Fiction Friday

Nov 10 2023

NaNo Excerpt Week 2: The Magpie Writer

Author: Jamie DeBree


This excerpt is in draft form, and as such, undoubtedly contains typos among other grammatical issues, plot holes, reminder brackets, etc.

*******************************

“Going to Kansas City, ma’am?” Another porter checked her tickets, and then raised his eyebrows. “All the way to Montana, eh? It’s wild country out there. Are you traveling alone?”


She gave him a small smile. “I am, but there are people waiting for me when I get there.” She offered nothing more, and he nodded, marking her ticket for the first stop and tipping his hat as he held a hand out to help her up the stairs.


The train was surprisingly full already, and she walked slowly behind a man with his arms around two scantily clad women who seemed to be happy enough in his company. They passed into the sleeper cars, and she spotted an empty seat in the last section of the general seating car, across from a well-dressed, nice-looking man and a fresh-faced young woman with flowing blond hair and a fetching blue dress that matched her sparkling eyes. It was hard to say whether they were a couple or not. They seemed to be disagreeing about something as Madeline approached.


“May I sit here?” She asked, putting her valise and basket on the seat when the young woman nodded. She sat down across from them and looked out the window at the bustling sea of people still on the platform. Most were undoubtedly waiting for trains yet to come, as hers should be departing any time now. Taking a book out of her valise, she found her place and began to read as the woman and man exchanged a few more words, and the man got up and left.


“Where are you off to?” The young woman asked. Madeline looked up and closed her book.


“Rural Montana – a town called Meadowlark,” she said cordially. “I’m taking a position as a school teacher there.”


“Really?” The young woman smiled. “I’m going to Montana too! I hear there are a lot of single men out there, and I aim to meet as many of them as possible.” She gave Madeline a coy sidelong look and leaned forward, lowering her voice. “I’ll be honest, because you may not want to sit with me once you know, but I want to become a woman of the night. What do you think about that?”

**************************************

Support your author:
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Nov 03 2023

NaNo Excerpt Week 1: The Magpie Legacy

Author: Jamie DeBree

This excerpt is in draft form, and as such, undoubtedly contains typos among other grammatical issues, plot holes, reminder brackets, etc.


From Madeline Ellison’s Journal, to begin our story:


May 24, 1917


There aren’t many things I’ll miss about Boston. Least of all, Mr. Preston Chaswick, who has made it his personal mission to take every cent my father left me, whether by marriage or murder. I don’t think he cares which, honestly, which is why I’m leaving on the first train tomorrow, disappearing into the great American West and protecting myself from the fate he would force upon me if given the chance. 


 I very much doubt the small town- settlement, really- will be much of an improvement over the bustling port this city has become, but it will be different, and quite out of the way, and most importantly, devoid of Mr. Chadwick, and thus a far superior place in which to continue living.


Meadowlark is a very small town, as I understand it, and I’ve accepted the position as teacher for their little school. There may be as many as ten students to start, and my room and board will be provided by the town. I’m sure it won’t be anything so grand as the family house I grew up in here, and I shall miss the great staircase with its wide wooden bannister, the well-endowed library I’ve spent so many hours traveling the world in, and the view of the harbor looking out from my desk as I write this.


However, all this will be taken from me soon enough if I stay, so no point in prolonging the inevitable. The Ellison family was once one of the grandest, most respected families in Boston, and now father’s affinity for wartime gambling has left me, his only surviving family, no way to pay his debt but to marry or sell all that we own.


If I’m honest, I’m excited by the chance to travel, and experience new places and culture. It will be an adventure to ride the train all the way across the country. Perhaps one day I’ll meet someone not so disagreeable to settle down and have children with. But if not, I’m happy to keep my own council and ensure the next generation knows their letters and numbers.


I’ve packed simply – just two chests and a valise, and sold anything else I could that wouldn’t be too obvious. I’ve written a letter to father’s solicitor instructing him to sell the rest and the house once I’m gone, and to use the money to pay father’s debt. I’ll leave the letter with the staff to be delivered tomorrow, along with envelopes for all the staff with a couple week’s pay and their termination notice.


I’m leaving no forwarding address, and while I regret leaving the few friends I have without word, I think it’s best, at least until I’m well settled in my new home and position.


The fog is rolling in over the harbor, and I think I shall turn out the light and watch it, probably for the last time. Not living by the sea is the only thing I may well and truly miss.

Support your author:
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Dec 02 2022

Magpie Shiny, Chapter 13

Author: Jamie DeBree

This story will be moving to a free email subscription soon. Stay tuned!

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 |

Chapter 13

When they got to the chute area, Maddie bobbed her head every which way, peering through the steel fence panels as she tried to get a better look. When she turned to look at Lauren with a victorious grin, pointing back through the fencing to a plaid-wearing back that gave her a familiar thrill just to look at. She’d recognize it anywhere. Shirt on or off.

“It’s him, mom! Let’s go!”

She turned around and ran before Lauren could stop her. Luckily, a tall, older man in worn cowboy boots, dusty wranglers, a red plaid shirt and a somewhat crumpled dark brown Stetson stepped in front of her before she could run haphazardly through the livestock loading area.

“Whoa there, young lady. Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

Maddie came to a short stop. The man’s face was wrinkled and permanently tanned from years baking under the hot sun, and his eyes tired, but Lauren would have known him anywhere, if not by sight, by his mid-range, somewhat gruff tone.

