Carrot Ranch Prompt: 99 words, no more, no less “Boots”
Flying through the back door at the ranch, I’m stopped dead in my tracks, alarmed by the blood on the worn boots jamming the screen. They were tossed aside as if the person was in a hurry and suddenly I am not.
I stare at the blood pooling beside the muddy heel. My mind racing to identify any scenario that would warrant the thick red puddle. None surfaces.
I enter the house slowly, the silence is so loud it rings in my ears, I feel the counter make contact with my head as I hit the floor. Total blackness…
“Clarence, I just saw Cheryl’s mount Blaze still wandering around and saddled. And she’s not picking up her house or cell phone. Why don’t y’all go and see what’s up, “Lavina said while her worry lines furrowed deeper on her old face. “Meanwhile I’m gonna put through a call to Doc and see where that man’s at.”
Clarence started up his four wheeler. Crossed the pasture in no time and went right to the back door. Only company ever used the front. There was a bloody boot trail on the porch.
“Cheryl, where in tarnation you at?” Clarence shouted.
By Anurag Bakhshi
I woke up groggily to find that my head was bursting with excruciating pain.
Willing myself to ignore it, I somehow managed to open my eyes and looked around to find myself in a ramshackle room which looked and smelt like a stable…my stable, I realized with a start as I regained a semblance of my wits.
I suddenly heard Clarence shouting my name out loudly near the porch. I got up to tell him where I was, and it was then I realized that I was holding something in my right hand- a knife, soaked in blood.
By Lisa A. Listwa
I stared down at my hand as though it were not my own. Why the devil am I in the stable with a bloody kitchen knife? Something dripped onto my bare foot – blood from the knife. Wait. Where were my boots?
Clarence shouted my name again. I suddenly remembered the bloody boots at the back door – my boots! A stabbing pain forced an image of the counter into my consciousness. I must’ve gone to the house for the knife and slipped on the blood. But why – and how – would my own blood-soaked boots have arrived before I did?
By Charli Mills
Clarence kicks aside bloody boots to enter his sister’s house through the screen door. Another pair of boots, women’s boots, lie discarded near Doc Maddox. He’s face down in a pool of thick blood. Tufts of bloodied down from Doc’s vest reveal multiple wounds to his back. His feet are bare.
“What the…?”
“Clarence? Clarence, that you inside?” His sister Cheryl’s voice is pitched higher than usual.
Clarence spins around like the champion horses he trains, lunging for the porch. He stops. Cheryl limps from the stable, holding her head with one hand. In the other, a bloodied knife.
My vision tunnels. I see Clarence burst out the screen door. He gawps like a baby bird. My head aches. My feet hurt, walking on gravel. Where are my boots? I can’t loosen my grip on the knife.
Doc, oh God, where’s Doc? We were to meet back at the house after I rode the fence between my place and Clarence’s. Told him to use the back door. No one knew about us yet. My divorce final, but Jerry disappeared after court.
What had he said? “If I can’t have you, no one will set boots on my ranch.”
By Jules Paige
Lavina tried to get a hold of Doc. Maybe the veterinarian was
tending and emergency? No matter, the police were next on
her list.
Lavina called her cousin directly, “Jonas you get your rear
end over to Cheryl’s right off. Something ain’t sitting well.
I sent her brother on over, but he hasn’t called me back.
I’m tired of waiting… Cheryl confided in me that Jerry made
some threats.”
With sirens blaring Jonas hightailed it over to Cheryl’s.
Jerry had been his friend too. But the man hadn’t like
that Cheryl had been awarded his ranch in the divorce.
Living in the Gap 
Oh, cool beans. Cheers, Jules
LikeLike
Very cool!
LikeLike
Very cool. So am I tacking on to Jules' piece or Cheryl's?
LikeLike
This is awesome, Cheryl!
LikeLike
Tack onto Jules'! Can't wait…
LikeLike
This was a fun prompt Charli! We're kicking it around…
LikeLike
Can we still contribute? Here are my 99 words in continuation of Jules' part:I woke up groggily to find that my head was bursting with excruciating pain.Willing myself to ignore it, I somehow managed to open my eyes and looked around to find myself in a ramshackle room which looked and smelt like a stable…my stable, I realized with a start as I regained a semblance of my wits. I suddenly heard Clarence shouting my name out loudly near the porch. I got up to tell him where I was, and it was then I realized that I was holding something in my right hand- a knife, soaked in blood.
