Guilty Pleasure

 Champagne and white roses after midnight

Arthur's Brooklyn Townhouse

Marilyn's Guilty Pleasure

Glass of Chardonnay

 Shimmering gold moonlight

Theater, late night supper

Dance on the terrace

City of Light

 Lavender seller at the Eiffel Tower

Late show and champagne at the Moulin Rouge

Dinner on the left bank of the Seine

Shopping on the Champs-Elysee

Sunny afternoon walk at Versailles

Stolen

 All that is lost is not stolen ;

All that is stolen is not lost.

A Monster Comes

 Her soft fur was the color of burnished copper, her sharp eyes were deep sapphire blue. 

She was a vixen, and yet not one; a selkie-fox.

Secrets and Betrayal

 Secrets and betrayal

Lies and half-truths

House of Mirrors

Smoke and Shadows

Shore Drive

 

Marilyn went for a drive along the shore in the warm sun. Just when she least expected it, a  thunderstorm came up. Funny how that happens.... 

The Ring

 Growing up on a fishing boat docked in this small northwest

coastal town brought stares from townspeople and jeers from
classmates. She desperately wanted to escape but, with
competitors driving down charter prices, she knew her dad
would never be able to afford a replacement. As she sliced
open the belly of yet another salmon, her eyes widened and
she dropped her knife...
Seeing a flicker of gold—or was it silver?—
inside the fish, she laid her knife aside and deftly open the flesh
of the salmon.  She tugged lightly, and was rewarded with success.
A ring! A platinum and diamond ring to be exact!  She was practically
salivating, thinking of how much the ring could be sold for; perhaps her
Dad could have that replacement fishing boat yet…..when she noticed
something oddly familiar about the ring.  It looked just like her mother’s ring,
from what she remembered.  She washed the ring off with water, wanting to
get a better look at it. Suddenly she remembered that her mother’s ring was
engraved, and scrambled to get a closer look at the inside of it, to see if
the impossibility of what she thought could actually be true.  She held her
breath……and there it was…..her parents initials and their wedding date engraved
inside the ring.
But how could it be?? All her life she’d been told that her mother had
left them
when she was a baby.  But she wouldn’t be finding the ring in this
salmon now, if that
were truly the case, would she?  Did her mother really leave for good?
 Was she still
alive? Did she want to come back to them?  How did her ring come to be
buried in
the salmon?  So many questions to ask her father, when he came in from
fishing for the
day.  She turned the ring over and over in her hand and waited.

The Flower

 Adela picked up the little pot of white flowers, and took it inside

with her, out of the cold wind.
She recognized the handwriting which had  written her name on the
outside of the note,
and her fingers trembled as she opened it, and not from the cold, but
from anticipation and anxiety.
What would the note say? That he wanted her back, that his leaving had
been a big mistake??
She unfolded the note, but before she began to read, she closed her
eyes and took a deep breath.
NOW she was ready.
Dear Adela, the note began,  I am sorry.  If there is ever anything
that I can do for you  , I will be happy to do it……anything, she
thought…..anything except marry me.  I have thought it all out, and I
do believe that our parting is for the best, the note went on to say….
Best for whom? For me? No, of course Rick  meant best for himself.
Always  himself first.
But then, to be fair, she  hadn’t told him her secret, the secret she
carried within her….even when he said he was leaving her, she remained
stoically silent. She had let him leave without a word,  to return
only to bring pots of white flowers to leave for her in the snow.  So
she really had no one to blame but herself.
Adela began to cry, tears of frustration and rage and utter despair,
and she tore the note into tiny pieces, leaving it scattered on the
floor beneath her feet.  What the hell was she going to do, her, and
her fatherless child?
She was despondent, but not enough that she didn’t hear the approach
of more footsteps outside the door.  Her first impulse was to run to
the door, and see who was there, but she waited until the footsteps
subsided, and then  pulled the door open. A burst of cold wind swept
through the room, and she walked out on the porch, only to find a
second pot of white flowers and another note……
Her heartbeat fluttered……was there still a chance?????  She picked up
the pot of flowers, this time not even going inside from the cold
before she began to read the note, written in the same script as
before…..
Adela, forgive me. I was wrong. Is there a chance for us? , the note
read, although her vision was blurry from unshed tears. “Yes, Rick,
there will always be a chance for us my Love. Just give me a sign that
you want to come back….”, she murmured aloud.
Within the hour there were no less than fifty pots of white flowers on
her porch…….

The Last Storm

 She sat in her favorite spot on the porch

of the weathered beach house, the salty air

sticking to her skin, the oncoming storm

blowing sand across her bare feet. The

crisp envelope bent beneath her fingers

as she laid it on her lap, and reached

for the pen in her dress pocket...

Anne wrote his name on the envelope, then stopped to re-read his letter, wanting to be sure that she hadn’t misunderstood his intent. He had asked her to be his wife! In an utterly romantic and old-fashioned way.

Dearest Anne, the letter began, ending with a profession of love and a request for her to become his wife. She still could scarcely believe it.

My Darling Richard, she began, then telling him all the reasons that she loved him and wanted to become his wife.  She could have called him, but a letter sent deserved a letter answer,  she reasoned.

The storm was moving closer now, and she wanted to be sure that she got her letter to the postbox before the carrier came, so she hurriedly sealed the envelope,  rose from her favored seat on the porch, and walked it to the postbox, raising the flag to let the postman know there was something inside….something very important inside…..

It was thundering and lightening in earnest now, so she went inside, and poured herself a glass of white wine to enjoy. She watched thru the window until the postman had picked up her letter and it was safely in his bag. Now she could relax.

She poured a second glass of wine, and turned on some music to drown out the sounds of the storm. The rains came down in such a deluge it sounded as though the house was being flooded, and Anne was scared. It rained thru dinner, and until bedtime. Anne hated storms at bedtime. Things always seemed worse in the dark of the night.

Anne wondered about the letter, and how far it had gotten on its trip to Richard. It was her last thought before she turned out the light and sleep overtook her. …..her last thought…..

