Still behind so still not doing the official #1LineWed on Twitter. Today’s theme, though, is family, so here’s a snippet from THE DEVIL’S CUT.

From the chapter Death is a Dialog:

There wasn’t much wind to speak of and heat waves shimmered around the headstones making them look ghostly despite the solid, salt-of-the-earth granite squares delineating each gravesite. Caleb was surprised at how many trees dotted the cemetery and how green the grass was. This was desert country—hot, desolate foothill country pushing toward the Guadalupe Mountains. This part of New Mexico was Apache country—the stuff of western movies and penny dreadful novels. As the crow flies, he wasn’t all that far from Lincoln County, of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County cattle wars fame.

The widow and her family sheltered beneath a dark green canopy. Slatted white folding chairs squatted in formation atop a square of Astroturf. As many mourners as could fit under the false shade crowded in close. The flag-draped coffin hovered over the open grave, a mound of flowers and ribbons sending odors into the air that reminded Caleb all too much of the Fae. On the opposite side of the grave, almost hidden by the flower arrangements, the honor guard stood with rifles grounded at their sides. The color guard propped up limp flags and tried not to sweat through their dress uniforms.

Caleb held back from most of the crowd. He’d found a nearby tree and leaned a shoulder against its sturdy trunk. His jeans and boots were clean, his dress shirt pressed. A few of the men wore suits and ties and looked miserable for it. The women at their sides were dressed in their Sunday best. Marrying and burying, Caleb thought. Why folks always dressed up when they knew it was going to be a long, hot day of standing on their feet was beyond comprehension.

Caleb isn’t quite ready to talk about his own family yet. “Not much interesting to relate,” he drawls. “Well, besides my first change when Sade told me if I licked my balls in human form she cut them off and feed me. Course, we were twelve at the time.” He brushes his heavy bangs off his forehead. “Yeah, I think Sade and I put the diss in dysfunctional.”

What about your WIPs and/or characters? Any words or advice about family?