Life & Death In The OId West: A Classic Western

By Susan Hart

Life & Death In The Old West: In this classic western suitable for late teens or adults, a young family heads west and builds their ranch, their family, and their horse breeding business. All is idyllic, until Hell breaks loose.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: Jun 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310784705

Susan Hart

I was born in England, but have lived in Southern California for many years. I m now retired and live in the Pacific NW in a little seaside city amongst the giant redwoods and wonderful harbor, almost at the Oregon border. My husband and I have one cat, called Midnight and she is featured in two of my latest Sci-Fi short stories. I love Science Fiction, animals, and trying to help others. I publish under Doreen Milstead as well as my own name. My photo was taken right before the coronation of QE II in the UK.

Book preview

Life & Death In The Old West

By

Susan Hart

Copyright 2014 Susan Hart

Smashwords Edition

Wiley Rogers watched his kids playing in the dusty corral that used to contain a small herd of palomino horses bred for sale by him. It had, for several years, been a profitable business for Wiley and his wife. They had done very well.

However, that was when she was alive and life was good. For the past two years, his world had dwindled down to loneliness, depression and a struggle. Nothing more. As he sat there watching his offspring, Wiley finally admitted to himself that he had two choices: Get on with living or give up. Giving up would be the hardest, he also admitted, so changing his situation would be his only choice, really, and his responsibility.

C’mon in, kids, he yelled. It’s about to get dark and we have to be up early in the morning.

All four of them, two boys and two girls, slowly walked over to their father. Ben, the oldest at seven years, and always the speaker for his siblings, was frowning.

Pop, it ain’t ‘bout dark neither. Can’t we play some more? We did our chores like you said.

Wiley rose from the front steps of the three room cabin and brushed off the dirt from his youngest daughter. Nope. We have things to do tomorrow, so we’ll need our sleep. Now into the house to wash up before bed.

Shit! Ben said, kicking the dirt.

Wiley took a swipe at the boy’s behind and missed as Ben ran up the steps too quickly, the rest of the kids following suit. You missed, he turned to his father and said, laughing, the gap in his front teeth shining from the loss of his first baby tooth.

All the kids laughed at their daring older brother, but they did as they were told. Ben had become daring and hard to handle at times, but Wiley didn’t blame him. In many ways, he had taken on the responsibility of compensating for his dead mother.

What are we doing tomorrow? Sarah, the oldest girl and second child asked. It was a good question, because most days, they did the same things all over again…get up, listen to a book lesson from their father’s meager attempt at teaching them to read, and then help him with the garden, feeding the pigs and cow or the two horses they still had.

We’re going somewhere, Wiley answered, patting her head.

To grandma’s? the youngest girl, Lila asked, clapping her hands. The kids loved to go to Wiley’s mother’s house where they would be cleaned up, fed and allowed to play on her grassy lawns. There was nothing like grandma’s house to relieve them from their boring and routine lives on the ranch, if it could be called such.

Yep, Wiley answered, herding them all into the one bedroom they shared. That’s where we’re going, all right!

Now, the whole bunch was excited, which pleased Wiley. He didn’t get to make the trip often, and they all enjoyed the diversion immensely.

In addition, to Wiley, this was a purposeful trip. One in which he would finally agree to his mother’s suggestion of the year before. It was time to find himself another wife, and he knew his mother would be anxious to lead the search. She had said so many times.

As he fell asleep that night, Wiley spoke quietly to his wife’s image. I don’t know anything else to do, Honey. I need help with the kids and with myself. I am afraid of what I’ll do if there isn’t someone to keep me sane. I hope you’ll forgive me and know that you are always going to be the only woman I truly love.

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