Waking the Shadows - Excerpt

Months ago, I posted the first five chapters of my first novel, Waking the Shadows. Since then, the text has undergone a developmental edit (thanks David Downing at Maxwellian Editorial Services) and copy edit (thanks Judy Hagey at Write Justified). The story is about 12,000 words shorter and significantly better for their efforts. Currently, I’m working on self-publishing the story and am working through the process of finding an illustrator to do the cover (any recommendations?), a printer to create a physical book, and preparing to upload an e-book to Amazon.

In the meantime, here’s the brand new opening scene to the book. Enjoy!

Summer 1866

Isaac Cooper stared down the dirt path leading to his brother’s farm, fear rising within him. Fear of his past. Of his future. Maybe both. Fear as inescapable and oppressive as the summer humidity thickening the air and seeping into his lungs. As his breath became short, Isaac suppressed a sudden and overwhelming urge to cough.

Never thought I’d be back here. Never wanted to be back.

The letter changed everything. Mary was dead. His niece Samantha orphaned. Isaac was her next of kin. Her only kin. Only natural he take her in. All in one letter. Isaac read it multiple times as he wrestled with the implications. Samantha was the only reason he’d come back to this place. The only kin Isaac had left too. Of course, he would come. But with every step drawing Isaac back to his brother David’s farm, to Samantha, his anxiety grew.

Not his farm anymore. All gone now. Gone for over a year and still David’s presence haunted him.

Isaac squinted down the path again and couldn’t resist the cascade of memories: The day Samantha was born. Telling David he’d enlisted in the army. The cold, early morning when he and David had marched off to fight, leaving David’s wife and child behind. The long, lonely walk back down that path after the war.

Isaac shoved guilt-filled memories from his mind. Now’s not the time for your guilt. She needs you to be strong.

Isaac reached into his bag and searched for the doll he had purchased for Samantha. He hoped the gift would bring the girl some comfort, perhaps distract her from the fact he was about to take her from everything she’d ever known. He was a stranger to her, and she to him. What did he know about raising a nine-year-old girl? You must be strong for her.

Summoning his resolve, Isaac turned his wagon down the path toward the cabin. Toward Samantha. The wagon bumped and jostled as he made slow progress down the rutted, overgrown path. His chest tightened and sweat poured from beneath his hat as he crested a small rise and the cabin came into view. From his seat atop the wagon, Isaac made out the figure of a small girl in the front yard.

“Samantha,” he said aloud, as the fear rose into his throat once again. I never wanted this. This is all wrong. His heart raced as the wagon bounced forward, bringing him closer to his future. To his past.

This is my fault. All my fault. I’m sorry, brother. You should be here. He was close now. Close enough the girl in the yard noticed him. Close enough Isaac sensed her unease. Close enough to stop the wagon in front of the cabin. The girl stood as Isaac descended from the wagon. He paused for a moment and braced himself before looking at the girl. Have to be strong.

Isaac turned to face Samantha. He could see a lack of recognition in her face. Tension in her body. David in her eyes. And then he heard him. “Courage and fear are two sides of the same coin.” It was his brother’s voice, giving him strength as he did before every battle. “Bravery is being afraid and going forward anyway.”

Isaac gave the girl a long look. He took a halting step toward a past he had hoped to forget. Toward a past he wanted to keep at a distance. Toward Samantha. Toward …

“Miss Cooper, do you remember me? I’m Mr. Cooper.”