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Brock totally bought it. Without a second thought, he leapt straight from the

second floor, landing with a heavy thud.

"If it really is some wild mountain man, I'll strike it rich! Let's go!"

With his words, the whole crew swaggered out of the old ranch house and headed

past the white picket fence. But after a few steps, Brock remembered Elysia and

the others. He turned and barked,

"Leave this chick for me! Nobody touches her until I get back, you hear me?"

"Yeah, yeah, Brock, don't worry! She's all yours."

Brock shot Elysia a sleazy grin before turning away, barely sparing a glance for

Tarquin or the kids.

To him, they were nothing-just harmless pests. Guns made all the difference,

after all. What could a few children and an old man do against that?

Once Brock and his men left, the little family of seven were herded into a bare,

musty room. Before the door slammed shut, one of the goons threw out a

warning:

"Sit tight and wait for Brock. Don't try anything stupid. This place is crawling with

you think you can run, you're dead wrong. Don't make

man waved his shotgun for emphasis and locked

heavy clunk.

tugging at it, but it

go! Find Great-Grandpa and

old sheepdog, understood right away.

then wriggled his way through a gap by the floorboards and

was wringing her hands,

Grandpa

Why would

must be

here, they'd have come out

us as soon as we

up in the mountains," Evan said

could

squeezed Elysia's hand gently. "Maybe... maybe they moved

else?"

her head

you see

front? All

and zucchini are thriving-Grandpa

be taking care

we left,

They said we

come back and find

back tears, worry etched deep on her

something's happened. There are so many

guns..."

and Evan looked worried too, but they shared a

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