by Ted Clifton
They only had one head-to-head debate, and Jeremiah was in his element. His opponent—who had spent years saying almost nothing of substance and now found it impossible to shift gears—was not. By the end of the debate it almost seemed like even he had decided to vote for Jeremiah Johnson.
Jeremiah was elected in a landslide. Within months of taking office, he’d implemented most of his campaign promises. He became the most popular and colorful governor New Mexico had ever had. He lived a simple life and spent every day trying to make Jane proud.
Present Day, 1989—Farmington, New Mexico
Chief Deputy Trujillo had made reservations for them at the Casa Blanca Inn, just a short distance from the airport and only a few blocks from the sheriff’s offices. Check-in was easy, and they were pleasantly surprised by the southwestern charm of the building and the uniqueness of a hotel that was outside the usual national chains. The overall effect was cozy and romantic.
“Ray, this place is beautiful. Guess I wasn’t expecting such Santa Fe charm in Farmington.”
“Plus, it’s about half the price of those Santa Fe joints.”
“You’re always so romantic.”
Ray paused a minute to see if Sue was upset or just kidding him. From her expression, he couldn’t be sure. He was still getting used to a lot of new things in his life, marriage being one of the larger areas demanding his attention. He couldn’t have loved Sue any more than he did, but there were many times that he wasn’t sure what she was thinking. At those times he felt like he didn’t know her. He had a very reliable gut instinct about crooks, but much less of one about his wife.
“Man this place just screams romance. Maybe you two should stay and I should go down to the Holiday Inn.” Tyee’s scowl suggested he wasn’t pleased with much of anything.
“Okay, look both of you. Let’s just get on with the task at hand and enjoy a nice place to stay at the expense of the governor, then head home—okay?”
The biggest problem with that plan of action was that there didn’t appear to actually be a specific task at hand. Sheriff Jackson’s actions were beyond anything that Ray, or even the governor, could likely deal with. If anyone was going to do something, it would have to be federal guys from the FBI or ATF. It was also apparent that Chief Deputy Trujillo had everything under control. The obvious course was for the governor or his AG to simply appoint Trujillo acting sheriff, set a special election for a little while down the road, and then stand back and let the man do his job. End of assignment.
Sue smiled at Ray in a way that told him clearly that she wasn’t angry and he should go do whatever he had to do.
“I think I’ll hang around the hotel and have a leisurely lunch while you two go about your duties. See you later.” She gave Ray a peck on the cheek along with a wink, then set off in the direction of their room.
“Listen Ray, I know I’m being a pain in the butt. Guess it was the plane ride, not real sure. But there’s something else. I know this is going to sound silly, but ever since we landed I’ve had a feeling of foreboding. I know you’re going to mock me for getting mystical, but I have a really powerful sense of danger.”
Ray let out a deep breath. “Tyee, I trust your instincts. It’s not silly. I feel on edge too for some reason. I think we need to be careful. The whole thing with Sheriff Jackson is strange, but right now I think the most important thing to do is to get as much information on Trujillo as we can so we can give the governor a heads-up on whether the deputy can take over the department until there’s an election.”
It was a short ride to the sheriff’s downtown office. Ray and Tyee were both quiet—absorbed in their own thoughts.
Four Corners War will be available in late 2016.
The Village of Ruidoso
Not everything in my books is fiction. I’ve lived in New Mexico and the Southwest for many years, so I’ve gotten to know a lot of real places that I use as part of my fiction. Sky High Stakes mostly takes place in Ruidoso, New Mexico, a real place that I’ve visited many times. First, let me point out that—as far as I can tell—none of the criminal mayhem described in the story has ever actually occurred in this lovely artistic community. The Billy the Kid part is true—but that was a long time ago.
The village has long had a reputation as home to a lot of hippies, who mostly enjoy smoking pot, but it has a lot of other facets as well. There’s an active art community, with many galleries. And as I mention in the book, the high altitude seems to enhance appetites, which makes it fortunate that there are quite a few wonderful restaurants in Ruidoso. Some are owned by now-aging hippies, just like the one in the Sky High Stakes, Bud’s Breakfast.
You can find out more about Ruidoso here: www.ruidoso.net
The Inn of the Mountain Gods
There really is an Inn of the Mountain Gods, too, and it’s a world-class resort. Today it features casino gambling, and is even grander than it was during the period in the book. I first found out about the Inn when I was living in Oklahoma in the 1960s. I read an article about The Inn of the Mountain Gods, which sounded exotic and mysterious to me. Tucked away in the New Mexico mountains, it seemed both distant and nearby. My wife and I were young and just recently married and had no money—actually, less than no money—so going to the Inn of the Mountain Gods was as farfetched as a trip to Paris—or the moon. But for some reason it found a special place amongst those fantasy locations I wanted to see one day. A remote luxury resort located next to a 12,000-foot-high mountain named Sierra Blanca, owned and operated by the Mescalero Apache Indian tribe—you can’t get much more exotic to a young man in Oklahoma than that.
Many, many years later, through a strange twist in my employment situation, we ended up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, only a couple of hours away from Ruidoso. But as time grows long and memory short, I’d forgotten about the Inn of the Mountain Gods. During my first months working in Cruces there was a business conference, and it was held at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. I hated the conference—something to do with extractive resources tax strategies (ugh)—but I loved the Inn. After that, my wife and I visited several times. I highly recommend a visit if you’re ever in New Mexico.
The Inn’s web site is here: www.innofthemountaingods.com
Ruidoso Downs Race Track
Another real-world feature of Sky High Stakes is the Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Horse racing and gambling have gone up and down in popularity in Ruidoso. Competition from other forms of gambling has caused the racetrack problems from time to time, but horse racing and Ruidoso have remained linked through many years of history. Today the racetrack has hedged it bets by adding slot machines in the Billy the Kid Casino.
