Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

"...Alright."

A deep, rumbling growl echoed through the woods again. Tarquin quickly turned to

Evan, desperate for a distraction.

"How on earth are you making that growling noise?"

"Growling? Oh! Not me-it's him!"

With a theatrical flourish, Evan yanked the sheets aside, revealing the truth.

Tarquin's heart skipped a beat. It was a bear-a real, hulking bear!

Evan was perched on its shoulders, clutching its ears and kicking his little legs in excitement.

"This is my new friend, Benny! Benny, say hi to my dad!"

The massive black bear looked seriously unimpressed. It let out a thunderous roar, right at Tarquin.

The sound rattled Tarquin's bones. It was like the bear was venting all its pent-up frustration directly at him.

Tarquin's lips twitched. Was he really the easiest target here? Did Benny the Bear think he was just a pushover?

"Alright, let's get moving," the old man cut in, already turning away. "Your grandma said we need to wrap this up quick. She and Elysia are waiting for us to get home for dinner."

the old man started to scurry off, Tarquin called after

Bernard turned, "Yeah?"

"Evan, did you tell

remembering the scarred

with concern. He hopped down from Benny's back and

know an old man with scars all over his

"Huh?"

few moves right there in front of

the lightness

you that? He

quickly summarized the

want to see him? If don't, I can

silent for a long moment as Tarquin and Evan

heavily. "I'll see

"Will you be

neither nodded nor shook his head. "If he wants a real

let's finish what we

word, the old man

heart pounded. "A fight to the death...nobody

tightened, but he just said,

both took off

reached

men were