Page 85 of The Stone Family Warrior

Brooks shook his head, crossing his arms and putting a fist to his chin. “Did Mom or Dad have something associated with Fortress of Solitude that was meaningful to them?” He tapped the end of his chin. “Or just the word fortress?”

For a moment, all of them were quiet.

Liberty put her hand up. “I know a scripture with the word fortress in it.”

Warmth washed over Brooks, and he thought of the verse she’d read to him out of that letter.

Liberty sniffed and looked like she would cry. “Psalms 91:2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.”

“Oh my goodness,” Kensi said, hurrying to the tempered glass case that held all the journals. “That scripture verse is in one of Mom’s journals.”

Everyone swarmed around her to take a look. “She did have that scripture in her journal,” Brooks said.

Trent moved to Liberty’s side as they joined the group. She smiled at him, but her eyes became misty with tears. He put his arm around her shoulders. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I guess Grandma might have been sending both of us a message.”

“Maybe so.” The thought sent goose bumps rising on his skin. He would have to think more deeply about that later.

“Here it is.” Kensi tapped the journal. “She quotes that scripture and says, ‘Kids, if you ever read this, I hope you know that the Lord has been our family’s fortress. The Lord. And our family heritage means the world to us. Especially our early settlers who came from my side of the family who endured so much on an island that is a virtual ghost town now. Note—the Andersons are just as important as the Stones.’”

Trent burst out laughing along with the rest of his siblings. “Portsmouth Island.”

“It’s got to be the house where her family lived before the hurricane in—”

“1846.” Trey pointed at Hunter.

Hunter nodded. “The hurricane Mom used to say—”

“Forced her family off the island to Boston,” Marshall finished.

“Wow,” Brooks said, shaking his head and grinning at Trent. “It’s on the island.”

“Let’s go!” Trent put his hand up to Hunter.

Hunter high-fived him. “Go time, baby!”

“That is so like Mom,” Kensi said, and her eyes were shining.

“She was always proud to be a Stone,” Trent mused, “but remember how she would often remind us that we were part Anderson, too?”

Marshall howled with laughter and stomped a foot. “Mom,” he said, and Trent saw tears in his eyes. “We miss you.”

His statement made everyone take pause.

“Yes, we do,” Brooks said.

Liberty beamed up at Trent, leaning up to his lips. “Your mom was cool,” she said softly.

“Shall we request a helicopter?” Brooks asked, putting the phone to his ear.

“Get two,” Trey said, grinning at the group. “I think everyone wants to go on this family treasure hunt.”

Lucy walked into the library, Matt and Tatum following her. “What treasure hunt?”

“Where are we going?” Cheryse and Roger trailed in after them.

Hunter nudged him. “Oh brother.”

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