Novel Title: Exile's End
Time Setting: 5315, Third Age of the Iøsenräl
Genre: Fantasy
Minimum Word Goal: 210,000*
Timespan: February 5313-February 5314
Locations: Møkbæsted and elsewhere in Kænjförst
Main Characters: Thårijn, Helännä's son, descendant of Øbjen of the house of Kæs, Æliyäu, Pætter's son
Background Information: Back in 3213 of the Second Age, the Iøsenräl were in the height of prosperity and good times; everyone sought after them for their skill in metallurgy and they were one of the powers, King Ædinthen VIII was on the throne, and all was looking up for Kænjiøs . . .
Then, on the night of September 30, an earthquake struck their capital of Sönniväbæsted — an earthquake since christened Nättenbägen — and felled the grand temple Ædinthenråd, since then nothing has been the same.
First the Iøsenräl discovered a poem engraved on the floor of Ædinthenråd — a poem now known as Gråvenwød — that was engraved by the hand of Göd, whom they worshipped, foretelling that they would be severely punished for their folly in building Ædinthenråd. Then the punishments began.
They started with five hundred years of war, from 3213 to 3713, king after king fighting valiantly to keep Kænjiøs alive until at last King Känåte X was overcome and all the Iøsenräl were carried away into captivity by the Förstenräl and they could no longer crown kings, although the royal house of Kæs did continue.
Since 3713 the Iøsenräl have been in servitude to the Förstenräl and waiting; waiting for the Eikenenshåldjgråvenwød — called the Låstbøn for short — who will lead them back home once again as Gråvenwød foretold. They have yet to see the Låstbøn, but now, 1600 years since they were carried away to Møkbæsted, things are about to change.
Iøsenräl: ee-ur-sehn-rahl
Møkbæsted: murk-bay-stead
Kænjförst: cane-zhee-fuhrst
Thårijn: thorin
Helännä: hel-anna
Øbjen: urb-gehn
Kæs: kays
Æliyäu: ay-lee-ah-oo
Pætter: pay-terh
Ædinthen: ay-din-then
Kænjiøs: cane-zhee-urss
Sönniväbæsted: suneevah-bay-stead
Nättenbägen: naht-ehn-bag-ehn
Ædinthenråd: ay-din-then-road
Gråvenwød: grove-ehn-wurd
Göd: guhd
Känåte: cah-note
Förstenräl: fuhrst-ehn-rahl
Eikenenshåldjgråvenwød: eyk-ehn-ehn-shohld-zhee-grove-ehn-wurd
Låstbøn: lohst-burn
*due to the amount of words in this novel it will actually extend beyond January and will end on February 10, approximately
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Year End Summary
Year Total: 992,075 words
Increase Over Year Prior: 332,085 words
Novel Total: 13
Increase Over Year Prior: 2
Longest Novel: Finding Honour (121,331 words 200+ pages)
Shortest Novel: Embittered Competitor (60,000 words 100+ pages)
Summary of the Year:
Well, over last year, a lot of things changed. Last year all of my novels were 60,000 words, and this year I wrote my longest novel ever, breaking the 100,000 word and 200 page marks for the first time, and I also tried my hand at writing thrillers for the first time, and I must admit that Fox on the Sly — the first one, from May — wasn't as successful as it could've been, and Awry and Turmoil — from July — weren't the best either, but they were improving, however Avalanche Risk and Finding Honour — August and October — were in my mind quite phenomenal, although over the past two years I've written twenty one first drafts, one second draft, and two third to fifth drafts (I'm not sure) and I've got ten to seventeen first drafts and a second draft for next year, and more ideas coming all the time. Other changes that happened were that I changed from writing 3,000 words a day to 6,000 words a day, although for a couple of days I also did 9,000-12,000 words a day, although I don't think I'll ever be switching to always writing 9,000 or more words a day. I also quit writing on Sundays as it was severely inhibiting my social life to do so. And I also wrote more novels than I'd planned on, and successfully. I even had my shortest turnaround from plot/character/storyline creation to novel being written with Avalanche Risk which was created in June and written in August. Most of my other ideas ferment longer, like Fox on the Sly, which has been going on in my head for about five years or so, and Undetected Activity from March — although on about its fifth draft — has been in progress for about seven years. The biggest change, of course, was that I started this blog, and I thank everyone — whether or not I may know you — for reading it, and I hope you will join me again next year.
Most all of the novels this year were quite good, with a few surprises. Suddenly Alone was surprisingly easy to write, I had thought I would have to be pulling the words out with great force, but it was actually quite good. More of them will likely be revised than utterly rewritten, whereas last year I think more will be utterly rewritten than revised.
Next year I plan on continuing to up the ante, and possibly with a blast, as the novel I'm planning for January just continues to spew forth good ideas and it may break my longest novel record by more than 50,000 words (or maybe even up to just about more than 100,000 words longer, I'll try to restrain myself, though). I've got eleven of the novels picked, and I could do up to eighteen, depending on how long my January novel goes to.
And next year I'll be participating in National Novel Writing Month, and Camp NaNoWriMo again, as usual, and that leads me to announce that I succeeded in being a NaNoWriMo
Increase Over Year Prior: 332,085 words
Novel Total: 13
Increase Over Year Prior: 2
Longest Novel: Finding Honour (121,331 words 200+ pages)
Shortest Novel: Embittered Competitor (60,000 words 100+ pages)
Summary of the Year:
Well, over last year, a lot of things changed. Last year all of my novels were 60,000 words, and this year I wrote my longest novel ever, breaking the 100,000 word and 200 page marks for the first time, and I also tried my hand at writing thrillers for the first time, and I must admit that Fox on the Sly — the first one, from May — wasn't as successful as it could've been, and Awry and Turmoil — from July — weren't the best either, but they were improving, however Avalanche Risk and Finding Honour — August and October — were in my mind quite phenomenal, although over the past two years I've written twenty one first drafts, one second draft, and two third to fifth drafts (I'm not sure) and I've got ten to seventeen first drafts and a second draft for next year, and more ideas coming all the time. Other changes that happened were that I changed from writing 3,000 words a day to 6,000 words a day, although for a couple of days I also did 9,000-12,000 words a day, although I don't think I'll ever be switching to always writing 9,000 or more words a day. I also quit writing on Sundays as it was severely inhibiting my social life to do so. And I also wrote more novels than I'd planned on, and successfully. I even had my shortest turnaround from plot/character/storyline creation to novel being written with Avalanche Risk which was created in June and written in August. Most of my other ideas ferment longer, like Fox on the Sly, which has been going on in my head for about five years or so, and Undetected Activity from March — although on about its fifth draft — has been in progress for about seven years. The biggest change, of course, was that I started this blog, and I thank everyone — whether or not I may know you — for reading it, and I hope you will join me again next year.
Most all of the novels this year were quite good, with a few surprises. Suddenly Alone was surprisingly easy to write, I had thought I would have to be pulling the words out with great force, but it was actually quite good. More of them will likely be revised than utterly rewritten, whereas last year I think more will be utterly rewritten than revised.
Next year I plan on continuing to up the ante, and possibly with a blast, as the novel I'm planning for January just continues to spew forth good ideas and it may break my longest novel record by more than 50,000 words (or maybe even up to just about more than 100,000 words longer, I'll try to restrain myself, though). I've got eleven of the novels picked, and I could do up to eighteen, depending on how long my January novel goes to.
And next year I'll be participating in National Novel Writing Month, and Camp NaNoWriMo again, as usual, and that leads me to announce that I succeeded in being a NaNoWriMo
Now, being as I don't write in December (I do need to rest sometime) I will be posting again on December 31 with a preview to January's novel, and I hope you all have a great Christmas season (and Thanksgiving for all US residents) and will join me again for a whole year of noveling, and maybe even some new fun stuff ; )
R.A.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 9
Word Total: 60,002
Year to Date: 992,075
Summary of Events:
Chapter 19:
Myles came over to buy the combine and Sofia told him she'd 'accidentally' shredded the land rental agreement and got him to bring her a new contract and she filled it out differently, she also got him to pay full price for the combine. She then took the cheque from Myles and deposited it into the bank.
Chapter 20:
Both Axel and Sofia spent the rest of the day considering the future of their relationships with each other and what to do about them and what would be proper to do. Axel finally admitted that he was quite in love with Sofia.
Excerpt of the Day:
""Now into the study," Axel said.
"I don't want him to know you're here," Sofia said sharply.
"He doesn't," Axel replied. "He won't know until he comes into the room."
"I don't even want him to see you there," Sofia said. "Wait in here."
Sofia shoved Axel into the powder room across from the study.
"But–"
"I'll keep the study door open," Sofia replied.
"Sofia–"
"Please," Sofia replied. "Just do it this way."
Axel sighed and closed the door slightly. Sofia hurried to the door at the sound of the knock and opened it. Myles stood before her. He smiled in a cunning looking way.
"Well, hello," Myles said. "Shall we go to the office?"
"Yes," Sofia replied. She led the way, taking deep breaths and working diligently to keep herself calm.
Stepping inside the study, Sofia sat down.
"So now you're asking six figures for this combine, it's almost the same as someone asking three figures for the rent of a field, don't you agree?" Myles asked.
"It's similar," Sofia replied.
"You gave me rent for your field at two figures," Myles said. "Surely you can reduce the figures of the combine price by one at least. Say we take that three off the front? Or maybe we should take the zero off of the end?"
"I think we should take the zero off the end," Sofia replied.
"So that would mean that you're only asking me for thirty nine thousand dollars," Myles said.
"But what do we do with that zero we took off the end?" Sofia asked.
Myles laughed. "We put it at the front," he replied. "Zero hundred thirty nine thousand, doesn't that sound like a nice sum?"
"Well," Sofia said, taking up the spreadsheet. "I have this number here in red, and I need about three hundred and eighty five thousand dollars for it to go away. Zero hundred means nothing, therefore I'd only be getting thirty nine thousand dollars, and leaves me still with three hundred forty six thousand dollars in the red. I think it would be a better idea to put the zero after the thirty nine."
"We could do that," Myles said.
He pulled out his chequebook and quickly laced his signature across the proper line at the bottom of the cheque, and then wrote her name in not-too-bad penmanship across the line of the recipient, and the date in the corner.
"So now you said thirty nine thousand," Myles said.
"But that doesn't work with the extra zero," Sofia said. "I said thirty nine, and then we take the zero from the end which was put on the front and put it after the thirty nine, and then we put in the comma and then the other three zeros. You can't had four zeros after a comma, it can only be three."
"But that's three hundred and ninety thousand!" Myles protested.
Sofia smiled. "And you said you could do it," she replied.
"You– you–!" Myles sputtered.
"You agreed to it," Sofia replied."
After some consideration I have made the decision to not write the other novels I had planned for November, so please check back on November 25 for the next post.
Year to Date: 992,075
Summary of Events:
Chapter 19:
Myles came over to buy the combine and Sofia told him she'd 'accidentally' shredded the land rental agreement and got him to bring her a new contract and she filled it out differently, she also got him to pay full price for the combine. She then took the cheque from Myles and deposited it into the bank.
Chapter 20:
Both Axel and Sofia spent the rest of the day considering the future of their relationships with each other and what to do about them and what would be proper to do. Axel finally admitted that he was quite in love with Sofia.
Excerpt of the Day:
""Now into the study," Axel said.
"I don't want him to know you're here," Sofia said sharply.
"He doesn't," Axel replied. "He won't know until he comes into the room."
"I don't even want him to see you there," Sofia said. "Wait in here."
Sofia shoved Axel into the powder room across from the study.
"But–"
"I'll keep the study door open," Sofia replied.
"Sofia–"
"Please," Sofia replied. "Just do it this way."
Axel sighed and closed the door slightly. Sofia hurried to the door at the sound of the knock and opened it. Myles stood before her. He smiled in a cunning looking way.
"Well, hello," Myles said. "Shall we go to the office?"
"Yes," Sofia replied. She led the way, taking deep breaths and working diligently to keep herself calm.
Stepping inside the study, Sofia sat down.
"So now you're asking six figures for this combine, it's almost the same as someone asking three figures for the rent of a field, don't you agree?" Myles asked.
"It's similar," Sofia replied.
"You gave me rent for your field at two figures," Myles said. "Surely you can reduce the figures of the combine price by one at least. Say we take that three off the front? Or maybe we should take the zero off of the end?"
"I think we should take the zero off the end," Sofia replied.
"So that would mean that you're only asking me for thirty nine thousand dollars," Myles said.
"But what do we do with that zero we took off the end?" Sofia asked.
Myles laughed. "We put it at the front," he replied. "Zero hundred thirty nine thousand, doesn't that sound like a nice sum?"
"Well," Sofia said, taking up the spreadsheet. "I have this number here in red, and I need about three hundred and eighty five thousand dollars for it to go away. Zero hundred means nothing, therefore I'd only be getting thirty nine thousand dollars, and leaves me still with three hundred forty six thousand dollars in the red. I think it would be a better idea to put the zero after the thirty nine."
"We could do that," Myles said.
He pulled out his chequebook and quickly laced his signature across the proper line at the bottom of the cheque, and then wrote her name in not-too-bad penmanship across the line of the recipient, and the date in the corner.
"So now you said thirty nine thousand," Myles said.
"But that doesn't work with the extra zero," Sofia said. "I said thirty nine, and then we take the zero from the end which was put on the front and put it after the thirty nine, and then we put in the comma and then the other three zeros. You can't had four zeros after a comma, it can only be three."
"But that's three hundred and ninety thousand!" Myles protested.
Sofia smiled. "And you said you could do it," she replied.
"You– you–!" Myles sputtered.
"You agreed to it," Sofia replied."
After some consideration I have made the decision to not write the other novels I had planned for November, so please check back on November 25 for the next post.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 8
Word Count: 54,023
Summary of Events:
Chapter 17:
Axel told Sofia Hendrick was at his house and Sofia came to get him, and it took a fair bit of convincing to get him to come. Sofia then apologized to Hendrick and explained to him why she'd done what she had, then she thought about getting help from Pastor Tim and Hana with her financial situation.
Chapter 18:
Myles called Axel, interested in the combine, but upset that Axel refused to cut him a deal, so Myles called Sofia and arranged to meet her the next day. Tim and Hana arrived and Tim read through things while Sofia and Hana discussed Hendrick's excursion. Tim then told Sofia what Axel had said about the agreement was right, Sofia had agreed to many things she never would've dared to if she would've understood. Tim offered to teach Sofia with a financial course and she agreed, she then went over to Axel's place and apologized for her behaviour.
Excerpt of the Day:
""It could very well be just the grieving," Hana said. "I mean, since Josef died Axel's really well, become close to your family, and maybe Hendrick's almost seeing Axel as a replacement for Josef."
Sofia bit her lip, she didn't like that idea at all.
"So the fact that now Myles is involved here, and it seems like you're wanting to put a bit more distance in your relationship with Axel again is distressing Hendrick because Axel's kind of become his new dad, and he doesn't want him taken away," Hana concluded.
"Do you think he'd really do that?" Sofia asked.
"He's three, like you said," Hana replied. "Hendrick can't really understand things, but to him Axel's come to take the place of his dad, and he doesn't want Myles to come usurping that position — almost like a child in a divorce situation."
"I don't think that's something Axel would even want," Sofia said.
"Well, whether or not you like it, it's somewhat of a consequence of the relationship you and Axel ended up building due to the whole situation," Hana replied.
"And what do we do about it?" Sofia asked.
"Well," Hana replied. "I'm not sure. I think you just need to put the distance in slower than you were doing it. Don't rush things, don't go from suddenly close and friendly to suddenly distant. Work slowly to put more and more distance between yourselves until you're at the point that you want to be."
"But I don't even see how or why Hednrick went and latched on," Sofia said.
"Axel's very similar to Josef in height and build, he's a farmer, he drives a similar truck, and he seems to have become friendly to Hendrick, and possibly even in a similar way to how Hendrick's relationship with Josef worked," Hana replied. "There are honestly quite a few similarities between the two of them — including the fact that they're both Scandinavian, although I doubt Hendrick understands that he may possibly recognize that — so I can see how Hendrick would build a relationship there."
"Well then I guess I'm going to have to discuss this with Axel then," Sofia said. "And we'll have to see what we can do to change things to the way that they should be."
"If that's God's will," Hana said.
"What do you mean?" Sofia asked.
"I just don't want you to forget that your will may not necessarily be God's will," Hana said. "God's will isn't always what we would like to happen, but it is what happens in the end."
Sofia nodded. "But, I mean, it's been nearly three months since Josef died," she said. "If anything is going to happen then it's definitely not happening now. There's no way it could, or should."
"Who knows?" Hana said."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 17:
Axel told Sofia Hendrick was at his house and Sofia came to get him, and it took a fair bit of convincing to get him to come. Sofia then apologized to Hendrick and explained to him why she'd done what she had, then she thought about getting help from Pastor Tim and Hana with her financial situation.
Chapter 18:
Myles called Axel, interested in the combine, but upset that Axel refused to cut him a deal, so Myles called Sofia and arranged to meet her the next day. Tim and Hana arrived and Tim read through things while Sofia and Hana discussed Hendrick's excursion. Tim then told Sofia what Axel had said about the agreement was right, Sofia had agreed to many things she never would've dared to if she would've understood. Tim offered to teach Sofia with a financial course and she agreed, she then went over to Axel's place and apologized for her behaviour.
Excerpt of the Day:
""It could very well be just the grieving," Hana said. "I mean, since Josef died Axel's really well, become close to your family, and maybe Hendrick's almost seeing Axel as a replacement for Josef."
Sofia bit her lip, she didn't like that idea at all.
"So the fact that now Myles is involved here, and it seems like you're wanting to put a bit more distance in your relationship with Axel again is distressing Hendrick because Axel's kind of become his new dad, and he doesn't want him taken away," Hana concluded.
"Do you think he'd really do that?" Sofia asked.
"He's three, like you said," Hana replied. "Hendrick can't really understand things, but to him Axel's come to take the place of his dad, and he doesn't want Myles to come usurping that position — almost like a child in a divorce situation."
"I don't think that's something Axel would even want," Sofia said.
"Well, whether or not you like it, it's somewhat of a consequence of the relationship you and Axel ended up building due to the whole situation," Hana replied.
"And what do we do about it?" Sofia asked.
"Well," Hana replied. "I'm not sure. I think you just need to put the distance in slower than you were doing it. Don't rush things, don't go from suddenly close and friendly to suddenly distant. Work slowly to put more and more distance between yourselves until you're at the point that you want to be."
"But I don't even see how or why Hednrick went and latched on," Sofia said.
"Axel's very similar to Josef in height and build, he's a farmer, he drives a similar truck, and he seems to have become friendly to Hendrick, and possibly even in a similar way to how Hendrick's relationship with Josef worked," Hana replied. "There are honestly quite a few similarities between the two of them — including the fact that they're both Scandinavian, although I doubt Hendrick understands that he may possibly recognize that — so I can see how Hendrick would build a relationship there."
"Well then I guess I'm going to have to discuss this with Axel then," Sofia said. "And we'll have to see what we can do to change things to the way that they should be."
"If that's God's will," Hana said.
"What do you mean?" Sofia asked.
