Chapter Nineteen
I was feeling totally helpless for about the hundredth time since I’d come into the forest. There was nothing to do but watch as the Grimault thieves unearthed the Granville fortune. It was a slow process. Since they didn’t have any shovels, they had to soften the dirt with their knives and scoop it aside with their hands. A few of Sam’s squirrels joined the digging, not that their tiny paws really helped. By the time the thieves reached the fortune, they were sweaty and covered with dirt. Except Morgan. He’d made his family do all the work, while he stood back and watched.
“It’s heavy,” Garret said as he and the others placed the chest in front of Morgan.
Noelle stepped closer, staring in amazement.
Morgan pushed everyone aside and used his bandana to wipe the dirt off the top of the chest. He knelt down next to it and placed a hand on each side of the lid. “Before we open it, let’s have a moment of silence.” Morgan bowed his head, and the others dropped to their knees behind him and bowed their heads as well.
Dad was participating, too. I shook my head and said, “I guess you were right, Holl. He isn’t who I thought he was.”
Holly nodded, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
Morgan raised his head and slowly lifted the lid of the chest. The hinges were rusted with age, and they squeaked as the lid opened. From where I stood, I had a clear view of the fortune, and I couldn’t help but smile. There were large silver coins and priceless antiques. All along I hadn’t been convinced we’d ever find the fortune, and now here it was an arm’s length away. I wanted to reach out and touch the coins, but I was afraid Morgan would cut off my hand.
Morgan threw himself on top of the chest. “At last! It’s mine!”
“That’s what you think!” Noelle said. She grabbed the knife out of Edward’s hand and stormed up to Morgan. “This fortune doesn’t belong to you. It was stolen from the Granville family, and I’m going to see that it’s returned.”
Morgan’s face turned crimson, and the big vein in his forehead stuck out so far it looked like a giant worm. He stood up and glared at Noelle. “How would you know where this fortune came from?” He turned accusingly to Edward. “What have you told her?”
Edward took a step back, and Noelle jumped to his defense. “He didn’t tell me anything. I know all about the Granville fortune and the people who stole it.”
And then I remembered. Noelle had told Holly and me the coins Dad had given to Garret were pieces of the Granville fortune, imprinted with the family crest. How had she known that? I hadn’t asked her because I was so surprised to see her again. I’d completely forgotten about it.
Everyone stared at Noelle. She shook the knife at Morgan. She looked so small next to him. He could’ve easily ripped the knife from her fingers, but instead he smiled.
“You’re a smart one. Although I’m not convinced Edward didn’t tell you more than he should have.” Morgan gave Edward a disapproving look, and Edward lowered his head. Morgan turned back to Noelle and snatched the knife away from her. “Still, I’d love to hear what you know about the fortune and where you heard it.”
Noelle stumbled backward into Sam. The vulture squawked and raised its wings, but Sam tossed it a piece of bread to keep it from attacking Noelle. She turned to face Sam and started to cry.
“I want answers!” Morgan yelled, stabbing the knife into the tree behind him. “First, these two find our camp.” He pointed a shaky hand at Holly and me. “Then, they tell me they have the final piece of my family’s treasure map. Bruce shows up with silver coins and information for me. Don’t even get me started on Sam, and now”—he turned back to Noelle—“you somehow know all about the Granville fortune. How is it that so many people know about my fortune? This was supposed to be a secret. A secret only I’d benefit from.”
“What do you mean only you?” Trent asked. “You said we’d each get a share of the fortune. We’ve done more than you have to find it. All you did was sleep in your tent while the rest of us searched and went out for food and supplies. You didn’t even help dig up the chest!”
I expected Garret to come to his father’s defense, but he looked at his dad and waited for an answer. He must have been questioning him, too. I could almost sympathize with him.
Morgan met his sons’ stares. “Is this how you all feel?” Garret and Edward looked away, losing their nerve to go against their father.
My dad stepped up and put his face right in Morgan’s. “It’s not how we all feel. A few of us believe this fortune should be returned to the Granville family. Isn’t that right, Noelle?” Noelle looked like she was in shock, and I couldn’t blame her. I was, too.
Morgan inhaled deeply, making his nostrils flare. “I was right. You aren’t a friend at all.”
Dad straightened up, and somehow he seemed taller than usual. “No, I’m not, and I’m going to see that this chest is returned to its rightful owner. No matter what it takes.”
