Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 280

Chapter 280: Silent observation
Ford watched the scene from far too close. The night before, he had circled around behind Daniel. He was fairly confident the boy either had somehow missed him appearing and disappearing—from trying to keep himself hidden–or had written it off as a hallucination or mirage.

Following behind the boy meant that Ford did not have as good a view of the main party, but he also felt a strange urge to protect Daniel.

The child was oddly competent. Ford was shocked that the boy was able to saddle his horse on his own, and mount it without aid.

Ford was still having trouble with that last bit, granted, he had lingering pain from his wounds and broken leg when he wasn’t masking it. Even so, he learned a bit from watching Daniel move about, how he sat when he rode, and how he managed to follow at a distance and keep himself from being detected.

It had taken Ford over a day to notice the boy… or perhaps he had only caught up to them after most of the day.

Even so, he was very good at remaining undetected–so Ford had taken it upon himself to gather a few handfuls of rocks at the last stop, and started throwing them ahead of Daniel, uncloaking them at the last moment before they hit.

His efforts had finally paid off when Anaisa had reined in her horse and come to confront the follower.

When she began speaking, Ford grimaced. Invisible, off to one side, he knew that her words were for him. She wouldn’t be telling her son he wouldn’t be in trouble, would be useful for the journey ahead, and that she would make sure no harm would come to him.

The conversation felt awkward to observe as the red headed mother visibly struggled to control herself. Her shock when her son came into view solidified Ford’s hypothesis that she’d been talking to the man, not her son.

But did she actually know Ford was here, or just know someone had been following them? Maybe Daniel’s discovery would throw them off from suspecting Ford was there at all, especially since he wouldn’t intentionally throw rocks to expose his own presence.

He didn’t think anyone would foresee his protectiveness of the boy, since he himself hadn’t predicted such a reaction.

Of course, the plan to follow them secretly wasn’t sustainable indefinitely. Martin’s analogy about running forever and using magic forever was fairly apt, and Ford already found himself slipping more often.

It was a type of exhaustion he was unfamiliar with, and it would be best if he could let himself rest soon.

Maybe with Daniel out of the way, he could follow at a distance without using his ability at all for a day or two. Or maybe discern a method for preserving the use of his power for emergencies somehow.

“You… what??” Anaisa cried at Grandpa. “You want my son, my nine year old son, to come with us on a journey that might very well end in all our deaths??”

Ford’s eyebrows rose.

“If you really thought it would result in your death, you would not have come and risked leaving your children as orphans,” Grandpa replied evenly. “You are not afraid of all of us dying.”

Anaisa’s nostrils flared as she stared into her father-in-law’s eyes.

“I’m not perfect, mind, but I’ve got more years of experience under my belt to draw on, so correct me if I’m off base here,” Grandpa drawled, “The boy wants to come. It’ll be a pain to take him home, and no guarantee the boy will stay there if we do. Got a disobedient streak in him, and Grandma’s only got the will to keep him tied to the kitchen table for so long.”

The old man darted a glance at the boy, who ducked his head penitently, and Grandpa continued.

“I figure someone to load and unload and do all the heavy work will help my old back. Boy’s good with horses and can take over care of them as well. He won’t be lazy, I’m sure of it.”

“Being helpful does not merit bringing him into the unknown with untold dangers,” Anaisa shot back. “He’s my son, and he’s going back.”

“Who do you want to take him? Or you want him to go alone?” Grandpa asked cordially, and Anaisa paused.

“Are you sure your powers are insect related and not mind reading?” She narrowed her eyes, and the old man smiled knowingly. Ford’s eyes darted between the two, wondering at the interaction.

“He made it this far, he can make it home,” Grandpa conceded. “But I think you’d worry he didn’t make it to the point of giving yourself a breakdown. So I figure either one of us has to take him, or he comes along.”

Anaisa’s hands came up to rub her temples.

“I don’t like this a bit,” She murmured. “Seth, any alternatives you can think of? Mia?”

Ford flinched when the girl seemed to look directly at him, but her eyes moved onward, searching.

“I know of someone that could escort the boy home, but the coward won’t show his face.” Seth grumbled.

“He must have grown on you if you’d be willing to entrust your young nephew into his care,” Grandpa smirked, and Seth glared at his father, apparently upset that his jab had backfired.

“I’m the oldest nephew, not young,” The almost-ten-year-old protested.

“He’s your son, so it’s your decision,” Grandpa said to Anaisa. She pursed her lips and turned to pace away several steps before coming back.

“It’s only a day and a half’s ride,” She decided. “I’ll take him back myself, tie him to the kitchen table, and catch up with all of you.”

“Mama, no!” Daniel protested. “Grandpa said I could be a help. I’m super good at hiding, because you didn’t notice me until now. I don’t even know why rocks kept flying around, but it wasn’t me!”

Anaisa pointed to the boy’s horse. “Mount, right now. I’m taking you home.”