The Masquerading Cowboy

By Linda Pendleton

A story of love, life, and choices. Edward Michael White always lives on the edge, welcoming and confronting dangers, and all the while unaware of the deep impact he has on four women who loved him.

The Masquerading Cowboy, an award winning short story, is by Linda Pendleton, author of fiction and nonfiction books and comic book adaptations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Pendleton
• Release date: Aug 6, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452398280

Linda Pendleton

Linda Pendleton has written in a variety of genres: nonfiction, mystery novels, nonfiction ecourses, comic book scripting, and screenplays. She coauthored nonfiction and fiction with her late husband, renowned author, Don Pendleton, including the popular nonfiction books, To Dance With Angels, and Whispers From the Soul. A few of her other nonfiction books are A Walk Through Grief; Three Principles of Angelic Wisdom; A Small Drop of Ink. Her fiction work includes her novels, The Unknown; Sound of Silence; Deadly Flare-Up; Roulette, The Search for the Sunrise Killer by Don and Linda Pendleton; her Catherine Winter Mystery series, Shattered Lens; Fractured Image; Shifting Focus; Corn Silk Days, Iowa, 1862; The Bold Trail, A Samuel Garrison Western. She has won awards for her ebooks. Linda is a former member of The Authors Guild, and EPIC Authors. SAhe is currently a member of Sisters in Crime and Western Fictioneers. Four of her early ebooks won Epic Awards. Although most of her time is devoted to her love of writing, she also enjoys the exploration of her family's genealogical roots. Linda's book covers are designed with Judy Bullard. They have worked together for nearly two decades. Check out Judy's book cover gallery at http://www.customebookcovers.com. Judy is listed as one of Smashwords suggested cover designers.

Book preview

THE MASQUERADING COWBOY

by

Linda Pendleton

Linda Pendleton’s short story, The Masquerading Cowboy won a Short Story First Place Award in 2002.

Pendleton Artists

California

The Masquerading Cowboy by Linda Pendleton

© Copyright 2001, 2009, 2012 by Linda Pendleton, All Rights Reserved.

Smashwords Edition by Pendleton Artists

This book may not be copied, in whole or in part, or transmitted, passed on or in any way given or sold to any third party by any means. Linda Pendleton asserts her right to be identified as the intellectual property holder.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Judy Bullard.

Cover Model, Jimmy Thomas.

Also by Linda Pendleton

Fiction:

The Unknown

Shattered Lens: Catherine Winter, Private Investigator

Fractured Image: Catherine Winter, Private Investigator

Corn Silk Days, Iowa, 1862

Sound of Silence

Roulette: The Search for the Sunrise Killer by Don and Linda Pendleton

Nonfiction:

Three Principles of Angelic Wisdom

A Walk Through Grief

A Small Drop of Ink

Angelic Whispers of Love

To Dance With Angels by Don and Linda Pendleton

Whispers From the Soul by Don and Linda Pendleton

Metaphysics of the Novel by Don Pendleton, Linda Pendleton

E-Books:

A Loving Presence

The UFO Phenomena: The Cosmic SOS

How Thin the Veil! 150 Years of Spiritualism

E-Courses:

Journey to the Heart

Healing Whispers

Comic Adaptations:

The Executioner War Against the Mafia,

Don and Linda Pendleton

The Executioner Death Squad, Linda Pendleton

THE MASQUERADING COWBOY

"Memory is deceptive because it is

colored by today's events."

~Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One: Barbara

Chapter Two: Degrees

Chapter Three: Antonia

Chapter Four: Sally

Chapter Five: Darlene

Chapter Six: Memories

About the Author

Prologue

A stench of mildew and dankness hung over the small confined space. The early morning sun was beginning to peek through the small slit in the worn drape that covered the window near the narrow bed where Edward Michael White lay sleeping. He wore a black T-shirt, Levi’s, and dark socks on his feet. The sunlight was beginning to leave its increasing mark across his neck and onto his face, moving upward, toward his eye.

The crowing of a nearby rooster could be heard along with the songs of sparrows and robins, and soon the expanding sounds generated by the early light of dawn stirred White to a state of wakefulness.

He awoke with a start, and a momentary flash of panic came into his eyes. He uttered a big sigh, dropped his head back onto the cushion and closed his eyes. He was still for several minutes before again opening his eyes. When he did, they were met by the sunlight that had now reached them. He shifted and moved his head away from the encroaching light. He soon sat up and swung his feet around and down onto the cold tile floor. He reached toward his leather cowboy boots and picked up the right boot and examined it. It was caked with mud.

He mumbled under his breath and grabbed a towel that was laying near by and began to