Three days later, Anne’s letter was delivered to Richard. The fact that it was after her death in the storm made it all the more poignant for him.

Afternoon Smoke

 Holding the sleeping infant on her shoulder, she

gazed peacefully at her surroundings. Tourists
wandered in and out of stores, an old man was
setting up his easel by the lakeshore, and a
child's balloon escaped into the breeze. A
moment later, she looked up as shouts startled
her and the baby. Everybody was running in
her direction..

"Fire! Fire! Fire!", called a man as he ran past her.

More people ran past, and they were mumbling about a fire

as well. Hairs stood up on the back of Amanda's neck....the hotel 

was in that direction, but surely it wasn't on fire, surely not!

She craned her neck in that direction, trying to see some sign

of smoke or fire. 

She grabbed her cell phone and started dialing David's number, but before she pushed send she stopped. Suppose the hotel wasn't on fire and she'd just interrupted his nap for nothing..... better safe than sorry, she decided, and pushed the dial button. It rang but there was no answer, and the call went to voice mail. 

"Dave, it's Mandy.....the baby and I are in town and there's rumors of a fire in the area of the hotel. Just making sure everything was alright. Call me when you get this.....Love you....", she said, elbowing her way through the crowd with the baby.

As she went down the street the hotel was on,  it became smoky, the smoke burned her eyes. She covered the baby's face with his blanket and wondered about the advisability of taking him into the smoke, but she had to make sure Dave was alright. 

Panic began to rise in her as the smoke grew thicker, and she neared the hotel. Each person that passed she checked to make sure it wasn't Dave, as though she expected him to suddenly materialize in front of her.

The hotel!  It WAS the hotel that was on fire! Mandy could see the flames now, and the baby began to cry as she began to run towards the building, unmindful of the hands trying to stop her, to hold her back.... her only thought now was of Dave....had he gotten out??

Mandy was so distraught she didn't hear her name being called in the crowd. She stood there watching the flames, her arms wrapped around the baby......

"Mandy! M-a-n-d-y!!!!!! Hey, Mandy, I thought I'd never get to you in the crowd.", Dave said as he trotted towards  her, patting her hand lightly.

"Are you ok honey? You seem.....distracted.I got all of our things out of the room in time."

"Dave.....oh, Dave! You're safe! That's all that matters....", she told him.

"Let's get the baby out of this smoke. Come on.", Dave said, as they began to walk away from the hotel, and towards where their car was parked. "Our things are loaded into the car and ready to go, since we'll be in the market for a new hotel......but first, I think a nice dinner is in order.....something Italian, with wine....."

Rover

 “What is it, Ella?”, Janie asked the excited girl. “It’s late; you should have been back long before now. I was getting worried.”

“I know, Ma, but look what I found on the way home. “, she said, producing a wounded rabbit.

“I couldn’t just leave it.”

Janie gave an exasperated sigh, then shook her head. “No, I suppose you couldn’t , could you?”She began to look the frightened rabbit over carefully. She took the rabbit from her daughter, saying “Get me some fresh water from the well,  and I’ll see to his wounds.”

A little while later, Ella’s rabbit was sitting on the kitchen cabinet with a bandaged leg.

“Can I keep him, Ma?”

Janie sighed. “I don’t know Ella; we’ll see.” Then she smiled. “But he needs a name. What’ll we call him?”

Ella brightened at the mention of naming him; it meant she had hope of keeping him as a pet, if they were naming him. “I’ll call him Rover!”

“Rover it is, then…… I think I have some carrots in the icebox. He should like those.”, Janie told her daughter.  She helped her fix a box  with an old quilt in it for Rover to lay in. “You can pick grass from outside for him, too.”

“What’s for dinner, Ma? It smells good.”

“Peas and potatoes, and cornbread, and I stewed some apples for dessert; any apples that are left can be for breakfast in the morning……There are still some apples on the tree; Rover might like those as well.”

“Do you think Pa will ever come home, Ma?”, Ella asked, as her mother dished up dinner for the both of them.

“Honey, we’ve been through this before. Your pa isn’t coming  back.  He’s a rambling man, not meant to be tied down. It isn’t that he loves you any less.”, Janie explained.  “He sends letters and packages.”

“But it isn’t the same!”, wails Ella.

“I know my girl; believe me I know……but it’s just the way your Pa is, and we have to accept that, whether we like it or not.”

Janie looked at the fiery red hair and devil’s mark on her daughter’s cheek, both constant reminders of the man she had lost, as if she needed any reminders. John was just the way he was, and she was the way she was, and that was all there was to it.

Ella and her mother finished their dinner in silence, and then Janie ladled up small dishes of the stewed apples, putting a dollop of whipped cream on top of both, just the way Ella liked.  Soon Ella was smiling again, and talking about Rover, who was napping quietly in his box.

“Here’s an apple that I cut up for Rover. You can give it to him now, if you want.”, Janie told Ella.

She petted the rabbit’s dark, soft fur gently, and knew they were going to keep Rover. Ella knew it too, and said, “Thank you, Ma!”, putting her arms around Janie and hugging her tightly.

Janie washed up the dishes from supper, and then she drew a warm bath for Ella, so she could get ready for bed, as there was school tomorrow. She combed out Ella’s wet hair, and sat her in front of the heater for it to dry. Ella was petting Rover, of course.   There was mending for Janie to do to their clothes, and she wrote a couple of letters as well, while waiting for Ella’s hair to day.

Once Ella was tucked into bed, Rover asleep in his box at her bedside, Janie drew herself a long hot bath to wash off the day’s grime. She combed out her wet hair, and put on a fresh cotton nightgown, sitting in front of the heater for her hair to dry.  She thought about John, with a long familiar aching in her heart. She missed him, just as much as Ella did. She went to sleep as she nearly always did, with a tear-stained pillow.

The next morning, while Ella was getting ready for school, Janie heard her cry  out.

