A humerous excerpt
Below is a humorous excerpt from my novel, In Due Season: A Story of Colonial Williamsburg. It's available on Amazon as an ebook for $2.99, paperback for $9.99, and is FREE on Kindle Unlimited.
John started out the door, met by none other than Bradley. Elizabeth turned her face away from him. Why does he always show up at the worst times!
“What’s going on?” Bradley demanded.
John looked at Elizabeth for an explanation, but she wasn’t in any condition to give one. “It’s a long story, sir.”
“Is she alright?” Elizabeth was surprised at his show of concern.
“Yes, sir.”
“Was she the one I heard screaming?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I fell.” Elizabeth muttered.
“Fell? From what?”
“The ladder.” She nodded towards the cause of the awkward situation. “There was a—a mouse.”
“A mouse?” Bradley smirked, then chuckled, then laughed. “Now that I would like to have seen!”
“It’s not funny,” Elizabeth said, although, inwardly, she knew the episode would have made an amusing spectacle.
“Weren’t you going to help her up?” Bradley questioned John.
“She was dizzy, sir. Said she didn’t want to get up just yet. I was goin’ to get ‘er a glass of water.”
“I see. Well, go on, then. I’ll assist her.”
Elizabeth froze. Not if I can help it! “I’m fine now. I’m sure I don’t need any help.” She struggled to her feet. A wave of dizziness swept over her. She grabbed for the cobbler’s bench, hitting the tray of food in the process. The beef and turkey hit the floor in a puddle of gravy, the minced-meat pie splattered nearby. Nuts and figs were scattered all over the floor. The apple cobbler had landed upside down on top of the minced pie, and Elizabeth’s hair was dripping with chocolate, which, thankfully, had cooled off during her excursion up the ladder. Only the chunk of cheese survived, catapulting straight up into the air and down again on the platter. Both now hung precariously over the edge of the cobbler’s bench.
“That’s what you get for being stubborn. Now, let me help you.” Bradley was at her side, gently leading her to a chair, as they tried to avoid the slippery mess.
“Thank you. I’m fine now.” She sat down and, using the sleeve of her dress, wiped some chocolate off her forehead. “I’ll be—fine. She felt faint again and grabbed ahold of his arm so she wouldn’t fall, leaning her head against him. What am I doing? Give me strength, Lord. Take away the dizziness! This is so embarrassing!
John walked in. He was surprised by everything he saw, but said nothing, and handed the glass of water to Elizabeth. She grasped the cup with both hands, thankful for a reason to let go of Bradley’s arm. Taking slow sips, she silently wished Bradley would go back to the house so she could give John his Christmas present.
“Well,” said Bradley clearing his throat. It had been an awkward situation for him, as well. “Since I’m no longer needed here, I’ll be taking my leave.” He glanced back at the food that covered the floor, then at John. “Enjoy your meal.”
As the door shut behind him, the pewter tray clattered to the floor, and the wedge of cheese landed in the gravy.
In Due Season: A Story of Colonial Williamsburg
John started out the door, met by none other than Bradley. Elizabeth turned her face away from him. Why does he always show up at the worst times!
“What’s going on?” Bradley demanded.
John looked at Elizabeth for an explanation, but she wasn’t in any condition to give one. “It’s a long story, sir.”
“Is she alright?” Elizabeth was surprised at his show of concern.
“Yes, sir.”
“Was she the one I heard screaming?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I fell.” Elizabeth muttered.
“Fell? From what?”
“The ladder.” She nodded towards the cause of the awkward situation. “There was a—a mouse.”
“A mouse?” Bradley smirked, then chuckled, then laughed. “Now that I would like to have seen!”
“It’s not funny,” Elizabeth said, although, inwardly, she knew the episode would have made an amusing spectacle.
“Weren’t you going to help her up?” Bradley questioned John.
“She was dizzy, sir. Said she didn’t want to get up just yet. I was goin’ to get ‘er a glass of water.”
“I see. Well, go on, then. I’ll assist her.”
Elizabeth froze. Not if I can help it! “I’m fine now. I’m sure I don’t need any help.” She struggled to her feet. A wave of dizziness swept over her. She grabbed for the cobbler’s bench, hitting the tray of food in the process. The beef and turkey hit the floor in a puddle of gravy, the minced-meat pie splattered nearby. Nuts and figs were scattered all over the floor. The apple cobbler had landed upside down on top of the minced pie, and Elizabeth’s hair was dripping with chocolate, which, thankfully, had cooled off during her excursion up the ladder. Only the chunk of cheese survived, catapulting straight up into the air and down again on the platter. Both now hung precariously over the edge of the cobbler’s bench.
“That’s what you get for being stubborn. Now, let me help you.” Bradley was at her side, gently leading her to a chair, as they tried to avoid the slippery mess.
“Thank you. I’m fine now.” She sat down and, using the sleeve of her dress, wiped some chocolate off her forehead. “I’ll be—fine. She felt faint again and grabbed ahold of his arm so she wouldn’t fall, leaning her head against him. What am I doing? Give me strength, Lord. Take away the dizziness! This is so embarrassing!
John walked in. He was surprised by everything he saw, but said nothing, and handed the glass of water to Elizabeth. She grasped the cup with both hands, thankful for a reason to let go of Bradley’s arm. Taking slow sips, she silently wished Bradley would go back to the house so she could give John his Christmas present.
“Well,” said Bradley clearing his throat. It had been an awkward situation for him, as well. “Since I’m no longer needed here, I’ll be taking my leave.” He glanced back at the food that covered the floor, then at John. “Enjoy your meal.”
As the door shut behind him, the pewter tray clattered to the floor, and the wedge of cheese landed in the gravy.
In Due Season: A Story of Colonial Williamsburg
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