The weather is starting to get colder, and before we all know it time for the cows to come home, Duck is does not believe he had not contributed to the homestead, Nia is worried for her friend. Plus, talks of keeping watch for fires close to the homestead under control. Let us see how things come out shall we.

If you ever watched Alaska the last frontier then you will likely to know what they faced to make things work for them where they live.

I do not own any part of Thomas and Friends, they are owned by the Following.

Thomas & Friends

By the Rev W Awdry

Created by Britt Alcroft

Owned by Mattel

Other Characters owned by Pinkninjaprime and blackboard26

Bring the cows home

Ever since Thomas, his friends and sister Ariel become human since the beginning of the previous summer, they all had a hand in contributing a part of the homestead since it had been owned by Thomas and Rosie. Thomas and Rosie with the help of Sir Topham Hat had bought up the property for their own when they were the first to become humanized from their engine forms. Other engines had also become human sometime after that point. Henry and Emily, then Edward, Gordon and James followed afterwards. After a few weeks Toby Mavis, Percy, Rebecca and Thomas's last sister Ariel came in one swoop then soon all the friends needed to find homes and Thomas and Rosie had the room at the time. Then Molly. Jessica James's twin sister, and her lover Jasper become human after that, then after the arrival of the Flying Scotsman revealed the human version while the real engine remained on the tracks. Finally the Little Western Engines had become human as well for two former Great Race Engines Gina from Italy and Ashima from India became Human just before Thomas, Rosie, Duck, Oliver, Ariel and unexpectedly Bill, Ben, Edward, and Bo Co gone around the world trip escorting two race car teams to their races across the globe Ace Ferrari, and Murry Cougar, and ended up bringing back another Humanized human from engine form Nia from Kenya just before Thomas and his Friends plus sister ever managed their first day of high school in Northwestern High School. Thomas and the others know they need to play their part in contributing their efforts to help Thomas and Rosie since they owned the property, and since then developed the area and homestead for their needs and likings. Thomas Rosie and Ariel live in the main log home on the property, Gordon, Rebecca and Scott live in the up graded guest cabin so they can now include Ryan who just recently become human, Henry, and Emily live in a home of their own, after it was offered to them by Farmer Mc Call before the house they have could be moved to the homestead. Toby and Mavis share a space in the dormers, as do Percy and Polly (Lady), James and Molly, Jessica and Jasper, Duck has a room to himself as does Nia, Oliver, Donald, Douglas, Caitlin and Connor. Everyone gave a hand in providing either an income or provide some hands on the homestead while Thomas, Rosie, Edward, Henry, Gordon, and James spends their afternoon working in the shunting yards, Maintain the station or in the case of James who is now starting out as a Porter after Gordon and Henry finally earned their place as firemen on the shunting tank engines. Thomas and Rosie still work in their engine selves while, Edward works on his engine side, but on short trips since he is still under 18 and cannot venture down the line without permission. Gordon works on Stanley while Henry now starts working on Oliver's engine side while Oliver himself does not mind since he is aged 14 and not yet old enough to work in the yards until he reaches 15.

The other humanized engines like Percy, Emily, Molly, Rebecca, Polly, Toby, Ariel, Jessica Jasper, Mavis, Scott, Connor and Caitlin do their part in helping provide much needed resources such as cutting logs into lumber and firewood, feed the growing number of animals present on the homestead, such as the chickens in the chicken coops, one side for egg layers and the others for brooding hens and roosters for future ways to produce meat on the homestead, they also have a good number of horses that Thomas and the others do have both for leisure and for work on the homestead. Both Toby and Percy especially use their horses Peanut and Molasses for range riding into the feeding fields where Thomas and Rosie keep their beef cattle until their need to come home and from the looks of the season that day is coming soon. Oliver decided to come up with something new, he along with Thomas, Rosie, Ariel, Gordon, Edward, and finally Donald and Douglas had become the Homestead's Hunting Club on Sodor, decided to find an alternative in trapping Sodor hare into another meat source, Oliver decided to look into raising Meat rabbits and Hares as another source of meat along with raising Pigs for a food supply as a consideration. While Oliver went over to the lumber yard of the homestead, picking his choice of lumber to build some mobile rabbit hutches as he was seen by Duck who wondered what his fellow great western engine friend could be up to.

