John is charmed by her, despite her last name, and she seems to have a liking for him as well, helping him to escape the valley unseen when some of the Doone men come looking for her. Knowing how his family would react, John doesn't tell them about finding another entrance to Doone Valley, or about Lorna.
Soon after this, the Ridd family is paid a visit by their late father's cousin, Tom Faggus, and his loyal horse Winnie. Once a respectable blacksmith, he was driven from his living by corrupt officials and became a highwayman. Despite being a thief, he is very much admired by the common folk of the region, for his charm and habit of robbing only those who can afford it, or whom he thinks deserves it. The Ridds are rather proud of being related to him, since he brings them a little reflected fame.
More time passes, and John is now twenty-one and has grown into a huge young man. Taller and stronger than anyone else in the county, he is famed for his ability to beat any man at wrestling. Around this time, another relative comes to visit: their mother's uncle, Reuben Huckaback, who is a wealthy merchant. On his way to their farm, he is set upon by Doones, robbed, then tied wrong way about to his horse, which they frighten into a gallop. Having grown concerned when Reuben didn't arrive, John goes looking for him, and rescues him. Enraged by his treatment at the hands of the Doones, Ben demands that John take him to the local authority, Baron de Whichehalse, to get an arrest warrant sworn out against the Doones. John obeys, though he figures it's a wasted effort, which proves to be the case. The Baron has no desire to stir up trouble with the Doones, so tells Reuben that for a warrant, he will have to identify by name the exact Doones whom he's accusing, or he could be charged with perjury. Angered by this craven dishonesty, Reuben makes plans to bring the case before the Chief Justice in London. First, though, he instructs John to take him to a high point overlooking Doone Valley to get the lay of the land. Reuben notes that, while the one entrance to the valley makes it easy for the Doones to defend it, it also means that they're bottled up in it should a determined, well planned attack be carried out on the valley.
Unfortunately, this is not to be. Back at the farm, an agent from the government, Jeremy Stickles, arrives with a warrant for John: he has been summoned to court in London. Jeremy Stickles is to escort him there, but is persuaded to put off leaving for a few days in order to enjoy Annie's cooking. They finally go, John concerned about leaving his family and farm unprotected and also worried about what Lorna will think about him not showing up to meet her as arranged.