Day: June 2, 2025

He Rode Tall

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Excerpt

The land, the buildings, all of that old
equipment, and the horses. Heck, you wouldn’t even have to
unpack. I’ll write you the check right now and you can cash it at the
bank on the way through town as you head back to the city.”
Joel could have very easily taken the money. Heaven knows he
could use it. He really didn’t have anything that was stopping him
from accepting the offer. And 60,000 dollars could go a long ways
in Costa Rica, or wherever he ended up. Maybe he could even buy
a nice little bar on a sandy beach to keep himself occupied. He
could see himself passing out cool cervezas and renting out
sea-doos to tourists. Or maybe just passing out. That sure would
have been his preferred behavior in the past. But there were a few
things bothering him about the offer. First of all, he just didn’t like
Buck Smith. Secondly, from what Smith had to say, there probably
wouldn’t be a place for Harry in the Buck Smith Ranch Corporation.
Thirdly, the offer just came too easy, and if Joel was any judge
of character, the offer was probably significantly below market
value. Joel was feeling confused. He knew that life was all about
the choices we make, and right now, it seemed as if he was faced
with a big choice. He could either sell the Circle H to Buck Smith
for 60,000 dollars or he could be a stubborn son-of-a-gun and try to
make a go of it in this god-forsaken country.
The consequences were obvious. On the one hand, he could
have the bar on the beach in Costa Rica with the scantily dressed
babes, and on the other hand, he could have a grizzled-up old
ranch-hand and a bunch of horses. What the hell was he thinking?
One thing he knew for sure—right now, standing in the
sparse and desolate yard of the rundown Circle H, there was a
battle going on inside of him between his head and his heart. And
he didn’t know which was winning.
“Let me think it over,” Joel said.
“Think it over. Hell, man. What is there to think over? This is a
good offer and there just aren’t any other buyers for a small
standalone place like this. Besides that, your dad and I had it all
arranged.”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0980897955

The Circle

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Excerpt

he hugs each one and says, “Hi”. Hakim kisses her and says, “Well, today
is the day. Today, I’ll meet your father.”
“I know, honey. Come, I’ll introduce you to him.”
She takes them to the backyard, where some people have already gathered.
She finds her father and says, “Dad, this is Hakim.”
Matthew looks at Hakim as if inspecting him, and with a broad smile on his
face, says pleasantly, “Well, well! I finally get to meet you, Hakim. It’s my
pleasure. I have heard quite a lot about you.”
Hakim looks at him and responds, “Thank you, Mr. Roberts. The pleasure is
mine, and happy birthday.”
“Oh, no need for formality. Matthew, is good enough.” Matthew says.
Jennifer introduces Talal to her father as well. They shake hands, and
Matthew turns and hugs Helena, waiting patiently for her turn.
“Happy birthday, Matt,” she says.
“Thank you very much, Helena. Thank you, all. Please, feel free, and have a
drink. Enjoy the party.”
Talal turns and walks away toward the house, hoping to find Emily among all
the other people, but he can’t see her anywhere in the backyard. Seeing Matthew
for the first time, he sees a person very committed to his work, and Talal
appreciates this in any man. But, from Emily’s comments, Talal gathers that this
man thinks of work, work, and nothing else. He goes inside and finds Emily in
the kitchen talking to a friend. She looks so pretty, to him. She sees him and calls
him over.
“Cathy, this is Talal, a good friend of Jennifer’s and a good friend of
Hakim’s. They came together from Iraq to study here and have done very well.”
Talal takes Cathy’s hand and kisses it, as is his custom.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Cathy.”
“You, too, Talal.”
Emily follows him toward the kitchen sink and says, “Oh, Cathy, dear, could
you please take this platter outside and place it with the rest of the food?”
showing her friend the last cheese platter.
Cathy takes the platter and steps outside, while Talal goes to Emily’s side
in the kitchen and touches her buttocks as he passes, making her feel a shiver
through her spine. She gives him a beautiful smile and blows a kiss toward
him, and he smiles back, winks, sends her a kiss through the air, and goes
outside.
Emily is left there, overpowered by her emotions, and so excited she feels that
she wants him, now. Yet, she knows that cannot happen, not now, not today. Is
she ever going to enjoy him the same way she enjoyed him the other day?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0978186524

Nikos Engonopoulos – Poems

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There
The net-like inexistent fans
of forgetfulness
were the only
consolation
among the blood
of a virgin
who never mentioned her name
among the songs
of the gray substance
in the red fine winds
yet it was meant
between the hooks
the wheels
the springs
and the tears
of the young whale
to sprout, just like that,
a fico tree
that decorated
the poor hall
voices
and the unmade tragic beds
of spasms

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763734