THE EYES OF INNOCENCE

Kalina Weston climbs begrudgingly and tearfully into the back of her aunt and uncle’s car. Once again they are forced to relocate to a new town. Yet again, the fifteen year old girl must say goodbye to her school, her teachers, and her friends. Holding Toby close, Lina chokes back her tears.

Her best friend Marnie stands on the curbside waving and shouting “Bye Kalina!! Bye Lina!!”

Kalina barely manages to wave back at her friend. It is more than she can bear.

“Ok ladies, we’re off.” Uncle Jeff says; with more cheer in his voice than he actually felt.

Uncle Jeff put the car in drive and Kalina takes one last look at their house. Marnie is now openly crying. Toby whimpers and nudges her with his nose. He can feel Kalina’s pain and wishes to comfort her.

Aunt Jessie glances into the back seat.

“There, there child, it will be ok. You’ll have new friends soon.”

Kalina heard these words many times and they had as yet to comfort her. She always tried to stay in touch with old friends, but soon they would grow weary of writing. Kalina understood that kids were like this. They had lives and it was hard to commit to being pen pals with a girl they would never see again. At this moment Kalina cursed her life and cursed her secret. She cursed their new town called Nichols, thinking that was a silly name for a town anyway. Kalina closed her eyes so she didn’t have to see the last of her town of Ashton fading away. Hot wet tears rolled down her cheeks as she buried her face in Toby’s long fur.

Uncle Jeff eased the SUV carefully onto the on ramp, as he was towing a large trailer behind them. It was filled with the most precious of family possessions. The rest had gone ahead in a large moving van. The van should be unloaded and everything set in place in the new house when the small family arrived. Aunt Jessie said it was a beautiful farm with many acres of fields, woods, and creeks. She described it as the perfect place for a young girl to roam.

Kalina was determined to hate this new home, the fields, the woods and the creeks. She knew she wouldn’t like her teachers either. She was positive that they’d all be mean. And the new kids wouldn’t be nice. Kalina was sure she wouldn’t make any new friends. After all, how nice could people be if they lived in Nichols? Mile after mile they drove and Kalina’s heart sank more with each of them. Closing her eyes, Kalina leaned her head back on the seat. She hadn’t slept well last night and she knew sleep would take away the hurt.

Excerpt from Chapter Six

Jeff and Jessie were sipping their coffee and chatting when they noticed the sound of horse hooves clomping up the dirt road. Soon they could see a man on a magnificent black horse. As horse and rider drew closer, it was apparent that he was young. Two black and white dogs took turns either circling the horse or running just in front. When they got closer, the boy introduced himself as Cory McAllister from the ranch up the road. He said he was out for an evening ride and wondered if Lina might be available. Uncle Jeff arose from his chair and went in the house to get his niece. As Cory dismounted from his horse he explained that he had met Lina in school.

(After their visit) Cory put his left foot in the stirrup and swung his right leg over horse’s back. Kalina noticed that Bo was limping and favoring his right front leg. She mentioned it to Cory, and he immediately dismounted and asked Kalina to hold the reins for him. Cory squatted down to look at the dog’s leg. Bo yelped and pulled his foot away as Cory tried to examine it.

“Aw, poor Bo. Do you mind if I have a look?”

Cory nodded. She handed the reins back to him and knelt down next to the dog. She spoke softly to him for a minute and tenderly held his foot in her hand. She lightly but firmly searched his leg from his chest down. Her hands stopped at the joint above his paw. She put her head down and closed her eyes for a few moments; then gave Bo a quick pat and stood up.

“I think he’s fine now. He probably just twisted it while running.”

Cory was pleased to see that his dog was walking normally again. He wished them all a good evening, got back in the saddle and trotted down the drive with the dogs close behind. Kalina had to keep a tight hold on Toby because he wanted to follow his new friends.

The minute Cory was out of earshot, Aunt Jessie and Uncle Jeff looked at each other.

“Kalina!” They said in complete unison.

Excerpt from Chapter Seventeen

Kalina slept peacefully for an hour or two; then began to dream. She dreamed of thick fog, flames, and falling; falling into the unknown. Someone was calling her. She sat up in bed and listened. Seemingly unaware of everything but the urgency of the person calling her name; Kalina threw the covers off and slowly stood. The unsteadiness of her legs went unnoticed. The compulsion to walk toward the voice became overwhelming. Lina walked out of her room and made her way down the corridor. The voice grew more

intense and the quest to reach it became an obsession; forcing her on step by step.

“I’m coming. I’ll be there in a moment. Wait for me.” Kalina whispered.

Standing on the threshold of another hospital room; it was empty, save a small child. His eyes were closed and dark tousled hair made him look like an angel. She walked to his bedside and stared down at him. Picking up his hand, Kalina realized it was cold. He was hurt. She saw the metal bar that curved across his forehead and the steel posts that stuck up from the shoulders to above the head. Unaware of her own pain, she quietly lowered the safety rail on the side of the bed and crawled in beside him. She lay as close as possible, in order to share her warmth and comfort the tiny comatose body.

Kalina stared at the angelic face of the child for a few moments. Closing her eyes, she began concentrating. Her mind delved deeper into the little body; all the while searching. Placing her left arm across his chest, Lina’s right hand slowly and deliberately worked its way under the boy’s back, continually moving upward. Kalina’s hand moved slowly; gently feeling her way. Her mind began closing in on the upper spine, at the base of his neck. Abruptly, her hand stopped. She had located the hot spot. Kalina’s focus was so intense that her body began to shudder and she fell into a semi-hypnotic state. Concentrating ever harder, her right hand remained on the boy’s neck. Waves of energy coursed through her body. Over and over, the strength of her mind pulsated; all her energies zeroed in on that one area. The boy’s entire body began to spasm, but Lina seemed unaware. All at once, they became still.

Excerpt from Chapter Forty Eight

Kalina closed her eyes, but her head was spinning. She had so many things rushing around in her mind. She thought about Marnie, today’s storm, Mila, Toniya, tomorrow’s test. She got up and turned her stereo on to her beautiful music station. At last it calmed her and she drifted off.

On the bare back of her beautiful white mare, Kalina leans low over Toniya’s neck. Her graceful black mane and tail stream behind her as she runs the fields in the gleaming moonlight. Toniya doesn’t know why, but she is compelled to run. She doesn’t question the reason; she merely runs. Kalina’s legs are wrapped tightly around the horse and her imagination runs like the wind. She is one with the animal as they gallop through the meadows. She clings to her back as the horse rears up; waving her forelegs through the air with the same wild abandon that she felt as a young filly. Kalina drinks in the pure night air; which is fresh after the day’s rain. The girl absorbs it as if she can’t get enough. She inhales the sweet fragrance of the wild flowers and looks up at billions of stars in the sky. The fireflies light their way as they run. Kalina feels as if they are flying as Toniya’s smooth gait carries her deeper into the unknown darkness. Up ahead are campfires and glowing lanterns. Kalina understands it is time to come back to reality and slows her horse to enjoy the last few moments of freedom.

Note From Author: I hope you have enjoyed reading the excerpts from my novel. The second book in the series; "Forever in Her Dreams", is now available!!!