Read Online Jack Staples and the Ring of Time by Mark Batterson - Free Book Online

she left the girl in the woods in the first place.” Arthur shook his head dramatically.
    “There’s a … lion in the woods?” Arthur’s father sounded more incredulous than believing.
    “It licked Jack?” Arthur’s mother was clearly alarmed.
    Before anyone could say a word, Jack broke in. “She’s the girl from the circus, Mother—the one who was walking the tightrope.”
    Jack’s mother had placed the girl’s head on her lap and was running a hand through her hair. He couldn’t see his mother’s face, but he could tell something was wrong. Was she crying?
    “Megan, what wrong?” Mrs. Greaves asked, stepping toward her.
    Standing quickly, Jack’s mother dabbed at her eyes and began to laugh. “Nothing! Absolutely nothing.”
    “You know this girl?” Mr. Greaves asked.
    His mother didn’t answer, but changed the subject. “I assume Mrs. Dumphry has gone, then?”
    Jack nodded, confused.
    “For the time being at least, this girl needs somewhere to stay. She will come home with us until we can find her parents.” She looked at Mr. Greaves. “Would you mind carrying her out to the wagon? Jack and I will clear a space in the back.”
    “Of course,” Mr. Greaves said. “Whatever you need. And, Megan, you will let us know if there’s anything we can do. We are more than willing to help with the girl.”
    “Thank you, but I am sure we will be fine. It’s late, and apparently”—she offered a rueful smile—“there’s a lion on the loose. It’s past time we all returned home.”
     
    Alexia ran through a field of blood-red flowers. The sun shone brightly overhead, and she felt … happy. It had been many years since she’d been truly happy—ever since the day of her fifth birthday.
    She slowed at this thought. “What happened on my fifth birthday?” she wondered aloud. For a moment, she felt a stabbing in her heart, but just as quickly, the pain was gone. She darted forward again, laughing as she ran.
    I’m going to pick some flowers for Mother. I just know she’ll give me a big hug when I bring them home! Once again, the thought of her mother brought a sharp stabbing to Alexia’s heart. Pushing it aside, she slowed and began collecting the most beautiful red wildflowers she’d ever seen. Laughing aloud, she grabbed armfuls of them, so many she was barely able to hold them all.
    Mother will be so surprised . Why did the thought of her mother make her feel sad? For some reason, Alexia couldn’t make her mind stand still.
    Alexia suddenly realized she had no idea where she was. As she turned to look, her jaw dropped. In the valley below was an arena of sleek black stone that stood as tall as a mountain. As she looked at the arena, panic rose inside her. She felt it calling to her, willing her to come.
    “I need to find Mother and Father,” she whispered. “I need to tell them about the …”
    Fire .
    Alexia dropped her armful of blood-red flowers. Why couldn’t she remember? Something bad had happened. She placed her hands on her head.
    Raging fire .
    Dropping to her knees, Alexia was unable to breathe.
    “NO!” she screamed. In the ground in front of her were three freshly dug graves.
     
    “Mother!” Alexia shouted as she sat up in bed.
    It took a moment to realize she’d been dreaming again. It was a dream she’d had many times since her fifth birthday, and each time she awoke, she experienced the heartache all over again. Yet this time, when she woke, she heard the voice of her mother.
    “Ah, my girl. Everything is all right. You are here with us now, and it’s going to be all right,” her mother said as she ran her fingers through Alexia’s hair.
    Alexia was sitting in her bed in the darkness, and she couldn’t believe it. Her mother was alive, and once again all was right with the world.
     

Chapter 10
    TO SAVE A LIFE
     
    “Mother!” Alexia screamed. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she jumped out of bed and hugged her mother tightly. “Mother! You’re alive! And