Leigh Wardle
Bio
I'm a long-time experimental writer. I started in poems and have moved on to writing my first manuscript. I'm a mother of three and love all things dark and crafty.
Stories (3)
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The Innkeepers
Gretchen is the food and hospitality expert. Loretta is the gardens and groundskeeper. They're twin sisters who have owned and operated the Sunny Side Inn for nearly 50 years. And although they're pushing late into their 70's, you'd never guess it with the energy and care they put into their home and inn. They live in the basement of the cute cottage-style inn. The main floor consists of the sitting area, kitchen, dining room, and a lovely back porch. There are three guest rooms all together on the third floor, each with its own private bathroom. Gretchen wins the yearly bake-off every spring, and Loretta always takes first in the home and gardens show every summer. They live a quiet life tending to their guests and inn.
By Leigh Wardle5 years ago in Fiction
My hideaway
I have my headphones on full blast and a paintbrush in my hand. Here, I'm at home. This is my space. My mom kicked me out to go live with my dad in the-middle-of-nowhere, Idaho. She says for one reason, I say another. But no matter the reason, this is where I am. And I hate it. Well, I hated it at first, but I'm getting used to it. Leaving my friends at the start of high school was hard. But living in this tiny cabin with no internet, no cell phone, and no tv; I'm starting to go crazy. Or at least, I was before I ventured into our barn. It's old, like really old. The wood is falling apart and it's turned to a grey color I didn't know wood could be. There are two barn cats who came with the house when my dad bought it. And we feed them from time to time, though, we really don't need to since they leave us a murder scene every spring. We close up the barn during the winter when it's too cold for me to stay out for too long and when the snow is piled higher than the door swings. And then every spring, I send my dad to clean it out. There are always dozens of mice and small birds littering the floor. Which is the state in which I first found the barn. Littered with bodies, though not as many as the first spring morning after a big winter. But enough to give me the willies. So I make my dad clean them out for me so I don't have to see what the sweet cats do to their prey. They really are sweet. It took some time but Lucky, the big grey fluff ball of a cat finally trusted me enough to let me pet it by the end of last summer. And Jasmine, the tabby, will rub up against me petting herself on my leg the whole time I'm out here. They're the only friends I allow out here in my space. And I think I'm the only friend they allow into theirs. After that first trip into the barn, I knew it was going to be mine. I grabbed my easel, brushes, and paints and I set up shop in front of the big window. They've been planted here ever since.
By Leigh Wardle5 years ago in Fiction
13
I sat looking out the window at the deep green trees. I had never thought trees to be beautiful, but after the ugly boring desert, trees were the most wonderful things I'd seen. We pulled off the highway at the something-teen gas station today looking for one that had anything left in the tank. The caravan pulled in one behind the other, and as soon as the RV stopped, I climbed out to stretch my legs. Ma and Pa were already out and directing traffic with their shotguns slung casually at their sides. Before I could take more than 5 steps from the RV, Ma stopped me.
By Leigh Wardle5 years ago in Fiction