“Ma, he’s gone! Rover’s gone!”

Janie tried to calm her down, and they searched the cabin over again for him, but no Rover, and the cabin door was open, so he could have gotten out on his own.

“Maybe Rover is a rover, just like your Pa, girl. Maybe he’s not meant to be kept inside in a box.”

Ella was strangely quiet, and she nodded, even though her eyes were bright with tears. “Just like Pa.”

“Come on now, my girl, you’d best get ready for school.”

The Treasure

 The barren, tan corn stalks behind her snapped

in the cold evening breeze, the only sound louder
than the dry, fiery red leaves swirling around
her slender, leather clad feet. She'd lost her
bearings again , and was hoping that the fox hunters would find her.

Elizabeth  had gone further than she’d intended on the lushly wooded estate.

But she felt that she HAD to get out of the house, after father’s horrible ultimatum: that she must marry the decrepit but wealthy Duke at the estate next to theirs.

 A gray tree with endless arms
and fingers, devoid of any remaining foliage,
loomed before her. She gazed at the odd markings
on the trunk, which appeared to outline a hand-cut
door of sorts. And, as she stared, it opened...

Elizabeth peeked inside the open door, and couldn’t believe her eyes! A fortune in jewels and gold coins! As she looked further she found French cognac and Cuban rum, as well as exotic spices and perfumes.

Her quick mind worked feverishly. If only she could find a way to transport and keep it! It would be more than enough for her to live on, and for a dowry besides, and she wouldn’t have to marry the aged Duke that her father had arranged for her. She could escape!

She heard the hunting party approaching, and hid in the brush so they wouldn’t discover her. Once she was sure they were gone, she came back and stood beside the tree. She was trying to think of a way to transport the treasure, when an old woman wrapped in a shawl came by. Elizabeth offered the woman two gold coins to take her and the crates to the next town, and soon they were on their way.

It was well after dark when the old woman deposited her at a small, cozy inn, then went on her way.

Elizabeth had the staff of the inn bring some ale, along with bread, cheese, and fresh fruit, to her room.

Once she’d eaten, she undressed down to her underthings and laid down on the bed. HHHHmmm….tomorrow she’d see about renting a cottage, and some new clothes. Soon she was fast asleep.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s father was frantic over her disappearance……he dispatched men to search for her.

The next morning, Elizabeth located a small cottage to rent, and had her crates transported from the inn.

It was a furnished cottage, but she still purchased a few things to make her more comfortable, like extra candlesticks and potpourri bowls, and some fresh flowers. She also stocked the pantry with food and drink, and hired a maid to do laundry and housecleaning for her.

It was a busy day, and Elizabeth was oblivious to the fact that she was being watched. But that night, once she was abed, she heard a movement in the hall. Before she could get up to see what it was, a hand was over her mouth and holding her down on the bed.

“If you value your life, you will not scream. You stole from me. And I intend to steal from you in return.”, said a deep masculine voice; she could not see the man’s face in the darkness.

At first Elizabeth thought he meant to steal the treasure back, but when he began ripping at her clothes, she realized that he meant something else entirely, and she struggled wildly.

“Undoubtedly a virgin…..all the better. I like virgins.”, the man said. He parted Elizabeth’s thighs and plunged inside her……

When it was over, Elizabeth was reduced to weeping; she was ruined now.

“Elizabeth, you must listen to me. It is true that I am a pirate and that you stole my treasure, but I am also the son of the Duke your father arranged for you to marry. I could not bear to see you in my father’s bed; I want you for myself. So when you stole the treasure,  I saw my chance to take you, and I did. You are not ruined, for I will marry you myself. And by the way, my name is Nigel.”, he told her.

 

They made love again, this time much more gently.

The next morning, Elizabeth and Nigel were married by the town priest. Elizabeth’s father found them just as the ceremony was concluded. He was shocked when he recognized Nigel as the Duke’s son.

Within months, Elizabeth had produced another sort of treasure: a son…….

No woman is an Island

 A brisk breeze pushed through the hatchway, cooling

her sunburned cheeks. Saltwater lapped at the hull.
A mariner's lullaby. Chloe smiled, pondering her
perfect life. No people. No stress. Just the
occasional storm, and sojourns to the mainland
for provisions. Whoever said no woman is an island didn’t know what the shit they were talking about.

She pushed back the wide-brimmed straw hat on her head, revealing her burnished auburn tresses, and rubbed the head of her adored dog, a  Jack Russell terrier named Revel.  Just as her tired  green eyes closed,
violent knocking and shouting erupted on her
starboard side...

She sat still for a few minutes, hoping that whatever was causing it would go away. But when it continued and got louder and more frantic, she sighed and got up from her canvas lounge chair, Revel  following after her. Whatever the hell it was, she was getting rid of it, and fast.  It was causing the boat to rock wildly in the water.

Her eyes widened and then slanted in anger when she saw two men climbing over the railing of her boat. Revel began to bark and advanced on the men, and Chloe didn’t stop him.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?! This boat is private property!”, she told them irately.

 “Sorry to bother you, Miss, but we were out  fishing and our boat developed a leak we couldn’t plug. We were hoping you might take us to the mainland?”, one man said. He was tall, tanned, and had hair like spun gold. “I’m Clay Walker, and my friend is Jake Palmer.”

Chloe debated about what to do for a few minutes. Her first impulse was to call the Coast Guard, and let them help the two men. But then, she needed to go to the mainland anyway, for supplies……so why not take them along for the ride? She smiled, and nodded. “Sure, I’ll take you to the mainland. I’m Chloe, and that is Revel.”, she replied, as she motioned to her dog.

That night, as they sailed, Chloe and the men played cards, and polished off a bottle of golden rum that Chloe  had tucked away on the boat. She was lucky that night, grinning as she and Revel were in bed for the night that she had won 400 dollars from the men.

“Just think of the provisions that I can get for us, Revel!.”, Chloe told him enthusiastically, as she rubbed his head lovingly.  They curled close to one another, and both were soon asleep.

