But not even three minutester, we drove by an identical area down to a simr looking log cabin and the same colored flowers in the field.
“I
guess ponds, hills, and flowers aren’t that unique in the country,” I muttered as a feeling of defeat settled low into my stomach.
“We should have known that it wouldn’t be as easy as driving through the countryside,” Ava said and crossed her arms with a sullen look on her face.
“We can’t get discouraged now,” I told Ava, even though I wasn’t exactly in the mood to give a pep talk. “At least we know that we are in the right general vicinity.”
Ava sighed, but then she straightened her shoulders and nodded. “You’re right. We can’t allow a little setback to throw a wrench in our ns.”
After another twenty minutes of driving, Kelly pointed out a weathered–looking wooden sign that read ‘Osten Vige‘.
“You can park in this clearing near the front of the vige,” Kelly told Richard and gestured to the wide open field in front of us. “My uncle’s vige is too narrow to fit a car through.”
As I climbed out of the car, I spotted at least three sleek luxury cars parked in the distance. /Their perfect paint jobs and hard edges stood out in the rustic vige. Were most vigers living here rich? Had they chosen the countryside because of the quiet and the privacy? Or an entirely different reason altogether?
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<b>Chapter </b><b>192 </b>
Kelly led the way to the main square of the vige.
“Osten Vige is divided into two sections,” Kelly exined as she led us down the cobblestone road past charming little shops and even ? wishing well. “North and south. The two areas are separated by a river, and the two are connected by a stone bridge.”
She pointed to a narrow white bridge that had been built over a running blue river. The weather was so humid that a small part of me wanted to take a dip in the flowing water.
The four of us followed Kelly to the north bank of the river. As we walked along the grassy, overgrown path, we passedrge houses that had also been made from white stone. I was just admiring a house th a front door that had been painted a bright pink, when arge dog the size of a wolf came running from the backyard and leapt o us, barking and snarling.
My stomach plummeted, and I screamed in surprise and terror. Quickly, I backed away from the animal, Ava and Kelly following my lead.
Richard stood in front of us and put his arms out to protect us. But Aiden’s eyes widened, and he fan behind Ava. He crouched down behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, almost pushing her into the rapid river.
“Aiden!” Ava hissed. “You almost just made me go for a swim.”
“Sorry, sis. But you know how scared I am of dogs,” he uttered back in a shaking voice.
“He was bit by one when he was five,” Ava exined as we continued to back away from the growling dog.
I grabbed Ava’s hand and pulled her in the direction of a bent tree that
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<b>Chapter </b><b>192 </b>
was easy to climb up.
Without his sister to hide behind, Aiden jumped off the grassy bank and onto the muddy surface below.
“Careful!” Ava called down to her brother. “If you get caught by the current, you could be swept away. Don’t underestimate how strong the rapids are.”
There was real fear in her voice, and despite how Ava teased her brother, I knew that she genuinely did care for him and would be absolutely devastated if he were injured.
Kelly didn’t heed Ava’s warning and immediately followed Aiden hv jumping off the bank, spraying mud all over the ce.
I looked around at the chaotic scene and shook my head. How had everything gone downhill so fast?
Unsurprisingly, Richard was the only one to hold his ground. He was standing motionless in the same spot we left him. His hands were raised, and he didn’t break eye contact with the snarling dog.
Just as the ck hound was preparing himself to pounce on Richard, I couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
“Richard, run!” I yelled. “He’s about to attack you!”
He didn’t even turn around to reply but kept his eyes on the angry dog. “No, he will not.”
I didn’t understand how his voice could be so calm while he was standing so close to a beast that seemed intent on attacking him. It was like we were having a conversation about the weather.
“Sit and be quiet,” Richard told the dog in a loud andmanding
voice.
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<b>But </b><b>the </b>wolfhound didn’t listen. <b>Instead</b><b>, </b>he barked even louder.
<b>I </b>cringed <b>as </b>Richard walked even closer to the dog. Slowly, he lifted his head and gently patted the dog on the head,
“There’s no way that’s going to work,” Ava whispered, her warm breath right next to my car. “Richard’s going to get his hand bitten off.”
But to myplete shock, the dog seemed to be starved for affection because it immediately stopped barking and leaned into Richard’s gentle touch.
“You’re not so scary, are you, buddy?” Richard said in a soothing voice as he scratched behind the dog’s ears.