankerous self, though.  It took me a while before I got the connection to the prompt but I think I finally figured it out.  

Inside Outlaw: That was some fast thinking Kyle did! Who knew he had it in him? And he's got a heart for a friend, even a dead one. He does not have an icy heart, does he?

MoulinP: Oh, I could so see those two horsing around! Very cute story and nice to see the boys happy and settled. Well done!

MoulinP: I well and truly thought you were going to describe a horse race until I read farther on!  You pulled both parts together very nicely; I enjoyed this story, especially the coda.  Kid's philosophizing was great!

MoulinP - I really enjoyed seeing Heyes and Curry happy and goofing around with each other. They were just like big kids in your story and it made me smile. Really was happy to read that the Christmas with Lom was their first with amnesty. And all of the men (Lom, Heyes and Kid) had families. Very heart-warming!

1) RosieAnnie

It is our bandanny winner! Did the yellow set off your Christmas sequins and sparkle, Rosie? And did you look after the boys? Plenty of mulled wine? Cracker to pull? Good. You’ve remembered the bandanny holder don’t poll? Double good.

May I offer Lom a loan of my thermals? ‘Cos – beam – I lurve Lom. Awww, am loving Harker and Lom together. Sniff.
Oh Lom, all lonely. You should pop into one of the fanfics that gets you all married off at this festive time of year!!
The boys and Miss Porter made a christmas for him! I well, I positively well. Loving this Rosie.
Loving Kid’s – you can just shake my hand – line.
And the – breathing makes you hungry – line.
That was practically perfect for the season, Rosie. Heart-warming without any tipping into sopping territory, Sniffs again.




2) Ghislaine

Your first for over a year?? You’ve been neglecting our boys worse than me. (I think – I lose track.)

Awwww – they are all bleak in their bedrolls. But they have each other. Do I hear echoes of Sharpe and Frederickson saying Merry Christmas to each other out in the cold??


3) InsideOutlaw


Good heavens, it’s even colder than in Rosie’s story!

Oh, Heyes. I think that’s a touch above and beyond – though methinks perhaps necessary for the plot. I can understand ground too hard to bury him, but maybe a rock grave?? Still, if he’s frozen stiff I suppose no corpse leakage or whiff. Carry on roping him to horse.
Loving Wheat apologising to Milt. Ah-hah! Knew Milt would have a plot role. Clever Kid. Adoring his frozen in horror expression.
That was very clever Inside!! (Made me remember Sean Connery threating the dead guy in ‘The Untouchables’ – ah, Sean. Sigh.)



4) MoulinP


A two-fer, huh, Moulin! Do I need more tea – (calls for service!)
[You see Lom! You need to live in Moulin world, not Rosie world – well, not the freezing cold pre-nice surprise Rosie world]
I’m confused. So, Kid’s present was wrapped to look like a shovel but was actually a mackintosh? Or is Mackintosh a brand of shovel?? Googling. Oh, Mackintosh is related to shovels. Carry on. (And here was me thinking HH was a marvellous present wrapper and considering asking him over to help me. Smile.)

Okay on part two. Are they playing scalectrix?? Nah – maybe a toy train though. Tricycles!! Even better!

Awww, so the Lom Christmas was their first after amnesty. Aww.
You know what HH needs for the boy with his head stuck – a bar-spreader!!



5) Penski

You ladies do like getting the boys good and cold, huh?
Oh, sniff – remembering boyhood Christmases. Chess pieces?? I gave little Han chess pieces once, too. Sniffs again.
Father Christmas came!! Really? Or was it each other pretending?
It was really him! The Reindeer’s friend. The chap with the fur trim! Beam.
Lovely, Penski.



6) Remuda


It’s Remuda!! Did she get a set of wire clippers for Christmas?? For dodging that is.

Hey, Miss Barlow! They can grab me – just send ‘em my way. Look, Heyes! I’m slipping – catch me.
The boys being locked up for being Trans-Ey-Ants, again?
Liking HH being suspected for too much talking. I like a non-dumb Sherriff. That is one strict strangers policy he has there, though! Go on, Kid, take a bath before you leave. You know Remuda wants you to. Smile. Always great to see Harry in a story.

Penski: So Santa paid the boys a visit? Lucky for them, he didn't leave some lumps of coal!

Remuda: That was cold! Too bad that foul-tempered woman forgot about the season of forgiveness.

Moulin P: This really put a smile on my face. I love the image of Heyes and Curry racing each other on tricycles, and the picture of the kid with his head stuck between the bars of his bed. Boys will be boys, I guess.

Penski: Nice memories here. And hey, why not have a Christmas miracle? Our boys deserve it!

Remuda: Boy, those women weren't exactly in a Christmas spirit, were they? Even the sheriff was kind of cold, although maybe a little over-cautious. Love the snappy dialogue between our boys and Harry.

Penski: Sweet story with a touch of mysticism. I like how you don't really explain what happened and leave it up to the reader's imagination. Fun tidbit about the peaches!

Remuda: Good story with a hint a danger leavened by a touch of humor. Poor Harry--even when he's trying to do something good, it comes out wrong. Good thing Lom vouched for them!

Remuda - Always love seeing Harry and the boys together. Wow, I think this is one of the first fanfic where the boys couldn't charm the ladies. They need to get outta that town with those over-zealous folks and fast. Very enjoyable!

Wow so many stories. Am in an area with erratic internet at the moment so have not been able to read them but I will do :)

Wichita Red - Welcome back, stranger!  Your writing has been missed.  Very descriptive story - a real nail-biter!  So when is part 2?  Anxiously waiting to hear what happened to the Kid and what will happen to Heyes.

yes I know, I have been terrible about posting stories. This one came to mind and I am working on it I will have part two up shortly on the fanfiction.com and archive of our own. So glad to hear it is a nailbiter, and that you could enjoying it, it's been a trying all right since I've held off for too long wait for my storyboards

RosieAnnie - Lovely story.  Lom always seemed a bit sad to me.  I like how you have him befriended in this tale.

Ghislaine - So nice to see a story from you. I wonder what they were doing out in the Wyoming winter robbing someone at the end of December.  I sure hope they all get back safely to Devil's Hole.

InsideOutlaw - This story is just plain fun.  I enjoyed the crazy situation and the mental picture of a frozen corpse tied to a horse.  I laughed out loud when Kyle found a way out of their circumstances.  Clapping loudly and enthusiastically.

MoulinP - Such a sweet and touching story.  Just perfect for a Christmas celebration.  I hope that two reformed outlaws could find such a happy future.  The head between the bars on the bed was inspired.  

Penski - Awww!  And they didn't get lumps of coal.  A whimsical and lovely look at an outlaw Christmas in a shack.  

Remuda - Yikes!  The people in that town are just plain nasty.  Icy Burg indeed.  I always enjoy reading about Harry in a story.  I'm glad that Lom was able to vouch for them.  Loved the dust flying up from the Kid's clothes.

Witchita Great to have you writing again and what a story! Drama, tension, and Kid!!!!!!! Go get him in part two or else!

Cal - This story reminded me of Wrong Train to Brimstone with the Kid saying they had to save the DHG and Heyes being concerned about how doing so would ruin their chances with amnesty. Good story!

Wichita - YOU KILLED KID!!!!!!
Or did you?
Great piece of tense action filled angsty writing - just how I like it!