Riggs paced the floor of the barn after dinner.

He could feel Drago and Burton’s eyes on him, their concern palpable.

He wanted to obey Sage’s wishes and handle things in the way she thought was right.

But he knew what had to be done.

“That’s it,” he said, stopping suddenly. “I’m going.”

“Where?” Drago asked.

“I saw a sign for the town karate studio when I was in the village today,” Riggs said. “There’s a class going on right now at the community center. I’m going to find the person who did this. And I’m going to challenge him.”

“This is what I hoped you would say,” Drago exclaimed, clapping him on the back. “I will join you, brother.”

“So will I,” Burton added.

Riggs was relieved at the thought of having his brothers along, but didn’t want to get them in hot water with their mates.

“The women will not be pleased,” Riggs warned. “Maybe it’s best if I go alone.”

“No,” Drago said, his blue eyes flashing.

“And miss the ninjas?” Burton asked. “No way. We’re coming too.”

“Let’s leave a note for them,” Riggs suggested. “We won’t be back to make s’mores tonight. And we don’t want them to worry.”

Drago nodded and sat at the makeshift desk in the corner. He grabbed paper and pen and began to laboriously write a note.

“Do we need weapons, brother?” Burton asked. His dark eyes were so solemn.

“I do not think so,” Riggs said. “Karate is a sport of honor. I will fight bare-handed.”

“We will stand beside you, brother,” Burton said worriedly.

“Okay,” Drago announced, folding the paper and placing it in his pocket. “I’ll slip this under the door on our way out.”

“How will we get there?” Burton asked. “There are only two horses.”

“We’ll take the truck,” Riggs laughed.

“You can drive it?” Burton sounded amazed.

“I flew our spacecraft, Burton, and I rode around in the car with Sage all day today,” Riggs reminded him patiently. “It’s a fairly simple contraption. The combustion engine is woefully inefficient and terribly noisy, but relatively safe.”

“What about the keys?” Drago asked.

“The keys are under the floor mat,” Riggs said.

“These women are too trusting,” Drago muttered.

“They have us now, they don’t have to worry about protecting themselves,” Burton said proudly.

“Still, they should secure their vehicle,” Drago said. “Especially with ninjas afoot.”

He snuck off to the front porch and slipped his note in the door slot, then jogged to meet them by the truck.

The three of them barely fit on the bench seat.

Riggs started up the truck and they headed down the gravel driveway, the machine proving as easy to operate as he had hoped.

“Where is the community center?” Burton asked.

“It’s in town, just a few minutes away,” Riggs replied.

He knew why Burton was asking. His own bond to Sage was not yet secured and yet he felt the growing physical distance between them stretching him tight already. He could only imagine how his brothers must feel, leaving their bonded mates behind.

The road curved past trees and homes and eventually carried them into town. Riggs found the community center and parked outside. It was a large brick building. The windows glowed with warm light.

The three brothers slid out of the cab of the truck and headed for the door.

Riggs took a deep breath and pushed it open.

He expected to be entering a lobby. Instead he walked into the middle of a karate class.

An enormous open arena was lined with brightly colored mats. Two evenly spaced rows of people wearing white uniforms stared at him.

“Welcome,” a friendly voice said.

A small man with brown skin and a uniform with billowing black pants approached him, smiling.

“I’m Sensei Rick,” he said, extending his hand.

Riggs took it instinctively and shook.

“So you’re interested in studying aikido?” Sensei Rick asked.

“I’m here because someone has been vandalizing our…friends’ farm,” Riggs said. “And we have reason to believe it was someone from this school.”

He looked around the room, treating its occupants to a withering glare.

The students on the mats stared back at him, thunderstruck. They looked surprisingly nonthreatening.

Sensei Rick placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry to hear about the farm,” he said kindly. “I know Helen Martin just passed. It’s good to know the Martin girls have friends looking out for them. But I don’t think any of my students would have vandalized their farm.”

“You are dangerous ninjas,” Drago said, stepping forward. “Who else would have done it?”

“No, son, this is an aikido class,” Sensei Rick said. “Aikido is the way of the harmonious spirit.”

“The way of the harmonious spirit?” Drago echoed.

Sensei Rick pointed at the wall.

A framed poster said:

“Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery.

Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice.

Self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.”

- Morihei Ueshiba (founder of aikido)

Something about the words made Riggs think instantly of Aerie, and he felt a warmth in his chest.

“How can you beat people up with that?” Drago asked.

“We do not beat people up at all,” Sensei Rick laughed. “But if an assailant should attack us, we restore them to harmony.”

Riggs blinked at him.

“How exactly would you do that?” Burton asked doubtfully.

“Would you like a demonstration?” Sensei Rick asked.

“Yes,” Riggs said.

“What’s your name, son?” Sensei Rick asked him.

“It’s Riggs,” he said.

“Students,” Sensei Rick said. “This is Riggs. He and his friends are interested in knowing more about aikido. Have a seat and we’re going to do a little demonstration.”

A murmur of shy hellos chorused up to Riggs as the students seated themselves on the mats.

The friendly atmosphere got the better of him, and he gave a little wave.

“Alright, Riggs, let’s say I’m walking down the street, minding my own business,” Sensei Rick began. “You come up to me and begin a confrontation. For example, you could ask me if I vandalized your friend’s farm.”

Riggs pulled himself up straight and marched over to Sensei Rick who was walking along the center of the mats, whistling.

“Did you vandalize my friend’s farm?” Riggs asked.

“Now, right here I have a choice to make,” Sensei Rick said, turning to his students. “I can choose to escalate the situation or I can choose the way of peace.”

“I want no trouble,” he said, turning back to Riggs with his hands up. “Can we talk about this?”

Riggs stared at him, wondering what he was supposed to do next.

“Now, let’s say he backs down and agrees to talk with me,” Sensei Rick said to the class. “We can talk as we just did and make a connection. We have harmony.”

There were nods and murmurs of assent.

“But,” Sensei Rick said, “what if he doesn’t want to talk?”

Sensei Rick’s eyebrows went up so high they nearly reached his hairline.

“Okay, son, grab my wrist and try and pull me in for a fight,” he said to Riggs.

Riggs looked at Sensei Rick.

He was a small man, practically child-sized compared to Riggs’s enormous form. And he was older than Riggs, much older.

It did not feel right to grab him.

“Really, son, it’s okay, just grab my wrist and pull,” Sensei Rick encouraged him.

Riggs grabbed Sensei Rick’s wrist and gave a tug.

Instantly, Riggs found himself flying through the air.

He landed on the mats with a mighty thump.

The students applauded politely as he got to his feet, still breathless with surprise. He did not seem to be hurt at all.

“And now he is restored to harmony,” Sensei Rick said in a pleased way. “Great job, Riggs.”

“I want to try,” Drago said immediately.

“Of course, you can all give it a try,” Sensei Rick said. “I just need you to sign some waivers for me. Evelyn, lead the warm-up while I get these guys set up for their free class.”

Sensei Rick placed a hand on Riggs’s arm and led him toward a desk in the corner of the room. The other men trailed behind.

“I hope you’ll enjoy the lesson tonight,” he told Riggs. “And if there is anything I can do as far as the situation on Helen’s farm, I’ll be glad to help. We can talk about it after class.”

Riggs was sure he would not find their vandal among these people, but he was beginning to think maybe their visit would not be a total loss.