"His cousin? Is he a vampire too?" Gene said, his tone brusque.

"No, Gene, Quentin is not a vampire, he has a different kind of curse. He came from Maine to Silver Rock to hunt for an ancient relic. They are both afraid a group of devil worshipers will try to use it to destroy the town….and start their own seat of power." I told him. Gene's face became puzzled.

"Wait a minute, Collins and his cousin are here to help stop these people? How do you know he's telling the truth?"

Now was the hardest part, convincing Gene of their intentions.

"I do believe him, Barnabas has no cause to lie to me, because I know his secret. Plus Miss Phyllis says he and Quentin helped save those saloon girls from the outlaws who busted up the saloon last night. I doubt that either of them would be such good Samaritans if they intended harm against us."

At first I thought Gene was going to ignore my words, then he grudgingly said, "All right, Kasey, Collins can rely on me to help…."

"Thank you, Gene!" I didn't care that we were in plain sight, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Heh, heh….sounds like a guy I'd like!" Rick teased to lighten the atmosphere. Laurie turned her head and kissed his cheek.

"Just like the guy I love…." She whispered, then a snicker from A.J. made her blush.

"All right, little brother….see if I don't rag you next time you and Linny …" she began, then Linda held up her hands, laughing.

"Truce, Sis!"

"All right, honey, what happened next?" Father Nick asked. Instantly Rick sobered as Laurie turned the page.

"Gene didn't protest my display of affection, he simply returned my kiss, then held me as he said, gravely, "Kasey, what worries me is who these devil worshipers might be? They could be anyone in town…we have so many newcomers, veterans, and immigrants.."

"I asked Barnabas who he thought they could be, and he only had one clue….whoever the head of the group is, he recently came from Maine, and he would wear a very distinctive ring…" I explained, reluctant to leave his sheltering arms.

A heavy step on the walkway in front of the office alerted us to a visitor, and Gene released me to enter the outer room.

"Mr. Miller, what can I do for you?"

I heard Gene's polite tone, and remembered my husband had had a run-in with the new innkeeper. He had refused lodging to some of the Buffalo Soldiers reporting to the fort, and both Jonathan and Gene had forced him to change his mind, and policy.

"Sheriff, I was wondering who those two gentlemen were who moved into the Butler place…seems to me I've seen them before.", the pompous man said as I came out of the back room. Seeing me, Miller nodded and smiled at me, but his eyes remained cold, and reminded me of a snake oil salesman.

"I believe they are the heirs to the old Collins place…unfortunately the home burned down several years ago, but they do own the land." Gene patiently explained.

"Well, I hope you check their story out….can't be too careful these days.." Miller added, then his double chin quivered as Gene told him, "I certainly did, both of them come with glowing recommendations from their bank. I believe the Collins have come to invest in the area. Was there anything else, sir?"

"Uh, no Sheriff…thanks for your time." The older man said, then practically ran down the alley to the main street.

"That was odd." I remarked as Gene peered out the window. He turned around and nodded.

"Considering what Barnabas told you….I think you should warn him to be careful of that Miller."

"I will, thank you Gene." I went to get my jacket, then he grabbed my arm suddenly.

"Kasey, what was that Collins said, about a distinctive ring?"

I frowned, trying to remember Barnabas's words.

"That their leader would be have come from Maine, and wear a distinctive ring…"

"Well, that might just answer why Miller's so interested in Barnabas and Quentin, he was wearing a very heavy gold ring, with a big black insignia of some kind."

A shiver ran up my back, then shouts from the street caught our attention and both Gene and I ran out of the office, to see a plume of smoke coming from down the street.

"Gene…Mrs. Kasey…the Collins place…it's on fire!"

I gasped as Deputy Pat raced up to us, then Gene and I took off after him as he grabbed a bucket from next to the horse trough. By the time we got to the end of the block, I saw white smoke coming from the front window of the stately home, then Quentin Collins exiting the front door. Holding on to his arm and coughing was a disheveled Barnabas Collins, and immediately I called to Pat, "Call Doc, tell him…."

Suddenly I remembered what Doc could find out, and added, "Tell him to bring some salve for burns…"

"Thanks, Sheriff, Mrs. Adams.." Quentin smiled at me as Gene helped him lower Barnabas to a seat on the undamaged porch. I saw Gene's shoulders twitch, and I realized I'd have to alleviate my husband's distrust of the younger Collins.

"Yes, thank you for getting the alarm out so quickly…" Barnabas told us, then assured Quentin, "I'm alright, but the fire….."

"Let me go in and see how much damage the smoke has done…." Gene broke in, then asked me to stay and keep the curious onlookers away from the house. A few moments passed, then the three men returned to me, a serious look on their faces.

"What is it?" I asked.

"We found the remnants of a broken bottle on the floor in the front parlor, and the smell of kerosene is still in the air." Gene explained, directing Deputy Pat and a couple of men from the fire brigade to board up the front window.

"Someone tried to kill us both….if I hadn't been down in the basement with Frederic and Quentin…" Barnabas said, grimly.

"Wait a minute….where is Loomis?" I asked, as Gene got a suspicious look on his face.

Immediately I peered past the two Collins's and spotted the cellar doors, then heard a faint pounding.

"He's down there…" I yelled, then ran past the men to the side of the house, just in time to hear a faint "Let me out of here!"

"Stand back, Loomis!" I called, then shot out the padlocked latch. Immediately the force of the bullet forced one of the doors to fly open, and out rushed a coughing and choking Fred Loomis. Quentin rushed to his side, then helped him to sit on the steps of the house.

"Fred….what happened? Did you see who threw the firebomb?" He asked, and the thin little man shook his head.

"No….I was looking for some potatoes, you know, for supper, when I saw the smoke, and I heard you yell to get out. Someone ran into me and knocked me down, then they slammed the cellar door closed and I couldn't open it."

"Thank God you heard him calling, Mrs. Kasey…" Deputy Pat said, and Loomis stopped coughing long enough to nod his agreement.

"Yeah, thank you, Ma'am….I thought I was a goner…"

"You're welcome, Loomis, now why don't the three of you go to Miss Phyllis' place for the night.." I suggested, and Gene agreed.

"Yes, there's no way you can stay here tonight.."

"Much obliged, Sheriff, Ma'am." Barnabas agreed, careful to not call me by my first name in front of the nosy onlookers.

As the crowd dispersed, Quentin and Barnabas re-entered the home, then emerged with a small overnight bag each.

"Come by in the morning and I have you sign the crime report." Gene told them, then we said good night and returned to the office.

As we re-entered the office area, I saw something black on my desk, then realized with horror it was a dead crow.

"Kasey, what the…don't touch it!" Gene warned, then took the poker from the fireplace and lifted the dead bird.

Underneath, stained with blood, was a single note, written in black ink.

"Don't interfere with us, or die!"