Morgan didn’t respond. He seemed to be calculating his next move. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any more bizarre, Sam walked over and shook Dad’s hand. “Good to see you again, Bruce.”
“You’ve got that right. I thought your were dead,” Dad said. “Got yourself some pets, I see.”
“They’re the best protection I could ask for,” Sam replied, tossing another piece of bread to the vulture.
“What’s going on?” Edward asked. That’s what I wanted to know, too.
“Let me explain,” Sam said, smiling at my dad. “You should really do background checks on your recruits, Morgan. All I had to do was let Trent beat me in a few games of pool, and he told me everything I needed to know about you and the fortune. And you took me aboard just as easily, without any questions.”
“Why you little!” Trent reached for Sam, but Noelle stuck her foot out and tripped him.
“Keep your hands off him!” Noelle said.
Trent scowled at her. “Edward, you better control little sweetie over here before I—”
Without warning, Noelle landed a right hook on Trent’s jaw. “Don’t call me sweetie!”
Trent got to his feet, rubbing his jaw. He took a step toward Noelle, but Edward blocked him.
“Noelle, what’s gotten into you?” Edward asked.
“I’m tired of pretending. I’m tired of keeping secrets. I wanted to tell you and J.B. who I really am, but I couldn’t. I was worried about my dad, and when he showed up, I was afraid you’d hurt him if I told you.” She turned to face Sam. “I thought you were dead. Trent told me what they did to you, and I had a dream you were lost in these woods. I came looking for you. And then when I saw you, I thought you were something I created from my own fears. This forest does that somehow. I didn’t think you were real.”
Sam was Noelle’s father! Of course! He’d said the squirrels chewed through his watch—the watch Noelle had found. It also explained Noelle’s reaction when we’d first seen Sam. But why had Sam helped Morgan?
Everyone stared wide-eyed as Sam removed his jacket, covered in squirrels, and gently placed it on the ground. He walked over to Noelle and hugged her. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I never meant to put you through all this.” Noelle sobbed in her dad’s arms.
“What’s going on?” Morgan yelled. “Who are all you people?” It might have been my imagination, but I swore his mustache curled tighter.
Sam draped one arm across Noelle’s shoulders. “We’re Granvilles, and that’s our fortune you’ve found.”
Noelle turned to me. “My ancestor, Sebastien, stole this from his family a long time ago, dooming his descendants to be cursed until it was returned.”
I knew the story. I’d read about it in Dad’s journal, and I’d had visions about the curse. Now here we all were. Together. The three cursed families that started this. The three cursed families that had to end this.
“And who are you?” Morgan growled at my father.
“Bruce Beaumonte.”
“Beaumonte? I should have known.” Morgan let out a primal yell.
Noelle smiled at me. “I figured out who you were when we were spying on the camp. Holly mentioned your ancestor and you guys being cursed.”
I remembered the look on Noelle’s face when Holly had told her. Now I understood why she’d gotten so upset.
My dad put a hand on Noelle’s shoulder. “I recognized you immediately. Your father carries your picture with him, and he looks at it every chance he gets.”
“You two were working together to find the fortune,” Morgan said through gritted teeth.
Dad nodded. “We knew you’d keep it for yourself instead of returning it and breaking the curse. We’ve been working as private investigators for years, with you being our top case. Of course you didn’t make things easy for me, seeing as you captured my kids.”
Dad looked at Holly and me, and I could barely fight back the tears. It had been lie after lie. He wasn’t a lawyer. He was a private investigator. He’d been leaving me to go spy on the Grimaults. I figured it was better than being a thief, but Dad was as much a stranger to me right now as he was to Morgan.
Morgan lunged at Dad. I grabbed the loaf of bread sticking out of Dad’s pocket, hoping it was stale. Stepping forward, I swung it at Morgan’s knife. The bread shattered, leaving crumbs in my hands. I blew the crumbs in his face, aiming right for his eyes. I’d hoped to temporarily blind him, but the crumbs scattered and stuck to the sweat on his cheeks and brow instead. Sam’s squirrels chittered and leaped onto Morgan, nibbling at the breadcrumbs.
“Get them off me!” Morgan screamed. He fell to the ground, dropping his knife, and swatted at the squirrels.
“I wouldn’t move around so much,” Sam said. “They have sharp teeth!”
“Garret! Edward!” Morgan yelled, but Garret and Edward didn’t move. The corners of Trent’s mouth twitched as he fought back a smile. He must’ve been enjoying this after all Morgan had put him through.
