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Billie's Writing Status Soars

Chapter 1

Casper and Janice Summers tried to do everything down the middle with Connor and Billie, their blue-eyed blonde twins, to avoid having favorites or at least showing favoritism, and that policy lasted till college time.

The Summer's ranch had been hit by drought, two dry years in a row. As a consequence, for the first time in eighteen years of the twins' life, Casper and Janice, being literally up to their knees in debt, were forced to make a really unfair decision affecting the twins.

The bank loan would provide only enough spare money to send one of the kids to college.

The four of them debated the issue for almost two hours before Billie's persuasiveness won the day.

She argued Connor wanted to be a mechanical engineer and so must go to college whereas she could develop her interest in writing based on what she already knew.

Her mom had cried and her father choked and said she was a very brave young lady. Connor kissed her and said thanks doll and went off to work on the motor of the ranch's ailing pickup.

Two days, later under the hot South Texas sun and to an emotional family farewell, Billie boarded a bus for the train station to head for Philadelphia to stay with Aunt Susan, her mom's sister. Uncle Colin had promised to find her a good paying job.

Secretly, Billie had thought of something else. She progressed as far as Fort Worth where she disembarked and took a room in a seedy hotel and went on to the street. Billie's idea was to work as a prostitute and earn big money to save the ranch.

Billie was six foot one and still very lean, her breasts and hips only just beginning to fill out into curves and her simple dress was certainly not sexy.

On Day One of hopefully being on the street for no more than a year to earn sufficient capital to save the ranch, she endued having passing men eyeing her and either grinning or scowling or ignoring her completely.

None made an offer or even optimistically suggested a freebie.

Billie wondered perhaps she needed to push her tongue beyond her lips to appeal?

She's noticed a woman eyeing her from across the street. Well thought Billie, if she couldn't nail guys, perhaps she might have to switch to take on loitering women.

Three more attempts to openly accost passing men failed and Billie found that woman from across the street right in her face and holding up ID. Billie winced. The woman was an undercover cop.

"Am I booked?"

The cop looked cross.

"That depends. I have a daughter your age and feel like kicking your ass in despair. God, you young kids have it all but can't accept that."

Billie figured the cop didn't intend to pay for the privilege of kicking ass.

The cop asked, "Do you have money?"

"Yes. seventy bucks."

"And that's all?"

Billie regarded it as a lot of money, the most she'd ever possessed. "And a train ticket."

"Where are you heading?"

"The woman's eyes lit up at the reply and said, "That gets you a long way from here. Come on, let's get your things and I'll lecture you at the train station."

Billie burst into tears and said she was only trying to save the ranch.

The cop giggled and said that was such a novel explanation that on a good day even the judge might buy it.

Over light food and coffee paid for by the cop, who had identified herself as Sarah Bassett, she lectured Billie about the need to do everything to make something out of her life without having to stoop to sell her body for sex.

Later, the cop looked rather startled when Billie kissed her before boarding the northbound train.

"Sarah thank you for giving me a break, I shall always remember you and wish you a happy life.'

"Billie, you have the heart of an angel. Please, please get yourself back on track. I wish I'd been your mother."

Billie climbed aboard scarcely believing a cop had said that to her. Jeeze, what was happening to the cops these days, turning to jelly like that?

Sarah was still waiting as the train pulled out. She saw Billie and blew her a kiss. Billie's heart melted. She couldn't believe that someone other than her mother cared for her like that. It made her think.

Forty-eight mind-numbing hours later she arrived at 30th Street Station. She'd called through on a pay phone and Aunt Susan came for her.

Billie staggered into her Aunt's arms and asked, "What day is it?"

"Darling," Susan cooed, "You need sleep, lots of it. OMG you are about to grow into a real honey."

"An ugly duckling more like it."

Susan just gave her one of those far-way smiles Billie's mother often gave her that drove her to almost to despair because they were undecipherable.

"W-what do you mean?" Billie yawned.

Her aunt answered in exactly the same manner of her mother: "Just be patient dear. In time all will be revealed."

Although frustrated, Billie was too tired to punch the side of her seat in the SUV.

The men arrived together, Colin picking up son Stewart from university on the way home.

"Where's the kid from Texas?" Stewart yawned.

His mom frowned. "Your cousin is now a young woman, very beautiful and I don't want you attempting to get into her pants."

Son and father looked at one another and grinned.

"Mom you know I only focus on sexy women."

Susan looked less than convinced.

"What?"

"Just behave yourself when alone with your cousin Stewart, that's all I ask."

Stewart looked at his mom puzzled but she offered no elaboration.

After the men washed up the family had a drink and then began dinner.

They were on to mains when the door to the passage accessing the bedrooms opened and a blonde babe in an almost hip-high nightdress and with a small boob with a normal size nipple hanging out, entered. Rubbing her eyes. she asked, "What day is it?"

Father and son gawked and Susan rushed to her niece, stowed the breast and said, "Remain calm darling, it's dinner time."

"Oh."

"This is your uncle Colin so you'll remember him."

"Um yes, he looks more virile than I remember."

For a moment Susan almost lost it. What was behind that comment?

"Hi cousin Billie. As you know I'm Stewart. It's five years since we last met."

"Four years and mom said to be aware of you because you are addicted to sex, according to Aunt Susan."

The family looked at their guest as if their innermost secrets had been exposed.

"Darling would you like a salad and a piece of salmon fillet?"

"That sounds beautiful thank you, Aunt Susan."

Cousin Stewart was a bit over-weight but had masses of dark curly hair and a winning smile, so looked great. However, Billie knew she faced a menace in this house and it went by the name of Stewart.

Whenever she looked up, she found his dark, brooding eyes on her and knew he was not unlike a randy bull on the ranch that in time would crash over a fence and trot off looking for heifers.

She knew the answer: deal with Stewart. The problem was if he complained to his parents, she was done for staying in this supposedly safe house but then the alternative was far worse.

After dinner Billie yawned and excused herself, saying she needed more sleep. It was 8:30. She awoke seven hours later and crept off to deal with her cousin.

* * *

College senior Stewart West had listened without much interest when his mom announced her niece Billie from Texas would be coming to live with them. She'd said Billie would need a job and his father, an attorney, said he could fix that.

Stewart remembered Billie as a gangly kid who asked stupid questions but that didn't bother him. As long as she kept her nose out of his life he couldn't care less where she lived.

When Billie appeared for dinner, looking half-asleep and disoriented, Stewart had grinned when noticing the kid had grown tits, and one was hanging out. Christ she was a few inches taller than him, and blonde and good looking and obviously with a little bit more meat over her bones, she would be one choice babe.

He wondered if she fucked and thought being eighteen, she probably did. There would not be much to do in Texas being so far away from everything.

At the table, he noticed his mom looking at him, worried-like. For heaven's sake, he'd seen more tits that she ever would. Ah, she would be thinking he would be out to nail Miss Texas. Well that was an interesting challenge. His mom would be unable to shield the kid from him 24/7.

In the kitchen as he played 'good boy' and dried the dishes that were not suitable for being put through the machine-washer. He only accepted that task because he was under threat to do a few chores around the house or go and find somewhere else to live. Stewart expected a lecturer and got it.

"Stewart I've been waiting for the right moment to say something to you."

"And this is it?"

"What is?"

"This is the right moment for you, mom?"

Susan frowned. "Would you please not interrupt; this is a very serious matter."

"You want to tell me to wear a condom when I have sex with Billie?"

Stewart lunged and caught the glass pot lid as it fell from his mom's hand. She didn't say thank you. She just glared at him and told him to take care with the lid from a matching set of pots.

She placed both hands on her hips and told him straight. "Stewart West, you dare touch that sweet girl and you'll answer to me."

"Okay mom, I hear you. Calm down. Just remember I won't be responsible for my actions if she decides to have a piece of me. But what about dad?"

"What about your father?"

"Will he get a similar warning?"

Stewart grinned at the shocked look from his mother. "D-do you think...?"

"Probably not unless he sees her bent over and showing ass cheek."

His mom sat down at the kitchen table and looked so pale, Stewart decided it was best not to joke that his dad wouldn't be interested because he was being kept more than busy working through the women at the office and his female clients who included some of his wife's friends and their daughters.

He heard his mom sigh, "Oh god what have I done by agreeing to her staying here?"

Stewart was glad to see a bit of color back in her cheeks.

"Um, mom don't be confrontational over this with dad. I suggest you just say to him you expect him to keep Billie safe while she's staying with us. He'll think you mean keep Billie safe from me but will wonder if you were delivering a veiled message to him as well. That should make think he must not let his eyes wander in Billie's direction."

Susan smiled and said, "Brilliant darling, you are such a clever young man. Thank you."

If Susan was thinking she'd not received much of an assurance from her son about not messing with the guest, she didn't signal it. Later that evening Stewart stroked his dick in the shower thinking of being the first person in Philly to nail the filly from Texas.

Next day, Stewart blinked himself awake and smiled as he reached to shake hands with his erection.

"What the...?"

Stewart had noticed something odd on the pillow between his face and his alarm clock that was set to ring in about fifteen minutes. It was his late grandmother's jam spoon from one of the kitchen drawers with a note tied to it.

He undid the bow and read the message.

Dear Cousin Stewart: If you dare touch me sexually, then on the following morning you'll wake up to find this jam spoon has turned into a carving knife and it will be stuck into your abdomen just above your penis. Don't take this for an empty threat. Texan mothers breed tough daughters. Have a great day with your studies. Sweet Billie.

"Jesus," said Stewart, feeling the blood drain from his face. He also became aware his erection had collapsed.

Not wishing to face the young bitch, Stewart dressed and raced out to the kitchen and kissed his surprised mom goodbye, saying he was off to an early session on the track at college.

"Are you okay darling, you look rather pale?"

"Yeah, yeah. Perhaps it's your cooking?"

"Stewart," said his mom sternly but her son was already heading out the door.

Later that morning, Susan took the house phone to Billie who was in the sunroom reading the morning newspaper.

"It's a local call from a female called Carol Sweetman."

Later, Billie returned the phone to the kitchen and smiling, answered Susan's enquiring look.

"Carol is the youngest sister of one of Stewart's girlfriends. He called her and suggested I would be short of friends, having just arrived in the city. Carol said she and a bunch of her friends would be off to various colleges during the next two to three weeks and were hanging out a lot with the countdown to separation looming fast. They are lunching today at Penn's Landing and she's invited me and will call for me around noon."

"Oh, that's lovely dear. I'm surprised Stewart has organized that for you?"

"You have raised a lovely young man, Aunt Susan. You should be very proud of him."

"Ah yes, thanks," Susan said weakly.

Billie arrived home with Carol and another girl called Eva just after 4:00 and Susan was delighted to see her niece looking flushed and excited. The girls had a cool drink and Susan joined them with her coffee. She found that Carol and Eva were both going to Penn to do an English major with creative writing as an option.

Eva said, "It's such a shame Mrs West that Billie's parents have been boxed into a corner by devastating drought. She could have come to university with us. She's already won literary prizes."

"Yes, it's very sad," Susan said.

The mention of winning awards set Susan's mind ticking.

That evening Susan had a long discussion with Colin over Billie's educational plight. He promised to see what he could do, agreeing they had a duty to intervene.

When Colin arrived home from work next day, a bewildered Billie learned of attempts to get her enrolled into the University of Pennsylvania, a move that she'd later come to call 'the miracle'.

The move depended on Billie meeting several admission criteria for late enrolment and the university having a place available. Billie was also advised the university admitted only a small percentage of applicants. Fortunately, she had her academic records with her, assuming that information would be required when she applied for jobs.

"B-but the money?" she worried.

"Your mother went to Penn as did our father and later in life he was a noted contributor to the university," Susan said. "You were out with Carol and Eva when Colin called you for information and I reminded him of your parent's and my father's association with Penn. Possibly, Billie you'll receive financial support from the university."

"Susan and I will contribute to cover either the shortfall or everything required to get you educated," Colin said. "My brother-in-law Michael manages a branch of a consumer research organization and says he can find work for you with the team doing phone polling early evenings and on Saturday mornings, once you are registered as a student."

"This is so unbelievable," cried Billie, rushing in to hug them both. "I'll repay you, I'll repay you," she sobbed. "Regard it as a loan."

"Hey whoa young lady, we first have to get your application accepted."

"You and I will go to King of Prussia (mall) in the morning to get you a new outfit for when you have to front up before the late enrolment committee as I guess that could be part of the process," Susan smiled, patting her niece's back.

Billie then said she was off to call Carol and Eva.

"We must get you a cell phone," Colin said.

Billie returned twenty minutes later very flushed.

"Both girls yelled and screamed and I tried to caution them it will be touch and go and they both said freshman drop out at the last minute for numerous reasons and Eva said her father would help but didn't say how."

"What is Eva's surname?" Colin asked and when told Hutchinson he grinned and said if he were Phil J. Hutchinson, he would have considerable influence.

"How?" Susan asked.

"He's an attorney and is involved in governance at the university. Every little bit counts."

Colin arranged temporary work for Billie at the large law firm in which he was a partner and she remained there until she jumped for joy that she'd gained admittance to Penn and immediately began her literary studies there. By that time, she and Stewart had become close friends, and nothing more than that.

Billie called her mom twice a week and learned they had received some rain, but not enough she'd complained. But the tone in her voice suggested to Billie her mom was under less strain. Her father had taken a temporary job as a lineman to provide them with income and the cattle seemed to be doing a little better.

Billie was not particularly sexually experienced and had never experienced weird sex but that was to change.

Anthony the supervisor in charge of the pollster phone calling team where she'd started after-hours work and he decided when members of the early evening team were required for work and how often.

He said to Billie, "The boss has instructed me to provide you work whenever you want it."

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"It's not fair on others available to work the early evening shift."

Billie saw the smile lurking and noted Anthony was attempting to lock gazes.

She checked no one was coming through the open door and said, "Is there any way that we can overcome this problem?"

"No, I'm sorry, there's no way. Um, unless...?"

His smile was now a leer and Billie got the message.

"Unless I have sex with you, Anthony?"

"Was that your suggestion?" he hedged.

"Yes."

"And made freely and without coercion?"

"Absolutely."

Anthony smiled and told her and close and lock the door. Conveniently for this unauthorized management procedure, the only windows were on the outer wall and were high up.

"Remove your panties and back into me. I don't wish you to see me."

"Why not?"

"I'm married and will regard this not unlike masturbation and not really adultery. You settle and I'll roll on a condom."

Billie waited patiently until Anthony said to sit on to his lap. Although he hadn't done anything to prepare her, he had lubed the condom and his dick slipped into her without trouble.

"Now move, up and down."

"Do you want my breasts uncovered?"

"No, I don't like breasts; I only like getting off. Try to squeeze tighter around me," he said, and remained stationery throughout the unsavory encounter.

Anthony finally grunted and groaned and without inquiring whether Billie wanted to climax, told her brusquely she could go now and not to look back as she left.

Billie hurried off, angry for allowing him to humiliate her like that and turning sex into a non-event. Now the jerk would feel he was entitled to use her as a fuck machine whenever he wished.

But incredibly that didn't happen. Anthony never again attempted to compromise her for sex and each week wrote in the schedule her days and times when she wished to work in the following week.

She assumed the experience had taught her something about some men, although she didn't know what. She couldn't understand why he'd want to do it like he had. He was a real weirdo.

Chapter 2

Billie remained friends with Carol but she and Eva became as close as loving sisters. Billie had one brother and no sister and Eva the last-born in her family had three brothers. The two females agreed their relationship was like gaining family. Two of Eva's brothers occasionally dated Billie and her parents just adored the lively blonde, softly spoken Texan.

