I’m from Idaho.
Cowboys, rodeos, farms, and ranches were the norm, rather than the
exception. So when we moved to
Illinois, I expected more city folk than cowboy charm. I’ve been surprised at
the history I’ve found, even in my own, new home town.
Alton, Illinois sets right on the Mississippi River, with
historical landmarks dotting the road I take daily into the day job in St.
Louis. It’s easy to lose yourself
in thoughts of the past while driving through the hilly country where two
rivers meet, especially when restored paddle ships slip through the winding
water. And during the winter,
Alton serves as prime eagle watching real estate.
From 1862 to 1865, during the confederate war, Alton served
as home to a military prison. The
site, now reduced to a partial wall, sets on the edge of the historic section
of town near the Mississippi river and now, the flour plant. Four types of prisoners where held at
the prison, confederate soldiers (which made up the majority), civilians,
Federal soldiers, and guerilla or bushwackers. At the height of the war, 1700 prisoners were held at the
facility.
After the war, the prison transitioned into the first
Illinois State Penitentiary. Conditions were so bad by the time the last of the
prisoners were transitioned to Joliet, famous social worker, Dorothy Dix called
the prison, unsalvageable. Due to
the proximity to the river, flooding of the prison was a common occurrence.
After the prison was abandoned, the stones seen above were
used in several local buildings including a church and a hotel. Many of these buildings constructed
with the prison stone, now have ghostly residents that modern day paranormal
hunters claim resemble the confederate prisoners.
No, the Alton prison isn’t part of my current releases. Both The Bull Rider’s Brother
and The
Bull Rider’s Manager are set back home, in the Boise, Idaho area, in
contemporary time. But my writer’s
mind takes off when I visit historical sites like the ones in Alton, and I
wonder… What if? What would it be like to live during those times? And you all know what happens then,
story magic.
The Bull Rider’s Manager
Barb Carico’s life is all about business. Now that her best friend has tied the knot with her high
school sweetheart and Barb’s new partner, she’s busier than ever. Managing
Jesse Sullivan’s career and
public persona can be a handful. Add in an aging mother who goes through
home health nurses like candy, Barb’s hanging on the edge.
Her one salvation? Hunter
Martin, prodigal son of Martin Family Dairy and, hopefully, Jesse’s next
sponsor. A promise his father had already made before Hunter took over the
public relations department. After
his brother’s death, Hunter's become an instant dad to his seven year
old niece. More
responsibility. For Hunter, the rodeo weekend with Barb is the perfect excuse
to relax.
When their dinner turns into drinks and then a quick trip to a Vegas
wedding chapel, both Barb and Hunter agree their nuptials were a mistake. A mistake they consummated the next
evening. As soon as
they’re home, the marriage will be annulled. That’s what they both
want. Or at least what they tell
themselves.
Upon their return, Hunter finds that distant relatives are suing him
for custody of his niece. The only
way for him to keep custody is to design a life that matches the promise of a
perfect family. For that, he needs
Barb to stay married to him.
Hunter would give her anything to go along with the charade.
Barb doesn't know anything about being a wife or mother but she needs
one favor. A favor she'll trade
her lifestyle, independence, and even risk her heart to make come true.
2 comments:
How interesting!! I love historical sites. And bird watching, although I've only seen one eagle up north in Michigan. Mostly sparrows here, cardinals, robins, etc.
Hi Meg - I didn't think I'd see eagles this far inland. We had some that we'd see at home (Idaho) but when I found they hung around the Mississippi, I was surprised.
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