Chapter Two

Previously;

By the time they had parked the wagon and put the horses under the lean -to that was attached to the line shack, it had started to rain steadily-though it didn't down right pour until they were inside and had Nick resting on the 'couch'.

"Until we take the time to properly fix that door-the wind will only blow the door open again.' Nick looked at the door Leah had shut once he was on the couch. Since the door had been wide open when they arrived - Mr. Miller had no reason to doubt the words Nick spoke. The gentleman hurried and lowered the wooden handle that was used to lock the door.

Nick sat on the cot that set next to the wall and watched…and winced…as Fen looked at Nick's ankle again. "All right, I'm a veterinarian only I have-when circumstances demanded it-helped people out as well. Probably could actually be a full -time doctor of both if I'd take a few tests and stay in one place longer than five years' had been the man's exact words before he'd started looking. "Well, count yourself blessed, Mr. Barkley." Fen started wrapping Nick's ankle/foot with some bandages he'd grabbed out of the wagon just before they'd headed for the shelter of the line shack. "It looks like I was right when I told you it doesn't appear to be broken; however, it is badly sprained."

"The two of you can call me Nick." Nick told Fen even as Nick silently groaned. He knew from experience some sprains actually took longer to heal than a broken bone. He hoped Heath, McColl and the ranch hands working for the family wouldn't mind the extra load they were sure to pick up because of this accident- blasted squirrels! Why did they have to run so close to Coco in the first place? However, any thoughts about workloads, squirrels and Coco fled once Fen finished wrapped Nick's injured ankle, sat down in a nearby chair and began talking to the famous rancher.

"Well, Nick, once this rain stops, we have a problem." The serious look in Fen's eyes and the flat tone in his voice told how serious he was.

"And that is?" Nick asked. He kept one eye on Fen and one on Leah; the woman was cooking some canned beans she'd grabbed out of their wagon when they first arrived on a small wood stove. The previous owner had left it behind, a choice none of them were arguing with at the moment. The fact that she stiffened slightly when her uncle spoke made Nick's curiosity raise.

Fen didn't reply at first, his eyes betraying just how much of a struggle he was having. Just as Nick opened his mouth to press the issue, Fen let out a long, very frustrated, sigh. "When you saw us approaching, did you notice that-while the horses were not at a full gallop - they were traveling a bit faster than any animal pulling a wagon would?

Nick frowned slightly as he thought about it. He had to admit he had noticed that only, due to his situation, he'd figured the stranger was simply doing his best to get to Nick. He nodded slightly. "I saw that. What's wrong? Is someone chasing you?" He didn't like that idea. There was a good aura around both 'Fen' and his niece. Nick didn't like the idea that anyone might be after them.

"No." Fen stretched out his legs, crossing his ankles as he did so. "Only we have to get to Modesto – and it would have been better if we'd gotten there yesterday. Once this rainstorm is over, it's imperative we go straight there. On the way here you commented it's still a number of miles to your ranch…and that you have to turn onto a road leading south to get to it. On top of that, you commented that once we reach your ranch-we'd have a number of more miles to travel to get to your house." His eyes asked Nick if he could see the dilemma Fen had on his hands.

"There's no dilemma." Nick looked towards the window; rain was still coming down rather hard. "I'm sure my horse made it back to the house. Once this rain is over, my brothers and some of our ranch hands will be out looking for me. We're bound to cross paths with one of them.

"And if we don't?" Leah spoke up as she moved the pan from the stone onto a small rag she'd placed on the table. She didn't like the idea of any family being sick with worry when it came to the whereabouts of their loved ones.

"Then I'll send a telegram from Modesto." Nick looked at her and then turned his attention to Fen. "Only, if you don't mind, I'd like to know what's so urgent." Nick was surprised when a look of great concern appeared on Leah's face. However, before she had time to say anything; her uncle told her to leave it to him.

Fen stood up and walked over to the window. Inwardly he sighed again. "I'm not really sure." He finally turned away from the window and, reaching into the inside `pocket of his suit coat, pulled out a small yellow piece of paper. No one had to tell Nick it was a telegram. Fen unfolded the paper and, walking back over to Nick, handed the Stockton rancher the message. "It's from my nephew."

Nick took it and read. Arrived in Modesto Fen. STOP Sun going down. STOP It was signed Carl.

Nick handed the paper back to Fen, puzzled. "That has you trying to get to Modesto as fast as you can?"

"Carl might as well be kin to me. His parents lived next door to me when he was born. He practically lived in my house and calls me 'Uncle'. He knew if there was a problem he could come straight to me. When his family moved, I told him if there was any situation where he needed help to send me word. I stressed that if the situation was extremely urgent to send a telegram that left off the title of Uncle off and that had that phrase-Sun going down' in it." Fen put the paper back into his suit pocket. "Whatever is going on has to be dire. I have to get there as soon as I can. You see –" Fen closed his eyes and bit his lower lip, the fact that he was having a hard time finishing was crystal clear.

Seeing her uncle's struggle, Leah spoke up. "Nick, my 'cousin' is one very responsible, mature, twelve-year-old boy. He wouldn't send that message as a joke."

Nick's eyes widened even as his heart skipped a beat. "As I said, you have no dilemma." He spoke with a tone that screamed he was serious. "Once this storm is over, we head to Modesto without a second thought."

A/N Who I made Leah a twin to comes out in the next chapter. My apologizies to any who read Chapter One before I took the author's note off. I was shaking my head when i realized I was putting a conversation from one episode into the one I really had in mind.