The Story Is the Thing — Amy Hale Auker

"Uncle Bill" Morgan knew about love and loss. He had watched over the land and the people at the Benson Ranch for decades. Julia was a free spirit, quirky and fun, trapped in a marriage with hospital corners and traditional expectations. Charlie was trapped as well, but by something more sinister than tradition and, in the end, realized that it is okay to love more. Cody Jack needed more - more of everything that soothed and comforted and numbed - but he stood to lose the only good thing he'd ever known and he would hurt anyone to keep it.

The old cowboy is gone, but he left his story behind. It is a story of love, loss and life lessons, of confession and absolution, a story of poetry and rescue, a story of loneliness and a story of coming together.

And, after all, the story "is" the thing.