Billie would never forget the time she met Ryan, the oldest brother, in a bar. He'd shown no interest in dating her and was usually very dour. She'd shown little interest in him. He came up to her and offered to buy her a drink.

"I only dropped in for coffee."

"Then I'll order you coffee."
They talked and got along reasonably well and finally he said his girlfriend had been away for three weeks.

"So that thing's not getting exercise?" she said unwisely.

They were on bar stools facing one another and she stared at his crotch.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing really," she said, feeling a little horny.

"Do you want to find out if I'm better than my two brothers and dad?"

"I've not been near your father," she said indignantly.

"Ah, now I know you have had sex with my brothers."

She colored.

"Come on Billie, let's have a quicker in the men's toilets.

She couldn't believe he'd just said that.

"What over a hand bowl?"

"No, I'm not an exhibitionist."

"No way," she said, making the mistake of turning and looking at the passage leading to the toilets.

"I have a condom."

"I bet you haven't."

He reached into his wallet and dropped a wrapped condom on to the bar beside her elbow.

She panicked, grabbed it and stood to leave but Ryan was so quick and reassuring.

"Come on Billie, be a real pal. My balls are turning blue from non-use."

He had her by the arm and they were into the passage before she realized it.

"I-I don't know."

"Well I do," said the 28-year-old. "It will be great experience for you."

"Experience?"

"Yes, it's all part of your growth as a woman?"

"What?"

"Let's not bother with semantics darling. Here into this booth."

He locked the door and Billie was astonished at the size of the dick Ryan pulled out. She watched him roll on the condom thinking almost in alarm that she was about to get that shoved into her.

"Are you right?"

She swallowed and said yes but he was not to touch her asshole.

"I don't do anal," he sighed and she felt reassured.

"Remove your panties and then lean over, bracing yourself on the toilet seat."

She felt full when he pushed in, taking his time after having licked her pussy and then used spit to wet the condom.

"You have a pretty cunt."

What was pretty about a pussy?

At that moment, Ryan pushed all the way in and ordered, "Push back and me when you feel me beginning to push forward into you each time.

"I know what to do," she said indignantly and he said he doubted that.

That made her mad and she pushed back with gusto and soon had him panting and saying, "Oh shit, oh shit. Oh baby, am I going to get my rocks off."

He gushed into the condom big time and Ryan looked hugely pleased with himself.

"Clean up while I look outside to make sure the coast is clear," he said, acting like a gentleman.

Minutes later Billie was on her way home promising herself never, never would she act like such a slut again. If she hadn't felt beautifully fucked, she would have been really angry with herself.

She missed her bus that was about to leave, being so busily composing an unlikely telephone conversation with her mother, thinking she'd say, 'Guess what I did today mom? I allowed myself to be fucked in the men's room at a bar' and her mom would scream she was coming to Philadelphia to thrash her daughter.

"Hey wait," she yelled running for the orange and white bus but the driver pretended he'd not seen her.

* * *

As part of second-year writing studies for students, Eva and Billie wrote short stories that were among selections for an omnibus published on fiction closely related to Philadelphia's historically rich past.

The volume reached best-seller status in the city for six weeks and several book reviews commented favorably on Billie's fictional character, bigamist Captain Bertram Wiltshire who was credited with great foresight in 1924 as being the first person to envisage the comprehensive development of the city's Delaware River waterfront into one of the world's great integrated urban redevelopment projects.

One influential literary critic wrote, "The belligerent and hard-drinking, womanizing former seafarer Captain Wiltshire, who was only five foot three inches tall and who became a hugely successful importer of spices and whisky, is a character depicted so graphically that he almost appears to come out of the pages at the reader. Young author Billie Summers, in her second-year of literary studies, has the signs of another young giant emerging from Penn University. This girl appears to possess raw talent galore."

Billie was agog when she read the review in the morning newspaper, not because of the extravagant praise but because she was called an author and was identified publicly as having raw talent.

"Omigod," she almost whimpered and lifted her head to find Susan and Colin looking at her proudly.

Susan said gently, "Go phone your mom and read the review to her."

Billie chose to be evasive and said her mom wouldn't be interested.

"And who are you attempting to kid?" Susan said. "Off you go."

As soon as Billie finished reading the review, her mom burst into tears. Almost thirty seconds past before Billie could understand what Janice was saying to her.

Two days later, a New York publisher, who'd been born and raised in Philadelphia, contacted Billie.

"Hi Billie, I'm Sam Sorenson, representing a publisher in New York. I got your phone number from one of your professors."

"Hi, Mr Sorenson."

"Calling me Sam will be fine. I've read your story and have spoken to the publisher and she has no problem with my proposal and is giving me the assurance in writing that she is happy for us to engage you to write for us. I wish to commission you to turn that short story into a 200,000-word novel."

The astonished student blurted, "Why?"

"Because people will line up to buy it, that's why."

Billie didn't quite know how to reply to that but commercialism won through.

"How much?"

"An advance of ten grand."

"Payable immediately?"

"Yes, if you commit to finishing your draft manuscript in six months from today. That period covers your summer break. If you can produce the goods for me you could well walk away with at least a hundred grand on this project when royalties are apportioned. You have created a fabulous character Billie but you must take care not to get your other characters larger than life."

"I hear you Sam. So, what now?"

"I'll be in Philly this weekend to visit my grandmother who's in a retirement village. I'll be staying at the Omni on Chestnut."

"I know where that is."

"Say 6:00 for drinks and then dinner?"

"Might I suggest we meet at 5:00 in the lobby and stroll through Independence Park and you can tell me about being in Philly as a kid and things your father and your grandfather told you."

"It will be cold outside. I'll do better, I'll get a list of old living identities from my mother to use as part of your research to ensure authenticity."

"Do that Sam but I also want you to walk with me through the park listening to you talk about growing up here."

"No, I suggest this. I'll collect you at 2:00 with my grandmother and we'll drive through the older parts of the city and past the landing and both reminisce but my recollections are outside of your twenties and thirties era."

"I'm astute enough to know that my necessary research will mean talking to far more than two people."

Sam laughed and said good thinking, to email him details of where to come for her. He said he'd bring a contract with him.

"And a check?"

"Yes, if you sign on Saturday."

"Then email me a copy of the contract."

"Are you short of money?"

She said no but her parents were struggling to pay down debt on their small ranch resulting from a drought four years ago that lasted two years. She wanted the check made out to her mom Janice Summers who handled the ranch accounts.

"You're a good kid thinking that way Billie. Can I trust you to exercise your raw talent to capacity to produce a good book for us?"

"I promise sweat, blood and tears:"

"In that case your advance rises to $30,000. We don't want your mom and dad busting their guts to save the ranch."

Billie was staggered and felt the urge to bawl her eyes out. But she knew she needed to sound adult about this. "Sam thank you and I really mean that."

"And thank you. I'm taking a gamble with you, being our youngster author by seven years."

Arriving home that afternoon, Billie printed out the draft contact and when she joined her aunt and uncle for drinks, she handed the document to Colin and asked him to look it over. He said he'd scan thought it now but would read in carefully after dinner.

Susan asked, "What is it?"

"Some publisher is offering Billie a contact dear. Jesus!"

"What is it?"

"Billie is not a published author and yet she is to receive an advance for thirty grand."

Susan gave a delighted cry. "Darling you can afford to go to Europe this summer."

"No, I should be using that to pay off my debt to you guys but I'd like to know your opinion of the alternative and that is for me to send this money to mom and dad to allow them to reduce their bank loans?"

"Do the latter," Susan said. "You are such a lovely darling. "Colin?"

"We have told you Billie that Susan and I wished we'd had a daughter to send to college and then along you came. The $40,000 we'll spend on your education to meet the shortfall after scholarships is not a loan; it's a gift."

"But I can't..."

"Darling, forty grand is chicken shit to what Colin and I rake in as income during a year. Be grateful, just accept it and be lovely to us as we age."

Billie eyed them both and noticed they were watching her intently. She choked a little when she said, "Okay that's a deal. I do regard you guys as my first equal family along with my parents."

"Get the champagne Colin," Susan sniffed. "With that declaration we truly have the daughter we've always wanted."

Billie called her parents and told her mom she'd be sending them thirty grand next week that she was getting paid in advance for a book, and she wanted them to pay off some of their loans with it."

"Thirty thousand? Omigod," her mom screamed and became incoherent.

Billie's dad came to the phone, he heard and understood what she was on about and said, "You're a really great kid Billie, just the best."

* * *

Billie waited in the lobby for Sam confident he'd recognize her. Rather than say what she'd be wearing she'd said she was a slim six-foot blonde. She waited patiently and slowly became aware she'd never seen so many six-foot blondes in one place, ever. Fortunately, not many were slim.

"Hi lovely lady; how much do you charge?"

Billie was disappointed. Publisher Sam Sorenson was about five feet six with blue stubble and an unsightly beer belly. She was about to say, "Hi Sam" when a lean blond guy as tall as herself and wearing an Italian-cut slate gray suit and purple tie snapped, "Beat it you jerk. Fancy talk to a lady like that. I ought to kick your ass."

As the guy scuttled away the gentleman who looked cool for a guy in his early forties said, "Hi Billie. You look really great. That midnight blue dress really suits you. Gran loves that color. Are you ready to leave?"

"Um, do we kiss?"

He grinned and said he guessed so and kissed her and, without being invited, gently stroked down a breast. God he's out to have sex with her now he's seen her, Billie decided, remembering her pledge to never again act like a tramp. She removed the offending hand only it wasn't offending her.

"It is lovely to meet you Sam. My legal adviser has said to sign the contract but I must check that the lines he's underlined in the copy are exactly that wording in the copies we are to sign."

"Oh, that's fine. So, there's no need for me to wine and dine you this evening?

Billie's face fell and he grinned, "Just joking. I'm the youngest of three and have a younger brother and sister who are twins just like you. Mom calls me the Peter Pan of the family because I never seem to want to become an adult."

"That's very good isn't it?"

"Very good. I have picked up Gran already to save time because she'll wish to stop somewhere to have afternoon tea to make it feel like a real occasion going out with us."

At the end of a lovely afternoon with Sam's quite aristocratic grandmother Julia, who proved to be amazingly fluent and a mine of information. Sam dropped Billie off to dress for dinner and to meet him at his hotel at 8:00.

Susan had worried about Billie going to a hotel alone to meet a man for dinner that late but Billie said, "It's okay. I feel I can trust him and if he invites me to stay, I'll probably do so. Wouldn't you?"

"Uh, um..."

"No, I didn't think so," Billie giggled. "You are just like mom."

Sam proved to be delightful company, offered Billie to contact him whenever she had a problem about anything and required a mentor, and throughout the evening kept his distance and sent his young investment writer home in a cab, leaving Billie wondering if Sam were gay but then she thought no, he was loyal to the woman he was living with or preferred his women to be mature.

She then though perhaps Sam preferred both, loyalty and maturity between himself and his partner. That gave her something to think about.

Billie worked on her novel and found she was able to incorporate some of her university studies on such things as characterization and research into her novel writing. She was a month late submitting the final chapters but Sam called her to congratulate her and said he'd advised his editor working with Billie to allow the student six weeks latitude in finishing.

Sam chatted for a few minutes and said, "It's looking pretty good but we'll get back with suggestions where some rewriting in necessary to add gusto to the novel."

The call ended with Billie despondent, wondering why the manuscript would need to be 'lifted' when she'd poured her heart and soul into that writing.

That night her Foster father' Colin noticed the lassitude and said, "What's up baby, guy trouble?"

"Please may we discuss this in your home office Colin? I don't want Susan involved because I'm already emotional about this and need pragmatic counseling."

A couple of months earlier, Colin and Susan had urged their niece to drop the titles of aunt and uncle.

Colin listened to Billie relate Sam's comments and her reaction to them.

"Well what do you think, pragmatically?"

"Well you won't like this because you appear determined to think the worst. In my analyst, I believe you have over-reacted because the praise about the short-story version went to your head, leaving you feeling you were practically bullet-proof as an emerging writer. Notice use of the word 'emerging'?"

Looking a little confused because she was thinking this was not what she'd expected to be hearing, Billie nodded and frowned.

"You are in your apprenticeship as a novelist. There will be so much to learn and that takes time and experience."

Billie really didn't hear the last few words. She'd already accepted the concept that she was an apprentice, a thought that had not been implanted when she began the draft novel.

"Well, what do you think?" Colin smiled.

"I'm thinking I'm whole again, you wonderful counselor. What a skilled way of telling me I'm suffering from inflated ego."

She kissed him and confirmed, "I accept entirely what you had to say. Thanks. I've off to sit with Susan to watch a re-run of 'Sex in the City'."

"What to study consistency in the writer's characterizations?"

"Oh no. Like Susan I wish to enjoy the absolute irrelevance those women have for the set-in-concrete attitudes most of us have about social mores as taught to us by our parents."

Colin laughed. He swatted her ass and said, "Off you go, young writer."

The tales of the irreverent, aggressive, and bawdy former sailing ship captain, bigamist Bertram Wiltshire, was published under the title of 'Swashbuckling Business Tycoon'.

Sales were excellent but literary reviews were generally muted:

'An excellent first novel.'

'Is this work a transposition of this young writer's nightmares?'

'Are we to believe that no Philly female was immune to adultery during that era when Captain Wiltshire came ashore?'

Enraged by some of the sanctimonious utterances by critics, Billie marched into the office of one of her professors and threw the clippings on to his desk and whined, "Am I entitled to sue these bastards for literary assassination?"

"Ah, Miss Summers who's overlooked the need for an appointment, I note?"

Billie tapped a foot and glared.

Ash Brown grinned.

"Let me see, ah yes. I have read some of these. So, what's the beef? Is it because none of them is recommending you for a Pulitzer?"

"Good heavens I didn't expect that. I'm only an apprentice writer. But none of these Assholes mentions my writing ability and originality in turn of phrases."

"Oh dear. The incompetent jerks."

Billie angrily leant over to grab the cuttings.

"Hold it Billie. Cool down and read this but I'm showing you this in absolute confidence, okay."

"Very well."

Ash said calmly, "You look even more beautiful when fired up."

"Get to the point," Billie hissed.

Ash pulled up Billie's personal file and said he wanted to show her some messages.

"This one is from the boss."

'Miss Summers appears to be an achiever. When did we last have a freshman have a novel published?'

Ash said he'd read replies and there were several including some who'd had novels published when at high school.

"But the point is. they are still very few and probably the number of graduates having a novel published under the age of say twenty-four would be well under one percent. Therefore sweetheart, you are part of an illustrious minority and should be thinking, 'Fuck what the critics say, I have no need to have my ego inflated. How many novels have those critics had published?' Am I putting this into perspective for you?"

"May I sit? My knees are giving way."

"Please do. Now let's see what three of our senior lecturers have written.," Ash said, reading out the memos.

'Prof. I'd like Miss Summers assigned to my classes next year. Margaret J.'

'Prof. May I suggest we add 'Swashbuckling Business Tycoon' to the required reading list for sophomores. As a first novel it has the expected weak passages but parts of it are quite amazing for such a young author. Oh, the author is here at Penn, a freshman would you believe. Sandra A.'

'Prof. Please assign Billie Summers to my classes next year. I feel she'll offer great inspiration and I want that to occur in my classes. Donald W.'

Ash looked at Billie. "Well?"

"Omigod. Um, how old were you when your first novel was published?"

"Twenty-seven and I have that many reject slips from submissions before and after that. I assume you feel a little boosted?"

"Yes. May I take you to dinner, Ash?"

"Um Billie, I only date senior lecturers and fellow female professors."

"Ooh. were you expected a little something after dinner, Ash? Then make it a full date and teach me how to fuck. You've done very well teaching me how to modify my thoughts towards churlish critics and puncturing my ego painlessly and reading those inspirational comments."

"You seem mature for your age Billie. I haven't organized anything for tonight. Yes, I'd be delighted to be taken to dinner and without any unreasonable expectation to follow. Let's arrange to meet somewhere."

* * *

Nine months later Billie's second novel, 'Butterscotch Sex' that told the story of a former sex worker employed by a company based in Runnymede, England, that produced butterscotch confectionery for worldwide distribution.

The hilarious tale told how a newly recruited wrapping machine operator progressed to become operations manager and hugely boosted public visits to the factory by encouraging factory workers to have sex with the visitors.

The gratification of workers being free to perform such an add-on services led to them enthusiastically increasing factory output two-fold and thereby cut the need for the company to invest in hugely expensive automated machinery meet a boost in orders resulting in the factory's soaring reputation,
With the outrage voiced by upset local residents, the media mocked the puritan residents and as a result the factory became Britain's 22nd most visited place by tourists.

The critics loved it, mostly on the theme that young author Billie Summers showed surprising maturity and skill in entertaining the reader with excellent prose and hugely laughable misadventures by characters, while skillfully not allowing the factory to degenerate into a sleazy whorehouse.

Billie then abandoned writing temporarily to accelerate studying to gain her BA and then her Master's. In graduating from Penn, she received the Wilberforce Memorial Prize for her published treatise, 'Would Chaucer Have Comprehended the English of Our New England Founding Fathers?'

Billie's parents came to the graduation and Billie returned home with them after a very, very tearful farewell with Susan, Colin and their son Stewart.

Billie of course, knew she'd see her sponsoring West family again but even so the parting was hard. She would be locating almost 2000 miles south-west at McAllen, in Hidalgo Country, South Texas, where her parents had relocated after selling the ranch following experiencing there second serious drought.

Her mom worked at the counter at a bakery while he father was enjoying himself as a dispatcher for a trucking company.

After a nervous six-weeks without finding employment, Billie was approached by the librarian at a high school and was hired and she was happy because books were her thing.

A couple of months later during "Library Week', the school received celebrated author Celeste B. Bush as guest speaker at a parent and public lunch in the gymnasium. The hall was packed because this famous Texan was well-known for her novels about American pioneering women of the 1800s.

Billie was requested to drive Miss Bush to the airport and she stayed talking to the much-admired author waiting for the late-arriving aircraft.

Out of interest Billie said, "I've noticed the information about you on your books and your publisher's web site, that information about you begins at your college years. What about..."

"Oh, you've picked up my books to glance at have you?"

"I've read seven and really liked 'Chase O'Hara, Rancher.' She was depicted as being lean and strong, with a hairy upper lip but was attracted men by her flaming red hair."

"Omigod darling, and how long ago was it you read Chase O'Hara?"

"When I was an impressionable seventeen."

"Oh god, please give me your memory; it's fabulous!"

"Well not for the moment. I noticed you skipped over my question about your childhood."

"Ah, would you believe I spent it in an orphanage until I was fifteen when I was rescued by a childless couple in their forties, Alvin and Vivian Bush, who owned and operated a book shore in a small city well west of here."

"Omigod."

"It's nothing to be proud of dear."

"Why not, can't you see it's a Cinderella story and that couple, are they still alive?"

"Yes, I see them regularly. They are very old."

"Can they still read?"

"Yes, I know a woman of 100 who reads every day. Why are you so interested?"

"Damn here comes your airplane. Please give me your card and I'll email you."

"I don't use email."

"Then I'll write a letter. Just get used to the idea I wish to write a novel based on your childhood."

"Fact-fiction?"

"Yes."

"Well I really don't know..."

"Listen to me Miss Bush..."

"Actually, my real name is Mrs Acland, although that is not generally known. I married late and by then my readers had become used to me being a spinster."

"W-why did you choose to marry late?"

"I'd rather not say."

"Because you didn't wish to risk leaving a child or children who might end up in a foster home?"

"My god young woman, you have some sort of exceptional talent. Yes, that was the reason."

"May I attempt to write your biography? I've had two novels published and have a Master's in lit from Penn."

"Really, how interesting. But I must tell you I've always refused approaches from journalists wishing to pry."

"Think about this Miss Bush. Why did I ask were Alvin and Vivian Bush still read? They are your real hero and heroine, not those fictitious people you write about. For god sake Miss Bush, take that final step out of your binding past. Goodbye. It's been an honor meeting you."

Passengers were being called to prepare for boarding. Miss Bush called out, "Oh Billie, here's my card."

Billie took the card, grinning.

"I apologize for being theatrical. I had no intention of reminding you about your business card until you were actually about to enter the restricted area. I'd pretended to walk off to trigger the response I wanted."

"Well, you are a very bright young woman. Now don't be too long writing, do you hear."

"No ma'am."

"Please stop groveling and please call me Celeste."

Chapter 3

The biography of 'Celeste B. Bush - From the Orphanage Onward' was published in New York by Sam Sorenson's company of which he was now the CEO.

The launch was held in the Houston Galleria where the special guests to capture media attention where Celeste and her foster parents, Alvin and Vivian Bush.

It was a gala event with a big build-up and Billie was well aware her time had come.

The pre-release published critiques acclaimed her in many ways including, 'one of America's best emerging authors' and 'a quirky and smart-minded new author whose breath of freshness over readers will brighten their leisure time'.

But the knockout punch came the evening before Billie and her mother went to Houston.

They were watching a book show on TV that ended with Mickey Rogers smiled at her male co-host and asked, "And the book you glanced at this week Alfie that rang your bell?"

"I meant only to glance at it but ended up reading it through the night. I was so captivated."

"Oh, naughty boy. That's not like you. What's the book?"

"The biography of one of our favorite authors, Celeste B. Bush."

"Omigod that's 'From the Orphanage Onward' by Billie Summers. I'm being rushed to Houston tomorrow to interview that talented young author live tomorrow night with Celeste. I'm told the book is crammed with things we haven't known about Celeste despite her fame. Well good night everyone. Be watching this network tomorrow at 6:30 when I'll be in cow country interviewing Celeste and Billy the Kid author Billie Summers, who's not yet twenty-five."

"Omigod," Janice said, fanning her flushing face. "All of that was on network TV with millions of people watching."

"Mom please, that was scripted as a promo for tomorrow evening. Don't get too excited."

"Scripted or not, Mickey Rogers has integrity and won't say anything she doesn't believe."

"Okay mom, you're probably right. Anyway, most viewers won't have any idea about promos and scripting. However, if Sam my publisher saw that he'll be rubbing his hands in glee."

* * *

The floor manager tried to send in Celeste first but Celeste thwarted him by grabbling Billie by the arm and marching in with her.

Celeste was dressed as if ready for a ball and Billie had chosen a colorful poncho, tight jeans and plain dark brown cowgirl boots.

Mickey Rogers: "We welcome esteemed American period novelist Celeste B. Bush with her extremely gifted biographer Billie Summers."

The studio audience clapped politely.

Mickey glanced at Billie: Straight from riding the range, are you Billie?

Billie: If you mean horses, no. I'm scared of horses.

Mickey: And so are most of us although we're not Texans like you. Do you ride Celeste?

Celeste: No horses scare me as do motorcycles and most things other than automobiles.

Mickey: So how did this literary collaboration between you two begin? I can scarcely believe Celeste that after years of refusing to be interviewed in depth, that you called up Billie to come and talk to you about writing your biography.

Celeste: No Billie was working at a library waiting to find a novel.

Mickey: She wouldn't have to look far. Libraries are full of novels.

Celeste: I meant the novel lurking within her. Out of interest, she asked me about my early life and for the first time in my adult life I failed to divert anyone asking that question. I said I grew up in an orphanage and that kind of flicked her switch.

Mickey: I bet it did. What did she say?

Celeste: Omigod. I'm sure she thought it was raining pennies from heaven.

Mickey: Billie there's not a single reference about sex in this biography. Do you think you failed to ask the right questions?

Billie: I don't believe Miss Bush know about sex.

Celeste almost fell out of her chair laughing and the studio audience screamed in laughter at Billy's straight face and watching Celeste being in near hysterics.

Billie: Actually, we made a pact. She allowed me to write about her almost secret marriage to William Acland and to explain the reason for that providing I made no mention of he having sex with anyone or anything in my manuscript.

Celeste (arching an eyebrow): Sex with things?

Billie: Miss Rogers this is a family show.

Mickey: Oh of course. Well that saved a couple of bleeps. Why did Miss Bush marry late?

Billie: She had no wish to have something happen to her child or children if something dreadful happened to her and they experienced the hardships of orphanage life that she did. So, she married after passing through child-bearing age.

Mickey: Omigod how tragic.

Billie: Yes, but revelations like that make my book a great read. It has little to do with the writing.

Mickey: Celeste?

Celeste: The word for that is something that comes out of the backside of a Texan bull. The creative genius of this young writer brought my life alive to me when I read her completed manuscript. My foster parents, who are now in their nineties, read it to each other they said often with tears flowing because it seemed as if Billie had been there with us in those early days.

Billie: I cried when Miss Bush told me about her years in that orphanage after being found as an abandoned baby and I cried when writing about that.

Mickey: Well that obviously shows and today's big book launching has been a big day for both of you.

Billie: And for Mr and Mrs Bush. They know young Celeste would have hated talking about her days in the orphanage and appreciate she did so in huge public thanks to them.

Celeste: And that's the truth and it happened just like Mickey said. My foster parents were overcome with joy at reading what I'd thought about them because until reading my praise and gratitude; they'd thought I'd only half-loved them. I owe Billie everything.

Mickey (sniffing): Oh, that's so lovely. Time to wind up. Parting words from you Billie."

Billie: I began reading Celeste B. Bush from the age of fourteen and adored the novels I read. I truly cannot believe that people all over America can now read the unexpurgated story, apart from the sex, had that occurred, of Celeste B. Bush's life.

Celeste: This might not seem profound, but the day I first met Billie she told me that she'd read seven of my novels and I asked which one had she liked best. And she said, 'My favorite was 'Chase O'Hara, Rancher.' She was depicted as being lean and strong, with a hairy upper lip but what attracted men was her flaming red hair'. I asked how long ago had she read that novel and she said seven years earlier. I shall die happy knowing a little piece of me contributed to the foundation of a creative writing career that awaits her."

The studio audience as one rose and applauded, no one being sure who was being applauded.

"Thank you, ladies for being my guests tonight," Mickey shouted above the din.

Billie left Houston next morning with her mother and two days later went to LA alone where she met two women from the PR department of her publishers to begin an across-America whistle-stop promotion of the bio.

The popularity and curiosity of Celeste was such that books sold by the truckload and ran into four reprint runs. By the time the three females reached New York, Billie was one third of the way through her next novel she'd started two weeks after the bio entered pre-print stages.

She'd resigned her library job before leaving for Houston because she had more than sufficient money to support herself; It was just a matter of deciding whether to stay put or to relocate. It was tempting to stay because her mom didn't bother her unduly whenever she was writing or simply thinking and they liked each other's company. But how do you meet guys when living and working at home?

Janice remained calm when Billie said she'd be moving out.

"I want to find somewhere calm and peaceful, by the water with not too many people about."

"Well you've stayed longer than what I thought you would. Any ideas Casper?"

"Yeah, if you want peace beside the water, I'll call Amy to see if their holiday house on Corpus Christi Bay is available. They don't appear to use it much these days."

"Oh, by the beach and still in Texas, wow?"

"Yeah."

"Please call her now dad."

"You'll need a better vehicle to get about in that area and to hike in the parks and to cross causeways to beaches," he said.

An hour later after securing the holiday home for Billie for six months, Casper took her out to look at cars Billie ended up trading in her old small Ford for a three-year-old red Jeep Wrangler and was very pleased with it.

The next day was Sunday and Casper spent time with Billie ensuring she had a very good understanding of her new vehicle and could change a flat tire. Billie then announced over dinner she'd leave for the Corpus Christi area next morning.

"I thought you'd delay leaving until you were familiar with your new vehicle," her mom said, wiping at her eyes.

"Aw mom, come on. You guys can visit me next weekend."

Janice sniffed, "But I thought you'd not wish to be disturbed?"

"No, I'm intending to use weekends for rest and recreation. I'd really like you to visit me this next weekend and mom you can phone me whenever you like but preferably from early evening. You're not really losing me. Look after her dad."

* * *

Billie left for the holiday house after breakfast next morning as planned.

Her rented home was located with direct access to a sea inlet off Sandpiper Drive, Corpus Christi, less than a four-hour drive of her parent's home. She was looking to be stimulated because her novel was dragging a bit and she thought a change in environment might get her back on track.

The working title of her manuscript was 'Wretched Rachel' and would trace the thoughts and actions of a delinquent daughter from age sixteen until she returned home at the end of her first semester at college, changed and more than ready to apologize to her parents for having made their life hell.

Billie had stayed at the Sandpiper Drive beach-house for most of two summers when she was a teenager and so knew the area quite well. The discounted rental included full use of a flat-bottom center-console fishing boat with a 25 hp electric-start Yamaha outboard, a deep-sea kayak and a choice of three mountain bikes.

It was all she wanted for the moment, apart from a guy on hand, not a live-in.

Billie called in to stock up at H-E-B Foods on Highway 35 where she used to go with her aunt and two cousins.

The checkout lady said, "Just passing through dear or are you new here?"

"I'm staying for a few months at Dan and Amy Rayburn's place, they're my aunt and uncle and I last stayed with them when I was seventeen."

"Oh Amy, and I know her very well. What's your name dear?"

"Billie, um Billie Summers."

"Omigod, you're famous."

The woman yelled, "Hey everyone, we have a celebrity at the checkout. She's Billie Summers who wrote Celeste Bush's bio. We saw her on TV recently. She's arrived to stay here a few months."

Billie fumed, god why didn't the woman announce the color of her underwear and be done with it.

Acutely embarrassed, Billie wanted to rush off but the checkout operator seemed to too heavy-fisted to count the bills Billie had handed over but it became obviously was just stalling. Women and two guys rushed up to introduced themselves to Billie and to welcome her to the locality.

Actually, it turned out better than expected.

A Sarah Masters introduced herself and said she remembered Billie.

"I live close by where you stayed with your aunt and uncle a few years back. Amy and I went to school together and have been friends ever since although she lives most of the time in Austin these days with her family."

"How lovely to meet you again Mrs Masters. Please pop over some time for coffee. I'm here to write but I do need coffee breaks."

Well thanks to loud-mouth at the checkout, she'd met a friendly neighbor, Billie thought. God everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. She should be writing.

A couple walking their dog waved as Billie slowed and waited for them to stroll by before she turned into the property on which was sited one of the more modest homes in the fairly scattered neighborhood. It had no pier but the neighbors weren't overly fussy who walked on their piers to fish. Billie would be able to hook up the trailer and launch the boat off the lawn into sea inlet.

Paradise.

Well yes for a writer seeking the quiet life.

Billie unloaded and then explored the house and decided to live in the loft, with its better views, but to use the facilities downstairs of course including watching TV.

Two hours later she answered a knock on the door and a guy aged about twenty-five said, "Mom sent me down with this apple pie and I'm to say welcome and you may use our boat ramp."

"On, and who are you?"

"Jim Struthers."

"Oh, hi Jim. I'm Billie Summers."