The next morning, Chloe pulled on some faded jean shorts and a sea green tshirt and joined the men for breakfast, which was coffee and granola bars. Then they were on the way to the mainland.

They docked about 4 in the afternoon, and the men thanked Chloe for her help, as well as giving her 200 dollars for her trouble.

“Anytime. I was glad I could help.”, she told them sincerely.  She watched until they were out of sight in the tourist crowd. She went in a clothing store, and bought jeans, two tshirts, and a bright green sundress for herself, as well as a new straw hat, and a silver anklet with a starfish charm on it. For Revel, she bought sunglasses and a canvas visor.

Next stop was for provisions. She bought coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, lemons, limes, a pineapple, bananas, four kinds of granola bars, canned dog food, dry dog food, dog treats, oatmeal, cinnamon, black and green olives, dill pickles, Cheddar cheese, butter, a carton of pimento cheese, a carton of chicken salad, a bag of crushed ice, a loaf of sourdough bread and one of whole wheat, orange juice, 3 bottles of white wine, 2 bottles of red, 1 of sangria, honey, crunchy peanut butter, grape jelly, a box of animal crackers, 2 Mounds candy bars, canned green beans, canned beets, canned yams, mayonnaise, 2 tomatoes, soda water, ginger ale, RC Cola, some small red-skinned potatoes and T-bone steaks.  There were also cleaning supplies, toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, scented lotion, sunscreen, nail polish remover, a bottle of red nail polish and one of pink, a pack of razors, and tampons. She arranged to have her purchases delivered to the boat later.

Lastly she went to a liquor shop, and purchased dark and light rum, a bottle of gin, some Irish whiskey, and a pack of fruit flavored rums.

She took her clothes and the liquor back to the boat, and was petting Revel, when the provisions delivery arrived.

“What did I tell you, Revel? We’re going to eat extra well the next little bit. And,  I still have some of the extra money left!”, she told him happily, as she rubbed his back. Revel licked her.  “We’ll leave tomorrow morning for the open seas. We have everything we need for awhile.”

Chloe walked to a restaurant near where they were docked and got some fresh grilled seafood for dinner, as well as some key lime pie for dessert. She walked back by a bar and got herself a strawberry daiquiri in a to-go cup. It was a peaceful evening for Chloe and Revel.  They curled up together and were soon asleep.

The next morning at dawn, Chloe and Revel set said on their next adventure. Chloe smiled as she thought that whoever said that no woman is an island didn’t have a clue what they were talking about!

My brother, My Beloved, My child

 My brother, My Beloved, My child

The dark water racing under the bridge contrasted sharply with
the yellow and orange leaves riding atop the ripples. Balding
maple trees shadowed the riverbank while the remains of a
cornfield rustled violently in the cold wind. Standing on the
cobblestones by his trusty wooden cart, he shivered, not only from the cold, but from what had happened a short while ago. Eustacia stood quietly beside him, shivering in her torn dress. He, Jason Woodbury, who had always been the good twin, had murdered his evil brother, Alistair. It had been self-defense, as well as defending the honor of his beloved, Eustacia. Jason had come upon them just as Alistair was attempting to rape her. He would never forget her screams and cries, her skirts pushed up, and her privates revealed to him. Jason had been filled with rage, and had stabbed Alistair in the back, killing him. Eustacia and Jason were both stunned when they realized that Alistair was truly dead. They had loaded his body onto the back of the wooden cart, and covered it in burlap.Jason said that he would bury him that night, after dark.

Now, as they sat on the riverbanks, Jason tried to think of other things. It was going
to be a bad winter but they were well prepared. He wanted to be married to Eustacia soon, so they would be together during the  winter. But he didn’t know how what happened this evening might change things between them.

 Suddenly, a
strong gust brought the sound of maniacal laughter. He stepped
quickly to the back of the cart, and threw back the burlap
cover...Alistair’s gruesome face staring back at him. Eustacia had covered her ears, so she had heard the laughter as well; it wasn’t his mind playing tricks on him.  Jason was at least consoled by the fact that his brother was still dead, so the laughter couldn’t have been him. He put the burlap back over the body, and climbed into the cart, Eustacia beside him. As they rode along, Eustacia hid her face and began to sob. It was a horrible story, about how this wasn’t the first time that Alistair had attacked her…..and even worse, he’d succeeded in raping her. Now, a devastated Eustacia went on, she was carrying a child, and she didn’t know if the father was Jason or the now deceased Alistair. Jason told her that they’d get married as soon as possible, and that far as anyone else would ever know, the child was his. He dropped Eustacia off at her cottage, telling her that he would pick her up in the morning and they would find someone to marry them. After that, Jason went to an abandoned field and buried Alistair’s body.

It was late when he finished, so he went home, had a simple repast of bread and butter, and ale, and went to bed. He slept fitfully, bothered by dreams of Alistair. He kept seeing his brother making love to his beautiful Eustacia.

Eustacia had a restless night as well, troubled by Alistair’s death. She also felt as though she had been unfaithful ti Jason, even though with Alistair it had always been rape.

The next day was All Hallows Eve. It was also Jason and Eustacia’s wedding day. The people in the village had somehow learned of their secret nuptials, and while they were away getting married, decorated Jason’s cottage to surprise them. While they were gone, the couple decided to put the past behind them, and forget about what Alistair had done to them. When they arrived home, they found a feast, music and dancing, and wedding presents from the other villagers. It was after three the next morning when their last  guests left and they went to bed. During that night, Jason and his new bride were both murdered with the same knife that Jason killed Alistair with……..the murders have never been solved……..

A Change in Plans

 Emma felt calmer as she handed the conductor her ticket and boarded the train. She was carrying her valise, as well as her small terrier dog, Kick. Her trunk would be put with the luggage of the other passengers. She also had a small reticle hanging from her wrist. She would be glad when they departed Kansas City. It would be one more step between her and Louisiana. More specifically, between her and the insane asylum in Louisiana. She shuddered, thinking of that horrible place that her family had put her in, intending to leave her there the rest of her life.

