Quinn's Christmas Wish Read Free Page B

face to face with a bumbling drunk.
    “Sorry, mister,” Samuel stated, looking around the man to see if he could see the wolf.
    “Jack’s the name,” he mumbled, taking a swig straight from the bottle.
    Samuel backed up, not sure if the man was going to fall over or not.
    “Samuel,” he said but didn’t extend his hand.
    “The moon tells the secrets,” Jack slurred.
    “Excuse me…Jack, it was nice meeting you.”
    The man stepped in front of Samuel’s path. This just happened to be another reason why Samuel hated coming into town.
    Jack took a swig of the whiskey and spit it out in front of him. “See! It’s always correct.”
    “Listen…Jack. I really must be on my way, and unfortunately for you, you’re in the way.”
    Jack stumbled forward, pointing in the snow where the whiskey marked the white surface. “Look, it’s right there. Don’t you see it?”
    The sour faced stranger was the only thing he could see. The disgusting smell told Samuel he was liquored up and probably off his rocker.
    The man instantly stopped staggering and looked Samuel straight in the eyes. “You should have let the she-beast drown.”
    Anger rushed through his limbs. He’d never seen this stranger before in his life. Surely, he couldn’t have been in the woods when he saved the beast. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
    He extended his bottle and offered him a swig. “You might need a drink of this.”
    Samuel declined, shaking his head in bewilderment.
    Jack stepped aside and mumbling as he continued in the opposite direction. “Things found in Lost Lake should stay in Lost Lake.”
    ∗ ∗ ∗

Chapter Four
    Quinn opened his eyes to the sound of his mother softly humming in the kitchen. He laid there for a moment reflecting on yesterday’s events and reached up, touching his swollen brow. Anger immediately coursed through his veins.
    He took a deep breath and slowly sat up. He should try to forget about yesterday, but it was another new day, and his problems hadn’t changed overnight. He pulled on his slippers and exited the room, joining his mother where she busied herself around the stove.
    “Good morning, Mom,” he said sleepily.
    She spun around and rushed over to greet him with a loving hug. “Hi sweetie. I was just about to come check on you,” she said, brushing the hair away from his face.
    He turned, trying to hide what must be an obvious cut over his eye. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
    “Nonsense, Quinn. Scoot your bottom over to that chair and I’ll fix you some breakfast.”
    To argue would be pointless. He did as she asked without question. He admired his mother, who worked tirelessly from morning to night. He also heard the countless number of nights she cried herself to sleep, thinking he didn’t hear.
    “Who was that nice fellow that helped us yesterday?”
    “His name is Samuel Campton. He lives out of town.”
    “I hope I get a chance to say thank you to him,” Quinn replied with genuine interest. He knew how lonely his mother was and he also knew the hardships she had to bear since the passing of his father. “Does he have a wife?” Quinn asked trying to sound nonchalant.
    This time his Mom stopped what she was doing and looked directly at him with a keen eye. “What kind of question is that?” she asked with her hand on her hip.
    “Nothing really. He just seemed like a nice fellow.”
    “Really Quinn, what would you know about such things?” She scooped the eggs on a plate along with a biscuit and set it in front of him, and pulled up a chair. “I think you’re doing your best to avoid talking about what happened yesterday,” she spoke with tenderness. “You scared me half to death.”
    Quinn pushed the eggs around on his plate, dreading the conversation about to come.
    “I didn’t have a good day at school,” he stated sadly before putting the fork in his mouth.
    “I guessed that much, can you tell me why?”
    “Do I have to?” He stared up at