Mark Jordan was in no hurry to finish his ride across Texas to his first assignment in Dallas. He was ashamed of himself for not standing up to his father and choosing his own career. But, now he was an ordained minister and wished something would happen to change the course of his life, not knowing that the two riders that would share the trail would do that and much more.
Most biographies start with birth and then roll through the years as they drift by but that would bore me to death, and I lived through it.
The interesting part of my life began on September 23rd, 1995 as we were driving back to Omaha after watching the Notre Dame - Texas game in South Bend with relatives. The #21 Irish beat the #13 ranked Longhorns 55-27; and in a real oddity, scored points in just about every way conceivable in the game of football. They scored touchdowns on passes and runs, kicked a field goal, intercepted a pass for a TD, returned a punt for a touchdown and even added two points for blocking a Texas extra point.
As we were driving along westbound I-80 somewhere in Illinois in our Jeep Cherokee, I absent-mindedly rubbed the left side of my neck under my chin.
My very astute wife asked, "What's wrong with your neck?"
Now I had been an Air Force medic for twelve years; and as evident in my descriptions of outlaws' agonizing deaths in my stories, have a good working knowledge of anatomy and physiology. But that knowledge is offset by being a guy and thinking that we all live forever. My neck lymph nodes had been enlarged for around three months when my wife asked that question.
I obfuscated as if I was a lawyer and replied, "Um, a few weeks or so." (Note: Twelve or thirteen weeks does qualify as a 'few' weeks if one chooses to be generous.)
"And what did the doctor say?"
"I'll ask him when we get back."
"Yes, you will."
I do not want to make my wife out to be a harpy or a nag, because she is neither. She's an incredibly patient woman who could only put up with so much stupidity by yours truly.
Three days later, after the doctor copped a quick feel of my lymph nodes, he said, "I don't know what it is, but I don't like it," which was an honest, albeit an imprecise diagnosis.
So, we trotted over to a local ENT specialist. She didn't like them either and took me into surgery a few days later where she yanked one out, so the lab could dice it and slice it, then look at it under a microscope.
The pathologist who looked at the cells through his microscope reported his findings as 'lymphoepithelioma'. That meant that it was a secondary tumor and there was a primary tumor somewhere else in my nasopharynx that was the original problem.
Back I went into the operating room where the ENT doctor did an extensive examination and found nothing. She was so sure of her reconnaissance of the back of my throat that she told me that the pathologist was wrong, and it was just a lymphoma.
Now, being a computer geek, even way back in the dark ages of the internet in '95, I did some searching and found that if the primary tumor wasn't found, then the survival rate plummeted to about a fifth of the already lousy survival rate for the advanced Stage IV cancer. My wife and I decided that a second opinion might be a good idea.
Off we went in her Jeep to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as the lousy weather descended across the Midwest. It's been known to happen, you know.
They had a problem getting the doctor here to release the specimen she'd yanked out of my neck, which I thought was odd because I don't remember selling it and figured I still owned it. Anyway, they eventually got the lymph node, did their own peek and confirmed the pathologist's diagnosis.
It wasn't until Halloween in 1995 that they finally found the original little bugger. It was just a tiny bump in the back of my throat that must have been there for a long time before it sent its friends marching into my lymph nodes.
They wanted to treat the cancer there, but I opted to have it done in Omaha and was sent to the care of Doctor Patrick J. McKenna (a name you may recognize from Max). Doctor Mac was the perfect man for the job as he was very personable, optimistic, had a good sense of humor and wouldn't put up with my constant whining. It helped that he knew his job, too.
Christmas Western but also supernatural/magical silliness -- Have never read a book by this author before, but I was looking for a light Christmas read and got it. It is a very peculiar story and I don't really want to describe it. I will say one does not usually find a book that has Christianity, magic, evil and squeaky clean romance included in one story. Texas is the setting. I am bemused by it all.
PASTOR OR LAWMAN, RICH PUSHY FATHERS, CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
I gave this 5 STARS because this is a Great Heartwarming Christmastime Story that takes place in the Old West Era in Texas, the little town involved doesn't even have the railroad there or very close yet. It's so rurual they don't know at the surrounding ranchs if they need to have service for the family & hands at home or go to town to Church until the Church bells ring on early Sunday morning that can be heard for miles & miles around. A Christmas Miracle, a man's true love, two men find & form a lasting friendship, something they had not grown up with, & a mother & son re- find each other & get a second chance at being a real family. Not 1 killing here! Just a wonderful read that should be an annual favorite right along with reading about the ghost from the past, present & future & Scrooge, not to mention a few others we love to visit each year. I plan on adding this refreshing western to my holiday reads to revisit with Mark, Anna, & all the rest of the wonderful people I met including those 2 whose mission is to make things right!
