Fic Rec: Unbranded Air

[swissmarg]

Title: Unbranded Air
Author: suitesamba
Pairing: John/Sherlock
Length: 48,249 words
Rating: Mature
Warnings: None
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: John Watson, widower, tried to leave medicine behind when he left England and came to America. Sherlock Holmes, trying to avoid the marriage his family insisted on, was sent to America after embarrassing his mother and damaging his family's social reputation. Hired to help solve a cattle rustling ring with his unbelievable deductive skills and knowledge of soils, Sherlock is injured and taken to John's ranch. He holes up there while his broken leg heals and pulls John into the investigation, and the two find common ground in more ways than either expected. An AU set in the Wyoming Territory in the 1890s, with John as an army doctor/Afghanistan veteran who wants to start over and Sherlock as a detective without a mobile phone and only John to ease his boredom.

Reccer's comments: I've seen a couple of attempts at Sherlock fics set in the Wild West, but in my opinion this is the one that really hits the bull's eye. John and Sherlock are still Englishmen but given valid reasons for being in Wyoming. When they meet, the two form a fast and unusual friendship that gradually becomes more. There is a case going on which is nicely done, but mostly the attraction of this fic for me is the novel setting - it's especially fun to 'see' them wearing Western gear (the chaps kind of left me breathless) - and the exploration of John's past. And of course how John and Sherlock deal with their mutual attraction in an era that was decidedly not open to that sort of thing.

Excerpt:

His gaze moved down from John’s face, and it was only John’s imagination that it lingered on the leather chaps. “You surprised me - coming in here like that,” Sherlock said. “I’d never peg you for an Englishman in those clothes.”

John welcomed the change of subject. He tugged at the bandana around his neck, pulling it around until he could untie the knot.

“I resisted at first. I didn’t want to look like everyone else here, but soon realised there’s a reason for everything they wear.” He indicated his feet. “Boots for protection - especially against snake bite. The denims are tough and warm, chaps keep the cactus spines out and help the denim last even longer. Bandana’s for the dust - Mrs. Hudson irons them before I wear them - the boys think she mothers me.”

Sherlock’s eyes rose to John’s hat. It was John’s favorite, a Stetson Calvary hat, black with tan ties. John looked surprised, then reached up and took it off his head.

“Forgot about it,” he said. “I heard the music and...well, I got distracted.”

“It suits you,” Sherlock said. “Much more than the mustache does.”

John cracked a smile. “Still on about that,” he said. “Maybe I like it because it covers my ugly mouth.”

Sherlock had picked up his violin and tucked it under his chin. He held the bow at the ready, then turned his head slowly to stare at John.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. He drew the bow down over the strings slowly and didn’t say another word.

Comments

[glos10.livejournal.com]

Just finished reading this one and it was super good! Loved it! Thanks for the rec!

[swissmarg]

Cool, thanks for letting me know. :)