Read Online Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Breeana Puttroff
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in Bristlecone studying, reading, and missing his home — always missing home.
How had he not noticed how much the girl had seen? Maybe he had just never perceived that kind of persistence being possible coming from her. Quinn Robbins had always been a quiet girl herself. She was a year younger than William was, so he had never been in class with her, but he knew from things he had overheard that other kids and teachers considered her smart.
Her mother was the town’s second grade teacher, so he had heard a lot about the family, though he’d started living in Bristlecone a year too late to have experienced being in Megan Robbins’ class himself.
Quinn had always had friends among the classmates she had grown up with, and everyone seemed to like her, though William had often seen her group of friends congregate in places around town without her.
She was close to her family; he had noticed, a few times when she was out with her younger brother and sister, how she smiled and laughed when she was with them.
Honestly, Quinn Robbins was the last person he would have ever expected to find him at the bridge, let alone to follow him closely enough to see him going through.
It had been stupid of him not to be more careful, more secretive around the gate. It had been the first thing drilled into him, when he had started living with Nathaniel in Bristlecone, to always be careful, never act suspicious, never even to approach the gate if there were signs that anyone was around. He guessed he had grown complacent. He had never even come close to being caught. He hadn’t been watching. Stupid. Now, the girl had seen him.
Just as he had climbed up the second step of the bridge, he had seen her, caught a glimpse of her watching him, almost hidden by a boulder, about halfway up the riverbank. There he had been, exposed, one foot already invisible. It hadn’t been a decision, really. There wasn’t time, and he was too stunned to be rational about anything. He had just done it: stepped through the gate and disappeared.
Once through the gate, William, heart racing, sat down by the wide riverbank, trying to catch his breath. What had he just done? How much had she seen? What would she do? How could he have let this happen?
She was bound to freak out. She might even start searching for him. What if she called the police? Even if she didn’t, what was he going to say when he went back to school and she started asking him questions? He sat there for a long moment. When he was finally calm enough to manage it, he let out a low whistle.
Immediately, there was a rustling sound from the leaves of a nearby tree. A moment later, a large bird swooped toward him, folding in her massive black-tipped wings as she glided to a stop a few feet from him. He rummaged in the front pocket of his backpack, pulling out the treat he’d saved: beef jerky from Art’s Pump n’ Stuff. He broke off a small piece, pinching it between his fingers. The bird strutted straight toward him as he held out his offering, allowing William a quick pat on her snowy head before she snatched up the snack.
“Hello, Aelwyn. I’ve missed you.”
The bird responded by poking her beak into his hand, looking for more beef jerky.
He chuckled, and broke off another small piece for her. Suddenly, a small movement in the corner of his eye made him freeze in place. Of all the possible consequences of the girl seeing him disappear through the gate that had been running through his mind, this was beyond his worst imaginings.
There, above him on the bridge, the girl had just materialized. She had followed him. She was here. Fear flooded through him. What was he going to do now? He scrambled through his backpack for a scrap of paper and a pencil, quickly scribbling a short note.
He whispered a quick command to the bird, and offered her the remainder of the beef jerky. There was a quick flutter of wings, and in the next heartbeat, she was soaring above the
How had he not noticed how much the girl had seen? Maybe he had just never perceived that kind of persistence being possible coming from her. Quinn Robbins had always been a quiet girl herself. She was a year younger than William was, so he had never been in class with her, but he knew from things he had overheard that other kids and teachers considered her smart.
Her mother was the town’s second grade teacher, so he had heard a lot about the family, though he’d started living in Bristlecone a year too late to have experienced being in Megan Robbins’ class himself.
Quinn had always had friends among the classmates she had grown up with, and everyone seemed to like her, though William had often seen her group of friends congregate in places around town without her.
She was close to her family; he had noticed, a few times when she was out with her younger brother and sister, how she smiled and laughed when she was with them.
Honestly, Quinn Robbins was the last person he would have ever expected to find him at the bridge, let alone to follow him closely enough to see him going through.
It had been stupid of him not to be more careful, more secretive around the gate. It had been the first thing drilled into him, when he had started living with Nathaniel in Bristlecone, to always be careful, never act suspicious, never even to approach the gate if there were signs that anyone was around. He guessed he had grown complacent. He had never even come close to being caught. He hadn’t been watching. Stupid. Now, the girl had seen him.
Just as he had climbed up the second step of the bridge, he had seen her, caught a glimpse of her watching him, almost hidden by a boulder, about halfway up the riverbank. There he had been, exposed, one foot already invisible. It hadn’t been a decision, really. There wasn’t time, and he was too stunned to be rational about anything. He had just done it: stepped through the gate and disappeared.
Once through the gate, William, heart racing, sat down by the wide riverbank, trying to catch his breath. What had he just done? How much had she seen? What would she do? How could he have let this happen?
She was bound to freak out. She might even start searching for him. What if she called the police? Even if she didn’t, what was he going to say when he went back to school and she started asking him questions? He sat there for a long moment. When he was finally calm enough to manage it, he let out a low whistle.
Immediately, there was a rustling sound from the leaves of a nearby tree. A moment later, a large bird swooped toward him, folding in her massive black-tipped wings as she glided to a stop a few feet from him. He rummaged in the front pocket of his backpack, pulling out the treat he’d saved: beef jerky from Art’s Pump n’ Stuff. He broke off a small piece, pinching it between his fingers. The bird strutted straight toward him as he held out his offering, allowing William a quick pat on her snowy head before she snatched up the snack.
“Hello, Aelwyn. I’ve missed you.”
The bird responded by poking her beak into his hand, looking for more beef jerky.
He chuckled, and broke off another small piece for her. Suddenly, a small movement in the corner of his eye made him freeze in place. Of all the possible consequences of the girl seeing him disappear through the gate that had been running through his mind, this was beyond his worst imaginings.
There, above him on the bridge, the girl had just materialized. She had followed him. She was here. Fear flooded through him. What was he going to do now? He scrambled through his backpack for a scrap of paper and a pencil, quickly scribbling a short note.
He whispered a quick command to the bird, and offered her the remainder of the beef jerky. There was a quick flutter of wings, and in the next heartbeat, she was soaring above the
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