“Hi Bill.” Lauren stepped forward, putting a hand on Maddie’s shoulder. “Good to see you again.”

Bill looked at Lauren, and he didn’t exactly smile, but she thought there might have been a tiny spark of curiosity in his gaze. Colter’s dad never had been one to show much outward emotion.

“Lauren.” He nodded, a typical greeting for his type. “This your girl?”

“Bill Brennigan, I’d like you to meet my daughter Maddie. Maddie, this is Colter’s dad, Bill.”

Maddie looked at Bill with wide eyes, as if she were unsure about the gruff man standing in front of her and blocking her path. Lauren didn’t often see her shy side, but instead of her normal bubbly greeting, Maddie simply gave him a tentative wave. Bill cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing as he took in her features.

Bill snorted. “Have you talked to Colter yet? Does he know?”

Lauren nodded. “He does – we were just going to go see him. Maddie wanted to congratulate him on his ride.”

Bill gave her a long look, and then looked away with a sigh. When he looked at her again, his expression had softened.

“You two better come by for dinner. Tomorrow night – I’ll tell Darla. Be there by four so I can give Maddie the tour before we eat.” He bent down slightly to address Maddie. “And you need to slow down when you’re around livestock. Anything that stands tall on four legs can and will kick, so be careful, and don’t go around the backside of a horse without giving it plenty of room and making noise the whole time so it knows you’re there. Understand?”

Maddie nodded. “Yes, sir.”

He straightened. “You can call me Grandpa.” He turned and pointed toward Colter’s red flannel shirt. “Your dad’s over there. Fast walk, don’t run, and stay away from hooves.”

Maddie scooted past him and as soon as she was behind him, ran toward Colter. Lauren watched her go, and then realized Bill was still there, staring at her.

“You stickin’ around?” The question was casual, but Lauren sensed it was more than what it seemed.

“For awhile.” She looked away. “I gave up this life for a reason. I’m not really sure if I want it back permanently or not, but we’ll be here for a few months, at least.”

She looked back at Bill, who shifted so he could see Maddie talking to Colter. He sighed, and then looked Lauren straight in the eye.

“You may not feel like you belong here, but she does. And if Colter wants to make sure she stays, we’ll back him up all the way.” He gave her a quick nod and then walked past. He might as well have hit her in the gut.

Not once when she’d thought about bringing Maddie back and introducing her to her dad had she considered that Colter or his parents would challenge her for custody. But Colter probably had just as much right to Maddie as she did. He damn sure had more money. The very thought made her want to get Maddie, jump in the car and drive as far and as fast as she could away from this place.

Except right now, the valley was the only place she could be certain Mike couldn’t get to her.

Overwhelmed and suddenly exhausted, Lauren went to where Maddie was talking to Colter, and tapped the girl on the shoulder.

“Ready to go? I told your grandmas we’d be home by six, so we’d better start heading their way.”

Maddie’s face fell, but Colter’s eyes narrowed just like his dad’s. “What’s wrong?” he asked. He always had been too observant for her good.

She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just tired, and ready to go home.” She couldn’t meet his eyes. Didn’t even want to think about him taking her baby away, even though rationally, she knew it was unlikely. “Come on, Maddie. Say goodbye. We’ll see him again tomorrow.”

Or not, if Lauren had her way.

Maddie was quiet as they walked out of the fairgrounds, and Lauren knew the girl had to be exhausted too. It had been a long day with a lot of new people and experiences involved, and they’d both probably think better on a full stomach and a good night’s sleep.

“I like it here,” Maddie said as they got into the car. “I don’t want to leave again.”

Lauren nodded as she started the engine. “We’ll stay for a few months, at least. I can’t promise you anything after that, but I can promise you that much.”

Maddie’s lower lip stuck out in a pout, and she crossed her arms over her chest as Lauren pulled out of the parking lot.

“Why do you hate this place so bad? Everyone’s so nice, and they all have houses and land and animals and everyone knows everyone else. Why would you even want to leave?”

“It’s a long story, and I’m tired.” Lauren sighed, glancing at the sullen pre-teen beside her. “Can we talk about it tomorrow?”

“Whatever.”

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.

Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Nov 18 2022

Magpie Shiny: Chapter 12

Author: Jamie DeBree

Note: There will be no serial installment next Friday, November 25th. The next installment will be posted December 2nd.

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 |

Chapter 12

The roar of the crowd got louder as they approached the outdoor arena, and a cloud of red dust hung suspended in the air . Lauren felt at least fifty percent lighter than she had when she left her parents house that morning. She been so anxious at how everyone would act when she saw them, and though they’d all clearly had some concerns, it was beyond anything she’d expected for them to take her in, sit with her, and allow her to have some time to re-acclimate.

She’d need to get together with Vinnie and Beth when they could talk freely, and soon. She owed them that much, but it was more than paying a debt. She wanted them to know how sorry she was for the way she’d treated them.

The old wooden bleachers she and Colter had spent too much time underneath in high school had been replaced with a newer, more durable set made of metal. As they began climbed the stairs to claim a seat near the center of the arena, two cowboys were on horseback in the ring, each coiling up a rope while the calf that had been laying between them got up and with a little hazing from one of the cowboys, trotted towards the other end of the arena where a third cowboy swung a big central gate open and let both calf and ropers in.

