Chapter 138

Emily Johnson was sound asleep when a loud "thud" startled her awake. Her eyes flew open, and she rolled out of bed in one swift motion.

"Burglars?" Her heart pounded.

Apparently, sending Peter Wilson to jail hadn't been enough of a warning. If she caught them this time, she'd make sure they stayed behind bars for years.

"Michael, open up," a hushed voice called from outside.

It sounded familiar. Squinting in the dim moonlight, Emily could just make out several shadowy figures in the yard.

"An inside job?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Keep it down," someone whispered as the gate creaked open. Several figures slipped in stealthily, dragging something behind them.

Click— Emily suddenly flicked on her flashlight.

"Ah!" Daniel River nearly dropped what he was holding in fright.

"Emily..." Michael Stone's voice was weary.

Now she could see them clearly—covered in dirt, reeking of the wilderness.

"You're back?" She exhaled in relief.

"Hey, sis," they chorused.

Michael moved toward her but stopped, catching a whiff of himself.

"Go back to sleep. We need to head into town."

"At this hour?" Emily frowned. "At least eat something first."

She quickly stirred a large cup of powdered milk and dug out some egg cakes.

"Just something to tide you over." She set the food on the table and retreated to the bedroom—the metallic scent of blood was overwhelming.

"Sis is the best," Charles Clark said, diving for the food first. With his huge appetite, the dry rations in the mountains had left him starving.

"Everyone, eat up," Michael urged.

Though it wasn't enough to fill them, the warm milk chased away some of the chill.

"These cakes are amazing!" Daniel wolfed his down. "Just wish there were more."

"Enough for you?" Michael shot him a look. "You could eat ten pounds and still want more."

After the quick meal, Michael and Charles left for town, while Daniel and Samuel Bright went home to rest.

By the time Emily woke the next morning, Michael had already returned, freshly washed and with breakfast ready.

"Emily, eat," he said.

They'd sold one of the hunted animals the night before, and the money had been split. But the medicinal herbs wouldn't fetch a good price in town, so he planned to take Emily to the county seat instead.

"We're going to the county later," he announced.

"So soon?" Emily raised an eyebrow. Had they struck gold and were off to splurge?

"David, Tommy," Michael turned to the boys, "you'll have lunch at Grandma's today."

The two youngsters stared longingly at their parents. Though they wanted to go to the county too, they knew their father wouldn't take them.