Sianna was well on her way to Yransea, if not there already, and the small house felt echoing and empty. It wasn?t that Johnny minded solitude ? when he was working, or on a few rare occasions. For the most part, however, he was a social type of person, and preferred to be around other people. It didn?t help that this was the first long separation in distance and time between Sianna and Johnny since they had met. He was pacing like a caged lion in the house. He needed a distraction, and one was already planned. Fortunately, the day had dawned cold, but clear and bright.
The Smith farm was a fair ride north of the city by wagon, but in this case, the wagon was necessary. After all, while it was certainly possible to walk the distance dragging a pair of sleds behind, that wasn?t exactly the sort of distraction Johnny had in mind. When he had found the hill not far distant from the farm, with the small iced-over pond near its base, he had been delighted. Sledding wasn?t something he?d often gotten a chance to do as a child ? there was enough work on the farm that play was stolen in snatches. He?d wanted to bring Sianna, but she had been busy preparing for the trip.
Juliane had quite frankly told him that if they went sledding together, she would end up killing her twin. Twin-bond echoed confusion, anger, resignation, and Johnny got the message. He was in spirits much too high for her to take comfort at the moment. They would talk, soon enough. In the meantime, he was out a sledding partner. It had seemed a stroke of genius to invite Katarina along; now he moved from pacing in the house to pacing on the front porch. The wagon he had hired was on the curb, already loaded with the sleds, a spare blanket or two, and a picnic basket. Now all he needed was his cousin!
The Smith farm was a fair ride north of the city by wagon, but in this case, the wagon was necessary. After all, while it was certainly possible to walk the distance dragging a pair of sleds behind, that wasn?t exactly the sort of distraction Johnny had in mind. When he had found the hill not far distant from the farm, with the small iced-over pond near its base, he had been delighted. Sledding wasn?t something he?d often gotten a chance to do as a child ? there was enough work on the farm that play was stolen in snatches. He?d wanted to bring Sianna, but she had been busy preparing for the trip.
Juliane had quite frankly told him that if they went sledding together, she would end up killing her twin. Twin-bond echoed confusion, anger, resignation, and Johnny got the message. He was in spirits much too high for her to take comfort at the moment. They would talk, soon enough. In the meantime, he was out a sledding partner. It had seemed a stroke of genius to invite Katarina along; now he moved from pacing in the house to pacing on the front porch. The wagon he had hired was on the curb, already loaded with the sleds, a spare blanket or two, and a picnic basket. Now all he needed was his cousin!