Sorry, folks. I know WIP Thursday, just doesn’t have the same ring to it, but I just ran out of time yesterday. So, a day late, but hopefully not a dollar short, is an excerpt from my new book, Home To My
Arms: A Halloran Mystery. In it, Jamie and Pip are trudging through a snowstorm, trying to get home, where they fear Jamie’s beloved former professor is in deep trouble. On their way, things get a little off track.

So off we went, first through Mrs. Addams’ yard, then along the edge of the woods behind an apartment complex, eventually going along what is usually a path in the woods, though, aside from the fact that there was a slight gap in the trees, there was no path evident. The snow, still falling heavily, occasionally picked up pace and, when an especially strong wind gust hit, flew horizontally, blinding me temporarily. I was concerned we would leave the main path and wander off onto one of the many side paths that snaked down toward the Ohio River. Some were quite circuitous and some just ended in a tangle of downed trees and underbrush. Under these conditions, we wouldn’t have to be lost long for things to become dire. So, when the snow picked up and I couldn’t recognize where I was, I slowed my already tortoise-like pace. Even still, at one point, I was trudging along, convinced I was on the trail, when I glanced back to find Pip was nowhere in sight. I turned in a complete circle. The trees were too close to me, and I had descended slightly. I could just make out the path I’d just taken, so I retraced my steps, shouting Pip’s name, cold terror sitting heavy in my chest. After perhaps thirty yards, I heard a sound, seemingly a quarter mile away.

“Jamie?”

I stopped. “Pip!”

I pulled away my hood and stocking cap from my ear and closed my eyes, listening as intently as I could.

“Jamie?” If anything, she sounded more distant. I tried to pick up my pace to get back to the main path as quickly as possible. My mind raced, worried she may have wandered off onto a different sidetrack and we may never find each other in this muck. The snow was so deep and dense, and my mind reeling so much I lost my footing and face planted. As I struggled up to my hands and knees, a snow-laden boot appeared before me. I raised my head and was greeted by the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.

“Hi Pip.”

She tilted her head and held out her hand to help me up. “You get lost?”

I took her hand. “Nah. Just looking for a shortcut.”

“A shortcut for a straight path?”

Finally on my feet, I probably looked like a yeti. “Good point. Yes, I was lost. Can we never speak of this again?”

She laughed as she helped me swipe crusted snow off me. “It’s going to take a lot of foot rubs to keep me quiet.”