June 2024 Quarterly Newsletter

Dear friends,

Welcome to the June newsletter. For something a little different, we invited Dan West to Independent Broadcast Studios, Balhannah, for a chat. This interview was recorded earlier in the week with local celebrity Suzie Hindmarsh-Knights.

Introduction     Dan West – Patriarch, a self-made person, cattle & horse breeder, lives in Denver, Colorado, with his family. He has married and buried three wives and carries guilt over a shooting incident that nearly saw the death of his youngest son Oliver.
 
Suzie:     “Morning, Dan, take a seat.”

Dan:     Hi, Suzie. Lovely to meet you again. You’re looking well.”

Suzie:     “Thanks. You’re not looking bad yourself. We’ve turned the weather on for your visit, but then you know about our hot, dry climate here in South Australia as you travel here often. I believe you have mining interests?”

Dan:     “Yeah. Love Australia. We holiday in Coober Pedy at least once a year. As you know, my wife’s father lives and works there, and we have interests in a couple of mines, so it draws us back for many reasons.”

Suzie:     “Did you make your fortune in opal?”

Dan:     “Depends on what you mean by fortune.” He grinned. “I was young when I first ventured into opal mining. I earned enough to buy back the family home from the bank. I turned my family fortune around and made my money work for me. My mines are still profitable, so I guess I’m one of the lucky ones.”

Suzie:     “You said you were young. Wealth isn’t easy to manage at the best times, but it can be tricky when young. How did you manage it?”

Dan:     Laughs. “I didn’t. I went off the deep end. I got drawn in with the wrong types who saw an easy mark and took advantage. I learned the hard way you can’t trust everyone.”

Suzie:     “You became a hunter?”

Dan:     Sigh. “Unfortunately, yes. If I could change one thing, it would be that. Lucky for me, I met my first wife. She sorted me out, and I never looked back.”

Suzie:     “You married four times. Three of your wives died in tragic circumstances. You met your fourth wife, Ellie, in British Columbia, and I believe it wasn’t love at first sight.”

Dan:     “I wouldn't go as far as to say that. She was in denial. She took me on a journey, that’s for sure. She learned of my past and wasn’t impressed. Her family are animal activists—”

Suzie:     “I believe you also followed that road.”

Dan:     “Yes, and it’s been so worthwhile. I’m trying to give something back after my unfortunate past. Anyway, back to Ellie, I eventually wore her down. It took twenty years for her to come into my life. I didn’t believe I could be lucky enough to meet another woman I’d want to marry. But when I met Ellie, I knew she was the one. We’ve been married for a few years now.”

Suzie:     “And happy?”

Dan:     “Oh God, yes. I love her to the moon and back. I’ve loved and lost three amazing women and was lucky to find my soulmate at a time I’d resigned myself to being alone.”

Suzie:     “That’s good to hear. Tell me, Dan, how did you deal with losing three wives?”

Dan:     “It’s never easy losing a loved one. For me, to lose three was heart breaking. But out of those marriages came children. They needed me and gave me purpose.”

Suzie:     “Talking of children. Whatever possessed you to have six?”

Dan:     Laughs. “Having two sets of twins certainly upped the ante. But I wouldn’t have changed any of it. I’d have had more if fate hadn’t intervened. My kids are as different as night and day, but their mothers would be proud of the people they’ve turned out to be.”

Suzie:     “Tell me about your kids.”

Dan:     “How long have you got.” Laughs. “Heath is the eldest. Firstborns bear all the responsibility of those that follow. He’s steadfast, solid as they come. He’s always had my back. He runs the ranch—”

Suzie:     “Married?”

Dan:     “He has a sweetheart, and when the time is right, I’m sure they’ll tie the knot. Jamie came next. He also carried much of the burden of younger siblings. Heath and his brother are tight. As a child, Jamie saw himself as Sherlock Holmes. He’s ventured into detective work and taken on more than he bargained for. I hope he’ll eventually tire of it and return to help Heath. Then we have my twin girls.” Smiles. “Caroline and Alana, who are opposites in everything. Alana was an adventurous child growing up. She learned to ride before she could barely walk. She worked on the ranch from an early age. When she’s not around it’s like losing three staff. Caroline is a homemaker. She can ride as well as her sister, but ranching isn’t her thing. She’ll marry and produce her own tribe. Alana had a chip on her shoulder about our wealth. She proved to the naysayer that she could make it without her old man’s help.” Laughs. “She had a passion for acting for a time and succeeded in many pursuits on her terms. Then we have Joe and Oliver, my youngest.” Sigh. “Joe is headstrong, and his brother Oli would have followed him into battle if Joe commanded it. They’re close, especially after a gun accident nearly took Oli’s life. Joe carried the guilt of that day for many years. Kids! He disobeyed me and took his brother's shooting badly. So, Suzie, you have kids?”

Suzie:     “No, I couldn’t stand the pressure. Tell me about your current wife, Ellie. How does she deal with your tribe?”

Dan:     “Nothing much deters Ellie. My girls and their young brothers did their utmost to convince her marrying me was a terrible idea. She turned things around with them. After saving Joe’s life, things improved. Now they’re tight.”

Suzie:     “Have you considered having a child together?”

Dan:     “No, it won’t happen. If we’d met earlier, we may have considered it. But Ellie is in her mid-forties, and I’m mid-fifties. We’ll hang in there and wait for the kids to produce grandchildren. Ellie has two daughters, Faith, and Charlotte, who are, funnily enough, twins. We’re blessed. Faith married Oliver and Charlotte, James.”

Suzie:     “They married their stepbrothers?”

Dan:     “Not unusual, considering they’d only met the last few years. So, between the eight of them, something should happen soon.”

Suzie:     “I’ve heard you often talk about one of your closest friends who is more like a son—”


Dan:     “You’re talking about Hank. He was young when he came to work for me. He quickly became someone I could trust. He’s one of the family.”

Suzie:     “Time is running out. Is there anything you’d like to add before we finish?”

Dan:     “Only to tell your readers and listeners to follow their dreams. Life is precious, and it doesn’t matter how difficult things might seem, we can change our circumstances for the better if we want to. Thanks, Suzie, for the chat. We hope to see you in Denver sometime in the future.

Suzie:     “Thanks, Dan, give my regards to Ellie and the family.”
 
Thanks go to Dan West for dropping in for an informal chat. How about we get one of his kids in next time?

Follow Dan’s story in the West Series, the first book being Destiny.

I will sign off here and be back with the September newsletter.

So, until next time, stay safe.
​
Suzie

All Suzie’s books are available through your local Amazon site and through Kindle Unlimited.