The Price of a Gift (The Price of Secrets Series) by Ashley Drake Page A

I realized how clean and fresh the air was. The closer I got to the water the more my heart began to race, yet I couldn't stop walking, I had to see what was waiting for me. I was praying please God don't let anything jump out of the water. And please, please God if I go into that pond, which looks like that’s where I'm heading, don't let something grab me. At the water’s edge I could hear the frogs and crickets singing in the background. Beyond the pond I could see that the pasture ended and woods began. The last thing I remember is a woman screaming 'Samantha'. Then I woke up. I thought Samantha would appear to me, but she never did. The experience frightened me. For the obvious reason that, hello, it’s like my mind freakin time traveled, and that was the first time that has ever happened. But mainly I feared I wouldn't remember everything, or that I would miss something important. I understood that I was taking the place of Samantha and that meant she heard me call out to her that I needed more to go on when she left me the morning Jaycee got home. Out of all the living impaired that come talk to me, Samantha is my favorite. She has never tried to scare me, well until last night. We have a few things in common even though we were born about 100 years apart. We are about the same age and we both love and want to protect our families.
    "Come on Han. We are gonna be late." Mom thinks we're late if we're not 15 minutes early. I hadn't realized we had parked and they were standing outside of the car waiting on me.
    "Look Marie. The Carver's are here." Dad said.
    Following my parents gaze, I watch four people open the car doors of a white SUV. The dad looks to be the same age as my dad. He's a little taller than my dad and cute. Of course I don't think my dad is cute, even though Phoebe thinks he is. But Phoebe is a slut so you really can't go by her judgment. Her only requirement in a guy is a pulse. I love her but I gotta call them as I see them. There was someone behind the dad but I just couldn't... awww he's a cutie pie, looks a lot like his dad except for the hair and skin tone. He looks to be about 11 or 12. I will have to get Jaycee to tell her little brother about him. They might be in the same class together when school starts back. The wind started to blow and I could see, out of the right corner of my eye, hair flowing. Long black silky hair that was attached to the most beautiful woman, not on TV, that I have ever seen. Looking at that hair and her dark skin tone, she had to be American Indian. She was putting her sun glasses on top of her head as she laughed at something the little boy said. The dad must have heard it too cause he reached over and tousled the boy’s black hair that was like his momma’s. I had forgotten that there were four of them until they all, a little irritated, stopped and turned back toward the car. At that very second several things happened at once; my ears began to ring, tingling goose bumps popped out on my arms and legs, drool threatened to run down my mouth, and I saw him. The gorgeous black haired guy, with raven dark eyes looking back at me. I couldn't breathe. I've seen hot guys before. But he's different, he's the one. Dang, cryptic much? Here they come. You'll be fine, just be yourself.
    During my little pep-talk I heard my dad say, "Good afternoon Charlie." While reaching to shake his hand. "Beautiful day to buy a house."
    The man, and I'm going out on a limb and guessing his name is Charlie, returns the handshake. "Hello Avery, It sure is. Who is this lovely young lady?"
    Dad put his hand on my lower back and pushed me forward. This is my cue to be all proper. "This is our daughter Hannah. Hannah, this is Dr. Carver and his wife Sarasvati."
    My turn. "It's so nice to meet you."
    Sarasv -something smiled and said. "Please call me Sara. You're a beautiful girl. Marie, she looks just like you." And with that the two mothers paired off and started talking about, what I could