Hearts and Diamonds

Chapter twelve

I woke up with a start, to find myself lying on the floor with Roxy lying on one side of me and Diamond on the other. It took a while for me to realise where I was. It was then that I spotted the still lit oil lamp on the table. I stood up, with a sigh, and walked over to turn it off, taking the blanket with me. Packing away our stuff, I carried the bag outside to the sled. I put the it back into the basket of the sled.
"Diamond," I called into the house. The red husky jumped to her paws and bounded towards me. "Good girl..." I began to clip her harness back up to the sled.
I padded back into the house, to find that Roxy was waking up.
"I thought you'd left me..." She smiled, jokingly.
"Never," I smiled back and gave her a hand up. She stood up, stretched and followed me outside.
"I'll drive the sled; you can ride in the basket," I told her before going to put my gloves on. Roxy pushed the bag to one side so that she could sit down. I pushed the sled on from under the shelter of the house and stood on the runners.
"Diamond, Hike! Hike!" I shouted. Diamond began to speed through the forest. This time I was sure to stay on the path and not go too fast.
"Haw!" I yelled and Diamond turned to the left a little. It was early in the morning, maybe about four o'clock. The sky was glowing pink and purple as the sun rose.
"Gee!" I called to Diamond. She swerved to the right, dodging some broken branches that blocked the path. It seemed like we were getting better.

"Easy, Diamond..." I smiled. The sled slowed down inside of the village. "Whoa..."
"Thanks, Adam," Roxy climbed out of the sled's basket. "I best go and explain to my parents where I was..."
"Just say we had a sleepover or something," I suggested.
"I will," Roxy nodded before leaving. I turned back to Diamond.
"Hike! Hike!" I called.

I padded into my house, Diamond following me.
"Adam!"
I crept into the kitchen. My mother was sitting at the table, with Ace lying by her feet.
"Where were you last night?" She asked, not moving from her seat.
"Roxy and I stayed at Dad's old cabin..." I muttered, dropping my bag.
"Why? There is a reason we don't live there anymore. It's hardly suitable to let a dog sleep in." Lani stood up, looking me in the eye.
"I..." I paused "We took Diamond out for a sled ride and it got dark so we stayed there..."
Lani fell silent for moment.
"Why is your coat wet?" She asked "...and your arm is bandaged..."
"I was driving the sled when..." I stopped. "When it sped out of control and the sled over turned and... I fell onto the lake... And the ice broke..."
"What?" Lani's eyes grow wide. "I told you never to go near that lake while it's frozen!" She was shouting, but I could tell that it was out if fear, not anger. "And, I told you not to go into the forest alone at night! There are wolves, you know!"
"I know but I wasn't alone..." I murmured.
"And, what's worst? You put Roxy in danger!" Lani interrupted.
"It was an accident! I didn't mean for it happen..." I shuffled away from her. "Diamond saved me, anyway! We got her to pull me out of the ice..." I could see my mother's face soften. She was still angry and scared for me but not quite so much.
"And, that makes it okay?" Her voice hitched.
"I'm not the first person in this family to do something their family told them not to and have to rely on their dog to save them..." I grabbed my bag and left the room. Lani sighed and sat back down. Diamond and Ace were lying by her feet.
"Good girl," Lani petted Diamond's head. She looked at Ace. "Whatever you've been teaching her, keep doing it," She smiled at her dog and gave him a hug.