My original plan for the beginning scenes of Paths Unknown were very different from where it ended up. I thought it would be informative, and cute, and brilliant if I wrote a series of rapid-fire scenes from Ansel and Gretchen’s growing up years. I believed it would be a good way to establish their long-standing friendship, as well as give readers a taste of what their dynamic was.
However, when the first couple alpha readers read it, that didn’t go over well. The scenes were sweet and informative, but they simply weren’t interesting enough to launch a story. So they were moved to my deleted scenes folder, and now I’m going to go ahead and share them with you! So here they are, Ansel and Gretchen’s childhood vignettes.
(Please excuse the inevitable typos. These are unedited.)
First Meeting
Gretchen, six years old
Johnny and I dashed through the woods, racing to see who could reach the stream and touch the water first. I knew he would win. He was bigger and older and faster, but I still tried my best.
I was surprised when Johnny stopped just before we reached the water, but I took my chances and sped past him, skidding to a stop and bending down to touch the water.
“I won!” I shouted, spinning to look at him in unexpected triumph with my hands thrown in the air. I’d beaten my older brother! It was only because he’d stopped, but still! Fair was fair.
Johnny wasn’t looking at me though, and when I turned to see what had caught his attention, I saw two boys playing a little ways down stream. They both were looking over at us.
“Hello,” Johnny called. He was eleven and pretty much not afraid of anything. “Where’d you come from?”
The older of the two, though he looked younger than Johnny, nodded his head to his right. “Sutton Manor. Are you new at Bridgefield?”
My brother nodded, and we both walked over to talk with the boys. The younger one hadn’t said anything, but he looked about my size, so I walked up to him, noticing the way his pant legs were rolled up, but they’d had still gotten wet from wading in the stream.
“How old are you?” I asked.
“Seven.”
I grinned, excited to find someone my own age. “I’ll be seven soon!”
He nodded, but then looked away.
I frowned, wondering if he didn’t want to be friends, but then he seemed to remember he was holding something in his hand and he held it out for me to see.
“Ooh!” I drew closer so I could get a better look at the caterpillar wiggling in his palm. “That’s a good one.”
When I looked back up at his face, he was smiling, and I thought maybe he would want to be friends after all.
Swimming
Gretchen, eight years old
All the older kids had been coming here for years, but they’d never invited me along before. Today was the day that Johnny finally gave in to my begging after he’d told Mum that he was heading to the swimming hole.
He’d looked at Mum, like he hoped she’d say no. Instead, she smiled and said, “I’m sure you’ll keep an eye on her.”
Of course, after he agreed and we were making our way across Bridgefield grounds, we couldn’t just go straight to the swimming hole. “We have to get Ansel,” I said.
Johnny rolled his eyes and groaned, but I could tell that he wasn’t really mad. “You two don’t always have to do everything together.”
“We’ve both been waiting to go to the swimming hole for ages, I can’t leave him out now.” Ansel was six months older than me. He’s be so sad if I got to go and he didn’t.
So we’d walked over to Sutton Manor and found Ansel helping his father in the stables. The moment I told him about the water hole, he dropped the shovel he’d been using and raced over to us, skidding to a stop at the last moment so he could turn back to his father. “Can I?”
Pryce shook his head, but he was smiling. “Go on. But you’ll finish this when you get back.”
We ran the whole way to the stream, and joined the others. Tyson and Oliver were trying to dunk one another, while Emeline floated on her back, looking up at the sunlight filtering through the trees.
I hopped on one foot, then the other, as I took off my shoes, and turned to Ansel with a grin. “Race you,” I said, and took off toward the water.
First Flip
Ansel, eleven years old
I should have been humiliated, and I was. But I was more proud for Gretchen than I was humiliated for myself, even if she had just landed me flat on my back.
Falstone had been teaching us to flip each other, and like any new skill that he taught us, Gretchen attacked with all she had. She and I were pretty much the same height, though Papa kept telling me I’d shoot up like a weed any day now. If that day waited until after Gretchen was taller than me, I didn’t know if I could handle it. She was better than I was at most things, and that was fine. But I couldn’t stomach the idea of being smaller than her. That would just be wrong.
I coughed out a laugh from my position on my back, luckily only a little winded. The piles of hay did wonders in breaking our fall.
Gretchen beamed down at me, triumphant. “I did it,” she said in an elated whisper.
“You did,” I confirmed, rolling to my feet.
“I didn’t think that would work.”
I gave a small shrug. “Of course it worked. Falstone said it would.” I wouldn’t mention the fact that I hadn’t really believed Gretchen would be able to do it on the first try.
Gretchen gave two little jumps of excitement, then shook out her arms, settling herself. “All right. Now it’s your turn. Flip me.”
We both took up our positions, and when all was said and done. I was able to flip her on my first try.
What a relief.
Dance
Ansel, fourteen years old
I found her sitting by the stream. It’s where she always went to think or sulk. “What are you doing out here?” I plopped down on the ground beside her. “My dad and Mr. Kelton have their instruments out. Nellie and Tyson both got cleaned up for each other, though neither will admit it. You like dances. Why aren’t you there?”
She let out a melancholy sigh. Uh oh. Gretchen was usually huffy when upset. If she was melancholy then I knew something was really wrong. “It’s the first dance since Johnny left.”
“Oh,” I said, but I didn’t really understand. Gretchen’s brother had gotten married and moved away months ago. I knew she missed him, but this seemed different. So I waited, hoping she’d confide in me.
“He always made it fun. He always gave me plenty of chances to dance.”
“I’ll dance with you.”
She looked over at me. “I know. But it’s not just that.”
“Then what is it?”
“John always”—she huffed—“I always knew I was safe with John around. I never worried because I knew he would be there.”
“Do you not feel safe?”
She shrugged. “Johnny left, but Lord Rockwell and his guards were still here. Now Lord Rockwell is gone, and I prefer that for the most part, but…it’s just me and my mom now.”
“I’m here.” I wish I had said it with conviction, but it came out more like a meek question and I felt like an idiot.
At least until Gretchen looked up at me with a watery and hopeful smile. “You going to be my protector now?” she asked.
“Of course,” I said, knowing I’d fight anyone at any time for her. She was too precious to me to contemplate losing. And since the past few years had given me some height and strength, I could maybe even win.
“Good.” She sniffed and then kissed my cheek before climbing to her feet and heading toward Bridgefield. “Are you coming or not?”
I’m guessing that you’ll agree that I made the right choice, but maybe not! What did you think?
Clean Romance Highlights
Of Love and Beer by Amanda Darcy is an enemies-to-lovers, work place romance. It’s available in KU.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman of good judgment can totally trust her first impressions.
The Royal Spy by Cassie M. Shiels.
I didn’t go for him, I went to save our countries.
Matched with Her Former Best Friend by Britney M. Mills.
She’s in the business of fairy tales. He’s hoping for a real-life happily ever after.
Be First to Comment