Oliver. (To himself). "Yes, this could be good, and here is a start of my new project on the Homestead, hopefully we do not have to hunt for rabbits when we can raise them here on the homestead. One task we can cross off in the future." Then Duck came up to see what his friend is up to.

Duck. "Hello Oliver." Oliver turned around and sees Duck just behind him.

Oliver. "Oh, hello Duck did you need anything?"

Duck. "No not really what are you in to my friend?"

Oliver. "I was just researching for other ways to provide meat on a homestead, and I had thought about raising Meat Rabbits and Hares for our needs. So, I am looking for some lumber to build some rabbit hutches and Nesting boxes that can house mother rabbits to be just before they have their litters."

Duck. "Do you know how to raise rabbits or hares Oliver? Do you have any Idea of what to do as you are raising rabbits and hares for the dinner table?"

Oliver. "No not yet, but just like how Thomas and Rosie had learned how to take care of their animals from Farmer Mc Call, and Farmer Trotter. They had shown me how to raise rabbits and pigs as another meat source and other usage besides giving the homestead meat alone to use."

Duck. "Would you like some help in building the hutches and Nesting boxes for your rabbits?"

Oliver. "Sure, how about you help me select some 2 by 4 lumber, while I find some plywood and a screen mesh to house the rabbits. Farmer Mc Call said he will stop by and help me build the hutches and show me the common breeds of meat rabbits for us to raise on the homestead, So Shall we get started Duck?"

Duck was delighted to be useful on the homestead since he only works in the local market as a service clerk and was wanting a chance to provide something for the homestead. "Sure Oliver, where would you like for me to take this lumber to?"

Oliver. "Follow me and I shall show you Duck." Then he and Duck managed to bring the lumber close to the dormers just in front of Oliver's room where his side door faces the barnyard area of the homestead.

Duck. "Oh OK, so you can keep watch over your growing brood of rabbits from birth to dinner table am I right?"

Oliver. "Yes Duck, I plan to watch them from here to keep safe, and make sure no harm can come to them while they grow up into nice eating rabbits and after taking the hides off, we can use them to make gloves and hats out of them after soaking in some sort of solution to cure the hides."

Duck. "At lease you are contributing to the homestead, I wish that I can be that resourceful."

Oliver was confused. "What do you mean Duck? What makes you believe you are not resourceful?"

Duck had thought all the others had done to contribute to Thomas and Rosie since they offered their friends a place to stay, and many of them did something in return for their generosity. "Well you and the others had become a hunting Club and managed to bring a good source of deer meat back, Emily, Rebecca, Nia, Molly, Jessica, Jasper, Conner and Caitlin have contributed by offering their services such as gathering logs from the woods, caring for the animals raising, the crops into our well earned food stores, and Toby, Percy, Polly, and Mavis do their service by range riding on the feeding range of the homestead, and now you are starting to raise rabbits and hares for the homestead instead of trapping them in the dark and snowy landscapes around Sodor. However, I have not provided anything to the homestead that was considered a resource."

Oliver. "Non sense Duck, I am sure you are indeed contributing a part of your income on the homestead besides of Thomas, Rosie, Edward, Henry, Gordon, and James who work at the station, Donald and Douglas who work at the Movie complex at the shopping center, You on the other hand are working in the local markets as a service clerk to all paying customers, So do not believe you have not done something non resourceful." Duck was not too sure.

Duck. "I may be a bit silly, but sometimes I believe that I could do more for the homestead besides just another hand."

