It was around noon when Hailey went outside the next day. She had offered Zane to watch as she ran Ranger on a lunge line. She had explained it to him earlier that it was basically a really long halter used for training an inexperienced horse, calming a high strung one before riding, or another way to exercise when it couldn't be ridden. 'He needs a refresher on ground manners.' She had said.

Zane, being repaired of all damages dealt by Hermit's kick, had come outside and watched as Ranger and Hailey worked together in the paddock. It was a pleasant sunny day but with a slight chill in the breeze, which came from the ominous clouds shrouding the mountains from afar.

Zane was leaning against the rail of the porch, watching the two. Samuel had eventually come out to join him.

Now they were both on the rail, watching as Hailey was rewarding Ranger with a neck scratch.

"Hailey has quite a way with Ranger," Zane said.

"Yup," Samuel replied. He took a sip from a cup of cola he was holding while resting his head on the other. "Those two are like peas in a pod." He cleared his throat and turned to Zane. "Y'know they were born on the same day?"

Zane looked at Samuel back, surprised.

"Really?"

Samuel nodded.

"Oh yea. And every morning on her birthday she gets up and makes Ranger a little 'cake' of apples, sugar, and molasses. She says every year it's Ranger's every dream come true. I say it's instant diabetes for humans." He chuckled as he remembered something. "I remember last year, she got up at around one in the morning to put it in the freezer. That also happened to be the time when I was trying to get a new barrel racing saddle from her mother into the garage. Almost got caught red-handed."

"Hailey told me about barrel racing and other disciplines," Zane said. "Is barrel racing all she does?"

Samuel shook his head.

"No." He replied. "Ranger's trained also in team roping, goat tying, and some in reining."

"I recall something about John mentioning something about her barrel racing training…" Zane muttered.

"You've met John?"

"Yes. He is quite friendly."

"Does he know about the secret?"

Zane shook his head. "No. He doesn't. Nobody knew when you picked us up either after Hermit assaulted me, either."

Samuel sighed at the mention of the previous day's mishap.

"I'm still upset about what happened yesterday." He said. "Hailey should've never left you around a horse like that." He paused to think. "Or any horse you're not familiar with, for that matter."

"Samuel." Zane began. "There is no reason to be upset at Hailey. It's wasn't her fault. She specifically instructed me to stay where I was and to not go near Hermit. He simply seemed to be bothered by the ribbon and I tried to alleviate the problem." He tenderly touched where Hermit's shoe had dug into his exoskeleton. "Unfortunately, that resulted in me being kicked."

"I know that," Samuel muttered. He sighed. "I think I was a little too harsh yesterday." He rested his face in his hand. "She's such a good kid. The ranch is going to be in good hands when she gets older. I dread scolding her as much as she dreads being scolded by me. Believe me, I hated every second of it." He sighed again. "It really kills me to bring down her day…"

"We all learn by making mistakes," Zane said. "I may have been built, but trying to train a sugar-loving ten-year-old boy destined to become the green ninja taught me that it is all a part of the process of maturing."

"I guess that's true," Samuel said. He straightened up a little. "Y'know…"

"What?"

"Sometimes…" Samuel began. "Sometimes I wonder if us adults tend to be so focused on keeping our kids in line we tend to forget their just…well...kids. They don't know or see things the way they do. They make mistakes."

Zane nodded. "Exactly."

After that, there was just awkward silence. Samuel yawned and rested his head against the wooden pole supporting the roof of the porch and seemingly falling asleep.

Zane was about to look away when something on Samuel's face caught his eye.

Covered by a slightly discolored grey streak in his facial hair was a jagged stripe of darker skin about two inches long. It started from the bottom of his jawline below the corner of his lip and ran up to his ear- a scar.

Zane had never noticed it until now. Why he didn't know. It must've been because the sideburn was covering it, but now that he saw it, it couldn't have been more obvious.

Then Zane saw more. A small blotch above his right eye, another hidden scar given away by the grey hairs underneath his jawline, a graze mark on his neck peeking from the collar of the ever-present tan jacket, a nicked ear, and a wide one that was on the underside of the wrist in which Samuel had been resting his head on.