Mark goes through all kinds of miracles to figure out who he is and what he's doing
Mark wakes up and not knows where he is and where he got his horse and his new guns but he's all of a sudden the law man and has to hunt down the bad guy. From there it goes to discovering he's married to Anna Cooper and he doesn't know who she is he doesn't remember her all he knows is his name is Mark Jordan. He hunts down the bad guy takes him to town locks him up and talks to the mayor. Leo the mayor tells him the whole town has been waiting for him to wake up after 5 years of being called Mack and not remembering where he came from. He asked Leo what he should do about Anna and Leo said well see you at church tomorrow and making an announcement at church about your returned memory and see what happens. Anna and Marc go through several up and downs. While this is happening Mark's father comes to visit with the ridiculous plan to get Mark to move back to Kansas City which he won't do and Mark remains adamant that Annie is his wife and he's going to remain here in Bent Creek and be a sheriff a job he enjoys and his mother decides to stay with him.
An outstanding rendition of the old western excitement throughout the entire novel. I continue to be impressed with Mr. Petit's exceptionally writing expertise, as his books seem to get better and better.
Well worthy of the five stars I awarded this great episode of our wonderful western adventures. This is a wonderfully descriptive measure of the true old west and the characters were placed exceptionally well.
This, to me, is a family oriented story and the storylines are so easily followed. There is plenty of excitement throughout the book, and I was definitely impressed with the author's ability to maintain my interest throughout the entire story.
I recommend this book to all family oriented readings, as this one will definitely meet, and probably exceed, all of your expectations. I cannot emphasize how wonderful the message was, as I was somewhat spellbound throughout the entire book.
Not your typical western, but in a good way. This is an intriguing story line which makes for an enjoyable read. It's a clean, Christian story. My only issue was the number of times Mark let his guard down as a sheriff and got himself into trouble. They felt like rookie mistakes for one who was supposed to be good at his job. I would also have liked more closure on the part of the story where the 2 boys shot at the sheriff. I realize a miracle was supposed to fully explain that, but at least a conversation with the boys and confession to Mark would have rounded out the story. Surely Elizabeth wouldn't have married one of them without this being disclosed.
A CJ Petit Christmas Western with A Few Miracles Thrown In
CJP lived up yo his spouses request that no one be killed in third Christmas western. A young man leagues his home because he can no longer tolerate his Father's interference in his life. He attends a Seminary and becomes as Sheriff instead of as Pastor. The miracles that occur are directed at the people who need them the most. This is an excellent read for the genre as well as an exceptional Christian based novel.....ER
Mark Jordan is a good man. His character is such of strength and quality resonates throughout. Anna is the spitfire, love of his life. An accident and all is up in the air. Their Faith, a Second Star and a strong Family leads them back to each other! No double life and no doubt that he was for her and her for him!
Enjoy "The Second Star" Christmas is and always will be a special time of year, Miracles happen all the TIME! C.J. Petit has a real quality story here! I think you will really enjoy and I have one more to read in the near Future!
As promised, C J Petit has delivered a heart warming story with miracles and no killings. Mark Jordan experiences life changing by miracles that effect everyone around him in this superbly edited book. Petit has given us a great telling; as usual, without the errors that have previously detracted from his works. My congratulations, C J on a Milestone in your writing career! Looking forward to more smooth readings with your usual fascinating storytelling talents!
This book was okay....I felt like there was too much detail for me though which made it drag out. Perhaps an abridged version would have been better. By detail I mean stuff like 'do you want coffee-yes I would love coffee-got a cup-filled the cup-sat the pot down, etc' if you get my meaning. I liked the premise of another life that was forgotten and built and then the former regained. I did not like the wife so much who would put the man off because he was not 'her husband'-seemed a bit cold. As far as it being a Christmas Story was a bit off too-Christmas was only a brief part.
Could we imagine a book without any western shootouts by Petit??? No bullets traveling through flesh, muscle, organs and bones??? We did have a few guns however. I was a little worried about this book but it turned out to be a very good one. I didn’t know if I would like this book after reading over 80 of them. I thought I might become annoyed with Anna but I guess she was in a weird hard conundrum. I loved, loved the show down with his father. What a great comeuppance!. Wished I could have seen his creative gift.
