The Orchard- Johnny

by Sheila W. Perry

Overview

"I'm not sure exactly what day or anything, but can you give me a ride to the truck stop. I want to try and catch a ride with one of the trucker's heading out on I-87."
"So you're heading south, huh?" How does Jodi feel about that, I wanted to ask?
Looking out at the orchard he went on, "Yeah, I think I'm ready for some warmer weather. Florida is always nice in the winter."
"Just let me know when you want to leave, I'll take you to the truck stop." I told him.
"Sure appreciate it, man. Do you want another beer?" The kinder Kenny was the madder I felt.
Draining the last of my beer, I got up, "No, I'm all right. I think I'm going to head up to bed anyway."
"I'll go ahead and go then, see you tomorrow. Night." I heard Kenny say to the door I'd shut tight on my way into the house.
After he left I grabbed another beer, turned off the lights and went back out on the porch. Sitting in the dark I made my decision. Kenny could not wreak havoc on our lives and walk away. He wouldn't need that ride after all, I thought.
The following Wednesday, while Kenny was at another meeting with Willie, I pulled out Granddads Winchester. Heading out into the orchard I shot a deer, dressed it out and hung it next to the barn.
Thursday I went to the forge and gave a firm push on the fourth plank from the front. Slowly I exchanged one barrel for the other. Taking a seat on the back porch, I turned on the radio, wondering what the music of my life would be today. Today WFLS didn't fail; "Why Me?" filled the night. Listening to the words, 'my souls in your hands,' I waited in the dark, for Kenny to come home. Granddad's shotgun across my lap.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940044190221
Publisher:	Sheila W. Perry
Publication date:	11/08/2012
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	158 KB

About the Author

Having been a small town girl it gives me pleasure to visit one of the many towns I've lived in over the years. Some haven't grown much but others have thrived while keeping that small town charm. I hear people talk about big city life being the way to go, I still like a small town though. That may be why I can relate to the Jessica series so well. She gets to watch Springfield grow into a big, for the times, city. Anyone who's ridden through the area today can see that Springfield is far more than Jessica could of dreamed.

In The Orchard I have once again returned to a small town. Glenns Falls is an 'everybody knows your name' kind of town. But the lure of big city life is still there for some like Julie.She wants nothing more than to ditch country life and be somebody. It takes a man like Johnny and a woman like Maggie to show her that you can be somebody no matter where you're from or where you live.

Other than baking, reading and writing, riding my Harley is a passion and a favorite thing to do. Family vacations on the seat of a bike well outweigh any fun one can have in a car. Can you imagine taking Route 23 in Kentucky or riding the Snake on Route 421 in an RV? It just isn't the same. I do a lot of thinking about what I'm writing in the seat of my Sportster.

I have always been a supporter of people. It has taught me we should figure out what we have in common, that that unites us, if you will, in order to overcome our differences. I've met people from all walks of life, some certifiable and the rest just crazy. All lovable and interesting.

Inspiration for my books comes from many places. Jessica was inspired by my interest in small towns and love of westerns. I wanted to write something my Grandmother would like. The Orchard was born out of a conversation with a friend. Just why would a man shoot not one but two different men? We agreed that it had to be over a woman but had different ideas about the circumstances. Riding home from his house the concept for The Orchard was born. I had to ask what kind of man would do that and then it occurred to me what kind of woman could inspire that in a man? In my mind's eye Maggie could.

I've spent a good deal of my formidable years living in beach towns. It is true that once the sand gets between your toes you are hooked. You can never wash it out. Which is why you may find a beach setting in many of my books like The Captain of the Tides.

Grandmot...