'All those scars…' Zane thought to himself. 'Where did he receive those?'

Zane was very tempted to ask, but was also aware at the fact that Samuel may be self-conscious about them, so he decided to hold off on the question until he knew a little more about him. He looked away so Samuel wouldn't notice him staring.

Speaking of which, Zane went back and thought about how well he knew him, and was very surprised to discover that he didn't really know the man at all. All he did know was from what he had seen, that Samuel was a very tough, strict, and harsh person at first glance, but once one began to be more in his company, he lightened up and was actually quite friendly and kind.

But again, Zane didn't know him wholly, and not all people were who they seemed to be or say they were. Samuel had never told Zane that he suffered from PTSD until Hailey did after he upset him a few days ago. And he didn't talk about Mt. Horn the way she did either. But he didn't trust the nindroid as she did. But the conversation they just had made Zane a little more comfortable in his presence.

Also, again think back even further to when he first saw him, there was something about Samuel's weather-beaten face that seemed...odd.

It was was a hint of something beneath that friendly look that really was a contradiction. You could see it in his face, you could see it in his eyes as he had watched Hailey and Ranger, who was now taking the horse off the longe line and give him a sugar cube before scratching his neck. It was there.

Then Zane realized it was a look of sadness. It wasn't exactly something he couldn't put into words, but the best way was as if something had happened long ago to him and it had been haunting him since. Or maybe it was something scarring and horrible that he just couldn't forget.

'Perhaps it associates with the event Hailey informed me about.' He thought to himself. 'It may have not only scarred him mentally and physically but emotionally as well…"

Zane glanced at Samuel again, thinking he was asleep. So he was very surprised when he saw him with one eye open. Zane gasped with surprise.

"Whaddya starin' at?" Samuel asked, in a humorous way.

It was a very awkward moment. Zane just stood there, probably looking the most stupid he had ever looked, while Samuel was leaning against the post, waiting for an answer.

"Er-nothing," Zane said quickly. "It was nothing."

"Oh, come on," Samuel said. He straightened up. "I saw ya' starin'. Why?" He smiled. "Too pretty for ya'?" He chuckled.

Zane laughed a little himself. "It was nothing, Samuel."

"Come on, man. I saw you lookin'. Now don't lie to me."

Zane knew that he wouldn't be able to play this off. He stared at the floor, trying to think of a way to put this delicately. How was he to start this?

'Select your words carefully, Zane.' He thought to himself. 'Samuel becoming upset again like the previous evening is the last thing you need.'

"Zane, is there something wrong?" Samuel asked. He sounded worried.

Zane straightened back up. "I'm fine." He said and looked up at Samuel. "Samuel, listen to me. When I ask you this, I do not mean to offend, upset, point out anything, or downgrade you in any way shape or form."

"Alright…," Samuel said slowly, very unsure where this was going.

Zane breathed in. 'Here goes nothing.'

"I noticed scars on your face." He said tentatively. "That's what I was observing when you caught me." He paused for a moment. "Tell me right away if this seems to be an invasion of your privacy, but your scars...how did you receive those?"

"My what?" Samuel asked. "What do you mean my…" Samuel reached a hand up to his face and touched where the hidden scar which Zane noticed first was. Then there seemed to be a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

"Oh…" He said and turned away. "That…"

Zane was now afraid he had taken this conversation too far.

"Samuel," Zane began, taking a few steps closer to the man, but ready to get back in case he decided to do something, like lashing out. "Are you alright?"

Samuel's P.O.V

It was a normal day. I had never expected that this day would be the one where my life would be forever changed. How it happened, I'm sure I'll never know.

I began noticing something was off after Hailey had shot that bruiser in Big Meadow. She wasn't acting like herself. Our conversations were short, she didn't go into details when describing her hunts as she usually did, and she avoided my gaze. Food, supplies, and blankets were mysteriously going missing, and when I asked Hailey about it she seemed to get defensive or nervous. I couldn't place my finger on it or come up with a reasonable explanation as to why. But I found out soon enough.