"I just don't want you to forget that your will may not necessarily be God's will," Hana said. "God's will isn't always what we would like to happen, but it is what happens in the end."
Sofia nodded. "But, I mean, it's been nearly three months since Josef died," she said. "If anything is going to happen then it's definitely not happening now. There's no way it could, or should."
"Who knows?" Hana said."
Saturday, November 08, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 7
Word Count: 48,002
Summary of Events:
Chapter 15:
Contrary to Axel's advice Sofia met and signed a rental agreement with Myles McRory — even though she didn't fully understand what she signed. Hendrick told Axel who was disappointed, but understood Sofia's motivation for it, he then let Hendrick watch as he moved the implements out to display to a potential buyer. After the buyer had gone Axel dropped Hendrick off at the house and he and Sofia had a curt exchange.
Chapter 16:
Axel decided to discuss Sofia's visit with Myles, and discovered that Sofia had agreed to things that utterly horrified him. He tried to explain it to Sofia and got into a bit of a fight with her, but he told her to read through the agreement thoroughly. Sofia began to do so while planning to stop asking Axel to help her, but then she got nervous when she realized how isolated she'd be without his driving her everywhere and whatnot. Hendrick walked all by himself from his home to Axel's and told Axel he didn't intend to go home, something that concerned Axel, but he hoped might wake Sofia up to her lack of sense.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Striding up to the door, Axel reached for the knob, but thought better of turning it, being as it was such an early hour. He knocked on the door lightly. After a few moments he heard the deadbolt being slid out of place and the door opened slightly. Sofia peered out nervously.
"Why are you here?" Sofia asked.
"I wanted to discuss your visit with Myles McRory," Axel replied.
Sofia startled, the door opened a bit wider. "Where did you hear about that?"
"Children often talk freely — even if they're supposed to keep secrets," Axel replied.
"I never told anyone to keep a secret," Sofia said. "I just didn't expect them to say anything."
"Well it's not like they told me that it was Myles, or that he came over to talk about land rental agreements," Axel said. "I put that together myself from the information Hendrick gave me. Namely the description of Myles' Ford."
"Why is it any of your business who I talk to?" Sofia asked.
"Because I am assisting you with your finances," Axel replied. "And I would like to find out what all transpired to make sure that Myles isn't taking advantage of your status as a recent immigrant, widow, young mother, and being financially undereducated."
"Like he would dare," Sofi said.
"You don't know Myles at all Sofia," Axel replied. "He would dare. In fact, it probably took all of his strength to keep from salivating. He probably thought it was too good to be true until he saw your signature on the rental agreement."
Sofia set her hands on her hips, set her jaw, and cocked her head in somewhat of a defiant way. Axel flashed her a quick smile and took advantage of the fact that she was no longer holding onto the door to step inside.
Startling, Sofia reached for the door, but couldn't catch it, so instead she swung a pretty firm fist at Axel. He caught her hand before she could recoil, then managed to catch her other hand, back her up, get himself fully inside the door, and close it.
"Get out of my house!" Sofia snapped.
"Sofia," Axel said, not releasing her wrists, but relaxing himself into a nonaggressive position. "I'm trying to help you. I'm sorry about wanting to dictate the rental price, but the thing is, you have never managed the finances of a household in your life. You need someone to help you, teach you, and guide you as you go about figuring out how this is all done. Being as I have probably one of the greatest understandings that anyone around here has of your situation as an immigrant, I also live within a short walk of your home, and have the most free time of anyone around here, I'm the best candidate."
Sofia said nothing, but her breathing was measured and defined, almost somewhat in an agitated manner. Her eyes looked at him, a mixture of ferocity and fear in their cool blue depths."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 15:
Contrary to Axel's advice Sofia met and signed a rental agreement with Myles McRory — even though she didn't fully understand what she signed. Hendrick told Axel who was disappointed, but understood Sofia's motivation for it, he then let Hendrick watch as he moved the implements out to display to a potential buyer. After the buyer had gone Axel dropped Hendrick off at the house and he and Sofia had a curt exchange.
Chapter 16:
Axel decided to discuss Sofia's visit with Myles, and discovered that Sofia had agreed to things that utterly horrified him. He tried to explain it to Sofia and got into a bit of a fight with her, but he told her to read through the agreement thoroughly. Sofia began to do so while planning to stop asking Axel to help her, but then she got nervous when she realized how isolated she'd be without his driving her everywhere and whatnot. Hendrick walked all by himself from his home to Axel's and told Axel he didn't intend to go home, something that concerned Axel, but he hoped might wake Sofia up to her lack of sense.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Striding up to the door, Axel reached for the knob, but thought better of turning it, being as it was such an early hour. He knocked on the door lightly. After a few moments he heard the deadbolt being slid out of place and the door opened slightly. Sofia peered out nervously.
"Why are you here?" Sofia asked.
"I wanted to discuss your visit with Myles McRory," Axel replied.
Sofia startled, the door opened a bit wider. "Where did you hear about that?"
"Children often talk freely — even if they're supposed to keep secrets," Axel replied.
"I never told anyone to keep a secret," Sofia said. "I just didn't expect them to say anything."
"Well it's not like they told me that it was Myles, or that he came over to talk about land rental agreements," Axel said. "I put that together myself from the information Hendrick gave me. Namely the description of Myles' Ford."
"Why is it any of your business who I talk to?" Sofia asked.
"Because I am assisting you with your finances," Axel replied. "And I would like to find out what all transpired to make sure that Myles isn't taking advantage of your status as a recent immigrant, widow, young mother, and being financially undereducated."
"Like he would dare," Sofi said.
"You don't know Myles at all Sofia," Axel replied. "He would dare. In fact, it probably took all of his strength to keep from salivating. He probably thought it was too good to be true until he saw your signature on the rental agreement."
Sofia set her hands on her hips, set her jaw, and cocked her head in somewhat of a defiant way. Axel flashed her a quick smile and took advantage of the fact that she was no longer holding onto the door to step inside.
Startling, Sofia reached for the door, but couldn't catch it, so instead she swung a pretty firm fist at Axel. He caught her hand before she could recoil, then managed to catch her other hand, back her up, get himself fully inside the door, and close it.
"Get out of my house!" Sofia snapped.
"Sofia," Axel said, not releasing her wrists, but relaxing himself into a nonaggressive position. "I'm trying to help you. I'm sorry about wanting to dictate the rental price, but the thing is, you have never managed the finances of a household in your life. You need someone to help you, teach you, and guide you as you go about figuring out how this is all done. Being as I have probably one of the greatest understandings that anyone around here has of your situation as an immigrant, I also live within a short walk of your home, and have the most free time of anyone around here, I'm the best candidate."
Sofia said nothing, but her breathing was measured and defined, almost somewhat in an agitated manner. Her eyes looked at him, a mixture of ferocity and fear in their cool blue depths."
Friday, November 07, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 6
Word Count: 42,003
Summary of Events:
Chapter 13:
Sofia and Charlotte mixed some gingersnaps and baked some chocolate chip cookies while Axel and Hendrick went out and disked Sofia's field. A rock got lodged in the disk and when it pulled loose it came up and hit Axel in the cheek and nose. He finished the field and then headed to the hospital to see how bad it'd been. He called Sofia and told her to watch for a prospective buyer and Sofia worried about Axel's condition.
Chapter 14:
The next morning Axel surveyed his fractured cheekbone for himself, it was swollen and bruised, looking like a rather nasty plum. When he arrived to get Hendrick and go disk the field a second time Sofia freaked out at the bruise, but eventually let them go out and work. Axel got to thinking about Sofia and then ended up thinking about the heartbreaking demise of his marriage. Axel and Hendrick came in for lunch and Sofia told them the prospective buyer hadn't made the purchase, due to the implement being John Deere. Between finishing the field and suppertime Axel went and assessed the progress and saw that Sofia needed to get a renter for her field soon.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Stepping inside, Axel couldn't see anyone, but he could hear Sofia talking softly. He walked toward the kitchen — which was pretty much the guaranteed place to find them — and saw Charlotte and Sofia were looking at something.
Hendrick was sitting across from them and sat up straight, his face lit up and he clambered out of his chair and hurried over. Sofia turned and gasped, putting her hand over her mouth, her face expressing abject horror.
"Oh my goodness!" Sofia exclaimed. "I thought you said you'd hit your nose!"
"I did," Axel replied. "I just hit my cheek too."
"Have you put ice on it?" Sofia asked.
"Yes," Axel replied. "I've had ice on it for several hours. It was about twice this big earlier."
"Shouldn't you have ice on it now?" Sofia asked.
"My arms are going to be dead," Axel replied.
"Is it just a bruise?" Sofia asked.
"No," Axel replied. "I fractured my cheek."
Sofia gasped again. "Surely you shouldn't even be working!" she exclaimed.
"I'm not in construction or anything," Axel replied. "I'll just be driving all day, minimal risk, if any at all."
"But still," Sofia protested.
"And if I have Hendrick watching for rocks for me then I won't even be moving my head too much either," Axel said.
"Oh," Sofia moaned. "Can't you rest?"
"No, not really," Axel replied. "At least not until I've disked your field."
"I thought you did that yesterday," Sofia said.
"I'm disking it twice," Axel replied. "More effective."
Sofia sighed and brushed some stray hairs from her face. Axel gave her a bit of a wry smile.
"It takes a lot to knock a man down, especially a farming man," Axel said.
Sofia cast her gaze towed the ceiling and sighed again. "And it seems that I'm going to have to deal with it."
"It seems so, yes," Axel replied.
"Be careful when loosing any rocks," Sofia said, looking at Axel sternly.
"Yes ma'am," Axel replied.
Hendrick wrapped his hand around Axel's fingers again and was tugging on Axel's hand, begging to be off already.
"Come back for lunch please," Sofia said.
"We'll do our best," Axel replied.
Sofia nodded. Axel finally followed Hendrick and they both put their shoes on and headed out to the tractor. Axel helped Hendrick up and then followed him inside. He started up the tractor and went to the field entry and started to go around the perimeter of the field."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 13:
Sofia and Charlotte mixed some gingersnaps and baked some chocolate chip cookies while Axel and Hendrick went out and disked Sofia's field. A rock got lodged in the disk and when it pulled loose it came up and hit Axel in the cheek and nose. He finished the field and then headed to the hospital to see how bad it'd been. He called Sofia and told her to watch for a prospective buyer and Sofia worried about Axel's condition.
Chapter 14:
The next morning Axel surveyed his fractured cheekbone for himself, it was swollen and bruised, looking like a rather nasty plum. When he arrived to get Hendrick and go disk the field a second time Sofia freaked out at the bruise, but eventually let them go out and work. Axel got to thinking about Sofia and then ended up thinking about the heartbreaking demise of his marriage. Axel and Hendrick came in for lunch and Sofia told them the prospective buyer hadn't made the purchase, due to the implement being John Deere. Between finishing the field and suppertime Axel went and assessed the progress and saw that Sofia needed to get a renter for her field soon.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Stepping inside, Axel couldn't see anyone, but he could hear Sofia talking softly. He walked toward the kitchen — which was pretty much the guaranteed place to find them — and saw Charlotte and Sofia were looking at something.
Hendrick was sitting across from them and sat up straight, his face lit up and he clambered out of his chair and hurried over. Sofia turned and gasped, putting her hand over her mouth, her face expressing abject horror.
"Oh my goodness!" Sofia exclaimed. "I thought you said you'd hit your nose!"
"I did," Axel replied. "I just hit my cheek too."
"Have you put ice on it?" Sofia asked.
"Yes," Axel replied. "I've had ice on it for several hours. It was about twice this big earlier."
"Shouldn't you have ice on it now?" Sofia asked.
"My arms are going to be dead," Axel replied.
"Is it just a bruise?" Sofia asked.
"No," Axel replied. "I fractured my cheek."
Sofia gasped again. "Surely you shouldn't even be working!" she exclaimed.
"I'm not in construction or anything," Axel replied. "I'll just be driving all day, minimal risk, if any at all."
"But still," Sofia protested.
"And if I have Hendrick watching for rocks for me then I won't even be moving my head too much either," Axel said.
"Oh," Sofia moaned. "Can't you rest?"
"No, not really," Axel replied. "At least not until I've disked your field."
"I thought you did that yesterday," Sofia said.
"I'm disking it twice," Axel replied. "More effective."
Sofia sighed and brushed some stray hairs from her face. Axel gave her a bit of a wry smile.
"It takes a lot to knock a man down, especially a farming man," Axel said.
Sofia cast her gaze towed the ceiling and sighed again. "And it seems that I'm going to have to deal with it."
"It seems so, yes," Axel replied.
"Be careful when loosing any rocks," Sofia said, looking at Axel sternly.
"Yes ma'am," Axel replied.
Hendrick wrapped his hand around Axel's fingers again and was tugging on Axel's hand, begging to be off already.
"Come back for lunch please," Sofia said.
"We'll do our best," Axel replied.
Sofia nodded. Axel finally followed Hendrick and they both put their shoes on and headed out to the tractor. Axel helped Hendrick up and then followed him inside. He started up the tractor and went to the field entry and started to go around the perimeter of the field."
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 5
Word Count: 36,017
Summary of Events:
Chapter 11:
Axel was hauling some of Josef's grain in to the elevator and got an inquiry in regards to Josef's equipment. Sofia read through the spreadsheet about Josef's finances that Axel had brought for her and was able to surmise that she was in a desperate situation. She talked with Axel about it a bit and he told her he'd explain more later. He came for supper and gave Sofia the cheque for the grain and told her he'd take her to the bank to pay off some of the debts.
Chapter 12:
Axel took Sofia with him in his grain truck and they stopped at the elevator to unload some grain before they went to do the paying and got another offer on some of the equipment. Axel got another offer later that day and managed to sell one of the implements.
Excerpt of the Day:
"She looked up at the sound of a rumbling vehicle. Axel's black truck pulled into view and drove toward the grain bins. Sofia got up and slipped out the door, and hurried toward where Axel had parked.
Grain started pouring out of the auger between the bin and the truck. Sofia cut around behind the bin to get to where Axel was standing on the other side of the auger. He looked up at her as she came up to him.
Being as she really didn't know what to say Sofia grabbed either half of the open zipper on Axel's sweater, and some of his shirt, in her hands, buried her face into his chest, and sobbed.
She could tell Axel was surprised, but she was just so terrified and horrified and she didn't know what to do. After a dew moments Axel gently put a hand against her back. She then felt him take a deep breath, and then exhale, before resting his other hand gently on her shoulder.
"What's the matter Sofia?" Axel asked.
Determinedly Sofia worked to regain her composure, but she couldn't really. She just kept on crying. Axel gently moved his hand in circles over her middle and lower back. He seemed to understand that she wasn't really in a place to be pressed.
Finally Sofia managed to get herself together enough to look at Axel. He stopped rubbing her back and kept his hand just resting on it a little ways below her shoulders. She inhaled a shaky breath before venturing to speak.
"I read through the paper myself," Sofia said.
"What paper?" Axel asked.
"The paper you left, when you told me Josef had spent everything," Sofia replied.
"Oh, the spreadsheet," Axel said. "And?"
"It's horrible," Sofia replied.
"That's a pretty good summary," Axel said, giving her a bit of a wry smile.
"I can't believe Josef would do something like that," Sofia whispered, dropping her gaze from Axel's face to his neck. She noticed a black cord and a silver chain that disappeared under his shirt.
Axel sighed and Sofia looked up at him. "That's how the world runs," Axel said. "You go out and dig yourself a big hole with an excavator, and then try to fill it up with a spade, or keep digging it bigger with the excavator until someone or something with a bulldozer comes and pushes you into the hole and buries you in your grave."
Sofia flinched at Axel's somewhat harsh description, although she could see how it worked. Josef had spent most everything on the down payments and accumulating for himself debts bigger than the total of the money he'd spent to secure the things, and then with the even lesser money he had left over he'd tired to fill in the hole he'd dug, which was really only going to work so long until those he owed money to were going to get their money and bury him by taking away absolutely everything he had."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 11:
Axel was hauling some of Josef's grain in to the elevator and got an inquiry in regards to Josef's equipment. Sofia read through the spreadsheet about Josef's finances that Axel had brought for her and was able to surmise that she was in a desperate situation. She talked with Axel about it a bit and he told her he'd explain more later. He came for supper and gave Sofia the cheque for the grain and told her he'd take her to the bank to pay off some of the debts.
Chapter 12:
Axel took Sofia with him in his grain truck and they stopped at the elevator to unload some grain before they went to do the paying and got another offer on some of the equipment. Axel got another offer later that day and managed to sell one of the implements.
Excerpt of the Day:
"She looked up at the sound of a rumbling vehicle. Axel's black truck pulled into view and drove toward the grain bins. Sofia got up and slipped out the door, and hurried toward where Axel had parked.
Grain started pouring out of the auger between the bin and the truck. Sofia cut around behind the bin to get to where Axel was standing on the other side of the auger. He looked up at her as she came up to him.
Being as she really didn't know what to say Sofia grabbed either half of the open zipper on Axel's sweater, and some of his shirt, in her hands, buried her face into his chest, and sobbed.
She could tell Axel was surprised, but she was just so terrified and horrified and she didn't know what to do. After a dew moments Axel gently put a hand against her back. She then felt him take a deep breath, and then exhale, before resting his other hand gently on her shoulder.
"What's the matter Sofia?" Axel asked.
Determinedly Sofia worked to regain her composure, but she couldn't really. She just kept on crying. Axel gently moved his hand in circles over her middle and lower back. He seemed to understand that she wasn't really in a place to be pressed.
Finally Sofia managed to get herself together enough to look at Axel. He stopped rubbing her back and kept his hand just resting on it a little ways below her shoulders. She inhaled a shaky breath before venturing to speak.
"I read through the paper myself," Sofia said.
"What paper?" Axel asked.
"The paper you left, when you told me Josef had spent everything," Sofia replied.
"Oh, the spreadsheet," Axel said. "And?"
"It's horrible," Sofia replied.
"That's a pretty good summary," Axel said, giving her a bit of a wry smile.
"I can't believe Josef would do something like that," Sofia whispered, dropping her gaze from Axel's face to his neck. She noticed a black cord and a silver chain that disappeared under his shirt.
Axel sighed and Sofia looked up at him. "That's how the world runs," Axel said. "You go out and dig yourself a big hole with an excavator, and then try to fill it up with a spade, or keep digging it bigger with the excavator until someone or something with a bulldozer comes and pushes you into the hole and buries you in your grave."
Sofia flinched at Axel's somewhat harsh description, although she could see how it worked. Josef had spent most everything on the down payments and accumulating for himself debts bigger than the total of the money he'd spent to secure the things, and then with the even lesser money he had left over he'd tired to fill in the hole he'd dug, which was really only going to work so long until those he owed money to were going to get their money and bury him by taking away absolutely everything he had."
Wednesday, November 05, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 4
Word Count: 30,003
Summary of Events:
Chapter 9:
Sofia started homeshcooling Charlotte, which took a little bit of motivation to accomplish. Axel helped out some neighbours in harvesting their canola when Sofia called and said the power company was threatening to cut the power if they weren't paid within the week. Sofia, worried now that they'd discovered two unpaid bills, decided to work on piecing together the papers Josef had written notes on and she, Hendrick, and Charlotte succeeded in finishing the piecing.
