Free Love Everlastin' Book 3 by Mickee Madden

him aback, for she
didn't fear for herself, but for her nephews. Then a presence
invaded his awareness.
    Terror.
    Agonizing pain.
    Cold beyond
description.
    Bewilderment and
disorientation.
    They all were somehow
related to the house.
    Winston extended his probe.
He felt his awareness about to lock onto something tangible when
suddenly the house stilled and all sound stopped. During the
ensuing moments, he could only hold his breath in anticipation of
another paranormal assault. His every sense was on full alert,
waiting to glimpse a hint of what was next to come.
    Heavy footfalls on the
stairs drew his and Laura's attention. Roan, Alby beneath one arm,
Kahl the other, jogged to the first floor landing and faced the
immobile couple.
    "I can't find Kevin
anywhere," he said tremulously.
    "Put me down!" Kahl
squealed.
    Alby appeared satisfied just
to dangle within the band of Roan's arm.
    Roan placed each of the boys
on their feet then pulled Laura into his arms. Winston was only
dimly conscious of the laird consoling Laura, telling her that
Kevin had to be somewhere in the house. Winston was more intent on
listening with his inner senses. Something was teasing the
periphery of his awareness. Beckoning him, but to where he couldn't
yet determine. Outside, thunder boomed and lightning cracked and
snapped deafeningly. Winds pummeled the exterior walls.
    "There are any number o'
places the booger could be hidin’," Roan assured Laura, who turned
to the boys and dropped to her knees.
    Gripping the front of their
shirts, she asked, "Where did you last see him?"
    Alby gave a negligent shrug,
while Kahl scowled down at the placement of her hand.
    "Dammit, Kahl, look at
me!"
    The redhead lifted wide eyes
to meet her imploring gaze.
    "Where did he go?" she
asked.
    "To his room! Chee, why are
you mad at me!"
    With a heart-wrenching sob,
Laura drew the boys into her arms and offered them a terse
apology.
    The front doors burst wide
open. Wind and freezing droplets of water sluiced down the hall.
Roan instantly dropped to his butt between the onslaught and Laura
and the boys, using the breadth of his body to award them a
semblance of safety. Winston placed the lantern to the side of the
staircase then stepped further into the hall. His right arm was
braced to protect his face from the sting of the wind and rain. He
sensed someone coming into the house. Gesturing for Roan to get
Laura and the boys into the parlor, he braced himself to face
whatever was to come. But before Roan had maneuvered his family
halfway to the other room, the double doors slammed shut with
echoing finality.
    The wind and rain
immediately ceased.
    Unnerving calm blanketed the
hallway.
    Winston lit into a half-run
at the sight of Agnes urging Kevin forward. Both were soaked.
Winston hauled the shivering boy into his arms and walked alongside
Agnes to where the others were waiting. Roan was quick to take the
oldest boy into his own arms, and hugged him almost fiercely before
giving him a single shake.
    "Damn me, laddie!" Roan
cried. "Wha' were you doin’ ou'side?"
    "But I—"
    "Honey, we were so worried,"
Laura wept, cutting him off. Her hand smoothed the back of the
boy's dripping-wet hair. "You know better than to go out after
dark!"
    "But the—"
    Again Kevin was interrupted.
"He was ou' by the north garden," Agnes said peevishly and swiped
an arm across her face. "Dead or alive, doesn’t matter, I hate
bein’ all wet—and me in ma best dress to boot!"
    Winston didn't know whether
to laugh or cry. Absorbed emotions rapidly churned inside him,
swelling and crashing like storm-swept waves. He felt out of place
among the family. A stranger.
    An intruder.
    Suddenly he sensed something
was very wrong. Although he couldn't define it, he likened it to
the daunting calm within the eye of a hurricane. He stepped back
until he came to the tiled fireplace on the wall across from the
staircase. Absently scanning the animal bone, wood, and copper
artifacts adorning the mantel