Tuesday Tales: From the Word COLD

Well, just like that July is almost over. Soon, we’ll slip into the dog days of summer. How have you enjoyed yourself? Have you traveled or did you indulge in a stay vacation? I’ve done a bit of both.

This week, the TT authors are working with the word prompt, COLD. I’m continuing with Listen to the Stones and moving toward the ending. Enjoy.

Once again, Jerome silently cursed the fiend who’d murdered Bronagh. She would’ve known what he had to do, but she’d taken the knowledge to the grave.

After Marina had walked away with James, Nadia had asked her husband about the gentlemen’s agreement, but top notch solicitor that he was, Nathan had looked his wife in the eye and had claimed lawyer-client privilege, not revealing that he was the client. She hadn’t been impressed, but since they had to get home for Jerry’s feeding, she hadn’t argued the point. Still, he would wager Nathan had a long evening ahead of him since Nadia had avoided them both, giving them the cold shoulder since they’d gotten back to the house.

He stood. “If I’m going to make it back to the Hall for dinner at seven, I suppose I should get going.” He looked James in the eye. “Do you think she knows it’s me?”

He didn’t have to explain who she was.

Nathan rolled his eyes. “Are you serious?” He finished the pint he’d been nursing for the last hour. “Of course she knows it’s you. Why else would she have said it the way she did? The bigger question is how did she learn of it? She said Ewen had mentioned it, but I never said a word to him, so it had to have been Angus. Of course it could be Aunt Maeve. She was privy to everything that went on in that house. My money is on MacNish doing it. It’s the perfect way to discredit you and make his suit the better option.” He chuckled. “Did you see the look on his face when she spoke? He was as surprised as we were. I have no doubt he didn’t expect Lady Fraser to lay down her hand like that. So what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to have to come clean and tell her the truth. What else can I do?”

“Well, unless you’re ready to tell her everything, choose your words carefully; otherwise, she’ll think you’re mad. There’s no shame in being a bestselling author, nor is there anything wrong with being inspired by trees, water, or stones. The problem is when you claim they speak to you and that the tales you weave are the stories they tell you. And when you tell her that, will you also admit you’re the man who frightened her at the airport in London?”

That’s it. Come back next week for more. Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.