Plunging into Fall Talbot's Peak Style

“Vernon, you wanna run that by me one more time?” Gill looked up from the pad where he’d jotted several lines of notes.

“Sure,” Vernon, ex-deputy mayor, replied.  “Instead of chunking pumpkins and making a massive mess all over town, we have a pumpkin carving contest, a bake sale, a pie eating contest, and a town wide sidewalk sale.  Merchants put out pre-fall and winter items at discounted rates.” 

“Ya know doing the fall festival thing before the snow flies makes sense,” Louie chimed in.  “Besides there’s plenty of charcoal left over that could be used for a bond fire that allowed different sections of town to have a story telling night along with block party barbecue too.”

Gill looked from Vernon to Louie and back.  Both sat at conference table grinning and nodding.  Talk about seeing double.  It was like twin Cheshire cats inhabited his two best friends.  Gill tossed his pen on his desk.  He closed his eyes and inhaled.  Halloween, the one night where all chaos broke out all over town.  Of course, the last couple of years with more children out trick-n-treating, the revelry makers held off until curfew for the younger citizens came and passed.  

“Do you think an organized celebration will keep things to a low roar?”  Gill almost laughed at his own pun.  Noise levels around the Peak ranged from decibel ear blasting to so quiet that even he wanted to check on everyone.  Once the snows came, the partiers turned into hard workers.  What could one last hurrah hurt?

“Dante and his gang are ready to spread the word about low level merriment.  Since the incident with the boys from the state, quite a few more humans moved closer to town.  Don’t blame ‘em.”  Vernon leaned forward and picked up his pad.  Louie read over Vernon’s shoulder nodding a couple more times.

Louie pointed at the pad.  “Moon-Moon is willing to set up the carnival rides free of charge.  His carne pack wants to winter here.  They know there’s money to be made even if it’s our currency.  They can set up housekeeping at the abandoned school out on highway six.”

“Is the building habitable?” Gill picked up his pen.  “Last I heard the place reeked from the mammoth attack.”

“Let them clean it up.  They got the man and woman power.  In turn, we get rent off the place.”  Vernon slid his pad across the table.  “Number four also makes sense too.”

Gill pulled the pad to him.  He trailed his finger down the pad, grinning from time to time, until he reached Vernon’s number four.  Gill snorted and looked up.  “Community hot tubs and bath houses?”

“Yes!” Louie and Vernon exclaimed together.  “Remember last winter when we all ended up at your place.”

“Lord do I!  Chloe asked me if that was going to happen again.”  Gill slid the pad back to Vernon.

“Rather than running out of hot water, we create our own from the snow.  People get to bathe and commune with their neighbors. Also, wash their clothes too.  Add a few washers and dryers,” Louie said.

‘How do we pay for all this?” Gill wrote a list of possible figures on his pad.  

“Revenue from the state for the repairs their boys visit caused.” Vernon leaned back in his chair.      

      

“From the state?”  Gill laid his pen down again.

Louie whistled as he read the figure Vernon wrote on the pad before he slid it back across the table to Gill.  Looked like some top notch improvements were coming to the Peak.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Weekend Gang!

My muse has me hard at work on another story that I'm working on the last third of.  Once that is done I can pick up with Lilly and the boys.  I got an inkling where the next chapter is going with them.  Looks like this week's flash may be the intro for that. Perhaps one of my blog mates will take a turn at the Halloween preparations.

 

I hope you're staying warm and dry. Wet cold weather arrived at the Spice Homestead.  We turned the heat on inside.  I got out a jacket too.  Even tossed a light weight fleece jacket in the car to keep handy for those chilly mornings and afternoons.   

Time turns back soon, November 1.  Keeping some books handy to read and share with your spice and loves will help as night lengthens.  Discussing a passage or two, nude and joined can be very interesting.  No, I'm not letting out secrets.  Try it you might find your reading perspective changes.

