I would like to thank you all for lovely reviews and alerts. They mean so much. I know I've been slow at posting, I've had a lot on my plate. But here it is...hope you like it :)

Chapter 19

Mac jumped as her phone rang. She was suddenly surrounded by the others who were also anxious for news.

"Harm?" she asked.

"Yeah hon it's me." he said. "I have her, she's safe."

"Oh thank heavens." Mac said as she flopped onto a chair. "Where was she?"

"She was near where we thought she was. In a park."

"Oh..."

"She had company."

"What kind of company?" Mac asked worriedly.

"Um...Josh Pendry."

"That cute little boy...? What was he doing there?"

"THAT is ONE of the big questions...anyway...we'll see you soon."

"Be quick."

"I'll do my best." he said before ringing off. Josh narrowed his eyes before turning to look out of the window.

Hmm he thought. So Harm was now with Mac, and they were makin a new family with the little princess that already had one. That's fair. But then life wasn't fair was it...not to everybody.

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Chloe was confused at this whole situation and with Josh's mood. He'd been so nice and now he was so mad he looked like he was about to burst.

Josh WAS mad. Mad that Chloe had run away in the first place...he'd never have come across Harmon Rabb again if she hadn't. Now what that meant he had no idea. His Mom had told him that Harm didn't want a ready made family...not there's anyway. Here he was looking for Chloe, he hadn't come looking for him. Hadn't given him a second thought all these years. Probably gonna drop the princess home and then turn him in. Well he'd just run again. There was no way he was going back into foster care. He could look after himself. He wasn't a baby. He didn't need anyone. Not to look after him and DEFINETLY not to boss him around.

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"This little boy...?" Mary asked. "Harm knew him?"

"Yes...well Josh's Dad was a friend, a pilot...he died and when Annie, Josh's Mom needed help she came to Harm. They got close. Long story short, it didn't work out and she left. How Josh ended up here I have NO idea." Mac said.

"We're about to find out..." John said at the familiar sound of gravel grounding and the billowing dust that surrounded his truck as it pulled up the long driveway.

Mattie wanted to turn and run...from Harm and from Chloe, but curiosity about this boy kept her where she was. Not that Mac would have let her run anyway.

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"I can see why you ran away." Josh said sarcastically as they pulled up in front of the old, large and homely whitewashed house. Chloe's face flushed.

"I wasn't really running." she tried to explain.

"I bet you even have a pony don't ya?"

"Kinda." Chloe answered quietly. Sometimes she was thirteen and a half going on thirty and sometimes... like now...she was thirteen and a half going on six. What had started off seeming like the idea of the century somehow seemed sort of childish. Josh shook his head at the ridiculousness of her situation.

"Bite me!" she said maturely. Josh's mood slipped a little and he tried not to smile but didn't succeed. Chloe joined him.

"Keep on smiling there you two...Mac will enjoy that." Harm muttered through his teeth. Both kids swallowed as Mac flung open the car door.

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"Um...hi." Chloe squeaked with a small wave and a wince at the faces that were peering at her and Josh through the now open door. "Um this is Josh."

"Chloe how could you!" Mac barked. She would have liked to have hoisted her out of that car herself. She ignored what was supposed to be a distraction in Josh's introduction and put out her hand. This wasn't the same little boy from long ago. He was physically older of course but not only that, he was older...

"I'm sorry... Chloe said through her now wobbly lip, her large brown eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I missed you...I...I wanted you to come." Get me, she was thinking, come get me...but her grandma and grandpa were standing right there and their faces said they'd been hurt enough. Harm's face said she she shouldn't have made everyone so upset.

"Come on now." Mary said. All of you get outta there now and come on in the house. You need to have a bite. You must be starving. Josh's unkempt appearance didn't escape her.

"Why don't you both have a shower while I fix you some breakfast. Mattie can help me." Mattie didn't have to be told twice...she trotted inside behind Mary where it was safe. At least for now.

"Good idea." Chloe said trying to head for the house behind the others.

"Let Josh go first." Harm said. "We need to have a word."

"S'alright." Josh said sullenly. "I'd rather eat first." That wasn't really the truth, he could almost feel that hot water on his skin already, smell the soap and feel the itchiness of his scalp soothed as the hot water washed way the filth. The temptation was great...but not great enough that he was going to do it just cos Harm said to.

"YOU might rather eat first son but it would be better if you showered before you sit at the table."

"I told you before...I'm NOT your son...you just busy yourself with your princess here. I'll have something to eat and then be on my way." Harm's head swung around.

"Pardon me?" he said. "I know you know better than to speak to your elders that way." Josh rolled his eyes.

"She said I could have breakfast."

"Of course you're gonna have breakfast, but you have to shower first." Josh folded his arms sullenly.

"Josh just do it. Please." Harm said. He was trying to be patient because he could see the boy was fighting with himself and he was upset, but he wasn't going to take this attitude forever.

Josh stomped away from Harm and John ushered him inside to show him where the bathroom was. They were all grateful to him for looking out for Chloe...fact was, the kid could smell a little sweeter.

Harm sat down on the porch swing. "What were you thinking? Come over here." he said to a suspicious looking Chloe as he patted the seat beside him. He sounded calm but you could never tell...

"What no please...?" she asked. Harm shook his head. She was somethin else. "Josh got a please." she added for comic relief.

