by Lopez, Rob
“Did you read that to me? I thought I read it myself.”
“I had a devil of a job trying to get you to read anything. You wouldn’t sit still long enough.”
“That sounds about right. Will you read it to Mary?”
“If I had a copy, I would.”
Darla squeezed Mary’s cheek, eliciting a giggle.
“I’ll try to find you a copy,” she said to Jolene. “Anything else you need?”
“Just my little sister, safe and sound.”
“Can’t guarantee the safe part, but you know I always come through. Take care of yourself, sis, and don’t go burning no more houses down.”
Jolene laughed. “I’ll try not to.”
“And you look after your little sister,” said Darla to Stephanie. “You’re going to mean the world to her.”
Stephanie grinned. “No worries about that, Aunt D. Come visit often.”
“You can count on it.”
Darla hugged them and bade everyone else farewell. Carl pushed off the tender and rowed her back to the Mississippi Rose, still waving. Zack sat in the back of the swaying rowboat, gripping both sides.
“You met my sister at last,” said Darla to him. “What do you think?”
“She’s a lot like you, actually,” said Zack. “More than I imagined.”
“Yeah,” said Darla wistfully. “Me too.”
Boarding her boat and leaving Carl and Zack to winch the tender on board, Darla checked the hold to see that the bales of alpaca wool were secured properly. In the galley, Jacques was hanging up the fresh vegetables that he’d been pleased to receive from the farms. Manny had the boiler up to pressure, and smoke rose gently from the stacks. Darla ascended to the pilothouse. Waving a final time she pulled the cord to emit a long blast from the steam whistle.
The anchor was weighed and the paddle wheels set to churning the waters. With a last toot from the whistle, the Mississippi Rose set sail.
End
You have just finished reading Into Darkness, the first book in a new series that follows the adventures of the Mississippi Rose. If you want to receive an exclusive email notification of further releases in the series, subscribe to my VIP List and get early warning of a bargain, pre-release price. Alternatively, give my Facebook Page a like for similar news and updates.
I hope you enjoyed the book.
By the Same Author
Undead UK
Remember Me Dead
Hunting The Dead
Dystopian Space
Shakespeare’s Requiem
Survival EMP
Solar Storm
Solar Winter
Solar Dawn
Solar Rising
Mississippi Rose
Into Darkness
www.roblopez.co.uk
