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Meredith Freeman
Meredith was born here in Moore
County and has lived here all of her life.
Meredith enjoys simple things like long
walks, reading, writing, crafting, flowers,
homeschooling her children, and ‘quiet
time’ in her swing admiring God’s Creation.
Take a look at some of Meredith’s ‘crafts’ on
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The General’s Notorious
Widow
Author: Steven Bly
Review by Meredith Freeman
Chapter 7, page number 159, the General’s
notorious widow a certain Elizabeth ‘Lixie’
Miller thinks to herself, “When I read a good
book, it pulls me in, and for a moment I’m
living in that fictional world. Just for a day or
so, I’m enjoying this fictional world.” Isn’t that
the way it is with everyone else when they read
a good book, whether fiction or non-fiction?
Surely it isn’t just ME!
The General’s Notorious Widow is the
second of a three book series entitled the
Belles of Lordsburg by Steven Bly. Yes, I read
the first book, the Senator’s Other Daughter,
and it was soooooo hilarious that I had no
choice but to feast on the second, and Lord
willing, I’ll read the third, the Outlaw’s Twin
Sister! So here I am…why not do a review on
the second book instead of the first!?!
The General’s Notorious Widow, a 231-
page fiction novel with a little bit of love and
a whole lot of funny dispersed throughout,
begins in Lordsburg, New Mexico Territory,
in 1884, during the Wild West. SIDE NOTE: I
have always been intrigued and fascinated
with the Wild West, so this trip back in time
was an amazing journey for me, and I loved
every second of the trip. There are so many
hilarious scenes. Some parts I had to re-read. I
couldn’t get enough—O how I do love a hearty
laugh! O me!
Cowboys and Indians, cows, horses and
wagons, bandits and guns, ducks and pigs,
hot sun and warm breezes, lovely hats, pretty
ruffly dresses and gloves, and parasols…so
just who is this General’s notorious widow?
None other than Elizabeth Miller, a spunky,
highly–intelligent, feisty, strong-willed, very
attractive, quick-witted, charming, middleaged
woman who prefers to be called Lixie.
She is interesting and bold, straight-forward
and got things done—although not rude or
hateful. Lixie is compassionate, tender, loving,
and giving while possessing a strong inner
longing simply to be needed…and loved.
Lixie was an Army General’s wife for over
twenty–years before gaining the title of the
‘General’s notorious widow.’ Army life was all
she knew. Migrating to Lordsburg after her
husband’s death, Lixie was alone as she and
the General had no children. She wasn’t quite
sure exactly what it was she sought, but she
would eventually find it.
For one, Lixie Miller longed for her own
identity rather than the label society had
placed on her after her high-ranking Army
husband’s death.
One evening while eating her supper alone
(as was the norm) Lixie had several visitors.
Mr. Charles Noble, an author, strolled over,
introduced himself, and announced that he
was going to write a book about her. Instead
of being flattered, Lixie was infuriated and flat
told Mr. Noble all about it! Reliving the past
was something she did enough on her own;
however, it was something she neither enjoyed
nor endeavored to do—and especially did not
desire for the whole wide world to read! Mrs.
Lixie ‘got out of her buggy’ on more than one
occasion with this pesky man, in which I took
great humor!
That same evening, while
Mr. Noble lurked about
Lixie’s table jotting down
notes for ‘his book,’ old friend
Langford Elsworth came
over with a proposition for
Lixie to come to his ranch
and entertain some special
guests who were visiting for
the weekend. Of course, Lixie
was honored and jumped
at the opportunity to DO
something, to be of use to
someone.
Last, but certainly not
least, visiting Mrs. Lixie
that evening was a “squarejawed,
broad-shouldered,
handsome Santa Fe lawyer,” Mr. Jefferson
Carter who had volunteered to travel a long,
long way to deliver a message to Lixie Miller.
He had heard about her, was intrigued, and
determined to meet her.
Naturally, Lixie did not disappoint and
rendered Mr. Carter speechless but…ahem…
each of them wanting more of the other. Mr.
Carter made quite an impression on Lixie,
and she did him. Always on the lookout for
another encounter with Jefferson Carter who
seemed to have a knack for showing up at the
worst possible times, poor Lixie was always
either a hot mess or in omni-shambles with
her hair every which a way, or having a ripped
dress, or was half asleep and bearing her soul.
HA! Isn’t that how it is though? Can’t you just
picture it?
All of these people marked the beginning
of the adventures of Lixie Miller and her quest
to discover who she was and what she was
missing.
From planning parties and menus for highranking
officials to entertaining rough-riding
cowboys and shooting shotguns, Mrs. Lixie
Miller had it going on; there wasn’t much that
woman could not do. One might say she was
‘well-rounded.’
Upon being escorted to Elsworth’s ranch
by a couple of cowboys and a very exciting
and comical, eh HILARIOUS commute, Lixie
arrived at the ranch and reported for duty.
When the prominent guests arrived, they
brought with them a little injured Apache girl,
who attached herself to Lixie and vice versa.
Lixie called the little girl Bonita, and little
Bonita became part of what Lixie longed forsomeone
to NEED her.
When Mr. Noble showed up at the ranch,
poor Lixie was so disappointed. She wanted
to see some more of the handsome lawyer
rather than the irritating author who could
drive a gnat crazy! But not to worry, Mr. Carter
showed up, too, and what a tender,
loving, kind, and discerning man
he was! He knew more about Lixie
Miller than she knew about herself,
and he knew how to handle her!
Even though Carter and Lixie
hadn’t known one another very
long, they had a connection. They
‘got’ one another, understood one
another, were comfortable in each
other’s presence, and could talk
about anything! Jefferson Carter
completed Lixie Miller, and Lixie
Miller completed Jefferson Carter.
Ahhh! They were definitely kindred
spirits, and I do believe soulmates!
Even though Lixie was a fictional
character, her personality was real.
The thoughts she has to herself
tickled me and made me laugh out loud.
What became of Lixie and Jefferson? What
happened to Little Bonita? The prominent
guests at the ranch? Could Charles Noble
keep up with fast-paced Lixie Miller and get
his book written? Weeeeellllll…….you’ll just
have to read the book. Travel back to the Wild
West and get ready for wild adventures and a
nimiety of hearty laughs! Hmm…. ☐
No. 142 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.31