"Can you stand up?" Mark whispered to Kit as he tried to get up. His body hurt like hell, but one way or another he was going home to his Pa. He lifted himself just enough to see the frost on the window. He could feel how cold it was, even under the heavy blankets as he tried to stand, his whole body feeling sore. He planted his bare feet on the floor, which felt ice cold. As he tried to stand up, the chill hit his naked body, making him want to bury himself under the blankets again.

But his boots were waiting downstairs. He just had to get dressed and get them, then sneak away when no one was looking. He had to force himself to get the job done, it's what his Pa would have done.

But his Pa wasn't there. He was three hours away in Northfork, probably mourning the loss of his only son. But maybe now he'd focus on making himself happy, maybe settle down with Millie. Maybe before long, they'd have another child. Yeah, a little brother or sister for Mark to help care for when he got home.

If he got home. First, he had to get away from the family that had abducted him in revenge Lucas shooting a man in self-defense. His Pa wasn't responsible, the drunk that challenged Lucas was. His Pa was only acting in self-defense, nothing more. Now here Mark was, forced into a life he didn't ask to be a part of. He'd lost a month of his life to these people and he'd be damned if he lost any more.

"Kit, wake up," Mark whispered. "We gotta get ready."

Kit moaned as Mark gently kissed the other boy's head. Kit slowly smiled as he opened his eyes. "If only every morning could start like that."

"Maybe it will if we can get far enough away," Mark promised. "Get your pants on, we have to hurry."

Kit forced himself to pull his pants on as Mark pulled up his overalls, wishing they'd given him a shirt to wear. He'd found out soon that Ellie had Mark's clothes torn up and used to stoke a fire. She didn't want her boy two to have big-city clothes, and only his boots were kept.

The boots that Lucas had to have custom made to keep up with Mark's growing feet. Ht was now at a size 14 boys and would probably end up going another size or two before he was done, with the girls also taking notice of how big of a size he wore, something he was eager to show Kit when he finally decided to give himself to him.

Mark's body burned with every step as he opened the door to make sure the coast was clear. But he had to force himself to keep going, with every step feeling hot pokers against his skin. The two slowly made their downstairs to find six pairs of boots on the table.

"Where are my boots?" Mark asked as he looked around.

"I had to sell those fancy city boy boots," Caleb said as he walked in. "We'll get something cheaper when we can afford it."

"It's the first freeze," Kit said. "His feet will freeze."

"Well, I figure that with all that evil flowing through you, you'll keep warm enough," Caleb said.

"Those were my boots" Mark shouted as he went to punch Caleb, only to be forced into the wall.

"Now, you think you can take me, boy, you go right on ahead," Caleb told him. "The day you can take me is the day I'll walk you back to town myself. Now, you've been on my bad side for a while, and I mean to clean that habit right out of you. Both of you. You won't make Ma cry again, you hear me? I had to spend the entire night consoling her and telling her that her new little boy was pure. Now, go on and get ready for chores, and no messin' around."

Caleb threw Mark to the ground and went to wake up his other brothers.

"Take my boots," Kit said. "Go, get your freedom."

"No," Mark said. "I don't care how cold it is, I'm not leaving without you. We're partners, you hear me? I don't go anywhere without you."

Kit gave him a quick kiss as the other boys started coming downstairs.

"They'll catch you like this," Kit said.

"The only other way is to face Caleb," Mark told him. "I don't think I'm strong enough to beat him yet. If I want to get home and take you with me, then we have to run."

"Okay," Kit agreed. "We'll run so we can stay together."

"Kit, I—," Mark started to say but he couldn't find the courage to say the words. "Let's hurry before it's too late."

David had put Mark's coat on and had gone into town with Lucas to pick up some supplies at Millie's. David looked around at the candy when he saw the jar of lemon drops and beside it, peppermint sticks.

"Peppermint was Mark's favorite," David said to no one. "I'd never see him without a candy stick in his mouth. Always carried two in case he was trying to make a new friend. The first time we met he offered me a peppermint stick. We were best friends ever since."

"I keep the candy jars filled just in case Mark ever walks through that door again," Millie told him. "I have a full jar just for him. I know he'll come home someday."

"I think Lucas is starting to give up hope," David said sadly. "He gave me Mark's coat this morning."

"Mark loved that coat," Millie said. "He'd wear it everywhere he went."

"I don't know what to do," David told her. "I don't want thin to forget Mark, but I wish he'd stop being so miserable. I wish Dollar-Ten were still in town, he always knew how to cheer people up when they were sad. I hope he's happy with his new dad."

"I'm sure he is," Millie told him. "I just wish there were some clue about where Mark went, or who took him."

"Yeah," David told her. "Who would take Mark and not ask for ransom? Would they take him for petty revenge? Or for some other reason?"

"We'll never know," Millie said as David looked across the street at Micah's office.

"Does Micah keep records about every man that died in Northfork?"

"I think so, and a few notes on some of them," Millie told him. "Why?"

"…Just curious," David said. "Just a few theories."

"Are you sure about this, Lucas?" Micah asked. "I know ever since her second husband died in prison and Heller got engaged to that guy a county over, that things have been rough on the family. David's wages from you have been all that his mother's been relying on."

"I know it's tough on them," Lucas said. "Maybe this'll help them out more if she doesn't have to pay for David's well-being anymore. I'd pay for his schooling, give him an allowance, and whatever else the boy needs until he's on his own."

"I'll leave the decision to David and his mother," Micah told him. "But I'll start the paperwork just in case."

"He's a fine boy, and he's been a lot of help since Mark left," Lucas said. "I'm not looking to replace my son, but I really want to put David in a better place than he's been. I'll talk to his mother this afternoon and ask David tonight after he gets home from school to do his chores."

Micah looked down at Lucas's bid to adopt David Chase.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Kit asked as they pulled some wood out of the shed.

"I have to," Mark said. "I can't depend on Pa coming for me anymore, and I have to look out for you. A man looks out for what he values most. And well, that's you. I won't leave you hanging, we're in this together. I'm running away so we can have a life together with my Pa when I find my way home. It's you and me now."

They hugged each other as Kit patted him on the back. "Okay, we look out for each from now on. What exactly are we?"

Mark blushed as he looked down at the ground. "Well, I— you see— we're two guys who want the best for each other. I want a better life for you."

"I want the same for you," Kit told him. "Let's go get your life back."

"Is this it?" David asked as he looked at the file cabinet. It was a full drawer of over 100 people killed by Lucas McCain in self-defense in the town. Every case was closed, but kept records on them just in case someone came around causing trouble for Lucas.

"Everyone killed by Lucas McCain in this town over the last four years," Micah said. "Why?"

"I think someone took Mark for revenge," David told him. "I mean to deduce who, even it takes me a year. I know my buddy is in trouble and I won't rest until I figure where he is."

"There you are," Lucas said as he came into the office as David looked at Micah.

"Not a word to Lucas, this is something I have to do," David whispered to him. "Yeah, Mr. McCain, I'm almost ready to go home."

"There's something I want to talk to you about first," Lucas said. "I just got back from seeing the Widow Chase. She'll agree to it."

"Ma?" David asked. "What's going on? Is she okay?"

"Yeah," Lucas told him. 'Everything's great, depending on how you feel about what I'm about to ask."