— By Will
I love the quiet morning before the rest of my family wakes up. It is the only time the farm is perfectly still.
With a deep breath, I set out to start my morning chores. First, I checked on the cows to make sure they were safe. Then, I walked all along our stone fences here in Peckles-Wood Shire, keeping my eyes open for anything unusual—like a broken rail, fox tracks, or something else that didn’t belong.
But truth be told, my mind was somewhere else entirely. I couldn’t stop thinking about leaving the farm to find work in the busy town of Hexham. Most days, I really want to leave. The trouble is, my sister Emma wants to go to town, too. Since there are eight of us children, I know that if either of us leaves, the brothers and sisters left behind will have a much heavier workload.
I have to be careful, too. If Emma catches wind of my doubts, she might rush off to Hexham instead of me!
Father already knows what I want. I don’t want to just run away in the middle of the night—I want my father’s blessing. But I know my leaving would change everything for the whole family. All of my friends have already left the Shire. Now it’s my turn to leave, even if Father doesn’t agree. That thought sits heavy on my mind.
I finally finished up my chores and walked back to the house. Breakfast is waiting on the table. Soon, everyone will put on their best Sunday clothes for the long walk to the chapel. My journey is about to begin.l.
Welcome to Peckles-Wood Shire
Continue the adventure with the Broken Sanctuary novel, the first journey into the world of Peckles-Wood Shire. Then discover collectibles and keepsakes inspired by the Whitaker family’s adventure.
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[Go to the Walk to the Chapel Map]
The Illustrator’s Vision—The maps and illustrations of Peckles-Wood Shire are inspired by the real landscapes, places, and traditions of Victorian Northumberland. Created for The Chronicles of Peckles-Wood Shire, they blend historical research with imagination to bring the world of Broken Sanctuary to life and invite young explorers to step into the Whitaker family’s adventure of 1885.
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