Day Ten Word count 48,088

I am finished with Chapter 20. I still have five chapters to go for the planned end of my novel. I am excited to realize that I will exceed my word count by more than just a hundred words that I planed for a cushion.

I have been working hard and putting in a lot of long hours. My book is just about to reach its climax and I can feel the tension rise in the story line.

A small excerpt Chapter 20.

Nate was almost home. He was bone weary and still did not know how to tell Cynthia about the squaw. She was more help on the trail that he would have thought. He was afraid that she would be a burden but he should have known better. Teka never was.

When he woke up the next morning Teka was sitting beside him.

“Why didn’t you wake me up when you got here?” Nate sat up and stretched. He smelled breakfast cooking. Smelled like fish.

“She said you did not make camp until well after dark. I was waiting until you woke up,” Teka said. “She told me what happened to you. I am happy my tribe is not dead.”

Nate was rubbing his face with his hands. “Let’s have a cup of coffee.”

The sat next to the fire. Nate was warming his hands. “Are you thinking of going back to the tribe?”

“No,” Teka said. “My family is my tribe now. May and the children would not adjust to my old way of life. I don’t think I would either.”

Nate nodded. He understood. He could not go home again. He was happy in his new life so he did not mourn that life anymore.

Day 7 Word count 34,35 Chapter 15

Today I am going to do something a little different.

My word count is 34,135 and I am almost finished with chapter 15.

I am only posting a paragraph.


Nate glanced back before he shut the barn door. May had stopped working and

 was holding Teka’s hand looking at his face. Nate looked away. Their love

 was so new it still hurt to look at. Nate went in the house to check on Cynthia.

He did not know if he loved her but he knew that he would protect her and

the children. That seemed more important to him somehow.

Day Five... yea I messed up some where.

Never mind the mess up. Today is Day Five! 28,139 Words to date!

Tomorrow I have three doctors appointments so I needed to get extra writing done today. Yea! I wrote for four and a half hours. I took a break for lunch then I wrote another two hours. I took another hour long break and wrote for my final hour.
This is the picture my husband sent me.

Texas sunrise. Perhaps this is what Nate and Teka saw in the mornings?

Nate's Gold Excerpt Chapter 12

“Where is your Indian?”

“That’s why I backtracked. He has not showed up yet,” said Nate.

“Recon, he is dead?” The sheriff smiled when he said it but Nate held his temper.

“No but he might be hurt somewhere. He saved my life one time and I intend to return the favor.”

“Just don’t get in our way if you’re not going to help.”

Nate acknowledged that he heard and broke away from the men. He needed to find Teka. Nate rode on ahead looking for signs that Teka might have left for him. Just before dark Nate heard the sheriff and the other men shooting. They found the big herd and it sounded like they were fighting with the rustlers. Nate left them to their business while he hunted for Teka. Nate had almost given up because he had lost the light when he heard the sound of a bobcat. Almost the sound of a bobcat Nate thought. Nate smiled to himself. Teka was close.

At the second bobcat call Nate said Teka’s name quietly.

“Over here,” Teka said quietly.

When Nate figured out where he was, he pulled the leaves off of Teka.

Teka was laying in a low spot with leaves piled on top of him.

Nate gave Teka a drink of water and found him some hard tack.

“I waited all day for you. You are slow,” Teka said.

“I know, I’m sorry. It took me a while to figure out that you were not returning.”

“You’re here now.” Teka said.

Nate built a fire. There was no reason to hide now. The Sheriff was taking care of the rustlers. When he got the fire built he move Teka closer so he could see where he was hurt. Nate knew he would not have been hidden if there was not a reason. Teka’s leg was at an odd angle.

“Were gonna have to straighten that out,” Nate said. Nate looked for a straight stick and took some leather straps out of his saddle bag.

Teka got a piece of leather out of his pouch. He put it between his teeth and nodded. Then Teka closed his eyes. Nate gave his leg a tug until the bones lined up and strapped the leg to the stick. Teka did not make a sound but Nate noticed he was sweating. It was too cool for him to sweat long or he would be ill. Nate got his blanket off Brownie and covered Teka up.

“Tomorrow morning I will look for your horse and we will head home.” Nate realized he was talking to himself. Teka had already gone to sleep.