Oliver. "You are not just another hand Duck, you are helping out just as much as the rest of us are. Now come on you can at least help my haul this lumber to the workshops, so I can turn these pieces of lumber and mesh screening into rabbit hutches and nest boxes." That is what they did, Duck on the other hand was unconvinced about his so-called commitment on the homestead. That is when Nia had come over and wanted to be of some help with what the two are planning.

Nia. "Hello Duck, Hello Oliver, what are you doing with all of that stuff you are carrying?" Both Oliver and Duck turned around and seen Nia just behind them and was thanked for some extra help.

Oliver. "Oh, hello Nia, Duck and I was bringing this lumber and mesh netting to the workshops to make rabbit hutches and nest boxes to raise meat rabbits and local hare for our source of meat on the homestead. Do you want to give us a hand while we wait for Farmer Mc Call for his tips on raising rabbits?" Nia was delighted.

Nia. "I would like that very much Oliver, and how are you doing today duck?"

Duck who was still a bit lost about his commitments that he almost did not noticed Nia. "Oh, uh, hello Nia, I am just helping Oliver with his project, and what had brought you here?"

Nia. "I was done with my chores around the homestead for the day, since most of the foods have been stored away for the winter, I thought to look around to see who may need some help today and well here I am?"

Oliver. "Great then you and Duck can help me bring this lumber to the workshops, and when Farmer Mc Call comes over and brings me the information about which rabbits are best on a homestead like this then it is best to listen to those who know best."

It was at that moment the workers from the railway yards have arrived home and spotted Oliver Nia and Duck with an arm load of lumber heading to the workshops for some sort of project. Thomas in his Tacoma had arrived and stopped in front of his home, Gordon dropped of his passengers to their homes while he takes his F250 back home and decided to change his clothes and joined everyone else to see where the help will be needed the most. Thomas, Rosie, and Edward decided to join Oliver, Nia, and Duck at the workshops and waited with them for the arrival of farmer Mc Call.

Thomas. "Hello everyone, what is going on here?"

Oliver. "OH, we are just waiting for Farmer Mc Call to arrive to help me turn all of this into rabbit hutches and nesting boxes, so I can start raising rabbits as another food supply for us Thomas."

Edward. "Well that is a good Idea Oliver, and with the arrival of Ryan on the homestead any form of meat we can grow harvest and gather we can use on the homestead." That had brought Thomas into thought about the up coming cattle drive and soon it will time to ride up the range and help Toby, Percy, Polly and Mavis bring the beef cattle home for the winter. Rosie had noticed his expression and wanted to know what his thoughts were.

Rosie. "Thomas are you alright, what has got you lost in thought?"

Thomas. "I just realize that we need to start to bring the cattle home to the homestead, so tomorrow I believe you and I should help Toby, Percy, Polly and Mavis on the open range and help separate our herd and help bring them home."

Nia. "I thought you only had two heifers on the range Thomas, how big is your herd now?'

Rosie. "Our herd now consist of ten animals in the herd, we now have two bulls that are for breeding the cows when they are ready. And the rest besides the two we had in the beginning became eight cows some with young already and the two expecting mothers who are waiting for us to bring back tomorrow. The rest came from other farmers who decided it would be best to have some of their herds since we have plenty on this homestead to keep fed."

Oliver. "OH, now that was very kind of them, wouldn't say so Duck?" Duck after hearing all that made him feel more doubtful about himself ever more and decided to say nothing and walked away looking sad to the others.

Nia. "Is Duck going to be alright Oliver?"

Oliver. "He is alright, he is unsure about his commitment to making contribution to the homestead and after hearing from the two of you made him to believe he has not done enough."

Thomas. "What that is silly, of course he had made some commitments, like back in the summer when I had taken my boat out for the first time and we all went fishing in it for the first time. And he was the one of the few who had suggested me to take Ace and that scum Murry to their ports when they were racing around the world and because of that we managed to find Nia and brought her and her engine side to work on the railway while she herself attends high school with us. I believe that say something about his commitments to us and the homestead."

