Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

"...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."

As the old man started to scurry off, Tarquin called after him, "Bernard."

Bernard turned, "Yeah?"

Tarquin glanced at Evan. "Evan, did you tell Bernard about...that man?"

Evan blinked, suddenly remembering the scarred man he'd met earlier.

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

"Bernard, do you know an old man with scars all over his face?"

"Huh?"

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

Bernard's expression darkened instantly, the lightness vanishing from his face.

"He taught you that? He actually found you?"

"No-it was just a chance meeting. Evan quickly summarized the important parts, then looked up at

hard. "Do you want to see him? If don't, I can go tell him.

Bernard's brow furrowed, silent for a long moment as Tarquin and Evan watched him anxiously.

Finally, Bernard sighed heavily. "I'll see him."

Evan looked uneasy. "Will you be in danger?"

Bernard neither nodded nor shook his head. "If he wants a real fight, so be it. But

first, let's finish what we came here to do."

Without another word, the old man picked up the pace, sprinting ahead.

Evan's heart pounded. "A fight to the death...nobody wins those!"

Tarquin's face tightened, but he just said, "Let's go."

They both took off after Bernard.

Soon, they reached a group of

hunters. The men were onenet

huddled together, eyes wild

feareas if they'd just seen something out of a horrorovie.

"Who's there?!"

"Aaahhh-!"

"Stop yelling, man! What the hell are you screaming for?"

“I—I swear I saw a ghost, Brock! I'm not kidding, I saw a ghost..."

"Shut up! Anyone else talks nonsense and I'll put a bullet in them myself!"noveldrama

The hunters, all big, burly men, were crowded together, glancing nervously around.

Evan and Tarquin, careful to keep their flashlights off, hid in the shadows nearby.

Evan scanned the area, but there was no sign of Bernard or the scarred stranger. He tugged at Tarquin's sleeve, worried.

"Dad, they're not here."

Tarquin checked his watch, and through the faint blue glow, saw two figures in the distance—already` fighting. One was running, the other in hot pursuit.

Bernard was running. The scarred man was chasing him.