Gun Control

A collection of 50 short stories has just been released. The collection is titled, My People, My Stories. They are written by yours truly, Byron Lehman. The stories reach over 30 of his writing career; from my first to my latest. 

I hope you purchase and enjoy.  Here are the links to the Kindle version and paperback.  

Gun Control

It was a slow week at Billy Bronco’s, a local watering hole.

Last week, there was a shooting. There was an argument about gun control.

Three guys came into the bar: Joe, Hank, and Pete.

After the argument, their views changed dramatically.

Joe said he didn’t think guns should be in the hands of private citizens.

Hank immediately began quoting the second amendment. Of course, Joe said that was open to interpretation.

Pete didn’t care one way or another so Joe and Hank asked Pete to be the arbiter. They presented their arguments with passion and reason. So much so that Pete could not declare one the winner over the other.

“You are both my friends,” Pete said. “Your arguments are persuasive and articulated well. I just can’t make up my mind.”

“What do you mean you can’t make up your mind?” Joe said inches from Pete’s face.

“I mean what I said,” Pete said, backing away.

“You’re a coward not to take a stand,” Hank said, backing Pete off his stool.

“That is my stand,” Pete said. “It pleases no one.”

Hank reached inside Joe’s coat and pulled out his concealed handgun. Hank fired one round through Pete’s foot.

Pete screamed. “You idiot! You argued for gun control!”

“Yes!” Hank said. “To keep guns out of the hands of idiots like me.”

The police and rescue squad were called.

Joe was arrested for carrying a weapon without a permit. Hank was arrested for discharging the weapon and shooting Pete. Pete was taken to the hospital, treated, and released.

It has been six months since the shooting. Pete walks with a limp and carries .45. He swears if he sees Joe or Hank, he’s going to put a bullet through their foot. But it will be controlled; “I’m shooting feet only.”

An Unknown Friend

  A collection of 50 short stories has just been released. The collection is titled, My People, My Stories. They are written by yours truly, Byron Lehman. The stories reach over 30 of his writing career; from my first to my latest. 

I hope you purchase and enjoy.  Here are the links to the Kindle version and paperback.  

Quinn and Marty shared the same cubicle for two and a half years. Their chairs were back to back.

Quinn sat with his elbows resting on his desk. He clicked his ink pen over and over. Marty had hardly spoken a word in nearly a week. Quinn thought he had said or done something wrong.

Quinn swiveled in his chair. “Marty!”

Marty swiveled to face Quinn.

“What’s up?” Marty said.

“You tell me,” Quinn said. “You haven’t said more than a sentence or two in the last few days.”

“Sorry,” Marty said. “Nothing is wrong. “I thought maybe you might have noticed but I get this way a couple of times a year. I just like to be left alone for a while.”

“Are you sure that’s it?” Quinn said.

“I’m sure,” Marty said, “Why, do you think it’s something else?”

“It seems like no matter where I go I’m already there,” Quinn said.

“What is meant by that,” Marty said. “I bring everything with me; all the problems, all the troubles, all the insecurities, and all the things that make me miserable.”

“I know what you mean,” Marty said. “I used to feel the exact same way. I try to work through it.”

“How did you work through it?” Quinn said. “I can’t go on like this. I move every three or four years. I don’t make friends and if I do, I can’t keep ‘em.”

“Think for a moment about all the different experiences you have had by relocating every three of four years,” Marty said. “Most guys are afraid to pack up and start over, but you have adventure in your soul. You like to explore new things.”

“It’s not that I enjoy it,” Quinn said. “I’m forced to do it. People tire of me easily and I have no friends.”

“You have more friends than you think,” Marty said.

“Give me the name of someone you have not spoken to in 10 years,” Marty said.

Quinn thought for a moment. “Bruce Spruce.” And he chuckled.

“You got to be kidding me, Bruce Spruce,” Marty grinned. “I’m surprised that guy didn’t move and change his name.”

“Yeah, like Peter Ceder,” Quinn smirked.

“Where do you know him from?” Marty relaxed.

“Lubbock, Texas, we worked together,” Quinn said.

“Where did you work?” Marty said.

“Horizon Industries,” Quinn said, “his desk was next to mine. We started out as friends and it kind of turned sour.”

“What, a big blow-up or something?” Marty said.

“Things just got stale between us,” Quinn said. “I got bad vibes. I got on his nerves.”

“That’s what he said?” Marty said.

“No,” Quinn said, “but I could tell.”

“Give me just a moment,” Marty said, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll get right back with you,” Marty spoke into the phone. “Lubbock, Texas for Horizon Industries.”

“What are you doing!” Quinn said.

“Shhh,” Marty said, “I’m being connected.”

“This is embarrassing,” Quinn said.

“Yes,” Marty said into the phone. “Can I speak to Bruce Spruce?” Marty looked at Quinn. “He still works there. They’re putting us through.” Marty pushed the button for the speaker and handed the phone to Quinn.

