The Cunninghams

J.M. Hopkins

Description

In this historical novel, a family creates a fascinating legacy fueled by tragedy, triumph, failure, and redemption over the course of one hundred and fifty years.

It is 1827. Val Dimand, a new peace officer in Memphis, stands on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi riverfront and longingly gazes at beautiful Angie MacFee as she skips across the boat moorings. Everything quickly changes that day when Val learns that Jim Bowie and his Arkansas toughs are due to arrive in Memphis to meet up with Davy Crockett and his trail companions. One of those men is Bobby Cunningham - the family patriarch - still a young frontiersman, who is soon to unexpectedly deprive Val of his imagined future with Angie.

Nine years later, Bobby lies mortally wounded in violent battle at the Alamo. As he comes to accept his last moments on Earth, he reflects on his first meeting with Angie, their passion, courtship, and marriage, and his eventual quest to establish roots on a wind-swept Texas prairie with her and their two young sons. After Bobby’s death, Angie and the boys are left to bring forth a family legacy back in Memphis, following Val Dimand’s rescue of them. This heritage encompasses lusty frontiersman, hardy lawmen, and pillars of the city. Vibrant, strong, and passionate women who fall in love with them provide support, guidance, and comfort while their generations march forward. Their story mirrors the varied history of the beautiful Bluff City - Memphis.

In this historical novel, the Cunninghams create a gripping legacy fueled by tragedy, triumph, and redemption over the course of almost a hundred years. Come journey with this wonderful family.

Sujets

• police
• historical
• Álamo (desambiguación)
• Battle of the Alamo
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Memphis
• Adventure
• Alamo
• Fiction
• Action

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 12 janvier 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665725613
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE CUNNINGHAMS
 

 
 
J.M. H O PKINS
 
 
 

 
 
Copyright © 2023 J.M. Hopkins.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
 
 
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6657-2562-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-2560-6 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-2561-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022911481
 
