Well, it’s time again for Monday’s Finish the Story. I was nervous when I saw the prompt this week! Though I have seen a few Westerns and enjoyed them, I don’t know the genre very well, but I had fun with this! Check out other stories written for this prompt by clicking on the InLinkz frog!
Image copyright Barbara W. Beacham
Temptation
(First sentence + 149 words)
“Diamond Jack had his hideout next to the Rattle Snake River. That’s where the sheriff got him. They say his ghost still wanders, following the very river you see out your window.”
“Nicely told,” Beverly said, sipping her wine.
John eased closer. “Scared?” he asked.
Beverly shrugged. “I don’t see why the ghost of Diamond Jack would bother with me.”
“Maybe he’ll want this,” Don said, reaching into his pocket and dangling a necklace in front of her. A single diamond shone in the candlelight. Beverly reached for it.
Later, the two lay together in the rustic log bed, blankets heaped on their naked forms. As the fire died in the woodstove and the cold crept in, so did something else.
Beverly stirred in her sleep, and the diamond caught in the hollow of her throat.
An invisible hand closed around it.
In the morning, Beverly woke, smiling, and felt along the chain with her fingers. The diamond was gone.
You still have time to write a story for “Tuesday Tales,” run by Lisa Pais at The Enchanted Notebook. My entry is below. : )
A lovely story! Diamond Jack strikes! Thank you for participating! I hope that you will join in again next week! ^..^
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Thanks!
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Nice job! I looked at the picture, read the first line and couldn’t think of one more word! Bummer. You ARE the master, Emily!
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haha, thanks Dianne!
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Jack!
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Thanks for reading!
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The ghost thief of Diamond Jack! Loved this story!
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Thanks! : )
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This was a pleasant surprise!
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Thank you, Lisa!
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Nice haunting! I like this.
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Thank you, Caerlynn!
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Great story. Love the ghost of Diamond Jack. 🙂
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Thanks!
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Yeeks! I expect they’ll make up some story about how the diamond fell through a crack in the floorboards, but in their heart of hearts they’ll know it was really the ghost of Jack (cue scary music) 🙂
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Haha–yes!
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Ah well done Emily, enjoyed this tale. That suggestion of the unknown drives your story so well.
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Thank you! I’m glad you liked it.
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A great scary story ~ Jack the rough diamond steals away in the night with the polished sparkling diamond ~ A lovely tale Emily ~ 🙂
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Thanks! : )
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I love your take on the prompt. Great little story 🙂
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Thanks, Sonya!
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Ooh, a scary ghost story. I reaally liked this and the way you told it, Emily. The invisible hand round her throat was a bit creepy. I really like the line ‘As the fire died in the woodstove and the cold crept in, so did something else. Well written.
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Thanks for your feedback! I like ghost stories : )
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