Chapter 2

Chris sat behind Angela perched up on Princess as the pony plodded along. They had lapsed into silence as night began to fall on them. Both were having second thoughts about the decision they had made to leave home but neither was ready to admit it.

"Do you know where we are going Angela?" Chris asked.

"Um hmm," she shook her head yes. "There is a cabin and we can live there forever," she began to explain. "My Dad showed it to me."

"Won't he come looking for us there?" Chris asked.

"No I heard him tell my Mom he had forgot it was there."

"I'm getting awful hungry Angela we should have waited until after dinner to run away," Chris complained.

"I brought food Chris and as soon as we get to the cabin I'll share it with you," Angela promised urging the pony to pick up the pace a little.

The children became silent again; Princess neighed softly as she plodded on. Angela shivered and Chris pulled himself a little closer to his friend with each little night noise they heard. Finally the trees began to thin and they came upon the clearing where the cabin stood.

There was an old beat up car standing out front and lights glowed from the windows.

"I thought you said nobody lived here and we could stay here forever," Chris questioned Angela.

"Nobody does Dad told me so," Angela insisted.

"Then who is here?" Chris asked.

"Maybe somebody else who needs a place to stay," Angela guessed sliding down off Princess and heading for the door.

"Angela wait," Chris called sliding off the pony as well and following her to the little porch on the front of the cabin. "Angela," he hissed grabbing her arm.

"What?"

"We don't even know who is in there," he tried to tell her.

"So we need a place to stay and I'm hungry," she argued rapping on the door.

Chris grabbed her arm again pulling her with him as he jumped from the side of the porch and hid behind the side of the cabin.

"What's the matter with you?" Angela squawked out.

"Shh," Chris replied just as the door opened.

"Who's out here?" demanded Dale Fraser as he stood in the doorway gun drawn.

"What is it?" came a voice from inside.

"I don't know but someone is here there is a horse out here," Fraser answered.

Both children's eyes fixed on the gun. Their parents being who they were Angela and Chris knew they had to get out of there and fast. Taking hold of Angela's hand Chris turned to run coming face to face with Brent Westman.

"Kids Dale," he shouted, "It's kids."

Fraser was jumping off the porch now to where they were Westman had cornered Angela and Chris.

"You better leave us alone our parents…" Angela started to say as Chris cut her off.

"Are looking for us," he finished for her.

"Well they are going to have a long look," Brent sneered grabbing hold of Chris' shoulder as Fraser followed suit taking hold of Angela dragging the pair into the cabin.

~~~~~

It didn't take Walker long to pick up the trail but the worry for the children was very evident. Walker rode lead with Alex by his side; Gage and Sydney came next followed by Trivette. They all rode in silence all keeping to their own thoughts.

Sydney stole a side ways glance at her husband she could tell he was shouldering the blame for what had happened.

"Gage," she murmured to her husband stretching her hand out towards him.

He took hold of her hand telling her, "I'm sorry Syd."

"This isn't your fault it isn't anyone's fault."

"If I'd been more patient, if I'd taken the time…"

"Gage stop it, you're a great Dad," Syd cut in.

"Sure that's why our son ran away."

"With our daughter who was trying to get away from me," Alex said turning in her saddle joining the conversation.

"Alex," Walker interrupted.

"It's true Walker and you know it," Alex declared tears springing to her eyes.

"Alex," Walker spoke more gently now, "We are going to find them and we are going to make sure this doesn't happen again." He reached out to his wife wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

"Guys," Trivette began, "We haven't time for this right now it's getting dark. You can figure this all out once we get them home."

"You're right Jimmy," Alex nodded wanting nothing more then to put her arms around Angela and hold her tight.

Their attention was suddenly drawn by the soft whinny of a horse; everyone's head turning to the direction the sound came from. Walker urged his horse forward the rest following he knew it had to be Princess. He was right it was his daughter's pony she stood very docile in the thicket of woods her mistress and her companion nowhere to be seen.

Seeing Princess Alex began calling repeatedly for her daughter as Sydney did for her son neither Mother getting an answer. Alex was crying again and Walker had taken her in his arms. Sydney had walked to stand off by herself, she rubbed her hands up and down over her arms the night air chilling her. She could see Chris' little face in front of her as she choked back her tears wondering how she could have missed the fact he was so unhappy. Her eyes closed with the touch of her husband's hand on her shoulder turning she was in his arms.

"I want him back Gage," she softly whispered, "I just want him back."

Gage stood silently for a moment blinking back his own tears before he could get out, "That's all I want too Honey, a second chance to do things right. I…" His voice failed him and he held Syd tighter.

"We have to get more help out here." Walker was taking control of the situation again. "Trivette can you look after that."

"Sure what are you going to be doing?"

"Searching," he simply answered.

"Walker you can't see anything out here its too dark," Trivette pointed out knowing that none of them would be going home without the children. "All right, all right it's looked after I'll have everyone here by daylight," he agreed mounting his horse and heading for the ranch house.

~~~~~

Piper sat on the top step of the porch her eyes fixed on the spot she had last seen her Mom and Dad as they headed out in search of her brother. Uncle Jimmy had set her down right here and called for her Mom and Aunt Alex. They had all hurried off down to the barn leaving her and Marcus with Aunt Erica.

Piper had only left her post once when aunt Erica had made them eat dinner but as soon as she was finished she went right back out to take up her position. Erica had gone to put Torrie into her pyjamas and Marcus had gone out to sit beside his friend.

"I should have told," Piper exclaimed as Marcus dropped down beside her.

"Yeah but we promised," Marcus reminded her.

"But it was a dumb promise Marcus," she told him frustrated with herself and him a like.

"I guess you're right Piper," Marcus sympathized with her.

"I just never make the right choice," Piper continued. "Mom says I'm like Daddy I think too much with my heart and not with my head."

"What's that pose ta mean?" Marcus questioned.

"I don't know but Daddy and I do it all the time," she said emphasizing the last of the statement. "I just wish they would all come home."

"Me too," Marcus agreed putting his arm around her little shoulder.