Home (Book Excerpt)

Here is an excerpt from the book I'm working on right now:

Dame Frances sat rocking in her chair, a partially darned sock lying in her lap. Through the open window she watched Toriana in the garden. The girl brushed her hair out of her face with the back of her hand, trying to not get any dirt in it, as she knelt in the dirt. Dame Frances’ mind flew back to when she and both of her children worked in the garden together. She sighed deeply, picked up the sock in her lap and continued darning it.

Hearing an exclamation from Toriana, Dame Frances quickly raised her head and looked out the window. Toriana had risen to her feet and was shading her eyes with her hands. Looking toward the horizon, Dame Frances saw an approaching man on horseback. With a loud cry, Toriana darted through the grass towards the man, who stopped his horse when he saw her. As Toriana came closer, he leapt from his horse and sprinted towards her. The girl ran straight into his open arms and wrapped her arms around him. The man’s arms closed tightly around her, and he buried his face in her gold locks.

As Dame Frances sat frozen watching, the man slowly raised his head and looked straight towards her. With dewy eyes, Dame Frances saw that it was her son; Shawn who had left several years before to go to sea. Arm in arm, Toriana and Shawn entered the cottage. Crossing the room, Shawn knelt beside his mother, and took her small, time-worn hands in his large, weather-beaten ones. Tears trickled down Dame France’s cheeks and splashed down onto their clasped hands. Shawn bowed his head for a moment, to hide his own tears.

Raising his head, Shawn said softly, “Mother, I’ve come home.”