Author's Notes:

One realizes at this point that one should be as inspired at thanking one's collaborators as in the actual work. The input of editors, beta readers, guinea pigs, accomplices, cheerleaders and executioners is indispensable. Next time, I will start with the thankings when I'm fresh, as Simpatico, Mamajamallama, Anthrophile and Arcfire all contributed invaluable thoughts on plot, characterization, punctuation and vocabulary, and should be named as co-authors. Thanks indeed to all of you.

Lyric credits:

Theme to Bonanza by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans
Desperado by Alice Cooper
Theme to Firefly by Joss Whedon

Writing began in December of 2006, and I am a word-a-day writer. It has been an interesting challenge to continue working without being influenced by subsequent episodes. Such as 'Heart.' Was not successful in doing so.

To my great regret, I never watched Deadwood. I saw one episode, and thought the script consisted of primarily one word. Pity, as my love for Ian McShane knows no bounds. Here, as in other places, similarities are coincidental. Through an act of subconscious plagiarism, Belrose was originally named Tolliver, till I was informed that was a not just coincidental but outlandishly coincidental.

Location of Gilead: So I asked myself, where is the Roadhouse? Looking at a map of Nebraska, that town, with its Old Testament timbre suggested itself. The story grew from there.

The town of Tombstone, Arizona will not come into existence for another eight years.

Some elements, such a Sam eating, Dean singing, the decisions regarding staying together or separating were all written prior to the Finale, and lengthy summertime discussions of how those are now overburdened tropes.

The riding into the sunset bit was written in March. Stupid "Hollywood Babylon" stole it from me. 

Any superficial resemblance between Marie-Rose and Ellen Harvelle is unintentional. Ellen is not the first, nor the last, tough, brassy female saloon owner.

In my head: were one to look at the genealogical record one would find in 1877, Tully Bodiene marries Alice White Fox Gladstone. In 1889, their daughter, Grace, marries William Joseph Spencer, and in 1922 the daughter of that union, Alice, marries Thomas Albert Harvelle and names their second son after her father. The rest we know.

Marie-Rose's husband, Claude August Dumaine of Abbeville, Louisiana, had green eyes.

September, 2007