It is a beautiful morning! The sun is coming up and I can't see a
single cloud in the blue sky! After more than a week of clouds and
rain, the sunshine yesterday was wonderful and I'm looking forward to
enjoying it today. Of course all that rain made our grass grow (at
least the weeds) and now I need to mow.
Important: All Western Readers Should Read This
After thinking about doinganother Western Week, I suddenly was struck with a new idea. Since I
have been writing quite a few parts to Meleah's Western as well as
working on my Ranch story (by the way, I still need a a name for this
ranch, so if ANYONE has ANY ideas, PLEASE let me know!!!), and that
doesn't count the short stories that I have yet to post on here, I
decided that I needed to do something. Therefore, starting this coming
week, I will be posting a Western on Wednesday. That makes it Western
Wednesdays.:) And then you can come back for your Fiction on Fridays.
That way I can still post different things without making my readers
wait too long for more Westerns. If there isn't a western posted some
Wednesday, that means I don't have one written. (Unless I just forgot
to post.:))
But that is the Western. I have been doing some other writing. And a
lot of thinking about stories. Here is some trivia for you to guess.
~How many long stories I have started?
~How many other long stories have I thought about and are longing to start?
~How many short stories have I written?
~About how many words do I write at one "sitting"?
Okay, I'll quit talking and let you read.:) I hope you enjoy Part 2 of
the Ranch story. (Doesn't anyone have any ideas for the name of this
ranch?)
Part 2
“Ah, Mr. Mavrich, I’m glad you have
arrived safely.” Mr. Athey stood up and held out his hand as Norman
entered the library. “Although I regret that the necessity for your
coming had to be these circumstances,” he added. Norman smiled. “I wish
I could have come more often, however, ranch life doesn’t exactly lend
itself to absences very often.” “I understand.” The two gentlemen sat
down in the great leather armchairs by the desk. Rows of shelves lined
with books of every sort nearly filled two of the walls from floor to
ceiling of the room while three large windows in heavy draperies served
to lighten the room when the drapes were opened as they were now. “What
are the facts, Mr. Athey? Give me the basic thoughts and then we’ll go
on to fill in the details.” “Very well. It is really quite simple. Your
grandmother left this house for your sister when she reaches twenty-one
years of age. She also willed her a large sum of money to be held by
you until she reaches that age. She had purchased years ago, a piece of
land on which a mine was opened and has been in operation for some time
now. That land, with all the profit of the mining outfit has been left
to you. You, as I mentioned in my letter, I believe, are Orlena’s only
natural and therefore her only legal guardian until she reaches the age
of twenty-one. This leaves you with the sole responsibility of deciding
where she will live, what schools she shall attend and so forth. That
is Mrs. Mavrich’s entire last will and testament in a nutshell. Oh,” he
said, reaching for a folder lying on the desk. “I almost forgot.”
Thumbing through the papers with which the folder was crammed, he at
last pulled out a sealed envelope and holding it out to Norman remarked
quietly, “This was to be given to you in person.” Norman took the
envelope and looked at the handwriting on the front. There was no doubt
it was from his grandmother. The fancy curves and flourishes adorning
his full name on the front was proof enough of that. Slowly he turned
the thing over in his hand wondering what she had written. Mr. Athey
pulled out his watch and looked at the time; then he arose. “I’m afraid
I will have to depart. I have another meeting which requires my
presence, and I’m sure you must be tired after your trip. When would
you like to meet again and finish this business?” “Would this evening
be convenient for you, Mr. Athey? I don’t like to be away from the
ranch longer than I have to, and--” “I completely understand, Mr.
Mavrich. This evening will be completely satisfactory for me. Until
this evening then,” and with another handshake, the lawyer quietly
departed leaving Norman alone in the library. For several minutes he
sat lost in thought, fingering the envelope in his hands, pondering
what he had heard. Then, as though he had been suddenly awakened, he
stood, walked to a window and looked out, then turning, he too left the
room. It was an easy task for him to find Mrs. O’Connor and learn that
Orlena was still in her room and that his own room was ready for him.
Mounting the stairs, he passed down the hall, the thickly carpeted
floors giving back no sound of his footsteps. For a brief moment he
paused beside his sister’s room and listened. On hearing no sound
within, he continued to his room, entered, and shut the door behind
him. Everything about him brought back memories. “Nothing has changed
since I was here last,” he murmured softly, running his hand over the
ornately carved desk and fingering the rich fabric of the bedspread. He
sighed. “How I dreaded coming here. Everything was so stiff and proper,
Orleana was a--” he cleared his throat rather ruefully and left his
sentence unfinished as he sat down by the open window watching the sun
play across the floor and the cover of the bed. A little, warm puff of
air blew in stirring his brown hair and causing the envelope still in
his hand to sway. “I almost forgot about this. I wonder what she has to
say this time, “ Norman mused, his brow a thoughtful frown while he
broke the seal and
pulled out the single sheet of delicate paper. “To My Grandson Norman
Mavrich,” he read. “When you read this, I will be in my grave and
beyond the capability of trying to undo what I have done. I see now
what I wouldn’t see before, namely that I have, with my own hands and
thoughtlessness spoiled your sister, Orlena. And now that I see what I
have done, I am leaving her in your care. You tried to tell me, to show
me the future, but I refused to listen. I have given Orlena everything
she wanted if at all possible and always sided with her, often against
you, in years past. I regret it deeply now and trust that you can
forgive an old lady for her pride. I was so sure I knew how to raise a
girl, though as you know, I never had but one son, your father. Well, I
failed, miserably. Can you find it in your heart to try to undo the
harm I have caused? Perhaps it is too late, but would you, for my sake,
try? Your uncle raised you well after your parents’ death. Hiram was
never like me, and I wanted nothing to do with him after he bought that
ranch. He was poor except what he earned by hard work while I was rich.
