Color of the Heart

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I dedicate this book to my grandchildren who are the

source of my inspiration.

Chapter 1

It was mid October in Smith town, a small rural area in Maryland’s Eastern shore, the school bell rang; students stuffed their belongings in to their back pack and were ready to go home. Only two students were still in the class, looking at their teacher.

You have to hurry home, said Sara and Daisy’s fifth-grade teacher, Ms. Dunbar, as she wiped the board in the front of the classroom. There’s going to be a bad storm. I heard it on the radio.

But I need you to help me with my essay on endangered species, Sara said. The World Wildlife Organization rejected the first essay I sent them, and I really want to be a member.

Not now, Sara. Look outside. Ms. Dunbar pointed to the window. The wind’s already started.

Sara and Daisy turned to the window. Sara sighed and said, But the deadline’s coming up, and I don’t want to have to wait another year.

Okay, Sara, Ms. Dunbar said. I’ll help you for ten minutes. After that, you have to hurry home. Sara thanked her teacher and handed her the essay.

While Sara and Ms. Dunbar discussed the essay, Daisy continued watching the storm growing. A ray of lightning appeared, followed by the rumbling of thunder. Those black clouds are moving fast, Daisy said to Sara. Ms. Dunbar’s right. We shouldn’t stay; we need to get home.

It’ll only be a few minutes, Sara said. I really need her professional opinion.

Sorry, but when I’m late, my parents go crazy, and I don’t want to be caught in the storm. I’m leaving, Daisy said as she walked into the hallway.

Wait, Daisy! Wait! It won’t take long. Ms. Dunbar’s almost finished. Let’s walk back together! shouted Sara. She ran to the classroom door, but Daisy was already all the way down the hall and opening the heavy exit door.

How could she leave me? If Cameron was here, he wouldn’t leave without me. He’s the best friend I ever had, thought Sara.

Okay, Sara, I’ve written some suggestions for your essay, and if you make those changes, I think it’ll be good enough to be submitted. Ms. Dunbar handed Sara the marked-up essay and then gathered her belongings, getting ready to leave. Looking out the window, she said, It’s a bad storm, Sara. The wind is blowing so hard, umbrellas are inside out, and people are bending forward.

Sara stuffed her books and papers into her backpack, and they left the classroom together. When they got to the exit door at the end of the hallway, Ms. Dunbar asked Sara if she wanted a ride home.

No, thank you, Sara said. You’d have to go out of your way. I’ll be fine.

Ms. Dunbar held the heavy door open for Sara, and then Sara waved at her teacher and ran into the blasting wind.

A drop of rain fell on Sara’s face. It was only three thirty, but the dark clouds made it look like it was much later. The wind roared through the tall trees, causing the branches to crack and creak. Trees swayed to the right and left, and their trunks made a grinding noise like a truck going up a hill. Sara looked up at the branches, fearing they might break and drop on her head. I’ve seen stormy weather many times before, but this one is something special, she thought.

Sara looked in the window of the veterinarian clinic next door to the school. It was dim. She found that strange because Dr. Miller was the only veterinarian in the town, and his office was always open. Why isn’t he in his clinic? Looking up again at the inky black sky, Sara remembered her mother’s warning. In storms like this, I have to walk fast but steadily. Sara bent into the wind and tried to walk quickly. A moment later, there was a crack of thunder, and the rain started to pour. Sara looked at the winding road that turned up ahead, the one she always took to get home, and then eyed the gravel road directly to her right. The gravel road was a shorter route but would take her through the spooky woods. She decided to take the gravel road. I know my parents told me not to go through the woods, but the trees will protect me from the wind, she reasoned.

Sara made her way down the gravel road and then jumped over a narrow stream to a path that took her into the woods. My God, she thought as the rain soaked her, even the ground is soggy. She tried to jump around the puddles but couldn’t avoid the splashes. Darkness spread like a blanket, making the woods spooky and bleary. My parents are going to be worried. She remembered her mom telling her to never go into the wood alone, but she thought she had a good explanation. Knowing my grandmother, she’ll back me up as usual.

Sara had been in the woods for only a few minutes when she heard something that made her stop and freeze. What was that? The noise was coming from behind a bush to her right. She leapt behind a tree and said, Who’s there? Her voice was weak with fright.

No answer.

Again, she heard the noise, like something being scraped. Fearfully, she continued on her way, but then stumbled on a protruding branch and fell into the mud. She sat up, shivered, and wiped her eyes with her muddy sleeves.

I have to get home. Sara stood up and started making her way through the woods again. She thought about her friends at school that knew her as brave and fearless. Right now, she was feeling frightened and vulnerable. I’ll be okay. The thunder is fading and there’s no lightning. But the silence was suddenly broken by a strange rattling noise coming from behind a large bush to Sara’s left. She stopped and saw a small shadow moved toward her. Who are you? Sara called again, but again there was no answer. Then she heard the noise coming from the right. Something’s following me. Curious as always, she was determined to find out who or what it was.

I’m going to find you, whatever you are! shouted Sara, slowly moving closer to the bush. She wiped her eyes again with the hem of her T-shirt and peered through the branches of the bush.

Who’s there? she asked, trying to sound tough. She took a deep breath. Her heart thumped painfully fast, but she refused to back down.

Sara decided to crawl under the bush. Terrified, she saw two bright amber-colored beads of light. Who’s there? A small shadow of a creature moved. It looks like some sort of animal. Grandma Ethel always said I