Luke stood back, observing Van Allen from his head to his feet. "I think that'll do just fine."

Van Allen smiled. "I say, Lucas, it's most kind of you to help me outfit myself and Rick more appropriately." He looked at himself in the mirror, admiring the new jeans and corduroy shirt and boots. "I should have a hat."

"Got one right here." Luke put a Stetson on Van Allen's head. "Nobody will look twice at you now."

"I never thought about our attire," said Van Allen ruefully. "It seems inevitable that Rick and I would attract ruffians."

Luke chuckled. "Alfred, if I had a dollar for every time I've looked back and seen how I should have done things differently, I'd have enough money to buy North Fork."

The two men walked out of the store and over to the waiting stagecoach. Van Allen looked around the town, smiling. "I have been in much larger communities, Lucas, but never in one where I met a better friend. I can never thank you enough."

"I'm the one who should be thanking you. You and Rick didn't need to testify against those men but what you said in court added ten years to their sentence."

"Oh, there was no holding Rick back," said Van Allen. "He was most determined to tell what happened. I'm sure by the time we return home, he will have embellished the story to the point that no one involved would recognize it."

Luke laughed. "I won't forget how you were willing to pay the ransom for Mark." Van Allen waved his hand and Luke went on. "There'll always be a place for you and Rick at our ranch."

"And for you and Mark should you ever visit New York City."

Luke pushed his hat back on his head. "I may have to take you up on that offer, Alfred. It looks like our boys have taken quite a liking to each other."

The two fathers contemplated Mark and Rick as they walked down the street, Rick dressed like his father and Mark in a new necktie.

"Are you sure I have this right?" Mark pulled at the tie.

"It's perfect." Rick made a minute adjustment.

"Are you sure you want to give me your school tie?"

"Oh, I have several. We're required to wear them."

"Well, I'll save this one for Sunday."

"Mark! Rick!" Luke called. "Come on! The stage is ready to go!"

The boys ran up to the stagecoach and Rick climbed in, followed by his father. The boy put his head out the window. "Now don't forget, Mark. On the first day of every month, you write to me."

"I will. And you write on the fifteenth."

"I shall not fail." Rick's head was replaced by his father's as Alfred stuck his hand out the window.

"Lucas, think about what I said."

They shook hands. "I will, Alfred. Have a safe trip."

The stage drove off and Mark looked up at his father. "Pa, what are you supposed to think about?"

"Mr Van Allen invited us to visit when he gets back to New York." Luke studied his son. "What do you think?"

Mark frowned thoughtfully. "We'd be gone a long time. Who would take care of the stock?"

"That is a problem," Luke said seriously. "It's one thing for neighbors to help out for a little while. A trip to New York could take months. You could go by yourself, if you wanted to."

"And leave you to manage all alone?"

Luke was exasperated. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of our home on my own!"

"I know, Pa." Mark grinned. "I just wouldn't like to be away from you that long. Couldn't we invite them to stay with us for a spell?"

"I already did." Luke smiled. "I just hope if they do come to visit, it won't be as exciting as this time."

Mark smiled back. "Why, Pa, what could go wrong if Rick and me got together again?"