Until next week,

Solara

HALLOWEEN COMES TO TALBOT'S PEAK

Gill looked around the council room table.  He counted fifteen people including himself and Rachel.  Rachel would abstain from voting unless a deadlock happened.  Human and shifters gathered for the random meeting.  Each of the sections of the main residential neighborhoods sat at the table.  Cordialness and civility ran rampant this evening.  Gill wondered how much longer this could go on.  His next agenda item affected all of them.  He picked up his gavel and rapped on the table. Fourteen sets of eyes gazed at him.

“Now that I have all of your attention again, I’ve got one more item.  I feel strongly about this one and so do several of our merchants as well as the schools.”  Gill picked up the stack of stapled papers to his left.  He took the top set and hand the rest to Vernon MacMahon who sat to his right.   “This packet includes this year’s trick-or-treat schedule.  With the past two months free of danger and the city experiencing a period of quiet, I recommend we let our children have a night of fun.”

Several murmurs rose and fell as the last of the packets made their way back to the head of the table.  Gill noted everyone had one.  He flipped back the first page.  “Louie down at Rattigan’s is offering apple bobbing contests while the fire department x-rays the goods the kids got.  Making sure nothing is hidden.”

“I thought you said this was a safe time for the kids.” One of the human mothers present raised her hand, shaking the packet as she did.  “Why do we need to x-ray our children’s candy?”

Gill opened his mouth to speak.  Vernon coughed as he slid back his chair before rising.  “Gill, if you don’t mind.  I’ll address this.”

Gill nodded and sat down.  Vernon continued.  “I understand your concern Ma’am.  My wife Ellie said the same thing when we discussed our part in the town’s celebration too.”

“And?”  The woman’s tone didn’t sound any worse or better.  Gill noted the nods as she spoke.  Yes, ensuring their town stated safe mattered to all present.  Good, a united Talbot’s Peak kept everyone safe.

Vernon leaned on his hands on the table, and spoke.  “Keeping everyone safe matters.  While my grandkids can eat carrion pops, your kids can’t.  Sugary treats are good for a few.  What about those that can’t have them?  Knowing the content of what’s in those trick-or-treat bags makes sense.”

The mother nodded vigorously.  Bettina sat next to her.  She looked up and raised her hand.  Gill nodded as he spoke.  “Go ahead Bettina.  You’re next.”

“There are some special needs children amongst us.  A few human parents voiced their concerns over their children not being able to participate in regular trick-or-treating.”  She looked around the table before she sat down.

Gill rose, holding up his hands.  “That’s why the second and third pages are important.  All of Main Street is hosting a costume parade and trick-or-treating event.  We want every child to have fun.”

Miss Elly stood and walked up next to her husband.  “I’ve got pledges from the football and basketball teams from the senior high to police the streets.  They’ve agree to chaperone those needing help or an extra hand during the hours of six-thirty to nine.  In turn, they are having a chaperoned sleepover in the school gym.  Girls on one side. Boys on the other.”

Vernon spoke before anyone else could.  “I’m heading up the overnight chaperoning.  They all know who is working with me. Right Bettina?”

“Right, Vernon.  No one is going to cause trouble and chaos.  Bedlam and harm are not coming back.” Bettina moved to the head of the table.  She stood next to Miss Elly, Vernon, and Gill.  “We want all the children, human and shifter alike, to enjoy Halloween.”

Gill rapped on the table.  “Let’s vote on the celebration and enjoy our children enjoying themselves again.”

Gill waited until Vernon, Miss Elly, and Bettina took their seats.  “All those in favor of the proposed Talbot’s Peak Halloween Celebration raise your hand.”

Fourteen hands rose, including Rachel’s.  Gill smiled as he raised his, calling out.  “The first annual Peak Halloween celebration is a go!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy October Gang!

The colors of fall are upon us.  What beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows mix with the remaining greens of summer.  May your fall be beautiful and full of enjoyment.  Remember to keep a good book or two handy for those moments of quiet as the warmth of the sun reaches out before the chill of winter crisps the air.  Share those books with your spice and loves.  I know I will be!

Until next week,

SOLARA

Cravings...

