Lost In Dodge
by
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Chapter 1
It was a warm sunny day as the Wilkes family rolled their buckboard into Dodge City. Rick and his wife were both dressed well for the trip to town, with him in his best shirt and boots and her in her best dress. Rick eyed his wife Laura suspiciously. She had requested this trip to do some shopping and had even given him some money to drink at the saloon.
This had made him suspicious since she hated it when he drank, though she never actually said it; she wouldn't dare. It also made him wonder where she had gotten any money, though she said she had put it away in case of hard times. A man was known by his family, and he kept his in line. He was a small man by standards, five-foot four inches and not quite one-thirty. He had sandy blonde hair and a light mustache. Laura sat beside him quietly, as was befitting a wife. She matched him in height, and was slender with a beautiful build. She had long, thick, black hair nearly to her waist, with dark brown eyes.
In the back of the buckboard were their two children. Their son Daryl sat flatly, leaning his back against the front seat of the buckboard. He was already five-foot two, nearing his father's height. Though he had very broad shoulders for his height, he was barely over a hundred pounds. He also had dark black hair like his mother and shared her eyes. He was wearing a slightly torn shirt and timeworn bib overalls that ended above his ankles. In his lap sat his sister, Shelly Lynn. Little Shelly Lynn was only four years old. She had barely cleared two feet and weighed next to nothing. She was wearing her only dress and had on her pretty black shoes with laces. Both sat quietly as they had been taught, enjoying the sights as they passed.
Rick turned the team up the street toward the livery stable. The blacks pulled well, probably the best horses he had ever owned. Well, he didn't exactly own them. They came with the farm he was working for Herman Smith, so that basically made them his.
He pulled the buckboard in beside the livery stable; no sense boarding the horses, since they wouldn't be in town that long. Looking at the sign on the stables reminded Rick that the blacks would need shod soon, but since they weren't really his, that would be Herman's problem.
Rick climbed out of the buckboard on his side and Laura climbed off her side.
"I'll take the children so they won't be a bother," Laura said meekly, without looking at Rick.
"The boy stays with me," Rick ordered, suspicion in his eyes. Laura nodded and lifted Shelly Lynn off Daryl's lap and onto the ground. Laura took Shelly Lynn's hand and started toward the dry goods store. Daryl got to his feet and began climbing out of the buckboard on Rick's side.
"Jump, boy!" Rick ordered.
Daryl didn't like to jump, it made his feet hurt, 'but a boy best do as his pa tells him lessen he gets himself a whippin'.' he reminded himself. Daryl jumped, forcing the pain from his mind as he landed, 'a boy what ain't tough, ain't good fer nothing' he thought courageously. Rick turned and headed for the saloon with Daryl following exactly two steps behind, remembering his place.
Laura and Shelly Lynn entered the dry goods store. This was Shelly Lynn's first time in a store and she marveled at all the wonderful items on display. Laura pretended to be looking at some clothing on a shelf near the window facing the saloon. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Rick ordered Daryl to sit by the door of the saloon and then entered. She hadn't really expected her first plan to work but had a second plan waiting and ready. She looked at the clothing and slowly counted to thirty in her head. This would give Rick enough time to get his first round.
She grabbed Shelly Lynn by the hand and quickly headed out the door and down the boardwalk. Ten doors down was her destination and she had to make it without Rick catching her. With a small amount of relief she turned the knob and entered the sheriff's office.
"Please," she said, trying to control her voice, "you have to help me."
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About the Book
Lost In Dodge is placed in a western setting but isn't a true western book any more than Gone With The Wind is a war story. It's a book of love and tenderness, spiced with laughter, garnished with moments of sadness and a side dish of action.
Lost In Dodge is about a young boy named Daryl who travels to Dodge City with his father, mother and little sister, Shelly Lynn.
At the first available moment, his mother takes his sister and abandons him, taking the train to somewhere east. Later that night his father is killed, leaving him alone in a town he doesn't know.
He's taken in by the kindly blacksmith Merle Wilson who, having no children of his own, raises Daryl through the loveable antics of childhood. Though Daryl tries to live the life of a normal boy, there is something about his appearance that registers shock in the eyes of those meeting him for the first time. Regardless, there is someone for everyone and he finds his love in Stephanie Rose. Together they build a life that is the envy of all.
Sixteen years later Daryl's sister, Shelly Lynn, journeys west in search of her brother. At her mother's death bed she learned what really happened that day in Dodge City and has vowed to take that truth to the one who deserves it the most and also teach him of the legacy to which he belongs.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, feel happiness and sadness as you journey through this heartwarming tale of a boy named Daryl who was Lost In Dodge.
About the Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Raised in a small town in eastern Colorado, he still believes in the old way of life, respect others, work hard, and try to keep a smile on your face. Having joined the Navy just out of high school, he’s been a construction worker, a police officer, a windmill repairman and now an over the road truck driver… but always the dreamer. He found early in life, that dreaming allowed him to escape the realities of life and relax from the stress it caused. As an over the road truck driver, he found himself with an abundance of time for dreaming and decided to put that time to use as an author. Armed with a laptop computer (at the insistence of his children) he began putting stories into book form for others to read. Still working as an over the road truck driver, he travels the country seeing the beauty of the United States. He enjoys golf when he can and is currently attempting to play at least one game in every state. When not driving or playing golf, he spends his time with his adult children and of course, works on his books.