Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1259

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 our boys. If you think you can run, you’re dead wrong. Don’t make us use these.”

The man waved his shotgun for emphasis and locked the door behind them with a heavy clunk.

Evan rushed to the door, tugging at it, but it was sealed tight. No way out.

“White, go! Find Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma!”

White, their clever old sheepdog, understood right away. He gave Evan’s hand a lick, then wriggled his way through a gap by the floorboards and was gone.

Elysia was wringing her hands, her voice trembling with worry.

“The worst that could’ve happened is they saw trouble coming and slipped out early,” Elliot added.

“Or maybe they just went into town for supplies and haven’t come back yet. Maybe these guys broke in while they were gone.”

Elijah, the youngest, piped up, “This is deep wilderness. If they couldn’t take care of themselves, they’d never have chosen to live here. Don’t worry, Mom.”

Their reassurances helped a little, but Elysia was still on edge. She forced herself to nod so she wouldn’t frighten the kids.

Time dragged by. Then, finally, White squeezed back into the room, tail wagging.

Everyone looked at him anxiously. Evan knelt down. “Well? Did you find them, boy? Are Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma safe?”