Nick looked over this week’s layout on the computer screen and liked what he saw.  The articles were all well placed and wrapped around the graphics.  There was no unnecessary white space and the headers and leads were appropriately sized. This week’s edition of the gazette was going off without a hitch, which meant, something else was about to implode.

Yeah, that went against the whole power of positive thinking mantra, but so far in his life, this was the norm.  Good in one area meant difficulty in the other.

“Hey there, bossman.” Penny stuck her head into his office and addressed him with her usual irreverent respect. “Your pops on line two.”

“Thanks Penny.”

“Penelope, boss-ass, Penelope,” she said while closing the door.

Nick grabbed the handset and braced himself for the coming problem.  As the pack leader, everything came back to him to work out…even issues from the previous leader.  “Hey Pop, what’s going on?”

“Boy, get your mangy ass over to the Bighorn Diner and take control of your woman!”

“Excuse me? What did you say, old man?”

“You heard me fine.  Right now, that lovely young lady carrying my grandpup…who should be my daughter-in-law, by the way…is making trouble for my wife at the diner.  Go fix it now or I’ll nip your backside like I used to when you were young.”

“You could try old…”

“Nicolas, please…go take care of Ziva.”

Shite, Vernon McMahon rarely called him by his full first name.  His mom had called him Nicolas always, but dad only did it when he was concerned about something. “Yes, Sir.  I’ll head over now.”

“Good.” Click.

Nick hung up the phone and left via the door in his office.

###

Ziva pointed to her favorite yellow fruit from her seat at the front counter and hoped to hell she wasn’t drooling in public. “I’m thinking more pineapple, yep, pineapple.”

“Um, okay, Miss Ziva, but then you won’t be able to taste the mango.”

“Oh shite, you’re right.  Definitely add more mango as well.  Yep, just like that.  Hey is there a reason the strawberry flapjacks are taking so long?” Ziva asked, nibbling on the delicacy from the jar in front of her.

“Um, well, I…I,” the waitress stuttered while looking a little green around the gills. That was literal as the lovely lady helping her was a fish in her alternate form.

“That’s okay, Luna, I’ll talk to Ziva if you finish making her mango/pineapple smoothie.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am.”

“Hey Elly, guess what…I’m finally keeping stuff down!  And man am I hungry.”

“That’s wonderful, dear.  I’m so glad.”

“So did I come at the wrong time for some strawberry flapjacks?”  Ziva raised her open jar and smiled at Elly McMahon.  “I even brought my own topping.”

“Yes, dear, about that…”

“Holy Lupa, Miss Elly, what died up on in here?”

Ziva turned to see Arglen, a lone wolf trucker who’d been sniffing after her aunt for years, bellow as he walked in the door.

“Arglen, that is not necessary…”

“Smells like dog farts.” The loud mouth barked. “It’s gonna make it hard to eat your delicious flappers.”

Ziva stood, her jar in hand and made her way over to the irritating brute.  “That was rude, Arglen.  There is no bad smell in here, apologize to Miss Elly. Now!” She shook her hand at him, splashing some of the contents of her lunch down his shirt.

“Fuc…dging hell, Ziva, it’s that stuff that smells and you got it all over me…what is wrong with you?  Nose out of whack?”

“My nose is fine, Arglen, this is delicious and it will compliment my strawberry flapjacks nicely.”

Ziva looked around as the diners in the seats around her all grimaced and gaged.  Elly shook her head with a half-smile and grabbed a to-go box from the server window.  Luna had her smoothie ready, also in a to-go glass and Nick came through the door, quickly covering his nose and mouth with his hand.

“Ziva-love.” He sauntered closer and took the jar from her, covering it with his hands and moved to the counter where she’d left the top. “What are you doing here?”

“Getting something to eat.”  She smiled at her alpha wolf, thrilled to finally be telling him the good news. “I’m keeping my food down now and I’m starved!”

“That’s wonderful….but, what are you ordering?”

“Strawberry flapjack, hash browns, a bowl of oatmeal with raisins and apples…yum, and a mango/pineapple smoothie.  Why?”

“What’s this for then?”