Oliver. "I know he is just not too sure about himself right now." Nia felt sorry for her friend and stared to look for him and hopes to make Duck feel better.

Nia. "I am going to look for Duck, I think he needs some cheering up, let me know if Farmer Mc Call has arrived yet to explain about raising and caring for rabbits. I will be back." Then she heads off to find Duck and shouts his name out until she hears him answer back. "Duck?! Duck! Where are you?" Then she stops and smelled something not right. "That smells like smoke but where is that coming from?" Then she follows the smell down the pathway to the lagoon area. She kept following it until she can see a pile of ashes smoldering near what is considered a coal seam and decided to hurry back to the workshops and decided to get help to put the fire out. Farmer Mc Call had just arrived when Nia shouted out. "Thomas Rosie there is a fire near the coal shelf down by the Lagoon area!"

Thomas. "Nia are you sure?!"

Nia. "Yes, I was looking for duck when I had noticed a smell of smoke then I followed it to a pile of ashes where it was near a coal seam."

That had everyone in the workshop alarmed about a fire near a coal seam, if it continues to burn then the coal could no longer be usable on the homestead and it is considered a resource to fuel the fires in the homes.

Thomas. "Nia get Henry Gordon and Scott down here to help me with the bulldozers and the excavator to put out the fire while you with Rosie and Oliver find everyone else and call out to the fire brigade. This will be too far for Bell and Flynn to reach so we need smoke jumpers to help put this fire out safely." That is what they did, Thomas and Edward hurried to the machine shed where they opened the doors and fired up the bulldozers while Henry hurried over and started up the excavator and all three took their equipment and were followed by James Scott Rosie, Oliver, Nia, and Gordon to see where they can lend a hand. Emily hearing all about the fire decided to call out to the fire brigade to assist on controlling a coal seam fire. As they came down the path of the Lagoon trail, they all smelled the smoke and hurried to the sight and hopes it would not be too big to put out. Then Henry noticed that the stream that leads into the lagoon can help put the fire out just by creating a pathway from is original source and direct it to the fire next to it then he calls out.

Henry. "I am going to head over to the stream to help divert the direction of the water to help put this fire out." They all looked ahead, and Thomas gave the all clear.

Thomas. "OK Henry but be careful that it does not allow for you to be drenched away."

Henry. "I will be careful Thomas, you just make sure we can find a way to keep this fire from burning up Sodor." Then Henry went ahead and started digging from the path of the stream bed and made channels to the burning area. Back at the homestead Duck managed to stop and smelled the smoke like everyone else, then decided to return back where the others might be and was heading into the direction where Thomas and the others went to fight the fire, and that is when Donald and Douglas and the fire Brigade had arrived and Emily came out of her house and allowed for the fire brigade to be lead where the fire is located.

Duck. "Emily what is going on and where is that smoke coming from?"

Emily. "Nia was looking for you when she noticed smoke down by the lagoon area and returned to warn us about a fire in the coal shelf." That got everyone on edge, now they wanted to help too, but that is when the fire brigade came over and stopped the young people before they can get hurt.

Donald. "We'd be going down that path area too, so we can help our friends if they needed us."

Douglas. "Alas, we need to find our friends and hope they are not too deep of trouble."

Fire chief. "Now hold on you two, it is best for you all to stay where you are, this fire could get out of control if the coal seams are to become ignited for anyone to put out so please stay here." And with that the assigned fire teams managed to follow the pathways to find the other teens helping to fight the fire by creating a channel of water to slosh the fire out by digging out any spots where the fire is most in location. Thomas and Edward do what they can to keep dead matter and debris away from becoming ignited by the fire. Henry continues to dig the pathway until the water starts to smolder the fire bit by bit. That is where they were directed by the fire marshal of what to do next after the pathway was dug. "Now Henry, as you continue to dig down deep enough, but careful not to stay in one spot for too long or your machine will start to melt, and your equipment will be rendered useless unless you follow my instructions." Henry turns to the fire marshal and returned with a nod to make sure he heard the fire fighter properly.