Chapter 10:
Axel and his accountant surveyed the results of going through Josef's finances and notes, and found that Sofia was in a horrible position. Axel took the information to Sofia and told her they were going to need to sell as much as they possibly could. Axel then brought out all the tractors and other equipment to be assessed by a friend of his and photographed so it could be sold.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Nervously Sofia watched as Axel pulled the doors to the machine shed open. The great, green combine loomed before her. The very vehicle off of which her husband had fallen to his death. Sofia honestly felt quite terrified at the sight of it.
Once the doors were open Axel beckoned for Sofia to follow him. Sofia hurried over to his side and stayed half-hidden behind him as he stepped into the machine shed.
"We're going to need to drive everything out of here and get some good pictures of them to advertise them," Axel said. "I've called in an assessor to get values on these things and we'll use those to figure out prices."
"Could we not just have an auction?" Sofia asked.
"Well," Axel said. "We could. But, the thing is, at an auction you can't exactly guarantee that you'll get the price you'd like to get."
"Can't you set prices?" Sofia asked. "Like, say, you tell the auctioneer you don't want him to dip lower than a hundred dollars or whatever."
"The auctioneer usually does something like that of his own accord," Axel replied. "But I think that if we were to do a private sale would be easier, because then we wouldn't have to pay for the auctioneers' service, and we can make sure we get the money we want to get from different things."
Sofia nodded.
"Why are you hiding behind me?" Axel asked, turning to look at her.
She looked warily between Axel and the machine. Axel glanced toward the combine somewhat ashamedly.
"Sorry," Axel said.
"It's not really that so much," Sofia said. "It's just that, well, it's so huge."
"Yeah, it's definitely big," Axel agreed.
"Do I have to take pictures of them?" Sofia asked.
"No," Axel replied. "The assessor's going to do that."
"Oh," Sofia said.
Axel moved on through the machine shed with a confidence that Sofia almost wished she had, the thing was that all of these machines were so huge, and she was sure that if she moved wrong all of the sudden one of them was going to roar to life or something and she didn't exactly want to be around when that happened.
Stopping beside the large truck, much like Axel's own, except that it wasn't black, Axel climbed up beside the door and looked in the window. Axel then climbed down.
"What?" Sofia asked.
"Josef left the keys in the ignition in every vehicle," Axel replied.
"Is that a bad thing?" Sofia asked.
"Only if someone were to break in," Axel replied.
"Oh," Sofia said.
"It's good for us because we don't have to hunt the keys down and play eenie meenie miney mo to figure out which key goes where," Axel replied.
"Oh," Sofia said.
Axel turned around and walked back to the combine, being as it was in front. He climbed up and opened the door. He looked down at Sofia.
"You want to be inside or outside when I start this?" Axel asked.
Sofia scrambled up the stairs and took a seat on the small passenger seat in the cab, even from the inside this machine was big and intimidating."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 9:
Sofia started homeshcooling Charlotte, which took a little bit of motivation to accomplish. Axel helped out some neighbours in harvesting their canola when Sofia called and said the power company was threatening to cut the power if they weren't paid within the week. Sofia, worried now that they'd discovered two unpaid bills, decided to work on piecing together the papers Josef had written notes on and she, Hendrick, and Charlotte succeeded in finishing the piecing.
Chapter 10:
Axel and his accountant surveyed the results of going through Josef's finances and notes, and found that Sofia was in a horrible position. Axel took the information to Sofia and told her they were going to need to sell as much as they possibly could. Axel then brought out all the tractors and other equipment to be assessed by a friend of his and photographed so it could be sold.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Nervously Sofia watched as Axel pulled the doors to the machine shed open. The great, green combine loomed before her. The very vehicle off of which her husband had fallen to his death. Sofia honestly felt quite terrified at the sight of it.
Once the doors were open Axel beckoned for Sofia to follow him. Sofia hurried over to his side and stayed half-hidden behind him as he stepped into the machine shed.
"We're going to need to drive everything out of here and get some good pictures of them to advertise them," Axel said. "I've called in an assessor to get values on these things and we'll use those to figure out prices."
"Could we not just have an auction?" Sofia asked.
"Well," Axel said. "We could. But, the thing is, at an auction you can't exactly guarantee that you'll get the price you'd like to get."
"Can't you set prices?" Sofia asked. "Like, say, you tell the auctioneer you don't want him to dip lower than a hundred dollars or whatever."
"The auctioneer usually does something like that of his own accord," Axel replied. "But I think that if we were to do a private sale would be easier, because then we wouldn't have to pay for the auctioneers' service, and we can make sure we get the money we want to get from different things."
Sofia nodded.
"Why are you hiding behind me?" Axel asked, turning to look at her.
She looked warily between Axel and the machine. Axel glanced toward the combine somewhat ashamedly.
"Sorry," Axel said.
"It's not really that so much," Sofia said. "It's just that, well, it's so huge."
"Yeah, it's definitely big," Axel agreed.
"Do I have to take pictures of them?" Sofia asked.
"No," Axel replied. "The assessor's going to do that."
"Oh," Sofia said.
Axel moved on through the machine shed with a confidence that Sofia almost wished she had, the thing was that all of these machines were so huge, and she was sure that if she moved wrong all of the sudden one of them was going to roar to life or something and she didn't exactly want to be around when that happened.
Stopping beside the large truck, much like Axel's own, except that it wasn't black, Axel climbed up beside the door and looked in the window. Axel then climbed down.
"What?" Sofia asked.
"Josef left the keys in the ignition in every vehicle," Axel replied.
"Is that a bad thing?" Sofia asked.
"Only if someone were to break in," Axel replied.
"Oh," Sofia said.
"It's good for us because we don't have to hunt the keys down and play eenie meenie miney mo to figure out which key goes where," Axel replied.
"Oh," Sofia said.
Axel turned around and walked back to the combine, being as it was in front. He climbed up and opened the door. He looked down at Sofia.
"You want to be inside or outside when I start this?" Axel asked.
Sofia scrambled up the stairs and took a seat on the small passenger seat in the cab, even from the inside this machine was big and intimidating."
Tuesday, November 04, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 3
Word Count: 24,003
Summary of Events:
Chapter 5:
Sofia's in-laws left at last and Axel went over to talk with Sofia about what she should do next, suggesting she look through the finances and she told him that Josef had managed the money by himself and showed him where Josef had done it. It was a disarrayed mess and Axel wasn't sure what kind of condition the money was in, so he asked to have Sofia's consent to move money as required. Sofia thought about and decided she would only do so if she got criminal and financial record checks which Axel conceded to.
Chapter 6:
Sofia then went to Josef's accountant to have him explain Axel's financial records and found out that Axel had been married for about four years, and the accountant also offered to organise Josef's finances for her which Sofia intended to agree to, however Axel told her Josef had taken notes in Swedish — which her accountant wouldn't understand — and he was the only person he knew aside from her who knew Swedish. Sofia got stressed out and decided to go visit the pastor and he prayed with her.
Chapter 7:
Axel continued to work on going through Josef's papers. Sofia came to Axel with a letter, it was from a custom seeding company saying they hadn't seen payment yet. Axel found the bill and told Sofia it hadn't been paid. Sofia was upset about it. Axel wrote a note of explanation to the company to explain to them. Sofia worried that there might be more unpaid bills and she talked a bit with Hendrick who then decided to go help Axel. Sofia came to get him at snack time and Hendrick fiercely insisted that Axel join them and he did, although reluctantly.
Chapter 8:
Sofia got to wondering about whether she wanted Hendrick to become friends with Axel as that would make her have to become friends with him and she wasn't quite sure if she wanted that, and she wondered why she even wanted to stay in Canada if she didn't want to make friends, but surmised that it was because of the fact that here she could decide when she wanted to hear from her family who were offering a litany of different ideas for her to choose from as to what she should do. The pastor's wife came over and talked with Sofia a bit before they decided that they should do some talking with Charlotte, being as she was taking Josef's death hard. Axel finished going through the bills and then started to go through the notes and found that Josef had taken a sheet of paper, written on it, and then torn the bits off, so he decided to work at piecing them together and finding out about when they would've been written.
Excerpt of the Day:
"They worked for quite awhile before Axel heard the door open and he had a feeling that it was opened in urgency. He looked up as Sofia hurried over on her tiptoes. She looked to be panicked.
"Have you– Hendrick!" Sofia exclaimed.
Her chocolate haired son looked up at her and smiled. "I'm helping the uncle Mama."
"You should've told me," Sofia said, putting a hand over her breastbone.
"Oh," Hendrick said, his smile fading.
"It's snack time," Sofia said.
Hendrick's smile returned and he carefully manoeuvred through the papers to Sofia who turned to lead the way through the barn and out. Axel took up the next paper and found a date on it. When he looked up Hendrick was back at the door.
"Aren't you coming?" Hendrick asked.
"I wasn't invited," Axel replied.
Hendrick turned and hurried away.
Axel found a bunch of dateless notes written on scraps and got up to put them on the chair. He heard feet running back.
"I asked Mama if you could be invited and she said yes," Hendrick said.
"It's okay," Axel said. "I'll just stay here."
"No!" Hendrick protested. "You're invited!"
"Thank you for your invitation," Axel said. "But I do have the right to refuse your invitation."
"I want you to come!" Hendrick said.
"There's still lots of work that needs to be done," Axel said. "So I'll just work on finishing it, okay? Maybe next time."
"No!" Hendrick cried, bursting into tears.
Axel sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He got up and stepped over the papers, reaching over to cover Hendrick's mouth to silence the sobs and cries.
"Shh," Axel said, hoping desperately Sofia wouldn't round the corner. This was embarrassing enough as it was. "I'm busy, I'll come tomorrow, okay? Can't I come tomorrow?"
He lifted his hand off of Hendrick's mouth a little to let him answer. Hendrick but Axel right on the side of his ring finger. Axel cried out and snatched his hand away, knocking Hendrick onto his backside and only adding to Hendrick's volume in his cries.
Axel swore under his breath and rubbed his finger, then he took Hendrick by the arm and helped him to his feet.
"I know I'm not your mom, or your dad," Axel said. "But biting is uncalled for."
"I want you to come!" Hendrick said.
"And biting me is not going to accomplish that," Axel replied.
"I want you to come today," Hendrick said.
"I'll walk you to the house, okay?" Axel asked.
"And you'll come inside for snack," Hendrick said.
"Maybe," Axel replied.
Hendrick wiped his eyes with his fists while Axel straightened. Hendrick reached up and wrapped his wet, grubby little hand around two of Axel's fingers tightly and walked with Axel to the house."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 5:
Sofia's in-laws left at last and Axel went over to talk with Sofia about what she should do next, suggesting she look through the finances and she told him that Josef had managed the money by himself and showed him where Josef had done it. It was a disarrayed mess and Axel wasn't sure what kind of condition the money was in, so he asked to have Sofia's consent to move money as required. Sofia thought about and decided she would only do so if she got criminal and financial record checks which Axel conceded to.
Chapter 6:
Sofia then went to Josef's accountant to have him explain Axel's financial records and found out that Axel had been married for about four years, and the accountant also offered to organise Josef's finances for her which Sofia intended to agree to, however Axel told her Josef had taken notes in Swedish — which her accountant wouldn't understand — and he was the only person he knew aside from her who knew Swedish. Sofia got stressed out and decided to go visit the pastor and he prayed with her.
Chapter 7:
Axel continued to work on going through Josef's papers. Sofia came to Axel with a letter, it was from a custom seeding company saying they hadn't seen payment yet. Axel found the bill and told Sofia it hadn't been paid. Sofia was upset about it. Axel wrote a note of explanation to the company to explain to them. Sofia worried that there might be more unpaid bills and she talked a bit with Hendrick who then decided to go help Axel. Sofia came to get him at snack time and Hendrick fiercely insisted that Axel join them and he did, although reluctantly.
Chapter 8:
Sofia got to wondering about whether she wanted Hendrick to become friends with Axel as that would make her have to become friends with him and she wasn't quite sure if she wanted that, and she wondered why she even wanted to stay in Canada if she didn't want to make friends, but surmised that it was because of the fact that here she could decide when she wanted to hear from her family who were offering a litany of different ideas for her to choose from as to what she should do. The pastor's wife came over and talked with Sofia a bit before they decided that they should do some talking with Charlotte, being as she was taking Josef's death hard. Axel finished going through the bills and then started to go through the notes and found that Josef had taken a sheet of paper, written on it, and then torn the bits off, so he decided to work at piecing them together and finding out about when they would've been written.
Excerpt of the Day:
"They worked for quite awhile before Axel heard the door open and he had a feeling that it was opened in urgency. He looked up as Sofia hurried over on her tiptoes. She looked to be panicked.
"Have you– Hendrick!" Sofia exclaimed.
Her chocolate haired son looked up at her and smiled. "I'm helping the uncle Mama."
"You should've told me," Sofia said, putting a hand over her breastbone.
"Oh," Hendrick said, his smile fading.
"It's snack time," Sofia said.
Hendrick's smile returned and he carefully manoeuvred through the papers to Sofia who turned to lead the way through the barn and out. Axel took up the next paper and found a date on it. When he looked up Hendrick was back at the door.
"Aren't you coming?" Hendrick asked.
"I wasn't invited," Axel replied.
Hendrick turned and hurried away.
Axel found a bunch of dateless notes written on scraps and got up to put them on the chair. He heard feet running back.
"I asked Mama if you could be invited and she said yes," Hendrick said.
"It's okay," Axel said. "I'll just stay here."
"No!" Hendrick protested. "You're invited!"
"Thank you for your invitation," Axel said. "But I do have the right to refuse your invitation."
"I want you to come!" Hendrick said.
"There's still lots of work that needs to be done," Axel said. "So I'll just work on finishing it, okay? Maybe next time."
"No!" Hendrick cried, bursting into tears.
Axel sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He got up and stepped over the papers, reaching over to cover Hendrick's mouth to silence the sobs and cries.
"Shh," Axel said, hoping desperately Sofia wouldn't round the corner. This was embarrassing enough as it was. "I'm busy, I'll come tomorrow, okay? Can't I come tomorrow?"
He lifted his hand off of Hendrick's mouth a little to let him answer. Hendrick but Axel right on the side of his ring finger. Axel cried out and snatched his hand away, knocking Hendrick onto his backside and only adding to Hendrick's volume in his cries.
Axel swore under his breath and rubbed his finger, then he took Hendrick by the arm and helped him to his feet.
"I know I'm not your mom, or your dad," Axel said. "But biting is uncalled for."
"I want you to come!" Hendrick said.
"And biting me is not going to accomplish that," Axel replied.
"I want you to come today," Hendrick said.
"I'll walk you to the house, okay?" Axel asked.
"And you'll come inside for snack," Hendrick said.
"Maybe," Axel replied.
Hendrick wiped his eyes with his fists while Axel straightened. Hendrick reached up and wrapped his wet, grubby little hand around two of Axel's fingers tightly and walked with Axel to the house."
Monday, November 03, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 2
Word Count: 12,008
Summary of Events:
Chapter 3:
Sofia told Charlotte and Hendrick that Josef was dead, to much weeping. Axel got up and went to finish off Josef's final field and Jarred suggested — being as Axel knew a bit of Swedish and how to deal with currency exchanging and immigration — that Axel help Sofia deal with things now that she was alone. Axel then went to the Olesen's and advised Sofia to call her lawyer and find out about Josef's will. Sofia ended up getting tongue-tied and Axel took over the call and arranged for Sofia to meet the lawyer that afternoon.
Chapter 4:
Josef's funeral took place and all his brothers, one of his sisters, and his parents were the only friends and family from Sweden who were able to show up. One of Josef's brothers, Mats, became a little suspicious of Axel, being as Sofia held onto him so tightly at the funeral, and Axel had no wedding ring on. After the funeral Sofia and her family discussed her going back to Sweden — which she refused to do. Then Mats suggested she wanted to stay to be close to Axel and Sofia got upset and left the dining room.
Excerpt of the Day:
""You love him," Mats said.
"Love who?" Jonas asked.
"No," Sofia replied. "I do not. But Mr. Bergquist has offered to help me to adjust to the changes that have happened, and to teach me how to do things in Canada so that I can continue what Josef started."
"Who?" Jonas asked.
"The man who she stood by at the funeral," Mats replied.
"Ah yes, him," Jonas said. "But Mats, you don't seriously think that Sofia would so much as abandon her lifelong sweetheart. You know how smitten Josef and Sofia were. They likely would've been married when they were in their teens if it would've been allowed."
"You never know," Mats said.
"I don't!" Sofia snapped. "But he has offered me the assistance that I need to remain in Canada, which I am sure Josef wanted for me to do, and which I intend to do so that the wishes Josef outlined in his will can be fulfilled."
"Why do you need to stay in Canada?" Jonas asked.
"Because that was what Josef wanted," Sofia replied.
"You know," everyone turned to look at Lars who hadn't hardly said a word since he and his wife had arrived. "I think we're all wasting our breath here."
"And how do you mean?" Mats asked, sounding quite upset.
"Grief always relapses at six months," Lars replied. "Or within that area anyways. So I think we should just let things lie as they lie and see what happens at six months."
"I don't understand Lars," Jonas said.
"If Sofia wants to stay here for now let her stay here for now," Lars replied. "See if this Mr. Bergquist can or will help her out with adjusting to live in Canada, and whether or not that will matter when the grief relapses. Maybe when the grief relapses she'll decide that she can't do this on her own, or doesn't want to, and will come back to Sweden of her own accord. There's no sense in forcing her now."
Everyone was silent, Jonas had his thumb resting on the tip of his nose and his forefinger stroking down the bridge as he contemplated Lars' suggestion. Sofia thought it was a good idea, that way they'd leave her alone and not go trying to pressure her into going to Sweden.
"You know," Jonas said. "I think that is a very good and reasonable idea. My apologies, Sofia, we shouldn't force you around, but please know that even though Josef sold everything, we will still take you in if you so need or want. We will provide for you whatever you may need whenever you want to come back to Sweden."
Sofia nodded. "Thank you," she said."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 3:
Sofia told Charlotte and Hendrick that Josef was dead, to much weeping. Axel got up and went to finish off Josef's final field and Jarred suggested — being as Axel knew a bit of Swedish and how to deal with currency exchanging and immigration — that Axel help Sofia deal with things now that she was alone. Axel then went to the Olesen's and advised Sofia to call her lawyer and find out about Josef's will. Sofia ended up getting tongue-tied and Axel took over the call and arranged for Sofia to meet the lawyer that afternoon.
Chapter 4:
Josef's funeral took place and all his brothers, one of his sisters, and his parents were the only friends and family from Sweden who were able to show up. One of Josef's brothers, Mats, became a little suspicious of Axel, being as Sofia held onto him so tightly at the funeral, and Axel had no wedding ring on. After the funeral Sofia and her family discussed her going back to Sweden — which she refused to do. Then Mats suggested she wanted to stay to be close to Axel and Sofia got upset and left the dining room.
Excerpt of the Day:
""You love him," Mats said.
"Love who?" Jonas asked.
