Zina Abbott Books: November 2020

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Saturday Snippet: Hope It Ain't No Bad News

The following snippet is taken from my current book,

Gift of Restitution: A Story for Christmas

Gold Mountain, Book 4

Once Hazel sat, Luther said the prayer over their food. He bent over his bowl of soup and inhaled deeply. “Hazel, this smells wonderful. I can hardly wait to eat it.” He air-kissed her and watched the smile blossom on his wife’s face. He picked up his spoon and scooped up a bite which he held before his open mouth. He paused and his gaze darted toward the telephone. He set the spoon in his bowl and rose to his feet. “Sweetheart, I hate to be rude like this, but I need to make a call. I’ll never be able to enjoy this meal until I know why someone is sending us a telegram.”

“Reckon that’s best. Hope it ain’t no bad news.”

“Me, too, sweetheart.” Luther walked over and cranked the dial to raise the telephone operator. “Bryant and Reese Mercantile, please.” He waited for someone to answer on the other end. “Hello, Luther Caldwell, here. I understand you have a telegram for the ranch.”

“Sure do. Do you or Val want to come in to pick it up or pay for someone to bring it to you?”

Luther opened his mouth, and then he hesitated. He almost asked to have the telegram read to him. At the last minute, he remembered that the telephone operator, who tended to be a rather nosey person, probably listened in on their conversation. If what was sent was important enough for a telegram instead of a letter, it was probably nothing he or Val wanted gossiped about. “I’ll come in this afternoon and pick it up.”