In the quiet heart of southwestern Wyoming, a small town clings to its small-town ways. But when a sudden boom brings big money and bigger secrets, what’s left of the town they thought they knew?

As usual, I want to thank Malady for beta reading, and helping edit.
I'd also like to thank those who comment for their part in beta reading too! :-)

Chapter 32

July 5th, 2028

10:00 AM

Subject: You’re not who they cheer for

From: millieB@ghosttrail.net

To: denise.smith@gradecounty.org

Denise,

You looked radiant in the parade. The ponytail, the swimsuit, the cheers. All so perfect.

But let’s be honest. They weren’t cheering for you. They were cheering for the land. The trust. The inheritance. You’re the vessel, not the victory.

They smile because they want something. They praise because they’re afraid to lose access. You think they see you—but they see acreage, not identity.

You’re not their daughter. You’re their deed holder.

Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts.

—Millie

Chapter 43: Council Fallout

Chapter 20 – King of the Mountain (part 1)

Across the Queen’s Rage, every display screen—from the bustling bridge, where officers murmured over navigation charts, to the humming engineering deck alive with the glow of reactor monitors—shifted to a single feed. Crew members paused mid-task, conversations stilled, and even the background hum of the ship seemed to hush as all eyes turned to the monitors:

LIVE SIMULATION — ROYAL SQUAD COMBAT TRAINING
Scenario: King of the Mountain

In the quiet heart of southwestern Wyoming, a small town clings to its small-town ways. But when a sudden boom brings big money and bigger secrets, what’s left of the town they thought they knew?

As usual, I want to than Malady for beta reading, and helping edit.
I'd also like to thank those who comment for their part in beta reading too! :-)
Chapter 17

For all the trouble he’d gone through, Fran decided to let Trey serve the warrant.

They stepped into the lobby of Spotless Solutions. Bill sat behind the receptionist desk, hunched over a clipboard. He glanced up—and his expression soured instantly.

“You again?” Bill asked, exasperated. “What have we done this time?”

His tone wasn’t curious. It was tired. Defensive. Like he’d been bracing for this moment since the last visit—and had finally run out of patience.

Trey didn’t flinch. He stepped forward, warrant in hand, and held it out. The silence stretched—just long enough to make Bill squirm.

By Iona Laing

Chapter Fifteen - The dream becomes a reality!

(Jessie.)

“Ok Julia, please scoot off for a minute sweetheart, I need to take this call, I won’t be more than a few minutes!”

“Hi Karen, just a moment please!”

I just needed to get out of earshot of Julia.

As usual, I want to than Malady for beta reading, and helping edit.
I'd also like to thank those who comment for their part in beta reading too! :-)
Chapter 12

The envelope Fran had found in the wastebasket contained a birthday card. It was hard to be certain, but the card might never have been out of the envelope. The handwriting on both the envelope and the note inside looked like a teenager’s—loopy, uneven, and earnest. The return address read Ashley Bernard, Riverside, California.

Fran paused. Mitch Bernard—Reggie and Debra’s nephew over at Spotless Solutions—shared that surname. Could Ashley be his sister? It bore checking out.

She yawned and glanced at her watch. Four A.M.

They’d been called to The Chicken Coop by Chick at eight the previous morning. Twenty hours of nonstop investigating had left her running on fumes. She locked the evidence they’d collected into its locker, then flipped off the lights. The alarm panel blinked its now-familiar flicker when she armed it. She disarmed and rearmed it. This time, it came on normally.

By Iona Laing

Chapter Eleven – Feelings, Plans and Decisions.

(Jennifer.)

‘That’s the front door, and one, no two sets of footsteps, that’s good, both my girls home safe and sound.’

“Come on girls, I’ve got you some homemade lasagne just coming out of the oven!”

By Iona Laing

Chapter Seven – Slow awakenings!

(Jessie.)

What me? A Foster Carer?

By Iona Laing

Chapter Five – News and amazing developments.

(Jenna.)

After a quick cup of tea Mum and me were then interviewed by two policewomen, we told them what we knew.

As usual, I want to than Malady for beta reading, and helping edit.
I'd also like to thank those who comment for their part in beta reading

Author's note: I took a long break from this story because I was trying to figure out how to write fighting scenes better, especially since it is a huge part of the story at this time. I think I have come up with a battle sequence that should be intense and fun to read. So I went back to the setup to add more details to getting them armored up. I hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters.

As usual, I want to than Malady for beta reading, and helping edit.
I'd also like to thank those who comment for their part in beta reading too! :-)
Chapter 3

Fran knocked on the door to Millie Brooks’ office. It was getting later in the day, and most of the office staff had left. Another blizzard was expected and after the one the night before, everyone wanted to be home before it got nasty out.

“Come in!” Fran heard from inside.

She opened the door and strode in. She had called earlier, wanting someone on whom she could dump. Millie had taken on a motherly role soon after Fran had moved to town, for which Fran was grateful. Her relationship with Trevor had been up and down for several years, and after the talk that morning, she had found it hard to concentrate on things.

She made a beeline for the couch across from the desk, and flopped down, folding her arms defensively in front of her.

She sat there for a moment while Millie finished off something she’d been working on.