John C. Horst's Blog, page 21

She was up now and sat at the side of the bed. She was pretty in the candlelight.

“You are such a fool, Hobbsie. You don’t even know what you did wrong. How will you not do it again? You cannot make such a promise. It is a silly and empty promise. You are such a fool.”
“Well then, tell me. Tell me what I’ve done wrong.” He needed a peppermint, did not have one, and settled for a cigar. She was up now and sat at the side of the bed. She was pretty in the candlelight.
“You said some things to the Irish boys and you gave a little grin and you looked at me. That is not the right thing and I did not like this. We, what we do, is our business and I am not someone you may tell about. I am not some conquista, some whore you bounce on and brag to your men about.”
She was angry but not so angry that she was through with him. She watched him blanch and that was a good sign. Hobbs was truly embarrassed and meant no harm. He understood the impropriety of his acts, nonetheless, even if what Rosario saw him do was misinterpreted. He would never, ever brag to the men about her. He could not even remember the incident, could not make the connection, but what Rosario saw was real to her, and that was enough. He had to make it right.  ALLINGHAM

“It’s a cesspool.”

CANYON DIABLO Her father continued as he could not bear the discomfort of the man in the chair. He changed the subject.  “Sergeant Allingham, we understand that you’ve made a visit to Canyon Diablo. What’s your assessment of the place?”
“It’s a cesspool.”
The men of the committee laughed politely. The new lawman did not mince words. Mr. Halsted continued. “As you may know, the land is actually part of the reservation and, as such, is under federal jurisdiction. We’ve made some inquiries; you’d receive an appointment as a US Marshal and be paid by the federal government. You’d have more authority that way, and we’ll be here to support you, but you will have the freedom to do what you need to keep the peace…”
One elderly gent spoke up, “And keep alive.” ALLINGHAM

It truly was the rich man’s war and the poor man’s fight.

Ewell's Dead, Spotsylvania His father hadn’t been young. He’d had a family but the war had used up many men and his father was too poor to hire a substitute or pay the three hundred dollar commutation fee. So off to war he went and he never returned. It truly was the rich man’s war and the poor man’s fight. Francis’s father was dying proof of that.
He had been a conscientious man, quiet and gentle. He had been lined up shoulder to shoulder with a lot of other conscientious and quiet men and led into a hail of bullets and cut down at some inconsequential and unnecessary battle somewhere in Pennsylvania or Virginia. The government couldn’t even tell them exactly where.  ALLINGHAM

She liked to pretend to be in the old west when she was at the ranch.

She thought about going down to Santa Rosalia and perhaps getting into a little trouble there, maybe do some gambling. She liked to pretend to be in the old west when she was at the ranch. It was exciting and hopefully a little dangerous. It never was. The people didn’t want to play. They just wanted to live out their lives and did not pay much attention to a sassy twenty year old Americana. THE MULE TAMER III, MARTA'S QUEST

FREE TODAY, Amazon #1 Best Seller, The Mule Tamer

"A mighty fine, meandering Western" ~ Kirkus Reviews

"This is a fairy tale for cowgirls. Love the story, love Chica. Read and ride away on a tall, tall tale. Yahooooooooo!"

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM

Cora Chiquita, Female Desperado, Runs Amok

Paul Valentine Lantz ~ el Baile Cora Chiquita, Female Desperado, Runs Amok

Flagstaff. — The peace officers of this county have arrested Cora Chiquita, known as “Cora the Cowgirl,” who made a sensation here on Friday night by riding up and down the main street, a revolver in each hand, yelling and shooting at everyone whose appearance did not suit her fancy.
Not until the girl, who is known far and wide as “the beautiful devil,” had loped out of town did the sheriff and his posse show their heads. They later found her unconscious in an abandoned Indian hogan.
La Chiquita is one of the best shots in the Arizona territory, and is said to be in close touch with a bad gang of outlaws in the Southwest. She is 23 years old, pretty as a picture, about a quarter-blood Cherokee, wears man’s attire, always carries two revolvers and is a fearless rider. Not long ago she was driven out of New Mexico for general reckless shooting. She has killed several men. She is being held in the Flagstaff jail, under triple guard, awaiting trial. THE MULE TAMER

She pulled out her page from the Bible and looked the Commandments over again. They were good rules and necessary for a good society.

