Free The Grace Series (Book 2): Tainted Grace by M. Lauryl Lewis Page A

sternly.
    The men both exited the van through the passenger door and slowly walked to the clearing in front of the old house.  It looked like an older single story home with peeling yellow paint and broken shutters.  Vines, now dead for the season, climbed one end of the building.  Like most homes out this way, the drive proper was gravel and littered with clumps of dead weeds, now blackened and limp for the season.
    The front door was flung open and a young girl came running out.  She was short and slightly plump with two long brown braids hanging over each shoulder, down past her chest.  She wore black round glasses that made me think of Harry Potter .  The girl ran up to Bill and wrapped her arms around him tight.  He returned the embrace and swung her around in a circle.
    “That must be the little girl, what did Bill say her name was?” I asked.
    “Abbey,” said Susan.  “Nathan told me she’s really attached to Bill.”
    “She looks like Harry Potter,” said Emilie. 
    “I thought the same thing.  Maybe she has a magic wand and can make this all disappear?”  I sighed.
    By now another girl had come out.  She looked a lot like Abbey, but taller and leaner.  She wore a single braid down her back, much like me.
    “That must be her sister, Kelsey,” said Boggs.
    The next to emerge was a man equally as impressive as Bill in stature, and about the same age.  He was followed by a younger man. 
    “Jack and Aldo.”             
    The two men shook hands with both Bill and Nathan.  We watched as they talked and Bill motioned to the step van.  After several seconds, Nathan waved and signaled for us to come out.
    “Zoe, let us get out first,” said Boggs.  “You girls follow.”
    “Ok,” I answered calmly, although I was anxious to meet everyone. 
    Boggs stepped out of the van, immediately followed by Gus.  The strangers all stood and faced them, watching.  Gus tipped his cowboy hat toward the group in greeting.  Susan climbed up front and stepped out through the driver’s door, where Gus had just exited.  She speed-walked toward Nathan, who watched her approach with a grin. 
    “C’mon, Zoe,” urged Emilie.  “Let’s go say hi.”
    I took a deep breath before climbing down from the van.  A wind was blowing in gusts.  It felt close to freezing out.  At least the rain had stopped, even though the sky looked dark enough to pour for days.
    Emilie and I started walking toward the others.  Gus and Boggs were busy shaking hands with the man Bill’s age, Jack, and Susan was standing beside Nathan.  He had his arm comfortably around her.  There was an air of excitement as we approached.  A good excitement for a change.
    “And this is Emilie…and Zoe…” said Gus.
    “We should get inside, out of sight,” said Jack.  “We can talk in there.”
    “Should we empty the van?” asked Susan.
    “No.  No, I suppose we won’t be here long enough for that,” answered Bill.
    “Let’s go in and talk,” said Jack, his tone curious. 
    Gus nodded.  “Sounds good.”
    As we proceeded toward the front door, rain started to fall again, heavily.  Wind whipped by, stinging my face. 

CHAPTER 7
     
    The inside of the house was sparse. The walls were white, or some shade thereof.  It was difficult to be certain because lighting was dim and dried blood stains marred many of the surfaces. Thunder sounded overhead, causing the windows to rattle.  Hail began falling, making distinctive ping-ping-ping sounds on the metal roof.  Curtains were drawn, but the windows weren’t boarded.
    “Welcome, everyone,” said Bill with a grin. “It’s small, and cold, but it’s home.”
    “Thanks,” said Boggs.
    “We should get below.  I always feel vulnerable up here,” said Jack.
    “Righty-O,” answered Bill. “Just follow us,” he said, addressing our group of five.
    The others had already started walking toward the back of the house.  We followed quietly.  We were led past