Cain finished taking care of Jack and put away all of his hunting gear. Jill took all of the items Cain purchased for her and he grabbed his saddlebags and her workbag. Together they walked to the back of the house and found the back door unlocked.

The back door led into a small kitchen and Jill was pleasantly surprised to find modern conveniences. Not modern in the sense of what she was used to but more along the lines of items that maybe her grandparents used at one time. A single ceiling lamp lighted the kitchen and an old radiator alongside the wall provided heat. There was a small table with four chairs and a small stove and refrigerator. She was relieved to see that that they had running water; no hand pumping was required.

Jill followed Cain through the kitchen into the living room. It was plainly furnished. A typical bachelor's pad Jill thought to herself. There was a couch and chairs, and the same type of radiator for heat. End tables with simple lamps and lampshades provided a warm electric glow. An old fashioned radio was near one of the chairs. There were two bookcases filled with books and other assorted items. A staircase led upstairs and they both could hear running water. It stopped and a voice yelled down, "Hello?! Anyone there?!"

Cain went over to the staircase, "It's just me Jeb. If you come down, make sure you're decent. We have a visitor."

He looked over to Jill, "You can put your stuff down on the couch for now."

They took off their coats and Cain hung them in the closet. Jill started to look at the books in the bookcase. As she did so, Jeb came down the steps, buttoning his shirt. "I didn't think that you were due back for a couple of days yet." He turned, looked up from what he was doing, and stopped. Jill turned away from the bookcase. Her sweater and jeans gave her away.

Cain wasn't surprised at Jeb's shocked look. "Jeb, this is Jill Wilkins. Jill, this is my son, Jeb."

Jill walked over to Jeb and put out her right hand. "Nice to meet you Jeb," Jeb was still in a bit of shock but he made himself move. Her grip was firm and it surprised him as much as it did Cain the first time. "Nice to meet you too."

Jill walked back over to the couch and sat down. Jeb recovered from his initial shock and turned to Cain, "Dad, Samantha invited me over for supper and I'm already late." He grabbed his coat from the closet and headed for the door. "I've worked the past seven days and this is my first evening off. If I knew that you were going to be home early." His voiced trailed off.

"It's okay son. Go ahead and go." Even Jill could tell that Cain was disappointed that Jeb was running off.

"Look, I won't stay long. Samantha will understand." His hand rested on the doorknob. He looked conflicted. He wanted to stay there and find out what was going on but he didn't want to break his promise to Samantha either.

Cain put his hand on Jeb's shoulder. "Jeb, go to Samantha's and have a nice supper. Tell her parents that I said hello."

"Alright. I'll see you later then." He looked at his father, took a parting glance at Jill, and then went out the door.

After he left, Jill asked, "Whose Samantha?"

"Jeb's fiancée." Cain answered and started to go up the stairs. "Go ahead and look through the books. I'm going to make room for your things in my bedroom. You can sleep in there and I'll sleep on the couch."

Cain continued up the staircase without waiting for Jill to answer and reached his bedroom. He moved some things on his dresser in order to make room for her items. His hands drifted over a small cedar box. He picked it up and opened it. It was full of the letters that were written to him when he was in the western territories. He sat down on the bed and started to leaf through them. Most were from Jeb. It was by letter that Jeb first told him that he was dating a new girl; Samantha was her name. Then the letters came that told him that they were in love. Then the letter came that said that he had proposed. It was the last letter Jeb wrote to him before he came home. Cain quickly re-read it again and put it back in the box. There were a few letters from Glitch and even a short one from Raw. But there were none from DG. He closed the box and put it away on the top shelf of his closet. He took one last glance at his bedroom. Nothing else was out of place and the bed had not been slept in since he had been away. He went back downstairs.

"The bedroom's ready for you," Cain said as he went into the kitchen. Jill got up and followed him. Cain opened up the refrigerator and found only a bottle of milk and two eggs. Cain smirked to himself, "Jeb hasn't done a good job keeping the refrigerator stocked." He shut the door, "There's a tavern near by that has good food. I'll go and get something for both of us." He went to the back door and made sure that it was locked.

He then headed for the closet and Jill got out of his way. "You'll be all right here alone."

"Even without a loaded gun by the door?" Jill's nagging voice in her head told her to not to count on it.