Santa Maguey, Cristina Cardenas She stopped at one of her favorite spots, settled her horse and made a good camp. The lady fence gave her a couple of bottles of the delicious French wine. She drank one and ate some jerky and beans. She missed the lady fence. She thought about the woman seducing her and it made her feel good and also, sad, because she thought the lady must be very lonely. Maria could not do or be for the woman and it must have been very frustrating as Maria knew how beautiful she was to the woman. She was more beautiful than almost anyone in all the places she’d ever been.
She pulled out her page from the Bible and looked the Commandments over again. They were good rules and necessary for a good society. Maybe there was something to them. Certainly people could not live against them. Was she really living against them? She did steal, but from people who needed to be stolen from. She lied but only with the best intentions. She’d take a man if she wanted one, but not a married one. That would be unkind to the man’s wife and she would never hurt a woman or a child.
She killed, but again, it was right to kill the two bandits. She did curse, but was saying God’s name in vain really all that bad? She thought about the lady fence again. Was God just a spirit and not an old man with a big white beard floating around on clouds up in the sky, in heaven? If he was just a spirit, or even just a great force, how could you offend Him? MARIA'S TRAIL

He is a good lover and he is a good man and good friend. I am not going to give him any trouble. This is our secret. Redshirt has a jealous wife. You understand?

Irene Carranza “I know Redshirt very well, Francis.” She saw him grin and knew he didn’t understand. She figured she’d just go ahead and get it over with. “He used to visit me when he was out this way doing business.” She smiled and looked on at Francis who she knew could be quite the bumpkin sometimes. He still did not understand. “In a biblical way, Francis.”
“Oh, oh!” He blushed and she smiled again.
“He’s a good one, Francis. He is a good lover and he is a good man and good friend. I am not going to give him any trouble. This is our secret. Redshirt has a jealous wife. You understand?”
“Sí, Mamacita, I understand. Mum’s the word.” He put a finger to his lips. He rode on and looked back at his companion. “You are full of surprises, Mamacita, full of surprises for sure.”
“I know he trusts you, Francis, but he trusts me, too. Between us we will get him to go in, I am certain of this. We need to do this. He’s a good man, and he’s had many bad things from you gringos. Many bad things have happened to the Navajos. Many bad things.” ALLINGHAM

Most young girls had a nanny; Rebecca Halsted had a Sikh warrior and she’d have it no other way.

Saluting Off-duty soldier, 45th Rattrays' Sikhs She checked on Mr. Singh who was finishing some correspondence at his desk. He looked up at her and smiled warmly.
“Ready, Mr. Singh?”
“One moment, Kaur.”
She loved Mr. Singh. He had been with her from the time she could remember. Most young girls had a nanny; Rebecca Halsted had a Sikh warrior and she’d have it no other way.
Mr. Singh came into their lives more than twenty years before when Rebecca’s father was sent to India. The two soldiers became fast friends and constant companions. When Rebecca’s mother and Mr. Singh’s family were taken in the mutiny, it was a natural transition for him to move on with the Halsteds. There was no longer anything in India to keep him. He was alone in the world. ALLINGHAM

Horst is the bomb

Pola Lopez 5.0 out of 5 stars Horst is the bomb, February 19, 2013 By  magnus quitmeyer - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase( What's this? ) This review is from: The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest (Kindle Edition) This is an absolute awesome follow up to the series. Hats off. Interesting time in history. I just wish it was longer. The Mule Tamer III, Marta's Quest