LikeLike
This is awesome. Thanks Anurag for contributing to the \”boot\” collaboration. I'll add it to the post shortly. Your addition is greatly appreciated.
LikeLike
I added Anurag's section to my post as well. I didn't see a link at the ranch…So I came here looking. And 'Boots' is looking good!
LikeLike
OK, here's mine! I stared down at my hand as though it were not my own. Why the devil am I in the stable with a bloody kitchen knife? Something dripped onto my bare foot – blood from the knife. Wait. Where were my boots? Clarence shouted my name again. I suddenly remembered the bloody boots at the back door – my boots! A stabbing pain forced an image of the counter into my consciousness. I must’ve gone to the house for the knife and slipped on the blood. But why – and how – would my own blood-soaked boots have arrived before I did?
LikeLike
Thank you Lisa! I just added this to the collaboration. Leaving us hanging – who will pick up the tread?
LikeLike
\”Bueller…Bueller…\”
LikeLike
Clarence kicks aside bloody boots to enter his sister’s house through the screen door. Another pair of boots, women’s boots, lie discarded near Doc Maddox. He’s face down in a pool of thick blood. Tufts of bloodied down from Doc’s vest reveal multiple wounds to his back. His feet are bare.“What the…?”“Clarence? Clarence, that you inside?” His sister Cheryl’s voice is pitched higher than usual. Clarence spins around like the champion horses he trains, lunging for the porch. He stops. Cheryl limps from the stable, holding her head with one hand. In the other, a bloodied knife.
LikeLike
My vision tunnels. I see Clarence burst out the screen door. He gawps like a baby bird. My head aches. My feet hurt, walking on gravel. Where are my boots? I can’t loosen my grip on the knife.Doc, oh God, where’s Doc? We were to meet back at the house after I rode the fence between my place and Clarence’s. Told him to use the back door. No one knew about us yet. My divorce was but Jerry disappeared after court.What had he said? “If I can’t have you, no one will set boots on my ranch.”
LikeLike
Correction to second to last sentence: My divorce final, but Jerry disappeared after court.That was fun, Cheryl!
LikeLike
Oh my, oh my, oh my! Charli you have taken the sultry little story to a whole new level. Outstanding! But sad that Cheryl's new love interest is dead? Or is he? Thanks for the lively contribution.
LikeLike
Hmmm, we don't know yet! I have a proposal — would you be willing to work on this raw story and consult with your cohorts as to how to revise it? And then present the process (how this came to be) and the results in a Raw Literature post back at the Ranch? We could aim for publishing it Feb. 20. I absolutely love what you did and the invitation for other writers to jump in. It would be a great showcase at the Ranch! Let me know what you think!
LikeLike
Absolutely! I'm on it Charli. I'll do a little revision and check in the those that contributed. Is email the best way to communicate? Or Google Docs? Let me know.
LikeLike
Got your entry at my collaborative post as well. CR Collaboration “Boots”
LikeLike
I've got both of Charli's additions at: CR Collaboration “Boots”And I've got an idea for an addition… Be back in a bit with it.
LikeLike
This comment has been removed by the author.
LikeLike
7. By Jules.Lavina tried to get a hold of Doc. Maybe the veterinarian wastending and emergency? No matter, the police were next onher list..Lavina called her cousin directly, “Jonas you get your rearend over to Cheryl’s right off. Something ain’t sitting well. I sent her brother on over, but he hasn’t called me back. I’m tired of waiting… Cheryl confided in me that Jerry made some threats.” .With sirens blaring Jonas hightailed it over to Cheryl’s. Jerry had been his friend too. But the man hadn’t likethat Cheryl had been awarded his ranch in the divorce.
LikeLike
Thank you for the next chapter Jules! I finally added it on to the collaboration. A neighbor was helping me update my computer today so I was off-line for a while. Thank you. Charli wants a polished revision and detailed account of the process. I'm working on that and will send you a copy for editing and additions when finished. I've been enjoying our collaboration Jules.
LikeLike
Hi Cheryl,You can email me at wordsforpeople@gmail.com. Give it an introduction to explain how it came to be and anything that surprised you with the process. I can post it on the 27. Does that work for you? This was a blast!
LikeLike