Read Online Shepherd's Quest: The Broken Key #1 by Brian S. Pratt - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Brian S. Pratt
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about this?”
“Why no Rupert,” Bart replied innocently. “It looks to be a necklace of some sort.”
“Someone’s been messing with me,” he stated, “trying to get my betrothal with Freya annulled.” Rupert glared at him and added, “I can only think of one person who would want that.”
“Freya?” guessed Bart.
Rupert’s eyes narrowed and his face turned red in anger. “Don’t play with me, Bart!” he warned. “I know Riyan is behind this and you two, along with Chad, are tight as thieves.”
“Riyan has been out with his sheep since just after your betrothal,” he replied. “I don’t see how he could be behind anything.”
Rupert glared at him. “This betrothal is going to continue,” he said. “If there are any further ‘occurrences’ like this,” he continued as he held up the necklace again, “Riyan will pay the consequences.”
It was Bart’s turn to get a dark look. “Be sure you know with whom you’re messing with before you act,” he warned.
“Is that a threat?” Rupert asked. “Are you daring to threaten me?”
“Merely offering a piece of advice,” he answered.
Then Rupert became aware of the people who had gathered to watch the drama unfold between himself and Bart. To Bart he said, “This isn’t over.” Bart merely remained silent as Rupert and his three cronies quickly left the street.
Once they’ve gone down the street a ways, Bart turned and left in the opposite direction.
Moving through town, his mind churned over the encounter. What had started out as a prank has developed into something a bit more serious. He feared that Rupert was planning on taking out his anger over what’s been happening on his friend Riyan.
Thankfully Riyan isn’t due back for several more days. Hopefully by then all this will have blown over.
He hurried back across town to old Rebecca’s place to finish the work she wanted done. Along the way, he came to the decision to lay low for awhile and leave Rupert alone. At least until Riyan returned, then he would see how things turned out.
Chapter Five
_______________________
The night of the earthquake rocked the town badly. Several businesses were damaged in one way or another, but the worst was Chad’s father’s mill. The quake had cracked one of the two grinding stones.
“Can’t we continue with it like it is?” Chad asked his father the following morning.
Shaking his head, Chad’s father turned to him, “No. Once they get a crack in them, it’s only a matter of time before they break altogether. Not only that, but pieces of the stone will find their way into the flour.” His father sat down with a worried expression.
“What can we do then?” Chad asked.
“If we wish to continue to operate, we have to obtain another grinding stone,” he told his son.
Chad looked to his father and saw the worry in his eyes. He knew that his father didn’t have all that much gold stashed away and grinding stones didn’t come cheap. “Are we going to be able to purchase another one?” he asked.
His father turned to him and smiled a sad smile. “Things will work out,” he replied.
“But it will be a week or more before a new stone can be brought here and put into place.”
Just then, the Magistrate stepped through the door. “Heard about your grinding stone,” he said. “Too bad.”
“Chad, could you go see if your mother needs anything?” his father asked.
Chad knew that he wished him to leave for some reason, then it dawned on him why.
His father was going to ask the Magistrate for a loan. The Magistrate was the only person in town who could possibly help. “But…” he began.
“Please son,” his father insisted, “go help your mother.” Nodding, Chad got up and said, “Yes sir.” Then he headed for the door. He gave the Magistrate a respectful nod of the head before he passed from the mill and to the lane outside.
He thought of what his father was about to do. There was no way they would ever be
“Why no Rupert,” Bart replied innocently. “It looks to be a necklace of some sort.”
“Someone’s been messing with me,” he stated, “trying to get my betrothal with Freya annulled.” Rupert glared at him and added, “I can only think of one person who would want that.”
“Freya?” guessed Bart.
Rupert’s eyes narrowed and his face turned red in anger. “Don’t play with me, Bart!” he warned. “I know Riyan is behind this and you two, along with Chad, are tight as thieves.”
“Riyan has been out with his sheep since just after your betrothal,” he replied. “I don’t see how he could be behind anything.”
Rupert glared at him. “This betrothal is going to continue,” he said. “If there are any further ‘occurrences’ like this,” he continued as he held up the necklace again, “Riyan will pay the consequences.”
It was Bart’s turn to get a dark look. “Be sure you know with whom you’re messing with before you act,” he warned.
“Is that a threat?” Rupert asked. “Are you daring to threaten me?”
“Merely offering a piece of advice,” he answered.
Then Rupert became aware of the people who had gathered to watch the drama unfold between himself and Bart. To Bart he said, “This isn’t over.” Bart merely remained silent as Rupert and his three cronies quickly left the street.
Once they’ve gone down the street a ways, Bart turned and left in the opposite direction.
Moving through town, his mind churned over the encounter. What had started out as a prank has developed into something a bit more serious. He feared that Rupert was planning on taking out his anger over what’s been happening on his friend Riyan.
Thankfully Riyan isn’t due back for several more days. Hopefully by then all this will have blown over.
He hurried back across town to old Rebecca’s place to finish the work she wanted done. Along the way, he came to the decision to lay low for awhile and leave Rupert alone. At least until Riyan returned, then he would see how things turned out.
Chapter Five
_______________________
The night of the earthquake rocked the town badly. Several businesses were damaged in one way or another, but the worst was Chad’s father’s mill. The quake had cracked one of the two grinding stones.
“Can’t we continue with it like it is?” Chad asked his father the following morning.
Shaking his head, Chad’s father turned to him, “No. Once they get a crack in them, it’s only a matter of time before they break altogether. Not only that, but pieces of the stone will find their way into the flour.” His father sat down with a worried expression.
“What can we do then?” Chad asked.
“If we wish to continue to operate, we have to obtain another grinding stone,” he told his son.
Chad looked to his father and saw the worry in his eyes. He knew that his father didn’t have all that much gold stashed away and grinding stones didn’t come cheap. “Are we going to be able to purchase another one?” he asked.
His father turned to him and smiled a sad smile. “Things will work out,” he replied.
“But it will be a week or more before a new stone can be brought here and put into place.”
Just then, the Magistrate stepped through the door. “Heard about your grinding stone,” he said. “Too bad.”
“Chad, could you go see if your mother needs anything?” his father asked.
Chad knew that he wished him to leave for some reason, then it dawned on him why.
His father was going to ask the Magistrate for a loan. The Magistrate was the only person in town who could possibly help. “But…” he began.
“Please son,” his father insisted, “go help your mother.” Nodding, Chad got up and said, “Yes sir.” Then he headed for the door. He gave the Magistrate a respectful nod of the head before he passed from the mill and to the lane outside.
He thought of what his father was about to do. There was no way they would ever be
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