"Yes, even without having a loaded gun by the door," Cain saw her doubtful look, "There are other royal guards all along this street and nothing will happen this close to the palace." Nothing should happen, right? He put on his coat and hat. "While I'm gone you can get cleaned up and unpack your things. There are extra towels in the bathroom closet."

He started going out the door, "Be sure to lock the door behind me, and," and he looked back slightly, "I won't be long." Jill called out after him and he stopped, "Cain, be careful."

He just nodded his head. The door shut behind him and he waited a moment on the stoop. He heard the clicking of the locks and he started down the street.

Jill looked around. The house was still except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. She found it a little unnerving. She grabbed all of the items that Cain bought for her and took them upstairs. She found Cain's bedroom easily enough. Like the other rooms it was plainly furnished. There was a dresser with a mirror and a single bed and chair. On the nightstand there was another simple lamp and lampshade. The curtains were open and a faint glow from the street lamps filled the room. She turned on the lamp and closed the curtains. She unpacked her things and then went to get cleaned up.

The shower felt good and she couldn't help but stay there until she wrinkled up like a prune. Hopefully their water bill won't go through the roof. She put on her new pajamas and went downstairs into the kitchen. Cain still wasn't back yet. So much for not being gone long. She started going through the cupboards looking for a mug and some tea. She didn't think that Cain and Jeb would mind.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Someone was pounding on the back door. Then the doorknob violently jiggled.

She dropped the mug and it landed with a crash on the floor. She couldn't breathe. The back door was a solid door and the curtains were drawn over the only kitchen window. She looked over to the window, trying to peer through the curtains. She couldn't see out and if someone was out there, they couldn't see in either. Did they hear the crashing of the mug?

She had to will herself to move. With trembling hands she started opening drawers as quietly as she could. She found one drawer that had all sorts of kitchen utensils; including some knives. She pulled out the largest one.

She strained to hear anything from outside.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Someone was now pounding on the front door. Then the doorknob violently jiggled again.

She wanted to peek out around the corner but she didn't dare to. She was afraid that she would be seen. There was a window in the living room and she couldn't remember if the curtains were drawn or not.

She strained again to hear anything from outside. The silence was deafening.

It seemed like an eternity but nothing more happened. She cautiously peered around the corner into the living room. With relief she saw that the curtains were closed. Hopefully no one could see in; but then again she couldn't see out either.

She went back into the kitchen and placed one of the chairs underneath the doorknob of the back door. She did the same to the front door.

Her blue blanket was still downstairs and she grabbed it. She sat down at the entranceway to the kitchen and draped it over herself. She loosely held the knife.

A light snow started to fall as Cain walked home. There were only a few people on the street. It was a Monday night and most had already spent their money over the weekend.

Cain walked down the familiar line of houses and reached into his pocket for his keys. He picked one and placed it in the lock. It turned and he pushed the door but it wouldn't go open.

Jill's voice cried out, "Who's there!?!"

"Jill! It's me, Cain. Why won't the door open?" He dropped the bag of food on to the stoop and reached for his gun.

"Are you alone!?"

"Yes Jill I'm alone! What the hell is going on?!" He looked up and down the street. All was silent.

He didn't hear her footsteps but he heard something being moved out of the way. He entered the living room and found Jill with one hand steadying the chair and a knife in the other. When he found her at the cabin her eyes were red and puffy and she turned to him for comfort. This time her face was hard and her eyes were clear and dark.

"Someone tried to come in." By now her confidence returned and there was no sign of the fear that gripped her earlier.

"Where at?" Cain said as he looked back out the door.

"Both the back and front doors."

"Wait here and lock the door behind me. I'm going to take a look around." And with that he went back outside.

Jill did what he asked and went to start picking up the pieces of the broken mug.

Cain carefully walked around the perimeter of the house. Sure enough in the skiffs of snow were one set of footprints that led around the windows and the doors. He checked the barn and found both Jack and Jeb's horse, Charlie, in their stalls. Nothing was disturbed and they both just looked at him. He went back around to the front of the house and knocked on the door. "Jill! It's me Cain."

Jill opened the door for him. He picked up the food that was left on the stoop and went inside. Jill closed the door after him and locked it.

"There was only one set of footprints and it doesn't look like they disturbed anything. The horses are okay."

Jill said nothing but her look said it all. Nothing will happen, yeah right.

He went over to one of the end tables and it was the first time that Jill realized that they had a telephone. She didn't know how she missed it earlier in the evening but she did.

