This story is dedicated to my friend Meg Dillan. Thanks Meg.

Chapter 1

Adam walked slowly down the stairs listening intently. The grandfather clock by the door told of the hour. It was just past four o clock in the morning and yet he was sure he had heard it. Laughter, children playing.

The dim glow of a down turned lamp lit his path as he walked. Dressed only in light pants he padded towards the front door. He told himself he was crazy but even now he could hear them. The shrieks of happy children engaged in a riotous game. He flung open the door and immediately shielded his eyes against the sunlight pouring in.

One of the children caught sight of him.

"Adam, it's Adam," She grinned "Come and play Adam, we're playing chasing. Billy is it."

Adam ran gleefully towards the other children. He immediately allowed himself to be caught by Billy because he wanted to get a closer look at him. He grinned broadly as his old friend banged into him. He thought Billy had died. Remembered his parents on the trail crying bitterly. It was obviously all a terrible mistake. Billy wrestled him to the ground and the two boys laughed as they rolled in the dirt. The girls stood over them impatiently.

"We were playing chasing," one girl folded her arms and stamped her foot.

Eventually the boys got up and brushed themselves off.

Adam looked at Bessie. How healthy she looked. She never looked like that. She was always confined to the wagon.

"Now we have two boys and two girls let have a chase, the boys against the girls," She grinned, bossy as ever.

"Let's play kiss chasing." the other girl clapped her hands with glee.

Adam frowned at that, he didn't want to play kiss chasing with a bunch of girls.

"Come on Adam." Billy urged his friend with a shout as they ran off towards the barn. It was a lovely summers day. A light breeze caressed his face. He felt all the light hearted glee of a child as he ran to follow his friends. As he went to move a hand clamped down firmly on his shoulder.

Adam looked up. "Sir," he breathed as old man Peters glared down at him.

"No Adam, go back in. You don't belong with them."

Adam watched his friends playing together at a distance. Billy looked briefly back at him but then ran off behind the barn with the others.

"You don't belong with them, go on now." The old man's tone was gruff.

Adam turned and walked back to the house. He went in. It was dark, very dark. The door was closed behind him but a gusting wind seemed to blow through the big room sending papers to the floor and blowing the napkins from the table. Adam felt trapped in fear suddenly.

"Pa, pa." Adam called as the darkness consumed him. "Pa, help."

A light suddenly appeared on the top landing. Bustling noise erupted on the landing as doors were flung open and his brothers emerged.

"Adam," Ben descended the stairs carrying a lamp. "Are you alright son?"

Hoss and Joe followed, Hoss carrying a small pistol and looking around.

"I'm fine...I'm sorry." Adam stumbled over an apology.

Much to his annoyance Ben put a hand to his forehead.

"No fever," he nodded in satisfaction.

Adam felt disorientated and didn't know what to say by way of explanation.

Ben took him by the arm and brought him to sit by the fire. The logs still gave off a warm glow and now the lamps were lit the house looked normal. Adam released a shuddering sigh of relief as comforting reality surrounded him once again.

"Joe, go up and get Adam a dressing gown and slippers." Ben nodded to him.

Joe ran up to Adam's room.

"Pa I'm fine," Adam lied. He was grateful for the brandy Ben placed in his hand.

"That must a been some dream," Hoss scowled. "You wanna talk about it?"

"No." Adam shook his head slightly and took a drink. He felt foolish enough as it was.

"It's no shame to sleep walk son, your mother used to do it," Ben smiled.

But even as he said it Ben looked a little worried.

~o~

Adam welcomed the hard work of the following day. They had to mend the roofs on three line shacks and check fences on all fields. There were terrible wind storms this time last year and Ben was adamant that they were not going to be caught out again. They had lost livestock to the storms last year, a needless waste Ben had called it. Adam was out of sorts for most of the day. It's was the strangest feeling waking in the living room, imagining that children were still outside waiting to play with him. He was still trying to shake it off as he adjusted timber and hammered nails home.

"Adam, you alright?" Little Joe asked, looking up at him.

"Yeah fine," Adam said dismissively. He knew Ben had sent Joe along to keep an eye on him. He was a grown man, it was ridiculous. Just as he said it though, he hoped that he hadn't actually called out for his Pa last night. The whole incident was way too embarrassing.

~o~

It was good that they at least got all the fences mended as just that night a severe storm blew up. It rattled the shutters and sent wind whistling through the attic. The lamps flickered as Hop Sing brought out a platter of cottage pie and dumplings.

"Did ye hear that?" Joe whistled as a roar of wind sent debris scuttling along outside.

"Yes, I hate to say it but looks like you may have to re-fix those fences tomorrow." Ben smiled at his sons.

"Thank you Hop Sing, lovely new dinner Hop Sing. Thank you for effort Hop Sing."

Hop sing, after saying his peace returned to the kitchen and began clattering around.

Joe grinned rendering his young face very handsome,

"Thank you Hop Sing." Hoss called into the kitchen in earnest.

Ben smiled over at Adam. "I think we're going to need to find a new cook by tomorrow. You any good at cooking?" He asked.

Adam gave a dimpled grin of his own. "I can boil an..."

Adam froze suddenly.

Ben looked at him with concern. "Son, what is it?"

He stood and went to the door. He flung it open and walked out on to the porch.

Ben gave Hoss a quick frown as he got up to join Adam.

"You hear something Adam?" Ben listened to the creaking of branches and the rustle of leaves tossed up in the dirt.

"I don't know," Adam muttered.

Ben put a hand to his shoulder. "Probably just an animal Adam. This weather wouldn't be easy on them, they'll be looking for a place to shelter."

Adam nodded with a reassuring smile. "You're probably right pa," he said.

But Adam knew in his heart that it wasn't an animal he heard, it sounded for all the world like the distinct laughter of Billy Crow, a boy who had died over fifteen years ago.