The sound of their voices sent a slight shiver of shame racing across her heart; she’d left the house without a word to anyone
as to where she was going. She knew that it wasn’t the smart thing to be doing, especially alone, but she needed to get away
for a while.
She needed to get to her special place!
Ever since her family had arrived in America, Sophie had been captivated by the wilderness around the farm. Nature had called
to her and she had obliged by traipsing along the creek beds, climbing in the trees, watching the animals as they lived and
died, and enjoying all that was there to offer. But one spot in particular had spoken to her, and she had often gone there
when she needed to be alone. Now was certainly one of those times.
The tall grass fell away and she entered the tree line, leaving the heat of the summer sun for the cool interior of the woods.
Scant brambly brush filled the space underneath the tall oak trees and she made her way easily. A thin creek, its water gurgling
as it rushed over the worn stones of its bed, was easily jumped. Sophie had walked this way so many times that she was certain
she could have found her way with her eyes closed.
Soon, a familiar knot of rock came into view. Three large crags of stone were bunched together, one rising atop the other,
all bursting from a sharp drop in a low hill. Long ridges ran the length of each rock, exposing deep grays, bejeweled reds,
and flecks of green. These ridges offered willing hand- and footholds, ready to be climbed and explored. The stones had always
seemed out of place to Sophie; it was as if some ancient giant had forgotten his playthings behind him thousands of years
ago. It was this oddness that had charmed her the first time she had laid eyes upon them.
Without a moment’s pause, Sophie began to climb. She found familiar sharp points and worn indentations, pushing and pulling
herself upward, straining her arms and legs. Swiftly, she rose toward the summit. Climbing one rock and then another, she
finally reached the top.
“So beautiful,” she muttered.
From where she stood, the forest opened up before her in every direction. Oak and maple trees spread their branches toward
her, their green leaves bright in the sunlight that filtered through their canopy. The creek snaked away into the distance
before being lost to sight, the sound of its water mixing with the chirping of birds and the scurrying of squirrels and rabbits.
Lying on her back, Sophie spread her arms wide and turned her palms to the sky. Thankfully, the top of the rock was as dry
as a bone; water pooled in the stone’s many small recesses in the spring thaw and fall rains but dried up in the strong heat
of summer. As she stared at the small clouds that drifted across the blue sky above, she knew that the peaceful life she had
heretofore led had been forever violated. With the attack upon her family and the threats that came with it, she would never
be able to go back, to recapture the innocence of her earlier life.
What mattered now was the future, whatever it might be!
She wanted to believe her grandmother and reward the older woman’s faith that, when confronted with the need to act, she would.
Sophie had been raised always to do the right thing. In the calm of her special place, she knew exactly what that meant.
Whatever comes, I will be ready!
Chapter Five
U NDER THE BLAZING July sun, Cole slowly made his way toward Marge’s Diner. Crossing the street in front of the bank, he cursed his bad leg;
on days like this, having to hobble along, carefully turning his hip, was a real pain in the ass! Hunger had driven him into
the summer heat. It was late afternoon and he was famished; over the hustle and bustle of the town he swore he heard his stomach
rumble. There were only a couple of cars and a lone pickup parked in front of the small restaurant, but that was more a sign
of the lateness of the lunch hour than a
as to where she was going. She knew that it wasn’t the smart thing to be doing, especially alone, but she needed to get away
for a while.
She needed to get to her special place!
Ever since her family had arrived in America, Sophie had been captivated by the wilderness around the farm. Nature had called
to her and she had obliged by traipsing along the creek beds, climbing in the trees, watching the animals as they lived and
died, and enjoying all that was there to offer. But one spot in particular had spoken to her, and she had often gone there
when she needed to be alone. Now was certainly one of those times.
The tall grass fell away and she entered the tree line, leaving the heat of the summer sun for the cool interior of the woods.
Scant brambly brush filled the space underneath the tall oak trees and she made her way easily. A thin creek, its water gurgling
as it rushed over the worn stones of its bed, was easily jumped. Sophie had walked this way so many times that she was certain
she could have found her way with her eyes closed.
Soon, a familiar knot of rock came into view. Three large crags of stone were bunched together, one rising atop the other,
all bursting from a sharp drop in a low hill. Long ridges ran the length of each rock, exposing deep grays, bejeweled reds,
and flecks of green. These ridges offered willing hand- and footholds, ready to be climbed and explored. The stones had always
seemed out of place to Sophie; it was as if some ancient giant had forgotten his playthings behind him thousands of years
ago. It was this oddness that had charmed her the first time she had laid eyes upon them.
Without a moment’s pause, Sophie began to climb. She found familiar sharp points and worn indentations, pushing and pulling
herself upward, straining her arms and legs. Swiftly, she rose toward the summit. Climbing one rock and then another, she
finally reached the top.
“So beautiful,” she muttered.
From where she stood, the forest opened up before her in every direction. Oak and maple trees spread their branches toward
her, their green leaves bright in the sunlight that filtered through their canopy. The creek snaked away into the distance
before being lost to sight, the sound of its water mixing with the chirping of birds and the scurrying of squirrels and rabbits.
Lying on her back, Sophie spread her arms wide and turned her palms to the sky. Thankfully, the top of the rock was as dry
as a bone; water pooled in the stone’s many small recesses in the spring thaw and fall rains but dried up in the strong heat
of summer. As she stared at the small clouds that drifted across the blue sky above, she knew that the peaceful life she had
heretofore led had been forever violated. With the attack upon her family and the threats that came with it, she would never
be able to go back, to recapture the innocence of her earlier life.
What mattered now was the future, whatever it might be!
She wanted to believe her grandmother and reward the older woman’s faith that, when confronted with the need to act, she would.
Sophie had been raised always to do the right thing. In the calm of her special place, she knew exactly what that meant.
Whatever comes, I will be ready!
Chapter Five
U NDER THE BLAZING July sun, Cole slowly made his way toward Marge’s Diner. Crossing the street in front of the bank, he cursed his bad leg;
on days like this, having to hobble along, carefully turning his hip, was a real pain in the ass! Hunger had driven him into
the summer heat. It was late afternoon and he was famished; over the hustle and bustle of the town he swore he heard his stomach
rumble. There were only a couple of cars and a lone pickup parked in front of the small restaurant, but that was more a sign
of the lateness of the lunch hour than a
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