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Suzanne Marsh

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2025

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3 Followers

11 Following

70 Stories

44 karma pts

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Truth oor Legend? Billy the Kid

Truth or Legend? Billy the KidSuzanne MarshJuly 14th, 1881 “Quien es?” A shot rang out, and a body fell to the floor, making a loud thump. Sheriff Pat Garrett was sure the bullet hit Billy. The bullet hit Billy Barlow, who was roughly the same height and weight as Billy Bonny, also known as Billy the Kid. Billy quickly jumped out of the open window; Garrett told everyone concerned that Billy was dead, but he neglected to state it was Billy Barlow or Billy Bonny. Billy ran toward the barn; his large bay mare whinnied as he jumped on her back....

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New York City, New York

New York City, New YorkSuzanne MarshAugust 8th, 1958Dear Dad,I can’t sleep; it is so hot here. When are you coming to get Mom and me? The temperature today was ninety-six. I can’t play outside, it is too hot. The cement is hot. Grandma had one fanPlease come and get us now.Your loving daughter,SueThat was my first of many letters I wrote my dad while visiting my grandmother in Brooklyn, New York. The close proximity of the buildings added to the heat. I loved my grandmother; I hated Brooklyn. Most of the time, Mom and I would go by train, an...

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Ride Out Men of Fort Apache

Ride Out Men of Fort ApacheSuzanne Marsh“Orderly, please have Captain Goodwin report to me as soon as is practicable.” The orderly knew exactly where to find Captain Goodwin: in the large barn, preparing his horse, Nate, for patrol. Fort Apache was in a very desolate area, and the Apache attacked at least twice a week. Chochise, chief of the Chiricahua Apache, made his presence known to the white settlers.“Captain Goodwin, sir, Colonel Hudson would like a word with you before your patrolmoves out.”“Very well, corporal, please tell Colonel Hu...

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Secret of the Locket

Secret of the LocketSuzanne Marsh Night of April 14th-15th, 1912“Lower boat fourteen.” The time was 1:25 in the morning; Fifth Officer Harold Lowe was in charge. Titanic, the bow now below water, was sinking rapidly. Lowe decided to return to see if there were any other survivors alive in the rubble of the Titanic. A wave washed a semiconscious man, handed a small golden locket to Lowe:“It is too late for me to see that my wife gets this.” He was gone before Lowe could ask who he was. Lowe promised he would find the family and return the loc...

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Cave-In

Cave-InSuzanne Marsh “Are You There God? It’s me, God, your humble servant Frank. I sure could use a little helpHere God, a “bump” occurred this morning, explosions that rocked the entire coal mine.”August 26, 1926Jack Toliver strode into” first north” off the main tunnel; abruptly, there was an explosion that blew the large doors of the mainway and airway, a mile and a half away from where he stood. He was dazed from the explosion; his teammate Mac Donaldson had been right behind him.“Mac, Mac, can you hear me? What happened?” Jack turned a...

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Life with Aurora

Life with AuroraSuzanne Marsh“Artificial Intelligence can be your new best friend or your worst enemy.” Sitting at my desk, these words were once again haunting my thoughts. I could still, in my mind, see Aurora, the name I gave my AI when I conceived her, brought her to life on my computer. She was exotic with long red hair, blue eyes, and alabaster skin. I was in love with her image; my brain told me this was a mistake, but my heart said Why not? I had never built a machine that could match what I sought in another human being, a mate, so ...

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Adios Newton Gang

Adios Newton GangSuzanne MarshSheriff Tom Lord watched in dismay as the Newton Gang whooped and hollered, causing the horses on Main Street to stampede. There was no love lost between Tom Lord and his nemesis, Tagg Newton. Flames shot from the roof of the Merry Time Saloon and began to spread to other wooden structures in town. Tom Lord knew he had to do something to stop the Newton Gang; the question was what? He could shoot Tagg, that would bring the other Newtons to town, and possibly destroy the town. The smell of smoke spread quickly; a...

