Memories

1st place        Three elderly ladies sat on a wide veranda in cane back chairs watching Canvas back ducks swimming among the canebrakes in the canal running past the old Victorian house. 

On a table sat, a tray of canape's, slices of cantaloupe, a tin of candy and pecan's and a wine decanter.  Above the house huge oak trees spread a leafy canopy of  shade over the house.  A gentle breeze rippled the waters of the canal.

Ella had been town sheriff after her daddy was killed by the Canerelli Gang. Everyone thought the gang had been run by Joe Canerelli. Later they learned Sorcha was the source behind all that testosterone male brawn and lack of brains.

It was Canerelli's lack of brains that had gotten Ella's daddy killed. Sorcha wanted to rob the bank not kill anyone. Ella smiled at Sorcha, “Pass me the can of chew will ya Ella,” Sorcha asked.

Candace had been a dance hall girl, at Canaby's Cantina. When Duncan the pianist, tickled the ivory's she led, the other saloon girls in the can can.

"Those sure were the days,” said Candace.

"How about another nip from the decanter?” asked Sorcha. The ladies held out their glasses and Sorcha filled three glasses to the brim.

Leaning back in the cane back rocker, Sorcha sighed and tittered.  Ella demanded, “What you giggling about?” 

Sorcha said, “I was remembering, that Republican senator and his chicanery.” All the ladies began to giggle.

"Oh my! I sure remember,” said Candace, “What a boob he was."

Sorcha snorted, “He sure had eyes for you Candace, he thought you'd do anything for him.”

Candace laughed, “Remember that cantankerous  old man who followed you around Sorcha?"  "He thought you were Annie Oakley.”

Sorcha laughed “He didn't know his head from a hole in the ground, I don't know why I married him."

Ella snorted, “You sure had an uncanny way of picking the worst kind of men"

"Thank's for being so candid," Retorted Sorcha.

Sorcha had been a good girl, gone bad when rancher's burned her family farm. After that she, hooked up with handsome Joe Canerelli. She wrapped that Texican around her little finger. He would do anything for her but his stupidity got himself and most the gang killed.

Ella and her posse ran the gang into a box canyon. Sorcha and a cantankerous old Chicano were the sole survivors.  After a year in the state pen. Sorcha returned and hired on as Ella's deputy.

The three women brought J.W. Bushby, a republican senator down. Catching him in shady deals cheating folks out of their homes. J.W talked in the love nest to Candace.

"Time for this old gal to take a siesta," said Sorcha.  Using her cane, she hobbled into the house.

Ella said, "I am going to feed the Canvasbacks at the canal.  Want to come Candace?”

A flock of wild canaries landed in the wisteria as the ladies slowly made their way to the canal using canes.