Mary Connealy’s heroine’s interview

» Posted on Jun 10, 2009 in Blog | Comments Off on Mary Connealy’s heroine’s interview


This week I’m hosting Debby Mayne with her book, Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida, Mary Connealy with her book, Montana Rose, and Steve Bonenberger with his book,
Through the Gates of Fire. If you want to enter the drawing for the book, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you
can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (June 14th) evening.

Heroine interview from Montana Rose:

1. Cassie Griffin Dawson, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I’m the descendent of a Spanish countess. My father owned a railroad and I was the coddled daughter of wealthy, loving parents. After my father’s death, my mother arranged for my money and guardianship to be handled by a business man she trusted. When my mother died, when I was twelve, this man became the only real presence in my life and I married him when I was fifteen and he was about forty. Now, three years later, my wealth is gone. Griff moved us from our home in Chicago to avoid the gossip about our marriage, and I’ve been taught to be completely submissive to my older and wiser husband. Sometime he teaches me with a very harsh hand, but only when I’m bad.
And now Griff is dead, I’m penniless and with child and dozens of men stand on my husband’s just-filled in grave and demand I pick one of them because woman don’t survive in the rugged west alone.

I picked Red Dawson, a man I attacked with my fists and fingernails and feet to try and stop him from digging my husband’s grave. The most outrageous behavior of my life. But Red was the best of the awful choices. And now, as his wife, I am determined to accept whatever punishment I deserve for my attack, as a woman should.

2. What do you do for fun?

Griff insisted I learn restraint. I haven’t laughed in three years. He proposed to me and, when I laughed and said, “Yes,” and threw my arms around him, he shook me until my neck stung and my arms were bruised. I have, ever since, been doing my best to be mature and worthy of Griff’s exacting standards.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I do as I’m told. The only thing I put off is speaking my mind, even though Red insures me he wants to know what I’m thinking. But he doesn’t really. He’d be horrified to know about the tumult and anger and rebellion that boils inside me. He keeps insisting I defy him. Instead I’m trying so hard to obey. . .except of course obeying him about defiance. Marriage to Red is very confusing, but he’s so sweet. And I want to much to please him

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

The childish thoughts that rage inside of me and how everyone would hate me if I once gave them voice.

5. What do you want out of life?

I want to be safe. I want to trust, Red, but I can’t, I just can’t. I’ve been trying to work around the ranch because he said he wanted me to do my share. Griff always said a woman’s place was firmly within the home and he wouldn’t even allow me to garden or feed the chickens. An now, I’ve let his flock of chickens escape and I’ve nearly burned down his barn and I was nearly killed by a mama pig that got loose, and Red’s horse hates me and bucked him off when it ran from me. I keep waiting for Red to get angry, but he doesn’t. I wonder when he’ll finally have enough of my foolishness?

6. What is the most important thing to you?

I’ve found my faith again with Red. I was raised in a family of believers but Griff had no use for religion, so I’d lost that important part of myself in my hears with him. Now I’m with a man who is a strong believer and being allowed to pray and read the Bible and worship is like water soaking into my weary, thirsty soul.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

I do read. Red made me realize how unusual that was in Montana Territory. I’d gotten used to believing I was stupid, because Griff told me so all the time, but I used to do well in school. I’d forgotten that. I really am NOT stupid. Red has his well worn Bible. That’s the only book in the house and he reads it to me in the evening.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I could get the riotous thoughts in my head to calm down. I’ve learned self-control outwardly, thanks to Griff, but I could never control my unruly thoughts.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

On Red’s ranch was have a nervous horse named Buck. A kicking cow named Rosie and a visious mama pig named Harriet. They’re not pets, and each has given a good try at killing me. Some days I think Red likes them more than he likes me. He’s certainly known them longer.

Although he did kiss me the other day. But he’s never done such again. I wonder why? What did I do wrong?

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to the time before my parents died. It was a nice life, full of love and comfort. Wishing to be somewhere else though, is just another way I’m childish, I’m sure.