"No," Sofia replied. "I do not. But Mr. Bergquist has offered to help me to adjust to the changes that have happened, and to teach me how to do things in Canada so that I can continue what Josef started."
"Who?" Jonas asked.
"The man who she stood by at the funeral," Mats replied.
"Ah yes, him," Jonas said. "But Mats, you don't seriously think that Sofia would so much as abandon her lifelong sweetheart. You know how smitten Josef and Sofia were. They likely would've been married when they were in their teens if it would've been allowed."
"You never know," Mats said.
"I don't!" Sofia snapped. "But he has offered me the assistance that I need to remain in Canada, which I am sure Josef wanted for me to do, and which I intend to do so that the wishes Josef outlined in his will can be fulfilled."
"Why do you need to stay in Canada?" Jonas asked.
"Because that was what Josef wanted," Sofia replied.
"You know," everyone turned to look at Lars who hadn't hardly said a word since he and his wife had arrived. "I think we're all wasting our breath here."
"And how do you mean?" Mats asked, sounding quite upset.
"Grief always relapses at six months," Lars replied. "Or within that area anyways. So I think we should just let things lie as they lie and see what happens at six months."
"I don't understand Lars," Jonas said.
"If Sofia wants to stay here for now let her stay here for now," Lars replied. "See if this Mr. Bergquist can or will help her out with adjusting to live in Canada, and whether or not that will matter when the grief relapses. Maybe when the grief relapses she'll decide that she can't do this on her own, or doesn't want to, and will come back to Sweden of her own accord. There's no sense in forcing her now."
Everyone was silent, Jonas had his thumb resting on the tip of his nose and his forefinger stroking down the bridge as he contemplated Lars' suggestion. Sofia thought it was a good idea, that way they'd leave her alone and not go trying to pressure her into going to Sweden.
"You know," Jonas said. "I think that is a very good and reasonable idea. My apologies, Sofia, we shouldn't force you around, but please know that even though Josef sold everything, we will still take you in if you so need or want. We will provide for you whatever you may need whenever you want to come back to Sweden."
Sofia nodded. "Thank you," she said."
Saturday, November 01, 2014
Suddenly Alone: Day 1
Word Count: 6,004
Summary of Events:
Chapter 1:
Sofia and Josef got up and had breakfast and Sofia then saw Josef off to work. Axel and the son of the man Josef was renting the field in progress from — Jarred Hawes — discussed Josef and how Axel thought that Josef wasn't managing his finances wisely while they waited for Josef to fill the combine harvester. Sofia hung out laundry to dry and then tried to read, but she didn't get very far for the first bit. Axel returned from emptying his truck to find Josef in an odd position and called the paramedics.
Chapter 2:
Sofia and the children had lunch and Sofia started to feel a little concerned, being as Josef hadn't called for her to bring lunch over. The paramedics arrived and pronounced Josef dead, having fallen off the combine while taking a sample and breaking his neck — killing him instantly — and they then took the body away. Axel told Jarred what happened and Jarred called his dad, Trevor, and they kept harvesting being as they had to move while the weather was good. Sofia was starting to get nervous being as it was close to suppertime and Josef still hadn't called for lunch. Axel came to empty his truck, having finished off the field, and decided to tell Sofia that Josef had died.
Excerpt of the Day:
""Mrs. Olesen," Axel sighed. "I, Josef fell off the combine while taking a sample."
Sofia's eyes flew open and her hand shot over her mouth. She was waiting for him to finish. Waiting for more.
"He, he broke his neck," Axel continued. Sofia gasped. "According to the paramedics he died instantly."
Sofia's hands flew up to her face and she burst into sobs. Axel bit his lower lip and moved his jaw back and forth, not really sure what to do. Sofia put her elbows onto her thighs, her body shaking with sobs.
Finally Axel moved a little bit closer and, feeling a bit awkward, but feeling he should do it, put his arm around Sofia's shaking shoulders. Sofia took one hand off her face and moved it around his back, hanging her hand over his shoulder.
Axel was a little surprised, but Sofia hung her other hand on his other shoulder and buried her face into his chest, pushing him back against the couch and sobbing. Axel brought up his other arm and gently wrapped it around her head and looked down at her dark brown hair as it flowed over the top of her head.
Looking up, he gazed out the window at his truck. He hoped that they weren't waiting for him at the field or trying to call him. He had a feeling this was going to take a lot more time than he'd anticipated.
Movement out the corner of his eye caused him to turn his head toward the foot of the staircase — where the front entry was — and he found standing there a young girl, probably about six, who, like her parents, had dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was looking on the scene with absolute horror. Great. Now what was he going to do?
The girl, in somewhat falling out braids, stalked over, her blue eyes both icy and incredibly ferocious. She looked at him as if his presence were unwelcome — something he didn't really doubt.
Sofia brought her head up, her eyes now thoroughly red, and looked at her daughter, who startled at the sight of her mother's tears. In a swift and sudden motion Sofia swept her daughter into her arms and sobbed some more. The girl looked up at Axel with a look of saddened disconcertion on her face, trying to figure out what was going on.
"I'm sorry,"Axel said quietly. "I have to go now, we've got one more field, and we'd like to get a start on it."
Neither female acknowledged that Axel had said anything so, even though he felt somewhat wrong and rather uncomfortable, he got up from the couch and headed out of the door."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 1:
Sofia and Josef got up and had breakfast and Sofia then saw Josef off to work. Axel and the son of the man Josef was renting the field in progress from — Jarred Hawes — discussed Josef and how Axel thought that Josef wasn't managing his finances wisely while they waited for Josef to fill the combine harvester. Sofia hung out laundry to dry and then tried to read, but she didn't get very far for the first bit. Axel returned from emptying his truck to find Josef in an odd position and called the paramedics.
Chapter 2:
Sofia and the children had lunch and Sofia started to feel a little concerned, being as Josef hadn't called for her to bring lunch over. The paramedics arrived and pronounced Josef dead, having fallen off the combine while taking a sample and breaking his neck — killing him instantly — and they then took the body away. Axel told Jarred what happened and Jarred called his dad, Trevor, and they kept harvesting being as they had to move while the weather was good. Sofia was starting to get nervous being as it was close to suppertime and Josef still hadn't called for lunch. Axel came to empty his truck, having finished off the field, and decided to tell Sofia that Josef had died.
Excerpt of the Day:
""Mrs. Olesen," Axel sighed. "I, Josef fell off the combine while taking a sample."
Sofia's eyes flew open and her hand shot over her mouth. She was waiting for him to finish. Waiting for more.
"He, he broke his neck," Axel continued. Sofia gasped. "According to the paramedics he died instantly."
Sofia's hands flew up to her face and she burst into sobs. Axel bit his lower lip and moved his jaw back and forth, not really sure what to do. Sofia put her elbows onto her thighs, her body shaking with sobs.
Finally Axel moved a little bit closer and, feeling a bit awkward, but feeling he should do it, put his arm around Sofia's shaking shoulders. Sofia took one hand off her face and moved it around his back, hanging her hand over his shoulder.
Axel was a little surprised, but Sofia hung her other hand on his other shoulder and buried her face into his chest, pushing him back against the couch and sobbing. Axel brought up his other arm and gently wrapped it around her head and looked down at her dark brown hair as it flowed over the top of her head.
Looking up, he gazed out the window at his truck. He hoped that they weren't waiting for him at the field or trying to call him. He had a feeling this was going to take a lot more time than he'd anticipated.
Movement out the corner of his eye caused him to turn his head toward the foot of the staircase — where the front entry was — and he found standing there a young girl, probably about six, who, like her parents, had dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was looking on the scene with absolute horror. Great. Now what was he going to do?
The girl, in somewhat falling out braids, stalked over, her blue eyes both icy and incredibly ferocious. She looked at him as if his presence were unwelcome — something he didn't really doubt.
Sofia brought her head up, her eyes now thoroughly red, and looked at her daughter, who startled at the sight of her mother's tears. In a swift and sudden motion Sofia swept her daughter into her arms and sobbed some more. The girl looked up at Axel with a look of saddened disconcertion on her face, trying to figure out what was going on.
"I'm sorry,"Axel said quietly. "I have to go now, we've got one more field, and we'd like to get a start on it."
Neither female acknowledged that Axel had said anything so, even though he felt somewhat wrong and rather uncomfortable, he got up from the couch and headed out of the door."
Thursday, October 30, 2014
November Novel No. 1 Essential Information
Novel Title: Suddenly Alone
Time Setting: Modern day
Genre: Agricultural life
Minimum word count goal: 60,000 words
Timespan: August-December
Location(s): Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan
Main Characters: Axel Bergquist, Sofia Olesen
Background Information:
Axel was born in Ängelholm, Sweden, but raised in Tølløse, Denmark as a member of a farming family. Being as he wasn't the oldest son he wasn't slated to inherit the farm, but he wanted to pursue farming so — being as Denmark is a small country — Axel immediately looked overseas to more spacious areas — namely Saskatchewan — where is lifelong bachelor uncle had been living since the 1970s. Slowly Axel took over his uncle's farm while remaining in Denmark until finally he prepared to make the move to Canada himself, with his wife Keryn in tow. However, when Keryn found out that Golden Prairie was an exceedingly small town that was over fifteen minutes from anywhere more substantial she found the final excuse she needed to call an end to their fledging marriage and did so, returning to Denmark and leaving Axel to farm in Canada alone which Axel has been doing in the years since then — and doing quite well.
Sofia was born and raised in Vara, Sweden where her father worked as an employee at the large Olesen farm. Sofia spent much time at the Olesen farm and got to know Mr. Olesen's second son Josef quite well. Josef was an avid farmer as well and built up a farm for himself using land his father had given him. When Sofia was nineteen she and Josef were married and they had two children: Charlotte and Hendrick before Josef — who had about a net worth of about fifty million Swedish Krona — decided to liquidate one hundred percent of his assets and move to Canada, where his fifty million Krona became $7.62 million. Undaunted Josef forged ahead and bought a piece of land, equipment, and seed and started farming. In January of the current year Sofia gave birth to their third child: Kirsten.
Time Setting: Modern day
Genre: Agricultural life
Minimum word count goal: 60,000 words
Timespan: August-December
Location(s): Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan
Main Characters: Axel Bergquist, Sofia Olesen
Background Information:
Axel was born in Ängelholm, Sweden, but raised in Tølløse, Denmark as a member of a farming family. Being as he wasn't the oldest son he wasn't slated to inherit the farm, but he wanted to pursue farming so — being as Denmark is a small country — Axel immediately looked overseas to more spacious areas — namely Saskatchewan — where is lifelong bachelor uncle had been living since the 1970s. Slowly Axel took over his uncle's farm while remaining in Denmark until finally he prepared to make the move to Canada himself, with his wife Keryn in tow. However, when Keryn found out that Golden Prairie was an exceedingly small town that was over fifteen minutes from anywhere more substantial she found the final excuse she needed to call an end to their fledging marriage and did so, returning to Denmark and leaving Axel to farm in Canada alone which Axel has been doing in the years since then — and doing quite well.
Sofia was born and raised in Vara, Sweden where her father worked as an employee at the large Olesen farm. Sofia spent much time at the Olesen farm and got to know Mr. Olesen's second son Josef quite well. Josef was an avid farmer as well and built up a farm for himself using land his father had given him. When Sofia was nineteen she and Josef were married and they had two children: Charlotte and Hendrick before Josef — who had about a net worth of about fifty million Swedish Krona — decided to liquidate one hundred percent of his assets and move to Canada, where his fifty million Krona became $7.62 million. Undaunted Josef forged ahead and bought a piece of land, equipment, and seed and started farming. In January of the current year Sofia gave birth to their third child: Kirsten.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 20
Word Total: 121,331
Year to Date: 932,073
Summary of Events:
Chapter 39:
Honour was supposed to be getting ready for a gathering to celebrate her return, but refused to get ready because Borden wasn't out of the hospital yet and no one was mentioning him or caring about him at all. She succeeded in getting the party postponed. The next day Borden was released from hospital and went to make sure the party was still going on when Eira's parents showed up.
Chapter 40:
The party went on, with the mayors of Mackenzie and Nanaimo, the Premier of BC, and the Lieutenant Governor of BC all speaking. The Lieutenant Governor encouraged people to forgive Borden for what he'd been arrested for and accept that he was wanting to try and be a better person. Many people did — although Borden's dad wasn't among the number. Borden then got offered a job with a search and rescue company he decided to seriously consider, and Eira headed home with her parents to get her things and move in with a friend of hers who now lived in Prince George — although she was unsure of what she was going to be doing beyond that.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Eira's fingers left Borden's jaw as she looked. Judging by the silence of Honour and Mr. Pavelick, Borden guessed they were looking too — although he didn't check. A police officer got out of the car and spoke into the opened window of the SUV, then got back into his cruiser and peeled off.
A couple — both with dark hair, although Borden couldn't ascertain if it was necessarily black — emerged from the SUV and Borden heard Eira gasp. The couple headed toward the front door.
Borden glanced at Eira as she ran toward the front door. He got up as she threw it open and raced across the space between her and the only people the couple could possibly be: her parents.
Honour hurried to the door and Borden followed after. They stood on the doorstep and watched Eira and her parents as they embraced and wept and spoke rapidly in irish — Borden didn't bother guessing at what they might be saying, he knew nothing of Gaelic.
After they'd sufficiently embraced and wept and whatnot Eira turned to Borden and Honour and led her parents forward.
"This is the other girl who was missing with me," Eira said, sliding a hand around Honour's shoulders.
"Honour Sorken," Eira's mother said — her voice thick with brogue.
"And y' must be 'er father," Eira's father said to Borden.
Borden startled and felt his face go red. He put his hand to his wound and wished they could rewind, forget that ever happened, and start over again.
"No," Eira said, sounding a little surprised.
"My dad's dead," Honour said. "He and my mom blew up in a car crash."
Eira's mother stared openmouthed and wide-eyed at Honour.
"I'm sorry," Eira's father said. "Y' just look so similar."
Borden wanted to make a light comment, but he was still busy catching his breath.
"Borden trekked through the forest and mountains to rescue us," Eira said. "And led us back through them and protected us on the way here."
"And if I understand correctly you should be grateful to him that your daughter's alive and breathing," Mr. Pavelick said.
Borden startled again and felt the flush return to his face.
"I understand the gangster was going to shoot her, but he stepped in and took it," Mr. Pavelick said. "And as much as I don't understand Metric, they say he was millimetres away from dying himself."
Mr. O'Riordan looked at Borden as if awed. Borden reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling rather embarrassed.
"Y're an 'onour'ble man," Mr. O'Riordan said.
Borden gave Mr. O'Riordan a grateful glance. Someone actually was calling him honourable.
Mrs. O'Riordan then stepped forward and did something Borden would never have expected: she embraced Borden. Borden was startled at first, but he relaxed after a bit — even if he didn't return the embrace."
The next novel will begin on November 1, check back on October 30 for the Essential Information.
Year to Date: 932,073
Summary of Events:
Chapter 39:
Honour was supposed to be getting ready for a gathering to celebrate her return, but refused to get ready because Borden wasn't out of the hospital yet and no one was mentioning him or caring about him at all. She succeeded in getting the party postponed. The next day Borden was released from hospital and went to make sure the party was still going on when Eira's parents showed up.
Chapter 40:
The party went on, with the mayors of Mackenzie and Nanaimo, the Premier of BC, and the Lieutenant Governor of BC all speaking. The Lieutenant Governor encouraged people to forgive Borden for what he'd been arrested for and accept that he was wanting to try and be a better person. Many people did — although Borden's dad wasn't among the number. Borden then got offered a job with a search and rescue company he decided to seriously consider, and Eira headed home with her parents to get her things and move in with a friend of hers who now lived in Prince George — although she was unsure of what she was going to be doing beyond that.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Eira's fingers left Borden's jaw as she looked. Judging by the silence of Honour and Mr. Pavelick, Borden guessed they were looking too — although he didn't check. A police officer got out of the car and spoke into the opened window of the SUV, then got back into his cruiser and peeled off.
A couple — both with dark hair, although Borden couldn't ascertain if it was necessarily black — emerged from the SUV and Borden heard Eira gasp. The couple headed toward the front door.
Borden glanced at Eira as she ran toward the front door. He got up as she threw it open and raced across the space between her and the only people the couple could possibly be: her parents.
Honour hurried to the door and Borden followed after. They stood on the doorstep and watched Eira and her parents as they embraced and wept and spoke rapidly in irish — Borden didn't bother guessing at what they might be saying, he knew nothing of Gaelic.
After they'd sufficiently embraced and wept and whatnot Eira turned to Borden and Honour and led her parents forward.
"This is the other girl who was missing with me," Eira said, sliding a hand around Honour's shoulders.
"Honour Sorken," Eira's mother said — her voice thick with brogue.
"And y' must be 'er father," Eira's father said to Borden.
Borden startled and felt his face go red. He put his hand to his wound and wished they could rewind, forget that ever happened, and start over again.
"No," Eira said, sounding a little surprised.
"My dad's dead," Honour said. "He and my mom blew up in a car crash."
Eira's mother stared openmouthed and wide-eyed at Honour.
"I'm sorry," Eira's father said. "Y' just look so similar."
Borden wanted to make a light comment, but he was still busy catching his breath.
"Borden trekked through the forest and mountains to rescue us," Eira said. "And led us back through them and protected us on the way here."
"And if I understand correctly you should be grateful to him that your daughter's alive and breathing," Mr. Pavelick said.
Borden startled again and felt the flush return to his face.
"I understand the gangster was going to shoot her, but he stepped in and took it," Mr. Pavelick said. "And as much as I don't understand Metric, they say he was millimetres away from dying himself."
Mr. O'Riordan looked at Borden as if awed. Borden reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling rather embarrassed.
"Y're an 'onour'ble man," Mr. O'Riordan said.
Borden gave Mr. O'Riordan a grateful glance. Someone actually was calling him honourable.
Mrs. O'Riordan then stepped forward and did something Borden would never have expected: she embraced Borden. Borden was startled at first, but he relaxed after a bit — even if he didn't return the embrace."
The next novel will begin on November 1, check back on October 30 for the Essential Information.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 19
Word Count: 115,335
Summary of Events:
Chapter 37:
After sending Honour after a phone, Borden and Eira made for Highway 39 to get to the trailer park, but before they got there they encountered the man Eira had sung for — the gang boss. Honour went to Elizabeth's house and called the police and had soup for lunch while Eira worked to stall the gang boss and finally after long last the police arrived.
Chapter 38:
Eira and Honour went to the police station and gave their statements together and then Ryan and Christine came and offered to let Eira stay with them until her parents came. Honour and Eira then went to the hospital and visited Borden and Ryan and Christine apologized to Borden for having suspected him of having kidnapped Honour.
Excerpt of the Day:
"The legs came fully out and revealed the whole figure of the man. He was at least as tall as Borden, but he looked more muscular than Borden, especially across the chest and shoulders. Covering the upper part of his body was a charcoal dress jacket, a mango orange dress shirt, and a necktie with colours from the black and orange monochromatic scales forming angled stripes.
But the most fearsome thing the man had was a very large pistol — if it was even in the pistol category — in his right hand.
