Lovely Blog Award and the Roller Coaster Goes Down

 

My blog has been awarded the lovely blog award by Joleene Naylor, author of my favorite books, 'The Amaranthine Series.'  Thank you sooooo much, Joleene.  If you haven't read her books, you really should.  They are a vampire series, so there are some horrific scenes plus some erotica, and the storyline is amazing.  I am not one for gory readings or erotica, but I could not set these books down because I just had to know more about Jorick and Katelina.  Talk about a tender love affair.  Her book 4 will be out soon.

I am to name 10 bloggers to receive this award, so here is my list.

Sallie Lundy-Frommer
Sally K Witt
Shelly Arkon
Melinda Mcguire
Donna McBroom-Theriot
Karren Haller
Florence Fois
PammyPam
Kelly Hashway
Jennifer Ruth Jackson

The last blog talked about the roller coaster ride in Womens Genre, the ups and downs in life.  I thought today I would share some lines showing the roller coaster ride down of life through the eyes of my characters in 'Always'.  Here are 10 scenes:

Simon jabbed and hooked in rapid succession to release his pent-up grief.  The swifter he acted, the better to punch out his anxieties.  He threw shot after shot without thinking, hitting with the most powerful force he could muster.  He projected his fury into his fists, pounding his rage out  into his assailant, ending with an uppercut.  He knew when to quit.  His attacker fell backwards, unconscious. 

 

The Bubonic Plague reached England in 1348. It would continue to return with all its horror throughout the 17^th century, with deaths reaching as high as 60 percent of the population in some areas.                            

     In the autumn of 1665, the Plague, now referred to as the Black Death, returned to the Isles and stayed into 1666.  As it had done before, it spread rapidly and left sorrow in its tracks.  The death rate averaged 75 percent, thus its name - The Great Plague.  The last major outbreak in the Isles, an estimated 100,000 had perished, before it ceased killing.     Four out of five people died within the first eight days.  Infected homes were boarded up, the survivors left inside to meet their doom. A red cross was painted on the doors of the condemned buildings with the words “Lord have mercy on us.”

 

The rainstorm broke with a thunderous boom just as he heard the death rattle.  He looked down at his beloved Lydia who existed no more; only her empty grey shell remained.  Her suffering had ended.  He now understood what Cliona tried to explain. Lydia died, and he heard it.

     Edgar leaned down, kissed his wife, and uttered, “Always.”  Although cool winds blew through the cottage, Edgar still felt warm.  Too weak to carry her dead body, he dragged her close to the river where the ground was softer.  He dug a shallow grave, rolled the corpse in, and covered it with dirt.  He kneeled for a long time, drenched by the torrent of rain.  “Go to your God, my Darling.  I will love you always.” 

     As he stood, everything whirled before him and he vomited.  He heard that frightening barking cough, and it came from him.  He realized to his astonishment he had caught the plague, and he laughed.  Looking up to the heavens he yelled, “Thank you, God.” 

 

He walked to the edge of the patio and looked down on the town of Northampton.  As he breathed in the night air, peacefulness draped him.  Turning to the cemetery, he bade a good night to his parents. 

 

“Kind and fascinating, I bet.  You have a sinister side to you, especially when you’re outside of England.  Your thumb tick gave you away ages ago.  Dixie and I figured out your other side when you kept returning with bruises because your right thumb twitched if we asked about your trip.  I warn you, Simon. she’s young and has a crush on you.  You will not permit her to fall in love with you or harm her in any way.  I will not accept you destroying her like you have Dixie.”  Dixon spoke with animosity.

 

The exchanges between Dixie and Steven were brief.  As the newlyweds kissed, Simon caught two unmistakable things. Dixie looked at her husband with sheer revulsion.  At the same moment, April found Simon.  Her eyes were swollen and her face wet from her weeping. A solitary tear filled one eye.  She blinked constantly to keep it back.  Seeing April like that was as if his heart were seared.

 

“And I don’t favor men who hit women.  I will not tolerate it.  Make sure it never happens in my presence.”  Simon turned, changed his mind, and faced Steven.  “I don’t like you.  Stay out of my way.  Or my mouth won’t react.  My fists will.”  Simon walked to the car and got in.

 “Dixie, my twin, Dixie.  Do you understand, Simon?  They had to pry me off her.  Pry . me . off . her!  I struggled to hold her here, Simon.  I tried. I called her name…in her face.  I yelled in her face trying to stop her from dying.  I’ve protected her throughout our lives, took care of her.  I refused to let her go, but she left anyway.  I couldn’t save her.  She whispered she loved us, she made a dreadful mistake, and she wanted a baby for Mum.  A baby for Mum?  So she married that…oh God, I won’t repeat his name again.  All I have left of her now is her blood splattered all over me.  Her blood…see?”  (he pointed all over his coat) “This is all I have left of my sister.  I should have saved her from her hell.  I failed her.”  Dixon sat back and looked at Simon with anguish in his eyes. 

 

“This is your fault.  You killed my baby years ago.  You cursed me to give birth to five, and you stole one.  His blood is on your hands.  You slayed my baby, you evil witch.  Out.  Get out!”  she shouted.

 

“How do Ah get over her?  How can Ah live wit’oot her?”

Simon drew in a breath and let it out.  “The older I become, the more I experience this.  You get over it in time.  You will never forget the pain or the loss. Memories will flood your mind.  It does get better.  I promise you.”

With a nod, Quincy drove off towards the Duffs.

Life - full of ups and downs.  Well, you know me.  I can't end my blog with all this sadness.  So here is a short segment between Simon, Dixon, and April.

 

Simon was not ready for any of this, and April was too young for marriage.

     “Why the change of mind, Dixon?” 

     Dixon became solemn.  “We lost Dixie, Simon.  Change happens when you least expect it.  You love April.  You oozed it like honey dripping from an overfilled honeycomb when we were in Scotland.  Frankly, I found it shockingly refreshing to see you like that.  April loves you. You can fight it, but you two are magnetically drawn to each other.  I never thought I’d see this side of you.”  Dixon stared at Simon and sighed. “You two still have a year left to your deal.  The Duffs vote for April’s dream.”

“What a surprise.  The Duffs choose a Duff.”  He stood up and kissed April’s cheek.  April’s face reddened again.

Dixon coughed.  “Not too gentle, that?  You better be careful with her.  She might break.”   

Simon raised his eyebrows.  “You think it should be a powerful sensuous kiss?  The kind you see in movies?  The one you can’t forget?  A sloppy smooch where even the audience turns red; two mouths locked tightly, with loud slurps, going on forever?  A snug hug too, four arms locked in a tight embrace?  And plenty of murmurings? Why not?”  He pushed his jacket back and placed his hand on his hip, reaching for April with his other hand. “Here, fair maiden, I wish to devour your lips with mine.”

 April squealed and ran behind Jesse. 

Life is our mission, and we must boldly go where we feel we must.  The ups, the downs, the happy times, the sad times.  It is but a fast paced roller coaster of emotions.

LHR my dear friends and remember to PAWS for success.