Page 1 of Reckoning

Chapter 1

Ozark Mountains—Missouri

May

Most days, Tate Bandy’s life was that of a normal six-year-old boy without a sibling. He learned at a very young age how to entertain himself. He only learned how to play with others when he started school at the Holy Water Church School on the mountain above Star Ridge, Missouri. He was just getting into the swing of things, when everything fun and wonderful abruptly ended six months later.

At first it was just a headache, then low-grade fevers, and after that, it went from bad to worse. He went from sick to critical in a matter of days with no firm diagnosis. He didn’t respond to tests and treatments, and his parents were frantic, refusing to give their baby back to the Lord.

Finally, a different doctor in St. Louis ran a different test. A radical, almost ridiculous assumption to consider, both for the time of year and the Ozark Mountains location. When the test results came back, they got an answer, but his fight to get well was far from over.

Tate had West Nile virus, and he’d been sick so long, his immune system was running on empty. There was no cure, but now that they had a diagnosis, the medical team began treating symptoms.

First grade came to a halt. School was the last thing on his parents’ minds, and the better part of that year and the next was devoted to nursing their little boy back to health.

By the time he was ready to return to the Holy Water church school, he was eight going on nine years old. The teachers recommended that he begin first grade all over again, rather than put him in a stressful situation by trying to catch up. Abel and Lilith readily agreed, and life returned to normal.

Tate was back in school but having to make new friends all over again. It was a process, but he was getting there, until a little girl named Briar Lowe walked into class. An only child like Tate recognized and empathized with every aspect of her fears. One shy smile was all it took for Tate to be her protector, and for Briar to find solace just from being in his shadow.

For the first time in Tate’s life, he had a partner. A playmate was born.

* * *

Abel Bandy worked as a mechanic in Star Ridge.

Lilith Bandy, his wife, was everything sweet, gentle, and soft-spoken. They considered their lives blessed. God had given back their little boy.

Home was Tate’s favorite best place to be, except when he was with Briar.

But neither Briar nor anyone else at Holy Waters school knew Tate had a secret. A secret his daddy told him never to talk about, except when he was with them. But there were times when the knowing Tate had been born with came upon him, and on those days, it felt like his shoes were stuck to the floor and the skin on his face was shrinking.

Today was one of those knowing days, and he was worried. It meant something bad was going to happen. He was at school. Mama and Daddy were all the way down the mountain, and he’d never been without them when the feeling came.

It was lunchtime, and as usual, his teacher, Miss Ellen, was helping her first-grade class get their food trays to the table.

Abel Bandy always said herding cats would be easier than getting kids that age to listen, and even though Miss Ellen loved her job, she would have likely agreed with him.

Tate loved Miss Ellen. Her perfume smelled like roses. She had pretty blond curls and dimples, and she was nearly always smiling. He never wanted to displease her, but right now, it was difficult for him to focus.

Miss Ellen was standing in the doorway of her classroom, clapping her hands to get the students’ attention.

“Boys and girls, put away your things and line up at the door, please. It’s time to go to the lunchroom.”

Tate was trying to hurry, but the knowing slowed every movement he was trying to make. When he finally made his way across the little classroom to line up, he was the last in line.

Miss Ellen clapped her hands again. “We’re walking! We’re walking!” she said, and led her students up the short hallway to the school cafeteria.

Even before they’d left his classroom, Tate knew what they were having for lunch. He could see it in his mind just like a show on TV—burgers and fries in the hot pans, the steam rising from the serving line, and Mrs. Dewer standing by the milk station to put a carton of milk on every tray as they passed.

The church school was small and catered to the Bible as tightly as it did the ABC’s. There were only twenty-six students in grades one through four. After that, everybody had to go to the public school in town, leaving the rest of their religious upbringing to the pastor’s sermons on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.

Tate got his tray, moved to the first graders’ table, and sat down.

Briar Lowe was already seated. She was pretty like Miss Ellen, but Briar’s hair was brown like chocolate and her eyes were the color of his mama’s purple lilacs, and she was shy. Tate understood what it felt like to be shy.

The lunchroom was noisy. Miss Ellen was standing near the first-grade table, helping anyone who needed help opening their milk cartons. But Tate made it his business to always open Briar’s milk carton before he opened his own.

Briar glanced up when he reached across the table for her carton and smiled when he popped it open and gave it back.