We’re having a cold December in central Florida, with low temperatures below freezing for three days now. We received a winter blessing– kissed not only by Jack Frost but by Old Man Winter himself, just in time for Christmas.
Heartbreakingly, I know it’s severe and dangerous in some places, and I pray you are staying safe and warm. My son’s friend in Ohio sent horrendous snowstorm videos and told us how his antifreeze froze, of all things. Snuggle up for Tuesday Tales, where authors write excerpts incorporating word and picture prompts. Today I am working on a cozy mystery I started last year. The word prompt is storm. When you finish reading my snippet, make sure to visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.
“I wonder where my committee is, and my Goldies. They love nothing better than trimming the tree.” Vivian gazed around helplessly as if a passel of Goldies and the committee would materialize from a corner of the sedate green and blue entry hall.
Peri assured her, “The Goldies are probably caught up in a tv program in someone’s room. They’ll show up. Meanwhile, Robin and I will help you get the tree started,” she offered, ignoring the alarm in Robin’s dark brown eyes.
“That would be a godsend.” Vivian fluttered multi-ringed fingers. “The part they perhaps don’t like is the initial unpacking. You sure you don’t mind?” She indicated a stack of cardboard boxes leaning against a pillar.
“Well,” Robin began, but Peri breezed toward the boxes. “Of course not. Your committee members may have been held up. Were they coming in from the north, or where?”
“From Tarnation I think.”
“There you go, then. You know how suddenly a freak snow storm can pop out of the mountains.”
“Oh, dear, I hope they’re not trapped.”
Peri silently lamented her words, too late in remembering Vivian’s fertile and fickle mind. “I’m sure they’re fine.” She pulled a wrapped object from her bag. “Before we start, do you want to see…”
Just then the front door flew open, and the storm of the century sauntered in, busting a gut in the form of Doc Jeremiah Ford, sheriff of Glisten County. His eyes immediately lit on Vivian, and a kind of glow began to float around him. The big man doffed his off-white cowboy hat as if it were scorching his head. Tufts of reddish taffy hair stood on end. “Ma’am.”
“Doc!” Vivian moved forward, prayerful hands beneath her chin. Wafting about her was also a kind of glow.
Oh, my lord. Peri scratched her head.
Vivian’s voice lilted. “Why, Doc, you are just in time. We can never work it without you. Ladders are forbidden here, you know. You’re the only soul who can reach the top of the tree to place the angel. Peri and Robin were just about to unpack the boxes.”
Robin whispered to Peri. “Will you look at the two of them? The Real would eat that up.”
Peri grimaced at Robin’s reference to The Real Glisten, an online chatterbox of stories featuring unfortunately caught out residents, all nameless of course.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet incorporating the word storm. Thanks for stopping by. If you haven’t done so already, check out the other excerpts at Tuesday Tales.
Stay safe and warm!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
All rights reserved, copyright @ 2022 Flossie Benton Rogers
Love the way you describe the man’s entrance! Excellent scene.
So glad you liked it, Susanne!
Excellent use of the word prompt!! A human storm, how evocative and I got the picture in my head right from your words. Looking forward to finding out what the Sheriff is up to.
Thank you, Jean! He is rather a force of nature.
I love how take charge Peri is about unpacking the ornaments even though she is having to drag Robin into doing it. Great job!
Haha, yes, I think maybe Robin had other activities in mind.
So sorry you got hit with below freezing temps in the sunny south, Flossie. We’ve had single digits and teens, but we’re not in the 20s and by Friday we’re going to hit the 50s. I can’t wait.
Loved the snippet today. Especially this line: “the storm of the century sauntered in, busting a gut in the form of Doc Jeremiah Ford, sheriff of Glisten County.” Great descriptions throughout!
Thank you, Mae. Keep warm and cozy up there. I was astounded when the Sheriff just appeared in my mind, fully formed almost. Love when that happens, don’t you?
What a fun, perfect scene! I just adore your writing – no matter your genre.
And wow – antifreeze freezing? I didn’t know it was possible. We hit 10 degrees two nights in a row here last week, but after hearing about the antifreeze, I guess we were fortunate.
I’m so glad you liked the scene, Trisha. We had never heard of antifreeze freezing either and are wondering how that could happen.