I knew something was wrong when I was asking her about one of her hunts over dinner. She would always tell me about the trails she took, how far she went, described the deer she saw, but not this time. She could barely tell me how many miles she hiked that day.

That's when I heeded the red flag. Something wasn't right.

"Is something wrong?" I asked her. "You've been acting strange ever since you came home today."

My niece quickly shook her head. "No."

'She's lying to me.' I thought, growing concerned. 'She never does.'

I put down my fork to let her know I clearly wasn't believing her.

"There's something you're not telling me, Hailey." I said softly but at the same time in a way to show I wasn't taking any lie for an answer. "What is it?"

Hailey looked at me and gulped. Now it couldn't get any clearer she was lying.

"Okay," I told her. "Now I know something's up. Just tell me. You're not getting out of this one."

I watched as Hailey heaved a sigh and closed her eyes. I myself got nervous. Whatever she was about to tell me, it couldn't be good.

"I was tracking my deer from earlier this week..." She began. "I followed it to a dry riverbed about three miles out..."

Then next thing I knew she was recounting this entire story of how she found this person named Zane who was hurt, and she had befriended him and was taking food and medical supplies to him and using hunting as her alibi.

"But why didn't you call search and rescue?" I asked, totally baffled. None of this was adding up. "They would have taken care of it, and you know that! Why keep it a secret?"

Hailey looked so nervous she looked like she was about to blow.

"That's the thing..." She said, gulping and heaving a sigh.

Oh no. She wasn't done.

I steeled myself, but nothing could prepare me from the next words that came out of her mouth.

"H-he's not from here..."

I was baffled. What did she mean?

"W-what?" I asked, totally confused. "What do you mean?"

"Zane's from Ninjago..."

My heart dropped to my stomach and stopped. My face blanched. The second those words left her mouth, I was shocked. Thoroughly, absolutely shocked.

It hit me like a brick to the head. An outsider. From Ninjago. In Mt. Horn. My face lost color as I pictured the worst-case scenarios.

Hordes of outsiders invading Mt. Horn by the thousands. Us being driven out like cattle. People getting slaughtered by the hundreds. Battles, war, and bloodshed. Foreigners coming in and destroying everything we worked for centuries on end. The beautiful place we call home, gone, and us perishing along with it.

When everything started to sink in, I became filled with anger at Hailey's ignorance.

Was she crazy?! Did she realize what she was getting herself into?! Did she read her history book?! Did she realize how much trouble she'd get herself into if the word got out?! What would happen to her? What would happen to me? Did she realize how much damage she would cause?!

The angry feeling in my chest was rising up to my throat, and I tried desperately to force it away. Anger was an emotion I had never felt in a long time, and I never wanted to feel it again, because…well...last time I was this mad...something happened that brought back bad, bad memories that threw my life into oblivion.

But this time, it was too strong for me to hold it back.

"WHAT?!" I yelled, standing up. "YOU'RE HELPING AN OUTSIDER?!"

"Yes..."

Her answer only enraged me more. "YES?! YES?! THAT'S YOUR ANSWER?! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE?! YOU'RE HELPING AN ENEMY TO OUR COUNTRY!"

"I was helping someone in need!" Hailey said. "It's how I was raised!"

"YOU WERE RAISED TO BE HONEST AND TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR COUNTRY! YOU'RE HELPING OUR ENEMY! AND NOW GOD WHO KNOWS WHAT'S BEEN BROUGHT HERE BECAUSE OF YOU!"

All I saw was red. Blinded by anger and in a flash of rage, I stormed to my bedroom. With a shaky hand, I punched in the code to my gun safe and lifted my shotgun from its rack. Slamming the safe shut I stomped down the hall and snatched my truck keys off the counter and head for the door. My niece had gone behind my back, using my vehicle and my supplies to help an outsider.

Whoever this 'Zane' character was, he was about to meet his end.

"What are you doing!?" Hailey asked.