Borden surveyed the rest of the man. He was clean shaven, his skin well-tanned, around the sides and back of his skull his hair was kept the length of peach fuzz, but on the top of his head it was no shorter than four inches, thick, and brown, all combed to the right, his eyes were brown and cold.
His skin was caucasian, Borden was pretty sure, and he noticed some dark, greenish markings on the man's neck. The professional attire didn't really quite work for him, although he was a professional. He wasn't a professional businessman, though. Borden could tell the man was a professional cold-blooded killer. And he looked set to kill by the look he had in his eyes.
"Well if it isn't my maiden," the man said, surprising Borden with how bass his voice was.
Borden glanced toward Eira. She'd spread her legs apart, had her hands sitting on her hops, her head cocked upward. Borden guessed the man was getting a defiant look.
"Did you not think I would come and track you down?" he asked.
By the way Eira cocked her head Borden guessed she was giving the man a sarcastic expression.
"No, I couldn't let sixty thousand dollars run away from me," he said.
"I'm sure you don't even muss the money," Eira replied with fire — like when she'd threatened Borden if he were to touch her.
"Sixty thousand dollars is a big sum of money," he said. "Five thousand, no, I don't miss that, but sixty thousand dollars, that's noticeable."
"Really?" Eira asked. "I would never have guessed."
"I don't try to make it obvious," he said. "But I am going to get my sixty thousand dollars, so long as that itinerant fool behind you doesn't even think about touching his gun."
Borden sighed and dropped his arms.
"But of course you went and put us through a lot of trouble," he said "And I'm probably going to need to subdue you. So."
Borden started powering forward as the man raised his gun up, level with his shoulders, his arm ramrod straight. Stretching his arm forward, Borden grabbed Eira's arm and instantly started swinging his arm back.
The gun firing exploded through the air, it felt like it ripped through Borden and he found himself falling to the pavement and things going black as he made impact."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 37:
After sending Honour after a phone, Borden and Eira made for Highway 39 to get to the trailer park, but before they got there they encountered the man Eira had sung for — the gang boss. Honour went to Elizabeth's house and called the police and had soup for lunch while Eira worked to stall the gang boss and finally after long last the police arrived.
Chapter 38:
Eira and Honour went to the police station and gave their statements together and then Ryan and Christine came and offered to let Eira stay with them until her parents came. Honour and Eira then went to the hospital and visited Borden and Ryan and Christine apologized to Borden for having suspected him of having kidnapped Honour.
Excerpt of the Day:
"The legs came fully out and revealed the whole figure of the man. He was at least as tall as Borden, but he looked more muscular than Borden, especially across the chest and shoulders. Covering the upper part of his body was a charcoal dress jacket, a mango orange dress shirt, and a necktie with colours from the black and orange monochromatic scales forming angled stripes.
But the most fearsome thing the man had was a very large pistol — if it was even in the pistol category — in his right hand.
Borden surveyed the rest of the man. He was clean shaven, his skin well-tanned, around the sides and back of his skull his hair was kept the length of peach fuzz, but on the top of his head it was no shorter than four inches, thick, and brown, all combed to the right, his eyes were brown and cold.
His skin was caucasian, Borden was pretty sure, and he noticed some dark, greenish markings on the man's neck. The professional attire didn't really quite work for him, although he was a professional. He wasn't a professional businessman, though. Borden could tell the man was a professional cold-blooded killer. And he looked set to kill by the look he had in his eyes.
"Well if it isn't my maiden," the man said, surprising Borden with how bass his voice was.
Borden glanced toward Eira. She'd spread her legs apart, had her hands sitting on her hops, her head cocked upward. Borden guessed the man was getting a defiant look.
"Did you not think I would come and track you down?" he asked.
By the way Eira cocked her head Borden guessed she was giving the man a sarcastic expression.
"No, I couldn't let sixty thousand dollars run away from me," he said.
"I'm sure you don't even muss the money," Eira replied with fire — like when she'd threatened Borden if he were to touch her.
"Sixty thousand dollars is a big sum of money," he said. "Five thousand, no, I don't miss that, but sixty thousand dollars, that's noticeable."
"Really?" Eira asked. "I would never have guessed."
"I don't try to make it obvious," he said. "But I am going to get my sixty thousand dollars, so long as that itinerant fool behind you doesn't even think about touching his gun."
Borden sighed and dropped his arms.
"But of course you went and put us through a lot of trouble," he said "And I'm probably going to need to subdue you. So."
Borden started powering forward as the man raised his gun up, level with his shoulders, his arm ramrod straight. Stretching his arm forward, Borden grabbed Eira's arm and instantly started swinging his arm back.
The gun firing exploded through the air, it felt like it ripped through Borden and he found himself falling to the pavement and things going black as he made impact."
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 18
Word Count: 109,335
Summary of Events:
Chapter 35:
Borden ended up meeting their pursuers face to face and found out there were only three of them — behind them — he knocked them unconscious and then followed Honour and Eira who'd run on ahead. They arrived at the shore of Williston Lake and Borden caught them fish for supper while Eira got her first glimpse of Mackenzie across the lake.
Chapter 36:
Starting early Borden, Honour, and Eira set out across Williston Lake. Their pursuers found out and notified their boss. Unsuccessfully their pursuers tried to shoot Borden, Eira swam far off to be safe. Then the boss ordered one of his other men to go out onto the lake in a motorboat. He picked up the other pursuers and they tried to capture Borden and Honour, but were once again unsuccessful. Upon reaching the shore Borden sent Honour off to find a phone and call the police for help.
Excerpt of the Day:
"The motor was getting louder, Borden winced at the thought of the motor's rotors chopping through his calves or something of the like. Borden really winced at the thought of Honour being damaged by the rotors.
It sounded like the motor ought to be on top of them. Then something was jerking on Borden's waist. No! No! Borden saw the boat to his right. Turning, he surged at the boat and managed to grasp the side. He heard outcry as he tried to get a better grip, and then a sharp pain along the left side of the tall finger on is right hand.
"Don't stab his fingers you dummy!" a voice cried. "Slash 'em!"
Borden pulled himself upward, took his right hand, and swung it hard in a right hook and made impact with something. He felt Honour's arms wrapping around his right calf. He shook the water out of his eyes and looked. Seven men were on the boat. A gargantuan black motor was holding the boat's rear end in the water and its nose up in the air.
The man with the knife was the one Borden had punched, but one of the other men took up the knife and looked about ready to make a move for Borden's throat. Borden seized Honour by the waistband of her pants and pulled her up against his side. Honour clung to him desperately, her hands slipping due to the wetness.
Borden climbed onto the boat.
"Alright! We got 'em!" the man at the motor exclaimed.
"Now where's the maiden?" the man with the knife demanded.
Borden said nothing, although he gripped the side of the boat tightly as the motor revved and they set off into motion again. Honour wrapped her arms around Borden's neck as he rested a foot on the side of the boat. Her fingers curled into his hair and pulled. Borden winced as she pulled all the fine little hairs.
"Hey!" the man with the knife barked. "Where's the maiden?"
Borden jumped up, although still holding onto the side of the boat, and came down hard, causing the boat to flip. Hanging tightly onto Honour, Borden dove deeply and swam hard a ways before letting himself come to the surface."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 35:
Borden ended up meeting their pursuers face to face and found out there were only three of them — behind them — he knocked them unconscious and then followed Honour and Eira who'd run on ahead. They arrived at the shore of Williston Lake and Borden caught them fish for supper while Eira got her first glimpse of Mackenzie across the lake.
Chapter 36:
Starting early Borden, Honour, and Eira set out across Williston Lake. Their pursuers found out and notified their boss. Unsuccessfully their pursuers tried to shoot Borden, Eira swam far off to be safe. Then the boss ordered one of his other men to go out onto the lake in a motorboat. He picked up the other pursuers and they tried to capture Borden and Honour, but were once again unsuccessful. Upon reaching the shore Borden sent Honour off to find a phone and call the police for help.
Excerpt of the Day:
"The motor was getting louder, Borden winced at the thought of the motor's rotors chopping through his calves or something of the like. Borden really winced at the thought of Honour being damaged by the rotors.
It sounded like the motor ought to be on top of them. Then something was jerking on Borden's waist. No! No! Borden saw the boat to his right. Turning, he surged at the boat and managed to grasp the side. He heard outcry as he tried to get a better grip, and then a sharp pain along the left side of the tall finger on is right hand.
"Don't stab his fingers you dummy!" a voice cried. "Slash 'em!"
Borden pulled himself upward, took his right hand, and swung it hard in a right hook and made impact with something. He felt Honour's arms wrapping around his right calf. He shook the water out of his eyes and looked. Seven men were on the boat. A gargantuan black motor was holding the boat's rear end in the water and its nose up in the air.
The man with the knife was the one Borden had punched, but one of the other men took up the knife and looked about ready to make a move for Borden's throat. Borden seized Honour by the waistband of her pants and pulled her up against his side. Honour clung to him desperately, her hands slipping due to the wetness.
Borden climbed onto the boat.
"Alright! We got 'em!" the man at the motor exclaimed.
"Now where's the maiden?" the man with the knife demanded.
Borden said nothing, although he gripped the side of the boat tightly as the motor revved and they set off into motion again. Honour wrapped her arms around Borden's neck as he rested a foot on the side of the boat. Her fingers curled into his hair and pulled. Borden winced as she pulled all the fine little hairs.
"Hey!" the man with the knife barked. "Where's the maiden?"
Borden jumped up, although still holding onto the side of the boat, and came down hard, causing the boat to flip. Hanging tightly onto Honour, Borden dove deeply and swam hard a ways before letting himself come to the surface."
Monday, October 20, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 17
Word Count: 103,337
Summary of Events:
Chapter 33:
Borden, Honour, and Eira hard to run from their pursuers for a longer distance than usual and managed to escape unharmed. Borden and Honour discussed God, Borden believing God wasn't doing anything and Honour trying to figure out how to explain to Borden that wasn't the case.
Chapter 34:
Honour and Eira discussed Borden and how, being a man, he was rather stubborn and it would take a lot more work to convince him about most everything about God. The three of them then arrived at the Nation River and crossed it with a little bit of difficulty due to the strength of the current. Eira then discussed God a little with Borden and got a better understanding as to why he wasn't interested in Christianity.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Borden and Eira took off their shoes and slogged through the river. The Nation had a good current on it. The dog swam across on his own and made it up to the shore where he shook off his golden coat. He was grateful the dog had reached there first and hand't had the opportunity to spray them.
"Borden," he paused and turned. Eira was standing somewhat close to him, the water was running fervently around her knees.
"Yes?" Borden asked.
"Can I hold your hand?" Eira asked.
Borden turned to reach back to Eira and he slipped. Borden struggled for balance, but he fell, hearing a particularly shrill scream in his ear as he went down. Fighting the natural urge to flail, Borden held his breath until he reached the surface. When he arrived there he realized he still had Honour on his back.
The current had rapidly pulled him away from Eira, who was standing, frozen with terror, watching them. Borden looked at the opposite shore and made for it as fast as he possibly could.
Desperately he fought the current and managed to reach the bank and climbed up onto it. Honour let go of Borden and started crying and coughing. Borden helped her get all the water out and then carried her, on his side, down to where the dog was sitting and waiting obediently.
Honour sat down on the ground beside the dog and looked out at Eira. Borden exhaled as he looked at Eira, she looked terrified. She might even be crying. Borden made his way down the slope and stepped into the river.
Carefully, gripping as tightly as possible onto the smooth, rounded stones underfoot, Borden made his way across the river. He hadn't recalled the Nation being this treacherous when he'd crossed it on his own, but apparently it was.
Borden carefully wrapped his arm around Eira's back, noticing that she was indeed crying. Borden turned and carefully led Eira across the river, curling his hand tightly around her ribcage as Eira's hand fiercely held a fistful of his soggy t-shirt with her arm draped around his neck.
They made their way across carefully, although Eira slipped once just before they went to get out. Borden grabbed her ribcage tightly and pulled her close. Once Eira was back on good footing Borden led her out of the river and they both put their shoes back on."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 33:
Borden, Honour, and Eira hard to run from their pursuers for a longer distance than usual and managed to escape unharmed. Borden and Honour discussed God, Borden believing God wasn't doing anything and Honour trying to figure out how to explain to Borden that wasn't the case.
Chapter 34:
Honour and Eira discussed Borden and how, being a man, he was rather stubborn and it would take a lot more work to convince him about most everything about God. The three of them then arrived at the Nation River and crossed it with a little bit of difficulty due to the strength of the current. Eira then discussed God a little with Borden and got a better understanding as to why he wasn't interested in Christianity.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Borden and Eira took off their shoes and slogged through the river. The Nation had a good current on it. The dog swam across on his own and made it up to the shore where he shook off his golden coat. He was grateful the dog had reached there first and hand't had the opportunity to spray them.
"Borden," he paused and turned. Eira was standing somewhat close to him, the water was running fervently around her knees.
"Yes?" Borden asked.
"Can I hold your hand?" Eira asked.
Borden turned to reach back to Eira and he slipped. Borden struggled for balance, but he fell, hearing a particularly shrill scream in his ear as he went down. Fighting the natural urge to flail, Borden held his breath until he reached the surface. When he arrived there he realized he still had Honour on his back.
The current had rapidly pulled him away from Eira, who was standing, frozen with terror, watching them. Borden looked at the opposite shore and made for it as fast as he possibly could.
Desperately he fought the current and managed to reach the bank and climbed up onto it. Honour let go of Borden and started crying and coughing. Borden helped her get all the water out and then carried her, on his side, down to where the dog was sitting and waiting obediently.
Honour sat down on the ground beside the dog and looked out at Eira. Borden exhaled as he looked at Eira, she looked terrified. She might even be crying. Borden made his way down the slope and stepped into the river.
Carefully, gripping as tightly as possible onto the smooth, rounded stones underfoot, Borden made his way across the river. He hadn't recalled the Nation being this treacherous when he'd crossed it on his own, but apparently it was.
Borden carefully wrapped his arm around Eira's back, noticing that she was indeed crying. Borden turned and carefully led Eira across the river, curling his hand tightly around her ribcage as Eira's hand fiercely held a fistful of his soggy t-shirt with her arm draped around his neck.
They made their way across carefully, although Eira slipped once just before they went to get out. Borden grabbed her ribcage tightly and pulled her close. Once Eira was back on good footing Borden led her out of the river and they both put their shoes back on."
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 16
Word Count: 97,335
Summary of Events:
Chapter 31:
Borden, Honour, and Eira journeyed along Williston Lake looking forward to arriving in Mackenzie. The boss of their pursuers got radios to some of his men still hunting and got excited that they seemed to be narrowing things down.
Chapter 32:
Eira wondered about how her and Honour's friendship was going to continue once they arrived in Mackenzie. The dog led Borden to a cougar — nearly drowning Borden in the process — and they safely averted the danger they wouldn't otherwise have known about.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Borden stumbled, but kept upright thanks to his shoulder jamming against a nearby tree. The dog had stopped. Borden straightened, switching hands with the leash so he could rub his shoulder and brush the bark off of it.
The dog was rigid, ears upward, head forward. Borden went still and looked. He couldn't see anything. Borden glanced down at the dog. If someone would've had some bronze they could've poured it over the dog and made a bronze statue.
Suddenly the dog leapt forward, the leash jerking hard on Borden's wrist, which didn't help his shoulder any. Borden staggered forward, fighting to keep his balance as they stumbled down the slope. When they reached the waterway Borden tripped on a rock and landed face-first in the water.
Gasping and flailing, Borden fought to get on top of the rush of water. After a few moments he felt an arm tug at him and suddenly he was out, trying to cough and gasp for breath at the same time.
In the end he finally got the water out — along with a bit of the prior night's supper — and got the air in. He sat in the water, catching his breath, he could feet Eira's hand resting on his shoulder and could feel the fear and nervousness coming through her fingertips.
The dog was straining at the leash. Borden gave a hard jerk and the dog stopped straining and gave some slack. Borden got to his feet and looked at Eira.
"Are you alright?" Eira asked.
Borden nodded. "I'd like to see what he's after, stay here," he said.
Eira nodded and headed back to the shore where Honour was standing sentry by Eira's boots, looking rather relieved. Borden turned to the dog.
"Show me," Borden said.
The dog went forward at a brisk pace — but not half the mad-charging gallop that he'd stated out going — and led Borden to a tree. He climbed up the tree with his forepaws and looked up, but without a sound.
Borden looked up the tree with a sigh, expecting to see a squirrel gnawing on a pinecone or something and chattering. Instead Borden's eyes went wide. Resting on the branches of a nearby rarity — a poplar — was a cat. A large, tawny, lion-looking cat that went by three names — depending on what term a person had grown up with — cougar, mountain lion, and puma."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 31:
Borden, Honour, and Eira journeyed along Williston Lake looking forward to arriving in Mackenzie. The boss of their pursuers got radios to some of his men still hunting and got excited that they seemed to be narrowing things down.
Chapter 32:
Eira wondered about how her and Honour's friendship was going to continue once they arrived in Mackenzie. The dog led Borden to a cougar — nearly drowning Borden in the process — and they safely averted the danger they wouldn't otherwise have known about.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Borden stumbled, but kept upright thanks to his shoulder jamming against a nearby tree. The dog had stopped. Borden straightened, switching hands with the leash so he could rub his shoulder and brush the bark off of it.
The dog was rigid, ears upward, head forward. Borden went still and looked. He couldn't see anything. Borden glanced down at the dog. If someone would've had some bronze they could've poured it over the dog and made a bronze statue.
Suddenly the dog leapt forward, the leash jerking hard on Borden's wrist, which didn't help his shoulder any. Borden staggered forward, fighting to keep his balance as they stumbled down the slope. When they reached the waterway Borden tripped on a rock and landed face-first in the water.
Gasping and flailing, Borden fought to get on top of the rush of water. After a few moments he felt an arm tug at him and suddenly he was out, trying to cough and gasp for breath at the same time.
In the end he finally got the water out — along with a bit of the prior night's supper — and got the air in. He sat in the water, catching his breath, he could feet Eira's hand resting on his shoulder and could feel the fear and nervousness coming through her fingertips.
The dog was straining at the leash. Borden gave a hard jerk and the dog stopped straining and gave some slack. Borden got to his feet and looked at Eira.
"Are you alright?" Eira asked.
Borden nodded. "I'd like to see what he's after, stay here," he said.
Eira nodded and headed back to the shore where Honour was standing sentry by Eira's boots, looking rather relieved. Borden turned to the dog.
"Show me," Borden said.
The dog went forward at a brisk pace — but not half the mad-charging gallop that he'd stated out going — and led Borden to a tree. He climbed up the tree with his forepaws and looked up, but without a sound.
Borden looked up the tree with a sigh, expecting to see a squirrel gnawing on a pinecone or something and chattering. Instead Borden's eyes went wide. Resting on the branches of a nearby rarity — a poplar — was a cat. A large, tawny, lion-looking cat that went by three names — depending on what term a person had grown up with — cougar, mountain lion, and puma."
Friday, October 17, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 15
Word Count: 91,336
Summary of Events:
Chapter 29:
Borden walked alongside the Osilinka working on keeping his focus — which he actually found a little harder than he'd expected — and that evening as Eira massaged him he explained pretty much how he'd gotten to the point he was at.
