Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you get to share it with someone special.
Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a book hungry troop that enjoys reading as much as you do. Today our word prompt is love. My excerpt is from Hannah’s Haint, a vintage paranormal romance set in a small town in the 1950s. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Kneeling in the sparse grass, he ran his fingers over the smooth marble. It was a graceful monument, a work of art. He took in the flowing lines of the base, the scroll edged binding of the holy book resting on top. And above it all the sculpture that stirred the inner places he had closed off long ago. The curve of her bare arm. The unquenched sorrow of her mournful posture. The weeping angel sheltered the earthborn memory of the woman now gone. Although he had no idea of the countenance or figure of Iris de Pres, he could sense her reflected in the reverence of the tribute. A strong connection surged between her and the one who sought to immortalize her.
He shook off the strange feelings. Practical thoughts flicked to the cost of such a commission. She had been mightily important to someone. Was Spur more involved than he let on? What did he have to do with Iris de Pres and why was he so confounded close mouthed about the subject? He cursed beneath his breath. Why wouldn’t the old cuss just ride out here with him?
Pivoting on his heels, he maneuvered to the front of the gravestone. The inscription was in raised lettering on the base. Names and dates. Clear and simple. Hannah had been right. She died young. Only 26. And something else was written beneath that in tiny letters. He peered closer. The quiet dust made his eyes water, and he swiped a handkerchief over his face before looking again. He squeezed and then widened his eyes to clear his vision. My love, forsaken. A frown curled his brow. What the hell did that mean?
A motor sounded in the distance. He rose, moving away from the center of his interest. It was better to play it close to the chest than broadcast his business. Removing his watch, he made a show of rewinding it, keeping a sideways eye on the road.
A brand new 1954 Buick growled up and clenched into park. A red faced Roscoe Wyver barreled out, leaving the car door open. His voice boomed. “What the hell you doin’ out here, Larkin?”
He slid the watch back on his wrist. A grin sliced across his face. “Roscoe, that’s no way to treat the gears in that fine machine of yours. Grinds up the transmission real fast.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt love. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
Great post. Builds interest that’s for sure. Can’t wait to learn more.
I am glad you think it builds interest in what is to come. Thanks, Susanne!
Interesting your choice for the excerpt! I googled the title but couldn’t find the author.
Happy Valentine Day!
Carmen, all these excerpts each week for Tuesday Tales are from my works in progress. Hannah’s Haint is my working title for that particular book. Our group is given a word– love this week in honor of Valentine’s Day– and we add a scene to our work in progress using the word. Make sense? You can also see the other authors’ snippets by clicking on the blue Tuesday Tale link.
Yes, I knew it, that’s why I thought it odd. I thought you liked that excerpt and wanted it highlighted. Well then, waiting to read the whole book. The excerpt was quite intriguing.
I fervently hope to get it written. Thanks, Carmen!
This book looks so good I can’t wait till you finish it.
I’m glad it sounds good to you, Cathy.
You got my curiosity up with: “My love, forsaken.” I can’t wait to read more.
Ooh, glad your curiosity is up, Karen!
Beautiful description of the sculpture. I could feel and see it.
I’m glad you could feel and see the weeping angel, Jean.
What a great excerpt!
Thank you!
What?? You can’t stop there! No fair. I want more.
GREAT job writing about the weeping angel monument. I often visit cemeteries, usually older ones, to feel connections with people from the past, but I’ve never been able to write about a monument like you’ve done here. This is one I’ll need to read from start to finish once it’s published.