"Cute name."

"Thanks. I haven't stocked up with beer but have some wine. Please come in and..."

"Are you sure? You're alone aren't you."

"Yes," Billie said looking surprised. "But there's no law preventing me from inviting any caller of any sex in for a drink."

"Mom will not think kindly of you if you invite me in. She's a lay preacher."

"And what are you, Jim?"

"A pilot. I fly tourists to places and sight-seers over the mainland bays and out over the islands."

"Well in that case I choose a pilot who's close to my age rather than your mother who sounds a little straight laced for me. Step inside before I drag you in."

"Um you sound like my kind of girl, or rather woman."

"Thanks pal. Here's a red wine straight out of my shopping bag. Please open it and pour."

When they were seated and had toasts to 'the good life' as proposed by Jim, Billie asked, "Do you have your phone?"

"Yes ma'am."

"It's actually Miss, but call me Billie. Who else is at home?"

"Just mom and my young sister. Dad works at the international airport as an aircraft engineer and will work until 8:00."

"Please call your mom and sister over."

"Are you sure?"

"Please call them."

Jim dialed and said, "Hi, mom. I've delivered the pie and the lady has invited me in for a drink and has suggested you and Silvana come over. You ought to meet her, she's young and pretty and knows what she's about. I'd say very sophisticated."

He frowned and explained, "I'm in here because she invited me mom. Please don't bitch. Just come over and meet your new neighbor."

Jim slid his phone shut and sighed. "She's mad that I came into your house when we don't know you and you're young."

"Never fear Jim. I'll take responsibility for that if she kicks up. How's the wine."

"Better than the crap we drink."

"Oh, please Jim don't mention that when your mom arrives. Let's start off with the positives."

He grinned and asked should he answer the knock and Billie smiled and nodded.

A beautiful young girl and an attractive and well-dressed woman entered.
"Omigod," said the eighteen-year-old, gaping at Billie.

"Silvana, please don't use that language, said her mom. "What is it?"

"This is Billie Summers who wrote the biography on Celeste, dad's first cousin."

"Don't be silly darling. It can't be. That woman would live in Dallas or perhaps New York."

"Welcome Mrs Struthers and your lovely daughter. I'm staying here for a few months."

"My goodness, you are very beautiful. Please call me Caitlin and this is my other child Silvana."

"What a beautiful name Silvana. I have some copies of the biography with me. Would you like me to autograph one for you?"

"Oh. would you please. I'd be honored."

Caitlin was full of apologies and so sorry she hadn't recognized Billie.

"Oh no recognizing me is fine Caitlin and I hope other people don't as well because I'm here for the quiet life and wish to make real progress writing. Thank you very much for that apple pie. It looks delicious and it was very neighborly of you to make that gesture."

"Thank you. Um Billie you are just settling in. Please come and have dinner with us this evening. We won't eat until around 8:30 because we wait until my husband Grady comes off his shift at 8:00."

"A glass of wine Caitlin?"

"No thank you. I only drink wine with lunch or dinner."

"Silvana?"

She looked at her mother who's mouth suddenly looked grim.

"I take that's a yes," Billie said and poured a half glass and held it out to the teenager who hesitated and looked at her mother again.

Caitlin said, "Take it Silvana and thank Billie."

"Thanks, Billie."

"Well also drink it Silvana. Sip lightly. Always take care with alcohol and by that I don't mean only drink moderately. Always use discretion wisely by never drinking heavily, and be careful when and where you drink and with whom, especially with whom."

"You may visit me any late afternoon you wish Silvana and you'll always be offered one glass of wine, but only one. If your parents object to that then we must abide by their wishes."

"Well I have no problem with that, Billie," Caitlin said carefully. "My thinking is you'll be an excellent role model for Silvana. You are welcome to treat Silvana as if she were your kid sister. In you I trust Billie."

"Wow that's heaping me with responsibility, reinforced by that last bit Caitlin."

Everyone laughed.

From that night, the Struthers family more or less adopted Billie.

Grady turned out to be a very pleasant guy, rather reserved but with a good humor and he really liked Billie the instant he met her and tumbled into the role of surrogate father and one of his first tasks he took on was to teach Billie how to back her vehicle with the boat trailer attached.

Billie's parents arrived on Saturday for dinner and stayed the night. The Struthers were invited to dinner and Caitlin sent Silvana over to help and to advise that Jim had already arranged to have dinner at his girlfriend's place and sent his apology.

"Don't worry about Jim," Silvana said. "Although he's not hooked on this chick of his, my brother is too dull for you. I think I'll introduce you to my much older cousin Ted who skippers a charter boat for tour parties. He's one of those full-on guys that women like and if he goes out with you, he won't be able to play around with married women."

Billie noted that offer and philosophical comment in her writer's diary to use sometime. Silvana as a teenager beginning to look at the world around her with opening eyes was becoming a real inspiration to Billie. Already there were great friends.

Eleven weeks later, Billie sent off her final chapters, that was to be published under her working title of 'Wretched Rachel', and was rather disappointed that her editor when contracting her after completion of editing was not ecstatic.

"Are you expecting it to bomb out?"

"No," Jocelyn said. "I remain confident about it. In fact. it exceeds my expectations. That being said, I must say I believe you have written this with the brake half on. You've told a story, a good story in fact, but it's as if you restrained from becoming passionate throughout, and thus making you just a competent author at the keyboard."

"Wow, I was guilty for not loving that novel whereas writing about Celeste I had my emotions over-flowing at times.

"Exactly, so don't rush into your next work. Just think about how to write something that brings out the passionate you."

"I take your point. Would you like to come down here and spend a few days?"

"Well I'm very busy."

"We could tour some of the most interesting cities in all of Texas, swim, drink wine, fish..."

"Fish, do you fish?"

"I've caught fish by casting out off the front lawn but also have a small boat."

"Omigod, I haven't been fishing since I left home. Look I be in contact with you... no, that will mean I'll never come. Expect me on Saturday morning and I'll return to New York on Wednesday. How do I get there?"

"Fly to Houston and then take a direct flight to Corpus Christi that is less than an hour away. Email me flight details and I'll meet you."

A week later, Billie drove the publishing editor Jocelyn, a widow in her late fifties, to the airport and listened, smiling, to her guest waxing on about how she'd fallen in love with that part of Texas after having been under the impression that Texas was flat, dusty and soulless.

"Darling you have gotten yourself the perfect writer's retreat. God, if I never go fishing again, I'll remember those hours we wasted away idyllically on the water, and not always hauling in fish I might add. I shall treasure those photos you took of me with my infrequent catches."

Ready to board her flight, Jocelyn kissed Billie and said softly: You have done the graft to establish yourself darling and will make a good living out of writing if you sustain your effort. Now it's time to lift up above the pack."

"I'm talking to you like this because I believe in you; I believe you have what it takes. Move forward but don't rush it; just make sure you've taken a theme that will allow you to shine as an author."

Billie thought of returning to Philly because Philadelphia had seemed to inspire her. But then she thought no, she was Texan and her big novel, if she had one in her, ought to be written in Texas and set in Texas. She needed to do that to have belief in herself.

Out on her flat bottom boat she spent hours thinking and occasionally taking a theme and trying to develop it. To no avail.

Occasionally Jim from next door would call and said he had a one-person charter and would invite her to fly with them.

The grandeur of the Gulf of Mexico coastline with its outer natural barriers of islands, coastal waterways, lakes, bayous, bays and outcrops fascinated Billie and she liked to think the scenery comforted her soul, that is by ignoring the offshore drilling wells and the shore-based unsympathetic development including absolute monstrosities.

She was being dated regularly including by Carl, the tourist boat skipper, but those associations were of a transient nature and never reaching her finer senses. At the same time, they provided the comfort a woman needs of being desired if not loved. Oh, of course the guys made out they practically loved her.

After the TV appearance with Celeste at Houston, well over a hundred emails and letters had been forwarded by the TV station PR people to Billie, mostly from people congratulating her for telling the in-depth story of their favorite or one of their favorite novelists. This correspondence including a few outbursts from people no one could ever please and a couple from apparently deranged people. But within a couple of weeks, the feedback had dried up.

Billie was surprised when four months after that flow of correspondence ceased, she was forwarded a letter from a guy with a great name, Ben Aspen. The letter moved her, so much so that she felt opportunity had found her. This guy had not forgotten Billie's comment on TV that no she didn't ride despite being a Texan because she was afraid of horses.

'I'm back to thinking of your horrifying comment,' wrote Ben.

The use of the word horrifying rather startled Billie.

'You know, Billie horses are a little like people, there are good ones and bad ones and I think you ought to come here and stay with me and my extended family - I'm a 72-year-old grandfather - and get to know Little Lady.'

'You see Billie, you shocked me saying on public TV you are afraid of horses when I regard horses as the most gracious of God-given animals inhabiting this earth. I know I'm biased but then who isn't about something? Horses are my life and I'm a horse breeder known in many parts of America and even beyond.'

'Billie, come and meet Little Lady Billie, stay with us on our horse ranch and breathe in great air and experience a wholesomeness of a good family living in a great environment.'

Out on the boat next morning, Billie pulled Ben's letter out of her pocket and that move told her something. Why had she brought it with her? The answer was because it intrigued her. Initially she'd thought he might be a male stalker because he'd slyly waited until the reaction to her TV appearance would have well and truly died, hoping to catch her unaware and in a soft frame of mind.

The second thing was she'd not filed away that letter with all other written correspondence and that said something.

She now re-read the letter and confirmed there was nothing sinister that she could find. In fact, as she examined the words used, she though it unlikely a sly man would be able to use a word like wholesomeness; she doubted whether it would be in a stalker's vocabulary.

And reading between the lines the writing appeared consistent to how she thought a relatively unsophisticated man living in rural Texas might express himself. The bit in which he stated being shocked by her comment that she was afraid of horses seemed to have come from the heart, and stalkers didn't appear to have a heart.

That evening she called Ben and he appeared thrilled she'd contacted him and laughed when she said his was the most unusual correspondence she'd received in her life and she was intrigued.

Still chuckling, he said, "I guess you calling me, means you're accepting my invitation to come here?"

"Well I'm thinking about it."

"Just a moment Billie, I'll put your on to my wife Martha."

"Good evening Miss Summers," said the woman, obviously a little deaf. "My husband doesn't take kindly to people who are critical of horses and your comments, although scarcely critical, worried him and he's back on it again because he believes that you saying that to millions of people watching you on TV would have harmed the image of horses, even if only slightly."

"But that wasn't my intention Mrs Aspen."

"Of course not, dear, and we accept that. But you are an author and we loved your writing as we love Celeste. What Ben is attempting to do is to influence you to write a novel set on a horse ranch. He knows you are very busy and..."

"I'm not Mrs Aspen. I have just finished a novel that is being prepared for publication and I'm in the process of thinking about my next setting."

Billie could hear Martha relaying that information to Ben.

Martha said, "Are you there, Miss Summers?"

"Yes."

"We are coming to get you and will leave here in the morning."

"Please don't do that. Your eagerness and courtesy have impressed me Mrs Aspen. I'll leave in the morning to come to you. This is so kind of you."

* * *

Billie left next morning on the all-day drive to Sunset some 460 miles north and situated about halfway between Fort Worth and Wichita Falls. When reaching Sunset just after 4:00 that afternoon, as arranged Billie called the Aspen's and Martha excitedly gave her directions to the ranch.

Martha and Ben and their married daughter Elsie with her two children came out to meet Billie. Elsie lived with husband Amos who was out tending to cattle. She had a brother Sam who lectured on computer science at a university in Austin.

"God you are so pretty, even better than them air-brushed photo of you at the back dustjacket of your books," Elsie said.

"More wholesome in the flesh?"

Elsie giggled and at that Billie instantly knew they'd become good friends and the interest deepened when she learned Elsie's college degree was in English Lit and she'd taught at high school until her marriage.

"Well come in beautiful lady and have some nourishment," Martha said, taking Billie's arm. Ben hovered, beaming and looking like a ringmaster about to make a major announcement.

When they were seated and the kids were back at the toybox, Ben said, "Tell me Billie, who do you think Little Lady is?"

"Well I have my initial thought confirmed because Mrs Aspen and Elsie are not short and your grandchildren are boys. That's confirmation that Little Lady is a mare, probably your beloved mare."

Ben laughed delightedly. "I had this idea stewing that you'd not disappoint me. Little Lady is the best mare I've ever bred from although she is small for a Thoroughbred. She's now an old lady, in retirement, aged twenty-six and successfully produced twenty offspring. Two of her progeny have become very successful breeding stallions, and eight very successful dams while seven were outstanding on the race track and all have been even in temperament and made even the poorest of riders look good and good riders look great."

"Excuse my husband for acclaiming Little Lady's success as his own Billie, although I admit the choice of sire was his to make."

"That's okay Mrs Aspen. I say if you are proud, be proud."

"Ah yes, that's an alternative way of looking at my boastful husband. Please call me Martha dear."

"I used to ride Little Lady every day but no one rides her now," Elsie said. Her real name is registered as Savannah Symphony but I renamed her later because I thought that name was too pompous for such a darling mare. She was not tall for a Thoroughbred being only 15.1 hands high."

After breakfast next morning, Ben took Billie to meet Little Lady. He placed a chair outside facing away from the open door of the barn and sat Billie.

"This is just a little test to determine whether she is apprehensive of you or likes your or really likes you. Try not to be fearful. I promise she won't harm you. I'm going in to let her out. She will come to you in her own time."

Billie could hear the horse approaching and did her best to keep relaxed because she wanted Little Lady to like her. The mare stopped behind her and Billie could hear her sniffing her hair and then her head came beside Billie's for a moment and her muzzle rested over Billie's shoulder momentarily.

Ben appeared and turned Little Lady away from Billie and said Little Lady more than liked her, she really liked her.

"See that stand of trees beside that track way down there?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you walk with Little Lady to those trees and return with her. She needs you to open the gates. Going this way, they'll open towards you but she knows to stand back."

"Won't I need to hold her with a bridle thing."

"No, she can walk beside you without a halter and lead. But talk to her. She enjoys company.

The following night Billie went over with Elsie and her family for dinner. Amos amazed Billie because although he looked like the cowboys she'd seen in old Western films, he was incredibly slim with practically no sign of hips and ass and his jeans appeared to fit like a second skin. He told her they didn't have any horses on their small cattle ranch and he'd rarely ridden a horse since he was twelve years old.

"We use dirt-styled motorbikes and dogs to move cattle and use quadbikes to haul fencing supplies or to take out grain to the feed troughs. The hay is wrapped in big round bales and dumped in the corner of each field to be used when required."

"Oh, um do you have a six-gun, I mean for sentimental reasons?"

"No, I shy away from handguns but do have a couple of Winchesters, a modern and an old style. Are you big into guns?"

"Um no. I've never held a gun and never ridden a motorcycle either."

"Gee lady. Well, I want you to come back in the morning and spend a day with me and learn something about real ranching for this book you're going to write."

"What book is that?" Billie asked, noting Elsie frowning at her husband but Amos ignored her.

"Ben has got you here to write about horse breeding but I think the book would have great appeal if you made it a cattle ranch with horse breeding as a sideline to help pay some of the bills."

"Okay then. So, you use your Winchesters to run down vermin and shoot them through the head?"

"Sort of like that but usually we stop because I'd probably shoot one of my ranch-hands if attempting to shoot riding over rough ground. Of course, we usually shoot the cattle that go down."

"Oh god, you shoot your own cattle or neighboring strays?"