She wasn't crazy! But she and Kick seemed to be the only ones who knew it.

She sat down in her assigned seat, which she was pleased to discover was a window seat, then settled Kick on her lap, and rubbed the small dog's head lovingly. She arranged the skirts of her blue gown around her in the seat.

She tried to think of herself as Emma now, and not by her old name, Rosemary. She decided it was best, on the outside chance that her family actually did look for her, once they were notified that she was missing from the asylum. Of course, that wouldn't happen right off......supervision of the inmates had been minimal.

"We'll be leaving in just a few minutes, Miss.", an attendant informed her as he passed by. She was glad. The snow coming down was more than just flurries now.

Travel would be much harder very soon. She wanted to get to San Francisco as soon as she could. She had enough money to get settled in a new home with Kick, and for them to eat for awhile, before she had to look for work.

They traveled for an hour or two, and Emma and Kick both grew restless, so they walked to the dinner car on the train. Emma had a cup of hot tea with lemon and sugar in it. The waiter brought a bowl of water for Kick.

They went back to their seat, and Emma read a novel while Kick curled up on her lap and slept. Emma soon grew sleepy herself, so she closed her book, laid her head back, and went to sleep.

During the night or the early hours of  the next morning, Emma was jarred awake by a sudden stopping of the train. She hugged Kick to her, but sat still with the other passengers at the request of the conductor.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated. We have been forced to stop at this time, due to the weather conditions. We are hoping to be able to resume travel very soon, but if we are not able to, we will have you disembark, walk to the nearest town, and stay there until conditions improve. Please stay seated until I return with an update.", the conductor had told them.

At around 6 that morning, they were on their way again, to Emma's intense relief. Once they were started again. Emma went to the dinner car for some breakfast. She ordered a pot of hot tea, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and some bacon. She shared the eggs and bacon with Kick.

The rest of the morning, Emma petted Kick, and read in her novel.

Lunch was a bowl of vegetable soup and a slice of buttered bread.

That afternoon was spent looking out the window with Kick.

Three more days passed uneventfully. and then around noon on the fourth day, they pulled into the station in San Francisco. Emma picked up Kick, her valise, and her reticule, and got off the train. She arranged for her trunk to be delivered to the hotel that she saw across the street from the station.

Emma checked in, and was shown to her room; her trunk followed shortly. She let Kick down, and the little terrier explored their room carefully.

Emma enjoyed a hot bath. When she was done, she rubbed the hotel's scented lotion on her body, then slipped on a soft yellow dressing gown out of her trunk.

"Well, Kick, what should we do next? Our new life is starting.", , she told the dog as she cuddled her. She knew then that she hadn't left anything behind, anything at all.

Neptune

 Ellen had enjoyed the drive to the lake when she had closed her office at lunch that Friday afternoon.

She rarely did such a thing, feeling a personal responsibility to her patients, even though to most people they were four legged ones. But this was the Labor Day weekend, the end of summer, and she decided that a bit of a break was  in order, for herself and for her staff.

Ellen had packed some things that she wanted to take with her the night before, so when the office closed, all she had to do was get into her car and drive. She felt a keen loss because she had no dog riding with her. She always had a pet of some kind, but her beloved German Shepherd, Finn, had died about  a month ago, and she hadn’t had the heart to get another dog just yet.

She put the top down on her red convertible, turned the radio up as loud as it would go, and made the trip to the lake.

Ellen made the trip in no time. When she got there, she quickly carried in the things that she had brought with her, then opened a bottle of a good French red wine, and went out on the porch to enjoy it.

The wind suddenly picked up as she looked out from the porch. A
wall of dark clouds was pushing across the horizon and a light
chop had developed on the lake, gently rocking the tiny rowboat
tied to the dock. The changing seasons always brought
unpredictable weather. Just as she was about to turn toward the
door, movement in the water caught her attention. She squinted
and then her espresso eyes opened wide. Rushing down the stairs, she
kicked off her shoes, and raced to untie the boat... she was down to the water in a flash, and began rowing across the wind-tossed lake. She reached the frantically swimming dog quickly, and pulled it into her boat. He was dripping wet and shivering from being in the cold water. Ellen noticed with dismay that he was very thin, and his paws were raw. Clearly   not a dog that had been treated well.

She stroked his wet fur gently. “It’s alright, sweet one, I’m here now to take care of you. “, she told him.

When she got back to land, she tied the boat to the dock, and picked the  exhausted dog up in her arms, and carried him to her house.  Just as they made it inside, rain began to pour down. Ellen got a towel and dried the dog as well as she could, then wrapped him in a fleece blanket. She brought him some slices of deli ham that she had brought with her, as well as a bowl of fresh water.  While he ate, she took a closer look at him. He was a young German Shepherd, maybe one or two years old at the most. He hadn’t been neutered. He had a deep blue collar around his neck, but there was no tag indicating who his owner was. He was thin and malnourished, starving in fact. 

She got herself a glass of wine, and sat there with her new friend, stroking his fur.

She fixed herself a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich for dinner, and shared hers with the dog. She fixed herself a pot of hot tea, and curled up with him to watch a movie on tv.

That night, when she went to bed, the dog slept on the foot of the bed.

She put down some newspapers for him, and when she got up the next morning they were soiled, so she discovered that he was housebroken.

She put on a pot of coffee, then fixed a ham and cheese omelet and some grits with butter in them for breakfast.

After they had eaten, she dressed and drove to the nearest shelter, where she reported finding the dog. She indicated that she wanted to keep him if the owners did not claim him. She also indicated his poor condition to the shelter staff, and that she was a vet. She was told to keep the dog, and that they were notify her if the owners did indeed appear.

Ellen quickly grew attached to the dog, who she named Neptune. She fed him, and gave him a bath, and trimmed his nails. She bought him a new deep blue leather collar at the pet store, and a blue leather leash to match, as well as a squeaky orange ball,  and a long red stuffed dog. Then she selected some quality dog food for him, and a couple of bags of dog treats.

