Len Parker happily reconnected with Ruby, his best friend back in high school, after going back to school when he lost his job.  He found himself feeling thrilled when she finds happiness in her marriage to Cliff Laughton.  He then found himself feeling extremely saddened when she died - leaving not only her husband behind, but a toddler as well.

When Len finds himself out of work once more, Cliff's sister proposes that Len offer to help at Cliff's farm.  Arriving at the farm, Len finds Cliff to be still grieving the loss of his wife, trying to raise his son as best he can, and with little get up and go toward work.  Seeing a challenge, Len jumps in with both hands...and finds himself growing closer to Cliff (and vice versa).  It takes a certain kind of courage for them to love each otherr, but then, so does facing the possibility of losing Cliff's farm, a drought that does not seem to want to let up, interfering family members, and Midwestern prejudices that might interfere with what they share.

Love Means...Courage is a story filled with laughter, sadness, joy, love and family...with all of the nuttiness that it entails. It will have you laughing, smiling, and reaching for the tissues in places. A definite keeper!

Page Count: 237

m/m, contemporary

 

Len Parker is laid off during the recession in the early eighties and decides to go back to college at home in rural Michigan, where he reconnects with his best friend from high school, Ruby. He's overjoyed when she marries Cliff Laughton and overcome with sorrow when she dies an untimely death, leaving behind her husband and two-year-old son.

 

Out of work again, Len finds a job at Cliff Laughton's sorely neglected farm. Cliff is still mourning his wife, struggling to raise his son, and has little enthusiasm or energy left for work. Len immediately begins to whip the farm—including the two Laughtons—into shape. Working side by side, Len and Cliff grow ever closer, but loving another man takes a lot of courage. They'll have to stand together as they face faltering business, threatening drought, misguided family, and Midwestern prejudices to protect what might be a lifelong love.