A Light Along the River

As you may remember, I’m working on a new cozy about Miss Tootsie and her friends Carrie and Bertha. This is an excerpt from that story.

They walked through the damp grass and weeds along the river bank, trying to dodge blackberry briers and fallen logs. More than once, one of the three had to reach out to steady another one to keep her from taking a tumble.

Carrie grabbed Miss Tootsie’s arm. “Look! That tree ahead of us has one of those limbs that stick out to one side—almost straight out, like it’s pointing our way.”

Ahead of them, a dark shape loomed, larger and more gnarled than any of the surrounding trees.  “You’re right. I do believe that’s the tree on the map and its limb is pointing away from the river,” Miss Tootsie said, shining her light onto the rough bark.

A distant flash of lightning shuddered through the clouds, accompanied by a low growl of thunder.

“We’d better hurry before that storm gets here,” Miss Tootsie said, staring off in the direction the limb seemed to be pointing. She stopped abruptly, causing Bertha to bump into her.

“Why did you…” began Bertha, then glanced in the direction of Miss Tootsie’s shaking finger. A shimmering ball of light appeared just over the treetops, moving erratically.

Carrie screamed and grasped Miss Tootsie’s arm. “What is it?” she whispered.

Miss Tootsie could feel the nerves in her back bunch up. “I’m not sure, but I’d say it may be one of Jase Carter’s ghost lights. I never believed in them, but…” She swallowed. The thing was bouncing around above the treetops, then down on the ground, then it seemed to grow larger and moved directly toward the frightened women.

“Oh, no! Oh, Lord help us. It’s coming to get us,” Bertha cried. “It’s coming right at us, Tootsie!”

With one accord, the three turned to run, hobbling and staggering over hidden rocks and crashing through briers. Miss Tootsie couldn’t remember the last time she had run but she hadn’t forgotten how.

“Is it gaining on us?” gasped Bertha.

“I’m not looking,” Carrie said. “Just hurry, girls.”

When at last they reached Carrie’s truck, they tumbled inside, locked the doors and tried to catch their breath. “Where is it?” Bertha gasped.

“I don’t know and I don’t care just as long as we outran it,” Miss Tootsie said. “Hurry, Carrie. Get us out of here!”

The first raindrops hit the windshield as Carrie gunned the truck, swinging in a wide arc, and started back the way they had come. “The wipers don’t work,” she muttered. “We’ve got to get home while I can still see the road.”