A/N I just wanted to post something. There is a party going on at my house right now, and I have had a long few days. I want to go to sleep…

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Joe walked over to the edge of the porch. He absently noticed the pile of slush at the foot of the stairs as he waited for some to pick up. After a few rings it was answered by a breathless sounding voice.

"Clark County Ranger Station Number 5. This is Ranger Williamson."

"Hi, Ranger Williamson. I was calling to see if Ranger Anderson was there?"

"Ah, I'm sorry son," the definably older voice answered him. "He is out on patrol right now. Is there a message you would like me to give him?"

Joe's eyes lit up with excitement. He was ignoring Frank's queering looks and gestures. "Yes, there is. This is Joe Hardy, I'm staying with my brother up at the Mitchell Cabin." Joe ended his statement with a questioning tone.

"I know the place, nice family."

"Yeah, Jonas has been my roommate at college for the last two years. Met his parents a few times. Mrs. Mitchell makes an amazing Beef Stroganoff."

The ranger laughed a little. "I have been known to have a chicken leg or two when Henry Mitchell is Barbequing. I have to admit that I was hoping for a little this spring, but I guess the weather has kept them away?"

"Yeah, Mrs. Mitchell booked them all a cruise in the Caribbean instead. She said she just had a feeling that is would be a lot warmer that way and she was craving the heat."

"Ah, yes. She is such a lovely woman, but a little too skinny for all of her wonderful cooking." Joe could hear the smile in his voice. "But, I am sorry. We have totally gotten off track. You wanted to leave a message for Ranger Anderson?"

"Oh, yes." Joe feigned a little surprise at his forgetfulness. "I really just wanted to thank him for coming over yesterday. He didn't really need to. And I wanted to apologize. I think that I might have come off a little gruff with him."

"Oh, that's right, he told me that there were some boys staying up there and that he had gone to check on one of them yesterday. He said something about you falling and hitting your head kind of bad?"

"Yeah, I wasn't paying as much attention to where I was going as I should have been and stepped right into a fox hole. Down I went, gave my brother a bit of a scare. Hit my head on a rock and twisted my ankle some."

"Ah, how are you feeling today?"

"Doing pretty good, the ankle isn't throbbing nearly as much. And my head still stings, but it wasn't really that bad. And my brother would tell you about what a hard head I have."

The ranger laughed along with Joe. "Ya, Brothers can be truly sympathetic sometimes."

Joe knew this guy must have had a brother from the sarcastic tone, and from his general observations only an older brother could have caused that much love. "You sound like you might have a similar affliction, sir?"

"You might say so. I have three older brothers. And don't call me sir. Daniel or Williamson is just fine."

"Okay, Mr. Williamson."

Joe heard the sigh followed by a chuckle. "Well, Joe. What is your message for Ranger Todd?"