Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors!
I’m back with my travelling wild west show story, Masked Hearts.
Skipping ahead just a few paragraphs. Last week Roy asked Minnie of an Indian woman and a white fur trapper she knew had a child, a son. Minnie admitted they did. In what you missed, Roy began to go into detail about Chief Bear Hunter, who met the army for negotiations and was held until the boy was released into Army custody, because the Army believed him to be a white man’s nephew (whose entire family, except some children, were killed by Shoshone).
Minnie asks how he knows such details:
“Uncle Zacheus beat me if I cried, if I said I remembered my parents. He said the memories weren’t real over and over until I started to believe him.” Roy got to his feet and moved closer to Minnie, “But I remember my father…and my Indian mother.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Why are you telling me these stories? They aren’t the truth. Lying to me won’t make me like you.”
“It’s not a lie.”
*Creative editing used this week to fit in the 8.
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Minnie Woodward lives a lie. After barely surviving the Bear River Massacre she’s lived in the white world of her guardian Mister Rawlins, her life debt keeping her tied there. The last thing she needs is Roy’s attempts to gain her favor. Her fate’s sealed. She’s never believed in hope, and not even Roy can make her start.
Roy Ornum saves Minnie every night in the traveling Wild West show. The job he took to break his gambling habit brought him a new addiction – her. He knows she doesn’t want to be rescued, but maybe he does. She’s the key to a past he lost, one he wants to find again.
As the two grow closer old wounds are reopened and their burgeoning trust is shattered. When lives hang in the balance of their choices they’ll need to work together. Otherwise everything will be lost before hope can be found.
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The situation in your snippet left me interested in the larger story, so I guess you did good work. It’s so hard to judge on just such a small snippet, though.
Oh man, what a cruelty they’re both living. I want her to believe him! Great snippet.
An emotional situation for both characters but an interesting snippet. Good job!
Poignant 8! Great job!
Poignant. Touches my heart. Two broken people trying to piece themselves back together.
Such an emotional snippet. I truly feel for both characters. Great work, Sarah!
Wow, they both seem to have issues!
lol – I had to do some creative editing to get my lines in down to 8 also. Great 8.
Beaten into denial. Not a great thing to remember. Great snippet!
Very moving. 🙂
For such a short snippet, you captured the turmoil of both these characters. Well done!
Wow, so much emotion and conflict in so few words! Great 8 🙂
I could feel the conflict between them. I hope he’s not lying either.
Wow, I am so intrigued by this story and today’s snippet was extremely affecting. Wonderful job!
Very emotional and intriguing. Roy’s story of being beaten into denial is heartbreaking and obviously touches her deeply.
Strong excerpt. Well done.
Sometimes lies and the truth are hard to separate and even harder to face. Nice emotion.