“Orland found her in the Outback Rocks.” The words always burrowed under Annie’s skin like poisoned roots. Tanner Village spread below her, a handful of humped houses and a blacksmith’s forge. What origin could they boast? Her thoughts sank the closer she came. Her produce basket cut into her elbow. If she and Orland could […]
Winter Horse #winterwordsflashfiction
Another thud shook the roof. Lillian jumped and spilled scalding tea on her knee. “If that horse does not settle down in one minute—” Mam popped her pricked finger into her mouth, clutching Lillian’s torn shirt with the other. “It’s a winter horse, Mam. It doesn’t know how to stand still.” “Tell me again why […]
The Christmas Ornament-#WinterWordsFlashFiction
“And it wasn’t here last night?” Iggy leaned closer, her breath fogging the glass orb. “No. The Christmas lantern ran out of batteries, so I took it off the hook. When I brought it out this morning…” She gestured to the ornament swaying gently from a length of white ribbon. “Those are the tiniest plants […]
The Apple Magic – #FallintoFF
“It needs to be thicker, like honey,” Aunt Kira said. Liza blew her damp hair out of her eyes. “How would you know?” Aunt Kira’s chin dropped toward the kettle of bubbling apple brew and Liza felt a stab in her heart. “I’m sorry, Aunt. I just…I’ve been trying to get this right for weeks. […]
The Making of an Ent
“I can see you,” the mask on the wall said. Lillian convulsed in surprise, sending her full mug of coffee spewing across the coffee table and onto the white carpet. “No, no, no…” She rushed into the kitchen and opened the towel drawer before she remembered all her kitchen towels were in the laundry, two […]