Soaring up to the Clouds, Not Knowing Jack

By Ann T Bugg

Valerie and Samantha’s journey begins before they even make it to Val’s farm this summer. When their families meet up at a
festival, a hot air balloon ride takes them high into the clouds where surprises of Giant proportions await them.

With the help of old and new friends, they return to a familiar kingdom and time to once again rescue Snow. This time from the evil queen’s second attempt
at killing her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: June Kramin
• Release date: Apr 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310158278

Ann T Bugg

Ann T. Bugg is the Queen of her castle in southern Minnesota where she lives with her Knight in shining armor (who has come to her rescue more than once) and her own little Princess Valerie. The pets in her magical kingdom come in all shapes and sizes, as do all the critters that make their way out of the enchanted forest. She enjoys horseback riding and long walks with her dogs, but writing will always be her first love.(Ann T. Bugg is the pseudonym for author June Kramin. For more on her women’s fiction, visit http://www.junekramin.com/)

Book preview

Soaring up to the Clouds, Not Knowing Jack

Before Happily Ever After

Book Five

Ann T. Bugg

…

Soaring up to the Clouds, Not Knowing Jack

Before Happily Ever After Book Five

By Ann T. Bugg

Copyright © Ann T. Bugg, 2013

All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places or events, the names, characters, incidents, and locations within are from the author’s imagination and are not a resemblance to actual living or dead persons, businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental.

Published by Pau Hana Books, November 2013

Third edition July 2016

V4 2021

ISBN: 978-1310158278

This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. No part of this book can be reproduced or sold by any person or business without the express permission of the publisher.

Published in the United States of America

Cover Art and Illustrations: Valerie Kramin

Cover text by Mad Cat Designs

For my Punkin Pie, Kendra

And my favorite goofball, Jack

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

About the Author

Chapter One

Valerie was in no hurry to wake up this lazy summer day. She couldn’t stand the thought of waiting for the last couple days to pass so they could pick up Samantha. Smiling wide, she recalled their flight last year on Opal, the dragon. She laughed as she remembered the antics of the hobs and how Merlin always managed to make her smile.

Finally rolling out of bed, she decided to try, yet again, to see if they could get Samantha any sooner. Valerie didn’t usually take any answer given to her the first time and would ask the same question again and again. Her mom called it the yeah-buttle.

Can’t we get Samantha on Wednesday instead of waiting until Saturday, Mom?

No, we can’t.

Why, not?

Her mom said she couldn’t.

Yeah, but…it’s not like she has school.

She has dance class.

Yeah, but…it’s not like it’s gonna kill her to miss one.

Valerie!

Moments after replying with, Okay, okay, she tried again. Mom, I talked to Samantha. She said she doesn’t care if she misses one dance class.

It’s not up to her. Her mom pays good money for those classes. She doesn’t need to skip them. You can wait a couple days. You’ll still have a full week together.

Yeah, but….

Valerie Danielle! Stop with the yeah-buttle!

Okay, she said again with a heavy sigh and wandered back to her room.

Val figured she’d pushed it to the limit, but just once more couldn’t hurt. Could it? She hurried down the stairs and hollered, Mom! There was no answer. Mom? You in the house? Still there was no reply. Val realized the dogs didn’t hop all over her when she came down, so she figured her mom was out at the barn. She put her sneakers on and went outside.

Sir Lexington, her favorite barn cat, was sitting on the railing of their deck, so she spent a few minutes petting him. When you see Odette, you be sure to tell her that Samantha will be here Saturday, unless I can convince Mom to get her sooner, okay?

He purred loudly and enjoyed the loving and attention. With every stroke down his back, his rear end raised up; that always made Val laugh.

Even though Odette explained that she visited Val’s pets often, they never gave her any clue that they could understand her or offer her any insight to having seen her and Samantha’s fairy godmother. If the animals were going to do anything amazing, it wouldn’t be now. The girls discovered long ago that the magic was something they shared. Nothing extraordinary happened to Val or Sam unless they were together.

As Val wandered toward the barn at her own pace, she scanned their dirt driveway for unusual rocks for her collection. Every now and then she’d find one unique. Her favorite so far was a white one with black spots. She’d named it a Dottie stone in fun after her dog, Dottie, but later found out that Dalmatian stone was the actual name of the rock. Happy to have found another spotted stone, Val was bending down a few feet from the barn when she heard her mother scream.

At first Valerie was a little scared, thinking that maybe her mom got hurt, then she smiled thinking maybe she saw Odette as a possum again! Maybe she was here early! Valerie quickened her pace to the barn but when she saw something rising above the roof, she froze. It seemed like a mountain growing taller and taller. Suddenly its shape became easier to understand. It was an enormous man. A giant! It was now standing at its full height, easily twice the size of the barn. She heard her mom scream again. That’s when Valerie noticed the giant had her mother in his hands.

Valerie let out a loud No!…then bolted upright in her own bed with her hand cupped over her mouth.

Are you okay, Larrie? I heard you holler, Val’s mom called from downstairs.

What? I was sleeping? Think fast, ding-dong. What the heck are you going to tell her?

Um…I’m fine…I…stepped on a toy.

You know, if you picked up your room now and then, that wouldn’t happen.

I know, Mom. I’ll clean a little today.

Do Speedy and Hoppy’s cage, too. I know you won’t do it with Sam here.

Okay.

After her mom walked away, she quickly snatched her phone off her dresser and called Samantha to tell her about the dream.

That’s weird, Val. We’ve never seen a giant before. Why would you dream about that?

I don’t know. It was creepy. I really thought I was awake. That was the scariest part. Have you ever had that happen?

Not that I remember. Josh used to sleepwalk, although that’s really not the same thing.

I remember that phase. He almost stepped on me more than once.

Sam laughed. I lock my door now, but he hasn’t done it in a long time. So, I guess we’re on for Saturday.

No luck getting out of your class, huh?

Nope. I’ll already miss one while I’m there. Mom said that’s enough. The competition is the week after I get back, so she doesn’t want me to miss any more than I have to.

Is there another mother/daughter routine?

Not this time.

Good. ‘Cause your mom sure was mad when she dropped the baton last year.

Samantha laughed. Yes, she was. This is it, though. After this competition, I’m sticking with softball. It’s too much doing both. It’s so hard for us to get together. But that’s not the only reason.

I know. You guys always run like crazy. Maybe next year we can have two weeks!

I wish!

They hung up after talking for a bit more, then Valerie went downstairs.

Mom, can’t we get her Friday night instead of waiting until Saturday morning?

No, Larrie. You can wait one more night. I don’t like driving after dark if I can help it.

Yeah, but Dad doesn’t mind.

The deer are so thick here right now. It just makes more sense to wait.

Yeah, but we would have an extra night and it doesn’t get really dark till after nine now. We could be home—

Valerie… Her mother shook her head. What do I keep saying to you?

Ask me ten more times and see if my answer changes.

Bingo. Now go clean your bunny and chinchilla cage, please.

All right. Hey, Mom. When Samantha comes, remind me of something.

What?

Just say crush.

Crush?

Yup.

All right. I’ll try to remember. You know me, though. You’re usually the one I rely on to remind me of stuff.

At dinner that night, Valerie decided to put her mom’s memory to the test.

"What did I ask you to remind me