Lost and Found

“What the eff is that?” I mumble to myself as I continue to trudge up the game trail. I can’t help but scout around to see if there's anybody – or perhaps, simply a body, dead -- anywhere about. Thankfully, there isn’t. And I can't help wonder aloud, "How in the hell do you lose …

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Death in a Single Swallow

Sleep never came easily to Manny. To combat it, he could often be found taking lonely walks at all hours of the night or morning. Oddly, one of the more comforting places he would visit in the dark was the century-and-a-half old Hebrew Cemetery, nearby on Angel Street above the University of Nevada, Reno. There …

Rabbitholed

When he first entered the opening, Aaron surely knew which way was up. He also had a certainty that he could find his way back, especially after he located the stairwell leading downward. Somehow though, between the heaviness of the air and the extreme darkness, Aaron realized he was confused. He stopped, trying to gather …

The Clever Herr Duerr

The clever Herr Johann Duerr had the art of the sale down to a science; wait a day after the latest attack and show up in town with the remedy. In this case, Vampire Killing Kits. Not only did his kit come with Holy Water, a Bible, a large crucifix and smaller rosary bead set, …

Woman with Blue Washcloth

This is August's watercolor.

Wooden Wing Frame

A few weeks before the tearing down of the Nevada Hereford Ranch barn and other outbuildings in Spanish Springs, Nevada, I decided to go exploring the buildings that weren't locked. In one of the outbuildings I found the remains of a wooden wing frame, a throwback to when the National Reno Air Races were held …

Hair of Man

“We gotta do something about this,” Maggie Winslow complained as she held up a wad of hair larger than a softball which she’d pulled from the dryer’s lint trap. “And I don’t even wanna think about what it’s doing to the washer.” Her husband, took the hair from his wife and sighed, “I’ll do a …

Another Nevada Strange

It’s perhaps one of the hardest news stories I had to cover when it happened in 2008; 19-year-old Brianna Denison goes missing from a friend’s Reno, Nevada home, only to be found murdered and abandoned in a field. Her murderer was eventually caught and now awaits his turn in the state’s death chamber. Then last …

Wish

Months ago, I turned down a neighbor’s offer of a dog and I never forget to turn off my Television. However tonight, I wish this were different. The evening is warm with an ever so slight breeze, which sighs unheard through a broken window. Oh, how I wish that shattered pane of glass were simply …

Killer Shrimp

Depressed, Gordo looked at the razor blade and shuttered. He contemplated suicide time and again throughout the past two days, but couldn’t find a way that suited him. “Freakin’ gun’s too messy,” he told himself. Besides, Gordo didn’t have one. Plummeting to his death made his hands sweat, knees quake and stomach churn. Gordo even …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 11 (Alternate Ending)

“Black Rock, Nev. (AP) – A woman found dead in desert has marring the opening of this years ‘Burning Man’ festivities. The cause of death is still being investigated. Authorities have not released her name pending notification of next of kin.” The search stretched on for days, weeks and even months, but no other sign …

Some Family History

 My cousin Autumn and I share the enjoyment of researching our family's history. She recently sent me a picture of my great uncle, Vince Darby (born in 1910) from his time in the U.S. Navy, during World War II. I need to find out more information about his service. The second is my great aunt …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 11

“Reno, Nev. (AP) -- The remains of 38-year-old Almarinda deOliveria have has been found. She disappeared in January. Authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play.” The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said deOliveria body was located Rose Creek Canyon, close to where her cell phone was found. Two hunters, out scouting for deer, …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 10

As Jim and Susie and the other three conspirators raced back to the village, other’s also in on the killing, torched the medicine woman’s wickiup, her clothes and all her belongings so nobody in the tribe could use them. Her rattles, eagle feathers, shells, stones, animal skins and medicinal herbs all went up in smoke …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 9

With the help of a couple of tribal officers, the search for the man on the opposite side of the gap was made. ‘Shoshoni Johnny’ Hansen was an 83-year-old Paiute who lived by himself and often could be seen wandering the desert in the company of his dog. “So, did you see anything on that …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 8

“Lovelock, Nev. (AP) – Search for missing Reno woman resumes after jewelry found. Woman's husband being held for questioning, possible suspect in disappearance.” Marilyn’s husband of two-years, Robert Denault was beside himself. He had asked authorities several times if he could help in the search. Each time was met with a resounding “no.” Now that …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 7

Bungy Jim and his wife Paiute Susie, both former patients of Winnescheika’s, were directed to execute the suspected witch. On April 30, 1891, Paiute Susie, laying in her campoodie, pretended to be sick and Winnescheika responded to her late night call for her help. When she arrived she found Susie in great distress attended by …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 6

“Lovelock, Nev. (AP) – One woman found, second remains missing. Authorities call off search after no further evidence located. Investigators are seeking information from public about motorcyclist's seen in area.” Three days later, with no more signs of either women found, the search was called off. The disappearance, though considered extremely suspicious, was officially listed …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 5

