A/N I want to thank SierraGirlBZ who helped me with facts about mythology...it helped me create this fantasy/romance story.

Chapter Five

By the time Heath stopped at a stream that ran through a portion of the Barkley ranch, he had traveled a number of miles, gone around boulders of every size and passed by more than one tree. He had also realized what Eugene had done. That conclusion made Heath think; Nick just might be right in allowing himself to be a bit paranoid. After all, if something wasn't wrong, why would their baby brother do all he could do throw Heath off the trail? Which- to Heath's astonishment- Eugene was doing rather well.

Heath knelt down by the stream looking for any signs his baby brother had actually taken his horse into the water. As he did so, he found himself taking a serious look at the way Eugene had been behaving lately…and how the family had been treating him. By the time Heath was through, he couldn't help but wonder if Eugene even had a patient he was dealing with. If that was the case, he didn't know who to slap…the family for refusing to treat Eugene as an adult, or Eugene for what appeared to him to be a childish attempt at running away. He started to stand up only to find his eyes falling on some nearby pebbles at the edge of the water; they had been disturbed. It made Heath sure that Eugene had traveled through the water for awhile. He turned around and, remounting his horse, headed down stream hoping to find pick on the youngest Barkley's trail.

~oOo~

Eugene and Dawn, who had left the line shack the moment the sun started setting, were now miles away from the shack and moving as fast as Eugene dared push the horse. If it weren't for an occasional 'humph' from Dawn, Eugene might have thought the ride wasn't being as hard on her as he had thought it would be. As it was, he apologized a couple of times. The second time, Dawn said more than 'don't worry about it'. "I'm the one who's sorry. I don't know what I was thinking hiding in your barn. I should have found another place."

"I'm glad you didn't." Eugene smiled as he turned the horse onto a path that he knew would, sooner or later, turn into small rocks and pebbles. He knew he was taking a chance that the horse would pick up one of the pebbles in its hoof, only he was desperate. Sooner or later, he felt sure Heath would reach the line shack. Sure Eugene had left a note for Heath, but Eugene felt sure his blonde haired brother would still look for him. When Heath found the trail they were taking, he'd follow it. Even with all Eugene had done to shake anyone who might try to follow the trail, Eugene knew if Heath succeeded in finding him, he wanted to be in a place that also had a hiding place for Dawn. "I'm afraid someone else would have found you and heaven knows what they'd do with you."

Dawn had heard stories about the rare times men had found one of her kind; that being the case, she had no doubt Eugene had just cause for his concern. Though, it still amazed her that he hadn't done any of the things the stories she'd heard said a man would do…or try to do. "You are different."

Eugene couldn't help but smile. He'd been told that on more than one occasion. Okay, the reasons varied from one person to the other, but they all wound up saying the same thing. Though, in this case, he couldn't help but wonder why she'd said those words. "How would you know that? It's not like you or any of your people make a habit of showing yourselves to humans." 'Not that you can afford to, not with your people resembling so much of mythology' was Eugene thought only to himself.

Dawn sighed and began telling him some of the stories she'd heard. By the time midnight rolled around they arrived at a cave that was hidden by trees and bushes…one that he had found quite by accident a few months back….Eugene was appalled by all that she had told him. "No wonder you and your kind remain hidden, though I'd like to know how you do it. I mean, I can see it before this land become so populated, but now? How do you keep from being seen?"

Dawn chuckled as he dismounted the horse and then helped her down. "Once inside, I'll answer your question." She told him. Soon they were inside. The cave was large enough that he decided to bring his horse inside and put him towards the back. He was grateful he'd decided to leave the small boulder…which was mostly flat on top….in place when he'd discovered the place. Once Dawn was seated on the boulder, Eugene brought in his horse, unsaddled it and then went outside, broke a branch off one of the bushes and did his best to brush away the hoof prints and footprints that led to the bushes and hidden cave. Once that was done, he took a small amount food; food he had brought with himand handed it to Dawn.

"Eating at this time of night isn't the best, but we haven't eaten since noon. After I get a couple hours of sleep, I'll see what I can do about catching some fish in a nearby stream."

Dawn, who had been looking at her wings, sighed and asked. "How long do you think they'll take to heal?"

Eugene heard the question she was not asking and, for the first time, thought about her family. "A couple of weeks at least," he answered as he took a bit of the apple in his hand. After few minutes, he said, "Your family, they'll be looking for you."

Dawn nodded slowly. "But they'll be looking in the wrong area. Like I said, I was exploring farther than I should have."

"So," Eugene stood up and walked to the front of the cave even if there was a bush blocking the entrance. "How will they keep from being seen when they do look?" He turned and looked at Dawn.

"You need to understand that, as a general rule, my people live high up in the mountains and don't often come down into the valley during the day. That is, not in their true form they don't. During those times we have the ability to hide our wings. It is quite easy; though, it is only done if absolutely necessary. I mean, none of us wish to be without the ability to fly. I doubt I will be missed for a couple more days, as I am known for wandering around in the mountains…as a general rule that is my part of the earth to care for. If my wings weren't hurt, I could show you how we can hide them." Dawn said as she nodded towards her right wing. "For the most part, I'm sure most of the ones looking will look at night…as we also have the ability to see in the dark."

"That could be both bad and good." Eugene couldn't help but chuckle as he thought on all the pranks him and his college friends had pulled under the cover of the dark. Dawn seemed to read his mind and started laughing with him…and Eugene once again felt drawn to the stranger in front of him.