The Romantic Muse

The train arrived in Slack Creek early on Thursday evening. Before going to the Sheriff’s office, Russ Martin again read the telegram he’d received just days earlier. Russ - Will Tyler dead - Clay Tyler wounded - trial in Slack Creek Thursday - will try to postpone the hanging until you arrive - Tom. So few words and yet they changed his life, changed his outlook.

Four years earlier, the Tyler gang had ridden into his town, into Stillwater. Four years ago, a stray bullet had taken the life of his wife, Ellie. Four years ago, his own bullet had ended Ed Tyler’s life. Four years ago, everything he’d ever known had become meaningless.

He knew he’d missed the trial, but hoped he wouldn’t miss the hanging. More than anything else, he wanted to see Clay Tyler pay for what his family had done.

Groups of people milled around the main street. He didn’t have to ask anyone about the outcome of the morning’s trial. The jubilation on their faces told him Clay Tyler would surely hang the next morning.

He wasted no time in getting to Tom Claxton’s office. He’d met Tom just after he and Ellie were married, just after he took the job of sheriff in Stillwater. Tom had been visiting family and stopped in to meet the new sheriff. They formed an instant friendship. It was Tom who consoled him after Ellie’s death, first with a visit and later with long letters.

“Russ, it’s good to see you. Guess I don’t have to ask how you’re feeling. It’s written all over your face.”

“It’s good to see you, too, Tom,” Russ replied. “Can I see him?”

“Of course you can, but I’d better warn you, you won’t find what you expect.”

“What do you mean?”

“Clay Tyler isn’t much more than a boy. I’d be surprised if he’s even nineteen. He ain’t hardly said a word since I put him in his cell, not even at his trial. Seems like he’s just trying to accept what tomorrow morning will bring.”

“Nineteen?” Russ repeated. He’d heard what Tom said, but had trouble believing Clay’s age. Had Ed been so young? He couldn’t remember what the man even looked like.

“That’s about what I reckon. He hardly has the beginnings of a beard. Such a waste, but he is a Tyler and you know what they are.”

Russ nodded. There was no use in trying to figure anything else. He wanted to see at least one of the monsters that had killed Ellie hang for their crime.

Tom got to his feet and Russ followed him to the cell area. A lantern burned, bathing Clay in an eerie light. “Someone here to see you, Boy,” Tom said.

Clay raised his head and looked into Russ’ eyes. “Did you come to see the condemned man, Mister?” he asked.

“Guess you could say as much,” Russ replied. “I’m Russ Martin. I won’t make no bones about the fact that I came to see you hang. You killed my wife when you robbed the bank in Stillwater.”

“Where?”

“Stillwater, in Oklahoma Territory. You must remember. It’s the town where Ed got killed.”

Clay nodded, tears beginning to spill down his cheeks. “I’m right sorry, Mister. I don’t remember towns, I don’t remember much, but I do remember Ed gettin’ killed. Do you know who done it?”

Russ swallowed hard. “I did. At least I think I did. Everyone was shooting. I like to think it was my bullet, like to think I made him pay for what you did to Ellie.”

“Ellie? Was she your wife? You don’t have to answer. If she wasn’t your wife, you wouldn’t be here, would you? They’re goin’ to hang me in the mornin’. Would you mind if I talked to you for a while?”

Russ looked at Tom, who merely shrugged his shoulders as though he could, in no way, understand the boy’s motives. “Guess it won’t hurt none,” Russ finally said.

“I don’t want him here.” Clay pointed at Tom. “Only you.”

Russ nodded and waited for Tom to leave and close the door before he pulled a chair up close to the bars of the cell.

“You must think I’ve lost my mind, askin’ to talk to you and all,” Clay began, “but I have to talk to someone. I can’t talk to a preacher, it wouldn’t be right, me bein’ who I am and all.”

Russ nodded. He could understand about the preacher. He’d not been in church since Ellie’s funeral, not confessed his part in Ed’s death to anyone but himself, even though everyone in town thought he’d been the one to bring the man down. “Why me?” he finally asked.

“Because you shot Ed. You know what it’s like to kill a man. Most folks don’t know, they just don’t know what you carry around inside of you. It don’t go away. I want you to know about the Tylers, all of them. I want you to understand we didn’t start out this way. It won’t help me none, but maybe it will do some good for Gary and Jesse.”

“Gary and Jesse?” Russ questioned.

“Gary’s been ridin’ with us for the past three years. They always call him the masked one. Can’t understand why Pa hasn’t let his name be known, but he will. Gary’s different from the rest of us. He don’t belong with Pa.”

“What do you mean he doesn’t belong?”

Clay remained silent for a long moment, as though he wondered if he were doing the right thing. Slowly the words began to come and Russ listened, trying to understand their meaning.

