Dame Rinda

 Hope everyone is having a not-too-hectic time with the holidays! While this Dame is still waiting on the holiday prezzie she really wants, she decided to share another snippet. 

This is from the first book, Foretold, in my young adult trilogy about triplets. BTW, I’ve been getting emails and Twitter messages asking where to find my books. I’m soooo glad readers here are excited about my work, but I’m not yet on the shelves.  Hang in there with me on that one.

Incidentally, I had a great time researching this scene because it was around the time I discovered a fantastic research tool called Google Earth. I’ve never actually been to this particular Walmart, but yes, it exists and through Google Earth, I got to look at it from several angles.

And for the record, I ADORE artichoke hearts.

 ***

The parking area of the Poteau Walmart looked like a war zone.

Vanir drove past the Burger King. Stopped at the back of the lot. The truck engine rumbled down and we both stared into the fray, shocked into silence.

It looked like it might have started with a fender bender—or several, actually. A black Mustang centered the pile-up, like the core of a flower with petals of crashed cars fanning out. Heaps of dirty, oily snow edged the lot. Punching arms and kicking legs kicked up snow in all of them.

Not far from Vanir’s truck, a red-headed woman raged. She smashed a full bag into another woman’s head. The bag tore, her groceries scattered. She didn’t hesitate. Her fist replaced the sack. The other woman sailed backward into a light pole and didn’t get back up.

Blood glistened bright on the areas of still white snow.

Shopping carts littered the lot.

Tightening my hands into fists, I chewed on one knuckle and tried to figure out the best move. Wade in and try to stop or wait it out? “It’s like someone pumped acid into the atmosphere,” I murmured. I’d leaned so close to the windshield, my breath had fogged it up. I hurriedly wiped it with my hand. “You only see stuff like this in movies. And look at all the plastic bags.”

They rode the wind in all directions like small, white, angry ghosts. One sad, ripped victim snagged a gust and caught on our windshield wipers.

“This is in the prophecies, the break down of society.” Vanir pulled out his cell phone—I assume to call the police. “But it’s too early. It’s happening too fast.”

I tapped his arm and pointed at the police officers at the edge of the lot. Beating each other up.

“Wait. I know them.” Vanir suddenly leaned forward. “I know a lot of these people. I have friends out there.” He dropped his phone on the seat, jumped out of the truck and charged in.

I gaped at his empty seat for a second before turning and smacking my shoulder into the door because I didn’t open it fast enough. Fumbling for the handle, I got my fingers to work. I climbed down from the high cab and promptly tripped on a can of green beans. I slipped and flailed my arms, but managed to keep from falling, then blinked at the number of cans and boxed goods peppering the lot. An unbroken jar of something rolled onto my foot. Picking it up, my upper lip lifted. Artichoke hearts. Yuck.

“Dirty thief!”

That was my only warning.

Someone tackled me. Knocked me into the side of the truck. I turned at the last minute, to keep my knee from hitting it. My back crashed into metal. Hard. Caught a glance of fiery red hair before she backed up and tried to pound my nose. I dodged, ducked and dove to the pavement to get away from her.

The woman had to be like eighty years old!

***

There’s a slightly longer excerpt of this book-a scene close to the beginning here.