Coldwater Revenge, James Ross [books for 9th graders txt] 📗

“Kids are tough,” she blurted.

Andrew shook his head—not in disbelief and not in resignation, but finally and irrevocably, in dismissal. He hesitated for only a moment before pulling the door shut between them.

“Aaaan-Drew!”

The voice on the other side of the door was artic. “All those times you left her alone, Karen—scared, hungry, reeking in her own filth—how long is a day, when you’re two years old and Mommy has suddenly disappeared? Again.”

“AAAAA-Drew! There’s a SNAKE in here!”

“I can’t let you take Maggie, Karen.”

“AAAA-Drew! Don’t do this!”

“Can you feel now how Maggie must have felt? Can you imagine how she must be feeling right this second?”

“A-A-ANDREW!” Karen tried to stand, but the panic that inflated her lungs had also jellied her limbs. “I’LL GO MAD!”

Her husband’s voice was a frozen whisper. “But you can come back. Remember? ‘Any time you want.’”

A staccato rip of lightning plunged the cottage into darkness. In the silence between screams, the sound of spinning tires on crushed shell driveway masked the hiss of something close, but unseen.

“AAAAAANDREW!”

Get your copy of Coldwater Confession here:

JamesRossAuthor.com/Coldwater-Confession

A Note From the Author

I have two sons, close in age. When they were about to enter high school, their mother remarked, “My worst nightmare is that they’re going to fall for the same girl.” Voila! The idea for COLDWATER REVENGE was born.

Of course, COLDWATER REVENGE is not simply the story of sibling rivalry run amok, with a dead body thrown in for color. It’s a roman a clef of the place and people I grew up with. I wrote it, not to settle old scores (though there may be one or two zingers in there) but to capture in words a particular place and time, while there’s still time.

I hope you enjoy the Morgan brothers and the place and culture that made them. Because they’re coming back. COLDWATER CONFESSION, book two of the Coldwater series, is due out in April 2022. Watch out.

About the Author

James A. Ross has at various times been a Peace Corps Volunteer, a CBS News Producer in the Congo, a Congressional Staffer and a Wall Street Lawyer. His short fiction has appeared in numerous literary publications and his short story, “Aux Secours,” was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He has appeared on the MOTH Mainstage, and is a frequent participant and several times winner of the live story telling competition, Cabin Fever Story Slam. His historical novel, HUNTING TEDDY ROOSEVELT, was published by Regal House Publishing in 2020 and is available wherever books are sold.

You can connect with me on:

https://www.jamesrossauthor.com

Subscribe to my newsletter:

https://www.jamesrossauthor.com