Angela and Wilhelmina Elizabeth

Have you ever noticed that when it's hard for you to get along with someone generally it's because they share your faults.  The things that you dislike the most about yourself are even more annoying when you see them in someone else.  Maybe witnessing firsthand what it's like to see those flaws in action causes self doubt, friction.  Like the grain of sand that an oyster surrounds with their own chemical smoother, we can use those people to guide us on to better behavior.  Or we can just leave that grain of sand irritant, and simply become more and more annoyed, and frustrated.

Angela and Wilhelmina Elizabeth have many personality characteristics in common.  They are both extremely strong individuals.  Even in times of personal weakness they are capable of moving forward.  The most damning trait that they share is their inability to express emotion in any other manner than anger.  So...they become angry often, and instead of understanding that about each other, they go in a negative cycle, until they cause each other harm.

I have not written my series in a chronological order.  Eventually when I have published all eight novels I may go back and number them in that chronological order.  At the same time I have written each book in such a way that each book can stand alone.  You will WANT to read all of the novels because each sheds new perspective on the series, the people, the place, the history, and the romance.

The biggest difference between Angela and Wilhelmina Elizabeth is that Angela has endured years of the hardest struggles that life can bring.  Angela is filled with gratitude for the change in her life that comes when she is brought into the Calkin family. 

Wilhelmina believes that she is entitled to all the wishes and dreams that she might ever have.  She has lived a life of being spoiled, and cossetted by her Mother.  Thinking that everyone needs to do her bidding she is a miserable person to be around.

I hope that readers will enjoy getting to know Angela, and Wilhelmina Elizabeth. 

Bit N Pieces

So....it would help readers to know a little bit about the series.  All of the books revolve around a man, Blake Calkin.  They are connected to him in different capacities, wife, daughter, daughter in law, or neighbor.  All of the books also revolve around a ranch, The Drifting Anchor Ranch, which is founded, and owned by Blake Calkin.

The ranch is in a fictional place in Oregon, twelve miles southeast of the actual historical town of Astoria, Oregon.  Astoria was named for the man John Jacob Astor who invested money into a group that traveled to the place and named Astoria after him.  It was a place of great wealth in the 1800's.  There were furs to be trapped, lumber to be harvested, and sold, the ocean was teeming with seafood, and there was a waterway from the interior of Oregon, (the Columbia River) to the Pacific Ocean.

John Jacob Astor never saw the town that was founded in his name.  If a town was named after me I would be on the next bike, horse, car, plane, bus, or train to that location.  I would want to make certain that my namesake town was worthy of my name.  Vivian does sound like a lovely name for town, don't you think?

Blake Calkin is married to three women....not at the same time.  He married Ardis first.  They had a wonderful son together, Eric.  Ardis only lived a few days after Eric was born.

Sarah was Blake's next wife.  She was tiny physically, but a powerhouse of spiritual energy.  She gave up leading her Native American tribe to marry Blake.  She and Blake created Jamie, a beloved son, and she died the day after Jamie was born.  Yet she is not completely gone.  She appears in spirit form to different people who are connected to the ranch one way or another.

Celeste is Blake's third wife.  It takes her years to convince him that they should marry.  He has become so superstitious after losing two wives shortly after they have given birth to his sons that he is convinced that being married to him is a curse.  He makes a vow to never marry again, and never have intimate relations with ANY woman knowing that it could cause pregnancy, and convinced that abstaining is a way to keep his "curse" from being repeated.

So these are some little facts about the series, and the area where I have based it.  Just a reminder, you can buy Beth Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch at lulu.com in paperback format, or eformat for Nook, or other eformats.  If you wish to buy KINDLE format you can buy that at Amazon.com.  I write under the pen name of Vivian Varlowe.

Sheriff Simmon's tries to Interview Angela

ANGELA

Chapter Five – Sheriff Simmons

            Blake walked slowly, stiffly, up the stairs towards Angela’s room.  He cradled a mug of hot coffee in his hands.  The smell soothed his spirit.  Blake marveled at the comfort and pleasure of little things in life.

He was surprised to hear a loud male voice coming from Angela’s room.  He knew it wasn’t Red.  Red was downstairs cleaning up from breakfast.  Blake had assigned Eric and Jamie fence-mending chores far from the house.  It was unlikely to be them.

            Blake quickened his step down the hall.  He turned the knob, and very quietly opened the door.  Sheriff Simmons was holding both of Angela’s hands in one of his rough, meaty, hands.  She was still unconscious but the Sheriff had pulled her into a sitting position.

            “Don’t pretend with me girlie.  I know when someone is pretending.  Calkin thinks he owns this town, and everyone in it.  He don’t own the law.  He can’t keep me away from you.  I need you to answer some questions.  It’s my job to protect this town.  I need to know about the other thief that was with you, the one that got away.”

            Blake spoke in a deceptively quiet voice. 

“Sheriff Earl Simmons you’re going to let that girl down very, very gently.” 

An angry red suffused the Sheriff’s face.  Begrudgingly, he lowered Angela.  

 Blake sat down on the bed near Angela.  He began to gently massage the angry, red marks on Angela’s hands and arms.

            Blake was furious when he realized that Sheriff Simmons had handled Angela so roughly that she would have bruises.  As he massaged her he checked for the possibility of broken or dislocated bones.  When Blake was certain Angela was only bruised, he spoke again in a quiet, calm voice edged with steel. 

“Earl, is this the technique you use to question all your prisoners?  Maybe you save this method for young, vulnerable ones?” 

