Glorious land! Goodbye to stomaching rat-eaten cheese, vomiting the contents of supper because her body had succumbed to food poisoning, tasting wine only to spit it out because vinegar had somehow taken its place in the bottle! Rose thanked the Lord the ship’s crew had bought new supplies at the port of her Mother’s beloved birthplace Ushuaia, cradled in the bosom of Tierra del Fuego. If they hadn’t…

She had weighed the benefits versus the dangers of embarking on the longest ro...

Rose peeked over Dave’s shoulder and found Agnes looking coolly at their reunion. Clearly, she and Dave had no official understanding. Else, he wouldn’t have left her in the dust to kiss Rose, old flame or not. He wasn’t the kind of man to be so inconsiderate.

Instead of stomping off to the kitchen in a huff as Rose would have expected her to do, she gave a bloodcurdling smile that promised wicked intent. Calmly, Agnes sashayed to the kitchen. Rose retreated to the warmth of Dave&...

“What do you mean? How many people have gone missing? This morning?” Rose asked.

Joe shook his head. “Over the last few months, there’s been a few instances of men, even a couple of women, who’ve gone missing. Even then, we don’t know for sure.” 

“How is no one sure?”

He huffed, debating whether she should be told or not.

Suddenly, the front door opened and Dave stepped in, running a hand through his hair. “Joe, what...

Though Jack had prepared a delicious light lunch, she pushed her food around, nibbling here and there. Dave didn’t fare much better. He swallowed his bites as if they were spoonfuls of sawdust. She gave Jack a look of apology.

Even though she believed Dave when he said his worry wasn’t because he loved Agnes, Rose waged war against her jealous uprisings. She couldn’t be the help she promised him she would be unless she could make peace, not with a treaty that left both sides sligh...

“Just came in,” Holding a piece of paper, Joe rounded the corner and gave the message to Dave. “He can’t come out this way. Busy with a case up in Quesnel. Asking if you and Rose can meet him there.”

Dave turned to Rose, “Well, are you up for one of our old adventures?”

“That’s one thing England was sorely lacking, horseback adventures on a wilderness trail with the best of company.”

For the next half hour, they packed enough c...

Rose was hard pressed to find a good measure of sleep as she mulled over the details of Laura’s disappearance. Tossing this way and that, her body mirrored the struggle of her mind attempting to catch the answer zigzagging from her grasp. 

As the first of the sun’s rays peeked over the horizon, Rose ground her palms into her closed eyelids. She slapped her cheeks once, twice and fumbled to her dresser to pick up her brush. Running it through her long, raven locks was too much of a ...

Dave exited the room so Rose could change into her disguise. Once she donned her disguise, she opened the door and let him in as they discussed what story they would fabricate so as not to draw suspicion of any kind.

Rose hummed, “I can dress the part, play the part, but I definitely can’t speak the part. Perhaps, I can be a mute cousin of yours.”

Dave grinned, “That works. You whip ‘em at poker, and I’ll ask the questions.”

Rose spit into her h...

Twigs snap underfoot of not one, but two witnesses. The sun cannot reach nor illumine the macabre dealings being executed under the tainted woods’ canopy. Rich, dark blood drips down the rusted teeth of a saw held by soiled hands. Cold, lifeless eyes do not rest in peace under the sweet veil of closed lids. No, they are stranded open. There is no hand of mercy beside them. It is a blessing they can no longer see because of what will happen next…

***

It was mid afternoon the day after ...

Rose’s throat was parched, and her tongue was dry as sandpaper. She licked her lips, but there was barely a drop of an oasis pool inside the desert of her mouth. Instead, she produced a sticky coating she could barely tolerate. She attempted to elevate her upper body with her forearms and realized she couldn’t separate them. Rope dug into her wrists as she tried to pry them loose…and a blazing sharp pain seared across the back of her head. It was clear she was tied. She moved her hands towa...

As soon as Rose entered the hotel room, she gently laid her hand upon Dave’s. His long lashes fluttered in response, and he cracked a small smile as he woke from his slumber. She only had enough energy to smile in return as a few tears streamed from her eyes. “How are you?” she asked.

“Come here,” he said, as he extended his arms.

She draped herself gently over him and rested in his embrace. Should she divulge what she had found in the house in addition to how Ag...