Because honestly, people in town are real y rattled and are

cal ing it magic.” She snorted. “And some are afraid to

even go in a boat now, claiming Bottomless is cursed or

something.”

“Sorry, we’re as baffled as anyone.” He picked up his

laptop and fol owed her out of the cabin. “The geologists

can’t figure it out, either, swearing there wasn’t one warning

sign of an impending earthquake. But what has us

oceanographers real y baffled is that the subterranean river

actual y became a navigable passageway from the Gulf of

Maine to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The underground river

surfaced in seven lakes; six here in Maine and one in

Canada.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs to face

her. “Each of them appearing almost deliberately spaced

so that ocean mammals can come up for air.”

“Does that mean there real y could be whales in

Bottomless?”

He nodded, gesturing toward the lake. “One of our crew

swears he spotted the biggest sperm whale he’s ever seen

the very first day we were here, and yesterday a pod of

harbor porpoises thought our submersible was a fun little

toy to play with. A wide variety of saltwater creatures are

already cal ing Bottomless home, including crustaceans

that got sucked in with the river’s initial surge.” He grinned.

“Tel your kids to keep an eye on that new fiord running past

your house and they’l probably spot anything from whales

to harbor seals to sharks, and your flooded pit wil probably

become a sheltered cove for al sorts of tiny sea creatures.”

“Sharks! Does that mean we can’t swim in Bottomless

anymore?”

He shrugged away her concern. “They shouldn’t bother

you any more than they would ocean swimmers. But I’d

keep your kids in the protected coves.”

Peg turned away to hide her shudder. “Thanks for the

heads-up,” she said with a wave over her shoulder.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

She turned and walked back to him with a sheepish

smile. “Sorry about that. It’s Peg.” She held out her hand.

“But I also answer to Peggy or Margaret or Mommm.”

“Steve,” he said, shaking her hand. He looked toward the

beach then back at her. “So, Peg, how about I give your

kids a tour of the submersible the next time Claude goes to

town … say, in exchange for more towels?” he added with

a grin.

“Deal. And as an added bonus for being such a nice guy,

I’l even steal some towels from the geologists for you.”

He stepped closer. “Hel , for more towels I’l sneak your

kids a ride. Claude said something about driving down to

Turtleback Station this afternoon.”

“Sorry,” Peg said with a shake of her head. “I’m making

sure my friend gets married this afternoon.” She waved

toward the main lodge. “I don’t know if you happened to

notice al of the fuss, but there’s a wedding going on here

today.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. I heard something about the new

owners getting married. Don’t worry, then. Claude’s

supposed to meet some oceanographers at the airport in

Bangor on Tuesday, and I’l round up a couple of buddies

and we’l at least get your kids out on our boat. They can

watch the screen of our unmanned rover as it fol ows the

subterranean river north.” Steve paused, canting his head.

“You sure you don’t date? Because it just so happens I like

kids.”

Peg laughed and started walking backward. “Are you

trying to get me arrested for compromising a minor?”

“Hey, I swear I’m legal.” He sighed and waved her away.

“Never mind. I just final y moved out of my parents’ house,

so I’m real y not up to dealing with another bossy mother. I’l

see you around, then,” he ended, turning and jogging down

the path toward the beach.

Peg headed for Olivia’s cottage, a tad disturbed at how

bummed she was that Steve had given up so easily.

Chapter Two

Peg rounded a curve in the peninsula’s winding lane and

gasped in surprise when she spotted the strange man

striding across the parking lot with Jacob thrown over his

shoulder. Even from this distance she could see the sheer

terror in her son’s eyes as Isabel skipped backward in front

of them, trying to get the man to stop. Peg started running

even as she sized up her adversary: tal , athletic build, short

dark hair. Yeah, wel , instead of traumatizing defenseless

little children, Claude the mad scientist was about to find

himself on the receiving end of a healthy dose of fear.

“I swear I’l kick you if you don’t put him down, mister,”

Peg heard Isabel threaten. “He wasn’t hurting your stupid

machine none. He’s just a baby!” And then the six-year-old

actual y did kick out when the guy didn’t stop, only to

stumble backward as he merely sidestepped around her.

“Charlotte! Peter!” Isabel screamed as she scrambled in

front of him again. “Come help me save Jacob from the

scary man!”

Alarmed that the guy would go after her daughter when

she saw him hesitate, Peg didn’t even stop to think and

lunged onto his back. “Put him down!” she shouted,

wrapping her arm around the bastard’s neck as she tried to

pul Jacob off his shoulder with her other hand. “Or I swear

I’l rip out your eyes!”

The guy gave his own shout of surprise and suddenly

dropped like a stone when Peter slammed into his right

knee. “You leave my brother alone, you scary bastard!”

Peter shouted as he rol ed out of the way, dragging Jacob

with him.

Peg reared up to avoid Charlotte’s foot swinging toward

the guy’s ribs, although she didn’t dare loosen her grip or

take her weight off him, fearing he’d lash out at her children.

He suddenly curled into the fetal position with a grunt when

Peter landed on him beside her.

“Get away from him!” she screamed over her

shouting children, trying to push them off when they al

started pummeling him. “Run to the—” Peg gave a startled

yelp when an arm came around her waist and suddenly

lifted her away.

“Sweet Zeus,” Mac muttered, dragging her up against his

chest as he took several steps back. “You wil calm down,

Peg, and control your children,” he quietly commanded

even as he tightened his grip against her struggles.

“Ohmigod, Jacob, come here!” she cried, holding out her

arms. Jacob and Isabel threw themselves at her, actual y

making Mac step back when he didn’t let her go. “You’re

okay, Jacob. You’re safe now,” she whispered, squeezing

both trembling children. “You’re a brave girl, Isabel, and a

good sister.”

Charlotte cal ed out, and Peg saw the girl pul away from

Mac’s father just as he also released Peter. Both children

ran to her, giving the bastard rising to his hands and knees

a wide berth. Peg took a shuddering breath, trying to get

her emotions under control. “You can let me go,” she told

Mac over the pounding in her chest. Holy hel , she couldn’t

believe they’d al just attacked the giant!

Mac hesitated, then relaxed his hold, letting her slip free

to protectively hug al four of her children. “Mind tel ing me

what incited this little riot?” he asked the man who was now

standing and wiping his bleeding cheek with the back of his

hand.

The guy gestured toward the lower parking lot. “I was

taking the boy to find his parents, because I caught him

inside my excavator not five minutes after I’d just pul ed him

off it and told him to go play someplace else.” He shrugged.