She went back into the kitchen, found a small brush and dustpan and finished cleaning up the broken pieces of mug. It sounded like Cain was talking to someone at a police station. All he said was that he went out to the tavern, came home and found evidence of a prowler. He didn't tell the person on the other end that she was there.

She heard him hang up the phone and walk into the kitchen. He saw her holding the brush and dustpan. "What happened in here?" he asked as he put the bag of food on the counter.

"I had planned on making a cup of tea when whoever it was started to pound on the back door. I dropped the mug." She said it too matter-of-factly for his liking.

"Where can I put this?" She motioned towards the brush and pan.

Cain reached out for it, opened up a cupboard door underneath the sink and dumped the pieces in a small trashcan. "I called the Precinct and submitted a report on the prowler," he told her as he put away the brush and pan. "They may send someone over here to take a second look. If they do I want you to go upstairs."

Jill gave him a quizzical look.

"I don't know if it's coincidence or not. The detective said that they've had reports of 'peeping toms' in the area. Kids mostly. But I don't want to advertise to everyone that you're here." Cain started to take a few pans out of a cupboard. The food was now cold and was going to have to be re-warmed. By now Jill was sitting at the table. The chair that she had placed under the doorknob of the back door was still there. He looked over at her. "Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

"Sure," she shrugged her shoulders. "Never been better."

Jill was already in bed by the time Jeb came home. It was late. Jeb found Cain sitting in one of the chairs, one hand held a large shot of whiskey. Jill's folded blue blanket was on his thigh and he rested his other arm on it. The radio was softly playing a light jazz tune.

After Jeb got settled, he told him everything that had happened; including that night's prowler. Jeb didn't say anything until he was done.

"Who did you speak to at the Precinct?" Jeb asked.

"Detective Spencer. He never did send anyone to look around." Cain replied.

Jeb paused for a moment, "Did you register her yet?"

"What?"

"Register her. About five months ago the Queen issued an order that all outworlders had to register with the government." Jeb replied.

Cain frowned, "Why'd they'd start doing that for?"

"Not sure exactly. It just came from out of nowhere. They grandfathered the order though. Only those who came after the date of the order had to register, all others were optional. But to show support for it, Lord Ahamo registered. I guess most living in the city have registered but there all ones living here prior to the date of the order."

Cain continued to frown, "It sounds like it should have been requested from the police commissioners or from the army if they were that concerned about outworlders."

Jeb shrugged his shoulders, "I know. But none I've talked to knew about it. They didn't think that there was that big of a problem."

By now Cain finished off his whiskey and got up to pour another glass. He gently set the blanket on the floor.

"You can register Jill down at the 9th Precinct. It's the closest one that has a registration office."

"What happens if she doesn't register?"

"At the very least the outworlder gets thrown in jail. If a person is found to be harboring an unregistered outworlder, they're thrown in jail too. On top of that if the outworlder registers and their paperwork isn't in order, they can be held until it's cleared."

Cain sat back down, he was still frowning. "Dad, I know that it doesn't smell right but you're going to have to have to get her registered. It's the law."

"I know son. After what happened tonight, it just sounds too damn convenient."

For a moment neither said anything. A commercial for Poulton's Fine Jewelers played on the radio. It was Samantha's father's business. "What did you say she did again in the other world?" Jeb asked.

"She said that she was a secretary."

Jeb thought for another moment. "She must be a real special one. It's not like we don't have them here already."

Cain didn't say anything. But Jeb's remark made it clear to him that he was questioning both his judgment and his acceptance that she was just a secretary.

Jeb got up to go upstairs, "I'll ask around tomorrow to see if anyone has heard of any travel storm sightings." Cain raised an eyebrow. "And I'll make sure that I'll keep it quiet."

He had only taken a few steps up the staircase when Cain called out to him, "Jeb. How's Samantha?"

Jeb stopped. "She's good Dad." He paused and then added, "Her mom and dad want to have you over for supper some time this week." He lightly gripped the banister. "I told them that I would give you the message." He paused again. "You know that she'd like to have a summer wedding and that's what her parents would like to talk to you about."

Cain looked at his son, standing there on the staircase. It only seemed like yesterday that he was running around the farm and now here he was a grown man, ready to get married, begin a family. His blue eyes softened. "Your mother and I were married in the summer. It's a nice time of year."

"Thanks Dad, "and with that he walked up the staircase.

Cain turned off the radio and the lights then laid down on the couch. He stayed awake for a long time.