Tuesday Tales is a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their WIPs based on word and picture prompts. Today’s prompt is the picture below. The snippet is from a holiday vintage romance set in the 1950’s after the Korean War. For now it is called Mistletoe Magic. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Brenna closed her eyes and arched her back, groaning at the stiffness of her muscles. Rolling her neck, she cringed at the snaps and pops from her protesting bones. She’d be old before her time if things continued this way. Jeffrey would take one look at her thin frame and hightail it straight to The Corner for a cold one. She worried her bottom lip, remembering how they used to dance on the big wooden floor before Gwennie was born. How he held her close, his warm masculine scent skittering over her skin like a heat wave.
Would he still want her now with red rough hands and a nervous stomach that couldn’t keep her food down?
A thought flew through her mind, something her mother had always said—how a little hard work never hurt anybody.
Straightening her spine, Brenna braced her hands on the fallen tree and shifted to a more comfortable position. She was just bone tired. That was all. Nothing a good six hours sleep couldn’t fix. Thank heaven the restaurant had closed for the night. At the end she’d had to shoo out old Mr. Birdsong with a promise of hot coffee come daylight.
Reaching into her apron pocket, she pulled out Jeffrey’s Christmas card, ironing it with her fingers. The homey picture of a snow covered glen gleamed silver under the light of a full moon. Having lived in Florida all her life, she loved her husband’s memories of white Christmases. Someday he’d take her up there, and Gwennie. They’d meet his old Gram and what was left of his family.
Her lungs expanded with the slight tinge of chill in the air. No snow down here for sure.
She stood up, pressing the card to her breast.
Jeffrey would be home soon.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales. 
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Love the ranch picture, the excerpt, and the snow filtering across your webpage.
Thank you! It was 59 here when I took the Snickerdoodles to school this morning and never got much above that, but we definitely don’t expect snow. I like looking at it on my screen.
Interesting excerpt. Goes perfect with the wintry ranch scene, and the snow drifting across your page.
I appreciate your stopping by, Loretta. We have to get our snow somehow!
Great snippet! We’re supposed to get some snow today here in Pennsylvania.
Beautiful piece. Gorgeous language. “…skittering across her skin…” fabulous. I love this story so far. I hope you’ll continue it. Great snippet.
Your descriptions, from setting to emotion, are always so vibrant. Beautiful scene and I love the photo you chose to accompany it. Perfect! If the weather goes as predicted I’ll be seeing snow today in PA!
Mae, if you do have snow today in PA, enjoy it and if there’s enough, throw a snowball for me!
As someone who grew up in the north, I sometimes forget there are people who never get to see that particular magic. Great excerpt.
Thank you, Kay! Gotta have those snowy Christmas cards.
Image and excerpt perfectly matched. And I keep saying the same as before: you have this ability to create great pictures with your words. It’s as if Brenna comes to life in the snow covered yard in front of my eyes. Bravo!
That’s a wonderful thing to say, Carmen. Brenna feels real to me, and I am glad you can see her.
I’m with Jean … beautifully written … my girls always asked me how it was to walk on snow or play with it … than experienced snow in Oregon last year …. suddenly cold had a knew meaning 😉
Lovely snippet! I think my favorite line was: “The homey picture of a snow covered glen gleamed silver under the light of a full moon.” You are an artist weaving works with your words.
Thank you for the awesome words, Trisha.
I’m very invested in the story. I hope her husband gets home soon.
Aww, thanks, Morgan.
Love the snippet and this story. Another great week. Jillian
Thanks, Jillian!