Bonus Material from the Nebraska Series Page 19

  Owen: Is, uh, *blushes and clears throat*, is it possible you chose to forget you kidnapped Dave?

  Kyala: *shakes head and flips her hair over her shoulder* No, it isn’t possible that I would selectively forget that I kidnapped anyone. I would like to visit them until we tired of one another.

  Owen: So you abducted Dave to get him away from his family? He was last seen going to the barn. Maybe you were waiting for him there.

  Kyala: *sighs in exasperation* I like you, Owen. I really do. But really? I prefer my men ready *scans him up and down and winks* and willing. If you did your job better, you’d know Dave wasn’t interested.

  Owen: *closes his laptop and stands up* I think we’re done for now. Don’t leave town…or rather, your tree. *hurries out of the room*

  Kyala: What an odd human.

  ***

  Owen Interviews Suspect #5: Richard Larson

  (Posted on April 30, 2012)

  Owen: Why are you smiling?

  Richard Larson: Because I’m finally getting my own book, Wagon Trail Bride. At long last, my dream has come true!

  Owen: We’re not here to discuss your book. I do find it odd, however, that you’re so happy considering your brother, Dave, is missing.

  Richard: I’m sure he’s fine. One thing about fiction is that characters don’t get hurt. Well, not unless the author wants them to. But Ruth Ann Nordin is a romance author, and Dave is the hero in two of her books, so he’s safe. She doesn’t kill off heroes. Ever.

  Owen: But still, I’d think you’d be concerned.

  Richard: *shrugs* He’s an adult. He can handle himself.

  Owen: Hmm… So where were you on March 9?

  Richard: I was sending Ruth a proposal on why she should write my book.

  Owen: And this took all day?

  Richard: Yes. I was at this laptop the entire time. Well, I took breaks to eat and go to the bathroom, but does everyone really want the details on that? I don’t think so.

  Owen: Maybe I do. How long did these breaks take?

  Richard: Let’s see… I arrived at the library at 8am when it opened and didn’t have anything to eat until about 11am. It took me a while to figure out how to hook up to the wireless internet thing. That took a whole hour, believe it or not, because I’d never done it before. Then I spent another hour trying to figure out what to write in my proposal to Ruth.

  Owen: I get the point. So you’re saying you were at the library until it closed at 8pm with the exception of a couple of trips to the bathroom and to go out to eat?

  Richard: Yep. I had to prove to Ruth that my story would be a full-length novel. She has this thing where she doesn’t do short stories or novellas anymore. Something about people not being happy if she doesn’t write a full-length novel.

  Owen: Can anyone vouch for the fact that you were in the library on that day?

  Richard: Well, I did talk to Amanda on Skype to brainstorm what prompted me to marry her. There has to be some reason why I took her to Nebraska when I had planned to stay in New York. We finally came to a good conclusion and I wrote it down, but I had to prove how it could work.

  Owen: I find it hard to believe that took all day.

  Richard: It did.

  Owen: Did you know Dave was last seen going out to the barn to start the morning chores?

  Richard: That’s what Mary claims.

  Owen: And that was approximately around six in the morning?

  Richard: So?

  Owen: You didn’t get to the library until 8am when it opened.

  Richard: You’re really stretching on that one, Owen.

  Owen: Am I? Or did I just prove that there are two hours where you don’t have an alibi?

  Richard: Look, I understand you need to ask these senseless questions in order to have me as one of the suspects, but I didn’t do it.

  Owen: But you’re glad that Dave isn’t around?

  Richard: I never said I was glad he was kidnapped. Am I glad I don’t have to hear him yapping about stuff that doesn’t matter? Sure. Who isn’t? But I wouldn’t kidnap him to shut him up.

  Owen: Would you kidnap him so you could get your own book? I notice since he went missing, Forever Yours got removed from the immediate writing list.

  Richard: That’s a coincidence.

  Owen: Is it also a coincidence that we’re all notified your story will be written and given a title and cover?

  Richard: Yes. It is a coincidence. But it’s also proof that Ruth listens to her characters. She had no plans to write my story, but because I went through the proper channels and didn’t try to bully her on this blog like Dave did, I got results. Dave’s problem is that he tried to force the issue. You catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar. She’s not unreasonable if you approach her calmly and respectably.

  Owen: I hear you sent Dave a letter telling him he’d better stop harassing Ruth or he was going to get what he deserved.

  Richard: Yes, I did. I won’t deny it. But I never said I’d kidnap him.

  Owen: Then what did you think he deserved?

