Abe wandered down the path thick with frost on his morning walk to the woods. He avoided people whenever possible. It wasn’t hard when you lived in a two-bit backwater town where livestock outnumbered the people. Nothing stopped them from attempting to lure him into small talk about the weather, though. Ahead, weaving between the barren trees, Pip stopped, ears cocked. She sniffed the air once, let out a yip, and darted forward. Hesitated once to be sure he was…
Ned bumped the champagne bottle with his elbow as he hurried past the drinks table. The air was thick with perfume and cologne, making it difficult to breathe. Someone shouted when a glass broke and drinks spilled. The noise was too much. Desperate to escape, he pushed his way through the crowd, the exit sign glowing like a beacon. Outside, he leaned against the brick wall, gasping as he tried to calm himself. When his heartbeat returned to normal, he…
The Sullivan household was in an uproar. They’d been in the middle of decorating my evergreen branches when the power went out, plunging them all into inky blackness. Lanky Patrick and his freckled sidekick, George, made eerie ghost noises, eliciting squeals from their older sisters, while two-year-old Edward, who’d stood on tiptoe in his slipper-footed pajamas to add his Bluey ornament, joined the screaming. “Everyone calm down,” said Mr. Sullivan. “No need for hysterics.” “Here, Eddie,” Charlotte said. “I’ve got…
Mara muttered under her breath as she slid on the icy parking lot. Was it really worth backtracking to find her five-year-old’s mittens? The breeze caught her hair and slapped her face. It stung, eliciting another curse. She could save herself the frustration by running into the store and buying a new pair. However, they wouldn’t be lovingly knit by Granny. Her husband warned her to clip them to Colt’s coat to prevent this exact situation. Well, wouldn’t Jared enjoy…