Vince ops for unconventional travel by relying on his thumb, his charm and his reckless abandonment of direction or purpose, to explore life as it comes to him.
ALEXANDRIA (ALEX) DUVAL, young widow and owner of the large estate in Show Low Arizona, hires Vince as a temporary ranch hand. She inherited this pristine 350-acre estate in the White Mountains, and prior to Vince was prepared to live out her life of solitude there. What she isn’t prepared for is the sudden interest in her property by those looking to turn a quick profit at the expense of the land. She is also not prepared for the awakened emotions this young hitchhiker is stirring up in her.
The stakes are high and the road to the ranch becomes littered with those who get in the way. This is Show Low where emotions and desires are exposed like raw nerves, and where holding the winning hand, means as much today as it did back in 1870’s.
Excerpt
1. PROLOGUE
The glare of the single flame from the oil lamp threw a long shadow across the cards lying damp and limps on the table. Midnight, and the residual heat of Arizona high desert was oppressive. Ordinary playing cards, handled by sweaty hands caked in trail dust, didn't last long.
“Show low and go out. You take it all.”
“Are you sure?” C.E. Cooley stood, stretching his six-foot frame to its full height.
“I’m sure," Marion Clark said. “There’s only room for one of us, and I’m tired, it's been a long night. Turn the cards. If you have the lowest hand, it’s all yours. If not, then I am going to bed owning a ‘hundred thousand’ acres.”
“Fine with me; beat this,” Cooley said as he rolled his hole card over.
In the waning year of 1872, the outcome of the game would mean that one man would walk away with nothing and the other would walk away with a narrow strip of land totaling about 100,000 acres in the Wet Mountains of what was then the Arizona Territori..
The two partners, C.E. Cooley and Marion Clark laid claim to this strip of land in the White Mountains and they had both agreed that only one could stay. The game selected was ‘seven up and the game had lasted well into the early morning hours with neither man gaining a favorable financial advantage. Finally, in a push, Cooley played "high" which placed him within a point of going out.
Stepping back Clark said, “If you can show low and go out you can have the land.” Cooley prevailed, producing the Deuce of Clubs. Clark didn’t have the ace.
“That’s it. That will be its name as well. Show Low.” Cooley said. Then reaching over to shake his former partner’s hand, “Now – I’m done. When I wake up, this will be a new town.
2.
2010 - 13 miles from Show Low, Arizona on Highway 77.
The traveler, a hitchhiker, crouched just inside the only shelter he could find; a culvert. He squatted hunched over, looking out, watching the tiny rivulets feed the dirty waterway, the same small waterway that threatened to grow into a river.
He had managed to find shelter as the storm intensified, but this was not a good place to be. The old stone and rubble filled – block lined culvert had seen better days and flash floods were common in these parts. They never gave warning. Considering how heavy the rains were coming, he was taking a big risk, but he was dry, although very cramped. He decided to gamble and stay put. He picked out an escape route even though he knew that by the time he heard the roar, it would be too late.
With the rain came the dampness and with the dampness came the smells. Damp and Arizona are not words usually uttered in the same sentence, but at 6400 feet, high in the White Mountains, the dampness settles and penetrates the skin. No matter how cold it became however, the obnoxious odor of dank moldy decomposing vegetation, wet fur and crap pushed through. A collar flap from his jean jacket failed to stop its assault to his nose. Eventually, he’d get used to it.
Looking towards the far end of the culvert, he sought out the source of the stink of wet fur. The strongest smell belonged to the creature that had sought shelter before him. The traveler hoped that it would move, because he wanted to get to the end of the culvert, but it appeared it was not going to move for no man. The creature shook its motley brown matted fur trying to shake some of the water off. Quickly recovering but now comically fluffed out in spots, the small creature remained defiant and fearless. The man shuffled to a new position upping the threat level. Chiseled teeth lay bare and the fur on the back of the creature’s neck stood up. The beast stayed in that fight or flight position for the duration of the rainstorm.
The traveler thought to himself, my life is becoming like this culvert. I’m a collector of crap, dark enemies and garbage.
Unfortunately, for Vince Roberts, this particular collection point was missing a bucket, a box or even a board to wedge against the sides that would allow him to sit down. The culvert was all of five foot clearance inside. He was six, one. He had bumped his head so many times in the last hour, that the bumps were getting bumps.
The muscles in his neck, legs and back were banding into fiery strands of ever tightening knots. He couldn’t sit without getting his ass wet and he couldn’t straighten up without giving himself a concussion. He settled for the only option left open to him. He squatted, along the interior edge, the highest part of the ground, where water only threatened his boots; arms crossed around his knees, back against the dirty culvert wall. He was miserable, cold and the creature blocking the exit, was still staring at him – hungrily, sizing him up. He didn't dare close his eyes to sleep. He was certain that the creature had already sized him up as an easy lunch.
Lightning cracked twice in rapid succession; arching across the gloom in jagged traces of massive energy, leaving a photo print on the night sky and his retinas. The flash lit up the culvert briefly, but did nothing to make it more cheerful. Sitting there in the darkness, he immediately smelled the faint odor of sulfur. It had struck close, melting desert sand to molten beads of glass. Brother Lucifer’s reminder that that every day you walked in the kingdom of his brother, you also walked within feet of the archangel’s domain. The air was acrid with the heavy smell. Apparently, old Lucifer was very close.
Professional Reviews
Opening Dialog Works
I enjoyed the opening sequence-- dialogue to open works well for me...hell anything that lures me beyond the first three paragraphs works. i am one of those terrible people that will read a few pages of a book and decide yes...or...no. I need to be hooked early with that recognition we have of uh-huh this style works for me...this writers voice wants me to read more.
You have all the attributes already mentioned...the pacing is great --yet not so fast that any relevance is lost. yet fast enough to propel the reader forward. I have already formed a warm liking for Vincent. which is totally necessary...I either have to love or hate the MC feelings of that gray area in between can be reserved for less important characters...yet I have the distinct feeling that if you do introduce anyone at all, they will be relevant.. and not be mentioned just to window dress
i have backed this book with great pleasure.
Suzannah Burke
Interesting Read
G, this is really an interesting read. Who doesn't like a story about a guy who wants no part of convention and just wants to knock around a little. A modern day Kerouac type. C1 is very intriguing and pulls the reader right in. I was just as happily engaged in C2. Like the part where Vince falls asleep with a rat in a culvert then dreams of his childhood. Very imaginative way to dole out background information, clever. This is one of the not too many I would like to keep reading, and I probably will if time allows. Nice work. Backed.
Thomas J Winton
"Beyond Nostalgia"
A Man in need of a cause
Show Low - A man in need of a cause hits a town that was won in a poker game. I warmed to the telling but felt Vince revealed his background to Alex rather soon, which flattened the tension. I liked the scene with the rattle snake. Your may want to work on showing through action during your next edit, and minimize the telling at the start.. The writing flows well. And the premise promises heat to come.
Let your children enjoy the wonders and adventures of pets that join a family, bringing joy and heartwarming moments to their everyday lives. This story is about Tubby and Riley, two dogs who needed a good, loving home.
