Chapter 1

The soft sound of hoof beats broke the chilling silence of the forest. The sudden noise awakened a few scarce birds that had been left behind that winter. Not even the wind dared to stir or move through the barren trees. The hoof beats grew steadily louder, but abruptly stopped.

A loud, gruff voice shot through the field, "Here's a coat to keep ya warm. Don't go 'and follow me or we'll both get hurt."

"Please, Papa, don't leave me. I want to go home. I want to see Mama," a broken, almost shattered, voice crept out.

"Your mother's not coming and ya're never gonna see her again. Neither one of us is happy, but that's what it is." The gruff voice was struggling to stay strong.

"But-but I'll be good. I won't be any trouble. Please, Papa." The tiny voice was begging.

The gruff voice spoke again, this time much more stern. "Jack, ya know what the landlord's rule is. He already doesn't like children. The only reason he has let ya stay for as long as ya have is because we have begged him. But," at this point the voice grew slightly louder, "instead of being respectful with him, ya went and stole his crops!"

"B-but-but Papa, I was just getting some food for us." The little voice squeaked. "I promise to be a good boy. I promise, I promise." Soft sobs chilled the air.

"Jack," The gruff voice whispered, cracking and breaking, as it continued, "Jack, I l-love ya. I truly love ya, boy."

"Please, Papa! Don't leave me! DON'T! NO!" But, that was it. The hoof beats faded into silence as the wind let forth one strong, cold burst, as if it were trying to convince the father to take mercy on the poor boy, as if it were also screaming. But, the wind stopped and the only sound remaining was the sound of a breaking heart and quiet sobs.

Whap! That's sort of how it felt to get all of his memory back. A short, fast, hard punch to the gut. At first it made him a little bit uncomfortable like sitting on a rough wooden bench. He didn't like remembering everything. He didn't like the pain.

He had forgotten how long he had been wondering around for, but he felt tired. He felt the world going dark, like black velvet. There were screams and the sounds of swords being drawn. It was loud and frightening. He fell, but never landed on anything. He just fell, fast. All of the air was being sucked out of him. Just as he was about to faint, a blinding light shot out of nowhere and hit him like a flood of oxygen. He could breathe!

"Careful, Jack. I think you need to get some sleep." Ruby's caring voice snatched Jack back to reality. Apparently, he had fallen asleep while standing.

"No, I'll be fine. Besides, I have work to do."

Ruby looked at him doubtfully. Jack's "work" ranged from helping out at the docks to building houses. It seemed to her that the only time Jack was truly happy was when it snowed and the water froze. The cold just never seemed to bother him.

"I'll be okay, Ruby. Truly. You're such a sweet girl, always looking out for this old man."

"You don't look a day over thirty," Ruby smiled. Actually, Jack was about seventy-two, but he was in pretty good shape for his age.

Jack laughed. "Don't tease me, little girl. You always were a terrible little liar. I'll see you later." Jack kissed Ruby on the head and hugged her good-bye. He could see Ms. Lucas in the back of the dinner and he tried to wave good-bye to her, but she never looked up.

"I'll tell Granny you said good-bye. Now, go home, Jack, before you fall over." Ruby was looking caringly over Jack as if to make sure he was sane. "Do you need a ride?"

Jack gave one final look in Granny's direction before answering Ruby. "No, no, I'll be fine. Good night."

Ruby didn't want Jack to walk home alone. He lived somewhat away from the main town, a little bit into the forest. His old cabin was falling apart, but he refused to leave it. Ruby was always making trips up there to give him food or just to check on him.

Jack lugged himself outside. If it were up to him, he would have stayed with Ruby in the dinner. He loved that little girl and whether he wanted to admit it or not, he had a crush on her grandmother, too. Jack smiled at himself. So childish. But he knew he couldn't stay. He had to find the book. Now, where had he left it, again?