When I don't have a guest on Muse Monday, I'll share excerpts with photos that inspired scenes from my books. The scenes are most likely never before shared excerpts.
I fell in love with a ghost town hanging on the side of the mountain when I was a kid. Over the decades, Jerome went from mining town to ghost town to hippie haven to the artsy tourist town it is today. Changed very little over the years, the residents like to keep it alive in the spirit of the early 1900s. Spirits do reside there alongside wine tasting and crafts. Jerome, renamed Joshua for my books, is the perfect setting for my MacKenzie Chronicle.
Ripped from the pages... of Secrets of The Ravine
He sauntered closer. His eyes narrowed studying her. “Have we met?”
Her mouth went dry. “I’m not sure.”
“Do you ever get
to Copperdale?”
“S-sure. For
shopping now and then.” Joshua, Arizona focused on art, wine, food, and gifts.
Any practical shopping had to be done in Copperdale, less than an hour down the
hill.
“Hey, Zac.” His friend in the metal sculpture display area called out. “You have to see this.”
“Maybe we’ve run
into each other there,” Zac said. “I moved to Copperdale from Phoenix
recently.”
“Maybe.”
He stared a moment
longer and then handed her the purchase, his fingers trailing along the side of
her palm as he transferred the box. “I’ll take this. Excuse me.”
She managed a nod
as he strode to the back of the shop, and she stepped to the checkout counter
next to the shelf of music boxes. The last strains of the song ended. Her
vision clouded with memories of another time and another’s touch.
“I think we’re
ready.” The spiky-haired woman handed over her purchases.
Magpie took a deep
breath and donned her shopkeeper persona. “Great.” The group of five gathered
on the customer side of the counter. “So, you decided. This green jacket looked
wonderful on you.”
The redhead and
the other man—they appeared to be a couple—who’d been in the back of the store,
placed a metal sculpture of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on the counter.
“Great piece.”
As she ran the
card, Magpie asked, “First time here?” The man named Zac moved closer. A
flutter trickled from her chest to her stomach.
“We’ve all been
here, a few years ago. Except for Zac.” The other man in the group said.
“I didn’t realize
what I’d been missing.” He spoke to no one in particular, but his smile landed
on her.
Zac picked up the sack with the music box. “Are you the owner of this great store?”
“I am.” She
returned his smile. “Magpie MacKenzie. And you are?”
“Zac Peartree. Is
that your real name?”
Accustomed to his
reaction, she gave her standard reply. “It’s a long story.”
“One I’m sure I’d enjoy
hearing. Will you be working at your mercantile all weekend?”
She swallowed down
the recurring flutter. “Mostly.”
“You all should
have a drink at the Apparition Room tonight, the bar below the Copper Mountain
Hotel down the block.” Phaedra finished stuffing paper around the sculpture for
protection and then handed the box to the man with the redhead. “Our very own
Magpie MacKenzie will be singing.”
Magpie scuffed a
boot against her friend’s foot to quiet her.
“She’s on at
eight.”
The blonde clapped
her hands. “Great. Sounds fun.”
“I guess that
means we’ll see you later, Magpie.” Zac followed his friends from the store but
peered over his shoulder with an unreadable expression before he disappeared
out the door and into the chilly wind.
Slightly
lightheaded, Magpie braced herself on the counter. “Honestly, Phaedra, I
could—”
“Now, Mags, you haven’t been this tongue-tied over a guy in years.” She retrieved her purse from behind the counter where she’d set it when she came in. “I need to get going, and you need to enjoy the quivers that guy is giving you. I’d guess he’s only thirty or close to it, but what the hell, he’s hot. Every man should fill his jeans like that, not to mention his shoulders.” She stopped by the door.
“You two looked at each other as if—”
“As if we know each other?”
“Know each other?
I agree he bore a resemblance to Mark, but that’s all.”
“Really? Sacrebleu, Phaedra. When I stared into
that face, I saw Mark…a soul…from twenty-eight years ago.” The soul of someone
she’d loved.
Who might have been a murderer…or worse, murdered by my father.
BOOK LINKS: AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE WALMART GOODREADS BOOKBUB
Now I want to go out there...
ReplyDeleteIt's a great place to visit...again and again.
DeleteFantastic post Brenda!
ReplyDeleteI have been to Jerome a number of times and you encapsulate the spirit of the place beautifully.
Thanks, Vali. We love our AZ historical places, don't we?
DeleteLoved Secrets! The pics are fabulous. Makes me want to venture on down to AZ!
ReplyDelete