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 picture prompt is rain. My excerpt is from one of my books in progress, Hannah’s Haint, a vintage paranormal romance set in a small town in the 1950s. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Branches rustled as a breeze kicked up. Thunder rumbled and rolled from the west.
“Storm’s moving in.” He kept his voice low. Her ear was next to his lips, the way she had nestled against him. Plus, sounds carried in the night, especially in a small town. The last thing he wanted was for her to pay some kind of penalty for spending time with him on the porch after ten at night. “Do you smell the rain, Hannah?”
She murmured in languid agreement.
Fast moving clouds blotted out the moon.
She straightened, peering out into the darkness. “Our full moon’s gone.”
He wanted to banish the disappointment from her tone and keep her beside him as long as possible. “Just during the squall. Do you like Florida thunderstorms?”
His heart picked up speed as she leaned back against him, nodding. “Yes, I love them. They soothe me, as long as the lightning is not directly overhead. How about you?”
“Yep, they give me a kick. Here comes the rain.”
A light sprinkle quickly turned into a torrent. He could barely make out the yellow porch light on the house across the way. A few drops of slanted rain misted onto his face. “Do you want to go–?” Something wet and furry streaked by, brushing against his pants leg. He jerked and circled his arms around her protectively. “What the–?”
“Oh my god.” Her hand flew to her chest. “Taffy, you scared the life out of me.” She patted his arm. “It’s just the neighborhood tabby. Nate, we’d better go inside.”
He stood. “I was about to ask you that when the fur ball attacked.”
“Now don’t grumble. That cat is good luck, so I hear.” 
“Mm, I bet.” He smiled at her concern for the feline, stood, and took her hand to usher her inside.
Lightning cracked, sharp and close. She jumped, and her hand trembled in his.
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on a picture prompt of rain. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
Very nice. And it combines two of my favorites—a cat and a coming storm 🙂
Mine too! Thanks, Mae.
Great imagery! I could feel the humidity of the coming storm then the mist of the rain. Great job!
I’m glad you could feel the storm. Thanks, Tricia.
I love all the visuals! I can’t wait for this book
I’m so glad you like the visuals, Cathy.
As always, well done! I am also a fan of thunderstorms. Sadly, my cat is not. He’s like the one in your snippet- a scaredy-cat. Jillian
Our big German Shepherd used to detest thunderstorms. He would squeeze into the tiniest crevices to hide from them.
Love this scene. Cats do do that, sneak up on people and scare them. I felt the growing tension, too. Great scene!
I’m glad you felt the tension, Jean!
Well done, Flossie! I felt like I was a bystander, on the porch with them watching the storm ensue.
Oh, I’m so glad you were on the porch with them, Trisha!
Wonderful scene!
Thank you.
Contrary to the rest of the crowd, I’m not a fan of thunderstorms, especially not when sleeping in a tent like last week. The thunder boomed so loudly, the air bed shook. I do remember the scent of petrichor when those first raindrops hit the soil. Great scene.
I can certainly understand not being a fan when so vulnerable in a tent. I’d feel the same. Thanks, Susanne.