Friends

Kaye here. When my brother asked me to take over his job as the person putting together the charity rodeo for the local ranchers to raise money for  seed and hay for their animals, he suckered me by telling me how good I was at organizing things. Have you ever had someone do that to you? Your brother or sister? Little did I know how that rodeo would change my life.

Joel thought he was off the hook, but he was wrong.  He had to pull his weight, too.  I also came in contact with was my best friend from high school, Billye Ludwig Zimmerman. When I ran into her while buying a new washer and dryer after the lightning strike zapped them, it was being transported back to high school.

Out of her failed marriage she got two wonderful children and a great dog,  Branigan.  He's an Irish wolfhound and a true champ.  Billye got the better end of the deal.  Isn't he handsome?

Going Home

Kaye, here.  I don't know too many adults who like going home.  For me, I was running.  When I lost my parents and grandmother New Year's Eve my senior year in high school, well the easiest way to cope with the pain was ignore it.  But that came back to bite me hard.  When I went home, all those memories--good and bad were there.  Facing them wasn't an easy thing, but God provided a friend, Caleb Jensen, to be there, someone I could rely on.  I knew I could trust him when I freaked out during a massive rain storm and flashed back to Iraq.  Caleb held me, and didn't asked any questions.  That's a man you can depend on.

And I'm just dying to tell you, when lightning struck our ranch house, blowing out all our electronics.  Do you know what I found in my brother's bathroom?  A hairdryer.  He didn't have an explanation.  Who knew?

The Voice of Truth

Let me introduce myself. Joel Kaye, older brother to Captain Kaye. Sounds funny, but Brenda will always be my younger sister. Of course, I saw a different side of my sister when she was in the Army. The professional that my sister became made me proud. Of course, how such a smart woman married the loser she did, I don't understand, but then again, I'm most comfortable dealing with the four legged females.

I will tell you, no brother should see his baby sister in the hospital with broken legs, scars on her arms and legs from bomb shrapnel. When I walked into the hospital at Fort Sam Houston, I thought my legs would give out and I was seeing her three months after the suicide bomber injured her.

'Course I remember my sister as the pest she was when we'd been growing up. She thought it was her job to compete with me.  She wasn't interested in stuff in the kitchen and cooking with mom.  She wanted to be in the barn helping my dad, but that was my sis. After our parents were killed in that car accident, Brenda slept walked through her senior year, denying herself any comfort or joy.  It was no wonder she joined the Army the day after she graduated from high school.  I will say, she made her way and I'm proud of her.

A Meeting to Remember

Hi, Caleb Jensen here. I'll let you in on a little secret. The first time I met Kaye in person,  I'd just walked out of the barn and saw this figure walking up the steps to the kitchen of my friend's ranch.  I would stay with Joel Kaye when I wasn't working as a pick-up rider for various rodeos. Living in one place, having a normal bedroom, and not the little space in my horse trailer, was a treat for me. And working with Joel and his grandpa--Gramps, as I called him, felt like a vacation for me.  So when this woman turned around, I recognized Joel's sister. Well, she kinda knock me on my bu-- on the back pockets of my jeans. Of course, being a gentleman, I got my thoughts in line and drove her to the hospital where Gramps and Joel had gone.

Kaye wasn't happy with what I told her, but I recognized a wounded soul when I saw one. From that moment on, the lady intrigued me, and I wanted to know more, but I had a few of my own problems. I didn't think I could fall in love, I but then the heart doesn't listen to logic. And God can do miracles, for which I am grateful.

Captain Brenda

When I was writing Redemption Ranch (two books back) Captain Brenda Kaye popped into my head.  Originally she was only to have a walk-on roll in the story.  She was at the equine therapy ranch to strengthen the muscles of her legs and lower body, since she’d spent months in the hospital healing from the injuries she received when a suicide bomber walked into the restaurant in Baghdad where she was meeting with some of the local women and blew himself up.

That was the plan, but I didn’t count on Captain Kaye.  Every day when I opened my file to continue writing Redemption Ranch, there was the captain, waiting to insert herself into the story. Well, finally after a week of playing tug-of-war with Brenda, I promised her her own book. After I made that promise, Brenda left me alone.  

Of course when I started writing A Ranch to Call Home, the captain let me know within the first few pages she went by the name of “Kaye.”  That's who she was. Teenage Brenda stayed on the ranch.  Of course, the teenage Brenda and the grown up Kaye are going to have to come to terms. 

 

Fortunately for Kaye, there’s a handsome cowboy,  Caleb Jensen,  (a friend of her brother) staying at the ranch. Caleb is fighting his own demons, and knows the battles she's facing.  They are two wounded people who help each other face their fears—and find love.  But Kaye's going to put in her two-cents worth.  I need say no more.

P.S.  Be on the lookout.  The book is out in different parts of the country.

Waiting for the Release

Within days A Ranch to Call Home will be out. I am excited and hope everyone will be on the lookout for the book. This book starts a new series for me, Rodeo Heroes. Captain Brenda Kaye is the heroine in this book. She returns home after spending months in the hospital recovering from wounds caused by a suicide bomber. It's been years since she's been home and she gets there she finds an unknown cowboy, Caleb Jensen, minding the ranch. He recognizes her, but she has no idea who he is. When she asks him about her family, he tells her they are at the hospital. Thus begins "Kaye's" journey to make peace with her past.

In the coming days, I hope to share how I came to know these characters and they have some of their own opinions they want to express. Hopefully, you'll check back every few days and leave questions for the characters to answer.

It's a touchdown.

It's been one month since I had my last chemo session. Halleluiah.  I've had all the follow up tests and my doc tell me I am cancer free.  What a relief.  Looking back on the last six months, it seems like it happened to someone else.  The Lymphoma  never seemed to touch my soul.  It never became part of me.  I think the Lord shielded me during this time and was my strength. 

Now, except for going to the oncology center, I have not been anywhere since May.  I am ready to go out shopping and have lunch with friends--except now the flu is tearing through our area, making lots of folk sick and some are dying.  Well, at the tender spot I'm in, I guess I'll be in the house until March.  But I need that time to finish the book I'm working on.  Chemo brain has faded and starting Monday, I'm at the computer and working.  I've missed my characters.  The story is book 2 in my Rodeo Heroes series.

March 2014

Joel Kaye was introduced in A Ranch to Call Home.  He's finally living his dream of being on the rodeo circuit and finds life at 32 is a little different than life at 18.  What you put up with when young changes as we get older.

His sister's story, Captain Brenda Kaye is told in A Ranch to Call Home.  I hope you'll enjoy it and come back to the blog and see the characters opinions and behind the scenes comments on the book.