Eleanor Tatum

from Silver Cotton  (available December 10th)

Train whistles and additional jostling released Kirsten’s reminiscing. The list stared at her up from her lap desk. Memories aren’t always sweet. The return of the Delameres from Europe to New Orleans had opened hell’s gate and out slithered John Pettigrew.

First Mother had died a sudden and painful death. Father sheltered himself in grief while his business fellows came and went. With them entered a charming gentleman who convinced her father that Kirsten should marry, should marry him. A naïve older lady married the devil in southern gentleman disguise.

A week after her wedding trip, Kirsten and her father enjoyed their usual chess game in his library. He captured her third pawn, as she poured his tea  and added his favorite – two sugar cubes and a shot of whiskey.

“You’re distracted. Is it that demon you married?”

“What has changed your mind about him, Papa?”

“His son, Jared, who’s existence  surprised us all by his appearance at the wedding and he’s not a gentleman. I had to apologize to most of the ladies at your reception.” He took a sip of his tea and made an unusual face. “This isn’t my blend. Where’d you get it?”

“Remember, John gave it to you, just yesterday?”

“Is it a bit warm in here?”

“No, Papa.” George Delamere stood, drew out his diamond stick-pin from his neck cloth and untied it. He started on his shirt buttons, all before he fell to the carpeted floor. “Papa!” Kirsten knelt and tried to clear the cloth from his neck and his worrying purple complexion.

“Don’t let him….”, her father managed before his body went slack and his face drained to an angry white.

“Papa!”, she tried again. Her screams brought her husband rushing in and he knelt on the other side of his father-in-law. He felt his neck for a pulse.

“I am sorry, my dear, but his time has come.”

“No!”

from Silver Cotton   (part three soon)