He Rode Tall

excerpt

Opening the letter from each of the companies, he clearly saw
that they both shared the same theme: pay up not just this current
bill but also all of the outstanding bills before the end of the
month or they would cut off his services. Quite a double-
whammy. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it was just the
power or telephone bill, but both of them arriving on the same
day made Joel feel as if the companies were ganging up on him,
and in a short few seconds, he became overwhelmed with helplessness.
What could he do?
Stepping up into the cab of his truck, Joel was just about to pull
away from the barren patch of earth that served as a parking lot next
to the mailboxes when Buck Smith drove his shiny black beast
alongside Joel’s rusty old half-ton. “Just what I need,” Joel thought.
“Howdy do,” offered Buck with a big grin on his face.
One thing about neighbors in the country, Joel thought, is that
you have so few of them that after a while you even find yourself
spending time with the ones that are least likable.
Joel and Buck chatted for a good ten minutes about everything
from how dry the weather was to the price of cattle. It was a good
distraction for Joel. When Joel sensed the conversation was winding
down, he said, “Just thought you would want to know that I
found three of your heifers in my pasture today. I chased them
back in for you.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. With the place getting so big these
days and running all of the head we do, it is tough to stay on top
of everything the way we would like to. I’ll have one of the boys
run by and take a look at the fence. Just to check it out.”
“Good talking to you, Buck” was Joel’s response as he gently
pulled the old half-ton away and steered down the long and dusty
gravel road heading for the Circle H. For the first time in many
years, Joel felt as if he was heading home, perhaps with a bundle
of headaches, but he knew that he had arrived. What he had to do
now was figure out how he could stay.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0980897955

Water in the Wilderness

excerpt

but one lamp standard on a corner lit their way. Rachael led them along the main thoroughfare to a cross street. There she hesitated.
Bobby clutched her hand. “Rachael, I’m cold. When are we gonna be there?”
“Hush, pretty soon.”
Ronald stood and looked at her for a moment. “Do you know how to get to your dad’s place?”
“Course I do. D’ya think I’m stupid or something?”
Ronald shrugged. She set off again, and the boys followed. They passed several intersections but didn’t seem to be getting any further out of town, and Rachael knew that her old home was way on the outskirts of Emblem. She had started to panic when Ronnie drew up even with her on the sidewalk.
“You’re goin’ the wrong way, you know,” he said matter-of-factly.
Rachael stopped and glared at him. “How do you know that, Mr. Smarty-pants?”
With his hands buried deep in his pockets he stared off into the distance where dark clouds threatened to obscure a pink and mauve glow. “Cause I’ve been to Aunt Lydia’s house lots of times, and this ain’t the way.”
“Are we lost?” Bobby began to whimper.
“No, don’t be silly, Bobby,” Rachael said. But a niggling feeling began to gnaw at her insides, and she wondered for a brief moment if it was fear or hunger.
“C’mon then,” Ronald said, “don’t be scared. I know the way. We just have to retrace our steps a little and go around the block.”
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Rachael blurted.
He shrugged. “You said you knew how to get there.”
She felt like kicking him in the seat of his pants, but at the same time she was tremendously relieved. Meekly, she took her brother’s hand again and trudged over the snow behind their cousin.
With Ronnie leading the way, sure of his directions, the journey didn’t seem half as bad. But the raw cold had begun to seep through her clothes, and nip at her face. She felt Bobby shiver beside her, and heard his whimper.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/192676319X

The Circle

excerpt

Hakim smiles and thinks George sounds like any salesperson trying to flog
something out of the gate.
“Make the arrangements, George. We’ll get there with Jennifer no later than
six, six-thirty. Call me, I’ll be here all day.”
“Okay, I’ll call the other agent and make it for six. I’ll confirm with you later.”
Hakim explains to Peter that his real-estate agent has found something
spectacular; they are all spectacular to the agents every time. He tells Peter he has
decided to start looking for a new apartment and that Jennifer is moving in with
him in the new place.
“However, we were talking about the company,” Hakim says.
Peter interrupts him, “You and I are going together. We are going to this
party together and for as long as it takes.”
“Careful now. For as long as it takes; those are your words, right?”
“Yes, partner,” Peter extends his hand and they shake in agreement.
“Let’s keep this to ourselves until we call that extra meeting. See who out of
the key people we can have fully with us, okay?”
As he leaves Peter turns back to Hakim “I’ll have a list of our guys soon.”
This is the first move, Hakim thinks. The first decision leading to the gain of
power, as is expected by Ibrahim. His uncle has high aspirations for him, he
knows, and he knows he cannot fail him.

---

Bevan Longhorn is in his office Tuesday afternoon having his second cup of coffee.
He’s been slowly eating a chicken sandwich his secretary ordered from the
second floor restaurant. Before him, still open, is the Roberts file, with his report
on top as if to hide everything that exists under it. He had given firm instructions
to the two subordinates who conducted the agency’s investigation into the circumstances
surrounding Matthew Robert’s death after he spoke firmly to them,
they all agreed it was a tragic, accidental death.
The final report sits before him him and he doesn’t like the idea of putting it
away.He suspects something is still missing, yet he cannot think what it could be.
He takes a copy of yesterday’s memo issued to the staff under his command.
It’s simple, explanatory, and precise in its wording, like all other department
memos, and serves the needs of the agency and the manner in which it conducts
its business. At the same time it closes the unfortunate incident without further
consequences, or follow-ups. Bevan Longhorn hates follow-ups; he knows they
take you nowhere, prove nothing, and only confuse people. Follow-ups make
enemies of people who have been friends for years.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0978186524