Three days later, the shelter called and told Ellen that they had located the dog’s owners and they didn’t want him back. She could keep him. That night Ellen cooked steaks on the grill for herself and Neptune.

The next day, Ellen and Neptune went shopping for some bandanas for him, as well as a large bed for him to use during the day (he slept with Ellen at night).  It was going to be a Happy Labor Day!

Camp Vixen

 Emily’s blue eyes widened when she peered in the window, and saw a half-naked couple on the cot in the cabin, embracing, fondling, and kissing one another, something that was strictly forbidden at the camp, as the camp was for introductions, only, nothing more. She couldn’t resist watching them a few minutes longer, until the point at which the man was removing the woman’s panties, and then she looked away. She knew that she should report them, but she crept away, like she had never seen them.

She walked on to the cabin where she was housed for the camp. She opened the door, and started peeling off her clothing, which was damp from sweat. She slipped into the shower, and ran its cool water over her. When she was finished, she wrapped herself in a towel, and laid down on her cot. She turned on a fan at the foot of her cot, and loosened her towel, laying there naked as she dried off. She fell asleep this way.

She was up early the next morning, dressed in denim shorts, a red cotton halter and red flipflops, getting ready for the cookout on the beach for the camp guests.

While she was alone on the beach, or so she thought, prepping the food to be cooked, Emily spied the couple from last night on the beach. Emily saw them kiss, and then the man pulled the woman’s bikini bottom down, and did some very unseemly things to her. Emily called the head of the camp on her cell phone and reported them. Then she turned her attention back to the food.

Later, when the other camp guests were there, and Emily  was busy grilling steaks and seafood, she saw the couple being escorted from the beach, and she suspected, from the camp. While she was usually sympathetic to love, rules were rules.

She was busy cooking and serving food after that, and didn’t really notice very much about what the camp guests were doing.

Later, when things had calmed down, and she was only serving an occasional steak or piece of grilled fish, she sat down with some lemonade, and watched the camp guests, who seemed to be having a good time. She did witness a kiss or a grope or two, but nothing like the frisky couple that she had reported earlier.

Being on the beach was especially nice, seeing as how the air conditioning still hadn’t been fixed, at least not since she had left to come to the beach this morning to start food prep.

Emily walked back to her cabin, grabbed some bottled water, turned on her fan, and stretched out on her bunk for an afternoon nap until it was time to start prepping for dinner.

While she was sleeping, she had a visitor in her cabin. It was a small young red fox. Unusually tame, it leaped up on her cot, and curled against her legs. It was sleeping there when she awoke. She gently stroked its fur, and it looked up at her.

Emily picked the small animal up in her arms, and it licked her face.

“Hello sweetie….. I would like to keep you. Will you let me?”, she asked the fox, to which it gave a small, happy noise like a dog’s bark. She smiled. “I guess that’s a yes.” Even though she knew it was against the camp rules, she was determined to keep the little fox. She named it Vixen, which seemed appropriate under the circumstances, as it was a young female fox.

She got a raw  steak for Vixen to eat, and gave her a bowl of fresh water. She hoped the little fox would be alright while she took care of dinner for the camp. She was very relieved when she returned to her cabin and Vixen was curled up on her bunk asleep.

Emily turned the fan on, and she and Vixen played with a small red ball that she had found, for awhile. Emily went in to take a shower, and she laughed when Vixen joined in, getting her fur wet.

When they got out of the shower, Emily was very happy that the air conditioning was finally back on. She put on a fresh tshirt and sat down on the bed with Vixen, brushing the fox’s soft, wet fur. She was determined to keep her as a pet, and take her home with her when the summer camp was over. Hiding her until that time, though, would be a challenge.

Emily rose to the challenge, however, and when the camp closed down for the summer, Vixen went home with her. All was right with the world.

Threat or Blessing

 Alexa picked up the sparking object from among the pieces of candy on the table from her daughter’s bag. To her amazement, and dismay, she held a silver cross in her hand. She clasped her hands around the cross tightly.

“Leona, where did you get this? Do you remember?”, she asked, as calmly as she could.

Leona shook her head. “No, Mother, I didn’t even know I had it, until Antonio noticed it in my bag.”

Alexa relaxed, a little. At least her children didn’t know what it meant.  She checked threw the candy that both of them had brought home, and sent them into the next room to play and enjoy it.

Once they were gone, she paced the floor anxiously, trying to figure out what to do. She knew that Victor would be livid if he found out. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

Why, why, put such a thing in a child’s bag? Was it to torment her and Victor? To say, we know what you are, that you are not like us? But why involve a child like Leona? Alexa couldn’t fathom it.

It was Leona’s birthday, and Alexa had always before thought that there was no harm in letting her children dress up and go trick or treating like the other children on Halloween. It was like Leona was getting extra treats for her birthday, and it hopefully made the children feel a little less ostracized.

Alexa had known that it was common knowledge among their neighbors that she was pagan, and practiced witchcraft, but apparently, now someone also knew that Victor was a vampire. She thought about her beautiful, innocent girl, Leona, and shivered with fright. Who would try to torment a child in such a way, no matter how much her parents were despised?

She checked on the two children, who were playing and trading pieces of candy, then came back to the kitchen and fixed herself a steaming cup of herbal tea, and tried to relax. By the time she had finished her tea, she had decided that when Victor came home, she was going to suggest that they move, to a place that would be safer for their children, and for them. She had heard of a small place in North Carolina, called New Bern. It was home to a good-sized witches’ coven. They would be welcome there; they would be safe. Even Victor, as a vampire, would be more welcome among pagans that he was where they were, among primarily Christians.

Suddenly the door opened, and her debonair husband, Victor, walked in out of the night air.

He kissed her lips lightly, frowning when he saw the worried look on her face.

“What is it, Beloved?”, he asked gently.