  Richard: Honestly? That Ruth not write Forever Yours.

  Owen: And she’s not.

  Richard: We already discussed that earlier in this post.

  Owen: And now an opening popped up for your book.

  Richard: Again, we already discussed that. Do you make it a habit of going in circles with everyone you interrogate?

  Owen: I’m just trying to get to the bottom of this.

  Richard: If you want to get to the bottom of this, then go find Dave. Stop bugging everyone else about it. Some of us have better things to do with our time than to figure out where Dave is. Like me. I am currently working on possible scenes in my book to send to Ruth in case she wants to use them. I don’t have time to worry about Dave. Dave will be fine. He’s a hero in a book. He shows up in other books. He’ll show up again on this blog sooner or later.

  Owen: Your lack of concern really bothers me.

  Richard: *shrugs* I can’t control how you feel about this. Do what you need to, but I’m working on my book. *turns away from Owen and types*

  Owen: Don’t leave town, Richard.

  Richard: *ignores Owen and keeps typing*

  ***

  Owen Interviews Suspect #6: Dave Larson

  (Posted on May 2, 2012)

  Owen: While I can’t interview Dave, he is a suspect in his kidnapping.

  Owen: There’s plenty of motive. He’s felt as if his author wouldn’t listen to him during the writing of Isaac’s Decision. Only an airhead character created by another author came out in support of his Characters for Better Treatment Union. He was told his third book would involve a subplot that disturbed him greatly. Perhaps one of these events wouldn’t have pushed him over the edge, but all of them together probably snowballed until he snapped. I’m not saying it happened this way, but it’s a possibility worth considering.

  Ruth: Can I please leave prison so I can edit books featuring characters who actually appreciate me? Being in jail has delayed me in doing my work.

  Owen: That’s what happens when you break into someone’s house like a lunatic.

  Ruth: You and Joseph Connealy are so misleading. You two made it sound like you sent me back home, but you never did. I’m going to the judge on this one. I’m going to sue you for pain and suffering.

  Owen: I was going to send you back to your home until you escaped right before I could take you through the rip in time conveniently located at the mercantile. Whoever heard of a portal in a store? *rolls eyes* But you wouldn’t quietly go back home. You escaped and ran right back to Dave’s place where I found you hiding in a haystack.

  Ruth: I was napping. It was a long and stressful day for me. Plus, I don’t get much sleep at home with four kids and a husband who always want something.

  Joel: Oh, let her go. She didn’t do it. If anyone did it besides Dave, it was Mary. You know what they say: it’s always the quiet ones.

  Mary: What are you
saying, Joel? That I’m dangerous because I’m quiet?

  Joel: I’m just saying that out of everyone who was interviewed, you were the most agreeable suspect. You even sprung a few fake tears to gain sympathy.

  Mary: And what would I have gained by having Dave gone while the farm needed tending to? Don’t you think my children miss him and ask for him? If anyone did it, it was you, Joel. You wanted to remove Dave because he annoyed you.

  Joel: *scoffs* Puhleeze. If I was going to get rid of anyone, it would be Tom.

  Tom: What are you bringing me into this for?

  Joel: I don’t know. It’s just what I do.

  Tom: I’m not even a suspect.

  Joel: That’s not the point. The point is, if I were to kidnap anyone, I’d kidnap you.

  Tom: I think Kyala did it.

  Kyala: Me?

  Tom: You had the perfect motive. You wanted Dave all to yourself and knew Mary would never allow you to have him. So you waited for him in the barn and seduced him with your musical pipe. Under your musical spell, he followed you to your island full of trees where you tied him up and have been breaking down his will in hopes he’ll stay with you for ten years until he comes to his senses and returns to Mary. Mary, in turn, will demand why it took him twenty years to return from the war at Troy.

  Richard: Uh, Tom, you’re confusing the Pied Piper with the Greek myths of sirens and the book Ulysses.

  Kyala: I like the way you think, Tom. Say, you’re kinda cute in a goofy sort of way.

  Tom: *blushes* Oh, thanks.

  Joel: Leave it to Tom to think “goofy kinda way” is a compliment.

  Mary: I wouldn’t be too quick to accept the compliment, Tom. Kyala wants to be with every man she sees.

  Kyala: I didn’t take your husband, Mary, so back off. All I wanted to do was help with the union. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. My mind isn’t always on sex, despite what people think about nymphs.

