Tuesday Tales 2021-9-21 Sound

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

Sucking in a breath, Gage let his eyes roam the horizon.

I wasn’t going to let the unwelcome news ruin everything. Touching his arm, I whispered, “We knew it could happen anytime. It’s fine, really. I’m fine.”

He looked at me, his body seeming to steel itself, while his eyes held too much.

I trailed my fingers up his arm, feeling the tension in his body. I was glad for it because it helped him do what he had to. I leaned back, managed a quaky smile, and asked, “When?”

“Four A.M.”

I scrambled to my knees. “We’d better get going. You’ll have lots to do.”

He pulled me back down beside him. “Everything is done. Bag’s packed. Luxury accommodations made for Ralph. Today is ours. I only told you now because I didn’t want to spring it at the last minute.”

He was talking on about Ralph and I don’t know what else. I wasn’t hearing much because shock waves had now set in. I gave my head a little shake, as if that would clear it out. I was getting pissed with myself. We had known a call was eventually coming. I had known it. We had discussed it at length. Regardless, the pit of my stomach was hollow, and the sound of my heart pounding in my ears was deafening. I picked up the glass, downed the rest of my wine, and felt its warm surge. There, that was a bit better. I held out the glass for more.

He refilled it and put an arm around my shoulders.

I leaned closer, resting against him. He nuzzled my ear. His lips lingered on my temple. “You know I want to stay here with you.”

My hand hovered over his heart, as I nodded.

We sipped wine, watched the dogs play, and nibbled at the goodies in the picnic basket. Both of us seemed determined to make the day a normal one.

“You know,” he muttered after a stretch of silence, “I’m probably going to regret saying this…”

It was a tone I knew well. I quirked a corner of my mouth at him. “Then maybe you shouldn’t.”

“Damn it. I worry about you. About the murders around here.”

“You worry about me?” My sarcastic tone curdled the butter.

“I know Debra is in trouble. Hell, she’s always in trouble.”

My eyes widened. “She’s in jail, charged with murder.”

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