Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“Okay.” She scrambled off the sofa and ran towards the stairs. I heard her running on them, her butterfly shoes clacking on the specially imported Italian marble slabs.
I didn’t know if she could pull it off. But if she couldn’t, I was ready. I was ready for the river of blood that would flow.
Chapter 1
Montana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KG2O5PSCSs
I’d only come into the office to change into riding boots when the phone rang. Diane was off sick and Dad was in the storeroom stock-taking. I looked at the ringing phone but hesitated. Generally speaking, I was too impatient and blunt to deal with the public, but I could hardly ignore the shrill sound. My dad would probably break a leg trying to get back for it. I picked it up on the third ring.
“Shadow Wolf Academy, can I help you?”
“Gwen Garrison here,” a woman announced crisply. “I was going through your prospectus, and I have a few questions. Would you be able to answer them for me?”
“Shoot.”
“Right. It says here that children are taught outdoors regardless of the weather conditions. Does that mean rain as well?”
“Yup. Rain or shine we’re out there.”
“But Basil gets sick even if a drop of rain falls on his head,” she lamented.
Oh God! She named her son Basil. I was glad she couldn’t see my expression. “What’s the next question?”
I heard the rustling of paper. “It states here on page two that children as young as eight will be allowed to use hammers, nails, Swiss army knives, and saws. Surely that can’t be right?”
“Yes, that’s right. This is a survivalist school. We teach children life skills and how to effectively fend for themselves. Hammers, nails and knives come in very handy in the wild.”
“I see,” she muttered, her voice filled with doubt. “But they will be supervised at all times while they’re using these dangerous objects though, won’t they?”
“No,” I denied cheerfully. “They won’t. We believe in our methods.”
“My goodness,” she gasped with shock. “What a cavalier approach, not to mention how terribly unsafe. What if they hurt themselves or the other kids? I don’t think I could trust a bunch of armed little brats around my Basil. He’s a very sensitive child.”
I glanced at my watch. I knew I shouldn’t have picked up the phone. Here was the point where I should explain that children who were not terminally bored or taught how to correctly use these utensils hardly ever hurt themselves or other children, but quite frankly, it sounded as if she’d already irreparably ruined Basil, and the poor child would probably remain a traumatized snowflake for the rest of his life.
“Perhaps this is not the school for your son,” I suggested.
“Oh! Are you denying my son a place in your school?” she blustered, suddenly furious and indignant.
I sighed. “Look, Ma’am. Call back tomorrow and ask to speak to Diane. I’m sure she’ll be able to explain how everything works, and if you’re still minded to enroll your son you could go on the waitlist for next year’s intake. Right then, bye.”
Before she could reply, I quickly cut the connection and took my sorry ass towards the stables where Lola was waiting in all her gleaming white glory. No matter how many times I saw her it struck me anew how beautiful and graceful she was. She tossed her head and her mane danced like a Chinese dragon in the dim light of the stables.
I held out a strawberry on the flat of my palm and she chomped it up voraciously, the edges of her teeth strong and hard against my skin. She could, for sure, be unpredictable and wild, and no one else dared ride her, but she'd been my horse for so long I didn’t mind in the slightest. After saddling her, I led her out into the bright sunshine and mounted her.
Turning away from the academy, I rode out of Shadow Wolf Ranch westwards. Once we were in the open fields, I leaned forward and let Lola fly, and fly, she did. It was a wonderful feeling. We travelled for miles, the hot wind rushing into us. Afterwards, I led her into the woods where there was a stream.
While she drank from it, I sat on a sun-warmed rock and watched the evening draw in. I didn’t know why, but that day memories of my mother came flooding back. She used to brush my hair every night until it shone, but now she was only a song in my heart. A song of peace, unbridled joy and laughter.
I heard a rustling sound behind me and turned my head.
A sweet little deer had stepped into the clearing. I knew him.
“Hello, Henry,” I said softly, as I hunted around in my pockets for a few pieces of dried apple. He came closer and ate them off my hand. His tongue rasped on my skin.