THE POND is a current day fiction thriller set in rural Pennsylvania.
Excerpt
“Daddy, look at me,” Kim squealed, flopping down on her sled. With a shove of her boots, her sled took off down the hill, sliding to a stop at the bottom. Giggling, she rolled off the sled and stood. Clumps of snow fell from her pants as she waited for her father’s sleigh.
“Watch out, here I come,” he called. He threw himself belly down onto the sled, flying down the hill. He turned the sled away from Kim, sliding past her to a stop several feet away.
“Wow, Daddy, you went far,” Kim squealed, racing over to him.
Laughing, he stood and brushed off his pants. He should have worn his snow pants, but arguing with Donna had changed his mind. He couldn’t get out of the house fast enough. Grabbing the rope of Kim’s sled along with his own, he trudged back up the hill with Kim vigorously following him.
“Hard work getting up the hill, kiddo?” he teased, staring down at his daughter. Her cheeks were flushed as she shot him a bright smile.
“A little,” she breathed. At the top, she quickly got back onto her sled and went down the hill. As her sled slid to a stop, she giggled as her father went by her.
“Can I go down with you next time?” she called. “You go a lot farther than me.”
“Sure,” he replied, jumping to his feet. He grabbed her hand, helping her up the hill. This time he flung himself down onto his belly. With a joyful whoop, Kim jumped on his back, her arms practically strangling him as they flew off down the hill. At the bottom, Kim’s small body flung to one side, almost toppling them both.
Laughing heartily, they both rolled to their backs, staring into the bleak sky.
“That was fun,” Kim cried. “Let’s do it again.”
Several more times they doubled up, often spilling out of control. Peace invaded Mike’s senses as he enjoyed spending time with Kim. But as the sky darkened, he stared down at his watch. Five-twenty. It was still daylight. He glanced at Fanny’s Farm, which stood quietly in the distance; smoke puffing out of its chimney. Donna would be wondering where they were. Already angry with him, he didn’t want to push her panic button. And when it came to Kim, she was as protective as any mother could be.
Although he regretted his harsh words to her, he wasn’t sorry that he had pointed out just how dogmatic she was being. After all, Kim was his daughter too. Did she honestly think he’d do anything to bring Kim harm or take her anywhere that she could get hurt? Not that the pond could hurt her. The thing was frozen solid. The temperatures had been bitter cold for weeks. Squinting his eyes, he strained his gaze to the spot that hung so precariously on his mind. He could barely make out the area. Snow covered the ground, hiding the ice beneath. If not for the one boulder that stood out along the banks, he would have trouble even knowing where it was. As he stared, something moved in the bordering tree line.
His heart skipped a beat. What was that? It moved again.
“Come on, Daddy,” Kim said, tugging on his hand.
“I’m sitting this one out, honey,” he said softly. His gaze remained riveted on the tree area. Something was there. It was probably a deer. “You go down without me.”
Disappointed, Kim did as prompted.
Aware of just how shadowy it was getting, Mike waited until Kim trudged up the hill, offering his assistance at the top. “We better get going,” he told her. “It’s getting dark and your mother will worry.”
“Can we come tomorrow?” she quickly asked.
“We’ll see,” he said softly. “Here, sit on the sled and I’ll pull you home.”
Kim plopped herself down on her sled, glad for the invite.
As they trudge toward the back of Fanny’s farm, a bellow rang out. Stunned, Mike swung around just in time to see a cow lunging out of the distant trees, running toward them. Wildly it swung its head, snorting. Startled, he quickly reacted, scooping Kim off of the sled and running with her toward the nearest barn. At the back of the building, he flattened himself against the wall, pressing Kim behind him.
“Daddy, I’m scared.”
The wild cow slid in the snow, but continued toward them. Mike grabbed Kim’s hand and pulled her around the building. A boarded-up doorway offered little shelter. He quickly pushed Kim against the wood, standing protectively in front of her.
The angry cow raced by them, toward the house. When its feet touched the driveway, it slid across the snow before righting itself. Then before Mike could move, the cow raced up the driveway and rushed onto the roadway. A sickening screech of tires followed, then a heavy thud.
Breathing heavily, Mike looked down at Kim, whose eyes filled with tears.
“Are you okay, honey?”
“Yes,” she murmured, shaking her head. “What was wrong with that cow?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. He took her hand and pulled her toward the back of Fanny’s house. In the distance, he saw the car’s owner standing in the road, staring at the body of the cow. He turned to Kim. “Stay on Fanny’s porch until I see if anyone is hurt.” Pushing her onto the enclosed porch, he sat her down on an old recliner. “I’ll be right back.”
“I want to come,” she cried.
“No, do as I say.” He was already halfway out the door when he turned to her. “Knock on the door and tell Fanny what happened. But no matter what, stay right here. Understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.” Kim sobbed harder, wiping at her frantic tears.
Copyright 2008 Tamera Lawrence. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
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