Tuesday Tales 2021-8-3 Cushion

Summertime is in full swing, but with school starting it seems to be cut so short! This week my Snickerdoodles are working to get their bedtime back on a proper school schedule, following the freedom of a night owl summer. They certainly take after me as to preferring late nights. The eldest will enter high school this year (third generation to go to the same school). Yowza, time flies!

Tuesday Tales is up now, with authors writing excerpts based on word or picture prompts. This week’s word prompt is cushion. My snippet is from a cozy mystery. Visit all the talented authors of Tuesday Tales.

When Gage went inside to heat the breakfast scones, I found myself pressing a thumb between my brows to stave off a headache, the way Robin had taught me. Gage had seemed reluctant for a deep conversation about the chill with Roy and had been quick to brush off Kitty Varner as no big deal. I felt a little better about my belief that he wasn’t involved in the murders or anything bad, but I still had a churning in my stomach that usually meant muddy waters ahead. Not today please!

My cell phone chimed. Feeling around for it, I finally found the sucker beneath the chair cushion. It was Robin. “Yes?” I sounded a bit breathless.

“Where the hell are you?

I couldn’t suppress a laugh but swallowed a second chortle when I realized she was worried.

“What is so funny and, again, where are you?”

“S-sorry,” I mumbled. “It’s just that I’m not used to you cussing.”

“Balls. Hell is not a curse word.”

I blinked. “And you are always going on about my needing to be calm.”

“Never mind. What happened and where are you? I’ve been trying to call for two days. Last I knew you were supposed to meet Bonbon, and I haven’t been able to reach her either.”

“The phone service up here is almost nonexistent. That’s one reason your call startled me. I only had the phone beside me out of habit. It hasn’t worked since I’ve been here.”

“Where?” Her tone had become increasingly terse.

“I’m up at Gage’s cabin. My car went zonkers during that big storm, and he came along. I’m fine, but I hurt my leg.”

“Oh, my God! Have you seen a doctor?”

“No, Gage did a field dressing and will take me back to town when the landslide has been cleared enough. Has it, do you know?”

“No, I’m still in Atlanta. I didn’t know about any storm or landslide. We had rain here, but that’s it. What’s the deal with your leg? Is it broken?”

“No, just battered and a sprained ankle.” I didn’t mention my possible concussion.

“I can’t believe you’re at Gage’s. Have you had a chance to discuss—anything important?”

I glanced back toward the door and lowered my voice. “Only a smidge. He didn’t want to talk much about Roy. He did mention he dated Kitty a few times.”

“Oh, he did? Well, from what I heard it was pretty hot and heavy.”

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt cushion. 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