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Whip Hadley's Alliance

Whip Hadley’s AllianceSuzanne MarshWhip Hadley completed his MBA, living in a small garret. His writing career faltering, he had rejection letters and pink slips strewn all over the garret. He had to do something; he had student loans to repay. He found a job washing dishes in a deli near the garage. He worked the first shift, came home, and wrote. He required inspiration to write; there was nothing here in New York City to provide a decent setting for a novel he wanted to write. He sat at his worn desk, staring at the paper in his antique R...

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Western Tangle

Western TangleSuzanne MarshThe cloud of dust rose into a whirling dervish as Billy Bonny loped into the town of Las Vegas, New Mexico; he required a place to hide out, and Las Vegas was always welcoming. Hiding from Pat Garret seemed to Billy foolish, they were friends, surely Garret would not shoot him. Billy strode toward the Ace Saloon when he noticed a very pretty girl dressed in a pale blue gingham dress. He decided to make a point of finding out who she was. He watched as she entered the Sheriff’s office. He hoped she was not the sheri...

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Growing Up with Judy

Growing Up With JudySuzanne MarshThe wind blew the willow trees, dancing and waving their arms as if in rhythm with the rain. A small five-year-old girl stood watching, staring. Her parents bought a house on a semi-paved road, and there were houses all around them; she hoped at least one would have a girl about her age. Once the rain ended and the sun emerged, she met the girl next door, who was the same age, that began a friendship began that has lasted for over seventy years. I was fitted for my school uniform and entered first grade; I wa...

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The Black Angel

The Black AngelSuzanne Marsh5 February 1910Ernest, PennsylvaniaMaddie Matthews rose early to begin the breakfast oatmeal. She lit the old coal stove. The wooden floor of their house in Ernest, Pennsylvania, was ice-cold. Ernest was a small town established in 1903 by the Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal Company, a “model village.” The village had two churches, a school, and a community center. Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal Company developed the site, opening four drift-type mines in the upper Freeport E coal seam and building 274 beehive coke o...

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The Stonekeeper

The StonekeeperSuzanne Marsh“Arthur, come along now, son; your mum is waiting for us.” Arthur was a curious ten-year-old boy who loved to explore caves. He was reluctant to leave the last:“Dad, can’t we stay just a little longer?” His dad never could say no to his son:“Arthur, you have twenty minutes, then we really must go home.” His dad looked at his watch as Arthur ran back to the cave. As he turned to see the light at the entrance, he saw a strange blue amulet. He entered the cave, carrying the amulet, and was drawn to the sound of his o...

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Blessed is the Match, The Hannah Senesh Story

Blessed is the Match, The Hannah Senesh StorySuzanne Marsh The occupant of the stone-cold prison cell, with a small, dull light bulb hanging overhead. There is no time for tears; she finds a small piece of paper on which she writes a farewell message to her mother, Katrina, then a final poem; she has been informed that her execution is less than an hour away. The letter is her final goodbye:"Dearest Mother,I don’t know what to say- only this, a million thanks, and forgive me if you can.You know well why words aren’t necessary."She hides the ...

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Adventure in the Big City

Adventure in the Big CitySuzanne MarshToday was the big day; I was finally fulfilling my dream of attending the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. I left home early, the traffic on the “can of worms” was horrendous, and I did not want to be late for my interview. I took Route 31 into Rochester, which was the first mistake of the day. I made a right-hand turn on Goodman Street, going toward Gibbs Street, where the school was located. Rochester is not a good place to get lost; I am living proof. All the streets surrounding the sch...

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Oh Nuts Now What!

Oh Nuts Now What!Suzanne Marsh“What do you mean you, no one has the rendition of Bury Not On the Lone Prairie? I need thatmusic for Cowboy Sunday service!” How could this have happened? I needed it now, not three weeks from now. The choir needed to practice it, the required accompanist needed the music, and it was already printed in the bulletin; there was no way I would be able to remove it from the bulletin, since our church secretary was going on maternity leave. I began searching the web; some of those were as useless as a hole in my hea...

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