Some More Stuff

I've finished Chapter 1 of the fourth Owen Family novel, and here's a bit of the last scene:

Marie shooed Julianna into the cabin, and saw that someone had informed Rulon and Mary of the family meeting. The couple huddled together on the periphery of the family circle at the table, Rulon's arm around Mary's shoulders. She bounced their infant daughter in her arms as Roddy circled the occupants of the room, still riding his stick horse.

Ma sat in her chair, her face pinched and white as though she knew something horrible was in the air.

Pa stood at the head of the table, his forehead drawn into severe lines above his grey eyes. He waved Marie and Julianna into the room, then waited silently while they approached and sat down. He took one deep breath, then another, and began.

"I have hard news. Your brother has taken it into his head that he's not welcome here, and rode out a few minutes ago. He said he'd try his hand at mining. Mining! He's not cut out for going into a hole in the ground." He accented his words by bringing his fist down on the table with a startling thud.

Rod's words caused no little stir among the family members. Marie listened to the hubbub without adding to it, clenching her hands into balls in her lap.

Rulon leaned forward. "You can't be serious, Pa. He'll ride around a while and come back, leaving his troubles in the wind."

At the same time, Albert asked, "Can I have his cabin?" at which Clay cuffed him on the side of the head, yelling, "You ornery son of a--" then bit his lip before he got his own cuffing from Rod.

Julianna had burst into tears, crying out, "That's not fair! James said he'd take me rabbit hunting."

"Hush, Jule!" Ma said sharply, then dissolved into tears herself, throwing her apron over her head, which served to muffle her sobs somewhat.

Pa bent over Ma, awkwardly patting her shoulder and making shushing sounds. He looked up and glared at Albert and Clay, who were rolling on the floor, punching each other.

Marie hid her face in her hands, overcome with the selfishness of her younger siblings . . . and herself. Oh James, she thought, will I ever see you again? It was wrong of me to think only of Ellen's happiness and not see your side of the hill.

The usual disclaimers apply: fresh first draft work subject to change, my copyright, comments very welcome.

A Couple of Snippets

As you know, I'm working on the fourth Owen Family novel, starring the elder daughter, Marie. Here are a couple of passages I thought you might find intriguing:

1.
Young Roddy, Rulon's boy, came galloping under the oaks astride a stick Pa had fitted with a stuffed horsehead made of burlap. "The horsie bucked," he announced in a high, shrill voice. "Unca James fell off." He pranced around his mother. "Mama, he said bad words."

Marie didn't fight the chortle the boy's comment brought out. I reckon he did, she thought. James don't like blemishes on his reputation as a horseman. She watched Mary bend over and exhort her son about sticking close to her. That baby's growin' up. Good thing Mary's got a new wee one to hold.

2.
She paused a moment, trying to think where Julianna could have taken herself. Then she remembered the girl's preoccupation with marriage, and ran towards Carl's cabin tucked into the woods. As she rounded the bend in the path, she was horrified to see Julianna, back against the log wall of the cabin, listening at the window. She darted forward, grabbed her sister's wrist, and hauled her backward away from the wall.

"Marie! Leave me be!" Julianna shrieked. Ellen put her head out of the window, a startled look on her face, and pulled the shutters closed. "See there, now I can't hear anything," the girl continued. "You're so mean." She struggled against Marie's restraining hand.

"That's a despicable thing to do, spying on the newlyweds like that. You should be ashamed," Marie said, tightening her hold and wrapping her other arm around her sister in a further effort to get her away from the scene. "Whatever possessed you?"

"I need to know about things," Julianna shouted, wriggling in Marie's embrace. "Ma won't tell me what folks do when they're married."

"It's none of your business. You're not married, and won't be for a long spell." Marie stopped dragging Julianna away since they were a suitable distance from the cabin, and stood in the path so she couldn't return.

The girl shrugged off Marie's arms and spat out, "I'll be married before you. Parley Morgan's sweet on me, and I wager we'll be getting married soon. Next spring, perhaps."

"That's preposterous! Parley? He's ages older'n you! Get to the house."

Julianna stood upright, arms akimbo, spewing out venomous words. "You're jealous. You don't have a beau. You won't ever have a beau, because you're too old!"

Marie felt her cheeks burn, and her hand swung in a short arc and caught Julianna on her cheek. "You little vixen," she yelled. "You mind your tongue. Ma's going to hear of this, but not today. She's got enough grief. Get home! Pa wants you."

Julianna turned and stormed off down the path toward the main cabin, muttering imprecations beneath her breath. Marie followed, breathing heavily, trying to calm down. It bothered her that Julianna had such power over her. In a few words, she'd managed to throw Marie's world into a blazing, furious uproar, and she didn't like the feeling. There was trouble ahead, and she needed a clear brain and all her strength to help Ma overcome it.

"Ma will be beside herself," she mumbled out loud, but more to herself than to Julianna's retreating back. "Pa won't be any use. He's madder'n a cat caught in a rain barrel."

The usual disclaimers apply: fresh first draft work subject to change, my copyright, comments very welcome.

A New Novel

I've been working on the next Owen family novel, and here's just a taste of the beginning.

Marie Owen pressed forward through the crowd surrounding her brother Carl and his new bride, her friend Ellen Bates. Ma was hugging on Ellen, then it was Albert, kissing Ellen's cheek, then Marie reached her, and threw her arms around Ellen.

"Lawsy, I thought this day would never come for you, and suddenly you're Mrs. Carl Owen. My sister!"

Ellen pushed back from the embrace slightly, her green eyes shining like dewdrops. "Yes. I didn't figure Pa would bring the priest with him," she whispered. "Who would have thought..." She looked around the meadow. "Where is James?"

"Now don't you fret about him on your weddin' day. He'll get over his disappointment."

"I wanted to tell him how sorry I am."

"Don't bother. He's acted like such a ninny, not letting go of his claim on you when it was clear as the nose on your face you were in love with Carl."

Ellen ducked her head and turned to look at her new husband, who was sitting himself down on a chair. "I can't believe it's happened so fast." She turned back to Marie as people shoved against them. "Carl's bleedin'. I have to get him home." She gripped Marie's hand. "You're next. I see the way Bill Henry looks at you."

* "What?" Marie protested, but Ellen had slipped away, motioning to Rulon and Clay to pick up the chair to bear Carl away. A crimson stain spread across the hip of Carl's trousers, and a shiver of fear coursed down Marie's spine. Carl hadn't yet recovered from the wounds he'd suffered in the shootout with kidnappers at a cave on the mountainside. Was he going to bleed to death because he got out of bed to marry Ellen?

Remember, this is pure off-the-top-of-my-head organic writing, and it's very much first draft stuff.

Comments? Critiques? Ideas?

* New paragraph added to clarify some stuff. I stopped too soon.