  Richard: There’s no need for a union, and really, the only reason Dave wanted to get the union going was to promote his agenda. It had nothing to do with the rest of us. When Joel was forced to marry April against his will in Shotgun Groom, Dave didn’t care. When Ruth had Tom make a complete fool of himself in front of all the readers in A Bride for Tom, Dave didn’t care. When Sally was tricking Rick into spending time with her in Her Heart’s Desire, Dave didn’t care. When Jenny married the wrong man in The Wrong Husband, Dave didn’t care. Dave didn’t say a single word of protest until Isaac married Emily. After that, he wouldn’t shut up.

  Joel: That’s true. We didn’t hear anything from him until Isaac’s Decision popped up. Until then, he didn’t argue with Ruth on this blog. And if someone didn’t stop him from the whole union thing, Richard would never have his book.

  Richard: Are you saying I did it?

  Joel: No.

  Kyala: It sounded like it to me. I saw Richard go out to Mary’s house the evening Dave disappeared. It was about 9pm, if I recall.

  Owen: Hmm… Why didn’t you tell me this sooner, Richard?

  Richard: It was nothing. I was just going to ask Dave to bump back his book so mine could be written.

  Owen: That’s still something you should have told me.

  Richard: I didn’t think about it. Kyala, what were you doing at Dave’s place so late?

  Kyala: I always do my best work at night.

  Ruth: As fun as this is, I’m going home. The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife and Her Heart’s Desire won’t edit themselves. Get me out of here, Owen.

  Owen: *sighs* Alright, but if I catch you at Dave’s property one more time, I’m arresting you for trespassing, and you’ll have to go before Judge Johnson.

  Ruth: Oooh. I’m so scared. *rolls eyes*

  Owen: You should be.

  Ruth: Owen, you’re as scary as a teddy bear. I’m out of here. *leaves*

  Tom: Well, I think I saw a teddy bear that went around killing people in a You Tube video once.

  Joel: I think you’re thinking of Chucky, the killer doll.

  Richard: Good grief, Tom. You’re getting everything mixed up tonight.

  Joel: Now you know why I have to give him so much grief. He makes it too easy.

  Kyala: Hey, guys. There’s a terrific party in the forest where my friends hang out. Want to come along?

  Mary: I refuse to go anywhere with you.

  Kyala: I wasn’t asking you. I was asking all these cute men. *winks at them*

  Owen: I have to stick around in case Ruth runs back to Dave’s place.

  Richard: I need to draft up some more scenes for her to use in my book.

  Joel: I have to see if Doctor Adams needs my help.

  Tom: Is this a birthday party with lots of cake, presents, and fun games like musical chairs?

  Kyala: Not exactly, though we do have lots of music.

  Joel: Oh brother, Tom. She’s a nymph. Nymphs like sex. A lot.

  Richard: Don’t waste your breath, Joel. He still doesn’t understand what Sally and Jenny were talking about right after Irving Spencer arrived and Owen was in jail in The Wrong Husband. The rest of us understood the secret message Sally and Jenny were giving each other right there in the kitchen.

  Joel: True. He’s hopeless.

  Owen: It’s time we ended this post. We’re hitting 1300 words.

  Joel: I didn’t realize we were being timed. Fine, fine. We’re out of here.

  Owen: Tomorrow through Sunday, everyone will get a chance to say who they think kidnapped Dave Larson, and we’ll run a contest on it.

  ***

  Time to Find Out Who Kidnapped Dave Larson!

  (Posted on May 7, 2012)

  If you guessed Mary or Dave as being responsible for the kidnapping, you were right. This is the way it happened:

  Mary didn’t like Kyala writing Dave the letter and Mary was tired of Dave causing trouble, so Mary had two motives.

  She talked Dave into hiding in the barn loft (Ruth got so close to catching him!). She convinced Dave that if he went missing, then people would talk about it and he’d finally be taken seriously. Now, Mary didn’t believe for a minute that anyone would take Dave seriously, but Dave believed it so he went along with it.

  Did the ploy work? Well, for Mary it did. Kyala has grown bored of Dave and has moved on to another man. Dave has also given up on the Characters for Better Treatment Union because Mary’s about to give birth to Jacob. (Jacob is born in 1885.) Dave is going to be too busy with the newest Larson member to worry about the union, just as Mary planned.

  Did the ploy work for Dave? Nah. No one takes him seriously. I know, poor Dave.

  Ruth Ann Nordin Sues Dave and Mary Larson!

  As enjoyable as being a suspect for kidnapping Dave Larson was, I had a lot of fun with this courtroom “drama” which took place on my blog back in 2012.