Hello readers,
Life stays busy in the White Mountains. Since I last wrote I have moved to a new location (even deeper in the woods) and have spent time doing author events and writing away. If you are one of the many that came out to Gibson's (Concord, NH) Halloween event or The Bookery's Skullastic Book Fair at To Share Brewery (Manchester, NH) thank you so much for making it a wildly successful night for myself and the other authors that attended. I now have an even longer TBR. sigh One day I'll be all caught up (he says in jest).
I also got the pleasure of attending an author event for the amazing and hilarious Alexander McCall Smith who has famously wrote The no. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series (along with dozens and dozens of other titles) last night. Of course, I also bought his first novel and got to shake his hand and get an autograph. This man was fantastic and if you can see him, please do so. He's worth the visit.
Lastly, I promised you all last time that I would post a short excerpt of one of my recent writings. I chose to give you a small taste of Cody, Wyoming in a short story I wrote for a currently untitled anthology releasing in early 2025. The theme of this anthology is that every author has a decade to develop a story within. Mine is the 1890s. Beneath you will get a taste of what is to come and hopefully your anticipation to read the story and the many authors within will compel you to stay tuned for future updates. Happy reading everyone and stay spooky.
Untitled Short Story--Western (This is currently an unedited copy)
The poor child was stunned when a man with a bandana covering his nose and mouth turned, gun in hand, and pointed it at him. Annabelle had been in the corner of the store hiding and hoping the whole horrible event would end when her love followed the boy in.
She had yet to formally meet the man she would forever refer to as her love, but she was instantly smitten by his look and bravery. Besides, she had never seen a gun moved from hip to hand so quickly. She was so mesmerized by it that she hardly registered the BANG as the bullet left the pistol and hammered its way into the would-be robber's skull.
The young boy dropped to the ground in surprise. Annabelle rose, a smile wide on her face. The wispy tendrils of smoke passed by her hero’s eyes as he twirled the pistol and slid it back into its holster in one smooth motion.
When Annabelle rushed toward him his hand instinctively reached for the gun once more before registering that there was no threat to speak of. No other would-be robber lurking in the back of the store, but just a young, perky girl rushing forward with a smile that could block out the sun.
“Th-that was amazing!” she breathlessly spoke as she grasped her hands to her chest. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
The cowboy tipped his cap and lowered his head. “I hope you never have to see anything like that again, ma’am.”
He turned to leave the store but Annabelle clutched at his arm and urged him to turn to her once more. She had only sipped the sweet nectar of his eyes momentarily and she needed to sate her thirst fully before he walked out of her life.
When he turned he kept his eyes low, the shadow of his hat darkening the windows to his soul. Annabelle bent low, a smile still spread across her face. She risked bringing one hand below his chin, softly urging him to raise his head and stare into her as she wished to stare into him.
The man shifted slightly, his weight shifting from his right leg to his left; his spurs clinked slightly as he did.
“Ma’am, please…” the man started.
“It is impolite to not gaze upon a lady who wishes for your attention.” Annabelle had never been so bold and if her mother had been close by she likely would not have been then either. But, she was alone with him at that moment. He raised his eyes and looked at her. Truly took her in as his crystal blue orbs flicked back and forth over her hazel ones.
Suddenly, the man’s eyes looked past her and widened. Annabelle feared the robber was not truly dead and could imagine the heat of a bullet passing through her body, chipping bones and tearing through muscle. Her legs went momentarily weak and she feared she would fall into his strong, tanned arms. However, modesty won this moment and she caught herself before the man even noticed her sway.
The cowboy simply moved to the side of Annabelle cautiously and took several determined steps past her.
When his eyes unlocked from hers it was as though the world came back into focus. She heard the soft sobs of the child behind her. The cowboy walked over and knelt before the young boy. He raised the boy's chin not unlike what Annabelle had attempted to do moments before to him. The boy inhaled deeply and breathed out all the air he had in his lungs in an attempt to calm himself.
The cowboy glanced over his shoulder before leaning in close to the young boy. He whispered something to him, softly in each ear, and stood back up. The young boy watched him as he rose to his full height, a shadow now cast over the child. The boy made himself stand erect and tightened his face. He reached out to the cowboy with an anticipating hand and clutched the calloused hand of the man who had saved his life.
The boy glanced at the pool of blood that had encircled his shoe, stepped calmly away from it, and made his way out of the store without a glance back over his shoulder.
“What did you say to him?” Annabelle asked in wonder.
The cowboy turned to face the young woman and smiled. “I told him that God was with him today. I told him that he walks with the Lord’s holy light shining down upon him. I told him he will always be protected.”
Annabelle’s mouth hung open. “You are a man of God? But, you just killed a man.”
The cowboy held a finger up gently and corrected her. “I killed an evil man doing the devil’s work. I killed to save an innocent. If there had been another way I would have taken it. I always do.” He paused and found himself drifting off in memory.
She watched him as his eyes drifted to scenes that she could only imagine. His rugged exterior seemed to melt before her eyes, softening his features and somehow making him even more beautiful than he was before.
She reached out and took his hand, another bold move that would have had her mother gasp. He snapped back to the present and offered a slight smile and a light squeeze of her hand.
“Mister, thank you,” the store clerk offered as he finally rose from behind the counter.
The cowboy tipped his hat and walked out the door.
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