Between Two Promises by Shelter Somerset

Author:Shelter Somerset [Somerset, Shelter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Chapter Twelve

WHAT was that dream Daniel had had? Seemed more like a piercing memory of something that had happened. He rubbed his eyes. Staring at the blue haze of morning twilight from his bed, he recalled the horrible sequence of his nightmare.

He and Aiden were back in Montana, backpacking through the Swan Range, like they had many times. Daniel turned his back on Aiden only a second. When he twisted around, Aiden had vanished. Someone screamed in the distance. Aiden, his voice full of helplessness, calling out Daniel’s name. His heart racing, Daniel bushwhacked through bushes and alders using his bare hands, until they were split open and bloodied.

Breathless, he came to a clearing. Aiden was shrieking and flailing his arms as a grizzly pinned him to the ground, roaring over him with adze-sized fangs. Daniel wanted to wrestle the beast off Aiden, but the snagging branches of the alder bushes held him back. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not free himself.

Yanking and kicking, he watched helplessly as the grizzly dragged Aiden deeper into the forest. Finally, Daniel freed himself. When he was about to rush to Aiden, thick mud clamped onto his boots. The more he fought to wriggle loose, the more the cement-like muck reached up his legs. Aiden’s screams faded farther and farther into the forest, until nothing but silence remained.

Clutching the edge of the bedcovers, he gazed over at Aiden. He looked peaceful in the murky room, snoozing in his bed, unlike in Daniel’s horrible dream. Unlike before they’d gone to bed last night. When Daniel had returned to the inn, he’d made it clear that he did not like Aiden wandering off without telling him and refusing to answer his cell phone. Aiden had seemed hurt. He’d barely spoken the rest of the night.

Exhausted from the nightmare, Daniel remained in bed. Fortunately, they had a lazy day ahead of them. They had only Elisabeth’s Christmas pageant to attend. He had promised her last night he would go.

By ten-thirty, they’d dressed and eaten a small breakfast at the inn. Only the crunch of snow under their boots broke the silence as they walked to the farmhouse. Daniel noted how glum Aiden looked. His head hung heavy, and his eyes oozed sadness. Like last night, he had remained quiet most of the morning and right through breakfast. Daniel figured he was still feeling the aftermath of the flu. On top of being still a little annoyed with Daniel for having chewed him out.

Daniel decided against trying to make nice. He was knee-deep in his own issues. The ministers’ imposing words from when they had cornered him in the barn still filled his head. “The shunning looms near,” Bishop Hershberger had said. How serious had he been? Serious enough Daniel’s father had insisted on a detailed account of their meeting. Daniel had few words. Samuel had expressed annoyance with him, along with a harsh warning to walk the correct path. Afterward, Samuel had marched off to do some chores, as was his way.

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