*A/N Logan, California is mentioned in this chapter. It is actually, according to the internet, 118 miles from Stockton. However, how close it is in this story is something you can decide….as it will never actually be shown.

"You can wait up by my desk." Dr. Thomas, a red haired gentleman in his late thirties nodded towards the bedroom door and then added, "I'll take care of your friend.

If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, she'd have slapped the doctor for the way his eyes took on a look of speculation – one that said 'or should I say boyfriend- or even husband? As it was, she knew that – unless she spoke up- people would assume many things when it came to the gentleman. Speak up was something that she would have done only she was just mad enough at the man's silent nosiness that she didn't. "You do that." She replied, keeping her eyes directed at the bed.

Nothing more was said as she watched Dr. Thomas begin tending to his patient's burns.

"Ohhhh..."

Cassie turned away from the stove as she heard a moan coming from the bedroom; she had the door slightly ajar so as to enable her to hear any sound that might escape. In spite of what she knew the doctor would start telling people, she'd had him move Mr. Barkley to her home. How could she give him the attention he needed if she didn't. It's not like she worked for the doctor.

Moving the pan onto a metal 'plate', she hurried into the bedroom-hoping to find the gentleman had awoken. She'd like more than a last name. By the time she stepped into the room, her guest was laying awake. He was feeling the bandages the doctor had wrapped around the majority of his face. That part she thought stupid-as it was only the area around his eyes that been affected.

It didn't pass him by that his hands had bandages on them as well.

"Acid, just don't ask me what form. No one seems to know." Cassie spoke flatly, slightly startling him-though he said nothing. She went on to explain that, after throwing the liquid 'the nut' tried to shoot the sheriff who had startled him. "Stupid, all it earned him was more charges." She sat down on the chair she had set next to the bed. "Don't ask me what Jack was doing with that stuff or where he got it. No one knows that either. I don't suppose you know anything, Mr. Barkley?"

"If I do, I don't know it. I just remember the stuff hitting me and covering my face with my hands. I assume that's why my hands are wrapped as well." he tried to readjust himself on the bed.

Cass quickly stood up and helped him, telling that – yes -he was right when it came to his hands. Before long, the pillow had been rearranged, and he was propped up against it. "Mr. Barkley was my father." He told her once he heard her sit back down. "My name's Nick." He paused again and then asked hesitantly, as he was pretty sure he'd hear that voice before only- for the life of him- he couldn't place a face. "Have we met before?"

*Logan." She went on to explain why she'd only had his last name. "Never had a chance to really talk very long to you, you were too busy with the other people who were around. My name's Cassandra, but everyone here calls me Cassie." She went on to admit what others were now – most likely – saying. "I guess I should have told the doctor off for the thought his looks said he was thinking only I didn't. Can't stand it when people won't come flat out and ask what they want to. That attitude has caused me a few problems in the past, I freely admit." She hesitated and then admitted that she'd been getting strong impressions that Jack really hadn't been all that drunk. "Doesn't make sense to me only; I don't suppose, you know why he would purposely attack you? Have the two of you met?

Nick thought on the cattle and horse business he'd taken care of in Logan; the talk he'd had with Jarrod when the two of them happen to cross paths, along with any activity he'd been involved in before heading for Triton – where he'd planned on grabbing a bite. Finally, he told her, "The answer to your question is no, never seen him in my life. How long have I been out? I mean, how long have I been unconscious?

Cassie sat down on the side of the bed-as the chair leg was starting to have problems. "A few days. Probably woke up sooner only your blisters got infected, it gave you quite the fever."

"How bad is this?" Nick lifted his bandaged hand, and then gestured towards his face.

"Won't know for awhile. Doc put salve on the affected areas and left some for me to use as he instructed." She hesitated and then plunged on, feeling there was nothing to lose. "I am suppose to change those bandages and put on more salve only would you mind if I used some other ointment I have…made from natural herbs? Yes, the doctor's salve will prevent infection only I don't believe for a second it will help alleviate any scarring. Only, I'll have to do it now-before the doctor arrives. He's suppose to check in on you later today."

"Will your stuff do that? I mean, do away with the scarring?" Nick asked, hoping that was the case. "And what about my eyesight? Did the doctor say whether or not it would be affected?"

"I don't know about the eyes, neither does he. He said we would know more once the bandages come off for good. As far as any scarring goes, I doubt it would do away with it completely only I'm sure it will make it so it wasn't so bad. However," she sighed, "I understand if you don't want me to do it. After all, I'm not making a living in the medical field."

Nick had seen scars that came from acid burns, how bad they could be. He barely knew Cassie, but he knew what she said about the salves many of the doctors used was true-as many men had, basically, said the same thing to him in the past. He'd take any chance he could get to make things better than what he'd seen. He'd also heard something in her voice when she talked about this particular doctor, something that was sending alarm bells off loud enough that even he couldn't deny it. He said as much. "How much do you trust the doctor?"

"I trust him to do his best with the knowledge he accepts." Cassie answered, and then admitted she wished the town had another doctor. "He refuses to use updated medical knowledge. Sure, in order to keep his license, he knows about various things only that's it. Ask anyone in this town and they'll tell you they only go to him because there is no one else in this town who is actively practicing medicine. The burn salve is probably one of the few things he uses that is currently used by the medical profession. Actually, I even have doubts about that."

"Get these bandages changed before he gets here and do as you say." Nick did his best to relax as she stood up and walked out of the room. The whole time he was thinking on the town drunk and what his motivation for doing what he had…that is, if Cassie was right that he wasn't as intoxicated as was thought.

/

"He's not home yet?" Jarrod, who had gone back into town -due to a court hearing he had- now stood in the living room looking very much out of sorts. It had been two weeks with no sign of Nick. Jarrod had sent off a number of telegrams, but – so far- it had did no good.

"No," Heath set the glass he'd been holding next to the decanter that sat on the living room table. "I'm worried. Do you know which way he was using to come home?" It was only after he asked the question that Heath realized the concerned look he saw in Jarod's eyes had been there even before he'd actually asked about Nick- and that it had actually grown when he heard Heath's reply.

"For a split second Jarrod could see Jason Tydell, the man he was prosecuting looking at him, when Jarrod entered the courtroom the first day Jarrod had come home. The man had looked like he'd couldn't believe what he was seeing. Jarrod hadn't let it bother him too much at the time…now, he had an itch in the back of his mind. "Maybe. I don't have court until next Friday. Let's get our horses and go looking for that brother of ours. That is, after telling Mother and Audra what we're up to. The last thing we need is them worrying about us too."

" Heath agreed and went to tell the women what he and Jarrod were up too.