“That’s not bronc riding, is it?” Maddie pointed at the gate where the three had disappeared. “Because that looks way different than I’d pictured it in my head.”

Lauren shook her head and chuckled. No. They’re team roping. One of them ropes the head, and the other the hind legs.

Mattie wrinkled her nose. “Why would they want to do that? Doesn’t it hurt the cow?”

Lauren shook her head again and held one hand up to shield her eyes from the sun. “Cows are pretty tough – even the babies. Out on the pasture, they might have to rope a calf or cow to provide medical treatment, or apply a brand or an ear tag. Team roping turns that into a competition.” She peered to her left, noting that the cowboys were setting up for saddle broncs next.

“Does Dad have to do that on his ranch?” Maddie looked concerned, and Lauren realized she’d been remiss in teaching her daughter about rural life. This was definitely going to be an eye-opening experience for the girl.

Lauren shrugged. “Probably. They have ranch hands to do most of that kind of work, but I’m sure your dad helps out when he’s needed.” She pointed toward the chutes. “Look.” Lauren pointed to the chutes at the end of the arena. “They’re getting the broncs ready. Your dad will be up soon.”

Maddie looked, her eyes going wide as the horse in the first chute reared up, kicking the metal railing in the small space. Once all four feet were presumably on the ground again, a cowboy in a white shirt and a dusty brown cowboy hat climbed up from the side and settled carefully into the small saddle on the horse’s back.

“That horse looks dangerous,” Maddie said as the horse moved and jerked the under the rider in the chute. “Is he gonna be able to ride it?”

Lauren shrugged. “That’s the challenge. That horse will come out of the chute bucking, and the cowboy’s job is to stay on for eight seconds. He only gets one rein to hold onto, and he can’t touch the horse or his own body with his free hand.”

Maddie’s eyebrows went up higher. “Isn’t that dangerous? Why do they do that?”

“Well, when you raise a horse or capture a wild horse, if you want to ride it, you have to get it used to carrying something on its back. That’s called breaking a horse. The first time you put something on it, or get in the saddle, it’s gonna buck and carry on a bit before it figures out you aren’t trying to hurt it. So this competition is a simulation of that. Cowboys do it for the same reason we all do a lot of things – to see if they can, and to see who’s the best.”

They looked back toward the chutes, where a cowboy was in the arena now, holding a long rope attached to the chute door taunt. The announcer said the name of the rider – no one Lauren recognized – and with a nod of the rider’s hat, the chute door was open and the horse came out bucking.

Maddie gasped as the bronc bucked and the rider spurred, one arm up high in the air, spinning round in circles for a few long seconds until a particularly nasty kick-twist combo sent him flying through the air and crashing into the dirt. A rodeo clown jumped in front of the rider as he lay on the ground while two horsemen galloped into the arena and right up on either side of the bronco, grabbing the halter and guiding it out the gate at the far end of the arena.

The rider got up, dusted himself off with his hat and tipped it to the cheering crowd before settling it back on his head and hobbling back out behind the chutes.

The announcer called over the loudspeaker, “And next up, hometown hero Colter Brennigan riding one of the premiere broncs on the circuit this year, Dusty Knickers!”

Maddie looked at Lauren, fear in her young eyes. “Oh no! Mom, he’s up next! We have to stop him!”

Lauren reached for her daughter’s hand and squeezed it. “Honey, Colter’s been doing this since he was just a little older than you are now. It’s in his blood. He’ll be okay – just wait and see. He wanted you to see him ride, remember? This is something he loves. Something he wants to share with you. Just watch this once, and if you hate it, you never have to watch again. Deal?”

They looked back just in time to see Colter tip his hat, and the chute door fly open. The dappled gray horse he was on put up one hell of a fight, spinning and twirling and kicking up its heels, but Colter held on all the way to the buzzer, sending the crowd into a veritable frenzy of cheers and screams. The excitement was palpable as the two horsemen rode up alongside him and one helped him over onto their saddle while the other led the bronc out of the arena.

“Did he do it? Did he win? What does that mean?” Maddie was yelling, though Lauren didn’t think she realized it. She grinned and nodded.

“He did it. He stayed on for all eight seconds. Everyone else gets to ride before they pick the winner though, so we won’t know if he won until the end.”

The girl frowned. “That’s gonna take forever! Can we go talk to him? Pretty please?” She was already out of her seat and pushing Lauren’s knees out of the way. Knowing there was no reasoning with her at this point, Lauren sighed and stood up, following her daughter down the stairs. She grabbed her shoulders when they reached the bottom, and led her under the bleachers so they could avoid the crowds as they walked to the end of the arena.

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.

Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Nov 11 2022

Magpie Shiny: Chapter 11

Author: Jamie DeBree

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9 | Ch. 10

Chapter 11

An hour later, Beth was pretty well caught up on the last ten years of Lauren‘s life in pictures, minus the more recent parts she’d intentionally left out. Maddie was getting restless, and the Star-Spangled Banner was playing faintly in the background.

“Mom, is dad riding yet? We said we’d watch him ride in the rodeo.” Dust swirled around them as the wind picked up, and Maddie leaned on the table, her chin melting off the slender hand just barely holding it up. Preteen speak for I’m going to die of boredom any second now.

Beth looked from Maddie to Lauren and raised an eyebrow. “Does he know yet?”

