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."

scurry off, Tarquin called after

Bernard turned, "Yeah?"

at Evan. "Evan, did you tell

remembering the scarred

furrowed with concern. He hopped down from Benny's back and ran over to

man with scars all over

"Huh?"

Evan demonstrated a few moves right there in front of Bernard. "He showed me

instantly, the lightness

that? He actually found

just a chance meeting. Evan quickly summarized the

see him? If don't, I

furrowed, silent for a long moment

sighed heavily. "I'll

uneasy. "Will

he wants a

what we came

word, the old man picked up the pace,

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

but he just

both took off after

they reached a

men were