Past the Fields. Where all is Golden

By Ann T Bugg

With Samantha’s little brother Joshua along, the girls didn’t think they’d get to go on an adventure this summer. They could not have been more wrong.

Josh disappears mysteriously into the cornfield while on his pony ride. Marcus, happy to finally be allowed to reveal himself to Val and Sam, informs them that Josh has been taken to another realm. It’s now up to them to find a treasure in exchange for his safe return home.

With help from a new friend, they follow secret caves and tunnels, and even discover the city of gold. But they learn that is not the greatest treasure of all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: June Kramin
• Release date: Sep 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310995101

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

Past the Fields, Where all is Golden

Before Happily Ever After

Book Six

Ann T. Bugg

…

Past the Fields, Where All is Golden

Before Happily Ever After Book Six

By Ann T. Bugg

Copyright © Ann T. Bugg, 2014

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, June 2014

Third edition July 2016

V4 2021

ISBN: 978-1310995101

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

For Josh – for surviving them!

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

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

About the Author

Chapter One

"Twenty-seven chubby bunny," Samantha said with a mouth full of mini-marshmallows.

Twenty-eight chubby bunny, followed Valerie as she added one to her mouth.

After a minute and ten more mini-marshmallows, Samantha said, Thirty-seven chubby bunny, although it sounded more like Thrrrty-sleven chummy ubbies.

That sent Valerie’s marshmallows flying out of her mouth with a loud laugh. She was grateful the carpet had been replaced with ceramic tile last year.

I win, said Samantha as she tried to smile with her cheeks puffed full.

Fine. But you look like an over-achiever chipmunk with a month’s supply of nuts stored in her cheeks.

Sam had to run for the trashcan before her marshmallows hit the floor as well.

Valerie’s mom walked down the stairs to put laundry away. I’m not even going to ask, she said at the sight of their white powder-covered faces. She shook her head and kept going.

If there was a checklist for their week together, they could now cross send food flying out our mouths off it. Next would be make milk come out someone’s nose.

Although Valerie was now fourteen and Samantha was thirteen, they still came up with the strangest competitions. The chubby bunny was the latest, and no one was quite sure where it had started. They didn’t ask Val’s dad to play anymore; he had gotten to sixty without so much as a struggle last time.

The girls were so excited about being together that they'd ignored the mirror on the living room wall their whole first day together. In all fairness, the last few journeys they’d taken didn’t even require the mirror, so perhaps they’d learned to expect the unexpected. Still, every now and then, one of them would steal a glance at the mirror, hoping it would show some sign of life.

Samantha was more than a little distracted this year. For the first time, her younger brother, Joshua, had joined her in her week’s stay at Val’s farm.

The girls did their best to ditch him whenever they could, worried their usual adventure couldn't happen with him around. Val’s dad tried to keep him busy, but he really loved to tag along with the girls. This was surprising, since Valerie tended to treat him like her own little brother—and not in a good way.

A few hours after the marshmallow game, Val peered out the window. The pool is finally full. It’ll be cold, but you want to go swimming?

Val’s farm had a well for water. They had to fill the pool slowly, over a few days, so they wouldn’t run out of water for the house. The groundwater came out extremely cold. At least the sun was out; that would help keep them warm.

Sure! Race ya! Sam took off up the stairs to get her swimsuit on, with Valerie close behind. More than likely, they’d come down wearing each other’s suits. It was sort of a given that they'd spend the week swapping clothes.

The girls were well on their way to a nice pruney finish on their hands and feet before Samantha noticed something on Val’s lawn.

Did you get a new garden gnome, Val?

Val stopped splashing around and walked to the edge of the pool. No. That’s one of the two that are at the front of the house. I wonder why he’s in the middle of the yard.

Maybe Josh picked him up.

I bet he and my dad are playing a joke on us. The way you were trying to dunk me, we wouldn’t have noticed either one of them put it there. Come on, I still owe you for that, Val said as she put both hands on Samantha’s head and sent her under the water.

The girls splashed around for a while, then took a rest, floating on the foam noodles. Valerie sat up straight at the sound of Samantha’s gasp. The gnome was now on top of the pool’s stairs.

Val laughed. Dad! Where are you? Knock it off. You’re going to break him again. There won’t be anything else for Mom to hot glue.

Sam laughed. One of those was my fault.

Val shrugged. He survived.

The two of them swam over to the stairs for a closer look at the gnome. They were still staring at it when it slowly turned its head to face them, as if studying them back. The girls backed away, and screamed when the gnome said, Boo!

Val’s dad opened the screen door and called out, Is everything okay?

Um…yeah. There was a bee in the pool, said Val.

You get it out?

It flew away; we’re fine.

Why are you playing with the gnome? You have enough pool toys. Don’t put that on the floor of the pool. I don’t want it to rip the vinyl.

We won’t. We thought he’d make a good target for the super soakers. I’ll get him back on the ground first. Val complimented herself for her fast thinking. She normally couldn’t tell a lie and get away with it. Ever.

I’m going to finish the ceramic floor in the last room downstairs. Josh is just about bored with me. He doesn’t want to swim right now, but please play with him for a little bit after lunch.

All right, they both said with a bit of a pout to their tone.

Your mom said lunch would be ready soon. You may want to come out of the pool and get dried off.

Okay. We will. They waited to hear the door close before wading back over to the stairs.

Do not even think about using those super soakers on me, the gnome said.

We won’t, Val promised. I was trying to come up with a quick explanation for my dad.

Who are you? asked Sam.

I’m Marcus, Val’s garden gnome. Excuse me as I insert a ‘Duh’ here.

But you’re…alive.

Very much so, but I am a garden gnome just the same. There are woodland gnomes, house gnomes, farm gnomes, dune gnomes, and a few others. I prefer the garden life.

Why are you here? Samantha asked. I mean…out here, talking to us. Could you always understand us?

Of course. You may have a fairy godmother, but I’m more like your year-round guardian.

Guardian? Sam crossed her arms. Why isn’t there a gnome at my house?

Because as much as we’ve tried to intervene, your mother doesn’t want one in her yard.

I had no idea. Sam said. I’ve never heard her say anything. Maybe I can talk her into one for my playhouse.

That would be most agreeable for us. However, don’t go ‘rocking the boat’ as you humans say. You know by now that your adventures only happen when you two are together. I assure you that you are safe when you’re home.

Safe? the girls said at the same time, exchanging a panicked expression.

Why wouldn’t we be safe? Sam asked.

No reason in particular, he assured them. With the magic you two share, you never know who may try to come for you next.

Seriously? they said, again in unison.

I didn’t say it to alarm you. My, my. I do have a way of sticking my foot in my mouth, don’t I?

You think someone would come for us to do something bad? Sam asked.

"Girls, please. Don’t get ahead