Book Blurb

Who’d ever choose to live in a town like Randallville?  Or, more importantly, who would choose to die there?!?

Three deaths in one week bring together a strange assortment of characters: a cowboy, who loses his boss at the ranch he’s been working for 40 years; a 10-year-old autistic boy, who notices things in ways no one else does; a detective, who finds cause for cool suspicion and hot desire; a female construction worker as confused by life as she is by her male co-workers; and a host of other town-folk just trying to live their darned lives. 

An epic of swirling emotions, earth-shattering plot twists, wrenching confrontations, and heart-warming connections and salvation!

Madeline 2

I was to be the distant cousin from out of town, on his mother’s side.  Cherry had coached me on my supposed lineage, so I figured I could get by if anybody quizzed me.   I had done this plenty of times before, but yeah, I had a few nerves.  We didn’t know if Borkfield would even show up – might just be a waste of time.  But might not.

I checked my makeup in the rearview mirror, tucked a few stray hairs into place, grabbed my purse and headed for the funeral home entrance. 

It was still early for the viewing, but there were about 10 cars already in the parking lot. No one outside, though. I walked through the doors, the blast of A/C sending my carefully arranged scarf back over my shoulder – damn.  Inside, like most of these places, it was rather dark, especially after the bright AZ sun, and plush, with dark yet subdued colors, comfortable chairs, lots of flowers, hushed voices.  I hate these places.  They’re like death – not the kind where you actually die, but the kind where your soul gets slowly sucked out and you eventually are - well, generic, I guess.

I glanced in a mirror in the hallway to rearrange the scarf, then headed purposefully toward Parlor C – Randall.  From the doorway – only seven people in the room, with Cherry in a group with three other women, one skinny, twitchy guy sitting in a corner looking at his watch, and the remaining two at the coffin.  Viewing.  Two tall, good-looking guys, side by side, looking down on the deceased.  Brothers, I guessed.  I headed for Cherry.

She looked up as I moved, and gasped slightly.  As if I was a surprise.  I almost rolled my eyes, but I was a good girl.

“Hello,” I said, as we had rehearsed.  “Are you Cherry?  I was so sorry to hear about Manfred.”  I waited a beat.  “Oh, I’m Marian, Marian Stragthorn.”  I extended my hand.

Madeline 1

I walked in.  It was 6:35, and lots of people were having breakfast – work day.  That’s why I was there.  I was looking for a particular man, who might have information about the Randall case.  I admit, I was hungry, too.

It was one of those seat-yourself diners, so I did.  First I took a good look around the place, to see if there were any guys there who fit the description.  Noticed the cowboy in the corner right away – odd to see a cowboy here.  He looked like the real thing, too, not a Village People clone, dust clinging to his shirt, calloused hands, wrinkled sun-hardened skin, tired eyes.  Not my guy, though.  At least, not my guy for the case.  Then there was the table of rowdy construction workers, all men except for one lone, quiet woman in the middle.  A couple of businessmen in suites – probably salesmen.  Why did I think that?  I don’t know.  But I did.  Then a couple of guys with their laptops open, typing away, sitting at the same table but not even looking at each other.  One spoke; the other smiled.  They didn’t look at each other, didn’t stop typing.  Then a table with one woman, quietly reading the paper and drinking coffee, twisting her wedding ring around her finger.  At the counter, a bunch of guys in suits, all with coffee.  And another table with some teenagers – at least, they looked like teenagers to me.  Might have been older.  Five of them, two guys and three girls, laughing a lot.  They looked like they might have been up all night – eyes a little red-rimmed, their energy just a bit too edgy and high for 6:30.  Well, 6:40 now.

I didn’t see my guy – maybe it was too early for him.  So I chose an empty booth and sat down, pulling out my iPad.