When I started reading the story I wasn't sure what I was getting into. As the story progressed I became more and more taken with the characters and the goodness of the main character. By the time I got to the end I had tears in my eyes and thankful thankfulness the goodness the people portrayed. I can't wait for you to write the Easter story. Thanks a bunch!
Not the normal Petit book, but what a refreshing wonderful story it is. Mark Jordon and Mack Jones are the same man, and this mystery has Mack's wife Anna Cooper between a rock and a hard place. The love of her life has been replaced by Mark. Can she ever forget Mack and love Mark? Do you believe in Angels? Do you believe in miracles? The Second Star is a fun and happy read, but still a cliff hanger in C J Petit style.
Another great western of how love will come through. Everyone reading this story/adventure will understand. Leading up to the holidays, you hear and may witness drama, drama of all types some good a n d others horrific. The holidays seem to bring out subdued anger in some people. Everyone read and enjoy C.J.Petit great western love story.
Again C. J. Petit wrote the essential birds eye view about the true tragedy that sometimes it is not exactly the choices that we make, but when fate takes grip on your life, that the result is not what we wanted. THE SECOND STAR was a very tenderhearted story that I truly enjoyed. It was different from some of his other books, but just as good.👍BRAVO!!!!
This is a fantastic story. Very good story for Christmas. To me this is a miracle story about a man who lost his memory, but Mark had the patience of a saint, and poor Anna she did not know where her life was going. Very interesting reading, it also brought tears to my eyes. The people in this book were also amazing. I highly recommend this book.
I have become this Authors biggest fan,and I have not been disappointed yet. And this story is yet another wonderful and intriguing story. The things that happen with the main characters, the reference to define intervention are wonderful. Please read this story.
Quite a different story from Petit. This Western is full of surprises. A man who has lost memory of his identity returns to a town where the people there know him as the man who had been their sheriff five years ago. I highly recommend this author. I hope that he continues to write interesting stories because he has only two remaining that I haven't read.
Having read almost all of CJ Petit 's Western's I kept putting off reading his Christmas story thinking I wouldn't care for a Christmas western. But it ended up being a very enjoyable read. Now it doesn't have the shoot outs and fist fights and other things we come to expect with Westerns but the story is good and heart warming like a Christmas story should be.
I was told that I should start reading westerns. I picked up one and it was by C.J. Petit. One right after the other, I started to read. I have now read all the books and this was the last one. I have recommended his books too many and will keep doing so. This one was definitely the star on the tree.
I don't know how he does it, but he makes every story unique, and I think this is one of his best. The characters were realistic, the story developed well and with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. I even have been able to ignore the less than perfect editing. Or this book was better than some of the others. Loved it!!!
I was reluctant to read this story knowing that no one was going to be shot in the story. I started reading and it got better and better. It was difficult to put down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The problem I have now is I have all of C.J. Petit's books so time to start writing.
Well you did write a Christmas story for your wife. Not as many killed. But Mark was ment to be in law enforcement. He sure told his father off. Theresa sure went from man to man in that family.Marks dad sure got his comeuppance didn't he. Good going. See you next book. JD
As I continue to follow this author I was particularly intrigued with the title as it fits with the current Christmas timing. I definitely recommend that you read this as it's so very different from the author's action adventure and romance Western story.
C J , you did it once again! Spectacular story! This was an incredibly fresh idea. The characters were all well developed. I read this a few days after Christmas. Truly if anything you outdid yourself. I can speak , because I have read all your books at least once. You have outdone Louis Lamore this time!
I had specifically skipped this book in the Petit series of hits because I expected it wouldn’t measure up to the depth of story that I was used to. I was wrong. This story was amazing, touching and perfect. Thanks for what you do! You keep writing and I’ll keep reading.
What a nice up lifting story. It makes me glad of the holiday magic. So good to read all the good that came after the loss of memory. True love will always win. Thank you for another great read as always. My you and yours have a great Christmas. God Bless you.
An excellent read for any time of the year, and even more so with Christmas now four weeks away. Give one a desire to reflect on the real reason for the season.
I look forward with happy anticipation to every "yet unread" novel by C.J. The forward for this one gave me a good giggle. My thanks to the missis for this one! To both of you a hearty WELL DONE.
I just finished this amazing story. From the time I started, I looked forward to picking it up. C.J. Petit never disappoints but I've enjoyed this book the most of any to date. I highly recommend!
This book is totally different. It has a unique plot that makes you think. I would have liked to edit it though. You think Mr. Petit would give me job? ☺