Them's Fightin' Words

By Leanne Burroughs

Sometimes people do what they think is right, even if it’s the wrong thing for them. Join a young couple in a simpler time in Georgia. When two lives were torn apart and young love got put on hold for an act of kindness and generosity. Throw in two antiquated ‘silly’ laws still on the books, and you have quite a mix.

Them’s Fightin’ Words - A Short Story ~
“Everyone always trips all over themselves to do exactly what you want, don’t they Mrs. Major? Permits you to play a hermit out here.”
Felicity swung around, soapy dish water dripping from her hands. Seeing Jake, she grabbed the counter for support, pale as if she’d seen a ghost.
She grabbed a towel from the counter to dry her hands. “How dare you come into my house like some...some...thief?”
“Used to be my house, too. I grew up here, remember?” Jake countered.
“I should call Sheriff—”
“Go ahead. Be sure to tell him you’re reporting me for delivering your supplies.”
“My groceries? What—”
Jake lifted the boxes as if to draw her notice to them, then dropped them down on the tabletop. “Carl was busy. I offered to save him the trip.”
“I...oh...well...” Felicity couldn’t seem to find the words. “You needn’t have put yourself out. I could’ve waited for Carl to deliver them. I—”
“I know. You don’t need my help. You’ve made that abundantly clear this past year.” Jake grabbed the dish towel out of her hands and threw it toward the sink. “You don’t need anyone’s help. You’d rather stay out here and shrivel up and die—like Jethro.”
“How dare you talk to me like that? Jethro was my—”
“Husband. I know. A saint of a man, perfect in every way. You’ve told me often enough since I came back.”
“He...”
Jake raked his eyes over her. “Never mind. I’ve delivered your stuff. Now I’m leaving. You can go back to hiding from the world.”
Taking long, angry strides, he stormed outside to his truck.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highland Press Publishing
• Release date: Sep 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301678587

Leanne Burroughs

Leanne enjoys reading, writing, and traveling. Most recently she traveled to Norway to do research for an upcoming Viking epic. The year before, she traveled to Ireland, where she fell in love with the beautiful countryside and its Viking history. She’s also traveled to England, Spain, France, and Hawaii in search of stories waiting to be told! Her absolute favorite place to visit, however, is the lovely country of Scotland. Its beauty is beyond words, and the friendliness of its people is incomparable. In Florida, she can often be found at Disney World with her grandchildren (although everyone knows they are merely an excuse for her to visit). While doing genealogy research for her husband, she fell in love with Scottish history. That led to the novel HIGHLAND WISHES, a historical novel about Scotland’s War for Independence. Its sequel is HER HIGHLAND ROGUE. She currently has several other novels in progress. She's currently adapting her two award-winning Scottish books for the Christian market as well. HIGHLAND MIRACLE is currently available. KEEPER OF MY HEART, a novel about the Battle of Culloden and its aftermath is her current work in progress. THE POWER AND THE PASSION is the Viking epic. The third story in the Scottish War for Independence trilogy is also being worked on. In addition, Leanne has participated in several anthologies.

Book preview

Sometimes people do what they think is right, even if it’s the wrong thing for them. Join a young couple in a simpler time in Georgia. When two lives were torn apart and young love got put on hold for an act of kindness and generosity. Throw in two antiquated ‘silly’ laws still on the books, and you have quite a mix.

Them’s Fightin’ Words~

"Everyone always trips all over themselves to do exactly what you want, don’t they Mrs. Major? Permits you to play a hermit out here."

Felicity swung around, soapy dish water dripping from her hands. Seeing Jake, she grabbed the counter for support, pale as if she’d seen a ghost.

She grabbed a towel from the counter to dry her hands. How dare you come into my house like some…some…thief?

Used to be my house, too. I grew up here, remember? Jake countered.

I should call Sheriff—

Go ahead. Be sure to tell him you’re reporting me for delivering your supplies.

My groceries? What—

Jake lifted the boxes as if to draw her notice to them, then dropped them down on the tabletop. Carl was busy. I offered to save him the trip.

I…oh…well… Felicity couldn’t seem to find the words. You needn’t have put yourself out. I could’ve waited for Carl to deliver them. I—

I know. You don’t need my help. You’ve made that abundantly clear this past year. Jake grabbed the dish towel out of her hands and threw it toward the sink. You don’t need anyone’s help. You’d rather stay out here and shrivel up and die—like Jethro.

"How dare you talk to me like that? Jethro was my—"

Husband. I know. A saint of a man, perfect in every way. You’ve told me often enough since I came back.

He…

Jake raked his eyes over her. Never mind. I’ve delivered your stuff. Now I’m leaving. You can go back to hiding from the world.

Taking long, angry strides, he stormed outside to his truck.

Them’s Fightin’ Words

Leanne Burroughs

Published by Highland Press Publishing at Smashwords

A delightful tale based on two antiquated laws

still on the books in Georgia

• Georgia - Mules may not roam around unsupervised

• It’s illegal to swear over the telephone

~1~

Georgia,