Hello fellow fanfiction writers and readers, here is another chapter of this story that I hope you guys will enjoy. As usual I own nothing except new characters and ideas, I make no money from writing, and all rights go to the rightful owners. Thanks for reading, please leave a review!

Finley's point of view…

I knew that would be the last time we would ever see meemaw alive, the next time I saw her it would be at her funeral. How can you say goodbye to a woman who raised you, groomed you for a bright future, a woman who saved you? And still she was even more than that, she was my best friend, my family; now I really had no one but the Tucks, people I don't know. Celia seems very nice and Miles looked at me like a ghost but said nothing as he took meemaw away with Jack who was shocked I was not going back with them.

I sit in their cabin, it smelled of honeysuckle and ivy even a hint of burning oak. Celia was bustling about in the bedroom looking as if she is packing a bag, I look around seeing a few pictures on the fireplace mantle. One was of a man who was about two feet taller than the smiling female, the man wore new aged clothes but with a lumberjack flare, he was beaming at the camera. He had what looked like worry lines around his eyes while the female looked around thirty-five, her hair long and wispy of an old shade of blonde, her face was round and her brown eyes calm and caring, she looked carefree, in her hand was a small music box. Next was a boy about my age his hair a dark shade of brown like Miles, he was sitting on a bench reading in this picture, his eyes also brown "That is Jesse." I turned seeing Miles watching me.

I blushed, "Sorry, I wasn't meaning to look at your things." I shouldn't be around people, with no friends my social skills are devoid and dusty.

He let out a small scoff, "I ain't worried, those are our parents Mae and Angus and my younger brother Jesse." he was moving along pointing at certain people as he spoke, he smelled like the woods, earthy but good.

I smiled as Celia came out, "We need to hurry." Miles gave a nod to his wife, it was like they needed no other words, so much unspoken emotions.

"Finley, the brotherhood will not be far behind. Take this bag and pack all pictures and things out here. We need to leave within the next hour, we are heading to Maine."

I just got to work; their small-town lives are being disrupted because of me, I only caused problems for people. But I wrapped his pictures with great care before placing them in the sturdy bag, with us working his home was packed other than the furniture and such, the food was boxed up as Miles wiped his head with a red bandana.

He spoke, "Going to go get the truck." then he was gone as I glance at Celia.

"I am sorry for coming and up turning your family like this, my meemaw just said I wasn't safe in Treegap any longer." I tried to let the emotions linger in my tone watching as her face softened.

Celia just gave a laugh, "We are always in danger, the brotherhood trying to unlock our secrets. Winnie means a lot to the Tucks, I have heard tales of her from when Miles kidnapped her when she ran away, to her and Jesse. We are not bothered at all, you don't fret on such matters." she hugged me close, her apple cider and cinnamon scent made me relax, she just held on until she felt my entire body relaxed. When she did let go she flashed a brilliant smile.

I helped as much as possible and it paid off as Miles chuckled. "Good work ethic, now hop in we have a long drive a head of us. The spot we need to get to is about 6 miles north-northwest of Maine's highest point - Mount Katahdin. The spot is just 6 miles from the nearest road, but the best way to get to it is for us to hike Russell Pond Trail over 10 miles. Then, we must bushwhack our way about a quarter of a mile. This trek involves making your way through rivers and streams, many of which are waist-level and have no bridges. Russell Pond Campground, which is about a mile away from the spot. Dad and I know a way to get the belongings to their cabin but to get there by foot and not be shot is the hike."

Now, let me tell you it was freezing cold water, I wore a pair of jeans with a dark green warm long sleeve thermal with a black infinity scarf, my boots knee high and in a shade of brown. But I was wading through the waist high water my back pack risen above my head as we finally came from what he said was the last river, the sun was still high as we made good time, I was not a person who bowed down to a challenge and guess Miles liked that.