Chapter 30:
Borden, Honour, and Eira's pursuers started running after them again, but this time the dog broke free from the pursuers and willingly joined Borden, Honour, and Eira, for which Borden was admittedly glad, it would help them to be more difficult to trace. They then arrived at the shore of Williston Lake and Honour felt like they were really getting close to home. The boss of their pursuers plotted to move north to McLeod Lake from Prince George and get radios to some of his men still out in the woods.
Excerpt of the Day:
""So I tried to forget it," Borden replied. "Forget the pain, the regret, at least for a couple of hours."
Eira felt like hugging Borden, but she wasn't sure what she would think about hugging him when she reflected on it — much less what Borden would think of it if she were to go and do it.
"Somehow I managed to do that and still have a military career," Borden said. "But then I went and got that stupid idea in my stupid head–"
"You're not stupid," Eira interjected.
"I was drunk," Borden replied, with an edge. "And I got the stupid idea in my head, so I went to see my girlfriend, and I tried to go with her to places she didn't want to go. And she called for help — not that I blame her, if she would've been coming after me in a state like that I would've called for help too."
Eira stared hard at the fire, trying desperately not to imagine the scene that Borden was describing. It was so similar to what had been threatened upon her at that place, and she didn't want to imagine it.
"Help came," Borden said. "I nearly killed him."
Digging her knuckles into Borden's back deeply, Eira moved them around, she could almost imagine Borden in a rage, delivering fierce blows. It chilled her. Borden was strong, he was physically powerful, and the damage he could do.
"So there went my military career," Borden sighed. "I was dishonourably discharged and pitched into a prison for five years on assault charges. And I've never gotten out."
"What do you mean?" Eira asked. "You're here."
"I'm out of the penitentiary in Nova Scotia, sure," Borden replied. "But I can't get out. They won't let me."
"Who won't?" Eira asked.
"My parents, my siblings, my friends, my acquaintances, my fellow citizens, everyone," Borden replied. "They've forgotten everything but what I did. What I did when I was stupid. They've forgotten everything but my most glaring mistake. And they keep shoving it in my face, saying how they never would've expected I would've done something like that, they keep throwing my dishonour back at me. They won't even believe me when I say I'd much rather avoid kids like the plague than take them. They think I'd dare go and take a child when the one thing in my rap sheet is a physical offence against adults. But I've been in prison, so they think I could turn into some kind of a pedophile or a pervert just because I was there.""
Summary of Events:
Chapter 29:
Borden walked alongside the Osilinka working on keeping his focus — which he actually found a little harder than he'd expected — and that evening as Eira massaged him he explained pretty much how he'd gotten to the point he was at.
Chapter 30:
Borden, Honour, and Eira's pursuers started running after them again, but this time the dog broke free from the pursuers and willingly joined Borden, Honour, and Eira, for which Borden was admittedly glad, it would help them to be more difficult to trace. They then arrived at the shore of Williston Lake and Honour felt like they were really getting close to home. The boss of their pursuers plotted to move north to McLeod Lake from Prince George and get radios to some of his men still out in the woods.
Excerpt of the Day:
""So I tried to forget it," Borden replied. "Forget the pain, the regret, at least for a couple of hours."
Eira felt like hugging Borden, but she wasn't sure what she would think about hugging him when she reflected on it — much less what Borden would think of it if she were to go and do it.
"Somehow I managed to do that and still have a military career," Borden said. "But then I went and got that stupid idea in my stupid head–"
"You're not stupid," Eira interjected.
"I was drunk," Borden replied, with an edge. "And I got the stupid idea in my head, so I went to see my girlfriend, and I tried to go with her to places she didn't want to go. And she called for help — not that I blame her, if she would've been coming after me in a state like that I would've called for help too."
Eira stared hard at the fire, trying desperately not to imagine the scene that Borden was describing. It was so similar to what had been threatened upon her at that place, and she didn't want to imagine it.
"Help came," Borden said. "I nearly killed him."
Digging her knuckles into Borden's back deeply, Eira moved them around, she could almost imagine Borden in a rage, delivering fierce blows. It chilled her. Borden was strong, he was physically powerful, and the damage he could do.
"So there went my military career," Borden sighed. "I was dishonourably discharged and pitched into a prison for five years on assault charges. And I've never gotten out."
"What do you mean?" Eira asked. "You're here."
"I'm out of the penitentiary in Nova Scotia, sure," Borden replied. "But I can't get out. They won't let me."
"Who won't?" Eira asked.
"My parents, my siblings, my friends, my acquaintances, my fellow citizens, everyone," Borden replied. "They've forgotten everything but what I did. What I did when I was stupid. They've forgotten everything but my most glaring mistake. And they keep shoving it in my face, saying how they never would've expected I would've done something like that, they keep throwing my dishonour back at me. They won't even believe me when I say I'd much rather avoid kids like the plague than take them. They think I'd dare go and take a child when the one thing in my rap sheet is a physical offence against adults. But I've been in prison, so they think I could turn into some kind of a pedophile or a pervert just because I was there.""
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 14
Word Count: 85,334
Summary of Events:
Chapter 27:
Borden, Honour, and Eira were shot at by their pursuers again. Borden and Eira discussed it and Borden hypothesized that they intended to kill him and take Honour and Eira back to wherever they'd been because Borden would be too much for them. Borden then lay awake worrying until he realized that he wasn't keeping the focus he ought to be and determined to rectify that.
Chapter 28:
Eira volunteered to hold Borden accountable for retaining his focus and offered to give him a massage at the end of the day if he held his focus like he wanted to. They then encountered a summer use road that crossed the Osilinka and Borden split up with Eira to confuse their pursuers, but Eira couldn't break a tree branch to use to cover her tracks so Borden went back to look for her and she managed to get across before a logging truck passed and blew away her footprints.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Losing Eira had been scary, but Honour was glad they'd managed to find her, and she was also grateful for the truck having coming along and giving Eira an opportunity to get across the road.
They'd walked back the way they'd come and then walked a long way along the river after that, and now they'd finished their supper and Eira was giving Borden a massage while Honour herself rested in Borden's lap.
It felt like everything was just right. They were all safe, they were all alright, and God was taking care of them, and was going to keep taking care of them. And on top of that, they were nearly home — or she and Borden were anyways. Eira was still a long way from home.
Honour looked at the fire's bright orange tongues as they licked at the wood hungrily, she didn't want to think about Eira going back to her home and being so far away. She liked Eira and wanted to be close to her. She didn't want to have to be so far away from her.
She whimpered and moved her head on Borden's leg to wipe away a tear. She felt a warm, gentle, but rough hand rest on her arm. Borden rubbed his thumb along the back of her arm. He didn't say anything, but Honour felt better. She didn't have to worry about it now, they'd deal with it when the time came.
Honour reached her other hand up and put it on Borden's hand, wrapping her fingers around Borden's first two. She'd still have Borden close by, and maybe he could even take her to visit Eira or possibly even bring Eira to visit her. She could still get to be friends with Borden and — Honour wasn't sure about the idea, but she decided to think it out and see how it sounded — maybe Borden and Eira would fall in love and get married or something.
No, that sounded weird. Borden and Eira would probably be friends, but it would be really weird if they went and got married. But maybe Eira would marry someone from Mackenzie and be able to live in Mackenzie so that they could become close and visit and whatnot. Only God knew what would happen, though."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 27:
Borden, Honour, and Eira were shot at by their pursuers again. Borden and Eira discussed it and Borden hypothesized that they intended to kill him and take Honour and Eira back to wherever they'd been because Borden would be too much for them. Borden then lay awake worrying until he realized that he wasn't keeping the focus he ought to be and determined to rectify that.
Chapter 28:
Eira volunteered to hold Borden accountable for retaining his focus and offered to give him a massage at the end of the day if he held his focus like he wanted to. They then encountered a summer use road that crossed the Osilinka and Borden split up with Eira to confuse their pursuers, but Eira couldn't break a tree branch to use to cover her tracks so Borden went back to look for her and she managed to get across before a logging truck passed and blew away her footprints.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Losing Eira had been scary, but Honour was glad they'd managed to find her, and she was also grateful for the truck having coming along and giving Eira an opportunity to get across the road.
They'd walked back the way they'd come and then walked a long way along the river after that, and now they'd finished their supper and Eira was giving Borden a massage while Honour herself rested in Borden's lap.
It felt like everything was just right. They were all safe, they were all alright, and God was taking care of them, and was going to keep taking care of them. And on top of that, they were nearly home — or she and Borden were anyways. Eira was still a long way from home.
Honour looked at the fire's bright orange tongues as they licked at the wood hungrily, she didn't want to think about Eira going back to her home and being so far away. She liked Eira and wanted to be close to her. She didn't want to have to be so far away from her.
She whimpered and moved her head on Borden's leg to wipe away a tear. She felt a warm, gentle, but rough hand rest on her arm. Borden rubbed his thumb along the back of her arm. He didn't say anything, but Honour felt better. She didn't have to worry about it now, they'd deal with it when the time came.
Honour reached her other hand up and put it on Borden's hand, wrapping her fingers around Borden's first two. She'd still have Borden close by, and maybe he could even take her to visit Eira or possibly even bring Eira to visit her. She could still get to be friends with Borden and — Honour wasn't sure about the idea, but she decided to think it out and see how it sounded — maybe Borden and Eira would fall in love and get married or something.
No, that sounded weird. Borden and Eira would probably be friends, but it would be really weird if they went and got married. But maybe Eira would marry someone from Mackenzie and be able to live in Mackenzie so that they could become close and visit and whatnot. Only God knew what would happen, though."
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 13
Word Count: 79,334
Summary of Events:
Chapter 25:
Borden, Honour, and Eira started walking early, walking in the Omineca River so as to not leave a scent, but then they heard pursuers and so as to run better got out of the river. Then they were getting shot at and Eira and Honour had to run ahead. Borden managed to escape uninjured as well. Ryan and Christine's church began a prayer vigil for Honour and Mrs. Pavelick, in her prayer, asked for Borden's safety as he went to find Honour, which got Ryan into a terrified panic.
Chapter 26:
Reaching the turn in the Omineca River, Borden led Honour and Eira over a mountain to the headwaters of the Osilinka River. The boss of their pursuers then found out that his troupe of followers had only had one radio, so he couldn't get reports from all five groups now that they'd split up. Borden started to worry about his possibly failing.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Looking toward the Omineca, Borden saw it. The turn. Stopping, Borden put Honour down and dug his rope out of the backpack. He slid the rope through Honour's belt loops so that both ends were coming out to her left. Borden tied them in an overhand knot close to her waist and ran one end of the excess to come out the front and one to the back.
Taking the back one, Borden ran it through Eira's belt loops, tying it in a firm knot at the front. The front one he ran through his own belt loops and tied it in a firm knot at the back of his waist.
"Use the trees to pull yourself along as much as possible," Borden said.
Eira and Honour nodded.
Borden turned back to the mountains and looked up. He could almost imagine the void of his general ringing in his ears — as if he was wearing his microphone and his general was actually giving him commands — telling him that his next objective was to reach the headwaters of the Osilinka River, and commanding him to make it snappy.
"Yes sir," Borden whispered under his breath, and started forward. He felt the rope jerk around his waist, but it loosened after a bit as Honour and Eira caught up to his stride.
Reaching out, Borden grabbed trees almost as if they were ski poles or something and climbed up the slope. Rocks gritted under his feet. Fiercely climbing upward, Borden double checked every tree before he grabbed onto it — lest he select a weak tree and rip it out at its roots — and then started moving toward the next tree.
Due to the slope of the mountain Borden's calves were screaming. They didn't like climbing at this angle. Still fierce and determined, Borden continued onward. This wasn't a time to worry about whether his legs liked the angle or not. He would be able to appease them on the downhill slope. Until then, they were just going to have to deal with it.
He was not going to fail them. He was not going to fail them. He was not going to fail them. Borden repeated it over and over in his head as he pulled himself up the side of the mountain.
As he worked he could feel his shirt beginning to cling to his shoulders. Sweat was running down his face, slinking down his spine, saturating his hair and clothes. His hands swung forward, grabbing tree after tree, pulling himself upwards.
Rocks still gritted under his feet. Footing seemed to be getting slipperier. Loose rocks were everywhere, and sliding down the mountainside after he dislodged them. Borden just worked on moving upward and forward.
Suddenly he lost his footing on the rocks and went down. His left hand slipped off the rough bark of the spruce tree. He tarted blood in his mouth when he landed and felt the grip of his right hand slipping."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 25:
Borden, Honour, and Eira started walking early, walking in the Omineca River so as to not leave a scent, but then they heard pursuers and so as to run better got out of the river. Then they were getting shot at and Eira and Honour had to run ahead. Borden managed to escape uninjured as well. Ryan and Christine's church began a prayer vigil for Honour and Mrs. Pavelick, in her prayer, asked for Borden's safety as he went to find Honour, which got Ryan into a terrified panic.
Chapter 26:
Reaching the turn in the Omineca River, Borden led Honour and Eira over a mountain to the headwaters of the Osilinka River. The boss of their pursuers then found out that his troupe of followers had only had one radio, so he couldn't get reports from all five groups now that they'd split up. Borden started to worry about his possibly failing.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Looking toward the Omineca, Borden saw it. The turn. Stopping, Borden put Honour down and dug his rope out of the backpack. He slid the rope through Honour's belt loops so that both ends were coming out to her left. Borden tied them in an overhand knot close to her waist and ran one end of the excess to come out the front and one to the back.
Taking the back one, Borden ran it through Eira's belt loops, tying it in a firm knot at the front. The front one he ran through his own belt loops and tied it in a firm knot at the back of his waist.
"Use the trees to pull yourself along as much as possible," Borden said.
Eira and Honour nodded.
Borden turned back to the mountains and looked up. He could almost imagine the void of his general ringing in his ears — as if he was wearing his microphone and his general was actually giving him commands — telling him that his next objective was to reach the headwaters of the Osilinka River, and commanding him to make it snappy.
"Yes sir," Borden whispered under his breath, and started forward. He felt the rope jerk around his waist, but it loosened after a bit as Honour and Eira caught up to his stride.
Reaching out, Borden grabbed trees almost as if they were ski poles or something and climbed up the slope. Rocks gritted under his feet. Fiercely climbing upward, Borden double checked every tree before he grabbed onto it — lest he select a weak tree and rip it out at its roots — and then started moving toward the next tree.
Due to the slope of the mountain Borden's calves were screaming. They didn't like climbing at this angle. Still fierce and determined, Borden continued onward. This wasn't a time to worry about whether his legs liked the angle or not. He would be able to appease them on the downhill slope. Until then, they were just going to have to deal with it.
He was not going to fail them. He was not going to fail them. He was not going to fail them. Borden repeated it over and over in his head as he pulled himself up the side of the mountain.
As he worked he could feel his shirt beginning to cling to his shoulders. Sweat was running down his face, slinking down his spine, saturating his hair and clothes. His hands swung forward, grabbing tree after tree, pulling himself upwards.
Rocks still gritted under his feet. Footing seemed to be getting slipperier. Loose rocks were everywhere, and sliding down the mountainside after he dislodged them. Borden just worked on moving upward and forward.
Suddenly he lost his footing on the rocks and went down. His left hand slipped off the rough bark of the spruce tree. He tarted blood in his mouth when he landed and felt the grip of his right hand slipping."
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 12
Word Count: 73,337
Summary of Events:
Chapter 23:
Borden woke up in the middle of the night and discovered that the gangsters sent after them were very close by, so he woke up Honour and Eira they packed everything up, fleeing on foot down the Bear River until they arrived at Bear Lake, which they swam across.
Chapter 24:
After getting out of Bear Lake Borden, Honour and Eira started heading northeast toward the Omineca River, which they planned on following to the Osilinka River which fed into Williston Lake, whose coast they planned to follow south until they reached closer to Mackenzie and swam across it. The man who'd held Honour and Eira captive found out they'd gotten away and came up with five different ways that they could possibly be heading to Mackenzie and divided his hunting party up among the possibilities.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Off and on throughout the night Honour had managed to sleep. She didn't fully know what was going on, she just knew that they were walking in the river somewhere in the dark really fast — faster than she was sure she'd ever felt Borden walking before — and now it'd become light and the sun was just coming over the mountains ahead of them.
Blinking at its brightness, Honour looked at the landscape ahead of them and saw that it seemed the trees were thinning out. Were they at Williston Lake already? Honour wasn't sure that was possible. They hadn't really ever seemed to be getting very far — as far as she'd thought — in their walking.
Finally Borden stopped. Were they going to set up camp here and sleep until lunchtime again like they'd done when Borden had gotten them out of the shed? She startled when she felt Borden taking her shoes off.
He stuffed them into the backpack Eira was carrying and then set Honour down. It was cold standing in the water, but Honour didn't move. Borden took off her coat, then he took off his own, and his t-shirt too.
Honour's eyes went wide. Borden looked strong, even stronger than Ryan. He took the backpack and put it on. Eira took off her coat, put it in the backpack, and then went to zip it shut.
"My belt," Borden said.
Eira fished it out and gave it to him. Borden took off the belt of bullets and the two guns and Eira put them into the backpack. Borden then put on his own belt.
"Isn't everything in the backpack going to get wet?" Eria asked.
"No," Borden replied. "This is a backpack that can be completely submerged and keep its contents dry."
"What are we going to do now?" Honour asked.
Borden turned and looked at her. "We're going to swim."
Honour looked out over the water. It was a lot bigger, with more water than the river, so Honour guessed it was a lake.
"But I can't swim that far," Honour said.
Borden took a length of rope off one of his backpack straps. Carefully Borden tied the rope around Honour's shoulders, and then ran it through his belt loops and tied it around his waist, leaving a good piece of it slack between them.
"I'll tow you," Borden said.
They waded out further and it didn't take too long before Honour had to start floating, so she rolled onto her back and looked up at the sky. It was bright with the sun and turning its usual blue now. After awhile she heard some splashing and then there was a bit of a jerk on her rope and she was being pulled fast.
Honour bent her head up slightly and started to flutter kick as fast as her little legs possibly could to keep herself from getting sucked underwater. She could see trees on the edge of the water and they seemed to be moving fast. Borden was obviously a pretty good swimmer."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 23:
Borden woke up in the middle of the night and discovered that the gangsters sent after them were very close by, so he woke up Honour and Eira they packed everything up, fleeing on foot down the Bear River until they arrived at Bear Lake, which they swam across.
Chapter 24:
After getting out of Bear Lake Borden, Honour and Eira started heading northeast toward the Omineca River, which they planned on following to the Osilinka River which fed into Williston Lake, whose coast they planned to follow south until they reached closer to Mackenzie and swam across it. The man who'd held Honour and Eira captive found out they'd gotten away and came up with five different ways that they could possibly be heading to Mackenzie and divided his hunting party up among the possibilities.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Off and on throughout the night Honour had managed to sleep. She didn't fully know what was going on, she just knew that they were walking in the river somewhere in the dark really fast — faster than she was sure she'd ever felt Borden walking before — and now it'd become light and the sun was just coming over the mountains ahead of them.
