willing her calm to return. “Yes. I guess you’re right.”
“That’s a girl. Don’t worry. We won’t let anything happen to you.” He smiled in that soft way that meant he was genuinely fond of her.
Angie relaxed a little more. “I believe you.”
***
Oh, my Little Red Riding Hood… What just happened?
Nick had turned into a large dog. Or a wolf. Or some version of both…or neither.
Brandee’s head began to spin. She suddenly realized she had taken in a huge gasp of breath but hadn’t let it out. Breathe, Brandee, breathe!
The doglike creature was free and looking up at her with soulful eyes.
What now? Should she try to get Lassie to untie her? Could he? She could barely wrap her head around whatever kind of trick this was.
The only thing she knew not to do was make any noise. Mr. B. snorted a little like he might wake up, then smacked his lips and returned to snoring.
The dog—wolf, whatever he was—struggled to his paws and watched the snoring man for a moment. Then he glanced back toward Brandee and Katie. He seemed as confused about what to do as she did.
Is this some kind of magic gone wrong? Is he cursed?
At last he seemed to make some kind of decision. He crept over to Mr. B. and gently worked the gun out of the man’s loose grasp. She held her breath, hoping Mr. B. wouldn’t wake up and shoot the dog.
As soon as the dog had the gun in his mouth, he trotted over to Brandee and hid behind her. She heard a couple of metallic clicks as if he’d laid the gun on the floor. Then the same noises that woke her came from behind her—popping and grinding.
She wished she knew what the hell was going on, but as long as Mr. B. slept, she wasn’t going to say a word. She was just happy he no longer had a weapon he could put his hands on. Speaking of hands, she felt warm fingers on the back of her neck and Nick’s voice whispering in her ear. “Stay quiet, sweetheart. I’ll have you out of here in no time.”
She nodded and waited anxiously while he worked on the knots binding her to the pole. Before long, she could move again. She pulled her arms forward and the ropes fell away. She wanted to jump to her feet and throw her arms around his neck, but any sudden movement or noise could wake Mr. B.
She rose slowly and tiptoed over to Katie while rubbing her tingling arms. Nick held the gun trained on Mr. B. while Brandee woke Katie with a gentle wiggle to her arm. When the girl opened her eyes, Brandee held a finger to her lips and whispered, “Shhh…” She unzipped the sleeping bag as slowly and quietly as she could, then peeled back the top layer.
Mr. B. snorted and adjusted in the chair.
They waited an anxious second, and when he returned to his rhythmic snoring, Katie crept out and stood on her bare feet. Brandee wondered if her cousin should take the time to put on her sneakers but decided against it. She just picked them up and gave them to Katie to hold. Then she looked to Nick and he tipped his head toward the staircase.
The girls glanced at Mr. B. while silently padding their way over to the stairs.
Nick followed behind them. He stopped Brandee with a hand on her arm and whispered, “Wait for me at the top.”
She nodded and stepped in front of Katie. If the little girl had an adult on either side, hopefully, she’d be safe.
The three of them crept silently up the stairs. Nick maneuvered around them as soon as they reached the top step. “Stay behind me until you see an opportunity to get outside, then take it.”
They both nodded. Brandee held her breath, wondering what he had planned.
He threw his whole weight against the door. His body smashed clear through and broke the lock. He shook off the door and checked behind him. Brandee suddenly realized he was using himself as a shield to get them to the outer door.
“Hey!” Mr. M. charged out from the office with a gun. Mr. B. had awakened and was swearing as he dashed up the stairs.
“Run, girls,” Nick yelled.
She grabbed Katie’s hand and rushed toward the outside door. A shot rang out and then another. Someone swore loudly, but she didn’t stop to see who it was. She yanked open the door