At the camp ground we dried and had a snack since he said Mae would feed us up soon after arriving. "You look like you need a good meal." Miles informed me, I had been sick for so long my frame maybe screamed eating disorder.

I frowned, "That is rude, before I drank the water I was dying, and eating was a task that I couldn't always do. I have gained five pounds this last few months. Now in time my figure will even out until then I suggest you shut it, thank you very much." but Miles just smiled.

"You look just like Winnie, a few differences enough to where I knew it wasn't her. But at first sight I thought it was, you have her fire too, you will fit in just fine with us." but worry hid in his voice as Celia touched his hand giving him what looked like her best smile.

I stood with them hauling my back pack, the last mile wasn't horrible especially since a very nice cabin came into view, you could tell it had many rooms and was built over time. "Let me go in first, Celia stay with Finley." then he was gone before she could utter a word.

It seemed an hour passed when three people strode from the lit doorway, the woman was smiling as they reached us. "Miles, you're right for a good minute I thought it was Winnie. Hello, Finley I am Mae Tuck, now you come in and get some supper while we all have a nice long talk." the cabin was warm and welcoming, the smells of dinner cooking wafted through the air as I was showed to a seat.

I spoke up, "Anything that I can help with?" but she waved a dish rag at me as a sign of no. Angus and Miles taking seats as Celia went into what I was guessing was the kitchen.

I tried to avoid eye contact instead looking around at the pictures and flowers that littered the area's I could see, some are very old. "Hello, Finley. I am Angus Tuck, no need to be on edge here, you're safe now." he seemed kind, he held his hand out, with gentleness he shook mine.

I was starved seeing the food being placed, but I was a guest, so I took my time setting some roasted chicken, a biscuit that was glistening with melted butter, next was some mashed potatoes and gravy before I settled into eating slowly. The food was I think the best I have ever had. Mae was up pouring lemonade into my empty cup.

I blushed, "Thank you, ma'am."

She patted my hand, "Now Finley, tell us the story of how you drank." Miles didn't tell them.

With a sigh I began, "I was born sick with heart troubles, by age two they thought the worst had passed, but it had not been as such; in fact, it got worse. My mother Jessie, passed not long after I was born, by age ten I had cancer, it was treated but it came back stronger. I was ready to die but meemaw wasn't ready for me to go, she said I never lived but I was okay with that; I never had friends, only went outside to get my education but was always too sick for more. One-night meemaw came into my room with a vile of sparkling water and asked me to drink, said I would get better and now here I am. I was raised on stories of your family."

Angus gave me a sad look as Mae had tears running down her face as Celia was dabbing her own face. "We're your family now, Winnie made her choices to never drink and now she sent us the most valuable thing to her. Miles after supper we need to get the stuff, in the morning we go find Jesse he needs to come home for some time."

Mae smiled at this, "He likes his adventures, but he loves coming home just as much." her tone was bright but still sad.

I just continued to eat when she brought out a cobbler, it was blackberry and the best I had ever had. So, by eleven I was in my own room under a handmade quilt as Celia sat with me, she thought it best since I seemed lost.

"I miss her, my meemaw. I know that I will never see her alive again my heart tells me she will not make it another two months since for so long she was holding out for me, to care for me; now that I am gone she will pass on." easy to let it out in the dark with only the moon as light, half the wall was glass and gave the best view.

"She lived her life to the fullest, she traveled, she loved, she had a family and her own little adventures. Now you live yours," with a kiss to the head she was gone, and I was alone in the dark, but it was so easy to fall to sleep.

I only woke when the sun was becoming harder to ignore, I talk to myself. "I should go help them." I could smell her cooking as I made the bed when I saw my bags in the far-right corner. I pulled on a pair of jeans and dark black sweater, my hair pinned up. I was so in love with this place, I found Mae cooking with Celia, both smiled at me.

"Can I help? I've never cooked before." I offered as Mae gave me a look.