Sheriff Simmons’s face turned from angry red to purple.  Blake thought his head might burst.

            “I have every right, yes, a duty to question criminals in this town.  You wouldn’t bring this one to me so I came to her.” 

Blake’s carefully controlled temper finally boiled over. “You jackass, this child is not a criminal, she’s a guest in my home!”

            Sheriff Simmons snorted, “Do you invite all robbers to stay at your home or only the purty ones?” 

“I’m not going to stand here and exchange insults with you, Sheriff Simmons.  You’re in my home.  I am not bringing charges against this child.  That means you have no business with her at all.  I’ll thank you to get out of my house.  Don’t ever come back without an invitation or a search warrant.”

            “I’ll just get that warrant from a judge to search your house.  There must be a judge somewhere that ain’t in your pocket, Blake Calkin.” 

“Search for what?  The money never left the premises until it was distributed the next day as payroll.  Angela won’t be able to talk to you for a long time, if at all.” Blake’s voice became deadly quiet.  “If she lives, there is still no guarantee that she will be able to speak again.”

            Blake walked straight towards the Sheriff.  He didn’t stop until they were two inches apart.  Blake towered over Sheriff Simmons by four inches.  Pointedly, Blake looked down at him and said, “I have never done anything illegal.  I never will.  I have never influenced anyone with my wealth, position, or power.  I never will.  If I hear that you’ve uttered those words to anyone else, I’ll have you brought before a judge on charges of slander.  It wouldn’t do any good for you.  You might well lose the next election. Frankly, Sheriff, you have a very big mouth.  Keep it shut or I will shut it for you.” 

“Are you threatening a Peace Officer?”  Sheriff Simmons asked, tapping his shiny badge with one stubby, dirty, forefinger.  

 Blake backed away and smiled. “I would never threaten a sheriff.  On the other hand, I defend what is mine.”

            Sheriff Simmons turned.  He grabbed his hat and strode to the door. 

“You haven’t seen the last of me, Calkin.” 

Blake sighed in resignation.  “Darn, I’m afraid you’re right!  You may let yourself out Sheriff, it’s obvious that you know the way.”

            Retreating, the Sheriff’s footsteps echoed through the otherwise quiet home.  As a finale he slammed the solid oak front door. The bang shook the sturdy log house.

            Red came in to Angela's room, “Goodness gracious, Mr. Blake.  What in tarnation is going on around here?  That slam was so loud I thought either we were having an earthquake or the dear Lord was making His next appearance!”

            Blake chuckled.  He shook his head, “I couldn’t get Angela to sleep at all last night.  She was too hot, too cold, too restless, too sick, in too much pain, etc.  Finally at five this morning I gave her the strong medicine that Doc left if her pain was severe.  In ten minutes she was asleep.  I still can’t believe she slept through Sheriff Simmons tantrum.”

            Both men looked at Angela.  They were assured that she was still sleeping peacefully. 

“Red, what are we going to do?” 

“Mr. Blake, right now, you’re going to eat the breakfast I left for you on the table downstairs.  Then you’re going to sleep.” 

“Red, I can’t.  I have bills to pay, payroll to work out, and the paperwork to arrange for the sale of the stand of timber in the canyon behind the house.”

            “Whoee, Mr. Blake, you are such an important man.  You’re so important that if you slept for a few hours the world would spin out of orbit, get too close to the sun, and we’d all fry like bacon.” 

Blake laughed. “I get the point, Red.  I guess I could spare a few hours to sleep.”

            Red smiled. “I’ll be right here with Angie, Mr. Blake.  Lunch is ready for the boys when they come in.  If I need you I know where to find you.” 

Blake grinned tiredly at Red.  “Thanks, friend.” 

Red smiled with pleasure, blushed with embarrassment, and said, “Shucks, Mr. Blake, don’t go getting all sappy on me.  We’re both so tired we’re liable to bawl like a couple of old hens at a funeral.”

            Chuckling softly, Blake headed for the door.  “Thanks again Red.  Remember, wake me if…” 

 “I need you.” Red finished Blake’s statement.  “Mr. Blake, you just remember the world will keep spinning while you sleep.” 

 Without another word, Blake headed downstairs for breakfast.

---

 [AS1]In text, it’s good to emphasize with italics

 [AS2]Maybe you could say something else here or before that’s a synonym for “smiled,” so it’s not used twice in two places

Extra, extra, read all about it!

When you purchase a DVD many times there are short clips on it that are listed as EXTRAS.  Those extras are often part of an original script that for one reason or another did NOT make the final cut for the film.  So sometimes it's fun to see what was left out.  Sometimes you understand WHY it was left out.

In writing Angela, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch, it was achieved during twenty years of waiting.  I wrote a line here, a line there, waiting for the children to come out of school, waiting for a soccer game to be done, waiting for appointments, waiting for the girls to go to church activities.  Once in awhile I would finish an entire page, and even more rarely one entire chapter would come into existence.

When I decided to publish Beth, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch first I was pleased with it's size around 90,000 words.  Imagine my surprise to find out that Angela, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch is almost twice that size?

So this last week I've been doing what all writers hate...CUTTING my book into a more manageable size.  I've actually cut out 10,000 words...and guess what I've decided to do with many of those segments.  In case you haven't guessed, they will become my EXTRA section.  I will choose the segments that best enlarge on the story and publish those here on my blog.

If you have read Beth and are anxiously awaiting the publishing of my second book, watch for the EXTRAS that will be coming out this week!