"Billie, you are a city gal without understanding about ranching. How would you deal with a critter with a broken leg? Ask the vet for sticking plaster?"

"Oh god I just didn't think, did I?"

"A couple of times Ben has had me over to shoot one of his horses when there was a delay with the vet to apply a lethal injection. Poor Ben with his heart of gold; he could never shoot one of his horses."

"Oh, god."

Elsie said mildly, "That's enough Amos. You'll be having Billie peeing her pants. Don't worry about this steak darling, it's not one of our steers. Our meat comes from the supermarket."

Billie stayed two weeks.

She and Ben walked Little Lady most mornings when Billie wasn't out with Amos and the boys (two ranch hands). The boys were both married and the one with children lived in a shack he happily called home and the guy with no children lived nearby in an aged RV now without wheels and having a permanent lean-to canopy attached under which Lance and Susie spent most of their time, both being outdoors people.

During that time, Billie learned a lot about horse ranching and cattle ranching and seeing the things going on was much better that simply reading websites. The men never swore, or at least she thought they never did, but that changed one afternoon when a young bull charged Lance and he yelled to Amos, "Shoot the crazy fucking critter" and Amos yelled. "You, silly asshole, leap sideways."

As Lance tripped and fell Amos sent a dog at the hornless bull that only had time to make one head thrust at Lance before being diverted by the dog that sunk its teeth into the bull's nose and the critter scurried away in pain, bellowing. Fortunately, Lance suffered more loss of dignity than scrapes.

"I'm injured," Lance said, standing and dusting his lower body with his Stetson. "I want two days off and fifty buck's compensation."

"Get back to castrating those calves, you malingerer," Amos roared.

"Is that what you guys are doing?" Billie said weakly, and Amos only just caught her before she fell face down towards the ground.

"Are you okay," he asked anxiously.

"I think so. Everything suddenly went black."

Later Elsie told Billie gently that male cattle without their testicles behaved less aggressively and grew better beef.

Billie stayed that night with the McGill's because she was riding out on a quad with Amos at 6:00 to try to repair a water bore than the wireless monitor had indicated had malfunctioned.

Not long after dinner, Elsie's brother called from Austin and spoke to his sister and nephews and then to Amos.

A couple of minutes later Amos called, "Billie, Sam would like to say hi."

"Why, he doesn't know me?"

"He'll never know you unless you speak to him," Amos called, holding out the wired-in house phone.

"Hi, I'm Billie Greenhorn."

"Hi Billie, you sound pretty," Sam said "What's this about been a greenhorn?"
"I bet Amos told you about me fainting near where the bull calves were being castrated. I hadn't been aware of what they were doing."

"No."

"Liar."

"Oh, perhaps Amos did mention something like that. Probably I would have been in danger of keeling over."

"Actually, I have a brother called Sam although I've not seen him for a couple of years."

"Um, Summers is a fairly unusual name. I recalled seeing a Sam Summers play football against the Dallas Cowboys last season."

"Yes, that's my brother."

"He's pretty slippery."

"Perhaps he learned that from his sister."

"You sound interesting. Listen, why don't you break your journey and drop in and meet me for lunch?"

"Well, I do have to eat somewhere. And I do know Austin a little."

They agreed to meet at Barton Creek Square Mall at the Nordstrom Café because it would be easy for Billie to find.

She asked, "Why do you wish to meet me?"

"Because Elsie told me I should."

"Well that's a reply simple enough to be honest."

They laughed.

Chapter 4

As arranged, the night before Billie left the ranch when Sam called, Billie wore the white Stetson Ben and Martha had given here as a memento of her visit. In return she'd told them at the extended family farewell that she intended to write a novel set on a ranch but it depended on the outcome after she'd given it considerable thought, a process she followed in novel writing preparations.

"It's no use starting something with anything less than one hundred percent commitment, because that leaves one open to a growing possibility of capitulating and shoving it into the too hard bin."

Ben had said he'd agree with that. At least he'd achieved something because Billie was now riding horses and had no marked fear of horses.

"It's been lovely, absolutely lovely having you here," he said, offering the toast, "To our lovely young woman Billie and may she write herself to greater heights."

Billie gave Martha and Elsie a signed copy of her biography on Celeste plus a bottle of French perfume each.

Because the effort Ben and Amos had put in teaching her things and talking to her for hours about the attitudes of ranchers and the things that were important to them, she gave them both a 15-inch MacBook computer, they both being regular uses of old Apple desktop computers.

She was 20-minutes late entering the café in Austin and she thought the guy receiving a fresh cup of coffee and having his old cup cleared away would be Sam, because there was something familiar about him, and that related to his sister's appearance although at twenty-nine he was three years older than Elsie.

She was right in that assumption.

They greeting one another warmly and Sam said he was interested to learn about her time on the ranch and Billie noticed he didn't ask how were his parents and didn't ask about Elsie and his parents.

About forty minutes later, he asked did she wish to stay the night, and she assumed he meant with him.

Billie answered politely she thought she ought to push on and at that he shrugged and appeared to lose all interest in her. So, she stood, he stood and she kissed him goodbye and that was that.

Well, she thought critically as she drove off, compared with his sister he was a cold fish.

As soon as Billie pulled into her half-formed driveway, Silvana has rushed from her home and was opening the vehicle door she laughed and said, "Oh god, thank goodness you're back home. I've missed you so much and mom has been the perfect bitch. She appears to control herself when you are about. Will you take me fishing in the morning?"

"You'll have school."

"Tomorrow is Saturday."

"Oh, I must be somewhere in Space, not knowing what day it is. Oh bliss. Darling come into the house with me for a minute."

She handed Silvana the print-out of the corrected but not finally edited copy of the manuscript of 'Wretched Rachel.'

"Invite you mom to read this. It's my latest novel and please tell her I'd commenced it before I arrived here but some of the things I experienced with you two are incorporated in later chapters but changed so much you are unlikely to recognize the incidents, but then again perhaps you will. Tell her I'd like her to read it to perhaps gain understanding and perhaps you ought to read it as well."

"It's a scary title. Is this girl Rachel doing drugs?"

"She experiences drugs but is not a junkie. The crux of it is she has difficulty communicating her thoughts and explaining her actions to her mom and her mom is too close and too emotionally distracted to take a clear view of the problems between them."

"Oh god, if I tell mom that she'll be over to deal with you with her broomstick."

Billie laughed. "Well if you lack the courage to tell her that I'll do it for you."

"No, it's cool. I'm really not scared of mom. I'm just careful when I'm around her."

Billie looked at Silvana in surprise.

"What?"

Billie said, "What you just said to me. Have you used those words before?"

"No, because no one but you is interested in the relationship between my mother and me. Why do you ask?"

"If you read the book, you'll find out why."

"Does Rachel say something like that?"

"You're very bright Silvana. That line about being cool, not being scared, just being careful is more of less what Rachel says to the psychologist who is attempting to find if Rachel is as dysfunctional as her mother claims she is."

"Omigod, mothers may hate you for this novel, err at first, but I suspect they will come onside as they get into the novel and remember how it was with the brat."

"Indeed Silvana. Also, an author tries not get permanently offside with his or her readers."

Silvana called four hours later.

"Mom was interested to receive the manuscript and to hear me relate what you said I should tell her. She replied she respected you for your sound commonsense and asked me to get dinner and began reading. She stopped when dad arrived home for dinner and now, he's watching TV and she's gone off to the bedroom to read."

"Have you heard screams?"

"No, just some chuckles I suppose they were and a few 'Omigods'. Is that good?"

"Yes, very good I suspect. Be over here at 6:00 in the morning. I'll bring our breakfast with me. Everything is ready including the boat being hooked up down the lawn ready for the short trip down into the water."

"Um, do you think the story of Rachel and her mom could improve things between mum and me?"

"I'm being optimistic here, but if you both read the story, then I'd say definitely."

"Jesus."

"Good night Silvana. Sweet dreams."

"You are even better than a big sister Billie. God bless."

An hour later, Silvana called again and said her friend Natalie Owens wanted her to go mall shopping in Corpus Christi in the morning.

"I said I was going fishing with you and she asked could she comes with us. Please Billie, you've met Natalie a few times."

"Well the problem is our boat is set up with only two seats."

"No problem, her mom can drop her off with an aluminum-framed chair with suckers on its feet from her dad's boat."

"Okay then. Good night again."

"Wait and thanks Billie. Mom wishes to speak to you."

"Billie you are a marvelous writer. Your book has really gripped me. Have you been through this?"

"Yeah Caitlin, for almost three years I reputedly gave my mom a hard time and she found difficulty coping."

"Reputed?"

"Well mom exaggerates a bit. I can remember times during that period when we got along quite okay."

"I'm five chapters short of the finish and have just put it down because I'm weary but not so weary to say this book of yours will help mothers and daughters all over America, and I mean that. When loving and gentle daughters turn into disagreeable little vixens it's, it's well something really difficult to cope with."

"Well, I thought you might identify with Rachel's mother. She suffered badly because she handled the situation badly, failing to deal with the situation effectively, using counsellors and/or the guidelines that are available. Few of us are superwomen, Caitlin."

"I'll give you a copy of the book when it's published because you might want to loan it to mothers who are battling a rebel. As I wrote, girls battle at home whereas guys tend to let off steam and even hit out away from home. Like any strategist in warfare and even in commerce will say, it pays to know what we're up against."

"Well thanks darling. Thanks to you I'm expecting a better year and, in the autumn, I'll look forward in confidence to when Silvana comes home at end of her first college semester."

On Sunday afternoon. Natalie called Billie and thanked her for taking her out for fishing, for the great breakfast and for allowing her to take home so many fish.

"Mom would like you to come for dinner tonight."

"Well okay Natalie, so what's this really about? Not to say thanks for a few fish surely?"

"Gee, Silvana has said you are so sharp. Um, don't get mad at me Billie, but my mom is really interested in meeting you and my brother wants to get a look at you. Um, he's probably your age. Please come Billie."

"Is this all about you saying to your brother he ought to size me up?"

"Billie is it necessary to push so hard. All right, I did mention to Marlon you're one hot babe and he took an immediate interest and mom said it was time we had you over for a meal, you being our most famous resident and as well probably the most unassuming."

"Natalie I could wring you neck. Is your mom a keen reader of books?"

"Yes, and has about twenty favorite authors and really helped me with my schoolwork on literature."

"Well at least that's something. Very well, give me the time and your address."

"I'll come for you at 5:50 Billie. Dad likes to eat early and spend the night watching TV sport."

"And literary programs?"

"You have to be kidding Billie. Oh, please dress to look sexy. I've given you a really great build up."

"Natalie, it might not be safe for you to come unarmed within reach of me."

Natalie laughed and said good one Billie.

Billie spent the next few hours working on very tentative outlines of three possible novels, one based on young solo mothers, one about the amazing attachment of a teenager on her widowed father's ranch to his top brood mare and her father's latest and possibly most promising girlfriend opposed to his daughter being so attached to a horse. The third was the hardship that a distinguished female Navy Seal faced when attempting to settle back into her small home town in West Texas.

She looked at all three drafted storylines and sighed, aware she was presently equipped with the knowledge and slight experience to tackle the horse ranch story whereas she'd be approaching the other two from scratch.

The horse and cattle ranch storyline won and she made a note that daddy's girlfriend was scared of horses.

Natalie arrived right on time, smiled hugely when she saw Billie in a tight sundress with her hair piled high and in full makeup. "Oh yummy, I could be interested in your myself."

"Shut up you, delinquent."

"Billie kiss me, thanking me for setting you up. It will give you the opportunity to wring my neck."

"Keep your distance Natalie and to think that until now, I'd always liked Silvana's friends."

"Don't be too hard on me," Natalie chuckled. "If Marlon doesn't attract you, tell him to fuck off."

"Please behave like the lady you should be, Natalie. I don't require a seventeen-year-old to tell me what to do."

"I have riled you, haven't I?"

"Come here big mouth and let me kiss you. You are my youngest friend from around here and so I ought not expect too much from you. Just don't attempt to set up any more dates for me, huh?"

"I won't need to," Natalie said as they left the house. "My brother will be perfect for you."

"Yeah, yeah. Stop your yapping and move your ass girl. Don't make me late."

Natalie's mom Patricia, also in a sundress and hair piled high and in full makeup even though they were eating outside, greeted Billie very excitedly and said what a great honor it was to have Celeste B. Bush's biographer to dinner.

"Patricia what is your favorite of Celeste's novels you've read?

"Dr Oliszewski Humbles the President."

"Oh, one of her most recent novels about the Polish immigrant surgeon who came across the president's son who'd crashed his car and was in danger of suffocating because of a series injury to his throat."

"Yes, and it says a lot about the callous way we bundle all new immigrants together as if they are morons whereas some intellectuals and highly qualified professional immigrants are thwarted in their progress because they cannot locate specific support services that do exist."

Billie agreed and said the novel would have required a formidable amount of research.

"Celeste told me she employed three researchers to assist her set up before beginning to write that novel and actually based it on the true experiences of a Mexican pediatric surgeon speaking poor English who immigrated legally to work among the poor Mexican families in southern California."

"Gosh how fascinating. Come through and meet my husband Pete who's doing spiced chicken as well as fish, cooking on hot coals in foil. Our son Marlon dashed out to get more beer after finding we were down to the two last bottles. You do drink beer don't you?"

"Well I guess I'll try to down a glass of it since he rushed out thinking I drink beer."

"I'll pour you a wine darling. He really went to fetch it for his father and himself. Um, Marlon is between girlfriends at the moment."

"Oh, poor Marlon."

"I was meaning what is your situation Billie?"

"Oh, it's just how I like it at the moment."

"Oh?" said Patricia, looking in desperate need of an explanation of what that reply meant but Billie was waving a greeting at Pete who came walking over, wiping his nose with the back of his barbecuing hand. Perhaps it was just itchy.

The evening turned out disastrously.

It was all Marlon's fault.

He arrived an hour later smelling of BO and beer and riled his father, saying he'd forgotten to pick up a carton of beer.

You should have showered and dressed in clean clothes before leaving home," scolded his mother, obviously repulsed by the body odor.

"Marlon," she shrieked. You've broken your promise and been smoking weed (marijuana) again?"

"No."

His father rushed over, sniffed and shouted, "Liar" and slapped his adult son over the mouth.

Marlon swung and looping right at his father's jaw but Peter ducked under it and sunk his fist into his son's stomach, and he slumped to ground groaning.

"Mom, the wrapped meat on the grill is letting off steam and the fish hasn't been put on the coals yet," Natalie called, with an arm around Billie after apologizing for the fighting.

"It was never meant to happen like this," she sobbed.

"The evening is a wash-out, I'm sorry Billie," Patricia said. "Take her home in my car please, Nat."

"It's fine, really, Patricia. I'm aware these unscheduled things happen. Believe me, Natalie, it's true. My mother once went in to the TV room just before guests were due to arrive for Sunday lunch and threw a potful of water over my father because he was watching sport on TV instead of setting the table while she slaved away in the kitchen."

The females laughed and the males scowled as they made up, shaking hands, probably believing they were being laughed at derisively.

Natalie said as they drove off later, "I guess you'll reject my brother."

"I would think so as he's exhibited the type of behavior that is abhorrent to me but if I become friends with your family and he stays clear of me, I'd accept his presence."

"This is a huge disappointment to me."

"I can understand that Natalie and I urge you to retain your romantic notions and remember that few people exhibit them like you do, but leave me out of any attempted match-ups.

They laughed and briefly held hands, as if exhibiting their affection for each other.