Lauren nodded. “I told him right before Vinnie found us. I told him we’d come watch him ride this afternoon.” She started gathering her things, and Maggie jumped out of her seat, clearly more than ready to do something different.

“I bet that was a fun conversation.” Beth looked at Maddie again and shook her head with a grin. “You really do look just like your father.”

Maddie nodded and rolled her eyes. “I know. Everyone says that.” She moved tugged at Lauren’s sleeve. “Come on mom!”

Vinnie laughed, collecting the paper plates and cups from the table. “Wow! This really is your first rodeo isn’t it, kiddo?” She deposited the tableware in a large garbage bin a few feet away from the table and replaced the lid.

Maddie nodded her head vigorously. “Yes, it is! I don’t want to miss it!”

“Okay, okay.” Lauren looked at her two best friends, and was hit with a wave of mixed feelings. She normally prided herself on not being sentimental, but being together with these two again made her feel happy and sad all at the same time. She wished that her younger self would’ve valued her friendships more. Maybe things would’ve been easier. Or maybe she’d have done things differently.

“We need to get together again soon”, she said. “I didn’t realize how much I missed this.”

Vinnie and Beth both pulled her in for a hug and they all laughed, trying not to cry. “I’m glad you had your adventure,” Vinnie said. “But I really hope you stick around this time. Or at least keep in touch if you don’t.”

“I second that,” Beth said. “Things aren’t the same without you around here. You should come out to the caverns soon, and bring Maddie. I’ll give you guys the special behind-the-scenes tour.“

Lauren nodded. “Absolutely – that sounds great.”

“Mo-om!” Maddie grabbed her arm, hopping from one foot to the other, clearly at the very end of her patience. “Can we please go now?”

“Okay – let’s go.” She laughed, taking Maddie’s hand and allowing the girl to pull her out of Vinnie’s booth. “See you later,” she called, an odd sensation in her gut of having called out the same thing to these same friends in almost the exact same spot the night she’d skipped town. “I promise,” she added, seeing a flash of the same recognition on their faces too.

Maddie started to pull her back through the midway, and Lauren dug in her heels, earning a dirty look. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, but were going the wrong way.” She laughed as Maddie immediately switched directions and pulled her back past a chuckling Vinnie and Beth, and towards the arena at the end of the midway.

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.

Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Nov 04 2022

Magpie Shiny: Chapter 10

Author: Jamie DeBree

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9

Chapter 10

“Do you know I’ve never set foot outside this valley?” Beth settled into the chair by Maddie and stole one of the girl’s French fries. “You must be Maddie,” she said, smiling at the girl and stealing another fry. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” Her long, straight straw hair blew in the breeze, held back only by the teal scarf she wore tied around her forehead, nineteen seventies-style. Her white cotton blouse was loose and flowing, with a simple scoop-neck collar and teal raglan sleeves. And she was still rail-thin in those hip-skimming acid-washed Levi’s, damn it. Lauren tried not to be envious, but it had been a long time since her own hip-bones had disappeared into her cellulite.

Maddie giggled. “My mom said sometimes you know things without anyone telling you. Is that how you knew about me?”

Laure gave Maddie a warning look. “I told you we don’t talk about that.” Beth laughed and Vinnie joined in.

“I think we can make an exception for your daughter,” Beth said, her eyes glazing ever so slightly. “She’s family.” Turning back to Maddie, she nodded. “I do know things, sometimes not the exact thing, but I have a sense. As long as you don’t try to keep secrets from me, we’ll get along just fine.”

It was Maddie’s turn to nod, vigorously. “Mom told me that, too. I’ll try to remember. Do you want to get your own fries?”

All the women laughed, and Vinnie called out for Kevin to bring another order of fries. Lauren raised an eyebrow at Beth.

“What you have to do in order to be able to leave the valley?”

Beth rolled her eyes. “Oh, not much. Just get pregnant, have a kid, raise the kid, and then hand over my duties to said kid just when he or she is getting old enough to…you know. Want a life. It shouldn’t take more than a few decades.”

“Do you have a man picked out? Because the last I looked there were no fertility clinic clinics here in the Valley.” Vinnie winced, as Lauren checked her in the arm with the fist. “What? There won’t be any handing–kids–over–to–their–own–gruesome–fate unless there’s a man around to help kick it all off.” She thought for a second, then tilted her head and gave Beth a curious look. “Unless you can do something about that that we can’t.“

Beth shook her head, and rolled her eyes. “Yes, I need a man. And no, I don’t have one picked out. Hence the source of my current depression and the abbreviated store hours. I’m bored, I’m tired, and I can’t even take a vacation.” Kevin set a fresh plate of fries in front of her, and she looked at him like he was her very own sun and moon. “Thank you. It’s been way too long since I had good fries.”

“Does Silas have any ideas?” Lauren asked, stifling a grin as Maddie stole one of Beth’s fries. “Isn’t there always a loophole of some sort in these things?”

Beth smacked Maddie‘s fingers lightly as the girl reached for another fry. “He’s gone through all the books and documentation he has, and I’ve gone through all mine too. There’s just no way around it that we can see. If I leave the valley without having a blood heir in place, then bad things will happen.”

“What kind of bad things?” Maddie asked.

Lauren answered quickly before anyone else could. “It doesn’t matter, because Beth isn’t going anywhere until this is sorted out. Isn’t that right, Beth?”

