Daniel had to leave after graduation. His alcoholic father couldn’t deal with having another grown male in the house. Daniel did the only thing he could do and joined up. Now, he is home and finds his father vanished without a trace, Deirdre with a young daughter and a relationship with his half-sister, Sylvie that makes Daniel think going home for Dee was a bad idea.
"Mile 43.3 Richardson Highway,"
A story of Pipeline Days in the Copper River Basin.
An accident at mile 43.3 on the Richardson Highway is the catalyst for big changes in the life of Nancy and Ramon, Ray. She has been dumped in the Basin by the man who insisted they move to Alaska. Ray is trying to build his career. His small son has been deserted by the boy's mother and his family is now caring for the child. Ray's life is in turmoil. Nancy is sweet and unaware of what her worth really is. Ray wants to help her understand what a treasure she truly is.
"Death Wish,"
A tale of love and lust which unfolds on a road trip through Canada from Alaska and back again. Colin had been in love with her for over two years. When her husband, his best friend and partner, is killed in a car accident, Maria develops a death wish which she is trying to fulfill with alcohol fueled rampages on the local roads. A trooper counsels Colin to get her out of town before she kills herself or someone else. Can he help her sober up while keeping his hands off the woman he has loved for two years? How will he cope? Colin hates drunks after spending his childhood with his alcoholic mother.
"Then They Were Six,"
Absolutely devastated, she is standing on the side of the road with a dead car, no cell phone and no money. Running from an abusive ex-husband, she and her daughter must have a paycheck. Margaret is desperate. The mechanic stops to help, but what will he ask of her? Are there strings attached to his offer of assistance? Divorced, the father of three is in a last ditch stand to save his business. He knows his business must grow or he has to give it up. But he just is not ready to quit. If he can restore a vintage muscle car and sell it for what it's worth, he might make it. But the woman stranded on the side of the road is a distraction he cannot ignore. She needs help.
Stu is drawn to her, but Margaret is still battling with the fallout from her failed marriage.
"Gray Matters"
A novella about motorcycle riding in Alaska. For the first time in fifteen years he won't have a child to look after. After a long motorcycle ride and several straight shots of tequila, he is feeling no pain. She is looking for adventure after having raised three kids to adulthood. In a lodge several hundred miles from the big city these two people begin a conversation. He has an empty passenger seat, she is ready to ride.
"Brain Waves",
1CoDee is a brain damaged young man living on a dusty desert world. He is barely functional. He hates it when dead animals are dumped in his junkyard as it "hurts his heart". The world he lives on caters to the older, poorer trading ships.
A very large cat is dumped in his yard barely alive. The young man helps her and Cat's tries to help CoDee. Memories of the one who injured him reveal the monster is his father.
These two entities from different species brought together on a desert world aren't physically able to bond. Love and respect are another matter.
"The Cheat"
Life and love in Alaska, The Cheat. Francis labels herself as "fat and forty". How in the world she came to be living with the guitar player for a popular Alaska band is a wonder to her. Monte is a groupie magnet and Francis is waiting for him to tell her it's over. The text message she gets from him after he returns home from a weekend gig, sets off a major fight when Francis accuses Monte of being a cheat.
"Homesteader Blues"
Tina has been putting up with no running water on their farm for over twelve years. Jimmy gets her out of the house for a week. His aim is to build a bathroom for his wife. Nothing and no one is going to side track his surprise for his wife and that includes teen angst and broken equipment.
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