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Suzanne Marsh

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2025

Stories (52)

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52 Stories

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Twenty Four Hours to Live

Twenty Four Hours to LiveSuzanne MarshDecember 7th, 19418 AMA bugle blared over the PA system: “Man the antiaircraft batteries.” Came a nervous voice. Silence for several moments, then a harsh voice boomed throughout Oklahoma: “All hands, man your battle stations.”A very excited voice shouted: “All hands, man your battle stations!!! On the double!! This is nodrill!!! Get going—they are real bombs!!!!” ‘Dear God, has the world gone crazy?’ I was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma. She was a good ship. My battle station was Turret Three. The Ok...

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Ride to Infamy

Ride to InfamySuzanne MarshWikmun Yanipi (Man Running), sat quietly on a mountainside. He cleared his mind. A vision began to form. There were many white eyes in blue firing at him. He set off to find the Shaman, who would aid him in discovering what this vision meant. Wikmun Yanipi, like most young men of Lakota, readied himself for the Sun Dance. The men and boys at this very moment were cutting down a ceremonial cottonwood tree. Leather tethers fasten to the tree; the ceremonial drum waited silently. His father, Chief Gall, told him of th...

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The Evil Brother

The Evil BrotherSuzanne MarshCatriona MacFarin waved sweetly as Angus MacLeod reined in his favorite horse:“Good day ta ya lassie, I have just stopped here to water my horse if that is permitted.”Catriona smiled up into the largest blue eyes she had ever seen. He watered his horse, then galloped off. Catriona turned on her heel when another horseman rode up: “Good day to ya lassie, my horsemanrequires water.” Catriona smiled, then placed her hand above her eyes to shade them and stare at this second stranger. The two men looked alike: red ha...

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The Ghostess with the Mostess

The Ghostess with the MostestSuzanne MarshI must stop eating ‘Dagwood’ sandwiches, just before bed; I had a dream last night that was both fun and frightening. I dreamed about meeting a woman ghost; her ghostly antics took me to another plane. I tossed and turned until midnight. I thought I heard a voice, a sweet voice, it seemed to be coming from downstairs. I was staying at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio; it is adjacent to the Alamo. The usual night sounds were coming from the Alamo, then there was a woman’s scream. I got up I was in Room...

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A Reenactor's Nightmare

A Reenactor’s NightmareSuzanne MarshI am a Confederate Civil War reenactor. My name is Tim Reid. What I am about to relate actually happened to me while doing a re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg on the second day of battle. The incident occurred at Devil’s Den, a very good name. Many a good boy lost his life there on July 2, 1863.My company was dispatched to Devil’s Den, the place is haunted not just by Civil War deaths but by Native American hunting grounds and a bloody First Nation termed “The Battle of the Crows. Legend states tha...

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Guilt and Prayer

Guilt and PrayerSuzanne Marsh“Pa, Pa, come quick!” Jed cried in a plaintive voice. Mark Adams dropped the pitchfork he had been pitching hay with. Jed was not a boy to cry; whatever happened, Mark knew it wasn’t good. Mark ran to the other end of the large barn. He stopped short; there was boy about Jed’s age hanging from a rope. Mark quickly had Jed ride into the town of Fate to bring the sheriff and old Doc March. Mark, a protective arm around his son asked quietly:“Do you know who that boy is Jed?” “Yeah Pa, Tommy Trainor, he was best fri...

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hiding in the Shadows

Hiding in the ShadowsSuzanne Marsh“Sherman’s a comin', if yer got a lick of sense yer’d take ur family outta Atlanta.” Corporal Joshua Ashworth sought out his Captain:“Sir, request permission to remove my family from Atlanta NOW! Them flames are getting realclose to my farm.”The captain saw the smoke curling and rising over the city of Atlanta; Sherman was leaving his calling card. Captain Johnny McNamara had been to the small farm a few days before:“Corporal, go, get your wife and son to safety. I don’t know how long General Hood can holdem...

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Fate and Lavender

Fate and LavenderSuzanne MarshAttorney “Ace” Dagget heard the knock on his door; he opened and in staggered Mitch Hardison. Mitch, his face pale, clutched his chest: “Ace, I can’t breathe, I guess you better have my will handy.” Mitch passed away quickly on a cold February day in Fate, Texas. He was buried on the first day of March, and the dust blew on those who were at the funeral. “Ace” Dagget gave the eulogy; as he spoke, he thought about the will he had filed for Mitch. “Ace” had no idea where to search for Michelle Hardison. She inheri...

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The Corrigan Brothers

The Corrigan BrothersSuzanne Marsh March 3, 1861“Pa, hey Pa, Sam Houston’s been replaced as governor, Edward Clark is the new governor.Hope we secede soon.” James Corrigan shouted excitedly. “Big” Tom Corrigan, his pa, smiled; he wished Oliver were as enthusiastic. He noted Oliver striding toward the house in a blue uniform. “Big” Tom felt the bile rising in his throat:“Oliver, you gonna fight for the bluebellies?”“Yep, Pa, I am.”“No son of mine is gonna fight for the bluebellies, not now, not ever, do you understand meboy?”I understand, pa,...

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Alcatraz, an Escape!

Alcatraz, an Escape!Suzanne MarshJune, 11th, 1962“Come on, bed check in fifteen minutes. If we don’t get out of here now, we are never gonna.”Dale Morrison and the Mahoney brothers had planned their escape carefully. They made papier-mache heads to be visible to the guards for night inspection. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was a loathsome place for any prisoner, especially Dale. The cells were small, painted green with a sink and toilet. The prisoner was watched as he used the toilet and washed his hands. The showers; the men were totally e...

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My Hero, My Dad

My Hero, My DadSuzanne MarshDad taught me so many things about life and about myself. Being an only child, my mom wanted a well-bred Christian young lady. I never did fit either of those, with dad’s help. I learned to shoot a bow and arrow. Dad made my first bow, and then I learned to use it. During the winter, we would shoot the arrows down in the basement; that was all well and good until an arrow went through the basement window. Dad was the culprit. Mom was angry; she thought I should be learning domestic skills from her. Dad then decide...

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Hurt to Pain to Happiness

Hurt to Pain to HappinessSuzanne Marsh“What you did to me no human has the right to do to another!” Those words rang in my ears again and again during the divorce. The hurt, the anger, and the pain were at times more than I could endure. The divorce trial was a joke; the Judge played golf with my former husband’s lawyer, who has since been disbarred. My attorney wanted to know which trial they went to, as opposed to the one we went to. My life was in shambles; my children were turned into weapons against me. The two younger children would vi...

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Truth oor Legend? Billy the Kid

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

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New York City, New York

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

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Ride Out Men of Fort Apache

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

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