Shortly after sunset, the area came alive with law enforcement from various agencies throughout the northern part of Nevada. The rock formation was laced with caves and hollows that needed to be explored. As the hours passed, April and Janice sat in separate interview rooms at the county lock-up repeating their answers to questions that …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 4

Considered very beautiful, the dark-haired, dark-eyed 35-year-old woman showed no signs of aging and was reputed to walk so smoothly that her feet seemed never to touch the ground. Winnescheika was a Shoshone medicine woman who settled among the Northern Paiutes of Lovelock in the fall of 1890. “There is something bad with her,” came …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 3

“Lovelock, Nev. (AP) – Two women are missing after an outing in desert with friends. Foul play not ruled out. Authorities are searching the surrounding canyon and caves.” Previously known as Sunset Guano Cave, Horseshoe Cave, and Loud Site 18, Lovelock Cave is 150 feet long and 35 feet wide. In 1911 two miners began digging out …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 2

The four women piled into the sports car. The driver, Janice Cohen had told them about a great place where they could have a picnic and do some exploring. Marilyn Winap-Denault, who packed them a lunch, sat in the passenger seat, while Lori Thurman and April Johnson sat in the back seat. Though the speed …

The Fourth Woman: Chapter 1

"Lovelock, Nev. (AP) -- Pershing County Sheriff's Office investigators are continuing to ask the public to be on the lookout for a missing woman, Almarinda deOliveria, after finding her abandoned car in the White Horse Canyon area. She was last seen in Winnemucca on the 10th." Deputies confirmed that the car appeared to be ‘out …

Finding a Better Ending

Originally, I wasn’t going to publish tomorrow’s 'fiction' chapter story, “The Fourth Woman,” until September. But with the possibility of landing an actual paying job, ‘there's no time like the present.’ Did I mention, "The Fourth Woman," is fiction? If not, let me tell say that it's fictional, save for unfortunate Winnescheika.  She's a very real …

The Kiley Ranch Barbecue and Picnic

By most folks  standards, Charlie Vickers was an arrogant bully.  Lord help the cowpoke that didn’t move quick enough for him when he barked an ‘order’ or who gave Charlie even the slightest bit of lip. He had no problem using his size as a weapon of intimidation, pushing men aside as he cussed them …

The Caw and the Coo

It was a very small room, certainly not big enough for two. Yet there it was with him, resting slightly outside the illumination of the single, naked bulb that burned dull, both night and day for his well-being. It began two weeks before… Stanley, a night foreman at the local foundry was trying to sleep. …

Mirage

Joe the Camel was not ‘lost,’ as in not knowing where he was. He knew exactly where he was, though he would have been hard pressed to point out his exact location on a road map. For others, the desert might stretch out to the horizon in all directions, miles to the nearest bit of …

A Key to Time Travel

My poor friend H.R.R. Gorman writes these wonderfully serious and thoughtful pieces of science fiction and I come along and screw'em up. In this case, H.R.R.'s three part story, "Inhabitation Machine," which is about future time travel back in history. Thanks, H.R.R. for the indulgence. Afan laid back in the brine. He knew well the …

A Mad Dog’s Lament

The cowpoke lived alone, Visitors, few and far, Save for that dog that he had. I would reach down to pet And he would not allow my touch. Odd, but I have never Had this affect -- in fact Ranch dogs naturally like me. I'll brag -- and without tact, Puppies, on me, tend to …

She Braids Her Hair

“We was told not to cross the Carson,” the old man said. "I was a youngin’ then, younger than you are today. That ol' war Chief said he couldn’t control them warriors on the other side.” ‘Captain’ Asa  Bledsoe, born in 1880, was nearly 102-years old. He wasn't usually awake during the graveyard shift at …

For the Prophet

All of her life, she grew up hearing about the Prophet. Her family struggled to make ends meet because of this Prophet. There were no vacations because of the Prophet. There were no fancy restaurant meals because of this Prophet. She wore hand-me-down clothing because of the Prophet. And she couldn’t go to her prom …

Suspended Animation

The space-traveller had become a relic as he lay in stasis for fifty years, oblivious of what had happened with his home-world, Earth and to humanity. That was before the young woman, who was scouring his spaceship, found his ‘deep-space coffin.’ Now their heart was heavy, for while they’d seen much and knew much, they …

Miles from Town: Chapter 11

Before he could begin getting undressed, a knock came at the door. It was Molly, carrying folded clothes. “I think these will fit you, if you don’t mind wearing my dad’s old clothes. Leave you’re old duds on the porch and I’ll wash them.” “No. Please don’t bother. Jus’ toss’em in the burn barrel. I’ll …

Miles from Town: Chapter 10

The cool water from the faucet felt good on his face and neck. He watched, surprised as the gray cement puddled up with dirt and grim as he rinse the filth from himself. Before to long, Nancy came out the side door, keys in hand and unlocked the old truck whose step-board, Gil rested on. …