* * *

Billie took just over three months to complete the first draft of her new novel, with the working title 'Aurora's Young Love' (with the cover picture to be a young girl with her arms around the neck of a beautiful horse).

She had used Silvana and Natalie to assist with research, paying them modestly, and the involvement bonding them even closer together as friends

"You'll both be going to university soon, if your earlier plans remain on track," Billie said. "Have you settled on careers yet?"

Silvana said, "I'm still thinking of becoming highly qualified academically in environmental science because dealing with climate change is becoming so important but I need more information because dad says the die is cast for climate change because it's unstoppable."

"Even so, new ways will have to be reported and acted upon to assist to cope with new challenges."

"Yes, that's probably true, Billie."

"Mum wants me to become a top chef but I think that's only because she's watched too many TV cooking programs."

"Well Natalie, tell her cooking shows are cheaper to produce for TV compared with most other types of productions and people watch them because there's nothing better to view on TV at the times cooking shows are on-screen."

"Dad has offered to finance me into a share of ownership of a commercial fishing boat, and I am interested to a point, but I'm thinking of becoming a book manuscript editor and trying to become a successful romance writer at nights."

"Good for you Natalie, your editorship role will finance your living and the slog to become a popular romance writer will satisfy your literary ambition."

"That's how I view it, Billie."

"Hush you guys, I think a fish took a bite of my bait. It's bound to come back for more and will get hooked," Natalie whispered.

* * *

Billie received an almost rave letter from her commissioning editor, accompanying the return of the edited draft of 'Aurora's Young Love', with the recommended changes appearing fewer than in her previously accepted manuscripts. To date, she'd not had a submission rejected and she was aware that was amazing. This new response thrilled her.

The commissioning editor wrote:

I took this draft to the editorial committee with a few selected excerpts for them to read in less than 15 minutes in total. The air was filled with 'Omigod,' 'brilliant piece', 'Billie has gotten into the soul of her heroine.' Our resident foul-mouth soothsayer predicted, 'A fucking masterpiece that will race up the charts and pile royalties into Billie's lap higher than the stinking shit pile at the back of major horse stables'.

My dear, you know how critical I can be. But I have to say I recognize a winner when I see one. Congratulations. Please return your revised manuscript ASAP!! At present everyone appears happy with your working title, 'Aurora's Young Love' but that has to be confirmed. What a clever choice of a romantic name for a young teenage heroine.

Sue.


Billie found difficulty in breathing because she'd figured that, as a result of that almost rave assessment, she may be elevated onto the publishing house's list of its top authors.

Hands shaking, she picked up her phone and called Silvana and Natalie and invited them for drinks at 8.00 that evening followed by supper and told them to bring their mothers.

"I've heard back from my publisher," she said, voice choked with emotion.

"Omigod, they highly-rate your submission?" Silvana said.

When contacted minutes later, Natalie wheezed, "You've been told you've produced a winner."

"You'll find out as soon as you arrive," Billie said mysteriously, when replying to both girls.

She resolved to take a break from writing, to celebrate, but more importantly, determine her future, including where to locate, and to land a suitable male companion who was focused on joint happiness, petting and, of course, and the extension of the relationship.
Silvana and mother Caitlin and Natalie with her mother Patricia arrived within minutes of each other to hear the strains of romantic opera music, the beach house was ablaze with every light on. Billie greeted people as they arrived and handed the arrivals a glass of champagne and after the greetings with kisses, invited them to enter.

The visitors boggled as what they saw inside: the candlelit tabled was set with silver service with two types of cold desserts looking spectacular on the table center. Hovering over the table making adjustments was with a waitress formerly dressed in black with a white apron and white head band and while to the right of the table a waiter in black with white shirt and black bow-tie had a bottle of champagne ready to top up glasses. Everyone, apart from Caitlin, held out their glass for a top-up.

When the excited comments died, Billie said grandly, "My dear friends, thank you for sharing in my celebration. I believe my moment in a major breakthrough as a writer has come. Please allow me to read you this short letter from my publishing editor Mrs Bridges."

She read the letter to her visitors who all appeared to be increasingly stunned and when she ended, Silvana seized Billie in a huge hug and yelled, "I knew it, I knew from the time I first met you that you were destined for greatness."

She then burst into tears and as the others gathered around to console her, Billie sobbed, "Let her emotions flow. It's part of what makes a loving female."

Natalie, sobbing, embraced both Billie and Silvana and both mothers appeared emotional and close to tears.

"Right, enough of this, it's time to party. More champagne you lot and Catlin, ask Peter the waiter what you'd prefer to drink."

With drinks in their hands, the two mothers chatted in whispers briefly and then Patricia said, "I'd speak on behalf of Caitlin and myself Billie. It's just a few words. We congratulate you on your major breakthrough and we both wish you and our daughters to know that you coming here to write has enhanced our community in a number of ways."

"But rising beyond that, by your friendship and outstanding example of ideal womanhood, you have inspired out daughters profoundly and that magic will have considerable effect on their future development into womanhood. Caitlin and I salute you."

Sniffing, Billie said, "Thanks ladies. The truth is I was only being myself and your daughters already possessed the basics and all I did was to contribute a little discreet pruning around the edges. You are both great mothers in your individual ways and your daughters will clearly recognized that in the not too distant future. Thank god we have mums to start us on our way."

Even the two hired staff joined in the clapping.

"Thanks guys," Billie said. "You lot to the table as grilled-seared Atlantic salmon fillets are about to be served.".

There was laughter as everybody moved quickly to sit beside Billy.

Laughing, she said she would sit at the head of the table with guests to the right and left of her.

"You guys are making me feel like a princess," she cooed, and that produced relaxed laughter, signaling that the celebration event was really underway.

Chapter 5

At the conclusion of her gala dinner, marking the final 'glowing' prediction of great sales success by her publishing editor for her latest manuscript, she'd told her guests that she'd be leaving in the morning to find her next home.

Amid shock, tears and cries of where would that destination be, she sobbed she did not know where at the moment, expect to say it would be somewhere north because the sea lay immediately to the south.

That explanation went down like a lead balloon.

She truly did not have a plan.

Driving through sprawling Texas, she stopped for lunch and phoned her friend and veteran author Celeste B. Bush, who was visiting a close friend in Dallas.

"Hi, my dear. It's so nice hearing your sweet voice again."

The chatting dragged on until Billie said she must go.

"Celeste, my reason for calling is to ask where do you think I should locate to feel I'm in the center of a writer's world?"

"As your young age Billie, I'd say New York absolutely. I lived in two neighborhoods that you should look at, Chelsea East and Flatiron on Manhattan."

"B-but the rents on Manhattan will be very steep."

"Yes, but the best in anything never come cheaply."

Billie sighed and said that was true. She must go and in New York would search those two areas for something that suited.

"You'll have to share because the landlords are out to suck all the money from you pockets and then some."

"Email details of your latest effort and the estimated publishing date. You have talent, you're completed the hard grind. This new book of yours should be a top runner. Bye Billie."

Billie groaned, switched off her phone, and muttered "fuck." If she followed Celeste's advice, to densely-populated New York with its obscenely high rentals, she would be destined for the poor house.

Then why call Celeste for advice?

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, Billie muttered, hitting the roadside restaurant's thick oak table top with the palm of her hand.

"Are you okay?" asked a waitress.

"Yes, thanks. Listen, would you go to live in the heart of New York City if you had half-a-chance?"

"I'm a pragmatist but also a romantic to provide the necessary balance. With half-a-chance and not being the young mother than I am, I'd be out that door before you had time to say 'Go Girl' and I'd be on Manhattan Island without 24 hours from now."

"Wow, a non-meat pizza plus a side salad and coffee thanks. Your reply was epic in helping me to decide what I should do."

"Thanks, and Go Girl but not before you have your pizza meal."

* * *

Weary from three days of pounding Manhattan sidewalks to inspect promising promoted apartments, always to be disappointed and even disgusted, Billie called a female requiring a female to room-share.

"I don't want a noisy room-mate, one who swears and acts promiscuously and she needs to be around my age."

"What age would you like me to be?"

"What? Oh, around 40, I'm 42."

"Okay and you would be prepared to give me a bit of slack over age?"

"Hmmm. Well you sound nice. Okay, I'll hold the room for a couple of hours, giving you time to get here and inspect and I want to assess you."

"I'm already in Park Ave, South. I'll be there within ten."

They exchanged names and Billie cut the call. She finished her coffee and after twenty of so paces along the avenue turned and walked a little way into a side street and looked at the slate grey exterior of the building and shrugged indifferently.

She was thinking, not a great find as advertised for two bedrooms, two bathrooms although with the living/dinning room and small gallery kitchen it wouldn't be pokey as those facilities were spread over 1100 sq ft for a monthly rental of $6650.

Melissa opened the door and her smile faded when realizing she was looking at a woman much younger than 40 who probably was in her mid-twenties.

"I said I required someone who was around my age of 42 to room-share with me."

"You did and I asked you to cut some slack."

"I admit that but how much slack do I have to give."

"I'm 26."

"Omigod, well you better come in and inspect what's on offer and then you'll need to be pretty convincing to persuade me to capitulate."

The apartment interior was well maintained and tidy, rather attractive in fact, and the wood polished floors were eye-catching.

During the tour Melissa kept glancing at Billie who hoped that Melissa must be thinking the applicant looked old for her age. But not so.

"Do I know you, Billie?"

"I don't think so."

"What was your surname again?"

"Summers."

Melissa went over to a well-filled bookcase, made a selection and dropped the book on to the coffee table and announced triumphantly, "Billy Summers, author of Celeste B. Bush - From the Orphanage Onward'."

Billie looked down and saw the biography was lying on its front cover. She was looking at a picture of herself as the author and the blurb about her.

"Well?"

"Well, nothing, Melissa. I've made no attempt to deceive you and told you my age as soon as your asked how much slack over age difference I expected you to give me."

"Fair enough. Let's sit and talk about you possibly coming to live here."

They sat, Melissa looking at Billie and shaking her head.

"Gee, girl. You come to New York already acting like a hard-ass New Yorker."

"Melissa, I'm really a friendly person. Let's start negotiating. I'm sick and tired looking for suitable accommodation around here that, on inspection, the apartments turn out not as portrayed in advertisements. I'm interested in this place because it's roomy, compared with some, is well-maintained, tidy and well-appointed and my impression of you as an older person is you are good-mannered, dress well and we are bound to share interests for example, modern American literature.

"Those assumptions are quite accurate, I feel bound to admit."

"There we go. Look, we both know your bedroom is much larger and catches more sun than the second bedroom. Therefore, we should look for similar equity with the sharing of the monthly rent. I suggest I pay $2725."

"But that difference equates to about $1000 a month."

"Actually it's $600."

"Good gracious, do you expect me to agree to that?"

"Yes, if you think it's fair-handed equity when measured against the respective sizes of the bedrooms and respective amenities."

"I-I don't know what to think."

"Then I'll leave you to think about it. Oh, do you like cooking?"

"No, I dislike it and have more failures than successes and that's why I have to eat out most nights."

"Well lucky you. I love cooking and have impressed people with my culinary skills. I plan to be home most nights for dinner if I live here and would do the cooking. I add an additional sweetener by offering to do the weekly household shopping including buying all the food on the shopping list that we compile together with me paying the bill."

"Well, I'm off Melissa. You may wish to hug me as we appear friends already and you possess one of my books."

They hugged and Melissa said, smiling, "You crafty young bitch. I'll call within the next hour."

Billie had only just reached the elevator when her phone went.

"Hi, it's Melissa. Please do come and live with me on the terms you proposed to me. Return now, I'm about to open a bottle of dry French white wine."

"I'll be at the door in less than a minute, Melissa. We'll both benefit from your smart decision."

Billie's moved in smoothly with the welcoming Melissa appearing very pleased, with success becoming evident the next evening when they jointly hosted a cocktail party attended by Melissa's parents and 12 of Melissa's friends.

Melissa had asked, "Who would you like to invite, Billie?"

"I have no friends in New York, but that will change soon. May I suggest we invite the landlord and his lady."

"That creep, I say forget it."

"Melissa, with his woman in the room..."

"His wife."

"With his wife in the room, he's unlikely to attempt to grope you or any of your female friends and perhaps you'll see a different man when he comes here as an invited guest."

"He won't come, he'll sneer and say he doesn't mix socially with tenants."

"Bullshit."

Melissa raised an eyebrow disdainfully.

"Pardon me Melissa, I forgot myself for a moment. Actually, Americans who use that foreign oath tend to modify it to the more acceptable, though more obscure term, of bulldust."

"Melissa, inject courage into your brain and invite them. If they misbehave, I undertake to give them their marching orders."

"Oh yeah, the landlord's wife if a youngish athlete and could probably knock you through an unopened door with one swipe of the arm."

"Let her try. I've practiced Martial Arts for the past 15 years as part of my varied weekly fitness program."

"I'll invite them," said the impressed Melissa. "Try not to break any furniture if you have to evict them."

After Melissa, or Mel as she'd agreed to allow Billie to call her, complained she had nothing to wear to that function because her dresses were 'so old hat'. The new arrival applied some subtle counselling. As a result, Melissa arrived home from work next evening, eyes shining, and excited about the new dress she had been persuaded to purchase.

She tried it on before going off to get ready for the cocktail party, protesting mildly at Billie's offer to do Mel's hair.

"That won't be necessary. I always do my own hair, and competently."

She arrived from her room later to find Billie waiting for her, with a comb and brush in her hand together with a container of hair spray, and pointing to a dining table chair.

Melissa went to the chair with just a pout.

"It will only take 10 minutes, so nothing to lose," Billie smiled reassuringly.

Nine minutes later, Melissa stood in front of the mirror and uttered one word, "Wow."

She turned and hugged Billie and l5 minutes later when two room-share females in the same building arrived, one of them said complimentary, "Wow, the newly renovated Melissa."

That drew a beaming smile from the recipient of that compliment who turned and winked at Billie before introducing her to Maybelle and Chrissie.

The party was underway loudly with muted background music when the last guests, the over-weight but quite good looking and tall landlord Simon Wagner arrived with his beautiful and much younger (second) wife Jolene.

Conversations died because several of the guests were tenants in the building who looked a little stunned. They knew Simon and his family owned their building and five other tenanted buildings.

"This is Simon and wife Jolene," Melissa announced briefly, and went forward and kissed them both on the cheek.

"We're glad to be here," Simon said. "It's been a very long time that one of my family company's tenants has invited me to anything socially."

"Our pleasure Simon," Melissa said.

She pulled Billie forward and had only just finished saying, "This is my newly registered co-tenant..." when Jolene said excitedly, "Omigod, the sensational new rising-star author Billie Summer from Texas. I have her hilarious book titled 'Butterscotch Sex' set in a confectionary factory in England."

"But perhaps more significantly, my older sister continues to rave about Billie's more recently published 'Wretched Rachel'. It's fiction but covertly gives heaps of obviously well-researched helpful information about raising a teenage daughter through her almost impossibly difficult to cope teenage years that sometimes thankfully pass relatively shortly but in other instances last the best part of a decade."

"Diana says that after reading that book, she really began to understand their daughter and why she was acting so damn infuriatingly. Interestingly, she'd given the book to her friend Sarah-Anne to read, half-expecting it to be thrown back at her as her friend appeared to be rather short-fused these days due to quote, The little bitch at home, unquote."

"But to my sister's astonishment, Sarah-Anne glanced at the picture of the author on the back-cover and said she looked young enough to know something about the crap that engulfs you in your early teens and said she might read the book."

