Blue Ridge: Vol. 1 - The New Boy Read Free

Darren, frowning with his arms crossed.
     
    Foster took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Darren was his true nemesis. He had what some people called ‘short man’s disease’, which was ridiculous considering that he was six feet tall. But since Foster was 6’4” and his younger brother Walt, whom was only fifteen, was already 6’4”, Darren felt like nature had cheated him and it was all his brothers’ fault. He was perpetually in a bad mood around them for this, and many other, perceived slights.
                 
    “Where have you been?” Darren’s eyes narrowed and looked at Foster like he was an unruly child.
                 
    “Does it matter?”
                 
    Darren took a step closer which was meant to be intimidating, but Foster simply relaxed his pose further and stood his ground. “Because this school thing is stupid considering you have responsibilities here.”
                 
    “Responsibilities I take care of, Darren.” Foster replied evenly and moved to the wrap-around porch.  Darren’s hand shot out and grabbed Foster roughly on the arm, causing him to spin around.
                 
    “You better watch yourself, baby brother. This little fun time you are having is only for a short while.”
                 
    “Where’s Walt?”
                 
    “Hell, if I know.” He replied letting go of Fosters arm. “In the forest feeding praying mantises cake or something dumb like that.”
                 
    Foster watched him walk towards the barn that was to the right of the house. His long black hair shone like diamonds in the sunlight. It was a strange phenomenon. His posture and long purposeful strides were full of tightly wound energy that never seemed to dissipate. Darren was just like their father; devastatingly handsome and completely dangerous.
                 
    Foster found Walt sitting peacefully in the slight bend of a huge oak. It was one of the oldest trees in the area and had a slight enclave at the base that allowed for someone to sit within it like a chair, with large roots as arm rests. It was one of his favorite spots, just on the edge of the woods with the meadow shimmering in the sunlight just beyond, and Old Rag rising to the sky beyond that.
     
    Walt looked up at him and grinned. “The doe came back and ate berries from my hand!” Walt was the family Dr. Doolittle. Their mother had great hopes for his abilities with animals. He was also the family philosopher and keeper of the peace. Foster loved him dearly. Darren and their father had no use for him.
                 
    “That’s great, Walt. I know you have been working hard to win her trust.” Foster said sitting beside him. He grabbed a tall piece of grass and began winding it around two of his fingers.
                 
    Walt turned his head slightly. “You have something on your mind.”
                 
    “I met a girl today.”
                 
    “Is she pretty?”
                 
    Foster smiled and let the grass unwind fall to the ground. “Yes. But I don’t think she knows it. She dresses plain and doesn’t try to make herself pretty.”
                 
    “So, why did you take her to lunch?”
                 
    Foster laughed out loud. His brother’s “gift” always startled and delighted him. “I took her so I could talk to her.”
                 
    Walt looked into the meadow and Foster knew he was waiting for another animal to come to him. “You know Mother and Father will disapprove.”
                 
    Foster sighed and clasped his hands his hands between his knees. “I know, but I can’t help it. As soon as I saw her, I just had to know her.”
                 
    Foster knew his brother was right – his parents would certainly not approve. But for Foster, something inside him,