Realizing he was on his own, Morgan buried his face in the dirt, scaring most of the squirrels away. He grabbed for his knife on the ground in front of him. Dad went for it, too, but Morgan was closer. I picked up what was left of the bread and flung it on Morgan’s back. This time the vulture swooped down for it, pinning Morgan to the ground.
Dad pulled me away from Morgan. “Thanks, J.B. but I’ve got it from here,” he said. I wanted to hug him, but I couldn’t move.
Dad and Sam grabbed Morgan’s arms and yanked him to his feet. Garret drew his knife and advanced on Holly. She screamed as he wrapped one arm tightly around her shoulders and placed the knife against her cheek.
“Let my father go or the girl dies!” Garret yelled.
Dad and Sam stared in horror. “Easy now,” Dad said in a soft voice. “No one has to get hurt.”
“That’s right,” Garret agreed. “As long as you stay out of our way. We’re taking the fortune, and we’re leaving. If you can’t agree to that, it’ll cost you her life.” He squeezed Holly, and she started to cry.
Sam, Noelle, my dad, and I all looked back and forth at each other. As much as we wanted to return the Granville fortune and break the curse, we couldn’t trade Holly’s life to do it.
Trent walked toward my dad and motioned for him to let go of Morgan. Dad looked at Holly and released his grip. Sam did the same. Garret pushed Holly to the ground and rushed to his father’s side. Noelle and I helped Holly up, and our fathers stood protectively in front of us. We faced each other in two groups. The Grimaults versus the Granvilles and Beaumontes. With one exception. Edward stood in the middle.
Morgan glared at his son with even more disapproval than I’d seen him give Trent. “Choose your side, but make sure you’re certain. If you turn your back on me now, you will no longer be a son to me. You’ll be my enemy.” He spoke slowly, making sure Edward understood each word.
“Edward, come on!” Garret begged.
Noelle mouthed something to Edward. I figured she was asking him to stay with us. Part of me wanted him to. After all, he did seem different than the rest of his family. He was more human than they were.
Edward looked at me, and then he turned to Noelle and whispered, “I’m sorry.” He rushed to the chest and grabbed an end. Garret smiled and took the other. Together they picked it up and walked off. Dad and Sam started to protest, but Morgan put his hand up to stop them.
He motioned for Trent to follow Garret and Edward, leaving him alone with us. Morgan smirked. I looked up just as he did what I’d feared. “Those branches look like a huge claw reaching down to squeeze you all in its fist!” he yelled, focusing his eyes on the limbs dangling over our heads. Without waiting to see his creation, Morgan took off after his family and the Granville fortune.
We tried to run, but the transformation happened too quickly. In one swift motion, we were scooped off the trail by the large leafy claw. The finger-like branches tightened around us. Sam and his vulture were near my right shoulder. The vulture released its feet from Sam’s neck and clawed at the leaves, ripping them to shreds. It had the right idea. The branches were too thick to break, but the leaves were easy to damage. I started biting the leaves in front of my face, spitting them out and going back for more. I must’ve looked like a savage animal, but it seemed to be working because I could feel the tree’s grip on me weakening. “Rip the leaves!” I yelled. “It should make the claw release its grip.”
Dad’s left arm was free, and he yanked handfuls of leaves at a time. Holly jumped at the opportunity to bite something. Sam and Noelle were pinned together with very little wiggle room, but they did their best. Leaves flew through the air. We had to be close to making the branches bare, but the tree wasn’t letting go.
I looked at Sam and Noelle. They were the only ones facing the bottoms of the branches. “Try to break the ends of the branches,” I told them. “They’re the thinnest points. Maybe it will weaken the tree enough to free us!”
Noelle managed to get one hand around a branch. She looked like she was arm wrestling with it. Finally, I heard a snap. Noelle and Sam fell to the ground. Sam whistled to the vulture, and in seconds, I felt the bird’s beak biting the branch behind my head. The tree snapped again, and I fell. The vulture continued to break the branches until we were all free.
The bare branches hung lifelessly toward the ground. It was over. Of course, since the Grimaults stole the Granville fortune, we were still cursed, so the future didn’t look good for any of us.
Dad put his hand on my shoulder. “You okay, J.B.?”
I nodded, unable to find the words.
“Let’s go home,” he said, giving me a half smile.
No one said a word as we made our way back to Bradley Park and out of the forest for good.