Shad Stone is interviewed by Caroline Clemmons, the author of his adventure in book 7 of the Guns for Hire series. He proves almost as elusive as some of the outlaws he has captured as a bounty hunter. If you love sweet western historical romance, bounty hunter heroes, Texas frontier adventure, strong heroine stories, romantic suspense westerns, redemption tales, and found family romances, you will enjoy Shad Stone.
Dear Readers, thank you for coming today. I have a big surprise for you. A delightful young man named Shad Stone has agreed to let me interview him. SHAD is tall and lanky and quite nice-looking if he smiles. He’s wearing dark pants and a gray shirt that look very nice. Of course, he wears a western hat that looks as if it has met trouble. So, let’s get started.
Caroline: Welcome, Shad. Thank you for coming today. I have a lot of questions for you, so our readers can get to know you better.
Shad: Thank you, ma’am. There’s not much about me to interest anyone, but you just ask me what you want. I’ll try to answer.
Caroline: Why don’t we start with your childhood?
Shad: My parents were real good people. They made sure I knew they loved me. Mama taught me to read and write at home because we didn’t live close enough to a schoolhouse for me to go. She was very well educated. They died when I was 8 and I had to go live with my father’s parents. Not being disrespectful, there’s not a meaner couple in the world. After that I worked as a cowhand and now I’m a bounty hunter.
Caroline: Hunting criminals sounds very dangerous.
Shad: It is, but I’ve been lucky so far. (He laughs softly) Someone started a rumor that I’m called Shad because I move like a shadow and can sneak up on the man or men that I’m trying to capture without them hearing me. Truly, sometimes a rumor can help instead of destroy a reputation. I’ve worked on moving silently and swiftly.
Caroline: How long have you been a bounty hunter and do you intend to do that for the rest of your life?
Shad: I’ve been a bounty hunter for seven years. it’s not a life I love … it’s just a way to make money faster than anything else I can do. But I’m through with those $200 bounties. This time I’m going after a high-dollar one. But the man sounds dangerous so … um … I’m wondering how I’m gonna do this. I am determined to find a way.
Caroline: Goodness, are there any old bounty hunters?
Shad: (he chuckles and shakes his head) Not many, ma’am, and I’ve never run across an elderly bounty hunter. But I’ve been fortunate to come across retired ones who shared stories and advice. The job requires a quick thinker able to move fast. I don’t intend to do this forever. I just need enough money to buy a ranch and cattle and goats and I’ll be happy.
Caroline: All alone? I think you need a nice woman at your side to give you children and work with you as your partner.
Shad: Sounds nice, ma’am, but I don’t reckon I’ll get married. My uncle lives with me and he’s a handful to take care of. Oh, he’s a real well-meaning and kind man, but he gets in scrapes that cause a tizzy. Yeah, taking care of him will be all I can handle. Also, I don’t think a lady that I would be interested in would even talk to a rough, uneducated man like me.
Caroline: Goodness, Mr. Stone, you’re very handsome and you look strong and fit and you’ve been a gentleman. I don’t know why a woman wouldn’t like you … you’ve been gracious and very well-mannered to me.
Shad: Thank you, ma’am, but I just don’t know the things a gentleman should. For instance, I can’t dance, I get nervous at a fancy dinner, I don’t much like people in general. No, I think … uh … I’ll stay single. (He takes out his pocket watch, looks at the time) I didn’t realize I’ve been sitting here jawing for so long. I have to get moving if I’m gona capture that bounty without being killed. I appreciate you having me as a guest.
Caroline: Thank you for coming, Mr. Stone. I wish you the best in the future. I hope you get that ranch you want.
Caroline: Readers, Mr. Shad Stone slipped out when I was talking. I didn’t hear him leave, isn’t that amazing? Confidentially, I believe he will change his mind about marriage when he meets the woman who is right for him.
Readers, I hope you found this interview interesting and that if you haven’t already ordered SHAD you will. It’s a good story, even if I should be too modest to say so.
I’ve started research on my next book, which is called ROSE, book one in the Women Who Helped Shape The West Series.
