Translucent, soft as a spider's web, the tiny speck fell against Molly's cheek. It was an accident that she heard the tiny heart beating against her swollen face. The child opened her eyes for the first

My cozy respite Airy, dank, full of the past keeps my cold heart blue

"No one will ever know." "You can't leave me here." "You had your chance. I told you to resteemit and you ignored me." "I...I didn't know." "And now it's too

Clawson draped the sheet over his shoulders and pulled the knot tightly around his neck. He carefully placed his bare feet on the slats of the cot tottering to a stand. He pulled his long braid and threw

It wasn't the edge of anything. Certainly Maxine's place was the end of self respect, decency, that sort of thing. If his brother wanted him to go back there it was going to be Luke's dying wish, at the

CHAPTER TEN PUTTIN ON THE RITZ The display was revolting. It was all of the social elitism that had plagued Marquette since it first became a vacation destination. Detective Hardy was having a hard time

Grandma's Pumpkin Patch, in Midland Michigan, is the place to bring the family. We enjoy the hay rides and donuts. We've spent so many fun and relaxed days with Dominic enjoying this local treasure.

Cool weather and pink noses heading our way. It was fifty degrees this morning in Michigan. I don't think Esther is ready.

CHAPTER NINE RITES Carl unrolled the cigarette. He worked the tobacco between his fingertips sprinkling it over the frozen ground. He placed several coins on the small wooden cross. He pulled the stones

I've been going to the Tiger games since I could walk. It is an essential part of childhood. Now it's even better because I have money to buy ice cream and anything I want. The local restaurants in the

![] Hopping the paver stones is a fun thing to do at this local zoo in mid Michigan. Esther and Abby had a fabulous time visiting the petting zoo, the monkeys and penguins. Everyone loves the train that

CHAPTER EIGHT MEDDLING "You smell like a friggin fruit salad." "Keeps the critters away." "That was more than a month ago." Hardy looked over his glasses disdainfully at Stan.

Gold jacket, white tights. Fingernails on the window. Fruitless transaction.

“What? Am I killing your buzz?” “No, honestly, I'm just...” “What?!” “...ashamed!” “Of me?” “Of course I'm ashamed of you. You show up at my work, screaming at me, giving everyone the finger...” “Then

CHAPTER SEVEN CHEF Hardy sat down and ordered the Big Boy Breakfast. It was better than he might have expected from the small restaurant with its unimpressive trappings. At the entrance there was one thin

CHAPTER SIX FORTUNATO “We’re going to get them on this.” “How’re you gonna do that? You gonna prove they got infected from the deceased?” "I knew it the minute I saw them scratching like a couple

"What the hell, man?" "This yahoo thinks he's made some big discovery." "Oh geez, is he posting it?" "Dude, he's staking his reputation on it. He's putting it in the

In Midland Michigan the best tradition for late summer is to take in a baseball game with your family. This kid friendly environment comes with promotions nearly every game and fireworks. It is a pristine

When you meet a successful author and he's from your home state you need to share that experience with your granddaughter. Isabelle loves the Michigan Chillers series. She reads so many of them we had

CHAPTER FIVE LAMENT They agreed they were going to the funeral without ever having discussed the particulars of their encounter with the deceased. It was a burden they set aside in order to get through