"I'M GONNA KILL THAT SON OF A BITCH AND PUT AN END TO WHAT YOU STARTED!" I roared as I stormed for the door. Hailey jumped from her seat and blocked my way, standing in front of the door.

Oh, she was protecting him now?! "MOVE!" I yelled.

"NO!" Hailey yelled back.

To my shock, Hailey reached for my gun and tried to pull it away from me. I fought back, but she was surprisingly strong and was more of a struggle than I had thought.

"YOU CAN'T KILL HIM! I WON'T LET YOU!" She yelled.

"GIVE ME A GOOD REASON WHY I SHOULDN'T!" I shouted back. What the hell had gotten into her?!

Suddenly the gun was ripped from my hands. Hailey was still standing in front of the door, my gun in her dirty, traitorous hands. I stood there, glowering at her, heaving and trembling with rage.

Hailey took a moment to catch her breath. Then she spoke.

"He doesn't want to be here." She told me. "He has a family and friends that love and care for him. He never meant to come here and all he wants is to go back. I've gotten to know him and he's not a bad person. He's scared, Uncle Sam."

I didn't know whether or not I could believe her. She had never told a lie. She was the most honest person I knew. But at the same time, she kept this very dangerous secret from me. Was what she said really true?

"What would you want Uncle Sam, if you were in Zane's position? Wouldn't you want someone to help you?"

I didn't answer, still unsure if I could trust her. Hailey spoke again, almost pleadingly this time.

"Uncle Sam, please. He's hurt real bad. There's people trying to hurt him. He just wants to get home. If I turn him over, they're going to kill him. I can't do that to him. I can't do that to his family."

Something in her voice and the look in her eye triggered something in my memory. The last time I had heard someone plead like that, it was a very long time ago.

Suddenly a memory began to resurface. It wasn't one I wanted to remember. I never wanted to remember.

I groaned softly and shook my head to try and block it out, but it was too late.

(WARNING: STRONG VIOLENCE! Skip this if you want to!)

~Flashback~

"Samuel!" Heather screamed at the top of her lungs. "SAMUEL! STOP!"

But it was too late. Heather watched in horror as an enraged and glazed Samuel hoisted up her screaming and terrified son, Ash, and threw him, fueled by the whole bottle of whiskey he had just finished a few minutes before, sending the ten-year-old crashing into the side of the stairs.

Ash cried out in pain as he collided with the stairs and crumpled to the ground. He clutched side, whimpering in pain.

Heavy footsteps and the menacing figure of Samuel made Ash look up. Through vision blurred with tears, he saw the man, struggling to stand straight, fists clenched, and a fire of spitefulness blazing in his eyes.

"Whe I'm don with you, boy…" Samuel slurred. He raised a fist.

Ash cowered.

"MOMMY!" He screamed to Heather. "HELP ME!"

Ash watched as Heather look around, see the empty bottle of whiskey, grab it, and just before any harm could be dealt to her son, swung it at Samuel.

There was a loud crash as the bottle smashed into pieces against Samuel's head and another scream of fear from Ash as he watched him stagger and collapse to the floor, senseless.

~Flashback End~

No. It wasn't happening again, wasn't it? I couldn't let this happen again. It almost destroyed my life last time I was like this.

I looked up at Hailey, who was staring me in the eyes for the first time tonight.

"Please, Uncle Sam." Hailey said, begging. "I don't want him to die..."

She stood in my way, still clutching my shotgun, determination in her eyes. Hailey knew right frtom wrong. If she was wrong she would have stood down by now. She saw something in this man that I didn't.

Finally, I gave in with a sigh. "Take me to him."

I tossed Hailey the truck keys. She caught them and together we went outside and got in the truck.

My shotgun lay on the center console. Maybe I should take it just in case...

Hailey grabbbed it before I could. "This is staying with me."

"Grrr..." I grumbled. "I have more decency than that..."

Samuel tossed Hailey the truck keys. They went to the truck. Hailey got behind the wheel and Samuel sat in the passenger. The shotgun lay on the center console. Samuel reached for it but Hailey grabbed it first.

