Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Elysia huddled in the corner, shielding the kids with her arms, her heart thudding with worry. She glanced toward the front door, waiting until the man had run off before she finally dared to speak.

Turning to Tarquin, she whispered anxiously, "You're sure he won't go blabbing out there?"

If that guy brought back a whole gang, they'd be in real trouble. Those guys had numbers—and worse, they were armed to the teeth.

Tarquin shrugged, confidence in his voice. "Don't stress. He won't dare. He's just a flunky, more worried about saving his own skin than playing the hero."

Elysia hesitated, still uneasy. But Tarquin went on, "Think about it. He just got threatened and let go-hardly something he wants to brag about. Besides, none of them actually escaped, so there's nothing for him to gain by talking."

He moved closer, kneeling beside Elysia and the kids, his gaze softening. "Look, your grandparents are just out. They weren't captured or hurt. You can breathe easy."

Relief washed over Elysia, and she nodded, exhaling deeply. Thank God the old folks were safe.

last long. The next problem loomed, heavy as a thundercloud. "What do we do now? They've got over a hundred guys, all with

Tarquin, wide-eyed. Evan opened his mouth, closed it, then just stared, waiting for Tarquin

the wild animals on the intruders, but with so many armed men,

a better way. One that didn't put the animals in harm's way or destroy the

the details out of him. Once we know exactly

was steady, almost

Their fate's already sealed: either they meet their end in these woods, or they go face justice back in town. But

on the porch but inside, they

breaking the silence. "Dad, why isn't Brock

His tone was calm. "That scar-faced freak's tough.

hunters will

know the full story-he won't go all out. He's probably stringing the hunters along, hoping to buy us