Yet my riches didn’t bring happiness, not true happiness, to me or
Orlena. Do what you can, Norman. For my sake, for the sake of your
parents, for the sake of your sister, I beg you, do your best to rescue
Orlena from herself.”
arrived safely.” Mr. Athey stood up and held out his hand as Norman
entered the library. “Although I regret that the necessity for your
coming had to be these circumstances,” he added. Norman smiled. “I wish
I could have come more often, however, ranch life doesn’t exactly lend
itself to absences very often.” “I understand.” The two gentlemen sat
down in the great leather armchairs by the desk. Rows of shelves lined
with books of every sort nearly filled two of the walls from floor to
ceiling of the room while three large windows in heavy draperies served
to lighten the room when the drapes were opened as they were now. “What
are the facts, Mr. Athey? Give me the basic thoughts and then we’ll go
on to fill in the details.” “Very well. It is really quite simple. Your
grandmother left this house for your sister when she reaches twenty-one
years of age. She also willed her a large sum of money to be held by
you until she reaches that age. She had purchased years ago, a piece of
land on which a mine was opened and has been in operation for some time
now. That land, with all the profit of the mining outfit has been left
to you. You, as I mentioned in my letter, I believe, are Orlena’s only
natural and therefore her only legal guardian until she reaches the age
of twenty-one. This leaves you with the sole responsibility of deciding
where she will live, what schools she shall attend and so forth. That
is Mrs. Mavrich’s entire last will and testament in a nutshell. Oh,” he
said, reaching for a folder lying on the desk. “I almost forgot.”
Thumbing through the papers with which the folder was crammed, he at
last pulled out a sealed envelope and holding it out to Norman remarked
quietly, “This was to be given to you in person.” Norman took the
envelope and looked at the handwriting on the front. There was no doubt
it was from his grandmother. The fancy curves and flourishes adorning
his full name on the front was proof enough of that. Slowly he turned
the thing over in his hand wondering what she had written. Mr. Athey
pulled out his watch and looked at the time; then he arose. “I’m afraid
I will have to depart. I have another meeting which requires my
presence, and I’m sure you must be tired after your trip. When would
you like to meet again and finish this business?” “Would this evening
be convenient for you, Mr. Athey? I don’t like to be away from the
ranch longer than I have to, and--” “I completely understand, Mr.
Mavrich. This evening will be completely satisfactory for me. Until
this evening then,” and with another handshake, the lawyer quietly
departed leaving Norman alone in the library. For several minutes he
sat lost in thought, fingering the envelope in his hands, pondering
what he had heard. Then, as though he had been suddenly awakened, he
stood, walked to a window and looked out, then turning, he too left the
room. It was an easy task for him to find Mrs. O’Connor and learn that
Orlena was still in her room and that his own room was ready for him.
Mounting the stairs, he passed down the hall, the thickly carpeted
floors giving back no sound of his footsteps. For a brief moment he
paused beside his sister’s room and listened. On hearing no sound
within, he continued to his room, entered, and shut the door behind
him. Everything about him brought back memories. “Nothing has changed
since I was here last,” he murmured softly, running his hand over the
ornately carved desk and fingering the rich fabric of the bedspread. He
sighed. “How I dreaded coming here. Everything was so stiff and proper,
Orleana was a--” he cleared his throat rather ruefully and left his
sentence unfinished as he sat down by the open window watching the sun
play across the floor and the cover of the bed. A little, warm puff of
air blew in stirring his brown hair and causing the envelope still in
his hand to sway. “I almost forgot about this. I wonder what she has to
say this time, “ Norman mused, his brow a thoughtful frown while he
broke the seal and
pulled out the single sheet of delicate paper. “To My Grandson Norman
Mavrich,” he read. “When you read this, I will be in my grave and
beyond the capability of trying to undo what I have done. I see now
what I wouldn’t see before, namely that I have, with my own hands and
thoughtlessness spoiled your sister, Orlena. And now that I see what I
have done, I am leaving her in your care. You tried to tell me, to show
me the future, but I refused to listen. I have given Orlena everything
she wanted if at all possible and always sided with her, often against
you, in years past. I regret it deeply now and trust that you can
forgive an old lady for her pride. I was so sure I knew how to raise a
girl, though as you know, I never had but one son, your father. Well, I
failed, miserably. Can you find it in your heart to try to undo the
harm I have caused? Perhaps it is too late, but would you, for my sake,
try? Your uncle raised you well after your parents’ death. Hiram was
never like me, and I wanted nothing to do with him after he bought that
ranch. He was poor except what he earned by hard work while I was rich.
Yet my riches didn’t bring happiness, not true happiness, to me or
Orlena. Do what you can, Norman. For my sake, for the sake of your
parents, for the sake of your sister, I beg you, do your best to rescue
Orlena from herself.”
Any
questions or comments?
And does anyone have any idea of why the format for my posts has
suddenly become so strange? I have tried all kinds of things and it is
still putting returns where there are none and leaving out the returns
I put in. I can't figure it out.:{ But it is rather annoying.
questions or comments?
And does anyone have any idea of why the format for my posts has
suddenly become so strange? I have tried all kinds of things and it is
still putting returns where there are none and leaving out the returns
I put in. I can't figure it out.:{ But it is rather annoying.
1 comment:
It's sunny here too, which it hasn't been in a while! :)
I would guess that you have 2 or 3 long stories started & several others that you want to start..do you mean how many short stories have you written in the past several years? over 100??? :) And maybe you write 500 words per sitting?? I really have no clue :)
I will look foward to Wednesdays! :)
Post a Comment