Tuesday Tales: From a Picture

Good morning. I’m back from my journey out west. Welcome to this week’s edition Of Tuesday Tales where books are born.  This we, we have a picture prompt and a 300 word limit.

I continue with The Price of Courage, Book Two of my Canadiana Series. Here is the picture I chose.

The snow fell and the wind howled for two days before the sun rose again. This morning, they would break camp and set off for the Montagnais village. Lucien rummaged through his pack until he found what he sought. Taking out the carefully wrapped, hand-painted bowl Izzy, Guy’s wife, had given him, he smiled.

While he should’ve paid more attention to his hostess, his gaze had strayed to the inn’s mistress, the lovely young redheaded widow who was probably married by now. He’d seen genteel women of such beauty and grace in France, but she was as far beyond him as the stars. Imagining her in a trapper’s hut was impossible. Besides, the young officer at her side had made sure her gaze and attention stayed on him. And why not? She was a priceless treasure.

As he spooned oatmeal into his mouth, he recalled the meal he’d shared with them and Alain, Marianne, and the children before he and the seigneur had left for Quebec. The food, exquisite as always, had only been bested by the warm welcome he’d received.

“How will you approach the chief?” Guy asked, his brow furrowed.

“An old friend of mine married Atika’s daughter and now resides with the Montagnais, living and trapping with them. I will bring goods with me—flint, iron knives and arrowheads, beads and cloth for his wife as well as muskets, balls, and powder. He is a Frenchmen. Giving him weapons doesn’t violate the law and his father-in-law has long been an ally of the French.”

“You must take something personal to the wife,” Izzy said, rising from the table. “I painted the rosebuds on it myself back in France. I’ve given similar items to the women on the estate and they love them. Perhaps she will like it too.

That’s it for this week! Don’t forget to check out all the other posts on  Tuesday Tales.