This month, I’m attempting to write a short story every day as part of StoryADay September. I’ve done a few – and I will post some of them – but here is the one for yesterday’s suggestion that we write in a different genre.
I may be a mystery writer now, but I’ve attempted most genres – even Romance, but with a crime at its core. However, I’ve only ever written one Western short, years ago – in a post-apocalyptic setting. Here’s another:
Close Shave
By Roland Clarke
They didn’t trust me.
Why should they trust an old fool with nothing valuable to give?
No gold secrets. No real skills.
A barber with an idle razor.
“I need your skill with a blade,” said Ma Baker.
“Another gunshot wound? The sheriff needs to shoot straight.”
I’d blame the whisky, but from his grey hair, I knew it was his eyesight.
“He hit my Daisy. I can’t afford to lose her – not with them rustlers about.”
I nodded and followed the rancher matriarch to her spread.
In the kitchen, her son was leaning against the couch, weeping.
“She’s lost a lot of blood, Mum. But she’s a fighter. Can you save her, Seth?”
I knelt beside the body. Daisy looked up at me, her brown eyes gleaming. I took her paw.
“I will. She trusts me.”
Writing Wings 
Oh my gosh, Roland! This is fabulous! I mean really, really, really, good. Absolutely loved that it was a dog at the end. You are very good at what you do, sir. More power to you!
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Roland, it starts out strong with the first line and moves along crisply. I know exactly what’s going on. Really a great story. I hope the dog lived!
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Pleased you loved this, Victoria. It was a challenge to find a Western tale that wasn’t corny.
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I’ll post some more shorts in this September challenge – eventually.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this – and was wondering whether Daisy was a cow or a horse (who were both essentials).
Writing out of genre seems to suit you. Congratulations.
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Writing out of genre can be interesting, EC – especially as I had to ‘steer’ clear of the horses (as an ex-equestrian scribe). Thanks for the praise.
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I love westerns. They’d be the only ones who wouldn’t gag at that rusty old razer!
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As long as the razor didn’t feel like a Western cliche, Jacqui.
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Very nice, Roland. I assumed Daisy was a cow, but in the end, the trust was the issue, less than what Daisy was.
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The name Daisy was intentional – a red herring. And great that you connected to ‘trust’ as the issue, Sue.
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