Sheriff Coffey was surprised to see the brothers back in town.

"Caleb Hanks? I've got him and his crowd in the back cells. Doc Martin is with him right now. Don't know what good it would do to talk to him, or any of 'em for that matter."

Adam's brows drew close, "Just what is wrong with them?" Sheriff Coffey opened the door that led to the cells. "See for yourself."

In the first cell they passed, they saw Dr. Martin hovering over a young man curled up into a tight ball, eyes closed tight. He was just rocking on the bunk, moaning.

As angry as Joe was, he horrified by what he saw. "What happened to him?" He said softly as he grabbed the bars for a better look.

Dr. Martin turned around, "That's what I'm trying to find out." He nodded toward the next cell, "they're not much better."

"They came running into town like the Devil himself was after 'em." Sheriff Coffey said. "I put them in jail, not so much for the town, but to make sure they didn't do themselves a mischief!"

The Cartwrights exchanged looks and went to the next cell. A motley group as ever was, they were all moaning and holding their heads in their hands.

Joe picked out one, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him up. "Just what is going on? We've just been out to the Hendrickson's place and we what to know what you've been up to."

Frank Hayes paled under Joe's wrath. "We didn't do nothin'! I swear it by all that's holy! WE DIDN'T DO NOTHING!"

"Honest, Mr. Cartwright, we didn't!" a red-haired young man, really only a boy, piped up.

"We just thought we would, you know, borrow the place as a good place to relax."

"Hideout, more like," Sheriff Coffey put in.

Zach, the red-haired boy, looked at the sheriff and licked his lips. He gave a faint nod and continued. "It was Caleb's idea. He said that the place had been standing empty and no one came there much." The brothers all traded guilty looks. They had all kept away from the place when they were supposed to be watching it.

Zach didn't notice the looks that passed and looked at his feet, "When Caleb pulled the boards off the door, a big gust of wind came out. I swear, I thought I was going to hell. Nothing was going to get me in there." At this, a few of the boys nodded.

Hoss could stand it no longer, "Just when did you all decide to dig up David Hendrick's body and put it in the cradle?"

Zach and the other's eyes grew large. A chorus rose up. "We didn't do that!"

"No sir, we wouldn't do that!"

"Why would anyone bother a baby?"

Hoss was going to give Zach a shake, but Adam, who was leaning against the wall listening to the tale, stopped him.

He stepped between Hoss and Zach and asked, "What happened to Caleb."

The boys got even paler. Zach took a deep swallow and continued. "Well when, Caleb opened the door, he just laughed and went inside. Frank and me, we stayed out by the horses. They were acting kinda skittish, you know?" He looked at all three and the sheriff.

Doc Martin had also joined the group now. "Well, all of a sudden, Caleb screams. Jack and Henry went in, but Caleb was coming out. Like he was blind, sorta." Again, the brothers traded looks, this time skeptical.

"Why didn't all of you go in?" asked Sheriff Coffey.

One of boys who had up until this time remained quiet, spoke up. "There was a feeling about the place, sheriff. I felt like thousands of ants were creeping underneath my skin."

The other boys nodded.

"I wasn't about t go in there." Another boy added.

"After seeing Caleb come out like that we all just ran off." Zach said.

"And ran right into here." Sheriff Coffey finished.

"Well, we didn't know of another place to take Caleb. We figured we'd be safe here." Replied Zach. Doc Martin motioned for the Cartwrights and Sheriff Coffey to come to the front office.

"You don't believe them do you?" Joe asked.

"I don't know what happened out there, but Caleb's in a real bad state of shock. I'm going to get his father, not that I think it'll do any good. I think Caleb's has gone further than I can help him. Those boys are also shook up pretty bad." Doc Martin turned towards the Cartwrights, "you boys are supposed to be keeping an eye on the place. Have you seen anything strange?"

The brothers looked at each other. They all shook their heads. Even tonight, they hadn't experienced anything like the boys in the cell described. They must be lying, but why would those boys leave themselves open to be the laughing stock of the whole town? And something certainly happened to Caleb. Nothing made sense.

"Wish I could help you, boys. You got more sense out of them then I did." Sheriff Coffey said as he walked out to the door with them.

"In all my years as sheriff, heck, in ALL my years, I never heard anything or seen anything like I saw tonight. Don't know if I believe those boys, but something happened tonight."

Adam looked out at the night sky. "Halloween is coming," he said to no one in particular.

"You don't think that has anything to do with tonight," Sheriff Coffey laughed.

Adam looked at the sheriff, "Nope, but I think it might do to keep a closer look on the house."

He then smiled grimly at Sheriff Coffey; "Humans can cause just as much damage as spooks."

Hoss and Joe nodded and got on their horses. It was a long night, and it would be longer still when they tried to explain things to Pa.