Chapter 14 of News from Dead Mule Swamp

Last night was the bi-monthly meeting of the West Side Gang writers' group. I missed the last one while I was away, so I hadn't shared a chapter of News from Dead Mule Swamp in a whole month. I also hadn't worked on it very much, also because of being gone.

Most members of the writing group really seem to like the story. Last night I got some good feedback to remind me to bring out more of what is going on with Ana's personal life. I did that well in the beginning, but kind of got away from it. So after I got home I re-read everything to date and put in a few thoughts Ana has that remind us of who she is besides a woman bent on finding out about a missing newspaper.

This chapter takes a breather from the action of the previous few. Ana has time to reflect on all the events to date, and makes another contact to try to find out more about the old newspaper that was stolen from her.

Here's an excerpt:

    “I’d love to spend some time with you. Tom drew me a map. I think I can follow it. It takes me down Schoolhouse Section Road to Butternut Valley, and then to Brown Trout Lane.”
   “That sounds right. Where do you have to come from, my dear?”
   There was another of those unaccustomed fondnesses intruding into my preferred no-nonsense life. I absolutely didn’t want to be anyone’s dear. Jolly Roger had taught me what happened to people got used to being cared for. I shut my eyes and chose to ignore the affectionate words; the woman could probably be my grandmother. “I’m on South River Road, at the edge of Dead Mule Swamp.”
   “Oh, the old Mosher farm! How nice for you.”