Nate slept sporadically making sure he kept the fire going. By morning there was light rain and it was sharp and bitter. Nate need to get Teka to shelter fast.

As he was getting Brownie ready he spotted Teka’s horse. He hadn’t’ wandered far, most horses stayed close to their owners when their reigns hit the ground. He coaxed the horse to the fire with a little bit of a hard biscuit. He tied the reigns to Brownie. She would stay on command. Teka wasn’t waking up and Nate knew they were in trouble. As quickly as he could Nate made a litter for him and bound it to the horse. A day’s ride in this weather with that broken leg was going to be hard on Teka but it was going to have to be what it was.

Nate wished he knew what kind of herbs to put on Teka’s leg but he didn’t. They rode as fast as they could. When they neared Swede’s place Nate thought they were close enough to home and Teka needed shelter now. As Nate saw the light in the window he realized that it had started to snow. So early in the season. They would have a hard winter.

Day Three and 21,377 words

Nate's Gold excerpt from Chapter 10

 

The next few days Nate and Teka caught the cattle and branded them.  Nate planned to brand the mules and horses next. When it came to the horses Teka balked.

“No one steal horse,” Teka said. “He run fast, he buck, he bite.”

Nate laughed. Sounded like Brownie when she was a colt.

“Teka, you don’t have to brand your horse but I have to brand Brownie. So everyone will know that she is mine. So they will begin to recognize my brand.”

“You brand Teka?”

Nate was surprised. “Why would I brand you Teka?”

“Teka and Nate and Cynthia and boy, tribe.”

“Yes we are family but we don’t brand each other,” said Nate.

“I see black man brand. He belong to white man.”

Nate thought about that for a minute. He knew about slavery but he didn’t approve.

“Teka, I don’t own you. You are family.”

Teka nodded then he said, “I brand you.”

“Now wait a minute,” Nate said backing up.

Teka reached in the bag he carried on his hip and took out a beaded bracelet.

“Put out hand,” he said to Nate.

Nate began to understand and put his hand out. Teka put the bracelet on Nate and wove the ends together.

“Now we are same tribe,” Teka said. “Cynthia same tribe. Boy same tribe.”

Nate nodded his head. He fought back the tears. “Yes we are same tribe.”

Teka put his arm out and the beading on his arm and Nate’s beading was the same pattern. He had not paid any attention when Teka was teaching Cynthia the pattern. Nate nodded.

When Nate branded Brownie, she laid her ears back but she did not move. Teka made a poultice to put on her. Then he brought his horse to Nate.

“He buck, he bite. I hold.”

Nate branded Teka’s horse and he did buck and try to bite him but he was forewarned and stayed out of the way of the teeth. Teka laughed as he held the horse.

“Horse strong, horse have courage. Horse fight.” Teka could state the obvious in clear terms. He put the poultice on his horse too even though he had to work harder at it.

 

When they finished supper that evening Teka gave Cynthia a bracelet with the same pattern that Nate’s had.

Weaving it together he said, “You now belong to tribe.”

Cynthia nodded gravely and handed the baby to Teka. He had a necklace for the baby. It hung to his belly. She took the baby back and swaddled him again.

“Now boy name Jasper. My tribe. Comanche tribe.”

When she stood to put Jasper down for the night she stopped and kissed Teka on the top of the head.

“Thank you,” was all she said.

Teka left the cabin. He never slept there he liked it better in the barn. Nate played his harmonica and thought about the family ceremony Teka had performed.

Strange how unplanned things can be the most important things, Nate thought.

Day Two and 14,096 words so far

This morning I got up and wrote three hours before church.
I went to church and taught the little kids in Sunday School. Sometimes I get to substitute when there is no teacher for the little one.
Then I came home and wrote three more hours.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 5: The Arrangement.

They ordered breakfast and visited like old friends. Henry telling all about the cabin they were building and his need to come to town today to get supplies. Molly nodded from time to time smiling at Henry.   As they were finishing up Spencer and Cynthia Spivey came down for breakfast. Nate started to get up to leave when Spencer stood and spoke to him.

“Mr. Hobbs. It is good to see you again. Have I introduced you to my sister?”

Nate turned and took his hat off. He looked at Cynthia and said, “No you haven’t’.”

