Excerpt: Death's Desire by Stevie Woods
Past Shadows by Stevie Woods, Charlie Cochrane & Jardonn Smith
Release Date: 09/2009
Publisher: MLR Press
ISBN: 978-1-60820-103-7 (print)
978-1-60820-104-4 (ebook)
Buy Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=ANTHPAST
Blurb: Through the centuries, lives and loves have been lost to the shadows. In these three stories spanning from 18th century England to the Post-Depression Ozarks, love shines through the shadows.
Excerpt:
From Death's Desire by Stevie Woods
Dinner had been a long drawn out affair, Cousin Alicia wanting to know everything that had happened to Hugh and his family in the intervening years. Hugh’s comment that he knew his mother wrote to her monthly had little effect, unless one counted Charles’ peel of laughter. It was worth it for that alone.
Charles had walked Hugh to his room after they had partaken of brandy and cigars and Hugh didn’t have to fake his yawn as they reached his door.
“Have a good night’s sleep, Hugh, I have plans for tomorrow,” Charles said as he turned away.
“Plans?” Hugh queried.
“You will see tomorrow,” Charles called over his shoulder. With a wave of his hand, he added, “Sleep well.”
“You too, Charles, you too.”
Closing the door, Hugh leaned against it and blew out his breath. As if he did not have enough on his plate with unrequited feelings for his friend, he had an appointment with a ghost. Was it possible he was losing his mind?
He eyed the bed longingly but it was already almost midnight and he dare not lie down, he would most likely drift off. He paced up and down, keeping an eye on the mantle clock over the small fireplace.
Hugh was almost surprised that he wasn’t even considering backing out of the meeting. With a ghost, dear Lord! But the truth was he was filled with an urge to know Adam’s story. It might be because the man’s death had been caused by the same unnatural urges that drove him. He knew he ought to be ashamed of the way he felt about other men, yet somehow he wasn’t. He had tried to fight his nature and to be interested in a woman but it never happened. He found himself attracted to various men who crossed his path, though he never felt for any of them the way he did for Charles.
The clock chimed midnight and he carefully opened his door and checked that the hallway was empty. He quickly covered the short distance between his room and the master bedroom, letting himself inside.
The room was empty. Quietly, Hugh said, “Adam?” Immediately he felt it, a slight change in the atmosphere in the room. If anyone asked him to describe it, Hugh wouldn’t know how.
“You came,” Adam said, materialising by the bed. “I was uncertain you would come.” He smiled. “I am glad I was wrong. You are the best chance I have ever had to end this.”
“Start at the beginning, Adam, please.”