"Then two days later, Sarah-Anne said to her Diana that for the first time, despite of heaps of mother-daughter counselling she'd been involved in, she really understood that she was not born a witch that had caused her daughter's problem and some she took onboard some tips from reading about how to deal with her situation and they had been rather useful. Today, in such a short time, Sarah-Anne has become rather more amiable and her teenage daughter once again kisses her mother and me quite affectionately."

Someone began clapping and applause broke out spontaneously and included the two males in the room.

Some of the guests gathered around Billie and one female who had read three of Billie's books called her famous, to which Billie snorted that was bullshit, resulting in a huge round of laughter.

"I don't need to apologize for any off-center language as you probably realize I come from Texas," Billie giggled.

Beginning the tidy-up after the last guests departed, Melissa said to her co-helper, "That was a great evening, thanks to you, and don't say bullshit."

"No, a great evening. And many of you friends liked what they called your new look."

"Yes, and I'm thrilled about that. You aim to persuade me to modify myself even more."

"Would I do that?"

"Yes."

"Okay and I'll say this; it won't take too much to bring you up to date."

"I'm relieved that last bit Billie. My big announcement is you have your first real friend in New York after me."

"Jolene?"

"Yes."

"I suspected it might be. She almost broke one of my ribs when hugging and kissing me good night."

"Yeah, well she has a Texas family connection. Her mother comes from Fort Worth. She's invited us to have dinner this Saturday with them."

"Good, I really like her. She's not all hat and no cattle."

"What?"

"Oh nothing. Um, 'All hat, no cattle' is an old saying my dad uses when my mother says she'll do something but fails to do it."

"You know what, you're funny."

"Thanks Mel, and I like you too."

Two days later, Billie had filled in her time by sight-seeing to learn more about her new hometown. While walking around she received a call from a guy O'Brien.

"Hi Miss Summers. My name is Jerry O'Brien of Toole & Whitman, commercial photography and video Studios, in Brooklyn. I have been contracted by your publishing editor Mrs Susan Bridges to provide her with a series of photos of you in a park-like setting for your publishing house to use on the back cover of your upcoming book and for distribution in promo pre-launch packages that will be set to leading magazines and selected magazines with widely-read book news and reviews pages."

He added he'd come to her in Texas.

"Jerry, how can I verify that this call is genuine?"

"Omigod, where do you hail from?"

"Texas."

"Oh yeah, that explains why you are cautious of New Yorkers. Damn, I've been sworn to secrecy at the moment and we were hired to produce the proposed book cover concept."

"What was the topic of that cover assignment?"

"All I can say it is a girl hugging the neck of a bay horse that was later changed to a chestnut horse when after that change in color was made to the manuscript with your agreement."

"You have been authenticated, Jerry. How does it feel?"

"A little like emerging after been stretched on a rack," he said, and they laughed.

"Come and fetch me at a time to suit you as I'm currently living in New York. I'd like you to show me around Brooklyn if you are familiar with the area and then take me somewhere traditional for lunch, say somewhat bohemian if such a place exists in Brooklyn."

"It does. Tell me, why do you wish me to do this with you?"

"The expectations are possibly better than sex."

There was a pause until he said, "Omigod, you wish to show you the setting for your next novel."

"Possible, depending how well I believe you have authenticated the true spirit of Brooklyn."

"Right, give me your address and be outside your building at 6.00 am on Wednesday and I'll pick you up."

"Isn't 6.00 rather early? The place will be half-dead."

"Go later and your chance of gaining some knowledge of a community waking up to the morning will have been missed. You know, that early morning-late evening situations is what professional photographers want to see and feel and I say, politely, so should authors who are seeking authenticity."

"Brilliantly explained, I'll be outside at 6.00 and will expect to be dropped off home by 10 pm."
"Christ."

"Well, a 2 pm drop off will suffice."

"No, you whip-cracking new-New Yorker upstart, you'll get what you requested. I'm a former freelance photo-journalist and so will record some words from you as well, that Susan may will consider using some in the promos.

"You speak of Susan with familiarization. May I ask have you bedded her?"

"Christ Billie, if I may call you that. I find you very upfront. You'll appear one of us New Yorkers already, providing we overlook your accent that I must say is surprisingly soft for a Texan."

"Thanks, and for your information Texan accents vary considerably. For instance, Texan veteran author Celeste B. Bush has an accent as soft as runny honey."

"Wow, you can speak like an author. Do you know Celeste that well?"

"Oh, darn it, of course you do; you wrote her biography."

"Have you read it."

"Skipped through it, I'm afraid."

"Oh, your wife has it?"

"I'm not married. I read parts of it once at my mother's home when visiting. She had it out from her local library."

"Look Billie, it has been great chatting and we can resume it on Wednesday. I'm late for an appointment."

"I understand, please dash off. Bye."

When she returned home, Billie searched for the website of Toole & Whitman and soon focused on the face of good-looking Jerry O'Brien and discovered he was a red-head. She read his short CV and murmured, "Wow."

She then wondered why a guy of that caliber was still single and presumably wasn't gay. Perhaps he was living with a partner of whatever persuasion. Or alternatively perhaps he was gaining pussy galore without having the desire to marry just yet. He was practically a youth, aged 31. Well, she'd included the word practically which could suffice with a good stretch of the imagination.

"Oh, lucky me. Perhaps he's failed to find a good-looking nubile woman who can move her ass in bed AND is a great cook. Lucky me," she muttered, at the appropriate change of traffic lights crossing over to a coffeehouse.

* * *

Billie was waiting outside her apartment building at 5.58 am wearing a light coat to ward off the early Fall chill, when Jerry arrived driving a black V6 Sports Ford Fusion.

"Omigod, a woman who's not late," her mused as she climbed into the vehicle with the company's name and logo on the front door.

"Down boy, it's too early in the day for light insulting."

He laughed and said you look gorgeous, although as a photographer I must say you fall short of being beautiful.

"And still the insults flow," she pouted, as they moved off. "Fortunately, I'm aware that only a small percentage of females can be correctly called beautiful. I also know that some women can be made to feel beautiful when receiving a polished compliment from a guy they are keen on or when presented with a bouquet of flowers from any well-meaning person."

"Uh, I suppose I recognized your second example."

"But did you?"

"I suppose not."

"Hmmm."

He chuckled and said, "May I call you a hard-nose bitch?"

"Only if you add with a soft center."

"You are a hard-nose bitch at times but probably possess a soft core."

Billie blushed faintly and said, "Hopefully, by the time we complete our day together you may have convinced yourself you should not have added that word 'probably' in that amended version you just mouthed."

"Lean over and kiss me."

Billie delivered a firm kiss to his cheek and decided he smelt good.

"Wow, that word probably has imploded for whatever reason, probably igniting my embarrassed conscience."

"Good for you. For that you now receive a sweet kiss to the cheek or would you rather prefer me say the penis?"

Billie knew she was taking a risk mentioning his penis.

The vehicles swerved and he said, aghast that he'd almost side-swiped a parked vehicle.

"Christ Billie, back off."

She sat silently, looking straight ahead.

He apologized for shouting at her.

She said thanks and warned him to keep concentrating on driving because she was about to ask him something rather outrageous.

A few seconds later, she asked, "Have many females applied fellatio on you?"

She heard Jerry take a deep breath and then, "Billie, do you really think you should be talking to me like this?"

"Absolutely Jerry, you are a good-looking guy with a pleasant manner and if you are not in a close relationship with anyone, I'm interested in making whoopee with you."

"Billie," he said, sounding really concerned and pulling the car over and parking but not switching off the motor. "Do you realize what you are saying, and implying?"

"Absolutely, Jerry. I've not had sex for about two months and I'm horny, especially after coming into contact with you this morning. You are the only guy in the entire NYC that I know well enough to shaft me, sweetly."

"Omigod."

"Yes, Jerry. I'm practically at the stage of praying to be touched."

Jerry swallowed and asked unevenly where did she wished to be touched.

"Between the legs."

He placed his hand there, slowly and gently.

"Be a man, Jerry. Swoop in and cup me there."

He spun her hand around and cupped her mound that lay under her panties and said, "Wow, you really are wet."

"Finger me Jerry and then take me somewhere where you can park out of sight."

Four hours later they were in a family restaurant specializing in Hungarian lunch dishes and sat waiting for early lunch when a waitress came to them, doing up her tunic.

"We are sorry, but the kitchen won't be open until around thirty minutes."

"That's fine, could you serve up some type of light European white wine and meanwhile we'll use your bathrooms, separately," Jerry smiled.

"Yes, of course, over there," the waitress said, pointing to a passageway on the far side of the room.

Ten minutes later, Billie said, "We must be smelling of sex?"

"Yes," Jerry said. "That's why that smart-thinking waitress has placed us in this private booth, to separate us from people arriving for lunch, none of whom may have only very recently engaged in sex."

Billy giggled and then turned serious and apologized for leading him astray.

"No problem, you were an almost distressed lady in need of being in the arms of a gentleman who possessed the wherewithal to remove the cause of her problem. The truth is, once I got my mind around what I was about to do, I proceeded gleefully."

"I must say, I realize even nice young women need sex."

"But you also know they usually don't hit on a guy as bluntly as I did this morning?"

"Indeed, but you accepted my explanation that I was becoming desperate for release?"

He nodded, smiling sweetly.

The waitress arrived with their wine and two menus, and after pouring their wine, smiled and said that appeared to be a very happy couple and departed as she received two calls of thanks.

"Billie, I must confess that third bang, with the fourth and final one coming near to matching it, was the best fuck I've ever had. Receiving full-on Cowgirl with you waving a fist in the air and shouting in gusto, is something I've always longed to experience. I'll shall never forget that moment with your head back and you screamed you were coming."

"Again, I apologize for leading you astray."

"My mother would be proud of me if she had known my reason for fucking you, albeit so passionately, when parked in the stand-alone garage of that empty house signposted for demolition. The vigor with which you could work your ass, even when in missionary, and work your cunt muscles to force me to work harder, were something to behold."

"Even working my fingers into you while sucking the top of that good-looking hairless cunt of yours, was a joy for me. I still can't believe I had all of that plus your enthusiastic participation and it continued after that first bang that would have cleared your sexual tension."

"Could you continue to attend to me after today?"

Jerry said, without obvious embarrassment, "Um, I'm currently sleeping some nights with a girlfriend."

"That's okay by me. We could keep in contact and perhaps arrange something to suit without harming your other relationship. My problem is I arrived in New York a few days ago without knowing anyone."

"Ah, that explains your problem. Yes, let's keep in touch. Now before we leave here, you'll need to fix you hair and make-up as we best go to some parks and public gardens to produce some work results for today."

"Will there be opportunity for sex after dinner this evening?"

"Absolutely. I can take you home as I live with my mother and this is her weekly card night with friends, giving us up to a 3-hour window of opportunity should we dine early."

"Great, you are so accommodating, Jerry. I like you a lot."

Next morning, when Melissa asked how did the day and evening with the photographer go?

"Brilliant, according to him after closely examining his collects of shots. I say brilliant because we had sex," she added, eyeing her room-mate closely.

Melissa's eyes widened.

"Billie, how could you? You'd never met him until yesterday morning."

"Easy, I was feeling in need of attention of a male, and he was there."

"But is such promiscuous behavior really you or do you think he drugged you."

"No, I wasn't drugged. I've long been interested in regular sex and if I meet an agreeable-looking guy he might be half-way there if I catch him looking hard at my breast-line."

"Omigod, my mother would call that wanton behavior."

"Mine too, Mel."

They laughed and Billie pulled out her phone, made a selection and handed the phone to her room-mate.

"Is that him."

"Yes."

"I could...no I shouldn't even think that."

"Why not, Mel. Talking and thinking sex is not actually a taboo subject although some people act like it is and even proclaim that it us. Would you like me to arrange a guy to go out with you and then we could double date?"

"I think not. Although that was a sweet offer."

"Please consider accepting my offer."

"I think not."

"Perhaps view that offer at a later date, Mel."

"Okay. More coffee?"

Billie thought that if Mel continued standing back, she'd face the prospect of becoming an old maid later in life. Okay, it was her choice but Billie thought as she settled in and made more friends, perhaps she could place Mel in the company of unattached and perhaps slightly shy males around Mel's age as that would suit her, but did shy males exist in New York?

She sighed, knowing it was not her business to pressure Mel to get a life.

Billie sighed, thinking about her wanton behavior in having sex within an hour of meeting Jerry for the first time and dragging him into multiple bouts of hard sex.

"Yes, it was wanton, even disgusting behavior, by sometimes a girl in need had to go what a girl had to do. Perhaps Jerry would now think that Miss Nice was the facade of Miss Outrageous Slut. But so what? At times, she'd noticed the expression on Jerry's perspiring face, having the appearance that he was enjoying the best day in his entire life. Well, the truth was never in her entire life had she acted like that; never!

The thing was, although somewhat embarrassed about her outrageous behavior, she had no regrets. See had learned that having unrestrained sex could be unbelievably great. Now that finding must go into her writer's diary.

Chapter 6

Billie received a call from Sue Bridges, her commissioning editor at SoHo Books Publishing.

"Hi lovely young woman. How are you finding NYC?"

"Mind boggling. There's so much to see, do, touch, smell, be excited by, cultures so evident, delights galore gastronomically and the list could go on."

"So, you like us and our city?"

"Indeed, and immensely."

"And why your preference to be photograph in Brookland?"

"Jeff would have told you why?"

"There was no telling, not even hints."

"Then you tell me why, Susan."

"SoHo where we are situated would be a wild guess but my brain over-rides that by saying you wanted to check out Brooklyn with someone familiar with the neighborhood as the possible place on which to set your next novel."

"Bingo, smart thinking, Susan."

"And?"

"It's my tentative choice at the moment, but who know what will happen while I continue to establish myself a little in Manhattan? Before I'm advanced sufficiently on my setting for my next novel, I intend to arrange for my brother Sam to return to our family home for a week and I'll meet him there with my parents."

"I'll then return here to collect my thoughts and start writing. The tentative working title is 'Katrina Settles in NYC'. The new immigrant will be a retired world-class European figure ice skating champion, who aims to become a world-class foil fencer. She will, according to my tentative thoughts, fuck like a champion."

"Ooh, Billie. I smell a winner even now."

They laughed and Billie said she had yet to write something that would flop with the public.

"Sam asked me to arrange for you to inspect our HQ here at SoHo and he'll take you and me for a catch-up lunch."

"Have I attained entry on to you top 10 fiction authors, yet?"

"Yes, cut into a wood plaque for the current year. You are placed No.3."

"Holy shit."

"That's offensive language, miss."

They laughed and agreed Billie would visit at 12.30 on Friday week.

On Saturday night, Melissa and Billie went to the reputedly luxuriously-appointed penthouse apartment in another residential tower 10 minutes' walk from their building.

Both were dressed smartly, Mel had asked Billie to do her hair and it looked lovely.

"This is a swank address," Melissa said, as they entered the foyer and as she was about to call the Wagner's apartment she gasped and said, "It appears they have the entire top floor. They must be millionaires."

"Oh really," Billie said doubtfully.

Simon answered and Melissa said, "Billie and Melissa, your dinner guests have arrived."

Simon said, "Oh great, come to the 12th floor." He pressed the security button to give access to the elevators.

He met the guests at the elevator doors and welcomed them with a light kiss to the offered cheek by the women.

"What a huge apartment you must have."

"Indeed, it is, Melissa. My first wife loved spending money. It was her second marriage, and between us we finished with five kids and she claimed she needed more room to breathe. We eventually ended up buying the other two apartments on this level and then extensively restructuring them to form one jumbo apartment. To her, money was not a consideration because she had oodles of it arising from two previous marriage settlements."