Henry. "OK Sir, let me know if I am closer to call this fire out." Then began to dig away the layers and with the water diverted to the fire area had started to smolder the fire but continued to dig his way with the aid of the fire marshal deeper and deeper and kept turning the ash area over and over to make sure they are not missing any spots where the fires are kept burning. Thomas and Edward continue to make sure the channel to the fire is kept open until they all noticed the fire is starting to weaken but is still considered a danger to keep a bit of the coal burning. Then with every effort of turning the very soil the fire is burning from, to allow the water from the stream to doused the fire until finally they begin to see the fire is now out and Henry continued to dig until every ounce of ash and unburned coal is no longer a blaze and with the help of the fire brigade this fire is now out. Everyone stopped their machines and came over for a well-deserved success to save the homestead and possible Sodor if they had left that coal seam to burn as it did. "We did it Thomas we saved your homestead."

Thomas and Edward came over and shook the hand of everyone before they decided to return the stream back in its original direction into the lagoon itself. "Good job everyone, that was too close to call."

Edward. "I say, we did a great job of putting out this fire, but not without the help of the fire brigade to help us make sure we put this fire out properly right sir?" The three friends turned to the fire Marshal who came up to congratulate the young home owners on a well deserving well-done for listening to directions and aided to put this fire out of existence.

Fire Marshal. "That is correct young man, I am sure your former controller would be please to know there are good fire fighting people on this homestead, the question I would like to know is how could this had happened?" That brought an interesting question to the homesteaders about who could have started this fire since the homestead have different heating systems although some do use coal to heat them up, they all know it is best to dispose their ashes the proper dumpsite that Thomas and the others had made when their homes were renovated, and everyone uses safe practices. So, Thomas Edward, Gordon Rosie Ariel looked around the burn area to find unknown tracks in the area. Then Nia who was with her friends while looking at the possible areas where the fire could have started had noticed something on the ground, it looked like a glass bottle and when she investigated and noticed that a beam of light focused on the source of the coal bed and alerted everyone what she had discovered.

Nia. "Look here everyone, it turns out that the fire was started by accident when someone left this bottle on the ground and the sun going through the glass made a hot beam that could be the source of how the fire was started." Then everyone came close to the bottle and notice that it was a beer bottle and no one they knew of drank beer on the homestead especially since they are all still too young to even touch a drop of beer, and Thomas and Rosie had no interest in drinking while under age knowing what such a thing could lead to.

Thomas. "I wonder who left this here, no one here drinks beer or any other alcohol product here on the homestead, heck we do not even have a brewery, nor do I know how to make the darn stuff."

Then Duck came over and noticed the beer bottle and had seen who had drunk beer and knows who had left it there. He remembers Diesel drinking beer, while riding his bike home from the market at one time and decided not to say anything on the matter until now. "I believe this is something Diesel would defiantly be drinking from, I remember coming home one time from the market and witness Diesel with Arry and Bert drink beer from an alley way behind the smelters House. This is a bottle of the brand he drinks." With that information, it was best that the local authorities have to investigate until they question the three diesel teens about their where about on the day fire broke out on Thomas and Rosie's homestead.

Fire Marshal. "I will let a constable and investigator know what had taken place, and to inform your controller about the actions of some of his Diesels living in the smelters house." And with that he and his unit returned to the station then to alert the nearby constable office about their discovery and decided to investigate the matter when the homesteaders are not too busy with their cattle drive.

Back at the homestead Thomas and the others decided to return home and caught up with Toby, Percy, Polly, and Mavis who returned home and are ready to discuss with Thomas and Rosie on how to bring the cattle home and in turn Thomas and the others told about the fire they had to put out during their time out on the range.

Percy. "Wow Thomas that was a very exciting story to tell. How did you know about the fire?"

Nia. "I had first noticed something burning while looking for Duck about his not feeling so contributing to the homestead like the rest of us have done since living here."