Alexa ran to his arms, wanting the comfort that only his embrace could provide.

Hot tears sprang from her green eyes as she told …..and showed….. him the silver cross that had been in Leona’s candy bag.

Victor looked away, after a quick look, and Alexa put the cross away. But his dark eyes flashed with anger, and also fear for his wife and his children.

“Victor, let’s leave this awful place! People here hate us! They will never accept us, and we will even be in danger. What kind of life is that for the children, or for us?”, she wept.

Victor brushed away a tear as it trickled down his wife’s cheek.

“Perhaps you are right, my Alexa. I know that I have resisted the idea in the past, but perhaps it is time to do it.”, he agreed.  “Don’t cry any longer, my love. I promise we will leave in a few nights.”

Alexa nodded, and gave him the hint of a smile. “Alright, Victor. Thank you, my husband.”

As they went in to join the children, Alexa began to feel that everything was going to be alright.

Leona came over to her mother and smiled her sweet smile.

“Mother, can I have the shiny thing back?”, she asked innocently.

Alexa gave Victor a quick glance, then kissed her daughter’s forehead.

“No, Leona. Not now. Perhaps when you are older. Let your father and I keep it safe for you until then.”, she finally answered. “Happy Birthday, my little love.”

What Alexa said seemed to satisfy Leona, and the child smiled. “Alright, Mother.” Innocently she went back to trading candy with her brother.

She knew that she and Victor couldn’t protect the children forever, but for now, she was content.

Drops of Golden Rainlight

 

Izzy was sitting in the small reading alcove of the lake house that she had rented for the summer. She sighed softly. She had hoped for a sunny afternoon to sit by the lake to paint or sketch, perhaps to write longhand, and to consume fine French Chardonnay.  She'd only arrived late yesterday afternoon, with her adored Jack Russell terrier, Revel, and the supplies that she'd brought with them to enjoyvfor part of their time at the lake. By the time she'd gotten everything unpacked, and enjoyed a Greek salad and glass of rose wine at sunset on the shaded patio, she'd been tired, as much from the unpacking as the trip here. She had taken a warm bath, and she and Revel had gone to bed early. Izzy had fallen asleep to soft music, with a cup of warm Earl Grey tea on her nightstand, and Revel curled up across her feet in bed. Izzy and Revel had slept late. After a play session in bed with a small orange ball that was the small terrier's favorite, Izzy had cooked a ham and cheese omelet and a pot of Scottish Morn black tea for breakfast. There was a soft, misting rain falling from the heavy storm clouds in the grey sky.  So now, here she was in the reading alcove, watching it rain. Revel was happily curled up, napping. Izzy had already read the better part of a novel, hoping the rain would let up, so that she and Revel could enjoy some time outdoors beside the lake. Maybe they would have a swim, too. While it was true that they were staying here for the summer, she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed that their first whole day here was rainy.  The rain persisted, and so Izzy turned on some music, and poured another cup of tea for herself. She curled her hands around her teacup, and watched the rain come down. Just as she'd had the last of her tea, Revel woke up from her nap, wanting to play.  Izzy rubbed the delighted dog's ears affectionately, and sat down in the floor so that they could play ball. A good time was had by both participants. Revel stopped the game to have a drink of water, and Izzy drank more tea.  Izzy glanced out the window to see if the rain had stopped yet. There was still time to be outside by the lake, if it had. Her dark eyes flickered and her face brightened as she saw the lightening sky. While it was still raining, the clouds were lifting, and the sun was slowly peeking out from behind them, causing drops of golden rainlight. ReplyForward

La Vie En Rose

 Mademoiselle Anne Boleyn sat in front of the gilded mirror in her room, as she carefully applied rose perfume behind each ear and to each wrist. Her maid brushed her dark tresses with a sterling silver hairbrush, then carefully tucked a dusky pink rosebud behind Anne's left ear. She then placed a small gold circlet studded with blue sapphires on Anne's head. 

Anne slowly rose from where she was seated, and her delicate hands smoothed her rose satin gown. Its French design was far more elaborate than anything that Anne had ever worn. The gown was gifted to her by Queen Claude, and Anne felt like a queen wearing it....or at least a princess.

The elegant satin was studded with sapphires and pearls. She didn't really need any other jewelry with it, but she did wear a pearl stud earring in each ear. 

Anne was excited, but also a little bit nervous about this evening. This was the first time she was attending a French court event as an attendant to the queen. It was an honor, and a mark of Queen Claude's favor, that she was chosen.

Anne loved her life in France. Sometimes she even daydreamed about remaining here instead of having to return to England. France was home to her. England seemed foreign, cold, and uninviting. She knew that her family was negotiating a possible marriage to the Earl of Ormond, and she dreaded for the time to come that she would have to leave France. But for now, she was here. and life was good.

The Window: Morgana's View

 My love is a modern day Merlin, trapped by an evil mermaid who beguiled him and tricked him into marriage.

He watches out the window of his office, waiting for the day when his Morgana thinks of a way to rescue him. I

WILL NOT disappoint him. It will take all of his power, as well as any I can muster, for us to accomplish this

feat. But make no mistake: it IS possible, and we WILL do it. It is worth everything we have to give.

Being under the spell of this wicked siren has harmed Merlin greatly, and his forced slavery has made him

believe that he is powerless against the evil surrounding him. But Merlin is as powerful as he always and ever

was, and Morgana is determined to make him see that. After all, Merlin was the one who taught HER. If it has

to be thru a window that she reaches her love and teacher (her EVERYTHING!), so be it.

Blue at Sunset

   Davis Langtry stood on the front porch of the white-columned house on her family's Southern estate at dusk, smoking a cigarette that was encased in a monogrammed sterling silver cigarette holder. An attractive brunette with icy pale blue eyes, she wore a sleek, tea-length silk dress that matched her eyes. Blue was, after all, HIS favorite color on her, and it matched her eyes, so what the hell...

