New story completed, submitted, and...accepted! The story, "The Foragers," will be appearing in an upcoming anthology — details will follow when the all-clear sounds — most likely early in 2025. It's set in the Revolutionary War, just before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, which occurred on March 15, 1781, more or less in our backyard when we lived in Greensboro. Here's a wee excerpt.
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The fast-flowing stream was called Alamance Creek, and now that darkness had fallen, it was easier to hear than to see. After so many hours, Lieutenant William Voss found it impossible to believe that he and Sergeant Thomas Landrake had yet to emerge from these deep woods. And that, somehow, they now found themselves alone.
Since breaking camp in Hillsborough—God knew how many days ago—General Cornwallis had pushed his army at a hard march, with no provisions other than what each man could carry, so hunger and thirst had begun to take a deadly toll. This morning, Voss and Landrake, along with eight hand-picked men of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, had departed their new encampment along the southern banks of Alamance Creek and followed the stream through the woods, expecting to come upon farms or villages where they might plunder food, water, tobacco, and whiskey. To their dismay and disbelief, the damned woods appeared to go on forever.
Since breaking camp in Hillsborough—God knew how many days ago—General Cornwallis had pushed his army at a hard march, with no provisions other than what each man could carry, so hunger and thirst had begun to take a deadly toll. This morning, Voss and Landrake, along with eight hand-picked men of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, had departed their new encampment along the southern banks of Alamance Creek and followed the stream through the woods, expecting to come upon farms or villages where they might plunder food, water, tobacco, and whiskey. To their dismay and disbelief, the damned woods appeared to go on forever.
And then…
“Where in bloody hell did we get separated?” A burly, powerful man from Glastonbury, Landrake’s voice sounded like a bear’s growl. “And how? We were all together, and then we weren’t.”
With great effort, Voss kept his voice measured. “I wish I knew. But they can’t be far away.”
“Winters! Carlisle! Pryce! Where the hell are you?”
The stream’s gurgling voice could hardly have overpowered Landrake’s. But the otherwise silent darkness offered up no reply.
“Where in bloody hell did we get separated?” A burly, powerful man from Glastonbury, Landrake’s voice sounded like a bear’s growl. “And how? We were all together, and then we weren’t.”
With great effort, Voss kept his voice measured. “I wish I knew. But they can’t be far away.”
“Winters! Carlisle! Pryce! Where the hell are you?”
The stream’s gurgling voice could hardly have overpowered Landrake’s. But the otherwise silent darkness offered up no reply.
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Hope that piques your interest. Stay tuned for more details and news about the book's release!