[Legacy of a Martyr #1] Masquerading the Key (A Key Keepers novel)

Episode 1

Alain, his parents, his mom's secretary, and her daughter had arrived in the mountains where they were going to spend the weekend for his birthday. They would have come as soon as he was done with school, but his daddy had big people work he had to do first.

Waiting was hard. Auntie Tea had given him several books to read to occupy him. And she played games with him between chores. Even though she probably wanted to tire him out, it didn't work. It was hard for him to go to bed, and he got up so early that it was still dark.

He did take a nap on the car ride, so that helped the time go faster. When they got there, the car stopping lulled Alain awake. To make things easier for his mama and papa, he carried his bright, red backpack filled with books and outfits for the weekend. He liked helping them like a big boy would.

His mama's secretary's daughter didn't seem to feel the same way. Audrey just jumped out of the car and ran toward the cabin. She didn't even bother to put her jacket back on. How did she not feel like a popsicle?

Alain shook his head. Why did he care? It was more important to put his books away somewhere safe, so he could find them when he wanted to enjoy them. He just had to look for the room with the red balloon. Mama told him before they left that it was his.

Just as he got through the doorway, something cold and wet ran down his back.

When he glanced back to see what happened, Audrey was grinning at him like the Cheshire cat.

"Audrey!"

"Come on, Lany!" Her smile just grew wider. "Snowball fight!"

Alain put his backpack on his bed. "No! I don't want to! Snowballs are cold and wet!"

"But that's what makes it fun! Once you get cold and wet, you get to warm up in the bath then have hot cocoa and marshmallows."

"I don't like bath time. It's too wet."

Andrea poked her head into the room. "What are you kids doing in here?"

"Mommy!" Audrey pouted. "Lany won't play with me!"

"What game did you want to play?"

"Snowball fight."

Andrea patted her head. "Ms. Sarah said Lany got up with the chickens, so he might not feel like playing right now. You and I can play instead, but we need to put our coats and gloves on first, because snowball fight is an outside game."

"But I want to play now!"

Andrea scooped up her daughter, shutting the door behind her as they left.

Alain let out a sigh before going to inspect his backpack. He didn't think Audrey was ever going to leave. He was going to be really mad if her snowball ruined any of his books.

He inspected each book as he spread them out on his bed. He smiled. Good and dry.

Most of these books were ones he had read more times that he could count. He knew them all by heart, but he enjoyed them anyway. The stories inside them were good. That was the most important part, after all.