Chapter Nine

AS CAD AND IRIS RETURNED TO THE CAMP, Alaric was, of course, running around in a circle like a rooster with a missing head. As soon as he saw the two come out of the trees, Alaric ran up to them, hugged Iris close to him and glared at Cad.

“What were you two doing in there? Answer me!” He demanded.

Cad began, “I—”

“Cad was only teaching me how to shoot properly, and in turn I taught him which herbs were the best for headaches and cuts.”
Alaric scoffed and shook his head. “And why would a healer need to know how to shoot an arrow?”

I. Regress
I wanted her to turn around
So I could see her face
Confirm in real life
My biggest suspicion
That she was as pretty as she looked
In his pictures
I had met her once, before all of this
She was pretty then, but I hadn’t paid this much attention
I recognized her by her red-gold hair
Neatly curled and tapering down near her waist
Her voice was sweet and smart
I wanted her to turn around
But then she followed him out the door.

Chapter Four

IT TOOK HIM THE REST OF THE DAY to get to the border of the hunting territory. He scavenged for berries and holly trees before dark and gorged down roasted squirrel. He made a bed out of fallen willow branches and a bed of mossy rocks. Cad thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep until his eyes gave away out of weariness.

Book Two
The Winter Carnival

Chapter 1

THE WINTER CARNIVAL

“Oh, I’m just so excited about the winter carnival next month! I can’t wait!” Six year old, Betty Holt said, grinning.

“It’ll be here before long, honey,” her eleven year old sister, Pam said, tussling her hair.

Joe, who was twelve, finished tying his tennis shoes on. “Sure will,” he said, smiling. “You two ready?”

“Yes. Where’s Ronnie?” Pam asked.

“Oh, he can’t go. He’s got a stomach ache.”

“Oh. Poor Ronnie,” Betty said.

is

Chapter IV

“Gone!” Mrs. Eling gasped. “Why, I just can’t believe it! It was here only this morning! I saw it!”

“Are you sure, Mrs. Eling?” Alice asked. “Maybe you’re just remembering wrong.”

“No, no, dear. It was here, I tell you! Oh, what am I going to do?” She wrung her hands in despair.

“I suppose you would rather find the box for yourself than a thief finding it,” Alice said, more to herself than the elderly woman.

“Of course! I wouldn’t have minded not ever finding it, but for it to fall into the hands of thief! Oh!”

Chapter 3

A STRANGE VISITOR

“Any luck?” Ronnie asked as Pam and Joe walked into the house.

Joe shook his head.

“We thought we’d found something, but it turned out just to be a piece of metal,” Pam said, smiling.

“That’s too bad,” Betty said. “But right now, Ronnie and I are going somewhere.”

“Where to?” Pam asked.

“We’re going over to Caroline and Jason's house. They just stopped by here a few minutes ago and asked if we could come over.”

Pam nodded. “Where’s mother?”

Chapter III

As Alice walked home from Jills house, she saw Mrs. Muller, an elderly widow, watering her garden.

She waved to her, but instead of waving in return, Mrs. Muller beckoned to her to come. Alice obeyed, and upon reaching the kindly woman, she led her inside. “Sit down, please, Alice,” she said.

Alice did so, a puzzled look on her pretty face.

Chapter 2

GOLD SEARCH

Joe sighed. “I guess we’ll have to go all the way back tomorrow.”

“I don’t see why we can’t go now. If we hurry, we can get there and back not long after dark,” Pam said.

Joe sighed again. “I guess you’re right. Come on.”

Grabbing the papers, Pam bounded down the stairs after her brother. Running into the garage, they got their bikes out and rode to Mr. Fortings house. Pam rang bell. A minute later Mr. Forting came to the door and opened it. “Back again?” He asked, his face showing some surprise.