Toby. "But what make him believe he had not contributed to the homestead, I think what happened today was considered a contribution since no one else could have known about Diesel drinking underage and may or may not played a role of how that fire got started."

Thomas. "I agree, and I believe if Duck did not feel like he did, Nia would not have gone out to find him before she was alerted about the smoke coming from the coal debris from the lagoon area, we would definitely be in big trouble if the coal seam was on fire."

Nia. "You hear that Duck if I had not come out to find you and I could not have known about that fire and you would not step forward of who could have been here to leave that empty bottle behind to start that fire." Duck heard what she had said and was surprised about his little depression had allowed for her to find out about the fire and helped reported of who could have accidentally started the fire even if they were not there when they visited the homestead last. Then came over to Nia and was now relieved about not unable to contribute his part while living on the homestead with his friends.

Duck. "Thank you, Nia, I really did not think I was much help, but after what you have said I now realized how much of a help I truly am for the homestead, and I have you to thank my dear." Nia was surprised of what he just said and wondered if it could be mistaken for something else. Everyone else heard that and decided to let their friends talk it out but not before Thomas gave his friend something in case things get too heated between the two.

Thomas. "Here Duck, you may need this if you are heading to where I believe you may be going." Then Duck turns as his friend gave him something before, he returns to him as he returns his gaze back to Nia.

Duck. "Thank you, Thomas, that was thoughtful."

Nia. "Your Dear?" Realizing what he just said and to come up with what he meant.

Duck. "W- well, you see, since meeting with you in Africa when we along with Thomas, Rosie, Edward, and Oliver, I thought you were a very amazing person and possibly a clever engine if we were still on the tracks. I have learned to respect you for your helping others, come up with clever ideas, and now you have shown me how much of person that I am. I now see that I do not have to do something big to make a difference, small things can be just as impacting to provide answers or even to find solutions to everyday situation, And I have you to thank and to know how much beautiful you are to me both inside and out." Nia smile of what Duck had said and wondered if it was some dream.

Nia. "You believe that I am beautiful? No matter what anyone thinks of me with you?" Then he lends her his hand and she took it as he pulled her close to him.

Duck. "Let that be their problem not ours. The real beauty I see is deeper than what I can see on the surface, it is in your heart and I love it and you very much Nia." Nia smiled knowing that Duck loves her, and she is over joyed of what he had said to her then the two came closer and closer. Then the stars seem to be dancing while they embraced their first kiss together, and the more they kissed they were more and more into each other that Duck had asked her to join him in his room, Nia followed. It was here when their passion started to soar, peeling away their clothing, and Duck remembers to place that item on himself and then he and Nia were at it. She allowed him to touch her where she felt most comfortable for him to touch. They were enjoying their time together, with much love passion, caressing kissing, and feelings with each other. Nia was enjoying her time with Duck and he in return loved every part of her as he continues to love and cherish the moment with her until after at last, they are now exhausted and out of energy not love with each other decided to stop and hold onto each other throughout the night and slept together until the morning dawn.

The next morning Thomas and the riders on the homestead decided to gather around the horse corals and gathered their horses. They all know the snow is on its way and it was time to bring the cows home to keep warm, fed and looked after as some may have some calves that are yet to be born on the homestead. Their horses on the other hand decided to meet their riders at the gate knowing they will be heading up the trails to the feeding range for the cattle drive. Nugget was first at the gate and was over joyed to see Thomas then Diamond, Peanut, Sparkles, Molasses, Brix, Bullet, Blaze, Pixie, all came up and greeted their riders. Then Gordon Jessica Ariel, Jasper Rebecca had come down to find their horses, such as Buck, Midnight, Jewel, Maggie and Jax. Then Henry and Emily were the last to come down and found their horses Rollie, and Misty. Donald Douglas and Oliver decided to find their friends before they ventured off, but they have noticed that Duck was absent from their party of friends.

Donald. "Where is Duck this morning? Is he going to be helping us on this trip to the feeding range?'