Ziva smiled as Nick waved her jar around.  “I’m going to sprinkle it on the flapjacks. I can’t wait!”
The room at large groaned and pushed their plates away, throwing her for a loop.  What was wrong with everyone?

“But it’s, it’s…”

“Sauerkraut. Wonderfully delicious sauerkraut.”

“Ziva, my love, you take the, um, sauerkraut and head outside.  Don’t open it until you’re outside.  I’ll get the rest of your food.”

“But…”

“We’ll have a picnic.”

“Awesome!”  Ziva turned toward the door, but still heard Nick and Elly’s whispered comments.

“Sauerkraut? Is she okay, Elly?”

“It’s just a craving, Nick.  It’s an odd one, sure, but it will pass in time.”

“But will my sense of smell ever be the same?”

Ziva didn’t listen to the rest of the exchange and focused on taking another bite of her cabbage-y treat.  Craving, huh.  Not likely. They just didn’t know what was good. 

~~~

Ha! Much as I like sauerkraut, I really can't imagine it with flapjacks, oatmeal and a smoothie.  I was lucky when I was pregnant with my Darling Diva...I craved steak, peanut butter and OJ.  Not at the same time though.

How about ya'll?  Any strange cravings you care to share?  :)

Have a great weekend!
Serena

A SNOWBALL'S CHANCE IN. . . .

SPLAT!   Another object whizzed by Gill. 

“Incoming,” a familiar youthful voice called out.

SPLAT!  SPLAT!

“Dang! Miss Elly’s got a good arm on her,” another voice familiar sounding voice said.

Gill ducked behind the large century old oak near the front of city hall.  He looked behind him.   No one.  A few cars rushed up and down Main Street.

“Be careful boys,” an older male voice called out.  “Age doesn’t always slow you down.”

THWAK!  Followed by two more splats sounding as snow flew around the tree’s trunk.  Gill swallowed hard.  Had someone targeted him with an astral bull’s-eye?  Who had he recently pissed off?  An opponent running against him in the spring election for mayor?  

“That’s what practice and playing softball gets you.”  Was that Miss Elly?  Gill squatted behind the oak and peered around it.  Two familiar faces greeted him.  Hand knitted caps and scarves adorned the heads and necks of Vernon MacMahon and his lovely lady wife Miss Elly.  They waved and disappeared from sight behind a huge pile of snow, not before yelling, “Duck Gill!  Incoming!”

Gill flattened himself tight to the ground.  Snow and dirt covered his clothes and face.

THWACK!  SPLAT!   SPLAT!  THWACK! 

Gill crawled to the steps of city hall.  He crouched behind the bushes closest to the entrance.  He counted to ten before peeking over the bushes.

Two identical male youths waved.  They wore hats and scarves similar to Vernon’s and Miss Elly’s.  Thor and Loki let two snow balls fly in the direction of the snow pile where Vernon and Miss Elly hid. 

“Sorry Mr. Mayor,” Loki yelled.  “Granddad’s got keen accuracy.”

“Yea, he hits what he aims for,” Thor offered before ducking.

“Then there’s my curve ball boys,” Miss Elly yelled. 

 Three more snow balls whizzed by Gill causing him to dive behind the bushes. He cussed and wondering how he walked into the middle of the brawl.  Not that it mattered. More snow balls and taunts flew by him.  Some came closer than others.

A snowball slammed against the staircase railing close to his head.  Enough.   If he was going to stand a snowball’s chance in getting inside unscathed he had to act fast.  Gill reached down and began packing snow into rounded shapes.  He stacked several near him.  Taking off his neck scarf, he laid several of the larger balls on it.  He picked it up and began spinning in a circle just like he did when he shot put and tossed the discuses in his high school track and field days.  He let go of one end and launched his ammunition toward one snow pile.  Reloaded he repeated, until four sets of voices cried out, “Uncle Mr. Mayor!  Uncle!”

Gill shook out his scarf, wrapped it around his neck, and sauntered into city hall whistling.  Behind him he could hear Vernon, Miss Elly, Thor, and Loki discussing his attack tactics.  Gill grin deepened as he caught Vernon’s advice to Thor and Loki.  “Never underestimate your opponent’s size and wiliness.  You never know what surprises they got ready for you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy weekend Gang!

