Page 43 of The Stone Family Warrior

“Yeah, it was a whole thing.” He waved a hand of dismissal through the air. “Of course, the beach crew, namely Tim, decided we all needed to actually steal the petroglyphs before Banks took them.”

Her mouth fell open. “What?”

He chuckled as he thought of that night in jail. “It was harried, but we ended up getting caught and put in jail, and Banks ended up taking them for a while.”

“Oh my gosh, I didn’t even look at the petroglyphs when I was at the caves the other day.”

“They’re back now. We cemented them back because Banks decided they wouldn’t help him find the gold, and they didn’t.”

She shook her head, looking mystified. “This whole thing is crazy.”

He grinned, excited about the adventure and mystery of it all. At the same time, it was overwhelming. “It’s been a long journey.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “So when did you find the Polaroid and letter and gold?”

“Six months ago. Me, Hunter, Brooks and Hunter’s wife, Serenity, found those things in a secret tunnel underneath Bird Island.”

She moved back to the letter. “Do you care if I read it?”

“I’m actually grateful to have someone to share all of this with and another brain to process with.” He sighed. “I have kind of fried mine, Kens, Trey, and Marshall’s. Cheryse is tired of it. As you know from hearing our fight the other day, Hunter is tired of it, and though Brooks is a die-hard like me, his brain works so different from mine. Sometimes we are like passing ships in the night and … I don’t know, I just feel like Mom and Dad will let us know somehow if we are in tune with them.”

She bit her lip and nodded, seeming intent. “I like it.”

He pointed to the letter. “Would you mind reading it out loud?”

“Okay.” She cleared her throat:

Dear kids,

It’s Dad. First, if you’ve found this after all these years, I guess you deserve to find the gold. Second, your mother and I found the gold years ago.

We didn’t tell you guys where the gold was because we’ve always had more than plenty for our needs and, well, we didn’t want you to grow up being labeled as just that, the family with gold. Think of Clark Kent and his father. He didn’t want Clark to be put under a microscope; he wanted him to fulfill the measure of what God wanted for him. That’s what we want for all of you: to do what God has inspired in you. To be what God wants you to be. Plus, we thought we’d save the real fun stuff for you all, if you choose to find it.

Also, kids, your mom and I want you to know that if you’ve found this, it means we are probably gone. I’m sure it was me first, and if your mom told you about this, that’s fine. She wanted to, and I told her to wait.

Liberty sniffed and took his hand. Trent found that when she read it out loud, the letter was fresh and new. She was hearing it with her ears, seeing it through her eyes. He blinked back tears, feeling a bit emotional, and squeezed her hand as she continued to read.

We love you, and we hope you know that you were always the treasure to us. You six kids are the epitome of what the Stone Family treasure truly is. Always remember that. Look at the map I drew on this page. If it’s God’s will, then you’ll find it. If it’s not, then you won’t. Remember that, too. It’s always about God’s will, not ours. Okay, I’m going to end it. Your mother says she loves you. I love you too. Make us proud.

Love, Mom and Dad.

P.S. … In regard to the numbers at the bottom of the map, you’ll have to use your knowledge of your mom and me to figure out the cipher. Get a good look at our journals. Think about the things we wrote down.

“Oh my gosh,” Liberty said, turning to face him with bright, watery eyes. “That was intense.” A tear fell down her cheek, and she put her arms up and leaned in.

He gladly opened his arms. They embraced, and he breathed in her hair, soothing himself with its scent.

She pulled back and smiled up at him. “You really did get a chance to hear from your parents. That was like … like it just happened.”

He closed his eyes, relishing having this woman in his arms; it just felt right when she was here with him. It surprised him to realize that he hadn’t been this comfortable with a woman in a long time. Cheryse was the only other woman he could think of who he felt so comfortable around. “It is cool.” He grabbed the box of tissues across the room and handed it to her. “Here.”

She took a couple so she could wipe her eyes and dab her nose. “Sorry for being so emotional.”

Though he didn’t typically get into many serious relationships, he knew the signs when he was in sniper fire territory. Usually, he backed out of the area quickly and got out of dodge, but with her, he didn’t want to. He wanted to take a chance. “It’s totally fine.”

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

He thought about all the things she’d gone through, and suddenly he asked, “Do you miss your husband?”

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