Tuesday Teaser

Here's a teaser to tickle your fancy!  Be sure to check out Jennifer Lowery's Teasers as well as my fabulous critique partner April London's Teasers too!

Here's a bit from WIP "Tonia".

     “Martha?” Byron mumbled sleepily as he opened his bedroom door, rubbing his eyes.  Another blood curdling scream came from the guest suite and snapped him out of his drowsy state.  Tonia!

     “Martha!”  He bellowed.

     “I’m coming,” he heard a muffled answer from downstairs as he rushed down the hallway.   

     He burst into the Tonia’s suite, cursing under his breath as he stubbed his toe on a table.  He continued to make his way through the dark sitting room to her bedroom door.  He could hear mournful cries coming from inside.

Once in her bedroom, he pulled the curtains back from the large window to allow moonlight to flood the room.  He turned and saw Tonia twisting fitfully in the large bed.  One of her arms was twisted in the bedding and she was desperately trying to get loose.

     “Shhhhh, little one.”  He pulled the sheet loose from her arm and wiped the beads of sweat from her face with the towel from her beside wash table. 

     “No, no, no!” She began hitting him and kicking the coverlet away.  He sat down on the edge of the bed and gathered her into his large arms.  She struggled fitfully against his hold, but he held her firmly. 

     “Shhhh, It’s alright Tonia.  You are safe.”

     “Stop, please stop!”

     He sat quietly holding her, rocking her back and forth until her body calmed and her breathing returned to normal. 

Martha entered the room several minutes later.  She walked up and touched his shoulder.

     “I’ve got her, Martha.”