Sorry I missed last week.  My computer died and a new one took time to set up.  Looks like Gill made his decision to run for re-election.  As the last of winter eeks its way out on the slow road, remember to keep warm and share a good book or two with your loves and spice.  I know I will!

Until next week,

Solara

Best Present Ever on a Crash & Burn Night

“Wow, your pops went all out this year with the décor.”  Ziva look around at tables covered with tablecloths rather than bare wood or plastic picnic table coverings, silverware and candles.  It was a definite improvement to last year’s ‘stop and slop with your romantic fop’ theme.

Nick nuzzled her ear, whispering, “I think this is Elly’s doing, though I doubt she’d admit it. She’s really brought out dad’s softness.”

“Softness is an admirable trait.”  She winked, before leaning in and taking a nip of what she planned to have for dessert.  “Hey, you taste like strawberry flapjacks!”  She leaned back in for an even deeper taste of his lips.

“Ooh, gross, now you taste each other for previous eats…that’s just a little too close, ya know.”

Ziva’s stomach clenched at the sound of her BFF’s, Biggest Fricking Failure, voice and knew her Valentine Dinner was about to crash and burn.

“Go away, Reetha.” Nick growled.

“Now Nicky, is that anyway to talk to your loveable little sister?  Especially in front of her date?”

Date?  Dear Lupa, Reetha had been back in town for such a short time and already she was bringing a date to Valentine Dinner at the Grill.  This was going to be bad.  It always was when Ree worked this fast.  Ziva turned toward the pair pulling chairs up to their table, making themselves comfortable and nearly jumped from her skin.

“Hey Tink…”  Her very first sex partner grabbed her hand with both of his.  “It’s me, Tark.  Small world, huh.”  There was nothing small about it when Reetha was involved. “You’re looking good.” 

Holy hotness, ‘Tark’ had aged beyond well.  No beer gut and premature balding as she’d always hoped. 

His selfie had been mortifying, taken as she laid in the bed below the lion picture hating herself and wanting another.  Nick’s growl pulled her back to the present and was effective enough that ‘Tark’ removed his hands from hers. 

“Ooh, big bad wolfie there. You must be Ree’s brother…the one she sent my selfie too.”  ‘Tark’ stuck his hand out waiting for Nick to reciprocate.  When he didn’t ‘Tark’ dropped his, apparently unaffected by Nick’s refusal and kept on talking.  “Names Tark LLewelyns.”

“That wasn’t a fake name?”

“No Tink, it wasn’t.”  Once again, Tark grabbed her hand and Nick growled.  Their fellow patrons were getting restless as one did when their Alpha was angry.

Ziva pulled her hand away, leveling a mean stare at Reetha, hoping the other she could read her utter distain from across the table.   

“I mean, why would I?  I never wanted it to end…I kind of figured the selfie said it all.”

“How exactly,” Nick barked, “Do you know my….”

“Date?” Tark interrupted.  “No offence dude, but I was Tink’s first … you know helped her out with that virginity issue.”

Nick’s menace was loud enough to quiet the room and bring Vernon out from the kitchen, yet Tark the idiot lion/coyote mix just kept on talking.

“And I hope to be next on the list.  The little whelp in her belly is doing marvelous things for her tits.  I’m hoping this time she calls me Tark instead of whimpering Nick the whole time.”

Nick was out of his chair, and his skin, in a flash.  His jaws reaching for Tark’s throat and nearly made it if not for Reetha shouldering him to the side.  “Run!”  She yelled at the already shifting mutt.

Vernon grabbed her out of the chair and into his arms before the table could come back and ram into her stomach, hurting the pup within.  Ziva watched Nick scramble to his paws and give chase to the now extra furry coyote running down Main.

“Damn it, Reetha, what happened here?”  Vernon snapped.

“I’m so sorry, Z.”  Reetha whispered.  “I wish I could explain.”

“Don’t bother.”

“Come to the back with me, sweetheart, I’ll get you some yummy steak for the babe.”

“Thanks, Vernon, but no.  I’m just going to go.”

“Wait one minute, at least, while I get you the dessert Nick made for you…”

Nick made her dessert?  This she had to see.  “Okay.”  Maybe it would improve this pisser of a holiday and make staying here with the utter disappointment in the friend department worth it.

