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"Nothing" Aaron let out a sigh "I was just worried about you"

"Oh, Aaron, I’m sorry," Mariah said "I went down to the streaht! I was looking across the water--hoping eneral on his horse on the other side"

Somewhere, far in the distance, a coyote howled at the

"Well, we’re all here now," Sandra said with a shrug "Let’s get soht?" Joey asked As he spoke, Brent, too, cahtened Brent was a joy to be around, always loving, but he was also easily frightened when things weren’t precisely as they were supposed to be

"Livia?" he said worriedly

"I’’s fine," she assured hi

"Oh, for God’s sake," Sandra said "We’ve got to get so" Grinning, Aaron joined Olivia and put his arood, buddy"

Brent nodded sole over us," he said

"Yeah, that’s right, Brent"

"He is watching us I saw him I saw him--he was on the other side of the strea the plates," Brent said

Sandra shook her head "I’ht him," she whispered

"He’s fine," Olivia said "Half the world sees the general"

"He thinks he really saw him," Sandra snapped

"Come on, buddy, back to bed," Aaron said

"Yeah, coht, all," Aaron said, and, ducking through the entrance, escorted Brent back into the tent Joey followed

"I’o back to sleep Sorry I’ embers--helps me sleep"

Sandra went back in Mariah waited for Olivia, then returned to the tent Olivia fell into a deep sleep

She awoke to early daylight--and the sound of a high-pitched screa out of bed, she collided with Sandra as they both tried to get out at the sa around wildly, trying to ascertain where the screainated

"Stay here!" Olivia ordered Sandra "Watch the boys Drew, coive instructions, but Olivia hadn’t thought it out She started running into the bushes, assu the scream had come from the wolih the trees, she realized it , with Drew on her heels They burst into a little clearing The gray skies of dawn made it hard to see clearly

To her astonish over Mariah, as crouched on the ground His sht didn’t reveal oing on?" Olivia shouted

Drew barelywith her; she felt his hands on her shoulders

Mariah rose, shaking, clinging to Dustin "Oh, Lord, I aed "I wake easily and run fast," he said

"What’s going on?" Olivia deht I sawoh, this is so stupid!" Mariah apologized "I thought I saw the general when I went to use the, uh, bathrooot here and" She stepped aside, displaying what she’d stumbled on

The torn re off into the bushes

"A coyote got a cow," Olivia said calmly "Unfortunately, it happens"

"I know, I know I just wasn’t expecting it!" Mariah groaned

"Let’s get the hell back now," Drew suggested Olivia could feel hi "The others are going to be worried"

"Yes, let’s go!" Mariah said "Oh, Lord, I’ize to the kids and tell them what an idiot I a around by the fire, waiting wide-eyed

"What happened?" Sandra asked anxiously

"Freakiest ca trip ever!" Mason said

"Cool," Nick murmured

Sean jabbed him with an elbow Mariah went into her explanation, but before she’d finished Dustin interrupted

"Where’s Aaron?"