Author's Notes: 'A Shepherd's Crook' is a new tale in the Chronicles of Ben Shepherd. The chronological order of the stories is: The Shepherd of Ashburn Court -- Parts 1 - 5 A Shepherd in France -- Parts 1 & 2 A Shepherd Afield -- Parts 1 - 5 The Shepherd's Crook -- Part 1 & 2 Minimal effort is made in this tale to explain t...
Note: The following is a work of fantasy and is not intended to be scientifically or medically accurate. Many of the following scenes are not practical, safe, or even possible to replicate. Open your mind, suspend disbelief, and enjoy. 1: The Invitation We first met working in the library at the tiny university we both attended. On a typical shift I'd be s...
Chapter 1 I was supposed to go to the CIA. No, not that one, the other one--the Culinary Institute of America, the foremost cooking school in the country. I had been cooking for years for free, and I felt sure that's what I wanted to do for money for the rest of my life. It would be my ticket into the world, and introduce me to all the amazing things out t...
Christmas melted into New Years along with the snow which had kept them happily occupied for almost two weeks. New Years Eve dawned with grey ominous clouds, but it was too warm to snow. "I guess it means school on Monday Lizzy said soberly to Kristen. Most of the sparkle of the season had disappeared with the snow. "Yeah, winter," Kristen said sourly. Wint...
Author's Note: This story takes place in one of those high schools where everyone is eighteen or older. You know the ones. **** Riley waited for Jen by the front of the school. She smiled when she saw her friend approaching and turned to fall into step beside her. "Morning," Riley said cheerfully. "Morning," Jen greeted her in return. "Anything interesti...
Chapter 8 – Houston, We Have Lift Off The following week Ginger had to be in Chicago area to see one of her clients. She was away two nights, and our daughter took it upon herself to be my consort both nights, although she wasn't the only one. We sexted pictures to Ginger – usually erotic and sexy but with us making funny faces to keep it light. They were a...
My dear friends and readers. No one is more surprised than I am to be writing once again. On November 18, 2019 it will be 2 years since I was able to put anything on paper worthy of you reading it. I am not going to bore you with what has happened during this time. However, I am still here, and I guess that is better than any alternative I can think of. I th...
This started out as part of my Conversations universe, but turned out a much longer story than I usually write. I do not apologise for its length, however, having received several emails complaining that I just write flash stories and offer nothing that readers can really get their teeth into. If you're not keen on long stories -- don't read it. If you're...
"I still think this sounds depressing." Claire grimaced. "There's a spot," she said, watching the reverse lights of a car come on as it started to back out. Tom stopped the car waiting for the space to vacate. "We'll just pay our respects to Calvin and catch up with some of our friends." Calvin Custis was dying. Calvin transferred to Claire and Tom's hig...
Chapter 1 Erica shuffled nervously in her seat. The cordiality of the greeting had dissipated into an awkward, uncomfortable silence hanging heavily in the air between them. Her eyes fixed on the man's neatly groomed nails, on his soft, chambray button down shirt, on the tiled patterns beneath her feet, on the brilliant sunny afternoon outside of the coffee...