Part 12

(Thanks for all the reviews.)

Meanwhile Gibbs had made the deliveries for his dad. "I'm going home to check on Tony."

"Okay Leroy. I'm sure he's fine."

Gibbs soon arrived at the house, he walked around the back of the house and shouted "TONY!" Then again when he got no answer. He went towards the shed. "Damn!" he said. Where was Tony?" He ran to the house. The doors were all locked. He grabbed his keys opened the door and went through the house. No sign of Tony.

He went back to the shed. He'd noticed some of the things had been moved. He took out his phone and dialled his dad's number. "Dad, what did you keep in the shed?"

"The shed? Why?"

"Tony's gone but it looks as if he's moved stuff in the shed."

"The only things I keep in there are the tools .." there was a silence.

"What else?"

"I keep the tents and sleeping bags there. I bought them recently, I was hoping we could go fishing."

"Where would Tony go with a tent? It looks as if he left on foot. "

"Does Tony ride?"

"Yes."

"There's a stable not far from me, it hires out horses."

"On my way."

Gibbs drove off listening to his father's instructions. "The woman who owns it is Anna Marshall, you went to school with her," his father informed him.

He saw a woman he recognised as he drew up. "Anna, good to see you," he said walking forward.

"Leroy Gibbs, haven't seen you for a while."

"It's been a while but I've been coming back to see my dad."

"About time. What can I do for you?"

Gibbs pulled out his wallet and showed her Tony's photograph," Did this young man hire a horse from you?"

"Yes, he was here earlier. Very charming." She saw a look cross Gibbs' face. "What's wrong?"

"I need to know where he went."

"He went to the shop before he went, maybe he said something there." They walked towards the shop. "He in trouble?"

"Yep, with me. I told him to stay at the house but he decided to take a tent and go camping."

"Is he your son?"

"Closest thing to one I have but he has a bad habit of getting into trouble."

"Sounds a lot like someone I know."

Gibbs laughed, "Yes he is."

Anna walked into the shop. "Paula, what did this young man buy?" she showed her the photograph.

"He bought food."

"Did he buy a map?"

"No, he said he knew where he was going."

"Damn," Gibbs said. "Did you see which way he headed?"

"No but Billy at the stables might have."

They made their way to the stables. Billy was mucking out one of the stalls.

"Billy," Anna called.

An old man came out. "Hi Anna."

"Did you see which direction this young man took when he left?" She showed him the photo.

"He was headed towards the mountains. He seemed to know where he was going. Talked about going fishing."

"Can I hire a horse?" Gibbs asked.

"Sure."

Soon Gibbs was heading up the same track as Tony. Anna had let him have a tent and sleeping bag as well.

Tony had enjoyed fishing and was now enjoying eating the fish he had caught. It was good to be away from people. He had always wanted to go camping when he was younger but his father had always been too busy or drunk, if Tony was honest. When he'd finished he damped down the fire and made his way into his tent. He had camouflaged his tent using some branches. Soon he was fast asleep.

Tony woke up and stretched. He was camped beside a small stream. He rolled up his bedroll, saddled Blaze and set off. He kept moving up the trail, it was getting colder the higher he climbed. He was so glad he had brought his jacket with him. The path started to narrow and he began to move slower. Blaze was shivering, what was wrong with him. He heard a sharp cry and pulled his rifle out. It was the cry of a mountain lion. He moved forward cautiously, taking his time because the path was really narrow.

Something caught his eye and he tried to lift his rifle up. A large cat landed on the path in front of Blaze. Blaze reared up and Tony was catapulted out of the saddle. He landed on the ground and his rifle discharged. Blaze took off. The cat stood its ground. Tony looked over at his rifle, there was no way he could reach it before the cat got him.

A shot rang out and the cat fell to the ground. A man came out of the trees. "What the hell are you playing at boy?"

"I….ouch," Tony said as he tried to push himself up off the ground.

The man came forward, "Lie still." He took Tony's arm and examined it. "It's not broke." He helped him to his feet.

"Where's Blaze?"

"Your horse took off."

"He'll go home."

"Where's home?"

