Into the Fire

Chapter 1

She showed up with a bewildered look on her face, having braved the tree-shrouded gravel drive to the isolated cabin I occupied on my heavily forested 30 acres. Dressed in classy black slacks and a crisp white shell underneath a double-breasted jacket to match those slacks, I caught a trace of fear in her eyes when I responded to her firm three knocks to my lacquered black oak door.

     I could say it was love at first sight for me, but really it was closer to lust. Love had evaded me for many years so I never once expected to find it again. I made no effort to disguise my once-over from her face all the way down to her black high heels with small silver buckles on the toes which matched more or less the buttons on her blazer.

     Hey, I’m a writer. I notice everything just in case I want to use anything about the person, place, or thing in one of my future novels.

     But back to the woman who stood before me, no doubt now terrified that I hadn’t spoken a word to her before or after examining with an appreciative appraisal of her body parts, evaluating what her clothes said about her and her body.

     “Mr.,” There was a tremor in her voice before she cleared her throat. “Mr. Cardiff? I’m Sara Bristol.”

     “Married, divorced, or single?” I said it more abruptly than I needed to.

     Her expression flashed a moment of confusion, but then she seemed to gain her momentum and answered somewhat firmly.

     “Divorced a long time ago. Single.” A pause. “Does that matter?”

     “It matters to me. I don’t need any drama from a husband or boyfriends or anyone else for that matter. You do the job and there’ll be no drama from me either.” I opened the door wider and invited her inside with my extended arm.

     Warily she stepped inside. I said, “Not exactly what you expected?”

     I could tell she contemplated her response because it took her a moment to answer as she followed me into the open living area of my rustic but elegant 2-story cabin.

     “No.”

     She answered simply and honestly, and I think that’s what clinched my attraction to her.

This is an excerpt from the first chapter of what might be a future novel. That remains to be seen . . . 

Father, I love the stories, the words, the characters you inspire me to write. I can never thank you enough, but I will continue to give you thanks every day of my life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.