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 so pleased you can join me today, This week the word prompt is mad. My snippet is from a new paranormal piece. Enjoy the other authors at Tuesday Tales.
Dru bent down to tug on a flagging sock. After straightening up, she swatted a trolling gnat.
The other women slowed and looked back at her. Lin moved in beside her and laughed, mopping her own forehead. “Outdoors getting to you, too?”
Dru shot her a dirty look before continuing the uphill climb. As the one who had instigated today’s crystal mining trek, she wouldn’t allow herself to give in to complaints about the long walk, dust, or even the sweltering heat. After all, the end result was bound to be worth it. At least she hoped so. She glanced at her friends in turn. Glory, with her olive skin and high Cherokee cheekbones, gave no indication the sun was anything but her bestie, despite having the longest, thickest hair of the group. Dru envied her stamina. Jena looked as lovely as ever, and cool as a cucumber in her light blue matching shorts outfit. More envy.
Only Lin looked at hot as Dru felt. She nudged her elbow. “Your freckles are coming out, hon. Good lord, you need to slather on another tube of sunscreen.”
Lin rolled her eyes and jerked her baseball cap down. “It’s not much further. I’ll reboot at the top.”
Glory picked up the pace. “I know it’s mainly honey calcite at this mine, but oh I hope there’s amethyst, at least for sale in the store. We are going in the store, right? I love the purple gems.”
Dru nodded. “Oh, yes, after the mining part we are definitely going in the store. You want to, right, Jena?”
Jena appeared startled. “What? Oh, the store? Sure.”
Dru was struck by her tone. “You’re awfully quiet today. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
Lin moved to Jena’s side, a frown creasing her brow. “Come on, something for sure is. We’re here for you. Spill.”
Jena gave a long shaky sigh. After a moment she spoke in a quavering tone. “Jim and I broke up last night.”
They had just breached the crest of the hill, and all three women rallied around her, looking as shocked as Dru felt. No way. The high school sweethearts had called it quits? Jim and Jena—known far and wide as the perfect twosome? In the pit of her stomach Dru knew there was not a mad dash of hope for the rest of them then.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt mad. Thanks for stopping by. Return to Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
This was great. ,
Thank you, Kathleen!
I got tired just thinking of climbing that hill in the heat. Well done.
Yeh, I would have been one of the ones sweating, Susanne. Thanks for popping in.
A “trolling gnat” is an awesome description.
Poor Jena though!
Thanks for stopping by, Mae. I don’t know why I thought of a gnat that way.
The banter between them is awesome. I felt like I was right there with them. And poor Jena! Great job!
Thanks, Tricia. Yes, I feel bad for Jena.
You just HAD to mention that sweltering heat, didn’t you? LOL! It’s brutal here. I love, love amethyst so I was happy to see it make an appearance. And great use of the prompt. Jillian
Thank you, Jillian. I’m glad to hear you like amethyst, too. Try to stay cool.
Great scene, Flossie! I LOVE how you used the prompt in this phrase – …not a mad dash of hope for the rest of them then. Perfect!
And the pic of the gemstones….yum…salivating all over my computer!
Trisha, I’m so pleased you liked the use of the prompt. I do love my gemstones.