Nick quickly caught up with Ethan, or Joe, as that was his real name, near the river bank and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. Joe turned with a look of fear on his face and pulled away. Backing up, he said, "Why did you follow me?"

Nick put his hands up. "I'm not going to hurt you. I followed you 'cause I can't let you, well, escape."

Joe looked away. "Why not? No one would know. You could just say you couldn't find me."

Nick sighed. "I wish there was some way out of it, but I can't just let you go. You know I can't."

Joe stepped closer. "Then I gotta do what I gotta do." And with that, he quickly gave Nick a shove. Nick was standing right next to the river and, thrown off balance, fell in. Joe took off running and Nick got up as fast as he was able and started after him. However, the air was cold and it began to snow, so Nick's wet clothing began to freeze and he was soon so stiff with cold that he couldn't run any longer. He stopped and watched Joe run off out of sight. Then he turned and began slowly to make his way back to Plumfield as the early winter darkness began to fall.

....................

Meanwhile, Jo had been attempting to answer the boys' questions. She at first tried to put them off, then, realizing that they would learn the truth sometime, told them what had happened. It hit them hard. None of them had particularly cared for Joe, but they had never suspected something like this. Nat and Emil seemed particularly shocked, while Dan seemed more disturbed by the news. He returned a little while after Jo had sent the boys away,.

"Mrs. Jo?" he said.

Jo looked up. "Yes, Dan. What is it?" she asked, holding out her hand for him to join her. He stepped forward and began to speak hesitantly. "Well, you know how Ethan, Joe always seemed a bit familiar to me?"

Jo nodded.

"Well, I think I remember where I saw him."

Jo raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

Dan nodded. "Yeah. It was before I came here, in Boston. I was out one night and I met this kid coming out of an alley

"And?" Prompted Jo.

"And it was Joe. I only saw him for a second, but I remember his face because," He took a deep breath. "Because of what happened. A house had been set on fire and they didn't know who did it. That alley he came out of was right next to this house and I saw him right before the fire was found out."

"What did you do?" Jo asked, a bit unsettled at this piece of unexpected news.

"I helped put out the fire." He said simply. "The whole house and everything was burned, along with three other buildings. Two men died. One had a wife and three kids. I remember the mother holding her baby and crying because she didn't know what they would do now, or why anyone would do something like that. I've never forgotten her standing there in the street, just crying. The police looked for the guy who set the fire, but, I don't know if they ever found him." He looked down. "It made me mad. That lady reminded me of my ma, after my father died. I'd never want someone else to have to suffer like that. I always kinda wished I could catch up with the guy that set that fire..." He trailed off. "I guess I don't know for sure that it was him, but it was bothering me pretty bad."

Jo sat quietly for a moment, taking it all in. "It doesn't look good for him."

Dan nodded. "Yeah, I mean, I didn't want to tell, 'cause I don't want to get him in any more trouble than he's already in, but, I had to get it off my chest, just tell someone."

Jo smiled. "You were right to tell me, Dan. You know you can tell me anything. Now, you should go do your chores."

Dan gave a half-grin and left the room. He had been struggling with anger over this and it felt good to tell someone, even if he was wrong.

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Nick stumbled through the woods. It was getting hard to walk and he had already fallen several times. "Gotta make a fire." he mumbled through stiff lips, but found that his hands were too numb to do anything, so he faltered on. He was tired, so tired. He just wanted to sit down and rest. He fell again. It was torture to get up, but he did, and kept moving. There was a log in the way. He tried to step over it, but fell again, and this time, didn't get up. It felt so good to lie down and he was feeling warmer now. He felt himself drifting off, it would feel wonderful to just sleep for a while before going on.....

...................................................

Jo stood at the window, looking anxiously for Nick and Joe. It had been nearly three hours since Nick left and neither had returned. It was dark and snowing. Nan came and stood behind her.

"Mrs. Jo?"

Jo turned from the window and, seeing Nan, greeted her.

"Um, all of us were just wondering if Nick was back yet."

Jo shook her head. "No, he hasn't, and I'm beginning to worry."

"Do you want us to search for him, Mrs. Jo?" This came from the doorway where Dan now stood, with the rest of the children in the hall behind him.

"Yes, I think we should." Jo said, after taking one more glance out the window. "Not all of you, just Dan, Franz, Emil, Jack and I. Asia will stay with the rest of you and give you dinner."

Several of the boys were disappointed, but Jo's firm tone told them that she would not changer her mind, so they submitted unwillingly and went to the kitchen for dinner. The searchers donned warm clothing and, after lighting lanterns, headed out into the snow that was quickly becoming a blizzard.

..........................

Joe stopped running, realizing that he was no longer being pursued. Looking around, he saw the snow falling heavier now and decided that he had better head for shelter. He made his way through the woods and soon happened upon a small deserted cabin. Stepping inside, he found it completely empty. He was afraid that to make a fire might bring searchers down on him, so he simply gathered some pine boughs and made himself a bed. Curling up, he closed his eyes as the memories began pouring in in the quiet and lonesomeness of the cabin.

It was April and he was nine years old. Dad had just returned from another of his trips. Joe was cowering under the table, trying to hide from his father, who was occupied knocking around Joe's older brother Richard. Richard was stumbling as his father pursued him about the room, hitting and throwing as he went. Dad's fist struck out, catching Richard on the chin. Richard fell and hit his head on the corner of the cast iron stove. He rolled to the floor, unconscious.

Dad turned to Joe and pulled him from under the table. Cuffing him, he yelled and ranted and raved and finally threw him against the door. Then Dad picked up an overturned chair, and, seating himself at the table, proceeded to pour himself a drink from an already half empty bottle.

Joe didn't dare to move from where he had landed until Dad had fallen asleep. Then he crawled over to Richard, who still lay motionless on the floor. His older brother didn't stir as Joe nudged him and even called to him. In fact, Richard never spoke, walked, or lived, again.

Joe waked abruptly, panting from the nightmare. He wondered what had woken him up. Then he heard the voices outside.

"Hey, there's a cabin! Let's camp out there." he heard someone shout. The wind had picked up considerably and all was dark outside. Seconds later, the door was opened and two people shoved their way inside and shut it behind them. One of them held an unlit lantern, and he pulled out a match to light it. The light of the match faintly illuminated the interior of the cabin and Dan and Emil were shocked to see Joe lying on the floor in a bed of pine branches, staring up at them with a shocked, scared, and slightly angry look on his face.

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Wow, that was long. Okay peoples, please review and also let me know if you have any ideas!