Tuesday Tales: Writing Hunting Lodge

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors posting excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. I’m pleased you stopped by today. This week we had our choice from a number of picture prompts. I selected one that I call hunting lodge. My snippet is from a historical romance featuring a knight and an intrepid lady. Enjoy the other authors at Tuesday Tales.

The loss of blood had sapped his strength, and he found himself leaning on her more heavily than he liked. True to form she steeled her body and took as much of his weight as she could. Her expression was a study in courage. No fear, just determination in reaction to this latest attack. His admiration for her grew with each passing moment. Still, there was a limit to her endurance, and the ruffian who had escaped could make it to Selby and bring reinforcements. Added to that was the rapidly chilling temperature. They needed a place to take cover and rest for a bit.  

The forest pathway that had been fairly straightforward now took on a winding pattern. He searched the skyline. An old memory surfaced. This copse of ash trees with the last of the year’s sward beneath. Its rich fragrance was familiar. He had explored here as a boy. If he could but remember. Then he had it. “Hold.” He halted, a groan escaping, and tapped a palm on the diamond ridged bark to steady himself.

As she paused with him, her face turned to up to his, and its paleness pricked his insides. “Is your leg worse?” She sounded worried now. “If we could but find a secluded area and rest a while, I can see to it. The dressing was hurried.”

“My thought is the same.” He sought to keep the pain and weariness from his tone. “My father keeps a hunting lodge not far from here. I haven’t been in many years, but it will serve our purpose. It is hidden well out of the way. We must leave the path here and travel further inland.”

A sigh of relief escaped her. “How remarkable of your father to plan such a place. You recall how to go?”

“Aye, I should be able to find it without undue trouble.” He didn’t add that he prayed the lodge still stood intact. 

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the picture prompt hunting lodge. Thanks for stopping by. Return to Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance