The Steward (59 page)
Authors: Christopher Shields
“Mitch won’t let me play the game
. H
e’s being mean—I wanna go home.”
I smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. I took Scotty’s hand, and he immediately
grinned
.
“Scotty, why don’t we go have a talk with Mitch. I bet he’d be more than happy to share.”
“No he won’t!” Scotty shook his head. “He went outside to see the lightning and was really mean when he came back in.”
“Come on, please?”
I
gave him a
smile.
“Go on, Honey,” his mom said.
He smiled
back
and walked with me. Sara and Doug followed—he wasn’t going to let me out of his sight again. We wound our way through the crowd around the pool table, and past Ronnie, Rachel and some other friends on the leather sofas.
I sensed Billy around the corner in Mitch’s room. I pushed open the door, but Billy wasn’t in physical form.
He must be here.
I could sense the Fae presence. He apparently decided to take the form of
a fly or something and
was very
close to Mitch, who sat in front of his TV playing some war game. Two other boys sat behind him just staring. I glanced up at Sara—she was frozen—her eyes wide.
She was probably appalled by Mitch’s giggles as he mowed down enemy soldiers.
“Hey Mitch, why don’t you let Scotty play with you?”
He didn’t respond to me.
I raised my voice a little louder.
“Mitch, didn’t Mom say you weren’t supposed to play this game? Remember, the whole too violent thing?”
He turned his head toward me. “I don’t care what she says—
sis
.”
I was caught off balance by the nastiness in his voice. His green eyes flashed and his dimples were as big as ever, but I sensed it and immediately understood Chalen’s back up plan. The little monster sitting on the bed was identical
in every way
, but it wasn’t Mitch. It was Fae.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Originally, writing
The Steward
began as a tool to relax, a way to immerse myself in a fictional world and a way to have a little fun while doing it. Two years ago I never imagined anyone else reading it. To get it from where it was, in the summer of 2010, to where it is now has been a labor of love, and one that I wouldn’t have accomplished without some very important and wonderful people. I have to thank my “beta” readers, Summer Jackson, Susan Duell, Lori Holyfield, Shelly Cooksley, Jim Roe, Helen McCumber, and David Woodrin, all of whom offered advice, and more importantly, tremendous enthusiasm for the project. Often times their words were the fuel that kept me going. I need to thank my mom, Pat, step-dad, Cliff and sister-in-law, Priscilla, for taking the time to read the early drafts and offering their unwavering support. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Marcella Thompson, who helped me trim the fat from the early drafts and offered a great deal of encouragement as I waded into the publishing world. One of the most incredible elements of the book, the cover art, is the product of my friend, a gifted and talented graphic artist, Derek McCumber. His work is astounding and I’m lucky to have it on the cover of my book. More than anyone else, though, I have to thank Rick Shelton, my partner and friend, who spent weeks editing the book, challenging me, and making
The Steward
better in every way.
Thank you all
“
”
There
’
s Darkness in the wilds
”
Christopher Shields
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