Sometimes I feel like I’ve been tortured by your love,Whipped, nailed, scarred, and dragged through the streets.Sometimes I feel like I’m bound forever into submission,For the painful sacrifice I’ve made for your love.Sometimes I feel I played the fool f...
The results of the lottery were no surprise. That's what happens when you irk a duke or an earl or a prince. He wanted marriage; she refused for the sake of her seven siblings and dying mother. So, when the next lottery happened, her name went into the bo...
“I’m nervous,” said Jenna. “No, scared—no nervous. Oh, I don’t know what I am.” There was still a good fifty miles to go. But, the road was clear and the sunny day nice. He smiled over at her. “We’re doing this right,” said James. “We know what we have to...
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR 2015“He just disappeared, again!” said Ronald. “Yes, and I have no idea why,” said Stacey. “But, we do,” said James. His new wife looked down. “Huh? What?” said Stacey. ‘“Before we came here today, Jenna and I talked. I’d asked her why...
The meeting with the judge had gone well. Winifred Clark did have some friends at court, and with Nathan backing her efforts the meeting had gone, well, well. This was one trip to the prison that she was actually looking forward to. She pulled into the sp...
My first half year at state was bad and worse than bad. It was the loneliness mostly. The nights were the worst of course, nothing to do but think and wonder how things were going back there, at his house. From the way Stacey’d talked to me that last time...
“It’s evidently serious,” said Stacey. He smiled at her words. “And you know this how?” he said. “Jenna. Said she came over when she was there last week. They were very friendly. Jenna, is happy for him or so she told me,” said Stacey. “Hmm, interesting,...
CHAPTER SIXTEEN 2003 “Mom, I have a thing going with Marlene and the pep squad this weekend. I know da—Uncle David will understand,” said Jenna. Her mother nodded. This would be the fourth time in the past several months that she had missed her weekend wi...
CHAPTER TWELVE 2001 I had a mission now: to talk to my daughter. The woman had said she wouldn’t stop me from seeing her, but would she not? Or, allowing me to see her, would she make it problematical in any event: maybe insist on being there while I was...
Like a wounded animalLimping through the dense forestI search for somewhere to fall downTo rest my weary soul, and painful heartThis once proud Lion that roaredBecomes a gentle animal that whimpersSuffering in silenceFrom pain I brought upon youWatching t...
They say that blood is thicker than water, and I guess that’s so. Still, water evaporates, and the supply of blood for any one individual is limited. But, the feelings one has for the love of his or her life never evaporates and has no limit, none. I am l...
"It's so good to see you." My friend Cherry throws her arms around me. "It's going to be so much fun catching up with you." "Yes it will. I'm so happy you invited me for the holidays. It was either spending Christmas with you and Gary or home alone with m...
A tiny chapel, made of wood and painted in a warm, dark red, was perched on one of Iceland’s little rolling hills close to the sea. Small white crosses stood in neat, short rows and made long shadows in midsummer’s endless dawn. An old woman knelt before...
" . . . Last night you both kept dancing When the music ceased to play Is it all over, do you still love me Am I standing in your way . . ." (Merle Haggard) It is such a fucking cliché, what happened to me. I was a physical ruin as I left work; I'm a c...