Douglas. "Aye. It is all hands-on deck, don't tell me that he and Nia had over slept this morning'

Oliver. "Let them sleep in, we will let them venture with us another time, so while they are riding the horses how are we going to get there?" After hearing that Thomas, Rosie, and Ariel decided what they also have been working on while getting everything ready for the cattle drive.

Thomas. "Donald, Douglas and Oliver, I know we have not yet obtained horses for you to ride along with us to the feeding range, so after finding these things in the machine yard, we decided that you three could come along riding these ATVs, otherwise known as all-terrain vehicles along with us on the trails after having them repaired and now registered to be used to bring the cows home." Douglas Donald and Oliver were very surprise about finding another way to get around the homestead without horses until they can find some for themselves to ride.

Donald. "OHs sake Thomas, these are so cool."

Douglas. "Aye, this is going to be great riding on those things."

Oliver. "Are you sure we can ride them Thomas? I believe we need some practice before we can operate them for use in the back country." Then Thomas Ariel and Rosie came over to help their friends understand the vehicles they are just about to ride on.

Thomas. "First you need to know where it is best to ride these things while traveling off road. It can really be dangerous if you did not have a helmet and know how to use the controls. It is almost driving a motorcycle except that you will be riding on four wheels for the trails and not the open road. Except that you cannot use them on public roads, especially when you can easily get hit by a car who may be too distracted to see you." Then Thomas helped the Scottish twins and Oliver on how to operate the vehicles and gave them a test run while his friends were enjoying the ride and soon able to gain knowledge on how to operate the off-road vehicles and know what to avoid and take the time to drive carefully. Soon everyone was ready, all the horses were brushed off and were saddled up and everyone got on their horses while Oliver Donald and Douglas started the ATVS and placed the helmets on their heads for protection and lowered down them googles to prevent any debris hitting their eyes as they all ventured down the trails. "OK everybody, are we ready to sort out our cattle and before we can bring them home?" He said, and everyone waved a hand or beeped the ATVS, that had signaled to Thomas that all is ready to hit the trails. "Alright everyone Nugget are you ready?" He says as Nugget made a nod of the head signaling to his rider that he and the other horses are ready. "OK friends let's bring the cows home. Hi-ya!" Then everyone started to head down the trails just as Gordon looked back to see his brother Scott waving his hand as he says. "Have fun everyone, I will wait for your return when you get back."

Gordon. "Thanks Scott, see you when we get back. Let us go Midnight!" And with that Gordon turned back to the riding party and sought out to find the herds. Everyone headed out looking at the new scene instead of the lush green of summer, the area was filled with withered leaves on the trees with the beautiful Autumn colors of the leaves continue to fall to the ground and viewing some of the watering places where they witnessed starting to have the hint of frost on the edges. They all realized that it will start to snow soon, so they all venture on until at last they found their cattle along with the other homesteaders on the Island. They greeted with another homesteader of Sodor, his property is not as huge as Thomas and Rosie have but he still uses his home as any homesteader would. He came up and greeted the young group to help in separating the herds before returning them to the homesteads where they belong to.

"". "Hello Thomas, hello Rosie, ready to bring the cows home?"

Thomas. "Yes, Arnold Mc Von, we are ready to help separate our herd from yours."

Arnold Mc Von. "That is good to hear and who do we have riding on those fancy things behind you?" Then they all looked back to see Oliver, Donald and Douglas had arrived on the ATVS and for the first time had greeted one of Thomas and Rosie's closest neighbors of the homestead.

Thomas. "Arnold Mc Von, I would like you to meet Donald and Douglas Mcintosh who were the calidonian engines who worked on the Little western where this other guy who goes by the name of Oliver Collet who was supposed to be the 1400 great western engine on that same line. Donald Douglas and Oliver, Meet our nearest neighbor Arnold Mc Von."

Donald, Douglas and Oliver. "Hello."

Arnold Mc Von. "Hello, you three, ready to get to work and separate the herds for the trip back home?"

