Appalachian Writer's Guild

It’s high noon, and i stand face to face with the most wanted man in all the united states of america, his grim visage pinned to a cactus nearby, a bounty underneath it reading, “Wanted, dead or alive. Abraham lincoln. Reward, One hundred thousand dollars.” I locked eyes with the former president, his stare filled with determination and i knew that both of us had too much at stake to die here, I could tell that much just from the cut of his jaw and how he was already grabbing his implements of destruction. I steeled myself, focusing my reflexes and my reactions for the trial to come. I may have just been some punk bounty hunter coming after the great and terrible Lincoln, but I sure as hell wasn’t going without a fight. A small bead of sweat trickled down my forehead, i’d like to believe it was the midday heat, but I knew deep down that even my efforts to calm myself hadn’t stopped my nerves, this was a life or death situation after all. And to his credit, lincoln had no

Meeting date: January 15th, 2017 Story Challenge Details: Setting: Wild West Present Tense Items: China, Cactus, Lizards, and an Historical Character Stories will be posted on this blog before the next meeting date, along with the name of the author. Next meeting: February 5th, 2017. If you would like to join this meeting, please email  appwritersguild@gmail.com -Appalachian Writer's Guild

The house sat exactly as he had left it. Quiet, clean, and undisturbed. Good. She hadn't been home to collect her things yet, maybe there was still some hope. He stomped the snow off his boots, a force of habit after being yelled at for so many years over it, and made his way to the kitchen, where he half expected to find a note detailing the divorce demands. When it became apparent that she hadn't been home, he sighed and resigned himself to another cold dinner, and another sleepless night on the couch. It had been nearly a week since she left, and she hadn't even tried to contact him in almost as much time. Even for her, the silence was going on for an uncomfortable amount of time. If only she had said where she was going, maybe he could talk to her. At this point, he was willing to take the blame, even if it wasn't entirely his fault, just to feel her snuggled against his chest again. He would give almost anything to have her back. He opened the refrigerator,

word count: 2379 Miss ‧ ing (of a person) absent from a place, especially home, and of unknown whereabouts. “Malory, hurry up! You can’t be late again!” Malory Allister groaned, but soon she shouted a reply to her mother. “I’m almost ready!” She sat up in bed and looked at her clock. Staring until her eyes adjusted and she was able to see she had to leave in five minutes. Gasping, she sprang up and ran to her closet. Or at least attempted since her feet got tangled up in the sheets and she tripped, and landed on her face. She groaned, pulled herself up and finally managed to get dressed. She rushed downstairs and grabbed a poptart, hugging her mom before grabbing her school bag. “I’m off, and almost on time. Make-up is more important than brushing my teeth anyways.” Malory laughed at her mom’s shocked expression. “I’m kidding. I’ve got gum.” And off she went. Out the door and running to school. It was a five minute walk on a normal day, and a two minute run on a late