Beth sighed heavily, picking up the last fry from her plate and offering to Maddie. “No, I’m not going anywhere. Not anytime soon.” She wiped her fingers and took a sip of Maddie’s Coke. “Which is why you have to tell me everything about the time that you spent away from us. I want to hear every detail, every little smell and taste and piece of art that you saw. You brought pictures, right?“

Lauren laughed, and nodded, reaching into her purse for her phone. “Of course,” she said. “Maddie and I would be more than happy to tell you both all about life in Denver. Or most of it, anyways.” She pulled up the photo gallery on her phone. “What do you want to see first? My first apartment? Baby pictures? Or the gym where I worked and practically lived?”

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.
Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Oct 21 2022

Magpie Shiny, Chapter 8

Author: Jamie DeBree

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Lauren grinned at Vinnie as they watched Colter walk away. The man filled out his Wranglers better now than he had as a kid, that’s for sure. 

“So you two still get along the same as always, I guess.” 

Vinnie shook her head with a thoughtful smile. “We get along okay – we tease. But Beth and I always kind of thought he might have been the reason you left, so we may have held that against him a bit. I’m actually surprised to see you so friendly with each other. You lookin’ to pick up where you left off all those years ago?” 

“Well,” Lauren looked at Maddie, who was running toward her with the poor goldfish she’d set out to win in a bag. “There are mitigating circumstances, and you’re about to meet the main one now.” She smiled as Maddie ran up, holding the bag out. 

“Look Mom! I won! His name is Alfred. Can he sleep in my room?” 

Lauren nodded, taking the bag to save the fish from more shaking.

 “Until he gets too big, and then he’ll have to move out to the pond. For now, my old aquarium is probably still in the closet in your room.” She turned to Vinnie and struggled not to laugh at the shock on her friend’s face. “Maddie, this is Vinnie, one of my oldest and best friends. Vinnie, this is my daughter, Maddie.” 

“Wow.” Vinnie shook her head. “She looks just like…” she clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—” 

Turning back to Maddie, she took the hand offered by the girl and gave it a shake. “It’s very nice to meet you, Maddie. I’m so glad you and your mama came back to town!” 

“It’s okay – she knows.” Lauren shifted the goldfish for a better hold. “And so does Colter, as of about twenty minutes ago.”  

Vinnie raised her eyebrows. “So I did interrupt a serious conversation, then. How did that go?”

Lauren shrugged. “Better than I thought it might, though I think he still has some questions. You saved me from having to answer right away, so thank you.”

“That’s what friends are for. Or did you forget?” There was a sour note in Vinnie’s tone. More hurt than angry, but it still hit Lauren in the gut. “I thought maybe you just didn’t want anything to do with us anymore after you went radio-silent.”

Lauren nodded in acknowledgment. “I know I have a lot to answer for, and I will,” she said, glancing at Maddie. “But if it’s okay with you, I’d really just like to get a drink, and maybe a snack, and enjoy the afternoon.”

Vinnie gave Lauren a gracious smile. “I think we can make that happen.” She looked down at Maddie. “What do you say Maddie? Do you want to come see what kind of snacks I have at the booth?”

“I’m starving!” Maddie nodded enthusiastically.

“She’s always starving,” Lauren noted, earning a chuckle from Vinnie as they started walking down the midway.

The fair was everything Lauren remembered, but somehow less at the same time. The rides were mostly the same, and kids were still screaming and holding their hands up on rides to get that pit-of-the-stomach rush. The carnies still yelled as they went by, enticing anyone in the vicinity to try their hand at one of the obviously rigged games. Large Plush toys hung from the booths as extra incentive for people to gamble their money away one coin at a time.

It had all seemed so much bigger when she was younger.

She remembered when she, Vinnie, and Beth had spent hours walking the midway, eating everything deep-fried and sugar-coated and hoping to catch the eye of the boys they all secretly crushed on. It had seemed so adult, so important. Now it just seemed silly.

“I bet the fairs in the big city are more impressive,” Vinnie commented as they walked. “Our little County fair probably feels tiny by comparison.”

Lauren shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I never really had a reason to go to the fair in Denver. I mostly worked a lot, and took care of Maddie.” She’d wanted to go, but it had all seemed like too much work by herself with a young child. Now, that seemed silly too, and she regretted not taking Maddie and giving her the memories Lauren had made right here at this fair when she was young.

They left the main midway, and entered the food row, where there were food trucks and booths offering just about any kind of food one could imagine. Maddie’s eyes grew huge, and she started pointing to everything.

“Mom, look there’s cotton candy! And fried Oreos! Can I have a fried Oreo?”

Frowning, Lauren shook her head, wondering who came up with such a concept. Probably the same guy who thought fried everything was a good idea. Although she had to admit, fried cheesecake was actually really good.

“No, not now. Let’s see what Vinnie has for us at her booth first. Maybe we’ll get a fried Oreo later.”

Or cheesecake.

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.
Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Oct 14 2022

Magpie Shiny, Chapter 7

Author: Jamie DeBree

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6

Chapter 7

“You told her already?” Colter frowned at Lauren, his forehead smoothing as he looked back to his daughter. 

Lauren nodded. “I didn’t want her to find out from anyone else. Besides, a girl should know who her father is. She wanted to know, and we don’t keep secrets.”

