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PROLOGUE
Thirty-one years ago
Isabelle Ashley blinked awayher tears, pulling them deep into herself.
She hadn’t cried since Mama died. And she wasn’t going to cry just because of some nasty, stupid boys.
“Aww, the baby is gonna cry!” Teddy said loudly. He’d just moved down the street from where Isabelle lived a few weeks ago. “Waa waa.”
The other three boys laughed. They were all big meanies.
“Shut up, Teddy!” She kicked him in the shin.
His friends laughed harder as Teddy’s face grew bright red.
Uh-oh.
Isa might only be five, but she knew when she was in trouble.
She didn’t even have time to run before he shoved her.
Hard.
Falling to the ground, she bit back a cry of pain.
Do not cry. Do not cry.
Suddenly, she heard a war whoop and stared in shock as Teddy was tackled to the ground.
Another boy was straddling him, glaring down at him ferociously.
It was that wild kid. She wasn’t sure what his name was, but she’d heard her dad talking to Ted’s dad about him, about how he lived up the mountain with his granddad.
“Get off me! Get off!” Teddy yelled. He tried to knock him off, but the boy easily subdued him, pinning his arms down.
“You shouldn’t push girls around, Teddy-bear!” the boy said.
“That’s not my name!”
She stared down in surprise as Teddy started to cry.
“What’s the matter?” the boy asked. “I’m not even hurting you.”
“Get off me!” Teddy demanded.
“Not ‘til you say sorry.”
“I’m not saying sorry to the crybaby! Help!”
All of Ted’s friends scattered.
“You touched a girl. That’s not okay. Say you’re sorry. Say it,” the boy said in a surprisingly deep voice.
“Sorry, Isabelle!” Teddy yelled.
“Don’t touch her again.” The boy let Teddy go.
Teddy was still crying as he ran off. Isabelle didn’t feel sorry for him, though. He was a meanie and a bully.