Boy, was it a sight alright. The second Hailey shone the flashlight on this person, who wasn't even a person, really, I knew it didn't take a fool to tell he wasn't from these parts.

Zane was in no condition to be put in the elements any longer, so we decided to get him out. We had to fight two killer ghosts, Hailey killing one and the other getting away. Then I had no choice but to have to harbor this stranger in my house. Which was something I did not want to do. After we got him settled, Hailey pointed out to me he may be the one in the prophecy, and if we let the authorities know about him god who knows how that would affect it.

So we kept it a secret. I was very unsure about all of it at first, having a stranger, much less from Ninjago, and much much less one that was not even human, in our house. Why did he come here? How did he get in here? How long would he be here? If he was staying here long term, how would it work out?

Well, After a few days within taking him in, I found out that Zane was a ninja, the master of ice and was on the run. Apparently a person named Morro stabbed him, whence then two of his cronies had been chasing him all up to this point.

But as far as staying here goes, things had actually been working out just fine. Zane lives with us now, sleeping in the spare bedroom across from mine, with his a pair of nightclothes and a collared shirt I let him wear. This was something I was at first unsure about, but Hailey is now even giving him what I call "Mt. Horn 101" so he could blend in with us until he can go home. We'll have to start planning if we want to get him home ASAP. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy his company.

In the days and weeks that followed, I got to know Zane a little better. He was basically a walking computer, and what I've seen with Juneau and Beibeis, very passive and good with animals (particularly birds), and one of the best damn cooks I've ever known. He made breakfast for us yesterday, and it was absolute heaven. Of course the biscuits weren't as good as my mother makes them, but you get my point.

Zane's also become a good friend with my niece. Just yesterday she had taken him to the stables to expand his horizons. He follows her around, always asking questions. I knew they were becoming friends before I knew anything about all this, but when I walked in to see the two of them playing on the Xbox together, I knew she was comfortable with him being here.

Me at first, on the other hand, wasn't comfortable at all. No matter how friendly he appeared to be, he was an outsider, and always would be. I was gruff and stiff with him at first. And very wary. So wary, in fact, that I kept a loaded revolver hidden in the pocket of my favorite tan hunting jacket at first all the time. But I was comfortable with him now too, so the revolver went away. I don't know if either Hailey or Zane knows it, but it was something they don't need to now.

Today Hailey made the announcement at breakfast saying she would work with Ranger on a longe line. Of course, as I expected, after she was done and went outside, Zane followed. Once I finished cleaning up the kitchen, I got ready for the day and went outside on the porch to watch Ranger's training session. It was a sunny day with white puffy clouds in the sky, and a cool breeze blowing.

As I expected, Zane was also watching Ranger, so I joined him. There was a little awkward silence.

"Hailey has quite a way with Ranger." Zane eventually said.

"Yup." I replied, taking a sip of a cup of cola I had. "Those two are like two peas in a pod." I cleared my throat and looked at Zane. "Y'know they were born on the same day?"

"Really?"

I nodded, and the next thing I knew I and he were having a rather enjoyable conversation.

But, just like any other, we eventually ran out of stuff to talk about, so there was really nothing but awkward silence between us.

The warm sun was starting to make me feel tired, so I yawned, rested my head against the wooden support, and closed my eyes. I wasn't trying to fall asleep, just trying to rest my eyes a little bit.

After about a minute, I felt somebody was staring at me, so I opened an eye out of curiosity.

Needless to say, I was very surprised to see Zane staring at me as he appeared of me catching him, although I didn't show it.

And I don't mean to sound mean, but the look on Zane's face was absolutely priceless!

Whaddya starin' at?" I asked, laughing slightly at Zane's expression.

It was a little awkward, Zane just standing there, looking a little stupid (again, not trying to sound mean!), with me just leaning against the support.

"Er-nothing. It was nothing." Zane said, finally breaking the awkward silence.

"Oh, come on." I said, straightened up. "I saw ya' starin'. Why?" I smiled. "Too pretty for ya'?" I laughed a little more. Love cracking that joke. Especially when Hailey rolls her eyes at me before walking away.

