The storms passed and the humid summer heat returned. The feed store remained busy. The trains rumbled past Four Corners, past their home, as they had done for the past two decades. Burt always thought that the late night train whistle that echoed across the moonlit prairie was one of the loneliest sounds he ever heard…
…Rachel announced she was going for a swim. She poured a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for herself and picked up a CD player. She usually listened to classical music, waltzes, and operas when floating in the pool. There was a chakra wind chime hanging near the pool for the times when she felt like floating in near silence except for the chimes and the sound of the prairie wind.
A few moments later Burt followed with beer in hand. Maggie trotted behind him, rawhide bone in her jaws. Classical music floated through the night; fireflies played hide and seek among the neatly trimmed hedges along the perimeter of the yard. Others drifted in and out of the nearby cornfield, while the insects of the night droned on in disharmony…
A thought was born.
A surprising thought…
“Dammit,” Burt whispered to himself in disbelief…disbelief and excitement. And trepidation. What would her reaction be? What would she say? Could he even find a way to suggest it?
“Burt?”
He returned to the poolside. Her eyes were open. Moonlit water droplets on her beautiful face sparkled like tiny diamonds.
The thought wouldn’t let go. It took root…
…Rachel announced she was going for a swim. She poured a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for herself and picked up a CD player. She usually listened to classical music, waltzes, and operas when floating in the pool. There was a chakra wind chime hanging near the pool for the times when she felt like floating in near silence except for the chimes and the sound of the prairie wind.
A few moments later Burt followed with beer in hand. Maggie trotted behind him, rawhide bone in her jaws. Classical music floated through the night; fireflies played hide and seek among the neatly trimmed hedges along the perimeter of the yard. Others drifted in and out of the nearby cornfield, while the insects of the night droned on in disharmony…
A thought was born.
A surprising thought…
“Dammit,” Burt whispered to himself in disbelief…disbelief and excitement. And trepidation. What would her reaction be? What would she say? Could he even find a way to suggest it?
“Burt?”
He returned to the poolside. Her eyes were open. Moonlit water droplets on her beautiful face sparkled like tiny diamonds.
The thought wouldn’t let go. It took root…
On sale for a limited time!
PLEASE double-check the price before you buy!
He has had two solo photographic exhibitions and curated a multi-media exhibit. His writings have appeared as stand-alone stories and in anthologies from Dark Opus Press, Edge Science Fiction & Fantasy, Melange Books, Musa Publishing, MuseItUp Publishing, Ravenous Romance, and in Horror Bound Magazine, The Harrow, and River Walk Journal, among others.
As of April 2014, after being in a 2-year Veterans Administration program for Homeless Veterans, Hampton is officially no longer a homeless Iraq War veteran.
In May 2014 he graduated from the College of Southern Nevada with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Photography – Commercial Photography Emphasis. He has been studying at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with in a double major in Art and English. However, he is presently spending a cold, rainy Spring 2017 semester studying at a university in southwestern France in the shadow of the Pyrenees Mountains.
But, after 16 years of brown desert in the Southwest and overseas, he misses the Rocky Mountains, yellow aspens in the fall, running rivers, and a warm fireplace during snowy winters.
Win a $15 Amazon or B&N gift card!
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excerpt and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt sounds great, I know I'd enjoy this!
ReplyDeleteGood morning everyone. I hope that you will enjoy this little visit. And to Lauren, thank you for this opportunity in appearing on your blog. Have a great day everyone!
ReplyDeleteStan
Thank you for the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteSharing Rachel sounds like a good read. Thank you
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to checking this one out! :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt, so descriptive that I pictured every detail in my mind, thank you, I loved it!
ReplyDeleteIf you had the opportunity to cowrite with anyone who would that be?
ReplyDeleteGee, I really don't know. I don't think I would co-write with anyone, but if I was to do so, I guess, maybe, HP Lovecraft. Or Frederick Forsythe. I think. Have a great week!
DeleteStan
What was your favorite book growing up? Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteTo tell the truth, I don't remember a favorite. I was really into science fiction and horror, and some military fiction. So there were numerous books that I really enjoyed. But I can't really single out a favorite that I can think of, at the moment. Have a great week!
DeleteStan
Thank you for the excerpt & giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind comments everyone. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteStan
Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net
Hope you are having a fabulous weekend! Looking forward to checking out this book!
ReplyDeleteHope your day is going great. Thanks once again for the chance at winning.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read your book.
ReplyDeleteI'm back and thanking you again for the chance at winning. I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including Sharing Rachel. I wish the best in keeping up the good work in the future.
ReplyDelete