She gave him a curious look and followed him.

He led her to a seemingly abandoned warehouse and knocked on the door.

After a moment, Duchess opened the door. "What do you want now, Wayne? And who's the skirt?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I need another favor, Duch..."

"That makes what... two now?" She folded her arms over her chest. "I'm not accustomed to just dealing out favors.

He sighed. "How much do you want?"

She thought for a moment. "How much do you got?"

"Look...I just need a place for Misha to stay tonight...now let's haggle. How much do you want?"

"Three dollars."

He nodded and spit in his hand. Misha looked on curiously. Duchess hesitated only a moment before spitting in her hand and shaking his. "Thanks, Duch."

"Are ya gonna tell me who your friend is...and why you want me to let her stay here?"

"Right... this is Misha."

Misha nodded politely.

"And... why is she here?" Duchess asked.

"That's client privacy."

"Can't you just give me a general idea..."

"Some one wants her dead."

Duchess nodded. "Come on in and find her some corner to sleep in...I have work to do."

"You and me both," he said, heading inside with Misha.

"Is she a friend of yours?" Misha asked, glancing over her shoulder at Duchess.

"Eh... not quite."

"I don't understand..."

"We are... acquaintances... We don't necessarily like one another, but we can tolerate each other."

Misha nodded uncertainly.

Sippi smiled. "Don't worry, you'll be safe here."

"And the other place?"

"You'll be quite safe there. It's not even in the city."

She nodded again and cast a glance at the empty cot they had found.

"You can probably sleep here." He pointed to the cot. "I'll be back early morning to get you."

"Goodnight, Beau," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

He smiled. "Goodnight Misha."

~*~

Spot woke early the next morning to a frantic knocking on the front door. Rubbing his eyes he stumbled to the door and opened it, to find the boy from the telegraph office.

"Hello Mr. Conlon," said the boy in a tone of familiarity.

"Hello Collin. Another telegram?" he asked, smothering a yawn.

"Yes sir...I'm supposed to wait for a reply," he said, handing Spot the telegram.

He skimmed the telegram and smirked. "I should have known. Would you like to come in for some milk and biscuits? I need to talk this over with my wife."

Collin hesitated a moment.

"I don't eat little kids," Spot said dryly

He turned a faint shade of pink and entered the house.

After leaving Collin in the kitchen with a plate of food, Spot went to wake up Rae.

As usual, she groaned and muttered about being woken up. "We got a telegram from Sippi, sweetheart," he said, pushing the hair from her face.

"Again?" she mumbled.

"He needs our help..."

"Again?" she repeated.

"It's the least we could do, Rae...he found Robert and he's still looking for Lizzy..."

"I know," Rae said with a yawn. "We just get a telegram from him nearly every other day." Slowly, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What did he need this time?"

He decided not to comment on the fact that this was actually the first telegram that Sippi had sent them and she was the one who offered to bring Marty here. "He wants to send someone out here to stay for a week or two...at least until it's safe for her to go back to New York."

She yawned again. "Who?" she asked curiously.

"He doesn't say...but he did say that he needs an answer right away."

After a moment, she nodded. "I'm okay with it if you are."

He kissed her forehead. "I thought that's what you would say. I'll go tell Collin to send the reply."

She laughed a little. "Well if you knew I was going to say it, why did you wake me!"

"I wouldn't dare risk your wrath by agreeing to something like this without asking you first."

Again, she laughed a little. "I suppose that's wise."

He kissed her forehead again and left the room to go find Collin. "Our reply is to send her on her way," he told the boy.

"Thanks for breakfast, Mr. Conlon," the boy called as he ran out the door.

He smiled and waved. "No problem!"

~*~

Sippi waited in his office for a reply from Spot before going to get Misha from Duch's hideout. After an hour or so of waiting, there was a knock at his door. "Come in."

"Telegram," the office boy said.

He smiled, taking it. "Thanks."

He tossed the boy a coin and quickly read the telegram. Grinning, he grabbed his coat and headed toward the stairs as quickly as he could. He moved quickly to Duchess' warehouse.

Duchess answered the door when he knocked. "Are you taking her then?" she asked.

He nodded. "Sorry to have inconvenienced you."