“Mom said you might not want to be my dad,” Maddie said. “And I don’t need one if you don’t want. But it’s nice to meet you.” She stepped forward and held out her hand to shake, just as Lauren had taught her to do. 

Colter grinned. He reached out and engulfed her dainty fingers in a large, calloused hand. From the look on his face, he was obviously charmed, as most people were when they met Maddie. The girl had a way of wrapping people around her little finger – a skill she’d obviously inherited from him. 

“It’s nice to meet you too, Maddie. And I am your dad, so you can call me that, if you want to.”

Lauren stifled a laugh at the uncomfortable look on Colter’s face. Taking pity on him, she shook her head.

“That’s not necessary,” she said. “Maddie can call you Colter for now. You don’t have to be Dad on day one.”

“But mom,” Maddie grinned, her tone light. “He already said it was okay!” Lauren shook her head as Colter held a hand up.

“It’s fine.” He winked at Maddie. “Two against one,” he pretended to whisper. “I think we can overrule your mom. You can call me whatever you want. How’s that?”

Maddie giggled, and Lauren saw that mischievous twinkle in the girl’s eyes.

“I think you’re gonna regret that,” she told Colter. “First lesson as a parent. Be specific.”

“Mom, can I go try to win a goldfish?” 

Lauren nodded. “Go ahead, but remember to stay where I can see you, and you can see me.”

“Okay! See you mom!” She turned to Colter and waved. “Bye Cow-daddy!” She ran off giggling, and Lauren laughed. 

“I warned you.”

Colter stood, nodding as he watched the girl go. “I guess I have a lot to catch up on.” His expression grew serious as he turned back to her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Loren looked at her feet, and then back up at him. “I didn’t want you to feel obligated. I knew you weren’t looking to become a father just out of high school.”

Colter shook his head with a wry smile. “I think you know that if you’d told me, I would have manned-up. Try again, Lauren.” 

“I—” she looked off into the distance and shook her head, tucking a strand of hair back behind her ear. “I just—” 

“Oh my God – is that Lauren Tate? Where have you been? And when did you get back?” 

She turned just in time to be tackle-hugged by one of her best friends from high school, Vinnie Jacobs. Vinnie owned the Magpie Saloon, which had been in her family since the town was founded. She, Lauren, and Beth had been inseparable in school, and that was the one thing Lauren regretted – leaving the two girls who were more like her sisters than her best friends. 

“We got here late yesterday afternoon,” Lauren said. “It was a long drive, and I figured I’d see everyone here today, so I just went straight to the homestead and checked in with Grandma.” 

Vinnie raised one deliberately shaped eyebrow and cocked her head. 

“We? As in….” 

Lauren smiled and nodded toward the carnival booths. “As in, my daughter and I. She’s the one with the long curls over there trying to win a goldfish.” 

“Well, isn’t she just adorable?” Vinnie’s expression turned wistful as she watched Maddie throw rings at bottles. “I always wanted to win a goldfish. Remember?” She turned back to Lauren, who smiled. 

“I remember you promising Robbie Daniels you’d make out with him if he won you one, just to get him to stop following us around at the fair sophomore year. Poor guy was distraught when he didn’t win one for you. Do you know where he ended up?” 

Colter snorted behind them, and Vinnie reached around Lauren to smack him in the arm. 

“Rob’s still in town, actually. He’ll be along shortly. He’s just bringing a few more kegs down to the beer garden for the rodeo this afternoon.” 

“You gonna make him catch you a fish before you go home tonight, Vinnie?” Colter asked, earning another punch in the arm. 

Lauren raised her eyebrows at Vinnie. “Seriously? You and Robbie? I did not see that coming! How long?” 

Vinnie shrugged and grinned. “A few years now. We’re not exclusive, mind you, just… friends with benefits, I guess.” She raised a fist in Colter’s direction. “And you can just shut up. Don’t you have something to do? A horse to feed or tack to check before your ride? Get out of here – us girls have some serious catching up to do.” 

Colter shrugged. “Fine – I’ll leave you be for now.” He looked at Lauren, those green eyes intense when they met hers. “Dinner tonight at the ranch? I know the parents would be glad to see you, and they’re definitely gonna want to meet Maddie sooner rather than later.”

Lauren shook her head. “We’ll have to do some other night. I promised Grandma we’d be back home by six, and Maddie will be ready to pass out by then. We’ll come watch you ride before we leave, though. Broncs, right?” 

“That’s right.” He put a finger to his hat and tipped it, though he actually looked disappointed. “Fair enough. I’ll catch you two later.” He grinned at Vinnie. “Tell Rob I said hi.”

“Fuck off, Colter.”

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.

Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | The Book Depository
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible
Google Play (digital) | Google Play (Audio)

Sep 30 2022

Magpie Shiny, Chapter 5 (Serial fiction)

Author: Jamie DeBree

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

The next morning, it was overcast as Lauren shuffled Maggie out to the car after breakfast.

“Are you sure you don’t want one of us to come with you?” Her mother asked. “It might be easier with Colter if one of us is around.”

Lauren smiled and shook her head. Funny that now her mother was going to act all concerned after giving her the cold shoulder the previous night.

“I know how to handle Colter, mom. It’ll be okay. But thank you for offering. I appreciate it.”

“Will you be home for dinner?” Her mother asked as Lauren opened the driver side door and started to get in. Her voice was a little off, and Lauren stopped, turning to search her expression before she answered, realizing her mom was probably afraid she was just going to disappear again.