“I understand if you hate me, Ziva, but I hope one day … “

“One day, what?  You’ll stop the bad behavior, be a good friend and sibling?  Have a heart?”  Ziva hugged her purse to her chest, glad to see Vernon coming close to her with a to go box.  “You know what, I’m not holding my breath for any of those things.”

“Here you are, sweetheart.  Eat it soon.”

“Thanks Pops.  Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Ziva walked to her car, set the box on top and opened the driver’s door.  She threw her purse inside and gave in to her curiosity.  She popped the top of the box open and stared at the best present ever.  A stack of Elly’s strawberry flapjacks with a message dyed into the top flap. 

~~I LOVE YOU!  And the O in love was made of whipped cream.~~

###

SPECIAL VALENTINE’S WEEK DAILY GIVEAWAY

What's your favorite Valentine’s Day story? Good or bad, happy or sad. Tell us in the comments. Our favorite will win a free PDF copy of The Challenge. Stop back tomorrow for another Valentine tale and another free giveaway!

~~Serena

New Year and New Agenda

Gill looked around the council chambers.  In two hours the first meeting for the New Year would commence.  His term as mayor would come to a close late spring, early summer.  If no one registered to run, his tenure as mayor would renew for another two years.  He knew the slate of decent candidates were few and far between.  Running for a second term started making more sense the more he thought about it.

Rachel hadn’t returned yet.  Gill looked down at the haphazard list he’d scribbled down from the minutes of prior council meetings he could find or remember.  Since the fair, no one had brought the youth and community center.  Building needed to start after the first thaw to ensure the pool and gym opened on time.  Someone one recently wrote in to TP Lupa asking about a cross county race.  Gill smiled at the reply Ziva penned in response.  Neither carnivores chasing herbies wouldn’t work nor the other way around.  And a free-fall in the middle of town wasn’t a grand idea either.  No, the center needed completion and area where humans and shifters could come together without fur, fin, or the like flying through the air.

Gill started as a hand landed on his shoulder.  He turned to find Vernon MacMahon grinning and shaking his head.  “Quite a list you got there, son.”

“Yes, I doubt it’s accurate or complete.”  Gill turned back three more pages of the large legal pad he held.

 

Gill shrugged, offering the pad to Vernon.  “Making sense of what to do first sometimes is daunting.”

“How about what keeps the peace?” Vernon asked, running his finger down the list.  “You got a bunch of things that humans or shifters can use.  Lord knows we got an influx of both over the summer and fall.”

Gill nodded as he leaned closer, taking in the items Vernon pointed at.  One item in particular deepened his smile.  He tapped the pad, nodding vigorously with Gill.

“Health Center staffed by veterinarians, medical doctors, nurses and staff assistants---that’s the key item next to the center.  Also after school program that teaches tolerance and respect.”  Vernon flipped back the pages he’d read as he perused the list.  “Of course, I’m an old man who wants to spend his years seeing both sides of his mixed family thrive in peace, instead of pieces.”

Gill chuckled, taking the pad from Vernon.  “Well said my friend and colleague.  Here’s to a new year and a new agenda for The Peak.  Peace, love, prosperity, and diversification or we’ll knock their hard heads and hard asses together!”

Laughter echoed down the hall as Vernon and Gill discussed what side those on the council would choose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy New Year Gang!

Weather is finally settlting down here at the Spice Homestead.  May you keep warm and healthy as the month progresses.  I'm finishing up round two of edits and revisions on a new submission going to my publisher soon.  Next up is Cassandra and the Sheriff.  The piece was a hit with the blog hop.  Marc and Cassandra deserve to have their full story told.

Until next week, remember to share a good book or two with your loves and spice.  I know I will!

Smiles,

Solara