Read Embers (The Wings of War Book 1) for Free Online Page A

between her own.  Even as a child, I had sensed that there was something strange about her.  Not really creepy or threatening, just very different. 
    I dropped my head back and inwardly groaned. Like what the priest was talking about different. 
    The only other things I remembered from that visit was Mom crying as we drove away and the log cabin in the woods that had been surrounded by brilliant blooming flowers.  In the years after the visit, I had dreamed about the picturesque cabin, and of Aunt Ila’s kind face, too many times to count, but we never went there again.
    “Yes, I remember. Why?”  I asked suspiciously.
    “This might be a bit of a shock to you, but…” Here, my brother hesitated and then blurted out, “The lawyer called me a few days ago.  It seems that when he was cleaning out his file cabinet he came across a more current Will signed by Mom and Dad.  They had added a special clause stating that if anything happened to both of them, you were to go live with her.”                                    
    Chloe interrupted, “Ember’s almost eighteen.  The law isn’t going to send her off to live with some woman she doesn’t even know.” 
    “Don’t you see though?  This is the perfect way to save Angus,” Timmy told Chloe, but he faced me and said, “I called Aunt Ila yesterday.  She was excited about you coming to stay with her.  When I told her that you have a horse and dog, she said you are welcome to bring them with you. Besides,” he paused, taking a deep breath, “I had the feeling that you might want to get out of here…away from them for a while.”
    My mind reeled.  Why would my parents want me to live in the wild mountains of Tennessee with an old woman I’d only met once?
    Chloe was right, it was crazy. 
    But it was also my chance of escape, an opportunity to get away from Marshall’s nasty paws and Aunt Connie’s cigarette smoke.  And, although I wouldn’t admit it to Timmy and Chloe, I had secretly been wishing to leave this place since I was ten.  Now I wouldn’t have to go through basic training to achieve my goal.
    “Taking Angus out of the state is a way to protect him from a death sentence.  Even though Marshall deserved it, the animal control officer is only going to be concerned with the fact that the dog nearly bit someone’s hand off.”
    Timmy’s eyes glistened with moisture.  I stared at the brown and green flecks swirling in those worried eyes as he grasped my knees.  “You need to hook up the horse trailer and be on your way,” he instructed.
    I began to protest and he shushed me. “We’ll stay here and deal with the authorities.  I’ll tell them we’ve had this move arranged for a while, or that the dog ran off.  I’ll come up with something that makes sense.”
    Timmy motioned to Chloe, “Throw a bunch of her clothes into a bag.”
    “This is nuts,” Chloe exclaimed, but she rose from the chair and quickly left the room anyway. 
    “You can call us every night.  It will only be for a few months.  Once you turn eighteen, you can come back and live here in the house without Aunt Connie.  She’ll have no legal excuse to remain—she’ll have to leave.  Hopefully by then the police will have forgotten all about Angus.”
    “Marshall will never forget,” I whispered.
    “Don’t worry.  I’ll handle him in my own way.”
    My throat constricted at his words.
    Timmy swallowed and choked out, “I’m sorry I haven’t been around more.  I
                  should have been here for you, then I would’ve known what was going on.”
    “Going…on?” I stammered.
    Timmy rose and began pacing the room as if he was a caged lion.  “I see it now.  The disgusting way Marshall looks at you...,” he stopped and faced me. “Did he ever…touch you…hurt you in any way before today?”
    Seeing the desperation on my brother’s face, I was certain that he’d kill Marshall if I