Blinking at its brightness, Honour looked at the landscape ahead of them and saw that it seemed the trees were thinning out. Were they at Williston Lake already? Honour wasn't sure that was possible. They hadn't really ever seemed to be getting very far — as far as she'd thought — in their walking.
Finally Borden stopped. Were they going to set up camp here and sleep until lunchtime again like they'd done when Borden had gotten them out of the shed? She startled when she felt Borden taking her shoes off.
He stuffed them into the backpack Eira was carrying and then set Honour down. It was cold standing in the water, but Honour didn't move. Borden took off her coat, then he took off his own, and his t-shirt too.
Honour's eyes went wide. Borden looked strong, even stronger than Ryan. He took the backpack and put it on. Eira took off her coat, put it in the backpack, and then went to zip it shut.
"My belt," Borden said.
Eira fished it out and gave it to him. Borden took off the belt of bullets and the two guns and Eira put them into the backpack. Borden then put on his own belt.
"Isn't everything in the backpack going to get wet?" Eria asked.
"No," Borden replied. "This is a backpack that can be completely submerged and keep its contents dry."
"What are we going to do now?" Honour asked.
Borden turned and looked at her. "We're going to swim."
Honour looked out over the water. It was a lot bigger, with more water than the river, so Honour guessed it was a lake.
"But I can't swim that far," Honour said.
Borden took a length of rope off one of his backpack straps. Carefully Borden tied the rope around Honour's shoulders, and then ran it through his belt loops and tied it around his waist, leaving a good piece of it slack between them.
"I'll tow you," Borden said.
They waded out further and it didn't take too long before Honour had to start floating, so she rolled onto her back and looked up at the sky. It was bright with the sun and turning its usual blue now. After awhile she heard some splashing and then there was a bit of a jerk on her rope and she was being pulled fast.
Honour bent her head up slightly and started to flutter kick as fast as her little legs possibly could to keep herself from getting sucked underwater. She could see trees on the edge of the water and they seemed to be moving fast. Borden was obviously a pretty good swimmer."
Monday, October 13, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 11
Word Count: 67,333
Summary of Events:
Chapter 21:
Borden ended up helping Eira wash her hair, and later on Honour confronted Eira about her negativity and nastiness toward Borden. Christine was putting away groceries and realized that Honour had been gone exactly three months.
Chapter 22:
Eira apologized to Borden for having been so mean to him, which surprised Borden a bit, he'd thought it'd just been distrust. Honour suddenly wondered if her family and friends thought she was dead, and her fears made Eira wonder what her parents and friends thought, if they wondered if she was dead. The man who'd held Honour and Eira captive received word that his men were nearly ready to catch Borden, Eira, and Honour.
Excerpt of the Day:
""Eira," Honour said, having turned around.
"Yes?" Eira asked.
"Why can't you be nice to Borden?" Honour asked. "God sent him to help us."
Eira said nothing.
"He wouldn't have come for us if God wouldn't have wanted him to," Honour said. "He was the person you started praying for to come get us out. And he came by God's guidance, and he helped us out. We wouldn't be here unless God had wanted him to come and help us."
"Just because God sent him to help us doesn't mean I have to like him," Eira said.
"But Eira," Honour said. "It makes things easier if you're not being so mean."
"I'm not being mean," Eira said.
"You always seem to be angry at him," Honour said. "And like you want to cause problems for him or something. Can't you be grateful."
Eira sighed. Honour was right. She wasn't exactly being the nicest — or the most grateful — toward Borden for his help. And he really could've only been sent by God.
"I didn't want some sort of guy like him coming to help us, and I didn't want a walk in the bush either," Eira said. "I was hoping the police would've come and we could've gotten rides home in cars or something. I was wanting it to be easier, instead of walking around in the bush with some stranger who looks like he might want to be on Duck Dynasty or something."
Honour sighed as if Eira were a foolish child or something. "Eira, I don't remember where it is in the Bible, but God says we can't understand why He does what He does because His ways are higher than our ways, and God doesn't have to cater to what we want. He does what He wants because He's God and He has a very good reason for it happening. So now you're mad at God. You don't like what He's doing because it doesn't match your way, and it was never supposed to."
Eira was surprised and felt badly.
"God isn't . . . predictable, or tame, or . . . under anyone," Honour said. "He is the highest authority. He doesn't have to do what you want because you're not above Him. You have to accept that God is doing what He's doing for some very good reason — even if you won't ever understand it — and do your best to fulfill whatever part of it you're supposed to."
Eira looked up as Borden came back on the trail. He looked at her, mostly curious, but with a touch of dejection on his face that she guessed meant he'd failed to catch what he'd been after.
"God is King, and you're acting like a servant who thinks that you know better than the King," Honour said. "He knows what's best. That's why He is King, and not you.""
Summary of Events:
Chapter 21:
Borden ended up helping Eira wash her hair, and later on Honour confronted Eira about her negativity and nastiness toward Borden. Christine was putting away groceries and realized that Honour had been gone exactly three months.
Chapter 22:
Eira apologized to Borden for having been so mean to him, which surprised Borden a bit, he'd thought it'd just been distrust. Honour suddenly wondered if her family and friends thought she was dead, and her fears made Eira wonder what her parents and friends thought, if they wondered if she was dead. The man who'd held Honour and Eira captive received word that his men were nearly ready to catch Borden, Eira, and Honour.
Excerpt of the Day:
""Eira," Honour said, having turned around.
"Yes?" Eira asked.
"Why can't you be nice to Borden?" Honour asked. "God sent him to help us."
Eira said nothing.
"He wouldn't have come for us if God wouldn't have wanted him to," Honour said. "He was the person you started praying for to come get us out. And he came by God's guidance, and he helped us out. We wouldn't be here unless God had wanted him to come and help us."
"Just because God sent him to help us doesn't mean I have to like him," Eira said.
"But Eira," Honour said. "It makes things easier if you're not being so mean."
"I'm not being mean," Eira said.
"You always seem to be angry at him," Honour said. "And like you want to cause problems for him or something. Can't you be grateful."
Eira sighed. Honour was right. She wasn't exactly being the nicest — or the most grateful — toward Borden for his help. And he really could've only been sent by God.
"I didn't want some sort of guy like him coming to help us, and I didn't want a walk in the bush either," Eira said. "I was hoping the police would've come and we could've gotten rides home in cars or something. I was wanting it to be easier, instead of walking around in the bush with some stranger who looks like he might want to be on Duck Dynasty or something."
Honour sighed as if Eira were a foolish child or something. "Eira, I don't remember where it is in the Bible, but God says we can't understand why He does what He does because His ways are higher than our ways, and God doesn't have to cater to what we want. He does what He wants because He's God and He has a very good reason for it happening. So now you're mad at God. You don't like what He's doing because it doesn't match your way, and it was never supposed to."
Eira was surprised and felt badly.
"God isn't . . . predictable, or tame, or . . . under anyone," Honour said. "He is the highest authority. He doesn't have to do what you want because you're not above Him. You have to accept that God is doing what He's doing for some very good reason — even if you won't ever understand it — and do your best to fulfill whatever part of it you're supposed to."
Eira looked up as Borden came back on the trail. He looked at her, mostly curious, but with a touch of dejection on his face that she guessed meant he'd failed to catch what he'd been after.
"God is King, and you're acting like a servant who thinks that you know better than the King," Honour said. "He knows what's best. That's why He is King, and not you.""
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 10
Word Count: 61,340
Summary of Events:
Chapter 19:
Borden went back into the gang's hideout and found the gang's arsenal, from which he took a pair of guns for himself so that they'd have defence when the gang game after them. He then took Honour on his back and carried her. Eira followed after him, upset that it was some shaggy logger-guy was leading her out into the bush instead of police driving her home in a car. They stopped at dawn to sleep for a bit and Borden debated about whether he should get them some game for lunch then or not and opted to sleep instead.
Chapter 20:
Eira woke up and got her first daylight look at Borden. She thought he was a pretty strong guy, but she didn't think the beard suited him. Borden woke up when he heard Eira going off and ended up getting a good look at her in daylight and without her winter coat on. He talked to her about what their diet would be and clued her in that bears and cougars were wandering around in the forest, scaring her. The gangsters then discovered that Honour and Eira had escaped and started to search for them. Honour got tired of walking so Borden carried her again.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Sneaking through the buildings, Borden was on high alert like he hadn't been since his last tour of duty. He was listening for anything, but was hearing nothing. He approached one of the warehouse buildings behind the shed.
He pulled on his gloves and turned the knob, it turned easily and he stepped inside the first room. There were racks everywhere, illuminated from the top down by dim blue lights. Filling the racks were guns.
Borden's eyes went wide at the sight. There was about as many guns of all varieties from miniature pistols all the way to big, long antique hunting rifles as one would need to give every man in the Canadian Forces two, he was sure.
The guns were organized according to size, it seemed, getting bigger as they worked their way clockwise around the room for the modern weaponry, and getting bigger as they worked their way around the room counterclockwise for the antiques. This was a terrifying arsenal.
Moving toward the modern pistols, Borden found one in a holster with a belt loaded with ammunition. Borden took it. Being as these men had weapons it was only fair that he borrow some of them so as to make sure these gangsters weren't violating the Geneva Convention.
He took off his own belt, rolled it up, and put it in his pocket, then he slid the ammunition belt in its place, with the holster on it and the gun inside the holster. Borden then turned to leave.
A thought froze him in place, though. There was that other girl — Eira as Honour called her — should he grab an extra weapon, just in case? Borden bit his lips and contemplated while his military training warned him that the clock was ticking. The longer he delayed the closer morning came and the lesser distance they were able to travel and the more likely that surely these men were going to be able to catch up to them.
Turning back, Borden took another gun — without a holster — and stuck it in the waistband of his pants in line with his rearmost belt loop. He then exited the building, closed the door, sprayed the knob and the ground with pepper spray, and then quietly made his way back to where he'd asked the girls to wait."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 19:
Borden went back into the gang's hideout and found the gang's arsenal, from which he took a pair of guns for himself so that they'd have defence when the gang game after them. He then took Honour on his back and carried her. Eira followed after him, upset that it was some shaggy logger-guy was leading her out into the bush instead of police driving her home in a car. They stopped at dawn to sleep for a bit and Borden debated about whether he should get them some game for lunch then or not and opted to sleep instead.
Chapter 20:
Eira woke up and got her first daylight look at Borden. She thought he was a pretty strong guy, but she didn't think the beard suited him. Borden woke up when he heard Eira going off and ended up getting a good look at her in daylight and without her winter coat on. He talked to her about what their diet would be and clued her in that bears and cougars were wandering around in the forest, scaring her. The gangsters then discovered that Honour and Eira had escaped and started to search for them. Honour got tired of walking so Borden carried her again.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Sneaking through the buildings, Borden was on high alert like he hadn't been since his last tour of duty. He was listening for anything, but was hearing nothing. He approached one of the warehouse buildings behind the shed.
He pulled on his gloves and turned the knob, it turned easily and he stepped inside the first room. There were racks everywhere, illuminated from the top down by dim blue lights. Filling the racks were guns.
Borden's eyes went wide at the sight. There was about as many guns of all varieties from miniature pistols all the way to big, long antique hunting rifles as one would need to give every man in the Canadian Forces two, he was sure.
The guns were organized according to size, it seemed, getting bigger as they worked their way clockwise around the room for the modern weaponry, and getting bigger as they worked their way around the room counterclockwise for the antiques. This was a terrifying arsenal.
Moving toward the modern pistols, Borden found one in a holster with a belt loaded with ammunition. Borden took it. Being as these men had weapons it was only fair that he borrow some of them so as to make sure these gangsters weren't violating the Geneva Convention.
He took off his own belt, rolled it up, and put it in his pocket, then he slid the ammunition belt in its place, with the holster on it and the gun inside the holster. Borden then turned to leave.
A thought froze him in place, though. There was that other girl — Eira as Honour called her — should he grab an extra weapon, just in case? Borden bit his lips and contemplated while his military training warned him that the clock was ticking. The longer he delayed the closer morning came and the lesser distance they were able to travel and the more likely that surely these men were going to be able to catch up to them.
Turning back, Borden took another gun — without a holster — and stuck it in the waistband of his pants in line with his rearmost belt loop. He then exited the building, closed the door, sprayed the knob and the ground with pepper spray, and then quietly made his way back to where he'd asked the girls to wait."
Friday, October 10, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 9
Word Count: 55,333
Summary of Events:
Chapter 17:
Borden heard the sound of a car honking and realized he was within eight kilometres of a paved road he guessed to be Highway thirty seven — the highway that lead to Iskut. Honour and Eira, feeling concerned about what their captors might do to them, prayed, and then Eira realized that she and Honour would likely have to separate once they were free, and that she couldn't just reassume her life after all the events she'd been through here.
Chapter 18:
Borden found the gang's base and figured out where Honour might be, then he slept so that he could be more alert come nighttime. Eira and Honour were visited by the man who Eira had sung for who talked of doing things with Eira she didn't want to do. After dark Borden came over to the shed and got them out. Eira didn't really trust him, but being as they wanted to get out she was going along.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Opening his eyes, Borden rubbed the worst of the mud and spruce needles from his hands and face. It was good and dark. Sitting up, Borden carefully got to his feet and turned to face the buildings.
There was a bit of moonlight illuminating things. Borden couldn't see anyone. He moved forward silently, his ears alert for anything that he couldn't see. Slowly he made his way to the shed.
Pulling out his multitool, he looked at the screw heads holding the pieces that — with a padlock threaded through them — kept the door locked. It was a plus sign. Phillips head if he wasn't mistaken. Pulling out the screwdriver head in his multitool, Borden felt it; it, too, was Phillips.
Borden fist pumped. Perfect! Inserting the screwdriver head into one of the screws, he unscrewed the screws securing the smaller piece of metal to the shed. It was held by two screws.
Using the padlock, Borden pulled the door open and looked inside. All he could see was darkness. But what he could see was irrelevant. What mattered was what he could hear, and what he could hear was breathing.
The moonlight there was illuminated his hair giving it a pale hue. Being as the moon always orbited a little southward — as did the sun — she couldn't see any details on his face.
"Honour," he said. He had a manly voice. It wasn't as bass as that man, although it did almost have a bit of a subtle rumble to it.
Eira looked over at Honour. Honour seemed to be seriously contemplating the man, almost slightly perplexed.
"Honour," he said again, an edge of concern and urgency to his voice.
Honour appeared to recognize this man, it seemed. She was getting to her feet.
"Honour," he said again, starting to sound highly nervous.
Honour got up and started making her way toward him.
"What are you doing?" Eira demanded.
"I know him," Honour replied.
Eira wanted to reach out and grab Honour, but she decided to wait and see what the man was going to do to Honour. Or who the man might be."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 17:
Borden heard the sound of a car honking and realized he was within eight kilometres of a paved road he guessed to be Highway thirty seven — the highway that lead to Iskut. Honour and Eira, feeling concerned about what their captors might do to them, prayed, and then Eira realized that she and Honour would likely have to separate once they were free, and that she couldn't just reassume her life after all the events she'd been through here.
Chapter 18:
Borden found the gang's base and figured out where Honour might be, then he slept so that he could be more alert come nighttime. Eira and Honour were visited by the man who Eira had sung for who talked of doing things with Eira she didn't want to do. After dark Borden came over to the shed and got them out. Eira didn't really trust him, but being as they wanted to get out she was going along.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Opening his eyes, Borden rubbed the worst of the mud and spruce needles from his hands and face. It was good and dark. Sitting up, Borden carefully got to his feet and turned to face the buildings.
There was a bit of moonlight illuminating things. Borden couldn't see anyone. He moved forward silently, his ears alert for anything that he couldn't see. Slowly he made his way to the shed.
Pulling out his multitool, he looked at the screw heads holding the pieces that — with a padlock threaded through them — kept the door locked. It was a plus sign. Phillips head if he wasn't mistaken. Pulling out the screwdriver head in his multitool, Borden felt it; it, too, was Phillips.
Borden fist pumped. Perfect! Inserting the screwdriver head into one of the screws, he unscrewed the screws securing the smaller piece of metal to the shed. It was held by two screws.
Using the padlock, Borden pulled the door open and looked inside. All he could see was darkness. But what he could see was irrelevant. What mattered was what he could hear, and what he could hear was breathing.
)( )( )(
Silhouetted in the doorway wasn't the figure of that man, that horrible, wretched, perverted man, no, it wasn't a man she'd ever seen before. He wasn't as broad as Hebb, but he wasn't as skinny as McAthry, he looked like he was a nice kind of broad. He also looked strong, taller than McAthry, probably about as tall as that man.The moonlight there was illuminated his hair giving it a pale hue. Being as the moon always orbited a little southward — as did the sun — she couldn't see any details on his face.
"Honour," he said. He had a manly voice. It wasn't as bass as that man, although it did almost have a bit of a subtle rumble to it.
Eira looked over at Honour. Honour seemed to be seriously contemplating the man, almost slightly perplexed.
"Honour," he said again, an edge of concern and urgency to his voice.
Honour appeared to recognize this man, it seemed. She was getting to her feet.
"Honour," he said again, starting to sound highly nervous.
Honour got up and started making her way toward him.
"What are you doing?" Eira demanded.
"I know him," Honour replied.
Eira wanted to reach out and grab Honour, but she decided to wait and see what the man was going to do to Honour. Or who the man might be."
Thursday, October 09, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 8
Word Count: 49,334
Summary of Events:
Chapter 15:
Eira and the man she'd been singing for got into arguing and then he tried to make an advance on Eira, but she fought him — and the backup he called in — off, but felt that her and Honour were getting into deeper danger. Borden found Bear Lake, and some real live bears at the lake which scared him.
Chapter 16:
Honour and Eira looked through the Psalms at encouraging passages, the Frankes were driving fast toward their former boss and were being followed, then they lost control and crashed. Borden's dad had to stop in Smithers because of the Franke's accident. Borden had heard the explosion of the accident and was concerned about the noise so much he was prodded to pray and then he began wondering if there really was a God. The man who Eira had been singing for got a call from one of his informants that the Frankes were dead. Hebb was then sent to tell Eira and Honour that the Frankes were dead.
Excerpt of the Day:
"A rustle sounded in the bush and Borden froze. He turned his yes toward the berry bush that extended away to his left — the west — his eyes went wide at what he saw. Only about ten feet away from him was a big, brown, fuzzy, long haired hump. A bear.
The bear raised its head. Borden had never seen a bear in real life — much less this close — he worked to breathe easily as he looked at the bear. The bear's head swivelled and looked him in the eye.
Borden had to admit that, being as it was called Bear Lake, it made sense that he should be seeing a bear, but he hadn't really wanted to see a bear. The bear continued to stare at him with it's yellowy-green eyes.
The bear raised itself up onto its hind legs. As tall of a man that Borden was, the bear was taller, and he was broader, and likely stronger. Borden wanted to run. He didn't know what to do, being as he knew running was a bad idea and bear spray — as pathetic as it sounded — hadn't been something that had been on his list of stuff to pack.
Dropping down to all fours again, the bear walked toward Borden. Never before had Borden ever wanted to shriek like a girl and run — or maybe wet himself or something. He was terrified. His heart was hammering so loud it was thundering in his ears. He felt almost as if he might faint.
The bear walked closer, it was two feet from him when it rose up onto its hind legs again and appeared to sniff. Borden was shaking like a magnitude six — or greater — earthquake was shaking the ground. He was amazed he was still on his feet, he would've thought with all his shaking he would've fallen already.
The bear dropped down on all fours again and walked on past Borden — passing so close that there was probably only about a half an inch between his skin and the ends of the bear's coat hairs. Borden turned his head to follow the bear's progress. The bear was going southward, so Borden had to whip his head around the other way. A distance away from the bear that'd just passed him was another bear who looked like it could very well have been following Borden.
Finally Borden's legs gave out and he collapsed, but he didn't stay on his knees, he tipped over and fell on his side. Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths, trying to recover himself. He still felt like he was shaking hard."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 15:
Eira and the man she'd been singing for got into arguing and then he tried to make an advance on Eira, but she fought him — and the backup he called in — off, but felt that her and Honour were getting into deeper danger. Borden found Bear Lake, and some real live bears at the lake which scared him.
Chapter 16:
Honour and Eira looked through the Psalms at encouraging passages, the Frankes were driving fast toward their former boss and were being followed, then they lost control and crashed. Borden's dad had to stop in Smithers because of the Franke's accident. Borden had heard the explosion of the accident and was concerned about the noise so much he was prodded to pray and then he began wondering if there really was a God. The man who Eira had been singing for got a call from one of his informants that the Frankes were dead. Hebb was then sent to tell Eira and Honour that the Frankes were dead.
Excerpt of the Day:
"A rustle sounded in the bush and Borden froze. He turned his yes toward the berry bush that extended away to his left — the west — his eyes went wide at what he saw. Only about ten feet away from him was a big, brown, fuzzy, long haired hump. A bear.
The bear raised its head. Borden had never seen a bear in real life — much less this close — he worked to breathe easily as he looked at the bear. The bear's head swivelled and looked him in the eye.
Borden had to admit that, being as it was called Bear Lake, it made sense that he should be seeing a bear, but he hadn't really wanted to see a bear. The bear continued to stare at him with it's yellowy-green eyes.
The bear raised itself up onto its hind legs. As tall of a man that Borden was, the bear was taller, and he was broader, and likely stronger. Borden wanted to run. He didn't know what to do, being as he knew running was a bad idea and bear spray — as pathetic as it sounded — hadn't been something that had been on his list of stuff to pack.
Dropping down to all fours again, the bear walked toward Borden. Never before had Borden ever wanted to shriek like a girl and run — or maybe wet himself or something. He was terrified. His heart was hammering so loud it was thundering in his ears. He felt almost as if he might faint.
The bear walked closer, it was two feet from him when it rose up onto its hind legs again and appeared to sniff. Borden was shaking like a magnitude six — or greater — earthquake was shaking the ground. He was amazed he was still on his feet, he would've thought with all his shaking he would've fallen already.
The bear dropped down on all fours again and walked on past Borden — passing so close that there was probably only about a half an inch between his skin and the ends of the bear's coat hairs. Borden turned his head to follow the bear's progress. The bear was going southward, so Borden had to whip his head around the other way. A distance away from the bear that'd just passed him was another bear who looked like it could very well have been following Borden.
Finally Borden's legs gave out and he collapsed, but he didn't stay on his knees, he tipped over and fell on his side. Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths, trying to recover himself. He still felt like he was shaking hard."
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 7
Word Count: 43,333
Summary of Events:
Chapter 13:
Borden walked through the forest around the southern end of Williston Lake and got to thinking a little bit about Mrs. Pavelick's worries. Honour and Eira — who were suffering in their rather warm clothes in the summer heat — were given some summery clothes and allowed to have showers. They also got their hair trimmed and then the man who Eira had been singing for started to discuss with Eira her unwillingness to do what he wanted.
Chapter 14:
Borden woke up and set out walking. The Frankes, having prepared a pile of explosives, set off to get revenge on the people they suspected were holding their daughter. Eira discussed with Honour how she felt so unnaturally courageous when she was talking with the man — who was threatening her — Honour told her about various courageous people in the Bible who'd been given their courage by God. Borden settled down for bed, feeling a lot better, more alive, and like he had a purpose to his life that was good.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Borden sighed and looked up to the sky. Then he heard the sound of brush moving and he surged to his feet. He was completely rigid, his eyes seeking out forms in the darkness, grateful he'd put out the fire and his eyes were completely adjusted to the night.
His entire body was on high alert, every move was slow, deliberate, and well thought out. He sought every millimetre of the forest with his eyes before moving on. Another rustle and his ears pinpointed what direction it was in.
Turning to face it, he sought out the trees with his eyes. The brush rustled again, and then a skunk came out of the bush into the learning. Borden stood dead still. He did not want to scare that.
His eyes followed the skunk as it went through the little clearing Borden was using as a campsite and disappeared into the bush on the other side. There was an occasional rustle as the skunk moved on.
Borden released himself from the tension. He took several deep breaths and then slowly laid back down. He had to admit he'd been legitimately scared. But he felt good too, like he was really alive again.
It was like combat, he was on alert, every noise was carefully considered and evaluated, he was constantly watching, carefully judging, discerning the best course, as if he were on a stealth recon mission or something. It felt really good. He was living on the edge, and there wasn't really any place he liked living more than there. Borden liked to fight, to have to think carefully and move delicately. He liked things hanging in the balance.
Sure it was walking in the bush, sure there were bears and cougars around, sure he might not find much to eat, so what? This was what he loved. This was where he thrived. It was intense, high-adrenaline action. It was danger. It was awesome.
Borden could see how Mrs. Pavelick couldn't understand. She was a woman. Women liked safety and comfort more. But he was a man, and men liked to fight, to be alive like this, on the edge, in the rough."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 13:
Borden walked through the forest around the southern end of Williston Lake and got to thinking a little bit about Mrs. Pavelick's worries. Honour and Eira — who were suffering in their rather warm clothes in the summer heat — were given some summery clothes and allowed to have showers. They also got their hair trimmed and then the man who Eira had been singing for started to discuss with Eira her unwillingness to do what he wanted.
Chapter 14:
Borden woke up and set out walking. The Frankes, having prepared a pile of explosives, set off to get revenge on the people they suspected were holding their daughter. Eira discussed with Honour how she felt so unnaturally courageous when she was talking with the man — who was threatening her — Honour told her about various courageous people in the Bible who'd been given their courage by God. Borden settled down for bed, feeling a lot better, more alive, and like he had a purpose to his life that was good.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Borden sighed and looked up to the sky. Then he heard the sound of brush moving and he surged to his feet. He was completely rigid, his eyes seeking out forms in the darkness, grateful he'd put out the fire and his eyes were completely adjusted to the night.
His entire body was on high alert, every move was slow, deliberate, and well thought out. He sought every millimetre of the forest with his eyes before moving on. Another rustle and his ears pinpointed what direction it was in.
Turning to face it, he sought out the trees with his eyes. The brush rustled again, and then a skunk came out of the bush into the learning. Borden stood dead still. He did not want to scare that.
His eyes followed the skunk as it went through the little clearing Borden was using as a campsite and disappeared into the bush on the other side. There was an occasional rustle as the skunk moved on.
Borden released himself from the tension. He took several deep breaths and then slowly laid back down. He had to admit he'd been legitimately scared. But he felt good too, like he was really alive again.
It was like combat, he was on alert, every noise was carefully considered and evaluated, he was constantly watching, carefully judging, discerning the best course, as if he were on a stealth recon mission or something. It felt really good. He was living on the edge, and there wasn't really any place he liked living more than there. Borden liked to fight, to have to think carefully and move delicately. He liked things hanging in the balance.
Sure it was walking in the bush, sure there were bears and cougars around, sure he might not find much to eat, so what? This was what he loved. This was where he thrived. It was intense, high-adrenaline action. It was danger. It was awesome.
Borden could see how Mrs. Pavelick couldn't understand. She was a woman. Women liked safety and comfort more. But he was a man, and men liked to fight, to be alive like this, on the edge, in the rough."
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 6
Word Count: 37,335
Summary of Events:
Chapter 11:
Borden went to the Agassiz penitentiary where the Frankes had been imprisoned and found out they were no longer there, but Mr. Franke'd had a cellmate and Borden had a somewhat odd and slightly convoluted conversation with the cellmate who gave Borden the name of a place called Iskut. Eira and Honour were taken to some place they didn't know and asked to sing.
Chapter 12:
Borden returned to Mackenzie and decided he was going to journey to Iskut on foot being as he didn't have the money for the fuel required to get him to Iskut by car, Mr. and Mrs. Pavelick were a little saddened at his decision. Eira sang again, as she'd been doing daily for awhile, and she and Honour discussed why she was being asked to sing.
Excerpt of the Day:
""So what are you going to need for your journey?" Mr. Pavelick asked.
"I'm not really going to need anything," Borden replied. "I've got some survival gear, and I don't think it'd be wise to bring any food with be due to the bears and other hungry wildlife."
"But how are you going to survive?" Mrs. Pavelick asked, her eyes opening wide.
"There's no lack of water in the woods, all kinds of rivers and lakes and such," Borden replied. "And there's probably going to be berries, and I could use a rope and rig up some snares to get small game."
"But still," Mrs. Pavelick said. "Who says you're going to find anything?"
"I don't know," Borden replied. "But I would think that since there isn't much for settlements in the forests of British Columbia that there would be a pretty good quantity of wildlife that could be caught and eaten."
"Shouldn't you maybe bring a gun or something?" Mrs. Pavelick asked.
"I have some knives," Borden replied. "But I don't exactly ant to go making a ruckus or anything. No sense in going out and disturbing the peace or anything — besides, I'm going to be more likely to hit a tree than anything I might want to eat with the density of the trees I'm sure."
"What about a tent? Or blankets?" Mrs. Pavelick asked.
"I have coat," Borden replied. "There wouldn't likely be too much space for a tent to be set up."
Mrs. Pavelick looked uncertain.
"Mrs. Pavelick," Borden said. "I had six years military training, and in the military we're trained to survive some pretty extreme circumstances, being as they may ver well be possibly required in combat. I'll be alright, and if not, well, I have my doubts that anybody'll really miss me or anything."
Mrs. Pavelick definitely looked on the verge of tears. Borden could see her eyes were glassy and moist.
"We will," Mr. Pavelick said.
Borden saw that Mr. Pavelick was sombre and sad looking as well. Sighing, Borden gave a glance down at his plate.
"I'm honoured that you care," Borden said. "But still, who's more important? An unmarried, dishonoured, ex-convict? Or a child? As much as I like being alive, I think that returning Honour to safety is more important — even if it possibly costs me my life."
Mrs. Pavelick was in tears now. Mr. Pavelick gently put his arm around her.
"And if it does," Mr. Pavelick said. "We aren't just going to let your body rot in the woods, we're going to make sure you get a proper and honourable burial."
Borden nodded."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 11:
Borden went to the Agassiz penitentiary where the Frankes had been imprisoned and found out they were no longer there, but Mr. Franke'd had a cellmate and Borden had a somewhat odd and slightly convoluted conversation with the cellmate who gave Borden the name of a place called Iskut. Eira and Honour were taken to some place they didn't know and asked to sing.
Chapter 12:
Borden returned to Mackenzie and decided he was going to journey to Iskut on foot being as he didn't have the money for the fuel required to get him to Iskut by car, Mr. and Mrs. Pavelick were a little saddened at his decision. Eira sang again, as she'd been doing daily for awhile, and she and Honour discussed why she was being asked to sing.
Excerpt of the Day:
""So what are you going to need for your journey?" Mr. Pavelick asked.
"I'm not really going to need anything," Borden replied. "I've got some survival gear, and I don't think it'd be wise to bring any food with be due to the bears and other hungry wildlife."
"But how are you going to survive?" Mrs. Pavelick asked, her eyes opening wide.
"There's no lack of water in the woods, all kinds of rivers and lakes and such," Borden replied. "And there's probably going to be berries, and I could use a rope and rig up some snares to get small game."
"But still," Mrs. Pavelick said. "Who says you're going to find anything?"
"I don't know," Borden replied. "But I would think that since there isn't much for settlements in the forests of British Columbia that there would be a pretty good quantity of wildlife that could be caught and eaten."
"Shouldn't you maybe bring a gun or something?" Mrs. Pavelick asked.
"I have some knives," Borden replied. "But I don't exactly ant to go making a ruckus or anything. No sense in going out and disturbing the peace or anything — besides, I'm going to be more likely to hit a tree than anything I might want to eat with the density of the trees I'm sure."
"What about a tent? Or blankets?" Mrs. Pavelick asked.
"I have coat," Borden replied. "There wouldn't likely be too much space for a tent to be set up."
Mrs. Pavelick looked uncertain.
"Mrs. Pavelick," Borden said. "I had six years military training, and in the military we're trained to survive some pretty extreme circumstances, being as they may ver well be possibly required in combat. I'll be alright, and if not, well, I have my doubts that anybody'll really miss me or anything."
Mrs. Pavelick definitely looked on the verge of tears. Borden could see her eyes were glassy and moist.
"We will," Mr. Pavelick said.
Borden saw that Mr. Pavelick was sombre and sad looking as well. Sighing, Borden gave a glance down at his plate.
"I'm honoured that you care," Borden said. "But still, who's more important? An unmarried, dishonoured, ex-convict? Or a child? As much as I like being alive, I think that returning Honour to safety is more important — even if it possibly costs me my life."
Mrs. Pavelick was in tears now. Mr. Pavelick gently put his arm around her.
"And if it does," Mr. Pavelick said. "We aren't just going to let your body rot in the woods, we're going to make sure you get a proper and honourable burial."
Borden nodded."
Monday, October 06, 2014
Finding Honour: Day 5
Word Count: 31,338
Summary of Events:
Chapter 9:
Borden began the journey south to Prince George to investigate his hypothesis in regards to Honour's disappearance while the Frankes discussed how they were going to get revenge on the gangsters they owed money to. Honour and Eira discussed God and salvation.
Chapter 10:
Borden found out that Robyn Franke's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rose, were alive, and went to interview them using the cover of wanting to write a book about Robyn's life and studying the psychology behind Robyn's decision to become a criminal. Eira then — much to Honour's surprise and elation — became a Christian.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Mr. Rose nodded. "We got Reuben and Rhonda right, but we just can't understand where the wheels fell off the wagon with Robyn, it just makes no sense."
Borden looked down at the cookies and nodded, the thought struck him that maybe his parents felt the same way. Burke and Sylvia had come out good, straight, and upright, and he'd gone and fallen apart.
"If Robyn were to come nocking on your door," Borden said. "Would you welcome her in?"
"No," Mrs. Rose say sharply.
Borden looked at Mr. Rose. Mr. Rose shook his head with a bit of reluctance.
"Robyn chose a life we don't condone, we couldn't," Mr. Rose said.
Borden nodded, then he thought of another question.
"Was Robyn ever involved in a car accident or any other traumatic event? Or were any of her friends?"
"Not really, as far as I know," Mr. Rose replied. He looked past Borden to Mrs. Rose.
Borden looked over at Mrs. Rose. Her face was somewhat hard, straight, firm, and slightly upset.
"Well, there was one party where someone ended up dying on a drug overdose," Mr. Rose said. "But other than that, no."
"Do you know how well Robyn knew the person who died?" Borden asked.
"From the sounds of things they didn't get along," Mr. Rose replied. "I think. Or maybe that was someone else. I don't know."
Borden nodded. Their lived had been a little different, and their reactions were probably different, but their parents were probably of a similar minds, except his dad was like Mrs. Rose, and his mom was like Mr. Rose.
Emptying his glass of water, Borden set it down on the tray.
"Thank you," he said. "I'm sorry if I've imposed or caused any pain."
Mr. Rose nodded. "I hope that you are able to figure something out with whatever it is you're doing," he said.
Borden rose and Mrs. Rose led him to the main entry, getting him his coat while he put his boots on. Mrs. Rose looked at Borden with a severe and icy expression. Borden gave her a sympathetic gaze, but it didn't seem to do anything.
Sighing, he stepped outside and Mrs. Rose closed the door behind him. He paused on the doorstep.
"Frederick!" he heard Mrs. Rose snap. "I have a feeling we've been conned! Next think you know everyone's going to hear about what wretched parents we are! I cannot believe I listened to you!"
Borden sighed again and moved on down the sidewalk. He had a feeling that if someone would've come to his parents and asked them similar questions they would've reacted exactly the same way — especially his dad."
Summary of Events:
Chapter 9:
Borden began the journey south to Prince George to investigate his hypothesis in regards to Honour's disappearance while the Frankes discussed how they were going to get revenge on the gangsters they owed money to. Honour and Eira discussed God and salvation.
Chapter 10:
Borden found out that Robyn Franke's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rose, were alive, and went to interview them using the cover of wanting to write a book about Robyn's life and studying the psychology behind Robyn's decision to become a criminal. Eira then — much to Honour's surprise and elation — became a Christian.
Excerpt of the Day:
"Mr. Rose nodded. "We got Reuben and Rhonda right, but we just can't understand where the wheels fell off the wagon with Robyn, it just makes no sense."
Borden looked down at the cookies and nodded, the thought struck him that maybe his parents felt the same way. Burke and Sylvia had come out good, straight, and upright, and he'd gone and fallen apart.
"If Robyn were to come nocking on your door," Borden said. "Would you welcome her in?"
"No," Mrs. Rose say sharply.
Borden looked at Mr. Rose. Mr. Rose shook his head with a bit of reluctance.
"Robyn chose a life we don't condone, we couldn't," Mr. Rose said.
Borden nodded, then he thought of another question.
"Was Robyn ever involved in a car accident or any other traumatic event? Or were any of her friends?"
"Not really, as far as I know," Mr. Rose replied. He looked past Borden to Mrs. Rose.
Borden looked over at Mrs. Rose. Her face was somewhat hard, straight, firm, and slightly upset.
"Well, there was one party where someone ended up dying on a drug overdose," Mr. Rose said. "But other than that, no."
"Do you know how well Robyn knew the person who died?" Borden asked.
"From the sounds of things they didn't get along," Mr. Rose replied. "I think. Or maybe that was someone else. I don't know."
Borden nodded. Their lived had been a little different, and their reactions were probably different, but their parents were probably of a similar minds, except his dad was like Mrs. Rose, and his mom was like Mr. Rose.
Emptying his glass of water, Borden set it down on the tray.
"Thank you," he said. "I'm sorry if I've imposed or caused any pain."
Mr. Rose nodded. "I hope that you are able to figure something out with whatever it is you're doing," he said.
Borden rose and Mrs. Rose led him to the main entry, getting him his coat while he put his boots on. Mrs. Rose looked at Borden with a severe and icy expression. Borden gave her a sympathetic gaze, but it didn't seem to do anything.
Sighing, he stepped outside and Mrs. Rose closed the door behind him. He paused on the doorstep.
"Frederick!" he heard Mrs. Rose snap. "I have a feeling we've been conned! Next think you know everyone's going to hear about what wretched parents we are! I cannot believe I listened to you!"
Borden sighed again and moved on down the sidewalk. He had a feeling that if someone would've come to his parents and asked them similar questions they would've reacted exactly the same way — especially his dad."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)