“He - he should have gone on to school, got an education, made something of himself. He’ll never adjust to our kind of life. He can’t pull the trigger, even to shoot a rabbit. He cries a lot at night, when he thinks no one is awake. I know he hates what he’s become, but he can’t leave. He’s got a price on his head, he’ll hang, just like I’ll hang.”

“How old is he?” Russ asked becoming intrigued with the Tyler he’d only heard referred to as ‘the masked one’ in the past.

“Gary’s gonna turn eighteen in the fall. You’d think he would have learned to do as Pa says by now, but he hasn’t. He just takes his beatings and does the same things over and over again.”

Russ shook his head to rid himself of the image of an intelligent young man being forced into the life Clay described. “What about this Jesse?” Russ finally asked. “What’s he like?”

For the first time Clay laughed. “Jesse ain’t a he, Jesse’s a she. She just turned sixteen a few weeks back. Doubt she’ll ever see twenty, though. If she ain’t dead by then, Pa will have sold her off to some bordello in Mexico, probably to someone like Isabella. Pa seems right fond of that old whore. They’ll work something out. A fiery redhead with green eyes will bring a handsome price. Knowin’ Pa, he’ll make some sort of deal to get part of her earnings, too.”

“A girl?” Russ questioned, unable to believe his ears. “I’ve never heard of a girl riding with the Tylers.”

“Don’t reckon you have. Pa just went back to get her a few weeks back.”

Russ listened, intrigued by the words. Little by little, Clay told him about Jesse, little by little, Russ began to picture a young girl treated worse than an animal by her father and brothers.

“She’s like Gary, she just don’t belong,” Clay finally said.

“So why tell me about the two of them?”

“I can’t save either of them from Pa or my brother, Frank, for that matter. Maybe by tellin’ you about them, I can save my soul, if not my life. It probably won’t ever happen, but someday you may hear one of them has been caught. Could be you might remember what I told you about them. I’d like to think maybe you’d tell folks the truth about them. The thought of either of them bein’ hanged makes me sick.”

“Why do you think I’d ever lift a finger to help a Tyler, especially after what you’ve done to me?”

“I don’t know. I just had a feelin’ when I saw you. I know you hate us. I even know you only came here to see me hang, but you don’t strike me as a man who would let kids like Gary and Jesse pay for something they ain’t done. With me it’s different. I’ve done everything I’ve been accused of. I became what Pa wanted me to become and I deserve whatever I get. I’m ready to die. At least I won’t have to follow Pa’s orders or face Frank’s bullwhip anymore.”

“I can’t say I’ll ever come to the rescue of a Tyler,” Russ said. “It goes against my grain. I will watch you hang tomorrow and then I’m going to start a new life. I plan to get away from this area, away from anyone who even knows the name of Caleb Tyler. He ruined my life once. I won’t let him do it again. Maybe you can’t understand it, but I doubt I’ll ever attend another hanging after today. Watching you die will close this chapter of my life and I swear I’ll never so much as think about the Tylers again, as long as I live.”

Clay smiled. “I can understand how you feel, but don’t expect the Tylers to disappear from your life so easily. Once Caleb touches you, you’re never the same. Because of him, you’ve killed a man. Now, you’ve come to see me hang. Believe me, you will never be the same again, and Caleb will enter your life whether you want him to or not.”

“Well, that’s done,” Tom said, once the trap door opened and Clay Tyler dropped to his death. “Will you be going back to Stillwater on the train or can I persuade you to stay on for a few days?”

“Neither,” Russ replied. “I’m moving on. I’m going to get as far away from here as I can.”

“I don’t understand. Don’t you want to be close enough to know when someone catches another of the Tylers.”

“One hanging in a lifetime is more than enough. I’m going to start over, forget I ever heard the name of Tyler.”

“What did he say to you last night?”

“More than I wanted to hear. It doesn’t matter what he said. What matters is how I heard it.”

Russ turned away from Tom, just in time to see the undertaker removed Clay Tyler’s lifeless body from the enclosure beneath the gallows.

The conversation with Clay rang in Russ’ mind as he boarded the train. Where will this train take me, he silently questioned himself. What will my life be like? Can I really start over? Can I forget what the Tylers did to Ellie, to me?

You have to start over again, Russ, Ellie’s voice sounded in his ears. Watching Clay Tyler hang hasn’t brought me back, nothing can. Put all of this from your mind. Find someone to love and raise a family.

Author Interview with Sherry Wille

Q- Hi Sherry, thanks for joining me and allowing me to interview you today. I wanted to ask you a little bit about yourself. What made you decide to become a writer?

A- Thank you for having me. It all started in September of 1961 when my sophomore English teacher gave a test and I got an A. My reward was sitting in the back of the room and writing for a year. After that no one told me to stop writing. Now 40+ years later I've learned I was the only one who liked the assignment.

