Writing: Reorganized the entire draft of Rivers of Stone since Sunday. Finally ready to start drafting again. I'm still feeling my way into the story, though the characters seem very, very real. Progress on other goals? Glacial.
Weds snippet: Just ten paragraphs for the 10th day of September. Context: Dougal has left on the Fur Brigade Express, leaving Cat, disguised as a boy to work at the Trading Depot in Hudson's Bay. It's winter, 1842, and in this next scene, Cat gets into a fight.
"Hurry up there, Cat. Can't take all day." Jacob pushed Cat's arm as he went by, and the measure cup spilled beads out on the counter and floor.
"That's it," cried Cat. "You don't push me around."
"Knew it," said one of the voyageurs by the stove. "Knew a fight was a comin'."
"Outside, the two of you," called Mackenzie.
"I'll fix the mess here. You two fix the mess between you."
Cat saw red. This was no sly polar bear, sneaking around. This was Jacob who talked to her when she most missed Dougal. Now he was her stinking enemy.
They were barely out the door when Jacob jumped her. Cat twisted to the side and sank her teeth into Jacob's wrist until he howled. With a thump, she shoved him off her and slugged his ear. A spurt of blood trickled down his neck.
The cries of the men echoed around her, taking bets. "Hit him again, the little bastard," cried Pete. "I saw what he did."
The two faced each other, and Jacob's face wrinkled into a sneer. "You can't win me. I'm bigger."
"Yeah," taunted Cat. "But not smarter."
Jacob rushed her, but Cat stuck her foot out and tripped him. When Jacob sprawled in the muddy snow, she leaped on his back and pounded his head against the ground. "Say you're sorry," she grunted. "Say you'll leave me alone."
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| Trading at Hudson's Bay Company Post (Wikipedia) |
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*"But not smarter."*
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile - and then she proved it! =D
Thank you, Shan. I didn't want the fight to get too bloody.
DeleteGO, CAT!!! *ahem* Sorry, got a bit into it there. But my money is on her. ;) I hope she doesn't find herself in too many fights though. That could cause problems she doesn't need.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm starting to think the worst fights will be with a bear.
DeleteMy money's on Cat. One little thing. When Cat "cried" I know you mean she yelled or exclaimed or something of the sort, but it made her sound whiny in my head.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely editing tip! Of course, she yelled.I checked the thesaurus just in case to learn "yell" has been in use since about 1000, is related to Old English, and may have come from gelan or gellan (night singer) <-- a lovely word for a poem!
DeleteI believe that glacial progress is still progress! Actually, it sounds like you're doing just fine. Best wishes and have a marvelous weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Julile. Each day, my husband is recovering a little more from that back surgery, but it's still an emotional and physical roller coaster. So, though it's hard to accept, glacial is good.
DeleteYowza! Cat's really worked up! I'm a little concerned for her ability to maintain the illusion of being a boy after a physical fight, though. Clothes get awfully mussed.
ReplyDeleteI like Mackenzie. He strikes me as a very friendly fellow. "Oh, don't worry about the mess. I've got it. you two go ahead and have fun." :-P I know that's not really what he's saying, but he gives me the impression of being someone who's seen enough tussles to know which are just tussles, and which call for mediation. :-)
Good point re Cat's clothing, for the physical struggle involves shoving, punching and tearing anything that's loose. I did worry about that. She won't be having any more fights -- with humans! Mackenzie is a good guy, yes, but I have a new character based on a historical person who was at York at the same time. His name is Mactavish. I think those names are too darn close. Sigh.
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