My job and my business interests often took me to Ruidoso, and on many of these trips I was accompanied by a business associate who owned horses. He raced them at Ruidoso Downs and also in El Paso, Texas. He was a larger-than-life kind of guy who loved the adrenaline rush that went with horse racing and betting, and who also greatly enjoyed consuming beer—large quantities of beer. He could have been best friends with Big Jack. He and I spent many an enjoyable (or maybe wasted) afternoon at the racetrack during the season. On at least one occasion we were asked to leave when my friend expressed his displeasure with the race results in vivid, inappropriate language. His bombastic manner contributed to the Big Jack character, and played a part in the flamboyant governor’s style as well.
The racing season runs from May to the first part of September—a glorious time to be in the mountains. During the summer months you can climb from White Sands, with a temperature approaching one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, to a cool high-altitude afternoon in the upper sixties or low seventies, all within forty-five minutes or so. From hot to comfortable with just a short drive up the mountain.
More about the Ruidoso Downs here: www.raceruidoso.com
The Lodge at Cloudcroft
Another nearby attraction was part of the Dog Gone Lies book—The Lodge at Cloudcroft, which is located in the same mountains
as Ruidoso. The path to get to Ruidoso from Cloudcroft is not an easy trek—the most logical approach is actually to go back to Alamogordo and then to Ruidoso.
The Lodge has been in existence for over a hundred years. The accommodations are outstanding, with an upscale lodge-style building housing the rooms. Features include outbuildings for special occasions that can accommodate large groups in unique room settings, including antique decor.
While we were living in Las Cruces, my daughter got married and had her wedding at The Lodge. It was a beautiful wedding, and it was enhanced by the stunning scenery and background provided by the location. This is a place that’s off the beaten track and can be the highlight of any trip.
More about The Lodge here: www.thelodgeresort.com
White Sands National Monument
The White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Alamogordo in western Otero County and northeastern Doña Ana County in the state of New Mexico, at an elevation of 4,235 feet (1,291 m). The area is in the mountain-ringed Tularosa Basin and comprises the southern part of a 275 square miles (710 km2) field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. It is the largest gypsum dune field in the world.
—Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Sands_National_Monument)
White Sands National Monument really does exist—why would I make that up? It appears in this story when Ray and Tyee have to go out of their way each time they drive to Ruidoso from T or C. The path they’d take goes straight across the national monument area, but also the White Sands Missile Range, which restricts access to much of the surrounding land. The military takes this very seriously.
Conclusion
Writing a book of fiction gives any author great latitude in creating characters, locations, and events, but stories seem more real to me if they take place in a location that I know. Placing fictional characters in real locations—with all of the appropriate sights, textures, fragrances, and other details—just makes the characters seem more real and alive—and it often brings back good memories.
Ted Clifton
Ted Clifton has been a CPA, investment banker, artist, financial writer, business entrepreneur and a sometimes philosopher. He lives in Denver, Colorado, after many years in the New Mexico desert, with his wife and grandson. Learn more about Ted and his latest books at www.tedclifton.com or email him at [email protected].
The Bootlegger’s Legacy
Meet Ray Pacheco, pre-retirement, in this prequel to the Pacheco & Chino Mysteries.
When an old-time bootlegger dies and leaves his son Mike a cryptic letter hinting at millions in hidden cash, Mike and his friend Joe embark on a journey that takes them through three states and 50 years of history. What they find goes beyond money and transforms them both.
An action-packed adventure story taking place in the early 1950s and late 1980s. It all starts with a key, embossed with the letters CB, and a cryptic reference to Deep Deuce, a neighborhood once filled with hot jazz and gangs of bootleggers. Out of those threads is woven a tapestry of history, romance, drama, and mystery; connecting two generations and two families in the adventure of a lifetime.
“superb character development . . . vivid backdrops, brisk pacing, and meticulously researched . . .” —Kirkus Reviews
“A rollicking good time.” —Self-Publishing Review
“. . . interesting characters, true-to-life situations, and intriguing twists . . .” —Stanley Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, Chickasaw Press
Available from Amazon.com at:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014TFC9AK
Pacheco & Chino Mysteries
#1: Dog Gone Lies
Sheriff Ray Pacheco returns from his introduction in The Bootegger’s Legacy to start a new chapter as a private investigator, along with his partners: Tyee Chino, often-drunk apache fishing guide, and Big Jack, bait shop owner and philosopher.
Available from Amazon.com at:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019IZZO6M
#2: Sky High Stakes
Lincoln County, New Mexico was best known as the site of The Lincoln County Wars, featuring the likes of Billy the Kid. Martin Marino, the acting sheriff, is also short in stature, just like The Kid—and no doubt also like The Kid, Marino is crazy. Lincoln County survived Billy the Kid, but Martin Marino might be a different matter.
Ray Pacheco and Tyee Chino have been asked by the state Attorney General to find out what the hell is going on in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department. Ray is sure there’s some big trouble waiting for them and his gut is right: murder, lust, madness and greed are visiting the high country.
#3: Four Corners War
Navajos, Apaches, militias, good sheriffs, and bad sheriffs are all drawn to a small town by millions in stolen money and a small army’s worth of stolen military equipment. Is this the start of a Four Corners War? Nothing is as it should be as Ray Pacheco and Tyee Chino try to untangle the mix of greedy businessmen, corrupt politicians and a slightly unhinged sheriff—along with the usual dead bodies.
Farmington, New Mexico’s unique mix of cultures is the backdrop for Ray and Tyee’s most dangerous assignment to date from the bombastic Governor of New Mexico.
Coming in late 2016.