Q- I have been searching through your publishers sites and noticed that you have several books published. What is your favorite book that you have written?

A- I think it had to be Birdsinger's Woman.

Q- What was the inspiration behind your favorite book?

A- It all came about when my mother was very ill and dying. She insisted we take our annual trip to Peoria, IL, to the Wildlife Prairie Park, for the blessing of the buffalo ground and the powwow that went along with it. While I was there, the characters of Atiko and Kit appeared to me and revealed the beginning of their story.

Q- What is it that motivates you to write?

A- The desire to tell the stories that crowd my mind. Recently it has been a woman I went to school with. After reading my first book, Summer's Child, she called to tell me it was the first book she had read since 1967. Now she's hooked. Testimonials like that make me realize that there is a reason God gave me this gift and that is to touch others.

Q- If you could write any genre, what would it be and why?

A- There are so many it's hard to tell which I love the most. I guess it is the second chance at romance books from Wings as well as any historical I do. I love telling the stories of 50 something heroines and helping them find romance for a second time. As for the historical aspect of my writing, they are few and far between. I guess it's because they need more research, but I am fascinated with history.

Q- What is the one thing you would like to say to those who have never read your books?

A- Don't judge all of my books by one. Each are different. I write in many different genre and love them all. My historical stories as well as my Indians are a far cry from my older heroines and are really nothing like my family epics.

Q- If you could say anything to your fans, what would it be?

A- Never give up on your dream. I struggled to be published for over 40 years and now that I am living my dream, it is wonderful.

Q- What stories are you currently working on?

A- A time travel erotica for Elora's Cave with a 50 something twenty-first century woman who changes bodies with a 20 something seventeenth century woman; a historical for Medallion Books; and the next second chance at romance book for Wings, THE PREACHER TAKES A HUSBAND.

Sherry, thank you so much for taking the time out of your hectic schedule to chat with us and allow readers the chance to get to know you better. We will be looking forward to OUTLAW'S DAUGHTER in October from Awe-Struck!!

The Mountains region of Georgia is filled with breathtaking landscapes, endless adventure, and unique folk art. Your getaway includes airfare for four, a stay at Forrest Hills Mountain Resort, and much more.

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If you are looking for more free contests and give aways, be sure to visit the Whiskey Creek Press Torrid Reader's group. This site is offering the HOTTEST!! Books and give aways on the net. If you are looking for great stories by really talented authors look no further. Also be sure to check out the calendar of events for the latest happenings and contests.

I would like to announce that our group chats with authors has moved to http://elhutchison.wcpauthor.com/chat.htm Becasue of all of the problems with the Yahoo chats bumping off guests and members, its just much easier to host the chats in this manner. If you have any questions about this just drop me an email at el_hutchison@msn.com I hope that you will all make a note of it, as it should allow us to have a much smoother and enjoyable chat session with the authors.

This September I am so excited to announce that we will be chatting with author Sherry Derr-Wille.

Ms. Wille is an accomplished author author with a host of wonderful books to her professional credit. Be sure to join us and get the latest information on what Ms Wille is currnely working on as well as her newest release coming in October Outlaw's Daughter..

Please join us for our chat on Friday September 30th at 9pm EST that is 6 pm Pacific Time Zone For more information please visit our Yahoo! group and click on the calendar in the left menu.

We'll see you there!

Make a very light incision all around peach skins. Plunge the peaches briefly into boiling water, then into cold water, and peel. Place in a shallow pan and douse with champagne. Add the syrup and vanilla bean. Bring to a slow boil over low heat, and poach peaches at about 185 degrees F, but do not allow to boil. If peaches are very ripe, they will be poached after 5 minutes.

Place peaches and syrup in a cool place, but do not refrigerate. Drain peaches, reserving the poaching liquid. Wash strawberries, remove any leaves, and pur`ee in a blender or food processor. Place in a bowl and stir sugar into the pur`ee. Stir whipped cream into the strawberry pur`ee and add lemon juice.

Serve on round plates, or in glass dishes or small bowls. Line the bottom of the dishes with strawberry cream and arrange the cooled, but not chilled, peaches on top. Garnish each peach with a mint sprig. Serve the chilled poaching liquid separately in a sauce boat.

Because of health problems as all of you know, August author chats didn't happen. Along with no give aways, or prizes being won. So I am going to make September a knock - down drag-out success. we will still be offering the butterfly broach as a chat give away. Please be sure to join us, as we are determined to make September a resounding success with readers and writers alike.

For the month of September chats, along with the excellent book that will be offered (shh...I'm not giving away any secrets!), we will be offering a faux gemstone butterfly broach to a lucky chatter. For a chance to win the broach all you have to do is show up at our author chat and support a wonderful author.

