Here’s a short snippet from the latest story, which will be featured in our Western Fictioneers anthology this Fall.
Devon Day and the Sweetwater Kid were on the way back from a very successful banking transaction — that is, Chance Knight and his partner Kye Devon were headed to the Inter-Ocean Hotel in Denver. Dev and Sweet had, with their usual panache, vanished like the puff of smoke from a gunshot after the robbery.
The only problem, in Chance’s opinion, was that there was no train service to Nevadaville. Thus, to reach the bank, they’d been forced to utilize this inferior mode of travel — and after most of a day, the stagecoach was starting to wear on Chance. Not to mention the condition of his rear end on the hard seat. Their driver seemed to go out of his way to hit every hole in what passed for a road in the benighted wilderness.
As they stopped in yet another mountain hamlet, he took the opportunity to stretch his legs, leaving his snoring partner inside the stage with their unremarkable canvas bag as his pillow. Maybe a cup of coffee would settle Chance’s stomach. He stepped up to the door of the tiny cafe next to the stage stop, just in time to open it for the Classy Lady inside.
He put on a Suave Face and gave her a little bow as he held the door for her. Fine shoes, the latest fashion in skirts (emerald green velvet with gold trim), topped with a sensible traveling hat over expensively-coiffured auburn locks. The Lady was Classy all right.
Chance had never met a woman who wasn’t lovely. Sometimes you had to look a bit harder, but they all had that certain something. This Lady though … big green eyes, flawless complexion, a delicate chin and a mouth that needed kissing often. He felt a genuine smile stretch his own lips.
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” he murmured as she passed. She smiled down at him, but said nothing.
Chance noted with interest that she headed for the very door though which he’d exited. Was their little party to be enlarged by one? One such would certainly make the time pass more quickly.
No one day in Chance’s hectic life can be considered ordinary, but we can make some generalizations.
Chance generally rises later than his partner. His active mind often makes it difficult for him to get to sleep and stay asleep, so he frequently dozes off around the time Carmela is starting the kitchen fire. Once up and moving, he’ll stop by the kitchen for a light breakfast with plenty of strong coffee. Before that, however, he must shave and make certain he is the epitome of masculine fashion.
After breakfast, he and Kye usually read through the morning newspaper in search of entertainment. Chance usually spends the afternoon working on whatever project he’s got going, whether it’s collecting information for their next job, practicing his card games or lock-picking skills, or writing the next installment in the Devon Day and the Sweetwater Kid dime novels.
If left to his own devices, Chance might forget to eat lunch. If he’s at home, one of the servants will remind him to eat, or if he’s with Kye, he’ll get dragged into whatever restaurant is closest. Chance tends to have his heaviest meal in the evening, and he likes fine dining. If not dining at home, he’ll choose one of the best restaurants in town and be certain he has reservations for the evening.
He and Kye usually spend the evening in search of entertainment. Chance prefers more excitement, while Kye is more comfortable with a few friends. Chance is likely to be found at any large social gathering, at the theater or a lecture, or anywhere people gather. He’s just as likely to be found in the “bad” section of town, too, though he’ll wear his oldest clothes in that case rather than dressing to the nines.
Chance enjoys strolling the streets of San Francisco, and often doesn’t stroll back home until early morning. He might have a pocket full of cash from a poker game, or he might just have spent his time exploring his city.