Susan Kiernan-Lewis - Free Falling

“John just left to go over to Mike’s place,” she said, resting her hands on her hips. David made a face. She knew he was conflicted about their son spending so much time in the community. But the boy was fed and cared for there—something David and Sarah struggled to do on a daily basis.

“I know. I told him to be back in time for dinner,” he said. “And now there’ll be something for him to eat when he does.”

Sarah glanced at the trap, the spring still bloodied, then watched her husband pull out his knife and begin to skin the rabbit. It never ceased to amaze her how much their lives had changed. If you had told her a year ago this time that David would be able to skin a rabbit without even thinking twice about it…well, a lot had happened in a few short months.

Her gaze strayed again to the tree line at the end of the pasture, where she could just make out the fire of the main cook stoves, which always burned. She wondered what was on the camp menu tonight. Fresh rabbit or not, she wouldn’t blame John if he’d rather stay in the camp.

“Oh, my,” she said suddenly, “I just remembered there’s a council meeting tonight. I promised Fi we would come. Do you mind very much? We can bring the rabbit.”

David followed the direction of her gaze. “No. As it happens, I have something to say at the meeting for a change.”

Sarah turned to him and frowned. “You do?” She watched his fingers move quickly to strip the skin from the rabbit, turning it before her eyes from a furry woodland creature to a piece of steak ready for the grill.

He stood up and wiped his blade against his jeans. “I didn’t want to say anything before but I saw something when I was out riding the western pasture today.”

“Saw something? Saw what?” Sarah could feel the anxiety creeping into her arms and legs. She turned toward the community. The western pasture wasn’t any where near it but she suddenly didn’t like the feeling of John being out of sight.

“It might be nothing,” he said, following her gaze. “I found some cart grooves, like someone came through during the night carrying something heavy in the back. There were a bunch of cigarette butts on the ground, too.”

Sarah sucked in a breath. Cigarettes were the first things everyone ran out of after the bomb dropped. Everyone around these parts, any way.

“Is that all?”

He hesitated and Sarah realized he was trying to spare her. After everything they had been through, he was still trying to protect her.

“I found a stuffed animal on the ground. A teddy bear.”

When she didn’t respond he said, “It had blood on it. Fresh blood.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze and then turned to head back to the cottage. “I’ll get the wagon hitched. Be ready in fifteen.”

The wind caught the scent of the wood smoke from the community and sent it wafting toward Sarah at the edge of the pasture. She took two steps toward it before she realized what she was doing. With the wind came a chill that cut through her jeans and whipped her hair around her face. She turned and ran toward the cottage.

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Meanwhile, check out what happens next to the Woodson family with “ Going Gone,” Book Two in the Irish End Game Series, and Book Three, “ Heading Home.”

First, I want to thank my developmental editor, Alison Dasho, for her sharp insight and stellar advice on the structure and plot of Free Falling . She used encouragement and skill to show what the manuscript needed while keeping its tender author from throwing herself off a cliff at first sight of the sheer breadth of the rewrite—not an easy feat to pull off.

Thanks, also, to my husband, Del Kiernan-Lewis, who copyedited the manuscript with an impatient wife breathing down his neck. Any remaining gaffes in style or grammar are evidence of my perverse resistance to accepting perfectly logical input.

I also want to thank my brother, Terry Kiernan, who first inspired me to think about what my daily round might be like without all the conveniences of modern life when I spent a weekend with him many years ago in his hand-built Tennessee mountain home in an area inaccessible by road and untouched by electricity. Thanks also to my son, John Kiernan-Lewis, who enlightened me about the effects of EMPs.

Susan Kiernan-Lewis lives in Florida and writes mysteries and romantic suspense. Like many authors, Susan depends on the reviews and word of mouth referrals of her readers. If you enjoyed Free Falling , please consider leaving a review saying so on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or Goodreads.com.

Check out Susan’s blog at susankiernanlewis.comand feel free to contact her at sanmarcopress@me.com.

This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in any type of retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or recording without permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2012 by San Marco Press. All rights reserved.