Tuesday Tales – Picture Prompt

May 13, 2013 | Books, Holiday, Tuesday Tales, Writing

smalltownThe prompt this week is the picture to the left.

For the second week in a row I’m changing stories.  This one is one of my new contemporary romance series’.  The first one, Santa, Maybe, may or may not have a contract…and I wrote it as a stand-alone short story for a submission call, but I loved the town so much, I now have about 6 other stories plotted, all around holidays.

This particular short is as yet unnamed, but is to be set around Independence Day. This blurb won’t be the start of the story, but a chapter or two in…

Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!

Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :

Amanda could hardly stand it.  From where she sat at a table outside a small corner restaurant, the view was—eerie.  A row of businesses lined up like old fashioned America, flags flying proudly.

A few people littered the streets, each greeting one-another by name.

By name? Who’d heard of that? Who lived like that? What town was really that small.

It was too good to be true.  This whole damn thing was, not to mention that sexy mechanic that kept glancing her way.  Clay’s clichéd good-ol’-boy attitude coupled with that southern accent was just too much.

When she thought he wouldn’t catch her, she’d take the opportunity to admire his long legs wrapped up tight in his Wranglers. The strong arms that his t-shirt revealed made her want to curl up in them and hear him tell her she was safe now. She’d almost believe it if he said in his cheesy, stupid accent.

He was probably just like Tony, anyway. If he wasn’t, then he was too good for her.

The wink Clay threw her way made her realize she’d been staring again. Heat flooded her cheeks and she turned deliberately away to take in the town again.

Lake Point.

Pffft.  She hadn’t wanted to stop here, certainly had no intentions to stay long.  According to Clay’s assessment of the crap car she’d managed to buy, she was quite stuck.  It took her days of nursing the clunker along halfway across country.

It had to give up outside of what she could only deduce was Pleasantville.

Was that it?  Had she ended up in an old TV show?

If only. Her luck couldn’t be that good. It never had been before.

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Sarah

14 Comments

  1. Iris

    It sounds like a lovely place …. and with “Clay” in town, I’m sure she’ll stay longer 😉 I look forward to reading more!

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Lake Point is a lovely place…and yes, Clay is an incentive to stay — as is the fact that she now has no vehicle…but the question is…why is she in the strange town, and what (or who) will try to take her back?

      Reply
  2. V.L. Locey

    I do like the name Clay. Sounds like a lovely town that will likely keep her hanging around for a bit longer.

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Thanks, Vicki. I had a friend who’s middle name was Clayton, and I’ve always liked it…so I gave it to this guy and shortened it to Clay. Sounded good and southern 😉

      Reply
  3. Sherry Gloag

    You raise a whole passel of questions and throw in some great descriptions with this week’s offering.

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Thanks, Sherry. I’m pretty excited about this story. Next week I’ll be going back to the beginning w/ the prompt so hopefully a few questions will start to be answered. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jean

    I love this story! You’ve managed to throw in several bits alluding to an unhappy life and love affair and now sexy Clay to tempt her to stay once her car’s fixed. I’ve been sucked in and am looking forward to more. Why she’s traveling cross county. Who’s the guy who broke her heart? And why isn’t she worthy? Great story, Sarah.

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Thank you so much, Jean!! I’m so glad you caught onto all of that. This story has a special place in my heart, so I’m pretty excited to start it. Next week’s prompt allows me to go back to the beginning, so you’ll be able to see how it starts and where she comes into this idealistic town 😉

      Reply
  5. Dawne Prochilo

    Oh I’m sure Amanda is in for quite a surprise from little Mayberry!

    Reply
    • Sarah

      Lol. Dawne, you pegged it. It is Mayberry…and Amanda is in for a surprise. 😉

      Reply
  6. Lindsay

    This is a great little story and can’t wait to read more of it

    Reply
  7. Tricia

    Hmm…why Clay as a mechanic he could always arrange for her to stay longer. Pull out the wrong part and ooops! I love this excerpt and want to know more about her past life.

    Reply
  8. Trisha Faye

    So many questions whirling in my brain. I enjoyed your writing style, can’t wait to read more.

    Reply
  9. Stefan

    Great writing

    Reply

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