"It was nothing, Samuel," Zane said, also laughing some.

"Come on, man. I saw ya' lookin'. Now don't lie to me."

I watched as Zane's happy expression melted away and became worried. He stared down at his feet. And he was like that and quiet for a while.

"Zane," I asked, becoming a little concerned myself. "Is there something wrong?"

Well, the last part was kinda obvious. I just wanted to make sure.

I watched as Zane looked up at me. "I'm fine." He said. "Samuel, listen to me." He began. "When I ask you this, I do not mean to offend, upset, point out anything, or downgrade you in any way, shape, or form."

"Alright…" I said slowly, very unsure about where this was going? Offend me? Downgrade me? How? What was wrong?

"I noticed scars on your face." Zane said. "That's what I was observing when you caught me." I waited on him as he stopped for a second.

"Tell me right away if this seems to be an invasion of your privacy, but your scars...how did you receive those?"

For a second it didn't sink in.

"My what?" I asked, momentarily confused. "What do you mean my…"

I reached a hand up to my face. I felt, beneath the coarse hair of where my sideburn joined with the rest of my facial hair, the slightly rougher and bumpier strip of skin.

One of my…

My scars. My battle scars. Scars I got from…it.

"Oh…" Was all I could say. "That…" I turned away so Zane wouldn't see me blanching, hand still on my face. I felt my knees starting to go weak.

'Nonononono.' I thought frantically as the unmistakable feeling of a horrible memory of it coming back. The feeling of pure terror and dread. I did everything in my power to block it out.

I heard footsteps behind me.

"Samuel," it was Zane's voice. "Are you alright?"

No. I wasn't alright. I was the complete opposite of alright. I felt sick to my stomach as the horrible memory threatened to resurface just like it did the other day. Though no one could really see it, I was still settling back down from the flashback I had.

Thankfully, after a few moments, I forced the bad thought back down and tried to regain myself. But I could only do it for so long.

"I'm alright…" I said shakily. I heaved a sigh, resting my forehead in my hand. "Just had a bad headache, that's all." I lied. I didn't want Zane to worry for me.

"Are you certain?" Zane asked. "You seem distressed."

"I'm alright," I said again, a little less shaky this time. "So you wanted to know where my scars came from?"

Again, I was about to tell a big fat lie. All of it. Every single word. But again, I didn't want Zane's concern, and I didn't want him asking again.

"If it's a-" Zane said, but I was already cutting him off.

"Nonono." I said, shaking my head "It's fine. Ranch accident." I said as casually as I could, wiping some dust out of my eye. "I was walking along if stretch of barbed wire fence to survey it when my horse spooked. Tossed me off and went flying straight into the wire."

I saw Zane wince.

"Ouch." He said. "That must've been a painful accident."

"Yup." I said. Boy, it was an accident, alright. But it was something far beyond the ranch. And something more horrific than barbed wire, too.

I wasn't comfortable talking about this subject anymore, so I looked around for an excuse to go back inside and was about to take another sip of my soda before realizing my cup was empty.

'Perfect.' I thought almost instantly.

I got up.

"Where are you going?" Zane asked.

"Need a refill," I said. "I'll be back out."

Before Zane could say anything else, I slipped through the door and closed it, and walked into the kitchen, whistling the tune to "Old Flame" by Alabama, my favorite band. It helped sometimes.

I opened up the fridge and had just grabbed the bottle of cola when it happened.

Sometimes, I feel nauseous before a flashback begins. Or maybe something reminds me of it, like the rifle. Other times it just came surging full force into my head without any warning.

Which was exactly what happened.

It came so strong and quick, I staggered back and cried out with surprise, dropped the bottle, clutching my head, and fell against the counter.

"No!" I yelled, collapsing to my knees and shaking my head. "Nonononono! Go away! GO AWAY!"

But it was too late, because, just like all the others, it started with a horrible feeling of dread seizing my throat and my peripheral vision shutting down, leaving me in total darkness.

Whoa, is Samuel gonna be okay?!