Rose looked up from the fire into her family’s pinched faces. The Humboldt Valley was the cruelest land she’d ever seen. Constant worry–for the horses, for each other, for the terrible choices they might still have to make–they had…
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The Dragon and the Giant
Tagged with: Bleeding Kansas Rose, California Trail Rose, Cathleen Townsend, historical fantasy, The Dragon and The Giant
Posted in My Stories
Posted in My Stories
The Proper Hospitality
Kansas Territory, 1856 Rose’s gaze kept drifting toward the barn as she and Jean-Pierre groomed the horses. “I just can’t believe it,” she said finally. “We have a brownie or leprechaun or something magic anyway, actually living in our hayloft.”…
Dive
“Ready? Dive.” I clenched my regulator in my teeth and released the reservoir of air in the apparatus strapped to my back. The twenty-plus pounds of lead around my hips ensured that the waters of the Pacific Ocean closed rapidly…
A Worm Tale
I believe there’s a genetic component to empathy. Certainly it can be learned or suppressed, but it seems there’s an inborn disposition as well. Especially when it comes to animals. My mother and I are both overly empathetic, to the…
Kelly’s Christmas
Kelly rested her head on her paws and groaned. Her hips hurt. She missed her packmate. She hadn’t seen Toby for over a week. She didn’t understand. Her people wept and spoke of putting Toby down. Why was Toby gone?…
Tagged with: Cathleen Townsend, christmas story, flash fiction, Kelly's Christmas
Posted in My Stories
Posted in My Stories
Snowflake
Madelynn hesitated on the doorstep. “Come in, honey—you’re letting all the warm air out.” Grandma’s voice was kind, and it would be unthinkable to disobey. Dad had explained that this was Grandma’s last Christmas, and they all had to try…
Tango
A glob of melting snow dropped from the tree above onto Donio’s head. He jumped up, stamping all four hooves in fury. “That does it! I’m sick of snow. I’m going someplace where it’s warm.” Jemmick shook his head, narrowly…
Tagged with: Cathleen Townsend, Christmas vacation, reindeer, Santa, short story
Posted in My Stories
Posted in My Stories
Pirate Gold
A brick shifted, accompanied by muffled sounds of joy from outside. Fernando shifted his attention to the wall. Was someone finally breaking through his prison? He’d only taken a small purse–enough to cover immediate expenses. But his shipmates had caught…
Cave Rendezvous
California Gold Country, 1850 The cave waited–as it had for thousands of years. It had sheltered many in that time. Bears taking their winter sleep, humans with bows and spears, and now humans with guns. They were welcome to its…
Candle in the Dark
I woke in the dead of night with a start. The inn was quiet, just when I longed for the sound of another human being. A late drinker stumbling upstairs from the taproom or a guest clumping down the hallway…
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Cathleen Townsend 