The Real Abigail Weech

Whenever I deliver my “Ghosts upon the Little Bighorn” audio/visual presentation, someone who has read my historical novel THE STORYTELLERS will invariably ask which characters in the book are historic and which are fictional. I will, of course, reply that most of the characters actually lived and only a small handful are fictitious. But only one is semi-fictitious.

That would be --- Abigail Weech.

Although the hard-writing of THE STORYTELLERS consumed no more than three years the research encompassed 35 years (easy). During those research years I could generally be found holding sway over various drinkeries and taverns with the gathered minutia of my findings on Custer’s grand 1876 debacle.

In one of those watering holes worked the very under-paid, Abigail Weech. I knew her only as Abby in those days. She would stand attendant, and invisible, in the background of my gathered audience. During one such discourse on the US Cavalry issue 1873 Springfield carbine she produced the weapons picture on her iPhone and passed it around. When the question was asked what one of those would cost today she again passed her phone around with the fact that one such weapon was currently available at The Horse-soldier establishment in Gettysburg for $1500.

I approached Abby with the proposition of reading for me. She agreed. During the next two years I would email chapters to her, generally one every two or three weeks. If I fell short of this schedule she would let me know --- nay, nag me --- which is what I severely needed!!

But Abby provided more than just a passionate, critical and impatient ear. She was an accomplished horsewoman. My historical western may have been rich in 7th Cavalry minutia but this author was sorely lacking in equine experience. Enter miss Abby.

At one point I told her that “I need a “sexy” horse. An animal that anyone would covet.”

She replied that no man had ever asked her that question before … but she would think on it and get back to me. She came up with a golden appaloosa palomino. This became “Getty”.

Abby continued to educate me on all matters horse. She provided me with videos of horses moving at various speeds including one of her horse, Beau, at full run which I quickly incorporated into my narrative. She educated my writings as to the social nature of horses which I employed in penning the classic forest scene where Getty is drinking from the Rosebud river amidst a gathering of Shoshone warhorses.

She introduced the curry comb to the narrative and how her horse, Beau, would lean into it as she worked it into his coat.

When I asked her how long it would take an ignorant easterner to bond with a horse to which he was attached both day and night she replied ‘two weeks … tops.” And so I wrote it.

I incorporated both Abby and her horse, Beau, into the narrative. Her tough, independent nature fit the plot perfectly. I had only to close my eyes and envision her to write the scenes that she dominated throughout the book.

At one point in the project, Abby informed me that she was going to have to have Beau put down due to his deteriorating health. I asked her if she wanted me to delete Beau from the novel. She replied, "HELL NO!!" She liked the idea that she and Beau would ride on together in the immortality that the story provided.

And so it remains!

You can find the real Abigail Weech today living in Erie, Pa. where she is now a gifted, licensed masseuse at the Monacella Massage & Kinesiology. Seek her out!! Ask her about The Storytellers … that is … if you really want to know.

If I hadn’t dedicated the book to my father, Abby would have stood next in line. She was certainly the hurricane wind in my sails.

The pics above portray my semi-fictional Abigail Weech clutching the historic George Herendeen alongside the very real Abby Weech and her beloved horse Beau.