"Wow," Melissa said rudely but Billie thought that response pleased Simon.

Jolene, appearing to have more of her body outside the short stylish dress than inside it, hugged and kissed Melissa on the cheek and left Billie horrified when she received a huge and moist kiss fully on the mouth and had her own boobs almost flattened against her chest in the powerful and long hug.

Fuck, she thought, almost murmuring her surprised reaction aloud.

With a flute of champagne in their hand, the four of them toured the lounge inspecting paintings and collected treasures and the tour continued into the library and at one stage Jolene pointed and Billie saw all five of her books and raised a thumb at Jolene who smiled delightedly.

The 4-course dinner was served by a butler in a dinner suit and bow-tie with a cook in the kitchen giving him instructions just-audible to the diners. Her accent sounded Italian while the only word the butler said to each diner. and repeated several times, was 'Enjoy'.

There was no choice of wines; they were just served, well chosen to compliment each course and were of splendid quality.

Billie was relieved to be sitting opposite Simon with Melissa next to her and opposite Melissa was the, um, suspected sexual vamp.

They conversed easily and drank wines of their choice for more than an hour after finishing dinner until Simon asked who would like to see the music room.

"Yes please," Melissa said, partly concealing a slight hiccup while Billie thoughtlessly said stupidly said, "No thanks, I'm comfortable sitting here, really."

She thought Simon might show some irritation at her not accepting his invitation but when she glanced at him, he appeared to be attempting to hide a grin.

"I'm taking Billie to see our star feature of this apartment," Jolene said, throatily. She grabbed Billie's hand and, revealing great strength, pulled her from the lounge chair.

Quick reaction allowed Billie to shift her weight to the left as she moved to avoid colliding with Jolene.

"Christ, you're a fast mover, Jolene almost hissed, as the other two left the room.

They walked down the passage with Jolene saying nothing, allowing her guest to boggle at the artwork.

As they neared the heavy glass door at the end of the passage, Billie sucked in breath looking down the length of the long blue and gold swimming pool to the magnificent views of part of downtown Manhattan.

"Like it?" Jolene smiled beautifully, lulling Billie into thinking that perhaps it was safe being alone with the suspected predatory woman.

"It's gorgeous."

"And so are you," purred the hostess, opening the door and leading Billie on to the tiled pool surround, setting off an alarm impulse in her guest's head. She steadied herself, preparing for an assault of some sort. She almost giggled when she thought perhaps, she might enjoy the finger-fucking her female host.

With blinding speed, the bi-sex bitch spun her around and dug a cupped-up hand into Billie's groin and dropped her other hand to grip Billie's left booth painfully.

Without hesitating, Billie brushed the hand squeezing her breast aside, spun the attacker around and from behind her applied a choker hold not too fiercely and Jolene gasped, "I submit."

The slightly choking hostess was released and Billie said in the friendliness tone that she could managed, "Wonderful facility, amazing panorama of much of Manhattan. I suggest we join the others."

"Yes," said Jolene. "I won't apologize because you won't accept it."

"Quite right, and if you ever touch me immodestly again Jolene, I'll send you to hospital."

Rubbing her throat softly, Jolene said, "Understood, absolutely. I have our best sex when Simon learns that I've just tongued another female."

"If I find out that you lied to him that you sucked my groin, I'll never speak to you again."

"What, after what I just did, you intend continuing to socialize with me?"

"Yes, and probably we'll become good friends. You are only a bit older than me and I haven't many female friends my age in this city yet, and the bonus with you is that you have an interest in literature and you have a tremendous body to envy."

"Christ, what an amazing mind. Little wonder you write fiction so successfully."

"Thanks Jolene," Billie said, leading off to the exit. You two have an apartment to die for.

When the visitors were leaving and Simon found they were about to walk home, he said no-way, 90 out of 100 times they would be safe is that part of New York but it was that unknown 10% that he was thinking about.

"Come, I'm driving you."

Jolene kissed both visitors, keeping her tongue in her mouth and making no attempt to squeeze breasts.

Inside their apartment, with Billie making coffee, Melissa said, "I hope you are not upset with me telling you this and I ask you not to tell anyone."

"Wow Mel, have you been a naughty girl with Simon?"

"It was all him."

"What?"

"We got to the music room and he placed am arm around me and said was that okay and I found myself saying yes. I mean, it's been quite a while since I've had a male do that to me."

"Well, before I knew it, he had scooped out a breast and was sucking over the nipple."

"Gosh Mel, and that made you feel horny."
"It... it was almost exciting but then he attempted to drag down my hand to his you-know-what and I yelled enough, he must stop immediately which he did. He stepped back and I saw him stuffing his enormous thing back into his trousers and zip up."

"Billie, it seemed impossibly huge. Anyway, he apologized and said he only intended to have a little bit of fun, nothing serious and added he thought I appeared to be the type of woman who liked to let down her hair once in a while."

"I said yes, no and then maybe because I was confused and almost hyperventilating."

"He said he meant no harm and anyway, nothing would have happened because he wasn't packing condoms. Omigod, the thought of him attempting to get that huge thing into me almost had me passing out."

"Wow Mel, you must have been shocked to the core by that pig."

"Billie, don't call him that. He really is quite nice and I have experienced the best bout of tongue kissing I've ever experienced."

"Oh, that sounds you may be interested in seeing him again when you possess an understanding of possible outcomes of being alone with him."

"Perhaps, but I have to think about that. How did you get on with the nymph?"

"Who?"

"Jolene. I spent much of the time over dinner looking at her gazing at you almost passionately."

"Oh, you must have misinterpreted what you thought you were seeing. We walked to the end of the apartment where they have an indoor pool with splendid views toward uptown. Then we sauntered back, stopping now and again to look at artwork and collectables on display, with Jolene explaining the history of each piece under inspection."

"She can become so boring, you know," Billie said, thinking creatively. "I felt like pulling out one of her boobs and giving it a good suck to get her going, sending her into top gear."

"Billie, that thinking is disgusting."

"Well, its not as bad as your imagining what you'd like to do to her husband's big dick."

Melissa sighed and said there may be some truth in that supposition.

"Would you like to sleep with me tonight, Billie?"

"No, because you're feeling horny and I could be tempted to fuck you."

"Billie Summers, go to your bed and sleep it off. You're drunk."

Billie departed, loudly singing a bawdy university drinking song.

* * *

The following Friday, Billie met her friendly commissioning editor Sue Bridges who after initial chatting, took Billie on a tour of all departments at SoHo Book Publishing' offices and studios spread over five floors of a 14-level building.

In the waiting room on the wall behind which were the offices of senior executives, Sue took a smart phone photo of Billie standing beside a plaque of the company's top-rated fiction writers at her position as No. 3.

A photographer then appeared and took shots of the two women standing beside that particular plaque with Billie pointing to her name.

Sue asked the photographer to email those selected images to Billie's phone, checking her own phonebook gave the guy Billie's phone number.

She then said, "With my compliments Billie. Other copies will go to your personal current file here and to our archives. You are the first change to that list of top 10 of our fiction writers' ranking list in four years. Newcomers to those plaques replacing one of the existing listers, usually comes in at the bottom at No. 10. The rankings are based solely on total book sale revenues."

"Well, at the end of the day I guess that's No. 1 priority in the mind of SoHo Book Publishing and any other book publisher."

"Indeed, young woman, which suggests the best writers might not necessarily be on listed on the different writing category plaques here. Attempting to select the best writers would open a can of worms as the perceived best writers might not necessarily be the most popular writers or writers that technically rise above the pack or shine because of their soaring creativity, and so on."

"Yes, attempting to pick the best would be a hugely subjective task to muddle through to an attempted fair conclusion. I agree, ranking solely on sales receipts is the easy way out, Sue."

They finished the tour in CEO Sam Sorenson's office.

Both women and Sam's middle-aged PA Trudi appeared surprised when he rushed at Billie and kissed her on the lips with the enthusiasm of a guy coming face-to-face with the wife he'd divorced and had been living the regret of making that decision ever since.

"Yes Sam, I'm pleased to see you again too," Billie giggled, as they stepped back from the embrace.

"Glad to hear that," he smiled and turning to the other females said, "I first met Billie when she was a student in Philadelphia. I went to check her out after she written a short story as part of her Lit studies that received great review locally, as it was based on an historical personality of significance to that city."

"Surprisingly, I could practically sense literary potential surrounding her and after spending a good part of the day with her I decided to take the risk a sign her up then and there to create a book length novel of her short story. Based on bawdy former sailing ship captain, bigamist Bertram Wiltshire, we published it under the title of 'Swashbuckling Business Tycoon' and it achieved good sales."

"We later published her second book, the hilarious novel set in England, 'Butterscotch Sex' that was a runaway success internationally and established Billie as a writer with a bright future ahead of her. And now, with 'Aurora's Young Love' to start rolling off the presses next week, we predict our young author is about to smash through the literary popularity stakes with widespread acclaim leading to top-seller status."

Billie stood with her mouth hanging ajar and the PA said, "Why it that optimism being expressed, Sam? I understand that a book about a girl and her horse in books are a dime a dozen."

"This tale is not the sweet pats and neck hugs of a teenager and a horse, Trudi. The horse and rider are strong personalities and their sparring drifts into an aggressive relationship, with the horse almost severely injuring its rider-trainer, savagely unseating and hurling her against the coral railings.

"In pain and fear in her belly, the rider courageously dusts herself off, suppressing the bruising impact pain, bites back the frustration while wiping away tears and remounts to concentrate on gaining respect and control of her hitherto uncompromising mount. She is constantly in fear of riding and her mount knows that by the vibes."

"Then the day came when the owners of the horse, the rider's grandfather and grandmother, called enough was enough. They'd decided the horse was too dangerous for their granddaughter and they would advertise it for sale, with the warning it was only suitable for a mature and strong rider."

"Two nights later something bad occurs in the stables. A handful of onlookers running to investigate the noise of the disturbance watched helplessly but not Trudi. She went in to try to rescue her tormentor and the terrified mare appeared to sense that her life rested in her rider's hands as a near-starving cougar from the hills was circling the mare, with fangs bared."

"Omigod, let me read it Sam."

"Not now Trudi because of security considerations. A couple of media people have approached our people for details, offering bribes. But I'll give you an advance copy at the time when limited details will be leaked to the news media the day in the week before we release the novel."

Sam smiled and said, "Billie, are your anxious about how readers will receive your latest creation?"

"Not really, my own thoughts throughout writing it were I was writing with love and understanding and then came the option I really valued. Your Sue, my commissioning editor, offered the opinion that my manuscript indicated, in your opinion, the published novel would become a runaway success."

Sam nodded as if endorsing Sue's judgement and then said: "Finally, what I'm about to say is, the unanimous opinion of our test readership panel is the book will probably become a hot seller soon after its release."

"That matches the verdict of the analysis of the views of our senior editorial team who in their individual submissions that the book might or will become a best-seller in its category with the prediction that we should expect competitive bids for filming rights."

"Congratulations, Billie," Sam said. "You are attaining the potential I initially perceived was resident in you when you were a young student."

The two other women rushed to hug Billie and to congratulate her.

"Thanks Sam," Billie said. "It was you who really launched my writing career because of your intense belief expressed to me that I possessed what it takes to get to the top as a published author."

The small group then walked off to an intimate celebratory champagne lunch.

Chapter 7

Before the SoHo Book Publishing' public release of 'Aurora's Young Love', the publishing company had generously given Billie the opportunity to invite up to 20 people to the gala party on the evening, before the release with $500 for each person to go towards their accommodation or whatever.

Billie immediately cancelled her plan to seek a family reunion in Texas.

"When told of the planned gala dinner, Melissa said, "Wow, that's generous. Am I to be one your invitees?"

"Yes, and I'll partnering you with promo photographer Jerry O'Brien, who you like and I feel he reciprocates. I'm finished with him sexually."

"Omigod, but he won't find my sexy if we decide to have a fling."

"Darling, how you react to any advances, showing hints of interest. The depth of ability to generate passion between you both will decide whether you two have a dating future."

"But I'm older the Jerry."

"That really doesn't matter. Jerry likes to have a sex partner on hand and that's the only incentive you need.

The next four people Billie intended to invite were her parents and brother Sam and his male partner, and then came her aunt and uncle Colin and Susan West who she'd remained in email contact with, and their son Stewart and his fiancée Caroline.

Next to be added to the list of her invitees would be elderly Ben Aspen, who lived out of Sunset in north-central Texas, whose approach and hospitality resulting in Billie writing about a teenage girl's love of horses, Ben's wife Martha, their son Amos and his wife Elsie.

Other invitations would be sent to Celeste B. Bush and partner, followed by Billie's teenage friends from the Christi Corpus district in South Texas, Silvana Struthers and Natalie Owens and mothers Caitlin and Patricia.

Bringing the planned invitations to 21 (sadly without including some other people who had assist her in developing her literary career), Billie added the policewoman, Sarah Basset with partner, who diverted her from a possible journey into prostitution at Fort Worth soon after she'd left her family's drought-stricken ranch to live with her mother's sister.

Billie recalled fondly Sarah giving her all those years ago a motherly lecture about doing the right things to shape her life. Sarah then set Billie on her intended destination of Philadelphia after deciding not to book her, an experience with resolution that Billie believed she'd never forget. She would personally pay the 21st person's travel and accommodation expenses herself and the publishing house had advised it would cover travel and accommodation expenses of the 20 people that she'd been allocated to invite.

Billie gave the list to Sam's PA and asked her to try to located that policewoman.

"No problem," Trudi smiled. You'll also have to help me with the addresses of these other people on this list."

"No problem," Billie said, pulling out her phone. "I have prepared a list with all the others addresses and only need your email address to deliver everything to you now."

Two hours later, Trudi called Billie.

"All the invitations are ready for posting after you sign each one. Sarah Basset has remarried. Her husband is Ronald Black, a partner in an accounting firm, and she is Commander Sarah Black, in charge of one of her city's police divisions."

"Thanks, Trudi. Great work. I'm on my way over to you now."

She returned home after signing each invitation and having coffee with Trudi and within a few minutes was at her computer beginning her speech at the pre-launch party.

She decided to line up her invitees and ask each person to step forward and she'd then describe each person's contribution to her rise into the category of 'Successful Author'. She would add the contribution of two missing people of significance from the line-up, her two influence professors at Penn University and would add it was impractical to add everyone who'd contributed to her literary development.

* * *

Within three weeks of its release, the English edition of 'Aurora's Young Love' was being hailed as 'a bolting success' or words to that effect by literary writers commenting on its rise up the sale charts. Internationally, copies printed in Italian, French and Spanish were reportedly in heavy demand at book sales outlets in various countries.

As soon as the inevitable demands from the media for interviews died away and her whirlwind tours promoting the book were over, Billie disappeared.

Only Melissa and Sam Sorenson knew she was on a private yacht off Hawaii chartered by Billie's investment adviser, whose wife was on a body and mind cleansing retreat in California.

Only Melissa knew that during her retreat, Billie planned to take a little time thinking whether the theme of her next novel should be about the life-threatening risks and harassment women in front-line duty face in the police force, as indicated to her by Commander Sarah Black, at her pre-launch party or perhaps she should proceed to write about the ups and downs of adultery involving inhabitants of a distinctive residential enclave in Brooklyn, New York City.

Billie had already decided both themes would be developed, no matter which one was published first.

She was still in fix about finding a man-friend with long-lasting romance potential. Her problem was that most dates she had were with men already married. Perhaps she should seek counselling about this problem.

The End
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