Page 60 of Hunted

“I’m going to dance in a recital next week!” Isolde gushed.

“Nooo, it was a rock!” Gavin argued. “Luke said it could happen in nature!”

“Will you come? I promise I won’t fall!” Isolde enthused.

“Tortoise shellsdohappen in nature, dummy,” Samara chided.

“Anyway, we get to go on vacation!” Isolde shouted.

“Hey,Iwas gonna tell her that!” Gavin whined, pulling Isolde’s pigtail.

“Owww!” Isolde punched Gavin in the arm, and the two tumbled into a miniature brawl right on the grass.

“Would you two behave?” asked Samara, trying halfheartedly to pull Gavin off her sister.

Abigail laughed, overwhelmed by their vigor. “Where are you taking them?” she asked Bert, who had taken his time walking over with Esme.

Bert smiled sadly. “Oh, just a ways away to a cabin that’s been in the family for a while. Thought it might be good to get the little ones out of danger for a bit. Never thought I’d live to see pack turn on pack over nothin’ like this.”

Abigail looked away guiltily, and Esme elbowed Bert in the ribs for his tactlessness. “Oh, it’s not her fault,” Bert continued. “In my experience, if stuff like this happens, there’s no stoppin’ it.”

Esme raised an eyebrow. “You just said you didn’t think you’d live to see something like this and suddenly you have experience?”

Bert raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “When you get to be my age, you’re supposed to be shocked at everything young people do and still be wise enough to give unsolicited advice. I’m an old man. What do you want from me?”

Esme scoffed, Bert smirked, and Abigail laughed. “I see you’ve met my friends.” Luke appeared behind Abigail, putting a hand on her shoulder. Reflexively, Abigail pulled away, blushing in shame when she realized what she’d done.

“You’ve known them for all of two minutes!” Nic joked in mock irritation. He brushed a lock of hair behind Abigail’s ear, only increasing her discomfort. She tried to smile, but Nic seemed to notice that she was upset and backed off immediately.

“Hey, Luke,” Nic beckoned. “Come help me with the grill. I think everyone brought more steaks than we can handle.”

“Not if I have anything to say.” Luke postured, still eyeing Abigail with a frown. The two of them moved away, and Abigail scratched her face, trying to hide the tears in her eyes until she could blink them away.

“What was that all about?” Bert asked. Her attempts foiled, Abigail folded her hands in her lap and looked at her sneakers. She heard Esme gently backhand his shoulder. “What? It was weird. That’s all I’m saying.”

Esme sighed and sat next to Abigail on the bench. “Ignore them, honey. Men will forever be as clueless as the day they were born, if you ask me.”

Abigail laughed again and looked into Esme’s smiling, grandmotherly face. “Have I thanked you for everything you’ve done for me yet?”

Esme waved her away. “You thank me every day by caring for these little hooligans.”

Abigail gave her a half smile and looked off toward the grill, subconsciously biting her lip and drawing her eyebrows together into a scowl.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Esme asked.

Abigail started, looking up to realize that Bert and the kids had moved off to a more open area that allowed their tussle to continue without running into any trees.

Abigail was conflicted. Of course, she wouldloveto talk about it. Spilling her guts sounded so good right now that she could feel the words knocking on her teeth trying to get out. But she didn’t know if Esme would understand. She shook her head miserably.

“You’re worried you’ll ruin everyone’s life if you pick one of them, aren’t you?” Abigail’s eyes widened in disbelief. Esme chuckled. “I wasn’t born yesterday, dear. Let me give you a word of—oh, what did Bert call it—unsolicited advice. These things seem so big and scary when you’re young, but when you trust your heart and do what you want the most, they all work out in the end.”

Abigail was surprised to feel tears on her cheeks and swatted them away. “But I can’t decide! And if I did, they would treat me like I had done the right thing, but I would know.”

“So, what? You’re going to let them both get away?”

Abigail squeezed her eyes closed and threaded her fingers together so tightly her knuckles turned white. She felt an old hand cover hers and looked up to find Esme fixing a kind and steady gaze on her.

“Does that feel like something any of you would want?” she asked gently. Abigail shook her head. “Then we’ll keep thinking until we come up with something. Okay?”

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