This part won't make much sense if you didn't read the first part, but I hope this gives the story a bit more flesh. There is more to come so if you don't understand something pm me or wait to read everything
Over the next few days Alyssa was careful to avoid her uncle. She considered trying to steal back the tag, but the thought of sneaking into her uncle’s room was enough to give her nightmares.
Instead she spent hours wondering who the mysterious John was. A picture formed in her mind of a handsome young soldier. Dark hair, dark eyes – but not like her uncle’s. His would be warm and kind. He’d be tall.
“Aren’t ye hungry lass?”
Cook’s harsh voice cut across Alyssa’s thoughts. The world suddenly filled in around her. The smell of raisins and cinnamon wafted into her face and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise slightly in a cool breeze.
She looked up from the untouched sandwich to see Cook scrutinizing her intently.
She shrugged lightly. “Not really.”
Cook sighed and went on pounding (for such a gentle word as kneading could never apply to her) the dough. Her knuckles crunched and cracked poppy seeds, driving them deeper into the folds of white. When she lifted her hands for another round they glistened with oil and vanilla essence.
“Cook?”
Cook grunted, a sure sign that she was listening. Alyssa wavered. Revealing just a tiny bit of her precious adventure was a risk she wasn’t sure she wanted to take. It could put the whole thing in danger. Cook may look bland but she was sharper than a whip crack.
When Alyssa didn’t say anything she looked up with an annoyed expression.
“Get on with it.”
“Do you know a Jonathan Smith?”
There, it was done with. Cook would give her a lashing and she would never see the dog tag again.
Or meet the mysterious John.
But when she took a furtive glance at Cook’s face, she was met with raised eyebrows instead of the usual scowl.
“The kids talkin’ bout him already?” she said, going back to pounding. “Suppose that makes sense. ‘E was a soldier, sent here to deliver a message to your father, but he never arrived.”
New images filled Alyssa’s head. John half turning toward the forest in bright moonlight, eyes alight with determination and bravery. His worn fingers curled around the message that he had carried for long months, over water and land, in trouble and joy…
“What happened to him?” she asked, and Cook frowned at the anxious note in her voice.
“Got lost in the woods, didn’t he?” she answered, eyes on her dough. “Those woods are big an’ there are dangerous things about, why –”
“What are you talking about?”
Alyssa felt a chill run down her back. She looked up at the mirror hanging above Cook’s head, not wanting to turn around just yet. Her uncle stood framed in the doorway.
Cook barely hid her scowl and answered. “’Bout them woods out back sir. Just telling Miss Alyssa how dangerous they are.”
“Yes quite right,” he said slowly. Alyssa could feel him staring at the back of her head. Finally she turned, unable to stand the tension.
“Would you be liking something then, sir?” Cook asked in what she probably thought was a cheerful voice. “A spot of beef perhaps.”
“No thank you,” Uncle Lyle looked at Cook for a moment. “I daresay my–” he paused and his eyes travelled down to Alyssa “– appetite, is beyond your ability to satisfy. Good day.”
Cook shuddered openly as Lyle left. “Horrible man that,” she said, slapping the dough against the counter top. “Dunno how someone like ye father ends up with a brother like him.”
Alyssa didn’t say anything but nodded quietly. So John was indeed a soldier. He was walking around the woods at that very moment, looking for his dog tag and a way out. If she could find him, she could save him and tell him where it is.
A smile formed on her lips as she imagined the scene. She knew the woods better than her own backyard. All she had to do was get into them.
I'll just be off to read chapter 3 
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