Read Online Second Chance by Sawyer Bennett - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sawyer Bennett
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us,” Carrick said toward the group, “I am going to accept Ava’s invitation and we are going fishing on Parness Creek.”
Still holding her hand, Carrick led Ava back toward the palace. Ava heard Ralina call out, “I’d like to go too.”
“Sorry,” Carrick yelled back. “You’re not invited.”
And in that moment, Ava fell in love with Carrick.
Ava mused over that first time she had met Carrick and mentally shook her head in embarrassment that it didn’t take five minutes for her to fall head over heels for him. Granted, what did an eight-year-old know about love, but from that minute forward, Ava had worshipped the ground Carrick walked on.
She remembered how they went fishing that day on Parness Creek, a lot of which was just spent in companionable silence. She did learn that day that Carrick was thirteen-years-old and was hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps. Ava had heard her father talk about Carrick’s father a lot and knew that he counted him as a trusted advisor.
Never once did Carrick treat her different because she was a Princess, and from that day forward, it was amazing how many of the other kids now wanted to be her friend. The petty part of her wanted to ignore them all and just be friends with Carrick, but she knew that was wrong on several levels. But mainly because Carrick was older than her and his interests were different, they didn’t spend a lot of time together. He was learning more about his magical abilities and would be entering training for duty with the army in a few years. Still, they remained close friends for the rest of her childhood and when time permitted they would go fishing or hunting, or would just ride their horses through the countryside talking. She always considered him to be her Protector in Chief.
Yes, Ava ruminated. She had seen that cold, fury from Carrick all those years ago when he was protecting a little eight-year-old girl. It was the same wrath he exhibited toward her just a bit ago in her bedroom. Ironic .
Ava’s trip down memory lane was cut short as Carrick and Kieran came out of the barn, leading King. She marveled at how much the brothers looked alike. Kieran was two years younger than Carrick but they looked almost like twins. Even though they had very similar features and builds, Kieran, even now, was carrying himself with an easy grace and had a light smile on his face. Carrick walked as he if carried the burden of the entire world upon those massive shoulders of his, and his mouth was set in a grim line.
Carrick and Kieran joined Ava, King trailing shortly behind on his lead. “Do you have everything you need?”
“I’m ready.” Ava grabbed hold of Bing’s collar, not quite sure what to expect. Her last experience with inter-dimensional travel was a long time ago but she remembered the tugging feeling on her body She held Bing’s collar tight as she wanted to make sure they didn’t get separated and have him end up in a weird dimension ruled by cats.
Standing with his eyes closed, Carrick began chanting in a low voice, words that she could not hear. She felt the wind kick up, and pulled Bing a little tighter to her. King reared up slightly, surely feeling a little spooked, but she could hear Kieran talking to him in a soft voice to help calm his nerves. Then Ava felt the tugging on her body. She looked over her shoulder at her house, and suddenly had a moment of great sadness that she was leaving. She hoped she would return one day. Then she watched as her house started to fade while the tugging on her body became more insistent. Goodbye, Wyoming. I will miss you.
As Ava watched her house and the majestic Tetons behind it fade, she noticed other things coming into focus. She first saw trees, then noticed a small creek running to her right. The babbling water sounded cheerful.
As things became clearer, Ava gave a little gasp. She was back in Vyronas and the
Still holding her hand, Carrick led Ava back toward the palace. Ava heard Ralina call out, “I’d like to go too.”
“Sorry,” Carrick yelled back. “You’re not invited.”
And in that moment, Ava fell in love with Carrick.
Ava mused over that first time she had met Carrick and mentally shook her head in embarrassment that it didn’t take five minutes for her to fall head over heels for him. Granted, what did an eight-year-old know about love, but from that minute forward, Ava had worshipped the ground Carrick walked on.
She remembered how they went fishing that day on Parness Creek, a lot of which was just spent in companionable silence. She did learn that day that Carrick was thirteen-years-old and was hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps. Ava had heard her father talk about Carrick’s father a lot and knew that he counted him as a trusted advisor.
Never once did Carrick treat her different because she was a Princess, and from that day forward, it was amazing how many of the other kids now wanted to be her friend. The petty part of her wanted to ignore them all and just be friends with Carrick, but she knew that was wrong on several levels. But mainly because Carrick was older than her and his interests were different, they didn’t spend a lot of time together. He was learning more about his magical abilities and would be entering training for duty with the army in a few years. Still, they remained close friends for the rest of her childhood and when time permitted they would go fishing or hunting, or would just ride their horses through the countryside talking. She always considered him to be her Protector in Chief.
Yes, Ava ruminated. She had seen that cold, fury from Carrick all those years ago when he was protecting a little eight-year-old girl. It was the same wrath he exhibited toward her just a bit ago in her bedroom. Ironic .
Ava’s trip down memory lane was cut short as Carrick and Kieran came out of the barn, leading King. She marveled at how much the brothers looked alike. Kieran was two years younger than Carrick but they looked almost like twins. Even though they had very similar features and builds, Kieran, even now, was carrying himself with an easy grace and had a light smile on his face. Carrick walked as he if carried the burden of the entire world upon those massive shoulders of his, and his mouth was set in a grim line.
Carrick and Kieran joined Ava, King trailing shortly behind on his lead. “Do you have everything you need?”
“I’m ready.” Ava grabbed hold of Bing’s collar, not quite sure what to expect. Her last experience with inter-dimensional travel was a long time ago but she remembered the tugging feeling on her body She held Bing’s collar tight as she wanted to make sure they didn’t get separated and have him end up in a weird dimension ruled by cats.
Standing with his eyes closed, Carrick began chanting in a low voice, words that she could not hear. She felt the wind kick up, and pulled Bing a little tighter to her. King reared up slightly, surely feeling a little spooked, but she could hear Kieran talking to him in a soft voice to help calm his nerves. Then Ava felt the tugging on her body. She looked over her shoulder at her house, and suddenly had a moment of great sadness that she was leaving. She hoped she would return one day. Then she watched as her house started to fade while the tugging on her body became more insistent. Goodbye, Wyoming. I will miss you.
As Ava watched her house and the majestic Tetons behind it fade, she noticed other things coming into focus. She first saw trees, then noticed a small creek running to her right. The babbling water sounded cheerful.
As things became clearer, Ava gave a little gasp. She was back in Vyronas and the
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