Donald, Douglas and Oliver. "Yes sir."

Arnold Mc Von. "Alright then let us get to work." He said just as he mounted his horse Hunter, just as the young party of riders rode together to find the other homesteaders to lead the herds to a corral, to separate the herds before they can be led away back up the trail with the rest of the herds. The plan was simple but at the same time make sure all the cows are accounted for, it makes no sense to lose a cow that you will need to survive on. Everyone took part even Gordon, and James took part in driving the cattle into the pen until the last of the cows, calves and even the bulls are now in the pens to be separated. Then everyone went over their lists to check to see which cows belong to whom, then everyone checked the ear tags that helps to ensure which animal belong to which homestead. It is now that Thomas and Rosie's cattle are now separated and before long it was time to release them with the riders guiding the herd back up the trail and on their way to the homestead where the animal yards are now ready for their arrival. Scott who was now joined up with Duck and Nia after being absent from watching their friends ride down the trails to find the cows and returned them back on the homestead. Decided to stay with Scott and help open the gates that will allow for the cows to be in their winter home and had some spaces in the barn for the new mothers to be in so they will not be in the cold when they begin to have their calves. They were just chatted away until the first of the cows was seen in the distance and that allowed for duck and Nia to open the door for the first of the cows to enter their pen, then they noticed some of their friends who started to guide the cattle back up the trails just as they greeted them back.

Nia. "Percy, Polly you're back already."

Polly. "It did not take that long this time, we have a starter herd after all and we had not that many animals yet and that had allowed for us to bring the cows home sooner than later."

Percy rode over just before stopping before his friends and dismounted Peanut before helping Polly get off Sparkles by holding her by the reins so that Percy's girlfriend can now get off her ride. "We just have to wait until Thomas and the others are back from the trip." Then more cows with some more riders came back it was Toby Mavis and Ariel who came back followed with more of the herd from behind with James, Molly, Jessica, and Jasper appear before their friends just as another round of the herd came into view with Gordon, Rebecca, Henry and Emily came into view, and finally the last of the herd came up just as Thomas, and Rosie coming up from the rear just as Oliver Donald and Douglas came up on the ATVs, and gave Duck Scott and Nia a surprise of what the last three was riding. Then the three came up to Duck just as Thomas and Rosie dismounted their horses and helped close the animal pens to keep the Cows safe and was now time to return the horses back to their paddock to rest after a trip down the trail to deliver the cows home.

Duck. "What are you Three driving, I want to ride one of these now."

Scott. "Wow and they said that I was a sight, now wouldn't it be interesting to find the Flying Scotsman riding on one of these things."

Nia. "Where did you all find these things?"

Oliver came to his friends and explained. "Thomas Ariel and Rosie took the time to fix these ATVs or what are called All-terrain vehicles that we are able to use while riding the trails to find the cows and helped to bring home and now here they are."

Duck. "Well one thing is for sure, I want to find the time to ride one of these things one day."

Thomas. "And you will Duck, right now it is best get cleaned up and find the time to make dinner tonight. Are you two going to be joining us for dinner, or do you plan to eat in your room tonight Duck?" Duck thought about it and decided to join up with the others for dinner and catch up with Nia later.

Duck. "Nia and I will join up with everyone tonight at the dinner table Thomas. Right sweetie?"

Nia turned and looked into her lovers' eyes and know how important it is to be part of a friend's life and decided to join him with the others for dinner. "That is alright with me, besides we really were not able to catch up with everyone from last night, so we shall join up with everyone for dinner tonight." And with that everyone came to the dinner hall and have a wonderful meal to end a long day on the trails.

Next time, Thomas and Rosie plan to celebrate an American Holiday for this time of the year, especially since some of their friends came from the states and decided to throw their own Thanksgiving dinner to share, will everyone be long with this Idea or will everyone embrace the real reason to be thankful after a strange year starting as steam driven locomotives into the humans they are now. Next time on a Journey through Northwestern High School.