The Outlaw's Return (24 page)
Read The Outlaw's Return Online
Authors: Victoria Bylin
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Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading
The Outlaw's Return
. J.T. and Mary have quite a story, but the character who charmed me the most is Fancy Girl. She's smart, loyal and just plain good for him.
Every book is written in the context of the author's life, and I'd be remiss not to mention the family dogs that inspired Fancy Girl's character. Our first family dog was Chico, a Chihuahua-Welsh corgi mix who had no idea he weighed just thirteen pounds. Like Fancy Girl, he'd have taken on the world to protect his family. This dog could bark! Imagine the Chihuahua yap with the corgi volume. Sometimes I think he embarrassed himself with how loud it could be.
My sons loved Chico to pieces, and he loved them. He passed away after sixteen years of a happy life. We mourned him, but we also treasure many wonderful memories. Chico was the best dog ever.
With Chico gone and our sons grown, my husband and I adopted a Jack Russell-beagle mix. His name is Hartley and he's just plain crazy. Anyone who knows Jack Russells will understand. For no reason at all, this dog will take off barking and running like a rocket. We call it “turbo time,” because he's going full speed. He also eats apples, which strikes me as totally strange for a dog.
Hartley doesn't have Chico's courage and intelligence, but he's got his own special gift. Just like Fancy Girl, Hartley knows how to make us smile. My husband says
that Hartley got an extra dose of “happy.” So did Fancy Girl. This story belongs to her just as much as it belongs to Mary and J.T.
Best wishes,
- When the story opens, J. T. Quinn has made a decision to walk away from his life as a gunslinger. What motivated his decision? Have you ever faced a similar choice?
- Mary Larue, a former actress, is raising her two siblings. What are her greatest concerns? How do Gus and Gertie benefit from her past experience?
- J.T. faces temptation every day. What motivates him to resist the urge to drink and gamble? What temptations have you faced in your life? What are the most effective ways to fight temptation?
- Mary is determined to protect her reputation by keeping a secret. Do you agree or disagree with how she handled her past? Are there secrets that should be kept? Are there others that should never be kept? Where do we draw that line?
- Fancy Girl has a tremendous impact on J.T. Do you have pets? How have they enriched your life? What does J.T. get from his dog that he's never received from people?
- Gus has a problem with stuttering. Modern research shows that there's far more to this affliction than nervousness, but J.T. still had a strong influence on the boy. How does he help Gus? How does Gus help J.T.?
- Gertie is young, stubborn and rebellious. Do you think Mary was right to be supportive of her sister's dream, or was she too easy on her? What do you do when a son or daughter is determined to take a difficult road?
- Mary and J.T. have a past, and he hurt her terribly when he left her. What does he do to earn back her trust? What are the major turning points?
- The scandal in Abilene makes Mary's life extremely difficult. What does the scandal cost her? Which losses hurt the most? How does the scandal influence her faith?
- Throughout the story, J.T. grapples with the concept of turning the other cheek. When is it appropriate to make that choice? When is it time to respond with “an eye for an eye”? How does this question apply to the situation with Gus and the bullies?
- When J.T. realizes that Mary's faith is important to her, he challenges God to show Himself. What does J.T. see in Gus? What does the white bench represent? What other symbols do you see?
- Mary doesn't want to tell J.T. about the miscarriage because she thinks he'll be disrespectful. Did his reaction to the news surprise you? Did it surprise Mary?
- Several characters have an impact on J.T.'s decision to become a Christian. How does Gus influence
him? What role does Josh play? Including Mary and Fancy Girl, who do you think has the strongest impact? - In a very literal way, J.T. hits bottom when he falls down the mine shaft. He comes out a changed man. What symbolism do you see in the mine, the clouds and the light?
- How are trust and forgiveness related? Is it possible to forgive someone but still not trust them? What ultimately allows Mary to fully love J.T.?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8533-4
THE OUTLAW'S RETURN
Copyright © 2011 by Vicki Scheibel
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
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