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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Meet My New Heroine

My name is Topaz McAllister. Ever since I was quite young, I've worked by my father's side, learning all I can to run the ranch. Pa was never blessed with a son to take over and of his three daughters, I'm the only one who wants to carry on his legacy.

Well, maybe not the only one. My half-sister Emma has her own dreams and with some careful planning, they could come true. I intend to do what I can to help her, but the time isn't yet right.  Pa doesn't think it's a good idea while Victoria, Emma's mother, is determined Emma should be a fine lady. If she only knew...

We've had a few hot days and today is the worst. Being out in the open the sun beats down on you relentlessly. The water in my canteen is warm and tastes terrible but I can't go without. Now that I'm thinking about it I know of a place that is pleasantly cool. A place only one other person knows about since he's the one who discovered it.

After all these years I still kind of miss Jesse but at the same time I still feel angry when I think about him. We were thick as thieves but about ten years ago he left the ranch and never came back. I'm not sure I could forgive him for leaving without saying goodbye. That doesn't matter now. Maybe someday I'll be able to think about him and smile at the memories.

Just up ahead I can hear water rushing and roaring. There's a waterfall that gives off a fine spray and it feels so good on hot days. Don't get me wrong, the ranch hands know about this place, but they don't know what's beyond it. I do.

There's a pathway made of stones that disappear in the pounding water. The foam makes the stones slippery and you have to be very careful. You could slip and fall, and drown before you even knew what was happening. My cow pony is close enough to the water to get a drink and there's plenty of grass to chomp on. I can trust him not to go anywhere. In the meantime, I'm taking that slippery path to a cooler spot.

You learn to respect the fall and the power it holds. Moving carefully I step along the stones until I can squeeze behind the watery curtain to the small cave it hides. There's an immediate difference in the temperature. It must be a good twenty degrees cooler in here. The fact that it's dark helps too. The earth is slightly damp but it feels good as well. There's a pool of water a little further back and it's cold enough to ease a parched throat. After I take a drink and fill my canteen I breathe a deep sigh of contentment and relax.

I can't believe I dozed off like that. From the angle of the sun it must be late afternoon. I hate to leave this cool cave to go back into the heat, but there's no help for it. There's work to be finished. I have to admit I feel much better having spent some time here. One of these days I'll have to come back to re-explore the secrets of this place. Who knows, maybe a few of the dreams I've had here will come true.

Friday, July 12, 2013

How Bad Can It Get?

I realize summer isn't the greatest time to look for something to watch on television. Sure you might be able to catch an episode you missed of your favorite show. (I always manage to catch the ones I've already seen).

The last few years, many summer reruns have been replaced by short season shows that don't make the fall schedule. And some of those shows have run successfully for a few seasons, like The Closer which went off the air when Kyra Sedgewick decided it was time to move on. Her show was  replaced by its spinoff, Major Crimes (which IMHO is just as good). There are other good shows that have short seasons you wish they were longer. But that isn't my point here.

My point is made-for-TV movies. Last night there wasn't much worth watching so  TV viewing was switched over to the SyFy channel. Sharknado??? Okay, something in the line of disaster movies I hadn't yet seen. I'm usually willing to give a new title a shot.

Somebody should have shot it. Actually they did. The heroine was able to blow the heads off a couple of the big guys. (They were man eaters so what did she have to worry about <snicker>) These huge fish are transported throughout Los Angeles by means of a tornado? (Come on guys, hop on board. There's a huge buffet just waiting for us in LA).  In the meantime they're swimming around pools, sewer systems and flooded streets waiting for the next hapless snack.

I don't mind an occasional dumb movie but this one was the dumbest I have ever seen. Is there anything Hollywood hasn't yet done with sharks, crocs, piranhas and snakes? Either they need some new writers or they need writers who can come up with something that's a bit more thought provoking. Viewers (at least this viewer) wants to be entertained and occasionally challenged (with a good action, suspense or thriller) A good science-fiction would be nice, as long as it makes some sense and lets you ask "What if?"

For some years there's been a problem referred to as 'dumbing down America' in which the reading levels have been lowered and the challenge of reading is disappearing. It seems like the quality of many movies is following the same road. They really don't give us anything to think about. Watch it and forget it. If that's how it is, why bother?

Is there something to be done about it? I have no idea since there are so few complaints. In the meantime, I'll just go back to reading my suspense novels and watching "classic" movies.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Where'd The Time Go???

Hard to believe that half the year is gone. It seems as if only yesterday I was setting goals for the year. Now that I look back at the last six months I find  I'm far from a half-way point in getting done what I set out to do.

I know you have to make allowances for things to happen. That's how life is. In some cases I like to invoke Murphy's Law. You know the one that states if something can go wrong, you can count on it happening. Well, that's the gist of it, anyway. Murphy seems to enjoy taking his vacation time here but I think he's long past due to get the boot. If only he would stop being elusive long enough to allow me to do the deed. Then maybe something would get finished around here. I'd rather be yelled at by unhappy characters than have to deal with unwanted shenanigans or unhappy events.

Summer is the season when I get the least done.  I'd rather have dry heat than live with humidity. This is the time when I feel as if my brain has gone to mush...or water-logged. Every day that passes is a day closer to more comfortable weather and productive time. I can't say I don't get anything done, because I do accomplish some things. When I can't sleep because of the muggies I sometimes pull out a craft project and work on it for a while. (I've got a half dozen lap afghans done). Come autumn I expect to be starting a new project -- a quilt for a wedding gift.

In the meantime, I let those pesky characters have their say, hoping they'll come up with something interesting. I've been waiting ten years for one in particular to speak up and he's finally decided to open his mouth. Slowly, but surely he's voicing his frustration over his situation, or rather, the lack of action on the part of others. (Who knows? Maybe Murphy has been harassing him as well) I suppose the lack of verbalizing from the others means they're about as mushed brain as I am.

At least I have another six months to put together their hopes, dreams and frustrations. Who knows... maybe by the end of the year I'll have at least caught up on my goals. And if there is any justice, Murphy will be gone and leave us in peace.
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Here's a sneak peek to "Lady of My Heart".  It follows "To Every Love There Is a Season."

Since I cannot have one daughter, I will take the other. To come after us will guarantee her death.

The words kept going round and round in the stable boy's head, like a cart whell on a rutted road -- hard and pitiless. Geoffrey tried to push them out of his mind, push away the anger that accompanied them. There was no question as to who had abducted the duke's younger daughter. The problem was no one could find them. That  fact alone rekindled Geoffrey's temper. Why had no one heard the least bit of gossip? Why could no one find even a single hint of where Lady Katherine might have been or where she might be going? After all, Nicholas would never consider traveling without a dozen soldiers for protection. He could defend himself, inadequately, but nothing more. And to keep Kitty from trying to escape from him? No, Nicholas would depend on others to do what he should be able to do himself.

Or would he?