Author's note: Thank u all for coming all this way with me! We move on!

8. The Wrong Turn

Dipper couldn't believe that he had just met his other uncle and haven't been able to talk with him. For some strange reason, however, Stan's brother wasn't as old as him and seemed to be carrying himself in a strange way. Judging by the man's face, it looked like he fought bears three times a week or something like that. Stanley had ordered them to stay away from the researcher but, when the sheriff and Toby left, the house became too quiet to berate. Dipper thought it was now or never, he had to get to know this mysterious man.

Walking one step at a time, the boy looked through the upper corridor until he noticed the locked door that lead to Stanford's bedroom. There was no point in knocking as he could hear the man was sleeping. Drat! How was he going to get to know his relative now?

"Bro! Could you help me with this, please?" called out Mabel and the boy resigned himself. His twin was trying to come up with new ideas for her big show the next day. "I can't decide"

"You should really try more simple ideas, Mabel. You're twelve not twenty! Wait! Is that my notebook?" Dipper was caught by surprise, his sister had searched through his things again. "Mabel!"

"Mine is full! And there was no other available!"

"Seriously?" Dipper groaned in anger before giving up and walking downstairs, where Soos seemed to be doing some rehearsing before a mirror. "Uh, Soos?" the boy scared the lights out of him. "Sorry"

"It's OK, mon. What can I do for ye?" the large man sat down.

"Uh, do you know where can I get a new notebook? My sister has owned mine… again"

"Deja que piense. Let's see, uh. Yes! There's a general store in town, but I dunno if the road is clear. The snow hasn't thaw"

"It's ok. I'll go check. If it is clear, I'll walk and if not, just turn around" it was daylight and Dipper needed some time out.

"Be careful out there, mon! Stay on the road at all times"

"I will. Thanks, Soos" the boy walked towards the door and looked outside. There was a huge crust of snow and ice, but the road was open. It was possible to walk towards town, or so did Dipper thought. The large trees made it hard to know what the road was and what wasn't. The boy hiked for a while, until he wasn't sure of the direction he was headed. Looking around, Dipper could see what seemed to be the bell tower of the church so he decided to use it as a reference. Walking towards it, the poor boy had to brave several gaps until he reached the building.

Much to his surprise however, it wasn't the church in town but a small and abandoned chapel. What was that construction doing in the middle of nowhere was hard to make out, but Dipper could tell that it had been there for several years now. Walking around it, the boy noticed some large scratch marks in the wood. A bear, perhaps? Too big for that. What could have done that? One of the floor planks creaked under his feet, almost making him fall into the hole. Dipper was able to avoid such fate, but something hidden beneath the rotten wood caught his attention. A small package, wrapped in oilcloth, was concealed in the gap and it seemed to have been there for some time. Dipper grabbed it and gently uncovered it, revealing a tattered red leathered book with golden crooks. Dipper was amazed and more so when he noticed that someone had written on it. A monocle hanged from the cloth bookmark. Who could have written that? When? And why hide it away? It made no sense. There was a large three in the first page, could there be more?

A loud snarl caught Dipper's attention. A pack of wolves was closing in around the chapel and they didn't seem happy. The boy didn't thought it twice and started running towards the Shack, unsure of what path to choose until he saw a fox looking his way. The red animal jumped slightly and ran a little ahead, stopping and giving the boy a glance. It was leading him away from the wolves. Dipper followed it until they finally saw the wooden familiar building. The pack didn't gave up, they were not turning back. It was far too important to catch that little human and his cargo. The boy tried to reach the porch, but his feet slipped on the ice. Falling hard against the snow, Dipper felt his ankle and turned to see the angry wolves ready to jump. He was done for.

A shot rang. Wendy was aiming in the pack's direction but that didn't seem to scare them. The girl shot again but the beasts didn't budge. They wanted the little red book. Dipper gulped. He was going to die and nobody could save him, not even the beautiful Wendy. A second shooter joined in. When the wolves saw Ford aiming in their direction, they changed their minds and ran back to the safety of the forest. Dipper was clueless. Why were those beasts so scared of the old man? The boy tried to stand but his ankle refused to let him. Wincing, Dipper saw the fox looking his way, like waiting for something to happen and keeping its distance from Stanford. Why were the creatures so afraid of the researcher? He was around 60 years old, nothing to be afraid of, or so did Dipper thought.

"You ok, kiddo?" Ford walked towards him alongside Wendy.

"Did they bite you?" the red-haired girl smiled at him.

"No, but I think I broke something" muttered Dipper, hiding the book inside his coat and the researcher gave his rifle to the tomboy before walking to his nephew.

"Here, let me have a look" the man kneeled and checked the boy's leg, making him flinch in pain. "Take it easy, son. The good news is that is not broken. Bad news is sprained. I best look at it inside. You might catch your death out here" Ford carried the boy into the shack and inside the sitting room, washed the injured ankle and dress it with bandages to keep it from worsening. "You shouldn't go outside on your own, kid. It's too dangerous. Stan should have warned you about it"

"I just wanted to go to the general store" whispered the boy.

"All you had to do was ask this nice young lady. You just got to this town and can easily get lost" Ford gave him some hot tea. "Those wolves don't normally come this close. I wonder why they would do such thing. Oh, well!" the man smiled. "I think we haven't been properly introduced"

"Uh. No, we haven't" admitted the child. "I'm Dipper, by the way. Nice to meet you, sir"

"Stanford. I'm Stanley's older brother. And you must be Shermie's grandson. I saw you earlier but I was too tired to put two words together. Anyway, pleasure to make your acquaintance" they shook hands and Dipper noticed the six fingers in each hand.

"Wow!"

"I, uh, well. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable" muttered the man putting them behind his back.

"On the contrary. I never knew something like this was possible. It's great!" the boy was fascinated. "Can you use all twelve? For real?"

"Well, uh. Yes. Thank goodness, yes. Yes, I can!" smiled Ford and so did his nephew. "I think you and I are going to get along just fine"

Ford has no idea of what Dipper has just found, and Dipper can't hardly imagine what hides inside those pages. In Tybay's description, the journals were unimportant but I think they can have a really significant role.

More to come real soon!