TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "GUT"

 

Welcome! This week, we're writing to the word prompt "gut". I have another episode from my latest historical romance titled, "Sam's Decision." The book is being written now. When you finish reading my snippet, hop on over to the other authors and read their works. You'll find them HERE.  

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“What?” Benjamin asked.

Sam put his finger to his lips, then pointed. Half a dozen ducks swam silently from one edge of the pond to the other, ducking from time-to-time to scoop up a tasty fish. The men cocked and shouldered their muskets.

The clicks alerted the birds. They picked up their heads and spread their wings. With a cacophony of quacks, they took off, flying across the water. Sam and Benjamin aimed and fired. Two ducks fell into the pond. Seconds later, the men took aim again. The ducks were farther away but they each managed to hit a second one.  

“Lucky! Fetch!” Sam called, gesturing.

“Patches! Duck!” Benjamin said, pointing.

The dogs sprang into action. The men sank down, reaching for their pouches of cider while the dogs chased down the fallen birds. After a long drink, Benjamin leaned back to rest against a tree.

“Your sister’s with child.” He took a long draught.

“What?”

“You heard me.”  Ben put down his drink.

Sam swallowed then gazed at his friend. “It’s about time, Fitch. Guess you finally figured it out, eh?” Sam grinned.

While he laughed, Benjamin took a swipe at his friend’s shoulder. “At least I’m doing it, you ain’t. Are you?” Benjamin cocked an eyebrow.

“Watch it, Fitch. She’s my sister.”

Ben snickered. “And she’s my wife.”

Sam raised his arm to slap his friend, when Lucky and Patches interrupted. They dropped the ducks from their mouths and raced back to the pond to get the last two.

Sam stuffed his duck in a sack. “Anyone else know?”

“My mother and father. Your mom and Caleb. No one else. You’re the first. Outside of my family. You and Doc.” Benjamin shook his head. “I wanted to wait. Be sure. Ya know? But Sarah insisted.”

“Now you’re sure?”

Ben nodded. “She’ll probably be mad I told you.”

“She’ll get over it.” Sam stuck out his hand. “Congratulations, Ben.  You’re going to be a father.”

A wide grin spread across Benjamin Fitch’s face. “Yep.”

“Bet your mother and father are happy.”                                                                                              

“Happy? They are plum loco about it. You’d think we’d invented the wheel or something. Geez. People have children all the time.”

“Yeah, but now ole Elizah’s got an heir.”

“If it’s a boy.”

“True.” Sam nodded. “And if it’s a girl, I guess you’ll have to keep trying.”

Benjamin laughed. “Fine by me.”

Sam punched Ben playfully in the gut. “My sister. Careful.”

That's it. Thanks for stopping by.