“Bruce Spruce, how can I help you?”

Quinn gave Marty a sour look.

Marty handed the phone to Quinn.

“Hey, Bruce, this is Quinn.”

“Quinn,” Bruce said and paused.

Quinn held his hand over the phone. “What did I tell you?”

“The Mighty Quinn!” Bruce said. “Is that you?” Man, it’s good to hear your voice. Where the heck are you now? Somebody said you were in Houston. Tell me what’s going on with you. My life hasn’t changed a bit; same desk, same wife, and same ole, same ole. Are you in town? We got to get together.”

Quinn smiled at Marty and whispered, “Thanks.”

“That did me a lot of good, too,” Marty said. “Nothing makes you feel better than seeing old friends back together.”

Shepherd's First Winter; Trap's Revenge, Episode 34

This is the thirty-fourth and final episode of the novel Shepherd's First Winter. It is available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle 

format. Thanks for following and I hope it was enjoyable. 

Trap's Revenge

Two weeks later, on that same knoll walked an old man. Shepherd could tell he was old by his gait and stoop. Something was strapped to his back. As he drew closer, he looked familiar to Shepherd.

“How are you doing? I am Ivan, head of the council. We met last winter.”

“Yes,” Shepherd said, “I remember you.”

“I wanted to speak to you about something,” Ivan said.

“Sure,” Shepherd said. “You have walked a long way. Have you eaten?”

Ivan said nothing.

“Come inside and let me feed you,” Shepherd said.

“It is not necessary,” Ivan said.

“Please come in,” Shepherd said.

Ivan placed his backpack on the porch as Shepherd showed him in. Shepherd quickly warmed elk and sliced potatoes.

“We will eat together,” Shepherd said as he placed the food on the table.

Ivan was quiet.

They began eating. Shepherd was curious.

“Tell me what happened between you and Dennis,” Ivan said.

“Whatever he told you is the truth,” Shepherd said.

“Dennis and truth are strangers,” Ivan said.

“If Dennis killed my dog I would kill Dennis,” Ivan said. “And it is said you grieved heavily over your dog. He was a gift from a friend and the dog became a friend.”

“Yes,” Shepherd said. “The wolf stopped me.”

“The wolf stopped you?” Ivan said.

“Yes,” Shepherd said. “He pulled the rifle away.”

“Smart wolf,” Ivan said. “I have come to tell you that no one will ever bother you again. There will be no more Amarok.”

“That’s good to hear,” Shepherd said. “I hold nothing against anyone. I’m a stranger. I understand.”

“That is good you understand our ways,” Ivan said. “Our ways are changing.”

“And I’m not here to change them,” Shepherd said.

“But, Daniel told me about an idea you had for a radio station,” Ivan said.

“Maybe not such a good idea,” Shepherd said.

“I was hoping you would go through with it,” Ivan said. “It would be a good thing. It would be one way to tell the valley about who we are and our culture. It would be a good thing.”

Shepherd smiled. “To tell you the truth I have it all worked out.”

Ivan stood. “This has been a most enjoyable meal.”

“You are invited back anytime,” Shepherd said.

“And you to my home as well,” Ivan said.

They passed through the door. Ivan stooped down and opened his pack back. He pulled out a husky pump. “A gift from the council, my friend.” He handed the pup to Shepherd.

Shepherd held him up. “He looks like a good dog. Thank you and thank the council.”

Ivan smiled and strapped the backpack on. He walked a few steps away and turned. “A strange thing happened to Dennis a few days ago. He was killed by what appeared to be a wolf.”

“That is strange,” Shepherd said.

“It really uncomplicates things, doesn’t it?” Ivan said.

“I guess he wanted him for himself,” Shepherd said.

Ivan smiled, waved, and walked away.

 

Shepherd's First Winter; Episode 33, Gone

This is the thirty-third episode of the novel Shepherd's First Winter. It is available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle 

format

Gone

Daniel and his family were with Shepherd and Trap when Pal was buried.

At the grave, Shepherd spoke. “It is a terrible thing to lose a friend. They take a part of you with them. There are things that only Pal and I know about each other that no one else will know. What a good memory. I will miss what could have been. I suppose most importantly to me, there is a part of him still with me.”

“He was a good dog,” Daniel said, passing by Shepherd and hugging him.

The rest of the family hugged Shepherd.

Nan wiped a tear from Shepherd’s cheek and kissed where the tear was.

Daniel and his family drove off and left Shepherd and Trap alone.

“It would have been a good spring,” Shepherd said to Trap as they watched the snow machines dip into the stream bed. “I was hoping to have it with Pal. You were a good friend to him also, Trap. He looked up to you.”

The snow of winter quickly gave way to rain and mud. And one day while Shepherd staked out a garden he looked up and saw Trap disappear over a small knoll in the meadow.

He was now gone. In Shepherd’s mind that was good. It was who Trap was. He smiled and said quietly, “Remember us well, ole friend, and stay away from anything steel.”