Hey Guys, I am finally back! I got moved in, dealt with the crappiest internet company ever(it took five days longer than it should have!) and I have gotten rid of my first houseguests!! Phew!! Anyway, sorry this is just kind of a filler chapter but I had to get something down before I lost all my WONDERFUL readers and reviewers!! Here is chapter 19!

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Booth reacted quickly and got the jump on the injured man. He went down easily and screamed in pain as his shoulder took the brunt of his fall. Kasten quickly aided Booth. They restrained the injured stranger who groaned in agony.

"Who are you?" Booth asked quickly and quietly.

"Who the heck are you?" He replied.

"I'm the one asking the questions. Who are you?"

The cowboy struggled against his retraints to sit up. "My name is Criss, I work at Hunters Peak as a cattle hand. Now, who are you?"

"My name is Steve." Booth stated matter-of-factly. "That is all you need to know for now." Booth paused and thought about how to continue his line of questioning. "If you are a cattle hand, what are you doing riding out here by yourself without any cattle?"

"I was on an overnight drive, when my horse got spooked and bucked me. I fell off and I think I dislocated my shoulder so I turned around and started back for the ranch. I knew this cabin was here so I thought I would stop and take a break. What is with all the questions? I belong here, you don't, so why don't you let me know what's going on, before I start to get a little antsy."

Brennan saw that Criss was in obvious pain and his shoulder was definitely dislocated. "Steve?" That name still felt weird coming out of her mouth. "His shoulder is injured, could I please take a look at it, before you go all Dirty Henry on him?"

"It's Dirty Harry." All four said in response.

Brennan looked at Criss. "Whatever, I am a doctor. Would you like me to take a look at your arm or would you like to stay in pain?"

"You're a doctor?"

"Yes, now do you want my help or not?"

Booth got up and pulled Brennan off to the other side of the cabin. "Bones, you are a doctor of anthropology, not a physician, do you think you should do this?"

"Yes, I am a doctor in forensic Anthropology and it's a dislocated shoulder Booth, not an amputation. I just have to pop it back into it's socket. Don't worry, he will be fine. I will need yours and Kasten's help though.

They made their way back to the group. Cathy was still unsure of her role in all the excitement so decided it best if she just stay put.

"Hey Doc, are you going to look at my arm or not. And why am I in handcuffs? Who are you people?"

Brennan helped Criss up with Kasten and Booth's help. She got Booth do undo the handcuffs so she would have better access to his shoulder. With a little leverage and a little pain they were able to get his shoulder back in it's socket without too much trouble.

Booth and Kasten tried to figure the best way to share their stories with Criss. If he was an employee like he said he was he could be helpful with getting them to the ranch undetected. If he was a goon, they were still four against one. Booth and Kasten decided to stay with the names but adjust the stories so they could get to Charlie.

"How long have you worked at this ranch Criss?"

"Just over four years. Are you going to tell me who you are?"

"My name is Steve and this is my wife Tamar. Over there are Tamar's parents, Dave and Debbie. We are trying to find a long lost aunt of Tamar's by the name of Charlie. We heard she was a ranch hand here and we wanted to see her. For some reason, we are being followed by some not-so-nice folks so we were trying to come in the back way. Do you know Charlie?"

"Yah, of course I know Charlie. Everyone does. She is the boss. You guys are her family? She never talks about family."

Cathy decided this was her time to join in the events. "Yes, she is my sister and we haven't seen each other in a very long time. My daughter wanted to meet her so we made our way here. We were confronted a few towns back by some bad people, and we are not sure why. I just want to see my sister again. Could you help us?"

Criss sat and pondered for a minute. "I um, yah, sure. I can help you. I don't know what you need, but I didn't see anything around today and I didn't even realize you guys were here, until I was jumped. If anyone was following you I don't think they are now. What can I do?"

"We need to get to the ranch and we need to get there fast. Which way is the easiest by foot?" Kasten asked quickly.

"It's still a ways. Probably another six miles, and the terrain is pretty rough. That is why we use horses around these parts. If you want to stay hidden this patch of trees runs parallel to the ranch for the next five miles. Then it is just a hike over a small mountain which is pretty deserted and then you have to cross a river through a gully and you come out near the cookhouse. That is where my girlfriend works. She is the head cook. Her name is Donna and she is awesome. There is an unused pantry under the old cookhouse that you guys could hide in until sundown and Charlie will be back by early evening. I could get her over there."

Booth thought about Criss' offer and decided now was as good a time as any to get going. They could get into the treeline pretty quickly and if the hike was anything like the one of the previous night, the five of them could make pretty good time. Criss seemed to be in pretty good shape, and he was a tall man. Booth figured him to be about 6' 3" and could probably give Booth a run for his money in a fist fight.

"What about your horse?"

"Oh Daisy, she knows the way back, I can just let her go."

"If Daisy shows up by herself, won't someone be alarmed, like your girlfriend?"

"Oh, right. Um, well I could put a note in my saddle bag. Daisy always goes straight to the cookhouse for her treats. Donna is a real sucker for her. If I put a note on her, Donna could cover for me."

Booth and Kasten both looked at each other with apprehension, but at the end of the day, they didn't really have much choice. Booth looked at Brennan and nodded for her to meet him outside. Brennan followed Booth and he quickly pulled her around the side of the cabin under cover from the hills.

"What do you think Bones? Should we trust him? It's your call."

Brennan lunged toward Booth and awkwardly embraced him. "Booth, we are so close, I can feel it. I think it will be okay, we should go for it. If Criss is willing to help us, then let's take his help."

Booth held her close for longer than necessary. "Okay Bones, let's do it."

The duo re-entered the cabin to find Criss writing a note to Donna. He quickly finished and went outside to put it on his horse. He untied her and slapped her rear urging her back to the ranch. Criss went back in to gather his new 'friends'.

"Y'all ready?"

They all nodded in agreement.

"Okee dokee. Well let's get into that treeline as fast as possible. It is pretty thick through some parts, so let that be a warning. If we don't run into any problems we should be at the ranch by about seven."

Booth grabbed Brennan's hand and Kasten took Cathy's into his own. They all headed out the door and ran as quickly as they could into the dense forest, praying that no one was following them.

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Thanks again for all your patience and I hope to have the next one up quite quickly. Sorry again for the delay!! Please review if you feel the need too!!