“This is my sister Cynthia Spivey. Cynthia , this is Mr. Hobbs.”

Nate stuck his hand out, “Please call me Nate.”

Cynthia did not say anything but she took his hand and nodded her head.

“She is a bit shy,” Spenc said.

“Nice to meet you,” Nate said. He turned to walk away when Spence began to speak.

“Mr. Hobbs, I have a proposition for you.”

Curious Nate turned to Spence. “What would that be,” he asked.

“Please sit and discuss it with us while we eat breakfast.”

Nate sat and they ordered before Spence started talking again.

“I understand that you’re not married. My sister and I have quite a problem.”

“I’m not sure how I can help you,” Nate said.

“Quite frankly, my sister needs a husband.”

Nate was tipped back in his chair waiting for the conversation to unfold. He almost tipped over backwards at those words.

“What?” Nate set his chair upright.

“Mr. Hobbs, my sister needs a husband. I am leaving with the Army tomorrow and I have not been able to find my sister a husband. Our father died last month and his will states that she cannot inherit her land without a husband. I thought you might be interested because her land joins your land. The land you just bought. Hers is on the other side of the river and runs along the same path.” Spence spoke quickly before Nate could leave.

“I am not looking for a wife,” Nate said. I’m still grieving for Alice, he thought.

“I understand that, but were in a real bind here. It would be a good arrangement for both of you. You will be gone for a year and that will give you plenty of time to adjust to a marriage. Cynthia is a hard worker and she wants to keep her land. Think about it for a few minutes and drink your coffee.” Spence was pushing hard but he knew he had to give Nate a few minutes.

They ate breakfast and to Nate’s surprise he started thinking about the benefits of an arranged marriage. Even one this fast.

He would have someone to protect his interest and there were the mules to take care of and… Yes this would work out, Nate thought.

He looked at Cynthia. She’s so plain, the thought. I wouldn’t have to worry about someone wanting to carry her off. She’ll still be here when I get back.

“Ok,” Nate said.

Cynthia’s head jerked up looking at him directly.

“I want children,” she said. “I want to keep my land in my name.”

Nate stuck his hand out. “Done.”

She shook his hand out and he said, “When you finish breakfast we will ask where the parson lives.”

Spence stood up and said, “Cynthia, you didn’t need me. Not one bit. You made a good bargain Sis.”

Chapter One: For Love or Money

Here are the first few paragraphs of the novel I am writing for NaNoWriMo.
There are 2038 words. This will not be edited nor corrected until after the month of November is over.

For a few minutes Nate crouched behind the outcropping overlooking the men below. When he rode up he had stumbled upon the men talking and he was waiting to see if they were the posy chasing him He knew from experience that he could hear almost everything that echoed off the far canyon wall. Most of the conversation he could hear had to do with the cabin below. His cabin. Nate’s wife was in there, waiting for him. . It was going to be harder to get his wife out of the cabin if they were the posy that was hunting him. Nate planned to go around back, through the hidden trail. He liked to sneak up on his wife and surprise her. She always laughed when he did that and he liked to see her smile.

Nate’s was listening very closely now. They were starting to argue.

“Let’s just shoot the cabin up,” said the taller man.

“Hang on, hang on. Let’s not be hasty. Are we sure that is the cabin that belongs to Nate Hobbs?” Nate was peeking out when he saw that it was the Sheriff speaking.

Nate ducked back behind the ledge as one of the men started to turn his way.

“I haven’t seen anyone come out since we’ve been sitting here watching. Are we sure someone is in there?” Nate didn’t recognize that voice but it didn’t sound like the sheriff.

“I’ll go down and look, I can work my way around that way,” he said. Nate watched him pointing to the west.

Nate figured that there were only four of them. He thought that there might have been a fifth but he didn’t hear him speak. He listened for a few more minutes before he started to work his way back to the hidden trail to the cabin.

Nate gathered the reign’s to his horse when he hear the sheriff yell to the cabin.

“Hello the cabin.”

Nate returned to his watching position. The men in the posy were standing in open sight now. They were looking toward the cabin most crowding to the front of their outcropping watching the cabin as the Sherriff continued to yell.

“Hello the cabin. Nate Hobbs, are you in there?”

Nate looked at the window where the sink was. He knew that Alice, his wife would look through that one if she was home.