“We should be. I’ll let you know if we’re going to be late.” Her mother looked confused, and Lauren chuckled, pulling her cell phone out of her purse and waving it in her general direction. Cell phones weren’t something that her mother and grandmother had embraced yet. Not that they really needed to. It was yet a reminder of how much simpler and slower life was here in the valley.

She and Maggie drove the 10 miles back to Meadowlark. It had been dark the first time they came through, and she marveled at how much it had grown since she left. They took Main Street through town, home to the main shopping district where the storefronts were all attached and the signs and colors from years past were preserved as if they’d just been put up the day before.

“It looks like something out of a movie,” Maggie said. “Like those old movies that are on late at night, with the old west stores and boardwalks. Only without the boardwalks.”

Lauren nodded. “It is kind of like stepping into a movie, isn’t it? Some of these old buildings have been here since Grandma Rose’s mom first moved here. They were built to last, and they have, with the right care.” She turned off of Main onto Bowman Street, and stopped two blocks up in front of a small, box-style house that had clearly seen better days. “That’s the house your great, great, great grandma Madeline lived in before she moved out to Magpie.”

Maggie’s eyes got big and her mouth dropped open as she looked out the window. “It’s so small! No wonder she moved!”

“She actually lived there with her husband and kids, until her husband died. After that, she moved out to the ranch, and that’s where my family has lived ever since.”

“How did her husband die?” Maggie asked. “And how many kids did they have?”

“They had four children – two from his first marriage, and she had two of her own. And no one’s really sure how her husband died, though there are rumors that she killed him. The town all believed she did, though no one could prove it. That’s partly why she moved out to Magpie, with her two best friends who were also sort of ostracized by the townfolk.”

“Wow!” Maggie wrinkled her nose. “Why would she do that?”

“Well, supposedly she was pregnant, and people speculate it had something to do with the baby. Maybe she was having an affair? No one’s really sure, but her husband died, and she never had a third child. So something happened there. It’s our family mystery.”

Maggie’s eyes were big. “That’s crazy!” She looked out the window again. “There’s a lot of weeds, and it kind of looks abandoned. Does anyone live there now?”

Lauren shook her head. “Nope. Our family still owns it, but none of our people have lived in it since Madeline left. I think we pay someone to mow the grass and check in on it once a month or so – or we used to, at least. Everyone says it’s haunted though – by Charles, her late husband. And sometimes people say they can hear a baby crying in there, even though no one’s lived there in years.”

“Whoa!” Maggie reached for the door handle. “Can we go in, Mom? Just for a minute?”

“Not today, hon. I don’t have a key, and we need to make sure it’s okay with your Grandmas. I’m not sure when anyone was in there last, honestly. It might not be safe.” She took one more look at the quaint dwelling, with its peeling paint and overall air of something long forgotten. “We’ll come back in a few days, and poke around. How’s that?”

“Good.” Maggie said, sitting back in her seat. “I think we should talk to those ghosts, and find out what happened to Charles.”

“Uh…okay.” The whole talking-to-ghosts thing was new, but Lauren wasn’t going to discourage it. At least not until she figured out exactly what Maggie meant, and her daughter’s matter-of-fact tone and mic-drop attitude had her curious.

She pulled away from the curb and drove a few blocks more, taking a left on Bourbon, and then a right three blocks later on Maple Street, which dead-ended into a big parking lot that was just starting to fill up.

“Mom, I’m hungry. Can we go to Taco Bell?”

Lauren laughed as she pulled into an empty parking spot and turned off the engine. “We’re already here.” She pointed past the other parked cars to a single-story wooden building at the back of the lot. “The fairgrounds are right over there. We’ll get something to eat there.” They got out of the car, and Lauren locked it, stowing her keys in her purse. “Besides,” she said as they started walking toward the building, “There isn’t a Taco Bell here.”

“No tacos?! How do people live without tacos?” Her daughter was clearly on the verge of a meltdown in the face of a fast-food fast. “Are there burgers? A McDonald’s?”

Lauren shook her head, enjoying the show her daughter was putting on. “If people here want tacos, they make them at home. Same goes for burgers, except if I remember right, there’s a Dairy Queen on Main right before you get on the highway. And there are a couple of cafes, that sell food, too. You just have to go in and sit down to eat. No grab it and run, although I’m sure they’d make a meal to go, if you ask them nicely.”

“Wow.” Maggie was going to wear out that word before the day was over, and it amused Lauren. This was a whole different side of life for her daughter, and she was glad they’d come, even if the circumstances could have been better.

They reached the building, which was actually two long meeting house type log structures connected by a covered overhang. In the center of the overhang was a ticket booth, and she paid for them both, thanking the ticket seller who looked vaguely familiar and seemed to have the same reaction to Lauren. They pushed through the turnstile and walked into a colorful, bustling carnival midway with carnies calling out to them to come play, and all sorts of rides blaring loud music to almost cover the screams of the people being shook and flipped in all manner of different ways.

“Ooo…balloon animals. Can I go get one, mom?”

Lauren nodded and handed her daughter a twenty dollar bill. “Stay where I can see you.” She watched Maggie run the twenty feet or so to where a clown was entertaining a small group of kids, and tried to remember what it had been like to be twelve years old at the fair.

