"You circle around the back side. Worse comes to worse we chase him up to those cliffs. We know our way around, and he doesn't." Daniel said in the dim light of morning.

"There's five of us and one of him." Yadkin said with a chuckle.

"I just don't want to take any chances." Daniel said.

"You still haven't said what you are going to do when . . ." Mingo began.

"One thing at a time." Daniel interrupted. "Alright fellas, move out."

Yadkin, Matthew and Tom nodded and left, leaving Mingo and Daniel to wait until they were in position. Daniel paced anxiously.

"Who was Rufus Bennedict?" Mingo asked again.

"I don't . . . I can't . . . not right now." Daniel said.

"Alright." Mingo said. "She is alright though? You said she was alright."

"Rebecca would pretend to be alright if she were filled with buckshot." Daniel said with a sigh. "I don't know. She was alright enough to let me go."

"Well," Mingo said clearing his throat and looking away. "There's nothing she wouldn't do for you."

Daniel looked up, his jaw locked in a hard line. He nodded his head and paced again. "Now?"

"Ten more minutes." Mingo said.

***DB***

Israel Boone knew something was wrong. He knew his mother was sick and that his father had been upset, but he couldn't help but enjoy the fact that everywhere he went, people would give him cookies or candy. Cincinnatus let him eat whatever candy he wanted, and no one expected anything of him; no chores, no lessons. If it wasn't for the fact that his mother's bruises and sad eyes made him feel sick to his stomach, it would be the best days of his life.

He was rushing across the common area when he saw the smoke in the far distance. He was turning to tell someone, when he heard a shout from the wall, "Fire! There's a fire!"

People came spilling out into the common area, Esa Greene turned from his post on the wall and said, "It looks like the Boones. Let's go."

He turned to climb down, but as he did something caught his eye. "And there's fire to the west too! Come on now, everyone! Let's go!"

Israel was amazed at how quickly it seemed that the settlement emptied out. Every man and able-bodied woman rushed out. He looked around to see the other children all standing around just as he was. He looked up and saw Mima watching him. She walked to him, and put an arm around his shoulders and for once, he didn't really mind.

"They said it was our house?" She asked him.

"Yes." He said quietly. "Where's Mama?" She looked down at the word 'mama' in surprise. He hadn't called her that for years now.

"She's over there." Mima pointed and they could see her standing in the door of the tavern, a blanket around her shoulders. She looked small.

"There's another fire!" Peter said from where he had climbed up on the wall. "Look!" He pointed. "Come on, Allen. You and me are big enough! Get Johnny too! Let's go."

The small group of older children waited at the foot of the ladder as Peter climbed down, and then they too, ran from the fort. Israel looked around completely shocked. All that was left at the settlement were the small children, like himself, the older women, his mother and the others who were sick. He turned to face his mother.

"I can help. This is ridiculous." She threw her blanket aside. "Israel, Mima wait here. I'm going to go with Peter and the boys. Someone could get hurt." He had Mima followed her to the gates of the settlement and watched her as she stepped outside its protective walls for the first time, since their father had carried her in six days ago.

***DB***

He was able to move much faster than they had anticipated, which is why Daniel found himself chasing him up into the cliffs.

"Stay on him!" He shouted. "Follow around the left side!"

It was ridiculous for him to run. He was clearly badly wounded, and they followed the trail of bright red drops of blood straight up to the edge of a cliff face. Mingo and Daniel approached him head on, while Matt, Tom and Yadkin approached from the left and right.

"You got nowheres left to go." Daniel said as they all came upon him. He was surrounded on three side, and sheer drop of sixty feet behind him. He had nowhere to go. He stood somewhat slumped, a hand on his left side.

"You gonna kill me now?" He asked, moving toward Daniel.

"Who are you?" Daniel asked.

"Your wife has the softest lips I have ever . . ." But before he could finish the sentence Daniel had slammed his fist into his wounded side.

"Who are you?" Daniel asked again leaning over him.

"Me? I'm a dead man, aren't I?" He said rising slowly, wiping blood from his lips. "And it's a shame too because all I got for my troubles were a few kisses, a few punches, and a knife from that little shanty whor . . ."

Daniel reached down his hands around the man's neck. He squeezed tightly feeling such a tide of rage wash over him. He wanted nothing more than to squeeze hard until he heard the bones in the man's neck snap, but then suddenly he was overwhelmed with a memory of Rebecca, so young looking up into his eyes, hers filled with love and trust. He released his grip and staggered back and away from him. He hadn't seen everyone rush forward, or heard both Mingo and Yadkin yelling at him, trying to pull him back. He shook his head, leaning against Yadkin briefly. He turned to Mingo.

"She wouldn't want me to . . ." He studied Mingo with confusion and anger. "How did you know I . . .She's worth ten million of . . . he's not worth any effort on our parts."

"No. Let's go home." Mingo said gripping his arm.

"He's already dead." Yadkin said indicating the man who still lay just five feet from the cliff edge.

"She needs me home." Daniel agreed. "It doesn't even matter who he is." He turned and looked down. "I don't care who you are. It doesn't matter. She is well. I will make sure she is well."

He turned to go, but heard Matthew cry out, "Wait! What are you . . ."

Daniel turned back around to see the man rise one more time. He stood before them, bleeding, his face grey. He backed closer to the edge of the cliff.

"Who are you?" Daniel asked again and they all turned to look at him, hearing the shock and fear in his normally strong, steady voice.

"I am . . ." He hesitated, taking another step back. "Rufus Bennedict." His face broke into a wide smile, "And I" He paused turning to meet their eyes, "Am not alone." He leaned backwards and falling, plunged over the edge of the cliff to his death.

Daniel's face grew white, "Oh God!" He shouted already turning to run. "The settlement! I left her alone!"