Some Christmases we drove from Augusta to Mississippi. My parents must have worked hard to pack 3 kids and Santa in an old 1937 Ford.
My folks would leave after Daddy got home from driving a truck. They put a crib mattress on the back seat and my brother and sister would stretch out and sleep. I did not. I spent most of the trip talking to Daddy about everything, and he told me stories about his growing up poor. As we grew older Daddy and I talked about what I studied in school and eventually what he studied when he went to college at twenty-nine. I was in the sixth and seventh grade and learned a lot about what he was studying. Mama slept well in the front seat while I “kept Daddy awake”.
Grandma Overby’s house had fireplaces and a lot of cold rooms. I don’t remember one in the room where we slept. I hated taking trips to the outhouse and really hated the idea in the dead of winter. For the girls and women there were “slop-jars” or chamber pots kept under the beds. Even getting out of bed for the time it took to relieve a small bladder took too long! Since I was prone to wet the bed, I had no choice. We slept three to a bed, and sometimes someone slept at the foot of the bed. I didn’t mind the added body warmth!
Rules for using it:
I broke all three at least once.
The Christmas trees were real and the decorations were homemade and simple, even after Grandma got electricity. Actually, my aunt Helen moved in and added electricity and some running water to a kitchen sink. Daddy and his brothers tried to build a bathroom but that didn’t happen.
Have you read Haunting Refrain? I forgot to change the price back to $2.99. The price goes back on January 1!
Blurb:
When Sarah Overby found ghosts in her attic she hesitated to tell her best friend, William McKeown. She didn’t think he’d understand. Telling him he lived a previous life as her husband would make him think she was crazy.
William has adored Sarah forever, he just doesn’t realize this isn’t the first time he loved her. His feelings for his best friend are changing, but he doesn’t believe in ghosts, reincarnation, or lasting romantic relationships.
Excerpt:
William felt like a different man but he didn’t know why. Sarita. The name echoed in his mind, then formed his lips into a smile. He studied his wife’s face nearly hidden beneath fiery hair. God, she was beautiful! His penis hardened, thinking about how her pouting red lips would taste if he kissed her. He wanted her. He needed her. So much time has passed since I held you in my arms, love. God forgive him, he wanted to paddle the woman’s backside, but he needed to make long and tender love to her. He would never have the heart to hurt her.
Of all places, she had fallen asleep in the unused barn farthest from the main house. A tempting swell of breast peeked from the mannish shirt she wore. He ached to touch her. Would she let him? Would she help him? I could awaken my beloved with a kiss. I could make love to her until she could argue with me no more, or slip away again while I sleep.
Reminding himself of such things was not good. Letting her see him too soon would upset her. His lady was not vain, but she would want to wash the dirt and grime from her face. She really needed to wash her hair. Sarita was far too proud to have anyone, even him, see it mussed and dirty. Women! She was beautiful, desirable in any state. No, I will wait and suffer. If she tries to sneak away without seeing me, I will hog-tie her and lock her away where she will be safe, for a change.
A lump formed in his throat as he touched the lone lock of hair on her forehead. In a flash he was down the ladder and past the sorriest excuse for horseflesh he had seen lately. Skinny, but fed and watered and wiped down. He slipped out of the barn before he lost his self-control.
Comment to win a copy of The Gift and one of my short stories
Powered by Linky Tools…
Advertisements Share this:
