Found by Shelley Shepard Gray Read Free Book Online Page B

driveway, enjoying the way the rocks crunched under his feet. The lantern shining in the family room window guided him to the side of the house. He continued to walk until the darkness enveloped him.
    Thick clouds had formed overhead, effectively creating a shield over the earth. It was so dark he could barely see his hands, never mind any trees and shrubs surrounding him.
    He was glad for the small flashlight he’d put in his pocket the other night. One never knew who or what you could come across in the dead of the night.
    The narrow pinpoint of light was all he needed. He continued to walk, enjoying the crisp night air and the pungent scent of new foliage. Most of all, he reveled in the feeling of freedom. He was so relieved to be away from his father’s constant monitoring.
    Walking aimlessly, he clambered over some rocks, and entered a field that had lay fallow for the past two years. Only then did he truly relax, and wonder what he was going to do with himself for the next few hours.
    He hadn’t thought of who he’d wanted to see or hang out with beyond the overwhelming desire to be free of his father’s eye.
    Then one thing led to another, and before he knew it, he was following the faint path toward Perry’s house.
    When they were still in school, Jacob had run down this path to pick up Perry so they could walk to school together.
    Of course, Perry had never been ready, and Jacob had never wanted to leave him. And Deborah? Deborah had been at Perry’s mercy. Her mother would never let her go to school without the two of them. So they’d had many a morning where they’d arrived at school late . . . and he remembered those mornings like it was yesterday.
    â€œCome on, Perry. Why aren’t you ever ready on time?”
    Perry laughed low. “There’s no reason. It’s just school.”
    Jacob felt his temper flare. Over and over Perry was making all three of them late. Not wanting to use himself as the reason, Perry used Deborah instead. “I’m surprised your sister doesn’t go on ahead.”
    â€œMamm and Daed won’t let her.”
    â€œBut doesn’t she get sick of waiting for you? And sick of losing her recess because we’re late?”
    Perry paused and looked back at Deborah, who was once again following them both. “You mad at me?” he asked. The words weren’t unkind but his tone was.
    After a pause, Deborah shook her head.
    â€œSee?” Perry said with a laugh. “She’s fine.”
    That was the exact moment Jacob had realized that Perry was a bully. He’d enjoyed exerting power over his parents and his sister. Even his friends. And why shouldn’t he?
    Yet again, Jacob hadn’t said a thing. He had let Perry do whatever he wanted.
    Like usual.
    Little by little, instead of being bullied, Jacob began to be a lot more like Perry. He liked feeling powerful instead of victimized. Before long, both he and Perry had considered it a badge of honor being known as troublemakers. Growing up under his father’s thumb, Jacob had often looked for ways to act up a bit. Perhaps Perry had felt the same way?
    Only now did Jacob think about how unfair and selfish he and Perry had been to Deborah.
    Why had he never thought about how hard it had been on her, to always be in her brother’s shadow? And how he’d always just accepted that she would be there? To his embarrassment, he had never felt the slightest bit of guilt about ignoring her.
    He sure had never apologized to her about how he’d acted. Even after all this time, he’d never said he was sorry.
    His face flamed even though the night air was cool.
    Then the trail widened and the brush cleared. And in front of him lay the Borntragers’ home.
    As he expected, it was mostly dark, though he did see a faint glow in an upstairs bedroom. Deborah’s most likely.
    He stopped and looked up at it. Staring at the glow shining through her