Cosmic Shift
Chapter One
A shrill scream pierced the air. Thirteen-year-old Mark Cooper leaned over the side of the tree house and frowned down at his cousin, Eden. "Can't you shut her up?"
Bo Tanner, a year older than his cousin Mark, sighed and squeezed his eyes shut. And wished he could shut his ears to his sister's shrill voice. "Only if I use duct tape. Dad said he'd ground my rear for a year if I did that again."
He peeked over the edge of the tree-house to see his youngest sister standing below, her mouth opening for another screech. Only five years old, he sighed, and settled himself back against the sturdy tree trunk that was the main support for the platform he called a tree house. In his mind's eye, his little sister had horns buried in her curly hair.
Eden placed hard little fists on her hips. The warm June sunlight turned her blonde hair into a nimbus of light around her head. "Bo, let me up there right now. If you don't, I'll go home and tell mom you won't play with me."
Bo shook his head at Mark, and ignored his little sister.
Mark looked worried. "If I help, we could boost her up here."
Bo gaped at Mark. "Are you crazy? That defeats the whole purpose of having a tree house."
Mark protested. "My last week here won't be much fun if Aunt Claire grounds us."
Bo shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Mom added a new rule last week. After Edie told on Shelly and me for the fortieth time in a twenty-four hour period; Mom counted," he added before Mark could ask. "She said from now on tattling is a punishable offense."
Bo stretched his legs out, re-crossed them at the ankles. "If Edie tattles on me again, it's possible Mom will put her in time out. Then I won't have to watch her at all."
Eden screamed again. "I really will tell."
Bo grinned and pushed his unruly brown hair off his forehead. He enjoyed the summer breeze cooling his sweaty skin.
Mark gazed down at his young cousin, a frown pulling his eyebrows together. "She's awfully little. What if she takes off through the woods?"
"She won't," Bo said. "She'll scream at us until it's time to go home. Nobody said I have to play with her. Mom told me to keep an eye on her. I can see her just fine from up here."
Blessed silence drew Bo to the edge of the platform to look down. With care he peeked over the side. His sister might not be tall enough to climb to the tree house but she could sling a rock with wicked accuracy.
Eden stared up at him, a forlorn little figure unexpectedly tugging at his heart. Her big blue eyes glistened with tears. He preferred her angry. Anger he could ignore.
Even from this height, he could see her lips tremble. "I'll tell, Bo."
The soft breeze ruffled his hair, bringing with it the scent of unseen blossoms. The honeybees humming in a near-by apple tree filled his ears. The summer sun warmed his back. He stared down at his little sister.
Eden looked back, a battle of wills. Her tears stopped replaced by temper. She spun on her heel and stalked away from the tree house. She turned for one last backward look and gave the boys a long, measuring stare. "I'll tell Dad."
Bo sat in stunned silence. "She wouldn't." But he knew she would. Without a word to Mark, Bo scrambled off the edge of the platform, feeling with his foot for the fork in the tree. Too fast, he slid down the trunk scraping his belly as his shirt rode up baring his skin.
