CHAPTER THREE
"Wow that's the best lunch I've had in awhile." Malone told Veronica. "Glad you liked it. But there is something we need to talk about." "Hey V what's for lunch and who's this?" Finn asked as she entered the treehouse. "Ned meet Finn. That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Finn extended her hand to Malone who took it cautiously. "Finn." Malone nodded. "You are the famous Edward T. Malone? The one you guys called Ned? Really V I don't think he's all that much." Finn gave him the once over. "Yea well we didn't think you were all that much either and we still let you live here." Veronica spat. "Well excuse me for having an opinion V." "Maybe later. Right now Ned we need to go hunting if we want to eat dinner tonight." "I'll get my gun." Finn replied. "Forget it Finn. Ned and I are going alone. Someone needs to stay here and guard the treehouse." Veronica grabbed Ned and headed out. "Boy someone sure got up on the ugly side of the bed this morning." Finn muttered as she went about the task of cleaning up the lunch dishes.
Ned and Veronica crept slowly through the jungle talking quietly when the raptor jumped out in front of them. Ned jumped back and took aim. Veronica threw her knife and it struck the raptor in the throat sending it to the ground. "Wow. It's been a while since I saw that. I really missed you guys." "Well, you were really missed too Ned." Veronica replied as she began cutting up the raptor. "I want to know everything that happened to you while you were gone Ned. And did you find whatever it was you were looking for?" "I'm not sure but I did figure out that I don't ever want to leave the plateau unless it is with you." Ned gently grabbed her by the arms and kissed her.
"George, there is something I need to tell you." Jess started slowly. "Whatever could it be Jess? Did you use all of the money I left you? If that's all that is troubling you." "No George it's not that." Jess looked to Roxton. "George, what Jess is trying to tell you is.well." Roxton was having troubles of his own. "Well I'd appreciate it if someone would spit it out." Challenger said. "What Jess is trying to tell you is that.uh.well.that Mr. Montclair wasn't here visiting when you arrived." "He wasn't? Jackson have you fallen on hard times?" "Not exactly George." "George, Mr. Montclair lives here. You were gone an awful long time with no word and well Jess figured that." Roxton could not bear to go on. "George what your friends are trying not to tell you is that six months ago Jess and I were.well.married." The group watched Challenger who remained silent. "Well, I guess I should have expected something like this. It was silly of me to think you would wait for me Jess." The look on Challenger's face told the truth. He was devastated. "I think I'll take a walk." Challenger said as he rose and grabbed his coat and hat and left. "Lord Roxton, please follow him there is no telling what he will do." Jess said. "I am way ahead of you Jess." Roxton said as he finished putting his coat on. He was out the door before Marguerite finished putting her own coat on.
Challenger wandered the streets of London totally ignorant of the fact that it had been raining heavily for the past hour. Roxton and Marguerite trailed him careful to always keep him in sight. "John, how much longer do we have to keep this up? Can't we just tell him we're here?" "No Marguerite. We will follow George for as long as he is out walking. I'm really worried about him. He took the news pretty hard." "Yes he did. I feel so sorry for him. George look out!" Marguerite shouted. Challenger started at the shout and turned to see whom it was and turned into the lights of the oncoming truck. Roxton ran across the street. Oh God, don't let him be dead. Roxton and Marguerite reached Challenger and turned him over.
"Wow that's the best lunch I've had in awhile." Malone told Veronica. "Glad you liked it. But there is something we need to talk about." "Hey V what's for lunch and who's this?" Finn asked as she entered the treehouse. "Ned meet Finn. That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Finn extended her hand to Malone who took it cautiously. "Finn." Malone nodded. "You are the famous Edward T. Malone? The one you guys called Ned? Really V I don't think he's all that much." Finn gave him the once over. "Yea well we didn't think you were all that much either and we still let you live here." Veronica spat. "Well excuse me for having an opinion V." "Maybe later. Right now Ned we need to go hunting if we want to eat dinner tonight." "I'll get my gun." Finn replied. "Forget it Finn. Ned and I are going alone. Someone needs to stay here and guard the treehouse." Veronica grabbed Ned and headed out. "Boy someone sure got up on the ugly side of the bed this morning." Finn muttered as she went about the task of cleaning up the lunch dishes.
Ned and Veronica crept slowly through the jungle talking quietly when the raptor jumped out in front of them. Ned jumped back and took aim. Veronica threw her knife and it struck the raptor in the throat sending it to the ground. "Wow. It's been a while since I saw that. I really missed you guys." "Well, you were really missed too Ned." Veronica replied as she began cutting up the raptor. "I want to know everything that happened to you while you were gone Ned. And did you find whatever it was you were looking for?" "I'm not sure but I did figure out that I don't ever want to leave the plateau unless it is with you." Ned gently grabbed her by the arms and kissed her.
"George, there is something I need to tell you." Jess started slowly. "Whatever could it be Jess? Did you use all of the money I left you? If that's all that is troubling you." "No George it's not that." Jess looked to Roxton. "George, what Jess is trying to tell you is.well." Roxton was having troubles of his own. "Well I'd appreciate it if someone would spit it out." Challenger said. "What Jess is trying to tell you is that.uh.well.that Mr. Montclair wasn't here visiting when you arrived." "He wasn't? Jackson have you fallen on hard times?" "Not exactly George." "George, Mr. Montclair lives here. You were gone an awful long time with no word and well Jess figured that." Roxton could not bear to go on. "George what your friends are trying not to tell you is that six months ago Jess and I were.well.married." The group watched Challenger who remained silent. "Well, I guess I should have expected something like this. It was silly of me to think you would wait for me Jess." The look on Challenger's face told the truth. He was devastated. "I think I'll take a walk." Challenger said as he rose and grabbed his coat and hat and left. "Lord Roxton, please follow him there is no telling what he will do." Jess said. "I am way ahead of you Jess." Roxton said as he finished putting his coat on. He was out the door before Marguerite finished putting her own coat on.
Challenger wandered the streets of London totally ignorant of the fact that it had been raining heavily for the past hour. Roxton and Marguerite trailed him careful to always keep him in sight. "John, how much longer do we have to keep this up? Can't we just tell him we're here?" "No Marguerite. We will follow George for as long as he is out walking. I'm really worried about him. He took the news pretty hard." "Yes he did. I feel so sorry for him. George look out!" Marguerite shouted. Challenger started at the shout and turned to see whom it was and turned into the lights of the oncoming truck. Roxton ran across the street. Oh God, don't let him be dead. Roxton and Marguerite reached Challenger and turned him over.