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.

Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | Bookshop.org
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible

Sep 23 2022

Magpie Shiny, Chapter 4

Author: Jamie DeBree

This story is posted weekly in draft form. Need to catch up? Here are links to the previous chapters:
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

“You’re up! Join us!” Her grandmother smiled brightly and nodded to an empty chair across the table. “Would you like a sandwich? I’m sure you’re hungry.”

Lauren nodded. “I guess I am, now that you mention it.” She looked at her mother’s stiff back and swallowed. This was going to be harder than she’d thought. “Mom, can I help you?

“I’ve got it.” Madeline’s tone was brusque. “You can get yourself something to drink from the fridge, if you’d like. Or there’s coffee on that counter over there.” She pointed in the general direction of a coffeepot across the room. Lauren didn’t drink coffee, but no reason to mention it just yet.

“I’ll just have water, thanks.” Lauren went to the cupboard where the glasses had been when she was young, and opened it to find they were indeed still there – the same plain clear glasses, even. She took one out and filled it from the refrigerators water dispenser before sitting down at the table with her grandmother and Maddie.

Grandma Rose reached out and patted Lauren’s hand, a small gesture, but somehow, it seemed important. It had been a long time since she’d felt the touch of someone comforting without an apparent ulterior motive, and she found herself embarrassingly uncomfortable.

“Maddie was just telling us about your life in Colorado. She says you worked at a gym there. That sounds like an interesting job.”

Lauren nodded. “I taught aerobics classes, and did personal training sessions.” She smiled at her daughter, who smiled back. “I enjoyed it, and it kept us warm and fed.”

“I thought you were gonna be a teacher.” Her mom turned around and set two plates down for Grandma and Maddie. “Teaching probably pays better.” She turned back to the counter, giving them her back again, and it felt like a definite physical barrier, not just a mental one.

Across the table, her grandmother’s expression was kind, but it was obvious she was curious as well.

Lauren took a drink and then a long breath before answering. “Jenny’s Gym was the first place I got a job when I moved to Boulder. I couldn’t exactly go to school with a baby to take care of. But the gym was a perfect solution – built in childcare right where I worked, so I could look in on Maddie anytime I had a free minute, and they didn’t have a problem hiring a pregnant woman about to pop. I had good insurance and it was great being able to workout and get back into shape right away. The owner, Jenny Reynolds, became one of my best friends and is Maddie’s godmother. Which reminds me, I need to let her know we’re here and safe later this afternoon.”

“Sounds like you made the best out of an unexpected situation.” Grandma looked up as her mother put a plate with a sandwich in front of Lauren, and then sat down with a plate for herself as well. “You must have been lonely out there, all by yourself.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “What Grandma means is, why didn’t you call? Ever? Not even when you had a child?”

“This isn’t the time for that, Madeline.” Her grandmother glanced at Maddie and back to her own daughter, but Lauren sensed her mom wouldn’t be put off this time. She’d already told Maddie the answer she’d rehearsed, so her daughter wouldn’t be caught off guard.

“It’s okay, Grandma.” Lauren looked at her mother. “I did call, once. No one answered the phone, and I guess I sort of took it as a sign. I was…having some trouble, and I was going to ask if you could help. But when no one answered, I kind of felt like I should deal with it myself. And so I did.”

Madeline shook her head. “What did I ever do to make you think that I wouldn’t support you even if you left? Of course I think your place is here, but I wouldn’t have tried to keep you here if you wanted to go. You were planning to go to college anyways.” She got up, pacing by the counter as she rubbed one hand in the other. “But your fate is to be here, whether you like it or not. And I’m sorry if that feels like a burden to you, but sometimes we don’t get to choose our life plays out. When that happens, we make the best of it, and we learn how to be happy where were supposed to be.”

“I can’t believe you still believe that!” Lauren gave a snort of disbelief. “That’s why I didn’t call when I had Maggie. I knew you would tell me that someday she was going to be a ‘Magpie girl’ just like me, whether she wanted to be or not. And that I would end up back here no matter what I did, and that I couldn’t do anything to stop it. And I didn’t want to hear that. It was actually the only thing I really didn’t want to hear at the time.”Her mother started to speak, probably to point out that Lauren had, in fact, ended up coming back, but her grandma held one hand up to stop her.

“Sometimes,” Grandma Rose spoke slowly and thoughtfully, “it doesn’t matter what we believe. What’s going to happen will happen, and that’s what your mother was trying to say. You still have a choice, and you can still leave when you feel safe. Or you might decide life here has grown on you by then.”

“I like it here, Grandma!” Maddie grinned and looked around the table, and Lauren couldn’t help but smile back. Her daughter was a master in the art of breaking up serious conversations, and Lauren was grateful.

She noticed the other ladies couldn’t help but smile back either, and as Maddie giggled and her dimples popped, Lauren thought again how much the girl resembled her dad.

“Colter will be riding in the rodeo at the Meadowlark fair starting tomorrow,” her mother said, giving Lauren a knowing look. She and Grandma had no doubt caught the resemblance and put two and two together as well. “Might not be a bad time to catch up with Vinnie and Beth, either.”

If you’re enjoying the story, please share a link on your favorite social media site.
If you’d like to leave a tip, please click here.

Thank you for reading!

Find More Books
This House of Books (my local bookstore!) | Bookshop.org
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks | Audible