This evening's amusement for the pair was the main show at the Rose Hill Drive-In Supper Club. Word around town was that they were going to unveil something new and exciting tonight, and Davis was all about new and exciting. It was getting harder and harder to find that sort of thing these days, or so it seemed to her. Anyhoo, here she was, waiting for Jack. If he didn't get here soon, she was going to have Daisy bring her a drink, and it wasn't mint tea she had in mind. Although that would do well enough, provided there were a few shots of bourbon in it.

She took a deep draw on her cigarette and inhaled. Her lush lips left a red lipstick ring on the base of her silver cigarette holder as they released it and she exhaled. The smoke filled the humid twilight air around her. 

She finished her cigarette, and walked over to a cushioned wrought iron chair. She carelessly dropped her cigarette holder into a silver ashtray on the glass-topped table next to her.

Davis lowered her slim form into the chair carefully, so that she wouldn't crease her elegant dinner dress. A satin clutch dyed to perfectly match said dress laid on the table, beside the ashtray.

She turned her head slightly towards the direction of the front door. In her rich, yet feminine drawl, she called, "Daisy honey, could you bring me something cold to drink? It's awfully hot out here. You know what sort of thing I like, don't you honey? Thanks ever so."

Before the fan in the overhang of the porch roof could muss a hair on Davis' dark head, Daisy appeared with an icy concoction in a lead crystal highball glass on a silver tray, a single pale pink rose in a silver vase beside the elegant, mint-sprigged glass. Davis gave a slight smile, as she watched Daisy place her drink and the rose on the table next to her.

"Thanks, honey. It's just the perfect thing."

"Yes, Miss Davis.", Daisy replied, before she retreated back inside the house.

Davis picked up the glass, her red fingernails clicking lightly on the glass, as she did. Her pouted red lips left a red stain on the edge of the frosty glass, as she took first one sip, then another. 

Usually a little impatient if she was kept waiting, this time she was actually enjoying her time in the evening air on the porch. 

The turning overhead fan caused the delicate scent of the fresh gardena that she'd tucked behind her left ear to waft past her nose. It complimented the French gardenia perfume that she wore.

The setting sun struck one of her blue topaz earrings, and as it did, it must have seemed to any invisible onlookers that her ears were lit from within by blue flames.

She sighed softly, as she toyed with the idea of lighting another cigarette.

Her crimson nails clicked against her highball glass again, as Davis took another sip of her drink. Her sharp blue eyes flickered as she watched the sunset in the painted sky. She could almost see the brushstrokes.

Her drink was nearly gone, and she had only just reached for her purse to get another cigarette, when she spied Jack's shiny black convertible as he raced up the long, shaded drive from the main gate to the house. She smiled; he'd shown up just in time. After all, they didn't want to miss the show.

Davis watched her handsome dark-haired flame, the always debonair Jack, as he slammed the door of his car, and climbed the stairs of the porch.

His tall frame towered over her, as she remained seated. She laughed delightedly, as Jack pulled her up from the chair, and into his arms for an embrace, and then kissed her.

It wasn't yet show time....or was it???

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The Legend of the Lapis Star

 Morgana shivered in the cold as she fished through the hole that she had cut in the thick ice of the frozen lake. Her dark hair waved in the frigid winds that blew around her. That in itself was nothing unusual; she had to fish to eat. The people in town could laugh as they pleased; they weren't the ones who were hungry. 

At her feet on the ice was her constant companion, a silvery white fox with sapphire eyes whom she called Merlin.

He kept her feet warm, while at the same time sharply watching the hole that she fished in, for what came out of it.

Morgana loosened her grip briefly on her makeshift fishing pole, just long enough to rub Merlin's soft fur. It was only then that there was a tug on it, such that she had to quickly grab it, to keep it from disappearing into the lake"s icy depths.

With Merlin's assistance, she pulled the pole and what was attached to it out of the water. She was disappointed at first, when she realized that it wasn't a fish, but her dark eyes flickered with curiosity when she saw what it was: a small, rusty metal box. She laid it on the ice next to Merlin, who sniffed it, while she put her pole back in the water. One had to eat, after all.

Once that was done, she knelt down beside her adored fox and opened the hinge of the chest. Inside was a burnished silver, lapis, and agate talisman on a chain, along with a piece of parchment. 

As she held the pendant in her hands, she read the words on the paper: The Wearer of the Lapis Star shall see the future in the veil of the past. Those who see in the present shall see only what you wish them to see. Use the gift wisely and well, and consider it not a curse. Harm not those who harm you not with it, and it will defend you always. 

Morgana read the words through once, then again. The second time, it was as though a man's voice was speaking them to her. She didn't recognize it; she knew it not. Nevertheless, she heard it.

She folded the paper and put it in the side pocket of her cape, and slipped the talisman around her neck. Her dark eyes glittered as she heard the words again. She wistfully thought that perhaps the talisman would make her a little less visible to the prying eyes of the people in town, for she was frequently their target.

She stopped thinking about it just then, for she felt a tug on her fishing pole. Merlin barked and wanted his tail as she pulled three fish out of the water. Her eyes lit up like his did. She'd cook them over a fire when they got back to their cottage. They wouldn't be hungry tonight.

She laid the fish on the ice of the lake, and put her pole in the water again. With any luck, she'd catch enough so that she and Merlin wouldn't have to fish tomorrow, and perhaps even the day after that. As she speculated, without even realizing it, Morgana reached up and clasped the Lapis Star in one hand. As she did so, the late afternoon rays of the winter sun hit the silver. The light from it made colorful prisms on the icy lake; it was beautiful. She clasped the talisman tighter in her hand, it felt warm.

Morgana saw fog rise from the cold ice of the blue lake as she continued to clasp the. Lapis Star. It swirled around her and Merlin like the frozen veil of mist it was.

Henceforth, when the villagers saw anything, it might be many things...a pair of silver foxes, a pair of cardinals, a pair of white ravens (or black ones). In truth a very human Morgana and equally human Merlin stood before them...and they knew it not.