"They're Tarquin and my kids too. This is Baby, and this is Elijah. BabyElijah, say hi to your great-grandma."

The two little ones obediently greeted Tracey together,

"Hello, Great-grandma!"

Tracey was absolutely delighted.

"Oh my goodness, look at you two! Why are there two little ones? Elijah looks just like Elliot and Evan! And Baby's the spitting image of Elysia!"

Elysia laughed as she explained,

"Back then, both of them were taken away, so when Grandpa and Grandma found us, it was just me, Elliot, Evan, and Emmett."

"Elijah grew up with Tarquin, and Baby was raised by someone else..."

"Grandma, I'll fill you in on all the details about the kids later. For now, tell us about you and Grandpa."

"Why is it only you and Bernard back? Where are the other grandpas?"

"What happened last night? Why wasn't anyone home? There was always someone around before."

"And how did those hunters get so close without you knowing?"

Tracey let out a long breath and glanced at the hunters knocked out cold on the floor, frowning a little.

just bad timing, really. Gerald had some personal business and had to go down to town, and he took Howard with

it was just Bernard, Quincy,

morning, Quincy wanted to go out and paint-he found this spot when Bernard took him exploring as a kid, said

was bored and curious, so he tagged

four of the old guys gone, it was just me and Bernard holding

know it, as soon as Quincy and Walter left, we spotted people

found a bunch of young whooping cranes nesting over there, and we were worried those scoundrels would

are less than three thousand whooping cranes left worldwide-barely over a thousand in this country. They're

"And

martens, and

wildlife out east.

it's a

one,

a pup. He's got his

Pippin,

just let those jerks have their way, so Bernard

to teach them a lesson, and I went to help any animals

expected anyone would find this place-especially not so many at

we got your message, it was almost too late. We hurried home as fast

Elysia was speechless.

house was empty-what a

they'd arrived five years ago, Grandma and Grandpa

loved the

say that as outsiders, since they'd intruded on the animals' home, it was

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255