Fan Fiction
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Bitter Reckoning, Chapters 1 and 2
Tommy took another big sniff. “Whatever her name. I can smell her.”
“Stop already.” Joe went to his vehicle and started the engine. He leaned out his open window. “Get back home, Tommy, and get off this highway.”
Tommy took one more glance at the wreckage below before he got in his truck and pulled alongside Joe’s SUV. “It got her, didn’t it? Stupid bilagáana. They always get got. Never listen to reason.”
Joe watched the vultures circle. “Yeah, it got her all right.” He shook his head. “Since she was a white woman, I suspect the feds will get involved, but they’ll never accept the truth.” He waved and drove off.
Tommy turned his truck and headed home. Like Joe’d said, it’d be dark soon, and it was never a good idea to be caught on the road to Bitter Springs after dark.
***
Like windows into another dimension, police photos of the wreckage gapped up at Bette Porter. She bent forward on her elbows and scanned them with her dark eyes, damp from weeping, red from worry. But sitting in Kody’s office right then, she’d clamped down on her grief. She didn’t know the sheriff well, only that her older sister Kit had dated him once, and she wasn’t about to let a stranger see her fall apart.
She pulled her attention away from the images and saw her sister watching her with a face as stoic as her own. Then she touched one of the photographs, one that showed the interior of her rig. It was in ruins with LED panels, lighting booms, and cables tossed about along with shredded bits of foam and fabric from the upholstered benches and trundle bed.
“Was she thrown from the RV?”
Kody shifted and shot Kit a glance before placing his large hands on his desk. “Her remains were removed by the medical examiner.”
“So, she was still in the driver’s seat?” Bette asked.
Kit muttered something in Navajo, something Kody understood. Bette watched him twitch, shake his head before he responded back in Navajo.
“Please, don’t,” Bette said. “You know I don’t understand you.”
Kit patted her on the thigh. “But you’re learning. I’m proud how much you’ve picked up.” She addressed Kody. “You’d be amazed, Joe, how much my little sister has learned in this last year.” She rubbed Bette’s leg. “She’s found her people finally, and she’s finding her voice as well.”
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BenMac says
Hi Everyone!
I hope you will forgive me for being 5 months late on this story. Part of the delay was I needed to find a trusted consultant who could help me present the cultural nuances of the Navajo culture in an authentic and respectful way. The story deals with some sensitive topics, and I don’t want to be the proverbial white woman coming in and misinterpreting a culture that is not my own.
Anywho, I found someone to work with, and she is giving me pointers to keep me on track.
This is a scary story, more scary than The Groves, so if it ain’t your thing, don’t read it!
For those who read it, I hope you enjoy it!
PS: I logged on today and discovered I had a ton of private messages, comments, etc. from months ago. I didn’t know why I hadn’t been getting the notifications in my email. I just checked and realized those notifications were going to my spam file. So my apologies for the long delay in replying.
proteonomics says
Welcome back BenMac:
This is a wonderful two-chapter post; I was already scared when Tina saw the old man, Shiley, spooky.
So, Alice was Bette’s girlfriend and got the cursing of the sacred place, but how sad, even if the dead don’t feel after they die, it’s sad for the loved ones to see how they ended; good that Bette hasn’t seen her rotten and destructed body.
I like very much the part where Kit tells Bette, that it doesn’t matter who was her father but which is important is who was her mother; I read time ago that intelligence and many other genetic heritance comes from our mothers, contrary at what most people believe.
I like that Bette wants to uncover the crime against her people forty years ago, to show to the public what happens whatever it was.
It is curious, apparently, the beliefs of ancient Navajos is common in all the north, center and south American native nations; the beliefs about taking pictures of people, the respect of sacred places, and many other things you are indicating here.
And finally, I like that Tina admires Bette, and respects her values.
This is going to be one more of your magnificent story, a new masterpiece.
Thanks for the wonderful two chapters I will eagerly wait for the update (next Sunday?)
.
Thanks again for this chapter.
P
Zhenya says
Wow! New story from one off my favorite writers! Welcome back!
And the chapter is just brilliant, like always.
SassyGran says
Welcome back BenMac,
What a wonderful gift for a cold and snowy Monday morning here in the UK -a new story from you!
I love the opening Chapters setting the scene and look forward to the next post fleshing out the characters!
When I read your stories it even affects my nasal tubes and I can smell the old man the same as Tina! Phew! If it wasn’t so early in the day I’d be reaching for the Brandy!
Welcome back again, PPS and light on the cliffhangers please
SG
BenMac says
Aw, but cliffhangers is what I do, Sassy!
SassyGran says
Don’t I know it!
Gisela G says
what a surprise when I logged on….. Brilliant, have missed you and your stories….. Thank you…
Bibi28 says
BenMac, welcome back!
I was so incredible happy when i saw this new story. I forgive you for the long wait.
I admire and respect it that you take the time to really try to research the culture and found someone to help you.
For the rest i think proteonomics said it all in her comment.
Thank you so much for coming back with another story.
Freddy says
Welcome back, BenMac! We’ve all missed you. Great beginning. Don’t leave us hanging too long.
Freddy
CestMoi says
The worst part of BenMac posting a new story is the grueling wait before each chapter….But they’re so good it’s YAY YOUR’E BACK!
leonora says
Hi, BenMac!!! I’m so happy to see your new Tibette story starts!!! As always I can’t wait for the new chapters!!!
Dainty says
Hi there lady, happy to have you back with another story, maybe. Looks as though it will be another one to scare the hell out of me. Boots turning into hooves, damn girl, too much for me. Hope you guys are doing well. Take care.
CellaNox says
Good to see you back, BenMac. Excellent setup with lots of little crumbs sprinkled in. Can’t wait to see where you take us.
meloveslu says
The prodigal daughter returns; literally to the LF site and figuratively to the sacred native lands of Arizona since the Groves. As usual, everyone, including myself, are super excited to see where the new adventure takes us!
Welcome back, BenMac!
BenMac says
Cook up that fatted lamb, woman! I’m ready to party!!
Guiga says
Hi BenMac.Welcome back!!
I’m so happy and excited for this new adventure.Can’t wait to see where this is going and already have a few questions.
I’ll be waiting anxiously for the next update.
Thanks for sharing this great story with us.
Dainty says
BenMac, Is this a true story or folklore? Hope you’re having a good weekend. Take care.
BenMac says
A little of both…let me give you a call later this week and I’ll let you in on the scoop!