Here is Chapter One! In the books it is never mentioned how Dan's mother died. And there are two accounts of how his father died. (I think) so I made my own version of how his Mother died. I seriously do not like the way Regan, and everyone else, (even Maypenny, a bit) treated Dan. Even when they were giving him a second chance, they acted as ifbhe would fail. Sure he fell into bad company, but that doesn't mean that he can't be trusted in anything. Anyway... before I go on too long, here is the first chapter.
Chapter One: Disapproval and Kindness
The next morning Dan woke to the pounding on his cell door, he slowly got to his feet, rubbing his pounding head. The guard stepped in, and handed him a bag to put his things in. He reached under his pillow, and pulled out a picture of his family. His family before his Dad died and his Mother fell apart, eventually dying of liver disease from drinking. He grabbed his Cowhand's jacket, and headed for the door, the guard following closely. As he passed the small mirror on the wall, he winced at the sight he made. His hair was tousled, and his eyes shadowed, and red rimed. He was led towards the front of the building where there was a desk with a tired looking old man. Dan looked around the room, and saw, in one of the chairs, a tall, young, red haired man, who looked enough like his mother, that he must be his uncle. The red haired man looked up, and stared at Dan.
Dan took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly as he saw the emotions pass over his uncle's face. First came the sadness, then the pity, anger, and finally disgust. He stood up, and moved towards his nephew. Dan swallowed, and took a step back, bumping into the guard, who put a firm, but kind hand on his shoulder.
"If I hadn't been told that you've been in here for the past month, I'd thinkis that you'd spent the night partying." His uncle's words where harsh, and cut deep.
Dan opened his mouth, but stopped at the sight of Mrs. Kingston step through the door. "Dan! I see you've met your uncle Bill Regan." She sent a spearing look at Regan, and he shifted, looking down at the ground. Mrs. Kingston took out a paper and placed it on the desk, motioning Regan forward. "Sign this, and you are free to go."
Dan watched as Regan grabbed a pen, and quickly sign the paper, before motioning for Dan to follow. Dan hesitated, looking at Mrs. Kingston, before Regan griped his wrist and pulled him out he door. They walked towards a car, and Regan opened the back door, and pushed Dan towards the seat. As soon as Dan was in the car, Regan slammed the door, and Regan walked over to the front passenger side, sliding in. Dan looked towards the driver and saw another young man watching him seriously. Regan turned to him,
"Dan this is Tom, the Wheeler's driver. Tom this is Dan." The driver nodded to him, then turned back to his car, pulling into the street.
After about a hour they reached a small town, and Regan turned to Dan for the first time since introducing Tom, "This is Sleepyside. It's a nice small town, everyone knows everyone." he turned around again. "The Wheeler's have two kids, Honey and Jim. The Belden's have four, Brian, Mart, Trixie and Bobby. All but Bobby are around your age. You'll see them in school, you start that tomorow. Both of the family's live at the border of the town." They drove on in silence for several minuets, then they came into view of a huge mansion. "That's the Wheeler's home."
Dan stared in aw at the house, he had never seen anything that big before. He hardly noticed when the car stopped. But jolted to attention when Regan pulled open his door, and stood waiting, foot tapping, for him to get out. The moment he had cleared the door, Regan slammed the door, causing Dan to jump. Suddenly there was a lady's voice coming from behind him. Dan spun around, to see a middle aged woman, smiling at him. She held out a hand, and he stared at it in surprise. He blinked at her, and her smile grew gentle, "I'm Miss Trask, practically the Wheeler's housekeeper. You must be Dan."
She looked him over, and her gaze became concerned, "Why don't you come in for a bit and have some breakfast. You look hungry." She looked sharply over at Regan when he gave a grunt of disapproval, and he sighed,
"Fine, you can take him to give him some food."
Miss. Trask pinched her lips together, then put a hand on Dan's shoulder, and steered him towards the manor.
Dan looked around in awe as he entered the manor, he let Miss. Trask lead him towards the kitchen as he looked all around. Miss. Trask sat him at the table in the kitchen and bustled around, preparing breakfast for him. She soon set a plate in front of him, and watched as he quickly ate the food. He found to his relief that the food settled in his stomick nicely. He sat back with a sigh, then looked down blushing when he saw Miss. Trask watching him.
"When did you eat before this?" Her voice was concerned.
Dan shrugged, "Last nigh. But the food at the juvenile centre's not very good, and I couldn't keep it down." Dan looked up when the door opened, and Regan stuck his head in,
"You done yet?"
Dan stood, and with a nod of thanks to Miss. Trask, he followed Regan out. Regan walked swiftly to the woods, and Dan had to run to catch up with him. Dan's uncle moved through the woods with out stopping, and Dan had a hard time catching up. After about fifteen miunits, they reached a clearing, and came to a cabin. Regan marched up the steps and knocked on the door. There was a noise inside, and then the door opened, revealing a elderly man. The man motioned them in, and after looking at Dan for a second, he smiled and held out a hand. "I'm Maypenny."
Dan was silent for a moment, then shook the hand "Dan." Regan cleared his throat. "This is Daniel Mangen." He looked around for a moment then nodded his head. "Good. I'll be going now. Daniel, do as Mr. Maypenny says. Don't be rude. And don't cause problems. Understood?"
Dan nodded, his jaw clenched, "Yes sir. I understand." Regan frowned then sighed, and moved to the door, nodding to Mr. Maypenny,
"I apresheate you doing this for me. If it's too much trouble the judge will send him off to reform school."
Dan's blood froze, he had heard enough stories about reform schools that terrorized the students, that it terrified him. He watched as Mr. Maypenny's face harden and he felt a moment of relief. At least he might have a chance to prove himself before that happened.
"We are going to give Dan a chance. Won't we?" Maypenny's voice was firm, and it caused Regan to flush a bit. As soon as the door was closed on Regan's back, Maypenny turned to Dan. "It seems we'll be rooming together a bit. Let me show you your room, and you can put your stuff away."
Dan followed the old man to a door off the room with a fire place, and then into the room. It was relatively small, but comfortable. The bed spread was a dark brown, and the desk against the wall a deep mahogany. He went to the bed and sat down, pulling the picture out of the small bag, and placed it on the bedside table. Then he pulled his jacket out and placed it on his bed, crumpling the bag as he did so. Maypenny cleared his throat, "Is that all you have?"
Dan spun around then nodded his head, "Yes." Maypenny frowned then sighed
"Well, I have a lot of cloths. We can alter them to make them fit you, and to make them look less like they were once a old man's." He smiled then motioned Dan out, "Why don't you explore a bit, make shore you're back by evening. We'll have supper, then I can tell you a bit about what you're going to help me with, then you need to get to bed. You start school tomorrow, then we can get started on learning your job later."
Dan nodded, and moved towards the front door, stopping just before he moved outside. "Thank you."
