Tuesday Tales is up now, with authors writing excerpts based on word or picture prompts. This week’s word prompt is simple. My snippet is from a cozy mystery. Visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
My stomach lurched at the thought of being driven home by Bonbon. True, I could ask her some pertinent questions related to Kitty’s murder, but receiving pertinent answers was another matter entirely. She had a talent for making you think she spoke her mind, but the simple fact was that she frequently engaged in high-level neurolinguistic programming. And she took it to what I considered a manipulative level.
Most people around here didn’t know that NLP had been her “major” during the year abroad. I had my suspicions, and Susannah had finally admitted it to me, after I pried it out of her following a particularly odd flare up with Bonbon. I knew enough of NLP strategies to call Bonbon’s bluff, but what then? A pitcher in peak performance can still get the best of a .333 hitter, and I wasn’t in the mood for swinging out. What I really wanted was to visit Bonbon’s cabin. A peek at the family history book Susannah had mentioned might shed some light on family matters.
I had just opened my mouth to object, when Gage handled the situation. “No need,” he told Bonbon, sounding firm. “I want to check on Peri’s car myself. She can ride up to your place with me. We’ll follow you, and I’ll see her home after helping Sam.
She twisted her lips. “If you think that’s best.”
“Okay with you, Peri?”
I nodded.
He stood and extended a hand to help me rise, again eyeing the auburn-haired woman. “We’ll give Peri a few moments to gather her bag, while you tell me how far Sam has gotten with the herd.”
Thirty minutes later I was ensconced in the stupendous great room of Bonbon’s multi-million-dollar cabin. A matronly woman named Leah had brought a tray with a silver tea service, a dainty cup and saucer depicting enormous red poppies, and an array of homemade cookies. She faded into a nether room after instructing me to call out if I needed anything.
I limped over to the oversized window, munching on a lemon cookie. I’d give Leah five minutes to get busy, and then I’d high tail it to the study, providing I could find it. No one had seen fit to give me a tour.
Gage had gone off in the 4-wheeler. Sam and Bonbon stood by the fence, engaged in an intense-looking conversation. When I saw my hostess glance my way, I gave a cheery wave as if nothing was on my mind.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt simple. Thanks for stopping by. Check out the other authors at Tuesday Tales.
Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Spirited Stories
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2021 Flossie Benton Rogers
Nice snippet, Flossie. I still love the name Bonbon and I really liked this line:
A pitcher in peak performance can still get the best of a .333 hitter, and I wasn’t in the mood for swinging out.
Don’t you love how lines can sprout forth from left field–lol, Mae?
Excellent scene with awesome imagery. Once more you add tension and suspense with just a word or two. love the baseball metaphor.
Thank you, Susanne, especially for the comment about tension.
Baseball analogy is right up my alley, or should I say ballfield. I love how Gage stepped in to save Peri without being obvious. I guess they have a good connection. Great story!
I started loving baseball with the 1967 Red Sox when Yaz, Lonborg, and Fisk were playing. Thank you for the supportive comments!
I love how Gage cut off Bonbon and offered to take Peri. I’m dying to know what she finds. Great job!
Yes, he has his moments!