January 26th, 2009

I’m nearing the end of the second rewrite of the Buffalo Bill book and thought I would include a sample of one of the chapters. Cody was involved with an actress named Katherine Clemmons and that involvement caused a great deal of hardship and embarrassment for him and his family. Lots of great men have met their downfall through opportunistic women. That’s a big part of what the Buffalo Bill book is about. The book I’ve written about my brother is in part about the same thing. By the way, The Deadliest Accusation is set to be released in December 2011. And now, a little Buffalo Bill? On February 17, 1894, the Posh Chamberlain Restaurant in Washington D.C. was filled to capacity with well-dressed guests, enjoying the elegant ambiance and sumptuous food. Forty-eight year old William Cody was among the fashionably coifed patrons. He was seated at one of the pristinely set tables wearing a tailored suit and tie, his long hair combed neatly away from his handsome face, his signature beard and mustache trimmed and waxed. Katherine Clemmons, a San Francisco born actress with soft, stunning features and a petite frame, sat across from William sipping on a glass of wine and drinking in every word the showman said. It was obvious from the way he looked at her that the two were more than just dinner companions. They ate their meal and shared a bottle of champagne, as a handful of musicians serenaded the patrons with a delicate, classical piece. In the midst of the harmonious setting Fred May entered. Fred, an acquaintance of both William and Katherine, walked across the eatery to their table. Fred and Katherine exchanged a flirtatious glance as ordinary pleasantries were exchanged. Sometime during the tense conversation that transpired between the three, William punched the man in the face and knocked him to the floor. The distinguished clientele around the activity halted their eating and quietly speculated about what had happened. The wait staff hurried to the table apologizing profusely for the disturbance and helping Fred to his feet. With a slight bow and broad grin to the other diners around him, William quickly tried to defuse the awkward situation. “Just a difference of opinion between gentlemen,” he told them.