For chat dates and times be sure to register with our Yahoo! group, as we send out chat notices and times periodically throughout the month.

Click to join el_hutchison_romance_author

This section is reserved for the top 10 picks of Romance Reviews Today.

Are you considering the possibility of using an Online Dating Site to find the Date or Love of your dreams? Yes? Well, did you know that the most important part of finding your special someone through online dating is your profile. As explained in my book "the Ultimate Online Dating Handbook" even if you plan on being proactive in your search, you will still need a stellar profile. Why? Mainly because anyone you email, wink or nod will most likely use your profile as a way of deciding whether or not they wish to respond to you. So, how do you create an eye grabbing profile? Here are 6 steps that will get you on your way to dating ecstasy.

1- Take as much time as you need to build your profile, there is no need to rush through this process. Read each section carefully and be sure to give as much information as you can. In the talk about yourself section be sure to have more then just a just couple sentences. You must remember that potential dating partners are reading this info to get a feel of whether or not the two of you might hit it off. So tell them about yourself. Your likes, your dislikes etc.

2- You want to standout from the crowd. There are lots, and I mean lots of "I'm a 26 year old SWF/SWM who likes movies and swimming". You need to be more specific so you can create an interest in you. After all you are creating a sales page for yourself. What are your favorite movies, t.v. shows, music, singer, group, etc? Do you have any hobbies? Play sports? Yes? Then tell people about it. Do you have a great sense of humor? Then show people that great sense humor.

3- Remember that being negative is not an attractive trait in a date. Be positive about yourself. You really don't want to say things like "I'm doing this on a dare" or "I'm just trying this out for the hell of it". You won't be taken seriously with this type of comment. And, don't be concerned about looking for a date or romance online, you won't be thought of as being desperate. Just like you, 61% of American Singles will look for a date online this year. That's a lot of dates! So project a Happy you, sadness isn't an attractive trait either.

4- Be honest about yourself. You can say you are as funny as Jim Carey or as hot as Pam Anderson, but if you're not your potential date won't be impressed. Remember that there is always the possibility you will take you online romance offline and meet face to face. So be honest, you'll get great dates just being yourself.

5- Use a spell checker! There is nothing worse than reading a profile of someone you think you might be interested in and very fourth word is incorrectly spelled. Sure, we're not all great spellers, but you know that squiggly red line under half of your text, well, it's there for a reason. Create your text in a word processor, then copy and paste it into your profile. This way you can save it and use it again if you sign up for more than one dating site. It will also allow you to tweak your profile from time to time.

6- This one is a given - Upload a photo or two. As part of your profile, the photo is one of the most important parts. If you decide not to upload a photo, again you will not taken seriously. Even if you don't consider yourself terribly attractive, believe me there are hundreds of people out there who will. Just think about this, When you're reading someone's profile, how important would it be to see a photo of that person?

Marie Clare specializes in writing about Dating, Relationships and Romance. Check out her lastest Best Selling eBook "the Ultimate Online Dating Handbook" plus reviews of the Best Online Dating Sites, FREE Articles, Tips and Advice at www.lifematesnow.com

Whiskey Creek Press is now offering readers a fabulous opportunity to meet their authors, win contests, and just have fun. The Torrid Readers Group is featuring some of the hottest writing I have ever read, along with book giveaways, gift certificates and so much more. For more information please visit the Torrid Readers Group on Yahoo!

Also be sure to join the Whiskey Creek Authors for Torrid Tuesday's Never before has Tuesday been so HOT!

Chapter 1(Continued from July Issue of the Muse)

Grayson ran a hand through his hair and groaned as he watched her again begin her rehearsed speech dumping him.

In her halted perfect English, with the body of a goddess Ariana tossed her raven colored hair over her shoulder and pursed her perfectly full lips at him. “Grayson, I think this would be a mistake. You are not the right man for me. A marriage between us would not work because there is so much more I want from my life. I want to be a famous actress, not the little woman.”

Grayson groaned as he waited for his even more unbelievable reply. “Ariana, could we just give it a try away from the cameras? We are perfect for each other”

Tossing his beer at the television set he grumbled at himself. “You stupid bastard, you just had to beg didn't you?”

“I don't think so, but we could be friends. I would very much like to be friends.” Came Ariana's calculated reply.

Grayson picked up the remote and clicked off the tv, as he sauntered back into the kitchen for another beer. “Of course you want to be friends you witch, I know people in Hollywood. Fat damn chance.”

Pulling another beer from the refrigerator, he prayed his phone wouldn't ring, prayed that his friends wouldn't call and harass him. It had been weeks since that show had been taped and his friends all kept calling and dropping by to see if the Russian hotty would say yes to his proposal. Unfortunately all of his friends thought that they were the perfect couple. Both gorgeous, both heading in the right direction professionally…they had to get together, they were the perfect couple.