 
Archway Publishing rev. date: 01/09/2023
Contents
Dedications
Preface
Chapter 1 The Crockett Party Gets to Memphis
Chapter 2 Last Day, Last Thoughts
Chapter 3 Angie’s Choice: Back to Memphis
Chapter 4 The Rest of the Way Back to Memphis
Chapter 5 The Little House on Adams
Chapter 6 Angelina and the Big House
Chapter 7 Val in the New House
Chapter 8 The Kids Become Teens
Chapter 9 Kids Becoming Adults
Chapter 10 Angelina Gets Hitched
Chapter 11 Angelina Comes Home
Chapter 12 Blue, Gray, and Yellow
Chapter 13 Gain, Yellow Fever, and Loss
Chapter 14 Bobby Comes Home
Chapter 15 Headlong Flight
Chapter 16 Home in Arkansas
Chapter 17 It Was in the Blood
Chapter 18 One by One: Back to Memphis
Chapter 19 The End of an Era
Author’s notes
Dedicat ions
For my darling bride Ca rol –
“No man ever had a finer help - m ate !”
For my stalwart son Mic hael -
Thanks for listening patiently to all sorts of exce rpts!
For my faithful brother St eve -
Thanks for your merry band of readers, providing so much ins ight!
PREFACE
In order to understand this story a little better, you perhaps would want to know a bit about me. I am, indeed, a product of the city I describe. I populate the story with characters often derived from and inspired by individuals I met, knew, and worked with. Fictional though they are, they are, nonetheless, believable.
The story of a frontiersman’s quest to establish roots and a family legacy on a wind-swept Texas prairie settlement merely begins the tale of a clan for whom redemption is a way of life.
Along the way, meandering in much the same way as the mighty Mississippi does as it passes by Memphis, nearly one hundred years of the Cunningham family passes and, thus, its interaction with the city. This yields tales of love and loss; tragedy and redemption; and the story of good, strong men and the remarkable women who love them.
Having said these things, I say plainly here at the beginning that this is a work of fiction! It is.
Now indeed, some of the names represent actual Memphians and other Americans of historical, social, or other noteworthy interest, and I have portrayed them and their actions as accurately as I can. Other characters mentioned in this tale are completely fictional, and any resemblance to actual living (or deceased, for that matter) persons is entirely coincidental.
I sincerely hope you steep yourself in this tale of a lasting family and the beautiful and vibrant city that they, through their generations, helped shape.
With these things said, I now invite you to sit back, relax, and most especially:
Enjoy!
Chapter 1
THE CROCKETT PARTY GETS TO MEMPHIS
As a crossroads, Memphis has always had its share of less - t han -s avory characters passing through. As a meeting place, it has frequently had a significant role in American history by bringing together diverse individuals for interaction and events with significant impact. Nonetheless, Memphis could always manage to spawn home -g rown characters of its own. From river rats and pirates in its earliest days, to Machine Gun Kelly in the 1930s and from early musicians like W. C. Handy and Memphis Minnie to Elvis Presley and his worldwide acclaim, Memphis has produced movie stars, authors, singers, comedians, scientists, and leaders in almost every field of human endeavor. It only seems right that Memphis would also produce some scoundrels, too!
1827
Val Dimand stood resolutely on the bluff overlooking the busy landing area. The place where he stood was along Front Street (and Front Street it is to this day), and it gave him a bird’s-eye view of the doings below. He had become quite adept at scampering down to the water’s edge rapidly in order to quell impending trouble or to help someone unfamiliar with the rules and etiquette of putting ashore along the Mississippi at Memphis. Val had, earlier in the year, become one of the newly established town’s first peace officers (a total of eight volunteers in all) and was assigned to watch the waterfront. The flatboaters and keelboaters who came up from the water’s edge were, by and large, a rough-and-ready bunch. Frequently armed to the teeth, they did not instantly convert from the skills and attributes that kept them alive on the sometimes treacherous waters easily into civility. Add to them, a generous helping of wide-eyed farmers on rafts or in wagons, along with every kind of con agent, grifter, pickpocket and ne’er-do-well known to man, and you had what Val considered an interesting cross section of humanity. Much like the smells along the waterfront, it changed almost daily.
Also very interesting to him was the sight of Angie MacFee skipping lightly across the walkways separating the boat moorings as she made her way, presumably, back to Levi Gold’s dry goods and sundry store with an order for supplies such as flour or meal, eggs, or the like. Many of the boaters along the river needed fresh supplies to continue their journey downriver, and Gold’s was happy to supply them. If the order was small enough that Angie could carry it to the river’s edge in a couple of canvas bags, she would collect payment first and then go to Gold’s and pick up the order, returning with the completed list in good time.
If an order was too large or heavy for Angie to deliver by hand, Mr. Gold had a light wagon built, which was perfectly-sized to navigate between the moorings. He employed a middle-aged fellow as a clerk who could double as a deliveryman on such occasions. Henry Speck, honest as the day was long, was ideal for this duty. He could write, do sums, and knew how to measure out partial quantities to give the customers exactly what they wanted. Henry was assiduous with the monetary transactions, as was Angie herself. Mr. Gold’s delivery system worked well for those customers who did not want to make the climb up the bluffs to Front Street and then the quarter-mile walk up it to visit the store itself. For those who did choose to make the trek, afoot or ahorse, a dazzling and growing array of wares awaited.
Val cared very little about how well Gold’s marketing and delivery system was working for him; he cared quite a bit about the trim set of legs, pert bosom, and mop of honey (almost orange) blond hair prancing his way. He had hopes of making their casual, “once-in-a-while” couplings much more permanent.
She, for her part, really liked Val and his physique and used it for her pleasure as it suited her. But she enjoyed the company of other men as well, so the current situation suited her just fine.
Val glanced at the sun and reckoned it was about three in the afternoon. He had been at his post since just after daylight at about seven that morning, and it had been a mild but interesting day so far. Several trips down to the water’s edge had been necessary. There, he’d assisted the “landing fees” collector in making some of those unfamiliar with putting ashore at the Memphis municipal landing aware that using these facilities now carried a cost. The fees were clearly posted on two large, hand-painted signs near the water’s edge for those few who could read. These charges were based on the size of vessel, the length of stay, and the mooring services needed. He had even passed by Angie on her way with an order, and she’d treated him to an affectionate hug, a light peck on the cheek, and a promise to meet up later that evening at Wilson’s Tavern for a light supper and drinks. The afternoon sun had positively lit her orange-blonde hair to radiance.
Although everyone assumed Angie was Val’s girl, nothing was really set in stone. She was attracted strongly to him, and he to her. Angie enjoyed the implied protection that her closeness to Val generated, and he would easily have that job at the drop of her hat or hankie. Though they did get mutual benefit from each other, they weren’t yet exclusive.
Probably since the first people navigating the wide Mississippi, putting ashore at this conveniently wide section of riverbank had been free as could be. However, now, this was a part of the Town of Memphis and subject to legally mandated charges as outlined by the fees collector. The hard men who navigated the river for a living frequently didn’t take well to being