As he walked past her, she stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Did you find the other Conlon baby?"

After a moment, he nodded.

Her gaze softened slightly. "Is she...alright?"

"She's very sick."

"She's not going to...die...is she?"

"I honestly don't know."

Duchess nodded and moved her hand. "Your friend has been sitting on that cot where you left her."

"Did she sleep at all?"

"Not much. I think she's scared of my goons."

He smirked. "Aren't we all."

"Get her out of here so she can get some sleep."

"Aye aye."

He walked further into the warehouse. "I've got a place for you to hide, Misha." She nodded quickly and stood up. Once outside he noticed that she was shivering. He took off his coat and slipped it around her shoulders. "I have a stop to make before I can put you on the train."

She gave him a curious look. "Okay."

He stopped and turned her to face him. "It is very important that you not tell the couple that you are going to stay with what you see at this house."

She tilted her head to the side. "Why?"

"Two of their children were kidnapped. I have found both of them...but their daughter is very sick..."

"But... is this a good idea?" she asked carefully. "What will you say if the daughter dies?"

"I would like nothing more than to tell them...but the doctor feels that it would be best for them not to know. He doesn't know what is wrong with the baby and he doesn't want the other children exposed."

She nodded vaguely.

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I trust this doctor. He'll have the baby feeling better in a few days and I'll be able to take her home to her parents."

"Okay..." She glanced around warily and followed him close.

"Will you be alright on the train by yourself? I'll send Spot a wire and ask him to meet you at the Pleasant Valley station."

"You won't be coming?"

"I have too much work to do. And with luck I'll be coming in a few days to bring Lizzy home."

Her brow furrowed a bit, but she nodded. "Okay."

"I wish I could come, Misha. I really do."

"It is okay," she said with a smile. "Let us find this baby."

They walked to the Webster mansion and the butler let them into the house. "Any change?" Sippi asked.

The man shook his head. "Not that I know of."

"May I go up and see her?"

He nodded. "The doctor is up there now. He may have better news than I can provide."

"Thank you," Sippi said, leading Misha up the stairs and down the hall. Misha glanced around curiously as they went, but was very careful not to mess anything up. Sippi opened a door and they walked in. China was sitting in the rocking chair holding Lizzy who was fussing. "How is she?" he asked, walking over to them.

"About the same," China said, trying to calm Lizzy.

"May I?" Sippi asked.

After a moment, she nodded.

He gently took Lizzy in his arms and began to whisper soothing words to her. She whimpered and fussed, grasping his shirt in her tiny fist. He pressed a kiss to her fevered forehead. "Shh..." Very slowly, she stopped.

He glanced across the room at Misha, who was smiling softly at him. For some reason, he felt a slight blush creep into his cheeks as he smiled back at her. At last Lizzy fell into an exhausted sleep.

"There you go," he said, giving her back to China.

"Thanks. She fussed most of the night."

"Not a problem," Sippi said with a shrug.

He ran his hand over Lizzy's short silken curls, before walking back over to Misha. "Well, are you ready to go?"

She nodded, blushing.

He looked back at China. "Keep me updated."

"We will."

Gently taking Misha's arm, he led her from the room.

"Do you think she'll get better?" Misha asked softly as they walked to the train station.

"I hope so..." he said quietly.

She gently placed her hand on his arm.

He smiled a little and opened his mouth to say something, but they had arrived at the station. "Well, we're here," he said loudly over the train whistle.

"Someone will meet me?"

He nodded. "Yes. He'll have a badly scarred face, but don't worry, he won't hurt you."

She nodded and cast a glance at the train as he tucked her ticket into her hand. She looked back up at him for a moment, before leaning up on her toes and kissing his cheek.

Sippi smiled a bit and took her hands. "Be careful. And have a good time. I should be around in a few days to check out the situation."

She nodded. "Goodbye Beau."

"Bye Misha." He smiled again, and waved as she boarded the train.

She found a seat and looked out the window at him.

Sippi stood there watching as the train pulled out, waving.

~*~

Misha hesitantly stepped from the train and looked around the small station. Bodies bustled everywhere around her, so certain of where they were going and she clutched her carpetbag nervously. She'd never traveled in a new place alone before...

