Eric T. Knight's Blog, page 31

Tales from Date Creek Ranch – Roundups

I want to try and explain what roundups were like on Date Creek Ranch. Everyone’s watched Westerns and so everyone has some idea of what roundups are like. Lots of cowboys dressed in proper cowboy hats and other cowboy-related attire. Chasing down cows and roping them, maybe dragging them back to the herd. And a … Continue reading Tales from Date Creek Ranch – Roundups

Tel’al’s Tale – Hunger’s Reach – Book IV

Tel’al stopped, puzzled. She was a tall, gangly, somewhat awkward, middle-aged woman. Above all else, she didn’t like surprises. Calm and predictable was the way she liked it. Yet here the day had barely started and already it was clear her day wasn’t going to go that way. She approached the sand dune cautiously. She … Continue reading Tel’al’s Tale – Hunger’s Reach – Book IV

Tales from Date Creek Ranch – The one that still hurts

I got back from riding up the creek one afternoon. I’d spent the day riding alone, checking on some fences or cows, I don’t remember. I must have been about nine or ten. I unsaddled my horse, turned her out and went to the house. I’d only been there a few minutes when Mom asked … Continue reading Tales from Date Creek Ranch – The one that still hurts

Tales from Date Creek Ranch – Foxtail and Delbert

Dogs were a big part of daily life at the ranch. We always had two or three, mostly Australian shepherds, though we migrated on to Queensland heelers as I got older. However, like everything and everyone else at Date Creek Ranch, they had a job to do. No freeloaders at the ranch, no sir. They … Continue reading Tales from Date Creek Ranch – Foxtail and Delbert

The pain of scorpion peppers

Macht Wulf Rome, the man known as the Black Wolf, feared far and wide by his enemies, fierce and ruthless in battle, sniffled and wept openly. Tears poured down his cheeks and gathered in his great, bristling, black beard before dripping onto the breastplate of his distinctive black armor, smearing the dried blood splashed there. … Continue reading The pain of scorpion peppers

Tales from Date Creek Ranch – a new brother is born and he will not be denied

When I was almost four, my younger brother Scott was born. For some reason I have a memory of standing outside the Wickenburg Hospital in the dark, standing on my tiptoes and peering through the window to catch a glimpse of my newborn brother. I don’t know who was with me, though I would imagine … Continue reading Tales from Date Creek Ranch – a new brother is born and he will not be denied

Tales from Date Creek Ranch – Dinah takes my finger

I’ve had some interesting run-ins with the larger ranch fauna (i.e. horses and cows) in my day, and when I say interesting I mean painful. And by run-ins I mean injuries. I carry a number of battle scars to this day, although battle scars would indicate that there was a battle and in battles both … Continue reading Tales from Date Creek Ranch – Dinah takes my finger

Rome frees Quyloc from the hunter

Rome opened his eyes to see T’sim standing over him. He knew instantly that something was wrong. He could feel it in his gut and deep in his bones. T’sim held a small lantern. “It is Quyloc,” he said. Rome came to his feet in one movement, gathering up the black axe as he did. … Continue reading Rome frees Quyloc from the hunter

Tales from Date Creek Ranch – An orchard in the middle of the desert?

When I was a small child, Dad decided that it was time we got into the peach and apple business. You know, just in case we didn’t have enough work to do, what with five people to work 38,000 acres of land crisscrossed with rusted, sagging fences and skinny, belligerent cows. Though he knew nothing … Continue reading Tales from Date Creek Ranch – An orchard in the middle of the desert?

Watching the End of the World – the hostage 5

Omisha burst into the common room from the warehouse. “Where’s Akila?” she cried. “Back in her room, I think,” Jenna said. She was sitting at the dining table. Across from her was Caleb, still drinking. Tamara and Santiago were sitting on the couch watching a DVD. Hearing the alarm in the other woman’s voice, she … Continue reading Watching the End of the World – the hostage 5