Chapter 2

As he drove towards McKenna Outfitters Dale Goodwin was furiously thinking over his discovery. He didn't want to believe Brick would be so foolish as to play a prank involving law enforcement. True his friend had always possessed a reckless streak but he had never been stupid.

Even his famous reckless streak had been tempered greatly two years previously following an attack by Clint Emmons. Brick had spent eighteen months in therapy to recover his ability to speak properly. Even with therapy the younger McKenna spoke slower than he had before the attack as he searched for the right word. Plus, the sheriff knew, when under stress Brick would revert to the speech patterns present immediately following his awakening from his coma. Would the more mature Brick risk his future for a silly prank? For that is what he would be doing in setting up a false article in a law enforcement magazine, unless...of course! Dale slapped the steering wheel as the answer came to him; the magazine he had received was a mock up, one that no other law enforcement officer would see.

Greatly relieved Dale considered how best to pay his friend back. He could pretend he was going to arrest him, it was certainly deserved. But then did he really want to add that kind of stress to his friend's life? Dale knew that some of the guests at McKenna Outfitters were not exactly pleasant to deal with, what if Brick was already stressed from the demands of the family business? Maybe he should talk to Jack first; yeah that's what he'd do. If Jack thought Brick could handle the stress then he could return the favor of a prank and a fitting one at that.

"Hey Dale," Leigh greeted him as he stepped from his car. "Brick's taken some guests out on a hike."

Dale grinned, "Perfect."

Leigh frowned. She thought they had settled things between them; surely Dale wasn't here in the hopes of renewing their relationship.

When he saw the look on her face Dale realized what that must have sounded like. "I actually need to talk to Jack."

"Oh," Leigh smiled, "he's in his office. Do you want me to get him?"

"Nah that's okay, I can talk to him in his office."

"I'll bring you some coffee," Leigh offered. It was only polite after all and it would give her an excuse to go to Jack's office while they talked she slyly admitted to herself.

"Thanks Leigh, that'd be great," Dale grinned. He knew exactly what she was up to but he didn't mind, it wasn't as if it was a secret.

Jack frowned as he went over the ranch's books. Damn but he hated accounting. The sound of footsteps on the stairs brought his head up, a relieved sigh on his lips. "Hey Dale," he greeted the younger man. "Brick isn't..."

"Yeah Leigh told me," Dale interrupted. "Actually it's you I want to talk to."

"Oh?" Jack asked, obviously curious. "Nothing's wrong is it?" He couldn't help wondering if one of his kids had gotten into some sort of trouble.

"No, well not exactly," Dale replied. "There's this magazine that is sent out to law enforcement officers every month. Mine came today and there was an interesting picture in it," he explained, handing the magazine open to the appropriate article to the older man. "My guess is...Jack are you okay?" he asked, coming to his feet and moving to the suddenly ashen man's side.

Jack stared in shock at the picture accompanying the article. It couldn't be, after all these years had they found him? His heart was racing as he read the article.

"Jack?" Dale called again. Getting no answer he grabbed the man's wrist, damn his pulse was racing as sweat formed on his face. "Leigh!" he screamed down the stairs, "bring me some brandy, now!" He didn't know why but clearly the article, or rather the picture, had given Jack a horrible shock. Running to the bathroom he grabbed a washcloth, wetting it with cold water he hurried back to Jack's office just as Leigh came up the stairs a glass and bottle of brandy in her hands.

"Dale what is it?" she gasped. "Jack," she cried out as she hurried to his side. "What happened?" she asked Dale.

"I don't know," Dale replied as he grabbed the bottle and poured a generous amount. "Here Jack," he said, helping the man to hold the glass as he brought it to his lips. "Put that washcloth on the back of his neck," he instructed Leigh. He suspected the brandy would do more to bring Jack out of his shock, but the wet cloth couldn't hurt.

The brandy hit Jack's throat causing him to cough a bit but it did the job, brining him back from his shocked state. With shaking hands he took another sip of the strong drink, letting it calm his nerves.

"I'm sorry Jack, I didn't think it would upset you so much," Dale apologized. "If it helps I don't think Brick actually managed to get that into other issues, I'm pretty sure that's a mock up..."

"You think this is a prank Brick played?" Jack asked, one eyebrow raised in disbelief.

"Don't you?" Dale asked.

"One of you tell me what's going on," Leigh demanded. She'd thought her heart would stop when she saw Jack so pale and non-responsive. For a minute she had wondered if he was having a heart attack or stroke.

"Brick played a prank, well I thought it was a prank," Dale began, less certain now. Continuing he told her the same thing he'd told Jack, passing the magazine to her.

"I don't think it's a prank," Jack said.

"I don't know Jack," Leigh considered the picture another moment. "I admit I wouldn't think he'd go for this kind of prank but how else do you explain the picture? You don't really believe that old saying about everybody having a twin, do you?" Leigh couldn't imagine the ever practical Jack McKenna believing such a thing.

"I don't know about everybody but Brick does," Jack sighed heavily. Holding out his hand for the magazine he once more looked at the picture, examining it closely. He was sure the picture was real, it had to be, he desperately thought. "Dale can you look up the magazine on the computer?"

"Yeah, why?" He could have smacked himself as the answer came to him. "I can confirm whether or not the article and picture are real," he nodded. "Can I use your computer?"

"Be my guest," Jack said, stepping away from the desk.

In minutes Dale had entered the magazine's website and pulled up the most current issue. "I'll be damned," he gasped. "It's real," he confirmed.

"What's real?" a voice from the doorway asked, startling them all.

TBC...

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A/N: Not a doctor or nurse and I realize the treatment of Jack's emotional shock might not be exactly right but it fits the characters I think.