"If you want to learn, I would be happy to show you," she was good at this as she had me adding some buttermilk to a large mixing bowl filled with dry dough, this was very labor intensive.

I helped cook the bacon and sage sausage this was fun, talking and cooking as the two boys gathered two back packs for their trip to get Jesse, "I will only be a reminder to this Jesse that my meemaw never waited for him, that she grew old." I had been worrying about this all night and yesterday,

Mae spoke now, "He will get over it, he loved Winnie, but we thought it was puppy love. He has never found a mate after so long, he will help protect you and you two will get along just fine."

I was able to go out and explore but had to stay in a certain range which was fine, I climbed trees and just had fun for two whole days before everything changed. I was out in the mid-day sun after helping do the wash by hand which was odd, but soon enough when I was high up in the trees men in dark clothes are seen trekking towards the house. I felt the panic as my heart began racing as I clambered down from the tree, nearly falling many times until my feet hit the dirt. Turning tale and running for Mae and Celia as they said they would be painting by the cabin if I needed anything, I couldn't breathe as I only thought of getting to them.

Mae was up looking at me as I was running like a mad man towards them pointing to the woods, "Men, maybe seven are coming wearing all dark clothes."

This had them up dragging me into the house "Get the guns, we have no choice. Finley hunnie, you stay hidden we must protect our family we thought the brotherhood was coming and now they're here. Killin to protect our own is just a fact of life for us." she was right, they wanted to cut us open and use us knowing we couldn't die. I don't want them hurt because of me, watching as they walked out with shot guns, two against seven was very un-fair. Three more guns lay on the sofa she hid me behind, this is my fault.

I heard the first shot it scared me enough I bolted from the sofa, the glass wall gave the scene in front of me new meaning, right out of a movie. Mae and Celia taking a stand as the men metalized from the woods like ghosts. I watched as they attacked Mae and Celia who fell, I watched as another walked into their home.

When he spoke, it was like death cold and distance, "Hello Miss. Harper, we have come to take you home, to our home." I screamed his hand was tinted blue, I bolted knocking things over as he gives chase, his hands are like ice, kill or be taken. I used all my strength smashing her vase against his head.

He wasn't moving. I hurried to Mae and Celia, taking a gun myself, I couldn't fight so this was my only protection. Mae was about to get her head cut off, when I saw Miles and Angus running at full speed with the gun against my shoulder I pulled the trigger, I flew back into the open-door way, but the man was down, and Mae was safe. I think my shoulder was in the kitchen as I staggered to my feet, Celia was coming my way, the rifle was in my hands as it seemed we have become almost even in numbers.

But more seemed to come from the woods, maybe four more I counted, my fear picking up as Celia reloaded next to me. My eyes taking in everything, it hit me I was safe here with them as I fired again hitting the one close to Miles who gave me a low bow in return. Everyone was scattered again, I was alone and no ammo when I was tackled to the ground my face being smashed into the wet grass.

"Come on, we need you to bring life."

I screamed kicking hard into his gut or what I hoped was, with his grunt of pain I was able to move crawling back before getting to my feet, my heart stopped coming face to face with a pistol. But with one fluid movement an arm wrapped around me pressing me to his back as the gun went off.

As fast as it had begun it had stopped as the men vanished with their dead, how three carried off so many is beyond me. But when I turn I see warm swirling coca eyes staring back into mine, a smile that was so easy going, taking a deep breath, he smelled like a storm.

"Jesse this is Finley Harper, Winnie's granddaughter." his eyes became sad, but he kept the smile.

"Hello Fin."

I corrected, "Finley Blaire Mae Harper, it is a pleasure to meet you Jesse. I have heard so many things about you." Mae gave a tiny gasp at my full name.

"The pleasure is all mine Finley Blaire Mae Harper." he pressed his lips to the back of my hand, an old-world gesture men should still have.

"Come on, they won't be back for some time." Angus took the Rifle from me with a smile.

I walked with Miles who smiled at his brother. "Come on girls."