She glanced around, looking for the man that Beau had described. She frowned slightly. How was she going to find anyone in this crowd? Carefully, she weeded her way out and stood near a bench.

The crowd soon thinned and it looked as if they had forgotten to meet her. With a sigh, she sat down on the bench. It was just her luck...

At long last a man appeared in the doorway, but with the sun behind him she couldn't see his face. "Are you the man that is supposed to meet me?" she asked, hesitantly.

"I think so. Are you Misha Stravnova?"

"Yes," she replied with a nod.

The man approached her with his hand out. "Then I guess I am that man. I'm Spot Conlon."

She lightly placed her hand in his. "Misha."

"Pleasure meeting you. Sorry I'm late."

"It's alright," she said, standing and grabbing her bag.

"So, Sippi tells me you're in the ballet?"

She nodded.

He smiled a bit. "We have a couple of young girls back at home. I have a feeling they will worship you."

She smiled back at him. "It is that way back in Russia."

He laughed. He took her bag and led her out to the wagon that he had recently purchased.

He helped her up and then skirted around the other side and got in the wagon as well. "It might be a bit of a bumpy ride," he said.

She nodded. "Beau didn't tell me anything about your family."

"It's very large and very odd." He smiled. "What do you want to know?"

"Well...how about names...and ages..."

"Let's see...There's Chris...he's almost 18...then Ann and Andy...they're 10...Marty is almost 10...Sam is 4...and the triplets are only about 4 months old..."

"18? I did not think you were that old."

He laughed. "Chris isn't ours...I guess he's more like a younger brother..."

"I... I'm not sure I understand.

"He's not blood family...just...adopted, kinda...."

"Americans say 'kinda' often..."

"I never thought about it before..."

She smiled. "You do not always know how you are, until someone not from here points it out."

He nodded.

She glanced around as they traveled down a semi-secluded road.

"Did Sippi say how long you would need to hide out here?"

She shook her head. "Not that I can remember."

"Well...you are welcome to stay as long as you need to stay...we have a large house."

She smiled. "Yes, he told me that."

He pulled off the road and through an ancient, rusty gateway.

"This... is your house?" Misha asked, eyes wide, as they pulled out in front of the house.

"This is it."

She murmured a few things in Russian as she admired the house.

As he climbed down from the wagon a woman came out onto the porch with a baby perched on her hip and a little boy clinging to her skirts.

Spot went around and helped Misha down and then lead her over to the woman. "Misha, this is my wife, Rae. Rae, this is Misha."

"Welcome to our house, Misha," Rae said, shifting the baby.

She nodded. "Thank you for housing me."

"You're very welcome. Come on inside and I'll show you to your room." She attempted to turn and walk into the house, but the boy clinging to her skirts caused her to stumble.

She regained footing and looked down. "What is it, Sammy?"

He looked at Misha and then hid his face in Rae's skirt.

"What's the matter, sweetie?"

"I think he is not sure about me," Misha said.

Rae smiled a little and crouched next to Sam. "It's okay, Sam. You don't need to be afraid." He wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his face in her shoulder. "Sorry about him. Come on in."

Spot walked onto the porch and pried Sam's arms from around Rae's neck. "Come help me with the horses, buddy."

"Kay..." he said in a quite little voice.

Shaking her head, Rae led Misha into the house. "He's normally not this shy."

"It is all right," she said.

"I thought you might not like all the noise that the kids make, so I fixed up a room for you on the third floor."

Misha smiled. "I am used to noise. Ballerinas can be very noisy."

"Well there is a lot of noise around here."

"I had a big family in Russia."

Rae smiled. "Rest up for a while...Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Rae said as they walked up the stairs and past the playroom where Ann, Andy, Marty and Ginny were making a great deal of noise. "You four quiet down a bit, all right? We have a guest who's trying to rest."

"But Momma," Ann protested. "Andy's being mean!"

"Andy..." she said in a warning tone.

"What?"

"We've talked about you're behavior young man."

Grumbling he got up and walked to the other side of the room. He plopped down on the window seat in a huff and stared out the window.

"You girls better not be picking on him either."

Marty flushed and quickly looked away.