"Josh is hurting and he's angry and he's used to not trusting. You're not. You ran out of pleases yesterday when you planned this stunt...now come over here before I come over and get you."

Chloe took a deep breath and took her place next to him...well on the same swing...as far out of reach as she could manage.

"Would you believe I'm really, really sorry?" She asked sweetly.

"Yes, I would." Harm said thoughtfully. "I would like you tell me what exactly it is you're sorry for though. But first...I want you to answer my original question."

"Jog my memory." Chloe said as she fought for a little extra time.

"What were you thinking?" Harm asked. Chloe shrugged.

"I ...I couldn't stop thinking about you and Mac and Mattie all playin happy families, I wanna be part of that." She took a defeated breath. "I had my Mom and my step Dad and then I lost my Mom and then we found my Dad...but I've never lived in a house with a real nice Mom and Dad, that loved each other and the kids."

"Why the hell didn't you just ask?" Harm said. He was touched...but still, she couldn't go around causing a fuss like this and putting herself in danger just to get her own way.

"I didn't want to hurt my grandparents." she said.

"What? You don't think you've hurt them now?"

"I didn't think." Chloe said before she burst into tears. Harm pulled her into his side and hugged her.

"Besides, they knew something was bothering you. They only want you to be happy." Chloe's face lit up.

"So they'll let me?"

"I wouldn't be a bit surprised." Harm said. "But we'll have to talk to them."

"I'm glad your not so mad any more. For a minute there I thought you were gonna spank me again."

"Oh I'm still gonna spank you." Harm said with a grin. "And your accomplice...after you eat and shower."

"But I was upset and disturbed and everything."

"Oh you'll be even more upset and disturbed when I'm through with you."

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Josh stepped out of the shower and wrapped himself in a big fluffy towel. He looked around for the clothes that he'd dropped on the floor but they were gone.

"Oh shit." he said out loud. Now what was he gonna do? He was dying to devour some of the delicious bacon he could smell cooking and whatever else that that delicious smell was, but he couldn't go down there in a towel. They'd taken his clothes. He was almost about to cry when there was a gentle knock on the door.

"I've put some clothes for you outside the door." John said. "Just a pair of Chloe's Dad's jeans form when he was a boy and a T shirt..." he said. "Mary saves everything." he said with a smile at the closed door. "We'll wait for you downstairs."

"Thanks." Josh said with a sigh of relief. When he was sure that John had left, he opened the door a crack and picked up the neatly folded pile of clothes. He held them to his nose and gave a sniff. They must have been packed away with some kind of soap cos they smelled fresh and clean. As he slipped into them he marvelled at the feel of the soft t-shirt against his skin. He COULD look after himself, but he had to admit, this was nice.

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The family all sat around the table and Mary and Mattie brought the food in. Chloe had taken a quick shower in her grandmother's bathroom and was now seated next to her granddad.

As Mattie placed a plate of bacon beside Harm she leaned in and whispered.

"I'm sorry Harm."

"We'll discuss it later."

"I..."

"After breakfast." Mattie took her place just as Josh came down the stairs.

"Hi." she said.

"Hi." Josh sat in front of a plate Mary had already filled with food. He hadn't had a breakfast like this since forever. He forked madly, shovelling mouthful after mouthful of bacon, eggs and pancakes into his mouth.

"Slow down honey." Max said.

"It's on my plate." Josh said, pulling the plate a little closer to his body.

"It's yours hon. You just don't wanna be sick that's all." He nodded and took several gulps of milk before resuming his eating. This was heaven. The others did their best to get on with their own breakfast but it was hard to not look.

Harm watched Mac as she watched Josh and he knew...there'd be no need for mush discussion about Josh coming to live with them. It was in her eyes. She wanted him already.

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AS the last remnants of the morning meal disappeared off Josh's plate Chloe yawned.

"You know...I really didn't sleep that well. I think I'll take a nap."

"Nice try." Mac said with a grin. "Besides your grandparents want to talk to you."

"I guess you want us to wait upstairs." Mattie said looking over at Josh.

"No I think this involves the WHOLE family." Harm said pointedly.

"Mattie...Harm told us what it is that you wanted honey and that's fine with us. You DO deserve a family." Mattie smiled. Josh didn't. So the princess won again.

"Really? You don't mind?"

"No...you can ALL come to us for vacations and weekends, while Harm and Mac are working."

"Josh, John means you too." Mac said looking at Harm who nodded. "We'd like you to come live with us too."

"You don't have to. I'll be ok." Josh said, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Yes you will, cos we're going to look out for you. I'll go to the courts and fix it so you can stay with us...permanently."

"Would you like that honey?" Mac asked.

Josh nodded. He wasn't stupid. His belly was full and he was comfortable and clean and he'd bet there was a soft warm bed on offer too...and he was tired.

"Thanks." he said.

"None needed." Harm said. "You wouldda been living with me as soon as your Mom passed if I'd known." Josh nodded. Maybe he'd been wrong about Harm.

"Now... you girls can go wait for me." Harm said. Both girls stood and headed towards the stairs.

"Not that way..." Harm said. "This is a farm...seeing as how we've come all this way, I think I'll give you girls the whole woodshed experience.

"NO WAY!" Chloe said. "Grandpa!" Grandpa John held his hands up in mock defence.

"Can't help you honey... it's all part of the family experience." Josh actually giggled, even he wasn't used to hearing such a lighthearted sound from himself.

TBC