Runaway for Christmas

Prologue

Prologue

WednesdayMegan talked to the dogs as she turned back to the main house, throwing the ball Gypsy gave her towards their destination. The dogs quickly ran after it, then brought it back to Megan for another toss. With each toss they got closer to the bungalow/guest house. On her last throw, the ball went a little wild, landing further up the dune than Megan had intended. It didn’t matter to the dogs and they quickly went after it. Watching them, Megan glanced at the back corner of the bungalow—and noticed a movement and a flash of color. Whatever it was, the dogs noticed it too.

The ball forgotten, Barney and Gypsy started barking and took off in the direction of the movement. Megan yelled for them to stay put and ran after them. Just when she had almost reached them, the dogs broke into a run, chasing something around the corner. Megan rounded the corner seconds later and was shocked to see a group of teenagers.

They were just as shocked to see her and began to run away, splitting into two groups. Without pause, Barney ran after four of the oldest kids, heading in the direction of the preserve. Gypsy took off after the other three as they tried to scamper over the dune. Since the group of three seemed closer and slower, Megan gave chase after them, yelling for them to stop. But they were younger and faster than her, and the dune seemed to give them no problems. Megan, however, was running out of breath and having a hard time getting a good footing in the loose sand.

Just when she was ready to give up the chase, the smallest of the three lost their footing and went down hard on an arm, face first into the sand. Gypsy was there immediately, barking and growling. The figure cowered in fright and Megan called for Gypsy to stay. The dog obeyed, but kept up the barking. The teen curled into a tight ball, protecting both the injured arm and head.

Gasping for breath, Megan reached the two, and without thinking, grabbed the teen by the shoulder and forced her to roll over so she could look her in the face. They stared at each other, one in fear and the other in shock.

Megan couldn’t believe her eyes. This was no teenager in front of her, it was a frightened little girl, no older than ten. Tears ran down her checks, making miniature rivers in the sand that stuck to her wet face. There was none of the expected teenage defiance, instead the child appeared terrified.

“What is going on around here?”