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

Father, is he here too?” She buried her face in her mother’s chest, squeezing her tightly.
    For a moment, her mother tensed, then slowly pushed herself back, holding Alexia by the shoulders.
    “No … I’m sorry, I …” Something about her mother’s voice sounded wrong to Alexia. “I didn’t mean to make you think …”
    She felt as if a knife were slowly slicing into her belly. Alexia backed away, too afraid to speak.
    Her mother struck a match, lighting a lamp on the bedside table. At first Alexia didn’t understand what she was seeing.
    “My girl, I am not your mother, but I am a friend. And I want to help you.”
    A deep rage welled inside Alexia. How dare this woman pretend to be her mother! How dare she trick her like that! Springing to her feet, she rounded on the woman, ready to punch, kick, or bite—it didn’t matter. She was going to hit something.
    The horrid woman stood but didn’t back away. “I am sorry. I did not mean for you to think I was your … to think I …” A look of pain swept the woman’s face as she stopped herself. “I am sorry that happened.”
    Alexia backed into the corner like a wounded animal.
    “Is it true? Is your … did your mother and father—have they both passed away?” the woman asked.
    Alexia snarled as her face contorted in rage. She was going to kill this woman. Reaching for the sling at her belt, she stopped. It wasn’t there. The woman must have stolen it! That was the last gift her father had given her. And her clothes, her cloak. Where were they? This dreadful woman had stolen everything from her!
    “All of your things are right here,” the woman said, retrieving a small pile of clothes from the top of the dresser and holding them out to Alexia. “I cleaned them for you.”
    Alexia snatched her things from the woman’s arms. “You can’t keep me here,” she said.
    “I will not keep you from leaving,” the woman replied. “You are free to go whenever you wish. But I want you to know that, if your family is gone, you will always have a home here, with us.”
    Alexia felt as if someone had punched her in the gut, but she ignored it. She opened her mouth to speak, but the woman cut her off. “I don’t know how long you have been on your own, but you aren’t alone anymore. Whatever you need, we will be here for you.”
    “I don’t need anybody,” Alexia muttered, angrily striding toward the door. “If you try to stop me, you’ll regret it.”
    “Alexia!” the woman said boldly.
    Alexia stopped. How does she know my name? Alexia hadn’t told anyone her real name since her fifth birthday. She stood, frozen, unable to move.
    “Alexia, I am not your—” The woman stopped and brushed away fresh tears. “I am not your mother. Nor do I think I would ever be able to take her place. I am sure she must have been a strong and beautiful woman and that she loved you more than the moon or the stars.”
    Alexia swallowed hard but didn’t turn around. Her mother had often called her “my moon and stars.” It had been one of her many nicknames.
    “But I know she would want you to be taken care of. I have no doubt that you can take care of yourself, but it’s not what she would have wanted.”
    Alexia didn’t move. She wanted to run, she wanted to tell the woman to shut up, but she couldn’t move. How dare she talk about her mother like that!
    “Alexia,” the woman said softly, “I can never hope to be anything like her, but I promise you this: I will love you as much as any mother has ever loved a child.” The woman was crying now as she stepped forward. “You can leave if you like, but if you stay, you will be loved and cared for.”
    In an all-out rage, Alexia charged the woman. She pounded her with fists as she kicked and screamed. How dare she say these things!
    The woman let Alexia punch and kick her. Yes, she blocked some of the more powerful strikes, but mostly she just stood and allowed herself to be beaten. Alexia was so