Tony clamped his mouth tight shut. "I don't have to tell you."

"Fine boy," the man said and started to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going home, you should do the same."

"I haven't got anywhere to go," Tony said

The man looked at him. "Come with me then." Tony followed him. He set up a quick pace and soon they arrived at a small cabin built into the side of the mountain. There were lots of animal pelts hanging around the cabin.

"Who are you?" Tony asked.

"Mike."

"Tony."

"Sit down Tony." He ladled some stew out of a pan and handed the plate to Tony. "Eat."

"It's good," Tony said mopping up the gravy with a piece of bread.

"You a runaway?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me boy," Mike said gruffly.

"I… I was staying with some people but they've got their own family now. They don't need me."

"You sure about that?"

"Yes." Under his breath he said," They're better off without me."

"You can help around here."

"I can stay?"

"If you're prepared to work. I don't give no free rides."

"I'll help."

"Pick up all those furs. I need to pack them on the donkey and take them to town to sell. Don't get as good a price for them anymore."

"Where do you go?"

"Stillwater. You know it?"

"Passed through," Tony said. Mike knew he was lying but didn't push it. If there was a missing boy he'd hear about it in town.

"I'll be back tomorrow. You can tidy up. There's the horse to feed and the chickens. You manage that?"

"Sure."

Mike made his way down the mountain. He went to the store to sell his furs. He heard a few men talking about the boy that was missing. Tony Gibbs. He didn't know Jethro had another boy. He set off for Gibbs' house.

Gibbs had searched everywhere he knew. Tomorrow they were going to head up into the mountains. Tobias was going to organise the men into search parties. Blaze had come running into the yard earlier on panting. He'd obviously run quite a distance. He had wanted to start out straight away but Tobias had stopped him. They all needed to rest and so did their horses.

Rose stood at the door beside him. "Jethro where can he be?"

"I'll find him, I promise."

Gibbs knew that Tony was tired, they all were. He knew the boy wasn't happy about being punished because he had the rifle but he'd never dreamed he'd run away. He'd spoken to Tobias earlier.

"What went wrong, Tobias?" Gibbs asked him. "He was delighted when Jack was born, wanted us to have a second child. I know things haven't been easy with Jack crying all the time."

"Tony was used to having you to himself, maybe he was finding it harder than you thought. First he had to share you with Rose and then Jack."

"I should have spent more time with him. He was so pleased when Johnny asked him to go camping. I managed to spoil that for him as well."

"How?"

"He had a rifle with him. I don't know where he got it from but he'd obviously been practising with it. I was so angry with him for disobeying me I gave him a paddling when we got home. He shouted that he hated me and wished I wasn't his father."

"He's a kid Jethro. That's what they say when they're angry."

"I hope he's alright."

"We'll find him. Go home, get some rest and meet me back here in the morning. We'll find him."

Tony woke up early and fed the animals. He heard a horse coming up the path. He hid until he was sure who it was. "Come out Tony," Mike shouted as he dismounted.

"Did you sell your furs?"

"Yes. Got a decent price for them. I also heard about a boy that's gone missing. Tony Gibbs. That'll be you."

"I'm not going back. You can't make me."

"Who said I was going to? Could do with the help around here. I aint getting any younger."

"I can stay?"

"Yep. I'll show you how to catch the animals and then skin them."

"Okay." Tony didn't sound too enthusiastic.

"Come on, I'll show you where my traps are."

By the end of the day Tony was shattered. He could hardly stay awake over dinner. "Go to bed Tony."

Tony snuggled down under the covers and was soon fast asleep.

Mike saddled his horse and set off for Gibbs farm. He knocked on the door. "Mike," Gibbs said. "What brings you down off the mountain?"

"I believe I have something of yours at my cabin."

"Tony?"

"Yes."

"I'll come get him."

"No Jethro. I think he needs time to decide that he wants to come home."

Gibbs set a cup of coffee in front of him. "He's my son."

"I know but he's feeling a bit lost."

"I want him home."

"And I'll bring him. He's very stubborn."

Rose laughed. "He's very like his father," she said.

"Yep that's who he reminded me of."

"Bring him home," she said.

TBC